MARYLAND NEIGHTS, Mo. -- When St. Louis Blues practice ended on Friday, there were three guys left on the ice.

And once Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud left, only one remained. At the opposite end of the ice, by himself, head down, working with the puck.

It was defenseman Logan Mailloux.

Last guy on the ice today: Logan Mailloux. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/gdrwUvy7Zj

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) October 17, 2025

The 22-year-old will be a healthy scratch on Saturday when the Blues (2-2-0) host the Dallas Stars (3-1-0) on Saturday.

It’s probably the expected outcome after Mailloux, playing in his fourth game with the Blues this season and just his 12th in the NHL, was a minus-4 playing 15:49 on Wednesday in an 8-3 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. He is a minus-7 in four games this season with no points.

Matthew Kessel will replace Mailloux and play alongside Tyler Tucker, but the Blues, who were hoping Mailloux would be shot out of a cannon and be an immediate impact, has shown signs of good play, but it’s obvious that the long-term vision has come into focus again and something that has never been cast aside.

“When you think about players’ development in the league, it’s always goaltenders take the longest,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “That’s why they play to the oldest average age. Defensemen are second. Forwards finish the youngest, especially in the modern era. Forwards usually at the age of 32, they’re starting to decline. For a defenseman, it’s more like 34-35 and goaltenders, it’s more like 37. It’s just the way it seems like it’s been.

“And that being said, have you guys heard of Fabian Brunnstrom? A 2008 free agent signing. Everybody wanted to sign him. First game in the league, scored three goals. Everybody was like, ‘Here’s the new Jari Kurri or Mats Sundin in the National Hockey League.’ You guys haven’t heard of him. There’s a reason, right? And then there’s other guys … this is a hard league to break into, especially at that position. We’re thinking the long game with Logan Mailloux. Sometimes you need a reset. You go up in the press box, watch a game, you see how much time you have, you see how to take away time and we’re going to work with him. We have a plan and when he gets back in the lineup, I don’t ever expect him to come back out.”

Fans have already voiced displeasure at the trade that brought Mailloux from the Montreal Canadiens for Zack Bolduc, who scored in his first three games with the Canadiens and had an assist, becoming the seventh Canadiens player in their history to score in his first three games with the club.

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That’s why not only will the club make sure to nurture Mailloux on the ice but off it as well.

“As a coach, you have to look after everybody mentally. It’s part of the job,” Montgomery said. “To be able to support these guys, sometimes you’ve got to kick them in the rear end. You need to build them up so that they understand that you believe in them, but ice time, I love the line from Bobby Knight: there’s nothing that teaches people better than ass meet bench, bench meet ass. That’s the only tool a coach has always had to get a player’s attention when they’re not playing to the team standard, and that’s not the case with Logan Mailloux, but it’s often been the case at times in the past. Not with him, but with other players.”

The Blues won’t allow the outside noise to disrupt their overall vision for Mailloux, who has the backing of his teammates.

“He’s going to be a great player,” Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. “You watch him skate, you watch him shoot, he’s steady, he’s strong back there. There’s no doubt about that. I’m looking forward to watching that guy grow and become a dominant force back there. I have full faith in him. He’s a great player. We’re just all looking forward to watching him grow, but at the end of the day, it’s a group effort no matter what. That’s the bottom line. We’re all wearing the Bluenote together.

“It’s got to be difficult obviously going to a new team and you want to play well and things like that. He’s a great player. I have full confidence in him. I’m just looking forward to watching him continue to grow and just keep building.”

Captain Brayden Schenn said, “He's played 11 games or 12 games,” Schenn said. “There's a lot of pressure on him coming from outside. I believe in Logan Mailloux, we believe in Logan Mailloux, and the organization does. I think people are always going to look at this one-for-one. It's not a one-for-one. It's a long-term plan, and he's a great player.

“Like I said, he's played four games for us and it's a new organization ... new coaching, new system, there's a lot of stuff that goes into it. Honestly, I think he's getting ... there's no reason to put pressure on the kid. He's young, and he's getting his feet wet, and he's going to be a good player for a long time, and I firmly believe that.”

There will come a time, whether it be the next game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings or even further along the line when Mailloux returns and has that game where he figures out he belongs in the league. The Blues know it will come tomorrow, the day after, next month, maybe next year, whenever it happens, it will come.

“Everybody’s different when they have that ah-hah moment,” Montgomery said. “His ah-hah moment hasn’t happened yet, and there’s always a moment for every player where it’s like, ‘not only can I survive in this league, but I can thrive in this league,’ and it’s going to happen for him. He’s too talented, he’s too good. When I meet with him, I always leave excited about how future’s going to be.”

Blues Making Changes Throughout Lineup For Game Saturday Against StarsBlues coach Jim Montgomery puts forward lines through blender at practice on Friday.Kessel To Debut For Blues Saturday Against StarsDefenseman has been a healthy scratch for four games, will replace Mailloux

Before its game against the Washington Capitals tonight, the Minnesota Wild announced a trade. The Wild have acquired former top prospect Oskar Olausson.

The San Jose Sharks got defenseman Kyle Masters in return for Olausson.

