Former Rangers forward Kevin Hayes, the two-way center who spent four-plus years on Broadway at the start of his career, retired after just five games in the KHL, he announced in a statement posted by the league Monday.
“I have decided to end my hockey career,” Hayes, 34, said in the statement. “I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form.”
After logging 28 games in Pittsburgh last year, Hayes inked a deal with AK Bars Kazan in August. Less than a month later, he retired without recording a point in his five games.
He skated 13:10 during the team’s most recent game on Sept. 18, and AK Bars Kazan’s next game was set for Monday night.
New York Rangers’ Kevin Hayes (13) reacts after scoring his first NHL goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Paul J. Bereswill
Hayes was an All-Star in the 2022-23 season with the Flyers, and he had stints with the Jets, Flyers, Blues and Penguins after the Blueshirts sent him to Winnipeg in 2019.
Throughout the early stages of his career, though, Hayes carved out a key role with the Rangers after originally getting drafted by the Blackhawks — No. 24 overall in 2010 — but signing his entry-level deal with the Blueshirts instead.
Hayes collected 87 goals and 216 points across 361 regular-season games with the Rangers, along with another two goals and 10 points in 34 playoff games.
He delivered plenty of vintage moments, too. As a rookie, his overtime winner in Game 4 of his first postseason series gave the Rangers a 3-1 series lead over the Penguins.
New York Rangers’ Kevin Hayes (13) celebrates scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Paul J. Bereswill
In the next round, his game-tying goal on the power play in the second period of Game 7 paved the way for Derek Stepan’s heroics against the Capitals.
But Hayes, a former Boston College star, was ultimately sent to the Jets at the deadline in 2019 in exchange for a first-round pick, Brendan Lemieux and a conditional fourth-round pick that never amounted to anything — since the Jets didn’t win the Stanley Cup that year.
Hayes went on to skate in 861 total games across his NHL career, finishing with 193 goals and 470 points.
For two periods Sunday night, the Utah Mammoth looked like the team in control.
Utah dictated the pace for much of the preseason matchup, spending long stretches with the puck and keeping the Colorado Avalanche from finding much rhythm offensively. But a few costly mistakes in the third period changed everything, turning what had been a competitive game into a 4-1 Avalanche victory.
The Mammoth entered the final period tied 1-1, having done plenty to keep one of the NHL’s deeper lineups in check.
Colorado opened the scoring in the second period when Beckett Hamilton found the back of the net, but Yegor Borikob answered to keep the game even heading into the final 20 minutes.
The Avalanche received solid goaltending throughout the night. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all seven shots he faced before yielding the crease to highly touted prospect Ilya Nabokov, who turned aside 16 of the 17 shots he saw.
Utah’s Sebastian Cossa matched that effort early, looking composed in his first preseason appearance with the Mammoth. He tracked the puck well, handled traffic in front of him and consistently directed dangerous rebounds away from the middle of the ice.
The Mammoth also got encouraging performances from several of their young skaters.
Caleb Desnoyers looked comfortable in his first preseason action, playing a responsible game at both ends of the rink and winning 66% of his faceoffs. The fourth-overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft also showed his willingness to compete physically and make plays away from the puck.
Gabe Smith’s line was another bright spot for Utah. The group repeatedly created pressure in the offensive zone, held onto possession and generated several chances throughout the night. Smith scored Utah’s lone goal.
Then the game began to slip away.
Gavin Brindley put Colorado ahead early in the third period before Brock Nelson added another, giving the Avalanche breathing room as Utah struggled to regain the control it had enjoyed for much of the night.
Taylor Makar, the younger brother of Avalanche superstar Cale Makar, added the final blow to seal the 4-1 victory.
The score ultimately favored Colorado, but the night offered plenty for Utah to take away. The Mammoth controlled the puck for much of the game and showed flashes from several young players. Once the mistakes started piling up, however, the Avalanche were more than happy to make them pay.
Among those hires were Josef Boumedienne, who will join the club as Vice President of Hockey Operations; Josh Burke, Hockey Operations Data Engineer; Brooks Christensen, Amateur Scout; and Killian Hamilton, Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Throughout the off-season, the Panthers lost several members in different departments. Leading up to the season the Panthers have made additions to ammend those losses.
Boumedienne joins the Panthers after serving as the GM of Sweden’s men’s national ice hockey team for the past two seasons, including at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
Following his NHL career, Boumedienne worked as the director of European scouting for the Columbus Blue Jackets for nine seasons.
