After a much-needed day off, the Ottawa Senators returned to practice Thursday morning with some encouraging injury news ahead of their first meaningful home game in more than five months.
The Sens will take on the Philadelphia Flyers in their home opener Thursday night and there was some good news on three injury fronts.
Travis Green confirmed after practice that Linus Ullmark (2-0) is ready to go. Ullmark was dinged up in Boston on Monday and did not dress at all in the Tuesday loss to Detroit. But he was back at practice Thursday and will start against the Flyers.
Senators head coach Travis Green talked about Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings (Senators YouTube).
Meanwhile, Artem Zub and Andre Burakovsky both traded their non-contact yellow jerseys for regular ones. It's another encouraging step for both players, although Green confirmed neither will suit up on Thursday night.
Burakovsky was an extra with Hayden Hodgson, while Zub rotated in with Nikolas Matinpalo and Cam Crotty.
For the record, Crotty has looked pretty steady on Ottawa's blue line, playing a style of game that's not a lot different than Zub's.
The one negative is that Jake Sanderson still isn't yet skating with the team after reinjuring himself in the season opener in Toronto on Saturday. He remains out with a lower body issue but is skating on his own.
The top six forward group has been tweaked a little from the start of the Detroit game. William Eklund, who had a goal and an assist in Detroit, switched spots with Ridly Greig. Eklund will skate with the Sens top two scorers so far, Tim Stützle (6 pts) and Drake Batherson (3 pts).
The Senators (2-1-0) will try to shake off their 5-3 loss in Detroit on Tuesday. That was their third road game in four days and as a result, the club looked a little out of sorts.
As for the Flyers (0-2-2), they're the very definition of out of sorts.
Through four games, they're allowing a staggering 39.5 shots per game, 8.5 more than any other team in the league. At the other end, the Flyers are generating just 19.3 shots per game, also the worst mark in the NHL.
If those trends continue, the Senators should have plenty of chances to dictate the play in their home opener.
Thursday will also be an emotional night for Senators fans as the club honours the late Ray Emery, who backstopped the Sens to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Emery's family will be on hand to ring the ceremonial bell before the game.
Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Florida Panthers left wing Tomas Nosek (92) chase down the puck during the third period of a game at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., Saturday, March 28, 2026.
While his timeline for a return to play is still unclear, the Islanders have been optimistic that once he starts skating, it won’t take long.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said last week that Barzal would likely only need a few practices with the team once he was back on the ice, which could in theory slate him for a return as soon as next week.
Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Florida Panthers left wing Tomas Nosek (92) chase down the puck during the third period of a game at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., Saturday, March 28, 2026. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
That said, it’s not clear how long Barzal will need to skate on his own, and his knee needs to cooperate.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Montreal Canadiens unveiled the new jersey they’ll wear at the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets, and it’s exactly what you'd expect. The Habs have never been very daring with alternate jerseys, and this one follows the trend.
Even though they’ll be the visitors for the October 25 match-up, the jersey is a solid red one while the Jets’ is white. No surprises that the Habs have stuck to their classic red, white, and blue look, but they went with a more vintage, stylized off-white. The jersey has a vintage look, with a logo appearing on one of the arms as well.
The team also reverted to an older version of its iconic logo, similar to the one it used for its 2016 Winter Classic appearance, but this time it's red instead of white, as it was in Foxborough.
The NHL shield and Fanatics logo kind of detract from the overall vintage look, but the team at least avoided putting any kind of advertisement on the front of the jersey, unlike what we’re seeing in the NHL nowadays. On the inside back collar, the “Les Habitants” nickname is a nice addition.
The jersey does, however, feature the Heritage Classic logo, which includes the Tim Hortons logo, but it blends in quite well. The maple leaf and moose antlers are a nice touch that gives it a real Canadian look. The former has been part of every single Heritage Classic to date, but the latter is a fresh new addition.
Il est arrivé! Admirez les détails de notre chandail pour la Classique héritage 2026 de la LNH
Overall, it’s a nice-looking jersey, but some have expressed reservations about the added stitching pattern on both the team logo and the numbers; it does give it a different, new look.
