Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

The 2025-26 season is now underway with a busy Thursday approaching with 14 games. The campaign kicked off with a successful title defense for the Panthers with a season-opening win against the Blackhawks in a game they dominated even without their captain.

With depth forward Jesper Boqvist scoring the winner, it does beg the question: who’s going to step up?

This week’s NHL power rankings features one player on each team that could make a very big difference this season.

1. Florida Panthers (1-0-0, +1 goal differential. Previous Rank: 1)

Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett split duties with both centers playing over 19 minutes, but it was Bennett’s line that played more minutes at 5-on-5. Bennett’s line with Brad Marchand – what a nightmare duo to play against – and Carter Verhaeghe generated 25 shot attempts and allowed only six. Bennett is in the first year of a lucrative eight-year deal and must provide full value for the Panthers to have a chance at a three-peat. 

2. Edmonton Oilers (0-0-0, even. PR: 2)

Connor McDavid’s short-term bargain deal means the clock is officially ticking because there’s no chance he does the same in 2028. I’m cheating on my own criteria here, but the biggest difference maker is GM Stan Bowman, and it’s up to him to figure out what to do with the extra cap space. It is absolutely Cup or bust for the Oilers.

3. Dallas Stars (0-0-0, even. PR: 3)

The easy pick is Mikko Rantanen, but I actually think it’s Thomas Harley because the Stars aren’t nearly as deep on the blueline as they are up front. It’s a contract year for Harley, and he’ll take a load of pressure off their top matchup pair with Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell. 

4. Vegas Golden Knights (0-0-0, even. PR: 5)

Mitch Marner has a chance to write the ultimate revenge story if he can help Vegas win another Cup. Marner and Jack Eichel might be the most dangerous center-right winger combo in the entire NHL.

5. Carolina Hurricanes (0-0-0, even. PR: 4)

The most important player is whoever can be the best No. 2 center behind Sebastian Aho, and right now, that’s Logan Stankoven. He’s already signed a big extension, and it’s a hole the Canes have been desperate to fill.

6. Winnipeg Jets (0-0-0, even. PR: 6)

Depth might be a problem for the Jets, and their best path to success still lies in the hands of Connor Hellebuyck. They need regular-season Hellebuyck to show up in the playoffs. 

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (0-0-0, even. PR: 7)

We know Auston Matthews has the potential to score at least 60 goals, but the question is if he can do it all himself. The Leafs captain has all the spotlights in Toronto on him now.

A Healthy Auston Matthews Is Prepared To Guide The Maple Leafs And Prove Last Year Was An OutlierAs they move into the post-Mitch Marner era, the Toronto Maple Leafs need a big year out of star center and captain Auston Matthews.

8. Colorado Avalanche (1-0-0, +3. PR: 8)

Gabriel Landeskog suits up for a regular-season game for the first time since March 10, 2022, and the Avs had so much respect for him that they never named anyone to take his place in the interim. No matter how many games he plays this season, his comeback story has been remarkable. 

9. Washington Capitals (0-0-0, even. PR: 9)

The chase is not yet over. Alex Ovechkin is three goals away from 900 as he enters the final year of a five-year contract. Does he continue beyond 2025-26 in Washington?

10. Minnesota Wild (0-0-0, even. PR: 10)

Kirill Kaprizov has the league’s richest contract and now has one goal remaining: win the Cup. Let’s dial it back a little, however, as the Wild need to win one playoff series first. 

11. Tampa Bay Lightning (0-0-0, even. PR: 12)

I still think the biggest difference-maker is captain Victor Hedman, who’s showing no signs of slowing down. However, the Lightning's Cup-winning core is another year older, and they’re getting further and further away from Cup contender status.

12. Los Angeles Kings (0-1-0, -3. PR: 11)

In Anze Kopitar’s last season, this is the season where Quinton Byfield needs to show he can take over the No. 1 role full-time. The Kings looked uncharacteristically disorganized in their season-opening loss. 

13. St. Louis Blues (0-0-0, even. PR: 13)

In an Olympic year, this is Jordan Binnington’s chance to prove he can lead the Blues and Team Canada. He has two seasons remaining on his contract with the very capable Joel Hofer ready to take over at any time.

14. New Jersey Devils (0-0-0, even. PR: 14)

Jack Hughes really needs to stay healthy because he’s got MVP potential. On paper, the Devils look like they could contend, but there are a few question marks regarding their injury history and consistency, and also too many bodies on their blueline. 

15. Ottawa Senators (0-0-0, even. PR: 15)

Can the Sens count on Linus Ullmark for 50 games? He was very good for them last season and went 13-3-1 down the stretch to make the playoffs, but can he be a bona fide starter, or is he a 1A option in need of an experienced backup to support him?

16. Montreal Canadiens (0-0-0, even. PR: 16)

Centers are difficult to find, and the Habs are hoping Kirby Dach can be the answer. The third overall pick in 2019 has size and skill but has also missed 129 of 246 games (52 percent) over the last three seasons.

17. Utah Mammoth (0-0-0, even. PR: 17)

Karel Vejmelka is coming off a surprisingly good season where he won 26 games in 55 starts, and he now enters the first year of a five-year deal. The Mammoth can score, and they have promising young defenders, but can Vejmelka come up big in net again this season?

