Category: NHL

The 2026-27 NHL season begins on Sept. 29, but the Anaheim Ducks won’t play their first game until Oct. 2, on the road against the defending Western Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights. They’ll play their home opener two days later against the Florida Panthers.

After perhaps the most eventful offseason in franchise history, the team ends the offseason with more question marks than they started with, despite seemingly putting an end to their elongated rebuild last season by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and winning their first playoff series since 2017.

Takeways from the Ducks 6-2 Preseason Win over the Sharks

Ducks Sign Tim Washe to Four-Year Extension

Betting odds aren’t necessarily indicative of how likely an event is to occur, but rather how companies feel the public will wager. That said, betting odds are a glimpse into what the public views are, so here are BetMGM’s odds for Ducks’ futures and NHL Awards, and we suggest gambling responsibly:

Stanley Cup: +3500 | Western Conference: +1500 | Pacific Division: +750

Rightfully, the odds of the Ducks hanging another Division, Conference, and/or Stanley Cup banner in the Honda Center rafters are low. Though they won a playoff round a year ago against a Cup-favorite Edmonton Oilers team, the Ducks core pieces are still in their early-to-mid twenties, and they lost several name-brand veterans from both the forward and defensive groups.

The Ducks finished third in a historically poor Pacific Division last season with just 92 points, but still three points behind the first-place Knights. This season feels similar in that there are two teams, on paper, who are the class of the division (Edmonton and Vegas). A lot will have to go right for the Ducks to overtake those powerhouses and fend off the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks to take home a division title.

If the Ducks qualify for the playoffs again, anything is on the table, but when the West has been shrunk to eight teams, five can likely be considered true Cup contenders (Vegas, Edmonton, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars), and it would be rather difficult for the Ducks, regardless of internal growth and how hot Lukas Dostal can become by spring, to defeat multiple contenders en route to a potential Stanley Cup Final appearance or championship.

Hart Trophy | Leo Carlsson: +20000

If there was ever an extreme long shot on which to place a minuscule amount of cash, this one may make some sense. Carlsson brought considerable pressure on himself, as he’ll enter the 2026-27 season as the NHL's highest-paid player after signing an $18 million AAV offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Ducks then matched.

Carlsson, who seems to only be improving, with a ceiling still well beyond sight, produced at an MVP rate to kick off the 2025-26 season, scoring 25 points (10-15=25) in his first 15 games before the production slowed (only slightly); he sustained an injury, attempted to play through it, and was ultimately shut down after undergoing surgery for six and a half weeks.

He finished the year on a pedestrian scoring pace with 12 points (6-6=12) in his final 15 games, but upped those numbers when the games mattered most, scoring 11 points (4-7=11) in 12 playoff games. Carlsson will need to remain healthy for a full 84 regular season games and sustain most of his early-season production from a year ago to insert himself into Hart candidacy. He has the talent and motivation to do so, but now the book is mostly out on him, and he won’t be catching anyone off guard this season.

+20000 odds place him in a tier along with Brady Tkachuk and Lane Hutson. If the Ducks return to the playoffs, it will likely be on the back of Leo Carlsson, and if his production matches his on-ice importance and impact, there’s a real shot he finishes the year in the top ten of Hart voting.

Norris Trophy | Jackson LaCombe: +3500

LaCombe finished the 2025-26 season 16th among defensemen in scoring, with 58 points (10-48=58) in 82 games, a 15-point jump from his breakout 2024-25 campaign. He’s the team’s true No.1, all-situations defenseman who, if the Ducks load up a top power play unit in the upcoming season, will run the point behind Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, and Troy Terry (when he returns from injury).

Opportunity will be there for LaCombe, especially if he continues to improve within Joel Quenneville’s up-tempo system. However, as talented a play-driving force he’s become from the blueline, it’s going to take an astonishing season to threaten the point-per-game realm seemingly necessary to find oneself in if one is to finish the year as a Norris Finalist in 2026-27.

He has the 11th-best odds to win the Norris, just behind Jake Sanderson (+3000) and just ahead of Miro Heiskanen (+5000).

Rocket Richard Trophy | Cutter Gauthier +3500

Gauthier eclipsed the 40-goal mark in just his second NHL season, at the age of 22. Like Carlsson, Gauthier will enter the year with enormous pressure as his role within the Ducks franchise increases along with his now-top-five cap hit in the NHL ($13.5 million AAV).

He finished the year with 41 goals, the 11th-most in the NHL despite averaging just 17:15 TOI/game and 2:48 TOI/game on the power play, fifth-most among Ducks forwards. Both of those numbers will very likely increase this season, as should his 11 power-play goals.

Gauthier finished last season second in the NHL in goals/60 minutes (1.88) and shots/60 (12.95), while leading the league in shot attempts/60 (25.58). He shoots the puck a ton, and yet his 14.5% shooting percentage seems low and a number he can eclipse in his third year, with increased ice time and an increased role.

Despite those factors, he has just the 16th-best odds of winning the Rocket in 2026-27, putting him in a tier with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Guenther.

Vezina Trophy | Lukas Dostal: +3000

Dostal’s numbers in 2025-26 were the worst in his three-year NHL career from a traditional numbers perspective (.888 SV%) and the second-worst from an analytics perspective (-2.9 GSAx).

However, most of modern goaltending is a product of environment when it comes to evaluating goalies in Dostal’s tier, which is, on talent, the tier below the likes of Logan Thompson, Ilya Sorokin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin, etc.

The environment in which Dostal played a year ago was, in fact, not one many could have thrived in. He faced an onslaught of high-danger chances on a nightly basis as he and the team in front of him adjusted to a brand-new defensive zone coverage system, and those underlying, advanced, strictly shot-based numbers don’t take into account aspects like pre-shot puck movement, screens, tips, odd-man rushes, etc.

