Category: NHL

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- With a drumroll ... it looks like Zach Dean and Dillon Dube have won out the battle for the two extra forward slots for the St. Louis Blues to begin the 2026-27 season.

The Blues cut four players early Friday morning, including forwards Otto Stenberg, Dylan Peterson and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, along with defenseman Adam Jiricek, leaving five spots needing to be cut in total to get down to Monday's 23-man opening night roster.

The Blues will be putting goalie Georgii Romanov on waivers for the purpose of getting him to Springfield of the American Hockey League, and that left Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker and Jack Finley, who were put on waivers on Friday, on the outside looking in. If any of the veterans are able to clear, they will join Steve Ott and the Thunderbirds in the AHL to begin the season.

"I wouldn't say certainly (that's the 23-man team that was on the ice Friday), but it's certainly been a good camp," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said prior to Friday afternoon's transactions. "We wanted it to be competitive, it's been competitive. There's a lot of young guys, the veterans have shown really well. We're excited about where our group's at."

Dean, who will play in all four games this preseason when the Blues end their exhibition schedule Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, and Dube, signed to a one-year, one-way, $850,000 contract this summer, in the end won out the jobs as the 13th and 14th forwards when the Blues submit their 23-man roster by Monday's 4 p.m. (CT) deadline.

What stood out for those two?

"I think their speed, their energy, their tenacity on pucks, coming up with pucks," Montgomery said. "That's been primarily (it). Those things, those attributes.

"They both are fast, they both are tenacious. I would say that Dean probably has more game-breaking speed and I would say that Dube has a little more savvy. He's really savvy out there. He always comes up with pucks, he's going to the right places."

Dean skated on the Blues' top line Thursday between Pavel Buchnevich and Connor McMichael in a 1-0 win over the Blackhawks on home ice and had a couple really high-end scoring chances and played another solid game.

"He played really well," Montgomery said. "He supported those guys really well. I thought that line was effective. Yeah, played well."

With Jiricek going to Springfield to likely play top-heavy minutes, that left Calle Rosen as the seventh defenseman, with the veteran winning out that battle in the end.

Tyler Tucker, who tweaked his right knee in practice this past Sunday and hasn't skated since, is all but likely to begin the season on injured-reserve but for how long, nobody knows.

"I don't want to talk too much because I would say that I think so, but there's a chance not," Montgomery said. "I'd just rather not say because I don't definitively know."

The 32-year-old Rosen, who scored the lone goal Thursday, provides the experience and insurance needed in an extra defenseman that Jiricek would not benefit from being here and not playing.

"He's a really good hockey player," Montgomery said of Rosen. "Smart, veteran, great feet. What a shot last night. Supports people really well."

Blues Assign Four Players To Springfield, Including 2024 First-Round Pick Adam JiricekDefenseman, who was exceptional in 1-0 win over Blackhawks on Thursday, goes to Thunderbirds along with Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Dylan Peterson, Otto Stenberg

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Ahead of the AHL pre-season opening on Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins made another small wave of roster cuts.

And there was one name on it that came as a bit of a surprise.

The Penguins announced that the re-assigned Liam and Markus Ruck to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. They also re-assigned forwards Atley Calvert, Tanner Howe, Mikhail Ilyin, and Avery Hayes to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate. 

In addition, goaltender Colin Delia was released from his paid tryout (PTO), and forward Oliver Okuliar - injured in practice on Sunday - was designated as injured non-roster and sent to WBS to continue his rehabilitation process.

The biggest surprise on the list was Hayes, who put together a strong training camp. He scored a next-effort goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the 4-1 pre-season opening win, and he had five goals in 14 games with the NHL club last season. 

"He's a good young player. I think there are other guys that, right now, are ahead," head coach Dan Muse said. "Sometimes it is about what you've done, and sometimes, it's also that you've got to get it down to numbers and other guys that have played better or we feel like, right now, are going to be a better fit. Those are all part of the decisions."

The Penguins have assigned the following players to @WBSPenguins (AHL):

F Atley Calvert
F Avery Hayes
F Tanner Howe
F Mikhail Ilyin

Forward Oliver Okuliar has been designated as injured non-roster and will continue his rehabilitation process in WBS.

Forwards Liam and Markus…

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 25, 2026

The Penguins are down to their final pre-season game, which will take place in Buffalo on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET. There are still a group of prospects that remain with the NHL club and took the ice with the main squad for practice Friday, including forwards Bill Zonnon and Ville Koivunen as well as defenseman Harrison Brunicke and goaltender Sergei Murashov.

