ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have trimmed their training camp down by four more to 28 on Friday morning, and they include a couple players that have had really strong training camps.
We wrote after Thursday night's 1-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks that defenseman Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2024 NHL Draft that he will make this decision on who to keep as a seventh defenseman with Tyler Tucker (tweaked right knee) currently shelved.
Well, at least for the time being, veteran Calle Rosen will be that guy.
Jiricek, along with 2023 first-round pick Otto Stenberg, Dylan Peterson and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who also had a terrific game on Thursday, were all assigned to Springfield.
It's really not that big a surprise, despite that Jiricek, Peterson, who also had a strong training camp, Stenberg and Kaskimaki all are waiver-exempt.
All of the others, including Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker, Jack Finley, Zach Dean, Dillon Dube and Rosen will require waivers to be sent down to the AHL.
For Jiricek, he can go to Springfield and play upwards of 25 minutes or more and continue to ascend and perhaps become a dominant player.
Kaskimaki displayed enough talent that he can be a sure-fire call-up should the Blues need one at any point, as can Peterson, who displayed a well-balanced mix of grit, toughness, some speed and an offensive skill set. The best thing for Stenberg is he needs to play a more refined role and play bigger minutes; his training camp produced very mixed results.
The Blues will need to trim five more players off the roster by the NHL's opening night deadline, which is 4 p.m. (CT) on Monday.
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Patrick Kane wore the Chicago Blackhawks jersey Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. This road game was his one opportunity to get some preseason work in before the real games begin. The Blackhawks want to save his home debut for the regular season, so he isn't expected to play Saturday night's preseason finale at the United Center.
When the season does start, Kane and the Hawks will play in the first three games on the road before returning home to play the Blues on October 6th. Kane coming back has plenty of hockey implications, but the organization also recognizes the magnitude of his cultural importance in town.
Whenever Patrick Kane speaks now, you can hear the genuine excitement for him to be representing the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice again.
“Nice to wear the Blackhawks sweater again and wear the jersey and be back out there as a Chicago Blackhawk again, so that was a good feeling,” Kane said with a happy face.
On the ice, he showed glimpses of his former self. He may not be a 90-point player anymore, but his ability to create time and space for himself and others in the offensive zone is still incredibly noticeable.
Kane played on a line with Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, and they each had multiple chances set up by Kane. None of them were buried, but those floodgates are sure to open soon. More than anyone, 38-year-old Patrick Kane seems to be in mid-season form already.
"I thought we had some chances, some looks," Kane said of his line. "Maybe a little sloppy with the puck at times, but I didn't think we gave up much. Maybe trying too many plays at times instead of making the simple play to keep possession. We could have capitalized on some chances."
When Connor Bedard comes back, that may be his spot instead of Frank Nazar, but the line is going to be strong in the offensive zone all year long regardless. Patrick Kane has the hockey IQ to make those around him better, even now, and it is already showing in the chances that were created in St. Louis.
Kane recognized that they were a bit rusty, but he also admitted that game action, albeit preseason, is much different than practice. It was good for him to get into this game.
"When [Patrick Kane] got the opportunity to be out there, I thought he did a good job," head coach Jeff Blashill said. "He competes, he reloads hard, he's doing all the things we're asking him to do. I thought he and Roman [Kantserov] showed good chemistry again. It was a good first step."
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In Elliotte Friedman's latest episode of his podcast, 32 Thoughts, the NHL insider revealed that Dylan Larkin has expanded his trade list as he continues to pursue a move away from the Detroit Red Wings.
The list is reportedly up to seven teams, and the Minnesota Wild are still among them.
''One of the things I heard about Larkin is that there are more teams that he's willing to go to than what have been reported," said Friedman.
"I think some of the other teams there are Colorado, Washington, and I suspect, in case people didn't know them already, Dallas and Tampa.''
Of those seven teams, a deal is unlikely with the Panthers and Golden Knights, as they don't have the future assets to make it work and likely don't want to part with many of their NHL veterans.
The Stars and Avalanche are in the same boat: fairly happy with their rosters and lacking tradeable assets, but they could still find a way to make a deal work.
The Capitals and the Wild are the most interesting teams that could make it work with the Red Wings.
So, with all of this, does Larkin expanding his trade list make configuring a deal for Larkin more difficult? The simple answer is yes, because they now have two more teams to compete with, but outside of Washington, their competition likely couldn't match what the Wild have at their disposal.
It also raises the asking price for Larkin. With more teams able to discuss trades, the Red Wings gained a bit of leverage and could demand more, or better assets, in a deal.
That's where the Wild will be most affected by the expanded list.
It doesn't end their chances of acquiring Larkin, but it does add to the difficulty.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs made many roster moves on Thursday, now that their NHL pre-season has concluded. Ahead of their trip to Arizona for some off-ice bonding, the team sent down several players, rounding out the roster for opening night on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Among that bunch was Maple Leafs prospect and 19-year-old center Tinus Luc Koblar. Koblar was returned to the SHL and will be with Rogle for the 2026-27 season. The SHL regular season has already kicked off, with Rogle off to a 1-2-0 start after the first three outings.
Koblar being sent back to the SHL leads to some questions about how he performed at training camp, especially considering he was eligible to be assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies for this season.
There is a rule that prevents 19-year-olds from playing in the American League unless they are a first-round pick. Koblar was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft. However, that ruling only applies to players who were drafted by major junior teams, and Koblar has only played in Europe to this point in his young hockey career.
At any rate, that decision should echo the type of training camp the youngster had in Toronto.