With a blueline that lost a lot of veteran name-brand talent, on the surface it would seem Dostal is in line for another busy year in the Anaheim crease. However, it can be argued that the Ducks’ current blueline is more conducive to Quenneville’s system and that the pieces they lost were significant contributing factors to the team’s poor defensive metrics as a whole.

In a second year playing in the system and with a better understanding of where pucks will be coming from and how plays will develop in front of him, Dostal’s numbers could improve greatly. Could they improve to the point where he’s a recipient of Vezina votes? That’s a taller order and likely outside of the realm of likelihood.

Dostal has the 12th-best odds of winning the Vezina, placing him ahead of Sergei Bobrovsky (+3500) and behind Jakub Dobes (+2800).

Calder Trophy | Roger McQueen: +5000

McQueen is one of two potential rookies in the Ducks organization with an opportunity in training camp to earn a sizable role on the depth chart heading into the season. The other is Nikita Klepov, who, as of now, is ineligible for wagers from BetMGM.

With Troy Terry out and the departures of Mason McTavish and Chris Kreider from the top six, the Ducks are in need of secondary production aside from Carlsson, Gauthier, and Sennecke. McQueen has an NHL frame and habits, but hasn’t played much hockey since before he was drafted last year (10th overall in 2025). He produced 27 points (11-16=27) in 36 NCAA games last season at Providence College, which was good enough for third on his team in a defensive system, but his offensive game could potentially use exploratory reps before making the jump into a full-time NHL role.

Based on early returns from training camp, Klepov is the more likely Ducks rookie to receive a significant NHL role this season and Calder votes, but again, he is ineligible for wagers at this time.McQueen, a higher-profile prospect than Klepov, has the 12th-best odds to win the Calder Trophy, just ahead of Victor Eklund (+5500) and just behind Jacob Fowler (+4000).

Jack Adams Award | Joel Quenneville: +3500

In his first year behind the Ducks’ bench, the second-winningest coach in NHL history led Anaheim to their first playoff appearance since 2018 and their first series win since 2017. That season was only good enough to receive two third-place votes, so for him to win this award for the second time in his career seems far-fetched at this point in time.

However, the narrative surrounding the Ducks remains that they are due for a step back in the upcoming season from their success last year, so though the path to this award likely requires a near-President’s Trophy season from Anaheim, a top-five finish in league standings will be buoyed by a favorable narrative for Quenneville.

Quenneville has the 22nd-best odds of winning the Jack Adams, tied with Marco Sturm, just ahead of Andrew Brunette(+4000), Jim Montgomery, and Scott Arneil, and just behind Travis Green (+3000), Todd McLellan, Rod Brind’Amour, and Jeff Blashill.

Injuries Piling Up for Ducks in the Early Days of Training Camp

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek Speaks at Training Camp

Three Storylines Heading into Anaheim Ducks 2026-27 Training Camp

The first St. Louis Blues player injured during training camp this year is defenseman Tyler Tucker, who tweaked his knee in practice, according to coach Jim Montgomery.

Montgomery said Tucker's knee ailment isn't day-to-day, and he'll be re-evaluated in the coming days. He couldn't provide a timeline right now. 

The 26-year-old defender is competing for a top-six spot in the Blues' opening-night lineup, and before his injury he was on the outside looking in, as Theo Lindstein was skating with Colton Parayko instead of Tucker.

With the injury news and update, it appears Tucker might not even be healthy for the first game of the season against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 2. 

Tucker is four years into his NHL career, but hasn't really been able to lock down a full-time role. He's seen most of his Blues tenure as either a seventh defenseman or as call-up. In 2025-26, due to injuries Tucker played in 69 games, recording four goals and 17 points.

At 5-on-5, Tucker posted a goals-for percentage of 45.74 percent but an expected goals-for percentage of 51.34 percent. In the first pre-season game, Tucker recorded 18:52 of ice time, throwing one shot on goal and two hits. 

Originally a 2018 seventh-round pick of the Blues, Tucker is a 6-foot-1, 209-pound left-handed defenseman who plays a safe game while maintaining a physical level. 

---

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. 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 Buffalo Sabres are hoping to build on their success last season, and reach the postseason for the second straight year. That will require some of their young talent to fill the void left by the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and their core group continuing to play at a high level. 

Team captain Rasmus Dahlin persevered through personal adversity to score a career-high 74 points and led Buffalo to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, earning nominations for the Bill Masterton and Norris Trophies. 

Earlier this month, in their annual rankings of NHL players, The Athletic slotted Dahlin in the top tier, tied with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, Boston’s David Pastrnak, and 2026 Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.    

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

A career year sees Rasmus Dahlin (@BuffaloSabres) move up 13 spots on NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now list! 🦬

📺: #NHLTopPlayers on NHL Network pic.twitter.com/jwGXvLJOt1

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) September 21, 2026

In NHL Network’s rankings of the Top 50 players, Dahlin was ranked 17th, while Werenski was ranked just outside of the top 10 at 11. Multiple Cup winners Sidney Crosby and Andrei Vasilevskiy were #12 and #13, Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov was at #14, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was #15, former Leaf Mitch Marner is at #16, followed by Dahlin; Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck is #18, followed by fellow Finnish members of the Dallas Stars, Mikko Rantanen (#19) and Miro Heiskanen (#20).

It may be possible that Dahlin is the only Sabre in the Top 50, although Sabres leading scorer Tage Thompson, who has scored 40 or more goals three times in the last four years, has not been listed as of yet.  

