Category: NHL

NHL News

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Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says his 22nd NHL season will be his last

Alex Ovechkin

Oct 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Nathan Ray Seebeck/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin said his 22nd season in the NHL will be his last, beginning the farewell tour for the longtime Washington Capitals captain who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record.

Ovechkin addressed teammates to deliver the news before the team posted a message from him on social media.

“It’s sad, but it is what it is,” Ovechkin said in his locker room address. “It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.”

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract this past summer and turned 41 on Sept. 17. All signs pointed to this being the end, and he said he and his family decided as much in recent months.

“I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said in a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener.

Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2025 and entered this season at 929. The front office acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in trades and signed fellow forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency to add around a young core in the hopes of making another long playoff run and contending for the Stanley Cup.

“We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin said. “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”

Ovechkin has spent his entire career with Washington, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and leading the NHL in scoring nine times. He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

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Simon Edvinsson Is Worth Considering For Kyle Davidson, Blackhawks

Elliotte Friedman reported some news on Saturday night that will eventually create a big change in the National Hockey League. According to Friedman, the top insider in the game, Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings. 

This is going to be a tough blow to the Red Wings organization in a long line of them. After a summer filled with drama, mostly surrounding former captain Dylan Larkin (who is still with them), they now have to consider honoring the request of a young player whom they thought would be a core piece of their puzzle.

Detroit doesn’t even have a full-time general manager to deal with these things. Shawn Horcoff is the interim, and it’s on him to be the decision-maker for the time being. He may end up the full-time guy if he works out these issues correctly, so there is pressure on him as an individual as well. 

Edvinsson is a young defenseman who hasn’t yet blossomed into a star, which is his potential, but he is already a great young top-four guy. He’s the type of defenseman who is good for any partner because of his ability to defend and transfer the puck up the ice. Whatever the team needs from him, he can provide. 

He can’t continue to make progress in his development as a 23-year-old playing the hardest position in the sport without playing games, which is currently happening due to a contract stalemate. The now-fractured relationship plus the turmoil around the team are the key reasons for this trade request. 

One team that may be interested in a player like Edvinsson is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have a lot of interesting young defensemen, but none of them have grown into a legit number one. They likely wouldn't have traded for Bowen Byram if one of them stood out early in their career. 

Now that the Blackhawks do have Byram, there is more room for development lower in the lineup. Edvinsson is someone who is already a proven NHL player with the ceiling of a star. Like most young players at that position, his offense is a bit ahead of his defense, but his defense has been solid too. 

Edvinsson has experience playing with a star like Moritz Seider. With that experience, he could play with a proven player like Byram as well. At his age, he would also fit in with a lot of Chicago's budding core, including their many young defenders. 

What would a team like the Blackhawks have to give up for Edvinsson? Well, for one, they are not even in the same conference, so there is no "rivalry tax" there. Also, the fact that this report is out in the public eye certainly doesn't raise the price. It's a nightmare situation for Detroit, but it's the fact of the matter. 

A mix of draft picks, a good young NHL defender and/or forward, and prospects can be expected in return for a player with a high ceiling like Edvinsson. With the way that the Blackhawks have defended so far this season, taking a chance like this is something to think about if the price is right. 

Image

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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.

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Simon Edvinsson Is Worth Considering For Kyle Davidson, Blackhawks

Elliotte Friedman reported some news on Saturday night that will eventually create a big change in the National Hockey League. According to Friedman, the top insider in the game, Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings. 

This is going to be a tough blow to the Red Wings organization in a long line of them. After a summer filled with drama, mostly surrounding former captain Dylan Larkin (who is still with them), they now have to consider honoring the request of a young player whom they thought would be a core piece of their puzzle.

Detroit doesn’t even have a full-time general manager to deal with these things. Shawn Horcoff is the interim, and it’s on him to be the decision-maker for the time being. He may end up the full-time guy if he works out these issues correctly, so there is pressure on him as an individual as well. 

Edvinsson is a young defenseman who hasn’t yet blossomed into a star, which is his potential, but he is already a great young top-four guy. He’s the type of defenseman who is good for any partner because of his ability to defend and transfer the puck up the ice. Whatever the team needs from him, he can provide. 

He can’t continue to make progress in his development as a 23-year-old playing the hardest position in the sport without playing games, which is currently happening due to a contract stalemate. The now-fractured relationship plus the turmoil around the team are the key reasons for this trade request. 

