The Buffalo Sabres’ home rink – the KeyBank Center – is nearly 30 years old. And with new or renovated arenas popping up throughout the NHL, the Sabres were due to upgrade their facilities and get on par with the modern-day perks of a fresh start. And according to a WGRZ report, renovations to the KeyBank Center are being pegged as costing at least $400 million.

Sabres executive Pete Guelli confirmed to WGRZ that conversations had begun between the team, New York state, and Erie County, N.Y. regarding upgrading the facility, but cautioned that the discussions -- between the team, state, and county officials -- are only preliminary thus far. That's because the Sabres have been focusing on the construction of an NFL football stadium for the Buffalo Bills in the area – the second iteration of the Highmark Stadium.

“That's where I would categorize (talks as preliminary),” Guelli told WGRZ. “Obviously we're working through the (Bills’) stadium project, and we know that’s going to open up on time over the summer, and need to get through that, but we have to start planning.”

The Sabres have been in contact with architecture firm Populous – the design firm behind the new Highmark Stadium – regarding what a renovated KeyBank Center would look like. The WGRZ report indicated that the proposed renovations will be “substantial and touch every aspect of the facility, including the infrastructure, team areas and fan-facing experiences”. 

“The dream scenario would be this super high-performing arena that had 200 events a year, and 2-million people coming to it, and an absolute beautiful mixed-use property on the waterfront in Buffalo,” Guelli said. “I think that’s a vision that everybody could get behind.”

Injury-Plagued Sabres Having Worst-Case-Scenario Start To SeasonThe news from Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was about as bad as it can get for a hockey team -- Buffalo's first-line center, Josh Norris, will be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future after being injured in the Sabres' first game of the season Thursday.

This arena news will be welcome to devout Sabres fans who’ve supported their team throughout the organization’s 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. But it won’t matter what condition the arena or surrounding area is in if the on-ice results aren’t where everybody wants them to be. 

The Sabres can’t point to their arena to explain why they haven’t been a playoff team for nearly a decade-and-a-half. It’s not the KeyBank Center’s fault that Buffalo simply hasn’t been able to get the job done.

Sabres' Schedule Is Punishing Out Of The Gate -- And It Could Be Why Buffalo Misses Playoffs For 15th Straight SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 regular-season is here at last, and the Sabres would certainly like to win their first game – a home game against the New York Rangers Thursday night – an analysis of their schedule tells Sabres fans they need to buckle down and get ready for a true test of this team, right out of the starting block.

So while it’s admirable that the Sabres have rink renovations on the radar, the focus in Buffalo will be squarely on the Sabres' win/loss columns. And it’s going to stay that way until the Sabres figure out how to become relevant again.

As we begin the 2025-26 regular season, some things in the NHL aren’t changing – namely, the Chicago Blackhawks are still a win-challenged team, as they’ve gone 0-2-1 in their first three games.

The Blackhawks have kept the scores close, as all three games were one-goal games. So, having only one standings point to show for it has to be disappointing to Hawks fans, players and executives. 

That said, one of the bright lights of Chicago’s first three games is the performance of blossoming star center Frank Nazar. The 21-year-old is currently tied for third place in NHL scoring, with four assists and five points. It’s unfair to expect the second-year NHLer to sustain his current point pace, but after Nazar posted 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games with the Hawks last season, he’s now got the opportunity of a lifetime this season.

It was always going to be a tremendous long shot for the Blackhawks to be even in the conversation for a playoff berth, so the winless three-game start to the season can’t be a surprise. This is still a franchise with serious holes in the lineup, and there’s going to be pain ahead for Chicago, no matter what Nazar does.

But for Hawks fans who’ve suffered through the bad part of the competitive cycle virtually all teams go through from generation to generation, having another legitimate star player to invest their time, money and emotion into is no small step forward. Nazar is blossoming before their eyes, and Blackhawks fans are stoked to see it.

With a continued strong start, Nazar has the potential to open up even more opportunities for himself. Namely, we’re talking about him making Team America’s 2026 Olympic roster. With the U.S.’s center spots basically taken up by Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel, New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes, and New York Rangers star J.T. Miller, there’s not an opening for Nazar. But maybe Nazar gets on the roster to fill one of the two extra forwards spots. That’s not unreasonable for him to aim for.

So, having Nazar continue his hot streak helps the Blackhawks on numerous levels. If he plays well, he takes some heat off of Bedard, who has had to bear the brunt of the spotlight as Chicago’s foundational player. Nazar isn’t at Bedard’s stage right now, and he may never be.  But as long as he continues to grow his game, there’s every chance he can establish himself as a fixture in the Windy City for many years to come.

Nazar’s usage has skyrocketed in the three games he’s played this year. After averaging just 15:52 of ice time last season, Nazar has played more than 20 minutes in two of his three games, and he’s averaging 19:53 of ice time in total. That’s a huge step forward, and new Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill is going to be hitching his wagon to Chicago’s young core of players. That core now clearly includes Nazar, as he has been prominent at 5-on-5, the power play and the penalty kill.

Chicago still needs to stock up on as many elite young players as possible, so when the Hawks do as expected and finish at the bottom of the league again this season, there will be a payoff consolation from the draft system. The Blackhawks are going to wobble and fall over often in the next few years as they put parts in place for a sustained playoff push, but given how rare it is to find legitimate difference-makers, it has to be a thrill for Hawks management and coaching to know they have an emerging gem in Nazar.