Another notable name is Christensen. In July, the Everett Silvertips of the WHL announced that Christensen would leave the organization to join the Panthers, but Florida recently announced the move.
Christensen served as the Silvertips' director of scouting for two seasons and won a WHL championship. Before that, he worked as the GM of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the BCHL.
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Four days and one preseason game into training camp, the Baby Islanders do not look one iota out of place.
Based on Sunday’s 2-1 preseason loss to the Devils, it is some of the veteran Isles who ought to be a little bit more worried about making the 23-man roster, for the more Victor Eklund plays, the more he looks like someone who belongs.
And though Cole Eiserman and Kashawn Aitcheson are unlikely to make the final roster, both have at least done their part in challenging the assumption that it is a fait accompli.
New York Islanders’ Cole Eiserman skates with the puck during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I thought I played pretty well,” Eiserman said after scoring his team’s only goal on a power-play one-timer from the right-hand dot. “A few moments I thought I could learn from, but obviously that’s the game. I’m gonna be watching film and seeing what I can do.”
Eiserman was on the second line with Matthew Highmore and Pierre Engvall, but his minutes got a boost thanks to the Islanders spending 7:05 on the power play.
Eklund was off the scoresheet, but he made what might have been the game’s most impressive play, a silky-smooth feed to Cal Ritchie for a grade-A chance in the slot, and proved his mettle along the boards.
With both teams the Islanders and Devils playing rosters largely made up of prospects, it is hard to make real judgments. But if the question is whether Eklund outplayed his teammates with whom he is competing for a roster spot — namely Engvall, Ondrej Palat and Mitchell Chaffee, out of the group on the ice Sunday — the answer is a resounding yes.
New York Islanders forward Victor Eklund runs a drill during Development Camp, Monday, June 30, 2025, at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
“He’s just a real good hockey player,” coach Pete DeBoer said of Eklund. “Can play in any situation. Dog on a bone on the puck out there. If he continues to do what he’s doing, he’s gonna make us have to make some really tough decisions.”
Vladimir Dravecky continued to impress, as the fifth-round pick skated 18:39 and picked up an assist.
“We threw him right in running the first power play,” DeBoer said. “A lot of ice time for, that’s his first real pro hockey game. He’s probably the youngest kid on the ice or one of them for sure. Thought he did a great job. He’s had a great camp.”
Marshall Warren was on the ice for both goals against and turned the puck over, leading to Connor Brown’s decider.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres protects the net against Egor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins’ preseason roster for their first of just four games has an intentional element to it. There are some veterans getting into the action – you wouldn’t see Bryan Rust or Kris Letang play the first preseason game in the past – but the key area is a level below for all the candidates to win a job on the fourth line or just stay on the roster at all.
Aside from Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, almost every other fringe forward is getting a chance to play tonight in a very visible area to try and make their case. In recent days Filip Hallander has settled into practicing with Hendrix Lapierre and Justin Brazeau. In the last practice on Sunday, Elmer Soderblom skated with Tristan Broz and Connor Dewar.
If those two lines stay united for tonight’s game, that is the primary area to watch as far as which players might rise to the occasion and make a name for themselves. That includes Avery Hayes, who has been mostly on the periphery so far in camp, yet is a player the team knows they might have a little something in as a potential difference-maker from the fourth line with his speed and ability to chip in goals that he has showcased at the NHL level in the past.
It would be poetic, though perhaps not helpful for the final decision, if a player like Hayes ends up showing out tonight and makes a crowded picture even more jumbled. There’s already so many candidates in the mix and it would serve to stand as a reminder that clarity isn’t always gained from a single preseason game.
That said, let’s see how the PK splits go and which players get turns there. What is the path for players like Lapierre and Broz at center, considering conventional thought would be the last available center spot in the lineup belongs to Blake Lizotte (who is not playing tonight)? What to do at wing, where Dewar’s looking to hold onto a spot but there are no small number of potential contenders to slide into the fourth line (Hallander, Brazeau, Soderblom, Hayes, from the players dressing tonight and saying nothing of McGroarty and Koivunen)?
Lots of questions, perhaps some answers will start to sort themselves out tonight via game performances. Or maybe not. It’s always worth wondering just how much one single data point will mean in the larger focus of how to sort out the lineup, but there are only a small handful of these exhibition opportunities, so they now have a heightened importance.
—
As far as the opponent, some quick thoughts on Buffalo. As a visiting team early in the preseason, they aren’t bringing a ton of talent to measure up against. Only Conor Sheary and Jiri Kulich (who like Hallander is working back after a blood clot knocked him out for much of last season) are bonafide NHL level forwards, though some others like Tyson Kozak and Justin Danforth played enough games in recent seasons to count as veterans.