One team that may be interested in a player like Edvinsson is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have a lot of interesting young defensemen, but none of them have grown into a legit number one. They likely wouldn't have traded for Bowen Byram if one of them stood out early in their career. 

Now that the Blackhawks do have Byram, there is more room for development lower in the lineup. Edvinsson is someone who is already a proven NHL player with the ceiling of a star. Like most young players at that position, his offense is a bit ahead of his defense, but his defense has been solid too. 

Edvinsson has experience playing with a star like Moritz Seider. With that experience, he could play with a proven player like Byram as well. At his age, he would also fit in with a lot of Chicago's budding core, including their many young defenders. 

What would a team like the Blackhawks have to give up for Edvinsson? Well, for one, they are not even in the same conference, so there is no "rivalry tax" there. Also, the fact that this report is out in the public eye certainly doesn't raise the price. It's a nightmare situation for Detroit, but it's the fact of the matter. 

A mix of draft picks, a good young NHL defender and/or forward, and prospects can be expected in return for a player with a high ceiling like Edvinsson. With the way that the Blackhawks have defended so far this season, taking a chance like this is something to think about if the price is right. 

Image

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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.

Posted on

Simon Edvinsson Is Worth Considering For Kyle Davidson, Blackhawks

Elliotte Friedman reported some news on Saturday night that will eventually create a big change in the National Hockey League. According to Friedman, the top insider in the game, Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings. 

This is going to be a tough blow to the Red Wings organization in a long line of them. After a summer filled with drama, mostly surrounding former captain Dylan Larkin (who is still with them), they now have to consider honoring the request of a young player whom they thought would be a core piece of their puzzle.

Detroit doesn’t even have a full-time general manager to deal with these things. Shawn Horcoff is the interim, and it’s on him to be the decision-maker for the time being. He may end up the full-time guy if he works out these issues correctly, so there is pressure on him as an individual as well. 

Edvinsson is a young defenseman who hasn’t yet blossomed into a star, which is his potential, but he is already a great young top-four guy. He’s the type of defenseman who is good for any partner because of his ability to defend and transfer the puck up the ice. Whatever the team needs from him, he can provide. 

He can’t continue to make progress in his development as a 23-year-old playing the hardest position in the sport without playing games, which is currently happening due to a contract stalemate. The now-fractured relationship plus the turmoil around the team are the key reasons for this trade request. 

One team that may be interested in a player like Edvinsson is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have a lot of interesting young defensemen, but none of them have grown into a legit number one. They likely wouldn't have traded for Bowen Byram if one of them stood out early in their career. 

Now that the Blackhawks do have Byram, there is more room for development lower in the lineup. Edvinsson is someone who is already a proven NHL player with the ceiling of a star. Like most young players at that position, his offense is a bit ahead of his defense, but his defense has been solid too. 

Edvinsson has experience playing with a star like Moritz Seider. With that experience, he could play with a proven player like Byram as well. At his age, he would also fit in with a lot of Chicago's budding core, including their many young defenders. 

What would a team like the Blackhawks have to give up for Edvinsson? Well, for one, they are not even in the same conference, so there is no "rivalry tax" there. Also, the fact that this report is out in the public eye certainly doesn't raise the price. It's a nightmare situation for Detroit, but it's the fact of the matter. 

A mix of draft picks, a good young NHL defender and/or forward, and prospects can be expected in return for a player with a high ceiling like Edvinsson. With the way that the Blackhawks have defended so far this season, taking a chance like this is something to think about if the price is right. 

Image

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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.

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Islanders Anxiety – Episode 381 – A Good Morning to Wake Up

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.

The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he “tried” to make meaningful changes. It didn’t feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different – with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for “The Agent of Chaos” Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.

We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next… [checks notes]… 82 games?

Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach’s blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It’s an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.

Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia’s Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia’s will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.

REFERENCES:

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

PLUGS!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.

Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Posted on

Islanders Anxiety – Episode 381 – A Good Morning to Wake Up

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.

The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he “tried” to make meaningful changes. It didn’t feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different – with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for “The Agent of Chaos” Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.

We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next… [checks notes]… 82 games?

Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach’s blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It’s an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.

Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia’s Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia’s will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.