Masters, 22, was the Wild's 118th pick from the 2021 NHL Draft and had spent the last two years in the Wild's organization. He had one goal and five assists in 35 AHL games the last two years for the Iowa Wild.

Olausson, 22, was the Colorado Avalanche's 28th overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft. He was once considered a top prospect for the Avalanche but only skated in four NHL games in his career since.

Last season the 6-foot-1 forward recorded 11 goals and 26 points in 62 games for the Colorado Eagles. He has 33 goals, 33 assists and 66 points in 163 career AHL games across four seasons.

It is a pretty low risk move for the Wild. If Olausson can get back to what he was projected to become, that would be great for Minnesota. If not, it's still good to have some young depth in the American League.

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With the New York Rangers dealing with a couple of injuries on the back end, the team called up Scott Morrow from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. 

While his services on the ice haven’t been needed just yet, Morrow is back in an NHL environment, which he’s ecstatic about. 

“It’s always good to stay ready,” Morrow said. “I'm happy to be back, and it's fun being out here with these guys.”

The Rangers acquired Morrow from the Carolina Hurricanes over the summer in a sign-and-trade deal that included K’Andre Miller.

During training camp, Morrow was given an opportunity to thrive, as he was put in a role quarterbacking the power play and had the opportunity to suit up in multiple preseason games. 

The 22-year-old showed some impressive flashes over the course of training camp, but he was ultimately sent down to the AHL. 

When addressing his training-camp performance, Morrow emphasized that he was pleased with some aspects of his game. 

However, he knows there’s still a different gear he could hit. 

“My performance I would say was pretty solid. I think I have a higher level of offense I could bring maybe than what I showed in training camp, although I thought I did a solid job on a power play when I got those opportunities,” Morrow said. 

“I think I could push myself to create a little bit more. As a younger defenseman in the NHL, your first responsibility is to defend, so that's what's going to get me here, so I need to focus on that just as much, if not more. I would say I had a pretty solid training camp. I think I showed well and showed my skill set, but I have a higher level to reach.”

Mike Sullivan and the Rangers’ coaching staff left Morrow with a positive message upon sending him down to Hartford, as they made it clear that he wasn’t far off from making the opening-night roster.

The Rangers' Scoring Woes Are Beginning To Be Hard To Ignore The theme of the 2025-26 season for the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> thus far has been their inability to score, despite generating numerous scoring opportunities.&nbsp;

“As far as feedback from the coaching staff, they just said I'm close and just got to keep working on a couple little things, being more physical, and just try and knock the door down and force them to play me,” Morrow said.

This call-up for Morrow is an opportunity regardless of whether he plays in a game or not. It’s important for him to show the coaching staff his level of professionalism and maturity. 

Everything happens for a reason, and now it’s on Morrow to seize this opportunity, whatever may come of it.

“You always have something to prove,” Morrow said. “Even guys who are making a lot of money, who played 500,000 games in the NHL. They always have something to prove, and your job is on the line every day, so I would say my mentality hasn't changed.”

Curtis Douglas started his NHL career with a bang last week, dropping the gloves nine seconds into his first shift. 

His opponent was no lightweight, the Ottawa Senators' Kurtis MacDermid, a veteran and known bruiser with over 40 fights in his NHL career.

The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed Douglas, an Oakville, Ont., native, off waivers from the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 6. He is one of only three 6-foot-9 players to ever play in the NHL.

His message was clear from the very first puck drop: he's not looking to blend in.

The fight was brief but a testament to what is to come. In an era where the enforcer role has seemed to cycle out of most lineups, Douglas' debut seemed like a throwback to what hockey used to be. But what does his debut say about the modern NHL?

Curtis Douglas in his FIRST NHL SHIFT EVER dropped the gloves with Kurtis MacDermid.🥊🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/GI0ujJl5xr

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2025

Before reaching The Show, Douglas carved out a steady AHL career using his size and presence on the ice. Over 261 games in the AHL, he spent most of his time with the Tucson Roadrunners, skating in 170 games along with brief stints in Toronto and Belleville. Last season, Douglas played in 63 games and recorded 10 goals, 23 points and 117 penalty minutes.

But Douglas’ penalty minutes only tell part of the story. He recorded nine fights last season and 32 in his AHL career, according to hockeyfights.com. Those numbers place him firmly among the league’s more active enforcers.

And Douglas is not alone in this approach.

In the 2023-24 season, New York Rangers left winger Matt Rempe similarly burst onto the scene, dropping the gloves nine times in his first two NHL seasons, including a memorable one during his NHL debut against Matt Martin in a 6-5 overtime win at MetLife Stadium in February 2024.

In three NHL games for Douglas so far, he has six hits, two shots and seven penalty minutes while averaging 5:39 of ice time. Rempe, meanwhile, has 22 hits, six shots and a goal in six games this season with 11:29 of ice time per game.

For years, fighting seemed to be fizzling out of the NHL. In the 2009-10 regular season, there were 714 fights in 1,230 games, according to hockeyfights.com. That comes out to about 0.58 fights per game.

By the 2019-20 season, cut short due to COVID-19, that number had fallen to 195 fights in 1,082 games for a rate of 0.18 fisticuffs per contest, a roughly 69-percent decrease from a decade prior.

