Category: Ice Hockey

The Ducks’ big contract for Jackson LaCombe sets a market benchmark that could push the Red Wings to prioritize an early, high-value extension for young defenseman Simon Edvinsson. 

The Anaheim Ducks have been aggressive when it comes to putting together a team that can contend for the playoffs this upcoming season. They made trades to add guys like Chris Kreider, signed Mikael Granlund and will be starting with the 2024 third overall pick on the main roster in Beckett Sennecke. They also retained some of their elite talent with extensions to Mason McTavish, Lukas Dostal and most notably 24-year-old defenseman Jackson LaCombe. 

The young blueliner has been steadily improving with 43 points in 75 games last season. LaCombe's eight-year, $72 million contract with a cap hit at $9 million has reset the market in terms of what others defenders are asking for as Montreal is currently in a dispute with 2024-25 breakout Lane Hutson. This could also have an effect on the Detroit Red Wings as they too have a young defenseman that finished with 12 points less than LaCombe last season and is due for a new deal in Simon Edvinsson. 

The 22-year-old pending restricted free agent is younger than LaCombe but has shown to be a solid top four defenseman at the NHL level for at least one season and the longer that the Red Wings management staff waits to extend him, it could mean the dollar amount climbs. 

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If Edvinsson shows once again that he can handle a big role in the Detroit defense plus lead in areas like penalty kill this season, he could see his next contract land in the range of LaCombe at roughly $8-9 million per season. Starting next offseason, the new CBA will change contract limits: new deals will have a maximum length of six seasons, while contract extensions will be limited to seven seasons. 

An extra year of holding Edvinsson till he turns 30 would be valuable plus getting a deal in early before the salary cap increases can give Detroit a better chance at getting a bargain contract. Recent insider reports suggest the salary cap could increase by nearly $12 million next season. Additionally, the Red Wings could free up to $13.25 million more in cap space if they decide not to re-sign veterans like Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, Ben Chiarot, Travis Hamonic, and Cam Talbot, on top of their current $13.2 million in available cap space. 

It'll be hard for Detroit GM Steve Yzerman to make the point to Edvinsson and his representatives that he doesn't deserve a massive deal if he is coming off another productive season, the market indicates he should be getting a big deal of that nature and the team has the ability to give him what he wants with so much cap space. It might be worth while for an Edvinsson extension to be near the top of the Yzerplan going forward.

Final Form? Red Wings Hint At Opening Night Lines During PracticeThe Detroit Red Wings were back at practice this morning at Little Caesars Arena, and the lines they skated with could give a good indication as to what things could look like on Opening Night this coming Thursday.

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The Florida Panthers have signed Noah Gregor to a one-year, two-way deal after he attended their training camp on a professional tryout. 

The 27-year-old will start the season on the NHL roster but did skate as an extra during Monday's practice, indicating he'll likely be a healthy scratch against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gregor skated in four pre-season games, scoring one goal and two points. He recorded at least one shot in every game and finished with 10 total. Gregor's best asset is his speed, and he was able to effectively display it during the pre-season.

He uses his speed to hound down pucks, whether it's on the backcheck or when the puck is dumped in on the forecheck. He can also use his speed to initiate transition offence. Gregor has notched 34 goals and 70 points in 293 games. 

The Panthers' electing to sign Gregor means that Tyler Motte, who was also attending training camp on a PTO, has been released from his agreement and will remain a free agent. The 30-year-old has more NHL experience, having skated in 455 games throughout his career, but after three pre-season appearances, the Panthers liked what they saw from Gregor more than they did from Motte. 

Expected to join Gregor in the press box tonight are waiver claim Cole Schwindt and defenseman Uvis Balinskis.

After several weeks of speculation, it was reported last week that the Chicago Blackhawks had informed teams that Lukas Reichel was available.

The 23-year-old left winger struggled to establish himself as a top-six forward in Chicago, and the two sides appeared willing to move on.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journalreported last Wednesday that Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman was “kicking tires” on Reichel. Bowman was the Blackhawks' GM when they selected him 17th overall in the 2020 NHL draft.

Matheson praised Bowman's recent reclamation projects, such as Ty Emberson and Vasily Podkolzin. He also cited his acquisitions of defensemen Jake Walman and goaltender Connor Ingram in this calendar year.

However, Matheson felt that the Oilers would find it challenging to fit Reichel's $1.2-million cap hit within their limited cap space and to find a suitable role for the young winger.

So far, there's no indication that the Blackhawks are any closer to trading Reichel. He is listed as part of their lineup for their season opener on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.

Speaking of the Oilers, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported they made a contract offer to Jack Roslovic when the free-agent market opened on July 1. However, the 28-year-old right winger spurned their proposal.

Roslovic, 28, is the most notable player remaining in this year's depleted UFA market. LeBrun noted he has since changed agents, expressing surprise that the former Carolina Hurricanes winger will reject an opportunity to play alongside superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Earlier this summer, Roslovic was linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, but both clubs have moved on. Meanwhile, the Oilers now lack the cap space to sign him if they still want to.