Of note, forwards Rutger McGroarty and Tristan Broz, defensemen Owen Pickering, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Jake Livanavage, and Chase Pietila and goaltender Joel Blomqvist skated earlier in the day and remain on the training camp roster as of now.

Who Will Win Penguins' Final Forward Spots?With injuries on the front end piling up, NHL opportunity has been opened for some of the Penguins' promising young players.

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The Buffalo Sabres encountering early-season injuries to projected top-four blueliners Olen Zellweger and Mattias Samuelsson has made GM Jarmo Kekalainen hit the open market for some veteran insurance, as the club signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 deal. 

The 32-year-old spent last season as a teammate of new Sabres blueliner Louis Crevier with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he posted 12 points (0 goals, 12 assists) in 69 games. Grzelcyk was a 2012 draft pick of the Boston Bruins, and the Charlestown, MA native spent his first eight seasons with his hometown club. He has become a journeyman the last two seasons, signing a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in 2024 and posting a career-high 40 points (1 goal, 39 assists) in 82 games, before signing with the Hawks last season. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

 " I'm  super  excited  to  have (Matt)   on  the  team.  I've   played  against  him  many  times,  and  I  think  he's  an  exceptional  player.  He's  very  smart.  He  can  play in  all  situations.  It's   going  to  be  fun  to  get  to  know  him  too.  I  heard  a  lot  of  great  things  about  him." Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin said after practice on Friday. "(The signing)  just  shows  that  we're  here   to  win.  We're  not  satisfied,  so (management will)  do  everything  they  can,  and  we  do  everything  we  can,  so  I'm  happy  with  the  situation."  

The signing could have a two-fold meaning. Without adding Grzelcyk, the Sabres would likely have to open the season using two of  Dennis Gilbert, Ryan Johnson, and Radim Mrtka for the start of the season, but Gilbert played sparingly for the Sabres two years ago and for Ottawa last season, while Mrtka, 19, may not be ready to play in the NHL. 

 “I  think   where  we're  at,  we  still  like  our  defense,  it's  still  next  man  up,  but  I'd  rather  have  a  young  player  step  in  and  play  big  minutes  in  the  Rochester  role.  Just  better  for hi m,  than  coming  out  and  playing   8-10,  minutes,  or  10-12  minutes.  So  in  the  role  we  need  them,  Grzelcyk  would  be  a  good  fit." 

The other possible meaning is that the injuries to Zellweger and Samuelsson are more serious, something that Ruff indicated the opposite of on Friday. Zellweger is in the league’s concussion protocol, but the Sabres head coach believes that he could be ready by the start of the season next week. He also believes that Samuelsson could be back earlier than the week-to-week timeline would reflect.

Grzelcyk was not present at practice on Friday, but it is not impossible that the veteran will be in town by Saturday to participate in the club's morning skate before their preseason finale against Pittsburgh.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo  

The Vancouver Canucks have added a goaltender to the organization. On Friday, Vancouver claimed 24-year-old Leevi Meriläinen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators. The Finnish goalie is listed at 6'3", 186 lbs and was drafted 71st overall in 2020. 

Last season, Meriläinen split his time between the NHL and AHL. In 20 games with the Senators, he posted a 8-10-1 record with a goals against average of 3.51. As for his time with the Belleville Senators, he recorded an 8-8-2 record with a goals against average of 2.77. 

Adding Meriläinen creates a logjam in the Canucks' crease. Vancouver already has Kevin Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo locked up for the year, while Thatcher Demko is expected to return at some point this season. All four goaltenders require waivers. 

In other waiver news, Matt Stienburg has cleared waivers and will be headed to the Abbotsford Canucks. The 25-year-old forward is expected to play a big role as part of Abbotsford's top six. In 71 career AHL games, Stienburg has scored eight goals and recorded 20 points. 

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The Buffalo Sabres sent primarily a lineup of players bound for the American Hockey League in their preseason road contest against the Detroit Red Wings, but a pair of players that are expected to be part of the club’s opening night roster in less than a week, when the 2026-27 regular season opens in Columbus left the 3-2 overtime loss to the Wings early. 

Trevor Kuntar scored in the first period, andJiri Kulichput Buffalo ahead early in the second, but left the game for what head coach Lindy Ruff said were “precautionary reasons”. On Friday, the 22-year-old forward did not take part in practice at Key Bank Center, and Ruff cast some doubt whether Kulich will play in the preseason finale against Pittsburgh.  