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

Sidney Crosby has been listed as the 12th best player in the National Hockey League, according to the NHL Network’s “Top 50 Players Right Now” series.

Ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 NHL season, the NHL Network is releasing its annual ranking of the top players in the league, and once again, Crosby is near the top of the list.

Crosby, who turned 39 last month, and is entering the final year of his contract with the Penguins, was listed no. 7 in last year’s rankings and no. 11 in last year’s rankings.

“We’ve loved watching him play for 21 years,” said former NHL goaltender and current NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider. “It’s incredible the way he’s shown up since he stepped foot in this league and has been one of the best players in the league. This is unheard of.”

Last season, Crosby secured his 21st straight year with a point per game average or higher, an NHL record.

The Penguins will take the ice tonight for the team’s first game of the preseason when they host the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- As the St. Louis Blues prepare for their second preseason game on Monday against the Dallas Stars (7 p.m.; stlblues.com, blues app), a rematch of Saturday’s 2-1 Stars win in St. Louis, coach Jim Montgomery right now really has no qualms regarding his team.

“I feel good about the progression of camp so far, so it’s going good,” he said. “Guys are starting to get the D-zone coverage, I find we’re killing more plays, we’re trying to be more aggressive. That’s a theme of being a more aggressive, assertive team. So in a lot of areas, we’re doing (things). Even as simple as our 2-on-1s, we’re being more aggressive attacking the net offensively.

“So my curiosity in my mind goes to how our power play’s going to be because No. 1 unit’s going to be going, so hopefully, refs call at least four penalties against Dallas and then the overall progression of our team and then the guys fighting for spots, how they’re competing, how they’re executing, how they’re bringing energy and momentum on the bench and on the ice, understanding momentum and changing it. That’s going to be the biggest evaluations.”

The Blues are taking a more established lineup with them to face a Stars lineup that will also feature more NHL players tonight. And that lineup will feature a No. 1 power play unit with Robert Thomas, Mason McTavish, Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud and Philip Broberg.

Montgomery was asked if it would make sense to implement these things into preseason play regarding getting the ample amount of work for specific units.

“You know what I’d like, I’d like to have the four exhibition games and then we have what the NFL does where they just have a practice scrimmage and you put them in those situations,” he said. “You don’t want them really scrimmaging in a fifth exhibition game, but if we could have a fifth, say Chicago, and they’re going to get 10 minutes of power play, we’re going to get 10 minutes of power play and then we can each do four minutes of pulled goalie situations, we start to see that because the refs have got to get used to calling games. They’ve got to call a penalty and what’s not a penalty. So it’s exhibition season for them too.

“If the teams want to agree to it, because it’s a non-schedule. We’d do it in the middle of the afternoon. We don’t need fans at it. Now, they’re going to want to sell tickets, so maybe that changes things and we’ll have to wait until the next CBA, I guess.”

- - -

Dylan Peterson, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, will get another look in the game tonight playing with Oskar Sundqvist and Nathan Walker on the fourth line.

Peterson, who has played with Springfield of the American Hockey League the past two seasons after spending four seasons with Boston University, is 24 years old and feels it’s coming to the point where he needs to make a mark on whether he can be an NHL player or not.

“Playing in the minors the past two years, I've built a solid all-around, two-way game,” Peterson said. “I fought, PK'ed. Just adding those tools to my tool belt, I think's come full circle now.

“I'm at the point where I want to make this team, I want to play for this city and this organization. I've been itching for a long time.”

Peterson had a solid game on Saturday.

“He fits in,” Montgomery said. “It’s up to him to go grab a job. He was very impressive last game. He’s got to continue to make his mark. Like, what are you? Play to your identity. We would like to see him chip more pucks and go get it on the forecheck like a ‘Torpo’ does. We love the fight, love the way he creates. He showed some real high-end skill. Obviously speed and puck protection was really good, but again, it’s understanding you’re a fourth-line guy, you’re here to forecheck and grind and get net-front goals. You’re going to score goals because of his speed, which would be nice on the fourth line, right, as an addition. He’s so young in his career. It’s only his third year pro coming (up). Some guys take three or four years. I’m not saying he’s going to the minors, but that’s an area of being committed knowing who you are forechecking, is an ascension to his game that needs to happen.”

Peterson had 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 57 regular-season games with the Thunderbirds last season.

- - -

Otto Stenberg, one of three first-round picks in 2023, will also get another look tonight playing alongside McTavish and Jonatan Berggren.

Stenberg is someone Montgomery said plays like a “Swiss army knife that he can fill in anywhere. He is a very good, complementary winger. He’s got to assert himself. He’s got to start showing up somewhere to be noticeable.”

The Blues know what they’re getting away from the puck, but Stenberg’s got to start showing some signs of offense in his game.

“It looks like he’s really improved on his shot, but just attacking inside the dots, being at the net front at the right time,” Montgomery said. “On second and third effort causing turnovers. Most of his goals have come from really smart turnovers he’s (created).”

Stenberg has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 32 NHL games and knows there’s more to his game than just being that Swiss Army knife.

“I’ve always been an offensive player when I was younger,” Stenberg said. “When I came up to SHL (Swedish Hockey League) in Sweden, I had to learn to play without the puck and play on the fourth line. I’ve felt the last couple years, I’ve been a better all-around player, can play every situation I think. Of course I want to be more comfortable and play more and more with the puck. Bring back my old offensive game, and I think it comes back when you play more and more games and get used to it more, try some stuff when I was younger. Still I want to be good defensively and I want the coaches and my players to trust me on the ice.”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud

Otto Stenberg-Mason McTavish-Jonatan Berggren

Dillon Dube-Zach Dean-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Nathan Walker-Oskar Sundqvist-Dylan Peterson

Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux

Colin Ralph-Arseny Koromyslov

Quinton Burns-Adam Jiricek

Joel Hofer will start in goal and is expected to play the first two periods; Georgii Romanov will be the backup and is expected to play the third period.