It's unknown what the Oilers offered Roslovic or what type of deal he's seeking. His efforts to land a lucrative contract have backfired, leaving him facing the start of the season without a team to play for.

Turning to the Columbus Blue Jackets, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reported Yegor Chinakhov has changed agents. He's now represented by Rick Komarow, whose clients include Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov.

Chinakhov requested a trade in July, citing differences with coach Dean Evason. That request has been on hold after he reported to training camp and met with Evason. It remains unclear how his situation will unfold.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have arrived. They are ready to play in their centennial season, the 2025-26 campaign. Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sami Rinzel, and the Blackhawks are down in Sunrise to take on Gustav Forsling, Sergei Bobrovsky, and the Florida Panthers. 

Before the game, the Panthers are going to have a ceremony that will see them raise a Stanley Cup championship banner for the second year in a row. 

After that, the Panthers will take the ice without their two best forwards. Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov are going to be out for a long time. Although nobody wants to see anyone hurt at any time, this is a break for the Blackhawks. 

The Blackhawks are not without injuries themselves; the players just aren't as consequential. Alex Vlasic, though, is a strong defenseman who the Blackhawks will miss in this game. 

Landon Slaggert will also be out, as the team was forced to put him on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. 

The Blackhawks are expected by many to be one of the worst teams in the NHL when it comes to the standings. With that said, the development of young players in the lineup is what the team sees as most important.

They'd also love to take down the champs on the road to open the season, as it could set the tone for an improved year. 

Projected Lines

Donato-Bedard-Burakovsky

Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi

Dach-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Foligno-Greene-Lafferty

Grzelcyk-Rinzel

Kaiser-Levshunov

Del Mastro-Murphy

Knight

Söderblom

With Slaggert hitting IR, Colton Dach moved into his spot on the third line left wing. They called up Ryan Greene to play fourth-line center and moved Sam Lafferty to his right wing. 

Alex Vlasic is ruled out for the first game, so Ethan Del Mastro will draw into the lineup. Grzelcyk will move up to the top pair with Sam Rinzel, while Del Mastro will play with Murphy on the third pair. 

Spencer Knight will make his first start of the season, and it will come against the team that traded him away. Arvid Söderblom will be the backup. 

Of the non-injured players, Lukas Reichel will be the non-dressed forward, and Louis Crevier will be the healthy scratch defenseman. 

The most notable part of this lineup is the 1-2 punch down the middle in the top six. Jeff Blashill has a lot of faith in Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, who should carry the load for this team offensively all year long. This game against Florida will be an early test for them, going up against an elite team. 

How To Watch

Those looking for the game in Chicago and nationally can find it on ESPN and ESPN+. The event will start at Amerant Bank Arena at 4:00 PM CT. As mentioned before, the game will take place following the championship ceremony that Florida holds for itself. 

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With 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.  

For this one, we're talking about the NHL as a whole instead of the normal CBJ conversation. There may be some Jackets nuggets in here, so be sure to take a look.

Who will win the Hart Trophy?

• Jason - Auston Matthews has a comeback year and scores 70 goals. 
• Spencer - Connor McDavid wins it.

Who will win the Art Ross?

• Jason - Connor McDavid will take his top spot back as the league's top point getter.
• Spencer - Connor McDavid, it’s hard to bet against him.

Who will win the Rocket Richard? 

• Jason - Auston Matthews breaks the 70-goal mark. 
• Spencer - Auston Matthews will return to form and prove he doesn’t need Mitch Marner on his wing.

Who will win the Norris Trophy?

• Jason - Zach Werenski has another Norris-caliber season, this time beating Cale Makar. 
• Spencer - Cale Makar will win again. It’s going to be a tight race between him, Werenski, and Quinn Hughes, but I think Makar takes it.

Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

• Jason - Jake Oettinger is finally going to get himself the Vezina. 
• Spencer - Connor Hellebuyck will win it again, but can he show up in the playoffs?

Who will win the Calder Trophy? 

• Jason - It’s going to be close between Ivan Demidov and Yaroslav Askarov, but in the end, Demidov will win the award and score 35 goals to do it. 
• Spencer - As my colleague mentioned, it will be close. My picks are between Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders. I do think Schaefer will beat out Demidov.

Who will win the Selke Trophy?

• Jason - With Aleksander Barkov out of the mix, Mitch Marner is going to win the Selke going away. 
• Spencer - Anthony Cirelli will win it with Aleksander Barkov out for the year.

Who will win the Jack Adams Award?

• Jason - Joel Quenneville is going to guide the Anaheim Ducks to a Western Conference Playoff spot, thus winning the Jack Adams. 
• Spencer - Craig Berube, it’s about time a Maple Leafs coach gets some love from the voters.

Who will challenge Connor McDavid for the Art Ross Trophy?

• Jason - Nathan MacKinnon will push McDavid hard this season.
• Spencer - Leon Draisaitl, how cool would that be? Two teammates and best friends battling it out for the Art Ross Trophy?

Who will be the first coach fired? 

• Jason - Andrew Brunette and his Predators get off to another slow start and will be let go fairly early in the season. 
• Spencer - For me, it’s a toss-up between Andrew Brunette and Lindy Ruff. I would say that it will be Ruff, especially if they go on a long losing streak like years past.

