Former New Jersey Devil Michael McLeod has signed a three-year contract with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Avangard Omsk, the club announced Thursday.

The KHL's X account shared on October 9: “Michael McLeod is a Hawk once again!”

🇨🇦 Michael McLeod is a Hawk once again! pic.twitter.com/5DkTHoymRh

— KHL (@khl_eng) October 9, 2025

McLeod is no stranger to the KHL, having played last season with Barys and Omsk, where he recorded six goals and 13 assists in 35 games.

Before heading overseas, McLeod spent several seasons in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, totaling 29 goals and 56 assists in 287 games.

McLeod, along with Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart, faced criminal allegations related to Hockey Canada’s 2018 World Junior team. The players took leaves of absence from their respective teams during the legal proceedings.

All were found not guilty in July 2025. Per the NHL, McLeod became eligible to officially sign an NHL contract as of October 15, though he could agree to terms effective October 1.

At 27 years old, McLeod hasn’t played in the NHL in nearly two years. While reports were suggesting he might return and sign with the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2025–26 season, it is now confirmed that he will continue his career overseas.

REPORT: Former Devil Expected to Sign with HurricanesFormer New Jersey Devil Michael McLeod is expected to join the Carolina Hurricanes this season, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

The 12th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils will not return to the NHL this season, opting instead to continue playing internationally.

The day has arrived for the Detroit Red Wings, who officially begin their centennial campaign on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. 

They'll be doing it in style with special centennial-themed uniforms that they'll not only wear for tonight's game but also on Saturday night's tilt against another historic Original Six rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

While the Red Wings will be celebrating their long and rich history all season long, 2025-26 will also mark yet another serious injection of youth into the Detroit lineup.

Rookies Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Emmitt Finnie, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are the latest wave of young talent drafted by GM Steve Yzerman who will now look to help take the Red Wings to the next level.

Sandin-Pellikka was one of the most talked-about players in Detroit’s system, and thanks to his strong performances during Training Camp and the preseason, he earned a spot on the Opening Night roster against Montreal. He’ll be paired with Simon Edvinsson, who is coming off his first full NHL season.

Michael Whitaker (@mwhitaker_89) on X. @DetroitRedWings rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka officially begins his NHL career tonight, and will be paired with Simon Edvinsson, who is coming off his first full campaign in 2024-25. #LGRW

Following practice at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday morning, Sandin-Pellikka was beaming with excitement about his impending debut. 

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

"A lot of excitement, for me and my family," he said of his reaction when receiving the news that he'd made the final roster cut. "It's a dream come true. As a kid you want to play in the NHL. Just getting a chance to do it tonight is going to be very cool and I'm looking forward to it."

Just like fellow rookie teammates Brandsegg-Nygård and Finnie, Sandin-Pellikka will have multiple family members in attendance on Thursday. 

"My family is coming in with my dad and mom, my brother and sister, and my granddad and uncle," he explained. "I've got six people and it will be fun sharing it with them." 

The Red Wings have featured a wealth of Swedish-born talent throughout their history, most notably multi–Norris Trophy winner and former team captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who is widely considered the greatest defensemen in NHL history.

Sandin-Pellikka has leaned on the support from former Lidstrom teammate Niklas Kronwall, who is now a Development Coach with a focus on Swedish talent. 

"He's been helping me a lot and offered skills and video, just talking about his career and how that was," Sandin-Pellikka said of Kronwall. "It's been very helpful." 

Not only did Sandin-Pellikka prove himself worthy as a defenseman against other NHL players, but his puck-moving skills and attributes on the power-play helped make earning a roster spot possible.

Last season while playing with Skelleftea AIK, he earned himself numerous accolades, including being named the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year after leading all junior SHL players in goals and points. 

A regular on the blue line during power plays in Sweden, Sandin-Pellikka is in his element on the ice when the opposition is shorthanded, and he saw multiple minutes on the power-play with the Red Wings in pre-season play. 

"It's a fun challenge for me, playing the power play," he said. "I've always done that so I hope I still have the qualities for that. I'm feeling good for that." 

"It's Special": Todd McLellan Reflects On Meaning Of Being Part of The Red Wings The 2025-26 NHL Season has officially begun for several teams, and for the Detroit Red Wings, it will commence on Thursday evening against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. 

Sandin-Pellikka will begin his NHL career wearing jersey No. 44. He would have liked to have worn No. 5 as he did with Skelleftea AIK, but understandably, he knows it's unavailable.

Lidstrom wore No. 5 throughout his legendary career with the Red Wings, a tenure that included multiple Norris Trophy wins, four Stanley Cup championships, the 2002 Conn Smythe Trophy, and his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

His No. 5 was raised to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena in 2014 and now hangs in Little Caesars Arena. Maybe one day, No. 44 will be placed alongside Lidstrom's retired jersey banner in the rafters.

"Hopefully!" he said with a grin. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

After a great training camp and preseason, forward Hunter Haight was sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild.

The Wild had 13 forwards on the roster and Nico Sturm was progressing well and seemed healthy. But on Tuesday the Wild placed Sturm on the Injured Reserve along with Mats Zuccarello.

This opened the door for Haight and the Wild recalled him from the AHL.

Haight, 21, was the Wild's 47th overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft and played in his first season of professional hockey last year. He recorded 20 goals and 34 points in 67 games for Iowa last year.

The 5-foot-10 center will make his NHL Debut tonight on the road against the St. Louis Blues. He is expecting his parents and his girlfriend to be in attendance on Thursday.