But it seems the tide could be shifting. The 2024-25 season saw 297 fights in 1,312 games for 0.23 fights per match, a roughly 26 percent increase from five years earlier.

The rise suggests that the role of the enforcer may be evolving, not dying – and Curtis Douglas could be part of its next chapter.

Jacob Carabetta is an intern at The Hockey News.

Pittsburgh Penguins' rookies have certainly been making their mark in the earlygoing of the 2025-26 season.

And one of them made a statement with his first goal in the NHL.

On Thursday, the Penguins beat the Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, and the game-winning goal came courtesy of a third-period shorthanded tally by rookie forward Filip Hallander, which doubled as his first NHL goal.

Hallander and Rickard Rakell broke into the attacking zone on a two-on-one, and Rakell made a nice play to get the puck to the net, where Hallander was waiting. The 25-year-old Swedish forward took a few hacks and finally got the puck past Kings' goalie Anton Forsberg.

"Raks got a good shot away," Hallander said. "I almost had an open net on the rebound. Missed that, then I just jammed the puck with all I could. Happy to see it go in."

FILIP 👏 HALLANDER 👏 pic.twitter.com/gfcg1R8hVJ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 17, 2025

The game didn't start off in ideal fashion for the Penguins, who got buried and hemmed in early. Warren Foegele scored just 4:24 into the first period off of a juicy rebound by goaltender Arturs Silovs, and he got to the net front a bit too easily. Kevin Fiala put the Kings on the board less than five minutes later after an offensive zone turnover by Anthony Mantha and a pretty passing play from Quinton Byfield to make it 2-0.

The second period started much the same, with the Kings taking it to the Penguins and caving them in their own zone quite frequently. Then, Byfield took a hooking penalty near the six-minute mark of the middle frame, and the Penguins took advantage.

Evgeni Malkin - who had six assists and a team-high six points to start the season - walked the puck from the left point to the bottom of the left circle, searching for passing options and finding none. He found the five-hole on Forsberg and put it through, cutting the Kings' lead in half. The goal also tied him for 41st on the NHL's all-time list in goals and 29th on the all-time list in scoring.

MALKAMANIA IN LOS ANGELES! 💪 pic.twitter.com/5OETSYoS7e

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 17, 2025

Then, just 41 seconds later, Connor Dewar tied the game at 2-2 after a nice play on the way to the net by Noel Acciari to get the puck to Dewar, who beat Forsberg short-side.

Sidney Crosby took his second penalty of the game five minutes into the third, and the Penguins went on the penalty kill. That's when Rakell gained positioning to create a two-on-one and get the puck to the net. His shot hit the cross-bar, and Rakell backhanded the rebound back toward Forsberg, which was when Hallander stuffed it in. 

Then, with 31 seconds left in regulation and the Kings pushing pretty hard, Crosby buried it in the empty-net from center ice to put the game away. 

Silovs was shaky early on, but he settled in and stopped 30 of 32 shots, many of which were tough saves later on in the game.

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After losing three of their first four games of the 2025-26 season, the Los Angeles Kings entered Thursday night looking for a much-needed victory to get their season back on track.

However, they would have to battle through some early adversity as they would be without their captain and starting goaltender. Anze Kopitar and Darcy Kuemper were both sidelined against the Pittsburgh Penguins with injury.

The losses proved to be critical as the Kings once again fell short in a game that they should have come out on top.

Final from LA. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/BlqsVTx33S

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 17, 2025

First Period: Fast Start Gets Rewarded

From the initial drop of the puck, the Kings were the better team for the entire first period. The Kings were solid on both sides of the ice. At one point, they were outshooting Pittsburgh 8-2 before finishing the period with an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal.

Less than five minutes into the opening frame, Warren Foegele buried his first goal of the season. Foegele was rewarded after winning the battle for a loose puck off the rebound of his first shot attempt. After battling for the puck, Foegele powered it past Arturs Silovs to give LA an early 1-0 lead.

FIRST FOEGOAL OF THE YEAR! pic.twitter.com/uPddEqViMa

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 17, 2025

Just under halfway through the period, Kevin Fiala made it 2-0 Kings with his third goal of the year. Fiala finished off a beautiful passing play by Joel Armia and Quinton Byfield. Armia carried the puck into the offensive zone before dishing it over to Byfield, who then found Fiala with a gorgeous setup.

After 20 minutes of play, it was clear that the Kings were the better team. With strong play on both ends of the ice, LA holds a 2-0 lead with 40 minutes of play to go.

Second Period: All of a Sudden, We're Tied

The Kings started the second period off strong, generating an early scoring chance. Fiala rifled a shot off the post after a nice play by Byfield. This is the second post for LA as Trevor Moore rang one off the iron in the first period.

After a rare occurrence of no penalties in the first, the Kings found themselves shorthanded early in the second period after Byfield was called for hooking. Special teams hurt them once again as Evgeni Malkin beat Anton Forsberg on the man advantage. Forsberg was beaten with a wrister from the face-off dot, one that he probably wants back.

Not even one minute after Malkin cut the LA lead in half, Conor Dewar made it 2-2. Dewar scored after gaining possession of a loose puck in front of the Kings' net. Kind of a whacky goal, but another one that Forsberg probably wants another stab at.