The NHL's Opening Week Is Packed Of Exciting StorylinesThe new NHL regular season begins Tuesday, and there is no shortage of storylines for fans to keep their eye on.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets (0-0-0, even. PR: 18)

I think we’re past the point of believing Elvis Merzlikins can be a reliable No. 1, which means Jet Greaves and his 7-2-2/1.91 GAA/.938 SP performance last season offers a glimmer of hope. Columbus coach Dean Evason has remained mum on who his starter will be for Thursday’s season opener

19. Vancouver Canucks (0-0-0, even. PR: 20)

It’s all on Elias Pettersson now with J.T. Miller in New York. If he cannot regain his superstar form, and despite Quinn Hughes’ best efforts, the Canucks’ offense may collapse because of their lack of quality depth down the middle. Oh, by the way, have you heard that Quinn wants to play with his brothers? 

20. Calgary Flames (0-0-0, even. PR: 21)

It’s not necessarily about who can make a difference for the Flames but what GM Craig Conroy has up his sleeve. The Flames have to decide if they want to continue with this current core – 35-year-old Nazem Kadri has three more years on his deal – or fully hand the reins over to Matt Coronato, Samuel Honzek, Zayne Parekh and Dustin Wolf. 

21. Detroit Red Wings (0-0-0, even. PR: 22)

The Red Wings are again one of the most intriguing teams entering the 2025-26 season as we enter the next phase of the Yzerplan after acquiring John Gibson and bringing in rookies Emmitt Finnie, Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Finnie, in particular, will be interesting to watch as a seventh-round pick who will start the season on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Did they just find another Zetterberg?!

22. New York Rangers (0-1-0, -3. PR: 19)

That was ugly. The Rangers debuted a new coach, a new captain and even new jerseys in their centennial season but ironically lost to their new coach’s former team and their former assistant coach. It was another listless showing reminiscent of last year, and again, it was only close because of Igor Shesterkin.

23. Anaheim Ducks (0-0-0, even. PR: 24)

Joel Quenneville is supposed to bring forth a philosophical change and bring out the best of Anaheim's young core. It’s the first time he’s coached an NHL game in four years. 

24. New York Islanders (0-0-0, even. PR: 23)

The Isles nip around the edges of their roster looking for marginal improvements every season, this time bringing in Maxim Shabanov, Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin, but the player to watch is future franchise defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who definitely earned his spot during camp.

25. Buffalo Sabres (0-0-0, even. PR: 25)

Recent waiver claim Colten Ellis has me raising my eyebrows, especially after Alexandar Georgiev was signed following news of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s injury, only to waive him in favor of Ellis. The former QMJHL star will get his first chance to prove himself in the NHL after winning 22 games with a .922 SP in the AHL last season. 

26. Seattle Kraken (0-0-0, even. PR: 26)

Here’s hoping a trio of young players – Ryan Winterton, Jani Nyman and 2024 eighth overall pick Berkly Catton – can create a little more excitement around the Kraken with full-time roles. The Kraken are desperately trying not to be mid anymore with their third coach in three seasons. 

27. Pittsburgh Penguins (1-0-0, +3. PR: 29)

Will Arturs Silovs singlehandedly ruin my prediction of the Pens landing Gavin McKenna at the next draft? The AHL playoff MVP was acquired for a song from the Canucks and made good with a 25-save shutout win in coach Dan Muse’s debut, who made a surprising decision – but ultimately the right one – to start him over incumbent Tristan Jarry. 

28. Philadelphia Flyers (0-0-0, even. PR: 27)

It’s not just about one player, but a pairing: Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov. The two puck wizards will play on separate lines but join forces like Goku and Vegeta on the power play, and we got a little taste of it in the pre-season. Even if the Flyers don’t win many games, can they at least make the highlight reels?

29. Boston Bruins (0-0-0, even. PR: 28)

Jeremy Swayman allowed the most goals in the league last season, and I doubt that repeats itself. He’s had a full camp in Boston, and the prospect of being named to the U.S. Olympic team should help him be one of the NHL’s top bounce-back players.

30. Nashville Predators (0-0-0, even. PR: 30)

Starting 18-year-old Brady Martin as your potential top center is certainly… a choice. I have no doubt this is a let’s-see-what-happens type of early-season move, but this is a fascinating decision by the Preds on a team with Ryan O’Reilly, Fedor Svechkov, Erik Haula and sometimes-center Steven Stamkos. 

31. San Jose Sharks (0-0-0, even. PR: 31)

The Sharks are doing through a rebuild on speed run, with Sam Dickinson and 2025 second overall pick Michael Misa making the team. They may not, however, suit up for the season opener, which makes keeping them around an interesting decision. Young players need to play, period, no matter the league. 

32. Chicago Blackhawks (0-1-0, -1. PR: 32)

Frank Nazar, Spencer Knight, Oliver Moore and, obviously, Connor Bedard… there’s no shortage of young players to watch on the Blackhawks, but I think the least heralded is Sam Rinzel. He looked excellent after leaving the University of Minnesota late last season and played 25:18 in the season opener, nearly seven more minutes than all other Hawks defenders.

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.

The Chicago Blackhawks are a young team trying to find its footing in the National Hockey League. With that in mind, they are not short of veteran leadership always around to help them do the right thing. 

Speaking of leaders doing the right thing, you can always count on Captain Nick Foligno. On Wednesday, New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer, who was the number one pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, told the press about a special message he received from Foligno. 

Ahead of the draft, Schaefer was open about his story. He lost his mom to cancer. It has been a difficult road to the NHL due to this tragedy, but his face lights up when speaking about his mother. 

The Islanders' rookie was asked if anyone reached out to him ahead of his NHL debut, which will take place on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and his answer was Nick Foligno. 

"I became close with him," Schaefer said of Foligno. "He lost his mom due to cancer at a young age, too, so he reached out to me, and I was talking to him about stuff like that. He's been awesome, he's a character for sure. He's a great guy, too." 