"I feel great," Haight said. "I feel great coming into here, I think I'm ready and I'm just excited."

With Sturm out for quite some time, this has opened an opportunity to not only make his NHL debut but to make a name for himself in the NHL.

"Yeah, it's always an opportunity when you're here," Haight said on Wednesday. "I got to take full advantage of it and try and do what I can to help the team out."

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.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

- Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve.

- Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers.

- Wild Sign Filip Gustavsson To A Five-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Out For Two Months With Lower-Body Injury.

The New Jersey Devils will play their first game of the 2025–26 season tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The two teams last faced one another in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. That series ended the Devils’ season when they fell 5–4 in double overtime to the Hurricanes in Game 5.

Now, the Devils are looking for revenge after that elimination. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET in Carolina.

Last season, the two teams met four times in the regular season and five times in the postseason.

Regular-Season Results

• Oct. 15 at Hurricanes – 4–2 L
• Nov. 21 vs. Hurricanes – 4–2 W
• Dec. 27 vs. Hurricanes – 4–2 W
• Dec. 28 at Hurricanes – 5–2 L

Playoff Results

• Game 1: Devils at Hurricanes – Lost 1–4
• Game 2: Devils at Hurricanes – Lost 1–3
• Game 3: Hurricanes at Devils – Won 3–2 (2OT)
• Game 4: Hurricanes at Devils – Lost 2–5
• Game 5: Devils at Hurricanes – Lost 4–5 (2OT)

Including playoffs, the Devils are 0–10 in their last 10 games played in Carolina, a streak they’ll look to end tonight.

Leading into the season, both teams wrapped up their exhibition schedules. The Devils went 3–2–2 in seven preseason games, while Carolina finished 1–3–2 in six.

Where to Watch

• TV: ESPN+ and Hulu
• Radio: Devils Hockey Network

At the morning skate, the Devils’ lines looked nearly identical to Wednesday’s session: 

Your first #NJDevils morning skate lineup ahead of facing the Hurricanes tonight:

• No changes from yesterday.
• Pesce set to play his 700th NHL game
• NHL debut coming up for Arseny Gritsyuk
• Devils debut for: Dadonov, Brown and Glendening pic.twitter.com/mgVJkVbA46

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) October 9, 2025

Morning Skate Lines

Evgenii Dadonov — Jack Hughes — Jesper Bratt

Timo Meier — Nico Hischier — Dawson Mercer

Ondrej Palat — Cody Glass — Connor Brown

Paul Cotter — Luke Glendening — Arseny Gritsyuk

Zack MacEwen

Luke Hughes — Brett Pesce

Jonas Siegenthaler — Dougie Hamilton

Brenden Dillon — Simon Nemec

Dennis Cholowski — (Noesen)

Goalies:

Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen

The expected goaltending matchup is Frederik Andersen for Carolina versus Jacob Markstrom for New Jersey.

---

Milestone Moments

Tonight’s game will mark Brett Pesce’s 700th career NHL game. Pesce, who was a full participant in practice yesterday after missing time in training camp, will become the 20th player in NHL history to play his 700th game against the team that drafted him.

Pesce was originally selected by the Hurricanes, where he played for nine seasons before joining the Devils this offseason.

It’s also a milestone night for rookie Arseny Gritsyuk, who will make his NHL debut after spending most of his career in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Gritsyuk led the Devils in preseason scoring with five points (2 goals, 3 assists).

Three other players will make their Devils debuts tonight: Evgenii Dadonov, Connor Brown, and Luke Glendening, all appearing in the red and black for the first time.

After 163 days of waiting, Devils hockey is finally back, and the team will look to start the new season on the right foot tonight in Carolina.

Full-Circle Moment: Devils Open Season Against Hurricanes as Brett Pesce Returns to Carolina for His 700th NHL Game162 days later, the New Jersey Devils will once again face the Carolina Hurricanes, this time in Carolina.

This off-season, the St. Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens completed a trade, with the Blues sending winger Zachary Bolduc to the Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux.

In his first game with the Habs, Bolduc made his mark, scoring what was at the time the go-ahead goal in the second period. The 22-year-old forced a turnover on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson before scooping up a rebound off a Brendan Gallagher shot to make it 2-1. 

Bolduc finished the game with a goal, three shots on net and two hits in 13:34 of ice time. Bolduc also saw time on the first power play unit, but the Canadiens were unable to capitalize on any of their opportunities. 

Took one game for the Zachary Bolduc for Logan Mailloux trade to start paying off 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Oi9zvJ7cIb

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) October 9, 2025

The trade shocked many Blues fans, but it works for both teams. The Canadiens acquired Dobson, which made Mailloux's skill set unneeded to the organization, but the Blues required Mailloux's profile. In return, they felt that the depth of their prospects made Bolduc expendable, and the trade helped bolster the Canadiens' top nine. 

While judging the two off of one game isn't fair, it's the nature of a one-for-one trade. Mailloux hasn't even played an NHL regular season game yet with the Blues, as he'll do so tonight against the Minnesota Wild, but the Blues have liked what they've seen from the 22-year-old in pre-season and training camp. 

The offensive part of Mailloux's game has never been an issue, but his defensive capabilities have been lacking. Coach Jim Montgomery has worked hard with Mailloux to improve that aspect of his game, and the early indication from Montgomery is that he has improved and believes he is a full-time NHLer.

'It's His Job to Lose,' Blues GM Doug Armstrong With A Straightforward Message To Logan MaillouxThe St. Louis Blues' training camp has finally started, but prior to the first practices, GM Doug Armstrong spoke to the media, talking about several topics.