A lot can still happen to Nazar as teams scout him and figure out his weaknesses, but Nazar can continue to stay one step ahead of his opponents and thrive in hockey’s top league. His start to this season is very encouraging for the Blackhawks and for Nazar himself, and it’s a good idea to keep your eyes on Nazar as he negotiates the ascent up the competitive mountain and carves out a great legacy in Chicago. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Florida Panthers took care of a little business on Sunday.

While much of the league was enjoying an off day, and the Panthers were preparing to hit the road for the first time this season, the team announced a contract extension for forward Jonah Gadjovich.

The big, bruising winger signed a two-year extension to stay on with the Cats through 2028 after establishing himself as a reliable option on Florida’s fourth line.

“Jonah has become an integral part of our locker room and a strong contributor for our group on the ice,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a statement released by the team. “He possesses a fearless attitude and unrelenting competitiveness, and we are excited for Jonah to continue with us in South Florida.”

The two-year extension carries an AAV (average annual value) of $905,000, which is a nice little pay bump from the $775 AAV his previous deal came with.

News of the deal came on Sunday, which also happened to be Gadjovich’s 27th birthday.

During his first two seasons with the Panthers, Gadjovich accumulated six goals, eight points and 164 penalty minutes over 81 regular season games while adding another two goals and an assist in 16 playoff outings during Florida’s latest Stanley Cup run.

So far this season, he’s picked up an assist and a plus-one on-ice rating over the Cats’ first three games.

Gadjovich and the Panthers will be back in action on Monday night when Florida begins a five-game road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Photo caption: Oct 2, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

The 2025–26 NHL season is officially underway, with the Vancouver Canucks having played in two games already. Around the league, many former Canucks have also started their 2025–26 seasons, albeit with different teams. In total, there are 38 ex-Canucks who are currently on their new teams’ rosters and 22 different NHL teams with at least one former Canuck on them. Here’s a closer look at these former Canucks and which teams have the most of them. 

There are 11 different NHL teams that currently have one former Canuck on their rosters. Artūrs Šilovs, who led the Abbotsford Canucks to their first Calder Cup Championship as playoff MVP, is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is projected to play a big role in their crease. Bruising forward Jonah Gadjovich was drafted by the Canucks in 2017 and played one game with them in 2020–21, but now returns to the Florida Panthers for his third-straight season with the defending Stanley Cup Champions. In the west, the Los Angeles Kings have goal-scorer Andrei Kuzmenko, while Ben Hutton returns for his fourth straight season with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

A former Canuck who has carved out a solid position for himself is Jalen Chatfield, who enters his fifth season with the Carolina Hurricanes. Casey DeSmith remains a solid backup to Jake Oettinger for the Dallas Stars, while Erik Gudbranson will return to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final season of his four-year contract with the team. Former Canucks defenceman and Quinn Hughes D-pairing partner, Travis Hamonic, starts a new journey with the Detroit Red Wings after spending the past three-and-a-half seasons with the Ottawa Senators.  

The Philadelphia Flyers have two former Canucks — a player (Noah Juulsen) and a head coach (Rick Tocchet). Jared McCann, a former Canucks draft pick in 2014 and 40-goal scorer in 2022–23, remains with the Seattle Kraken. After signing with them in free-agency this year, Pius Suter embarks on his first season with the St. Louis Blues and will play his former team at Rogers Arena on Monday, October 13. 

Six NHL teams have two former Canucks on their rosters, with two of these teams being located in the Western Conference. The Utah Mammoth have two ex-Canucks defencemen in Ian Cole and Nate Schmidt, while the Winnipeg Jets have welcomed both forward Tanner Pearson and defenceman Luke Schenn to their lineup. 

Four ex-Canucks currently play out of the city of New York. Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat and defenceman Ethan Bear are playing for the New York Islanders now. Their division rivals, the New York Rangers, have named a new captain in J.T. Miller. Defenceman Carson Soucy is also on the Rangers’ roster. Also located in the Eastern Conference are Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov with the Boston Bruins, and Anthony Beauvilier and Nic Dowd with the Washington Capitals. 

Five NHL teams are tied with having the most former Canucks currently on their roster at three apiece, with two Canadian teams represented in this list. The Toronto Maple Leafs have welcomed ex-Canuck defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev to their second seasons with the team, while forward Dakota Joshua enters his first after being traded back in July. Center Curtis Lazar, defenceman Troy Stecher, and forward Vasily Podkolzin are all on the Edmonton Oilers after various methods of movement. 

Groups of former Canucks continue throughout the U.S., with the New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks all having three of these players on their roster. Playing alongside two Hughes brothers in New Jersey are former Canucks Juho Lammikko, Zack MacEwen, and Jacob Markström. San Jose features two forwards and a defenceman in Adam Gaudette, Tyler Toffoli, and Vincent Desharnais. Finally, the Blackhawks have a trio of ex-Canuck forwards including Jason Dickinson, Sam Lafferty, and Ilya Mikheyev. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Philadelphia Flyers are switching up their defensive group. 

The Flyers have announced that they have recalled defenseman Emil Andrae from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In addition, the Flyers shared that blueliner Dennis Gilbert has been sent down to the Phantoms.