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

"(He was held out), just  really  maintenance. (He) could have skated  today,  so we  decided  to  keep  him  off  again.” Ruff said. “In  all  likelihood,  I would think he will  skate tomorrow.  Either  he  skates  or  plays,  one  of  the  two.  I  think probably  just  skate."

Ruff had indicated earlier in camp that the plan for Kulich, who missed most of last season with a blood clot issue, was going to play all four preseason games to get him back up to speed. The other concerning situation was goalie Alex Lyon leaving the game late in the first period with an apparent upper body injury. 

The Sabres head coach said after the game that he was optimistic and that it was nothing serious, but the veteran netminder was also not on ice for practice. Ruff said he was being evaluated and that more information will be available on Saturday, before the club finishes out their preseason schedule in an afternoon matinee against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

With the NHL regular season beginning on Tuesday, an unusual number of unrestricted free agents are without contracts. 

Among those is Vladimir Tarasenko, a Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers and one of the NHL's best snipers throughout the 2010s.

It's surprising to see Tarasenko without a contract right now. He posted 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games with the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26 despite playing in a middle-six role. He's a power-play specialist and clearly still has plenty of gas left in the tank at 34 years old. 

Hence why the Panthers are reportedly interested in bringing him back to Florida. 

According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Panthers and Tarasenko are “eying each other,” considering a reunion. 

Tarasenko was acquired by the Panthers from the Ottawa Senators at the 2023-24 trade dealine. He posted six goals and 14 points in 19 regular-season games before adding five goals and nine points in 24 playoff games. 

Tarasenko would win his second Stanley Cup of his career with the Panthers, after winning his first in 2018-19 with the St. Louis Blues.

Tarasenko's best individual moments came with the Blues. Drafted by the club in the first round (16th overall) in 2010, Tarasenko scored 30 goals six times and set a career-high of 40 in the 2015-16 season. Tarasenko would play 11 seasons with the Blues before being dealt to the New York Rangers in a deadline trade.

Brad Marchand To Miss Start Of Regular Season, Not Expected To Be Out LongGeneral Manager Bill Zito anticipates a swift return for the veteran forward as Florida prioritizes a conservative recovery timeline to ensure long-term health for the championship contender.

Since then, Tarasenko has bounced around, never playing more than one season with any of the five teams he's joined since the Blues. 

With Brad Marchand injured, Tarasenko could fill a spot on the Panthers' third line. But if the Panthers are healthy, the question is where Tarasenko fits.

Another factor is that Sandis Vilmanis has looked strong in pre-season, and coach Paul Maurice is inclined to give him a go on the wing with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen until Marchand returns from injury.

Whether this moves beyond interest in a reunion is the question, but with less than a week until the season starts, Tarasenko will likely look to lock down a contract sooner rather than later. 

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The Penguins made another round of roster cuts on Friday, including one of the first notable ones for players on the edge of making the team. Avery Hayes was among eight players trimmed from the NHL roster. 2026 draft picks Markus and Liam Ruck will return to their WHL junior team and five more are headed to AHL Wilkes-Barre. Goalie Colin Delia has been released from his tryout.

The Penguins have assigned the following players to @WBSPenguins (AHL):

F Atley Calvert
F Avery Hayes
F Tanner Howe
F Mikhail Ilyin

Forward Oliver Okuliar has been designated as injured non-roster and will continue his rehabilitation process in WBS.

Forwards Liam and Markus…

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 25, 2026

Hayes appeared in two preseason games, scoring a goal. The Penguins have a spate of injuries up front, plus the absence of Andrei Kuzmenko who headed back to Russia to join his family following his father’s passing. It wasn’t enough to open the door for Hayes.

As of now, by my count (possibly dangerous) the Penguins have 37 players still in camp.

Forwards (20): Justin Brazeau*, Tristan Broz, Egor Chinakhov, Sidney Crosby, Connor Dewar, David Gustafsson, Filip Hallander, Ben Kindel*, Ville Koivunen, Andrei Kuzmenko**, Hendrix Lapierre, Blake Lizotte*, Evgeni Malkin, Rutger McGroarty, Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, Nick Robertson, Bryan Rust, Elmer Soderblom, Bill Zonnon

Defenseman (13): Harrison Brunicke, Declan Carlile, Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Erik Kalrsson, Kaeden Korczak, Kris Letang, Jake Livanavage, Owen Pickering, Chase Pietila, Ilya Solovyov, Trevor van Riemsdyk

Goalies (4): Joel Blomqvist, Cam Johnson**, Sergei Murashov, Artus Silovs

‘* Injured, possibility to open season on injured reserve
‘** Currently away from team for personal reasons

They’ll need to drop down to a maximum of 23 players by the start of the league season on Monday.

