Category: Ice Hockey

After falling on Saturday, the Vancouver Canucks return to action on Tuesday for Game 2 of the 2026 pre-season against the Calgary Flames. Vancouver will be travelling to Calgary, with game time scheduled for 6:00 pm PT. Here are five players to watch on Tuesday. 

Arshdeep Bains

Where Arshdeep Bains plays this year will be an intriguing storyline to follow. The 25-year-old is most likely headed for the AHL, but would need to clear waivers to be assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks. Projected to play on a line with Aatu Räty and Matt Stienburg, Bains needs to stand out on Tuesday if he wants a shot at making the NHL roster. 

Kevin Lankinen

Tuesday will be Kevin Lankinen's first start of the campaign. The 31-year-old did not have the strongest training camp, but it will be easier to judge his performance against an opposing NHL team. With Thatcher Demko's status still unknown, the Canucks will likely lean heavily on Lankinen again this year, as he is currently the team's projected night-one starter. 

Victor Mancini

Victor Mancini is another player currently on the bubble to make the NHL team. The 24-year-old struggled on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken and is currently in a battle for the seventh defender slot. Mancini is expected to get plenty of ice time on Tuesday and will need to show he can be reliable in his own zone against NHL competition. 

Aatu Räty

Tuesday is a big night for Räty as it will be his final game of the 2026 pre-season. Due to the new CBA rules, the 23-year-old will be ineligible to play any more games, as he has already hit his maximum of two. Projected to start the season as Vancouver's fourth-line center, Räty needs to show he can contribute at both ends of the ice. 

Canucks Projected Lineup For Game 2 Of The 2026 Pre-Season Versus The Calgary FlamesThe Vancouver Canucks battle the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.

Brooks Rogowski

One prospect to keep an eye on Tuesday is Brooks Rogowski. The 2026 second-round pick had a decent training camp and is now ready to show what he can do against NHL competition. Listed at 6'7", 235 lbs, it shouldn't be hard to tell when Rogowski hits the ice during his pre-season debut. 

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.

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With the NHL’s new CBA changes eliminating eight-year contracts, making seven-year contracts the longest a player can re-sign with his own team, along with the salary cap increase, we saw multiple young players sign multi-year contract extensions before they were set to hit restricted free agency.

Notably absent from that group of young players was Gabe Perreault, who is set to become a restricted free agent next offseason and did not sign a contract extension with the New York Rangers. 

Perreault seems to be comfortable playing the final season of his rookie deal without an extension in place. 

“I’m not focused on that at all,” Perreault said about whether or not he’s still thinking about a future contract extension. “I’ll kind of let my agent handle that, and we’re just going to focus on day-by-day and having a big year. It'll take care of itself.”

When asked about contract negotiations between the Blueshirts brass and Perreault’s camp, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury declined to go into details. 

After starting the 2025-26 campaign with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, Perreault burst onto the NHL scene in December, staying with the Rangers for the remainder of the season.

In 49 games, the 21-year-old forward recorded 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points while averaging 15:59 minutes. 

Over the course of the season, it was evident that Perreault continued to build confidence, which allowed him to make more of an offensive impact. 

“I think my game progressed a lot during the year,” Perreault said. “The details, getting more confident, making more plays, kind of knowing when to make a play, I kind of think I grew a lot in that. I grew in the details of my game defensively too and on the forecheck. Those were the big things I focused on.”

By the end of the season, the 2024 first-round pick was putting his high hockey IQ and playmaking skills on display, eventually stepping into a top-six role.

Through observing the progression of Perreault from behind the bench, Mike Sullivan feels that the game was able to slow down for him as he grew more accustomed to the NHL game.

“I think the biggest thing for Gabe was the adjustment to the speed and the pace of the NHL game and the size and strength of the players,” Sullivan said. “I think he’s adjusted to the pace of the game and I think the game has slowed down in his brain, which is one of the challenges every young player has to overcome. When they are trying to make the NHL.”

A large portion of Perreault’s success came when he played on a line with Alexis Lafrenière and Mika Zibanejad. 

Last season, that line outscored opponents 14-10 at five-on-five while they had a 48.57 percent expected goal rate according to Natural Stat Trick.