In terms of the pre-season action that anyone could see him in, he played in two of the two possible games.
His first game was at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday against the Canadiens. He had a minus-one rating and played 11:29 of ice time in that contest, playing the role of the fourth-line center and getting time on the second power-play unit.
In the second game, against the Ottawa Senators, at the Canadian Tire Centre, he had a minus-one rating again and logged 15:39 of ice time.
In other words, his performance in the pre-season wasn't anything to write home about, but nothing concerning either. But with that in mind, it's also not the full picture of NHL training camp.
What could carry more weight in the ultimate decision to send him back to Sweden is how he practised with the team, and in my eyes, there's definitely room for improvement. And that's the case with any young player, but this is what I gathered from the sessions in between the pre-season appearances.
Koblar skated with Group 2 throughout training camp. He was given an opportunity to play alongside some solid players, including Brendan Brisson and Vinni Lettieri, as well as power-play reps. The coaching staff made an effort to put him in a comfortable situation.
But from my perspective, and seeing every day of training camp, something was missing from the Norwegian.
At times, he stuck out like a sore thumb, either because of his still-developing skating ability or because he hadn't played much hockey in North America before this training camp. Whatever it was, it was evident in certain drills.
There was one part of a drill where Koblar was supposed to skate behind the net to pick up a puck from head coach Jim Hiller, but he had gotten a little lost for a split second, enough for the coach to tell him where to go in the middle of the action.
Once he got to the right spot behind the net, he couldn't fully control the puck, adding a few more seconds to his rep. He then grabbed whatever puck was nearby and went through the motion of the drill, finding a teammate waiting in front of the net to receive a pass from him.
It was just one niche moment of training camp and pre-season, a time to shake off the rust, but it was an awkward instance that Hiller had a premium view of.
There was a sense of Koblar being uncomfortable or not fitting in. Make no mistake, he competed and worked hard all training camp. But that altercation - as well as being a newcomer to the group, a 19-year-old, and not having much experience playing in North America - resulted in a camp that Koblar probably believes he could've done better.
Between the uncommon moments, Koblar showed signs of growth and potential to be a great player. Though his skating isn't the final form that it needs to be, it has improved from years prior. He also has a powerful shot and does utilize his 6-foot-3 frame to his advantage, especially along the walls.
Ultimately, Koblar is still a young, developing player, and there isn't immediate pressure for him to be an automatic difference-maker in the Maple Leafs' system.
He'll almost certainly get at least a spot on the Marlies next season when he's 20, and maybe an opportunity to challenge for an NHL roster spot in 2027-28, but who knows what the organization will look like then, or if Koblar is even still a member of the Maple Leafs.
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The rising salary cap and an offer sheet have skewed the top of the NHL's salary list toward younger players.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli's signing on Thursday, Sept. 24, to a six-year, $82.5 million contract ($13.75 million average) means that three of the top five cap hits this season belong to the top three draft picks of 2023.
In the past, teams could keep down the salaries of players coming out of their entry-level deals because they lacked arbitration rights. But the Philadelphia Flyers changed that with a five-year, $90 million offer sheet ($18 million cap hit) to Leo Carlsson.
Washington's Ryan Leonard received an eight-year, $92 million extension after playing one full season with 45 points.
"I'll definitely be giving (Carlsson) a tap on the shins this year, maybe," Leonard told reporters. "It's fun to see the market and it's nice to see the NHL is slowly creeping up on some other sports."
Here's a look at the highest-paid NHL players by cap hit, salary and position (figures from puckpedia.com):
Highest-paid NHL players in 2026-27 by cap hit
Note: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will average $20.4 million and Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will average $18.8 million, starting in 2027-28.
▶ Top 50 plus ties
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $14,000,000
C Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets, $13,750,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $13,500,000
LW Cutter Gauthier, Ducks, $13,500,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $13,250,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,604,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $12,500,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $12,000,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $12,000000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000
G Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $11,500,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $11,500,000
D Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $11,000,000
LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $11,000,000
C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $10,625,000
D Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $10,500,000
LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $10,000,000
C Tyler Seguin, Stars, $9,850,0000
C Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes, $9,750,000
D Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
D Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
RW Nikita Kucherov, Lightning, $9,500,000
C Brayden Point, Lightning, $9,500,000
D Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
RW Mark Stone, Golden Knights, $9,500,000
D Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
LW Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers, $9,500,000
D Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
C Mathew Barzal, Islanders, $9,150,000
C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $9,125,000
D Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
LW Jake Guentzel, Lightning, $9,000,000
D Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
D Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
D Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
D Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
D Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
Highest-paid players in 2026-27 by salary
▶ Top 30 plus ties
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20,800,000
LW Cutter Gauthier, Ducks, $19,501,405
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $19,100,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $17,700,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $17,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $16,500,000
C Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets, $16,000,000
G Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $15,850,000
RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $15,700,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $15,000,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $14,250,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $14,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $14,000,000
LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $14,000,000
C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $13,000,000
D Thomas Harley, Stars, $13,000,000
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $12,500,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,150,000
D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $12,000,000
C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $12,000,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $12,000,000
D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $11,250,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $11,080,000
D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
D Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $11,000,000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,000,000
D Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $11,000,000
Highest-paid defensemen in 2026-27 by cap hit
Note: Makar will average $20.4 million and Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram will have a $12.5 million cap hit, starting in 2027-28.