Whenever you think of classy in the NHL, Nick Foligno is near the top of the list. He has been a captain or leader in the room at multiple NHL spots for a reason. The young players in the Blackhawks organization are fortunate to have him as a resource, as well as the young men around the league. 

Due to their personal circumstances, Schaefer and Foligno have a connection that bonds them. With Foligno having been through it longer, he is willing to share wisdom that can help with something so difficult. 

You know that Foligno is rooting for Schaefer to succeed from afar, just maybe not when they are matched up against each other. It is comforting to know that the elder NHL players, who have had similar experiences to the younger players, are still willing to help them. Sometimes, small gestures like this go a long way both on and off the ice. 

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

Despite Easton Cowan being on the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs' optional morning skate on Wednesday morning, he will not be in the lineup for the home opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

Cowan stayed out late with Toronto's other projected healthy scratches, Sammy Blais and Philippe Myers. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed that Cowan won't play following Toronto's skate inside Scotiabank Arena.

"He won't be playing tonight. But he's up here with us. We're happy about that. He's here. Like I talked before about Easton, we don't want him sitting out. We want him playing. But we chose tonight that he will not play."

For three-quarters of Maple Leafs training camp, it looked like Cowan had an opening night lineup spot locked up. Cowan impressed Berube so much that he spent a good chunk of camp alongside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton on the fourth line.

However, after Laughton suffered a lower-body injury in the second-last pre-season game, Toronto's lineup shifted, with Cowan becoming an extra forward. Max Domi shifted to the third-line center spot, with Nick Robertson on his wing, and Nicolas Roy was moved to the middle of the fourth line alongside Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok.

"I think if you look at him during training camp, the effort and the ability to score a goal when we need it," Berube mentioned of why Robertson made the team out of camp. "He scored goals throughout camp. There's his work ethic, tenacity. He's just a noticeable player. You know, he came in and worked extremely hard and played well. Deserved to be on the team."

‘You Always Try To Find A Happy Medium’: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Shares Contract Philosophy Following Connor McDavid's Extension With OilersConnor McDavid shocked the NHL by signing a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers for what is universally perceived to be a massive discount in pay. The star forward signed for an average of $12.5 million per year, the same average annual value as the eight-year contract he is finishing at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The projected bottom six forward group appears to be as follows:

Joshua - Domi - Robertson
Lorentz - Roy - Jarnkrok

"I’m just going to keep taking it day by day. I mean, just keep attacking it. Keep working hard. Have a good mindset, be positive," Cowan said on Monday after practice.

"My game felt really good (at) 200 feet. I’ve never felt that good as an all-around player, so it definitely feels good that way. But just going to keep attacking each and every day, and keep getting better at little parts of the game."

Both Berube and Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving agree that Cowan needs to play. If he's going to remain with the NHL roster, at some point he's going to make his NHL debut with the club. It's really a matter of when, and not if.

"Easton has had a really good camp. I think he's right there ready to play for us. We want to manage it appropriately," Treliving said. "If he's going to be playing with us here, great. But if he's not, I want him playing, right? So we'll manage it here the next little bit."

Latest stories:

Maple Leafs Set For Regular Season Opener Against Canadiens, Lineups, And Where To Watch

‘You Always Try To Find A Happy Medium’: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Shares Contract Philosophy Following Connor McDavid's Extension With Oilers

'I Know What He Expects From Me': Why Maple Leafs' Sammy Blais Is Excited For Opportunity To Play Under Craig Berube Again

The New Jersey Devils have made a roster move in preparation for their 2025-26 regular season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 9. 

The Devils have recalled forward Zack MacEwen from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets.

MacEwen was acquired by the Devils from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid last week and was then placed on waivers. Now, with this call-up, the gritty forward is set to start the 2025-26 season on the Devils' NHL roster. 

MacEwen appeared in 21 games last season for the Senators, where he recorded two goals, one assist, 21 penalty minutes, and 49 hits. He also recorded seven goals, nine assists, 16 points, and 29 penalty minutes in 23 games last season with Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators. 

In 237 career NHL games split between the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and Senators, MacEwen has recorded 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points, 323 penalty minutes, and 523 hits. It will be interesting to see how he improves upon these career stats with the Devils this season from here. 

The NHL world is still buzzing over center Connor McDavid's two-year contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers. His two-year, $25-million deal stunned most observers.

Despite Kirill Kaprizov signing an eight-year, $136-million extension with the Minnesota Wild last week, most observers agreed it wouldn't affect McDavid's negotiations with the Oilers. They were right, but not completely in the way they expected.

It was believed that McDavid, 28, sought a salary worthy of a player of his caliber, while leaving some money on the table to give the Oilers some salary-cap flexibility to maintain a Stanley Cup contender.

Most observers anticipated the next contract for the Oilers' captain would come in between two and four years, but the average annual value was assumed to be between $16 million and $18 million. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman was among the few who predicted it would be lower, but not even he guessed that it would be the same $12.5 million as his current contract.

It's no coincidence that the Oilers announced that defenseman Jake Walman agreed to a seven-year extension worth $7 million annually soon after McDavid's deal was reported. Without the latter's extension, the Oilers might've had difficulty getting the 29-year-old Walman under contract. Mattias Ekholm also signed a three-year contract extension on Wednesday with a cap hit of $4 million, a drop from his current $6.25-million cap hit.

Soon after Kaprizov re-signed with the Wild, pundits predicted his new contract would affect other stars eligible for UFA status next summer.

