On Wednesday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the Fan Hockey Show and addressed the latest on Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, whose trade list has reportedly grown to ten teams. Friedman said the Red Wings don't appear to be any closer to a deal than they were before, but the expanded list gives them more options.

The previous version of the list drew heavy scrutiny, with holes poked in many of the destinations. The new group of teams offers more promise that something could get done. 

Many of the clubs still lack the cap space, prospects or other assets to land the 30-year-old Michigan native, including the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. The four remaining teams on the list, however, have some path towards a potential deal.

Carolina Hurricanes

The defending Stanley Cup champions have a surprising $8.67 million in cap space and what they lack in prospects, they could make up for in NHL-ready talent. Carolina likely has little incentive to make this move, since they already have a stable second-line center in Logan Stankoven and may not want to break up a group that has proven it can win.

If the Hurricanes did take a shot at Larkin, they have some options with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who could be part of a package, though Detroit would have to see whether he would sign an extension or not. The best prospects they could offer are new NHLers Felix Unger Sörum and Bradly Nadeau. 

Anything more meaningful would likely cost a young forward Carolina considers too valuable, like Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake or Stankoven. Larkin would fit under the cap, but a deal would likely force the Hurricanes to dismantle their roster elsewhere or offer a futures-heavy package built around draft picks, Unger Sörum and Nadeau.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are looking to get back into the top tier of the league, and a move for Larkin makes sense. They have $3.082 million in cap space and a blue-chip prospect in Sam O'Reilly to offer. 

Tampa doesn't need a second-line center with Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, but the team could always use depth. One of its centers could move to the wing, as has happened before in their careers, forming an even more dominant top-six.

They could part with a current roster piece like Ilya Mikheyev or Pontus Holmberg to give Detroit a top-nine player, and they hold first-round picks in two of the next three years. Sending Larkin within the Atlantic Division is something the Red Wings likely don't love, but a compelling enough offer could make it happen.

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Utah Mammoth

Utah has started the season red-hot, with seven wins in its first ten games as the Mammoth have a strong mix of young talent and veterans that have them inline for a second straight playoff berth. 

Their top six of Clayton Keller, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther has quietly established itself as one of the league's best, and adding a player of Larkin's caliber would make it better.

Utah could move Schmaltz from center, back to the wing and send Detroit a top-nine option in Lawson Crouse, along with one of their many blue-chip prospects in Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers and Ethan Belchetz. Any of them would likely entice the Red Wings to part with their former captain. 

The Mammoth also have the cap space and four first-round picks over the next three seasons, making them a serious contender to land the two-way center.

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin enters the final season of his legendary career, and the goal-scoring legend would love to ride off into the sunset with a second Stanley Cup. General manager Chris Patrick has moved quickly to make Washington a Cup contender once again. 

He acquired St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou in exchange for middle-six forward Connor McMichael and made an aggressive free-agent addition in sharpshooting winger Alex Tuch. The Capitals' offense is elite again, and the they still have $3.12 million in cap space.

Washington has NHL players it could part with, as well as marquee prospects like Cole Hutson, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ryan Leonard and Ilya Protas, some already at the NHL level. It also holds all of its first-round picks for the next three seasons. If the Capitals decide the move is right as they push for one more Cup under Ovechkin's leadership, they could get a Larkin deal done.

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On Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens will visit the Winnipeg Jets at Princess Auto Stadium for their fifth outdoor game. To date, the Habs are 2-2-0 outdoors, and while some fans and media have grown somewhat jaded because these events have become so frequent, the players haven’t. Speaking ahead of the Canadiens tilt with the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, Kaiden Guhle explained:

When I first moved to Edmonton, we lived in a house with a little lake behind it. My brother, myself and a couple of his buddies on his team when they were bantam, we’d just all go out there and mess around. We brought out a couple of nets; it was fun. It was always good to get outside and mess around at the outdoor rink. There’s one year we forgot to bring the net out, and the ice melted, and we lost the net in the water, so…[…] I’m excited. I’ve never played an outdoor game; I’ve always wanted to, and I’ve always thought we should have gotten one as an original six team, but it will be fun to get out there in Winnipeg. Hopefully it’s not too cold, but it will be fun. It will be a lot of atmosphere, a lot of family. I think the guys will have fun; I know my parents are coming, and they’re nice and close, so that will be fun.

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Veteran Chris Kreider took a different approach when asked how enjoyable outdoor games are: "They’re only enjoyable if you win. I mean, it’s like a dog-and-pony show, and if you lose, it's an even bigger letdown."

In other words, for him it’s a lot of fanfare around what they normally do, which is compete for two points.

As for Cole Caufield, he’s looking forward to the game, especially since he hasn't scored against the Jets yet. Something he put forward himself, and when he was asked if he kept track of that, he chuckled and said, " Of course! The sniper should be pumped on the day; then, as for what he’s going to do on Saturday night, since there won’t be a game, the Wisconsin native replied that the Milwaukee Brewers are playing in the World Series, so he may just go and watch that, before realizing that would be somewhat unrealistic with the travel time. Still, the baseball fan in Caufield looked very happy to follow his boyhood team on the biggest stage of them all.

After sending David Reinbacher and Owen Beck back to the Laval Rocket, one might wonder if that means Mike Matheson and Florian Xhekaj are nearing a return. Still, it could also be to let them suit up for the AHL outfit tonight and be called up again afterward. Time will tell, but the Canadiens won't take off on their road trip until Thursday afternoon, so they could still recall them after seeing a game of action. It will likely depend on what we see at practice tomorrow.