Through the first few days of training camp, Sullivan has reassembled the Perreault-Zibanejad-Lafrenière line with the hopes they can emulate their previous triumph. 

“I think we're all kind of smart players. We kind of think the game pretty similarly, and I think we kind of bring something a little bit different to the line,” Perreault said. “At the same time, there are similarities, and I think we clicked well. Those guys are easy to play with for me, so it went really well at the end of the year, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Entering a contract year, it’s critical that Perreault continues to progress his game and take a big leap in his first full NHL season with the goal of earning a long-term extension and becoming a cornerstone piece for the Rangers.

“Our expectation is that he’s going to build on the season he had last year,” Sullivan said. “Our expectation is that he will build on that (last season) and grow.”

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The Detroit Red Wings have already completed one-fourth of their preseason schedule, and by the end of Tuesday evening, they'll be halfway through.

Following their 1-0 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday evening, the Red Wings will be back on the ice 24 hours later against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And before their second exhibition contest, they've moved closer to finalizing their roster for the upcoming 2026-27 NHL campaign.

Multiple Detroit players hit the waiver wire, including John Leonard, who was the leading scorer for the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins last season.

Among the other names waived by the Red Wings are forwards Dominik Shine, Sheldon Dries, Cameron Butler, and defensemen William Lagesson and Jacob Bryson. 

Waivers: 9/22/26@PuckPediahttps://t.co/SEwCuzihn1pic.twitter.com/EIk19tjZc2

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) September 22, 2026

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

Leonard originally joined the Red Wings on a one-year, $775,000 contract last summer after spending the previous season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He later made his Detroit debut in December after leading the AHL with 19 goals through his first 20 games.

He finished the season with two goals and two assists in 11 NHL appearances while leading Grand Rapids with 32 goals and 21 assists in 46 games.

He also added a goal and four assists in eight Calder Cup Playoff games. Following the season, he was given a one-year extension worth $850,000. 

Shine, a Michigan native, has spent his entire professional career with the Griffins and was named their captain prior to last season. He made his NHL debut with nine appearances in 2024-25 before scoring three goals in 18 games with Detroit last season.

He also recorded 21 goals in 40 games for Grand Rapids and was Detroit's 2026 Bill Masterton Trophy nominee. 

Michigan Native Dominik Shine Nominated For 2026 Masterton Trophy The Detroit chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association has officially nominated forward Dominik Shine as the club's 2026 nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

Having played at Western Michigan, Dries went undrafted but has NHL experience with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks. He signed with Detroit in 2024 and scored 23 goals and 45 points in 57 games for Grand Rapids last season. The Red Wings re-signed him to a two-year, two-way deal in February.

Butler also went undrafted and has one NHL game with Columbus, along with time in the Minnesota Wild organization. He signed a one-year, two-way deal with Detroit this offseason.

Lagesson, drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2014, has 107 NHL games under his belt, including seven with Detroit in 2024-25. He added three goals and 18 assists in 61 games with Grand Rapids last season.

Bryson, a 2017 pick of the Buffalo Sabres, split last season between the Sabres and Winnipeg Jets before signing a one-year, $850,000 deal with Detroit. He has six goals and 45 assists in 304 NHL games.

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Welcome to another edition of preseason Bruins hockey, folks!

After starting the preseason with a 3-2 shootout win over Washington on Sunday night, the B’s will host the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden tonight.

The Flyers played their first preseason game last night, losing to Washington 5-2 in a game played in Hershey, PA.

One of Philly’s goalscorers in that game was none other than Jack Studnicka, now plying his trade with Philly.

In the “Feel Old Yet?” file, the other Flyers goalscorer was Cole Knuble. Yes, Mike Knuble’s son.

The Flyers played a very NHL-light lineup last night, with guys like Sean Couturier, Travis Sanheim, and Travis Konecny sitting out.

For the B’s, JJ Peterka and Will Borgen will make their Bruins debuts, while David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Elias Lindholm are all expected to participate as well.

Bruins! Flyers! Preseason!

Discuss.

Beckett Hamilton's first NHL preseason game was only the latest step in what has been an impressive month for the Colorado Avalanche prospect.

From development camp to his time in San Jose and, finally, his first taste of NHL competition, the 18-year-old forward has steadily given the Avalanche more reasons to be excited about what he could become.