The Sabres are also bringing Aidan McDonough tonight, who they signed to an NHL contract this summer. McDonough, 26, was among Wilkes-Barre’s better players last season, working on AHL contract. He actually led the team in regular season scoring since a good bit of that team (McGroarty, Koivunen, Hayes, Broz) either missed time AHL to injury or from being on the NHL roster at different times during the year. McDonough will surely be motivated to show out against many familiar faces. Buffalo is also bringing Jack Rathbone, once briefly a WBS player. Those two, along with Sheary, make up the former Penguins involved tonight.
Sheary, 34, by the way, signed a one-year, one-way contract worth the league minimum ($850k) with Buffalo for the 2026-27 season. He had a so-so year with the Rangers last season (seven goals and 11 assists in 62 games) which was good enough to get another contract and hang on for one more year.
Overall though, the Buffalo lineup is a dud. Sheary’s 17 points last year is by far their highest scorer. Almost their whole NHL team is not making the trip to Pittsburgh tonight. It would be tough to bring less talent and still hit the eight ‘veteran’ players that the league mandates for a preseason game. Buffalo gets there thanks to players like Kozak, Metsa but it’s barely anyone worth noting for the immediate future in the NHL.
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Another key area worth watching will be in net, as both young AHL goalies who are trying to become NHL goalies this season are dressing for the game. As mentioned above, it’s not like Buffalo brought an incredible amount of talent for them to face. The Pens are dressing Trevor van Riemsdyk and Letang, plus potentially the very good pair of Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke, so maybe the Pittsburgh defense will look alright tonight? One would have to hope for that based on the team strengths on paper, anyways. It’s a big opportunity for Sergei Mursahov and Joel Blomqvist tonight to get out there and do their thing in net.
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Along those lines, while the vast fourth line competition will eat up a lot of oxygen, it’ll be fun to see what the presumed line of Kuzmenko-Kindel-Rust can do in a game. It’s an exhibition and most will be moving with 75-85% intensity, but the Pens are certainly dabbling in giving Kindel some pretty good wingers at the start of preseason. Rust is only one quick decision away from going back to his regular spot on Sidney Crosby’s line, but can this group show some chemistry and reason to stay united in the near future? It’ll be interesting to watch. Based on the lineups, you’d think they’ll get the lion share of any power play looks too.
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The game starts at 7:00pm will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh+ and is on the radio on 105.9 the X, as well as the Penguins’ app. I looked in ESPN+ and saw this game already in the preview section, so it looks like it will be streaming there for out of market viewers.
NEWARK, NY -- On Sunday, the New York Islanders let goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who they signed to a one-year, $1 million deal this summer, play the entirety of their 2-1 preseason loss to the New Jersey Devils.
He made 18 saves on 20 shots.
"I thought Vanacek played well," Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said. "He gives us some good goalie depth in the organization."
Vanecek, who won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024-25 before joining the Utah Mammoth for the 2025-26 season, was brought in as an insurance policy for veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov, whose future was still in the air as he worked his way back from two partial knee replacements.
With Varlamov looking sharp but having yet to face the trials and tribulations of an NHL season since November of 2024, are the Islanders considering going with a three-goalie system to start this season?
"It's been discussed," DeBoer said. "But it does handcuff you [roster-wise]. That's all going to depend on how Varly's doing and how he's feeling and things like that. In talking with Mathieu [Darche], I don't think that we want to go there, but it's on the table if we have to."
If the Islanders don't go that route, Vanecek will need to clear waivers before reporting to Hamilton of the American Hockey League.
There won't be much risk of Vanecek being claimed if he's sent on waivers as part of the final cuts, which usually occurs 24 hours before NHL teams must be cap compliant.
During that time, teams are shedding cap, not adding to it.
If the Islanders held on to Vanecek to start the season and then sent him down through waivers later, they'd run a much greater risk of him being claimed.
As DeBoer said, a Vanecek decision is all about how Varlamov is doing.
Varlamov is expected to get at least one full preseason game later in the week, and he may get half a game on Tuesday against the New York Rangers -- we shall see.