One thing’s for certain, though: Martin St-Louis will have a tough decision to make. Who to give the start to in net? Had Jakub Dobes played lights out on Tuesday night, I think he would have had it in the bag, but given how the game ended, the coach may reconsider. Expect to see Jacob Fowler in net on Friday night, and if the young netminder stands out, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get the Heritage Classic start. Interestingly, when the Habs had Carey Price in net for outdoor games, they lost both meetings. They dropped the first 4-0 to the Calgary Flames, and the second, in 2017, to the Ottawa Senators 3-0. Whoever is in net should have better offensive support than Price did.

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After several swings and misses over the summer and a start to the season that saw them lose nine straight, the pressure is on the Philadelphia Flyers to right the ship and improve the roster in line with the franchise's heightened expectations.

Since their season-opening nine-game skid, the Flyers have surprisingly won two straight, facing two tough opponents in the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche.

For a good chunk of the season thus far, the Flyers have been forced to play without one or multiple key veterans, a group of injured players that includes Rasmus Ristolainen, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, Cam York, and Tyson Foerster.

In the wake of the absences of Ristolainen, Tippett, Konecny, and Foerster, in particular, the Flyers have gotten strong early returns from prospects like Oliver Bonk, Alex Bump, Cole Knuble, while Matvei Michkov has continued to show that he's willing and capable of driving the bus for the team offensively.

The bottom line is that the above injured players haven't been badly missed, with the Flyers escaping their nightmarish slump without them and instead relying on greatly inexperienced youth to get the job done.

There are inherent risks to moving on from more experienced players, of course, but if the right deal presents itself, the Flyers could jettison some of their wingers in order to upgrade the roster elsewhere.

Flyers linked to Seattle's Matty Beniers

In a recent report for Daily Faceoff, NHL insider Anthony Di Marco reports that the Flyers are now pondering roster changes after flipping the switch these last two games, with the winger position, in particular, in need of some clearing out.

"According to a team source, something is eventually going to “have to give” with the Flyers’ crowd of wingers. It could very well lead to the team exploring trade avenues for more than one winger to try and find a top-six center," Di Marco wrote.

Di Marco noted that players like Konecny (NMC) and Tippett (10-team no-trade) have drawn a consistent level of trade interest, but their respective layers of trade protection make a deal more complicated.

Foerster, however, does not have trade protection, and according to Di Marco, might have to be the primary lure if the Flyers were to negotiate for one of their trade targets, Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken.

"One name DFO has heard the Flyers like is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, though there is no indication at this time that GM Jason Botterill wants to move the 2021-second-overall pick. Speaking with a Kraken source last week, DFO was told that the Kraken do like Foerster; though that isn’t a player the Flyers want to give up, it would be a 'conversation starter,' according to a team source," Di Marco said.

"Tippett along with a center prospect like Jett Luchanko, would be more of an appetizing package for a player like Beniers from a Flyers’ perspective, DFO was told."

It's long been no secret how much the Flyers covet Foerster, a soon-to-be-25-year-old winger who has scored 20 goals in each of the two full NHL seasons he's played, in addition to scoring 13 times in just 29 regular season games last year.

The Flyers rewarded the 2020 first-round pick with an eight-year, $56.8 million ($7.1 million AAV) extension in the offseason, but dating back to the start of the playoffs, Foerster has just two goals, his only two points, in his last 20 games.

Given his struggles, it would only make sense that the Flyers would consider flipping him for an upgrade down the middle in the form of Beniers.

How Beniers fits the Flyers

Beniers, 23, is the highest-paid player on the Kraken roster, with a $7.142 million cap hit through 2031, but the 2021 No. 2 overall pick hasn't quite reached his full potential at the NHL level just yet.

In four full NHL seasons, Beniers has scored 20 goals three times, but reached the 50-point threshold only twice, including his career-high 24 goals and 57 points as a rookie in 2022-23.

With players like Berkly Catton, prospect Jake O'Brien, and Shane Wright all in line for bigger opportunities, the Kraken have no real reason to hold onto Beniers if they are presented with a suitable offer.

Adding a stud winger entering or in their prime would be a nice boost for the Kraken, who will soon need to replace pending free agent Jared McCann, who is now 30 years old, and captain Jordan Eberle, who will be 38 years old when his contract expires in 2028.

With Trevor Zegras shifting to the wing yet again, Beniers would arrive in Philadelphia as the de facto No. 1 center, and his offensive responsibilities wouldn't be as great with the Flyers as they are with the Kraken with the amount of talent the Flyers have up front.

Beniers, a strong two-way center, owns a career 13.8% shooting percentage and is a smooth skater, but creating his own offense has been a challenge at this level.

Paired with someone like Michkov, the Michigan product can leverage his defensively responsible play and efficient scoring effectively.

This wouldn't be the first time the Flyers have been connected to Beniers, and if the circumstances surrounding the team persist, it certainly won't be the last.

At least on paper, a deal like this makes perfect sense for both teams.

The Minnesota Wild and the Edmonton Oilers met in a highly anticipated matchup between two heavyweights clicking on all cylinders.

On one side, Kirill Kaprizov has been unstoppable, leading the NHL in goals and scoring at a rate better than one goal per game. On the other side, Connor McDavid is setting NHL records left, right, and center, and arguably playing the best hockey of his career.

Tuesday's affair saw the Wild jump out to a 1-0 lead with a goal from Joel Eriksson Ek. The Oilers responded with three unanswered goals, two of which came from Leon Draisaitl on the power play. 