Winnipeg Jets Re-Sign Star Kyle Connor To Massive Eight-Year ContractThe Winnipeg Jets re-signed star left winger Kyle Connor to the richest contract in franchise history. 

Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor signed an eight-year extension worth an average annual value of $12 million. Significant raises could be in line for other players, such as Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Colorado Avalanche right winger Martin Necas and Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic believes some NHL teams could use McDavid's new contract to make the argument that their stars should follow the Oilers captain's example and accept less money to help the team win. However, he believes most player agents will argue that McDavid's situation was unique, involving a player in a class by himself.

Look no further than Sidney Crosby for a good example. The Pittsburgh Penguins' captain has been underpaid for years, partly because of his superstition over his No. 87 resulting in him accepting an average annual value of $8.7 million since 2008-09, and partly because he was on an unusually long contract (12 years), the kind that are no longer available due to contract term limits imposed since 2013-14.

During those 12 years of Crosby's previous contract, player salaries have steadily climbed. Today, Cap Wages indicates that there are 45 active NHL players with higher AAVs than the Penguins' longtime superstar.

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.

Well, it's here. The 2025-26 season has officially kicked off. This year's version of the Metropolitan Division has people all over wondering how it will shake out. Some people think the Metro is the weakest it's ever been, while some people think it'll be ultra-competitive despite the apparent weaknesses. 

Last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are predicted to finish last in the Metro by most people, shut out the New York Rangers at MSG by a score of 3-0. This could be one of "those" seasons. So, stay tuned and buckle up. 

Spencer and I are going to take a crack at how we think the Metro Division will shake out. 

Jason's Metro Predictions

1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Washington Capitals
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. New York Rangers
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New York Islanders
8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Spencer's Metro Predictions

1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. New York Islanders
5. Washington Capitals
6. New York Rangers
7. Philadelphia Flyers
8. Pittsburgh Penguins

So how do you think we did? 

Personally, I think the Hurricanes do what Washington did last year and run away and hide in the Metro. The Capitals rode the Ovechkin wave last year, but this year, I feel like they will take a slight step back. As long as they have Ovi, he will push that team to be as good as they can. 

Some national NHL guys have Columbus as high as third in the Metro, just as Spencer does. Now, while I feel like the Jackets will be improved again this year, I think the Devils will perform much better than last year and will put some space between them and the next two teams. 

Can the Blue Jackets push through and make the playoffs? The answer to that question relies on two players - Elvis Merzļikins and Jet Greaves. 

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

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More From THN Columbus

Former Blue Jackets Forward Kevin Labanc Signing In RussiaFormer Blue Jacket Kevin Labanc seems to have found a new team. Nolan Lalonde Assigned To ECHLNolan Lalonde, the unsigned free agent from Kingston, Ontario, will be making his pro debut in the ECHL.  THN Columbus: 32 Predictions For The 25-26 NHL SeasonWith the 24-25 season starting today, The Hockey News Columbus is going to take a shot at some predictions. Spencer Lazary and I are going to do our best.  

After what felt like a never-ending offseason, the 2025-26 NHL regular season is upon us. The Anaheim Ducks’ front office had a busy offseason, overhauling much of the roster and coaching staff, while extending three core pieces to multi-year contract extensions (Mason McTavish, Jackson LaCombe, Lukas Dostal).

Ducks’ Opening Night Roster Highlighted by Sennecke, 3 Goalies

Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe on his Contract Extension

The team has big plans for the upcoming season, but how do we at THN.com/Anaheim think the season will go for the 2025-25 iteration of the Anaheim Ducks?

Points Leader (Forward)

Patrick: Leo Carlsson-This will be the second year in a row that I predict Carlsson to finish the season atop the Ducks’ scoring leaders list. We’re all anticipating a Carlsson breakout to come eventually (it simply has to if the Ducks are ever going to realize their potential and compete for Stanley Cups), and glancing at some of the NHL’s current European superstars (Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak, Nikita Kucherov, Aleksander Barkov), it’s not uncommon for a 100-150 game adjustment period to the NHL, followed by a significant breakout in year three.

If he can continue his play from the games leading up to and following last year’s “4 Nations Faceoff,” he’ll be on the path to becoming the star he’s projected to become. I’m predicting 65 points from Leo Carlsson.

Derek: Leo Carlsson-Pretty easy choice for me with Carlsson having his second half breakout last season and showing during preseason that he can turn things on in an instant.

As Anaheim’s No. 1 center, he’ll get plenty of ice time and it looks like he’ll be a regular part of the penalty kill, too, which could lead to some shorthanded points.

I was quite ambitious in predicting 80 points for Carlsson during one of our summer recordings, I’m not going to back down from that now.

Points Leader (Defenseman)

Patrick: Jackson LaCombe-This is the biggest layup in this entire exercise. LaCombe just inked a big-money contract extension, and teams typically don’t sign deals like that to not play said player as much as they can. As enticing and exciting as Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger are, LaCombe is the Ducks’ all-situations #1 defenseman. One of those situations will be top-of-the-umbrella point-man on the team's top power play unit, where he’ll likely have the longest leash imaginable and the unit’s success rate has nowhere to go but up from a league-worst 11.8% clip in 2024-25.

Derek: Jackson LaCombe-Another fairly easy choice here with LaCombe coming off a 40+ point season in his sophomore year. Like Carlsson, he’s going to get ample ice time and will be at the head of the Ducks’ no. 1 power play unit. If he can build off of last season’s strong performance, there’s no reason why he can’t hit 50–or even 60–points this season.