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 20: New Jersey Devils Anton Silaev #52 skates with the puck during a game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on September 20, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Sunny Mehta: “Any step that we take from last year is going to be considered a ‘success.’ But I guarantee you that unless we win a Stanley Cup, no matter what happens, I’m probably going to be disappointed.” [NHL.com]
“A look at 4 New Jersey Devils who could take a step back in 2026-27 and one who may be due for positive regression.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“On paper, the Devils lineup has re-shifted toward being a rush-oriented team, which is the driving factor in why they were so successful in 2022-23. The acquisitions of Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Amadeus Lombardi give their bottom-six some much needed speed and skill. Luke Evangelista and Anthony Mantha, meanwhile, provide a boost to the top-six. The only question mark, then, is the Devils’ coaching staff.” [Infernal Access]
We have hockey! Connor Brown and Ryan Schmelzer scored on Sunday as the Devils took a 2-1 win over the Islanders in the first preseason game. [Devils NHL]
Hockey Links
“NHL training camps are getting underway, and the new wave of rookies expected to play impactful roles is very notable. Three of the top 10 picks from the 2026 draft could see significant NHL time this season. And for the first time in a while, a goaltender makes an appearance on a preseason watch list. Add in a few players who signed at the conclusion of the 2025-26 NCAA season and there is more than enough talent for an intriguing Calder Trophy race.” [ESPN]
Who will win the Hart Trophy? Who will win the Vezina? The Norris? Predicting this season’s award winners in the NHL: [The Hockey News
“Connor McDavid is a perfect 10. McDavid is No. 1 on TSN’s 2026-27 list of the projected Top 50 NHL players. That makes it 10 straight years – a full decade – for the sublimely skilled Edmonton Oiler, beginning in 2017.” Here’s TSN’s full ranking: [TSN]
Ryan Reaves heads to retirement:
"You can rest easy knowing the corners are a little safer today.
Among the six team that dropped out were the Toronto Maple Leafs, who tumbled after a nine-season playoff run. The Florida Panthers' back-to-back championship run also ended as major injuries kept them out of the playoffs.
Here's a look at five 2025-26 non-playoff teams that could have a chance to clinch a postseason berth this season:
Florida Panthers
The 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup championship dropped out last season because captain Aleksander Barkov missed the entire season after ACL surgery and Matthew Tkachuk was out until close to the Olympics. Both are available now, which alone helps their chances. The team added Brady Tkachuk and other gritty players. The strength of the goaltending is in question, though, after Sergei Bobrovsky left in free agency and the team traded for Jacob Markstrom.
The Capitals brought in three-time 30-goal scorers Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou and structured a bonus-laden deal to bring back record-setting goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. Boone Jenner is another solid addition and Vincent Desharnais can help Washington deal with a long-term injury to Rasmus Sandin.
The Sharks missed the playoffs by four points to extend their drought to seven seasons. But Macklin Celebrini is on the rise, the Sharks added big veterans on defense and Mason Marchment brings pesky play to the franchise where his father played. Ivar Stenberg was a solid draft pickup after the team won the second lottery drawing. It's no guarantee the Sharks make it, but the Kings do seem like they could slip.
New general manager Sunny Mehta added scoring on the wing with 33-goal scorer Mantha and Luke Evangelista. Versatile forwards Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist came back in the Markstrom trade. Jack Hughes will need to stay healthy and will the goaltending be strong enough?
Toronto Maple Leafs
Bobrovsky and 22-goal defenseman Darren Raddysh were added, and new GM John Chayka rearranged the bottom six forward group. If No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna performs as promised, the Maple Leafs' playoff absence could end at one year.
Other teams to watch
Nashville Predators: They missed the playoffs by four points. New GM Chris MacFarland traded for some of his former Avalanche players, plus Mavrik Bourque. They need better seasons from Juuse Saros and Jonathan Marchessault.