Andrae has recorded two assists in one game this season with the Phantoms. He also played in 25 games this past season with the Phantoms, where he recorded three goals, 13 assists, 16 points, and a plus-9 rating.

At the NHL level this past season with the Flyers, Andrae posted one goal, six assists, seven points, and a minus-5 rating. Now, after getting this latest call-up to the Flyers’ roster, the 23-year-old blueliner will be aiming to impress. 

Transaction: We have recalled defenseman Emil Andrae from the @LVPhantoms (AHL). Defenseman Dennis Gilbert has been loaned to Lehigh Valley. pic.twitter.com/WPGkTtmPHL

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 12, 2025

Gilbert has yet to make his Flyers regular-season debut this campaign but will now get the chance to get into some game action with the Phantoms. The 6-foot-2 defenseman appeared in 29 games this past season split between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, where he posted six assists, 50 penalty minutes, 63 hits, and a minus-3 rating.

The Chicago Blackhawks have several young players who they will be hoping hit new levels during the 2025-26 season. Among the most notable is young center Frank Nazar.

Nazar just had a solid rookie season with the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 campaign, as he recorded 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points in 53 games. The 2022 first-round pick demonstrated plenty of promise during his rookie season with numbers like these, and it is exactly why the Blackhawks signed him to a big seven-year, $46.13 million contract extension this off-season, which kicks in during the 2026-27 season.

Now, after signing his big contract extension this summer, Nazar is having a great start with the Blackhawks in 2025-26. In three games so far, the 5-foot-10 forward has recorded one goal, four assists, five points, and a plus-2 rating. This includes him recording two assists and a plus-1 rating in the Blackhawks' most recent contest against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 11.

Nazar is showing clear signs that he is ready to have a big breakout season offensively for the Blackhawks, and it is hard not to feel excited about his future with the Central Division club. It will be very interesting to see how he builds on his hot start to the year from here. 

As far as The Maven is concerned there's no NHL law that says we can't rate the five best Rangers after the first four days; so let's do it.

1. IGOR SHESTERKIN: The highest-paid NHL goalie has played his first three games as if he's the best goalie in the league. (Okay, it's a teeny-weeny sample. but so what?)

2. ADAM FOX: Nobody is preparing another Norris Trophy for the bagel salesman; but his good start is encouraging, to say the least.

3. MIKA ZIBANEJAD: Somebody must have whispered into the ear of The People's Non-Choice. The message: WAKE UP.  So far, so decent.

4. NOAH LABA: The pride of Northville, Michigan – across the street from Southville – has taken a splendid training camp into The Show and is showing well.

Seeing Is Believing And The Rangers Can See The NHL HeightsThis is no joke; the Rangers are HOT!

5. J.T. MILLER: The rust is gone and the captain is producing some vim and vigor. Next up is the vitality!

The Buffalo Sabres put forth a listless effort in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday, stumbling out of the gate by being outshot 17-2 and falling behind 1-0 in the first period. The Sabres responded with a better effort in the final 40 minutes, but played catch-up the entire contest.

 "I thought our compete was terrible. (It's the) worst competing, skating, moving (our) feet that I've seen." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "It's not the guy that has the puck, the guy away from it. I thought we played some one on one hockey. We we didn't move our feet, we didn't win races for the puck. At the start of the game when everybody has energy. It's hard hockey, and we lost the battle."

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Pavel Zacha and Mark Kastelic staked the Bruins to a 2-0 lead, which they held until the middle of the third period, when veteran Jason Zucker scored the Sabres first goal of the season, but Buffalo could not break through on Jeremy Swayman, who made 21 saves in Boston’s third victory of the season. Ruff said after the game that his best players have not been able to break through and will need them to step up to right the Sabres ship. 

"I think you saw in the third period when we started getting pucks to the net, even from tough angles, we got some bounces. We had Krebs in the slot alone. We had (Dahlin) in the slot alone that we didn't connect on." Ruff said. "We're too much on the fancy side. Until we we put the boots on and go to work and realize that the only way you're going to win hockey games in this league is to outwork the other team." 

Owen Power returned to the lineup after missing the season opener with an illness and played 22:07 and was -1 on the  night. Alex Lyon made 28 saves in his second start, and it is expected that the veteran will get the start on Monday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

ST. PAUL, Minn - In the Minnesota Wild's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night, rookie defenseman Zeev Buium did something no other defenseman has done in Wild history.

Buium, 19, recorded his first NHL goal of his career in the 7-4 loss. He followed that up with an assist later. Both of them came on the power play.

The 6-foot defenseman became the first teenage defenseman in Wild history to register a multi-point game.

"Yeah, I think it's frustrating. Obviously, scoring feels really good and getting that first one, but at the end of the day you want to compete, and you want to win," Buium said after the game. "They had some crazy bounces but yeah, can't sit on it. Just move on."

GRAB THAT PUCK 🫵

Zeev Buium buries his first NHL goal! #NHLFaceOffpic.twitter.com/9AB5MQ3iw1

— NHL (@NHL) October 12, 2025

He did it in just his second career regular season game and his six career game, including his four career playoff games. In two games this year, Buium has one goal and one assist. He had one assist in four playoff games last year.

Every point of his NHL career has been recorded on the power play.

“I thought it was like that. I thought it was up at times and down at times. So, I think like every player and like the team it’s a work in progress," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Buium after the game. "Nobody right now is a finished product two games in, and your team’s not. Whether it’s individual players or the team, we just keep moving.”

