After two on-ice sessions, the Toronto Maple Leafs are already running into some early injury trouble. Before the club hit the ice at Ford Performance Centre for Day 3, the Leafs announced that forward Nicolas Roy (lower-body), defenseman Simon Benoit (upper-body), and goaltender Joseph Woll (illness) would be out.

The following Maple Leafs players will be absent from today’s practice:

D Simon Benoit (upper body)
F Nicolas Roy (lower body)
G Joseph Woll (illness)

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) September 20, 2025

No further update was provided as players hit the ice. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is expected to address the players missing in action at the end of Saturday's session, which is set to include the first scrimmage at training camp.

Benoit is no stranger to sustaining upper-body injuries at Leafs camp. After signing with Toronto in 2023, he suffered from back spasms for most of camp and eventually started his season with the Toronto Marlies. He later earned an everyday spot on the Leafs' third defensive pair, which he occupies today. Given his history, this new injury could potentially affect his roster spot, especially with the increased competition.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Simon Benoit Is Their Unlikely Hero: How He Earned His RoleIf you told Toronto Maple Leafs fans their sixth- or seventh-best defenseman would be significantly responsible for two straight overtime goals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, you would’ve been asked to immediately take a sobriety test. 

Roy, acquired in the sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, sustained an upper-body injury last season that limited him to 71 games.

Report: Maple Leafs And Golden Knights Discussing Mitch Marner Sign And Trade, Could Include Nic RoyThe Mitch Marner sweepstakes could end before free agency begins.

Joseph Woll was a full participant in practice on Friday, as were Roy and Benoit. The latter two players join forward Max Domi, who is also on the shelf with a lower-body injury he sustained before camp began. Domi has been working on the ice individually with the development staff, but there is no timetable for his return.

To be updated...

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As NHL training camps opened this week, the Ottawa Senators are returning with largely the same roster that earned the club's first playoff appearance since 2017. Obviously, the brain-trust, led by GM Steve Staios, feels that salvation lies within and that the key to getting this group to the next level is in the untapped potential of its existing roster.

Unlike previous seasons, this appears to be strictly a training camp rather than a tryout. Does that mean that players on the cusp have nothing to shoot for? Of course not. However, barring injuries, the roster would seem to be set.

That said, there are some interesting story lines as the team hits the ice at the Bell Sensplex. Here are five:

1) The Crease

Obviously, Linus Ullmark will lead the charge in goal. The Senators, however, come to camp with two other goalies who are on one-way contracts.

Staios has all but officially declared Leevi Merilainen will be the backup, but head coach Travis Green had a different view this week.

“There's competition for every position on the team, so if it's Leevi, we'll see,” Green told the media.

One can’t forget that 24-year-old Mads Sogaard is also on a one-way deal, and if he figures it out in camp and gives Merilainen a run for that backup position, what then? Merilainen is still waiver-exempt, and from an asset management perspective, carrying Sogaard into the season could be an option – but only if his performance warrants it.

The contention has long been that bigger goalies take longer to develop. Ben Bishop was drafted in 2005 and didn’t emerge as a full-time NHLer until 2012. Before the Sens expose Sogaard to the waiver wire, they want to be good and sure he isn’t another Bishop in the making.

2) The Blueline

Everyone from last spring's playoff run is still in the fold, and they've been joined by right-shot defenseman Jordan Spence.

If the health of Nick Jensen and the development curve of Carter Yakemchuk were clearer, would Spence have been acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason? Spence certainly wasn't expensive. Effectively, Staios got him by moving back two spots in the first round – a smooth piece of business.

Jensen performed above expectations last season until suffering a hip injury, which curtailed his play. Yakemchuk made a nice impression at this year's rookie camp against the Leafs. However, Yak's 2024-25 junior season left something to be desired, with his impressive offensive production declining. Staios suggested this week that it was a result of being asked to focus more on defensive awareness.

Eyes will be on Spence and Yakemchuk at camp this year while Jensen continues his rehabilitation. Could Yakemchuk make a case to break camp and get his first NHL action?

Head coach Travis Green has said, “Carter Yakemchuk will dictate where he plays”.

3) Tyler Boucher

It’s no secret that Boucher’s time with the Senators organization has been underwhelming, largely due to being injury-prone. However, even in large strings of games without injury, Boucher hasn't yet looked like the top 10 pick that the Senators used on him in 2021.

That said, it was noticed by many when he picked up a goal against the Leafs in rookie camp.

As his last entry-level contract season, could this be the year that things fall into place for Boucher, or will he become one of those kernels that never pop?

A good training camp would be a nice start, even if he starts the season in Belleville.

4) Stephen Halliday

Halliday led the offensively-challenged Baby Sens in scoring last season. He was even rewarded with a couple of call-ups, but they never actually led to playing in his first NHL game.

Like Yakemchuk, he made a splash in rookie camp, and it remains to be seen if he can elevate his game and become one of the depth forwards that the team leans on for inevitable injury backfills.