Goals Leader

Patrick: Chris Kreider-Kreider had the worst statistical season of his 13-year NHL career in 2024-25, a season riddled with injuries, including back spasms, a broken hand, and a spell of vertigo. He still managed to pot 22 goals, a number that would have co-led the Ducks last season. If one were to buy any semblance of a bounce-back, as I clearly am, he could easily net 30 goals in a new environment, under a quality coaching staff, and surrounded by some of the most talented young players in the NHL.

Derek: Cutter Gauthier-With his wicked release, Gauthier had a strong second half during the 2024-25 season while playing alongside Carlsson and followed that up with a terrific showing at the IIHF World Championship.

While he is projected to start on the second line and second power play unit, I think that the way he will be utilized offensively will still allow him to pick his spots, even if he isn’t on the top line or top PP unit. After reaching the 20-goal mark last season without regular power play time, there’s no reason he can’t hit the 30-goal mark this season while having that added benefit.

Breakout Player

Patrick: Leo Carlsson-For all the reasons I stated above, this will be Carlsson’s category to lose until further notice. However, I’d like to take this time to highlight Mason McTavish, who is my runner-up. McTavish’s defensive metrics have been poor for the duration of his three-year NHL career. Still, toward the end of last season, when his offense picked up to the tune of 33 points (16-17=33) in his final 36 games, his defense improved as well, particularly in defensive zone coverage.

The Ducks will be deploying an overhauled D-zone coverage scheme, but it’s built more on instinctual reads and quick support along the walls, areas where McTavish thrives most. He’s projected to start the season on a line with Cutter Gauthier on one wing (another candidate for this category), with whom he’d shown instant chemistry a year ago, and newly acquired, detailed veteran Mikael Granlund, who can create on the cycle and rush. Unlikely to draw opposing checking assignments, look for this line to turn some heads with their production.

Derek: If not for Carlsson, this category could have been occupied by a few different players. Gauthier, McTavish and Olen Zellweger are players who come to mind for me. But Carlsson has the biggest opportunity share and will likely grab hold of it. With better finishing from his teammates and himself, Carlsson’s stellar play will be validated by tangible evidence on the stat sheet.

Standings Prediction

Patrick: Since the COVID-shortened seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21, the threshold to make the playoffs in the Western Conference has been no less than 95 points. That would equate to a 15-point increase in the standings for the Ducks, following a year in which they made a 21-point increase. Though it’s the Ducks’ stated goal to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it’s not an impossible feat, it’s a bit too lofty for my taste.

However, I will predict a still-significant step forward in the standings. I have the Ducks finishing with 90 points and placing fifth in the Pacific Division, tenth in the Western Conference, and 18th in the overall NHL standings.

Derek: I’m in the same boat as Patrick. While the Ducks, staff and players alike, have set making the playoffs as their goal for this season, I think they will just miss out and end up somewhere in the ballpark that the Blue Jackets did last season.

Boldest Prediction

Patrick: Lukas Dostal will be a Vezina finalist

The torch has been passed, the keys to the crease at Honda Center have been handed over, and fresh off a contract extension, Dostal will be the tenth-highest-paid goaltender in the NHL for the 2025-26 season. He’s stated his fondness for the Ducks’ new defensive zone coverage scheme, and an offseason focus of his was to work on his rebound control.

Predictability of where shots are to come from and trust that, in theory, he will always have a defending teammate in the net front vicinity, catering to his strengths as a goaltender: angles, anticipation, tracking. If the Ducks are anywhere near the playoff bubble, Dostal likely will have had a terrific season and improved traditional statistics to match his already above-average underlying numbers.

Derek: Beckett Sennecke will spend the entire season with the Ducks and play in 40+ games

There’s bold predictions and then there’s air-head predictions. This might be an air-head prediction. While it’s unknown just how long Sennecke’s leash with the Ducks will be, it’s clear that they believe he has earned the opportunity to be on the NHL roster. It’s difficult to see how he can work his way up from a fourth line role unless he truly outplays several of his teammates, but head coach Joel Quenneville described him as a “wildcard” who can be used in all situations and play with anybody.

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on LaCombe Extension

Ducks Sign Jackson LaCombe to Eight-Year Extension

Comparing Mason McTavish's Contract to Similar Young NHL Players

The Vegas Golden Knights will be your 2026 Stanley Cup champions, according to the official season simulation done by EA SPORTS in NHL 26. 

The Golden Knights defeated the Canucks and Oilers in seven games before defeating the Avalanche in six to advance to the Finals. They took down the Rangers in seven games with Mitch Marner taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy. Marner led the playoffs in scoring followed by Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin.

The San Jose Sharks earned a surprise playoff berth on the back of 95 points from Macklin Celebrini while the Avalanche won the Presidents Trophy. 

Connor McDavid took home the Art Ross and Hart Trophy after posting 134 points during the regular season. 

Auston Matthew won the Rocket Richard with 61 goals, Cale Makar won the Norris, while Connor Hellebuyck repeated as the Vezina winner.

Anthony Cirelli won his first career Selke Trophy, Ivan Demidov won the Calder after notching 75 points while Bruce Cassidy won the Jack Adams. 

NHL 25 predicted the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup last season, we will see if the simulation jinx continues this year.

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Jim Montgomery knew all along.

Putting the Three Amigos are back together was in the cards all along.

The St. Louis Blues coach already knew what he had when training camp began when it came to the line of Brayden Schenn centering Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou. That line was a catalyst in helping fuel the Blues’ run to getting back to the Stanley Cup playoffs a season ago.

There was no need to get an extensive look again. 

