DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 16: Gabriel Landeskog #92 splashed T.J. Hughes #13 of the Colorado Avalanche in celebration after Hughes scored his first NHL goal in the second period of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena on October 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado’s latest rookie and college free-agent signing showed up on the scoresheet over the weekend and again on Monday night, which has me thinking about T.J. Hughes’ near future with the Colorado Avalanche. Hughes’ first NHL goal came from Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, scored just after a power play ended.
Usually, guys on the first power-play unit aren’t worried about being reassigned to the AHL, but in this case, Logan O’Connor’s inevitable return to the lineup and the ne-way contract structure for others in the bottom six likely mean T.J. will be the odd man out when the forward group is fully intact.
However, as we saw with LOC’s necessary absence and Zachary L’Heureux’s late injury status this weekend, Hughes could get enough NHL time to make himself indispensable. Add a more straightforward path to power-play success, and I see a recipe for T.J. to become an NHL mainstay right now. Let me elaborate.
The Role Requires Familiarity
Now I’m not saying that the Avalanche don’t have a player who could take over Hughes’ role on the power play. Still, familiarity is paramount to power-play success. Colorado’s decision to put Hughes on the top power play unit from the start of training camp means they see him as a real scoring threat.
His net-front goal is exactly the type of goal we’ve heard players and coaches mention when talking about T.J. on the unit. For me, the big factor is seeing the unit as a whole reintroduce the left-shot threat at the dot opposite Nathan MacKinnon.
We saw the Avalanche move Martin Necas to the second unit after Brett McLean took on the assistant and power play role in Colorado. At first glance, it feels like a brazen move to take someone as skilled as Necas off the ice with a man advantage, but a closer look shows that having Necas and MacKinnon on the ice at the same time undermines the power-play approach due to their shot orientation. It looks like Colorado is getting back to the basics.
With Jaden Schwartz on the opposite flank to MacKinnon’s cross-ice saucer passes, the Avalanche have reestablished balance, as his one-timer is dangerous enough to require more attention positionally. As a result, the slot has more space for both the net-front player and bumper to work on loose pucks and find openings closer to the net.
In my opinion, the lack of a real left shot on that side of the ice has been the catalyst for Colorado’s lack of power-play success.
Meghan Angley quickly reminded me that the power play was struggling just before Mikko Rantanen left Colorado on last week’s Mile High Hockey Lab, but we also know the Moose scored a ton of power-play goals with one-timers or back-door shots. There’s also a difference between struggling as a top 10 unit and struggling as a unit which finished bottom six last season.
You can’t just set and forget a guy to replace what Mikko Rantanen can do on his first touch, but you can get close, and I think that’s the thought process behind Shwartz taking the role. That was also the thought process behind the Viktor Olofsson experiment, but Shwartz has been finishing his chances, and that’s the key.
Now, back to Hughes, we’ve seen guys in the net-front/bumper role on the successful Avalanche power play amass a ton of goals and points. The Avalanche have experimented with guys like Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin, and Nic Roy in that spot, and now it’s T.J. Hughes. I think the kid from Michigan has the finishing ability to cash in.
Winning Matters Most
We know Logan O’Connor has a spot on this roster once he’s done dealing with more important matters, plus Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov’s contract structure means sending them down would risk losing either to waivers. That makes it easy to see Hughes getting considerable time with the Colorado Eagles in Loveland unless he shows hard-to-ignore production.
Avs coach Jared Bednar said Logan O'Connor will play against Tampa Bay. Nic Roy is expected to skate back in Denver while the Avs are away, but Zach L'Heureux is "a little further away"
Mackenzie Blackwood is starting tonight. Lineup should be the same as the last game.
For me, it’s any production that successfully extinguishes Colorado’s infamous power-play woes. If T.J. Hughes suddenly becomes a major factor in an otherwise struggling power play, I can’t imagine Jared Bednar turning his back on that, as it would point toward winning a lot of games.
The Avalanche lead the league in xGF% vs. xGA% at five-on-five, so adding a power play that scores rather than gives up goals should help them put games away sooner and protect their superstars’ TOI.
Jared Bednar has shown us time and time again that he wants the lineup that gives him the best chance to win, and if Hughes’ impact on the advantage becomes a major factor, I don’t think he’s gonna move Hughes.
ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders rookie Victor Eklund has turned heads this season, and not just his teammates or the club's upper management.
"He's done really, really well. Honestly, we've played some teams, and some of the GMs go, 'Oh, you know what? I noticed Eklund," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. "He's not the biggest guy, but even in the third yesterday, he's one against three on the forecheck, he comes out from behind the net with the puck. He's relentless. He's got a dog-on-a-bone mentality.
"So he's been great. I was happy he got rewarded yesterday because he could have had a few more goals, and he's going to the net. He almost scored another one in the third."
Darche continued: "And if you go back to that play, it started with him bumping a guy on the wall, and then we kept the puck in. Schenn gave him a great pass, and he went on the breakaway. And every time he cycles the puck, instead of going wide on the outside, he comes right back inside. He plays on the inside. So even if he's not big, when you see him win a bunch of board battles, which is great to see."
Eklund, who after scoring in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, is about to play in his ninth NHL game of the season. If he reaches 10, the Islanders will burn this first year of his entry-level deal.
The Hockey News asked Darche how important Eklund has been to this team's success from the outset.
"He's earned a spot on the team, and we hope he's on the Island for a long time," Darche said. "There's still going to be a lot of improvement. He'll get stronger, he'll get faster."
Eklund now has two goals and one assist in nine games averaging 13:21 minutes per night.
Juuso Valimaki hadn't played in an NHL game in nearly two years.
The Finnish defenseman last suited up at the top level of professional hockey on Jan. 26, 2025, then a member of the Utah Mammoth, and over the next 632 days, he had to battle through an ACL tear, a trade and had to fight his way up a brand new depth chart to get back to the NHL.
But all the work paid off for him Tuesday night as Valimaki made his Carolina Hurricanes debut, suiting up on the third pair alongside Shayne Gostisbehere.