The Blues' bench boss has praised Mailloux's stick work, mentioning how he has done an excellent job of breaking up plays with his stick. He's also talked about how Mailloux is using his feet and awareness to be in better positions to negate offensive opportunities for his opponents. 

Mailloux will start the season with Tyler Tucker, and the two defenders believe they complement each other well. The goal is for the two to play physical hockey, safe in their own end, but pitch in offensively when the right opportunity arises. 

Tonight's game against the Wild is a difficult test, but the Blues believe Mailloux will pass with flying colors. 

Blues Have Experience On Defense, It Will Be Key For Tucker, Mailloux To Make Group WholeMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the puck drops on the 2025-26 season for the St. Louis Blues against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, they will introduce what they hope are a pair of mainstays on the blue line for some time.

For GM Kent Hughes, landing Noah Dobson on the first day of the NHL draft was an absolute coup. Right-shot defenseman in their prime rarely become available on the trade market. When the Montreal Canadiens’ brass heard that the New York Islanders had such a player available, they couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.

Not only were they able to acquire Dobson, but they also managed to ink him to an eight-year deal, which made him the highest earner on the team. Throughout training camp, Martin St-Louis had his new defenseman skate alongside Mike Matheson on his first pairing, which raised several questions.

Canadiens Looking For Better Result In Detroit
Three Takeaways As Canadiens Fall Short In Toronto
Canadiens Get Mixed Grades From The Athletic

Some believed that the pair wouldn’t be good enough defensively to handle the opponents’ best players night after night, but in the first real game of the season, the duo delivered. Granted, Dobson ended the night with a minus-one rating, but he was on the ice when the Toronto Maple Leafs scored their first empty net goal, which can hardly be hung at his door.

He spent 22:56 on the ice and looked calm and in control. Of those nearly 23 minutes, only 59 seconds were spent on the power play, which didn’t give him much of an opportunity to show off his offensive creativity. He had one shot on net, one attempt blocked, a blocked shot, and a single giveaway. Overall, it was a good game for the blueliner, and it should help silence the critics who were already ready to criticize his play after training camp.

Wednesday’s score gives the impression that the Maple Leafs had their way with the Canadiens, but it really wasn’t the case. Montreal dictated play for much of the game and was able to neutralize the Leafs’ best player, Auston Matthews. Yes, he scored a goal, but only once the Habs’ net was empty. That goal was the sole shot he was able to get on net during the game, which in itself shows that the Sainte-Flanelle did well.

Of course, one game is a small sample, but that first match showed why Hughes had to pounce when Dobson became available. His presence will also allow St-Louis to better manage Matheson’s and Lane Hutson’s ice time. In an ideal world, Dobson would have gotten on the scoresheet, but give it time, it’s coming, especially after a game that will have allowed him to build up some confidence.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

The Red Wings open up their regular season at home versus the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

The Detroit Red Wings open up their season Thursday at home versus the Montreal Canadiens, who are coming off a crushing 5-2 defeat in their first game of the season versus the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

This will be the 613th all-time meeting between the Red Wings and Habs with Montreal holding the upperhand historically with a 297-210-91-9 record. This trend continued last season when the Habs won three out of four games in the season series versus the Red Wings. We can expect a high-scoring affair as these two clubs have totalled over six goals in six of their last seven matchups. 

Lineup Storylines

Both teams have made significant changes to their lineup with Montreal adding a top end talent to their blueline with Noah Dobson as well as inserting more young talent into meaningful roles this season with center Oliver Kapanen, who scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday, and winger Ivan Demidov, who is the favorite to win the Calder trophy this season. 

Detroit will counter with an impressive wave of top prospects, including former first-round selections Axel Sandin-Pellikka on defense and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård on the right wing. Joining them is training camp and preseason standout Emmitt Finnie, a 2023 seventh-round pick who has transformed from an overlooked long shot into a projected top-line winger alongside captain Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. The last seventh round pick to rise up the rankings like Finnie has was Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg. All three of Detroit’s prospects will be making their NHL debut on Thursday. 

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

Final Form? Red Wings Hint At Opening Night Lines During PracticeThe Detroit Red Wings were back at practice this morning at Little Caesars Arena, and the lines they skated with could give a good indication as to what things could look like on Opening Night this coming Thursday.

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (-133) | MTL ML (+110)

DET -1.5 (+170) | MTL +1.5 (-208)

O/U 6.0 Goals

A key player to watch for the Canadiens is standout defenseman Lane Hutson. Despite posting a -2 rating in Wednesday’s game against Toronto, he still showcased his high-end skill with several plays that generated quality scoring chances. Hutson has also fared well historically against Detroit, recording five points in six career games versus the Red Wings. On the other hand, a Canadiens player to approach with caution is Cole Caufield. The 24-year-old sniper has struggled against Detroit, managing just five points (three goals, two assists) over 11 career games against them.

For the Red Wings, expect Alex DeBrincat to be a major factor once again. Detroit’s leading scorer has excelled in this matchup, notching 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) over his last 17 games versus Montreal. His chemistry with linemate Patrick Kane should also be key as Kane has tallied 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 18 career games against the Canadiens. A Detroit player who may be worth fading is Marco Kasper. The 21-year-old center has faced Montreal four times and has yet to register a point.

Note: The Habs have dominated the sportsbooks when it comes to facing off against the Red Wings with a 12-3 record against the spread over their last 15 matchups, including a 9-3 record when listed as an underdog. An overtime bet might be worth an extra look as the Red Wings and Habs have seen 11 of their last 18 matchups decided by one goal with seven of the games needing extra time. 