REFERENCES:

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

PLUGS!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.

Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Posted on

Islanders Anxiety – Episode 381 – A Good Morning to Wake Up

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.

The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he “tried” to make meaningful changes. It didn’t feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different – with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for “The Agent of Chaos” Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.

We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next… [checks notes]… 82 games?

Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach’s blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It’s an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.

Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia’s Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia’s will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.

REFERENCES:

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

PLUGS!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.

Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Posted on

Sabres Need To Pile Up Points On Early Season Homestand

The Buffalo Sabres bounced back from a season-opening fizzle in Columbus with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener at Key Bank Center, but the win came against a club that entered the game 0-2 and outscored 11-2 in road losses to Vegas and Utah, and playing with their top forward (Connor Bedard) and top defenseman (Bowen Byram). 

The Sabres trailed the Hawks 3-2 before mounting a third period comeback, with goals by Rasmus Dahlin and Jiri Kulich handing Buffalo their first win in the first game of an important five-game homestand. Last season, Lindy Ruff’s club started strong on home ice, going 4-2-1 in October, before a November plunge saw them drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?

With a much stronger Atlantic Division this season, with clubs like Florida and Toronto making significant changes and additions to their rosters, the Sabres will need to pile up points and get off to a strong start to stay ahead of the game. The four remaining games of the homestand start with three Western Conference clubs that made the playoffs last season. 

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild come to town. The Wild are 2-0 to start the year, in spite of losing Team USA blueliner Brock Faber to a fractured skull. On Thursday, the Dallas Stars visit KBC. The Stars have struggled out of the gate, with back-to-back losses to St. Louis and Nashville. The Utah Mammoth follow on Saturday, followed by a Columbus Day afternoon match against the Florida Panthers, who once again find themselves without team captain Aleksander Barkov. 

It will be imperative for Buffalo to make hay on home ice during this stretch, as they will play seven of the next eight games to finish out the month on the road.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

Sabres Need To Pile Up Points On Early Season Homestand

The Buffalo Sabres bounced back from a season-opening fizzle in Columbus with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener at Key Bank Center, but the win came against a club that entered the game 0-2 and outscored 11-2 in road losses to Vegas and Utah, and playing with their top forward (Connor Bedard) and top defenseman (Bowen Byram). 

The Sabres trailed the Hawks 3-2 before mounting a third period comeback, with goals by Rasmus Dahlin and Jiri Kulich handing Buffalo their first win in the first game of an important five-game homestand. Last season, Lindy Ruff’s club started strong on home ice, going 4-2-1 in October, before a November plunge saw them drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?

With a much stronger Atlantic Division this season, with clubs like Florida and Toronto making significant changes and additions to their rosters, the Sabres will need to pile up points and get off to a strong start to stay ahead of the game. The four remaining games of the homestand start with three Western Conference clubs that made the playoffs last season. 

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild come to town. The Wild are 2-0 to start the year, in spite of losing Team USA blueliner Brock Faber to a fractured skull. On Thursday, the Dallas Stars visit KBC. The Stars have struggled out of the gate, with back-to-back losses to St. Louis and Nashville. The Utah Mammoth follow on Saturday, followed by a Columbus Day afternoon match against the Florida Panthers, who once again find themselves without team captain Aleksander Barkov. 

It will be imperative for Buffalo to make hay on home ice during this stretch, as they will play seven of the next eight games to finish out the month on the road.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

Sabres Need To Pile Up Points On Early Season Homestand

The Buffalo Sabres bounced back from a season-opening fizzle in Columbus with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener at Key Bank Center, but the win came against a club that entered the game 0-2 and outscored 11-2 in road losses to Vegas and Utah, and playing with their top forward (Connor Bedard) and top defenseman (Bowen Byram). 

The Sabres trailed the Hawks 3-2 before mounting a third period comeback, with goals by Rasmus Dahlin and Jiri Kulich handing Buffalo their first win in the first game of an important five-game homestand. Last season, Lindy Ruff’s club started strong on home ice, going 4-2-1 in October, before a November plunge saw them drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?

With a much stronger Atlantic Division this season, with clubs like Florida and Toronto making significant changes and additions to their rosters, the Sabres will need to pile up points and get off to a strong start to stay ahead of the game. The four remaining games of the homestand start with three Western Conference clubs that made the playoffs last season. 

