Category: Ice Hockey

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is facing calls to be banned from the NHL after he appeared in an advertisement supporting Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.

Ovechkin, who is the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, was pictured in a campaign advertisement with pro-Putin figures: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the state-controlled RT network.

The campaign first appeared in Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, according to The Guardian.

Hockey fans were not happy with Ovechkin, 40, who is a Moscow native and longtime supporter of the Russian president.

“Alexander Ovechkin should not be allowed back into the USA, much less the @NHL. I hope the @Capitals do the right thing and immediately release him from their team,” former astronaut Terry Virts wrote on X.

“Canada should place a visa ban on Alex Ovechkin. By appearing in a United Russia election ad alongside Lavrov, Simonyan etc., he is lending his celebrity to Putin’s repressive political machine + whitewashing Russia’s criminal war against Ukraine. This crosses all red lines,” Canadian journalist Marcus Kolga added.

“Ovechkin needs to finally be banned from the NHL. He is an active supporter of the genocide Russia is committing in Ukraine,” another X user chimed in.

“Hockey star Ovechkin likes living the comfortable life of a millionaire here in the U.S. while giving his support to a Russian tyrant who is committing war crimes,” another user said. “I won’t be attending any more #Caps games as long as this guy is wearing the team’s uniform. #NHL.”

Another X user added: “Shame for the USA and the NHL.”

Some social media users also slammed the Washington Capitals for their support of Ovechkin, including a social media post Monday that read “how we’re all looking at the big man today,” and featured an image of teammate Tom Wilson smiling at Ovechkin.

“Caps player Alexander Ovechkin just appeared in a literal United Russia campaign video, alongside designated war criminals. Now, Ovechkin’s team is doubling down and doing glowy crisis comms for him. Beyond the pale repugnant,” one X user noted.

Ovechkin has openly supported Putin for years, launching Putin Team in 2017 as a social movement to support Putin’s presidential campaign.

At the time, Ovechkin told the Associated Press, “I just support my country,” and said “It’s not about political stuff.”

When asked about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin said “I hope it’s going to end soon and there’s going to be peace in both countries.”

“Obviously, it’s a hard situation. I have lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine, and it’s hard to see the war. I hope soon it’s going to be over and there’s going to be peace in the whole world,” he said at the time, according to ESPN.

Still, at the time, he held steady in his support of Putin, telling reporters, “He’s my president. But like I said, I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete. I hope everything is going to be done soon. It’s a hard situation right now for both sides.”

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension with the Capitals in July. He has played for the team since 2004, when he was the first overall pick in the NHL draft.

He has been captain of the Capitals since 2010, winning the team the Stanley Cup in 2018. He is one of 48 Russian players in the league. There are currently no Ukrainian players in the NHL.

Last year, he scored his 895th goal, passing hockey great Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal scoring record that was set in 1999.

Throughout the summer, many reports suggested that the Minnesota Wild and John Hynes would undoubtedly agree to a contract extension.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Wild and coach Hynes agreed to a multi-year extension that will keep the 51-year-old behind the Wild's bench.

Hynes enters year four as the Wild's head coach with positive results to build on. Hynes took over as the bench boss on Nov. 27, 2023, after the Wild fired Dean Evason. In Hynes' first three seasons with the Wild, he's posted a 125-79-23 record, good enough for a points percentage of .603, which ranks second among Wild coaches in franchise history. 

Hynes has guided the Wild to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons, including a first-round victory over the Dallas Stars in 2025-26.

The Wild are the third NHL team Hynes has coached, having previously spent five seasons with the New Jersey Devils and then four with the Nashville Predators. Hynes also coached the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the U.S. NTDP before beginning his NHL career. 

Hynes has an extensive coaching resume, which is built on his attention to detail and strong defensive play style. Under Hynes, the Wild allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL in 2025-26.

Six Questions Facing The Wild Entering Training CampFrom contract tension surrounding Quinn Hughes to a high-stakes battle for the top center spot, Minnesota enters camp balancing Stanley Cup ambitions with critical roster uncertainties.

With superstars like Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes, as well as budding stars like Matt Boldy, Jesper Wallstedt, and Brock Faber, Hynes has done an excellent job deploying them in situations where they can succeed.

The players and management have raved about Hynes as a coach throughout his time in Minnesota. With the uncertainty of his contract expiring upon the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, he and the players will feel a sense of calm now that this important business is handled. 

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The Detroit Red Wings have named Shawn Horcoff interim general manager while the search continues for a permanent replacement for Steve Yzerman.

The team announced the news on Tuesday, Sept. 15, two days before training camp is schedule to start at Little Caesars Arena. Horcoff, 47, has spent six seasons as the team's director of player development and three seasons as assistant director of player personnel. He has been handling daily general manager duties since Steve Yzerman vacated the position in mid-July.