But when the Blues signed Pius Suter as a free agent on July 2 and when camp began, the Blues put Suter between Holloway and Schenn, who was playing with Jake Neighbours and whoever they would put on that right wing.

There was no sign that Schenn was playing with Holloway and Kyrou as camp progressed, and Suter was the center in the middle for two games. Was this the changing of the guard, so to speak?

Not a chance.

When the Blues got back to practice Tuesday in preparation for their season- and home-opener Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, there was Schenn back in that familiar spot. And Montgomery said, “We will see Schenn there opening night.”

Why?

“Sometimes as a coach you just trust your gut and I watched camp,” Montgomery said. “The most important part of that is Suter came here because he wants to win, and he is an extremely good locker room guy, a team guy. He can even plug-and-play. Obviously our captain, we know that about him. Having those two being able to move between the two and three hole, it makes it very flexible and one of the reasons I thought the Suter signing was really important to our team depth.”

Suter was between Neighbours and Mathieu Joseph, and that looks like the likely trio that will open Thursday, but this was all along a trial to see if the Blues could have another option in a long season should one be needed.

Montgomery is more that comfortable using either there.

“A hundred percent. Yeah,” he said. “Sometimes you get a feel as a coach that the energy’s going to be better if we put guys back together that had success last year, and that’s how we’re going to start the year. It’s going to change. I guarantee you it’s going to change.”

In the month beginning March 15 that led the charge to the playoffs, which included a franchise record 12-game winning streak, Kyrou benefited the most with 20 points (12 goals, eight assists) in 16 games, Holloway had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 11 games before his season ended because of injury on April 5, and although Schenn had just 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 16 games, that line was so dynamic in so many different ways.

“We had some really good ‘chem’ last year,” Holloway said. “I think as a line, we all complement each other super well. Definitely real excited to be playing with those guys again and I think we should be good.

“I think that’s the goal (is) to get back to right where we were. We were playing at such a high level there for a few months in a row. I think we know what works well for us, know what we need to do to get to our game. I think as long as we play smart and playing to our strengths, we’ll get right back to it.”

That’s why the trio feels it didn’t need a full training camp together.

“I know training camp we weren’t together, but we feel like we have chemistry,” Schenn said. “For me, my job is obviously get them the puck and create room and space and go to the net. They’re obviously both very dynamic and good shooters. It’s a combination that’s worked in the past. Now it’s on us to have good communication here early. Probably watch video from last year of what made us successful and mentally dial it in and communication’s huge. Last year’s not this year and we have to find ways to be better.”

In 46 games together last year, the line had a Corsi-for edge of 489-414 and a 29-13 goals-for edge in 5 on 5 situations and fans were wondering why would the coaching staff mess with something that obviously wasn’t broken. Just for that, the option to pivot if necessary.

“Honestly in camp every year, you’re always with someone and then it switches and vice versa,” Schenn said. “What we talked about two days ago or whatever, we figured it was going to be a little bit of both with me and ‘Sutes.’ That’s what’s good about our team. We have interchangeable parts and guys who can kind of play with whoever. We’ll just kind of see how it goes with the flow.”

Blues Know Jordan Binnington Is Elite, Yet Goalie Has To Prove Once Again He's One Of The BestST. LOUIS – The NHL season for 2025-26 drops the puck on Tuesday. For the St. Louis Blues, it opens Thursday at home against the Minnesota Wild. Blues GM Gives Update On Sundqvist, Lucic MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong provided updates on two veteran forwards before the regular-season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. Blues Were Hoping To Keep Colten Ellis In Organization, Happy He Gets Opportunity In NHLMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Part of Doug Armstrong wanted to be selfish and keep goalie prospect Colten Ellis in the St. Louis Blues organization.

Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions from social media about what is going on with the Canucks. Today, we answer questions about Braeden Cootes, trade targets and more. 

Does Cootes Stay With The Club All Year Or Back To Juniors After 9ish Games?

Braeden Cootes making Vancouver's opening night roster is a great sign for the future. He has earned this opportunity and, based on practice lines, may even see some power play time during his NHL trial. While he has been great throughout the pre-season, I do believe he will be heading back to the WHL after a few games, where he can dominate during his D+1 season. 

That being said, there is a scenario where Cootes plays more than nine NHL games this season. For that to happen, he would need to be the Canucks best forward at both ends of the ice and make it clear that Vancouver's play would take a dip if he was sent back to junior. If he can be a point-producing machine and show off strong two-way play, there is a chance he sticks around for the season. 

How Many Games Will Kevin Lankinen Play This Season?

How the Canucks manage their goaltenders this year will be an interesting trend to follow. With a condensed schedule and the Olympics, this season will be more complicated, not just for Vancouver, but for every team around the league. That being said, barring any injuries, Lankinen will most likely start around 30 games in 2025-26. 

Based on their records, it may also be beneficial for the Canucks to start Lankinen on the road while Thatcher Demko gets the home starts. Last year, Lankinen went 16-6-5 on the road, while Demko has historically been better while playing at Rogers Arena. This theory may not work out due to schedule issues, but it is something to consider heading into the year. 

Many Rumours Of A Trade Circulating. Who Could Be A Target?

One of the reasons why there have not been a ton of trades is the salary cap continuing to grow. In the flat-cap world, teams were more willing to move players in order to get off contracts, which seems not to be the case anymore. While Vancouver has made it clear that they are always looking at ways to improve their roster, it is hard to picture them making a move until closer to the trade deadline. 