Hamilton's latest opportunity came Sunday at Ball Arena, where the Avalanche defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-1. Playing alongside established NHL talent, including Martin Necas, Hamilton scored his first preseason goal and showed enough of his offensive skill to leave another positive impression.

Hamilton opened the scoring at 8:54 of the second period after finding himself in the right place at the right time.

Utah defenseman Maveric Lamoureux attempted to clear the puck from the zone, but Necas knocked down the pass and immediately fed Hamilton. The young forward made no mistake, lifting the puck over the goaltender to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.

It was the kind of goal that came from simply staying involved in the play and refusing to let off the gas pedal.

Hamilton may have looked overwhelmed at times by the pace, but he continued to push through it. Had he not kept battling, he likely would not have been in position to capitalize when the puck came his way.

That persistence has been a recurring theme throughout his time with the Avalanche this month.

Hamilton scored in Colorado's 7-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks' prospects on Sept. 12 before finding the net in the shootout against the Vegas Golden Knights' rookies two days later. Vegas ultimately won 6-5, leaving Colorado with a 1-0-1 record at the tournament.

New Colorado Eagles head coach Jussi Ahokas was behind the bench for those games and came away impressed with what he saw from Hamilton.

"I think he's really skilled," Ahokas said. "He finds plays. [He's] creative."

Those qualities have continued to stand out as Hamilton has moved through each stage of his first experience with the Avalanche organization. His offensive instincts have been noticeable, but so has his willingness to stay involved when things don't necessarily go his way.

That caught the attention of Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar as well.

“He’s a young kid,” Bednar told Colorado Hockey Now’s Aarif Deen and other reporters Tuesday. “He’s got top-nine potential, I think. That’s what he has. He’s a skilled player.”

Bednar also wanted Hamilton to experience the difference between playing against younger competition and trying to make plays against established NHL players.

That's why the Avalanche put him on a line with players such as Necas, who's coming off his first 100-point season in the league.

"I wanted to play with some skill and I wanted to play against other teams' top guys, so he could kind of feel like where he needs to grow and what he's got," Bednar said.

Hamilton got a firsthand look at that difference Sunday.

"You could tell in the game that everything was happening fast for him," Bednar said.

There were moments when Hamilton appeared to be processing the game rather than reacting to it.

"Sometimes it gets a little quick for him," Bednar said. "You can see him thinking and not reacting. And he was the same way in the game."

That's just a part of the process, but what carried significant weight for the Avalanche was that Hamilton continued to compete, found ways to create offense and made the most of his opportunity.

Bednar said the coaching staff, including Ahokas, was impressed with what Hamilton showed in San Jose, where he stood out as a noticeable impact player. That carried into training camp, where the young forward continued to make an impression.

"I talked to Jussi about him, and everyone raved about his rookie camp," Bednar said. "So I thought he did a nice job in practices."

Now, that first stretch with the Avalanche is over for Hamilton.

The club reassigned him Tuesday morning to the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, where he'll continue his development after making the most of his opportunity in Colorado.

Bednar said Hamilton is aware that there is still work to do before he's ready for the NHL.

"He's got a good head on his shoulders," Bednar said. "I think he's aware that he's a little ways away from getting to the NHL."

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

"It was nice to see him score in his first game," Bednar said. "We send him off back to junior on a good note and a good experience in training camp."

For Hamilton, it's an opportunity to continue growing his game and take the next step in his development. For the Avalanche, the focus remains on winning another Stanley Cup, but they may have another promising depth piece on the way.

Aydar Suniev didn’t need much time to make his presence felt this preseason.

The Calgary Flames forward has scored three goals through his first two preseason games, including a highlight-reel individual effort in the Next Gen rookie game against the Edmonton Oilers before finding the back of the net twice in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

The goals against Seattle offered a good look at one of the biggest parts of Suniev’s game: his shot.

It’s also an area he spent plenty of time working on during the offseason.

“I was working on my shot all summer, just the little things, and I’m glad it’s paying off,” Suniev told reporters following Sunday’s game.

For a young player trying to make an impression, putting a couple of goals on the board early in the preseason can only help.