The Canadiens posted a video of the players' reaction to the jersey online, and they had positive comments, but Cole Caufield seemed more eager to play his first outside game than to check out the new jersey, which is understandable. Phillip Danault is the only Canadien who played in the Habs' last outdoor game in Ottawa, the Centennial Classic, a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Montreal has a 2-2-0 record in the modern era of outdoor games. They won the first Heritage Classic against the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in 2003; lost 4-0 to the Calgary Flames in 2011; and beat the Boston Bruins 5-1 in Foxborough in 2016. Will they win this one?
Cole, Jake, Nick et Phil réagissent pour la première fois à notre chandail pour la Classique héritage
The Colorado Avalanche have had the Calgary Flames’ number for a while now — and they’ll get another chance to prove it Thursday night.
Colorado has won 12 of its last 15 meetings with Calgary, outscoring the Flames 59-30 in that span. The Avalanche swept all three games last season, outscoring Calgary 15-4, including a 9-2 rout in the first meeting.
Colorado is coming off a frustrating 3-2 loss to Winnipeg on Wednesday and now has to turn around and play again less than 24 hours later.
Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas combined for 14 points in those three games against Calgary last season, Nazem Kadri gets another crack at his former team, and Scott Wedgewood will make his first start of the season.
Cale Makar following Colorado's most recent home victory.
A Chance for the Depth to Keep Producing
Parker Kelly has quietly put together a nice start to the season.
The Avalanche forward has one goal and three assists through three games, giving him four points already. He has also had some success against Calgary, with a goal and two assists in his last three games against the Flames.
It’s early, of course, but that kind of production from the bottom half of the lineup is something Colorado will gladly take. Especially on the second night of a back-to-back, the Avalanche could use a few more players chipping in.
Kadri Returns to Calgary Again
Kadri knows this building and this opponent pretty well.
The Avalanche reacquired him at last season’s trade deadline after he spent parts of four seasons with the Flames. He wasted no time making an impact against his old team, scoring twice in Colorado’s 9-2 win.
Kadri missed the final two meetings with Calgary last season because of injury. He’ll get another chance Thursday to go up against the team he helped lead to the 2022 Stanley Cup.
Can the Top Line Break Loose?
MacKinnon and Necas were a handful for Calgary last season.
The two combined for five goals and nine assists in the three meetings, accounting for 14 points. Colorado scored 15 times in those games, and a lot of that offense came from its best players.
That’s something to watch again Thursday. The Avalanche generated 34 shots against Winnipeg but scored only twice, with Stuart Skinner making 32 saves. Colorado had plenty of looks, but it needs more of them to end up in the back of the net.
Wedgewood Returns
Wedgewood will get the call in net Thursday, making his first start of the season after Blackwood started in three straight games to begin the campaign.
Wedgewood is 2-3-2 with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in seven career games against the Flames. But he’s been much better lately, winning two of his last three starts against Calgary while posting a 1.95 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
The 34-year-old is coming off a strong season alongside Blackwood, with the two sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltending tandem that allowed the fewest goals in the league.
A Clean Slate
The loss in Winnipeg was frustrating, but there was plenty Colorado liked about its game.
The Avalanche outshot the Jets 34-19, erased two separate deficits and had enough chances to win. They just couldn’t finish them, and Connor’s goal with one minute left ended up being the difference.
“I liked a lot of what we were doing,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “I thought we were skating. We were all checking hard. We had some really good scoring chances.”
Bednar pointed to a few late decisions that cost Colorado, while Schwartz focused on the bigger picture.
“There’s a lot of good,” Schwartz said. “It really is about short memory. Learn from it, regardless, and then move on and try to improve for the next game.”
They’ll have to do that quickly. The Avalanche are already in Calgary, with a chance Thursday to put Wednesday’s loss behind them and get back to a matchup that has treated them very well.
Coverage from the Saddledome kicks off at 7 p.m. local time.
ELMONT, NY --New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal did not take part in the team's morning skate on Thursday ahead of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks, but he did skate on his own.
Barzal skated on his own this morning, per #Isles.
Barzal, 28, had missed the first three games of the regular season -- he'll miss his fourth -- after inflammation in his left knee from a previous injury sidelined him for all of training camp and preseason.
With defenseman Alexander Romanov out with a torn right ACL, the Islanders can just place him on Injured Reserve, which would open the roster spot for
Barzal is in season four of an eight-year deal worth $9.25 million annually.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 3: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck in the third period during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is four games of an 84-game season. There has been some good, some bad, and some ugly. Don’t let yourself get too caught up in early results and let them dictate your thoughts on where the season is going. There is a lot of hockey left, and a lot of time for good and bad elements of the team to develop.