Which GM is feeling the most heat?

• Jason - The answer is always Steve Yzerman until the Red Wings decide to come out of their rebuild. 
• Spencer - Kevyn Adams in Buffalo. The Buffalo Sabres have been a dumpster fire for the last 10 years. It may be time to start fresh and bring a whole new front office.

Which player is due for a breakout?

• Jason - Leo Carlsson is going into his third year and put together a good season in 24-25 with 45 points. With a new coach and a good mix of vets new to the team this year, look for Leo to crack 65+ points 
• Spencer - For me, it’s a toss-up between Connor Bedard and Shane Wright. Both players have so much pressure on them. I will ultimately say Bedard. I’d love to see him dominate this season.

Which team is due for a breakout? 

• Jason - The Utah Mammoth should’ve been named the Yeti, but sadly wasn’t. Utah is going to have a good year and push for the playoffs.

• Spencer - Detroit Red Wings, they have been rebuilding for a while, but the NHL is better with them in the playoffs. Hopefully, this is the year they can figure it out and get into the playoffs. 

Which player will suffer a setback? 

• Jason - Matt Duchene had 82 points last season for a very good Dallas team, and I just don’t think he’ll be able to replicate that, even with Mikko Rantanen on the team. 
• Spencer - Alex Ovechkin, after breaking the record, it feels like he has done everything he wanted to do in the NHL. In what could be his last NHL year, it seems like he could struggle a bit this season.

Which team will suffer a setback? 

• Jason - For all the reasons Spencer said below, the Washington Capitals will fall a couple of pegs. 
• Spencer - Washington Capitals, last season, it was all about Ovechkin. Now that the chase is over, I feel like they will come back down to earth.

Who will win the Presidents’ Trophy as the best regular-season team? 

• Jason - The Dallas Stars run away with the Western Conference and narrowly beat Carolina for the Presidents' Trophy. 
• Spencer - Toronto Maple Leafs, this team has something to prove after losing Marner. They will want to show everyone they are just as good, and the best way to do that is by winning the Presidents' Trophy. 

Who will win the Stanley Cup? 

• Jason - The Florida Panthers make it three straight. Are they even stoppable?
• Spencer - Dallas Stars, they’ve been a powerhouse in the West for years. This is the year they do it.

Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP? 

• Jason - Sergei Bobrovsky carries the team this time and wins the playoff MVP. 
• Spencer - Mikko Rantanen will have a full year under his belt in Dallas, and he will carry the club to the promised land and win playoff MVP.

What Canadian team will go the furthest? 

• Jason - The Edmonton Oilers, until further notice. 
• Spencer - Toronto Maple Leafs - it’s just their time.

Who will have the best odds of winning the Draft Lottery? 

• Jason - This one shouldn't even be a question. The answer is the Pittsburgh Penguins, and has been since Gavin McKenna was determined to be the consensus #1 overall pick.
• Spencer - Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux had Crosby, Crosby will have McKenna.

What player will benefit the most from a change in scenery? 

• Jason - There weren’t many, but I’ll go with Vladislav Gavrikov. Being with Panarin again could be beneficial. 
• Spencer - Most will say Marner, but we all know he will be a no-show in the playoffs. So, I’m going to say Nikolaj Ehlers with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Which team will suffer the most from buyer’s remorse?

• Jason - The Carolina Hurricanes went out and pulled a Nashville Predators by signing Ehlers and trading for K’Andre Miller, in hopes that they can break through to the Cup Final. Sadly for Canes fans, they will win the Metro, but won’t make it past the second round. 
• Spencer - It has to be the Nashville Predators still, no? They spent millions last off-season and had a terrible year. The same could happen again this season.

Which star player will be traded (and to where)? 

• Jason - It’s time!! Sidney Crosby to the Colorado Avalanche seems like it’s been in the works for years. This year, it finally happens. 
• Spencer - Evgeni Malkin to the Florida Panthers while Barkov is out injured.

Which rookie are you the most excited to see? 

• Jason - Ryan Leonard from the Washington Capitals is going to be a force in the league at some point. He came in late last season and played some games, and looked the part. Being that he’s in the Metro with the CBJ, we’ll see a lot of him this year. 
• Spencer - Michael Misa, the Sharks remind me of the Maple Leafs. They have a ton of young stars. I’m excited to see what Misa can do. 

What off-season move will be the most impactful? 

• Jason - Mitch Marner should have a very good year with Vegas. He could be the uber-dynamic winger that puts the VGK back into the Cup final. 
• Spencer - Noah Dobson of the Montreal Canadiens. He got traded, got the big extension, and he has a huge opportunity to help that franchise.

Who is the NHL’s most overpaid player?

• Jason - The answer will always be Darnell Nurse. That contract is holding Edmonton back from making bigger moves so that they can win a Stanley Cup. 
• Spencer -  I have to agree with Jason, Darnell Nurse’s contract is atrocious. 

Who is the NHL’s most underpaid player?