With a 6’4” 212 lb frame, size and compete aren’t Halliday’s issue. Foot speed will likely be something he will need to overcome at the NHL level.

A minus 20 in the AHL will also get people’s attention. If you are going to be a depth player, the coach needs to believe you can at least handle your own end of the rink. Offensive production becomes a bonus.

Barring injury, Halliday will likely start in Belleville this season. That said, he will likely get a good look playing with NHLers to see if he can fit in.

5) Lassi Thomson

The former 1st round draft pick in 2019 led the Malmo Red Hawks in scoring as a defenseman in the Swedish Elite league and had an impressive playoff as well.

Could this kernel still pop? If Yakemchuk isn’t ready and Jensen starts the season on the injured list, the door may be open for Thomson to grab a spot and show he can get the job done.

His frame puts him at a disadvantage to play bottom-pairing minutes. However, no one foresaw what Nicklas Matinpalo became last season.

Good news stories start with an opportunity and Thomson may be in the right place at the right time.

Although this may be more training camp than tryout, there are still potential surprises that could emerge before the opening-day roster is finalized.

By Pat Maguire

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There are only a few players on the Vancouver Canucks current roster who have been with the organization longer than Nils Höglander. The 24-year-old is entering his sixth season and is closing in on 300 games for his NHL career. A versatile winger who can play throughout the lineup, Höglander is projected to play a key role for the Canucks during the 2025-26 campaign. 

At this point in his career, Höglander is looking to gain every advantage he can in order to have a successful season. This includes pushing himself during the off-season and ensuring he is ready physically for the gruelling NHL season. As Höglander explained, he spent the off-season continuing to develop his all-around game, which included plenty of time on the ice. 

"The off-season is always a big part of the season that's gonna be," said Höglander. "I worked out pretty hard during the summer, so I was focused more this summer on the ice than off the ice. I've been skating a lot this year or this summer."

Looking back, the 2024-25 season was a challenging one for Höglander. While he would often dominate from an analytics perspective, he struggled to score, recording just eight goals in 72 games. Heading into this year, Höglander is ready to bounce back and become a more difficult player to match up against.

"I think I learned from last year. I had a little bit rougher start than at the end of the season, I came back with my grit to the game again. So feels like this start, I will have more toughness. Gonna work on my defence part of the game too, and be more comfortable to hold on the pucks and enter the zone with the puck and that style. So, yeah, that's my focus."

One area that Höglander continues to develop is the physical side of his game. Listed at 5'9", 185 lbs, he consistently wins battles against bigger defenders and has thrown 176 hits over the past two seasons. As Höglander explained, his ability to play a physical game is important as it allows the coaching staff to play him up and down the lineup. 

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"It's hard to play in NHL if you don't have that skill, I would say if you only have the skill, it's pretty hard to to play in NHL. I would say, for me, it feels like I have that grit to play all over the lines. Like I can play on the fourth line and be like a power forward. Or play top six, and have the same play style. So, I mean, that's a little bit underrated skill to have, I would say."

As for the 2025-26 season, Höglander wants to build off what was a strong end to the last year. He recorded 10 points over his final 12 games while playing consistently in the top six. Ultimately, Höglander is focused on doing everything he can to be ready for the regular season, which includes having a strong training camp here in Penticton. 

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Nils HöglanderWelcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. In this edition, we take a look at winger Nils Höglander, who is entering his sixth NHL campaign. 

"I always want to finish where I left last year at the end of the season. I think I played really good hockey at the end of the year. So just this training camp, be focused. Play hard and be ready every time, and not go up and down all these games. Just have a nice level all the time."

Ultimately, Höglander has the potential to be an X-Factor for Vancouver this season. He is annoying for the opposition to face and plays a style of game that adapts well to all four forward lines. Regardless of where he plays in the lineup, Höglander should find ways to stand out throughout the 2025-26 campaign. 

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.

Coming back for a knee operation is no easy task; coming back from a second one is even worse. Still, Montreal Canadiens’ center Kirby Dach saw his second rehab as an opportunity to do things the right way. On the first day of on-ice sessions in Brossard on Thursday, he faced the media, implying that he had learned his lesson and worked harder this offseason to be fully ready. Teammate Kaiden Guhle spoke about how he worked out with Dach all summer and how he never took days off or made excuses to skip a day. As the center himself said, he stacked the days.

On Friday morning, the former Chicago Blackhawks third overall pick at the 2019 draft was the first forward on the ice, before the kids, before the guys who were in the AHL and who hope to win a spot this season, Dach was on the ice working on his passing skills with a coach.

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When the whistle blew, he took part in all the drills with the pedal to the metal, hustling and battling for every puck. Dach didn’t just say the right things on Thursday; for the last two days, he also did the right things. He’s yet to take part in a scrimmage, but on Friday, his two linemates, Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine, showed that there was already some chemistry between the two. The way the Russian can dangle with the puck as if it were tied to his stick on an elastic is impressive, and his skating has also improved this offseason. Jeff Gorton said at the end of last season that a winger could drive a line just as well as a center in some cases, and Demidov really looks up to the task.