The Pens had a practice on Friday with some lines that might be close to showtime for the start of the season.

Penguins lines and D-pairs:

Robertson-Crosby-Rakell
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Koivunen-Lapierre-Rust
Hallander-Dewar-Soderblom
(Gustafsson, Zonnon)

Carlile-Karlsson
van Riemsdyk-Letang
Korczak-Girard
Solovyov-Brunicke

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) September 25, 2026

Brazeau remained out being evaluated for his lower body injury on Friday. None of Joel Blomqvist, Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Owen Pickering, Jake Livavanage and Chase Pietila took part in practice, per Pens Inside Scoop, which suggests unfavorable upcoming news about all of their statuses with the NHL team in the immediate future.

Given the center injuries to Lizotte and Kindel, extra centers were a part of the practice – Zonnon and Gustafsson being notable participants. As of now, it looks like Dewar might shift temporarily to center until injured players return but it looks as if the team is taking a longer look at more centers if they want to go in a different direction from Dewar and/or Lapierre. It remains to be seen if either Zonnon or Gustafsson will break camp with the NHL team but their chances have certainly increased given the rash of injuries to centers that the Pens are dealing with right now.

It’s a big move up the board for Koivunen, where the absence of Kuzmenko has opened up an opportunity for someone to play on Rust’s line. Koivunen may have been on the outside looking in about 48-72 hours ago, but the situation can and did change.

Defensively, everything remains about the same since the start of camp, outside of Brunicke departing from playing with Pickering and getting a further look with the NHL group. Solovyov, who can play both sides of the ice, probably still figures in to be the reserve defenseman on the NHL roster but that battle could be worth watching.

Macklin Celebrini's stunning second season led to another honor as he was named one of the youngest captains in NHL history.

The San Jose Sharks released a video on Friday, Sept. 25, showing Hall of Famer and former Sharks captain Joe Thornton handing Celebrini a jersey with the "C."

Celebrini replaces Logan Couture (2019-25) and becomes the 11th full-time captain in franchise history. San Jose went without a captain last season.

"Your hard work, the way you lead our group, we just watched you in training camp going double shifts there," Sharks general manager Mike Grier told Celebrini in the video. "You're pushing the group, so this is a well-deserved honor."

Celebrini's promotion at 20 years, 104 days old is a logical progression for the 2024 No. 1 overall pick who's entering his third NHL season.

From one Sharks captain to another. Joe Thornton presented Macklin Celebrini with the C. pic.twitter.com/iqPYRsN2tW

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 25, 2026

The 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey's top men's player is noted for his maturity and has put up big numbers on the ice. Following a 63-point rookie season, he broke San Jose's franchise record for single-season scoring last season with 115 points. The Sharks improved by 34 points and missed the playoffs by four points.

Celebrini was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player, as voted by his fellow players.

He also played for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal and finishing second in scoring with 10 points in six games. He was Canada's captain at the world championships.

This summer, the Sharks demonstrated Celebrini's value to the team by making him the NHL's highest-paid player with an eight-year extension averaging $18.8 million. That number since has been passed by Cale Makar's $20.4 million.

Celebrini received a national marketing honor, too, by becoming the youngest player to be featured on the cover of EA Sports' NHL video game.

He will be the youngest captain in the NHL this season. The Chicago Blackhawks named Connor Bedard captain at age 21 this offseason as he enters his fourth season.

Youngest captains in NHL history

Celebrini is one of the youngest captains in NHL history.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid was the NHL's youngest captain at 19 years, 266 days when he was named in 2016. Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier were also named captain before they turned 20.

Chicago's Jonathan Toews was 20 years, 79 days old when he was named captain.

List of NHL captains

Celebini is the sixth NHL captain named this month, joining the Anaheim Ducks' Mikael Granlund, Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty, Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, New York Islanders' Bo Horvat and the St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas. Here is a list of the 27 NHL captains and the five vacancies.