With just under four minutes left in the middle frame, LA found themselves on the man advantage after Sidney Crosby was called for tripping. Despite the Pens captain being in the box, the Kings couldn't get anything going on the power play.

Third Period: Special Teams Prove to be not so Special

Once again, that silly red post got in the way of a potential Kings goal as Cody Ceci fired a shot off the crossbar. After a slower-paced third period, LA had a chance to redeem themselves on the power play after Crosby was called for his second stick infraction of the evening.

They did exactly the opposite. Another terrible power play proves to be costly. The Penguins managed to escape their zone, leading to a brief two-on-one that was shut down. However, the Kings fell asleep after that, and Filip Hallander took advantage by banging home the loose puck for his first career NHL goal, which was also the eventual game-winning goal.

Los Angeles pushed to tie the game, but to no avail. With 30 seconds left in the final frame, Crosby iced the gam,e making it 4-2 with an empty net goal.

Result: Penguins Win 4-2

Another disappointing loss. After a first period that looked like the Kings might run away with the game, the Penguins competed hard and battled back to steal two points. This loss is due to horrendous special teams and the lack of big saves. Hopefully, those issues can be chalked up to the absence of Kopitar and Kuemper. If not, those issues need to be figured out as soon as possible.

The Kings (1-3-1) will have their hands full next game as they face the Carolina Hurricanes (4-0-0) on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. PT, 9:00 p.m. ET.

The Hockey News Big Show is here on Friday to dive into significant topics across the NHL and beyond.

Here’s what former NHL player Drew Shore, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

00:40: Reacting to Carter Hart joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization on a tryout

03:30: How much of an impact will the layoff be for Hart?

06:20: Are you worried about the Minnesota Wild's offense?

08:30: Are there any concerns that Connor McDavid has yet to score?

11:00: Can Scott Wedgewood become the No. 1 goalie for the Colorado Avalanche?

16:40: The NHL announced a media partnership to broadcast games in Australia. How else can the NHL expand its presence internationally?

21:30: How much talk is there about players in Europe who make an NHL team? How much do European 

22:20: How many points will Connor Bedard get this season?

25:00: Do the Chicago Blackhawks need to go after Artemi Panarin?

28:00: Revisiting the Dylan Cozens-Josh Norris trade from last season between the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres

33:30: Who had the better overtime goal this week: Auston Matthews or Cole Caulfield?

35:40: How concerned are you about Evan Bouchard's defensive play for the Oilers?

38:30: Will next summer's off-season be a snooze fest? 

40:40: Who are you most impressed with and disappointed with so far?

43:00: Can the Ottawa Senators make the playoffs despite Brady Tkachuk's injury?

Watch the full episode here

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

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The Guelph Storm added some depth on the backend after trading for a former high draft pick from the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, while, adjacent, the Brantford Bulldogs took advantage of their surplus of defensemen to acquire draft capital. 

General Manager George Burnett announced today that the Storm have acquired defenseman Patrick Babin from the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for a 2nd round pick (OSH) in 2028 and a 3rd round pick (GUE) in the 2029 OHL Priority Selection.

Read More | https://t.co/CVbCkV2tNOpic.twitter.com/rZD2YT56TN

— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) October 17, 2025

On Thursday, the Storm announced that they have acquired right-shot blueliner Patrick Babin from the Bulldogs in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick (Oshawa) and a 2029 third-round pick. 

“Patrick is a talented young defenseman and amongst the top players in his draft class,” said Guelph GM George Burnett. “He had an exceptional year of development last season, and we are pleased to add him to our group here in Guelph.”

Babin, 17, has started this season playing in a depth role for Brantford, registering one assist in six games. He was the second pick of the second round (23rd overall) in the 2024 draft and was scouted as one of the top defensemen in his draft class. 

Last season, the Niagara Falls, Ontario, native spent developing in the OHL’s developmental hockey league, the GOJHL, playing for the Brantford Titans. Babin recorded 34 points (8 goals, 24 assists) in 39 regular season games, which was the most by a U17 defenseman. He added another 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 11 playoff games. 

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The Bulldogs signed right-shot Czech import defender Vladimir Dravecky and welcomed back fellow countryman Adam Jiricek, strengthening the right side of their defense. Unless injuries occur, Babin may struggle to secure consistent playing time in Brantford.

However, it’s not set in stone that Babin has an immediate roster spot in Guelph. After all, their right side is also strong, featuring Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Quinn Beauchesne, 2026 NHL draft prospect Rylan Singh, and third-year pro Rowan Topp. Meanwhile, the left side has Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Grant Spada, Daniil Skvortsov, and Noah Jenken. 

To me, Brantford GM Spencer Hyman having been afforded a second and third-rounder for a player who probably wasn’t going to be a full-timer for them this season seemed too good to pass up. 

That’s not to say this is a bad deal for the Guelph Storm. The addition of Babin allows the organization to let 2009-born rookies Hayden Martin and Zackery Naish develop in the OJHL and CCHL. 