• Jason - Sam Bennett, and only because of what he brings to the Panthers during the playoffs. He should be making $10 million just for his performance in last season’s playoffs. 
• Spencer - It has to be Sidney Crosby. For almost his entire career, he has earned $8.7 million to give his team a chance to win.

Whose bad season was an indicator of reality?

• Jason - The Boston Bruins finished below the Sabres and were tied for dead last in the Eastern Conference. It’s time to break it down and start over. Or do they hold on, much like the Penguins, for one last hurrah?
• Spencer - The Penguins, last season, were proof that they need to rebuild and fast.

Whose good season was an aberration?

• Jason - The Washington Capitals rode the wave of Alex Ovechkin last year, but this year will be different. We will get a glimpse of life after Ovi this season, when they take a big step backwards. 
• Spencer -  I’d have to agree with Jason, it has to be the Capitals.

What older player will show signs of aging?

• Jason - Brad Marchand was a good story last year. He left Boston for Florida and won a cup and had a very good playoff season. But, after signing a 6-year extension at $5.25 million per season, his production is going to fall off a cliff. The Panthers are all-in for as long as they can be all-in, so I don’t blame them for locking him up, but this one will come back to haunt them. 
• Spencer - Steven Stamkos, after leaving Tampa Bay, it felt like only a matter of time until he fell off completely. 

What backup goalie could end up as a No. 1?

• Jason - Logan Thompson had an outstanding year last year, but if he’s not careful, Charlie Lindgren could steal his job. Many expect the Caps to take a step back, and if he’s not careful, Thompson could find himself watching more games than playing. 
• Spencer - Jet Greaves may be the only viable answer. He will likely start as the backup, but will become the starter by season’s end.

Which city will get the next NHL team?

• Jason - Bring back the Houston Aeros! 
• Spencer - I want to say Quebec, but I think it’ll be Houston.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets Opening Night Roster Is SetSay hello to the 2025-26 edition of the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Columbus Loans Ivan Fedotov To ClevelandThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they loaned goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Cleveland Monsters. He is with the Monsters and practicing today. 7 Days Left Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #7The Columbus Blue Jackets have 7 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #7. 

GLEN COVE, NY -- Since becoming an owner of the New York Islanders, Jon Ledecky has made an effort to talk with fans every chance again. Whether he's walking around the UBS Arena concourse or going out in the community for local events, he always wants to know what fans are thinking about the team.

So, ahead of opening night in Pittsburgh on Thursday, I spoke with Ledecky about the vibe he's getting from the Blue & Orange faithful. 

"They're incredibly excited," Ledecky said. "I think there'll be a honeymoon period with the team. I think the team has obviously been transformed. The roster has been transformed. We're getting younger. We're getting faster. And I think there's a lot of excitement around Matthew Schaefer's debut game in the National Hockey League."

After being selected first overall at the 2025 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old defenseman made the team out of training camp, deservingly so. It seemed obvious from the moment he hit the ice, but making an NHL team at such a young age is something worth celebrating.

"Obviously, his first game will be on the road. But when he comes back for our opener on Saturday, I think it's going to be a joyous moment to say, hey, congratulations on being the number one pick and congratulations on making the final roster," Ledecky said. "That was not easy. We have some really good players. We have a lot of great defensemen in the system. So for him to make the team was really an accomplishment. I think people have not really thought about that as much as they should.

"It was a hard camp, and he came through with flying colors."

Per my colleagues over at NHL.com, "Schaefer was the fifth defenseman picked No. 1 since 2000, and first since Owen Power, who was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021. The others were Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres, 2018), Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers, 2014), and Erik Johnson (St. Louis Blues, 2006)."

He'll also become the eighth player to face Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in his first two NHL games, as the Islanders host the Washington Capitals on Saturday night for their home-opener. 

Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 #NHLDraft, has made the @NYIslanders' opening-night roster. His NHL career begins with a date against Sidney Crosby (Oct. 9) and Alex Ovechkin (Oct. 11) two nights later.#NHLStats: https://t.co/0pKeTHeDU8pic.twitter.com/N0clJ85rlJ

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) October 6, 2025

Schaefer will begin the season alongside veteran Scott Mayfield on the third pairing, while also quarterbacking the second power-play unit. 

He's already a fan favorite, and his only goal is to make the fans proud every time he steps foot on the ice. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Buffalo Sabres got down to 23 players on Monday by placing four players expected to be regulars on injured reserve, but unexpectedly plucked a goaltender off of the waiver wire. The Sabres placed goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, defensemen Michael Kesselring and Owen Power, and winger Jordan Greenway, along with minor leaguer Carson Meyer, and claimed goalie Colten Ellis from the St. Louis Blues. 

The 25-year-old Ellis was a 2019 third round pick of the Blues and has spent all of his professional career in the ECHL and AHL. Last season, Ellis had an excellent campaign with St. Louis’s affiliate in Springfield, where he posted a 22-14-3 record, 2.63 GAA and .922 save percentage. The claim now gives the Sabres a third netminder, joining Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev, which might be a indicator of the uncertainty of Luukkonen’s injury status.  