Down by two goals in the third period, Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman scored to tie the game at 3-3 and send it to overtime. A costly penalty in the overtime stanza allowed the Oilers to win the game, with McDavid posting three primary assists on the power play.

It was a hard loss to swallow, but the Wild played a strong game. Without the Oilers' power-play efficiency, the game likely would have gone very differently. According to MoneyPuck.com, the expected goals at 5-on-5 were 3.44 to 2.69 in favor of the Wild, but in all situations the Oilers had the advantage, 4.47 to 4.31.

Among the strong performers were Quinn Hughes and the Wild's top line of Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, and Boldy. Kaprizov had an expected goals percentage of 81.61 percent, Hughes 79.21 percent, Eriksson Ek 72.67 percent, and Boldy 72.6 percent at 5-on-5.

Meanwhile, the Oilers' top line hovered below 30 percent.

Kirill Kaprizov Joins Connor McDavid In Exclusive NHL Company With Historic Start To SeasonKirill Kaprizov scored his 11th goal in 10 games, joining Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov in exclusive NHL company while climbing another Wild franchise leaderboard.

This sort of play-controlling dominance from the Wild's top line has become the expectation night in and night out, no matter the opponent. Kaprizov has scored in seven of the 10 games, Boldy has five goals and nine points in 10 games, and Eriksson Ek has seven points while playing lockdown defense. 

MoneyPuck.com ranks the Wild's top line 8th in expected goals percentage at 72.2 percent, among lines that have played at least 25 minutes together. 

The Oilers may have won, but last night's effort was another piece of evidence that the Wild have the big guns to compete with any team in the NHL.

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Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said that while there’s still no set timeline for Mat Barzal to return from the left knee issues that have held up his start to the season, doctors “would be comfortable” for him to move to the next stage of his recovery. 

Though Darche never directly said the ball is in Barzal’s court regarding when that will happen, he did make clear that the inflammation that originally caused the Islanders to hold Barzal out of training camp has subsided. 

“Initially, there was some inflammation. We feel it’s controlled now. Now it’s getting him to feel comfortable to take the next step,” Darche said. “There’s no setbacks. Nothing happened, no procedure. Since training camp, nothing has come [up]. We feel we’re controlling the inflammation. It’s just how comfortable he feels.” 

Barzal has been skating on his own for a couple of weeks now and walked by a group of reporters at UBS Arena on Wednesday, briefly saying hello. Since he hasn’t practiced with the team, the Islanders are under no obligation to make him available to speak about his injury. 

Given the ongoing questions about the situation, though, they did have Darche speak on it Wednesday. 

“After two weeks [of skating], we feel the inflammation is down, but we’re still working on getting his strength back and how comfortable he feels,” Darche said. “He’s skating. Progress every day. Can I give you a definite timeline? No. We hope it’s sooner, but every day he’s starting to skate a little bit more, and we’re hoping to, at some point, get him with the team, and we’ll go from there.” 

Originally, the plan was for Barzal to resume skating around when the season started. That was pushed back by about a week, and since then things have stayed in place, with the Islanders declining to commit to a timeline for any next steps. 

When Barzal does come back, he will need to manage his left kneecap, which was broken two years ago and required surgery to repair. That’s nothing new — even while playing 81 games last year, he managed his knee throughout the season. Darche said the Islanders don’t believe anything about the way the injury was managed caused it to flare up again. 

He also said that, as of now, there are no conversations about an additional procedure. 

“If it doesn’t get better, you’re always looking at where we think he can be,” Darche said. “We don’t believe [that’s necessary] right now. But we’re progressing. I think it’s going in the right direction.” 

The next big question is whether Barzal will join the team on next week’s road trip in Dallas, Nashville and Minnesota, potentially allowing him to start practicing with the group. Practicing in a noncontact jersey would presumably be the next step before Barzal participates fully and, eventually, returns to games. 

The Islanders, currently without Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli in addition to Barzal, could sorely use his offensive ability, though they’ve withstood his absence quite well. Going into Thursday’s match at home against the Kings, they are 5-3-1 and playing stout defensive hockey under Pete DeBoer. 

Still, Barzal’s situation will hang over the club until it is resolved. 

“We both work together,” Darche said. “The doctors would be comfortable for him to ramp up whenever he’s ready. It’s not necessarily, ‘Oh it’s all him,’ or it’s all us [making the decision]. We’re trying to work together on this. 

“But, of course, he has a big say. It’s his body. He knows how he feels.” 

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Darche shot down a rumor originating from The Fourth Period that Scott Mayfield could soon ask for a trade if he continues to sit as the extra defensemen. 

“I can tell you right now, there’s no truth to any of those rumors,” Darche said. “I saw them this morning. His agent [Matt Keator] was here the last two days ’cause he had a player on the other team, he has a few players on our team. There’s none of that.”

Ben Jones is ready to make his season debut with the Calgary Flames, and he couldn’t have picked a much better time to get rolling.

The 27-year-old forward earned his call-up after a scorching start with the Calgary Wranglers, recording seven goals and nine points in seven games to open the American Hockey League season.

“For myself it was obviously nice to put some points up,” Jones told the media. “The team is off to a great start so that always helps.”

Jones received the call earlier this week, joining the Flames ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild. The timing adds an interesting wrinkle, as Jones will be facing a familiar group of faces from his time in Minnesota.

He’s looking forward to the reunion, although there might be a few adjustments to make once the puck drops.

“It’ll be great to see a lot of those guys. It’s kind of funny to flip the switch, I gotta make sure I pass to the team in red, not the team in green,” he joked.

"You're always super excited."