▶ Top 30 plus ties
Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
Moritz Seider, Red Wings, $8,550,000
John Carlson, Lightning, $8,500,000
Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $8,500,000
Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets, $8,500,000
Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $8,500,000
Mikhail Sergachev, Mammoth, $8,500,000
Brock Faber, Wild, $8,500,000
Miro Heiskanen, Stars, $8,450,000
Owen Power, Sabres, $8,350,000
Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $8,250,000
Jake Sanderson, Senators, $8,050,000
Victor Hedman, Lightning, $8,000,000
Thomas Chabot, Senators, $8,000,000
Philip Broberg, Blues, $8,000,000
Highest-paid goaltenders in 2026-27 by cap hit
▶ Top 30
Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning, $9,500,000
Thatcher Demko, Canucks, $8,500,000
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, $8,500,000
Jake Oettinger, Stars, $8,250,000
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins, $8,250,000
Linus Ullmark, Senators, $8,250,000
Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, $8,250,000
Juuse Saros, Predators, $7,740,000
Dustin Wolf, Flames, $7,500,000
Sergei Bobrovsky, Maple Leafs, $7,000,000
Filip Gustavsson, Wild, $6,800,000
Lukas Dostal, Ducks, $6,500,000
John Gibson, Red Wings, $6,400,000
Adin Hill, Golden Knights, $6,250,000
Jordan Binnington, Blues, $6,000,000
Jacob Markstrom, Panthers, $6,000,000
Philipp Grubauer, Kraken, $5,900,000
Logan Thompson, Capitals, $5,850,000
Spencer Knight, Blackhawks, $5,833,333
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets, $5,400,000
Tristan Jarry, Oilers, $5,375,000
MacKenzie Blackwood, Avalanche, $5,250,000
Darcy Kuemper, Kings, $5,250,000
Jet Greaves, Blue Jackets, $5,000,000
Joey Daccord, Kraken, $5,000,000
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres, $4,750,000
Karel Vejmelka, Mammoth, $4,750,000
Kevin Lankinen, Canucks, $4,500,000
Joonas Korpisalo, Rangers, $4,000,000
How high is the NHL salary cap?
The upper limit for this season is $104 million and it will rise to $113.5 million in 2027-28. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that it is estimated to jump by $14 million in 2028-29 to $127.5 million.
It was
scrimmage day in Brossard, so the Montreal Canadiens once again shuffled their
practice groups to keep an NHL group from playing an AHL group. For those who
were hoping to see Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher paired up, it was a
disappointing day, as the two blueliners were in different groups. There was
worse news than that, though: Ivan Demidov was once again nowhere to be seen,
making it two therapy days in a row for the Russian wonder, although since the
Habs were off on Tuesday, that might have been three days without ice time for
him, which doesn’t necessarily bode well. However, during the post-scrimmage
presser, Chantal Machabee said there was nothing to it and that they expected
Demidov to skate on Friday.
Who was
taking Demidov’s spot on the second line? Kirby Dach. While the big forward has
the tools to be a top-six forward on paper, he rarely displays them on the ice,
and based on the training camp so far, that was a surprising choice. Perhaps
it’s an attempt to get solid effort from him; one has to wonder what Alex
Newhook thought of that move, as he was put in Dach’s place between Alexandre
Texier and Zachary Bolduc. After all, Newhook did very well last season playing
alongside Demidov and Kapanen.
Before the scrimmage,
though, they had a regular practice, and Martin St-Louis wasn’t pleased with
what he saw on the ice, so he made his players skate a few laps. At 11:30, the
puck dropped on the Red vs. White game. The Red Team featured the Cole
Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Chris Kreider line; the Josh Anderson, Phillip
Danault, and Jake Evans line up front; and the Lane Hutson and Alexandre
Carrier and Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj pairings on defense. As for the
White squad, it included the other two NHL lines, meaning Dach, Oliver Kapanen, and Juraj Slafkovsky with the Zach Bolduc, Alex Newhook, and Alexandre Texier
lines up front; on the back end, the Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson duo was
intact, while Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher were reunited.
In the end,
the big guns didn't get on the board, though. Team Red signed a 3-0 win, thanks
to a Struble breakaway goal, a Tyler Thorpe one-timer and an Aderson empty-netter.
Samuel Montembeault was the only goaltender who gave up goals, surrendering the
first two.
Speaking
after the scrimmage, the coach refused to say that the die was cast when it
came to his lines:
Honestly, I
don’t know, and I’m not preoccupied with finding all the answers for the first
game. That does not preoccupy me. We have a season to play, and we’ll be guided
in a certain direction. The camp may take us down one path, and then two or
three games later, we may be taken in another direction. I know I have good
options, and we’ll work to solve the puzzle. That puzzle often changes.
- St-Louis on his lines
After
seeing Dach on the second line, there were again quite a few questions about
him and what he needed to do to stand out and grab a role in the lineup.
St-Louis eventually said:
It’s just
day-to-day stuff, you know: evaluate in drill, evaluate in scrimmage, evaluate
in a game. I’m not looking for one specific thing. I expect him to push and
find his place, like everybody else- like Flo, same thing, like Beck. Then
we’re going to try to make the best decision we can when it’s all said and
done. We’re trying to move along in this camp and be organized, with some
purpose for each and every day. Sometimes we get the group in certain
situations just so we can have good rhythm and flow, not necessarily, like, you
know, demotion, promotion, whatever it is; we’re just trying to be organized. […]
Production doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re playing well, you know, so
we’re evaluating how they play the game, not necessarily production.