St. Louis Blues: They also finished four points out of a spot. They got steady Connor McMichael back in the Kyrou trade, and Mason MacTavish could benefit from new surroundings.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 5: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck against Beck Malenstyn #29 of the Buffalo Sabres in the third period during the game at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A programming note for all those interested in Penguins hockey: the team begins preseason action tonight at PPG Paints Arena against the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop on the first of four preseason games is set for 7 p.m. And with that…
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
Evgeni Malkin is entering his 21st season with the Penguins after signing a one-year contract, but he remains uncertain about whether he will continue playing beyond this season. [Associated Press via Sportsnet]
The Penguins have assigned goaltending prospect Matvei Nikonovich to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Nikonovich, whom Pittsburgh selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL draft, is set to join the OHL after spending most of last season with Lada Togliatti in Russia’s MHL, the country’s top junior league. [Trib Live]
The Penguins entered training camp with a competitive battle in net between Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist. Silovs, 25, is the youthful veteran after playing a career-high 39 games last season and finishing strong in the playoffs, while Murashov and Blomqvist are looking to establish themselves as NHL regulars. [Penguins]
Forward Rickard Rakell recently surprised season-ticket holders, the Crandens, by personally delivering a special package to their home as part of the team’s annual preseason tradition. The visit was especially meaningful for 13-year-old Tyler, a lifelong Penguins fan who saved up enough money to buy his own Penguins jersey, which turned out to be Rickard Rakell. Both spent time talking hockey while Rakell signed his jersey and joked about one of Tyler’s homemade signs. [Penguins]
Marc-Andre Fleury received a warm welcome from fans in Saint-Boniface, Quebec, during Kraft Hockeyville, with crowds lining up for photos, autographs and a chance to see the longtime former Penguins netminder. [NHL]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Dozens of protesters gathered outside Rogers Place before the Edmonton Oilers’ first home game of the preseason, calling on the team to reverse its signing of forward Alex Formenton. [TSN]
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a new logo at center ice this season, paying homage to the 100th anniversary of the team’s rebranding from the Toronto St. Patricks to the Maple Leafs. [Sportsnet]
The Islanders opened the preseason schedule Sunday afternoon vs. the Devils with a lineup largely made of prospects and AHLers who mostly know they will not make the opening roster.
But Cal Ritchie — the only NHL regular from last year — and Victor Eklund impressed Pete DeBoer, according to his post-game scrum, and Cole Eiserman notched a goal. For the record, the Isles lost, 2-1, in Newark, with ol’ friend David Rittich making the stops for the Devils, including 12 in the first period.
Islanders News
Takeaways from Sunday: Much of the above, plus Eiserman scoring (on a 4-on-3), Vitek Vanecek appearing, and an agnostic line on Pierre Engvall’s return, . [Isles]
Post-game video:DeBoer | Eiserman | Ritchie, who gets to make a case for center and whom the coach said is clearly stronger
Islanders season preview, and what it would take to make the playoffs (the “most intriguing addition” is Matias Maccelli, so…yeah). [NHL]
The Islanders do not want to carry three goalies, though even if Semyon Varlamov’s partially replaced knees hold up, they’ll likely need Vanecek at some point to get through an 84-game season. [Newsday]
#Isles Pete DeBoer says keeping three goalies has been discussed but it "handcuffs" the roster. Says ultimate roster makeup will depend on Semyon Varlamov and if he shows he's capable of handling backup role after two partial knee replacements. Organization confident he can.
With the training camp and preseason underway, the New Jersey Devils roster, for the most part, is set. Sure, there are a few decisions to make, with some players eager to carve out roles on the NHL roster, but they aren’t adding to the group, at least not now.
That said, the NHL is in a different place than it was previously. Since the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, teams operate differently. Anyone who has a restricted free agent on their roster has their head on a swivel. Anyone who doesn’t but has room on their roster suddenly looks like a vulture ready to swoop in and grab an elite player. For the Devils, specifically, general manager Sunny Mehta, there’s still time to make a splash and take this roster up another notch.
The Trade Targets
There are star players around the league who are frustrated and asking for trades. It’s given their teams headaches they want to get out of. The Ottawa Senators got out of their way when they traded Brady Tkachuk, and many teams are hopeful to do the same once the season begins.
The Connor Hellebuyck news is the latest, with the star goaltender holding out of training camp and the Winnipeg Jets suspending him because of it. He’s the player multiple teams are eager to acquire, and the Devils are no exception. Hellebuyck not only addresses a need, but he also changes their outlook for the season.
The Dylan Larkin trade request is also fascinating because he joined the team for training camp but is now dealing with an injury. He’s an under-the-radar player for the Devils to watch, someone who can take the forward unit to another level.
Then there’s Quinn Hughes, who is the player everyone is wondering about. The season is around the corner, and the Minnesota Wild haven’t extended him, indicating that the 2024 Norris Trophy winner is heading towards free agency. The Devils can wait to sign him, or if they are putting together a great season, they can see it as a chance to grab him now for a run at the Cup.
The Under-The-Radar Signings
The RFAs have become an intriguing option for GMs around the league. Since the Carlsson offer sheet, anyone can make a move and potentially acquire an elite player if the team isn’t willing to match.
There are two big-name defensemen without contracts heading into this season. Alexander Nikishin is a young defenseman who has the talent to be great in the NHL, yet the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t signed him. Simon Edvisson is a building block on the Detroit Red Wings blue line whom interim GM Shawn Horcoff must sign, considering the tough offseason the team has already gone through.