In past years, Dach was asked to be the driver of the second line. It worked in his first season, and he looked primed for an even better season in year two before he sustained a season-ending injury in the second game of the 2023-24 campaign. Last season, he was slow out of the gate and out of shape, but he still managed to participate in 57 games before the injury struck again. In those 57 games, he put up 22 points and had a minus-29 rating, the worst on the team.

This season, it’s clear that the pressure isn't on him to drive the line or earn the right to center the second line; Martin St-Louis has already said it’s his spot. All Dach has to do is focus on doing things right, and so far, he has. Once he gets to play in a preseason game, he’ll do so with two highly talented players on his wings. There’s no denying that he’s been put in winning conditions as he enters the last year of his contract. Will he be able to convince the organization that he is their second-line center of the future? The answer is unclear, but what’s crystal clear is that the Habs’ brass really wants to be convinced. The ball is in Dach’s hands, and something tells me that he’ll shine with a little bit of help from his friends.

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A significant and beloved late member of the Pittsburgh Penguins' community has received a high honor from the NHL and USA Hockey.

On Friday, former Penguins' general manager Ray Shero - who died in April - was posthumously awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy, which recognizes outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Shero's surviving family will accept the award in his honor during the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Dec. 10. 

Shero was hired as the Penguins' GM in the summer of 2006, which directly followed Sidney Crosby's rookie season and the Penguins' disappointing finish as the second-worst team in the league. Through draft selections, savvy trade deadline moves, and a go-for-it mentality, Shero became beloved in Pittsburgh and helped lead the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2008 and 2009 - the latter of which resulted in Pittsburgh's first Stanley Cup since 1992.

He remained with the Penguins' organization until 2014, and he moved on to the New Jersey Devils as GM in 2015 and stayed in that post until 2020. Most recently, he held an advising position with the Minnesota Wild, and he held that position until his death.

Bill Guerin keeps Ray Shero in his heart on the opening day of camp in Minnesota:pic.twitter.com/L76JuH4PMG

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) September 18, 2025

 Shero also held assistant GM positions with the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators, and he was also the assistant GM for the U.S. Olympic team at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. 

Even In Passing, Shero Leaves Legacy On Penguins OrganizationIt's hard to talk about the Sidney Crosby-era Pittsburgh Penguins without talking about former general manager Ray Shero.

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The Detroit Red Wings have nearly wrapped up Training Camp in preparation for the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season, but two key members of the team have been absent for the entirety of the proceedings. 

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who is coming off his first full NHL season and has already made himself arguably Detroit's second most valuable blue liner, is dealing with an injury that's expected to sideline him potentially until the Oct. 9 home opener. 

Secondly, newly-signed forward James van Riemsdyk has also been unable to participate. Thankfully, the reason behind van Riemsdyk's absence appears to be a happy one. 

For now, head coach Todd McLellan continues to tinker with different line combinations, even trying Elmer Söderblom on the top line with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin during scrimmage play. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

However, van Riemsdyk's absence from the ice in the early goings of Training Camp hasn't thrown a wrench into their plans. 

"It changes things for, maybe some line situations or something like that, but our lines are going to be all over the map here pretty soon," McLellan said. "We're just going to continue to try and experiment with different people in different places until we find things we like."

van Riemsdyk was the second overall pick in 2007 (Philadelphia Flyers) behind his now-current teammate Patrick Kane (Blackhawks). Ironically, they'd both battle one another just three years later in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.

He's already eclipsed the 1,000 game mark, appearing in 1,082 total regular season contests with 327 goals and 338 assists across stops with four different clubs (two separate stints with the Flyers). 

Getting a veteran like him back up to speed isn't going to be a problem for Detroit, according to McLellan. 

"When JVR gets back to camp, whether it's going to be here tomorrow, the Red & White game, or back in Detroit, we'll get him caught up on things," McLellan said. "He's a seasoned veteran, he's played multiple different systems in the League....he's a smart guy. We'll be able to catch him up to the pace of the team. I'll be his legs and his timing and all that type of stuff that'll have to come back, but it'll come." 

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As far as final line combinations as Opening Night approaches, McLellan cautioned fans not to read too much into them, as they're subject to change at a moment's notice. 

"We're moving people around. I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans, and see how that goes," he said. "But please don't read into the lines and good luck guessing, because I don't even know what we're doing tomorrow, yet."

Following the final day of Training Camp in Traverse City, the club will travel to Grand Rapids for the annual Red & White Game, which was moved to Van Andel Arena for the first time, on Sept. 22.

They'll follow this up with the opening pre-season game against the Chicago Blackhawks the following night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

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With an uncertain future ahead, top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko is keeping everything in perspective in front of him during training camp.

Luchanko, 19, will be forced to either make the NHL outright this season, as he did on John Tortorella's iteration of the Flyers last year, or return to the OHL with the lowly Guelph Storm.

But, having gone through it all already, and knowing what to expect in regards to his future one way or another, the 2024 first-round pick isn't spending all that much time considering what's ahead of him.