Ben Jones speaks about getting called up and on his play with the @AHLWranglers this season. pic.twitter.com/WDyuUXxNj9

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 20, 2026

The opportunity comes with Flames captain Mikael Backlund currently sidelined with an upper-body injury, potentially opening the door for Jones to show what he can bring to Calgary’s lineup.

Acquired by the Flames in the offseason, Jones is no stranger to the organization. He was part of the Wranglers from the beginning, playing a key role during the club’s inaugural 2022-23 campaign.

Jones finished that season with 54 points and a plus-28 rating, helping Calgary capture the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s regular-season champions, along with the Pacific Division title.

Now in his 10th professional season, Jones brings a mix of AHL production and NHL experience to the Flames. He’s appeared in 56 career NHL games between the Vegas Golden Knights and Wild, giving him valuable experience at the level he’s looking to stick at.

His early-season production with the Wranglers has certainly helped his case. Seven goals in seven games is difficult to ignore, even if translating that scoring touch to the NHL comes with a different set of challenges.

For Jones, the immediate task is making the most of the opportunity in front of him. With Backlund unavailable, there’s a chance to earn the coaching staff’s trust, provide some depth down the middle and show that his strong start in the AHL can carry over.

The Flames have been looking for consistency early in the season, and a player arriving with confidence and a hot stick could provide a timely boost.

First, he’ll have to get used to seeing some familiar faces on the other side of the ice.

At least Jones has already identified the most important adjustment: making sure those passes go to the guys wearing red.

Colorado’s latest rookie and college free-agent signing showed up on the scoresheet over the weekend and again on Monday night, which has me thinking about T.J. Hughes’ near future with the Colorado Avalanche. Hughes’ first NHL goal came from Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, scored just after a power play ended.

Usually, guys on the first power-play unit aren’t worried about being reassigned to the AHL, but in this case, Logan O’Connor’s inevitable return to the lineup and the ne-way contract structure for others in the bottom six likely mean T.J. will be the odd man out when the forward group is fully intact.

T.J. Hughes is all smiles at @AltitudeTV’s Avalanche social after his first NHL goal! #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/UD9JejuZXd

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) October 17, 2026

However, as we saw with LOC’s necessary absence and Zachary L’Heureux’s late injury status this weekend, Hughes could get enough NHL time to make himself indispensable. Add a more straightforward path to power-play success, and I see a recipe for T.J. to become an NHL mainstay right now. Let me elaborate.

The Role Requires Familiarity

Now I’m not saying that the Avalanche don’t have a player who could take over Hughes’ role on the power play. Still, familiarity is paramount to power-play success. Colorado’s decision to put Hughes on the top power play unit from the start of training camp means they see him as a real scoring threat.

His net-front goal is exactly the type of goal we’ve heard players and coaches mention when talking about T.J. on the unit. For me, the big factor is seeing the unit as a whole reintroduce the left-shot threat at the dot opposite Nathan MacKinnon.

FIRST NHL GOAL ALERT FOR T.J. HUGHES 🚨

Rookie Firsts presented by @DrinkBODYARMORpic.twitter.com/Kj8ezwLCck

— NHL (@NHL) October 17, 2026

We saw the Avalanche move Martin Necas to the second unit after Brett McLean took on the assistant and power play role in Colorado. At first glance, it feels like a brazen move to take someone as skilled as Necas off the ice with a man advantage, but a closer look shows that having Necas and MacKinnon on the ice at the same time undermines the power-play approach due to their shot orientation. It looks like Colorado is getting back to the basics.

With Jaden Schwartz on the opposite flank to MacKinnon’s cross-ice saucer passes, the Avalanche have reestablished balance, as his one-timer is dangerous enough to require more attention positionally. As a result, the slot has more space for both the net-front player and bumper to work on loose pucks and find openings closer to the net.

In my opinion, the lack of a real left shot on that side of the ice has been the catalyst for Colorado’s lack of power-play success.

Meghan Angley quickly reminded me that the power play was struggling just before Mikko Rantanen left Colorado on last week’s Mile High Hockey Lab, but we also know the Moose scored a ton of power-play goals with one-timers or back-door shots. There’s also a difference between struggling as a top 10 unit and struggling as a unit which finished bottom six last season.

You can’t just set and forget a guy to replace what Mikko Rantanen can do on his first touch, but you can get close, and I think that’s the thought process behind Shwartz taking the role. That was also the thought process behind the Viktor Olofsson experiment, but Shwartz has been finishing his chances, and that’s the key.

Now, back to Hughes, we’ve seen guys in the net-front/bumper role on the successful Avalanche power play amass a ton of goals and points. The Avalanche have experimented with guys like Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin, and Nic Roy in that spot, and now it’s T.J. Hughes. I think the kid from Michigan has the finishing ability to cash in.

Winning Matters Most

We know Logan O’Connor has a spot on this roster once he’s done dealing with more important matters, plus Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov’s contract structure means sending them down would risk losing either to waivers. That makes it easy to see Hughes getting considerable time with the Colorado Eagles in Loveland unless he shows hard-to-ignore production.

Avs coach Jared Bednar said Logan O'Connor will play against Tampa Bay. Nic Roy is expected to skate back in Denver while the Avs are away, but Zach L'Heureux is "a little further away"

Mackenzie Blackwood is starting tonight. Lineup should be the same as the last game.