Suniev admitted the start has given him some added confidence, while keeping his focus on earning opportunities rather than simply chasing numbers.

“I’m trying to do what I can to help the team, but obviously work on my game too, and I’m glad to score those two goals. It helps me a lot.”

"I was working on my shot all summer ... I'm glad it's paying off."

Aydar Suniev's off-season fine-tuning has led him to net three goals through his first two games this month 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ubRb14zqAG

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 21, 2026

There is still plenty of work for Suniev to do before the Flames finalize their opening-night roster.

Like many young offensive players, his work away from the puck has been an area of emphasis. The coaching staff gave him specific areas to focus on during the offseason, particularly in the defensive zone.

“It was mostly defensive zone, playing without the puck,” Suniev said. “But they also wanted me to continue doing what I can do with the puck and performing in the offensive zone.”

That balance will be important as Suniev looks to turn his offensive ability into a legitimate NHL opportunity.

The Flames selected Suniev 80th overall in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Kazan, Russia product spent most of last season with the Calgary Wranglers, recording 15 goals and 23 points in 55 games during his first full professional campaign.

He has appeared in seven NHL games with Calgary and picked up his first career point with an assist against the Utah Mammoth on April 12.

Now, Suniev is entering camp with a little more experience and a clear opportunity in front of him.

The Flames still have preseason games remaining and there are only so many roster spots available, but his early production has put his name into the conversation.

Early Returns Positive for Flames Prospect Aydar SunievAydar Suniev is starting to make an impression with the Calgary Flames during his latest call-up from the AHL Wranglers.

The 2026 pre-season has presented some interesting challenges for teams across the NHL. Not only was the number of games cut, but a new rule has also limited how many times certain players can suit up in the pre-season. While there are some positives in that prospects can get more opportunities, it does create some strain on coaching staffs who need to balance their lineups throughout the four pre-season games. 

The NHL's new "veteran" rule prohibits certain players from playing more than two pre-season games. Using the Vancouver Canucks as an example, Aatu Räty will be ineligible to play the final two pre-season games, as after Tuesday he will have suited up twice already. Here is how the NHL defines a "veteran" for the pre-season:

• Any player who has played one hundred (100) or more career NHL Games
• any player who has played four hundred (400) or more career games in the NHL and/or AHL
• A forward or defenseman who played in thirty (30) NHL Games during the previous season
• A goaltender who either dressed in fifty (50) or more NHL Games or played in thirty (30) or more NHL Games in the previous season
• A first-round draft choice from any of the five (5) previous years’ NHL Drafts
• A second-round draft choice from any of the three (3) previous years’ NHL Drafts.

After morning skate and practice on Tuesday, Manny Malhotra was asked about the new rules and how they have impacted his roster selection for pre-season games. In addition to the new rules, teams must also ensure they have at least eight "veterans" in the lineup. As Malhotra explained, a shorter pre-season means that players need to be ready to go, as they won't have as many opportunities to stand out before the season begins. 

"We've thought about this all summer long," said Malhotra. "Just in terms of the new rules and the limit on how many games a guy can play. So that definitely weighs into the equation. I think it kind of goes without saying that the guys have a very clear understanding that there's not a lot of runway leading up to the season. I think we calculated about between eight and 10 ice sessions. You get your two games, and that's what you have to show. So, I think in terms of the preparation for the guys, it makes it that much more important to show in our skates, in our morning skates, the attention to detail. And then, once we get into these games, it puts everything out there."

The pre-season plays an important role for every team because it lets those on the bubble shine. They also allow players to get up to game speed and battle against opposition that is not wearing the same jersey. According to Malhotra, there have been plenty of conversations amongst the players about the new pre-season roster rules this year. 

"Yeah, it's been a topic of discussion, and they're the ones that are bringing it up to us. A lot of veteran guys, they would like to get into three or four games potentially. So the limiting factor on not being able to get games is definitely a topic of conversation amongst the players. But there's definitely an understanding that there isn't a whole lot of time when you take away a week of camp." 

Based on Vancouver's first two lineups, Malhotra appears to be saving his potential NHL roster for the final two home pre-season games. Besides Räty, other key players who will have played one pre-season game after Tuesday include Kevin Lankinen, Tom Willander, Victor Mancini, Arshdeep Bains, and Max Sasson. With the limited pre-season games, it will be interesting to see how ready players are when the regular season begins on September 29. 