Reality: The Penguins are not as good as they looked in the season-opener, and they are probably not as bad as they looked for portions of the Winnipeg and Washington games. I also thought they kind of put some things together in the second half of the Washington game and largely carried the play throughout the second and third periods, outside of two absolutely braindead turnovers that derailed all of that progress. The numbers back up that eye-test observation, as well. Those mistakes still count, and they still hurt, and they are still concerns, but eliminating one or two mistakes is a hell of a lot easier than figuring out how to tilt the ice and play better over an extended period of time.
There are still a handful of concerning trends that have developed early on that are probably inspiring different levels of panic.
Among them: the play of Sidney Crosby and the first line, the defense itself, and Arturs Silovs, who I don’t think has been very good since the season-opener (where he was never really challenged).
Let’s dig a little deeper into each of them and try to assess the proper level of concern and panic on a scale of 1-10, with one being “everything is normal” and 10 being “full blown panic.”
Sidney Crosby’s slow start
Wednesday night in Washington was a harsh reminder as to how imposing father time is on everybody in sports. Even the greats.
Everybody was excited to see the start of the final chapter of the Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin rivalry, and then both players were complete non-factors in the game.
Ovechkin played 14 minutes, had no points and recorded two shots on goal. After being on the fence about his future, he played two games this season and then decided this was going to be it.
Crosby was a minus-4 and was mostly invisible, continuing what has been a shockingly quiet start to the season for him and his line. He is almost two years younger than Ovechkin, and has been a better overall player, including over the past few years, but he is still 39. He is not going to dominate for ever.
There were eight goals scored in a Penguins-Capitals game and those guys factored into the scoring on exactly zero of them.
It’s a new era, folks.
The Penguins are now four games into the season and Crosby has zero goals, two assists, while the Penguins have been outscored by a 3-5 margin with him on the ice during 5-on-5 play. Through four games they have been significantly better when he is not on the ice versus when he is on the ice. Not only are they being outscored with him on the ice, their expected goal share is a 54 percent while he has received heavy offensive zone starts. When he is off the ice the Penguins are outscoring teams by a 9-4 margin, have a 60 percent expected goal share while those lines have received primarily defensive zone starts.
I’m just stating facts here, folks. And I’m watching the games. The eye-test isn’t much better. And given that his line has already rotated through three different wingers in four games to try and find the right fit I am guessing the coaching staff feels the same way.
Now, again, it’s four games. Crosby has been a slow starter in recent years, and he had even less time to build up for this season in training camp and the preseason. He is going to slow down at some point. The points will decline more significantly at some point. I am not sure we are at the point where his game has completely deteriorated over night (or over the summer). But I do think it’s more than acceptable to look at these first four games and say, “hmm, something doesn’t seem right with the 39-year-old forward here.”
Concern level: 5/10
The defense
I am on record as saying that I kind of like this defense and some of the players on it, at least in the context of what the Penguins 2025-26 defense was and what it looked like.
League-wide, and on an NHL level? It’s probably middle of the pack at best.
But compared to the 2025-26 Penguins level? I can see it being better than that group.
The early returns are not yet consistently there. Mostly due to the turnovers. Wednesday was shocking in that regard, with Trevor van Riemsdyk being guilty of two baffling plays, one of which led directly to a goal off the opening face-off, and another that led to a power play that eventually led to a goal that took away all of the momentum the Penguins had built in a comeback attempt.
Kris Letang and Declan Carlile were also guilty of shockingly bad plays that directly led to goals.
Just baffling, self-inflicted mistakes that clearly altered the flow and outcome of the game.
A lot of those same mistakes were also visible in Monday’s game against Winnipeg.
While it’s easier to clean up “a couple of mistakes” than it is to carry the pace of play, that doesn’t mean it’s actually going to happen, or that those mistakes are going to stop. Maybe they don’t. Maybe that’s what these guys do where they play well for 30 minutes and then just wet the bed two or three times a game.
That is a real possibility.