"Just happy to be out there playing the game again," Valimaki told Hurricanes Hockey Network during the first intermission. "My mindset was just to be grateful for the opportunity. Happy to be here, so I'm just trying to have a positive mindset. It's been a long road, but I'm just happy to be here."
Valimaki had a rather strong showing too, even picking up an assist in less than five minutes of ice time, moving the puck up for Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven to work some magic.
"Pretty simple play [by me]," Valimaki said. "Obviously Stanks and Blaker did all the work, so thanks to them. Nice play by those two."
Playing in front of over 400 (!!!) family and friends, Logan Stankoven lights the lamp! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/40x82Eu8m9
For the game, Valimaki also had a shot on goal, a hit, two blocks, a 13-9 edge in 5v5 chance share and a 73.22 expected goals for percentage.
"He played really well for not having played since training camp," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "That was a worry with throwing him into the lineup, but I thought he had his hands on the first goal, a quick-up pass. Then I thought he played well. Good on him to step in and contribute."
The 28-year-old blueliner really put his head down and worked hard to get to this point.
Despite being a first-round pick (2017) and veteran of 271 NHL games, Valimaki had to do his time in the AHL coming off of the ACL tear and especially so after getting traded to a team as deep as Carolina.
Valimaki never complained once though, and had a really strong showing with the Chicago Wolves last year after coming in midseason, producing 11 goals and 34 points in 45 games between both the regular season and playoffs.
"Can’t explain how happy I am and proud of Juice for making his Canes debut tonight!," wrote Chicago Wolves coach Spiros Anastas. "A Chicago Wolves favourite, ultimate pro, and terrific leader and person. The resilience and perseverance he’s shown to make his return to the NHL is inspiring!"
Valimaki may not be a lineup regular moving forward, but it's a testament to the work he's put in that he was able to make it back to this level regardless.
"There's been a lot of ups and downs in my career with injuries and kind of a lot of other things going on, but I think last year was finally where I felt like myself again and I was in a really good head space," Valimaki said back during training camp. "Just trying to play hockey, enjoy it. There's been times where you kind of forget the fun part and for me, at least, when you're having fun and enjoying what you're doing, I think that's when you play your best."
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Chicago Blackhawks are always looking for ways to improve the team outlook. They could make moves that help them now and years down the line. They are not close to making any “win-now” moves by mortgaging the future, but they can look into young players who fit the current mold.
One of those players is Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov. He is a young player who has had an up-and-down start to his career, and the Flyers may be looking to move him so both sides can get a fresh start. There are no guarantees that Michkov is traded, but there are whispers.
Philadelphia, one year removed from making the playoffs and winning a round over their arch rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, has had a disaster of a start. They are currently 2-6-3 after winning two straight. When they were 0-6-3, it was clear that changes could be coming one way or another, despite it being so early in the year.
If they are looking to shake things up, moving on from Michkov may not be the wisest decision, but it's a rumor that keeps coming up. He is off to a good start this season, despite his team's performance.
In 11 games played, Michkov has 6 goals and 1 assist for 7 points. Two of those goals came in their most recent win. He is finding the back of the net, but it's hard to say that every other aspect of his game has been up to par. There have been questions about his motivation and love for the game, but he has come into this year in shape and ready to play.
Why would the Blackhawks want to trade for a risky player like this? Well, if they did, the answer is simple: he is incredibly talented. Michkov was the 7th overall pick by the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft. The only reason he fell to 7 was his contract situation in the KHL. Eventually, he found his way to North America, making some teams worry that they made a mistake by passing on him.
The Blackhawks were actually one of the teams that technically passed on him when they selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. For a while, Michkov was expected to rival Bedard at the top of the draft, but his situation pushed him down the board. That, and the evolution of other prospects like Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith.
Chicago, with Bedard and a plethora of other young talent, could afford to give Michkov a great opportunity. He has a knack for scoring goals and making plays, but he needs a fresh start. He is at the proper age in terms of fitting in with the current group, and he has a skill set that would play well with what they have in place.
There is no shortage of playmakers in Chicago. Michkov knows how to find the back of the net, and the Blackhawks could use more of that skill to play with their setup men. Would it solve any of their defensive issues as a team? No, but it would help them be more lethal when they do have the puck.
The Blackhawks also have Roman Kantserov in the mix who, like Michkov, has experience coming over from the KHL. They would be able to help each other, as they are both supremely talented Russian players trying to make an impact at the highest level.
What would it take to get Michkov? Well, you'd think that multiple draft picks or prospects would be involved. Could a late first-round pick get it done? The Blackhawks have a lot of draft capital, and they are unlikely to just use it all on selections.
Sometimes, a risky trade like this could be what gets the rebuild to the next step. If Michkov came in and found instant chemistry with Connor Bedard or Anton Frondell, showed incredible commitment to getting better, and put up big numbers, it would make acquiring him look like genius. Other GMs are going to be involved if he's available, but only time will tell.
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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
The Montreal Canadiens' biggest need right now is an upgrade at their second-line center spot. Because of this, they have been viewed as a prime fit for disgruntled Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin.
Canadiens fans also recently made it clear that they want Montreal to acquire the Red Wings star, as they chanted "we want Larkin" during their recent matchup.
However, Larkin still does not want to join the Habs.
Per Bultman and LeBrun, the teams on Larkin's updated trade list are the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche.
It is certainly disappointing news for the Canadiens that Larkin has expanded his trade list, and they are still not on it. He would be a perfect pickup for their second-line center spot and could the final piece that makes the Canadiens legitimate contenders. However, even with the Canadiens being one of the NHL's most exciting teams on the rise, Larkin still is not interested in joining them.
It's been made clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in adding a defenseman to upgrade their back end as they look to get back into the post-season this year.
On Sportsnet's broadcast on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs have made it clear that they are willing to hear offers for their "premium assets" in exchange for a defenseman. And Toronto isn't looking for a quick fix on the blueline - they want someone who can help them in the long run.
The Maple Leafs aren't exactly loaded in future assets, and there are very few that can be labelled as premium or A-level. But that doesn't mean they don't exist in the organization.
Here are the premium assets that Leafs GM John Chayka could be looking at to move for a good NHL defenseman.
