The 2026 playoff field saw major turnover from 2025 as the Buffalo Sabres ended a record 14-season playoff drought, the Anaheim Ducks returned after seven years out and four other teams made the playoffs after missing a year earlier.

Among the six team that dropped out were the Toronto Maple Leafs, who tumbled after a nine-season playoff run. The Florida Panthers' back-to-back championship run also ended as major injuries kept them out of the playoffs.

A six-team turnover might be a little ambitious this year, but plenty of teams showed improvement during the offseason.

Here's a look at five 2025-26 non-playoff teams that could have a chance to clinch a postseason berth this season:

Florida Panthers

The 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup championship dropped out last season because captain Aleksander Barkov missed the entire season after ACL surgery and Matthew Tkachuk was out until close to the Olympics. Both are available now, which alone helps their chances. The team added Brady Tkachuk and other gritty players. The strength of the goaltending is in question, though, after Sergei Bobrovsky left in free agency and the team traded for Jacob Markstrom.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals brought in three-time 30-goal scorers Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou and structured a bonus-laden deal to bring back record-setting goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. Boone Jenner is another solid addition and Vincent Desharnais can help Washington deal with a long-term injury to Rasmus Sandin.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks missed the playoffs by four points to extend their drought to seven seasons. But Macklin Celebrini is on the rise, the Sharks added big veterans on defense and Mason Marchment brings pesky play to the franchise where his father played. Ivar Stenberg was a solid draft pickup after the team won the second lottery drawing. It's no guarantee the Sharks make it, but the Kings do seem like they could slip.

New Jersey Devils

New general manager Sunny Mehta added scoring on the wing with 33-goal scorer Mantha and Luke Evangelista. Versatile forwards Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist came back in the Markstrom trade. Jack Hughes will need to stay healthy and will the goaltending be strong enough?

Toronto Maple Leafs

Bobrovsky and 22-goal defenseman Darren Raddysh were added, and new GM John Chayka rearranged the bottom six forward group. If No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna performs as promised, the Maple Leafs' playoff absence could end at one year.

Other teams to watch

Nashville Predators: They missed the playoffs by four points. New GM Chris MacFarland traded for some of his former Avalanche players, plus Mavrik Bourque. They need better seasons from Juuse Saros and Jonathan Marchessault.

St. Louis Blues: They also finished four points out of a spot. They got steady Connor McMichael back in the Kyrou trade, and Mason MacTavish could benefit from new surroundings.

New York Islanders: They get a full season from coach Peter DeBoer, a late-season hire. Matthew Schaefer showed he's a special player.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which NHL teams could make postseason after missing last season?

A programming note for all those interested in Penguins hockey: the team begins preseason action tonight at PPG Paints Arena against the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop on the first of four preseason games is set for 7 p.m. And with that…

Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…

Evgeni Malkin is entering his 21st season with the Penguins after signing a one-year contract, but he remains uncertain about whether he will continue playing beyond this season. [Associated Press via Sportsnet]

The Penguins have assigned goaltending prospect Matvei Nikonovich to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Nikonovich, whom Pittsburgh selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL draft, is set to join the OHL after spending most of last season with Lada Togliatti in Russia’s MHL, the country’s top junior league. [Trib Live]

The Penguins entered training camp with a competitive battle in net between Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist. Silovs, 25, is the youthful veteran after playing a career-high 39 games last season and finishing strong in the playoffs, while Murashov and Blomqvist are looking to establish themselves as NHL regulars. [Penguins]

Forward Rickard Rakell recently surprised season-ticket holders, the Crandens, by personally delivering a special package to their home as part of the team’s annual preseason tradition. The visit was especially meaningful for 13-year-old Tyler, a lifelong Penguins fan who saved up enough money to buy his own Penguins jersey, which turned out to be Rickard Rakell. Both spent time talking hockey while Rakell signed his jersey and joked about one of Tyler’s homemade signs. [Penguins]

Marc-Andre Fleury received a warm welcome from fans in Saint-Boniface, Quebec, during Kraft Hockeyville, with crowds lining up for photos, autographs and a chance to see the longtime former Penguins netminder. [NHL]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Dozens of protesters gathered outside Rogers Place before the Edmonton Oilers’ first home game of the preseason, calling on the team to reverse its signing of forward Alex Formenton. [TSN]

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a new logo at center ice this season, paying homage to the 100th anniversary of the team’s rebranding from the Toronto St. Patricks to the Maple Leafs. [Sportsnet]

The Islanders opened the preseason schedule Sunday afternoon vs. the Devils with a lineup largely made of prospects and AHLers who mostly know they will not make the opening roster.