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Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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It was a disappointing defeat for the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night as the Pittsburgh Penguins came back from a 2-0 deficit. The Penguins went on to win it 4-2 in a game that highlighted several issues within the Kings' team.

According to the Kings' head coach, Jim Hiller, Pittsburgh’s goaltending “was the difference in the game.”

Hiller talked about the scoring chances the team had, but credits Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs, who posted a .938 save percentage and stopped 30 out of 32 shots from Los Angeles.

“You’ve just got to find a way to put it in the back of the net and again, give the goalie credit,” Hiller told reporters after the game.

“Three posts, we beat him on those, so three posts and then some really good saves by him where we had what we like to call him Grade-A’s when you’re kind of that tight with the goaltender and he beat us,” Hiller said.

“Even (Alex Laferriere) at the end on the shorthanded (chance) had a good look right from in tight and the goaltender made the save,” he added.

There’s no doubt Silovs played a solid game. He didn’t allow many rebounds and swallowed up several opportunities thrown his way.

However, the defining moment from this game was the special teams battle, and the Kings’ bench boss touched on that, too.

“We haven’t won the special teams battle yet this season,” Hiller said. “That’s an important part of any hockey game, it’s the special teams battle.”

“Hard to win if you don’t win the special teams battle, so that’s the one. We could have scored a power-play goal, we had our opportunities there and then we gave one up. If you can point to one area, that’s the area you’re going to point to,” he added.

For context, Los Angeles is tied with the Ottawa Senators for taking the most penalties in the league, with 25 in the first five games of the season. Against the Penguins, they only took two, yet Pittsburgh took advantage of one.

Kopitar And Kuemper Listed ‘Day-To-Day’, Perry Practises For The First Time Since SurgeryKopitar and Kuemper were absent from practice on Wednesday, but Perry made an appearance, and so did Portillo on an emergency basis.

Furthermore, what hurt the Kings even more in this contest was their own power play. On the two opportunities they had, the team generated next to no chances and struggled to get a clean entry into the offensive zone.

To put the icing on the cake, Pittsburgh’s game-winning goal came shorthanded by Filip Hallander for his first career NHL goal.

FILIP 👏 HALLANDER 👏 pic.twitter.com/gfcg1R8hVJ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 17, 2025

Los Angeles is now 1-3-1 to open the 2025-26 campaign, and they currently sit sixth in the Pacific Division. As Hiller said, “We’re in a hole and we’re in a funk.”

The Edmonton Oilers' recent re-signing of superstar Connor McDavid to a two-year extension with the same $12.5 million annual average value as his current deal provides them with salary-cap flexibility for next season.

With their recent addition of free-agent forward Jack Roslovic and their status as a Stanley Cup contender, some observers wonder if they might make a significant addition before the March 6 NHL trade deadline.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journalobserved that some Oilers fans are wondering if their club might target struggling teams in the hope of adding another star to the roster, such as power forward Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres.

However, Staples doesn't anticipate the Oilers will make a major addition this season. He pointed out that the club is up against the $95.5 million salary cap, and they have little to trade except their 2027 first-round pick.

Staples also noted that the only Oilers with cap hits over $2 million lacking no-trade protection are defensemen Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak, and starting goaltender Stuart Skinner.

Bouchard isn't going anywhere after signing a lucrative long-term extension this summer. There are no better options in the trade market to replace Skinner as their starter, and Kulak won't fetch much of a return.

Staples suggested that the earliest opportunity for the Oilers to make a big move is next summer. That's when they can put their cap space to work in the free-agent market.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, Canadiens fans are wondering what other moves their club has in store. They recently re-signed Lane Hutson to a team-friendly eight-year extension and extended the contracts of management honchos Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes.

Most of the focus is on defenseman Mike Matheson, who is UFA-eligible next summer. However, some fans wonder if a couple of other players might become trade candidates.

Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette was recently asked if the Canadiens might move veteran winger Brendan Gallagher to clear cap space and create room to promote a promising young forward. The 33-year-old right winger is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a six-team no-trade list.

Another reader asked Cowan if the Canadiens might use defenseman Jayden Struble as a trade chip to address other roster needs and make space for an up-and-coming blueliner.

Cowan doesn't see either player moving this season. He believes Gallagher still has value to the Canadiens with his gritty play, experience and leadership. The uncertainty over Matheson's contract status and David Reinbacher's ongoing injury issues should keep Struble in Montreal for now.

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The Detroit Red Wings look to string together their first four-game winning streak since February, when they won seven straight just before the Four Nations Face-Off break. They faced a tough test Wednesday as they faced off against the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers and were still able to edge out a 4-1 victory. They'll be tasked with another difficult opponent on Friday in taking on another Florida-based team in the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Friday night hockey! #LGRW

🏒 7:00 P.M.
📺 @FanDuelSN_DET
📻 @971theticketxyt
🎟️ https://t.co/vZc2Yr3p4Z
🤝 @familycoolingpic.twitter.com/yBCo2Hqd2s

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 17, 2025

Detroit's homestand to start the season has helped them get out to an early 3-1-0 record on the season as they currently sit second in the Atlantic Division. For the Bolts, their start to the campaign has been more troubling with a 1-2-1 record that will motivate them to bounce back. 