- - -

Stars Projected Lineup:

Justin Hryckowian-Wyatt Johnston-Mikko Rantanen

Jason Robertson-Roope Hintz-Matthew Seminoff

Cameron Hughes-Arte Shlaine-Dylan Hryckowian

Ayrton Martino-Ellis Rickwood-Emil Hemming

Thomas Harley-Nils Lundkvist

Trey Taylor-Kyle Burroughs

Jack Anderson-Aram Minnetian

Casey DeSmith is projected to start in goal; Arno Tiefensee would be the backup.

Special Teams Must Make Marked Improvements For St. Louis Blues To Elevate In StandingsAdding McTavish, McMichael to power play will give team new looks; team worked extensively on PP, PK on SundaySt. Louis Blues Assign Seven To AHL, Return Pair Of Draft Picks To JuniorPekarcik, Stancl, Robertsson, Buchinger, Fischer, Gaudet, Gahagen head to Springfield; Danegais, Proskurin go back to respective junior clubs in Quebec, VictoriaMaddox Dagenais Has Left Good First Impression On St. Louis BluesFirst-round pick in 2026, who many considered a surprise pick at No. 16, has had solid first camp, played in first preseason game against Dallas Stars on Saturday, wants to make good on St. Louis investing in him

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.

Mike Babcock was pretty clear when he said he needed to see the Edmonton Oilers on the ice before he knew what he had, and Saturday's 5-2 preseason win over the Winnipeg Jets gave him his first game with the group.

There was a few things he liked. Alex Formenton scored in his first game, Ryan Shea had three points beside Evan Bouchard, Colton Dach played centre between Formenton and Mathieu Joseph, and  Babcock said he was happy with what he got from that line.

“Pretty good, eh?” Babcock said of Formenton. “I mean, what a difference maker he's going to be for us. An elite penalty killer, puts pressure on the other team. I thought him, (Mathieu Joseph and Colton Dach) were unreal. That was my favourite line tonight by far.”

Formenton scored on a breakaway, had another breakaway stopped and drew a penalty on another rush. Babcock also mentioned his penalty-killing, which was expewcted from the begining.

Dach's night at the centre was a bit unexpected, and even Babcock admitted he wasn't sure how putting him in the middle would go.

“I was hoping for Dachker big time today,” Babcock said. “We need him to be a player, and for him to play the way he did in his first exhibition game this year, playing in the middle… I didn't know if I had put him in a bad spot, to be honest with you. But I was so happy with that line.”

Shea played 22:31 beside Bouchard where he had one goal and two assists. Overall, it would have seemed the Oilers' first preseason game was a success, almost.

Popular Defense Pairing Back Together At Oilers CampMike Babcock reunites his powerhouse blue line duo as training camp experiments end, suggesting Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard will start the season together for the Edmonton Oilers.

Babcock wasn't as happy with the line of Isaac Howard, Josh Samanski and Max Jones. Howard didn't have the night Babcock wanted from him after a good start to camp, albeit, Babcock stressed that it was just one game, and nothing to get to hung up on.

His evaluation also includes Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Babcock was asked after the game whether the preseason opener was mainly about the players still trying to secure a spot on Edmonton's roster Babcock jumped straight to his best players.

“One hundred percent the opposite,” Babcock said. “Those guys have got to do things right, and if they do things right, everyone else will do things right.”

Babcock wants McDavid and Draisaitl playing with detail without the puck, and he wants that to be part of their game throughout the season. He also wants enough depth in the lineup to manage the fact that those two will now be playing together.

Insider Reveals Why Formenton Chose Oilers Over 2 Other Interested TeamsOne thing proved the deciding factor: Alex Formenton chose the Oilers and bypassed guaranteed offers from other NHL teams that were also willing to sign him to an NHL contract.

“They're the most important people to do things without the puck that we need,” Babcock said. “Now, they're going to play their game. But they have to play with detail without the puck. Then the second part is to find depth. We need depth in the organization, so we don't have to play those guys too much.

“So that's my job: find it.”

Draisaitl turned the puck over in the offensive zone on the opening shift and Winnipeg went back the other way for a scoring chance. As soon as the whistle blew, Babcock pulled them off the ice, and the line returned for the third shift.

Babcock has been consistent about what he wants from the group since camp started, emphasizing things like taking care of the puck and playing with detail, which are the things he mentioned before Saturday's game.

“I want us to take care of the puck. I want us to play with detail. I want us to work,” Babcock said. “Is that a reasonable expectation for your first exhibition game? I don't know, but that's what we're gonna try to do.”

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. 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.

A former Seattle Kraken is feeling some crackin' — but Colin Blackwell isn't expected to miss the Dallas Stars' season opener.

The 33-year-old forward is currently dealing with a lower-body injury, but Blackwell is expected to be healthy enough to suit up when Dallas opens the 2026-27 regular season against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Oct. 2, at American Airlines Center.

For now, it's a minor bump in the road for a player who has carved out a respectable NHL career without ever being the guy expected to light up the scoresheet every night.

Blackwell spent part of the 2021-22 season with the Kraken, recording eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 39 games. Seattle acquired him from the New York Rangers during the 2021 Expansion Draft before sending him to the Toronto Maple Leafs alongside Mark Giordano at the trade deadline in March 2022.

Since leaving Seattle, Blackwell has continued to make a living in the NHL by doing the things that don't always show up in the box score. He's a competitive, hard-working depth forward who has never needed a starring role to make an impact.

