When the Toronto Maple Leafs cut ties with president Brendan Shanahan after last season, there was always a sense that it wouldn’t be long before he was back working in the NHL in one shape or form.

When TSN's Darren Dreger reported Shanahan was rejoining the NHL's hockey operations department, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.

But it may not be very long until Shanahan gets another shot at running an NHL team.

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos listed the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators as teams that may be looking for an executive to help them turn the corner from being out of the Stanley Cup playoff mix year in and year out.

If Shanahan showed one thing in his lengthy tenure with the Maple Leafs, it’s that he can build a team that consistently makes the playoffs by bringing in experienced staff, finishing a rebuild and adding effective pieces around their core. A current sad-sack team like the Sabres and Blackhawks should be ecstatic to hand the reins over to Shanahan.

The Sabres have the makings of a strong core with Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Alex Tuch if they re-sign him, but NHL fans know well how badly they have struggled at transitioning out of a rebuild and stepping into the playoffs.

Chicago, meanwhile, is still in the thick of a rebuilding stage and drafted Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Alex Vlasic. In net, they acquired Spencer Knight, who has elite potential. The supporting cast hasn't always successfully helped those young guys on the ice, however, and Shanahan could help ensure the right pieces are in place.

As for the Predators, which have first-time GM Barry Trotz running hockey operations and David Poile staying on as a senior advisor, Shanahan could provide more support to Trotz as the team tries to rebound from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O'Reilly, Roman Josi, Brady Skjei and Juuse Saros are all in their 30s, and they're not playing like a playoff team, so Shanahan could guide this squad either through a rebuild or through a rejuvenating retool.

What If Brendan Shanahan Joined A Potential NHL Expansion Franchise?Brendan Shanahan is a free agent. But where will he go next?

When Shanahan joined the Maple Leafs in 2014-15, the team had made the playoffs only once in the previous nine years. In his 11 years there, Shanahan helped steer Toronto to the post-season nine times, or eight times if you don't include the play-in round loss in 2020.

Now, playoff success was much more difficult for Shanahan’s Leafs to come by. But that was true early in Shanahan’s career as an NHL player with the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, and he eventually managed to figure things out and win three Stanley Cup championships with the Detroit Red Wings. And clearly, there’s a possibility the same will be true for Shanahan as a hockey executive.

There’s no doubt Shanahan’s current role with the NHL is a pit stop. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly even suggested the same to Postmedia. And the lessons he learned in Leafs Land could serve Shanahan very well as he tries to get back into the winner’s circle.

Shanahan is a Hockey Hall of Famer because he was one of the best competitors the game has ever seen. And the motivation to succeed is the fuel for him to demonstrate that he’s now a stronger, wiser hockey man than the one who left his Leafs job.

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Thursday’s NHL slate features nine games packed with high-stakes matchups, setting the stage for fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. One of the evening’s most compelling showdowns is the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Vegas is coming off a narrow 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday but has managed just two wins in its last five games. The Golden Knights will aim to build on that victory and defend their home ice, where they’ve traditionally been dominant. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay enters the game looking to bounce back after a loss to the Colorado Avalanche that snapped a five-game winning streak, a stretch that included a 2-1 home victory over these same Golden Knights.

For those new to our betting challenge, we start with a modest bankroll of $10 and work to grow it through smart, data-driven bets. In previous runs, we’ve turned our profits into triple-digit totals. Tonight’s same-game parlay zeroes in on the Tampa-Vegas matchup, offering a prime chance to regain momentum after our recent hot streak cooled off. 

Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before taking a loss in Tuesday’s Golden Knights-Red Wings game, but we’re back on track with a current total of $21.50 after cashing in on our picks from the Maple Leafs’ win over the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday. 

Jack Eichel’s MVP Case Strengthens Amid Golden Knights’ Dominant StartEichel's offensive explosion fuels the Golden Knights' hot streak. Can this star-studded lineup carry him to MVP glory?