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Minnesota Wild Vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Analytical RecapST. PAUL, Minn - I have been tracking some stats about the Minnesota Wild that I will now make available to the public. After each game I will have some analytics that I tracked. Most analytical recaps will be after home games but I may post some road ones too.

- Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve.

- Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers.

- Wild Sign Filip Gustavsson To A Five-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Out For Two Months With Lower-Body Injury.

For nearly a year, Gulutzan has been making plans to make a return to Texas.

Grace Gulutzan, that is. The teenager is a first-year softball pitcher and utility player who will be taking her talents to Hill College, about an hour south of Dallas. It’s a bit of a homecoming. Grace spent four pre-school years in the Lone Star State while her father, Glen Gulutzan, was coaching the AHL’s Texas Stars and then the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

“She went to kindergarten in Dallas, so she didn’t remember much about it,” Glen said. “But she’s excited to go and play softball.”

Months after Grace’s commitment, another spin of the NHL’s coaching carousel will have parents Glen and Nicole landing close at hand. One day after the Boston Bruins filled the last of this spring’s eight other off-season coaching vacancies in early June, three-time reigning GM of the Year Jim Nill made the difficult decision to open another. Nill fired then-coach Peter DeBoer June 6, despite the Stars coming off a 106-point season and their third trip to the Western Conference final in as many years.

When the announcement came down, Gulutzan was a bit too preoccupied to give the opening a second thought. At the time, he was busy running the vaunted Edmonton Oilers power play as one of Kris Knoblauch’s assistants behind the bench. But once the Florida Panthers eliminated the Oilers June 17, the interview process unfolded at warp speed.

“I’m calling him and getting permission from Edmonton to interview him, and I need to get him down ASAP,” Nill said. “He agrees to come down, and we had an interview.”

Two weeks later, Gulutzan was being introduced to the media as Dallas’ new coach, in the same market where he’d started his NHL coaching career 14 years earlier.

Gulutzan, 54, was born in The Pas, Man., and grew up in Hudson Bay, Sask. He’s now tasked with getting the perennially contending Stars to take that final step. “For a guy that was devastated after you lose (the Stanley Cup), I was so impressed with how he conducted himself and how he spoke about situations,” Nill said.

“Character matters with your team and, most importantly, your head coach. Your head coach is your leader. I look at Glen, and, ultimately, what brought me back to him was his leadership and his ability to have a team-first mentality. You win and lose as a team.”

Today’s Stars are one of the NHL’s model franchises, and they are built to win now. That was decidedly not the case during Gulutzan’s first go around in Texas. When he was hired to coach the organization’s brand-new AHL club in Austin in 2009, a bumpy transition was underway from then-owner Tom Hicks to current steward Tom Gaglardi.

But when opportunity knocked after six years at the helm of the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers, a then-38-year-old Gulutzan made the leap. He and Nicole – along with the couple’s four young children – moved to the Austin suburb of Cedar Park. “It was a very exciting time in my life because I was coming from the ECHL,” Gulutzan said.

The Texas Stars aimed to enhance hockey’s footprint in the state after the organization’s affiliation in Iowa fizzled out. And the Austin startups were an instant success. In his first season, Gulutzan took the new fan base on a ride all the way to the Calder Cup final. During that post-season, the team was led by a 20-year-old Jamie Benn, who had been assigned to the AHL after a 22-goal NHL rookie campaign in Dallas. Benn then led Texas with 26 points in 24 playoff games.

For a guy that was devastated after you lose (the Stanley Cup), I was so impressed with how he conducted himself- Stars GM Jim Nill

-

This fall, Gulutzan will reunite with Benn as the latter returns to Dallas for his 17th season – and his 13th as captain. After logging 49 points in 2024-25, the 36-year-old Benn needs another 44 to join Mike Modano as the only other player in franchise history to reach 1,000 points.

“I’ve kept in touch with Jamie over the years,” Gulutzan said. “That relationship has maintained because I certainly respect Jamie and everything he’s done. I loved him as a player.”

Benn and Gulutzan got within two games of the Calder Cup in 2010. And while each has also now reached the Stanley Cup final during their respective NHL career, neither has won it all.

“For me, the biggest thing with Jamie, going right back to Austin, is ‘Let’s finish this thing off,’ ” Gulutzan said.

Gulutzan spent two seasons in Austin before the Stars promoted him to the NHL bench, where he spent two more working with Benn and one of the league’s lowest-paid rosters. Gulutzan’s Stars put up a record of 64-57-9, with the 2012-13 owners’ lockout limiting his second year behind the bench to just 48 games.

Once Gaglardi was comfortably settled into his owner’s chair in the spring of 2013, he lured Nill and his four Stanley Cup rings away from Ken Holland’s management group in Detroit. Nill elected to start fresh with his own veteran coach, Lindy Ruff, triggering an odyssey for Gulutzan that would see him work with some of the most storied names in the coaching fraternity.

“Twelve years ago, Jim actually sent me on a reconnaissance mission,” Gulutzan joked at his opening presser. “That was up through Western Canada – Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. He didn’t tell me until about a week ago that he was bringing me back, and the mission was over.”