2027 First-Round Pick (Colorado)
The most expendable asset that has decent value in the Maple Leafs' organization would be the conditional 2027 first-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto received this draft pick from Colorado around last year's trade deadline in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.
The pick, top-10 protected, likely won't be a high selection considering the state of the Avalanche and their status as a serious Stanley Cup contender. But it is still a first-round pick, and selling teams would certainly appreciate acquiring that asset for the right price.
In any move that Chayka wants to make that carries some significance, that draft pick is as good as gone.
Toronto also has its 2029 first-round pick, as well as a second-round pick in the next three drafts.
Ben Danford has made the jump to full-time professional hockey this season with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. The 20-year-old defenseman featured for the Marlies in the Calder Cup playoffs, making 16 appearances in that post-season. This year, he's played five games so far, providing two assists. He missed one game earlier in the month with a lower-body injury.
Coming off another huge performance for the Maple Leafs in Tuesday's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Easton Cowan is certainly a premium and A-tier asset at this point.
In what is his sophomore season, the 21-year-old had a three-point night, including his first career shorthanded goal, and now has four goals and 10 points in 11 games for Toronto, placing him fourth on the team in scoring.
Considering how effective he's been for his team to start the 2026-27 campaign, there isn't a strong desire for the front office to move off him.
"They don't seem that interested in trading Cowan," Friedman said on Monday's podcast. "They really seem to believe that he's the real deal."
In that initial 'Saturday Headlines' report, Friedman added that the Maple Leafs have also made it clear that they're willing to move off one of their older defensemen in exchange for someone younger in the same position.
This is a scenario that could apply to a Stanley Cup contender as a potential trade partner for Toronto. And the only veteran blueliner who isn't completely protected from a trade is 35-year-old Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Last season, Ekman-Larsson had a great year and exceeded expectations in several ways. In 78 appearances in 2025-26, the Swedish defenseman scored eight goals and 39 points, which is the most he's scored since the 2018-19 season with the Arizona Coyotes.
This year, however, Ekman-Larsson hasn't been nearly as impressive.
He has just one assist in 11 games and is tied for the league lead in minor penalties taken with seven. That accumulates to 14 penalty minutes this season, the second-most on the team behind Zack MacEwen, who had 17 penalty minutes alone against the Blue Jackets.
Ekman-Larsson has two more years on his contract at $3.5 million per season and has a 16-team no-trade list for both years. In that case, he's probably not a premium asset, or at least not as valuable as he was last year.
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.
Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis surprised many by giving Jakub Dobes the nod ahead of the game against the San Jose Sharks. Most thought that he would run the hot hand Jacob Fowler until he lost a game, but the bench boss didn’t want his goalie to be inactive for too long; the team wants them to have a certain rhythm, and that’s what led to Dobes getting another chance after a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals the week before. Unlike in Washington, though, Dobes did well Tuesday night.
It wasn’t perfect; you could tell he was nervous. There were shots glove side that he normally would have caught and froze, but the early jitters prevented him from doing so. Still, when that happened, his defense was there to clean the front of the net. The glove hand improved as the game went on and he gained in confidence. His positioning was much better, too, and he didn’t look like he was breakdancing in his crease, meaning he was much more in control than he has been lately.
His puck tracking was good, too, and he stayed square to the shots, which let him make a few saves through traffic even though he didn’t see the vulcanized piece of rubber. Overall, it was a good outing for Dobes. The first goal he allowed came from a Jake Evans turnover; granted, his stick was tapped as he tried to make a pass, but he had a safer option than throwing the puck toward the middle just inside the blueline. As luck would have it, Macklin Celebrini collected the errant pass and came at Dobes with speed, and there wasn’t much he could do against one of the league's best players coming in alone.
The Sharks scored their second goal on a perfectly executed two-on-one after they picked Lane Hutson’s pocket. Dobes was playing the shooter, expecting Kiefer Sherwood to shoot, but because Noah Dobson didn’t close the passing lane, he found Michael Misa for an easy goal. The defenseman isn't exactly off to a great start this season. Through nine games, he has two assists and is minus-4.
The third marker came on the power play after Xhekaj was baited into taking an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Celebrini fed Tyler Toffoli in the high slot for a one-timer; no one pressured the Sharks winger as he wound up and beat Dobes clean.
However, Dobes can be blamed for the fourth and final goal, as he took an awful penalty in overtime, inexplicably leaving his crease to get in Collin Graff’s way while the Canadiens had the puck in their own zone. Those calls aren't always made, but you can’t risk them being made, as St-Louis keeps repeating: you can’t give the ref the opportunity to call a penalty. Celebrini scored his second of the game off a one-timer from the faceoff circle on Dobes’ left. Four-on-three power plays are hard to defend and often a death sentence in overtime, as they were on Tuesday night.
Jakub Dobes gets called for interference in OT... the Sharks head to the power-play. pic.twitter.com/f9F5TkbUv6
Dobes surrendered four goals on 30 shots for an .867 save percentage, and had he not taken his inexplicable interference penalty in overtime, the result could have been different. Had the Habs won, this could have been a building block toward rebuilding Dobes’ confidence, but that possibility went out the window when he handed the Sharks the win on a golden platter. The press wasn’t told why Dobes was unavailable to meet the media despite being requested, but it could mean he was too rattled to face the music.
At this stage, it seems a given that Jacob Fowler will be back in net on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, and if he puts on a great performance, it wouldn’t be surprising if he also gets the net for the Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets.
Seven wins into the season, it's gotten pretty easy to see how light this team is, emotionally that is, compared to recent seasons.
The Edmonton Oilers improved to 7-1-1 with a 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, while Evan Bouchard scored the winner on his 27th birthday. Devon Levi was among the first to praise his teammate afterward, having made several important saves himself to get the Oilers into overtime.
“He can sling that thing,” Levi said. “A super special player. I'm so happy for him that he got the overtime winner on his birthday.”
The Oilers have been playing solid defensive hockey under Mike Babcock, their goaltending has improved, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are producing at a ridiculous rate. They've also been getting contributions from the rest of the lineup, which has allowed them to win games even when their top players aren't having good nights at even strength.
Tuesday was one of those games. Minnesota's top line of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and, Matt Boldy scored twice at even strength, while the team. itself was all over McDavid's line.