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Picks: Over 4.5 Goals & Lightning First Period +0.5 (-115)

The Golden Knights rarely struggle against many opponents, but the Lightning are one team they haven’t quite figured out yet. After losing to Tampa Bay earlier this season, Vegas has now dropped four of their last five matchups against the Bolts, following a stretch where the Golden Knights had won four of the previous five. This could be a potential bounce-back game for Vegas, though history suggests a tough battle ahead. The two teams have alternated wins in all seven of their meetings in Las Vegas, and if the trend continues, Thursday would be Tampa Bay’s turn to win and even the series at four victories each.

With two elite teams on the ice, the difference-makers will need to step up, as both rosters have players capable of taking over a game. Tampa’s 2–1 win earlier this season was also the first time in the history of the matchup that the teams combined for fewer than five goals, which suggests an offensive surge could be on the horizon Thursday night.

To boost the odds, adding another leg to the parlay makes sense, focusing on Tampa Bay’s strong first-period performances with the Lightning holding a +3 first-period goal differential this season, compared to the Vegas’ -1 mark this season. That number improves to +4 for Tampa on the road, while Vegas shows a modest increase to +1 at home. 

With a current bankroll of $21.50, a wager on the Lightning and the over at -115 odds would return a profit of $18.92, bringing the payout to $40.42 in return. With a full NHL slate lined up for Friday, it’s the perfect opportunity to ride the momentum and keep building the bankroll.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

While it’s very early in the season, earlier this week, ESPN released an article listing their favourites for the NHL trophies so far, and the Montreal Canadiens are doing very well, to say the least.

While it’s not a Hab, their favourite when it comes to the Norris Trophy awarded to the top NHL defenseman, Cale Makar is. They have Mike Matheson listed as a finalist. While he struggled last season, Matheson has been nothing short of spectacular, and while he has no more power play time, he still has seven points, just one behind teammate Noah Dobson, and he’s got a plus-eight differential. Not many people could have seen that one coming, especially considering how many talented defensemen there are on this Canadiens’ blueline.

Canadiens: Trying To Get Back To Their Winning Ways In New Jersey
Canadiens Players All In For Movember
Canadiens Finally Get Burned After Playing With Fire

As things stand, ESPN wouldn’t give the Calder Trophy to a Canadiens’ player for the second year in a row; they would award it to the New York Islanders’ first-overall pick at the last draft, Matthew Schafer. Making Ivan Demidov a finalist. Given how well the young defenseman performed out of the game and how he’s become a significant part of the Islanders’ team right away, it’s understandable. I’m not sure that will hold all season, though. Demidov has now been put on the Canadiens’ first power play unit, and he’s shining brighter night after night. I’m not saying it’s impossible that he finishes as a runner-up in the Calder Trophy race. Still, with so much of the season left, he could overtake the Islanders’ rookie, especially if his point production explodes.

While Jakub Dobes isn’t mentioned as a possibility in the Calder Trophy talk in the article, his red-hot start makes him a finalist for the Vezina trophy behind Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, who they consider the leader. Connor Hellebuyck joins Dobes as a finalist.

According to them, one Canadiens player would be a Trophy winner if the voting were held today: captain Nick Suzuki. While he’s near the top of the league in points, ESPN considers him, so far, the best defensive forward and has him as their favourite to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He received 24% of the first-place votes in the exercise. On top of having 18 points in 13 games, his defensive play has been exceptional, as evidenced by the fact that the Canadiens are averaging just 1.03 goals per 60 minutes when their leader is on the ice. The three finalists they mentioned all had 14% of the first-place votes, 10% less than Suzuki.

As for coach Martin St-Louis, he was surprisingly not mentioned in the early Jack Adams conversation. That can be explained by the fact that so many teams are having surprising starts to the season. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who everyone believed would crash and burn early, are playing well, and that nets Dan Muse the title of favourite, while Joel Quenneville and Andre Tourigny are the runner-ups, thanks to their team’s superb form so far this season. If the Canadiens keep playing as they are, though, I would be shocked if St-Louis wasn’t a finalist for the second year in a row when all is said and done.

---

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

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

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

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Game day 

Who: Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-1) at Nashville Predators (5-6-4)

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn. 