• Anaheim Ducks: Mikael Granlund
• Boston Bruins: Vacant
• Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin
• Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund
• Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Staal
• Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
• Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Vacant
• Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn
• Detroit Red Wings: Vacant
• Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid
• Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov
• Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty
• Minnesota Wild: Jared Spurgeon
• Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki
• Nashville Predators: Roman Josi
• New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier
• New York Islanders: Bo Horvat
• New York Rangers: J.T. Miller
• Ottawa Senators: Vacant
• Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
• San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini
• Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle
• St. Louis Blues: Robert Thomas
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews
• Utah Mammoth: Clayton Keller
• Vancouver Canucks: Vacant
• Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone
• Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin
• Winnipeg Jets: Adam Lowry

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Macklin Celebrini, 20, named San Jose Sharks captain

ST. PAUL, Minn. — David Spacek entered Minnesota Wild training camp facing an uphill battle to earn a spot on the NHL roster.

With the Wild now down to 27 players, the 23-year-old defenseman has made that decision much more difficult than it may have appeared at the start of camp.

Carson Lambos, Roman Schmidt and Matt Kiersted were among the defensemen placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Iowa. Ben Dexheimer and Viking Gustafsson Nyberg were sent directly to Iowa.

Spacek, however, survived the cuts.

And based on how the 23-year-old defenseman has performed throughout training camp, it isn’t difficult to understand why.

“Spacek’s had a very good camp,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “What I see with him more now is I think he’s stronger. He plays the right way. I think his ability to break out and move the puck has been good. Defensively, he’s been solid. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s got a good stick, uses angles.

“He’s been very, very consistent throughout camp.”

Spacek entered camp on the outside looking in when it came to Minnesota’s NHL blue line.

Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber opened camp together on the top pair, while Jonas Brodin skated alongside Jared Spurgeon. Olli Määttä and Zach Bogosian comprised the third pair, with Daemon Hunt and Spacek behind them.

But Spacek has done about as much as he could to make Minnesota’s decision more difficult.

The right-shot defenseman has looked comfortable moving the puck, defended well and continued the progression he showed last season.

Spacek recorded seven goals and 36 points in 59 games for Iowa last season and also received his first taste of the NHL, appearing in two games for Minnesota.

Now he looks much closer to being capable of handling NHL minutes. The difficult part is finding them.

Wild Place First-Round pick Carson Lambos On WaiversMinnesota risks losing a former top prospect as roster cuts intensify. Other NHL teams now have a 24-hour window to claim the physical defenseman before his Iowa assignment.

Spacek is a right-shot defenseman on a team that already has Faber and Spurgeon occupying the right side of its top two defensive pairs. That leaves Bogosian, 36, as the veteran currently positioned on the right side of Minnesota’s third pair.

Bogosian brings experience, size and physicality to the Wild’s blue line, but Spacek’s performance throughout camp has at least made the situation worth watching.

Spacek provides a younger, puck-moving alternative and has shown throughout camp that he may be ready for a larger opportunity than another full season in Iowa.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Minnesota will give it to him immediately. The Wild have a big decision to make considering Spacek will need waivers to be sent down to Iowa.

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Kirill Marchenko has made some noise in the NHL rumor mill this off-season, and that hasn't changed in the lead-up to the 2026-27 season.

The Russian right winger doesn't appear to be all in on being with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and so naturally, teams are interested in acquiring his services.

To that point, several teams are reportedly in the mix, and on Friday's episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs are involved one way or another.

"Toronto has really tried to keep their interest secret, but it's kind of seeped out," Friedman reported.

Marchenko, 26, is entering the final year of his three-year contract. He costs just $3.85 million against the salary cap. Following this season, he will be an RFA with arbitration rights.

His cap hit is not only attractive based on the increase of the NHL's salary cap, but also the type of player he's been for Columbus since signing that deal.

How Zack MacEwen’s ‘Statement Game’ Helped Pushed Steven Lorentz Off The Maple Leafs’ RosterFresh off a goal, a fight, and a dominant preseason statement against Ottawa, Zack MacEwen has skated into the Maple Leafs’ opening-night picture while pushing Steven Lorentz to the waiver wire.

In 2024-25, Marchenko set career-highs across the board with 31 goals, 43 assists and 74 points in 79 games. Last season, his production dipped slightly, but he still had a good campaign, putting up 27 goals and 67 points for the Blue Jackets.

Marchenko is a big, 6-foot-3, 201-pound player who can play on either wing. He would immediately be a top-six player on the Maple Leafs, but of course, to make a deal happen, roster players would have to go Columbus' way if Toronto wanted ot acquire Marchenko.