On offense, Detroit will look to kick things off with the always lethal Alex DeBrincat, who is normally known for being a deadly goal scorer. However, he's not found the back of the net this season. The Michigan native is still averaging over a point-per-game with six assists through the first four games. Tampa Bay's offense will be led by familiar faces in forwards Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel, who both have five points to start the season despite their team's lackluster start. 

With both offenses looking to leave their mark, it should culminate in a divisional showdown of the ages with both teams looking for a big win that would go a long way in nabbing a potential playoff spot.  

NHL Insider Reports Red Wings Exploring Trade Options At CenterThe Red Wings are actively seeking a center upgrade, targeting impact players to bolster their playoff push and address face-off struggles.

Lineup Storylines

While DeBrincat searches for his first goal, a handful of others are also looking for their first tally of the season as the Red Wings' notable trio of rookies have all still not scored their first NHL goals. The veteran J.T. Compher has also failed to find the scoresheet through four games and finds himself at the bottom of the team with the rookies (excluding Emmitt Finnie) and defenseman around him in terms of point production. He would love to turn things around and could be looked at for a breakout game versus the Bolts.

A surprising start to the season for the Red Wings has been free agent add Mason Appleton, who scored a pair of goals in Detroit's win over the Panthers on Wednesday and now leads the team with three on the season. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman brought in Appleton as a veteran presence to bolster the team’s scoring depth. After making his mark as part of one of the league’s most effective lines with the Jets, Appleton has continued to deliver a similar impact early in his time with Detroit. 

The Red Wings' battle for the crease has been predominantly owned by veteran goaltender Cam Talbot to start the season but former all-star John Gibson will seemingly get a chance to redeem himself against Tampa Bay. After being acquired through a draft day trade, Gibson was expected to be Detroit's leading netminder but his debut didn't go according to plan. With five goals allowed through the first two periods, Gibson was pulled in the season opener despite most of the goals arguably not being his fault and more a cause of defensive lapses. 

Gibson Takes the Heat, But Detroit’s Defensive Lapses Deserve the Blame in Montreal RoutA closer look at Montreal’s five goals in Thursday’s victory over <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings">Detroit </a>and an assessment of how many can truly be pinned on John Gibson.&nbsp;

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

Following the loss, Talbot caught fire with three impressive starts including a stunning 38-save performance to help edge out a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs this past Monday. Gibson will look to catch a similar flame on Friday or he may start to lose more playing time than he expected due to Talbot's hot start. 

On Tampa's end, their storylines run through their backend as they currently sit with a -3 goal differential, spearheaded by 16 goals allowed over their first four games. Their 4.00 goals against per game average is bottom five in the league, which is surprising for a team that made three straight Stanley Cup finals off the strength of their backend with physical, elite defending complemented by exceptional play out of starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Unfortunately for the Bolts, their future Hall-of-Fame netminder has seen a brutal start to the season with a 0-2-1 record with a 4.08 goals against average. If the Red Wings are going to take advantage of the Lightning’s slump, now’s the moment to do it. 

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+125) | TBL ML (-149)

DET +1.5 (-189) | TBL -1.5 (+154)

O/U 6.0 Goals

The matchup presents a solid opportunity for the aforementioned Compher to finally find the scoresheet. We mentioned the Lightning have been struggling with their defensive side of the game and Compher could take advantage. Historically, the 30-year-old winger has done well versus the Bolts with a goal and five assists for six points over his last seven games against Tampa Bay. Vasilevskiy will be tough to beat as his numbers against Detroit are superb but maybe the Red Wings offense can catch him off guard and continue his skid. 

Detroit has gotten the better of Tampa Bay as of late with wins in five of their last seven matchups with most of the games being won with their offense rather than their defense. This should work well for a Red Wings team that is within the top ten in offense to start the season with a 3.50 goals per game average. This should help them repeat with three or more goals for the fourth time in their last seven matchups versus the Lightning. 

On the defensive side, the Red Wings will need to do their best to prevent the eventual breakout game for Bolts superstar Nikita Kucherov. The former 144-point player has just three points through four games so far and it's only a matter of time before his first game-breaking performance of the season. With 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points in 40 career games against the Red Wings, they've struggled to limit the Russian winger in the past but will need to try their best once again if they want to emerge with their fourth straight win. 

"He Hasn't Relinquished Anything": Todd McLellan Firmly In John Gibson's Corner Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan believes that John Gibson still has every right to the crease, and he'll make his second start of the campaign on Friday evening against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: John Gibson (VS TBL: 4-5-1 record, 2.13 GAA, .932 SV% in 10 Games)

Tampa Bay: Andrei Vasilevskiy (VS DET: 16-5-1 record, 2.16 GAA, .929 SV% in 22 Games) 

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The Swedish junior league is loaded with intriguing prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. In this piece, Jacob Smeds highlights five players who have stood out in the early weeks of the U20 Nationell season. Enjoy!

Oscar Holmertz (C), 2026 NHL Draft

Holmertz is a center with strong playmaking ability. His game relies more on hockey sense than on speed or physicality. He is confident with the puck and often finds solutions others don’t see. His vision stands out, allowing him to dictate the pace of play and bring both tempo and control to his team’s game.