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild come to town. The Wild are 2-0 to start the year, in spite of losing Team USA blueliner Brock Faber to a fractured skull. On Thursday, the Dallas Stars visit KBC. The Stars have struggled out of the gate, with back-to-back losses to St. Louis and Nashville. The Utah Mammoth follow on Saturday, followed by a Columbus Day afternoon match against the Florida Panthers, who once again find themselves without team captain Aleksander Barkov. 

It will be imperative for Buffalo to make hay on home ice during this stretch, as they will play seven of the next eight games to finish out the month on the road.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

Former Penguins Goalie Has Big Game For Jets

During the off-season, Stuart Skinner's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins officially ended when he signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets signing Skinner certainly makes sense now, as Connor Hellebuyck made his trade request publicly known before the start of the season. Now, the former Penguins goalie is already making an impact for the Jets.

In Winnipeg's most recent game against the Detroit Red Wings, Skinner stopped 33 out of 35 shots he faced. With this, he finished the contest with a strong .943 save percentage.

If the Jets hope to prove their doubters wrong and make the playoffs this year, they are going to need Skinner to continue to put together games like these for them. The former Penguins goalie is one of the Jets' biggest X-factors this campaign, with Hellebuyck refusing to play and wanting out. 

In two games this season for the Jets, Skinner now has a 1-0-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average. Overall, he is having a good start to his Jets tenure, and it will be interesting to see how he builds on it from here.

In 27 games for Pittsburgh last season after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, Skinner had a 12-9-5 record, a 2.99 goals-against average, and an .885 save percentage.

Posted on

Former Penguins Goalie Has Big Game For Jets

During the off-season, Stuart Skinner's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins officially ended when he signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets signing Skinner certainly makes sense now, as Connor Hellebuyck made his trade request publicly known before the start of the season. Now, the former Penguins goalie is already making an impact for the Jets.

In Winnipeg's most recent game against the Detroit Red Wings, Skinner stopped 33 out of 35 shots he faced. With this, he finished the contest with a strong .943 save percentage.

If the Jets hope to prove their doubters wrong and make the playoffs this year, they are going to need Skinner to continue to put together games like these for them. The former Penguins goalie is one of the Jets' biggest X-factors this campaign, with Hellebuyck refusing to play and wanting out. 

In two games this season for the Jets, Skinner now has a 1-0-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average. Overall, he is having a good start to his Jets tenure, and it will be interesting to see how he builds on it from here.

In 27 games for Pittsburgh last season after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, Skinner had a 12-9-5 record, a 2.99 goals-against average, and an .885 save percentage.

Posted on

Former Penguins Goalie Has Big Game For Jets

During the off-season, Stuart Skinner's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins officially ended when he signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets signing Skinner certainly makes sense now, as Connor Hellebuyck made his trade request publicly known before the start of the season. Now, the former Penguins goalie is already making an impact for the Jets.

In Winnipeg's most recent game against the Detroit Red Wings, Skinner stopped 33 out of 35 shots he faced. With this, he finished the contest with a strong .943 save percentage.

If the Jets hope to prove their doubters wrong and make the playoffs this year, they are going to need Skinner to continue to put together games like these for them. The former Penguins goalie is one of the Jets' biggest X-factors this campaign, with Hellebuyck refusing to play and wanting out. 

In two games this season for the Jets, Skinner now has a 1-0-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average. Overall, he is having a good start to his Jets tenure, and it will be interesting to see how he builds on it from here.

In 27 games for Pittsburgh last season after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, Skinner had a 12-9-5 record, a 2.99 goals-against average, and an .885 save percentage.

Posted on

Full Circle: Senators Quietly Reunite With Their Former First-Round Pick

Nine years after the Senators drafted Shane Bowers in the first round, the two sides have quietly found their way back together.

Bowers joined the Belleville Senators late last week on a professional tryout, just in time for the start of the American Hockey League season. And in his first game back in the organization, he even found the back of the net.

The 27-year-old scored in Belleville's 5-2 season-opening loss to the Hamilton Hammers on Friday night. 

Travis Green was asked about Linus Ullmark's performance on Saturday night in a 3-2 win in Toronto (Senators YouTube).

It's an interesting full-circle story for a player who was once considered an important part of the Sens' future, even though his first stint lasted only a few months.