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) October 19, 2026

What production would make Colorado comfortable keeping Hughes around and risking the waiver wire with L’Heureux or Svechkov?

the real answer is that they aren't, and they've gotten better at them in recent years as well

league average PP% in 2011-12 was 17% and it's been above 20% the past five seasons.

it's just that you get a powerplay and expect a goal and not a 20-25% chance of getting a goal https://t.co/aFL5SISgz3pic.twitter.com/M8NUXxFFaU

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 12, 2026

For me, it’s any production that successfully extinguishes Colorado’s infamous power-play woes. If T.J. Hughes suddenly becomes a major factor in an otherwise struggling power play, I can’t imagine Jared Bednar turning his back on that, as it would point toward winning a lot of games.

The Avalanche lead the league in xGF% vs. xGA% at five-on-five, so adding a power play that scores rather than gives up goals should help them put games away sooner and protect their superstars’ TOI.

5v5 Goal Share vs. xGoal Share – October 18https://t.co/FfkCTRAVeQpic.twitter.com/wladzUcpFv

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 18, 2026

Jared Bednar has shown us time and time again that he wants the lineup that gives him the best chance to win, and if Hughes’ impact on the advantage becomes a major factor, I don’t think he’s gonna move Hughes.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders rookie Victor Eklund has turned heads this season, and not just his teammates or the club's upper management. 

"He's done really, really well. Honestly, we've played some teams, and some of the GMs go, 'Oh, you know what? I noticed Eklund," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. "He's not the biggest guy, but even in the third yesterday, he's one against three on the forecheck, he comes out from behind the net with the puck. He's relentless. He's got a dog-on-a-bone mentality.

"So he's been great. I was happy he got rewarded yesterday because he could have had a few more goals, and he's going to the net. He almost scored another one in the third."

Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche Provides Update On Mathew BarzalThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> have started the 2026-27 season off well, posting a 5-3-1 record through their first 9 games of the season.

Darche continued: "And if you go back to that play, it started with him bumping a guy on the wall, and then we kept the puck in. Schenn gave him a great pass, and he went on the breakaway. And every time he cycles the puck, instead of going wide on the outside, he comes right back inside. He plays on the inside. So even if he's not big, when you see him win a bunch of board battles, which is great to see."

Eklund, who after scoring in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, is about to play in his ninth NHL game of the season. If he reaches 10, the Islanders will burn this first year of his entry-level deal.

The Hockey News asked Darche how important Eklund has been to this team's success from the outset. 

"He's earned a spot on the team, and we hope he's on the Island for a long time," Darche said. "There's still going to be a lot of improvement. He'll get stronger, he'll get faster."

Eklund now has two goals and one assist in nine games averaging 13:21 minutes per night. 

Juuso Valimaki hadn't played in an NHL game in nearly two years.

The Finnish defenseman last suited up at the top level of professional hockey on Jan. 26, 2025, then a member of the Utah Mammoth, and over the next 632 days, he had to battle through an ACL tear, a trade and had to fight his way up a brand new depth chart to get back to the NHL.

But all the work paid off for him Tuesday night as Valimaki made his Carolina Hurricanes debut, suiting up on the third pair alongside Shayne Gostisbehere.

"Just happy to be out there playing the game again," Valimaki told Hurricanes Hockey Network during the first intermission. "My mindset was just to be grateful for the opportunity. Happy to be here, so I'm just trying to have a positive mindset. It's been a long road, but I'm just happy to be here."

Valimaki had a rather strong showing too, even picking up an assist in less than five minutes of ice time, moving the puck up for Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven to work some magic.

"Pretty simple play [by me]," Valimaki said. "Obviously Stanks and Blaker did all the work, so thanks to them. Nice play by those two."

Playing in front of over 400 (!!!) family and friends, Logan Stankoven lights the lamp! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/40x82Eu8m9

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) October 21, 2026

For the game, Valimaki also had a shot on goal, a hit, two blocks, a 13-9 edge in 5v5 chance share and a 73.22 expected goals for percentage.

"He played really well for not having played since training camp," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "That was a worry with throwing him into the lineup, but I thought he had his hands on the first goal, a quick-up pass. Then I thought he played well. Good on him to step in and contribute."

The 28-year-old blueliner really put his head down and worked hard to get to this point. 

Despite being a first-round pick (2017) and veteran of 271 NHL games, Valimaki had to do his time in the AHL coming off of the ACL tear and especially so after getting traded to a team as deep as Carolina.

Valimaki never complained once though, and had a really strong showing with the Chicago Wolves last year after coming in midseason, producing 11 goals and 34 points in 45 games between both the regular season and playoffs.

"Can’t explain how happy I am and proud of Juice for making his Canes debut tonight!," wrote Chicago Wolves coach Spiros Anastas. "A Chicago Wolves favourite, ultimate pro, and terrific leader and person. The resilience and perseverance he’s shown to make his return to the NHL is inspiring!"

Valimaki may not be a lineup regular moving forward, but it's a testament to the work he's put in that he was able to make it back to this level regardless.

"There's been a lot of ups and downs in my career with injuries and kind of a lot of other things going on, but I think last year was finally where I felt like myself again and I was in a really good head space," Valimaki said back during training camp. "Just trying to play hockey, enjoy it. There's been times where you kind of forget the fun part and for me, at least, when you're having fun and enjoying what you're doing, I think that's when you play your best."

Nicolas Deslauriers Scores First (And Second) Goal With Carolina HurricanesCarolina's veteran enforcer showcased unexpected offensive touch in Vancouver, burying two crucial goals to prove he can offer far more than just locker room vibes and heavy hitting.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are always looking for ways to improve the team outlook. They could make moves that help them now and years down the line. They are not close to making any “win-now” moves by mortgaging the future, but they can look into young players who fit the current mold. 