But Cal Ritchie — the only NHL regular from last year — and Victor Eklund impressed Pete DeBoer, according to his post-game scrum, and Cole Eiserman notched a goal. For the record, the Isles lost, 2-1, in Newark, with ol’ friend David Rittich making the stops for the Devils, including 12 in the first period.

Islanders News

• Takeaways from Sunday: Much of the above, plus Eiserman scoring (on a 4-on-3), Vitek Vanecek appearing, and an agnostic line on Pierre Engvall’s return, . [Isles]
• Post-game video:DeBoer | Eiserman | Ritchie, who gets to make a case for center and whom the coach said is clearly stronger
• Islanders season preview, and what it would take to make the playoffs (the “most intriguing addition” is Matias Maccelli, so…yeah). [NHL]
• The Islanders do not want to carry three goalies, though even if Semyon Varlamov’s partially replaced knees hold up, they’ll likely need Vanecek at some point to get through an 84-game season. [Newsday]

#Isles Pete DeBoer says keeping three goalies has been discussed but it "handcuffs" the roster. Says ultimate roster makeup will depend on Semyon Varlamov and if he shows he's capable of handling backup role after two partial knee replacements. Organization confident he can.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) September 20, 2026

Elsewhere

• Brent Burns is ready for his 23rd season, with a much shorter beard. [AP]
• With Manitoba’s decision to keep Daylight Savings Time in perpetuity, Winnipeg Jets games will be on Eastern Time, essentially. [Sportsnet]
• Stripped of the captain “C” and missing time due to a workout injury, Dylan Larkin is not expanding on his trade request. [AP]
• Disgruntled Blue Jacket Kirill Marchenko is not hear to talk about the future. [Sportsnet]
• Just like your elders, Oilers fans were worried about Connor McDavid after a “scary fall.” Ahh, preseason news. [Sportsnet]
• A Wild fan won one of those shoot-from-center-ice contests to win season tickets and celebrated appropriately. [NHL]
• Howie Rose as he retires from calling the Mets, having thought maybe this year there was a chance. [Times]

With the training camp and preseason underway, the New Jersey Devils roster, for the most part, is set. Sure, there are a few decisions to make, with some players eager to carve out roles on the NHL roster, but they aren’t adding to the group, at least not now. 

That said, the NHL is in a different place than it was previously. Since the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, teams operate differently. Anyone who has a restricted free agent on their roster has their head on a swivel. Anyone who doesn’t but has room on their roster suddenly looks like a vulture ready to swoop in and grab an elite player. For the Devils, specifically, general manager Sunny Mehta, there’s still time to make a splash and take this roster up another notch. 

The Trade Targets

There are star players around the league who are frustrated and asking for trades. It’s given their teams headaches they want to get out of. The Ottawa Senators got out of their way when they traded Brady Tkachuk, and many teams are hopeful to do the same once the season begins. 

A Shortened Preseason Doesn’t Do The Devils Any FavorsWith a shortened training camp and the preseason to prepare for the NHL season, a lot of teams are at a disadvantage, and the Devils, with a new-look roster, will experience early-season struggles.

The Connor Hellebuyck news is the latest, with the star goaltender holding out of training camp and the Winnipeg Jets suspending him because of it. He’s the player multiple teams are eager to acquire, and the Devils are no exception. Hellebuyck not only addresses a need, but he also changes their outlook for the season. 

The Dylan Larkin trade request is also fascinating because he joined the team for training camp but is now dealing with an injury. He’s an under-the-radar player for the Devils to watch, someone who can take the forward unit to another level. 

Devils Should Consider Acquiring Red Wings Dylan Larkin At Some Point It’s unlikely that the Detroit Red Wings will trade him before the season begins. That said, if there’s a chance to add the center to the New Jersey Devils' lineup, they must consider it.

Then there’s Quinn Hughes, who is the player everyone is wondering about. The season is around the corner, and the Minnesota Wild haven’t extended him, indicating that the 2024 Norris Trophy winner is heading towards free agency. The Devils can wait to sign him, or if they are putting together a great season, they can see it as a chance to grab him now for a run at the Cup. 