Dallas saw that firsthand during its 2025 playoff run.

Blackwell scored the overtime winner in Game 2 of the Stars' first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, jumping on a rebound to give Dallas a dramatic victory. The Stars eventually eliminated Colorado in seven games, with Blackwell's goal becoming one of the memorable moments from the series.

His path to the NHL was anything but conventional.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and raised in nearby North Andover, Blackwell developed his game playing youth hockey with the Valley Junior Warriors before becoming a standout at St. John's Prep. During his final high school season in 2010-11, he exploded for 66 points in 25 games and earned the Mr. Hockey Award from ESPN Boston.

That performance helped put him on the NHL Draft radar, although Blackwell had to wait until the seventh round before hearing his name called. The San Jose Sharks selected him 194th overall in 2011.

More than a decade later, the seventh-round pick has turned himself into a veteran NHL forward, appearing in 368 regular-season games and recording 106 points along the way.

Now, Blackwell is simply trying to get through training camp healthy and ready to go. Despite the lower-body injury, he is expected to be available when the Stars welcome the Blues to Dallas on Oct. 2.

The Vancouver Canucks’ 2026 Training Camp has come and gone in the blink of an eye. 

With Vancouver’s training camp comes a heap of questions looking to be answered regarding the opening-night roster and team dynamics. Here are six observations from Vancouver’s 2026 Training Camp. 

The Seventh-Defenceman Battle Is Between Kirill Kudryavtsev And Victor Mancini 

There are a few in-roster battles taking place for the Canucks throughout the pre-season, though one of the most notable may be that of the seventh-defenceman. As it stands, it looks like the competition is down to Victor Mancini and Kirill Kudryavtsev, both of whom have earned a little NHL playing time throughout the past couple of seasons but have yet to cement a full-time role. 

Historically, Mancini has been the Canucks’ go-to over Kudryavtsev, though this could partially be due to injury struggles faced by the latter. 

After the Canucks’ first pre-season game on Sautrday, a 4–2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, the favour fell more towards Kudryavtsev. This wasn’t necessarily due to a stellar effort by Kudryavtsev, but more-so due to some defensive lapses committed by Mancini. The former New York Rangers defenceman ended up on the wrong end of a turnover, leading to a Seattle goal, and didn’t quite seem to be able to keep up to the play throughout the game. 

That said, through both the Canucks’ Prospects Showcase as well as pre-season, Kudryavtsev has been given first-unit power-play minutes. While this could indicate the coaching staff’s trust in him, it could also foreshadow the role that they anticipate him playing as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks. 

Another thing to consider is the difference in the two defencemen’s contracts. Mancini is currently on a one-way deal worth $1M annually through 2027–28, while Kudryavtsev is entering the final year of his entry-level contract. Financially speaking, Mancini will be making the same amount whether he’s playing in the NHL or AHL, while Kudryavtsev will cost less if he is sent down to Abbotsford. 

There’s still a lot of pre-season left, so this battle will be one to watch as the Canucks take part in their next three games. 

Luke Schenn Is Finding Himself In A Familiar Position  

Heading into training camp, The Hockey News’ Canucks team unanimously voted Filip Hronek as the player most likely to start camp on a defensive pairing with Zeev Buium. While this pairing was ultimately put together by Day 4, during Days 1 and 2, Buium found himself on a pairing with none-other than veteran Luke Schenn. 

In their two days of practicing together, Buium and Schenn worked well together. The now three-time Canuck has acted as somewhat of a mentor to Buium early on in the season, drawing comparisons to the same role he played for former Canuck Quinn Hughes once upon a time. 

“As much as you feel like you’re maybe mentoring someone, I feel like I’m the lucky guy, I get to play with these young guys who get here, up and coming,” Schenn said of being a ‘mentor’ to Buium after Day 1 of training camp. “He’s kind of proven at every level, and he’s going to make great strides here in the NHL. [...] I feel fortunate to get to play with him, and as much as maybe he’s leaning on me, I think it’s a partnership and I can lean on him.” 

“He’s been a guy who’s literally been in every possible situation, I think, as a player, and been able to learn a lot from off the ice, and he’s kind of taken me under his wing a little bit,” Buium added. “That’s been pretty awesome. Just to be out there with him, I think there’s just the little things that he notices, especially defensively and offensively.” 

The Brendan Gallagher Effect Occurs Both On And Off-The-Ice

Brendan Gallagher was one of the most noticeable forwards at Canucks training camp this past weekend. 

This wasn’t necessarily for any spectacular offensive plays or strategic defensive moves. Gallagher’s impact came from the forward’s effort level all throughout camp, regardless of whether he was participating in drills or skating in Saturday’s scrimmage. One particular moment that stood out was during a board-battle drill that saw Gallagher fight for the puck for over 30 seconds, never letting up on his opponent despite this only being for practice. 

Throughout the first two days of camp, Gallagher skated on a line with fellow high-effort players Max Sasson and Drew O’Connor. This line was broken-up on Day 4 due to Sasson being placed in a different group, having played in Saturday’s pre-season game. While Vancouver’s lines aren’t guaranteed at this point in time, Gallagher noted that this particular trio could be a fun one to watch. 

“If I’m playing with them, it’d be great. They’re two guys that skate well, control the puck well, play a similar way to the way I like to play. It’s a line I think we can make work,” he said.  

Off the ice, Gallagher also appears to be cementing himself as one of the Canucks’ leaders despite only joining the team this year. He was one of three players that addressed the Penticton crowd after Saturday’s scrimmage, with the other two being Schenn and Brock Boeser. 