First stop: three seasons with the Canucks. Running the penalty kill, Gulutzan assisted John Tortorella and worked with fellow assistant Mike Sullivan for a year, then spent two seasons under his own former assistant coach from the Stars, Willie Desjardins.

“When I got let go in Dallas, the chance to work for a veteran coach was very appealing,” he said. “It was a real good learning experience for me to be with John and to see a veteran guy who had won a Stanley Cup. And, obviously, Mike Sullivan was there as well – two Cups himself. That year was a real growth year for me.”

Tortorella lasted just one season in Vancouver, and Sullivan left with him. But when new team president Trevor Linden tapped Desjardins as his first coaching hire, Gulutzan was kept on by his former colleague.

In 2016, the Calgary Flames came knocking with another head job. But again, the environment was challenging. In a period of transition, the Flames had missed the playoffs in six of the previous seven seasons. In Bob Hartley’s final year, they sank to 77 points.

When Gulutzan arrived, a strong, young nucleus was forming around Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Rasmus Andersson and freshly minted sixth-overall pick Matthew Tkachuk. That group returned to the post-season in 2017, but a miss one year later spelled the end of the road for Gulutzan again. He left Calgary with a record of 82-68-14.

Next stop, Edmonton. Todd McLellan brought Gulutzan in to help improve a power play that was coming off a last-place finish (14.8 percent) in 2017-18 despite having heavy hitters Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. By November, the Oilers fired McLellan and replaced him with Ken Hitchcock. After that, Dave Tippett, Jay Woodcroft and Kris Knoblauch were, in turn, each handed the keys to Oil Country. But even though most bench bosses are eager to bring in their own people when they start a new job, Gulutzan stayed on through those four regime changes, watching each new hire put their unique stamp on the Oilers as he continued to finesse the team’s superstars into one of the league’s most consistently lethal power-play units.

Twelve years ago, Jim actually sent me on a reconnaissance mission. He didn’t tell me until about a week ago- Glen Gulutzan

-

Gulutzan’s success came from teaching his players how to combine X’s and O’s with natural impulses. It’s a coaching style he plans to replicate in Dallas.

“The biggest thing for me is putting together a system to make the players the most instinctual they can be,” he said. “When they’re playing on instinct, playing a little bit of road hockey, that’s when you get the best performance.”

While many new coaches look to turn around underperforming rosters, Gulutzan is now taking over a Stars squad full of thoroughbreds, including Jake Oettinger in net, Miro Heiskanen and rising star Thomas Harley on the blueline and a high-IQ forward group made up of savvy vets like Benn, Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen and a younger wave led by Wyatt Johnston.

Gulutzan doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. And in a league where parity predominates even while the Panthers reign as today’s big cats, he’s happy to leave the ‘Cup or Bust’ mantra back in Edmonton. After getting a first-hand look at Florida’s bruising style in the past two Cup finals, Gulutzan believes the Stars’ best path to success isn’t a copycat approach.

“I don’t think every team can play that way,” he said. “And I don’t know if that style would suit us the best.”

Still, every winner serves up takeaways that can be applied.

“If we’re going to make the next step, I’d love to use that hockey IQ we have,” Gulutzan said. “But I also know there’s one degree of heavier-grinding, finishing-your-check, holding-onto-the-puck hockey that needs to come into play. Because every round ramps up a bit. I think you have to build that into 82 games. You can’t just turn it on at the end.”

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Meet the New Guys issue. The cover story for this issue features the newest Vegas Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, as he looks to shine in the desert. We also include features on new Jets forward Jonathan Toews, Canadiens D-man Noah Dobson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top 'new guys' from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

From Ex-players to current players and everything in between, we've got you covered. 

Did you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week. 

Geoff Sanderson - 2001-2006 - Drafted by Hartford in 1990. 

Sanderson played 268 games as a Jacket and had 168 points. In the franchise's first season, he dazzled the NWA crowds when he scored 30 goals and had 56 points. Sanderson was a very good player for the Blue Jackets and brought some excitement to a fledgling franchise desperate to win some games. He's the only player in CBJ history to score 4 goals in a single game and was the first player in franchise history to have 5 points in a game. 

He retired in 2008 after playing 1100 games and totaling 700 points. Last season, he was a pro scout for the New Jersey Devils. 

His son Jake is now a star defenseman for the Ottawa Senators.  

8 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #8The Columbus Blue Jackets have 8 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #8.  Blue Jackets Should Consider Taking Advantage Of WaiversAs we get closer to the start of the NHL season, waiver activity is picking up as teams finalize their opening night rosters.

John Moore - 2011 - Drafted by Columbus in 2009. 

Moore only played 86 games in Columbus and had 8 points. On April 3, 2013, Moore was included in the Derick Brassard deal with the New York Rangers that brought Marián Gáborík to Columbus. 

He last played for the Anaheim Ducks.

On March 19, 2022, Moore was involved in a trade that sent him to the Anaheim Ducks along with Urho Vaakanainen in exchange for Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks then attempted to trade both Moore and the rest of Ryan Kesler's contract to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov and a conditional second-round pick at the NHL trade deadline on March 21, 2022. However, the deal was disputed due to a no-trade clause in Dadonov's contract. On March 23, the NHL officially cancelled the trade; therefore, Moore remained in the Ducks' organization.  

7 Days Left Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #7The Columbus Blue Jackets have 7 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #7. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they loaned goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Cleveland Monsters. He is with the Monsters and practicing today.