“Every once in a while, you need to get fed your lunch,” Babcock said. “And when that happens to you, you say, ‘What are we going to do to fix it?’”
Babcock has been clear about what he expects from his team, especially on defence, puck protection, and winning battles. The Oilers have responded well to those expectations, and there's some evidence that the accountability they've been talking about is producing results.
“When you play a good team that's organized, there's no room,” Babcock said. “And if you don't look after the puck, if you don't play right, you get frustrated. The great thing about the real good players that have done a lot of winning is, they don't get frustrated. They just keep coming and keep coming, and they know it's a patient game.”
Edmonton certainly had opportunities to get frustrated against Minnesota, however, the Oilers scored three times on the power play, and Draisaitl recording two goals before Bouchard ended the game in overtime. McDavid finished with three assists, becoming the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 assists in a season.
He now has 26 points through nine games, which is an absurd amount of production even by McDavid's standards.
“Any type of shot that he gets off is extremely dangerous,” Draisaitl said of Bouchard. “Accurate, hard, whatever it is. You name it, he's got it. He's pretty elite.”
By other standards, Levi's has the best start of his NHL career here in Edmonton.
The 24-year-old was traded from Buffalo after getting buried so deep in the Sabres depth chart that everyone forgot he was there. Originally, he was expected to sit behind Frederik Andersen and Tristan Jarry in Edmonton, but now he's getting most of the starts, and he's clearly earned them.
“I'm super grateful to be here,” Levi said. “This city is unbelievable, a true hockey city. I care a lot about these fans, they have welcomed me with open arms and the team here as well. I feel at home. I'm just super grateful for the way that everything kind of unfolded and I'm having a lot of fun every day.”
It's a refreshing attitude from a young goaltender who's finally getting a real chance to compete for a spot in the NHL.
He seems excited to show up to the rink, appreciates the opportunity he's been given, and has been playing up to the expectations placed on him.
The Oilers have been winning games in different ways, and Babcock's defensive system has been a significant part of that. The Oilers know when their offence needs to carry them, when their goaltenders need to make important saves, and when the team can comfortably protect a lead.
There has to be some additional motivation to make sure the same problems that followed the team last season don't continue.
Babcock has brought a different approach to Edmonton, one that the players seem willing to hold themselves accountable for when their performances aren't good enough.
Everybody knows winning cures all, and with seven victories in nine games, it's understandable why the mood around the dressing room has been so positive.
Still, there's something nice about hearing Levi talk about how grateful he is to be here, or watching him get excited about Bouchard scoring an overtime winner on his birthday.
The Oilers have been playing good hockey, they're getting results from the changes Babcock has introduced, and the players are happy for one another.
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 New York Islanders (5-3-1) won again on Tuesday night inside UBS Arena, knocking off the Anaheim Ducks 3-2.
The win marked the Islanders' fourth in UBS Arena already, giving them a 4-1-0 record on home ice to start the year.
That's the best start at home for the franchise since moving to UBS Arena in the 2021-22 season.
In 2025-26, the Islanders went 22-17-2 on home ice. in 2024-25, they went 19-17-5.
If the Islanders can keep this winning momentum on home ice going, their win totals this year will blow those close-to-.500 records out of the water.
Stacking wins on home ice is extremely important for the Islanders, with an especially road-heavy schedule over the next month.
Between October 21 and November 21, the Islanders play 13 games, 8 of which are on the road, including 8 of the final 12.
Only one of those eight road games takes place in the Eastern Time Zone. That game is on November 21 against the Detroit Red Wings.
Over the course of five days from October 25 to 29, the Islanders take a funky road trip against three Central Division opponents, starting with the Dallas Stars, heading back northeast to see the Nashville Predators before shooting back northwest to take on the Minnesota Wild.
The Islanders get eight days at home, starting with the Islanders hosting the Edmonton Oilers on Halloween. Then, the Islanders get four straight off days from November 1 through 4.
Two divisional foes, the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils, then swing by UBS Arena before the Islanders hit the road again for a three-game swing through California, lasting one week.
New York gets home for one game against the Columbus Blue Jackets before a two-game trip to Winnipeg and Detroit ends the funky month of travel.
All eyes will be on Brady Tkachuk when the Florida Panthers visit Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday night. But while the return of the former captain will dominate all the headlines, the Panthers are also bringing another interesting storyline to town.
They're travelling with a goaltender who is about to become the tallest in NHL history.
Cooper Black stands an imposing 6-foot-8, and the 25-year-old is on the verge of making his NHL debut after being recalled from the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss Brady Tkachuk's homecoming (Sens Nation Podcast).
Black got the call after Florida's starting goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, suffered an upper-body injury during Monday's practice. The veteran, who's often been Linus Ullmark's running mate on the Swedish national team, is expected to miss 10 to 14 days.
Akira Schmid is expected to get the start against the Sens on Wednesday, with Black serving as his backup. But Maurice has already indicated that the towering rookie will likely see game action during Florida's four-game road trip.
When Black finally steps onto NHL ice, whether that happens Wednesday night or not, he'll stand alone in the record books.
The current record of 6-foot-7 is shared by five goaltenders, including two with ties to the Senators: Mads Sogaard and Ben Bishop. The others are former Edmonton Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov and Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby.
Bishop, who only played 23 games for the Sens, went on to become one of the NHL's top goaltenders, earning three Vezina nominations. Sogaard, meanwhile, spent several seasons in the Sens organization after they selected him in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Black's road to the NHL has been a little different.
The Alpena, Michigan native was never drafted into the NHL. Instead, he played two seasons at Dartmouth College, where he steadily improved his numbers and attracted the attention of the Panthers.
Florida signed him to an entry-level contract in April 2024, and he began his professional career with Charlotte, where he worked his way up over the past two years. The Panthers feel like he's ready for this.
"That's a big lad, and he moves like an athlete," Maurice told reporters on Tuesday. "He's been good. He's been good in practice. He looks like he fits. He looks comfortable. It's the right time for him to get in."
For Sens fans, Wednesday's game will understandably be all about Tkachuk, the former captain who requested a trade and will be returning to Canadian Tire Centre for the first time in a Panthers uniform.