The Kids Are Alright 

It’s somewhat unlikely that the Canucks’ star prospects end up making Vancouver’s roster full-time out of the pre-season, but for what it’s worth, they certainly showcased their talents throughout training camp. 

Braeden Cootes was an early standout for the Canucks dating back to the 2026 Prospects Showcase the week before, with the center proving that he can anchor a top-line among various linemates. During camp, he skated primarily with Arshdeep Bains and Adam Novotný, remaining paired with Bains and ending up with Jonathan Lekkerimäki on his other flank during Vancouver’s first pre-season game on Saturday. He registered two points in Vancouver’s effort. 

Also coming off a strong Prospects Showcase, Novotný had himself a solid camp that saw him keep up with the rest of the NHLers in practices, skates, and drills. He maintained his physicality, kept up the effort level, and showed off the parts of his game he’s best known for. 

“Energy, speed. I’ll try to be hard to play against, for sure. Forecheck, backcheck, and overall just be a threat,” he said of what Canucks fans can expect from him as a player. 

Other prospects who had a solid camp: Gabriel Chiarot had a solid showing during Saturday’s in-team scrimmage. 2026 draftee Yaroslav Bryzgalov had some flashes during O-zone drills. Vilmer Alriksson was noticeable during drills and Vancouver’s Saturday pre-season game. 

A Healthy Filip Chytil Could Be A Game-Changer  

Filip Chytil is one of a couple big question marks for the Canucks heading into the 2026–27 season. As it stands, the forward is healthy and was able to fully participate in training camp, even muscling his way through drills and flashing the speed that he’s known best for. He particularly stood out during Days 1 and 2 of camp.  

During the first couple of days of camp, Chytil skated on a line with Brock Boeser and Paul Cotter. On Day 4, he centered a line of himself, Paul Cotter, and Brendan Gallagher. His placement throughout camp could indicate that the Canucks plan on playing him at center. 

Chytil opened up about the work he’s done during the off-season to help limit his injury risk heading into this year, some of which included looking back at clips. Optimistically, this will help the forward remain healthy throughout the year. 

“I am just going day-by-day, but I’m still learning. There’s still a lot of things that I have to learn, and I’m doing those things and working like this every day [to] be a better player and stay healthy and be out there.” 

Manny Malhotra Came Ready To Play 

The biggest storyline coming out of Day 1 of Canucks training camp was the manner in which new Head Coach Manny Malhotra conducts his practices. The Calder Cup-winning coach holds a vocal practice, asserting instruction even if it means interrupting a drill in order to do so. His practices were high in tempo, varied in the exercises conducted, and impressive in regards to how they made his players work. 

There’s also, of course, the matter of the end-of-practice skates — the ones that saw Malhotra and the coaching staff join the players. 

“That’d be a first, where you’re getting toasted in a bag skate by your head coach,” Schenn noted after Day 1. 

“They’re pretty much in probably better shape than half of us. So that’s a credit to them,” Buium joked. “But that also pushes us. They’re setting the tone for what it needs to be, and it kind of sends a message to the whole group — like, ‘we’re in this with you guys.’ We love to see it, and it's fun, makes you go a little bit harder because you don’t want to lose to them.” 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Canucks Prospect Yaroslav Bryzgalov Has The Tools To Outshine His Draft Position

Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson Gives Insight Into Upcoming Roster Decisions, Updates On Players

‘I Think It’s Been Very Productive’: Canucks Speak After Day 4 Of Training Camp

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.

At the Toronto Maple Leafs' press conference to begin training camp on Wednesday, GM John Chayka revealed that defenseman Morgan Rielly was dealing with a viral condition. 

That virus kept him away from the team for a short while, including skating with a red non-contact sweater with Group 3 on Thursday, the first day of camp on the ice.

Since then, he's been ramped up, joining Group 1 with the main NHL roster for the past couple of practices. On Friday, he was paired with Emil Andrae, but head coach Jim Hiller said not to look too deeply into that as a sign of things to come.

On Monday, he provided an update on how he was feeling.

"I feel good," the Leafs' blueliner said. "I felt good all along, it's just some kind of virus that I didn't really know I had that came up in blood work. We wanted to avoid contact for a couple of days, that's all."

Four Takeaways From Both Of The Maple Leafs' Pre-Season Games Against CanadiensWhile the Toronto Maple Leafs played two pre-season games at the same time, both against the Montreal Canadiens, here are four takeaways from the two contests on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs opened their short pre-season campaign on Saturday, with a split-squad game against the Montreal Canadiens. One game was played in each arena of the two teams, one at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the other at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, but Rielly didn't feature in either contest.

At Monday's practice, he was skating on what could be identified as the team's top defense pairing with Darren Raddysh. After the session, Rielly was asked if he believes that he'll be ready to go for the Maple Leafs' final pre-season outing on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators.

"I hope so. Yeah, I think so," he said.

#Leafs lines (Sept. 21)

Knies-Matthews-Roslovic
McKenna-Tavares-Nylander
Paul-Sissons-Cowan
Lorentz-Blueger-Duhaime
Groulx

Rielly-Raddysh
McCabe-Tanev
OEL-Stecher
Andrae-Blankenburg

Bobrovsky
Stolarz

— Andre Leal (@leal_andre19) September 21, 2026

On Saturday, the Maple Leafs had Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Raddysh and Andrae as the defensemen from Toronto's Group 1 of training camp. Ben Danford and Marshall Rifai were the two on the bottom pair.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

---

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.

Hockey is officially back! The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their first preseason game of the year against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night. 

The Penguins will feature some of their regulars on Monday, but younger players will also be in the lineup as they fight for roster spots.

The top line will feature Ben Kindel between Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko. Those three have played together throughout training camp and have looked comfortable. Now, it's time to see what they can do in game action.  

Defensemen Harrison Brunicke and Owen Pickering will be paired together after practicing on a pair during camp. They've both had great camps and will have an opportunity to start the preseason on a high note. 

Goaltender Sergei Murashov will play in the first half of the game, while Joel Blomqvist will get the second half. 

Here are the expected lines and pairs:

Forwards

Kuzmenko-Kindel-Rust

Hallander-Lapierre-Brazeau

Dewar-Broz-Soderblom

Howe-Gustafsson-Hayes

Defensemen

Van Riemsdyk-Letang

Graves-Pietila

Pickering-Brunicke

---

It certainly appears that forward Carter Sanderson and defenseman Tomas Galvas will be the scratches. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

The St. Louis Blues have no shortage of NHL-caliber bottom-six players, but the simple fact is that not all of those players will make the opening-night roster, which is why the latest report stating the Blues are open to trades is unsurprising.

According to trusted NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Blues have made it known that they have plenty of NHL-caliber depth forwards who they are willing to part with. 

“One thing I kind of heard is that in St. Louis, for example, they have a bunch of NHL guys who are kind of in the bottom six, and not all of them are going to make their team," said Friedman on his podcast, 32 Thoughts. "And I think the Blues have let it be known that if you want some NHL depth, deeper in your roster, guys who’ve played, we have extras.”

The veteran core the Blues are bringing into the season includes Jonatan Berggren, Pius Suter, Ross Johnston, Alexey Toropchenko, Dillon Dube, Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist and Jack Finley.

This also includes younger players waiting for their opportunity, like Otto Stenberg, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Zach Dean, Justin Carbonneau and Dylan Peterson, although those players are unlikely to be traded. 

From the veteran group, Ross Johnston is the least likely to be traded, as he was signed to a three-year deal in the off-season to be the team's physical presence and enforcer. 

There are only so many spots, and realistically, there are just five spots to be earned from a group of 13 players. Stenberg, Carobonneau and Kaskimaki are likely out of the race due to being waivers exempt. Dean and Peterson are on two-way contracts, but the organization likely wants to see a bit more from them before calling them up.

Of the veteran group, Johnston likely has his spot locked down, and Suter should get the first run as the fourth-line center. Berggren showed he was capable of a middle six role last year and it would be shocking to not see him start on the third line.

Four St. Louis Blues RFAs Set For Massive Pay Raises In 2027-28Although the 2026-27 season hasn't started, it's never too early to look at which contracts will expire when the season ends. Today, we look at four St. Louis Blues RFAs who will be in line for massive pay raises.

That leaves Toropchenko, Walker, Sundqvist, Finley, and Dube fighting for one roster spot and one 13th forward spot. Three players will be sent on waivers and could be claimed by other teams. If the Blues don't see a future for them in the NHL, trading them and receiving a draft pick in exchange will help mitigate the loss. 

Any of those players could be traded, but Suter's name could draw the most interest. He's a better player than a fourth-line center, but with the makeup of the roster, it's the role he's been reduced to. Suter earns $4.125 million for the remainder of this season before becoming a UFA. 

NHL teams in need of center depth, especially someone with Suter's two-way versatility, could be willing to part ways with serious assets. 

The Blues remain insistent on competing, and keeping Suter provides them with a strong lineup. But in the case where they think Kaskimaki or Dean could adequately fill that role, they could look to offload Suter. 

Whichever direction the Blues go, they could be very active in the trade market. 

---

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. 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.

9/21/26 - 7:00 pm at PPG Paints Arena, in Pittsburgh, PA

TV - MSG in Buffalo area

Starting Goalies

Buffalo – Alex Lyon / Colten Ellis

Pittsburgh  – Sergei Murashov / Joel Blomqvist

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings 

Forwards

Conor Sheary - Jiri Kulich - Jake Richard 

Thomas Bordeleau - Matthew Peca - Justin Danforth 

Trevor Kuntar - Tyson Kozak - Jason Polin   

Mason Geersten - Riley Fiddler-Schultz - Liam Valente

Ex. Aidan McDonough 

 

Defense

Dennis Gilbert - Zach Metsa 

Jack Rathbone - Vsevolod Komarov

Ryan Johnson - Radim Mrtka

Ex. Gavin McCarthy

Goaltenders

Alex Lyon

Colten Ellis

Pittsburgh Lineup

Penguins’ lines and power-play groups:

(The pairs rotated.) pic.twitter.com/tCrvzwUrIN

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) September 21, 2026

 

Notes

Courtesy of Sabres.com

Jiri Kulich and Justin Danforth were both on last year’s opening night lineup – Kulich as the team’s projected No. 1 center, Danforth having just signed a two-year contract to be an impact bottom-six player.

Both players saw their seasons end early. Danforth sustained a broken kneecap during the fourth game of the season; Kulich was diagnosed with a blood clot on Nov. 1.

The Sabres will use camp to find out where both players, now healthy, fit into their organizational picture to begin this season. Kulich has practiced thus far on a line with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn but has history playing a top-six role. Danforth, meanwhile, is one of several viable candidates for a bottom-six, penalty-killing role. That group also includes Tyson Kozak, who will be in Monday’s lineup.

The Sabres enter the season with their top-six defensemen seemingly set: the returning quartet of Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power and Conor Timmins plus two newcomers in Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier.