This clears the way for an Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves goalie tandem, at least for now. 

Columbus Loans Ivan Fedotov To ClevelandThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they loaned goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Cleveland Monsters. He is with the Monsters and practicing today. Blue Jackets Could Target Penguins' Bryan Rust In Potential TradeWith the 2025-26 NHL season just around the corner, teams are preparing for opening night and getting their rosters set for the 5:00 p.m. deadline.

With the news today that Don Waddell didn't make any waiver claims, and Ivan Fedotov has been loaned to the Monsters, the opening night roster for the Columbus Blue Jackets is set. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets Opening Night Roster Is SetSay hello to the 2025-26 edition of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Nolan Lalonde, the unsigned free agent from Kingston, Ontario, will be making his pro debut in the ECHL. Per Mark Monroe, sportswriter for the Toledo Blade, Lalonde will be assigned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.  

Nolan Lalonde Assigned To ECHLNolan Lalonde, the unsigned free agent from Kingston, Ontario, will be making his pro debut in the ECHL. 

Who will win the Hart Trophy?

• Jason - Auston Matthews has a comeback year and scores 70 goals. 
• Spencer - Connor McDavid wins it.

Who will win the Art Ross?

• Jason - Connor McDavid will take his top spot back as the league's top point getter.
• Spencer - Connor McDavid, it’s hard to bet against him.

THN Columbus: 32 Predictions For The 25-26 NHL SeasonWith the 24-25 season starting today, The Hockey News Columbus is going to take a shot at some predictions. Spencer Lazary and I are going to do our best.  

Ron Hainsey - 2006-2008 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in 2000.

Hainsey played 213 games with the Jackets and totaled 83 points.

After retiring in 2021 and playing 1,132 games, he now works for the NHLPA where he is the Assistant Executive Director. 

Hainsey is Actor Michael Madsen's doppelgänger.

6 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #6The Columbus Blue Jackets have 6 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #6. There haven't been too many players donning the 6 in Union Blue. Former Blue Jackets Suiting Up For Other Teams In 2025-26The 2025-26 season is here. 

Aaron Johnson - 2012 - Drafted by Columbus in the 3rd round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Johnson played 172 games for the Jackets over two stints. Scouts said of Johnson was "A puck-moving defenseman, Johnson is a very good skater. Has good offensive instincts and can quarterback the power play. Can play a tough and physical game. Needs to improve his play in his own end."

During his time with Columbus, he also spent three years with the AHL Syracuse Crunch, where he had 73 points in those three seasons. 

In 2016, he left North America and signed on with Adler Mannheim of the DEL in Germany. He then left for England, where he played for the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL. In 2021, he became a Player-Asst. Coach for a season. He came back home to Columbus in 2021 and joined the Jackets as a Team Consultant. Last season, he was the Team Relations Specialist for the Jackets.

5 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #5The Columbus Blue Jackets have 5 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at everyone's favorite number - Jersey #5.

Former Blue Jacket forward Kevin Labanc has signed with the Shanghai Dragons the club has announced. Former Blue Jacket Adam Clendening is on the team, and it's coached by former CBJ HC Gerard Gallant. 

Former Blue Jackets Forward Kevin Labanc Signing In RussiaFormer Blue Jacket Kevin Labanc seems to have found a new team.

Personally, I think the Hurricanes do what Washington did last year and run away and hide in the Metro. The Capitals rode the Ovechkin wave last year, but this year, I feel like they will take a slight step back. As long as they have Ovi, he will push that team to be as good as they can. 

2025-26 Metro Division Standings PredictionsWell, it's here. The 2025-26 season has officially kicked off. This year's version of the Metropolitan Division has people all over wondering how it will shake out. Some people think the Metro is the weakest it's ever been, while some people think it'll be ultra-competitive despite the apparent weaknesses. 

Evason told reporters that forward Yegor Chinakhov will be a healthy scratch on Thursday. He mentioned that he met with Chinakhov to go over everything and make sure they’re on the same page.

Blue Jackets’ Chinakhov Expected To Be A Healthy Scratch On Opening NightThe Columbus Blue Jackets are gearing up for their first game of the 2025-26 season tomorrow against the Nashville Predators. Today, head coach Dean Evason met with the media and shared some insight on what the opening night lineup will look like.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson have formally announced that the forward will retire from the NHL on Thursday, October 16. He will sign a one-day contract with Columbus and thus end his NHL career. 

Cam Atkinson To Officially Retire As A Blue JacketThe Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson have formally announced that the forward will retire from the NHL on Thursday, October 16. He will sign a one-day contract with Columbus and thus end his NHL career. 

The Monsters have named Brendan Gaunce, who served as the captain during the 2023-24 season, as team captain once again.

They have also named forwards Hudson Fasching and Owen Sillinger as well as defensemen Dysin Mayo as the team's assistant captain. 

Cleveland Monster's 2025-26 Leadership Group NamedThe Cleveland Monster's have announced their leadership group for 2025-26 AHL season.

The Edmonton Oilers announced that they have signed former CBJ forward Jack Roslovic to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The deal comes virtually at the last second before the season starts. 

Former Blue Jacket Forward Jack Roslovic Signs With EdmontonLate last night, the Edmonton Oilers announced that they have signed former CBJ forward Jack Roslovic to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The deal comes virtually at the last second before the season starts. 