When: 7 p.m. CST 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Betting line (via BetMGM): Nashville +1.5 Montreal -1.5. Over/under: 5.5 (-110/-110) 

Predators lose to Wild in overtime on technicality 

After Steven Stamkos scored with 0.3 seconds left in the third period to tie the game, 2-2, the Wild responded with a shocking goal of their own in overtime. 

With 1:22 left in overtime, Predators goalie Justus Annunen dislodged the left mooring of the net. Minnesota's Marcus Johansson's shot attempt went off the side of the net, but rebounded back to him due to the angle at which the net was dislodged. 

Johansson put the rebound over the goal line, and it was ruled a goal, as officials deemed the puck would've gone into the net if it hadn't been dislodged. The issue comes with Johansson's second attempt, as he wouldn't have gotten the rebound if the net hadn't been off its mooring.

Stamkos sounded off after the game. 

"It's a weird play. I can see the confusion, but the confusing part for us was why it was so emphatically called a goal," Steven Stamkos said. "I get it. If the net comes off and the puck goes in right away, it's no problem. But he missed the net and the puck actually bounced back to him because the net was sideways.

"My interpretation of the rule is that if the net weren't off, the puck wouldn't have come back to him." 

Takeaways: Despite Outplaying Wild, Nashville Predators Fall In Overtime On TechnicalityThe Nashville Predators tied the game as the clock ran out in regulation, only to lose in frustrating fashion in overtime.

Zachary L'Heureux enters lineup 

Following Cole Smith's week-to-week upper body injury, Zachary L'Heureux has been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals.

He dressed for the Predators' game against the Wild on Tuesday, but did not play, as Tyson Jost played on the left wing of the fourth line. 

L'Heureux was a regular in Nashville last season, playing in 62 games and scoring 15 points. He's played seven games in Milwaukee this season, scoring six points. 

Nashville Predators recall Zachary L'Heureux from Milwaukee AdmrialsAfter an injury sidelines a forward, L'Heureux returns to Nashville's lineup, ready to contribute to the Predators' next game.

Scouting the Flyers 

The Predators and Flyers will be facing off for the second time this season, with Philadelphia winning the last meeting, 4-1, on Oct. 30. 

In that game, the Predators went down 2-0 in the second period off goals from Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. Matthew Wood scored his first career NHL goal in the first period to cut into the Flyers' lead. 

Zegras scored on the power play in the third period, and Travis Konecny added an empty net goal. Zegras had three points on the night with two goals and an assist. Nashville outplayed Philadelphia, outshooting them 33-18. 

The Flyers have struggled a bit since that win, going 1-2-0 over their last three games. They suffered back to back losses to Toronto and Calgary before defeating Montreal in a shootout on the road. 

Zegras, who was acquired by the Flyers from the Ducks in the offseason, leads Philadelphia in scoring with 15 points in 13 games (four goals, 11 assists). 

The Flyers have also emerged as the most penalized team in the NHL, logging 184 penalty minutes this season. Nashville has 129 PIM. 

Divisional rankings 

Central 

1. Colorad: 14 GP, 8-1-5, 21 pts 

2. Winnipeg: 13 GP, 9-4-0, 18 pts 

3. Utah: 14 GP, 9-5-0, 18 pts 

4. Dallas: 13 GP, 7-3-3, 17 pts 

5. Chicago: 14 GP, 6-5-3, 15 pts 

6. Nashville: 15 GP, 5-6-4, 14 pts 

7.  Minnesota: 14 GP, 5-6-3, 13 pts 

8. St. Louis: 14 GP, 4-8-2, 10 pts 

Metropolitan

1. New Jersey: 13 GP, 9-4-0, 18 pts 

2. Pittsburgh: 14 GP, 8-4-2, 18 pts 

3. Carolina: 12 GP, 8-4-0, 16 pts 

4. Washington: 13 GP, 7-5-1, 15 pts 

5. Philadelphia: 13 GP, 7-5-1, 15 pts 

6. NY Islanders: 13 GP, 6-5-2, 14 pts 

7. Columbus: 13 GP, 7-6-0, 14 pts 

8. NY Rangers: 14 GP, 6-6-2, 14 pts

Earlier this week, we noted recent speculation about Evgeni Malkin's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He and his teammates are off to a better-than-expected start to this season, but some observers question if it's sustainable and if Malkin would be open to a move at the NHL trade deadline.

However, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos suggested the Penguins' strong start could take Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell out of the rumor mill if they can remain in the playoff chase. Those players have frequently surfaced in media trade chatter since the summer, but Kypreos doesn't see them going anywhere if they're still in the hunt for a postseason berth.

The Penguins' start has also silenced the trade rumors that were buzzing about Sidney Crosby at the start of the season. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas' plan remains building for the future while staying competitive this season.

LeBrun wondered if the Penguins could stay in playoff contention this season but acknowledged that their current performance has ended the Crosby trade chatter, at least for now.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Trade Talk About The Maple Leafs, Oilers And Penguins The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to find a new home for David Kampf, the Edmonton Oilers could move a depth player or two to make room for returning veterans, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the market for a left-shot defenseman.

Meanwhile, the ongoing woes of the Calgary Flames have ensured that Nazem Kadri remains a fixture in the rumor mill.

The 35-year-old center celebrated his 1,000th NHL game on Wednesday, scoring a goal in a 6-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Some pundits have linked Kadri to the Montreal Canadiens, suggesting he would address their need for a second-line center. However, Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette considered Kadri to be an unsuitable option, citing his age, $7 million average annual value through 2028-29 and history of undisciplined play.

Kypreos believes the Carolina Hurricanes could be a suitor for Kadri, pointing out that they've relentlessly pursued a top player in the trade market since last season. However, Kypreos also claimed that the Hurricanes are on Kadri's no-trade list.

The Hurricanes could request permission from the Flames to speak with Kadri and his agent and try to sell them on Carolina. If the Hurricanes make a substantial pitch, Flames GM Craig Conroy could try to convince Kadri to accept a trade.

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Back in September, the Buffalo Sabres signed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year, $825,000 contract. 

Georgiev did not make the Sabres' NHL roster out of training camp and was placed on waivers before joining their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In two games this season with Rochester so far, he has recorded a 0-2-0 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 3.57 goals-against average. 

With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis, and Devon Levi all being ahead of Georgiev on the Sabres' depth chart, the fit just has not been there. 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres are looking to move Georgiev. 

"They are trying to find a new home for Alexandar Georgiev," Friedman wrote in his latest 32 Thoughts column. 

Teams in need of some goalie depth could consider pursuing Georgiev when noting that he has a low cap hit. Yet, he also just had a tough 2024-25 season split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, posting a 15-26-4 record, a .875 save percentage, and a 3.71 goals-against average.

In 303 career NHL games split between the New York Rangers, Avalanche, and Sharks, Georgiev has recorded a 151-108-26 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 2.99 goals-against average. He was also an NHL All-Star in 2023-24.

The Detroit Red Wings remain in second place after their four-game road trip out West, an impressive feat despite some concerning signs. Before heading west, the Red Wings stopped in Missouri and surprised the Blues by winning both legs of their home-and-home series. That accomplishment looks a bit less impressive now, considering St. Louis has stumbled to a last-place start.

Detroit then traveled to California and opened the trip strong against the Los Angeles Kings but nearly gave the game away after allowing two goals in 40 seconds late in the third period. They managed to escape with a shootout win. The following night, they faced the difficult task of completing a road back-to-back and fell short losing 5–2 to Anaheim.

Two days later, they faced the young and improving San Jose Sharks, who pushed Detroit to the limit before the Red Wings prevailed in yet another shootout victory. The trip concluded this past Tuesday in Las Vegas, where Detroit battled hard against the Golden Knights. They held their own defensively against one of the best offenses in the league but were ultimately shut out in a narrow 1–0 loss.

4 games, 7 points. 🐱

Cat is our @xfinity player of the week! pic.twitter.com/I7NAzcDbZA

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Depth scoring proved to be an issue throughout the road trip, with stars Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and captain Dylan Larkin carrying most of the offensive load. Overall, the team managed only 12 goals while allowing 13 across the five games. Of those 12 goals, the top trio accounted for seven, highlighting the growing problem of limited secondary scoring.