But at the far end of the Panthers’ bench, there will be a 6-foot-8 rookie goaltender in a ball cap, waiting for his chance to make a little NHL history of his own.
The Boston Bruins wrapped a successful road trip Tuesday night with an overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars. They went 3-0-1 on the trip and entered Wednesday sitting atop the Atlantic Division and in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-2-1 record.
The B’s rank seventh in goals scored per game and fourth in goals allowed per game. The notable offseason additions (JJ Peterka, Will Borgen) and most of the young players have made a positive impact.
The schedule has been a little soft, but the Bruins, to their credit, have taken full advantage of it. They have scored four or more goals in six of their 10 games. They’ve led for almost 238 minutes — ninth-best in the league.
Let’s look at six key takeaways from the Bruins’ first 10 games of the 2026-27 NHL season.
The kids are alright
The Bruins have fully committed to giving their young players a chance to not only prove they belong in the NHL full time, but also be important contributors.
So far, the kids have played fantastic.
Six of the Bruins’ top 11 scorers are age 25 or younger. Nineteen of the team’s 35 goals have been scored by players 25 years old or younger.
Fraser Minten and Matthew Poitras are tied with David Pastrnak for the team lead in goals with four. Minten’s eight points are tied for second on the B’s. He’s on pace to shatter his career high of 35 points set last season. James Hagens has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games. No rookie in the entire league has more points than him.
Hagens and Poitras both scored in Tuesday night’s overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.
James Hagens continues his hot start to the season with a goal 🚨
Frederic Brunet has been a steady, reliable presence on the blue line and ranks fourth among rookies in blocked shots. Mason Lohrei has made an impact offensively with five points to lead all Bruins defensemen.
The most encouraging part of the Bruins’ early-season success has been the performance of their young players. There will be ups and downs throughout the campaign, but the returns so far have been very impressive.
Elite goaltending
Jeremy Swayman was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season and he’s well on his way to repeating that feat. His .928 save percentage is the second-highest in the league, and his 7.7 goals saved above expected is tied for the third-best, per MoneyPuck. He also ranks fourth-best in wins above replacement (1.28) for goalies.
Michael DiPietro has played only two games in the backup goalie role, but he’s posted a solid .912 save percentage and a positive goals saved above expected. He made 26 saves against the Ducks last week for his first career NHL win.
Overall, the Bruins have allowed 7.13 fewer goals than expected — the best mark in the league and proof that Swayman and DiPietro are consistently erasing the mistakes in front of them.
Swayman is on pace to exceed the career-high 55 starts he made last season. That’s fine, especially if he continues to play at an elite level. But at some point, DiPietro needs to get in a few more games. The Bruins need Swayman to be fresh for the playoff race and any postseason matchups the team earns.
Elias Lindholm bounce back?
The Elias Lindholm signing — a seven-year, $54.25 million contract in 2024 free agency — has not delivered the desired results so far.
However, the veteran center has made much more of an impact this season.
Lindholm has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games. He picked up the primary assist on David Pastrnak’s tying goal in the third period against the Ducks last weekend, and five minutes later he scored the game-winner.
Elite puck movement from the Bruins leads to an Elias Lindholm goal! 👀
Lindholm has taken the fourth-most faceoffs (190) in the league and has won an impressive 58.9 percent of them. He’s also played well defensively and has proven to be a good fit with Hagens on the third line.
It’s unlikely Lindholm will perform at the level of a typical top-six center. But could he be a very good No. 3 center who makes a positive impact in all situations? For sure.
Power play must improve
The Bruins have the 15th-ranked power play with a 21.1 percent success rate. On paper, that doesn’t seem too bad. But all six of their power-play goals have come in two games — three against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 8 and three against the Ducks on Oct. 16.
In the other eight games, the B’s have not found the back of the net a single time with the man advantage.
The Bruins have generated only two shots in their last six minutes on the power play over the last two games.
Not only are the Bruins failing to score on the power play, they aren’t earning many chances, either. The B’s rank 23rd in total power-play opportunities and 30th in power-play ice time per game.
The Bruins had the ninth-best power play last season. This year’s roster is better. There’s no reason why the power play should be so inconsistent.
Balanced scoring
The Bruins have relied on David Pastrnak far too much in recent seasons. He’s delivered on his end with four straight 100-point seasons, but no one else on the Bruins has tallied more than 68 points during that span.
The scoring depth has been far better for Boston this season. Six players have scored three or more goals. Ten players have at least two goals. Eleven players have tallied five or more points.
Sturm wanted more offense from his defensemen this season. That group already has six goals.
The Bruins are getting meaningful scoring contributions up and down the lineup. That is perhaps the most important aspect of the team’s hot start and why it ranks seventh among 32 teams in goals scored per game.
Bruins need more goals from Pastrnak, Geekie
James Guillory-Imagn Images
Pastrnak and Geekie have combined for one even-strength goal so far.
David Pastrnak tallied 100 points last season, but his 29 goals were the fewest in any season in which he’s played 55-plus games. Three of his four goals this year have come on the power play. The B’s need much better offensive production from him at 5-on-5.
Morgan Geekie scored a career-high 39 goals last season. He has one goal this year, and it came on the power play. Geekie also has tallied just 10 shots on net in 10 games. He has one game with multiple shots.
For a player with such a great shot, one per game is nowhere near acceptable. Geekie has never been a huge shot quantity player, but he still needs to be much more aggressive in looking for his own offense.
The Bruins have not suffered much from Pastrnak and Geekie’s lack of 5-on-5 goals because the young players have exceeded expectations offensively. But for this team to reach its maximum potential, veterans like Pastrnak and Geekie must lead the attack.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — On the second night of a back-to-back, the Maple Leafs arrived in Ohio looking for simplicity and found it in volume. Toronto generated just 22 shots but converted six of them, including four in a dominant second period to beat the Blue Jackets 6-2 at Nationwide Arena.
The win improved the Leafs to 5-4-2 and marked the second straight victory for a group that has shown signs of settling into a more straightforward style.