“As our process continues to find the best possible leader for Red Wings hockey operations, I’m appreciative of Shawn for stepping up to serve in this capacity,” Red Wings governor and CEO Chris Ilitch said in a statement. “His knowledge of our organization and range of experience allows us to operate with a clear decision-maker in place for the season ahead, while maintaining our commitment to carry out a thorough, methodical search process on our own timeline. Shawn has my complete support, and the authority to make decisions in the best interests of our organization."

More: NHL training camps are approaching. Here are top issues to be decided.

Most immediately, Horcoff is on the clock to get restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson signed to a new contract. If it's done by the end of day on Sept. 15, there's still a chance for an eight-year deal; after that, teams are limited to signing their own players for seven years.

The team also announced Yzerman will officially transition to his new role of senior advisor to Ilitch.

Horcoff presents the smoothest way forward as Ilitch and his inner circle search for new leadership to guide a team that has missed the playoffs that last spring grew to an active NHL-record 10th consecutive year.

"Our search has attracted significant interest in the head of hockey operations position from respected leaders across the industry, and several of those candidates, including Shawn, remain under consideration for the permanent role," Ilitch said. "Identifying and hiring the right leader is essential to our franchise's future, and we remain committed to being deliberate and thorough in this process. We're grateful for our players, staff, and fans for their support as we work toward this pivotal hire."

Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings name Shawn Horcoff interim GM; search continues for full-time hire

The Chicago Blackhawks had good luck when naming Jonathan Toews captain in 2008 shortly after his 20th birthday, going on to win three Stanley Cups in five years.

The Blackhawks went young again on Tuesday, Sept. 15, naming Connor Bedard the franchise's 37th captain just 60 days after his 21st birthday.

The timing was right. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick recently signed a five-year, $75 million contract to show his commitment to the team. He is by far the team's best player since he entered the league, recording 203 points in 215 games.

He's constantly working to irnprove his game, a solid example for the team. And he was off to a great start last season before hurting his shoulder.

Also, the Blackhawks recently signed Patrick Kane, a three-time Blackhawks champion who can help Bedard on the leadership front.

The only disadvantage is Bedard will miss the start of the season after injuring his shoulder while training in the offseason and having surgery. But Kane can fill that on-ice role until Bedard returns.

What Blackhawks said about naming Connor Bedard

“Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "From the moment he entered the league, Connor has led by example and has set a remarkable standard for himself while demonstrating his ability to make the players around him better. He has earned the respect of his teammates and the entire organization through the way he prepares, competes and conducts himself every single day, and there is no doubt that he is ready to take on this tremendous responsibility."

What Connor Bedard said about being named captain

"The captains who have come before me have left an incredible legacy. To now have the opportunity to carry that tradition forward is something I don't take lightly," Bedard said in a statement. "I'm grateful to the organization and my teammates for putting their trust in me to lead this team. We're building something really special here, and I'm committed to making the entire Blackhawks organization and our fans proud."

List of NHL captains

Bedard is the third NHL captain named this month, joining the New York Islanders' Bo Horvat and the St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas. Here is a list of the 24 NHL captains and the eight vacances.

• Anaheim Ducks: Vacant
• Boston Bruins: Vacant
• Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin
• Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund
• Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Staal
• Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
• Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Vacant
• Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn
• Detroit Red Wings: Vacant
• Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid
• Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov
• Los Angeles Kings: Vacant
• Minnesota Wild: Jared Spurgeon
• Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki
• Nashville Predators: Roman Josi
• New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier
• New York Islanders: Bo Horvat
• New York Rangers - J.T. Miller
• Ottawa Senators: Vacant
• Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
• San Jose Sharks: Vacant
• Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle
• St. Louis Blues: Robert Thomas
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews
• Utah Mammoth: Clayton Keller
• Vancouver Canucks: Vacant
• Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone
• Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin
• Winnipeg Jets: Adam Lowry

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blackhawks naming Connor Bedard captain is right move at right time

This has been a very, very good year in sports video games, with significant improvements being made to almost every marquee franchise. So, when NHL 27 boasted revamped presentation alongside the already solid gameplay of last year’s iteration, it fostered anticipation that it too would get an elite entry this year.

How utterly wrong I was.

Something is just off about NHL 27, as if something went horribly wrong during its development. There are so many small things that are wrong with this year’s entry that no one mistake is egregious enough to be a deal breaker, but in totality the entire experience left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

The good

There are some things to like about NHL 27. Attention to detail inside arenas, with a focus on introductions and real-world goal horns is extremely welcome and makes things feel alive. Instead of trying to build a soundtrack that evokes the spirit of hockey, EA Sports licensed some of the most iconic arena music of all time, which really makes goals feel alive.

Even the best new element to the game is sloppy in its execution. It’s nice to have attention paid to goal celebrations, but when the camera cuts to the same, generic, blocky fans who still look like they’re out of the PS2 era, that’s when things pull you right back out of the experience.