Goalie Matchup

Montreal: Jakub Dobes (First Game VS DET, Last 19 Games: 8-6-3 record, 2.77 GAA, .906 SV%)

Detroit: John Gibson (VS MTL: 7-2-0 record, 2.29 GAA, .927 SV%)

Red Wings' Future Options Limiting As Star Free Agents Re-SignSuperstars Connor McDavid and Kyle Connor are no longer free agents next July, leaving smaller but still impactful group of targets for Red Wings to pick from. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

The Columbus Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, have announced that they have signed former New Jersey Devils defenseman Will Butcher to an AHL deal for the 2025-26 season.

Butcher signing with the Monsters comes after he split the 2024-25 season between Barys Astana of the KHL and EHC Red Bull Munchen of the DEL. In 15 games with Barys Astana this past campaign, the 5-foot-10 blueliner recorded three assists and a minus-7 rating. He then had three goals, eight assists, 11 points, and a plus-7 rating in 32 games with EHC Munchen. 

Butcher kicked off his NHL career with the Devils after the Metropolitan Division club signed him during the 2017 NHL off-season. From there, he played four seasons with the Devils from 2017-18 to 2020-21, where he recorded 14 goals, 92 assists, 106 points, 239 blocks, and a minus-27 rating in 238 games. This included him posting career highs with five goals, 39 assists, and 44 points in 81 games with the Devils during his rookie year. This was good enough for him to make the 2017-18 NHL All-Rookie Team. 

Butcher's time with the Devils ended when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the 2021-22 season. 

The day has finally arrived! After nearly six months, the Nashville Predators will return to the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST. 

The new season gives the Predators a fresh start after a disappointing campaign last season. This year's roster will face multiple new additions, including the Predators 2025 fifth overall pick, Brady Martin. 

With puck drop upon us, here is everything you need to know ahead of the Predators' season opener. 

Inactive players 

- Nashville defenseman Nicolas Hague is out with an upper-body injury until at least Oct. 23. 

- Nashville forward Matthew Wood is out with a lower-body injury until at least Oct. 11. 

- Nashville forward Luke Evangelista is still figuring out details with his newly signed contract and was listed as "non-roster" on the Predators' opening night roster announcement on Monday. 

- Columbus defenseman Luca Marrelli is out until at least Dec. 16 with a shoulder injury. 

- Columbus forward Jordan Dumais is out until at least Oct. 18 with a hip injury. 

Brady Martin to make NHL debut 

The Predators highest pick since 2013, Martin, is set to make his NHL debut on Thursday. Head coach Andrew Brunette confirmed on Wednesday that the center would play. 

Martin said he has around 30 family members in town to watch him play. He is expected to center the Predators top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly on the wings.

It's a big moment that's received some criticism, but the Predators feel confident in Martin's capabilities. 

Nashville Predators confident with Brady Martin centering Forsberg, O'Reilly line ahead of opening nightBrady Martin may have the biggest role of any rookie in the NHL on opening night. 

Predators eyeing a strong start to season 

A lot of the Predators hype from the 2024 offseason was derailed in October as they went 5-9-1 and lost their first five games. In wanting to have a chance to make the playoffs this season, the Predators will need to have a strong start out of the gate.

Nashville earned between both of its matchups against the Blue Jackets last season.

Its first meeting was one of the few games the Predators won in October, taking a 4-3 overtime win on Oct. 26. 

The second meeting was an 8-4 blowout victory in favor of the Blue Jackets on April 1. That loss was in the middle of a six-game Predators losing streak at the end of last season. 

Nashville has also not won on a traditional opening-night since 2019. It's win over Columbus to open the 2020-21 season was in January in an abbreviated 56-game season. The Predators win over the San Jose Sharks to start the 2022-23 season was part of a double-header played in Prague, Czechia. 

Nashville Predators Hope To Reverse Recent Opening Night StrugglesApr 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Projected Predators lineup 

Nashville 

Forwards 

Forsberg-Martin-O'Reilly

Kemell-Svechkov-Stamkos (potentially Evangelista at LW) 

Bunting-Haula-Marchessault 

Jost/Wiesblatt-McCarron-Smith

Defensemen

Wilsby-Josi

Skjei-Perbix

Stastney-Barron

Blankenburg 

Goaltender 

Juuse Saros 

How to follow along 

Game time: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. CST 

Where: Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. 

Line (via MGM): Nashville -1.5, Columbus +1.5. Over/under 6 

TV/streaming: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.6 The Game

Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster starting at $37.50

 

A day into the 2025-26 NHL regular season, the depth of star talent potentially available in next summer's UFA market shrank considerably.

It began on Sept. 30, when the Minnesota Wild signed left winger Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year extension. Six days later, center Connor McDavid signed a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers.

Two more notable names came off the list on Wednesday, as the Winnipeg Jets re-upped Kyle Connor on an eight-year deal, followed by Jack Eichel agreeing to an eight-year extension with the Vegas Golden Knights.

That leaves New York Rangers left winger Artemi Panarin and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as the most noteworthy remaining talent.

Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30 and is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $11.642 million. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is also finishing a seven-year deal, with an average annual value of $10 million.

Panarin reportedly turned down a team-friendly offer during the summer. As this season begins, he and Rangers management have kept mum about his contract status.

Despite Bobrovsky's age, the defending champion Panthers could re-sign him if he keeps them in the Stanley Cup hunt. George Richards of Florida Hockey Now speculated in August that he could get between $6.5 million and $7 million annually from the Panthers on a five- or six-year deal, or $8 million annually for four years.