The Cleveland Monsters have announced that they've signed defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year AHL contract. Butcher has played 275 career NHL games. 

Cleveland Monsters Sign Defenseman Will Butcher The Cleveland Monsters have announced that they've signed defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year AHL contract. Butcher has played 275 career NHL games. 

Lyle Odelein - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Montreal in 1986. 

The first-ever Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Odelein played 146 games and had 33 points. He retired in 2006 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

4 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #4The Columbus Blue Jackets have 4 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Jersey #4 is one of the more popular numbers to be worn.

Jordan Leopold - 2015 - Drafted by Anaheim in 1999. 

Leopold played 18 games for Columbus after being traded from the St. Louis Blues on November 15, 2014. On March 2, 2015, he was dealt again, this time to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Justin Falk. He retired after the 2015 season. 

He has been an assistant coach for Andover High in Minnesota for the past couple of years. 

3 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #3The Columbus Blue Jackets have 3 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Jersey #3 is one of the more popular numbers to be worn.

Kris Russell - 2008 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005.

Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin. 

He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022. 

2 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #2The Columbus Blue Jackets have 2 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena.  Blue Jackets Honouring Moments In Franchise History Through Puck SculpturesThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they are honouring memorable moments in franchise history through puck sculptures.

Up Next: The Blue Jackets welcome the New Jersey Devils into Nationwide Arena on Monday night. 

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With Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, and Kirill Kaprizov now off the open market, the NHL is turning its attention to the next player poised to redefine the league’s salary landscape.

It likely won’t be Adrian Kempe, Alex Tuch, and/or Artemi Panarin, who will all get hefty contracts on their next deals. No, according to Elliotte Friedman, that player is Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.

Makar, 26, has already established himself as one of the league’s premier talents. He boasts a Norris Trophy, a Conn Smythe, and a Stanley Cup, and the Avalanche are fully aware that retaining him will come at a significant cost. The question becomes, how much?

Friedman reports that Colorado has been preparing for months, anticipating that Makar’s next deal could reach a new stratosphere of NHL salaries — potentially $20-$25 million per season, eclipsing even the monster Kaprizov deal by $30 million. 

The NHL insider suggested that eight-figure contracts will become normal in the NHL. The league is trending that way as Eichel signed for $108 million, Kaprizov signed for $138 million, and Connor got close, with a $96 million deal last week. All three players are good. Frankly, they’re great. Makar is on another level in terms of importance to a hockey team. 

Averaging just under 25 minutes per game, he is a generational talent who not only plays one of the most critical positions on the team, but he also generates a ton of the team’s offense. If there were one player on the roster the Avs might feel comfortable giving the bag to, it’s Makar. And, if for one second, the Avs hesitate, several teams will line up for the opportunity to pitch him in free agency. 

He has this season and next remaining on his current contract. The team will have $59 million and change in cap space in 2027-28, according to PuckPedia, but only eight main roster players under contract. 

If Not Makar, Then Who?

If it’s not Makar that becomes the new high bar in terms of contract value (both dollar and term), Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes should get consideration. The Canucks won’t want him to leave and will be prepared to roll the Brinks truck up to retain him. 

Another defenseman who is critically important to his team’s success, when Hughes is on the ice, the Canucks become a dangerous team. When he’s not, the team struggles. He is their captain and best player. Losing him could trigger a rebuild. Hughes becomes a free agent in 2026-27, when he'll be 27 years old.

Should neither player sign a long-term deal, the conversation could pivot back to Connor McDavid. He passed over a long-term extension when he signed a two-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers ahead of the 2025-26 season. He’s unlikely to go short-term again. At the age of 31, McDavid will look to cash in when he can grab 20% of the salary cap, which by then could equate to around $23 million per season over eight years. That’s about $184 million.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Kings went into a rare Saturday morning game coming off a gutsy 6-5 shootout victory over a division rival in the Vegas Golden Knights. 

They entered Saturday's game trying to win back-to-back games to give themselves some momentum after a brutal season opener against the Avalanche. 

However, LA got off to a slow start on Saturday as the Jets controlled the play in the first period. The Kings came alive in the second period and continued their strong effort into the final frame. However, Mark Scheifele and the Jets proved to be too much to handle.

Final from Winnipeg. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/qq4pNvGl02

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 11, 2025

First Period: Inability to Stay out of the Penalty Box 

The Kings got off to a nightmare-ish start as Quinton Byfield was called for hooking just 3:25 into the opening frame. Alex Iafallo made his former team pay, scoring on the ensuing power play, which gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead just 4:48 into the game.

Jeff Malott continues to make the most with the ice time he's been given. After Jets blue-liner Logan Stanley laid a massive hit on Alex Turcotte, Malott stepped to avenge his teammate. Stanley wasn't interested in squaring off with LA's enforcer, so Luke Schenn stepped in and the two squared off in a short bout.

The penalty trouble didn't end after Byfield's minor earlier in the first. Brian Dumoulin and Alex Laferriere were each sent to the box with two-minute minors in the last half of the period. Luckily, the Kings' penalty-kill stepped up to keep it a one-score game after 20 minutes.

Discipline is essential if you want to succeed in this league. Giving your opponent the man advantage for six minutes a period is a recipe for disaster, especially against the reigning Presidents'  Trophy winners.