This new presentation is also slapdash. Some teams will feel somewhat true to life, but others have been largely ignored. In short: Unless you’re a fan of a team that skates out through an inflatable, it’s going to be a little disappointing. As a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes, it’s easiest to describe that experience, and as nice as it may be to have Petey Pablo’s Raise Up every time the Canes score a goal, EA Sports didn’t bother to get the far more important team tradition of skating out to the warning siren while Rock You Like a Hurricane plays.

Ultimately it feels like the developers of NHL 27 were given a shoestring budget and asked to add something new to the game. The intros and goal horns are nice, but also reek of a quick addition that could have been a few weeks of the development cycle — not the marquee addition to a yearly installment of the franchise.

The bad

NHL 27 feels like last year’s game when it comes to the on-ice action, for the most part. There are some very weird things that have happened to the computer A.I. that make it feel like a distinctly worse experience, and elements I haven’t encountered in several years of the game.

The computer no longer attempts to effectively clear the puck while on the penalty kill. Even in 5-on-3 situations you’ll see a defender try to skate it out of the blue zone, even over the center line when there are three forwards on the forecheck. It ruins the flow of powerplays to where a majority of powerplay goals no longer happen because you set up good puck cycling or crowding the goalie, instead you’ll poke check it away from a skater who never should have been trying to bring the puck up the ice, and have an easy breakaway.

John Buccigross made waves when he revealed that in addition to him doing commentary for the game, EA Sports was also using generative AI to flesh out more lines. In theory, I have no problem with that, so long as it comes with the announcer’s blessing, because it should mean more live diversity and fresher commentary — but not only is the commentary in NHL 27 terrible and sounds disjointed as if generated by AI, but it’s also extremely repetitive.

It’s one thing to make a comment about a 2-1 game being low-scoring in the third period, but you hear the same line every single time when fewer than four goals have been scored. The exact same line about “the tradition of thanking the fans” happens after the game, no matter which team you play as. In past years games we’d get the same line after each game, but at least it would be targeted more towards each individual fanbase and their traditions — rather than blanket comments.

This is when the commentary is remotely accurate, which too often it’s not. Far too many times I’ve poke checked the puck away only for the commentary to say that the puck carrier poked it away. During a Hurricanes game at home Buccigross commented about how many empty seats there were, and that “this franchise has struggled to fill the arena.” The Carolina Hurricanes have sold out every home game since the 2021-22 season.

The ugly

We’re going to discuss the player models, because they have been mocked endlessly online since the game released. In NHL 27’s defense the face scans aren’t as bad as the internet would have you believe, with most players being decent-enough representations of their real-world counterparts. Some are just abysmal …

Cole Caufield on his NHL 27 face scan:

"I don't know what happened there. I look a little lost. I look like I need some sleep or some water. I don't know. It's tough.”

“Every time I open my phone, it's there. Somebody will send it to me." pic.twitter.com/hLZie9yz8j

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) September 11, 2026

Regardless of whether the player got a good scan or not, every single athlete looks like a monster when they emote. Whether celebrating a goal or being angered by a penalty call, the players turn into grotesque monsters as soon as their mouths and eyes move.

Final thoughts …

The on-ice action of NHL 27 is largely still fine, but despite making changes to puck carrying and dekeing, still feels a step behind last year’s game. The music is a big step forward with arenas feeling more alive, but it’s cold comfort with the myriad issues that have popped up which weren’t present in the past.

The development team behind the NHL series is clearly passionate and loves the game, but it’s apparent they are struggling for a lack of resources. While hockey is a niche sport that will never get the budget of Madden, it also deserves a lot more than it’s getting right now. I sincerely hope that EA Sports gets the message that fans see this as a low-point in the series, and tries to revitalize the franchise.

Score: 5/10

The Edmonton Oilers finished rookie camp with a 6-1 win over the Calgary Flames, giving several prospects one final opportunity to show the organization what they could do before heading back to their respective organizations.

The thing is, the Oilers are going to need call-ups throughout an 82-game season, and rookie camps can help determine who they can trust when that phone call needs to be made.

“They're in one mode now, and they're just looking for the next guy up,” Connor Clattenburg said. “You never know what that injury could be, and it's a very high energetic team right now, so it's just keeping the energy around and just play hard.”

Clattenburg was one of those guys last season, playing five games for Edmonton, scoring his first NHL goal, getting 17 hits in just over 36 minutes, and having a very realistic outlook on what it takes to stay there.

Clattenburg's game is built around hitting, forechecking and bringing energy to the bottom of the lineup, which gives him a defined role when the Oilers need another forward. Mike Babcock says he wants accountability and energy from his group, and if that's the case, Clattenburg has proven that and then some.