Easton Cowan continued a rapid ascent with a career-best three-point night that included his first short-handed goal in the NHL. Marshall Rifai scored his first NHL goal in just his fifth game. And the team absorbed the early loss of Jake McCabe to a high-stick injury before finishing the night with five defencemen.
Marchenko’s power-play goal at 8:16 of the first period tied the game 1-1 after Jake Christiansen had opened the scoring for Columbus at 2:38. The former Blue Jacket deflected a puck off his foot and past Jet Greaves.
Marchenko described the whole night as being about staying focused in the moment rather than sentimental.
“I try to think about my game again, and I said before, try to focus on like things what I can control,” Marchenko said. “It’s like my game, my shifts, like work hard. Yeah. It’s obviously again special, fans, everything. But happy to play here. Happy to be back.”
He added that the reception did not alter his approach.
“It’s fine. I’m ready for that, but like again, I can’t control that. I appreciate it for all fans who’s been here when I played, and it doesn’t matter for me. Actually, I just do my work on the ice and try to be better.”
The second period turned the game.
William Nylander scored at 2:26 on a feed from Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews added the winner at 3:12 in his 700th NHL game, Cowan scored short-handed at 6:48, and Jack Roslovic finished the stretch at 12:03.
The four goals in under 10 minutes of game time gave Toronto a 5-1 lead before Charlie Coyle scored early in the third and Rifai closed it out at 16:58.
Rielly, who finished with three assists, said the group tried to keep the game manageable after Monday’s win over San Jose.
“On a back-to-back, you want to try to play simple especially on the road,” Rielly said. “I thought everyone did a good job, obviously. I thought our goalie was outstanding and the penalty kill was good again.”
Anthony Stolarz stopped 35 of 37 shots. The shot disparity was significant — Columbus held a 65-43 edge in Corsi attempts and a narrow edge in expected goals (2.69 to 2.61) according to tracking data from NaturalStatTrick.com — but Toronto’s finishing and special-teams play offset the volume. The Leafs’ penalty kill continued its strong start, and Cowan’s short-handed marker extended a stretch in which the unit has been among the league’s most reliable.
Cowan, playing up beside Matthews and Roslovic at times, said the group trusted the system on the kill.
“Yeah, I think we’re just trusting the system. We’re having good sticks, good clears, and we’re not allowing much during us. Hopefully we keep that going.”
On the short-handed goal itself, he offered a direct description.
“Yeah. I had a decent shot there. I think the goalie was favoring Willy, which I probably would too. So, yeah, I just picked my spot.”
Rifai’s first NHL goal came late, a slap shot set up by Rielly and Roslovic. The call-up had already been elevated into more minutes after McCabe left in the first period following a high stick from Kent Johnson that caught him in the face area. Coach Jim Hiller said the decision to hold McCabe out was precautionary after the medical staff evaluated him.
“I bumped into him. Seems to be doing okay, but we just want to make sure. We want to go slow,” Hiller said.
“First and foremost, just getting the win. We came here to get two points and win back-to-back, and we were able to accomplish that. So all the individual stuff feels a lot better when the team gets the job done.”
He added that he understands the role required to stick around and that the goal was just a bonus.
“Maybe confidence (from the goal) but ultimately, you know, that’s not going to be my calling card to help this team. And I understand that. I’m going to have to block shots. I’m going to have to break pucks out, use my feet and close out. Those are the things that are going to keep me around.”
Hiller praised the overall effort on a night when several players moved into larger roles. On Cowan, the coach said the young forward has met elevated expectations.
“We’ve talked about him a lot. He’s really — I can’t say enough good things about him. Honestly, like he’s exceeded my expectations, and I had high expectations for him. And I’ve told you, he told me this is what he was going to do, and so he’s living up to his end of the bargain. Now he’s a regular penalty killer, and he’s a good player, and he’s gonna have a great career.”
Rielly described the better version of the Leafs as one that keeps it simple.
“I think as a group, we’ve had a tendency to overcomplicate things or try to make too many plays. And I think when we’re able to keep it simple and just kind of manage the puck, our big guys can kind of take over. I think that’s kind of what happened here.”
Matthews finished with a goal and an assist. Nylander and Roslovic each contributed multi-point nights. The Leafs face the Rangers at home on Thursday. McCabe’s availability will be monitored, but the early indication is that the facial injury did not force an immediate longer absence.
The Leafs have won consecutive games for the first time this season, something they probably needed for their confidence, having dropped three of the last four games before it. Now it’ll be up to them to see if they can build on it.
NOTES: The Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzļikins (with 18% salary retained), and forward Miles Wood from the Blue Jackets. In return, Columbus received forward Matthew Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2027 second-round draft pick. Knies and Andrae weren't much of a factor in this game.
Knies had one opportunity in close in the late stages of the first period but his shot went over top of the net.
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.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 24 : linesman Jonathan Deschamps #80 holds Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils and Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings apart after the end of the NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on November 24, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 4-3. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
For much of the summer, former Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin had made it clear that he only wanted to be traded to a small handful of NHL contenders in the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Florida had spent most of their remaining trade assets to unite the Tkachuk brothers in Florida. Vegas was already short on tradable assets thanks in part to previous moves they had made to bolster a roster than went to the Cup Final last season. And Minnesota, seemingly the last man standing on Larkin’s original list, couldn’t agree to terms with Detroit on a trade. As a result, Larkin has remained in Detroit to start the season despite his trade request.
Larkin is a player that I have long thought makes sense for the Devils as adding him down the middle would give the Devils as good a 1-2-3 punch at center as anyone in the league. And make no mistake, you NEED to have a legitimate 1-2-3 down the middle if you want to be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. But I never really thought it was worth taking the time to discuss the idea as Larkin seemingly didn’t have any interest in waiving his no-trade clause to come to New Jersey.
Things have since changed.
Reputable Red Wings beat reporter Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported on Tuesday that Larkin has expanded his list of preferred destinations to ten teams. Along with the aforementioned three teams, joining his list now are the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, Washington Capitals…..and yes, the New Jersey Devils.
Larkin is reportedly willing to come to New Jersey. But should New Jersey even want him, and if they did, what would a trade even look like?