The Under-The-Radar Signings

The RFAs have become an intriguing option for GMs around the league. Since the Carlsson offer sheet, anyone can make a move and potentially acquire an elite player if the team isn’t willing to match. 

There are two big-name defensemen without contracts heading into this season. Alexander Nikishin is a young defenseman who has the talent to be great in the NHL, yet the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t signed him. Simon Edvisson is a building block on the Detroit Red Wings blue line whom interim GM Shawn Horcoff must sign, considering the tough offseason the team has already gone through. 

Revisiting The Devils 2022 NHL Draft & The Sliding Doors MomentsThe 2022 NHL draft became a pivotal one for the Devils, arguably a defining moment in Tom Fitzgerald’s general manager tenure.

Edvinsson is the defenseman the Devils can target. Yes, he’ll come with a cost, but Mehta can make the most of a Red Wings situation where they must match and manage their salary cap because of it. And if the Red Wings let Edvinsson walk, the Devils add another young defenseman to build around, someone who can step up in the defensive end as well. 

Making The Most Of The Blue Jackets Chaos

The latest reports out of Columbus are that they aren’t close to a contract agreement with Adam Fantilli. He’s one of the elite young scorers in the NHL who someone will give an offer sheet to. Fantilli is a big hit against the cap, but he’s someone the Devils should keep an eye on because of his talent and upside. 

#CBJ Adam Fantilli has now missed the first four days of training camp. No signs that a contract agreement is imminent.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 19, 2026

There’s also doubt about Kirill Marchenko and whether he wants to remain with the Blue Jackets after his contract expires. That’s why the Devils should consider adding him, even as a rental, for another boost to the forward unit. 

It’s unlikely the Devils will acquire a player from the Blue Jackets before the season begins. However, they can target some of their players early on, especially if the Blue Jackets struggle to start the season. 

It's not exclusive to the Blue Jackets either. The Devils will keep tabs on multiple teams once the season gets underway, whether it's the Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, or Vancouver Canucks, all of whom can struggle early on and lean into rebuilds. 

Vitek Vanecek is in the unenviable position of having his fate largely out of his control.

The netminder, who signed with the Islanders on a one-year, $1 million deal this offseason, doesn’t need to beat out Semyon Varlamov so much as he needs the organization to decide that carrying a third goaltender on the roster is necessary due to the combined risk of Varlamov’s health and losing Vanecek on waivers.

That was more or less acknowledged outright by coach Pete DeBoer following Sunday’s 2-1 preseason defeat to the Devils, in which Vanecek played the duration and turned aside 20 shots.

“It’s been discussed, and it does handcuff you,” DeBoer said when asked about the possibility of keeping three netminders on the 23-man roster. “I think that’s all gonna depend on how Varly’s doing, how he’s feeling and things like that. I don’t think, in talking with Mathieu [Darche], that we want to go there, but it’s on the table if we have to.”

Varlamov, who should see action in two of the last three preseason games, has shown nothing in camp that indicates he won’t be ready. He is moving well, stopping shots and looking like himself.

The Islanders are not going to deny him the chance to back up Ilya Sorokin as long as that holds true. Varlamov has astonished the entire organization with his dedication to returning to the ice following two partial knee replacements. The Islanders are not going to be the reason his attempt fails.

Nevertheless, there is a practical element to this. Nobody knows what the demands of an 84-game season — the travel, the practices, the 25 to 30 games the Islanders hope to get from their backup spot — will do to Varlamov’s knees. There are no comparable cases to what Varlamov is attempting.

This also comes in the context of the Islanders having overused Sorokin in the past two seasons. The lack of a viable backup while Varlamov was hurt was one of the biggest factors in the Islanders missing the playoffs both seasons.

Vanecek held an .883 save percentage in 22 games with Utah last season — a good deal worse than David Rittich’s .894, a mark the Islanders never trusted down the stretch. If Varlamov (or, for that matter, Sorokin) is hurt, the situation won’t be great no matter what.

But Vanecek is a goalie with more than 200 games of NHL experience. He is a known commodity, and the Islanders can at least feel like they know what they will get from him. They can’t say the same for Joshua Kotai, though the AHL Hamilton prospect — likely next up on the organizational depth chart — has put together a solid camp.

“I’m not thinking about it too much,” Vanecek said of the big-picture situation after Sunday’s match. “Just doing my best, and then we go see what’s gonna happen.”

The easiest way to solve the problem would be for Vanecek to pass through waivers unclaimed. But that’s not a guarantee in a league where nearly every team needs goaltending, and the Islanders won’t know ahead of time whether it’ll happen. The last thing they need is to lose Vanecek to waivers, watch Varlamov break down and then have the decision thrown back in their face.

On the other hand, the competition for roster spots, particularly among the forwards, is very tight. Could the Islanders justify sending Victor Eklund down to keep a third goaltender? What about Kyle MacLean, Mitchell Chaffee or Pierre Engvall?

These are not easy decisions, and they are being made harder by the continuing realization that not only does Eklund look like he belongs, but prospects such as Kashawn Aitcheson and Cole Eiserman also continue to impress.

Organizational depth is a good problem to have,

The Anaheim Ducks began their exhibition season on Sunday with a matinee matchup against the visiting San Jose Sharks. The Ducks had one of the more eventful offseasons in the NHL this year and in franchise history.

Their preseason opening lineup was more NHL-heavy than expected, but understandable given the compressed training camp schedule. 

Ducks Sign Tim Washe to Four-Year Extension

Injuries Piling Up for Ducks in the Early Days of Training Camp

The Sharks, however, traveled with a mostly AHL squad, featuring just three NHL regulars from a year ago. 

Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game: 

Klepov-Carlsson-Gauthier

Myatovic-Granlund-Sennecke

Killorn-McQueen-Colangelo

Farrell-Wahlberg-Nesterenko

LaCombe-Helleson

Mitchell-Luneau

Solberg-Warren

Laurent Brossoit got the nod for the Ducks’ first preseason game against the club he finished his 2025-26 campaign with. He was opposed by Eric Comrie, who backed up Connor Hellebuyck for the past two seasons for the Winnipeg Jets. Brossoit stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced, and Comrie, playing just half the game (scheduled), stopped 14 of 16. Matt Davis was inserted into the Sharks crease and saved 12 of 16 shots. 

One would be cautioned against making sweeping judgments of experienced players in a contest such as this, but there were takeaways to be had from other young players and prospects. 

Game Notes

Based on the rosters each team deployed in this game, it went roughly as expected. Anaheim's star players dictated play and were a threat to score every time they touched the puck. 

Defensively, a couple of miscommunications and misreads led to odd-man breaks for San Jose, where their depth players were able to beat Brossoit. 

Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson’s ice time was limited after sustaining an undisclosed injury, and he was shut down toward the end of the second period. 

Nikita Klepov: Klepov was given the greatest opportunity a team can afford a young player, deploying him with the Ducks’ two cornerstone forwards: Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. Carlsson and Gauthier expectedly dazzled, and Klepov was able to match their processing pace and make meaningful contributions.

Playing alongside the team’s stars, Klepov was generously afforded the time and space necessary for him to operate and begin to translate his game to the highest level of the sport. His IQ and quick processing speed were on display on multiple occasions, as was his ability to spin off checks and create space of his own. Conclusions shouldn’t be jumped to, but this was as positive a first preseason outing as one could have hoped for. 

Nico Myatovic: Much has been made of potential roster players like Klepov and Roger McQueen, as well as bubble players like Anton Wahlberg, but Myatovic has flown under the radar to this point in evaluations of the Ducks organizational pipeline. 

His production from 2024-26, his first two full seasons in the AHL, has been nothing to write home about, but he was given a similar opportunity as Klepov and McQueen in this game to make an impact, and he didn’t disappoint, playing alongside Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund. 

Tallying two assists, Myatovic was a presence on the forecheck, jumping to loose pucks, and winning board battles in all three zones. Sennecke’s second and third goals of this game were direct causes of small area plays he made. The first was a tenacious forecheck that led to a long cycle sequence, of which he was an integral factor, and the second was a breakout sequence where he kept a broken outlet moving up ice. 

Tristan Luneau: With Helleson missing as much time as he did in this game, Luneau stepped up and played a total of 25:31 TOI. He’s not only an NHL-ready prospect, but he’s primed to make tangible contributions at the NHL level, and he did just that in this game. 

He made a poor read on a loose puck in neutral ice that led to the Sharks’ second goal, but was otherwise a meaningful puck-mover, igniting the Ducks’ first goal, setting up their fourth, and potting their sixth. He’s shown to be knowledgeable of angles, capable of evading forechecks, and is creative and powerful on the offensive side of the puck. Further reps will lead to better decision-making and will likely increase his overall impact by the end of the season.

The Ducks will continue training camp on Tuesday before playing back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at Honda Center and against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose on Thursday. 

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek Speaks at Training Camp

Three Storylines Heading into Anaheim Ducks 2026-27 Training Camp

Ducks Sign Cutter Gauthier to Six-Year Contract Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have had a dream 2025-26 season, but that doesn't mean they didn't face problems. 

The Penguins struggled to defend in their own zone, especially in front of the net. There were too many goals allowed in those high-danger areas. 

Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas wasn't happy with that and made changes to the defense this offseason, trading for Kaedan Korczak and signing Declan Carlile and Trevor van Riemsdyk. 

Korczak looks poised to play on the right side, while Carlile and van Riemsdyk are set to play on the left. 

Korczak confirmed Thursday that he was having coffee with his in-laws when he learned about the trade. He's super excited to join a Penguins team in a different situation than the Vegas Golden Knights. 

"Just talking with Kyle and the coaches, it's exciting to be a part of that group that's gonna hopefully bring that next step to the organization," Korczak said. "You obviously have those guys who can lead you. You've got some Hall of Famers here who can show us the way, so I'm really excited for the opportunity to be a part of this group." 

Korczak has skated with Sam Girard at training camp, and they have a good chance of opening the regular season as the Penguins' third defensive pair. They would be a well-balanced pair: Korczak is more of a defensive defenseman, while Girard likes to do his thing in the offensive zone.

Switching gears to Carlile, he's also stoked about joining a Penguins team that's building towards something. 

"I think it's really exciting," Carlile said. "Obviously, we're trying to build and keep pushing. They had a good year last year, and obviously we want to push the envelope even more and get farther into the playoffs. I'm excited to come in here and do my part, and try to help the team win."

Carlile has worked with Erik Karlsson at training camp, and the two have started to develop some chemistry. After Parker Wotherspoon played so well with Karlsson last year, the Penguins believe Carlile can step in for him after trading Wotherspoon to the Golden Knights for Korczak. 

Penguins' Training Camp 2026: Observations From Day 3These are observations from Day 3 of the Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp.

Like Karlsson, Kris Letang also looks poised to have a new defensive partner for the 2026-27 season. He didn't mesh well with Girard at the end of last season and has been paired with van Riemsdyk at camp. 

TVR is great defensively and could help Letang the way Brett Kulak did before he was flipped to the Colorado Avalanche for Girard. TVR signed a two-year contract with the Penguins in free agency and likes that the team puts success above everything else.

"Obviously, I was part of a Stanley Cup team my rookie year (2014-15 Chicago Blackhawks). 13 years later now, and I haven't gotten back, so you realize how hard it is, and when you get older, you realize the chances are going to be limited, so you want to go places where success is on the forefront, and here is obviously always like that," van Riemsdyk said. "Sid is always pushing guys, Geno, Karlsson, Tanger. They've been here. They've been part of great teams, and as long as they are around, I think they're always going to be pretty damn successful."

If Korczak, TVR, and Carlile all play at a high level, it will go a long way toward the Penguins' goal of returning to the playoffs this season.

---

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

Just as they did last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are easing into their roster cuts.

And, on Sunday, they made their first one.

Pittsburgh re-assigned goaltender Matvei Nikonovich to his OHL club, the Barrie Colts, making him the first cut of 2026 training camp. Nikonovich, 18, was selected in the fifth round (160th overall) by the Penguins in this year's draft after they traded into the draft to select him.  

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Belarusian netminder put together a nice season in the MHL - Russia's junior league - in 2025-26, posting a 1.96 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage in 38 appearances. He was selected by the Colts in the 2026 CHL Import Draft on Jun. 30, and this came after his MHL team, Ladia Togliatti, disbanded.

After sending back Nikonovich, the Penguins are down to 68 players in camp. They are set to play four pre-season games in five days this week, starting with the Buffalo Sabres at home on Monday. They will play the second part of a back-to-back on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh before a day off Wednesday. 

Nothing has been confirmed by the team, but a larger wave of roster cuts should be expected Wednesday, before the Penguins hit the road for their final two pre-season games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sabres. 

The roster for Monday's game was announced earlier on Sunday. 

Penguins Announce Roster For Pre-season Game Against SabresThe Pittsburgh Penguins have announced their roster for Monday's preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres.

---

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

The Colorado Avalanche gave Alan Roach plenty of reasons to yell into his microphone Sunday night.

Roach, the longtime public-address announcer at Ball Arena, was back behind the mic for the first time this season, and the Avalanche made sure he had plenty of work to do. Colorado scored four times over the final two periods to pull away from the Utah Mammoth for a 4-1 preseason victory at Ball Arena.

Beckett Hamilton and Taylor Makar scored in their preseason NHL debuts, while Gavin Brindley and Brock Nelson also found the back of the net. Martin Necas, Nazem Kadri, Artturi Lehkonen, Devon Toews, Brindley and T.J. Hughes each recorded an assist.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all seven shots he faced before giving way to Ilya Nabokov, who made 16 saves on 17 shots. in his preseason NHL debut.

Colorado dictated the pace of much of the opening period but couldn't find the net. That all changed in the second period. 

What Happened

The Avalanche broke through at 8:54 of the second period.

Hamilton finished from the right side of the crease after Necas knocked down a pass from Mammoth defenseman Maveric Lamoureux and quickly turned the broken play into a scoring chance.

Utah answered late in the period when Yegor Borikov scored from the doorstep at 15:27, sending the game into the second intermission tied 1-1.

The stalemate did not last very long. 

Brindley put Colorado back in front just 1:52 into the third period, finishing off a two-on-one rush with Kadri.

Then came an unusual decision in a preseason game: Utah challenged the goal for offsides. The challenge failed, and the resulting delay of game put the Avalanche on the power play. Colorado wasted no time making the Mammoth pay.

Lehkonen found Nelson in the high slot, and Nelson buried a one-timer at 2:27 to give the Avalanche a 3-1 lead.

Makar then put the game away late in the third.

Brindley chipped the puck out of the neutral zone, sending Makar in on a partial breakaway. Makar finished the opportunity at 17:27, giving the Avalanche their fourth and final goal of the night.

Not a bad way for the Avalanche to get the season started.

Next Up

Colorado will head north for its second preseason game Monday night, facing the Winnipeg Jets at 6 p.m. MT. The game can be heard on Altitude Sports Radio 950 AM.

The Buffalo Sabres are looking to improve on their solid 2025-26 season, in which they finished as the best Atlantic Division team in the regular-season. Buffalo beat the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series before they fell to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2. And now, Sabres fans are expecting at least as good a performance. 

To that end, here at TheHockeyNews.com, we’re breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an second-year online series called “Know Your Enemy”. In each file in the series, we’re analyzing how Buffalo played against each East team, as well as how they’re likely to fare against each team in the East this year. And in this particular file, we’re focusing on the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators suffered a massive blow this summer with the defection of former captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. Here’s this writer’s view on how the Sabres will perform in their four regular-season showdowns this season:

BUFFALO SABRES VS. OTTAWA SENATORS

NEW SENATORS PLAYERS: William Eklund (LW), Samuel Ersson (G), Andre Burakovsky (LW), Philip Tomasino (RW), Sammy Blais (LW)

2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Senators 1-1-1

2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: November 4 at Buffalo; December 14 at Ottawa; February 26 at Buffalo; March 7 at Ottawa

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? With the expanded 84-game schedule this season, the Sabres now will have four games against the Senators, and those four games are spread out across the regular-season fairly evenly. Three of those games will take place well in advance of this year’s trade deadline, which falls on March 1, 2027. So Buffalo scouts will have a fairly good idea of Ottawa’s lineup, and vice-versa.

That said, with the Senators almost certain to take at least a small step backward without Tkachuk on board, there’s really no excuse for the Sabres not to capitalize on Ottawa’s weaker lineup and pounce on the Sens, right out of the gate. 

Buffalo’s first game against the Sens will be in the Sabres’15th game of the season, which gives Sabres coach Lindy Ruff plenty of time to sort out his forward lines and defense pairings. And unless there are major injuries to either or both teams, Buffalo should take it to Ottawa – not with ease, but certainly, with authority.

Like any divisional rivals, there’s no shortage of bad blood between the Senators and Sabres – and there’s also recent trade history between them, including the Josh-Norris-for-Dylan-Cozens blockbuster. The Senators have won the trade to this point in time, as Norris hasn’t stayed healthy enough to prove his value to Buffalo. But certainly, that trade adds another layer to the animus between the two teams.

Regardless, with an extra game against each other this season, the Sens/Sabres rivalry will be supercharged – and these two teams could be squaring off against each other in the first-or-second-round of the 2027 playoffs. That’s why their regular-season games are so important. They want to establish dominance over each other, and whoever does will be on the right track to later-season success.

The Buffalo Sabres will practice at Key Bank Center early Monday morning, before heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins at the PPG Paints Arena on Monday night. It is expected that the roster for the exhibition debut will closely resemble one of the groups that took part in the Blue and Gold scrimmage on Saturday, but with a preseason schedule of four games, the Sabres and many other NHL clubs appear to be focusing more on generating familiarity with players that they’ve already decided will make their 23-man roster and less on players battling to make the club.

The Sabres will be at a slight disadvantage because of their three-headed monster between the pipes, as carrying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis will allow them to retain one fewer blueliner or forward. Where the club will carry less than the normal amount will be on defense, as it is probable that head coach Lindy Ruff will opt to go with seven defensemen, with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, Olin Zellweger, Louis Crevier, Conor Timmins, and Zach Metsa. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

The group of youngsters, headed by 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, as waiver-exempt and will begin the season in Rochester, while veterans like former first rounder Ryan Johnson and Buffalo native Dennis Gilbert will have to clear waivers to be sent down to the AHL Amerks.

Up front, the sports hernia injury to veteran Jason Zucker will likely have the winger starting the season on injured reserve. The only possible roster quandary may involve forward Jiri Kulich, who has not played an NHL game in 10 months. The 22-year-old still is waiver exempt and could be sent down to Rochester to ramp up after such a long layoff, although his placement on the fourth line might indicate that Ruff will ramp him up by playing decreased minutes with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn. 

If the Sabres decide to send him down, that could mean that Ruff will decide to keep non-exempt Tyson Kozak, or veteran Conor Sheary as the 13th forward, while Kulich gets more top line opportunity to start the campaign.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

This afternoon, the New Jersey Devils kicked off their preseason with a home matchup against the New York Islanders.

Things started off a bit slowly for the Devils, despite the eventual favorable outcome. In the first period, they were outshot 12-6, only playing a bit over 10 minutes at five-on-five because of a myriad of penalties. In that period, there were two near-goals: one for each side. The first came off the stick of Cody Glass, who took a feed while cutting across the net and chipped it past Vitek Vanecek after Ethan Edwards was run through the post, which knocked the net off the moorings. While the officials conversed, the Devils were not awarded a goal nor a penalty, shortly after taking their third penalty of the period. In those six penalty killing minutes, the Devils allowed three shots and looked pretty decent, only giving up a couple of high-danger chances. Later in the period, David Rittich was scrambling around the crease and had a loose puck just about covered up when he was rammed and jammed with the puck into the net. As the Islanders began to celebrate (barreling over a linesman in the process), Rittich went chasing after the offenders, causing a bit of a scrum that led to a four-on-four sequence.

Late in that first period, though, Ethan Edwards took a hooking penalty on Calum Ritchie, which gave the Islanders a four-on-three at the start of the second period. With that power play, Cole Eiserman scored the first goal of the game. Rittich just got a bit stuck at the far post.

It would not take long for the Devils to tie the game. Ryan Schmelzer, captain of the Utica Comets, scored on a quick counterattack off a feed from Ben Steeves after a Devils power play had expired.

David Rittich largely did well to keep the game tied throughout the second except for an adventurous departure from the crease that probably would have been punished by a full-NHL squad. I think that the Devils could do without decisions like that one given the goaltender they had just moved on from during the summer. The Devils dominated the expected goals battle in the second period after having a rough time in the first period, so giving momentum away in spots like that during the regular season is to be avoided.