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

The Sabres will carry 14 forwards, six defensemen and three goalies to start the season, which gets underway for them against the NY Rangers on Thursday. With Power and Kesselring unavailable for at least seven days, the club’s short-handed blueline will consist of Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Bryam, Jacob Bryson, Ryan Johnson, Mattias Samuelsson, and Conor Timmins.  

Up front, the only real surprise is the inclusion of enforcer Mason Geersten, who will likely be spotted in when the Sabres play a rough opponent. Greenway is making progress from his mid-body injury, so when he is cleared to play, GM Kevyn Adams will have to have to  corresponding move to open up a spot on the roster. 

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Greg McKegg has a new home for the 2025-26 hockey season.

McKegg signed a deal with the KHL's Shanghai Dragons on Monday. The Dragons announced the news via their official Twitter/X account.

Shanghai Dragons Sign Veteran Winger Greg McKegg for Remainder of Season

McKegg brings extensive professional experience to the KHL, having played 251 NHL games, tallying 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists), and 497 AHL games with 264 points (106 goals, 158 assists)

Details:… pic.twitter.com/hJGwqWlemm

— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) October 6, 2025

McKegg played for the Penguins during the 2017-18 season, compiling two goals and four points in 26 games. He made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2013-14 season, after being drafted by them in the third round of the 2010 NHL Draft. He remained with the organization through the end of the 2014-15 season. 

He spent the 2015-16 season and part of the 2016-17 season with the Florida Panthers before he was placed on waivers and then claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning. After that, he had his brief stint with the Penguins in 2017-18 before bouncing around to the Carolina Hurricanes,New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Rangers again.

McKegg has played in 251 NHL games (regular season and playoffs), compiling 23 goals and 41 points. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will open their 2025-26 campaign against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, and the game will hold extra significance for the head coaches on both sides. 

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan will try to get a win against his former team after coaching the Penguins for the previous ten seasons. It appeared he would coach the Penguins for an 11th season once the 2024-25 season ended, until he and the team decided it was best to part ways. 

Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas explained during an April presser that there were times during last season when he felt that it may be time for a change.

“I talked to him every day throughout the year, worked with him every day throughout the year,” Dubas explained. "And there were times throughout the year where I started to think that it may just be time for a number of reasons. It's a lot to ask of somebody when they've done such a long and successful job here to be managing that and continue to transition the team through."

Once Sullivan was fired, the Rangers made him their top priority, as they had fired Peter Laviolette at the end of the season. They didn't live up to expectations and missed the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents' Trophy. Sullivan was hired less than a week after he and the Penguins parted ways and will try to return the Rangers to the playoffs this year. 

Sullivan missed the playoffs in his previous three seasons as Penguins head coach but helped them win two Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He's the winningest head coach in the franchise's history. 

Dan Muse was an assistant coach with the Rangers for the previous two seasons under Laviolette before the Penguins hired him to replace Sullivan. He just finished up a grueling and competitive training camp and is ready for his first game as an NHL head coach. However, he's being a little bit coy about how much it means to go against his former team. 

"I'll see how it feels tomorrow. Honestly, I can't tell you. I don't know exactly how to feel until I'm there," Muse told reporters after Monday's practice. "You got some strong relationships there with the guys that I coached, and that will always be there. I think you always want to have those things in any stop that you have."

"I think the focus has obviously been for the last 4 months, this group and this team, so we'll see. I'm sure there will be some emotions that you have about being back at MSG, that first game as a head coach, but this is about the team. It's not about me, and it's like, the focus has been getting this group ready. The focus will continue to be on that. I think there's a lot of excitement there, just with the work that has been put in throughout training camp. I think that's going to be by far the number one thing on my mind all day tomorrow."

Penguins Announce Final 23-Man RosterAfter a grueling few weeks of training camp, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster has finally been solidified for the start of the 2025-26 season.

In addition to coaching some veterans, Muse will get to see some young players get their first taste of the NHL on Tuesday. Forward Benjamin Kindel and defenseman Harrison Brunicke both made the team out of training camp and will make their NHL debuts against the Rangers. 

Kindel got better as the preseason went on, and the Penguins are rewarding him after he earned a spot. Brunicke got close to making the team out of camp last year, but was able to do a little bit more to make it this year. Based on the lines during Monday's practice, Brunicke will be paired with Caleb Jones on the third pairing, while Kindel will be centering Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino on the third line. 

Muse has been great at developing young players throughout his coaching career, and the Penguins are hoping that this trend continues during his tenure as head coach in Pittsburgh. 

Puck drop for Tuesday's game inside Madison Square Garden will be at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. It'll be the second game of the day after the Florida Panthers raise their Stanley Cup banner at home before they play the Chicago Blackhawks at 5 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings will finish Tuesday's triple-header off at 10:30 p.m. ET. 

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After a grueling few weeks of training camp, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster has finally been solidified for the start of the 2025-26 season.

On Monday, the Penguins - along with all 31 other NHL teams - were required to submit final NHL rosters prior to the 5:00 p.m. ET deadline. Pittsburgh did reduce its roster to 23 on Sunday after a group of players cleared waivers and were re-assigned to the AHL, but it was not official until Monday.