Why the Devils Should Want Larkin
Larkin, who turned 30 over the summer, is a two-way center who plays in all situations. He’s a perennial 30 goal scorer, having reached that mark in each of the last five seasons. I wouldn’t say he’s a 1:1 direct comparable player to Nico Hischier, but the two share many similarities in how they play the game. Similar frames, similar production. Both had been leaders on their respective clubs. Both play in all situations. Both win a lot of faceoffs.
Interestingly enough though, I do think Larkin brings some things to the table that this Devils team lacks. Larkin historically has not had issues finishing around the net, which can’t be said about most of the forwards on the Devils roster. He has what I would call a deceptively heavy shot where it doesn’t look like he’s getting a ton on it but he’s capable of beating opposing goaltenders clean from the high slot and/or top of the circle. His backhand shot is underrated, as is his ability to pick corners. I also think he is a good enough skater where he’d be a fit for the style and brand of hockey the Devils are looking to play attacking off the rush, although his boots will likely decline some as he continues to get older.
Signed through the end of the 2030-31 season, Larkin has four more seasons remaining on his deal after this one at $8.7M AAV. I think that last point is also key when talking about Larkin. This is a salary cap league where the cap is continually rising. While it’s true that Larkin is signed through his age 35 season, that $8.7M cap charge is a relatively low number for a Top Six caliber center. That number is only going to continue to look better and better as the cap increases further, and from a Devils perspective, you’d be talking about a team that is set down the middle with Hischier ($11.7M AAV through 2032), Jack Hughes ($8M AAV through 2030), and potentially Larkin through the end of the decade.
I do think there are two things worth mentioning with Larkin. First, the Devils did try to acquire a center this offseason with the Barrett Hayton offer sheet that Utah ultimately matched. The Devils ultimately pivoted and went in a different direction, but I wouldn’t discount Sunny Mehta recognizing the importance of the position and the need to address it. The other thing that is worth mentioning is that both of the Devils bottom six centers in Evan Rodrigues and Cody Glass are slated to hit UFA this summer.
I also think when it comes to discussing Dylan Larkin, its worth bringing up the elephant in the room.
Larkin was a key member of the US Olympic hockey team, as was Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes. Larkin also is close to the Hughes brothers in general, having spent a bunch of time with them over the summer. Larkin and Quinn are close enough to the point where when I wrote about it this summer, I thought if Larkin wound up in Minnesota that that might be enough to convince Quinn Hughes to stay there.
I wouldn’t suggest that the Devils trade for a specific player because it might make another player more likely to sign with them in the summer. That said, the Devils need to be cognizant of the fact that this is an arms race. It’s the player empowerment era. Either you adapt and load up on star players who want to come play for you, or you don’t and you get left behind. Either you be aggressive now when it comes to team building, or you wonder what the heck just happened if and when Jack Hughes is the next Team USA star to consider his options elsewhere.
Part of the reason why Larkin wanted to go to Minnesota in the first place was to play with Quinn Hughes. I would guess part of the reason why he’s open to the idea of coming to New Jersey is to play with Jack and Luke Hughes. The Devils should embrace that and beat Minnesota to the punch by exploring a Larkin trade. And if it just so happens that adding Larkin is the move that ultimately pushes Quinn Hughes to New Jersey next summer to join his brothers, I fail to see how that’s a bad thing. If good players want to play for you, you find a way to make it happen and then worry about making it all work from a cap perspective down the road.
Speaking of beating teams to the punch, the Devils would also be smart to be aggressive here and keep Larkin away from a Carolina team they’ve struggled to beat and a Washington team that had their way with them the other day. Especially when those are the two teams most likely to finish 1-2 in the Metropolitan Division this season.
What Could A Realistic Trade Look Like?
It’s not often you see Top Six centers traded in the NHL, let alone centers under contract for another half decade. But if there is a trade that could potentially be used as a comparable, maybe we look as far back as the Jack Eichel trade for one.
Eichel, who wanted out of Buffalo in part because of a disagreement over how to treat his neck injury but also because of Buffalo’s track record as a perennial loser, had been stripped of the captaincy. He also had four plus years remaining on his contract at the time and was five years younger than Larkin is now.
Vegas ultimately agreed to terms on a trade, sending Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a first round pick, and a future second round pick in exchange for Eichel and a third.
Tuch was the established NHL player Buffalo got back, having scored 139 points in 249 games over four seasons with the Golden Knights. Krebs, then a top prospect, didn’t really get a chance to establish himself in Vegas as he was the “young prospect with upside” piece of this deal, but has since become a fixture in the Sabres lineup. Add in a first round pick (that eventually became Noah Ostlund) and a future second rounder and Buffalo probably did as well as could reasonably be expected given the circumstances at the time. After all, Eichel didn’t want to be there anymore and they were working against the clock as he had a NMC slated to kick in the next offseason, which would’ve only further limited the market and return.
The market is what the market is though. Eichel was legitimately injured at the time and I’m sure Buffalo wasn’t the only team scared off by the surgery that Eichel preferred at the time, which probably limited the market to some extent. Centers are in high demand and short supply, particularly those on contracts that may be deemed team-friendly. Still, I think this is a reasonable deal that can be used as a framework for a potential Larkin deal.
Dawson Mercer would seem to be the obvious fit as the “Alex Tuch, established NHL player” piece of this deal. This isn’t me saying that Dawson Mercer is as good as or better than Alex Tuch, as I don’t believe that to be the case. But he is an NHL player, albeit a flawed one, and may or may not be a piece Detroit would want in return. The Devils wouldn’t be able to make a deal anyways without moving some money out so Mercer’s $4M salary would almost have to go the other way. Now, if I were Detroit, I’d probably prefer Arseny Gritsyuk over Mercer, but that would be one where if I were Sunny Mehta, I’d push back on and say no.
I do struggle to find the top prospect fit, but I would guess the first few players Detroit would ask for are Anton Silaev, Alexander Command, and Mikhail Yegorov. I don’t think the draft picks would be much of a concern, especially since the Devils still have the extra first rounder remaining from the Simon Nemec trade, but there are reasons why the Devils should want to hold on to each of those prospects. I wouldn’t go as far as to say they should be off-limits but I do think those are players Detroit would ask about. I don’t know if an injured Seamus Casey or a Lenni Hameenaho moves the needle much in this particular case.