As for potential players, bringing in a center to add depth has to be at the top of the Canucks list. Based on teams that are projected to be near the bottom of the standings, some potential trade options could be Jean-Gabriel Pageau or Alex Wennberg. As for a non-pending unrestricted free agent, one player who would fit Vancouver's system is Nazem Kadri, who is signed for four more years at $7 million per season. 

Of The 3 Closest Defense prospects - Kudryavtsev, Mancini And EP25, Who’s Skill Profile Suggests They Will Have The Longest Career?

Now this is a good question. All three have the potential to have long careers but for different reasons. That being said, Elias Pettersson or D-Petey is the most likely of the three to have the longest career. 

The reason Pettersson is the answer is because has already developed into a reliable two-way defender who can deliver massive hits. It is becoming more difficult to find big, physical defenders who can skate well and transition the puck without issues. While Victor Mancini and Kirill Kudryavtsev are talented players who will play multiple years in the NHL, Pettersson is the most likely of the three to have the longest career. 

What’s The Current Vibe About This Year’s Canucks Team?

The vibe around this team is completely different than last year or even the year before. The players seem looser and appear to be enjoying being on the ice. Some differences from last year include more cheering when plays are made in practice, as well as better engagement when speaking to the media. 

While the vibe is a positive one now, the big question is will it stay the same all year. There are going to be up and downs all season which means changes in mood and demeanor. That being said, the players and organization appear to be in a positive place which is important heading into such an important year. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 5 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at everyone's favorite number - Jersey #5.

Let's take a look at who wore 5, and where they are now. 

Jamie Pushor - 2001-2006 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 1989.

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

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

Darryl Sydor - 2004 - Drafted by LA in 1990. 

Sydor played a total of 49 games for Columbus during the 2003-04 season. He was traded to the Jackets in the Summer of 2003 and then traded to the Lightning during that season. He had 15 points for Columbus.

He went on to play another five NHL seasons before retiring on July 13, 2010. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant for the Blues and Wild. He also owns the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. 

Christian Bäckman - 2009 - Drafted by St. Louis in 1998.

Bäckman played 56 games for the Jackets in 2008-09 after being acquired by Columbus in the trade that sent Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche to the Rangers. 

He left for Europe in 2009, where he signed with Frölunda HC in Sweden. He retired in 2015. 

Aaron Johnson - 2012 - Drafted by Columbus in the 3rd round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Johnson played 172 games for the Jackets over two stints. Scouts said of Johnson was "A puck-moving defenseman, Johnson is a very good skater. Has good offensive instincts and can quarterback the power play. Can play a tough and physical game. Needs to improve his play in his own end."

During his time with Columbus, he also spent three years with the AHL Syracuse Crunch, where he had 73 points in those three seasons. 

In 2016, he left North America and signed on with Adler Mannheim of the DEL in Germany. He then left for England, where he played for the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL. In 2021, he became a Player-Asst. Coach for a season. He came back home to Columbus in 2021 and joined the Jackets as a Team Consultant. Last season, he was the Team Relations Specialist for the Jackets.

Jack Skille - 2014 - Drafted by Chicago in 2005.

Skille played 61 games for Columbus and had 12 points. On July 6, 2013, Skille was signed as a free agent by the CBJ, but the following summer, he left in free agency. On October 5, 2014, Skille was claimed off waivers by Columbus, where he would play in 45 games. He left Columbus again and would play a season in Colorado and a season in Vancouver. 

In 2017, he left for Europe, where he played in Russia, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. He retired in 2021 and went into coaching. He's currently a skills coach and the Director of Skills Development for the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies franchise. The Grizzlies are moving to Trenton, New Jersey, at the end of the 25-26 season. 

Gavin Bayreuther - 2022 - Undrafted out of Canaan, New Hampshire.

Bayreuther played 103 games for Columbus and totaled 23 points over three seasons. He also played for the Dallas Stars.

He was made famous in 2021 when he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft. One week later, he signed a two-year deal with Columbus, marking the end of his long tenure with Seattle.

After playing last season in Switzerland for Lausanne HC, he has come back to North America and will play for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. 

Denton Mateychuk - 2025 - Drafted by Columbus in 2022. 

Mateychuk was called up mid-way through last season and never looked back. He played in 45 games for the CBJ and scored 13 points. He was also a plus-4, which isn't bad for a young defenseman. 

Before being called up from the Cleveland Monsters, he was having himself a season in the AHL. Playing in just 27 games, he scored 9 goals and totaled 25 points, so the Jackets had no choice but to call him up. 

Mateychuk was named to the NHL's all-rookie team for his play last season. This season, he will be looking to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and continue to be a solid blueliner for the upstart Jackets. 

Elite Prospects said of Mateychuk in their draft guide, Constant motion allows Mateychuk to break from his team's structure in the offensive zone and seek opportunities that just aren't there for other defenseman. He prods for soft ice, finds it, and times his entrance into that space at the best possible moment for a shooting opportunity or a chance to hit his teammate elsewhere with a perfectly weighted pass for a chance of their own."

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

The start of the 2025-26 season starts this Thursday, as the CBJ travel to Nashville to play the Predators at Bridgestone Arena. 

The season kicks off this Thursday in Nashville against the Predators at Bridgestone Arena. This is going to be an interesting season, and if the Jackets can stay healthy, they should have a decent year.

Let us know what you think below.

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

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More From THN Columbus 

THN Columbus: 32 Predictions For The 25-26 NHL SeasonWith the 24-25 season starting today, The Hockey News Columbus is going to take a shot at some predictions. Spencer Lazary and I are going to do our best.   Nolan Lalonde Assigned To ECHLNolan Lalonde, the unsigned free agent from Kingston, Ontario, will be making his pro debut in the ECHL.  The Columbus Blue Jackets Opening Night Roster Is SetSay hello to the 2025-26 edition of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

As he did last year, top center prospect Jett Luchanko has made the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of opening night, but it's still uncertain as to whether he's truly ready for NHL action.