The Sens selected Bowers 28th overall in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft after he put up 51 points in 60 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.

But before Bowers ever had a chance to play a game in the organization, the Senators included his rights in one of the biggest trades in franchise history.

On November 5, 2017, the Sens acquired star forward Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche in a three-team deal. Bowers, goalie Andrew Hammond and draft picks were among the assets sent to Colorado, while Kyle Turris went to Nashville.

So, despite being a Sens first-round pick, Bowers was part of the organization for less than five months.

There is another interesting Ottawa connection from those days.

After being drafted, Bowers went to Boston University, where one of his teammates during the 2017-18 season was future Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

Both freshmen, Bowers actually outscored Tkachuk that season. In 40 games, Bowers had 32 points, while Tkachuk finished with 31.

Tkachuk jumped right to the NHL the following year while Bowers remained at BU for another season before turning pro.

Unfortunately for Bowers, his hopes of being a full-time NHL player haven't materialized. Now in his ninth pro season, Bowers has played just one NHL game with Colorado and 12 with New Jersey, spending most of his days in the AHL. 

That brings the story back to the Sens.

There was no big announcement about his return last week and, technically, this isn't even an NHL contract. Belleville announced Bowers as one of two players (Mark Duarte) signed to professional tryouts when it unveiled its opening-night roster on Friday. 

But after scoring in his Belleville debut, his second go with the Sens organization is already off to a better start than his first one ever had the chance to be.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article was first published at The Hockey News' Ottawa Senators site. For more from THN Ottawa, click on one of the headlines below:

Jake Sanderson Reinjured In Senators’ Season Opener In Toronto
Halliday's Third Period Goal Lifts Senators To Season-Opening 3-2 Win In Toronto
Travis Green On Senators Season-Opening Win And Jake Sanderson's Latest Injury

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Full Circle: Senators Quietly Reunite With Their Former First-Round Pick

Nine years after the Senators drafted Shane Bowers in the first round, the two sides have quietly found their way back together.

Bowers joined the Belleville Senators late last week on a professional tryout, just in time for the start of the American Hockey League season. And in his first game back in the organization, he even found the back of the net.

The 27-year-old scored in Belleville's 5-2 season-opening loss to the Hamilton Hammers on Friday night. 

Travis Green was asked about Linus Ullmark's performance on Saturday night in a 3-2 win in Toronto (Senators YouTube).

It's an interesting full-circle story for a player who was once considered an important part of the Sens' future, even though his first stint lasted only a few months.

The Sens selected Bowers 28th overall in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft after he put up 51 points in 60 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.

But before Bowers ever had a chance to play a game in the organization, the Senators included his rights in one of the biggest trades in franchise history.

On November 5, 2017, the Sens acquired star forward Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche in a three-team deal. Bowers, goalie Andrew Hammond and draft picks were among the assets sent to Colorado, while Kyle Turris went to Nashville.

So, despite being a Sens first-round pick, Bowers was part of the organization for less than five months.

There is another interesting Ottawa connection from those days.

After being drafted, Bowers went to Boston University, where one of his teammates during the 2017-18 season was future Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

Both freshmen, Bowers actually outscored Tkachuk that season. In 40 games, Bowers had 32 points, while Tkachuk finished with 31.

Tkachuk jumped right to the NHL the following year while Bowers remained at BU for another season before turning pro.

Unfortunately for Bowers, his hopes of being a full-time NHL player haven't materialized. Now in his ninth pro season, Bowers has played just one NHL game with Colorado and 12 with New Jersey, spending most of his days in the AHL. 

That brings the story back to the Sens.

There was no big announcement about his return last week and, technically, this isn't even an NHL contract. Belleville announced Bowers as one of two players (Mark Duarte) signed to professional tryouts when it unveiled its opening-night roster on Friday. 

But after scoring in his Belleville debut, his second go with the Sens organization is already off to a better start than his first one ever had the chance to be.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article was first published at The Hockey News' Ottawa Senators site. For more from THN Ottawa, click on one of the headlines below:

Jake Sanderson Reinjured In Senators’ Season Opener In Toronto
Halliday's Third Period Goal Lifts Senators To Season-Opening 3-2 Win In Toronto
Travis Green On Senators Season-Opening Win And Jake Sanderson's Latest Injury