Holmertz has opened the season with promising play in the U20 Nationell, earning him a spot on Linköping’s SHL roster for Thursday’s game against Örebro. He didn’t get any ice time, but just being on the bench is a sign that his SHL debut is getting closer. With his high hockey IQ and ability to process the game, it’s easy to project his skills to the professional level.

Bosse Meijer (C), 2027 NHL Draft

Bosse Meijer opened the season with a promising performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Sweden. Though one of the youngest players on the roster, he played a key role on a line with 2026 top prospects Oscar Holmertz and Elton Hermansson. Meijer stood out with his relentless work ethic and constant motor, and he showed confidence in taking shots whenever the opportunity arose.

Meijer entered the season with just a single U20 game to his name, but he’s made the transition from U18 look seamless. Along with his trademark work ethic, he has displayed strong hockey sense and a knack for threading passes behind opposing defenders. With his late-2008 birth date, Meijer emerges as one of the more intriguing Swedish prospects to keep an eye on for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Marcus Nordmark (RW), 2026 NHL Draft

Marcus Nordmark is another player who started the season with an impressive showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He showed the different sides of his game there, mixing playmaking with scoring and proving he can rise to the occasion in big moments.

After a slow start in U20 Nationell, both Marcus Nordmark and Djurgården’s junior team are starting to find their stride. Nordmark has impressed with his improved vision, producing 13 points in 8 games without often needing to play at full speed. To his credit, the U20 league doesn’t ask for much more from a player projected to go in the first round. The real test will be how his game carries over if he gets a chance at the professional level.

Marcus Nordmark has completed the hat-trick to win the game 6-5 for Sweden.

Sweden is off to the final.

They trailed 5-2 with 12 minutes to go. #HlinkaGretzkyCuppic.twitter.com/vzGxaVAZa0

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) August 15, 2025

Theodor Knights (D), 2026 NHL Draft

Theodor Knights is a big, team-first defenseman who takes pride in his play in the defensive zone. He leans on his physical style to shut down opponents and is often tasked with handling the other team’s top line. Over the past year, he’s also taken steps forward with the puck, showing more confidence in moving play out of his own end.

Knights earned a chance with MoDo’s senior team during the preseason but has yet to make his league debut. Even against tougher competition, he showed his defensive upside with aggressive play in his own zone. His mix of skating ability and size could push him high in the draft.

Alexander Command (C), 2026 NHL Draft

Alexander Command took major steps forward last season and was rewarded with a debut for the Swedish national team in the final tournament of the year. In the tough competition for spots, he was left off the roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. I’d bet on him getting another chance with Sweden at the Five Nations in November. With his reliable two-way game, he could be an asset as a third-line center or even higher up the lineup.

Command currently sits fourth in league scoring with an impressive seven goals and 15 points in nine games. He’s a joy to watch in transition, using his smooth stride and ability to glide through the neutral zone. Command also isn’t afraid to drive to the dirty areas or throw a hit in the corners when the game calls for it. He remains one of the most intriguing players still flying under the radar for the wider audience.

Part 4: Draft-Eligible Prospects to Watch in SwedenThe Hockey News International wraps up its series spotlighting draft-eligible players to watch in Sweden. The series profiles 40 intriguing prospects, with Parts 1–3 available below.

On Thursday morning, when Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis told reporters that Jayden Struble would be suiting up for the game against the Nashville Predators, he added that he was looking forward to giving Joe Veleno a game.

In the midst of a four-game winning streak, it’s not easy to change your lineup, and you’ve got to be careful about who you pull out. On Thursday morning, Oliver Kapanen seemed to be the likeliest candidate. But against the Nashville Predators, not only did he score a goal, but he was much more involved and visible. Early in the first frame, his timely stick lift prevented Steven Stamkos from taking a shot from in close.

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He might have only played 11:59, but those were quality minutes, and he’s also part of the penalty kill, which is an important role. He won his role on the team out of training camp before St-Louis thought he had an NHL-level computer. He plays a sound game, and he’s also predictable for his linemates on the ice. The way he performed on Thursday night, it’s almost as if he was telling the coach that while he was looking forward to playing Veleno, it shouldn’t be at his expense.

Meanwhile, Patrik Laine is trying his best on the fourth line, but playing a two-way game does not necessarily come naturally to him. It’s a work in process, and last night, he was on the ice when Nick Perbix scored the Predators’ second goal. He did backcheck, but he let his man go too early, when Noah Dobson wasn’t close enough to cover him adequately, as Laine skated towards the other side to cover Ozzy Wiesblatt.

Yes, he’s part of the power play, but things haven’t yet clicked for him on the man-advantage, and his presence on the fourth line is posing a challenge for Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. They are used to playing with Brendan Gallagher, who plays a simple, efficient, and predictable game, and Laine doesn’t do that, even though he’s working on it.

When the Canadiens needed an equalizer against Nashville and they deployed six skaters, Laine wasn’t on the ice; he was on the bench. I liked what I’ve seen from Laine since the start of the season. The effort is there, but right now, for me, he’s the one who should come out if St-Louis wants to give Veleno a game.

---

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ELMONT, NY --Matt Martin may have called it a career this summer, but his impact on the future of the New York Islanders' organization is immeasurable.