Edvinsson is the defenseman the Devils can target. Yes, he’ll come with a cost, but Mehta can make the most of a Red Wings situation where they must match and manage their salary cap because of it. And if the Red Wings let Edvinsson walk, the Devils add another young defenseman to build around, someone who can step up in the defensive end as well.
Making The Most Of The Blue Jackets Chaos
The latest reports out of Columbus are that they aren’t close to a contract agreement with Adam Fantilli. He’s one of the elite young scorers in the NHL who someone will give an offer sheet to. Fantilli is a big hit against the cap, but he’s someone the Devils should keep an eye on because of his talent and upside.
#CBJ Adam Fantilli has now missed the first four days of training camp. No signs that a contract agreement is imminent.
There’s also doubt about Kirill Marchenko and whether he wants to remain with the Blue Jackets after his contract expires. That’s why the Devils should consider adding him, even as a rental, for another boost to the forward unit.
It’s unlikely the Devils will acquire a player from the Blue Jackets before the season begins. However, they can target some of their players early on, especially if the Blue Jackets struggle to start the season.
It's not exclusive to the Blue Jackets either. The Devils will keep tabs on multiple teams once the season gets underway, whether it's the Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, or Vancouver Canucks, all of whom can struggle early on and lean into rebuilds.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 29: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Getty Images
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Evgeni Malkin remains as passionate as ever about hockey as his 21st season with the Pittsburgh Penguins begins.
Whether it’s his last, be it in Pittsburgh or anywhere else, only his body knows. And right now, it’s not telling the 40-year-old Russian star anything.
“I mean it’s a hard question,” Malkin said Friday. “We see what’s going on during the season, you know. And right now I won’t say yes.”
He also won’t say no, though he has one very clear metric that will play a massive role in whatever happens beyond this season.
“If I not feel hundred percent, I’m not playing,” Malkin said, adding that if he’s not helping the team to win, “I’m retired.”
Malkin was able to turn the clock back a bit last year, posting 19 goals to go with 42 assists despite missing time with injuries. He averaged over a point per game for the first time since 2019-20 and seemed fueled by the desire to prove to Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas he was still worth the investment.
Dubas played his cards close to the vest until after Pittsburgh’s first-round playoff exit to Philadelphia. He praised Malkin’s effort and about a month later, negotiations that appeared a little tense outwardly resulted with Malkin signing a one-year deal to remain with the club where he’s won three Stanley Cups, two scoring titles and an MVP during a career that will almost certainly end in the Hall of Fame.
The deal also extended the partnership between Malkin, captain Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang to 21 years and counting, the longest three teammates have ever played together in major North American professional sports history.
Though Malkin believes it’s production, not nostalgia, that has kept them together.
“It’s not we’re just here because we win three Cups, you know,” he said. “I hope we’re here because we still play good.”
The Penguins are banking on it. Pittsburgh largely kept together the roster that finished a surprising second behind Carolina in the Metropolitan Division, including re-signing forward Egor Chinakhov, a Russian who blossomed while playing alongside Malkin after being acquired in a trade with Columbus.
There are now four Russians on the team, allowing Malkin the chance to serve as a mentor in the same way former Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar did for him two decades ago.
“Any advice, any like ‘Go to dinner,’ you know, we just do it. “I’m the old guy here and I just have the experience.”
Malkin begins the year with 1,407 career points, just 14 shy of surpassing Hall of Fame center Adam Oates to climb into the top 20 on the NHL’s all-time list.
He’s done it while serving as the emotional ‘yin’ to Crosby’s more reserved ‘yang.’ If Malkin had ended up somewhere else, maybe he’d had been the face of the franchise. He’s long made peace with the trade-off. If this is his final season, it’s been a great ride. But he’s not quite ready to head off into the sunset just yet.
“I think last year I showed my good games, and I am excited to be here,” he said. “And again, like, I’m here to win.”
Vitek Vanecek is in the unenviable position of having his fate largely out of his control.
The netminder, who signed with the Islanders on a one-year, $1 million deal this offseason, doesn’t need to beat out Semyon Varlamov so much as he needs the organization to decide that carrying a third goaltender on the roster is necessary due to the combined risk of Varlamov’s health and losing Vanecek on waivers.
That was more or less acknowledged outright by coach Pete DeBoer following Sunday’s 2-1 preseason defeat to the Devils, in which Vanecek played the duration and turned aside 20 shots.
New York Islanders goaltender Vitek Vanecek defends Vladimir Dravecky (71) during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in East Meadow, N.Y. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“It’s been discussed, and it does handcuff you,” DeBoer said when asked about the possibility of keeping three netminders on the 23-man roster. “I think that’s all gonna depend on how Varly’s doing, how he’s feeling and things like that. I don’t think, in talking with Mathieu [Darche], that we want to go there, but it’s on the table if we have to.”
Varlamov, who should see action in two of the last three preseason games, has shown nothing in camp that indicates he won’t be ready. He is moving well, stopping shots and looking like himself.
The Islanders are not going to deny him the chance to back up Ilya Sorokin as long as that holds true. Varlamov has astonished the entire organization with his dedication to returning to the ice following two partial knee replacements. The Islanders are not going to be the reason his attempt fails.
Nevertheless, there is a practical element to this. Nobody knows what the demands of an 84-game season — the travel, the practices, the 25 to 30 games the Islanders hope to get from their backup spot — will do to Varlamov’s knees. There are no comparable cases to what Varlamov is attempting.
New York Islanders’ Vitek Vanecek poses for a portrait during media day at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Wednesday, September 16, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
This also comes in the context of the Islanders having overused Sorokin in the past two seasons. The lack of a viable backup while Varlamov was hurt was one of the biggest factors in the Islanders missing the playoffs both seasons.
Vanecek held an .883 save percentage in 22 games with Utah last season — a good deal worse than David Rittich’s .894, a mark the Islanders never trusted down the stretch. If Varlamov (or, for that matter, Sorokin) is hurt, the situation won’t be great no matter what.
But Vanecek is a goalie with more than 200 games of NHL experience. He is a known commodity, and the Islanders can at least feel like they know what they will get from him. They can’t say the same for Joshua Kotai, though the AHL Hamilton prospect — likely next up on the organizational depth chart — has put together a solid camp.
“I’m not thinking about it too much,” Vanecek said of the big-picture situation after Sunday’s match. “Just doing my best, and then we go see what’s gonna happen.”
The easiest way to solve the problem would be for Vanecek to pass through waivers unclaimed. But that’s not a guarantee in a league where nearly every team needs goaltending, and the Islanders won’t know ahead of time whether it’ll happen. The last thing they need is to lose Vanecek to waivers, watch Varlamov break down and then have the decision thrown back in their face.
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov speaks with the media during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
On the other hand, the competition for roster spots, particularly among the forwards, is very tight. Could the Islanders justify sending Victor Eklund down to keep a third goaltender? What about Kyle MacLean, Mitchell Chaffee or Pierre Engvall?
These are not easy decisions, and they are being made harder by the continuing realization that not only does Eklund look like he belongs, but prospects such as Kashawn Aitcheson and Cole Eiserman also continue to impress.
The Anaheim Ducks began their exhibition season on Sunday with a matinee matchup against the visiting San Jose Sharks. The Ducks had one of the more eventful offseasons in the NHL this year and in franchise history.
Their preseason opening lineup was more NHL-heavy than expected, but understandable given the compressed training camp schedule.
The Sharks, however, traveled with a mostly AHL squad, featuring just three NHL regulars from a year ago.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Klepov-Carlsson-Gauthier
Myatovic-Granlund-Sennecke
Killorn-McQueen-Colangelo
Farrell-Wahlberg-Nesterenko
LaCombe-Helleson
Mitchell-Luneau
Solberg-Warren
Laurent Brossoit got the nod for the Ducks’ first preseason game against the club he finished his 2025-26 campaign with. He was opposed by Eric Comrie, who backed up Connor Hellebuyck for the past two seasons for the Winnipeg Jets. Brossoit stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced, and Comrie, playing just half the game (scheduled), stopped 14 of 16. Matt Davis was inserted into the Sharks crease and saved 12 of 16 shots.
One would be cautioned against making sweeping judgments of experienced players in a contest such as this, but there were takeaways to be had from other young players and prospects.
Game Notes
Based on the rosters each team deployed in this game, it went roughly as expected. Anaheim's star players dictated play and were a threat to score every time they touched the puck.
Defensively, a couple of miscommunications and misreads led to odd-man breaks for San Jose, where their depth players were able to beat Brossoit.
Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson’s ice time was limited after sustaining an undisclosed injury, and he was shut down toward the end of the second period.
Nikita Klepov: Klepov was given the greatest opportunity a team can afford a young player, deploying him with the Ducks’ two cornerstone forwards: Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. Carlsson and Gauthier expectedly dazzled, and Klepov was able to match their processing pace and make meaningful contributions.
Playing alongside the team’s stars, Klepov was generously afforded the time and space necessary for him to operate and begin to translate his game to the highest level of the sport. His IQ and quick processing speed were on display on multiple occasions, as was his ability to spin off checks and create space of his own. Conclusions shouldn’t be jumped to, but this was as positive a first preseason outing as one could have hoped for.
Nico Myatovic: Much has been made of potential roster players like Klepov and Roger McQueen, as well as bubble players like Anton Wahlberg, but Myatovic has flown under the radar to this point in evaluations of the Ducks organizational pipeline.
His production from 2024-26, his first two full seasons in the AHL, has been nothing to write home about, but he was given a similar opportunity as Klepov and McQueen in this game to make an impact, and he didn’t disappoint, playing alongside Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund.
Tallying two assists, Myatovic was a presence on the forecheck, jumping to loose pucks, and winning board battles in all three zones. Sennecke’s second and third goals of this game were direct causes of small area plays he made. The first was a tenacious forecheck that led to a long cycle sequence, of which he was an integral factor, and the second was a breakout sequence where he kept a broken outlet moving up ice.
Tristan Luneau: With Helleson missing as much time as he did in this game, Luneau stepped up and played a total of 25:31 TOI. He’s not only an NHL-ready prospect, but he’s primed to make tangible contributions at the NHL level, and he did just that in this game.
He made a poor read on a loose puck in neutral ice that led to the Sharks’ second goal, but was otherwise a meaningful puck-mover, igniting the Ducks’ first goal, setting up their fourth, and potting their sixth. He’s shown to be knowledgeable of angles, capable of evading forechecks, and is creative and powerful on the offensive side of the puck. Further reps will lead to better decision-making and will likely increase his overall impact by the end of the season.
The Ducks will continue training camp on Tuesday before playing back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at Honda Center and against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose on Thursday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins may have had a dream 2025-26 season, but that doesn't mean they didn't face problems.
The Penguins struggled to defend in their own zone, especially in front of the net. There were too many goals allowed in those high-danger areas.
Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas wasn't happy with that and made changes to the defense this offseason, trading for Kaedan Korczak and signing Declan Carlile and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Korczak looks poised to play on the right side, while Carlile and van Riemsdyk are set to play on the left.
Korczak confirmed Thursday that he was having coffee with his in-laws when he learned about the trade. He's super excited to join a Penguins team in a different situation than the Vegas Golden Knights.
"Just talking with Kyle and the coaches, it's exciting to be a part of that group that's gonna hopefully bring that next step to the organization," Korczak said. "You obviously have those guys who can lead you. You've got some Hall of Famers here who can show us the way, so I'm really excited for the opportunity to be a part of this group."
Korczak has skated with Sam Girard at training camp, and they have a good chance of opening the regular season as the Penguins' third defensive pair. They would be a well-balanced pair: Korczak is more of a defensive defenseman, while Girard likes to do his thing in the offensive zone.
Apr 15, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Declan Carlile (67) controls the puck New York Rangers in the first period controls the puck against the New York Rangers in the first period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Switching gears to Carlile, he's also stoked about joining a Penguins team that's building towards something.
"I think it's really exciting," Carlile said. "Obviously, we're trying to build and keep pushing. They had a good year last year, and obviously we want to push the envelope even more and get farther into the playoffs. I'm excited to come in here and do my part, and try to help the team win."
Carlile has worked with Erik Karlsson at training camp, and the two have started to develop some chemistry. After Parker Wotherspoon played so well with Karlsson last year, the Penguins believe Carlile can step in for him after trading Wotherspoon to the Golden Knights for Korczak.
Like Karlsson, Kris Letang also looks poised to have a new defensive partner for the 2026-27 season. He didn't mesh well with Girard at the end of last season and has been paired with van Riemsdyk at camp.
TVR is great defensively and could help Letang the way Brett Kulak did before he was flipped to the Colorado Avalanche for Girard. TVR signed a two-year contract with the Penguins in free agency and likes that the team puts success above everything else.
"Obviously, I was part of a Stanley Cup team my rookie year (2014-15 Chicago Blackhawks). 13 years later now, and I haven't gotten back, so you realize how hard it is, and when you get older, you realize the chances are going to be limited, so you want to go places where success is on the forefront, and here is obviously always like that," van Riemsdyk said. "Sid is always pushing guys, Geno, Karlsson, Tanger. They've been here. They've been part of great teams, and as long as they are around, I think they're always going to be pretty damn successful."
If Korczak, TVR, and Carlile all play at a high level, it will go a long way toward the Penguins' goal of returning to the playoffs this season.