One of those players is Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov. He is a young player who has had an up-and-down start to his career, and the Flyers may be looking to move him so both sides can get a fresh start. There are no guarantees that Michkov is traded, but there are whispers. 

Philadelphia, one year removed from making the playoffs and winning a round over their arch rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, has had a disaster of a start. They are currently 2-6-3 after winning two straight. When they were 0-6-3, it was clear that changes could be coming one way or another, despite it being so early in the year. 

If they are looking to shake things up, moving on from Michkov may not be the wisest decision, but it's a rumor that keeps coming up. He is off to a good start this season, despite his team's performance. 

In 11 games played, Michkov has 6 goals and 1 assist for 7 points. Two of those goals came in their most recent win. He is finding the back of the net, but it's hard to say that every other aspect of his game has been up to par. There have been questions about his motivation and love for the game, but he has come into this year in shape and ready to play. 

Why would the Blackhawks want to trade for a risky player like this? Well, if they did, the answer is simple: he is incredibly talented. Michkov was the 7th overall pick by the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft. The only reason he fell to 7 was his contract situation in the KHL. Eventually, he found his way to North America, making some teams worry that they made a mistake by passing on him. 

The Blackhawks were actually one of the teams that technically passed on him when they selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. For a while, Michkov was expected to rival Bedard at the top of the draft, but his situation pushed him down the board. That, and the evolution of other prospects like Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith. 

Chicago, with Bedard and a plethora of other young talent, could afford to give Michkov a great opportunity. He has a knack for scoring goals and making plays, but he needs a fresh start. He is at the proper age in terms of fitting in with the current group, and he has a skill set that would play well with what they have in place. 

There is no shortage of playmakers in Chicago. Michkov knows how to find the back of the net, and the Blackhawks could use more of that skill to play with their setup men. Would it solve any of their defensive issues as a team? No, but it would help them be more lethal when they do have the puck. 

The Blackhawks also have Roman Kantserov in the mix who, like Michkov, has experience coming over from the KHL. They would be able to help each other, as they are both supremely talented Russian players trying to make an impact at the highest level. 

What would it take to get Michkov? Well, you'd think that multiple draft picks or prospects would be involved. Could a late first-round pick get it done? The Blackhawks have a lot of draft capital, and they are unlikely to just use it all on selections.

Sometimes, a risky trade like this could be what gets the rebuild to the next step. If Michkov came in and found instant chemistry with Connor Bedard or Anton Frondell, showed incredible commitment to getting better, and put up big numbers, it would make acquiring him look like genius. Other GMs are going to be involved if he's available, but only time will tell. 

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The Montreal Canadiens' biggest need right now is an upgrade at their second-line center spot. Because of this, they have been viewed as a prime fit for disgruntled Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin.

Canadiens fans also recently made it clear that they want Montreal to acquire the Red Wings star, as they chanted "we want Larkin" during their recent matchup.

However, Larkin still does not want to join the Habs. 

According to The Athletic's Max Bultman and Pierre LeBrun, Larkin has now expanded his trade list to 10 teams, and the Canadiens are still not among the clubs he is willing to be traded to. 

Per Bultman and LeBrun, the teams on Larkin's updated trade list are the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche.

It is certainly disappointing news for the Canadiens that Larkin has expanded his trade list, and they are still not on it. He would be a perfect pickup for their second-line center spot and could the final piece that makes the Canadiens legitimate contenders. However, even with the Canadiens being one of the NHL's most exciting teams on the rise, Larkin still is not interested in joining them. 

It's been made clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in adding a defenseman to upgrade their back end as they look to get back into the post-season this year.

On Sportsnet's broadcast on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs have made it clear that they are willing to hear offers for their "premium assets" in exchange for a defenseman. And Toronto isn't looking for a quick fix on the blueline - they want someone who can help them in the long run.

The Maple Leafs aren't exactly loaded in future assets, and there are very few that can be labelled as premium or A-level. But that doesn't mean they don't exist in the organization.

Here are the premium assets that Leafs GM John Chayka could be looking at to move for a good NHL defenseman.

2027 First-Round Pick (Colorado)

The most expendable asset that has decent value in the Maple Leafs' organization would be the conditional 2027 first-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto received this draft pick from Colorado around last year's trade deadline in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

The pick, top-10 protected, likely won't be a high selection considering the state of the Avalanche and their status as a serious Stanley Cup contender. But it is still a first-round pick, and selling teams would certainly appreciate acquiring that asset for the right price.

In any move that Chayka wants to make that carries some significance, that draft pick is as good as gone.

Toronto also has its 2029 first-round pick, as well as a second-round pick in the next three drafts.

Maple Leafs NHL Prospect Roundup: Multiple Marlies Off To Hot Start In AHLMultiple Toronto Marlies are off to a great start, and OHLers are scoring in bunches in this edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL prospect roundup.

Ben Danford

Ben Danford has made the jump to full-time professional hockey this season with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. The 20-year-old defenseman featured for the Marlies in the Calder Cup playoffs, making 16 appearances in that post-season. This year, he's played five games so far, providing two assists. He missed one game earlier in the month with a lower-body injury.

The organization is high on their 2024 first-round draft pick (31st overall). Many have said that Danford isn't far from becoming an NHLer, including Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan. In Monday's podcast episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman also added that "he's not far away" from a look in the NHL.

He'd likely be the most interesting prospect in the Leafs' system from the perspective of other NHL teams and GMs.