Concern level: 6.5/10
Arturs Silovs
I said at the start of the season that goaltending was going to impact a lot this season, and what it looks like for the Penguins. Silovs and Sergei Murashov certainly have the potential to be very good and steal some games, but they are also massive wild-cards that could put the Penguins into the lottery very, very quickly no matter what else is going on around them.
After posting a shutout in the opener, Silovs has allowed 10 goals in his next two starts and is now on the negative side of goals saved above expected (minus-1.4 via MoneyPuck).
My concern here isn’t necessarily about any one game, or any two games, or even his specific performance on Wednesday. Not only because it’s a small sample size, but also because the play in front of him has been spotty. It’s mostly about his overall play going back to the start of last season, and some of the things you see from him (and are still seeing from him).
He has had some great games, and the bigger situation, the better he seems to play. But He also has a tendency to just give them some non-competitive games and moments, especially when it comes to some of his plays with the puck and his rebound control. The difference between his floor and ceiling on most nights is like walking into the Sistine Chapel. I just don’t know that I trust him on a consistent basis.
The Buffalo Sabres after a summer filled with rumors of trading for Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, came back with the same three-headed monster of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis between the pipes for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
It is yet to be determined whether this trio will have the same level of success they had last season, but based on the waiver claim of Ellis last October, the Sabres clearly determined that they had moved on from Devon Levi having a future with the organization. The 24-year-old was sent down to AHL Rochester after training camp because he was waiver exempt, and did not get an NHL look for the first time since signing with the Sabres in 2023.
Levi played 52 games with the Amerks last season, but his statistics declined from his first two AHL seasons. With his waiver exemption expired this season, he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers on July 1 for a 2028 third round pick, and appeared to be a fallback option to veteran Tristan Jarry and Stanley Cup winning free agent Frederik Andersen.
Things have appeared to fall into place for Levi with his new club. Andersen, who has found himself with nearly a permanent residence on injured reserve in the latter stages of his career, is out till December with a knee injury. Jarry, who lost his job to Connor Ingram last season after being acquired from Pittsburgh due to poor play, gave up six goals in an overtime loss to Vancouver last week.
Edmonton coach Mike Babcock started Levi in the rematch with the Canucks and allowed seven goals on 22 shots in a 9-7 win, but fared much better in his second straight start against Seattle, and on Wednesday won his third straight, stopping 29 shots in a 5-2 win over Anaheim. His statistics are not exactly Vezina-level (3-0-0, 3.35 GAA, .863 save %), but at this point, Babcock is likely to keep going with the hot hand and give the former Sabre the opportunity he did not get with Buffalo the last two seasons.
Twenty-five years after the Ottawa Senators drafted him, and eight years after his tragic death, Ray Emery will be remembered at the club's home opener on Thursday night.
Emery was the starting goalie for the only modern-day Senators entry to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, and his family will be on hand to help them begin a new season.
The Hamilton native spent six seasons in the Senators organization. He eventually won a Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and finished that regular season with a 1.94 GAA, a .922 save percentage, and a 17-1 record.
Travis Green discusses the Senators performance on Tuesday after a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings (Senators YouTube)..
Tragically, a couple of years after his 2016 retirement, Emery died in a swimming accident in Hamilton. He was only 35.
This season marks the 20th anniversary of the Sens' amazing run to the Cup final, where they eventually fell to the Anaheim Ducks. It was a time Sens fans will never forget as they watched the club made short work of Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Buffalo that year, winning every series in five games.
Emery started all 20 playoff games that spring.
After the disappointing end to Dominik Hasek's one season in Ottawa, Emery was perfect for that Senators team.
He was a talented goalie, fearless and occasionally unpredictable. He had one of those smiles that made you instantly like him.
And he was tough.
He loved the sweet science and wore masks during his career that featured legendary boxers like Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Jack Johnson, George Chuvalo, and in Philadelphia, the fictional Rocky Balboa.
Even on a team with brawlers Chris Neil and Brian McGrattan, Emery was in the discussion for guys on the team you'd least like to fight. Who could forget that wild night in Buffalo during the 2006-07 season, when Emery fought two Sabres in the same line brawl, smiling his way through both tilts?
As they open the home portion of a new season at Canadian Tire Centre, the building where fans once chanted Emery's name, his family has been invited to ring the ceremonial bell before the Senators take on the Philadelphia Flyers, another of Emery's other former teams.
According to Ian Mendes, the Sens' Vice President of Communications, Ottawa is now home for Emery's family.