SWEET BABY RAY pic.twitter.com/bha6rCYD4M

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025

Forwards Emmitt Finnie and Jonatan Berggren, both hot before the trip, went without a point over the five games. J.T. Compher also failed to record a point, while veterans James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, and Andrew Copp each went without a goal, though all contributed at least one assist, with Appleton collecting two. It is also worth noting that van Riemsdyk scored the shootout winner against San Jose, providing some impact there.

It is difficult to be overly critical of Detroit’s recent stretch given the length and difficulty of the road trip, but there is a sense that the team’s early-season momentum has slowed. After starting 5–1–0, the Red Wings have gone 4–4–0 since, with two of those wins coming in shootouts. Seven of their last eight games have been on the road, which helps explain the recent dip in form, but the Red Wings now have a chance to reset as they return home for a seven-game stretch, with only a quick trip to New York next Sunday interrupting the homestand.

If Detroit can regain the balanced scoring and energy that defined their early-season success, they can reestablish themselves as a legitimate playoff contender. If not, the conversation will shift toward whether their hot start was merely a brief surge rather than a sign of true progress. The next few games will be pivotal in determining that answer for both the Red Wings and their fans.

Red Wings Prospect Carter Bear Bringing Grit And Growth After NHL ExperienceDetroit's 2025 first round pick Carter Bear embraces a more physical game, showing grit and growth in Everett. His NHL preseason experience is fueling this impactful development.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

When the Montreal Canadiens take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, Jakub Dobes will be in the net. Even though Samuel Montembeault was the uncontested number one last season, both goaltenders will have played the same number of games this season.

This is not a problem, nor is it a controversy. While once upon a time having a number one and a number two goaltender was a must, nowadays, there are examples of a 1A and 1B pairing working just fine. Did anybody complain about the Boston Bruins when Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark split the workload 50-50? They didn’t because both netminders allowed the team to win.

Canadiens Call Up Defenseman From AHL
Canadiens Players All In For Movember
Canadiens Finally Get Burned After Playing With Fire

Besides, when Jacob Fowler is ready to graduate to the NHL, one of the two may have to move, and the higher their value, the better for the team. Until that moment comes, though, it’s perfectly fine for the winning goaltender to get the net.

While the Canadiens had an atrocious first period on Tuesday night and Montembeault gave up three quick goals, he could hardly be blamed for them, and he bounced back admirably, stopping the next 30+ shots sent his way, only allowing another one as he was vulnerable after dropping his stick. It was a reassuring performance from the starter, indicating he has turned a corner. However, ultimately, the Canadiens still lost the game, which is why it’s perfectly logical for Dobes to get the net in New Jersey on Thursday.

Bear Hug!!!

Boston Bruins Goaltender, Linus Ullmark, congratulates fellow Goalie, Jeremy Swayman, on his win against the Buffalo Sabres#NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/BCcMnahXcZ

— Micheline 📸 (@MiMiV4682) November 25, 2021

Suppose he has another great game and plays a significant role in a Canadiens’ victory. In that case, he should also be on duty on Saturday night at the Bell Center against the Utah Mammoth, especially since they’ve been impressive this season. It’s also worth mentioning that Montembeault hasn’t had an excellent record against them, 1-0-1 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. In this super-competitive Eastern Conference, where no team has a winning percentage below .500, every win and every point counts.

---

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

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

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

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Beauvillier has had a tough start to the season offensively with the Washington Capitals. In his first 12 games of the year, the 2015 first-round pick recorded just two points. 

Beauvillier also went through a long cold streak, as he did not record a point in seven straight games for the Capitals from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. However, he has now broken the ice in a big way. 

During the Capitals' Nov. 5 matchup against the St. Louis Blues, Beauvillier scored two goals in Washington's 6-1 win. With this, the former Penguin played a role in the Capitals getting their victory and improving to a 7-5-1 record. 

With his strong night, Beauvillier now has three goals, one assist, and a plus-6 rating in 13 games. Overall, his performance against the Blues was a nice step in the right direction for the former Penguins forward. 

The Penguins are now set to face off against Beauvillier and the Capitals on Nov. 6. 