How Zack MacEwen’s ‘Statement Game’ Helped Pushed Steven Lorentz Off The Maple Leafs’ RosterFresh off a goal, a fight, and a dominant preseason statement against Ottawa, Zack MacEwen has skated into the Maple Leafs’ opening-night picture while pushing Steven Lorentz to the waiver wire.

Friedman added that the Blue Jackets aren't looking for futures in exchange for Marchenko, and they want to remain a competitive team. 

He also added that there are a number of other teams linked to Marchenko. Teams that were mentioned include the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, the Winnipeg Jets were in it at one point, the Boston Bruins made an offer, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Seattle Kraken, possibly based on their recent attempts at bringing in big-name talents.

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For many, the 2026 offseason for the Anaheim Ducks was considered “disastrous” due to franchise center Leo Carlsson’s $18 million AAV offer sheet, the roster players they didn’t/couldn’t retain, and the lack of flexibility to replace them. 

However, in the months since the OS was signed, players from around the league have used Carlsson’s new deal as a template, and what was once an outlier is now the new normal. 

Takeaways from the Ducks 2-1 Preseason Loss to the Kings

Ducks Name Mikael Granlund 10th Captain in Franchise History

Though there are now question marks when it comes to how the Ducks will perform in the upcoming 2026-27 season, beyond this year, the Ducks cap situation is much more encouraging, especially considering star forward Cutter Gauthier’s six-year, $13.5 million AAV deal, signed days before the opening of training camp, can be viewed as a relative discount. 

Another piece of encouragement came in the form of a report from premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday morning, who reported that the projected salary cap ceiling for the 2028-29 season is estimated to come in at $127.5 million. The cap is set at $104 million in 2026-27 and is projected at $113.5 million in 2027-28.

As the cap continues to increase by astronomical percentages over the next few seasons, the percentage of the cap being taken up by every player currently under contract will continue to decrease and, in theory, the Ducks’ cap structure will become increasingly flexible over time. 

The 2026-27 season will be the first year in the new contracts for core roster players like Carlsson, Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe (8 years, $9 million AAV), and Pavel Mintyukov (5 years, $7.2 million). While those four players will eat up 45.8% of the 2026-27 salary cap, that percentage is projected to drop to 37.4% by 2028-29.

The 2028-29 Ducks currently have ten players (per puckpedia.com) under contract (Carlsson, Gauthier, Troy Terry, AJ Greer, Ryan Poehling, Jeff Mallot, Tim Washe, LaCombe, Mintyukov, and Lukas Dostal) and a now-projected $54.2 million in cap space (excluding players on ELCs like Nikita Klepov and Roger McQueen). 

When the puck drops on the 2028-29 season, Ducks’ current significant veteran roster players Mikael Granlund ($7 million AAV), Alex Killorn ($6.25 million AAV), Frank Vatrano ($4.57 million AAV), and Nick Jensen ($2.2 million AAV) will have seen their current contracts expire. 

Barring substantial growth in the next two seasons from younger players like Nathan Gaucher, Sam Colangelo, Nikita Nesterenko, Ian Moore, Drew Helleson, and Tyson Hinds, the only players projected to play top roles in the lineup by the 2028-29 season who will then require significant new contracts are Beckett Sennecke and Tristan Luneau. 

Sennecke, the 2026 Calder Trophy finalist, scored 60 points (23-37=60) in 82 games during his rookie year. He’s already established himself as one of the NHL’s top young players, a point producer, a playoff performer, a difficult player to play against, and a foundational piece to the Ducks’ current build toward contention. 

If/when Sennecke continues to grow his game at his current rate, he’ll be eligible for a big-money contract starting July 1, 2027, in the realm of Carlsson, Gauthier, and other young stars throughout the league like Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Adam Fantilli.

Luneau is set for his first complete NHL season in 2026-27, following two successful development years with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, where he totaled 95 points (19-76=95) in 135 games over the past three years. He’s grown tremendously in every facet and is primed to step into an everyday NHL role where he can have a 200-foot, all-three-zone impact, highlighted by his deceptive breakouts, aggressive activations, and dynamic offensive blueline navigation. Luneau’s ELC will expire following this upcoming season, and if it’s as successful as many think it can be, it could lead to a sizable second NHL contract. 