His current injury kept him out of Monday's rookie game, and he spent camp wearing a non-contact jersey while continuing his recovery. Getting healthy could keep him involved during the main camp.

Clattenburg will probably be one of the first names Edmonton considers when it needs somebody from Bakersfield.

Oilers Going With a More Veteran Rookie Squad vs. FlamesIsaac Howard leads a seasoned prospect group into Calgary as roster hopefuls fight to prove they belong in Edmonton’s lineup ahead of the new NHL campaign.

Viljami Marjala should be another.

The 23-year-old had 17 goals and 60 points in 72 games with Bakersfield last season. He centred Edmonton's second line Monday and picked up an assist on Isaac Howard's power-play goal in the third period.

Marjala looked really good during the rookie camp, and his production in Bakersfield has earned him a chance to move a bit higher up on Edmonton's list.

The injuries the Oilers now have to manage have left more openings for guys like him and Clattenburg. Marjala should not be overlooked when the time comes. Even if he doesn't get his opportunity immediately, his name should stay in the conversation all season.

Quinn Hutson scored 30 goals and 63 points in 67 games with Bakersfield last season and played in six games for the Oilers. He opened the scoring Monday on the power play and spent the night playing alongside Howard and Josh Samanski.

Oilers Reach Same Conclusion As FansConnor McDavid stood in front of reporters after the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> were eliminated last spring and summed up their season in a few sentences.

That's a pretty clear sign of where he stands with the organization, then again, thirty goals in the AHL will do that.

Hutson's time in Edmonton gave the Oilers a chance to see him in the NHL lineup, and he'll almost certainly get another chance in the main camp to show the coaching staff where he fits as roster decisions get serious.

The Oilers are trying to identify the players who can handle a role when Edmonton needs somebody in November, January or March. When injuries pile up, as they have now, and players miss games, somebody in Bakersfield needs to be the next guy up.

After all, Clattenburg didn't play a short number of games for the Oilers because they needed him to score 30 goals. The Oilers needed a player who could enter the lineup, play hard and handle the job he was given, which is exactly what Clattenburg did in five games.

Marjala and Hutson have put themselves in their position through production, and both will enter camp with some extra eyes on them.

Those are three names worth remembering when the Oilers start looking for the next guy up.

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On Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings found themselves at the center of two major storylines colliding at once with a major front office shake up that put assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff in the interim GM chair, and the arrival of the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, which is set to fundamentally reshape how contracts get done across the league. 

Detroit confirmed Horcoff will step in as interim general manager while also taking on general manager duties for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the club's AHL affiliate, putting him in position to navigate one of the more consequential moments in recent CBA history right out of the gate.

The timing of the move seemingly brings Horcoff in just ahead of Tuesday's midnight deadline when the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement officially kicks in, bringing with it several significant changes to how contracts can be structured. 

Detroit Red Wings name Shawn Horcoff interim General Manager | Detroit Red WingsDETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today appointed Shawn Horcoff as the club’s interim General Manager. Horcoff, who has served as the Red Wings Assistant General Manager alongside duties as General Manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins, will manage day-to-day roster decisions, salary cap, and hockey operations personnel for the

The rush of eight year contracts signed across the NHL over the past several days wasn't a coincidence. Teams and players alike were racing to beat the clock before the new rules took hold, since starting Tuesday, the maximum contract length shrinks to seven years for a player re-signing with his own team, and six years for a player signing elsewhere as a free agent.

The new agreement doesn't stop there as clubs will also lose the ability to defer salary on new contracts, and the practice of front loading deals, paying a player heavily in the early years to soften the cap hit later, will face much tighter restrictions. Together, those changes eliminate two of the more common tools teams have leaned on to manage the cap creatively.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.     

So if Detroit wants to use the current rules to its advantage in getting an Edvinsson extension done, whether that means tacking on an eighth year or structuring the deal with deferred or front loaded money, the window is closing fast, and the price tag isn't getting any cheaper while they wait. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the FAN Hockey Show on Monday, that he had heard earlier in the summer a bridge deal was on the table for Edvinsson, however with the recent mega signings around the league, the price point in that once negotiated deal may have jumped significantly.

The market for young defensemen shifted dramatically when the Vancouver Canucks signed 20-year-old Zeev Buium to an eight year, $75.04 million extension carrying a $9.38 million annual cap hit. With Edvinsson holding a stronger NHL track record than Buium at a similar stage of his career, it's fair to expect Detroit's young blueliner could command a deal in a similar range, and possibly a cap hit well into eight figures. 

Now with Horcoff finally sitting in the GM chair and Edvinsson being vocal that he has been waiting for the situation to settle itself and is interested in returning to the Red Wings, there is a chance the bargaining between the two parties can begin as early as right now, with Horcoff likely looking to make his stamp on the interim GM job a meaningful one by getting a much needed piece of business done before a pivotal deadline.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect Will Horcoff may not be moving anywhere this year as he heads back to the University of Michigan for a second full season, but his father is making some moves within his current front office.