- St-Louis on what he needs to see from Dach
While what
St-Louis said is understandable, generally speaking, the average fan will look
for top-six players to bring lots of production and for the bottom-six players
to contribute in other ways. Looking at Dach this camp, it’s hard to see how he
does contribute. He’s not getting on the scoreboard, but he’s not winning
battles by the boards either; he’s not making the opponent’s life harder with
physicality, and he’s not quick on the forecheck; it’s almost as if he sees
himself as a top-six player whose job is to provide offense and he won’t try to
contribute in other ways. When asked if he believes he can play a top-six role
on the team, Dach explained:
Yeah, I
feel confident in whatever role the coaching staff deems fit for me. I feel
like I can adapt and play in any kind of position or role up front. I think
there’s urgency every year. I think as a group we’re striving to achieve a goal
of winning a Stanley Cup; you win one by being urgent. You can’t win one
without being urgent.
- Dach on his role
When
prompted to explain how he approaches the balance he has to find between the
desire to stand out and the need to take care of the little details and play
his game, he answered:
I think you
just kind of focus on what’s being asked of you by the coaching staff, and,
like you said, the details of the game, playing the game the right way. You get
rewarded down the line if you keep doing the right things away from the puck,
stay responsible defensively, and have good details all over the ice.
- Dach about what he tries to do on the ice.
Dach evaluated
his camp in the following words when asked:
I feel good; I feel like I’ve
played well in the games. I’ve tried to make sure I’m doing the little things
right, the details correctly, and what the coaching staff has asked of us, and
to continue to just take a step forward each and every day.
- Dach on his camp
In Brossard
on Thursday, playing on the second line with Slafkovsky and Kapanen, he didn’t
get on the scoreboard, but he at least looked more combative on the ice,
winning some puck battles rather than being dispossessed. Reading between the
lines, though, Dach’s presence on the second line today shouldn’t necessarily
be seen as a promotion; it might have been the Habs trying “to be organized.” Maybe
they wanted to see how Bolduc and Texier would do without Dach and with
Newhook? It might also mean Dach is now the 13th forward and becomes the odd
man out when Demidov returns. Who
knows…One thing’s for certain, though: soon enough, St-Louis will need at least
some temporary answers about who to ice when the Canadiens kick off their
season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Livanavage #4 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battle Valeri Nichushkin #43 of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the puck during the second period of the preseason game at Nationwide Arena on September 24, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins played the Columbus Blue Jackets in preseason game three of four on Thursday night. Pittsburgh iced what ultimately represented a B-squad and took home a 4-0 loss to the Blue Jackets. The final preseason game is set for Saturday. [Recap]
Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence after his father, Alexander, died following a bear attack during a fishing trip in southern Siberia, according to Russian media reports. [PensBurgh]
Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones is back on the ice after missing nearly all of last season because of injuries and a 20-game suspension. Jones, who played seven games last season, is competing for a roster spot as he works to regain his form and return to the lineup. [Trib Live]
Pittsburgh assigned 10 players to their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, on Thursday. [Trib Live]
Forward Ben Kindel has been downgraded from day-to-day to week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered in Monday’s preseason game. [PensBurgh]
News and notes from around the NHL…
The NHL and Winnipeg Jets announced Thursday that the franchise’s official statistical history will now combine both eras of the team, including its original Winnipeg run from 1979-96, the Atlanta Thrashers era and the current Jets. The change makes Dale Hawerchuk the franchise’s career leader in goals and points, while Thomas Steen leads in assists. [Sportsnet]
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed center Adam Fantilli to a six-year, $82.5 million contract on Thursday, ending a holdout that kept the restricted free agent out of training camp. Fantilli, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a career-high 59 points last season. [NHL]
Cal and friends will skate for Bridgeport. | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders are at home Friday night to host more of that hot preseason action, as the Rangers visit for the third of four preseason contests.
Islanders News
Day 8 of camp had quite the mix of lines and combos. [Isles]
Cal Ritchie feels a confidence boost and is ready to go. [Isles]
The food provider is happy to announce different offerings of food. [Isles | Newsday]
Our man Leboff says bet on a big season from our boy Schaefer. [Post]
Former Roy assistant Benoit Desrosiers has landed on his feet…by getting a pro scouting role with the Isles. [THN]
Elsewhere
This is actually a really interesting piece on why Tanner Adams and his family drew a line and forced that bit 17-picks-for-one-kid trade so he could stay in northern Ontario. [Athletic]
Trevor Zegras received a new penalty for…tucking his jersey? Wayne must be rolling over in his walking dead grave. [Sportsnet]
Andrei Kuzmenko joined the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer [Getty Images]
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia before the start of the NHL season after his father was killed by a bear.
Kuzmenko's father Alexander, who was an ice hockey coach in Russia, was on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia with a group of seven others when a bear attacked from the trees.
The 62-year-old suffered severe facial injuries in the attack.
A member of the fishing party called for an ambulance but the dense forest made it difficult for emergency services to reach the area.
Kuzmenko was taken by river downstream for four hours before then being airlifted to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Penguins president Kyle Dubas said the team was "deeply saddened" by the death.
"Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time," the team said in a statement.
"Andrei chose to be surrounded by his team-mates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organisation during this time."
The 30-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Penguins this summer and is about to compete in his fifth season in the NHL, following previous stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.
The Boston Bruins have a solid core of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. Those three pillars are complimented by veterans such as Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, JJ Peterka, Hampus Lindholm, and several others.
But for the Bruins to make the playoffs from what should be an ultra-competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference overall, they need multiple young players to play key roles in the 2026-27 NHL season.
Depth is vital, especially in the regular season. Eighty-four games is a lot of hockey.
Let’s look at three young players who could have a meaningful impact on the Bruins’ success during the upcoming campaign.
Fraser Minten
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Fraser Minten signed a seven-year extension last last week.