In the third period, the game was a bit more back-and-forth with Connor Brown scoring the game-winner. In what has been a bit of a usual move for him, Brown poked the puck loose at the blueline off of Marshall Warren’s stick, racing the other way for a breakaway. He beat Vitek Vanecek cleanly, putting the Devils up 2-1.

The Devils largely controlled play after that game-winner, including a two-minute power play where they had chances but did not convert. At the end of the game, the Islanders had Vanecek pulled for the extra attacker, but they were not able to do much with the opportunity, only putting up one shot on Rittich with the six-on-five. So, the Devils took this one at a 2-1 score.

The Game Stats: The NHL.com Game Summary | The NHL.com Event Summary | The NHL.com Play by Play Log | The NHL.com Shot Summary | The Natural Stat Trick Game Stats

Back at it Tomorrow

With this being a largely AHL-heavy lineup, the Devils seem to be saving more veterans for tomorrow night’s matchup against the New York Rangers. Today, Amadeus Lombardi led the way in expected goals percentage, trailed closely by Xavier Parent (with Parent leading by far in raw expected goals for at five-on-five). While I have not been noting Parent as a roster contender so far, today is a reminder not to count him out entirely. Parent is someone who plays with energy and has a drive to score, as he led the Devils in individual expected goals per all-situation 60 minutes today (2.044/60) despite not playing much on the power play.

And, to his credit, while I think he was a bit too hectic in net, David Rittich saved 1.82 goals above expected on 24 total shots against, per Natural Stat Trick. That is, statistically, a good first start for him.

Tomorrow, we should be seeing some of the top six. I am looking forward to it.

Your Thoughts

What did you think of the preseason opener? Did you watch? Did you attend? What was your experience if you were at the game? What did you think of Lombardi’s first preseason game? Silaev? What about the returning veterans in Brown, Glass, and Dillon? What did you think of Rittich? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

The saga between Vezina and Hart Trophy Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets has reached critical mass, as the Olympic gold medal-winner failed to report to training camp, and was subsequently suspended by the Jets. The 33-year-old goalie reportedly requested a trade after the regular season, but GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has been unable to get an offer that he deemed equal value.   

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated last week that the Florida Panthers pursued Hellebuyck, but traded assets that were offered in the proposed trade to Ottawa for winger Brady Tkachuk and to New Jersey for goalie Jacob Markstrom. They also reported that three clubs; the Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and Carolina Hurricanes are still in the mix for the veteran netminder, who has five years left on his contract at $8.5 million per season. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

The Sabres reportedly came closest to pulling off a trade for Hellebuyck, but as to how close they came, is open to interpretation. Friedman said on this week’s 32 Thoughts podcast that the Jets wanted the fourth overall pick that Buffalo obtained in the Bowen Byram deal, and did not want to give up the eighth overall pick, which they used to select Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck. 

The biggest potential impediment to a deal now is that Friedman believes that Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has put the Jets on his five-team no-trade clause, and with Winnipeg wanting a goalie in return in the deal for Hellebuyck, that would seem to put Buffalo as a longshot as his final destination.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Chicago Blackhawks played their first preseason game on Saturday night, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. It was a mostly AHL lineup with a few NHL bubble players, so evaluation was the main purpose. 

Now, they announced on Sunday that they have sent three players back to their respective major junior teams for the 2026-27 season. 

Forwards Ryan Roobroeck (Guelph Storm - OHL) and Parker Holmes (Sarnia Sting - OHL), along with defenseman Ty Henry (Erie Otters - OHL), are all headed back up north for their upcoming campaigns. 

All three players participated in the 2026 Prospect Showcase, and each worked on different things throughout the camp, practices, and games. None of them were involved in the preseason game, and they are now headed back to their teams. 

Roobroeck was selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, so it will be his first post-draft season as he works toward becoming a professional. 

Holmes scored a nice goal on the rush against the St. Louis Blues prospects last week and continues to build on his promising junior resume. 

As for Henry, he was supposed to go to the NCAA this year, but he decided to head back to the Erie Otters of the OHL this year. After missing the entire 2025-26 season due to a scary leg injury that he sustained at Blackhawks rookie camp, he is working his way back from that tough situation. Skating in the OHL will be great for him. 

Blackhawks' training camp roster now sits at 47 players. That includes 27 forwards, 15 defensemen, and 5 goalies. 

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

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.