Since No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer arrived on Long Island, Martin, who was named Special Assistant to first-time general manager Mathieu Darche, has taken the recently turned 18-year-old under his wing. 

Martin, along with countless other teammates, had offered their homes to Schaefer for his rookie season, but every time we asked the young defenseman during training camp who he'd be living with, he said that he was focused on making the team first -- the right answer. 

But, during Thursday night's ESPN+ broadcast, Emily Kaplan asked Schaefer who he'd be living with. Schaefer told her that over 10 teammates offered to house him, but that he'd be living with Martin.

#Isles Matthew Schaefer tells ESPN's @emilymkaplan that he'll be living at the Matt Martin house this year.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 17, 2025

Schaefer has made an incredible bond with Martin's family, which includes their daughters Winnie and Alice. Martin and his wife Sydney also welcomed two twin boys back in June, so credit to them for bringing in another kid -- jokes. 

Following the game, The Hockey News asked Schaefer about what Martin has meant to him:

NHL (@NHL) on XMatthew Schaefer might be a member of the Martin family now 🥹 (🎥: IG/sydneyemartin)

It's very common for rookies to live with vets during their rookie season. Mathew Barzal lived with Dennis Seidenberg and his family. John Tavares lived with Doug Weight and his family. 

While Schaefer's focus is developing his game on the ice, the 18-year-old is still learning a ton about life and there aren't two better people, in Martin and his wife Sydney, to learn from.

We await the social media posts of Schaefer donning an Elsa outfit. 

Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Becomes Youngest In NHL History To Open Career With Four-Game Point StreakSchaefer broke another NHL record, becoming the youngest ever to record a point in four consecutive games to start his career. His impressive debut lights up the league.

Anthony Stolarz's mask was popped off via a shot late in the third period against the New York Rangers, and instead of calling for an official, he bounced back up to make a save on J.T. Miller.

"I kind of just saw the rebound go to the side, and as I was going, the helmet kind of flew off, so just trying to be a competitor and slide across," Stolarz said after Toronto's 2-1 overtime win over the Rangers. "Obviously, it's not an ideal situation, but at that stage of the game, you're just trying to do anything to keep the puck out of the net."

Rule 9.6 (Helmets) in the NHL rulebook states: "When a goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask and his team has control of the puck, play shall be stopped immediately to allow the goalkeeper the opportunity to regain his helmet and/or face mask. When the opposing team has control of the puck, play shall only be stopped if there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity."

It's a situation that could have gone horribly wrong had the shot come up and gotten Stolarz in the head area. Luckily, it didn't. But it's not the first time a goaltender has lost their mask and had to make a save this season.

lost his mask and kept going to make the save pic.twitter.com/fUVHSK5N4d

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 17, 2025

Vegas Golden Knights netminder Adin Hill took a slapshot off the mask on Oct. 14 against the Calgary Flames. The play continued, with Hill sliding across to make a stop on the rebound. The goaltender remained in the game for the rest of the first period before exiting the game.

When discussing the play post game, Stolarz brought up the Hill incident.

"Hopefully, we can find a compromise. It's not like goalies are trying to knock our helmets off. I mean, without the buckle, you can't really see the puck. You can't really track or do anything because as soon as you move your head, it falls off," Stolarz said.

"So, hopefully, the league can kind of look at it, talk to some goalies or people who have knowledge of the position, and we can kind of come to some sort of compromise where our safety isn't put at risk there."

just another day at the office pic.twitter.com/3S2GjeYUp5

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 17, 2025

Stolarz wasn't the only player on the Maple Leafs who shared their dislike for the rule.

"I didn't know about (the rule) until they came over and explained it to us," Auston Matthews said.

"I mean, I don't know. It's tough because his helmet's off and J.T. Miller's coming down the slot with a one-timer. I don't know. Thankfully, he didn't hit him there. But yeah, I was completely unaware of the rule. I thought the second the helmet's off, the play was going to be dead."

William Nylander: "I think, it's a goalie without his helmet, I mean, that's so dangerous. It should be blown off right away. I mean, I guess you could argue that sometimes a goalie can try and shake his helmet off or whatever, but I mean, I think that's pretty dangerous."

Matthew Knies said he was "a little scared" when Stolarz's mask came off and there was no whistle blown right away. "I don't know how it came to that. I thought it was supposed to be blown, but I don't know. It was a shocker for sure, for everyone, I think."

Did Cayden Primeau Show Enough In His Maple Leafs Debut To Instil Confidence As An NHL Backup?Cayden Primeau could feel the nerves building as he walked out of the tunnel inside Scotiabank Arena for his first start with the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Nashville Predators.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube shared the same sentiment as the players: blow the play dead once a goaltender's mask is off.

"It's a tough call. I mean, your goalie loses his mask. He's in a very vulnerable position. And a position to get really hurt. I don't think anybody wants to see that, ever. So in my opinion, blow it down. But that's me."

Despite that scare in the third period, Stolarz was strong for Toronto. The 31-year-old stopped 28 of 29 shots in the win over the Rangers, improving his record to 2-2-0, and his save percentage to .907 through four games.

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