Position: Center
Age: 22
2025-26 stats: 17 G, 18 A in 82 GP
Minten’s first full NHL season was an impressive one. He didn’t miss a single game, he took a strong step forward offensively, he played a smart defensive game and had a meaningful role on the penalty kill.
There’s no doubt has a good two-way skill set and excels in many of the defensive aspects of the sport. In fact, the B’s had a .937 save percentage at even strength when Minten was on the ice, which led all Boston forwards. He’s also a very mature player for his age.
The real unknown is whether Minten can take another step or two offensively. Can he score 20-25 goals, or even 30, some time in the near future? If healthy, Minten should absolutely be able to surpass 20 goals this season, especially if he plays a significant amount of time with David Pastrnak. The Bruins outscored opponents 23-7 during the 306:34 of ice time that Pastrnak and Minten played together at even strength last season, per Natural Stat Trick. It was an effective duo, and certainly one worth going back to early in the upcoming season.
The Bruins are in dire need of legit top-six centers. Minten, who recently signed a seven-year, $50.4 million extension, is one of the few players on the roster that might be able to fill that role long term. But he needs to become a more prolific scorer to really become a center of that caliber.
In addition to scoring more goals, if Minten can play more minutes on special teams, improve on faceoffs (49.3 win percentage last season) and take on more difficult defensive zone assignments, he could end up being one of the team’s most valuable forwards in short order.
Minten has a high floor. It would be very surprising if he wasn’t at least a very good No. 3 center in his prime. But the Bruins probably need him to become a legit No. 2 if they’re going to be a perennial contender throughout the length of his extension.
James Hagens
Position: Left wing/center
Age: 19
2025-26 stats: 0 G, 1 A in 2 GP
Hagens has the most potential of any young player in the organization, which makes sense considering he was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and was ranked as his class’ top prospect at one point.
His offensive talent is obvious. He has fantastic speed and his overall skating is impressive. He has high-end playmaking ability and a shot that features both accuracy and power. He has a high hockey IQ, too, and plays with more strength than his frame would suggest.
For a Bruins team desperate for more elite offensive players, Hagens has the ability to make a huge impact on the team’s scoring output for many years. If Hagens reaches his ceiling, he could be a legit No. 1 center. But the Bruins might not start him at center right away. His early experience at the NHL level has been on the wing, where his defensive responsibilities are not as important compared to center. It wouldn’t be surprising if he continues on the wing until he’s fully comfortable with the speed and physicality of the NHL.
In an ideal world, Hagens would make the Opening Night roster and be with the Bruins all season, score 20 or so goals, become a key part of the power play and be responsible enough defensively to play in most situations. Hagens also could be one of the first players selected for shootouts, which is not an insignificant role when you consider Boston was 4-3 with only six goals in seven shootouts last season. In what should be a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, one or two extra points in the standings could be pivotal.
Expectations are high for Hagens, but the progress he has made thus far is encouraging.
“When he came last year, I felt like he was just a little kid,” Sturm said of Hagens on Thursday before a preseason matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers. “He’s still a kid – he looks like it in the face – but on the ice, it just feels a little bit different. Part of it is he’s more confident out there. He’s not as nervous. Now he knows us, he knows the system, he knows everything, he knows the players, he knows how we have to play. He already looks different to me than last season. He’s bigger, stronger.”
Frederic Brunet
Position: Defenseman
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 12 G, 24 A in 65 GP (all with AHL’s Providence Bruins)
The Bruins have some tough decisions to make on their blue line with 10 waiver-eligible defensemen. There aren’t enough roster spots for everyone. But through training camp and the preseason so far, it could be pretty tough to leave Brunet off the roster.
He is a very good skater and makes smart, confident plays with the puck on his stick. He has a good shot and does an effective job getting it on net. He tallied two assists and played on both the power play and penalty kill in Tuesday’s preseason win over the Flyers.
The Bruins want and need to generate more scoring chances and goals from the blue line, and Brunet’s offensive-minded skill set make him an ideal fit for that style of play. After tallying five goals and 12 assists in 69 AHL games in 2024-25, he had a breakout 2025-26 for Providence with 12 goals and 24 assists in 65 games.
“Sometimes I think the offense was kind of the one thing, one area, it kind of got lost a little bit. I think there’s times we could have maybe joined the rush more (last season),” Sturm said at a press conference earlier this month. “We could have been more active overall as a defensive group. That’s something we’re going to touch on starting (in camp) to be more involved, I would say, in our offensive game.”
Brunet needs to be a little stronger in the defensive zone, and learning the team’s hybrid defensive system will take some time. But Brunet could definitely play a valuable role on the blue line now and well into the future. And it would be a huge boost to the Bruins if he did, because they don’t have any elite defenseman prospects in the pipeline.
The Calgary Flames took their preseason show on the road Thursday night, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Seattle Kraken in a shootout at Climate Pledge Arena.
Devin Cooley got the start in net for Calgary, making his second preseason appearance.
The Flames opened the scoring at 10:02 of the first period after a strong forecheck from Dryden Hunt forced a turnover behind the Seattle net. Brennan Othmann collected the loose puck and found Jonathan Costagna in front, who buried his first goal of the preseason past Philipp Grubauer.
Seattle answered late in the period. Jordan Eberle made a play from the slot while being knocked down, finding Bobby McMann for a quick one-timer that beat Cooley and tied the game 1-1.
Calgary outshot Seattle 14-6 through 20 minutes.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Flames regained the lead in the second when Rory Kerins found some open ice and took a pass from Alex Nylander before ripping a shot into the top corner for his first goal of the preseason.