One potential complicating factor though is cap space, as the Devils simply don’t have a whole lot of it at the moment. Attaching Stefan Noesen or Cody Glass to this deal wouldn’t create enough space for the Devils to fit Larkin in. Adding Anthony Mantha or Brenden Dillon would create enough space, but I don’t know why Detroit would want players in their 30s for Larkin. I also don’t think its realistic to ask Detroit to retain cap space on Larkin to drop the cap hit down, as they’re probably not going to want salary retention on their books for five years.
I don’t know if a deal centered around Mercer, Command, and future picks is quite enough to get it over the finish line, particularly when compared to other teams best offers, but I do think its at least a starting point where the Red Wings aren’t hanging up the phone when Sunny Mehta calls. Sunny would likely need to get creative though in terms of making the cap work, which would likely involve looping in a third team to take some salary off of the Devils books. He may also need to get creative in finding the right pieces Detroit would want back to get them to say yes.
Final Thoughts
Sunny Mehta has previously said that his job trying to improve the Devils is never done. So I do think that with the Devils on Larkin’s list, they should at least explore the idea of bringing him in.
I get that some might be put off by Larkin’s public trade request, but I do think it is ultimately coming from a desire to be on a winning team and/or him being sick of losing. The Devils still have work to do in that respect to show that they’re not that type of team, but they are coming off a very good win against Colorado and have a lot of runway this season to show they’re not Detroit.
The Larkin to the Devils fit isn’t necessarily seamless, but its tough to argue that the Devils wouldn’t be a better team with Larkin. Larkin would give the Devils another legitimate top six option and more flexibility to juggle the lineup as they see fit. Maybe on some nights, that’s having Jack on the wing with Nico or Larkin. Maybe it’s having an embarrassment of riches down the middle with Larkin centering Mantha and Brown on the third line. I don’t know how Sheldon Keefe will make the pieces work, but I’d rather have the problem of having too many good players than not having enough.
Larkin is a valuable enough piece though between his contract and versatility as a player where it might be worth overpaying to acquire him. I can’t stress enough how difficult it is to find quality centers, and while Larkin isn’t Connor McDavid, he’s far from being a scrub either. You can’t go out into free agency and buy a Dylan Larkin, and if you were trying to do so in 2026, it would cost far more than the $8.7M AAV he’s currently making.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks "3 Standouts From The Game." In this recurring series, The Hockey News' Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver's last game. This article will focus on the Canucks' most recent 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Leevi Meriläinen
Another night, another standout performance by Leevi Meriläinen. The Finnish goaltender kept Vancouver in this game as he stopped 37 of the 42 shots he faced. Meriläinen's best moment came in the second period as he stopped Sebastian Aho on a penalty shot to keep the score at 3-3.
Meriläinen was busy all night. Carolina recorded at least double-digit shots in each period, with their lowest total at 12, which came in the first. With the way Meriläinen has been playing, the Canucks are going to be put in a difficult position once Thatcher Demko returns from injury.
Defenceman Elias Pettersson
Tuesday was another stellar performance from defenceman Elias Pettersson. The 22-year-old was a shot-blocking machine as he led all players on either team with five. Pettersson was also physical throughout, as he led Vancouver with four hits.
Pettersson has been the Canucks' best defenceman so far this season. He is finding different ways to impact the game, which has led to increased minutes on a nightly basis. If Pettersson can keep performing at this level, he is going to be a top-four defenceman at the NHL level for a long time.
Max Sasson
Max Sasson continues to develop into a strong bottom-six forward. The 26-year-old scored his third of the campaign and was tied for the team lead with three shots. Sasson was also solid in the faceoff dot as he won eight of his 13 draws.
Tuesday was another example of Sasson using his speed to create chances. He created chances off the rush, which included his second-period goal. Sasson also played a crucial role on the penalty kill, which went a perfect five-for-five, as he logged 3:39 of shorthanded time in this game.
Oct 20, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Leevi Merilainen (31) defends against Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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.
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.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty (2) skates in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on September 22, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins split their two games in Cleveland last weekend, dropping a 4-2 contest and then winning a 6-3 game on the rematch. Overall the Pens are 3-2-1 on the season and among the AHL leaders in goals (25).
Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas had some insight from his radio show on Oct 14th about the slow start for WBS (0-1-1 in the first two)
“The team was really good last year and you have guys that they feel they’re too good for the level and they go down and it’s hard,” Dubas said. “So the two home games, I don’t think the team played overly well in either.”
Dubas didn’t name names, though it’s not difficult to fill in the gaps for the natural disappointment players will feel when getting re-assigned to the minor leagues instead of sticking in the NHL. Take Rutger McGroarty, who started out with no points in the first two losses and now has nine points in the last four games. Harrison Brunicke only has two assists in the first six games, Owen Pickering has one goal, though generating offense from the blueline at the AHL level can be variable. Joel Blomqvist didn’t have the greatest of openers. McGroarty talked to Inside AHL Hockey about focusing on improving at the AHL level.
"I think that we're here right now. We're in Wilkes-Barre. We're playing in the AHL."
"You can't sit there & pout. You just have to continue to progress forward & continue to work on the little details," – Rutger McGroarty to @InsideAHLHockey ⤵️https://t.co/oEZixhTM0m
Avery Hayes had two points in the first two games and has continued to go up from there with seven points in his last four games. Broz is at a point-per-game through the opening six games. Hayes and McGroarty with nine points a piece are among the league scoring leaders, currently tied for seventh.
That will be exactly what Dubas and the Pittsburgh front office wants to see from younger players like that to give reasons for why they shouldn’t be in the AHL. If and when those players make enough of a case, it will eventually result in them getting NHL opportunities.
Here’s the game recaps from WBSPenguins.com
Overall, the Pens have to be happy with some of their more developmental players who are AHL rookies. Mikhail Ilyin has seven points (2G+5A) in his first full AHL season. Bill Zonnon has five points in six games (3G+2A) and defenseman Jake Livanavage has five points (1G+4A) in five games.
James Guillory-Imagn Images