Darcy Kuemper stayed strong in the crease, stopping 13 of Winnipeg's 14 first-period shots.

Logan Stanley drills Alex Turcotte, leading to a Luke Schenn–Jeff Malott scrap 🥊 pic.twitter.com/VGKOM41ao5

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 11, 2025

Second Period: Strong Effort is Rewarded

Los Angeles came out firing in the second period, and they were rewarded almost instantly. Mikey Anderson beat Connor Hellebuyck with a blistering shot from the point to get the Kings on the board just 50 seconds into the middle frame.

The Kings continued to push, which led to Adrian Kempe scoring his first goal of the season. Kempe buried a tap-in after a beautiful passing play by Andrei Kuzmenko and Anze Kopitar. The Kings had the lead for the first time. 

That lead was short-lived however, as Mark Scheifele beat Darcy Kuemper with just over a minute remaining to tie the game at 2-2.

Although they no longer had the lead, the Kings second-period effort was very promising.

Third Period: Lack of Execution

After a terrific middle period, the Kings carried that effort over into the final frame. This time, they weren't rewarded for several reasons.

LA was awarded three different man advantages throughout the third period, and five in the game overall. They scored on zero of said power plays. It is extremely difficult to win in the NHL when you fail to execute on crucial chances. It wasn't for a lack of effort. Los Angeles outshot Winnipeg 11-5 in the final 20 minutes, but last season's MVP, Connor Hellebuyck was on his A-game.

With just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, Scheifle scored his second of the game, which would end up being the decider. 

The Jets deserve a ton of credit as well as they blocked 28 shots to the Kings 11. 

Los Angeles falls to 1-2-0 while Winnipeg improves to 1-1-0. Despite the loss, the Kings should use this game as a building block moving forward. They played well and should use that as a way to improve their execution moving forward. 

The Kings will look to bounce back once again as they travel to Minnesota to take on the Wild (1-1-0) on Monday, October 13th at 8:00 PM ET / 11:00 PM PT.

Carter Yakemchuk, the Ottawa Senators' seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, made his professional hockey debut on Saturday night, playing his first regular-season game with the American Hockey League's Belleville Senators. Yakemchuk quarterbacked the power play, didn't get on the scoreboard, had one shot, and was a minus-3 in a 5-2 loss to Lehigh Valley.

In some ways, the game resembled the parent club's 6-2 loss Saturday to the Florida Panthers. The B-Sens fell behind early and certainly didn't get much of a goaltending performance. Mads Sogaard allowed 4 goals on the Phantoms' first 9 shots. At least Sogaard stopped the bleeding after that, but too much damage had already been done.

In a conversation with David Foot from the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network, Yakemchuk – always a young man of few words – says overall, he felt pretty comfortable in his first game.

Yakemchuk is regarded as the Senators' top prospect and hopes to get his scoring swagger back in the AHL this season. He was drafted as an offensive defenceman, scoring 30 goals and 71 points in his draft year, but since then, the organization has been asking him to focus more on the defensive side of the game.

He is a defenseman after all, so it's not an unreasonable request. But it's impossible to ignore that his big numbers – the ones that made him such a high NHL Draft pick to begin with – have tailed off.

The Senators aren't concerned about it, though. And why would they be? It's way too early for that.

"Carter's continued to grow and develop," Sens GM Steve Staios said on the first day of training camp. "I think you can look at his season last year in the WHL and be a little bit misled by the point totals, but there are certain areas of his games that he started to round out and pay more attention to.

"It's always difficult for an offensive guy, that talented of an offensive player at that level, because that's really what you gravitate to, because you can dominate the game at that level. But we were pleased with his progression."

For the second straight season, Yakemchuk was caught up in last week's final wave of NHL roster cuts. But unlike last year's camp, when he led all Senators in preseason scoring with 7 points in 4 games, he failed to get on the scoreboard in 4 games this season.

The Sens seem to be using the 'better to be overripe than underdeveloped' tactic they decided on with Tyler Kleven. Staios admitted that Kleven could have played in the NHL before last season when he became a full-time player. But the Sens had Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Jakob Chychrun, so there was absolutely no rush.

The same is true now for Yakemchuk, who's blocked by the new blue line surplus on the right side. At the moment, through two games, Jordan Spence can't even get into the lineup – and that's a young guy with 180 NHL games under his belt. He was a regular on the LA Kings the past two years, a team that finished last season with the second-best goals against in the NHL. So there's zero need to rush Yakemchuk either.

Spence and Nick Jensen are both free agents next summer, and so the kid's path could clear up quickly if the Sens decide he's ready.

In the meantime, with Yakemchuk's pro career officially nunderway, he'll be a fascinating player to monitor as he continues to try to assimilate the defensive level required at the NHL level without fully sacrificing the swashbuckler offensive style that got Sens amateur scouts so excited in the first place.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:

Ottawa Senators Mauled By Florida 6-2, Penalty Killing Struggles Continue
Pinto Scores Twice As Ottawa Senators Win Season Opener 5-4 in Tampa Bay
Jordan Spence: A Healthy Scratch For Ottawa Senators Season Opener
Travis Green Says Senators Are 'Headed In the Right Direction'
Senators Send Yakemchuk To The Minors, Place Batherson And Kleven On IR
More Senators Broadcast Changes: Marc Methot Out At TSN