The Flyers themselves don't appear to know what they want to do yet either, and it will affect their lineup as well as the development of the player.

Luchanko, 19, played four NHL games for the Flyers last year, 46 games for the OHL Guelph Storm, 16 total games for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and five games for the Canada U20s at World Juniors.

That's a lot of bouncing around for a player who had previously only played for Guelph and Canada's U18 and U17 squads in the two seasons prior.

"It can't be a steady diet of it, not playing. You've got to be careful," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said of Luchanko on Monday. "It's that rule, you know? That sweet spot, if a guy can't play in the minors, you have to send him to junior. We're stuck in that situation a little bit. It happened with Barrett Hayton with me in Arizona. You can't have guys sitting around too much, so we got to figure that out."

The NCAA could have been a viable route for Luchanko, as it was for 2025 first-round pick Porter Martone this summer, if he hadn't signed his entry-level deal with the Flyers so soon as a week after being drafted.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Badly Need Defensive UpgradesThe Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly scouring the NHL trade market for much-needed defensive reinforcements, but which players are actually going to be worth their while?

The ever-divisive Zeev Buium played college hockey at the University of Denver, and Konsta Helenius, one of the 2024 NHL Draft's top center prospects, had two pro seasons under his belt with Jukurit of Finland's Liiga and was able to play in the AHL immediately.

But, the Flyers ultimately went with Luchanko as the player they thought was the best fit for them, even though they had the least control over his development path between him, Buium, and Helenius.

Now, like last year, the Flyers are stuck deliberating on a near-daily basis whether to play Luchanko or sit him.

The former 13th overall pick had 56 points in 46 games as captain of the Storm last year, but it's not as if he's blowing the doors off, even if Guelph is a bad team. Creating offense and scoring are the obvious concerns with Luchanko, and, in theory, he should be able to spend plenty of time working on that whilst trying to keep the team within reach of winning games.

However, it's clear that the Flyers are averse to this idea and prefer to keep him in-house, even at the inevitable cost of playing time.

Luchanko can and will hold his own, yes, but can the Flyers get him to do more than that? It's the golden question, and one that's hard to answer given his 19 years of age.

Flyers Preseason Stock Up, Stock Down: Chemistry and Causes for ConcernThe Philadelphia Flyers finished the 2025 preseason with a 3-4-0 record, needing a shootout to achieve each of those three wins. Despite some new players impressing, there are causes for concern, too.

What we can deduce, however, is that the Flyers didn't give themselves the best runway for developing a player by selecting Luchanko over a Helenius, for example.

Of course, Luchanko's assist in the 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils in the preseason finale came when he was on the ice with Travis Sanheim, who scored the goal, Cam York, Nikita Grebenkin, and Garnet Hathaway.

Hathaway is a fourth-liner, yes, but Luchanko's ceiling is further limited when he's paired with another in Nick Deslauriers or Rodrigo Abols.

With that said, Luchanko playing NHL games with the Flyers can work, but only if and when he plays with players who can help him reach the Flyers' aspirations for his developing scoring touch.

A new season for the Florida Panthers is off and running.

Florida raised their 2025 Stanley Cup Champions banner before hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Opening Night Tuesday at Amerant Bank Arena.

Overall, it was a strong performance for the Cats, skating to a 3-2 victory over Chicago and starting their title defense off on the right foot.

Let’s get to the first takeaways of the new season:

STRONG START FOR PK

Florida allowed the Blackhawks three power play opportunities over the final two periods, all while the game was tied at two goals apiece.

They all could have been crucial moments in the game for the visitors, but Florida held strong, blocking shot after shot and keeping Sergei Bobrovsky’s crease relatively clean.

He only needed to make two saves on those three power plays, and less than two minutes after they killed off the third penalty, Jesper Boqvist scored the game-winning goal.

“Yeah, really nice,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said of Florida’s PK. “Bob stood tall, we found a way to make their break ins hard, couple really good blocked shots, some good sticks. So yeah, that's the foundation of the PK.”

A BANNER NIGHT

It’s really something when looking up into the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena these days.

Four Eastern Conference Championship banners.

Four division championship banners.

A Presidents’ Trophy banner.

And now, not one but two Stanley Cup Championship banners.

“It's a great opportunity to enjoy it last one last time, and kind of turn the page,” said Panthers forward Brad Marchand. “The second that puck drops, it's a whole new season, a new opportunity, new challenges. We’ve already had to face some adversity this year, and it's a great opportunity to come together. It’s a pretty special feeling, being able to watch it go up, knowing that's going to be up there forever.”

STRONG KNIGHT FOR SPENCER

The return of former Panthers first round pick Spencer Knight was a strong one for the young goaltender.

Florida kept the pressure on their ex-teammate for much of the game, but Knight stood tall.

He finished with 34 saves, including 12 of the high danger variety, looking very much like the future franchise goaltender that the Panthers viewed him as during his tenure in South Florida.

“His strength is lateral (movement), and he was outstanding with that,” said Maurice. “We had some really high end looks and some pretty good shooters in there, so those are legit saves that he made, and that's the value to a young team in Chicago. Chances for and against tonight, it wasn't particularly close, but he did what he needed to do to give his team a chance to win.”

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Photo caption: Oct 7, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Sam Lafferty (24) moves the puck against Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)