In 63 games with the Penguins during the 2024-25 season, Beauvillier recorded 13 goals, seven assists, and 20 points. His time with the Penguins ended when he was traded to the Capitals ahead of the 2025 NHL trade deadline. 

On Wednesday night, New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer appeared on NHL on TNT to answer questions from the panel. 

The interview begane with a question from Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender and New York Rangers legend Henrik Henrik Lundqvist about "pinch yourself" moments early on in his career. 

Schaefer began his response with a chirp: "First off, it's pretty tough getting a Ranger asking the first question, not the Long Island native here", referring to Williston Park native Liam McHugh. 

Enjoy the interview: 

The full Matthew Schaefer @NHL_On_TNT interview, including dishin’ some NY rivalry chirps at @HLundqvistpic.twitter.com/sZp0850rGW

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 6, 2025

Schaefer has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 games this season, as he's off to a fiery start to his NHL career. 

He and the team are back in action on Friday nigth at UBS Arena against the Minnesota Wild. 

Kirill Marchenko(6-SHG) scored the only goal for Columbus, and Jet Greaves would give up four goals, including two in the first 1:32 of the game to seal it for Calgary. 

The Jackets didn't play too bad after the initial onslaught by Calgary but couldn't overcome those two goals. The Jackets would fall to the Flames in Calgary.

First Period - 2-1 Flames - 13-10 SOG - CBJ Goal - Kirill Marchenko(6-SHG)

Not a good start for Columbus. Just 56 seconds into the game, Morgan Frost put the Flames up 1-0. 36 Seconds later, Blake Coleman scored to make it 2-0. Yeah, not a good start. 

Kirill Marchenko cut the lead in half at 6:57 of the first with a shorthanded goal. He went streaking down the center of the ice and took a pass from Boone Jenner to beat Dustin Wolf. That was the CBJ's first shortie of the season. With that goal, which was his 6th, he extended his points streak to six games. 

The period slowed after the Marchenko goal, but Columbus was able to pull even on the shot clock and controlling most of the play. The period ended 2-1, and Jackets fans had to feel a lot better in the final 19 minutes of the period. 

Second Period - 4-1 Flames - 11-7 - No CBJ Goals

The Blue Jackets came out in the second with some good jump and put some pressure on Flames goalie Dustin Wolf. Unfortunately for Columbus, he's really good. 

Nazem Kadri scored 7:47 into the second to push the lead to 3-1. Kadri broke out on a 2-on-1 and beat Jet Greaves in his 1000th NHL game. Both of the Jackets defensemen were too deep and gave up a breakout. Under a minute later, Adam Klapka scored to make it 4-1, which pretty much would put the game on ice. Yet another 2-on-1 breakaway for the Flames. 

The Wheels are starting to get shaky on the Blue Jackets bus. 

The Blue Jackets actually controlled a lot of the second period, putting some quality shots on Dustin Wolf; they just couldn't beat him. They had more scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances as well. This turned into one of "those" games. By the end of the period, they started chasing the puck more and it was looking like they were going to give up a 5th goal. 

Third Period

The Blue Jackets were awarded their first power play at 57 seconds when Kevin Bahl hooked Charlie Coyle. The Flames killed it fairly easily to keep the lead at 4-1.

The Blue Jackets outplayed and outshot the Flames for the first 9 minutes of the third period, pumping 11 shots at Wolf before going to the power play with a little less than 12 minutes to play in the game. Columbus killed the penalty and kept it a three-score game.

The game was played 4-on-4 for two minutes when Ivan Provorov and Rasmus Andersson went to the box with matching minors. Nothing happened and the game would remain 4-1 Flames. 

Dean Evason would pull Jet Greaves with around five minutes to go in the game, but again, Dustin Wolf was too good and would stop everything. 

The Flames would add an empty net goal with under a minute left to send the Jackets to Vancouver with a second straight loss. 

Injuries - Sean Monahan looked to have injure his left hand or wrist. He took three shifts in the third and then left the game. Hopefully, it's just precautionary, and he'll be back for Vancouver on Saturday. 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Kirill Marchenko scored his 6th goal of the season. He extended his points streak to 6 games and is on a point-per-game pace.
• Boone Jenner picked up his 6th assist of the season.
• Ivan Provorov had 6 shots on goal to lead the team.
• Jet Greaves could only make 21 saves on 25 Calgary shots.