Other UFA-eligible notables include Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas and Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch.

Reports: Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Signs Fifth-Richest Contract In NHL HistoryThe Vegas Golden Knights reportedly re-signed Jack Eichel to an eight-year contract extension.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Canadiens recently made an eight-year contract extension offer to Lane Hutson. The 21-year-old defenseman won the Calder Trophy last season and is in the final year of his entry-level contract.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman cited sources claiming that the Canadiens' offer was “slightly below 8 by $9 million,” adding that he believed Hutson wanted to sign a new deal before the start of this season.

The two reporters believed the Canadiens' offer had some salary deferral in it. At the same time, Friedman noted recent reports out of Montreal claimed they also pitched Hutson's camp on a Canadian retirement compensation arrangement (RCA) that many players used to soften the tax burden. However, neither option was of interest to the blueliner's representatives.

Both sides are reportedly pausing talks to let things cool down a bit. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes remains optimistic that an extension will be done at some point, reminding nervous Habs fans that Hutson isn't UFA-eligible until 2031.

The Canadiens hold most of the leverage in these negotiations. PuckPedia indicates that Hutson not only lacks arbitration rights coming off his entry-level deal but is also ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club next summer.

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.

It was midway through the third period of a tied game against the Montreal Canadiens, when Morgan Rielly decided to do something that didn’t do nearly enough last season.

He joined the rush. 

Following a turnover in the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive end, Matthew Knies was sprung loose. The Canadiens gave chase. But so did Rielly, who sprinted up the ice and headed to the front of the Canadiens' net, where he then buried a pass in front for his first goal of the 2025-26 season.

“Everyone in here wants to play well the first game,” Rielly, who had a goal and an assist, said following Toronto’s 5-2 win against Montreal on opening night. “You work hard all summer and you just want to get off on the right foot.”

For Rielly, getting off on the right foot ultimately means using his feet. It's no secret that he's one of  Toronto’s best skaters. Only you wouldn't know it, because he rarely used that asset to his advantage last season.

But now that Mitch Marner is gone to Vegas, the Leafs are looking for offensive help wherever they can find it — even if that means relying on Rielly to be a sort of fourth forward.

“I thought he had a really good game,” said Leafs coach Craig Berube. “Skated well, moved the puck well, had good reads … he was solid tonight. It was great to see.”

'He Did Everything For Us': Morgan Rielly Renaissance Kicks Off As Maple Leafs Down Canadiens In Season Opener The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have any turnover on their defense from last season to this one , but they still wanted to see improvement from their highest-paid and longest-tenured defenseman.

The Leafs will need to see more of it this season if they are going to build off of last year’s division-leading 108-point regular season. It can’t just be Auston Matthews and William Nylander carrying the offense, although those two did combine for a pair of goals and four points against the Canadiens.

Last year, the Leafs ranked last in the NHL in goals from their defense. Rielly, who led Toronto defensemen with seven goals and had 41 points, was tied for 39th. A lot of that had to do with Rielly losing his spot on the power play, as Toronto went with five forwards on the top unit.

But even so, in a league where Colorado's Cale Makar had 30 goals, Rielly's contributions weren't nearly enough. And he knows it. 

"I think I’ve been open and honest about all those conversations," said Rielly. "You train all summer and do what you can to be healthy as you can, you want to play hard, you want to play a team game. And so, here and now, our vibes here are good because we won. But we have a lot to work on."

In 2018-19, Rielly finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting after scoring a career-best 20 goals and 72 points. But in the six years since then, he’s combined for 29 goals and has never really been part of the conversation for best defenseman in the NHL.

'I Heard Them Early In My Career In A Negative Way': Maple Leafs React To Blue Jays-Fueled Fans At Scotiabank ArenaWhen Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman struck out New York Yankees left-fielder Cody Bellinger to win the ALDS, Maple Leafs fans — who were still inside Scotiabank Arena — let out a huge roar. So did whoever was controlling the Toronto Maple Leafs' goal horn.

Over the summer, Rielly and Berube had conversations about changing that and getting Rielly to get back to what made him so successful early on in his career. One game in, it appears to be working.

"I think that coming in, we tried to change the style of team — not so much run-and-gun, more controlling then game, good defense — and I think he took that to heart about trying to play good defense," Berube said of Rielly's play last season. "Sometimes when you do that, you’re not aggressive enough and you’re not jumping into the play because you don’t want to take chances as much. That may have been part of it.

"I thought he got better in the second half of the year and the playoffs, and he looked more like Morgan Rielly again."

It helps, added Berube, that Rielly is playing regularly with Brandon Carlo. Ever since the team acquired the stay-at-home defenseman from Boston at the trade deadline last year, Rielly no longer has to look over his shoulder to make sure someone else is manning the fort. In other words, Rielly has the green light to go.

“And that was one of the reasons to put Brandon Carlo with him," said Berube. "He’s really good at protecting his partner and doing all that stuff, so I think Mo’s got a lot more freedom and quite frankly when he came over here I thought Mo’s game changed.”

Tick Tock: A New Doomsday Clock Has McDavid And Matthews Heading To Free Agency In 2028Tick… tick… tick…

Part of the change has to do with the system that Berube is now preaching. He wants his defense to be more aggressive in the offensive zone. Of course, you can only be aggressive when you're feeling good about your game. And one game in, it's fair to say that Rielly is feeling pretty good.

“He’s confident with the puck, he’s making plays at both ends of the ice,” said goalie Anthony Stolarz. “I think he did a great job with his gaps and getting sticks on pucks and moving guys from in front… I think we can all see that the offensive talent is there and when he feels confident he can fly up the ice and join the rush like that. For him to get that goal, I think it’s huge for him and huge for us as a team.”

Now that big question: can it continue?

“We’re all trying to do it," said Rielly. "It’s a great first win, but lots to work on.”

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.

The Chicago Blackhawks played their first game of the season on Tuesday. Although they didn't have their best, they kept it close against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. 

Their next opponent is the Boston Bruins, who will have their home-opener in the second half of a back-to-back. On Wednesday night, they beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 in D.C., and now they are looking to build on that in their own barn. 

In an effort to get their first win of the season, the Blackhawks have made some changes to their lineup, which they will use against the Bruins. 

Projected Lineup:

Dach - Bedard - Burakovsky 

Teravainen - Nazar - Bertuzzi 

Donato - Dickinson - Mikheyev

Foligno - Greene - Lafferty 

Vlasic - Rinzel

Kaiser - Levshunov

Grzelcyk - Murphy

Soderblom

Arvid Soderblom is going to be the man in the net for the Blackhawks against the Bruins. Alex Vlasic will make his season debut, coming back from a lower-body injury, and he will take the place of Ethan Del Mastro. Up front, Colton Dach and Ryan Donato are switching spots. 

Blackhawks Already Preparing For Lineup Changes After One GameAfter one game, a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Chicago Blackhawks are preparing for lineup changes already. 

Feel Good Story

In between Chicago's first two games of the season, New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer revealed a wonderful gesture by Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno. The two, despite their age difference, share a tragic commonality, and the elder Foligno demonstrated his class by reaching out to the young prospect. Included is the full story below. 

Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Reveals Incredible Gesture Made By Blackhawks Captain Nick FolignoThe Chicago Blackhawks are a young team trying to find its footing in the National Hockey League. With that in mind, they are not short of veteran leadership always around to help them do the right thing. 

How To Watch & Listen

Those looking for the game in the Chicago area can find it on CHSN. Out-of-market viewings can be found on ESPN+. The puck will drop at the TD Garden just after 6:00 PM CT.

After this game, the Blackhawks will return home to prepare for the home schedule of their centennial season in Chicago. 

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

Fearless forecast for the Flyers' 2025-26 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Rick Tocchet era officially begins Thursday night for the Flyers down in Sunrise, Florida.

Tocchet takes over a rebuilding team that hasn’t made the playoffs in five straight seasons, matching the franchise’s longest drought. But the Flyers Hall of Famer isn’t setting the postseason as his expectations.

“It’s the development of players,” the head coach said Monday. “We call it maximizing the player. Are players improving? That’s a big part of it. If players are improving, you’ve got a better chance at winning hockey games.

“I understand people want to talk playoffs and all these variables. I don’t know. But for me and my staff, we’re going to be judged, for me, on we’ve got to get guys to maximize their talent. I think that’s really what it comes down to. We have guys that I really believe we can make them really good hockey players.”

Before the club opens the season against the Panthers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP), let’s get into our Flyers Fearless Forecast, featuring projections for how the team will finish and a random assortment of bold predictions from NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall and Joe Fordyce.

Hall

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

The Flyers have a reasonable chance at improving this season, especially when you consider just how poorly they finished last season. They dropped 15 of their final 21 games (6-13-2) to end the season tied with the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s worst record (33-39-10).

The additions of Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak give the Flyers a good lift down the middle, an area in which they’ve needed help. Zegras provides a high-end skill level and Dvorak offers intriguing versatility.

But will the Flyers have enough depth on defense? And, more critically, will they get the all-important answers in net?

The new coaching staff wants to give the goaltenders a cleaner opportunity at seeing the puck, meaning fewer blocked shots. It also wants the Flyers to be a better possession team, potentially cutting down on the odd-man rushes the other way. It’ll be interesting to see if the Flyers can follow through on those changes.

“I expect the goaltending to be better, no doubt about it,” Danny Briere said last month. “I think also the system might protect them a little better, that Rick Tocchet and his staff are going to put forth.”

The Flyers had 76 points last season, so an eight-point jump to 84 seems realistic in Year 1 under Tocchet. We’ll go with a 38-36-8 finish, which won’t get the Flyers into the playoffs. But it could be a promising step heading into a big offseason.

As for the Stanley Cup Final, the Stars will benefit from a full season of Mikko Rantanen and take down the Lightning in six games.

Dvorak breaks out

The Flyers traded for Zegras and signed goaltender Dan Vladar, arguably the team’s two biggest offseason moves considering the positions. But, sneakily, Dvorak might be the Flyers’ most impactful acquisition.

The 29-year-old had his best NHL season under Tocchet with the Coyotes. The familiarity will pay off this season as he puts up 40 or more points for a new career high. And it’ll lead to the Flyers re-signing him.

Changing of the guard

The Flyers could look a lot different on defense when the season is all said and done. They just lack stability outside of their top three or four blueliners, which could lead to moving parts. Injuries could also factor into things.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Flyers are constantly looking at different options down at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley or even pursue a trade now that they have some added cap space.

Fordyce

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

It’s that time of year again, time for a fearless forecast of how this Flyers season will go. The way this has gone recently, however, I may be better off forecasting the weather.

I feel like this Flyers season, the first under Tocchet, will start slowly, but will pick up steam. In the end, I see the Flyers finishing with 83 points and just on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. With that said, I think the Flyers can capture one of the wild-card spots if they get better goaltending than expected.