When the 2028 offseason arrives, the Ducks hope to be firmly in their cup-contending window, and their core, as a whole, will be in the early years of their primes. Now that the combined cap hit of said core will be drastically lower than projected, the front office will have some unexpected flexibility. Managing the second and third layers of the depth chart will be what ultimately makes or breaks whether they can bring a second Stanley Cup to Orange County. 

NHL Awards Odds, 2026-27 Anaheim Ducks

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

Ducks Sign Tim Washe to Four-Year Extension

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

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 6 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #6. 

Let's take a look at who wore 6, and where they are now. 

Jamie Heward - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 1989. 

Heward played 97 games with Columbus and had 30 points. 69 of his games came during the inaugural season for Columbus.  

After several years in Europe, he returned to the NHL and retired with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009. Heward has been an Asst. Coach for the Henderson Silver Knights since 2020. Former Monsters captain Ryan Craig is the head coach for Henderson. 

Jamie Pushor - 2004 - Drafted by Detroit in 1991. 

Pushor played 147 games with the Jackets and had 22 points. After three different stints with the CBJ, he retired in 2007 while playing for the Syracuse Crunch. 

He is now the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the Tampa Bay Lightning with former CBJ Mathieu Darche. 

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

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

After retiring in 2021, having played 1,132 games, he now works for the NHLPA as Assistant Executive Director. 

Hainsey is Actor Michael Madsen's doppelgänger. 

Anton Strålman - 2010-2011 - Drafted by Toronto in 2005. 

He played 124 games with Columbus and totaled 52 points over two seasons. He left Columbus for the New York Rangers in 2011.

After 16 seasons and 938 NHL games, he retired in 2024 and became a coach for Skultorps IF, a professional women's soccer team in Sweden. In January 2025, he returned to play for Tibro IK, a Division Three team in his hometown in Sweden. 

Nikita Nikitin - 2012-2014 - Drafted by St. Louis in 2004. 

Nikitin played in 158 games for the Jackets and had 56 points. He only played 101 more NHL games after his time with Columbus. 

He left for the KHL in 2016 and retired in 2019. He's currently an assistant coach for Omsk Krylga in Russia's VHL. 

Elite prospects said of Nikitin, "Nikitin has a terrific combination of size and mobility. He handles the puck nicely and can rush it up the ice. Can unleash a hard point shot, too. Could stand to play a more physical game, given his frame."

Adam Clendening - 2019 - Drafted by Chicago in 2011. 

Clendening played four games for the Jackets in 18-19. He has never played another NHL game and left for Europe in 2023. He also spent a couple of years playing for the Cleveland Monsters. 

He currently plays for the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL and was just named an assistant Captain. His head coach is former CBJ bench boss Gerard Gallant. 

Elite prospects said this about the former second-round pick: "A smooth-skating two-way defenseman that can read the game like a forward. Possesses slick hands, a good stick, and a sharp shot that jumps off his stick. All in all, a productive two-way defenseman who has a high offensive ceiling and is responsible defensively."

Clendening signed a PTO with the Cleveland Monsters yesterday. 

Billy Sweezey - 2023 - Undrafted out of Hanson, Massachusetts.

Sweezey played 9 games with Columbus and had a single point. He spent most of his time with Cleveland in the AHL, playing three seasons and totaling 26 points.

He signed with his hometown Boston Bruins in 2024 and will play for the Boston organization again this season. 

Egor Zamula - 2025-26 - Undrafted out of Chelyabinsk, RUS

Zamula played 20 games for Columbus last season after coming over from Philadelphia. he totaled 2 points before leaving for Russia. He will play for CSKA Moskva this season. 

There are six days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Who was your favorite #6?

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have trimmed their training camp down by four more to 28 on Friday morning, and they include a couple players that have had really strong training camps.

We wrote after Thursday night's 1-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks that defenseman Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2024 NHL Draft that he will make this decision on who to keep as a seventh defenseman with Tyler Tucker (tweaked right knee) currently shelved.

Well, at least for the time being, veteran Calle Rosen will be that guy.

Jiricek, along with 2023 first-round pick Otto Stenberg, Dylan Peterson and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who also had a terrific game on Thursday, were all assigned to Springfield.

It's really not that big a surprise, despite that Jiricek, Peterson, who also had a strong training camp, Stenberg and Kaskimaki all are waiver-exempt.

All of the others, including Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker, Jack Finley, Zach Dean, Dillon Dube and Rosen will require waivers to be sent down to the AHL.

For Jiricek, he can go to Springfield and play upwards of 25 minutes or more and continue to ascend and perhaps become a dominant player.

Kaskimaki displayed enough talent that he can be a sure-fire call-up should the Blues need one at any point, as can Peterson, who displayed a well-balanced mix of grit, toughness, some speed and an offensive skill set. The best thing for Stenberg is he needs to play a more refined role and play bigger minutes; his training camp produced very mixed results.

The Blues will need to trim five more players off the roster by the NHL's opening night deadline, which is 4 p.m. (CT) on Monday.

'It Was A Dream Come True To Play My First Couple Of NHL Games. ... Now it's a new season, you're starting from zero and you're here to take a spot.'Theo Lindstein's start to his NHL career has been better than advertised; the 21-year-old is guarded about things though. He understands he's only scratching the surface, there's plenty more to learn

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Patrick Kane wore the Chicago Blackhawks jersey Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. This road game was his one opportunity to get some preseason work in before the real games begin. The Blackhawks want to save his home debut for the regular season, so he isn't expected to play Saturday night's preseason finale at the United Center.

When the season does start, Kane and the Hawks will play in the first three games on the road before returning home to play the Blues on October 6th. Kane coming back has plenty of hockey implications, but the organization also recognizes the magnitude of his cultural importance in town. 

Whenever Patrick Kane speaks now, you can hear the genuine excitement for him to be representing the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice again. 

“Nice to wear the Blackhawks sweater again and wear the jersey and be back out there as a Chicago Blackhawk again, so that was a good feeling,” Kane said with a happy face. 

On the ice, he showed glimpses of his former self. He may not be a 90-point player anymore, but his ability to create time and space for himself and others in the offensive zone is still incredibly noticeable. 

Kane played on a line with Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, and they each had multiple chances set up by Kane. None of them were buried, but those floodgates are sure to open soon. More than anyone, 38-year-old Patrick Kane seems to be in mid-season form already.

"I thought we had some chances, some looks," Kane said of his line. "Maybe a little sloppy with the puck at times, but I didn't think we gave up much. Maybe trying too many plays at times instead of making the simple play to keep possession. We could have capitalized on some chances." 

When Connor Bedard comes back, that may be his spot instead of Frank Nazar, but the line is going to be strong in the offensive zone all year long regardless. Patrick Kane has the hockey IQ to make those around him better, even now, and it is already showing in the chances that were created in St. Louis. 

Kane recognized that they were a bit rusty, but he also admitted that game action, albeit preseason, is much different than practice. It was good for him to get into this game. 

"When [Patrick Kane] got the opportunity to be out there, I thought he did a good job," head coach Jeff Blashill said. "He competes, he reloads hard, he's doing all the things we're asking him to do. I thought he and Roman [Kantserov] showed good chemistry again. It was a good first step."

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In Elliotte Friedman's latest episode of his podcast, 32 Thoughts, the NHL insider revealed that Dylan Larkin has expanded his trade list as he continues to pursue a move away from the Detroit Red Wings.

The list is reportedly up to seven teams, and the Minnesota Wild are still among them.

''One of the things I heard about Larkin is that there are more teams that he's willing to go to than what have been reported," said Friedman.

"I think some of the other teams there are Colorado, Washington, and I suspect, in case people didn't know them already, Dallas and Tampa.''

Larkin's reported trade list now includes the Wild, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and the Washington Capitals. 

Of those seven teams, a deal is unlikely with the Panthers and Golden Knights, as they don't have the future assets to make it work and likely don't want to part with many of their NHL veterans. 

The Stars and Avalanche are in the same boat: fairly happy with their rosters and lacking tradeable assets, but they could still find a way to make a deal work.

The Capitals and the Wild are the most interesting teams that could make it work with the Red Wings. 

Could Wild's Trade Talks Intensify With Red Wings Following Captaincy Strip Of Dylan Larkin?Trade discussions between the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings have seemingly gone silent, but following the captaincy strip of Dylan Larkin, could we expect trade talks to intensify?

So, with all of this, does Larkin expanding his trade list make configuring a deal for Larkin more difficult? The simple answer is yes, because they now have two more teams to compete with, but outside of Washington, their competition likely couldn't match what the Wild have at their disposal.

It also raises the asking price for Larkin. With more teams able to discuss trades, the Red Wings gained a bit of leverage and could demand more, or better assets, in a deal.

That's where the Wild will be most affected by the expanded list. 

It doesn't end their chances of acquiring Larkin, but it does add to the difficulty.

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