Team Stats

• The Jackets power play went 0/1.
• The Columbus PK stopped two Flames power plays.
• Columbus won 58.8% of the faceoffs.
• The Blue Jackets had 22 of their shots blocked by Calgary.

Up Next: They visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, Nov. 8th, and then the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, Nov. 10th. They will wrap up their Western swing with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.  

Let us know what you think below.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

More From THN Columbus

An Early Look At The Blues Jackets' Unrestricted Free AgentsThe NHL season is now more than a month in, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are off to a very good start. They currently sit in fifth in their Division with a 7-5-0 record. This looks like the season that they are going to push their way into the playoffs and bring playoff hockey back to Columbus for the first time since 2019-20. Can The CBJ Goalie Tandem Keep Up Their Great Play All Year?Since Sergei Bobrovsky bolted Ohio for sunny Florida, the Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled to find consistency with their goaltending position. It's been bad, like, really bad.  Overreacting To And Overanalyzing The Metro Standings As Of 11/03Devils dominate, Penguins surge, while surprising Blue Jackets climb. See where every Metro team truly stands early this season.

The Cutter Gauthier saga is well done and dusted at this stage, but some new developments are probably making it hard for the Philadelphia Flyers, and especially their fans, to not feel some type of regret towards the situation.

Gauthier, 21, recorded his first career hat trick for the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, thrusting him into a five-way tie for the NHL lead in goals (10) that includes himself, Cole Caufield, and superstar forwards Leon Draisaitl, Jack Hughes, and Nathan MacKinnon.

The Flyers, too, have a negative connection to Caufield, who was bypassed for defenseman Cam York in 2019.

Overall, though, Gauthier is now on a seven-game point streak that dates back to Oct. 21, and he's already up to 10 goals, six assists, and 16 points in just 12 games with the Ducks.

And, to top it all off, Gauthier, per the Ducks' PR staff, is the first NHL player aged 21 or younger to score 10 goals in his first 12 games of a season since Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews did so in the 2018-19 season.

Between the league leaders in goals and that last stat, Gauthier is in pretty good company.

As for the Flyers, they did get a solid return with the addition of Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick that recently became Jack Murtagh, but that doesn't quite compare to what their former top draft pick is doing over in Anaheim.

Note from Ducks PR:

Cutter Gauthier is the first NHL player 21 or younger to score 10 goals in his first 12 games of a season since Connor McDavid in 2018-19 and Auston Matthews in 2018-19#FlyTogether

— Patrick Present (@PatrickCPresent) November 5, 2025

Drysdale, 23, is starting to look like he's finally coming into his own this season after years of struggles marred by injury. He's now the team's best driver of play on defense, and his five points in 13 games is solid, too.

At the same time, is it enough offense to continue vaulting a player of his 5-foot-11 size into a featured role on a competitive NHL defense?

It's not common, but it isn't like it hasn't happened before, either. Players like Gus Forsling, Alex Carrier, Jared Spurgeon, Andy Greene, Sean Walker, Dante Fabbro, Nick Jensen, Nate Schmidt, and Rasmus Sandin are all not the biggest guys and don't/did not produce crazy offensive numbers, but emerged as reliable top-four defenders at some point in their careers.

Some later than others, yes, but it happened.

Are any of those worth a potential 40-goal-scorer like Gauthier on an ELC? With the exception of Forsling, no, even though Spurgeon and Greene eventually became captains for Minnesota and New Jersey, respectively.

Flyers' Trevor Zegras Gets Big Praise From Canadiens StarTrevor Zegras' great start to the season has gotten the attention of Canadiens star Cole Caufield.

Eventually, too, Drysdale is going to have to push his offense and creativity a little further to reach the heights some of those players reached, which means consistent 30- and 40-point seasons.

The former No. 6 overall pick is on pace for 31 currently - one fewer than his previous career high of 32 - and he earns some grace in that the Flyers are the 10th-worst team in the NHL in scoring this season - worse than the Chicago Blackhawks.