Overall, I believe last season was the one to capitalize on — the Rangers had a down year and Jack Hughes missed a good portion of the season for the Devils with an injury. Those are not things that you can count on happening two straight seasons.

My Stanley Cup Final prediction is a heavyweight matchup between Craig Berube’s Maple Leafs and the Stars. Dallas has been a team flirting with a Stanley Cup ever since losing in the Final during COVID. I think this is the year the Stars get it done.

As I write this, I sit and wonder what would become of Toronto if it reaches the Final only to lose. Scary thought.

Power surge

As far as bold predictions for the Flyers, I see their offense being significantly better, and in particular on the power play. I predict the Flyers’ power play will finish right in the middle of the league, which might as well be the best PP in the league when you consider how bad it has been in recent years.

Konecny’s climb

My second bold prediction is that this is finally the year that Travis Konecny reaches the 40-goal mark. At different points during the last two seasons, Konecny has been on pace to reach that mark. But injuries and/or a slump have dashed those hopes. This year, he gets it done.

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have any turnover on their defense from last season to this one , but they still wanted to see improvement from their highest-paid and longest-tenured defenseman.

Morgan Rielly delivered immediately, scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. He jumped up into the play after Matthew Knies had a breakaway stopped and gave Toronto the lead for good in a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens in the season opener.

Rielly was Toronto’s best performer in all-around play, recording a team-best 1.24 expected goals at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. This is particularly impressive since Toronto only had a 45 percent share of the puck. The Leafs want Rielly to be more aggressive with the puck, and it showed in his play, bringing back a similar offensive vintage to the defenseman who recorded 20 goals and 52 assists in 82 games during the 2018-19 season.

“He looked great. I feel like he did everything out there today for us,” Maple Leafs forward Calle Järnkrok said of Rielly.

Rielly was presented the team’s championship belt, given to the player of the game following a Leafs win, by Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.

“Let’s keep building from here” - Mo Daddy pic.twitter.com/sM279127Da

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 9, 2025

A Summer of Commitment

At the beginning of training camp, Leafs GM Brad Treliving revealed he had a conversation with Morgan Rielly before the 2024-25 season that the player ‘took to heart’. Treliving mentioned that Rielly spent a lot of time in the gym this summer and took to heart the messages he had for him.

Forward Bobby McMann, who spent most of the summer with Rielly at the club’s workout facility, confirmed the defenseman's commitment:

'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple LeafsShortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in May, Morgan Rielly and general manager Brad Treliving sat down to review the year.

“It was kind of me and him going at it together in the summer. And he showed up every day, put the work in, continued to be a professional this far into his career,” McMann said. He’s still hungry. He still wants it. And he wants to win so bad, and he wants the best for himself. And you can see that”.

The Strategic Shift

When Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube took over the bench last season, there was a change in philosophy that was more focused on a collective defensive approach. Berube suggested that while Rielly committed to the new style, he felt that maybe it took out some of the aggressive attack in his game.

Since the acquisition of Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins in March, the team felt it’s only helped Rielly feel more secure about jumping into the play.

Bruins Trade Brandon Carlo To Maple Leafs In Surprising Deal The Boston Bruins have traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Bruins are also retaining 15% of Carlo's salary.

“He's really good at protecting his partner and doing all that stuff,” Berube said of Carlo. “So I think Mo has got a lot more freedom. And quite frankly, when he came over here, I thought Mo's game changed quite a bit”.

With the Leafs looking for offense wherever they can get it, improving from defense would help. Toronto finished last in the NHL in goals scored by defensemen last season. Even a modest improvement from Rielly goes a long way to changing things for the better.

Rielly's Reaction

Despite the big game, Rielly didn’t want to soak in the praise after the win, rather pointing out some of the mistakes and poor puck play the club displayed against a fast Montreal team.

“Lots of good things. I'm not trying to say we sucked. But, we're going to look to improve and build our game,” Rielly said. “We have high expectations for our group. And I think at times in the middle of the game, we didn't manage the puck that well. And then obviously in the third, we came out and played well. So we're happy with the result”.

Latest stories:

'I Heard Them Early In My Career In A Negative Way': Maple Leafs React To Blue Jays-Fueled Fans At Scotiabank Arena

Mark Giordano Joins Marlies As Coaching Advisor And Other Maple Leafs Hires To Hockey Ops Department

'We Should Wear Teams Down': Dakota Joshua And Other Off-Season Additions Make Maple Leafs NHL's Heaviest Team

PITTSBURGH, PA -- It's finally game day, New York Islanders fans. It's been 175 days since the last Islanders regular-season game, and 177 days since the last regular-season game at UBS Arena.

To say the franchise has changed since then would be a dramatic understatement. From moving on from Lou Lamoriello to winning the NHL Draft Lottery and selecting Matthew Schaefer, it's truly a new era on Long Island.

It all gets started tonight, where the Islanders take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Schaefer makes his NHL debut against Sidney Crosby and fellow 2025 NHL Draft pick Ben Kindel.

Before things get going, The Hockey News' New York Islanders writers are here with some bold predictions for the upcoming season.

---

Rosner's Bold Predictions: 

#1: Anthony Duclair will score 30 goals to lead the team

What a nightmare Anthony Duclair's first season on Long Island was.

From the groin tear to a way-too-early return, he was bashed in the media by his head coach, which led to a leave of absence with eight games to go, leaving no one with any idea how things would play out this summer, with three seasons left on his deal. 

But the way Duclair has come into camp, looking healthier than ever and as sharp as ever, it's changed the potential impact he can have on this team. One of the biggest questions surrounding the Islanders is who will fill the goal-scoring void with Brock Nelson gone. 