Less Likely To Be Dealt

Easton Cowan

Coming off another huge performance for the Maple Leafs in Tuesday's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Easton Cowan is certainly a premium and A-tier asset at this point.

In what is his sophomore season, the 21-year-old had a three-point night, including his first career shorthanded goal, and now has four goals and 10 points in 11 games for Toronto, placing him fourth on the team in scoring.

Considering how effective he's been for his team to start the 2026-27 campaign, there isn't a strong desire for the front office to move off him.

"They don't seem that interested in trading Cowan," Friedman said on Monday's podcast. "They really seem to believe that he's the real deal."

'He's Exceeded My Expectations': How Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan Has Transcended Into A New Level In The NHLEaston Cowan pulls out another big performance for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he's shown glimpses of the complete player he can be as the 21-year-old continues to blossom.

What Else Is On The Table?

In that initial 'Saturday Headlines' report, Friedman added that the Maple Leafs have also made it clear that they're willing to move off one of their older defensemen in exchange for someone younger in the same position.

This is a scenario that could apply to a Stanley Cup contender as a potential trade partner for Toronto. And the only veteran blueliner who isn't completely protected from a trade is 35-year-old Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Report: Maple Leafs Willing To Move Off 'Premium Assets' For Help On Defense In Trade MarketThe Toronto Maple Leafs need upgrades on defense if they want to be a playoff team this year, and GM John Chayka has been communicating to the rest of the league's GMs about what he's looking for. Here's what is on his wishlist.

Last season, Ekman-Larsson had a great year and exceeded expectations in several ways. In 78 appearances in 2025-26, the Swedish defenseman scored eight goals and 39 points, which is the most he's scored since the 2018-19 season with the Arizona Coyotes. 

He was even called to represent Sweden at the 2026 Olympics and captained his nation at the World Championship following the NHL regular season.

This year, however, Ekman-Larsson hasn't been nearly as impressive. 

He has just one assist in 11 games and is tied for the league lead in minor penalties taken with seven. That accumulates to 14 penalty minutes this season, the second-most on the team behind Zack MacEwen, who had 17 penalty minutes alone against the Blue Jackets.

Ekman-Larsson has two more years on his contract at $3.5 million per season and has a 16-team no-trade list for both years. In that case, he's probably not a premium asset, or at least not as valuable as he was last year.

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Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis surprised many by giving Jakub Dobes the nod ahead of the game against the San Jose Sharks. Most thought that he would run the hot hand Jacob Fowler until he lost a game, but the bench boss didn’t want his goalie to be inactive for too long; the team wants them to have a certain rhythm, and that’s what led to Dobes getting another chance after a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals the week before. Unlike in Washington, though, Dobes did well Tuesday night.

It wasn’t perfect; you could tell he was nervous. There were shots glove side that he normally would have caught and froze, but the early jitters prevented him from doing so. Still, when that happened, his defense was there to clean the front of the net. The glove hand improved as the game went on and he gained in confidence. His positioning was much better, too, and he didn’t look like he was breakdancing in his crease, meaning he was much more in control than he has been lately.

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His puck tracking was good, too, and he stayed square to the shots, which let him make a few saves through traffic even though he didn’t see the vulcanized piece of rubber. Overall, it was a good outing for Dobes. The first goal he allowed came from a Jake Evans turnover; granted, his stick was tapped as he tried to make a pass, but he had a safer option than throwing the puck toward the middle just inside the blueline. As luck would have it, Macklin Celebrini collected the errant pass and came at Dobes with speed, and there wasn’t much he could do against one of the league's best players coming in alone.

The Sharks scored their second goal on a perfectly executed two-on-one after they picked Lane Hutson’s pocket. Dobes was playing the shooter, expecting Kiefer Sherwood to shoot, but because Noah Dobson didn’t close the passing lane, he found Michael Misa for an easy goal. The defenseman isn't exactly off to a great start this season. Through nine games, he has two assists and is minus-4.

The third marker came on the power play after Xhekaj was baited into taking an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Celebrini fed Tyler Toffoli in the high slot for a one-timer; no one pressured the Sharks winger as he wound up and beat Dobes clean.

However, Dobes can be blamed for the fourth and final goal, as he took an awful penalty in overtime, inexplicably leaving his crease to get in Collin Graff’s way while the Canadiens had the puck in their own zone. Those calls aren't always made, but you can’t risk them being made, as St-Louis keeps repeating: you can’t give the ref the opportunity to call a penalty. Celebrini scored his second of the game off a one-timer from the faceoff circle on Dobes’ left. Four-on-three power plays are hard to defend and often a death sentence in overtime, as they were on Tuesday night.

Jakub Dobes gets called for interference in OT... the Sharks head to the power-play. pic.twitter.com/f9F5TkbUv6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 21, 2026

Dobes surrendered four goals on 30 shots for an .867 save percentage, and had he not taken his inexplicable interference penalty in overtime, the result could have been different. Had the Habs won, this could have been a building block toward rebuilding Dobes’ confidence, but that possibility went out the window when he handed the Sharks the win on a golden platter. The press wasn’t told why Dobes was unavailable to meet the media despite being requested, but it could mean he was too rattled to face the music.

Celebrini on coming back from 3-1 down and the penalty Jakub Dobes took in OT. #SJSharks#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/Cljejq8jbA

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) October 21, 2026

At this stage, it seems a given that Jacob Fowler will be back in net on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, and if he puts on a great performance, it wouldn’t be surprising if he also gets the net for the Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets.

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Seven wins into the season, it's gotten pretty easy to see how light this team is, emotionally that is, compared to recent seasons.

The Edmonton Oilers improved to 7-1-1 with a 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, while Evan Bouchard scored the winner on his 27th birthday. Devon Levi was among the first to praise his teammate afterward, having made several important saves himself to get the Oilers into overtime.

“He can sling that thing,” Levi said. “A super special player. I'm so happy for him that he got the overtime winner on his birthday.”

The Oilers have been playing solid defensive hockey under Mike Babcock, their goaltending has improved, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are producing at a ridiculous rate. They've also been getting contributions from the rest of the lineup, which has allowed them to win games even when their top players aren't having good nights at even strength.

Tuesday was one of those games. Minnesota's top line of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and, Matt Boldy scored twice at even strength, while the team. itself was all over McDavid's line.

“Every once in a while, you need to get fed your lunch,” Babcock said. “And when that happens to you, you say, ‘What are we going to do to fix it?’”

Babcock has been clear about what he expects from his team, especially on defence, puck protection, and winning battles. The Oilers have responded well to those expectations, and there's some evidence that the accountability they've been talking about is producing results.

Bouchard Scores OT Winner on 27th Birthday as Oilers Edge Wild 4-3Evan Bouchard celebrated his 27th birthday with a power-play OT winner, and Connor McDavid made NHL history, as Edmonton overcame a late Minnesota surge to secure a gritty special teams victory.

“When you play a good team that's organized, there's no room,” Babcock said. “And if you don't look after the puck, if you don't play right, you get frustrated. The great thing about the real good players that have done a lot of winning is, they don't get frustrated. They just keep coming and keep coming, and they know it's a patient game.”

Edmonton certainly had opportunities to get frustrated against Minnesota, however, the Oilers scored three times on the power play, and Draisaitl recording two goals before Bouchard ended the game in overtime. McDavid finished with three assists, becoming the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 assists in a season.

He now has 26 points through nine games, which is an absurd amount of production even by McDavid's standards.

“Any type of shot that he gets off is extremely dangerous,” Draisaitl said of Bouchard. “Accurate, hard, whatever it is. You name it, he's got it. He's pretty elite.”

By other standards, Levi's has the best start of his NHL career here in Edmonton.

3 Things the Oilers Need to Guard Against Despite a Strong Start to 2026-27Early wins and returning stars raise expectations, but any complacency and looming lineup dilemmas could derail Edmonton’s momentum if they aren't careful on home ice.

The 24-year-old was traded from Buffalo after getting buried so deep in the Sabres depth chart that everyone forgot he was there. Originally, he was expected to sit behind Frederik Andersen and Tristan Jarry in Edmonton, but now he's getting most of the starts, and he's clearly earned them.

“I'm super grateful to be here,” Levi said. “This city is unbelievable, a true hockey city. I care a lot about these fans, they have welcomed me with open arms and the team here as well. I feel at home. I'm just super grateful for the way that everything kind of unfolded and I'm having a lot of fun every day.”

It's a refreshing attitude from a young goaltender who's finally getting a real chance to compete for a spot in the NHL.

He seems excited to show up to the rink, appreciates the opportunity he's been given, and has been playing up to the expectations placed on him.

The Oilers have been winning games in different ways, and Babcock's defensive system has been a significant part of that. The Oilers know when their offence needs to carry them, when their goaltenders need to make important saves, and when the team can comfortably protect a lead.

Oilers Face Another Important Test Against Wild With Both Teams Tied In StandingsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> have had one of their best starts in recent years, and tonight's game against the Minnesota Wild will help determine where they rank among the Western Conference's best.

There has to be some additional motivation to make sure the same problems that followed the team last season don't continue.

Babcock has brought a different approach to Edmonton, one that the players seem willing to hold themselves accountable for when their performances aren't good enough.

Everybody knows winning cures all, and with seven victories in nine games, it's understandable why the mood around the dressing room has been so positive.

Still, there's something nice about hearing Levi talk about how grateful he is to be here, or watching him get excited about Bouchard scoring an overtime winner on his birthday.

The Oilers have been playing good hockey, they're getting results from the changes Babcock has introduced, and the players are happy for one another.

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The New York Islanders (5-3-1) won again on Tuesday night inside UBS Arena, knocking off the Anaheim Ducks 3-2.

The win marked the Islanders' fourth in UBS Arena already, giving them a 4-1-0 record on home ice to start the year.

That's the best start at home for the franchise since moving to UBS Arena in the 2021-22 season.

In 2025-26, the Islanders went 22-17-2 on home ice. in 2024-25, they went 19-17-5.

If the Islanders can keep this winning momentum on home ice going, their win totals this year will blow those close-to-.500 records out of the water.

Stacking wins on home ice is extremely important for the Islanders, with an especially road-heavy schedule over the next month.

Between October 21 and November 21, the Islanders play 13 games, 8 of which are on the road, including 8 of the final 12.

Only one of those eight road games takes place in the Eastern Time Zone. That game is on November 21 against the Detroit Red Wings.

Over the course of five days from October 25 to 29, the Islanders take a funky road trip against three Central Division opponents, starting with the Dallas Stars, heading back northeast to see the Nashville Predators before shooting back northwest to take on the Minnesota Wild.

The Islanders get eight days at home, starting with the Islanders hosting the Edmonton Oilers on Halloween. Then, the Islanders get four straight off days from November 1 through 4.

Two divisional foes, the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils, then swing by UBS Arena before the Islanders hit the road again for a three-game swing through California, lasting one week.

New York gets home for one game against the Columbus Blue Jackets before a two-game trip to Winnipeg and Detroit ends the funky month of travel.