At some point, the production may come, or it may not, but the final verdict on the Flyers' controversial trade will depend on it.

They did well enough managing a situation that was never going to work out for them, but it's fair to question why the Flyers drafted someone who would come to spurn them, and question what motivated Gauthier to spurn them to begin with.

Thanks, Maple Leafs! Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Scores 1st NHL Goal to Help Beat CanadiensFlyers rookie Nikita Grebenkin continues to make a case for more ice time with his assist against the Maple Leafs and first NHL goal against the Canadiens.

It's likely those answers won't come until after Gauthier's playing days are over or until after this Flyers regime runs its course, but this discourse will always come to the forefront for as long as Gauthier plays well and succeeds in the NHL.

The same is true of Zeev Buium and Jett Luchanko, and Cole Caufield and Cam York.

The Flyers have no way of running from their recent past, especially as long as the team is not making meaningful pushes for Stanley Cups.

Objectively, though, Gauthier's sudden breakout after a solid rookie campaign represents a missed opportunity on the Flyers' end, but it's too late now. The results are the results.

The Florida Panthers will look to bounce back from a tough start to their road trip when they face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Florida dropped their trip opener to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday by an embarrassing final score of 7-3, a game that the Cats were actually leading 3-2 midway through.

Now they’ll look to get back on the winning side of thins against a Kings squad that, much like the Panthers, are working their way through an inconsistent start to the season.

Los Angeles started the season with only one win over their first six outings, but since then they’ve gone 5-1-2.

Overall, the Kings have only four regulation losses through 14 games, which isn’t bad at all.

As for the Panthers, they got right back to work on Wednesday following Tuesday’s loss to the Ducks.

Florida held a practice at the Kings’ training facility, the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, where the theme seemed to be getting back to the basics.

“We’ve played hard games in LA, and I expect that (tomorrow),” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “I’d like to see us get back to that a little bit. We worked on some things today at practice that we just didn’t have enough of in our game last night.”

A Panthers player who has seen a good amount of success during his career in Los Angeles is the same guy who paces the team in scoring so far this season: Brad Marchand.

Through 12 games, Marchand leads all Panthers with 7 goals and 13 points. He’s currently riding a five-game point streak in which he’s accumulated 4 goals and 7 points.

Over the course of his career, Marchand has racked up 16 goals and 26 points over 23 games in Los Angeles, including a plus-19 on-ice rating. He’s also riding a five-game point streak in Los Angeles, with 5 goals and 10 points during the run.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s tilt with the Kings:

Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

Jesper Boqvist – Sam Bennett – Mackie Samoskevich

A.J. Greer – Cole Schwindt – Noah Gregor

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Dominic Sebrango – Jeff Petry

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Evan Rodrigues' Eventful Night Against The Ducks Highlights What He Brings To The Panthers

Three takeaways: Undisciplined Panthers struggle keeping up with speedy Ducks

Panthers kick off road trip with frustrating 7-3 loss in Anaheim

Sam Bennett Returns To Panthers Practice; Evan Rodrigues Absent

Panthers begin west coast swing looking for revenge against high-flying Ducks

Photo caption: Oct 16, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)

Red-hot Sharks do just about everything right in blowout 6-1 win over Kraken originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

SEATTLE — The Sharks did everything … right?

How often has that been the case in recent years?

In a 6-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday at Climate Pledge Arena, the Sharks’ offense was humming, with goals from six different players, including Macklin Celebrini, who now is tied for the most points in the NHL with Connor McDavid.

The power play got off a recent schneid, with the unfairly maligned John Klingberg potting a goal.

A penalty kill that’s struggled most of the season killed 6 of 6 Kraken power plays, and even got a short-handed goal, from Ty Dellandrea.

And Yaroslav Askarov was especially strong when the game still was in the balance in the first period, stopping 28 of 29 shots overall.

The Sharks, 5-2-1 in their last eight after an 0-4-2 start, actually have played consistently decent hockey for most of the year, but this might be the first game where it’s all come together.

Read The Full Story At San Jose Hockey Now

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast