The trip overseas to Stockholm, Sweden for the NHL Global Series presented the opportunity for the Pittsburgh Penguins to bring a third-string goaltender with them.

And they happened to choose a Swede who travelled right to his backyard.

Penguins' goaltending prospect Filip Larsson, 27, is currently the starting goaltender for Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins. Larsson signed a two-year deal with the Penguins ahead of the 2024-25 season and owns a 3-0-1 record with a 2.92 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage in five appearances this season.

Larsson grew up in Stockholm, and - as he told Sportsnet Pittsburgh's Hailey Hunter on Tuesday - he has - quite literally - returned home to a very familiar place at Avicii Arena.

"The arena we practiced at today is where I played for three years," Larsson said. "So, yeah, it's nice to be back, and it's a lot of fun to step out on the ice."

WBS Penguins Sign Goaltender To PTOThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins have made a small move to shore up their depth.

From 2014-17, Larsson suited up for Djurgardens Jr. of the Swedish Junior Hockey League, which led to him getting drafted in the sixth round (167th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2016.

"It was nice. It was one of the best junior teams in Sweden, maybe the best, probably," Larsson said. "Great program. Went to school, like, five, 10 minutes away from here and played here. So, yeah, it's great."

Larsson joins Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov as the available Penguins' netminders for the two-game swing against the Nashville Predators. The Pens and Preds face off Friday at 2:00 p.m. EDT and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

The Penguins May Now Have Three Pieces Of Their Future Core - And That's A Big DealObviously, there is such a thing as getting too far ahead of the curve in sports.

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Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday night in the club’s game against the Dallas Stars at Canadian Tire Centre. Chabot was injured near the end of the first period on a hard hit against the boards by Stars forward Colin Blackwell.

The bodycheck occurred at the Stars' bench, where there's no glass, and it looked like Chabot's lower back or left rib area took the brunt of the hit, colliding with the hard edge at the top of the boards.

Chabot came out for the second-period warm-up but, after a quick skate around, he headed down the tunnel and was shut down for the night.

There’s no word yet on the severity of the injury, but the left side of Ottawa’s blue line is probably the part of the lineup least prepared to absorb a loss. The next man up to start the season was Donovan Sebrango, but he was claimed on waivers by the Florida Panthers when the Senators tried to send him down to the minors last month. Sebrango has played the last five games for the Cup champs and had two assists on Monday night in their win in Vegas.

Related: Sebrango Registers First NHL Point: 'That Was For (My Mom) Tonight'

Former Ottawa Senator Registers First NHL Point: 'That Was For (My Mom) Tonight'Sebrango earns his first NHL points with the Panthers and dedicates the achievement to his mom.

The left-shot defensive options in Belleville that are under contract include Jorian Donovan, Tomas Hamara, and Matthew Andonovski — a group that's completely void of NHL experience.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington is also with Belleville on an AHL contract and represents the only option on the left side with NHL experience. Harrington has played 255 NHL games, mostly with Columbus, but hasn’t appeared since the 2022–23 season, when he split 45 games between the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks.

It’s probably more likely that Nikolas Matinpalo will draw back into the lineup while someone like Jordan Spence will be asked to move over to the left side. It's also possible GM Steve Staios may need to step up the urgency in the trade market.

As for Chabot, who has 10 points in 16 games this season, his status will likely be clarified sometime tomorrow, although head coach Travis Green may have more to share after the game. Stranger things have happened.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

Read more at The Hockey News Ottawa:

Staios On Linus Ullmark: ‘I Believe In Linus, The Team Believes In Linus.’
Four Takeaways From Senators 4-2 Victory Over Utah Sunday Night
Former Ottawa Senator GM Passes Away At Age 70
Ullmark: "There Are So Many Things I'd Like To Say To All The Doubters"
More Details On Scamming Accusations From Arthur Kaliyev's Ex-Girlfriend

Tuesday night will feature a special milestone as Conor Garland skates in his 500th career NHL game. When the 29-year-old hits the ice at Rogers Arena, he will become the 28th player from the 2015 draft class to hit the half-century mark. From QMJHL star to a key member of the Vancouver Canucks, Garland has had an impressive career so far. 

Before being drafted into the NHL, Garland spent four seasons lighting up the QMJHL. In 206 games, he recorded 328 points and is still the all-time points leader for the Moncton Wildcats. In 2015, not only was Garland drafted 123rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes, but he took home the Michel Brière Trophy, which is given to the QMJHL's Most Valuable Player. 

Once his QMJHL career came to a close, Garland made the jump to the AHL, joining the Tucson Roadrunners. Over his time in the AHL, he would record 66 points in 131 games while being invited to the All-Star Game during the 2018-19 season. Garland would make his NHL debut on December 8, 2018, while his first goal came on December 22, 2018, against the Colorado Avalanche. 

After splitting the 2018-19 season between the NHL and AHL, Garland made the jump full-time to the Coyotes in 2019-20. In his first full campaign, he recorded 39 points in 68 games, while recording 39 points in 49 games the season after. In 2021, Garland also received his first opportunity to play for Team USA, winning a Bronze Medal at the World Championship. 

The 2021 off-season was a massive one for Garland, as not only did he pick up a Bronze Medal, but he was traded to Vancouver on July 23, 2021. The trade was Garland, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, to the Canucks for a first-round pick in 2021, a second-round draft pick in 2022, a seventh-round draft pick in 2023, Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, and Antoine Roussel. Even at the time, this trade was polarizing in the market and remains a topic of debate to this day. 

A few days after the trade, Garland signed a five-year extension with Vancouver. The contract, which carries an AAV of $4.95 million, has aged gracefully as Garland has put up 207 points in 335 games with the Canucks. During his time in Vancouver, Garland has emerged as a leader on the ice and has already signed an extension that will keep him with the Canucks until 2032. 

"Well, he's resilient," said Head Coach Adam Foote when asked about Garland's 500th career game. "He's there because of his resiliency. How's he's raised. I think he was raised the right way. He grinds. He competes. He doesn't quit on pucks. I think the rest of the group loves that about him, and I think he leads by example. He's fun to be around. He holds guys accountable in his way. He's coming into a nice leadership role, and it's nice to see him have success."  

Garland's journey is impressive for numerous reasons. He is the 68th player drafted in the fifth round to play 500 games and is one of 41 players from Massachusetts to achieve the feat. Based on Garland's never-ending motor, he should be able to continue to produce plenty of must-watch moments at Rogers Arena over the next few years. 

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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Macklin Celebrini joins legendary NHL company as Sharks win fourth straight game  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The ice is cold but the Sharks skating on it are scorching hot.

San Jose extended its win streak to four games with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night at Grand Casino Arena. It’s the first time in over four years the Sharks have won four consecutive games.

Macklin Celebrini continued his rapid rise to superstardom, assisting both Sharks goals while joining a pair of NHL legends in elite historical company.

The 19-year-old’s 26 points this season are tied with Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby’s 2006-07 campaign for the second-most ever by a teenager through their team’s first 17 games, trailing only Wayne Gretzky’s 27 in 1980-81. (h/t The Associated Press’ Josh Dubow)

Both Crosby and Gretzky took home the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player for those campaigns, a conversation Celebrini currently finds himself squarely entrenched in during his sophomore season.

Celebrini’s first apple of the night tied things at 1-1 at 11:57 in the third period, with a perfectly placed pass across the face of the net to fellow young phenom Will Smith.

WILL SMITH TIES IT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/o7eStY00YV

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) November 12, 2025

Two weeks ago, Celebrini delivered the overtime winner with a spectacular goal to secure victory over the Wild in Minnesota. On Tuesday, he set up teammate Collin Graf with the honor, dishing a pass between the legs of Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin.

Graf gives us a wild ending 👊 pic.twitter.com/BqLMgFWRTV

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) November 12, 2025

“Just came out there and the puck sort of got to Mack, Just skated at the net with my stick on the ice and I knew he’d be able to find me,” Graf told reporters after Tuesday’s win. “Once I got it, I just tried making a quick play and was fortunate enough to get one.”

The Sharks have won six of their last seven games, with San Jose’s only loss coming in a 3-2 shootout defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 2. They are outscoring opponents by a whopping 24-10 margin over that span.

While the Sharks’ recent offensive output has been nothing short of outstanding, the team’s contributions in the defensive zone can’t be ignored. San Jose has only allowed one goal in each of its last four games, a far cry from the beginning of the season when the Sharks conceded multiple scores in each of their first 13 contests.

Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov continued his incredible November with another heroic effort in net, stopping 28 of the Wild’s 29 shots after getting slotted in as a last-minute replacement for scheduled starter Alex Nedeljkovic, who is tending to a personal matter, according to coach Ryan Warsofsky.

“It’s going to happen sometimes, you have to be ready,” Askarov told reporters after the victory.

Askarov is a perfect 4-0-0 this month with a .963 save percentage in four starts, displaying the immense potential that made him the NHL’s No. 1 goalie prospect.

The Sharks certainly appear to be firing on all cylinders at the moment, but coach Ryan Warsofsky isn’t going to get complacent amid San Jose’s win streak.

“We want to keep it going, that’s the biggest thing,” Warsofsky told reporters after Tuesday’s win. “We’re playing some pretty good hockey, even when we don’t have our best we’re finding ways to win, our goaltending has been great. We still got ways to get better, we still got to get better individually and collectively and that will be the message.

“But we got good confidence and we know we can win in different ways and I think that’s important in this league.”

Three weeks ago, the Sharks were winless through their first six games after a deflating 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders. After Tuesday, they own an NHL playoff spot after going 8-4-2 over their last 11 games. Yes, you read that right. A playoff spot.

We get it, it’s November. Pump the brakes on the postseason talk. But a stretch of play like this can’t be overlooked, particularly for a fanbase that spent the last five years stuck in the cellar patiently awaiting this franchise’s return to NHL glory.

The Sharks weren’t supposed to arrive this early. This always was going to be a long, arduous rebuild that left San Jose and its fans hungrily chasing the light at the end of the tunnel year after year. There were walls that would need to be climbed before anyone would take these Sharks seriously, and who knows how long that inevitably would take.

It looks like this team said the hell with climbing over those walls, and instead decided to plow right through them.

The Sharks are here, the Sharks are now. The future might be teal, but you better believe the present is too.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

The Kings are in Montreal tonight as they face off against the Canadiens. 

The Kings are looking to build off the comeback win over the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight as they face one of the best teams in the NHL. The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a 6-2 win over the Utah Mammoth, and they are looking to also build off of that win. 

Projected Kings Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Kings:

Joel Armia - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe

Kevin Fiala - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere

Andrei Kuzmenko - Phillip Danault - Trevor Moore

Warren Foegele - Alex Turcotte - Corey Perry

Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty

Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke

Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci

Darcy Kuemper

Anton Forsberg

Projected Canadiens Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Canadiens: 

Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky

Alex Newhook - Oliver Kapanen - Ivan Demidov

Zach Bolduc - Kirby Dach - Brendan Gallagher

Josh Anderson - Jake Evans - Joe Veleno

Mike Matheson - Noah Dobson

Jayden Struble - Lane Hutson

Arber Xhekaj - Alexandre Carrier

Sam Montembeault

Jakub Dobes

Injuries 

The Kings are coming into this game fully healthy, as Warren Foegele, who was injured, returned in the game against the Penguins. The Canadiens will be without Kaiden Guhle (lower body) and Patrik Laine (lower body). 

Key Factors

The Kings are facing a young, fast, and skilled team tonight in one of the NHL's loudest arenas. The Kings are coming into this game ranked 21st on the power-play and 23rd on the penalty kill. The Canadiens are coming into this game ranked 5th on the power-play and 17th on the penalty kill.

The Kings have been able to find consistent scoring recently, as forward Corey Perry has 7 goals in 10 games, but the Canadiens have had some consistent scorers as well, with Cole Caufield tied for 2nd in the NHL in goals. The Kings will have to build momentum from defensive stops to create counterattacks against the Canadiens in order to dictate the game. 

Darcy Kuemper is 6-3-1 in his career against the Canadiens, and in those games, he averaged a .897 save percentage and a 2.68 goals against average. Whereas Sam Montembeault is 1-2 against the Kings, he averaged a .899 save percentage and a 3.58 goals-against average. This season alone, Kuemper has been the better goaltender between the two, and the Kings will need him to be sharp tonight.

If the Kings can be smart defensively and build momentum off counterattacks and their transition game, the Kings can walk out of the Bell Centre with a win. My prediction for this game is 3-1 for the Kings. 

The Florida Panthers picked up a much-needed win against a strong Vegas Golden Knights team last night, concluding their road trip with a 2-2-0 record. They'll now return home for a five-game homestand. 

Last night's win witnessed another strong performance from 23-year-old defenseman Donovan Sebrango. He finished the game with two assists, his first two points of his NHL career, while blocking a shot, throwing two hits and recording a fight in 12:18 of ice time. 

His emergence comes as a surprise, but it's most definitely a pleasant one. But the real question is, should it be considered a surprise? Recent evidence of the Panthers under GM Bill Zito shows that he is a wizard at both pulling off blockbuster moves and finding unearthed talent on the waiver wire.

He hit big-time with Gustav Forsling, and while it's still very early into both his Panthers and NHL career, Sebrango appears to be another possible home run. His minutes have been fairly sheltered, but as time goes on, it wouldn't be shocking to see coach Paul Maurice continue to use Sebrango in more high-leverage situations.

Standing 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, Sebrango is a big body who is slowly becoming more comfortable using. Prior to his inclusion in the lineup, the third pairing of Jeff Petry and Uvis Balinskis was struggling. They were hemmed in their own zone far too often, and the Panthers were losing their minutes badly.

HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) on XNHL GameScore Impact Card for Florida Panthers on 2025-11-10:

Maurice made the simple swap of Balinskis for Sebrango, and it's changed the Panthers. According to Natural Stat Trick, at 5-on-5, the Panthers are outscoring their opponents 6-1, hold the high-danger chances advantage 17-9 and own 52.92 percent of the expected goals with Sebrango on the ice. Sebrango has skated in almost half the ice time as Balinskis has, but each statistic is in favor of Sebrango. 

The 2020 third-round pick (63rd overall) of the Detroit Red Wings hasn't featured too prominently on the penalty kill just yet, but he is an option Maurice can turn to if needed. 

Recent reports suggested the Panthers could be looking at the trade market for a depth defenseman to replace Dmitry Kulikov while he is on the shelf with a long-term injury, but if Sebrango continues to play at this level, Zito will likely stay off the phones. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Three takeaways: Panthers end road trip looking more like themselves, power play snaps cold spellPanthers shake off slow start, reclaim their identity on the road. Their potent offense and disciplined play deliver crucial wins and a snapped power play drought.

The Florida Panthers have to be feeling good after wrapping up their four-game western road trip on Monday night.

Despite starting the trip with an ugly loss, Florida bounced back and played three consecutive solid games, capped off by Monday’s 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Now they will head back to Sunrise for an extended period of games on home ice, where they can hopefully build off the positive momentum that was found during their visit to the west coast.

In a tightly packed Eastern Conference, it won’t take more than a solid week for the Cats to get right back in a prominent position in the Atlantic Division.

Here are Monday’s takeaways:

VINTAGE BENCH

Over the past several seasons, we’ve often heard Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice talk about how the team will often manage itself during games.

When he’s standing behind Florida’s bench, and the team is humming along like a well-oiled machine, as he’s said more than once, “there’s not a lot of coaching going on there.”

The players manage themselves. They hold each other accountable and are all pulling on the rope equally.

On Monday, the team was giving their coach those kind of vibes again.

“I liked the bench,” Maurice said after the win. “There was lots of juice and enthusiasm for that game. The 5-on-3 (penalty) kill, I liked the energy on the bench. The end of a road trip, (playing a) really good team looking to get back on track, so they were going to push real hard…yeah, I liked the energy on the bench.

THREE STRAIGHT TO BE PROUD OF

Florida held their only practice of the road trip the day after losing to Anaheim.

They arrived in the Los Angeles area (the Kings’ practice facility is in El Segundo) and held a back-to-basics kind of skate, something Maurice and his staff have been able to put together in previous instances where the Cats have seemingly fallen out of their grove when it comes to playing their physical, fast five-man defensive systems.

Since then, the Panthers have more resembled the team they want to be than any other stretch on the road this season.

If not for an outstanding effort by San Jose Sharks’ goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, Florida would likely be flying home on the heels of three straight wins.

Truly, there is a lot for the Panthers to feel good about as they make the trip back east.

“I think we've been good in our last three, really good,” Maurice said. “Even if you've won some games in the past, you have to fight for your confidence. So now, style of game and energy level, you can bring that back home and feel really good about your last three.”

IMPORTANT POWER PLAY GOAL

While the win is always the ultimate goal, Florida also getting to ride home with a fresh power play goal on the scoresheet is a nice cherry on top.

After picking up a PPG during their loss in Anaheim, Florida went 12 straight man advantages without scoring a goal.

Those missed opportunities stretched from the Anaheim game all the way through to Vegas.

But it was the last power play of the trip that Florida cashed in on, and boy was it a biggie.

“Maybe the most important piece, because again, we talk about confidence,” Maurice said. “We've got a little cold here for the last four or five games, and to have it be the game winner (was great). I thought they moved (the puck) really well. We had a great chance back door that didn't go, and now you're starting to feel snake bit, because we've had a few of those, so it's good that it's a game winner, and off a shot tip.”

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Photo caption: Nov 10, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Welcome to a new episode of The Wraparound, featuring rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Can the Anaheim Ducks capture the Pacific Division title this season?

5:15: With Pierre-Luc Dubois out, could the Washington Capitals be on the hunt for a new center?

8:25: Will the Toronto Maple Leafs regret trading Fraser Minten?

12:15: Breaking down Sean Couturier’s comments on Matvei Michkov

16:10: Could Matthew Wood play a big role for the Nashville Predators this season?

21:50: What direction will Doug Armstrong take the St. Louis Blues in his last season as GM?

26:55: Looking ahead to the top candidates for the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class

31:02: Are the Buffalo Sabres in danger of being out of the playoff mix before American Thanksgiving?

Do The Washington Capitals Need Another Center? by The Wraparound

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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DENVER —  It’s not the Stanley Cup Final, but it might as well be. The two best teams in the NHL collide tonight at Ball Arena, where the surging Anaheim Ducks—led by veteran head coach Joel Quenneville—arrive in Denver to test the red-hot Colorado Avalanche.

While it’s a tough test on paper, the Avalanche enter this matchup riding some impressive accomplishments this season. Colorado has earned a reputation as “The Streak Killers,” halting the New Jersey Devils’ five-game winning streak with an 8-4 victory last month and following it up last week with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning to end their five-game surge. But this isn't just any game for the Ducks.

Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) on XThe sky is the limit for Gavin Brindley!

For much of the past decade, the Ducks have struggled to find their identity. In fact, you might as well have called them the Anaheim Dodos—they’ve been, quite frankly, all but extinct. They’ve missed the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons. But Coach Quenneville, unlike Yoda, has emerged from exile to guide a new generation of Ducks. So far, the results have been promising—but tonight will be by far their toughest test.

“[They're a] dangerous offensive team,” head coach Jared Bednar said of their upcoming opponents “And even if it’s not in the number of chances they’re getting, they are finishing everything off. They get a chance. It’s in the back of the net.”

Led by forwards Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Troy Terry, the Ducks have been one of the season’s biggest surprises. It’s worth remembering, however, that Joel Quenneville—who resigned from the Florida Panthers four years ago amid a sexual assault investigation linked to his time with the Chicago Blackhawks—won three Stanley Cups as a head coach with his former team.

The Avalanche lead the league with 64 goals, with Anaheim close behind at 62. Colorado’s top trio—Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas—have combined for 70 points, while Carlsson, Gauthier, and Terry have amassed 64. This shapes up as a true 50-50 battle.

B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XNathan MacKinnon’s 82-game pace … ▫️72 goals ▫️76 assists ▫️148 points ▫️364 shots on goals EARLY SEASON DOGG MIXTAPE ➡️ https://t.co/Ll2tZL8oma

In goal, Scott Wedgewood, who tops the NHL with nine wins, will start for Colorado, while Lukas Dostal, just one win behind, will guard the net for the Ducks—underscoring just how evenly matched these teams are in terms of talent.

Let's Dance

The Avalanche (10-1-5) host the Ducks (11-3-1) at Ball Arena, with coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. local time on Altitude and TNT. Let's see who comes out on top. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

While most people’s attention was focused on the players’ growth in the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild, someone else was growing before our eyes: coach Martin St-Louis. Much was made of the fact that he had no professional experience when he was hired to take the helm of the most storied franchise in NHL history, but not enough has been written about how he has adapted since then.

Speaking to the media earlier this week, the bench boss confessed that giving everyone their fair share of ice time in the NHL was on him, and that some players’ reduced ice time was on him, too—they didn’t necessarily deserve so little time. It was a refreshing sight to see a coach do his mea culpa, but for St. Louis, that’s just normal. He explained that if he asks his players to be accountable and face their truth, it’s only logical that he does the same:

Canadiens: For The Last Two Weekends Michael Hage…
Canadiens Will Attempt To Put An End To An Eight-Game Losing Streak Against The Kings
Canadiens Prepare For The Kings

Because I feel if I’m asking my players to self-assess with some truth, I’ve got to be able to do the same thing, So, I have to own it. If I expect my players to own it, I better own it myself.

- St-Louis on accountability

His players respect St-Louis not only because of his Hall of Fame career, but also because he holds himself to the same standards he holds them to. He’s not playing the games anymore; he can’t help them on the ice, but he’s the one who decides who’s on in which circumstances and for how long. After doing his mes culpa about ice time, the pilot started the next game with the Kirby Dach, Brendan Gallagher and Zachary Bolduc line alongside his third pairing formed by Arber Xhekaj and Alex Carrier. Sure, the players the Utah Mammoth chose to start allowed him to do that; they weren’t the ones he wanted his first-line to face, but he could have gone for the Jake Evans or Oliver Kapanen lines just as easily.

Going from bantam hockey to the NHL was quite the jump for the bench boss, and while he’s improved by leaps and bounds since then, he feels he still has a long way to go:

The first game was so fast on the ice … I couldn’t believe the speed of the game. But two, three games in, it slowed way down. At the youth level, it was easy; you just rolled the lines, and everybody played the power play. It was fun, it was easy. Let’s go. At the NHL level, you got to be a little more calculated. I feel I’ve come a long way, and I’ve got a ways to go.”

- St-Louis on coaching in the NHL

This is what makes St-Louis a great coach: he can be critical of his players when needed, but he can also be critical of himself. He knows his players are still growing, still learning, but so is he. While he had seen it all as a player throughout his 16-year career in the NHL, behind a bench, he’s still learning.

Last year, he was a Jack Adams Trophy finalist for guiding his young team to the playoffs; this year, he has them leading their division and showing no signs of slowing down. When St-Louis agreed to join the Canadiens, he knew he was joining a team with potential for greatness but that needed to be built up, much like his coaching career, and he’s doing a fine job of both.

---

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When Ottawa-born Donovan Sebrango joined the Senators, he was part of the Alex DeBrincat deal with the Detroit Red Wings. At the time, he was exiting Detroit, a team in the middle of the second-longest NHL playoff drought, to join Ottawa, a club in the middle of the third-longest NHL playoff drought.

You might assume that neither roster, in those circumstances, should have been carved in stone; that an opportunity might have been there for a useful player. 

But Sebrango never caught on as a full-time player in either market. As he left Detroit, he hadn't seen any NHL action in Motown after four years with the club. As for the Senators, they immediately put him in Belleville and he even spent some time in the ECHL.

They did bring him up to Ottawa twice last season and then twice last month due to the preseason injury to Tyler Kleven. When Kleven got healthy, the Sens tried to send Sebrango back down to Belleville, but he was claimed on waivers by the Florida Panthers.

At his press conference on Monday, when asked about the left side of his blue line, Staios admitted that losing Sebrango hurt the Sens' depth in that area.

Now, since the move to Sunrise, Sebrango has found more work with the defending two-time Stanley Cup champions than he did in Ottawa and Detroit combined.

Not only did Sebrango play in his fifth game in a row for the Panthers on Monday night, but he also registered two assists in the game, including his first NHL point as Florida won 3-2 in Las Vegas.

"Yeah, I mean, it's always fun to get points," Sebrango told the media after the game. "That's not why they brought me in, but it's always fun to get a couple of points, and your first ones you always remember."

Even in his short time in Ottawa, it was very clear that Sebrango is tight with his mom, Kim.

So after he got his first NHL point, it's not hard to guess who he texted first.

"She said she was so proud of me," Sebrango said. "And I want to make her proud. And that means the world to hear from her. But I mean, that was for her tonight."

But Sebrango has other admirers in Florida, where he seems to be fitting right in. He's played the last five games for the Panthers, averaging 14 minutes a night, and setting up shop alongside Jeff Petry, who's closing in on 1000 NHL games (997).

"I think (Sebrango) has played the same game (every night)," head coach Paul Maurice told the media. "And that's a really impressive thing because he doesn't have a lot of NHL experience. He's still a young man, but he has been very, very consistent in his style of game and what we expect from him. And that is highly unusual in a young player, especially on defense.

"We play a different game than he's been experiencing. So we're really impressed with his composure in the game, and we like his bite. You know, he didn't wait a long time for the first fight.

"We like that a lot."

This shouldn't be read as a Sens tale of the one that got away, which all too often haunts the fan base. For one, it's far too early for any such declaration. Secondly, even if Sebrango ends up as a full-timer in Florida or spends the next decade in the NHL, this is merely the kind of thing that can happen to good teams when they don't have enough room on the roster for everyone. He was never going to rank ahead of Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, or Tyler Kleven.

This is more a story of a young man who's worked hard and honestly for a long time, just waiting for an opportunity like this to finally come his way. Even if Florida doesn't bring Sebrango back next season, every game he plays now for the champions only serves to improve his resume.

And how do you not tip your cap to a story like that?

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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We are now a month into the 2025-26 NHL season, and there have certainly been some teams that have surprised so far.

However, three specific NHL clubs entered the season with low expectations and are proving their doubters wrong. Let's look at all three of them and discuss why they have been the league's biggest plesant surprises early on.

Anaheim Ducks (11-3-1, 23 Points)

The Anaheim Ducks have been incredible out of the gate. 

They're currently at the top of the Pacific Division standings and second in the NHL with 23 points, so there is no question that the Ducks have been a big surprise so far. 

The Ducks finished last season with a 35-37-10 record and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year. Yet, with the way they are playing right now, they certainly have a great chance of breaking their playoff drought this year. BetMGM's odds of Anaheim making the playoffs are 1.40 (-250), compared to 3.00 (+200) odds of missing out.

Leo Carlsson (10 goals and 25 points in 15 games) and Cutter Gauthier (11 goals and 20 points in 15 games) are big reasons for the Ducks' hot start. Newcomer Chris Kreider has also played a role in Anaheim's great start, posting nine goals and 12 points in 11 games. 

Chicago Blackhawks (8-5-3, 19 Points) 

After a quiet off-season, many expected the Chicago Blackhawks to be among the NHL's bottom teams again in 2025-26. Yet, the rebuilding squad has instead started the season off strongly.

The Blackhawks currently have an 8-5-3 record and are third in the Central Division. They have also been getting better as the campaign rolls on, as they have won each of their last three games and six of their last 10. 

So, what are a few reasons for the Blackhawks' hot start?

Connor Bedard has been hitting a new level early on, as he has nine goals and 25 points in 16 games. Goaltender Spencer Knight has also been fantastic for Chicago, as he has a 6-3-2 record, .926 save percentage and 2.33 goals-against average. Frank Nazar, Andre Burakovsky and Tyler Bertuzzi have been playing excellently as well. 

Overall, the Blackhawks have been a nice story early on this season, and it will be interesting to see how they build on it. They still have 7.50 (+600) odds of making the playoffs and 1.10 (-1000) odds of missing them, according to BetMGM.

Pittsburgh Penguins (9-5-3, 21 Points)

Many expected the Pittsburgh Penguins to be one of the worst teams in the NHL this season. However, they have responded by starting the season third in the Metropolitan Division after 17 games played. 

The Penguins have been cooling off slightly as the season progresses, having lost their last two games and going 4-3-3 in their last 10 contests. That said, they still have the fourth-most points in the Eastern Conference, which is undoubtedly a big surprise. 

Veteran stars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby starting the year on fire is a big reason for the Penguins' strong start to the 2025-26 season. Furthermore, free-agent signings Anthony Mantha and the currently injured Justin Brazeau have provided Pittsburgh's top six with a big boost.

The Penguins' goaltending has also improved as Arturs Silovs has a .916 save percentage in nine games, while Tristan Jarry has a .911 save percentage in seven appearances.

Pittsburgh's odds of making the playoffs are 3.40 (+240), while the odds of not making them are 1.33 (-303).

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The Los Angeles Kings have experienced trouble on the power play to start the season. From opening night on Oct. 7 to Nov. 2, the Kings had the 25th-worst power-play conversion rate. In 37 opportunities, they scored six power-play goals to that point, going 16.2 percent on the man advantage.

However, when Los Angeles took on the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 4, the team’s top unit was tinkered with as they replaced Andrei Kuzmenko with Corey Perry. Since then, the Kings have played three games and recorded a power-play marker in each of those contests.

Los Angeles Kings Make Much-Needed Change To Top Power-Play UnitCorey Perry, the Los Angeles Kings' joint-leading goal scorer, will be joining the team's top power-play unit, a much-needed alteration. Is this the change the Kings need to end their power-play scoring drought?

Despite that, the Kings' head coach, Jim Hiller, believes that it’s time to make another tweak to their first power-play unit.

Hiller is putting Kuzmenko back on the top power play, swapping with Quinton Byfield, who will now grace the second unit.