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.

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On Tuesday, former Winnipeg Jets forward Kevin Hayes' NHL career has come to a close. Selected 24th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 draft, Hayes never actually suited up for Chicago. 

Instead, he starred for four years at Boston College before signing with the New York Rangers as a free agent in 2014 after the Blackhawks failed to get him under contract before he finished his collegiate career.

Hayes spent the bulk of his career in New York, where the first five seasons of his career were with the Rangers, featuring in 361 regular-season contests in Manhattan. Midway through the 2018-19 season, Hayes was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, a stop that turned into the best statistical season of his career. 

Hayes closed out that 2018-19 campaign between the two teams with 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 71 games, a career year that came to define his time in a Jets uniform before he moved on in free agency.

He later moved on to several other NHL clubs before ending his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons. Over 12 NHL seasons, Hayes leaves the league with 185 goals and 446 points in 805 career games. He was also a finalist for the 2021-22 Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.

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Flyers hold their breath as Vladar departs preseason game with injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers experienced their worst nightmare in the first period of Tuesday night’s preseason game at TD Garden.

Dan Vladar, their most valuable player, suffered an apparent injury with 6:29 minutes left in the opening stanza. The 29-year-old goaltender was hunched over, favoring his right arm and stick hand as he skated toward the bench after the Bruins scored to make it 1-0.

Vladar went down as he tried to corral a rebound and lost his stick. Michael Eyssimont took advantage by deflecting a shot past Vladar, who was back to his feet but banged up.

There was no immediate word on Vladar’s status. Aleksei Kolosov took over in net.

The Flyers simply can’t afford to lose Vladar for any extended period of time. The club opens the regular season next Wednesday.

Vladar signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension after an excellent first season with the Flyers.

Dan Vladar exits the Flyers’ second preseason game with an injury. pic.twitter.com/gFl4VheXIb

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) September 22, 2026

(More coming …)

With all eyes on the players battling for a spot on the Montreal Canadiens’ roster, the fact that the team’s sniper, Cole Caufield, is already in mid-season form has almost gone unnoticed. In two games so far, the diminutive winger has scored three goals in two games which is tied for the league lead.

But it’s not just the fact that he’s scoring goals; it’s when he scores them. When the Habs need a goal, Caufield always answers the call. So far, he has two overtime game-winning goals and one game-tying goal. Of course, it’s only exhibition games and ultimately doesn’t matter much, but with such a short preseason, hitting the ground running is a must.

Canadiens Narrowly Beat Sens In Kraft Hockeyville Battle
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Caufield’s chemistry with standout defenseman Lane Hutson is also worth mentioning. If Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov always seem to know where the other is, Caufield and Hutson do too, and they are a lethal combination in overtime. The Canadiens’ goal-scoring machine fell just short of capturing the Rocket Richard Trophy last year, and it certainly feels like he’ll be a serious candidate to win it this time around.

On the blueline, Hutson is leading the league in points with five in two games (one goal and four assists). The 22-year-old is literally flying on the ice this preseason, and despite his young age, he looks like a veteran out there, so much so that the coaching staff didn’t hesitate to pair him with David Reinbacher for the Kraft Hockeyville game.

Watching the pair go on Monday night felt like a glimpse into the Canadiens’ future, and as the game went on, they seemed to understand each other with even more ease. Reinbacher isn’t the same kind of defenseman as Hutson, and that’s why he complements him so well. The Austrian is very good at reading the game, and he knows when he needs to cover his partner when he joins the attack.

If Hutson carries his current form into the season, he’ll likely be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy and for numerous other seasons to come.

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It's a new chapter for Sergei Bobrovsky, gearing up for season No. 17 and his first with the Toronto Maple Leafs at 38 years old. 

With that comes plenty of change, especially after seven years with the Florida Panthers. After Tuesday's practice at training camp, the veteran goaltender noted that it's the first time he and his family will see the winter for quite some time.

But besides all that, a goalie of Bobrovsky's stature winning two Stanley Cups, a pair of Vezina Trophies, and being seventh all-time in wins by an NHL goaltender - it would seem pretty obvious for him to adopt a leadership role, even with how young his tenure in Toronto is.