The roster features 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders, and it will include two top prospects in Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel, who are confirmed to be in the lineup Tuesday against the New York Rangers. They will be the first pair of teenagers to debut together for the Penguins since Jordan Staal and Kris Letang in 2006.

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Here is the full 23-man roster for the Penguins to begin the season:

Forwards (13)
11 - Filip Hallander
16 - Justin Brazeau
18 - Tommy Novak
19 - Connor Dewar
39 - Anthony Mantha
41 - Ville Koivunen
46 - Blake Lizotte
53 - Philip Tomasino
55 - Noel Acciari
67 - Rickard Rakell
71 - Evgeni Malkin
81 - Ben Kindel
87 - Sidney Crosby

Top Prospects Brunicke, Kindel Confirmed To Make NHL Debuts In Penguins' Season OpenerEven though rosters were trimmed to 23 on Saturday, there was no guarantee that the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to carry those exact 23 players into their season opener against former head coach Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Defensemen (8)
5 - Ryan Shea
24 - Mathew Dumba
28 - Parker Wotherspoon
45 - Harrison Brunicke
58 - Kris Letang
65 - Erik Karlsson
75 - Connor Clifton
82 - Caleb Jones

Goaltenders (2)
35 - Tristan Jarry
37 - Arturs Silovs

3 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-26With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

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The Penguins will face former head coach Mike Sullivan and the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday before they come back home to face the New York Islanders in their home opener on Thursday. Prior to Thursday's game, there will be a celebration marking 20 seasons of the "Big Three" - Crosby, Malkin, and Letang - playing in Pittsburgh.

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

For the Buffalo Sabres, it’s the calm before the storm. The NHL’s 2025-26 regular-season is about to commence, and with the new season comes a new set of expectations for the Sabres. And with this season’s Sabres, the expectation is urgent – this Buffalo team is either going to end the Sabres’ 14-year playoff drought, or there are going to be changes throughout the organization, including the firings of GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff.

It’s really that simple in Buffalo this year. Come Hades or high water, the Sabres need to make the playoffs. And it’s not going to matter what their excuses may be this season. There may be injuries; there may be bad puck luck; and there may be players who underachieve. None of it will make a lick of difference for Buffalo’s players, coaches and management if they fail to make the playoffs. No player will be safe. No coach will be, either. And the changes will start at the top.

That means Adams clearly will be the first to go if things don’t go according to plan in Sabres Land. Adams has had five years on the job, and if he can’t do something of positive consequence in his sixth season, it will be Adams’ last year running things in Buffalo. Adams has had more kicks at the can than many hockey executives, and without the type of results that will reward their fan base for continuing to support this Sabres team, Buffalo management is spinning its wheels and going nowhere.

The same thing goes for Ruff. He’s entering Year 2 of his second go-around as Sabres coach, and nothing short of Buffalo earning a playoff spot will assure Ruff of being Sabres coach at this time next year. These days, the first person to be thrown overboard in an under-performing hockey team is more often than not the coach. It’s the easiest way to try to re-set things, and in some rare cases, it works as a motivator of players. So Ruff could be the first to go if things go wrong early this season.

Finally, the same thing goes for Sabres players. It doesn’t matter who we’re talking about – nobody should feel safe in Buffalo’s dressing room if the Sabres miss the playoffs again. Either management will want to shop them around, they’ll ask to be traded, or both. Thus, Buffalo’s lineup will look significantly different in the 2026-27 campaign if the Sabres prove they’re not worthy of the investment in the ‘25-26 campaign.

Early Injuries To Key Sabres Players Can't Be An Excuse For Buffalo To Fail This SeasonWe said it earlier this summer, on more than one occasion – if the Buffalo Sabres intend on ending their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years, they can’t afford to let the injury bug take a major bite out of their roster. Obviously, that’s something that only the Hockey Gods can control, but the Sabres simply don’t have the organizational depth to withstand the damage if someone meaningful is sidelined for a notable stretch of time.

The biggest problem for the Sabres may be that they’ve exhausted their fan base with year after year of sub-par play. Indeed, since 2012-13, Buffalo hasn’t finished higher than fourth place in its division. And they’ve finished as high as fifth place only three times in that span. The rest is year-after-year of 6th, 7th and 8th-place finishes. That basically takes a blow torch to your fan base. Nobody wants to be associated with a perennial non-factor of a team. You start to shrink your customer total rather than increase it.

Meanwhile, there are so many good things that winning does for a team. You walk around with a legitimately rightful sense of pride in what you’ve been able to achieve. You generate genuine hope in an otherwise-cynical populace. You give people reasons to believe.

This is as clear-cut a make-or-break situation as exists in the NHL right now, and Buffalo has clear paths to two roads – one that leads to more excuses, more anguish, and more dismay; the other leads to a promised land of sorts. A place where other teams fear to tread. Right now, that’s not Buffalo.