On Tuesday, Will's father, Shawn - former center who played 15 NHL seasons - was named Interim General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings and General Manager of the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 47-year-old was previously the Assistant General Manager of the Red Wings.

As specified in a statement releaased by the organization, Horcoff's new duties will include daily roster decisions, issues concerning the team's salary cap, and managing hockey operations and personnel.

Shawn Horcoff Named Red Wings interim General ManagerAs Steve Yzerman shifts to an advisory role, the former captain takes the reins of daily hockey operations and roster management while Detroit hunts for a permanent successor.

This decision comes to bridge the gap with the search for a new permanent general manager, as Detroit announced earlier this summer that franchise legend Steve Yzerman would no longer serve as the team's general manager. As part of the Horcoff announcement, the Red Wings also confirmed what was already pretty much known about Yzerman transitioning to the role of Senior Advisor to the Governor and CEO, Chris Ilitch. 

Horcoff was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 1998 draft, and he spent 12 seasons with the Oilers and was, briefly, the team's captain. For the final three seasons of his NHL career, he played for the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. In 1008 career games, Horcoff amassed 186 goals and 511 points. 

Will, 19, was selected 24th overall by the Penguins in 2025 and was recently named the organization's sixth-ranked prospect by THN - Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 6: Scoring Winger's Dominant NCAA Season Only The BeginningNext up on our 2026 THN Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a sniping winger who, if he can build out a more all-around game and continue to score goals at a torrid pace, could be a long-term top-six solution for the Penguins in the future.

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In 2016, Drake Batherson was passed over completely in the NHL Draft.

Ten years later, he's now the highest-paid player in Ottawa hockey history.

The Senators announced on Tuesday morning that the club has signed him to an eight-year contract extension, which carries a $10.75 million AAV.

As far as eight-year deals go, the two sides took it right down to the wire, because Sept. 15 is the last day of the NHL's current collective bargaining agreement. As of tomorrow, seven years becomes the maximum term.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the deal also includes $30 million in bonuses, which Puckpedia.com lays out like this:

Yr 1-2: $6M Salary, $6M Signing Bonus

Yr 3: $5M,$6M SB

Yr 4: $9M,$2M SB

Yr 5-6: $7.5M,$3M SB

Yr 7-8: $7.5M,$2M SB

There's a full no-move in the first four years. The next three years switch to a modified 20-team no-trade clause, and the final year is 15 teams.

“Drake exemplifies what it is to be an Ottawa Senator,” GM Steve Staios said in a club press release. “He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long-term. We view him as a key part of our core group.”

That commitment is a huge deal right now for the club and its fan base, which just watched another captain leave the club this summer. 

Staios let his hair down a little on social media early this morning, previewing today's big news with a playful video nod to Batherson's Lepine Apartment ads. As Batherson does in his commercials, Staios counted off his bicep curl reps using only the number 19.

Batherson is coming off the best season of his career, scoring 33 goals and 71 points. And while most of his teammates did not, Batherson also produced in this year's playoffs. In their first-round loss to Carolina, it could have been extra ugly without Batherson. The Sens scored only five goals in the entire series, but Batherson finished with three goals and an assist.

His salary is sure to shock some fans who are trying to get their heads around the big new money the league is doling out to its players.

Interestingly, the Washington Capitals handed Ryan Leonard almost the same deal on Tuesday morning, and he's played just one season in the league with 20 goals and 45 points. So Batherson's deal, in today's crazy NHL economy, isn't out of line at all. 

Batherson made it clear to me back in late May that he wanted to stay and ideally get something done this summer before the season. He reiterated those comments at the club's annual golf tournament a week ago.

He's now scheduled to be a Senator through the 2034-2035 season, when he'll be 37 years old and should have enough tucked away for retirement.

He's come a long way from the undersized East Coast kid no one wanted ten years ago.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:

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After reports revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs were bringing in Nick Blankenburg on a professional tryout, the team officially announced the PTO signing on Monday. 

With that, the 28-year-old defenseman will join the Leafs at training camp and pre-season, as long as the club is willing to keep him around for that long. 

However, Blankenburg would only officially be a member of the Maple Leafs if they signed him to a standard professional contract. And as it stands, Toronto doesn't have the space to do so.

The Leafs have the maximum number of standard contracts signed within the organization (50), according to PuckPedia. 

Therefore, if Leafs management is impressed and pleased with how Blankenburg performs in training camp, to the point where they would want to add him to the main roster for the 2026-27 regular season, GM John Chayka would need to make some roster moves.

In addition to the Maple Leafs needing to make changes if they'd prefer to keep Blankenburg on the roster beyond training camp, there's already a backlog of depth defensemen in the system. 

There are already several candidates to fill the role of the seventh D-man, including Troy Stecher, who signed a two-year extension with Toronto in late June, and Emil Andrae, the main acquisition in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Not to mention, Marshall Rifai, William Villeneuve, Dakota Mermis and Philippe Myers are all capable of NHL minutes, albeit some better than others.

Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Emil Andrae said he suspected that he would get traded from the Philadelphia Flyers. "But when I found out it was Toronto, I couldn't be happier."

If Toronto were willing to dump a defenseman for Blankenburg, one of those mentioned blueliners would likely be sacrificed. And if room was made for the 5-foot-9 D-man by moving off a player from another position instead, that would only add to the logjam on the back end.

In fairness, having substantial depth on any roster at any position is a strength and can lead to success in the NHL. But the Maple Leafs would also need to keep an eye on the salary cap and remain compliant, especially if they want to leave room for any moves during the coming season.

Currently, with Max Domi's $3.75-million cap hit not on long-term injured reserve, the Leafs are over the salary cap by $2.75 million.

Report: Maple Leafs’ Max Domi Will Miss Start of Training Camp, Remains Out Indefinitely GM John Chayka SaysChayka also added that Domi wants to address the injury himself at some point.

One theory regarding Blankenburg's PTO revolves around the health and status of defenseman Chris Tanev. The 36-year-old Tanev said he's feeling good going into this season, but confirmation from his doctors is still required. 

He underwent a significant core muscle injury in March and has gone through the off-season recovering from that. That's on top of the concussion and a spinal injury he dealt with, leading to just 11 appearances for Toronto last year. So, Blankenburg could be seen as an insurance policy. 

If the news for Tanev isn't positive and the Leafs are forced to be without him for some time to begin 2026-27, Blankenburg could be activated as an insurance policy. 

Report: Chris Tanev Waiting To Be Cleared By Doctors, Plans To Be On Ice First Day Of Maple Leafs CampWhile Tanev aims to be ready for the opening day of camp, Tanev described his rehab from surgery in March as "slow". The veteran defender has to show that the injury issues of last year are fully in the rearview mirror.

Blankenburg has played parts of five seasons and featured in a total of 176 games in the NHL. Last year, he made a career-high 61 appearances split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, scoring a personal-best six goals and 24 points. 

He didn't get much action with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avs, averaging 12:02 of ice time in 12 regular-season games and 9:25 of ice time in nine post-season contests. But before he was traded from Nashville, he averaged 17:58 of ice time with the Preds in 2025-26.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 16 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #16. 

Let's take a look.

Mike Sillinger - 2002-2003 - Drafted by Detroit in 1989. 

Sillinger is best known for playing for 12 different NHL teams and being traded nine times. He played 155 games for the CBJ and had 86 points. He retired in 2008 after playing 1089 games for 12 different teams. 

Of course, nowadays, he's best known for being the father of Jackets forwards Cole and Owen Sillinger. 

Alexander Svitov - 2004-2007 - Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2001. 

Svitov played 105 games for the Jackets and scored 26 points after being traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning. After playing in Columbus, the former #3 overall pick never played another NHL game.

He returned to Russia, where he would play until 2022. Svitov is now an assistant coach for Avangard Omsk in the KHL. 

Derick Brassard - 2008-2013 - Drafted by Columbus in 2006. 

Brassard was drafted 6th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He totaled 169 points in 309 games while playing for Columbus. 

After playing over 1000 games for 10 different teams, Brassard retired in 2024. Brassard is a minority owner of the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. 

Max Domi - 2021-2022 - Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2012. 

Domi played 107 games for the Jackets after coming over from the Montreal Canadiens in the Josh Anderson trade. He had 56 points for Columbus and was then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Since leaving Columbus, he's played for Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, and Toronto. He's played for 7 teams in 10 seasons, although he's played the last three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In three seasons, he has 116 points. 

Brendan Gaunce - 2023-2026 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2012. 

Gaunce played 59 games for the Jackets and had 12 points. He served as the Cleveland Monsters Captain in 23-24 and totaled 85 points for the Monsters over three seasons.

He signed with the AHL's Iowa Wild for the 2024-25 season and recorded 29 points. However, this summer, Gaunce was traded back to the Columbus organization in exchange for Cameron Butler. After playing 25 games for the CBJ and 44 games for Cleveland last season, he left in free agency to sign with the AHL's Providence Bruins. 

There are 16 days left until opening night at NWA. Who's your favorite #16?

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Although two days remain until the start of training camp for the Philadelphia Flyers, it's never too late for an infusion of young talent, especially at the defense position.

Ahead of what was ultimately an uneventful offseason bar the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, the Flyers made public their desire to improve the defense. Aside from the addition of Simon Benoit, who was part of the Joseph Woll trade, that hasn't happened.

In free agency, pickings were already slim, and a potential dart-throw for a power play quarterback in John Klingberg is off the table; the veteran defender announced his retirement on Friday.

The Flyers already went the offer sheet route once with Carlsson to much fanfare, which leaves the trade market as their last path to improve ahead of the start of the 2026-27 regular season.

Unsigned RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who isn't eligible for an offer sheet anyway, apparently requested a trade this offseason and is sticking to it. That should be music to the Flyers' ears.

Flyers a perfect fit for Nikishin

On Monday, The Athletic NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on the state of affairs with the young Carolina Hurricanes defender, confirming that a resolution isn't immediately forthcoming.

"Defenseman Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned by the Carolina Hurricanes as camps get set to open," LeBrun said. "The 24-year-old RFA requested a change of scenery after the season, and one thing that was made clear to me Monday is that the request remains in place."

Drafted 69th overall in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Nikishin just played his first full season in North America after a four-game cameo for Carolina in last year's playoffs, scoring 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in 81 games, but regressing to just one assist in 17 playoff games as the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.

Nikishin, 24, featured more in the regular season primarily due to injury, as K'Andre Miller and Jalen Chatfield each played 72 games, Shayne Gostisbehere played only 55, and Jaccob Slavin missed more than half the year, playing in only 39.

The talented 6-foot-3 Russian was an afterthought for a full-strength Hurricanes team in the playoffs, and rightfully so; they won it all.

Still, Nikishin had a strong showing in his first NHL season, and a featured role elsewhere would allow him to grow further and continue to improve on his warts.

It helps, too, that Nikishin was once the captain of KHL outfit SKA St. Petersburg for two seasons and was teammates with budding Flyers star Matvei Michkov there. Those are two factors that cannot be overlooked.

From Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky's perspective, it would perhaps be unwise to spend big to re-sign a player who played a depth role for you after just winning the Stanley Cup, with Slavin, Miller, and Gostisbehere all firmly ahead on the depth chart on the left side.

That does hurt Carolina's leverage, though, as other teams, including the Flyers, know that they will have more of a use for Nikishin than the Hurricanes.

The longer this situation drags out, the bigger an opportunity it becomes for the Flyers to snag a productive young defenseman who held his own on a winning team after being thrown right into the fire.

Welcome back, everyone. It’s Tuesday! ///Jason Alexander as Duckman voice

The Bruins finished up their prospect challenge; actually managing to pull away with both games after monday, and while there’s plenty to like; Loke Johansson looked really solid as a defenseman, Dans Locmelis holding the fort with poise and maturity after coming back from an injury, and the warm fuzzies of knowing the youngs can at least handle the Sabres like in years’ past…the talk of the Prospect Challenge was of course Jimmy Hagens, who was very obviously a man amongst boys out there; pretty much single handedly winning the 2nd game of the day in a preposterous 4 goal game.

That kid is something else, but really, we should expect that from a prospect of Hagens’ caliber playing against prospects on their way back to school/junior/minor league. He’s clearly a head and a half above these guys aside from maybe Locmelis, who’s been quietly building himself into a damn solid player. We’ll see how he handles real NHL talent come this october, but for now, let’s bask in the word of the mighty Jimmy.

PT-Nope!

The Bruins announced that, for the 2nd year in a row, there will be no Professional Tryouts at this year’s preseason and training camp. The roster you see when camp opens is the roster they’re gonna pare down.

As for anyone that they could’ve brought in? Uhh…Nick Blankenburg would probably be decent value, Michael Bunting’s probably not at that point in his career but nobody’s bitten on him yet. It’s not really a PTO heavy environment right now. You’re probably better off trying to identify players other teams don’t believe in for dumb reasons and plucking them out of their environ for 3rd rounders at this point.

Who knows, maybe Boston’s scouting department busts down Don Sweeney’s door and says that the B’s could be the space Patrik Laine finally figures it out*

Welcome to last minute shopping season

The Bruins, alongside the rest of the NHL, are on the precipice of the new CBA, which limits the amount of years you can put on a UFA/RFA contract, and that’s expected to cause a stir as teams make their final signings under the old ruleset.

As for whether or not that’s wise? Well, cap’s going up, so it is a little harder than it would be to put yourself in hell. But don’t you worry, some of these GMs are gonna find a way. Hell, Pat Verbeek’s already blazing a path for us all. What an inspiration!

Preseason is soon!

Finally, hockey’s back. Or at least it’s as close to back as it’s gonna get.

The B’s will start preseason against the Washington Capitals, who will come to town with their Hershey Bears laden roster and attempt to take on real bears. That game is at 5pm EST and is on NESN+, because Red Sox september baseball is real, and you just gotta see the Sox play the median Tampa Bay Rays player.

You know, the median Tampa Bay Rays player.