He was asked if he sees a leadership role on the team for himself, but he's not looking to chase any specific roles beyond the job of an NHL goaltender.

"The biggest thing for me is stopping the puck," Bobrovsky said. "Stopping the puck, I will try to do my best to give the guys a chance to win every night. And that's my main focus. And then we go from, if I accomplish that, we're going to go from there."

Aside from Bobrovsky's perspective, his teammates and even head coach Jim Hiller can't deny the weight that his words carry when he speaks. The Maple Leafs' bench boss was also asked what kind of impact Bobrovsky's presence can have on the roster.

A New Look in Blue and White: Sergei Bobrovsky Explains The Story Behind His Maple Leafs MaskWith Sergei Bobrovsky opening a new chapter in his legendary NHL career, he's got his new equipment for his stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, explaining the story behind his new mask design.

"Well, I would hope it's going to make a big one, and I think I've seen some of that already," Hiller said. "When he speaks, you listen, and he's soft-spoken. You've got to lean in a little bit. And it's coming from the best place. So I would think it's had a positive effect already. It's hard to measure it, right? But let's see as the season goes on. But, you know, I talk to different players. They're just like, I love this guy. Like, just how can you not?"

One tale that gets carried with Bobrovsky is how he prepares off the ice. He's got his specific routines that have reached a legendary status around the NHL. 

"I've tried to stay away," Hiller admitted. "I've tried to stay away because that's not my job necessarily. And I've got enough things to overthink, so I try to stay away from that. But I have heard some of the things, and, again, it's just the commitment to it, right? That's what you love."

"It's always changing," Bobrovsky said about his off-ice routines. "It's nothing steady. There are some tools that I need for my preparation.  But, yeah, I'm always open to new things, always to be open to tweak some things, it's never stayed."

'I'm Giving Him A Clean Slate': Maple Leafs' Hiller On Why Rielly And Raddysh Are Paired TogetherMorgan Rielly and Darren Raddysh were paired together at Monday's practice for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Head coach Jim Hiller explains his reasoning behind that decision.

He explained that his routine consists of some stretching, cardio and strength exercising.

"You have to track the puck, you have to be good agility, flexibility, strength, and it's so many things to cover, and you can cover them all," he said. "You have to, like, choose some. Do it here, do it that. Choose what works for you and take it what helps and throw it away what doesn't."

Bobrovsky added that he also takes up some basic gymnastics as part of his preparation.

"I do gymnastics in the summer," he said. "In gymnastics, you do the stretch, you do the core strength, spine, all the speed and the balance, all those things."

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The Anaheim Ducks named the 10th captain in franchise history on Tuesday, Sept. 22, going with a veteran ahead of their high-paid youngster.

Mikael Granlund, 34, replaces Radko Gudas, who left in free agency to return to the Florida Panthers.

Granlund was captain of the Finnish Olympic team, winning a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Games. He signed a three-year deal with the Ducks in 2005 and has two years left on his contract.

He ranks ninth all-time among Finnish NHL players with 651 points in 960 career games.

 “Both our management group and coaching staff have seen how he leads by example and exemplifies how a captain carries themselves on and off the ice," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "He personifies the professionalism, humility, mentorship and quiet intensity that will lead the various personalities of our group.”

Forward Leo Carlsson, 21, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers that the Ducks matched, will be part of the leadership group.

He was one of four alternate captains named on Tuesday, joining Alex Killorn, Jackson LaCombe and Troy Terry.

List of NHL captains

Granlund is the fifth NHL captain named this month, joining the Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty, Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, New York Islanders' Bo Horvat and the St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas. Here is a list of the 26 NHL captains and the six vacancies.

• Anaheim Ducks: Mikael Granlund
• 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: Drew Doughty
• 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: Anaheim Ducks name Mikael Granlund 10th captain in franchise history

The Buffalo Sabres opened their abbreviated preseason schedule with mostly an American Hockey League lineup in Pittsburgh on Monday, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Jake Richard scored for the Sabres, who split the goaltending duties between veteran Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis.