Los Angeles’ bench boss pleads that this is an alteration that will get the best out of both players.

"We feel that's his great strength that gets him going in his overall game...try to get him some more touches there and see if that can translate,” Hiller said of Kuzmenko.

Report: Los Angeles Kings Not In Adrian Kempe’s Ballpark As Negotiations Are Back OnThe Los Angeles Kings and Adrian Kempe have reportedly resumed contract talks. However, it still seems that the two parties are on the same level just yet.

As for Byfield, he doesn’t see this change as a negative decision for the 23-year-old center.

"Want to put the puck in his hands....he's a lefty. We got (Doughty) as a righty. I really want those two to be the shooters," the Kings coach told reporters at Tuesday morning's skate ahead of the team’s clash with the Montreal Canadiens.

This suggests that Byfield and defenseman Drew Doughty will work the right and left flanks, respectively, on the second unit. That leaves D-man Brandt Clarke as the quarterback, and Alex Laferriere and Phillip Danault as the net-front presence and in the slot.

Report: Kings’ Brandt Clarke Generating Trade Interest From Other TeamsWhile the Los Angeles Kings are looking to hang on to Brandt Clarke, he still remains a pending RFA and that has attracted some customers across the NHL.

For Los Angeles’ top unit, the formation shouldn’t change too much, but Kuzmenko's substitution for Byfield will add more balance between left-handed and right-handed players on the ice.

The Kings are looking to continue their streak of power-play goals to four games against the Canadiens.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

With November’s international tournaments in the books, it’s time to look back at some early-season draft risers. Jacob Smeds takes a closer look at three draft-eligible prospects who have boosted their stock during the first part of the season, as well as two players already making a name for themselves ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft.

Alexander Command (C), 2026 NHL Draft
Alexander Command put together an impressive performance for Sweden at the Five Nations, adding another layer to his already rising draft stock. Since the early stages of the U20 Nationell season, he’s stood out for his powerful skating and confident puck handling. Command moves through the neutral zone with ease, gliding past opponents with a stride that looks both smooth and deliberate. What truly separates him from most Swedish forwards is the blend of skill and grit in his game. He’s unafraid to battle along the boards or drive to the net, combining finesse with a competitive edge that makes him a player to watch.

So far, Command has produced an impressive 11 goals and 22 points through 14 games in Sweden’s top junior league. The production continued at the international level, where he contributed in all four games for Sweden’s U18 team this past week. Command was a somewhat surprising omission from Sweden’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster earlier this year, though that was likely due to an untimely illness over the summer. I would be very surprised if he isn’t a regular on the national team for the rest of the season.

Elton Hermansson (RW), 2026 NHL Draft
Elton Hermansson’s draft stock was already high before the season began, but his play in Sweden’s second-tier league earns him a spot on this list. Beyond his brilliant offensive game, he has shown a surprising level of responsibility in his defensive play. Hermansson may never be a Selke candidate, but handling professional competition requires more two-way awareness than junior hockey does, and he has shown real progress in that area during the first few months of the season.

Hermansson’s offensive game remains brilliant. At this stage, it is mostly about refining his decision-making in the offensive zone and further polishing the raw diamond that he is.

Theodor Knights (D), 2026 NHL Draft
Theodor Knights has a clear profile as a reliable shut-down defenseman, filling a role that few other Swedish prospects occupy. What stands out most about Knights is his ability to blend physical play with strong skating. That combination allows him to time his hits perfectly in the defensive zone and effectively break up opposing rushes. Knights also has the right mentality, frequently standing up for himself and his teammates when things get heated around his own net.

With his 6-foot-4 frame and defined playing style, he’s an easy player for NHL teams to project. It’s not uncommon to see players like Knights go as early as the second round or even late in the first. With that in mind, I don’t think we’ll have to wait long to hear his name called at the draft.

Theodor Knights: Hlinka Lessons and Five Nations MindsetThe Hockey News’ Jacob Smeds speaks with 2026 NHL Draft prospect Theodor Knights. After starring for Team Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he now prepares for next week’s U18 Five Nations Tournament.

Olle Karlsson (C/RW), 2027 NHL Draft
Olle Karlsson won’t be draft eligible until 2027, but he showed at the Five Nations that he’s a name to watch. Karlsson played on Sweden’s fourth line in a shutdown role, where he found great success. His line with Adam Andersson and Ludvig Andersson earned the coaches’ trust in key defensive situations and delivered with confidence. Karlsson was most effective as the first forward on the forecheck, repeatedly forcing turnovers and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. His strong skating ability was the most standout aspect of his game and played a major role in that success.

Hampus Zirath (C), 2027 NHL Draft
Hampus Zirath didn’t play U20 hockey last season and therefore wasn’t on many radars for the 2027 draft heading into this year. Over the first few weeks of the season, however, he has impressed in the Swedish junior league. Sweden’s U18 head coach Johan Rosén described Zirath as a blend of Viggo Björck and Victor Eklund in terms of playing style, combining Björck’s hockey sense and shiftiness with Eklund’s competitive edge. Zirath brings both offensive upside and a reliable two-way game, making him an intriguing player to watch ahead of the 2027 draft.