Sabres Should Be Looking Into Trading For One Of These Maple Leafs Forwards-On-The-BlockThe Toronto Maple Leafs are about to finish their 2025-26 training camp, and as it happens, the Maple Leafs are very deep at every position -- but certainly, the most depth they've got is on the wings. And as we'll exploain, we're telling you this because the Buffalo Sabres should be looking into acquiring into one of a few veteran Leafs wingers in particular: right winger/center Calle Jarnkrok, and left-wingers David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

If they can’t deliver their fans to the promised land of a playoff position – the bare-minimum when it comes to achievements as a team – the Sabres will be at a crossroads. Team ownership will have to know a 15th-year without playoffs cannot be met with the status quo. Bringing the same group of coaches, management members and players back next season without a playoff appearance this coming year would make the Sabres a laughingstock.

This is a zero-sum industry the Sabres are in. If you want to have stability and happiness, the only way you do that is by being on a winning team. And think, there’s now an entire generation of Buffalo hockey fans who’ve grown up not knowing what a Sabres playoff game looks like. That’s unacceptable, and that’s why the consequences have to be extreme if Adams, Ruff & Co. can’t get the job done.

The Sabres know full well they have to make the playoffs this year, or all bets will be off. They’re going to be under a giant microscope all season long, and they have a clear target all season long. If they don’t hit that target, Buffalo will see sweeping change across all areas of the organization. And everyone involved with the team will have only themselves to blame.

The Ducks’ opening night roster is set. With a full 23-man slate, 19-year-old Beckett Sennecke, the third overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, makes the team along with goaltenders Petr Mrázek and Ville Husso.

Sennecke’s inclusion on the opening night roster comes after he played in six of Anaheim’s seven preseason games, collecting two points (both goals). While it’s still unclear if he’ll stick with the big club full-time, he’ll at least be given an extended chance to make his mark.

If he can’t stick with the Ducks, Sennecke’s only other option is to return to the OHL. Due to age and being under contract, he cannot play in the AHL or transfer to the NCAA. But, if he is a healthy scratch for five consecutive NHL games, he can be sent on a two-week conditioning loan in the AHL.

“I see him being like a wild card where you can use him in all situations, and he can play with anybody,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “You’re sitting there if you’re playing in that role, in that line. You think that he’s not going to get enough ice time. But I still think he’s useful in other ways where he can play with top players and be a threat and be productive as well. He’s a good asset for us and I think the way he trained in training camp, he gave us a lot of options as a coach.”

“I feel like I keep getting better every game,” Sennecke said. “You get more comfortable the more games you play and I think that’s just kind of the trajectory I’m on.”

Sennecke found himself in many different roles throughout training camp, mirroring the “wildcard” moniker that Quenneville alluded to. He was out there for power plays, penalty kills (briefly) and played on all four lines at one point or another during preseason.

More recently, he’s been on the fourth line with summer trade acquisition Ryan Poehling and bruising winger Ross Johnston. While Sennecke’s game is centered around offense, he said that he has the same hard forechecking element that Poehling and Johnston have.

“I can kind of play that role as well,” Sennecke said. “Those guys are fun to play with because you get the puck back pretty fast because they forecheck hard, so it's fun.”

Another move that stands out from Anaheim’s opening night roster is the presence of three goaltenders. Lukáš Dostál is entrenched as the new No. 1 after signing a five-year deal this past summer, but neither Mrázek nor Husso has put a foot wrong throughout preseason while competing for the backup role.

Mrázek was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings this past June in the John Gibson trade while Husso was acquired last season—also from the Red Wings—and given a new contract just a day after the Gibson-Mrázek trade.

With teams always looking for goaltending help before the start of the season, perhaps the worry from the Ducks’ end comes from one of Mrázek or Husso being scooped off of waivers. The former has one year remaining on his contract ($4.25 mil AAV) while the latter has two years ($2.2 mil AAV).

Teams may be less willing to take on a goaltender with term (Husso), but potentially losing an asset that was recently acquired (Mrázek) to waivers would be a much worse look.

The San Diego Gulls’ goaltending squad is quite full already, with Tomáš Suchánek, Calle Clang and Vyacheslav Buteyets all present, though Buteyets and Suchánek could be loaned to the ECHL if one of Mrázek or Husso makes it down to the AHL.

After Tearing ACL, Tomáš Suchánek Is Happy to Be BackIt's been a long journey for goaltender Tomáš Suchánek, who tore his ACL a little under a year ago during a summer workout.

The Ducks’ opening night roster does not include a seventh defenseman, a role which was briefly filled by Ian Moore before he was reassigned to the Gulls on Monday.

The Ducks may have felt that they do not yet need an extra defenseman with the team, with their first four games coming on the West Coast. A five-game, seven-day road trip follows that set of games, which will likely require a defensive call-up.

Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo figure to be the two remaining healthy scratches with one of Mrázek or Husso, although Nesterenko may have the upper hand if Sennecke comes out of the lineup.

Nesterenko had been filling the role of faux center during recent practices in light of Jansen Harkins’ long-term injury and has shown to be a useful penalty killer throughout preseason. His versatility could give him the edge versus the more offensive-minded Colangelo.

With their first game of the regular season on Thursday in Seattle, the Ducks will practice twice more before jetting off to the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday.