"Just a lot of the same as last year. Just come to the rink everyday and work hard," Luchanko said of his current approach Friday. "No matter what, it's never going to be easy to make a team like this, so, kind of just take it day by day."

Flyers Training Camp 2025: Top 3 Roster Battles to WatchThe Philadelphia Flyers are looking to ratchet up the competition for NHL roster spots this year, and that starts with the beginning of training camp on Thursday.

The 19-year-old had an interesting 2024-25 campaign, playing games for the Flyers, Canada U20s at the World Junior Championships, the Storm as their captain, and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, including seven Calder Cup playoff games.

Then, heading into development camp and even the recent rookie camp, Luchanko spent time nursing a nagging groin injury.

And, unfortunately for Luchanko and the Flyers, he won't be back in the AHL until the spring, just as last year, due to league rules.

Suffice to say, a lot can and will change during life as a top NHL prospect.

But, Luchanko's ability to keep perspective and stay grounded is impressive and says a lot about his mentality as a player and as a person. That's undoubtedly part of the reason why the Flyers believe in him as much as they do.

A player who's already made an NHL team out of camp and played regular season games, Luchanko anticipates having to earn every minute of ice time, even as he's paired with Owen Tippett and Alexis Gendron in the early goings of training camp.

Flyers Training Camp Day 1: Big Opportunities AplentyThe vibes are high as the Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their 2025 training camp Thursday, and for good reason. The atmosphere seems to be totally different.

The Flyers are committed to giving all their young guys a fair chance in beneficial circumstances, which, of course, extends beyond Luchanko, but he's only worried about himself and his game.

Not about competition, not about roster spots, and not about doing a repeat of last year.

Those all exist in the grand scheme of things, but the mature head on Luchanko's shoulders will take him to where he needs to go, starting with training camp this week.

The 2024-25 season was a rough one for the Vancouver Canucks, but there were still a few bright spots by the end of it. One of these was the remarkable rookie effort from defenceman Elias Pettersson. 

The 21-year-old, who started his first North American season last year with the Abbotsford Canucks, made his NHL debut on January 25 against the Washington Capitals and stuck in Vancouver’s lineup virtually since then. Calm, cool, and collected, the defender demonstrated a confident tenacity not often seen in players his age. Because of this, he’s the current favourite to make Vancouver’s third-pairing on opening night. 

“Everyone wants to play in the NHL, and that’s what I want,” he told The Hockey News after the second day of the Canucks’ Training Camp on Friday. “I think it's just great for the competition, for the practices, for the games.”

Last season was full of memorable moments for the younger Pettersson, who was also named to the AHL All-Star Challenge as a rookie, though he didn’t end up playing due to already being in Vancouver’s lineup for another game. He also scored his first NHL goal on April 5 against the Anaheim Ducks, and got in his first NHL fight on April 11 against Logan O’Connor of the Colorado Avalanche. Still, the defenceman insists that the biggest moments of that season were the first he’d ever experienced — his debuts. 

“Always the debuts,” he said. “Debut in Abbotsford, debut up in Vancouver. A debut, you never forget those moments.” 

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Vancouver’s off-season lasted a bit longer than the team would have wanted it to, with their final game being played on April 16. During the summer, Pettersson took the opportunity to learn from current NHLers such as Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund. 

“He helped me, battling with him on one-on-ones — so hard — but I think it’s so good for me to play against such great players during the off-season.” 

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Elias Pettersson (D) Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. Today, we’ll be looking at how rookie defenceman Elias Pettersson could perform in 2025–26. 

The 2025-26 season will be quite different from last year, with one main change in the team being their coaching staff. Former assistant Adam Foote is now the head coach, and appears to be approaching things differently than former bench boss Rick Tocchet. The team appears more aggressive under he and new assistant coaches Kevin Dean, Brett McLean, and Scott Young. Pettersson worked with Foote last season, and will continue to learn under him now despite the coach having a different role. 

“I learned so much. I’m still learning,” he explained. “Always some advice every practice, every game. Just really good for myself and for the team.”

Pettersson has learned lots, and will continue to learn even more, as he prepares to embark on what could possibly his first full NHL season. 

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.

When longtime Chicago Blackhawks star center and captain Jonathan Toews chose to sign with the Winnipeg Jets this summer as part of his NHL comeback, the questions began about how quickly he would make his mark on his new team.

The answer to that question is “immediately.”

“The biggest thing you see is the level of enthusiasm,” Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said of Toews in his comments to media on Thursday. “I have talked to his agent a few times, and he was like, ‘I haven’t seen him like this in years. I haven’t seen him like this since he was breaking into the league, as far as the excitement levels.’ ”

When Toews pressed pause on his NHL career in 2023, there were no guarantees about a return to hockey’s top league whenever the 37-year-old had addressed and overcome serious health concerns. But now that he’s back and active with the Jets, Toews’ leadership skills and instincts are readily apparent to the Winnipeg organization.

“I was fortunate enough to watch him when he was coming into his prime (in Chicago) and becoming ‘Captain Serious’, and it was the little things that he did, the things that he did to make linemates better,” Cheveldayoff said Thursday. “Those aren’t things you lose because of age or not playing. Those are intangibles, and that is what he has. We will see how things progress and everything like that, but I think the true measure of what he is going to bring to the team is how he elevates people around him.”

To be sure, Toews’ 15 NHL seasons of experience – in which he’s played 1,067 regular-season games, while generating 511 assists and 883 points and winning three Stanley Cups – can only be a good thing for the Jets. He’ll not only be motivated to earn up to $5 million in performance bonuses on top of his $2 million of base salary, but he'll be hungry to win.

This coming season, they’re going to try to push further than the second round of the playoffs, where they were beaten last year by the Dallas Stars. So Toews has a golden opportunity to add to his terrific resume and be one of the catalysts in Winnipeg having its best year in the franchise’s history.

Five Burning Questions Heading Into NHL Training CampsAs NHL training camps open across the NHL, there are unfinished contract business, lineup projections, rookies looking to earn a spot and pending signings and trades. 

Toews’ talents on offense may have been diminished by Father Time – in his most recent season, he produced only 15 goals and 31 points in 53 games – but the Jets don’t need Toews to be a front-runner for the NHL’s Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top point-getter. That said, they need him to not only produce on offense but also play savvy defense, be a calm voice in their dressing room and help the team weather any storm that might come its way. 

If he can do those things, the Jets and Toews will be soaring this season.

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Talk The Talk, Walk The Walk - Oct. 19 2021 - Vol. 75 Issue 5 - Jared Clinton

(SERGEI BELSKI-USA TODAY SPORTS)

NATE SCHMIDT HAS AN industry secret to share, a trick of the trade he’s picked up over the past few months.

You see, beyond balancing that patrolling-the-blueline-in-the-best-league-in-the-world thing, Schmidt picked up a side gig as a salesman during the off-season, buying into ShortSide Hockey Co., a hockey tape and apparel company started by a few friends from Minnesota.

Schmidt stumbled across a surefire sales tactic through his work with ShortSide. It goes a little something like this: find a potential customer and use the gift of gab. Sure, it’s not for everyone. There are those without a penchant for prattle, those who feel no need for chitchat. But the good news is Schmidt likes to talk. Like, a lot.

“Usually I get on the phone and just start chatting and rambling and talking, and I think usually by the end of it people are saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll buy it from you just so you shut up,’” Schmidt laughed.

Early Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesBreaking down the early takeaways of Winnipeg Jets Training Camp including storylines from each group, position battles to watch and prospects to keep an eye on.

He’s kidding, of course. Truthfully, it’s hard to fathom anyone telling Schmidt to pipe down and not at all because of his big-league bonafides. Rather, it’s Schmidt’s gregariousness. He has a magnetism and all-too-rare earnestness to him. A conversation about hockey tape shouldn’t be engaging, yet Schmidt can manage to talk about the process of testing batches, cold-calling coaches and persuading teammates to use the stuff without the conversation falling flat.

He brings that same sincerity and thoughtfulness to everything he does, not the least of which is his NHL day job. That much is evident when Schmidt discusses his summer trade to the Winnipeg Jets and reports he considered using his no-trade clause to veto the move. In his first meeting with the Winnipeg media, he took pains to clarify any thought given to nixing the deal was no slight to the city, team or its fans.

It was simply his desire to step back and think – about moving halfway across the country to a new team, about life in a new city and about how his fiancee would feel about the move. “When guys go through and look at free agency and such, things happen really quickly and some guys always say, ‘You wish you could slow it down because it happens so quickly,’” Schmidt said. “When I was taking a look at (the trade) and looking at all the things, the possibilities, it was, for me, my way of slowing it down, to be able to walk away and just reflect on all the things that were about to change.”

It’s difficult to argue with that justification, and even more difficult when considering the veritable whirlwind that has been the past few seasons of the 30-year-old’s career.

CHANGE OF SCENERY

Schmidt hopes the move to Winnipeg will spur a return to his prior form as a reliable offensive contributor.

(GARY A. VASQUEZ-USA TODAY SPORTS)

Shrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLThe NHL's recent CBA changes could lead to a longer AHL pre-season, following the NHL cutting down on exhibition games. 

Ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, with one year remaining on a two-year pact he had signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, Schmidt inked his first legitimate big-money, career-making contract, a six-year, $35.7-million deal that he believed would keep him in Sin City for the bulk of what was left of his career.

Included in that deal was the aforementioned no-trade clause, which seemed to further insinuate Vegas saw him as a long-term fixture on its blueline. That wasn’t quite the case. One season into his new agreement, the Golden Knights sent Schmidt packing, dealing him to Vancouver for a third-round pick. Less than 10 months later, Schmidt was headed to Winnipeg. “The first time it was pretty devastating to go through, because you think, ‘I signed this deal, I am going to be a part of this team, we’re the Misfits and we’re going to keep it together,’” Schmidt said. “It was a hard thing to figure out at first. I think as you go through and realize that this is part of hockey, it doesn’t really diminish the fact it is hard.”

MY EXPECTATIONS FOR MYSELF ARE EVEN HIGHER THAN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FOR ME– Nate Schmidt

And while he’s not about to make excuses, he admitted the wrinkle that COVID-19 added to matters – from the shutdown to the bubble and off-ice restrictions – made that first transition especially challenging, which bore out in Schmidt’s numbers. Across the three seasons preceding his campaign in Vancouver, Schmidt had established himself as a regular offensive contributor, with his 97 points in 196 games, a hair shy of half-point-per-game production during his time with Vegas.

As a Canuck, his output dropped precipitously, to the tune of just five goals and 15 points in 54 games. “I knew I wasn’t at my best last year,” he said. “A lot of different things go into that with a weird year and frustration sometimes. You put a lot of pressure on yourself to go in there and play really well, and there really isn’t a whole lot of time to get used to a new system, new team and real time to actually get going.”

Having gone through this before has Schmidt feeling more settled this time around. It doesn’t hurt he’s relatively close to home – St. Cloud, Minn., is roughly a six-hour drive south – and was able to settle into former teammate Cody Eakin’s Winnipeg home upon arriving with his new team. He’s getting a feel for the city, for the team facilities, and he’s starting to form all-important bonds with his teammates, which has been made that much easier by the relaxing of some of pandemic-related restrictions.

Schmidt acclimating to his new surroundings is no small thing, particularly given the Jets are anticipating he’ll be a major piece of a rejuvenated blueline to which Brenden Dillon has likewise been added. Not since the halcyon, Western Conference-finalist days of 2017-18, when Winnipeg iced a top four of Josh Morrissey, Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers, has there been this much promise in the Jets’ defense corps, at least on paper. If Schmidt returns to the same form that saw him munch minutes for the Vegas group that ended that 2017-18 Winnipeg team’s post-season run, it’d be no surprise to see the Jets carving a playoff path this season.

Trust he’s aware of what Winnipeg is hoping for, too. “A lot of the time, honestly, the expectations people make, my expectations for myself are even higher than what other people have for me,” Schmidt said. “I expect the best out of myself. I do feel good. I feel like my confidence is back playing with this group, we have a good group and it’s going to make for an exciting year.”

Divisional Focus: Jets Look to Snap Losing Skid versus Last-Place PredatorsThe Winnipeg Jets aim to win three crucial divisional games over the Nashville Predators next season after losing four of their last seven matchups. 

Matt Grzelcyk is currently on a professional tryout (PTO) with the Chicago Blackhawks. With this, the 31-year-old defenseman is certainly aiming to impress in hopes of landing a contract from the Central Division club for the 2025-26 season.

While speaking to reporters, including the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope, Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill shared that the team will sign Grzelcyk if their young defensemen do not appear to be ready for the NHL. However, Blashill also added that the team will likely not sign Grzelcyk if their youngsters earn NHL spots. 

It is understandable that the Blackhawks are waiting to see if some of their young blueliners are ready for the NHL before potentially signing Grzelcyk. The Blackhawks are in a rebuild, after all, so it makes sense that they want to see if some of their prospect defensemen can make the team. 

However, if the Blackhawks decide to start some of their young defensemen at the AHL level, bringing in Grzelcyk could benefit them. He would give them another veteran blueliner to work with to help mentor their young players.

Nevetheless, we will now need to wait and see what the Blackhawks decide to do with Grzelcyk from here.

Blackhawks Rumors: 4 Other Teams Still in Running for Matt GrzelcykIt is shocking that Matt Grzelcyk went so long without actually being signed after the 31-year-old put up 40 points on the Pittsburgh Penguins. But recently, the Chicago Blackhawks signed him to a PTO. I will continue to argue that it was the decision to do so even though there is one veteran on the back-end.

NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments are what The Wraparound is all about.

Do The Canadiens' Kent Hughes And Jeff Gorton Deserve Long-Term Extensions? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Diandra Loux discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which Toronto Maple Leafs acquisition will have the biggest impact this season?

5:22: Do Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton deserve long-term extensions with the Montreal Canadiens?

9:27: How much will Kyle Connor be making on his next contract with the Winnipeg Jets?

13:09: How difficult will it be for GMs to negotiate long-term contracts with the rising salary cap?

18:46: Who do NHL players think the next ‘face of the league’ will be?

24:04: Who will have to step up the most for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the absence of Nick Paul?

27:50: Breaking down Mikael Backlund’s extension with the Calgary Flames

30:00: Will Anze Kopitar be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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The Montreal Canadiens are entering this upcoming season with several promising young players. One specific prospect who fans should be keeping a very close eye on during the 2025-26 season is forward Oliver Kapanen. This is because the 22-year-old forward has the potential to blossom into a solid part of the Canadiens' roster.

Kapanen took a nice step forward in his development this past season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Timra IK. In 36 games with the SHL club on the year, the 6-foot-2 forward recorded new career highs with 14 goals and 35 points in 36 games. This was after he had 14 goals and 34 points in 51 games with KalPa of the SHL in 2023-24. Thus, his offensive production went up in less games this past season, which is very encouraging.

Kapanen also played in his first 18 career NHL regular-season games with the Canadiens this past campaign, posting two assists. He also recorded one assist in three games for the Canadiens during the playoffs. Overall, while he did not make the most impact offensively while playing with Montreal in 2024-25, he did not look out of place and showed promise. 

Now, Kapanen will be looking to take that next step with the Canadiens this upcoming season. He is one of the many Canadiens youngsters fighting for a spot on their NHL roster and is easily among their breakout candidates for the new year. 

Carolina Hurricanes 2023 first-round pick Bradly Nadeau is one year into his professional hockey career, but already he's been turning heads.

The 20-year-old winger lit up the AHL last season, becoming just the sixth teenager in league history to score 30+ goals, while also being named to the 2025 Top Prospect Team, an honor bestowed to the AHL prospects projected to be the best future NHL players.

Now, Nadeau is hoping to convert his efforts and experience into a full-time NHL role.

The New Brunswick native has enjoyed essentially linear progression since being drafted by Hurricanes, dominating at every level he's played at. 

From the BCHL to the NCAA and, last year, the AHL, Nadeau has continually demonstrated the talents that made him a first-round pick.

"When you go up a level, sometimes it feels like players will try to change their game," Nadeau said. "They don't want to make mistakes but I think you just have to play your game. Mistakes are going to happen in hockey today and it's just about trying to limit them. If you can play with confidence, you can keep your game going and play how you've played at all those levels before."

After a strong showing at the 2025 Prospects Showcase, the talented winger is now taking part in his second Carolina training camp, something he feels much better prepared for this time. 

"It's real hard," Nadeau said about training camp. "You can be really good, but you have to fight for your spot. But this year, coming in, I know what to expect. I just want to make a good impression, but also have fun and just try to do all the small details right. This year, I feel like the game is slowing down a bit. I feel more confident out there. There's going to be a lot of good players again this year, so I know what to expect and I'm ready for camp to get going full tilt here."

Does Bradly Nadeau Have A Shot At Making The Carolina Hurricanes Opening-Night Roster?The Carolina Hurricanes kick off training camp this Thursday, with the opening of the NHL season just a few weeks after that.

On top of gaining professional experience, Nadeau has also grown a bit more into his body.

At his first training camp, Nadeau was listed at 5-foot-10 and 160lbs. Now, he measures in an extra inch taller and 12 pounds heavier.

"He's making the right steps and you can't skip steps," Brind'Amour said. "You want him to keep dominating every step and that's what he's done. Now, it's just one more step and he's knocking on the door for that."

The biggest hurdle for Nadeau though is the current depth of the Canes' roster. 

The team has 13 forwards under contract who played significant NHL roles last season, so he has quite the hill to surmount.

However, Nadeau doesn't view the current roadblock as detrimental.

"I wouldn't say there's any frustration," Nadeau said. "I think it's just that you're waiting for your chance. You can always use all the time you can get to prepare. Right now, it's just about working hard and doing all those things right until that chance comes. ... Carolina is going to have a good team this year and it's always fun to know that you're trying to get a spot on a team like that."

It's exactly the attitude that Brind'Amour wants to see too.

"There's nothing he can do about that,' Brind'Amour said about the  "He can only worry about doing his thing and then it's up to us to find a seat on the bus for him if he deserves it.

"I thought he grew as a player. We know his ability to score goals, especially with that shot. Lots of power play goals there, one-timers. It looks very familiar to some players you've seen over the years. Like, it's a threat every time he rips one. Now he has to add the other elements to his game so that he can be an everyday player here."

Nadeau knows that if he wants to make the team, he's going to have to have a better camp than last year, which he described as just an 'okay' showing.

"For myself, I had an okay camp, but I could have been better," Nadeau said. "I felt like I was rushing plays and felt like the game was fast. But now, with the season last year, the experience I got, it changed how I see the ice now, so I think that's going to be a big factor for me that'll help me."

All Nadeau can do is focus on his own game and if he's ready, the team will find a way to make it work. I mean, it's exactly what happened last season.

Last year, Nadeau was one of three promising rookies looking for a spot, but in the end, Jackson Blake was the one who made the most of the opportunity, turning a strong camp and preseason into a consistent NHL role and eventually an eight-year contract extension.

"Jackson, we were in the same spot last year and now obviously he's signed an extension and he's doing great for himself," Nadeau said. "You never know what can happen, you just have to work hard and hopefully things will go your way."

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Carolina Hurricanes Kick Off 2025-26 Training Camp: Day 1 Notebook

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- For Nick Bjugstad, last season was one to forget for the newly-signed St. Louis Blues veteran center.

A back injury that required surgery a year ago in August put the 33-year-old behind the Eight-ball as far as progress in readying himself for a season.

He gutted through 66 games with the Utah Mammoth and the numbers just simply didn’t add up: eight goals, 11 assists after putting up 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) with the Arizona Coyotes the previous season.

“It was a tough one for me last year,” Bjugstad admitted on Friday, the second day of training camp. “I came out of surgery in late August, it was a back surgery I’ve had before. It takes me a minute to kind of recoup and I missed an entire summer last summer. So I was kind of starting from square one two months into the season. That was tough on me. With that being said, I was excited to get a full summer in here. I skated a lot, trained a lot. Did a lot of pilates. Just kind of hung out with my family. From a training standpoint, I feel much more confident going into this season than I did last.”

But knowing it was a contract year, there was an element of the unknown. And then the Blues came calling, with a need to bolster the center ice position, and in the bottom six. The result was a two-year, $3.5 million contract ($1.75 million average annual value) on July 1.

“I know how good this team is,” Bjugstad said. “In Utah last year, we were chasing them and couldn’t catch them. St. Louis went on a (12-game) win streak, I think it was. I know how good this team is, I know how good the culture is, just having friends that have played here, how much they’ve enjoyed the city and the fans and the environment they’re in. That’s important, older guy in my career. I wanted to join a team I felt was a contender and obviously a team that wants you as well. I got the call, it was exciting. I really didn’t know what to expect in free agency, so I was fortunate to get the call from [Doug] Armstrong.”

The sell was easy.

“Yeah for sure. I think what I can kind of bring to the team to help this team,” Bjugstad said. “You want to go to a team that wants you. That’s first and foremost and then you kind of feel out where they’re at as an organization. I’ve been on the other side of a lot of losses against St. Louis. It’ll be be fun to be on this side with a lot of guys that have been winners and been here a long time.”

The Blues brought in Bjugstad, with his sixth NHL franchise after being selected in the first round (No. 19 overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers, and Pius Suter to bolster the middle of the ice and complement Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn and Oskar Sundqvist to give them five bonafide experienced centers down the middle, something that certainly has lacked in recent past.

Jimmy Snuggerud and Nick Bjugstad #stlblues ... pic.twitter.com/tfNpihn95e

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) September 19, 2025

But what the Blues like about Bjugstad, who has also played for the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins, is his versatility to also be able to play on the wing if necessary.

So far through two days, he’s centered Pavel Buchnevich and Alexandre Texier.

“It’s too early to tell because we’ve only had him down the middle,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said of the usage for Bjugstad. “We will put him on wing at some point in the camp, but right now, just with the organizational depth the way it is, we don’t have a plethora of centers. So getting all the guys more responsibilities at center … it’s harder to play center in our system than it is – it’s probably true in any system – but ours I know it is harder. It’s a lot more work, it’s a lot more reads. To learn how to play fast in that position is a lot harder than wing and I think we’re seeing that with [Dalibor] Dvorsky.”

Bjugstad’s smile on Friday symbolized the way he’s felt, and that’s 100 percent now that he’s put in a full summer of training and has taken extra – and different – measures to ensure his health.

“I’ve had multiple surgeries and every time getting back and finding my body, finding my groove, it takes time,” he said. “Especially with the back. It’s not an easy one. That’s kind of a focal point of your body. My mind was wanting to do one thing last year and it wasn’t generating as far as production and how I felt in previous years. The positive thing is I know I’ve had this surgery and I know I can come back from it without any real issues going forward. It just takes some time. I got that time. I’m ready to go and I feel good.”

And being able to get back to some of the numbers of recent past when Bjugstad also had 17 goals and 12 assists combined with the Coyotes and Oilers in 2022-23 along with his 45 points two seasons ago, is something the 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-handed shot feels he can get back to.

“Yeah I do. I had a rough year, even mentally,” Bjugstad said. “It’s hard when you have a good year the year before, a good few years and then physically you just can’t find it, and that’s how I felt. I’m planning on staying healthy. I’ve really found different ways to take care of myself, my body, mind and what not. It’s definitely a different approach as you get older and you’ve been through stuff like that. I think for me, it’s exciting to come in with a full head of steam and a full summer of training.

“(So far) tt’s been good. Practices have been fast. That’s good, that’s what you expect, to be fast, get your wits about you, get rid of the summer habits. Just trying to do my best to pick up the speed and get ready for these preseason games here.”

Young Rising Blues Forward: "I Want To Be A Top Player In This League One Day" MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Don’t mistake Dylan Holloway the wrong way. The St. Louis Blues forward is beyond grateful to be healthy and skating 100 percent for the first time since what turned out to be an ugly injury that derailed a fantastic first season in the Gateway City. Blues Top Picks Getting Looks With High-End Veterans MARYLAND HEIGHTS. Mo. -- There’s a method to what the St. Louis Blues want to do with some of their young talent – especially first-round talent – that they’ve selected in the past few years. Former Blues Defenseman Remains Without A Contract; Isn't Forcing ItFormer St. Louis Blues defenseman Ryan Suter is still without a contract, but the longtime NHLer isn't forcing a deal.