Duclair has something to prove, an enormous chip on his shoulder. And although he's starting the season on the fourth line alongside Casey Cizikas and Maxim Tsyplakov -- the most offensive-looking fourth line in franchise history -- if he plays the way he played in training camp and preseason, he'll find himself higher on the depth charts. I wouldn't be shocked if he's playing with Barzal and/or Horvat. 

While I don't think he'll set a new career high in goals -- he scored 31 in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers -- could 30 be in the cards, and if so, that would likely lead the team.

#2. Calum Ritchie Is The No.  2 Center Befor Christmas

There may have been no real opportunity for Calum Ritchie to crack a spot in the Islanders' lineup, and the injury awarded the Islanders more time to figure things out.

But once Ritchie returns from his minor lower-body injury, he'll likely be sent to Bridgeport. But if he excels in the AHL like we expect, he's going to force the Islanders to make a call-up -- unless an injury creates an opportunity before that. 

As we expect to see with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, it will be challenging to limit Ritchie's minutes once he earns his NHL chance with the Islanders.

He's not a bottom-six player -- he proved that and I think the Islanders understand that. 

Mix in that and Mathew Barzal's desire to play with Bo Horvat, and that No. 2 center job is one that Ritchie will likely own by the end of the season, but why wait if he's ready?

Before the presents go under the Christmas tree, Ritchie will be the No. 2 C -- hey, that rhymed. 

#3. Islanders Win Jennings Trophy

Goaltending is the most important position for the Islanders if they want to get back into the postseason.

Starting netminder Ilya Sorokin is elite, and this is the season he'll have the numbers to prove that again, like he did when he was a Vezina finalist in 2022-23 (2.34 GAA, .924 SV%).

Backup David Rittich is entering the season with a major chip on his shoulder after signing a one-year, $1 million deal this summer. He's coming off a tough season with the Los Angeles Kings (2.84 GAA, .886 SV%), a season in which Los Angeles was elite and so was their starting netminder Darcy Kuemper (2.02 GAA, .921 SV%). 

Rittich will put a shaky presence behind him and be the brick wall the Islanders need him to be, with Semyon Varlamov still a way off.

Backed by an improved defense under Bob Boughner, a more dynamic defense thanks to Matthew Schaefer, Sorokin, and Rittich will win the Jennings Trophy, allowing the fewest goals in the NHL, for the first time since Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss back in 2018-19.  

---

Macias' Bold Predictions:

#1: The Islanders finish above the Montreal Canadiens in the standings

For all of the many things the Islanders did this spring and summer, perhaps nothing was more scrutinized in the moment by the hockey world than the trade of Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens. 

Fast-forward to opening night, and it looks far less one-sided than many thought. Emil Heineman will be skating alongside Jonathan Drouin and Bo Horvat to begin the year, outright beating Maxim Shabanov and Anthony Duclair for a spot in the top six.

That doesn't even mention Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson, both falling to the Islanders at the draft.

As for this season, the Canadiens did acquire Dobson, but their defense is still extremely suspect. Additionally, Sam Montembeault remains a huge question mark. Yes, those Habs can score, but can they keep the puck out of their net? They couldn't Wednesday, losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. 

The Islanders will have the better goaltending and defense, even if New York's offense may not have the same firepower as Montreal.

The Atlantic Division will also be much tougher than the Metropolitan Division, another reason the Habs may struggle more.

As a result, pencil the Islanders to come in ahead of those Canadiens when the season comes to a close.

#2: Maxim Shabanov and Matthew Schaefer Combine for 80+ Points

The Islanders will have two NHL rookies in their lineup when the season starts tonight in Pittsburgh. One is the highly-touted, elite defenseman in Schaefer.

The other is the highly sought-after Russian, Maxim Shabanov. Despite not initially sticking in the top six, Shabanov's immense skill is very apparent.

He will be able to score and create plays all by himself, having already proven his size does not affect his game whatsoever. 

Maxim Tsyplakov posted 35 points last year as a rookie with less-projected offense than what Shabanov may bring, so it's not far-fetched to think Shabanov could sniff close to 50 points as a rookie.

Meanwhile, Schaefer will be 18 years old and immediately given all the opportunities in the world. His smooth skating fits Head Coach Patrick Roy's system like a glove, and he's going to play on the second power play unit. With his offensive upside, it's very likely he gets 30 points at an absolute minimum, with clear potential for a 40-50 point rookie year.

Book Schaefer and Shabanov to combine for 80 or more points this season.

#3: The Islanders Finish With A Top-Ten Power Play

Perhaps the boldest of all takes from me. The last time the Islanders didn't have a bottom-ten unit came in 2021-22, when they finished 12th in the league. 

Last year, the Islanders finished with a putrid 12.6%, 31st in the league. Enter Ray Bennett and Jonathan Drouin, a PP specialist coach and a PP specialist set-up man.

Behind the arrival of that duo, a full season of Tony DeAngelo and Schaefer quarterbacking two units, and a healthy Mathew Barzal, it doesn't feel all that unlikely for New York to have a significantly better unit.

Not only do all those factors work in their favor, but Shabanov has immense skill to offer, too.

Bennett had a perennial top 10 power play no matter what in Colorado. Just because he's got elite talent there doesn't mean he didn't have clear, elite systems for his team to use. Clearly, Bennett's got the chops to do it here, too.

The Islanders will snap the nearly decade-long drought without a top ten unit and earn themselves one this year.

What are you bold takes for this season? Let us know in the comments.