Related articles:

Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe on his Contract Extension

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on LaCombe Extension

Comparing Mason McTavish's Contract to Similar Young NHL Players

All 32 NHL teams submitted their rosters for opening night, but not every player on a tryout earned a contract.

While Chicago's Matt Grzelcyk, Carolina's Givani Smith and the New York Rangers' Conor Sheary did earn contracts, most veterans on tryouts didn't.

With that in mind, here are three notable players that had been on PTOs this fall but were released and now have to try to earn a contract elsewhere or call it quits.

Jack Johnson, D, Minnesota Wild

Career stats: 1,228 GP, 77 G, 265 A, 342 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 3 GP, 1 A, plus-2, 2 S

It feels like the tryout was the last chance for 38-year-old Johnson, a 19-year veteran who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021.

The Wild – a deep team on defense – ultimately didn’t have a place for Johnson, and it’s highly unlikely a team takes a chance on him now that his PTO didn’t get him the job he was looking for.

At best, Johnson can be seen as a third-pair, low-event, low-reward blueliner. Can he hang with veteran greybeards Brent Burns and Drew Doughty as an accomplished veteran who still has something to offer at the NHL level? Minnesota didn’t think so, but there may be a team willing to bring Johnson aboard if they run into health concerns on the back end. Otherwise, Johnson’s playing career may well be at an end.

James Reimer, G, Toronto Maple Leafs

Career stats: 525 GP, 225-187-65, 2.89 GAA, .910 SP, 31 SO
2025-26 pre-season stats: 1 GP, 7.36 GAA, .857 SP

Reimer is 37, and while it’s an accomplishment for him to have made 525 appearances in hockey’s top league, the fact the Maple Leafs chose to pick up Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cayden Primeau off the waiver wire tells you all you need to know about Reimer coming up short in training camp.

Reimer did not play well in the pre-season, allowing four goals on 28 shots in about 33 minutes of action. His choice to return to Toronto may be the chapter to bookend his NHL career.

The netminder was alright at the end of last season with the Buffalo Sabres, posting a 10-8-2 record, 2.90 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. But unless an NHL team suffers an injury to one of their netminders, there simply may not be another NHL opportunity for him.

Five NHL Veterans Who Cleared Waivers Years After Their Last AHL GameA handful of NHL veterans found themselves on the other side of the waiver wire in the past week.

Robby Fabbri, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Career stats: 442 GP, 106 G, 110 A, 216 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 4 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS, 6 S

Only two years ago, Fabbri tied a career-best 18 goals and 32 points in 68 games with the Detroit Red Wings, but his totals fell to eight goals and 16 points in 44 games this past season.

For Fabbri’s $4-million cap hit, those numbers were a significant overpayment, and when free agency came calling this summer, there were few takers for the 29-year-old. While three points in four games are pretty decent, the Penguins want to play younger players, so Fabbri just wasn't a fit.

If Fabbri can't get a contract here, his best move may be to play professionally in a European league this season. He doesn’t have much, if any leverage contractually, and even the Penguins didn’t see a job opening for him right now. Beggars can’t be choosers, so Fabbri may ultimately choose a more significant payday in Europe than the best (or only) one he can get in the NHL.

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Apr 14, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates his goal with his teammates against the Utah Hockey Club during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

With Opening Night just three days away for the Nashville Predators, the final roster coming out of training camp is set.

Nashville’s active roster consists of 22 players – 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. Four of the players are rookies including Brady Martin, the Predators’ fifth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Forwards Joakim Kemell and Ozzy Wiesblatt, along with defenseman Adam Wilsby, are the other rookies to claim spots out of camp.

General manager Barry Trotz announced following Saturday’s pre-season overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes that the team has placed forward Matthew Wood (lower body) and defenseman Nicolas Hague (upper body) on injured reserve.

Forward Luke Evangelista, who signed a two-year, $6 million contract late Friday, has been designated as a non-roster player as he awaits immigration. This puts the Predators’ roster at 22 players, so Evangelista can be added once his immigration status clears.

The Opening Night roster will undergo its share of changes as the season progresses. Predators head coach Andrew Brunette will have more decisions to make once Wood and Hague come off injured reserve.

That scenario will create an interesting situation particularly with three rookies at forward. Martin can play nine games before either going back to the OHL for another season of major junior, or stay on the roster.

Wood was having a solid camp before taking a fall during the second period of the Predators’ Gold Star Showcase intrasquad scrimmage.

The complete roster is as follows:

Forwards (13)

Michael Bunting, Filip Forsberg, Erik Haula, Tyson Jost, Joakim Kemell, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Martin, Michael McCarron, Ryan O’Reilly, Cole Smith, Steven Stamkos, Fedor Svechkov, Ozzy Wiesblatt

Defensemen (7)

Justin Barron, Nick Blankenburg, Roman Josi, Nick Perbix, Brady Skjei, Spencer Stastney, Adam Wilsby

Goaltenders (2):

Justus Annunen, Juuse Saros

Injured Reserve (2)

Nicolas Hague, Matthew Wood

Non-Roster (1):

Luke Evangelista (awaiting immigration)

The Predators start their 2025-26 regular season this Thursday at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Puck drop is set for 7 Pm CT.