Other than the goalies, the only players that potentially could make Sabres roster when they cut down to 23  next week were forwards Jiri Kulich and Justin Danforth, possibly veteran Conor Sheary (who lost a tooth courtesy of an elbow from Justin Brazeau) and defenseman Zach Metsa. The game was the first contest for Kulich since a blood clot issue ended his season last November, while Danforth suffered a broken knee cap in mid-October. 

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Kulich played nearly 20 minutes in the loss and other than Ellis, is the only player who played on Monday who will be in the lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Veteran players are limited to just two preseason games, but the 22-year-old does not qualify for that restriction, and head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that his plan is to give the young Czech forward as much playing time as possible. 

"The  rules  have  changed  now. Actually,  some  of  our  guys  want  to  play  three,  but  they  can't.” Ruff said. “In all likelihood,  I'm  going  to  play (Kuilch)  all  four  games. I  mean,  that'll  be  a  test  for  sure,  but  I  think  a  year  off  of  hockey,  really  highly  competitive  hockey,  puts  them  in  a  situation  to  start  to  get  comfortable  on  the  ice."

In ex-Sabres news, Bowen Byram scored a hat trick in his debut for the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild. The news was not positive for former Sabre Jeff Skinner. After a strong start for HC Biel in the Swiss League (3 goals in his first two games), the 34-year-old suffered a muscle injury against the SCL Tigers. His status is unknown, but he will miss at least one game while the injury is being evaluated. 

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The New York Islanders' preseason rolls on as they take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, with puck drop scheduled for just after 7 o'clock.

The Islanders officially revealed their lineup for tonight's contest, and it's full of NHL veterans as one would expect:

Tonight’s Game Day Roster in New York! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/S0N2orvac4

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 22, 2026

The very first thought is that the incredible comeback story for Semyon Varlamov continues in earnest. It'll be Varlamov's first preseason game this year, as he and Ilya Sorokin are expected to split tonight's game.

Varlamov hasn't appeared in any NHL action since November 2024, and played two AHL rehab games last season after undergoing double knee-replacement surgery. It's one of the best stories in all of hockey, and this is another box to check for Varlamov on the road to a full NHL return.

Initial thoughts on skaters include what a massive opportunity it is for Cole Eiserman and Kashawn Aitcheson to make statements in this game, with both the Islanders and Rangers opting for NHL-heavy groups in Manhattan.

Here's how the Islanders will line up tonight:

#Isles lines at morning skate @bullsmithsli:

Holmstrom-Horvat-Palmieri
Maccelli-Ritchie-Schenn
Eklund-Pageau-Eiserman
MacLean-Cizikas-Chaffee

Pelech-Schaefer
George-DeAngelo
Aitcheson-Mayfield

Sorokin
Varlamov

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 22, 2026

Defensively, it's a first game-look at Matthew Schaefer playing on the right side, featuring prominently on a pairing with Adam Pelech, a duo that could end up being a match made in heaven for New York.

Aitcheson's opportunity is ripe for the taking. He gets a chance to make a statement with Scott Mayfield, both of whom are willing to throw their body around as needed. It's Aitcheson's second preseason game after leading the Islanders' defense in ice time on Sunday in Newark.

Isaiah George also gets another audition, this time playing alongside Tony DeAngelo, a good opportunity for George to play off the smooth-skating DeAngelo.

Offensively, it's going to be a bit more mixed-and-matched, but based on who's playing and who isn't, one guess would be they end up looking like this:

The first and second lines for tonight are exact replicas from yesterday's practice, and have been together for multiple days at this point.

The third and fourth lines, however, are combinations of things. First, Eiserman slots in for Emil Heineman, and slots in alongside Victor Eklund and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

For Eiserman especially, it's a huge opportunity to make a statement on how close he is to being NHL ready.

The fourth line is combination of the recent fourth-and-fifth lines, with six players- Ondrej Palat, Cizikas, Anthony Duclair, Pierre Engvall, MacLean, and Chaffee-all battling for spots in the opening night and on the roster.

MacLean and Chaffee need strong showings tonight to help their cause. It should be an exceptionally physical line with excellent forechecking, something that the Islanders love to have out of their fourth line.

It's a night for roster battles to begin to sort themselves out. The fourth line, and the bottom-two defensive pairings all have significant ramifications for how things might shape up when rosters come due next Monday.