His parents, Paul and Sharlene, moved here from Cayuga, Ontario during COVID. They live in Ashton, while their other two sons, Andrew and Nick, live here with their families as well.
“Being in Ottawa means a lot to us,” Sharlene told Mendes. “It’s comforting and healing. Lots of memories, and it’s the healing steps we’re taking. It’s the place to be.”
Goaltending isn’t the reason for the New Jersey Devils 1-2 start and back-to-back losses. The power play, penalties, and defensive woes play a bigger role in the struggles. That said, it hasn’t impressed either.
Jake Allen is the primary starter, and he put together a strong opening-night performance against the Philadelphia Flyers but then allowed five goals to the Utah Mammoth (though the defense in front of him didn’t help). Nico Daws, meanwhile, had a start to forget against the New York Islanders, where he allowed six goals and never settled into the game.
The Devils plan to rely on this tandem to start the season, or at least until injuries force them to decide. It’s how the Buffalo Sabres handled their trio last season after claiming Colten Ellis. The Devils will take that approach for now, but they shouldn’t, especially with the young Rémi Poirier waiting in the wings.
Poirier Can Give The Devils A Spark In The Net
The 25-year-old goaltender is an unknown in the NHL. How he’ll play is anyone’s guess. However, his time in the American Hockey League showed his upside. Just as he hit his stride with the Texas Stars and looked poised to develop into an NHL starter, the Devils claimed him off waivers.
The question with AHL goaltenders is always how they’ll adjust to the NHL, where the game is faster and the style of play is more technical. Poirier is expected to make that adjustment not just because he’s a bigger goaltender, but has the athleticism to make the big saves.
Poirier also has the mentality to play in the NHL. It’s that competitive edge that stood out in the AHL and something that gave opponents fits. He was also a workhorse with the Stars, playing 52 games for them last season and proving he can handle the grind that is the NHL.
The Devils shouldn’t just turn to him because of his upside. They can start him to get a spark from the team. Many coaches will turn to their backup in-game after a slow start to wake the team up. When a team trails 2-0 or 3-0 early, it’s usually not the goaltender’s fault, but a message must be sent.
The Devils don’t need that message after a 1-2 start. However, the way they’ve played in back-to-back games, where they’ve been outscored 11-3, is alarming. A new starter in the net can send that message to the rest of the team.
When The Devils Should Give Him A Start?
The good thing about the game on Tuesday is that the Devils have three days to digest and process it. They’ll come into their Saturday afternoon game ready to go. The rare break in games is also a good time to reset, considering the Devils have a marathon ahead with 11 games to close out the month.
The upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks is a good time to give Poirier his first start. It’s a good way for the young goaltender to ease into the NHL, and as an afternoon game, he can get the nod while keeping Allen and Daws on a routine (many goaltenders prefer those 7 PM start times).
That said, the Devils are looking to get back on track with the upcoming game. They’ll likely turn to Allen with the expectation that he’ll bounce back. That said, the Devils play five games in eight days, and it’s a good time to give Poirier one of those games.
The schedule ahead can and likely will wear down the goaltending. It’s why having an extra one helps. If Poirier doesn’t get the start against the Canucks, the Oct. 17 game against the Washington Capitals or the Oct. 24 game against the Los Angeles Kings both make sense as well, especially as they give their tandem a break in the month.
In the big picture, the Devils won’t have Poirier sit around for too long; at least they shouldn’t. They claimed him off waivers to provide reinforcement, and while injuries might force their hand, strong starts from their young goaltender can provide an alternative, more positive outlook.
When do you think the Devils should turn to Poirier? Comment below!
The Vancouver Canucks (2-2-0) kick off a six-game road trip on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes (2-1-1). This matchup will be a tough test for Vancouver as they battle the reigning 2026 Stanley Cup champions. Last year, Carolina swept the season series, picking up wins in both matchups.
Thursday will be a good test for this young Canucks team. While the Hurricanes have not had the best start to the campaign, they know how to win and play a very structured game. Vancouver needs a strong first period; otherwise, they may not be able to recover against Carolina's shutdown system.
If the Canucks want to skate out with two points, they need production from the power play. The Hurricanes' penalty kill is currently operating at 89.5% and was virtually unbeatable during last year's Stanley Cup run. Vancouver has had some success so far this season with the man advantage but will need a big performance on Thursday night.
Players To Watch:
Jake DeBrusk:
After dealing with an illness, Jake DeBrusk is projected to return to the lineup on Thursday. He was skating on the first line at practice on Wednesday and was back in his spot on the first-unit power play. Now that DeBrusk is healthy, he will need to start producing both at even strength and with the man advantage.
Taylor Hall:
Taylor Hall has been a thorn in the Canucks' side for the last 17 years. The 34-year-old has 42 points in 44 games against Vancouver, which included a point in each game last season. With two goals so far this year, the Canucks will need to keep their eyes on Hall whenever he is on the ice.
Vancouver Canucks (2–2–0):
Paul Cotter: 4–2–6
Elias Pettersson: 2–4–6
Filip Hronek: 0–5–5
Marco Rossi: 3–1–4
Liam Öhgren: 1–3–4
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 1–2–0
Leevi Meriläinen: 1–0–0
Carolina Hurricanes (2-1-1):
Sebastian Aho: 4-3-7
Andrei Svechnikov: 1-3-4
Jackson Blake: 0-3-3
Taylor Hall: 2-0-2
Mark Jankowski: 1-1-2
Goaltenders:
Brandon Bussi: 1-1-1
Pyotr Kochetkov: 1-0-0
Game Information:
Start time: 4:00 pm PT
Venue: Lenovo Center
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: KiSS West Coast
Nov 14, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) and Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) battle over the puck during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Travis Sanheim #6 and Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers defend their goal against Filip Hallander #11 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on September 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Jason Spezza shed some light on the decision making around yesterday’s trade that sent forward Filip Hallander to Edmonton in exchange for defenseman Spencer Stastney.
“We had to make a move due to our depth at forward and by looking at past performances and future potential. Filip was the player we determined as expendable,” Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza wrote in an e-mail to local outlets. “In our trade discussions, the Oilers had interest in Filip, while we had interest in Stastney.”
Spezza’s use of the word ‘expendable’ surely isn’t intended to be as harsh as it comes off in reading, but it’s pretty much on the money. Hallander is 26-years old, he’s only played 17 career NHL games for one reason or another due to injuries, leaving for Sweden and a blood clot issue. He’s got one 5v5 goal in those 17 games (scored last week against the Flyers in a blowout win against a team playing awfully poorly). He’s done well to show gradual improvements yet at the same time has a very low ceiling of a fourth line, PK winger who never has been a high-end skater or shown a lot of dynamic skill. By rule those players are as expendable as it gets.
It’s clear to see that this trade was a problem solver for both Pittsburgh and Edmonton. The Penguins had (and, let’s face it still have) too many forwards. Hallander earned a spot with a strong training camp, yet if it weren’t for injuries/absences to Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel and Andrei Kuzmenko, this type of decision would have had to be made earlier. It wouldn’t have been a great idea or beneficial to risk Hallander on waivers and see him depart for nothing.
The Oilers faced a similar quandary in reverse, having too many defensemen and needing to add a forward. Stastney, a player they acquired for a third round pick less than a year ago, ended up on the outside looking in this year as the team’s eighth defenseman following some off-season adds on the blueline — not dissimilar to how acquiring forwards like Kuzmenko, Nick Robertson and Hendrix Lapierre pushed Hallander further towards the margins in Pittsburgh.
So instead of playing waiver roulette and giving the other 30 teams a chance to pluck the players away for nothing, the Pens and Oil struck a deal that works for both. The dots were there to be connected, as we wrote about over the summer that the situation and a possibility made sense for these teams to work together in this fashion.
Spezza also talked about what Pittsburgh liked about their new player.
“Stastney is a great skating defenseman (who) is at his best when he is asserting himself defensively and offensively, using his legs, retrieving pucks and moving pucks into the forwards’ hands,” Spezza wrote. “Stastney adds to our depth as a left-shot defenseman (who) has experience playing on the left or right side, and he will be competing with our existing defensemen for ice time.”
Stastney checks a lot of the boxes that Dubas likes in players. That profile of defender: plus skater, puck mover, not a huge emphasis on size is a hallmark of what he often goes after.
Beyond that, Stastney is 26-years old, has no contractual commitment after this year and has lacked opportunity in other spots. That’s a lot of boxes to check off for similar players like Parker Wotherspoon, Ryan Shea and Declan Carlile that the Pens have employed recently.
Defensive depth is a necessary thing. Pittsburgh has three defenders in their lineup over the age of 35. They have another, Sam Girard, who has averaged missing 19 games over the prior three seasons. Adding another layer before having to go into the AHL and call-up players who might not be ready (especially on the left side) is always a welcome addition.
The other interesting item is that this trade hasn’t truly solved Pittsburgh’s issue in totality, since they are navigating staying under 23 players now that many of the camp injuries are returning to play. Does adding Stastney mean eventually pushing Ilya Solovyov off the roster, perhaps as soon as when Andrei Kuzmenko’s non-roster status expires on Sunday? What will become of Elmer Soderblom, now scratched in three-straight games? Just how safe is Ville Koivunen’s spot on the team? There are still more questions than answers for what direction they will take in the days to come but this first trade of the year starts to right-size the balance of the forward/defenseman split for the roster a little bit. If the team gets back to health this won’t be the only transaction to ease to logjam of forwards.
In an interesting move that led to them replacing youth and flair with experience and sandpaper, the Philadelphia Flyers signed veteran free agent winger Michael Bunting to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Such a signing has its benefits, but it's fair to wonder if the Flyers got the right guy.
Four games into the season, Bunting isn't the only experienced winger with an established history of some scoring upside out there.
The Flyers likely chose the 31-year-old because of his physicality and ability to play the agitator role as a complementary forward, but in terms of pure skill and scoring upside, well, there's more out there.
All-Star sniper and two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko remains without a contract through the early stages of the 2026-27 season, and he's the only free agent forward remaining who scored at least 20 goals and 40 points last season.
In 75 games with the Minnesota Wild, Tarasenko, 34, scored 23 goals, 24 assists, and 47 points on a team with winning aspirations, rebounding nicely from a bad season with Detroit that saw him score just 11 times in 80 games in 2024-25.
Indeed, the Russian sharpshooter is no longer the player he was at the peak of his career with the St. Louis Blues, but his stints with Minnesota, Florida, and even the New York Rangers have proven that Tarasenko can, at a minimum, still bang 'em in for a contender in a middle-six role.
On top of his obvious scoring upside, Tarasenko won cups with Florida in 2024 and St. Louis in 2019, and his 132 playoff games and two rings are something the Flyers have placed a premium on in the past when adding to their young team.
Remember, at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, the Flyers traded what ended up being the 109th overall pick for an Erik Johnson well past his best playing days, then re-signed him in the offseason.
In the 2023 offseason, the Flyers had brought in Marc Staal, who was fresh off a Cup Final appearance with Florida, the second of his career.
The Flyers moved away from that approach last season and it paid off with their first playoff appearance since 2020, but the bottom appears to have completely fallen out this season, for whatever reason.
The Flyers have scored just five goals in four games this season, and only the rebuilding Calgary Flames (three in three) have been worse.
Defense has never been his thing, but Vladimir Tarasenko can still score at a high level. (Photo: HockeyStats.com)
On top of his skill and experience, Tarasenko would be an excellent mentor for young Russian talents Matvei Michkov and Nikita Grebenkin, who are still cutting their teeth at the NHL level.
Oh, and 75 of Tarasenko's 327 regular season goals have come on the power play, which would surely be a boon for a Flyers power play that has sputtered to an 0-11 start while also allowing a short-handed goal.
Bunting's not half-bad either, with 36 of his 109 goals coming on the power play, but a much larger portion of his goals have come on the man advantage (33% vs. 23%) compared to Tarasenko.
As a not-as-naturally-skilled player, the Flyers may not be able to lift Bunting to his full scoring potential with their woeful power play units, and there is an element of concern given that the two-time 20-goal-scorer ended last season with just one goal in his last 14 games, including his lone playoff appearance.
In any event, Tarasenko, like Bunting, has been without a new team this long for a reason, though it's fair to wonder if Tarasenko would have been a better fit for the offense-needy Flyers.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 7: Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals battles for a puck against Hendrix Lapierre #22 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during a game at Capital One Arena on September 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
A slow start on Wednesday night saw the Pittsburgh fall into a 4-1 that they almost clawed back from but ultimately fell short in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in D.C. Bryan Rust made his season debut after battling injury and scored his first of the season while Tommy Novak and Nick Robertson tallied the other Penguin markers in the loss. [Pensburgh]
Pens Points…
Something was going to have to give when it came to the Penguins logjam at forward and a domino fell on Wednesday with Kyle Dubas dealing Filip Hallander to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Spencer Stastney. [Pensburgh]
In a related move to the Hallander trade, the Penguins activated Bryan Rust from injured reserve after missing the first three games of the season and made his debut against the Washington Capitals last night. [Trib Live]
Coming off their best season in over a decade, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins began their 2026-27 campaign over the weekend with a pair of losses, one in overtime, to Springfield and Hershey respectively. [Pensburgh]
Declan Carlile received only a single NCAA scholarship offer coming out of junior hockey. After three seasons at Merrimack College then battling through the minors to make the NHL, Carlile now finds himself skating on the Penguins top defensive pairing. [PPG]
Matt Dumba has called it a career after 13 NHL seasons with five different clubs. Dumba played his final career NHL game on December 7th of last season as a member of the Penguins. His final professional game came with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. [Trib Live]
Andrei Kuzmenko was granted non-roster status by the NHL as he continues to work back from missing time following the death of his father. He will work to get back in game shape at practice with the team but will not play any earlier than Saturday against Dallas. [Sportsnet Pittsburgh]
NHL News and Notes…
Alexander Ovechkin says he doesn’t want a farewell tour for his final season but he’s surely going to get a warm reception when he plays his final game at various arenas around the league. His last time on the ice at PPG Paints Arena will come on March 13th with his final home game in D.C. set for April 4th. [RMNB]
Coming off a season ending injury in 2025-26, New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will be sidelined for another whole season as he recovers from a torn ACL that will take 6-8 months of healing following surgery. [NHL]
The Islanders are home Thursday to host the Chicago Blackhawks, who have exceeded preseason expectations by winning one of their first four games. They are also celebrating the UFA signing of legendary Ranger and Red Wing Patrick Kane.
The injury news for Alex Romanov is worst-case scenario: ACL tear, surely out for the season for the second consecutive year. [LHH]
That’s gonna test the Isles depth, again. I mean, Carson Soucy isn’t walking through that door. [Newsday]
Unrelated, but promising: The Isles reached an ELC with 2026 pick Vladimir Dravecky, the Slovakian-born, Sweden-experienced OHLer. (You should pronounce it “Druh-VETS-ky” to impress your spouse.) [Isles]
Ovechkin’s sons Sergei and Ilya handled the task of announcing their father onto the ice, and the Russian star received a standing ovation before the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Wednesday night.
“It was pretty cool moment,” Ovechkin said. “Huge crowd, kids announce my name. It was a special moment.”
The NHL’s career leader in goals did not add to his total of 929 on Wednesday. In fact, Ovechkin wasn’t even on the ice during an extended period at the end when the Penguins had their goalie pulled. This was the 101st meeting between Ovechkin and Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby, including playoffs. Neither managed a point, only the 11th time that’s happened, according to Sportradar.
Crosby actually finished with a minus-4 after being on the ice for all four of Washington’s even-strength goals.
The Capitals have assembled a roster with plenty of depth, to the point where Ovechkin no longer needs to play every second of Washington’s power-play time.
Alex Ovechkin’s sons Sergei and Ilya introduced him at his final home opener before the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3.
“I’m not going to say that he doesn’t want to be out there,” coach Spencer Carbery said.
“But he also is understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish as a team, and the great players that he has around him.”
Washington’s one power-play goal on the night was scored by Ryan Leonard — from the left circle where Ovechkin so often sets up.
The 41-year-old Ovechkin announced earlier this week that this would be his final season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Make no mistake, though. Ovechkin was still the center of attention. When the whole roster was introduced one by one, he was last, with his kids doing the honor.
“I had no idea any of that was happening,” Carbery said. “I think they nailed that moment. Special for I think everybody in the building.”
Ovechkin had two shots on goal, and he was on the ice when Anthony Beauvillier gave Washington a 1-0 lead 23 seconds into the game.
“It’s been such an incredible journey. Cool to see his kids down there,” said Tom Wilson, who had a goal and two assists for the Caps.
“He’s a legend in this city, so I think everyone had a big smile. You get chills watching him come out.”