Anyway get ready to pirate preseason hockey if you don’t pay for NESN+. Whoops!

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Anyway, what’s on tap?

* = DON’T DO THIS DON’T DO THIS DON’T DO THIS LOOK ME DEAD IN THE EYES THIS IS A JOKE DO NOT DO THIS.

NHL teams need to fiinish getting rosters in order with training camps opening on Thursday, Sept. 17.

There's another deadline before that with the new collective-bargaining agreement taking effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wedneday.

After that, eight-year contracts can no longer be offered by a team re-signing its own player and it will drop to seven years maximum (or six years for signing a player from another team). Teams also face changes that limit signing bonuses and how they front-load contracts.

Here are some things that need to be settled with training camps on the horizon:

Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck trade requests

The two U.S. Oympic gold medalists have asked to be traded and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made his request public this month.

Both are under contract long-term, so they need to report or they won't get paid. Dylan Larkin said he will show up to camp and will have conversations with the Red Wings' new general manager about the direction of the team. But Detroit is still looking to make that hire.

If the players are moved, their teams will need to get a solid return rather than picks and prospects. The Jets signed Stuart Skinner in the offseason, but it would make sense to get another goalie back

Restricted free agents to re-sign

Anaheim Ducks leading scorer Cutter Gauthier and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli are the big names. The Ducks have more than $15.5 million in cap space after terminating Chris Kreider's contract, Leo Carlsson is the team's top-paid player at an $18 million cap hit after Anaheim matched the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet.

Fantilli finished second on the Blue Jackets in goals (24) and third period in points (59). TSN's Pierre Lebrun said the Gauthier talks are making progress while the Fantilli talks are going slow.

Defensemen Alexander Nikishin (Carolina), Simon Edvinsson (Detroit) and Arber Zhekaj remain unsigned.

Quinn Hughes extension

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is confident he can get an extension done with the defenseman, who he gave up a lot to acquire last season. Hughes told reporters he has enjoyed his time in Minnesota but is preaching patience.

"I think if you look at a player like Quinn, you only get to free agency one time," J.P. Barry, agent Pat Brisson's colleague at CAA, told the Donnie and Dhali podcast. " I think he wants to make a great choice. He's only been there around a year or so, even less, so I think he wants to see how the team does and how he feels."

Hughes is entering the last year of his contract. A three-year extension would match him up with the end of his brother Jack's contract in New Jersey.

Captain vacancies

The New York Islandersnamed Bo Horvat to replace departed Anders Lee and Robert Thomas was appointed early in St. Louis. But there remain vacancies in Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, Ottawa, San Jose and Vancouver. The Red Wings stripped Larkin of his captaincy.

David Pastrnak (Bruins) and Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets) seem like logical choices and Moritz Seider would make sense in Detroit.

Chicago and San Jose have future captains in Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, respectively. Do those teams go with the young rising stars now or wait? Bedard will miss the beginning of the season because of shoulder surgery.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL training camps are approaching. Here are top issues to be decided.

The Martin family will be hosting Matthew Schaefer this upcoming season again whether they like it or not. 

The 19-year-old NHL star made the joke on Monday during the Islanders golf outing at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury when a reporter asked if Matt Martin and his family wanted him back. 

“I don’t know if they want me back, but I’m going back,” Schaefer said. “I mean, I kept my stuff there and then I’m like, I’m coming back. I guess they can’t say no. I think they want me out probably sooner, but you know what? I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m planting my seed here and I’m staying here.’”

Matthew Schaefer is staying with the Martin Family again this season – whether they like it or not @NYIslanders | #Islespic.twitter.com/8fvGUsjdRa

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) September 14, 2026

It’s doubtful that the Martin family really wants Schaefer out sooner than later, considering how big a part of their family he has become. 

Martin, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, including 14 with the Islanders before becoming an executive with the organization, welcomed the teenager into his home last season, and Schaefer quickly created a bond with the family.

In particular, he has taken on a big brother role to the family’s two daughters, Winnie and Alice. Martin’s wife, Sydney, has shared a number of adorable moments involving Schaefer and the Martin kids on social media. 

Earlier this month, Sydney posted on Instagram a photo of Schaefer celebrating his 19th birthday with the family. 

Martin praised how Schaefer carries himself on SiriusXM last month and said that the now second-year star would be staying with him and his family again this upcoming NHL season. 

“From the moment he kind of stepped in our house and met our family, before it was ever decided he was going to live with us, you just feel the type of kid he is, the type of energy he has,” Martin said in the August interview. “Kind of gravitated towards our kids and our kids gravitated towards him. It’s a really special thing for my kids.” 

Schaefer is coming into this season looking to build off a monumental rookie campaign that saw him win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. 

He recorded 23 goals and 59 points while appearing in all 82 games during the 2025-26 season.