Sweden Wins Both the U18 and U20 Five NationsIt was a dramatic final day at both the U18 and U20 Five Nations. Despite Czechia holding pole position heading into the final day at the U20 level, Sweden ended up winning the tournament — helped by a win against Czechia. Sweden also claimed the title at the U18 level on home ice, thanks to a victory over the United States on Sunday.<br><br>

The NHL's hot and cold players over the past week stand out for more than just their recent stats.

Most of these players' results since Nov. 3 are just a more pronounced part of a promising – or disappointing – campaign to date.

And in case you missed last week's hot and cold edition, Cutter Gauthier, Dawson Mercer and Michael Bunting were on a hot streak, while Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky were the opposite. Let's get to this latest bunch.

Hot: Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

In short order, the Avalanche have surged to the top of the highly competitive Central Division, and a key reason why is the performance of superstar MacKinnon.

He’s grabbed the lead in the NHL points race, with 29 points in only 16 games. Ten of those points came in just three games over the past week, with five points on Nov. 9 and four on Nov. 8. Nobody else had as many points since last Monday.

MacKinnon’s currently on a nine-game point streak, with 

The 30-year-old is in his prime, and MacKinnon has already made a great case for player of the month – and it’s only the 10th day of the month. That’s how you know you’re white-hot.

Cold: Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Nashville Predators

Prior to signing with the Predators in the summer of 2024, Marchessault had experienced a lot of winning, mainly because he was on the talent-rich Vegas Golden Knights for his prime years.

But since last year began, Marchessault has struggled mightily as a Pred. His zero points in the last five games since Nov. 3 cement that point.

In 2024-25, Marchessault’s goal total fell to 21 – exactly half of the previous year’s total of 42 goals. Marchessault’s point total fell to 66 – not horrible, but not what the Predators were hoping for when they gave him a five-year, $27.5-million contract.

This season, Marchessault’s production has fallen to four goals and six points in 15 games, putting him on a 21-goal, 32-point pace.

The 34-year-old is still playing about the same amount of ice time (17:55) he’s averaged over the past decade. Can the Predators afford to keep giving him a comfortable amount of playing time when the results just aren’t there?

Five NHL Favorites For Fewest Regular-Season PointsWhich NHL team will finish the regular season with the fewest points? Here are five favorites.

Hot: Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are somewhat surprisingly competitive this year, and they’re being led by the cornerstone of the franchise in 20-year-old Bedard, who is second in the league in points with 25 points in 16 games.

While MacKinnon was the NHL's first star of the week, Bedard was second, with seven assists and 10 points in the past week.

Bedard is on pace for 46 goals and 128 points in 82 games, which would destroy his career-high 23 goals and 67 points, although that would be a massive jump if he did so.

Bedard had some detractors last season who questioned whether he was a true generational talent. Thus far, he’s answered those doubters by dominating and signalling the start of the Bedard Era in the Windy City.

Cold: John Gibson and Cam Talbot, G, Detroit Red Wings

Detroit’s two veteran netminders – newcomer Gibson and returning veteran Talbot – were supposed to be a strength. That hasn’t turned out to be the case.

The Red Wings lost all three of their games in the past week, with Talbot allowing four goals on 26 shots and Gibson conceding five goals on 53 shots over two matches.

Now, their combined 3.33 goals-against average in that span was not all on them. Gibson actually played very well in a 1-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 4, stopping 33 of 34 shots, and Talbot still had 0.37 goals saved above expected against the New York Rangers despite recording a .846 save percentage. At some point, the team needs to help them and either score some goals or shut down Grade-A scoring chances against them.

But while Gibson and Talbot haven't been horrible, they've been inconsistent and colder than we thought at least one of them would be.

In six of nine appearances, Gibson has posted a save percentage of .889 or worse. And his season numbers this year – an .882 SP, 3.15 goals-against average and 1.6 goals saved above expected – are hardly confidence-inspiring for Gibson and the Red Wings.

Talbot, meanwhile, hasn’t fared much better, putting up an SP of .891 and a 2.92 GAA. In three of his past four games, Talbot has an SP of .889 or worse.

The Red Wings will go with the goalie who has a hot hand, but so far this year, neither Gibson nor Talbot has seized the moment and made the No. 1 job their own.

Todd McLellan Hints At Additional Changes For Red Wings After Three-Game Slide Following their third straight regulation setback, Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan hinted that more roster changes could be on the way.

Hot: Miro Heskanen, D, Dallas Stars

Heiskanen has been a foundational talent for the Stars for more than seven years now, and this past week reminded everyone how consistently effective he is in Dallas.

Heiskanen led all defensemen with eight assists and nine points in four games, and he's now on a four-game points streak.

The 26-year-old is averaging 25:21 of ice-time, nearly two-and-a-half more minutes than the Stars’ next-most-used skater. His 11 assists and 14 points in 16 games have him near the top of scoring by a defenseman this season.

Heiskanen is one of the league’s best bargains at $8.45 million, and he’s signed for another three seasons after this one. He’s a dynamo, and his best years may still be yet to come. But right now, he’s thriving at both ends of the ice.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.