The depth behind that group of six will be highlighted in Pittsburgh. Zach Metsa and Dennis Gilbert open as the frontrunners for the role of seventh defenseman, having spent the start of training camp with the NHL practice group. Ryan Johnson has NHL experience and could factor into that conversation as well, while Radim Mrtka – Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2025 – is looking to make an impression as he begins his first professional season.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

After Saint-Boniface won the Kraft Hockeyville contest, the NHL set up camp in Trois-Rivières on Monday, where the Montreal Canadiens will face the Ottawa Senators at 7:00 PM. While there was some talk that the lineups may not be up to par because of the new CBA rules, which provide that veterans who have played over 100 games of professional hockey cannot play more than two exhibition games, it has now been clarified that today’s festivities do not count as a regular exhibition game but rather as a special NHL event.

At 8:00 AM, the first group of Sens arrived at the Colisee Videtron parking lot, and a significant crowd was already assembled to see who had made the trip from Ottawa. Tim Stutzle, William Eklund, Samuel Blais, Drake Batherson, Nick Cousins, Dylan Cozens, Andre Burakovsky, and Jake Sanderson all made the trip. The Sens greeted the fans when they arrived, but nearly the entire crowd wore some sort of Canadiens merch, and it was clear that Ottawa was the appetizer before the main course.

Second batch of Sens players arrive #GoSensGo@thehockeynews#THNpic.twitter.com/RBL1VMwPq4

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) September 21, 2026

Canadiens: There Were Some Big Changes At The Bell Centre
Getting Ready For The Senators And Kraft Hockeyvillle
Canadiens’ B Squad Causes Big Surprise In Toronto

The Habs were scheduled to arrive around 9:00 AM, but they didn't get there until 9:45; maybe they wanted to be fashionably late, or maybe to keep fans from going into the building to cheer the Senators on during their morning skate. Whatever the reason, though, the wait was worth it. Captain Nick Suzuki followed coach Martin St-Louis out of the bus along with Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, Samuel Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, Zach Bolduc, Alexandre Texier, the Xhekaj brothers, David Reinbacher, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Alex Newhook, Jayden Struble, Kirby Dach, Adam Engstrom, Brett Berard and Sasha Pastujov.

The Habs are here and it’s going to be a star studded lineup judjing by who’s here #GoHabsGo@thehockeynews#THNpic.twitter.com/OCESDndZvz

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) September 21, 2026

While the lines and pairings haven’t been released yet, the Canadiens will ice a star-studded lineup tonight. Beyond the established players, Trois-Rivières fans will get a look at Reinbacher, who had a statement first game Saturday night and clearly wants to make the team this season. Up front, they’ll see the “young Xhekaj.” Florian also had a solid game in Toronto, and while it would be shocking to see him get a spot in the lineup this season, there are just too many players on NHL contracts. He plays the kind of game fans love to watch: hard-hitting, just like his brother.

The 4,390-seat arena is sure to be sold out tonight, and the fans should be treated to a great time.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

For Colorado Avalanche fans, Sunday night offered a little bit of everything — established NHL regulars, intriguing prospects and perhaps a glimpse at what the next generation of the organization could eventually look like.

And while the veterans naturally command most of the attention, it was the kids who stole the show.

Beckett Hamilton, the 18-year-old third-round pick, scored in his preseason NHL debut. So did Taylor Makar, the younger brother of two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, giving both prospects a memorable first taste of preseason NHL action.

Gavin Brindley, who is at least a fringe contender for a spot on the opening-night roster, provided another highlight, finishing off a scintillating 2-on-1 rush after Nazem Kadri found him for one of the easiest backdoor tap-ins he may ever have.

Then there was Ilya Nabokov.

The highly touted goaltending prospect out of Russia made his North American debut and stopped 16 of 17 shots after taking over for Mackenzie Blackwood, who opened the game by stopping all seven shots he faced.

Colorado's youngest players repeatedly gave Avalanche fans something to watch and it certainly did not go unnoticed by head coach Jared Bednar.

Brindley, in particular, was impossible for Bednar to miss. The young forward immediately caught the Avalanche head coach's eye and remained one of Colorado's most noticeable players throughout the night.

"I noticed (Gavin Brindley) right away — the competitiveness, the speed of the game, his skating," Bednar said, via Avalanche beat reporter Jesse Montano. "He's quick all over the ice. He was relentless on pucks."

Those same qualities were evident in Makar, who Bednar grouped alongside Brindley after seeing both young forwards make an immediate impact.

"I put Taylor Makar in that same category," Bednar said. "Funny, they both end up scoring too because of the same type of thing — quickness, effort, competitiveness."

Bednar also singled out T.J. Hughes for his work on the power play, where the young forward has displayed impressive vision and timing to consistently create offensive opportunities, something he has showcased throughout optional skates and training camp.

"He kind of stood out, especially on the power play," Bednar said. "Smart, just moves it apart, you know, with great timing to the right guy, made a bunch of offensive plays."

Nabokov rounded out an impressive night for Colorado's young players, making several key saves after taking over in net and showing Bednar plenty to like in his first North American appearance.

"Nabakov was great in goal too," Bednar said. "No chance on the first one, makes a big save. The rebound comes to him after, like, a couple turnovers and an extended, tired group out there."

Blackwood, meanwhile, quietly did exactly what the Avalanche needed to open the game, stopping all seven shots he faced before the goaltending change.

"Blackwood was really good too," Bednar said. "For the first half, he wasn't tested that much, but made a couple huge saves right before he got, uh, before we made the switch."

The performance was particularly interesting considering where Colorado's young talent has landed in preseason prospect evaluations.

The Avalanche entered the season with one of the NHL's least-regarded prospect pools. Corey Pronman's pipeline rankings for The Athletic placed Colorado 32nd out of 32 teams, while Utah was ranked fifth by Daily Faceoff in its 2026-27 prospect pool rankings.

One preseason game obviously does not erase an organizational ranking, nor should it. But Sunday provided an encouraging glimpse at a group that has been questioned throughout the offseason.