After some physical play between the teams, Calgary went to a 5-on-3 power play and capitalized.
Aydar Suniev picked up the puck in the high slot and snapped a wrist shot over Grubauer’s glove for his third goal in two preseason games and fourth in his last three games, including the Next Gen rookie game.
The physicality continued, with Othmann throwing a big hit in the corner before being challenged by Ville Ottavainen.
Seattle appeared to cut into Calgary’s lead late in the period when Brandon Montour scored, but the goal was waved off for offside.
The Flames carried a 3-1 lead and a 23-9 edge in shots into the third.
Montour eventually got his goal just 1:26 into the final frame, pinching down from the blue line before taking a pass from Matty Beniers and beating Cooley with a wrist shot.
Seattle tied it at 7:31 when Ryker Evans drove down the left side and fired a shot into the top corner.
Neither team could find the winner in overtime, sending the game to a shootout.
Berkly Catton scored the deciding goal as Seattle completed the comeback with a 4-3 win.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images<br />
Three Takeaways
The Flames brought the compete
This was essentially a Wranglers-heavy Calgary lineup going up against a much more NHL-calibre Kraken group. The Flames played fast, physical hockey, outshot Seattle and answered when the game got chippy. They also continued to show plenty of pushback when their teammates were challenged.
Suniev keeps scoring
Suniev continues to make noise this preseason. His goal Thursday was his third in two preseason games and fourth over his last three appearances, putting him among the preseason scoring leaders.
Kerins needed to make an impact with limited preseason opportunities, and he did that Thursday. His second-period goal was an important moment for a player trying to stay on the Flames’ radar. It may not be enough to secure an NHL roster spot, but it gives him a strong performance to build on heading into the rest of camp.
Mike Babcock iced a lineup heavy with AHL talent Thursday night, and the Edmonton Oilers still walked away with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, who, in contrast, iced all of their big guns. The Oilers outworked their much more experienced opponent on the road and improved Babcock's preseason record to 3-0.
Babcock said, "Coming in, obviously we were undermanned and obviously outmatched, but our guys played with determination." He added that when you come in with the lineup they did, and you're not sure what's going to happen, it can go a number of ways. In this case, it was good to get through the opening five minutes, pick up the pace, and eventually the win.
Playing with pace is the Oilers' mantra. They've focused on it in practice and on-ice sessions. It's clear they're starting to work that pace into their games.
A Steady Jarry Thought "The Kids Played Great"
In net, Tristan Jarry looked sharp, stopping 25 of 26 shots and moving fluidly in the crease. Despite his poise, he credited the young guys. "I thought the kids played great tonight; they worked their butts off," Jarry said after the win. "Everything we've been going through in practice, they really implemented tonight."
When asked what it's like to play behind a group that's putting in that kind of effort, he responded, "It's awesome to stand back there and see that effort... They were working hard."
With Jarry, Max Jones, Spencer Stastney, and Ty Emberson the only established NHL regulars in the lineup, the group still showed a clear defensive identity. It was genuinely an encouraging sign, even in a preseason game.
Edmonton pressured the puck throughout the game, especially on the penalty kill. The kill was aggressive, pouncing on the puck carriers from multiple angles. It's a bit of a gamble if not done properly, but this is the style the Oilers want to play. The goal against showed where things can go wrong, but the non-NHLers did a solid job applying the coach's teachings, and you can see what they're trying to do. The veterans will have to keep that trend going on Saturday.
Isaac Howard Had Himself a Game
While Jarry had a solid game in goal, Isaac Howard was the standout of the night. After a quiet start to camp as he pushed for a top-six role, Howard opened the scoring by pouncing on a bouncing puck, then added an assist. His game visibly shifted after the goal, as if a weight had been lifted, and he played much stronger over the final 50 minutes.
This was the kind of game he needed to have as the jury was out on him thus far in camp. Babcock said earlier in the day that they liked how Howard had been preparing, but they wanted to see him in a game where he got to possess the puck.
As for why he's the only player to play all of the team's preseason games, it's about opportunity. As a player trying to cement himself on the roster this season, Howard needs the looks.
Vancouver pushed for the equalizer in the third period and controlled more of the puck late, but Edmonton's counterattacks generated the better scoring chances down the stretch. Vancouver did not look strong. The fact that such a loaded lineup struggled to generate anything remotely dangerous is not a good sign for a Canucks team that had no excuses.
Meanwhile, this was the last game that most of Thursday's lineup will play this season. Babcock said of the guys who the team will send down, "The hardest thing about this league is that no one is giving their job to you." He said they should all feel good about themselves.
Now, the roster will be narrowed down to an exclusively NHL roster and the team will be get ready for their final exhibition game on Saturday.
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ST. LOUIS -- Sure,
it’s the preseason. Sure, these games don’t count.
But
they actually do. They count to those trying to win a job.
And
if Adam Jiricek doesn’t win a job right out of training camp, it’s
not because the first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2024 NHL Draft isn’t
good enough or isn’t ready. It’s more because it’s a numbers
game, and it’s because the St. Louis Blues can afford to allow the
talented Czechia-born right-hander to simmer in the American Hockey
League and build minutes – huge minutes.
But
boy oh boy, did the 20-year-old really step to the plate and show
Blues management and coaching staff that
he’s putting his best foot forward to make the decision on a
seventh defenseman as arduous as possible.
Tyler
Tucker was all but locked in as the seventh D-man, but his recent
right knee injury, a knee tweak that coach Jim Montgomery called,
opened the door for Jiricek and Calle Rosen, who scored the lone goal
in a 1-0 preseason win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Enterprise
Center on Thursday.
Jiricek,
who has battled injuries in his young career but was able to have a
healthy season last year and play a ton, has played in preseason
games before. Last year, to be exact. But Thursday’s performance
was his best yet.
“I
would say I’m a step ahead,” Jiricek
said.
“I have like a whole year, almost like 100 games (playing) last
year. If you play 100 games, you just (are) building your confidence.
I’m like more experienced, I’m older, I’m heavier and just
everything together comes. I feel like I’m a couple steps ahead
than I was last year.”
On
Thursday, he
played 17:04 and was a plus-1 with four shots on goal (six total),
which was second on the team behind Aleksanteri Kaskimaki’s six; he
finished with two takeaways, including one that sprung Oskar
Sundqvist and Kaskimaki for a 2-on-1 that Blackhawks goalie Arvid
Soderblom made a terrific save on Kaskimaki, and Jiricek had zero
giveaways.
“I
felt good all over,” Jiricek
said.
“It’s great to play here. We have great players. When the great
players are also like good teammates, it feels good and I feel good
out there. Trying to do my best to play my best hockey and I think
it’s going good. I feel pretty good out there.”
Jiricek
played with Rosen, and it was evident how he demanded the puck,
craved the puck and made things happen with the puck when he got it;
whether it be moving it up ice, putting shots on goal, running the
second power play unit or making a pass setting someone else up for a
quality opportunity.
“His
ability make plays with time, without time, just his brain
offensively,” Montgomery described Jiricek’s game. “Thinks at a
high level. His deception. The move he made at the blue line to walk
in, let that wrist shot go. Just an exciting, young player.
“He
has a zest for the game. He loves the game. He looks at the game like
it's almost like he's an artist and the ice is his canvas. It's fun
to watch.”
Is
it fun enough to watch from the start of the season? The NHL deadline
for 23-man rosters is Monday 4 p.m. (CT) and Jiricek could be – and
the way he’s playing, should be – on it for the Blues. But is it
wise to do so? Only if he’s playing.
Depending
on the severity of Tucker’s injury, Jiricek could be here just to
soak up the NHL player life and get acclimated and go to Springfield
if Tucker’s injury is short-lived. Otherwise, it’s probably best
to have Rosen here as the insurance policy as the extra D. And Jiricek is waivers-exempt, meaning the Blues can send him to the AHL without waivers. It's the part of the business that stinks, but it's reality.
But
it’s been up to Jiricek to make this decision as difficult as
possible. Thursday’s performance all but certainly made sure that decision would be a difficult one.
The Blues traded for Brandon Carlo as an insurance policy in case Jiricek wasn't ready. Not only does he look ready, but they have depth with a solid addition in Carlo.
“It’s
my dream,” Jiricek
said.
“I’m doing everything I can do to do that as soon as possible.
It’s just to play my best hockey and the decision is not on me
anymore. I’m doing everything I can. It’s all I can manage.
That’s all I can do.”
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Well, the Pittsburgh Penguins are down to their final pre-season game, and given that Friday's practice has been narrowed down to one session - and the AHL opens its pre-season on Saturday - it's safe to assume that yet another small wave of roster cuts is coming in the next 24 hours.
Not every prospect will be cut quite yet, as injuries and veteran rules for the pre-season have resulted in necessity to keep a few extra bodies for the team's final pre-season tilt against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
However, when the rest of the roster is trimmed down to 23 or less, there is one name that absolutely deserves to be left on it.
And that's defenseman Owen Pickering.
Pickering, 22, has been put through the wringer in the past 24 months. After an impressive start to the 2024-25 season, his play began to wane a little bit, and he was ultimately sent back down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins after 25 games. He was called on again after an early-season injury to Caleb Jones last season, but he only stayed for four games after a less-than-ideal showing.
He didn't see another NHL game during the 2025-26 season, but by all accounts - including the accounts of GM Kyle Dubas, director of player development Tom Kostopoulos, and WBS assistant GM Amanda Kessel - Pickering experienced substantial growth in the latter half of the AHL season. He developed more consistency in his game and finally became the steady, shutdown blueliner the organization hoped he would be. This continued into the Calder Cup Playoffs, when he played on an injured foot.
Pickering finished the AHL season with seven goals and 28 points - as well as a plus-16 - in 68 regular season games, and he got better and better as the season progressed and the stakes rose.
So, he came into training camp this season with the same purpose as everyone else in the locker room: To earn a spot on the NHL roster. After all, Dubas has said in the past that young guys would have to earn spots but that veterans would also have to earn keeping them.
"If [the young guys] continue to push all the way - and it's very clear that they should be on the team - they'll make the team, and we'll deal with whatever the ripple effects of those are on some of the more veteran guys," Dubas said in his pre-season press conference prior to the 2025-26 season.
In that same presser, he added: "The message to the veteran guys is that, with where we're at, the young guys are coming, they're going to get opportunity, they're going to have to earn everything... but it's been very clear to them what the expectation is. And it's up to them to hold onto their jobs and hold onto their spots and their places with the Penguins and in the NHL."
Flash forward a year later, and Pickering has certainly earned it with his camp.
Not only does he look like a different player than the one who stepped foot into camp last season, he looks confident and poised. He's finally learned how to utilize his 6-foot-5, 213-pound frame to his advantage, using his long reach to disrupt plays and being hard to move at the net-front and in positional battles along the walls and in mid-ice.
His skating has vastly improved, and he actually looks relatively fast out there. His gap control is remarkably better, as is his defensive posture. He's making the right decisions. He's making good defensive reads. He knows when to join the play and when to stay back. He's not getting beat to pucks nor beat in many puck battles.
Credit where it is due, Owen Pickering is looking very solid and sound out there. He has been very noticeable with making well timed, smart defensive plays. I like what I have seen so far.
By almost all accounts, he looks NHL-ready right now. Even if Harrison Brunicke - his regular defense partner this pre-season - has had a nice camp, Pickering has had a better one.
Kaedan Korczak has looked perfectly fine in game action and in practices. Pickering has looked better.
Declan Carlile has shown his knack for physicality, which is a good trait to have, and he's been good defensively in his one pre-season game and alongside Erik Karlsson in practices. Pickering, though, has been better all-around.
Ilya Solovyov has put together a great camp, has improved his footspeed marginally, and excels on breakouts and in defensive positioning as usual. Pickering has, at least, equaled his camp.
And herein lies the problem: Pickering has outperformed presumed NHL regulars during this camp, even if the others have been fine. He has made himself stand out among them. But, there is a decent chance he will not be on this roster, barring injuries, when the season opens against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30.
Even assistant GM Jason Spezza's words regarding the youth push at the dawn of this year's camp sounded a fair bit different than Dubas's words one year ago — even if prospects like Pickering are a year older and a year better.
"What we would love to see is for the young guys to really push their way in," Spezza said on Sept. 18. "Everybody always wants finality at the end of training camp, that, 'This is the team. This is what it's going to be all year.' And I think there's going to be plenty of opportunity for young guys to establish themselves as NHL players as the year goes on. Whether that's on opening day or not, that will kind of sort itself out here over the next couple of weeks.
"We know we want to inject youth into the lineup. We know we have to. But, we have to make sure we do it when the guys are ready and when they're going to help the team."
Well, it appears a guy has proven he's ready, he's deserving, and that his play will probably help the team. So, what's next? What happens when a guy like Pickering - who happens to be waivers-exempt and who happens to be glued to Brunicke as if they're bound for the top pairing in WBS - exceeds expectations and outplays some of the guys who are supposed to be on the roster?
Yes, situations change. At this time last year, the Penguins were talking about rebuilding, not about making the playoffs again. Sure, it's not the worst thing in the world if Pickering and Brunicke begin the season in the AHL, getting top-pairing minutes, being deployed in key situations, and setting themselves up to be the first call-ups when injuries inevitably occur. No, the training camp roster is not the whole-year roster, and Pickering will most certainly have some opportunities this season. Exercising patience is equally as important as showing urgency with development.
But that's not the issue here. The problem is the precedent it sets for Pickering and the rest of the young players who truly do earn spots but fail to make the team: If they put everything they have on the line, perform at a high level, and are told they can earn or overtake spots but then don't get rewarded by actually securing those spots, what is the point of all of it?
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 9, 2025
Yes, players have to earn their spots, and yes, they have to overtake NHL players and placeholders in order to do so. But, if and when they actually do it, it's important for their development and for their psyche to be rewarded for those efforts. It's one thing to hand players spots when they haven't necessarily taken them with authority, but it's another thing to prevent deserving players from the NHL roster because of logistics like contracts, acquisition cost, NHL seniority, and waivers eligibility.
Because, if they're not rewarded - and that starts to become a theme - that could foster frustration and feelings of resentment, which is not something you want from your more promising young talent. The worst possible outcome for this organization is the possibility of deserving younger players wanting out because they don't feel they have a legitimate path.
Not every young player has been good enough in this year's training camp to force the organization's hand and actually take an opportunity. But Pickering has earned a spot on the NHL roster this season - from the start - because his performance has said so. The Penguins have an opportunity to show their young players that the door is, in fact, open to them if they actually go out and accomplish the tall task of stripping a spot in the NHL lineup from someone else.
With Pickering, let's see if they take it. If they don't, the potential ripple effects for other cases of similarity might leave a sour taste in the mouths of the very players the future of the franchise is supposed to start with.
Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil is dealing with another injury after a fluke collision during a Thursday, Sept. 24 preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Chytil was forechecking in the first period when his skate blade got tangled with the skate of referee Riley Brace. Chytil went crashing into the boards shoulder first and appeared to hit his head on the ice. Brace also went flying.
Both got up, Brace slowly, though Chytil later went to the dressing room. The Canucks announced that Chytil wouldn't return to the game, and coach Manny Malhotra told reporters after the game that the forward is being evaluated for a shoulder injury.
Here's what to know about the injury to Vancouver's Filip Chytil:
Filip Chytil and referee Riley Brace clip each other in the corner. Scary moment, but both appear to be fine. #Canuckspic.twitter.com/7D9oDY5oeE
Chytil left the bench for the dressing room and didn't return.
"It's never good to see a guy leave the game," Malhotra said. "We're having his shoulder looked at and we'll know more (Friday) after the imaging."
Filip Chytil injury history
Chytil has been limited to 27 games over the past two seasons and to 10 games in 2023-24 because of injuries. He has suffered multiple concussions and dealt with migraines. He also suffered a facial fracture when hit by a puck in practice last season.
He was part of the return when the New York Rangers acquired J.T. Miller from the Canucks in January 2025.
'It Was A Dream Come True To Play My First Couple Of NHL Games. ... Now it's a new season, you're starting from zero and you're here to take a spot.'Theo Lindstein's start to his NHL career has been better than advertised; the 21-year-old is guarded about things though. He understands he's only scratching the surface, there's plenty more to learn
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
