This will be the first of four preseason games for the Penguins before they open the regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30.
Monday's game will feature a mix of veterans and younger players who are trying to crack the roster. Here's the lineup:
Forwards
Andrei Kuzmenko
Filip Hallander
David Gustafsson
Justin Brazeau
Bryan Rust
Connor Dewar
Hendrix Lapierre
Elmer Soderblom
Tristan Broz
Tanner Howe
Carter Sanderson
Ben Kindel
Avery Hayes
Defensemen
Ryan Graves
Tomas Galvas
Owen Pickering
Chase Pietila
Harrison Brunicke
Trevor van Riemsdyk
Kris Letang
Goaltenders
Sergei Murashov
Joel Blomqvist
We could get our first glimpse of Ben Kindel centering Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko in game action since they've been on a line together to start training camp. They've had solid chemistry thus far.
The same can be said for Trevor van Riemsdyk and Kris Letang since they've been paired together throughout camp and look comfortable.
We'll see if both goaltender play or if one of them will get the entire game.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres carries the puck against Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins listed the players who will take part in the first preseason game on Monday night against Buffalo.
The roster for tomorrow's preseason game vs. Buffalo has been announced ⬇️
Below is the Penguins’ lineup for Monday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET, and fans can watch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh, or tune into the game on the Penguins’ official flagship radio station, 105.9 ‘The X’.
FORWARDS
10 – Andrei Kuzmenko 11 – Filip Hallander 13 – David Gustafsson 16 – Justin Brazeau 17 – Bryan Rust 19 – Connor Dewar 22 – Hendrix Lapierre 25 – Elmer Soderblom 26 – Tristan Broz 40 – Tanner Howe 62 – Carter Sanderson 81 – Ben Kindel 85 – Avery Hayes
DEFENSE
27 – Ryan Graves 32 – Tomas Galvas 38 – Owen Pickering 44 – Chase Pietila 45 – Harrison Brunicke 57 – Trevor van Riemsdyk 58 – Kris Letang
GOALIES
1 – Sergei Murashov 30 – Joel Blomqvist
One forward and one defenseman listed will be scratched. Based on early practice pairs, that might be Tomas Galvas since all the other players have their partner from the early practices listed. The team might want to see Galvas in a game situation and shake up those pairings for this game.
For the forwards, the camp line of Kuzmenko, Kindel and Rust have been working together and might be a future middle line for the team in the regular season. Besides them, a host of fringe players fighting for a spot in the lineup – if not the roster all together – will be in the mix. Between Hallander, Brazeau, Dewar, Lapierre, Soderblom, Broz and Hayes there should be a lot of motivated forwards looking to stand out and show why they belong in the picture when it comes to the crowded situation at the bottom of the lineup.
Competition continues in net with the two goalies battling for one NHL roster spot both dressing for tomorrow’s game. Typically goalies early in the preseason are planned to split the time in net, though it hasn’t been announced yet who will start and if the other will get the opportunity to get into the game.
Most NHL players have to do their time in the minors before the big league comes calling, and Isaac Howard is one of them. He came to the Edmonton Oilers training camp this year after spending last season working on the parts of his game that needed more time in Bakersfield.
“I think from a year's time ago, I feel like a completely different player out there,” Howard said. “Just with my mindset on details. And I think a year is a lot of time, and I definitely feel a lot different.”
Howard has had a good camp too. Mike Babcock said he didn't love his game on Saturday night, though he also pointed out that it was just a preseason game. There are still practices and preseason games left before Edmonton has to make its roster decisions.
Howard spent last season in Bakersfield and used the year to mature his game. He had already shown his shot and speed, so much of his development involved the details required of an NHL forward
“[He’s] definitely a more mature player. He's a great kid," said Hyamn. "He wants to be an NHL player, a full-time NHL player. Doesn't just want it. He thrives for it. He's working as hard as anybody can work out there. I think he's really attentive to the details and what he has to do.
“I think everybody knows that he has an unbelievable shot,” continued Hyman. “Nobody worries if he can score or make plays. You can do all those things; it’s just going and being physical and getting in on the puck first and doing all the little things.”
Howard has been focused on those areas throughout camp and has remarked on how he has made things simpler for himself.
“I just feel a lot better rounded, [more] mature out there,” said Howard.. “[Some] confident with the puck, wanting the puck more, making the plays I know I can make, and I think also just harping on little details and making my game simpler in a way as well is just forechecking hard, creating loose pucks, using my speed, and it just makes the game easier.
“I worked a lot this summer on sprinting, conditioning, being able to hold a sprint longer, and I think it's helped me so far in camp,” said Howard. “I feel lighter. I'm even a little bit heavier, but I feel lighter on my skates.”
It's those kinds of changes that Hyman was talking about, such as getting to pucks, staying involved on the forecheck and handling the pace of an NHL game.
“Of course, it's a big opportunity, and I want to be an NHL player, and it's laid out in front of me to go work hard, harp on small details, and show up every day and just be hungry,” said Howard.
Babcock's assessment on Saturday is part of the process Howard is going through during camp. And it seems both parties had a reasonable understanding of what went wrong and how they were going to fix it. It is obviously not the reason Howard would get sent down, if he gets sent down at all.
“It's been fun playing with him,” said Hyman. “If he can establish himself as the player that we all think he can be and that he wants to be, then he's going to be a huge part of this team.”
Howard had a good understanding of the areas he needed to improve on from last season. His camp has shown some of that progress, and the rest of the preseason gives him time to earn the full-time NHL job he came to Edmonton looking for.
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We are officially three days into 2026 NHL training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it has been quite the battle so far. Unlike in years past, these three camp days are the only full camp practices, making the three days - and the upcoming four pre-season games in five days - that much more meaningful.
Before the Penguins kick off their pre-season schedule with a home tilt Monday against the Buffalo Sabres, however, there are likely to be a few areas of the roster trimmed. On day one of camp, assistant general manager Jason Spezza did say that not everyone would get a look in the games due to the condensed schedule.
"There's only four pre-season games," Spezza said. "There's not going to be opportunity for everybody in the pre-season like we normally would have, so it's a matter of rewarding the guys that have shown that they are getting closer by giving them games and seeing where they are."
Yes, Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Egor Chinakhov, specifically, have looked the part in training camp, but we know they will make the team. Guys like Nick Robertson and Andrei Kuzmenko have showed well, too, but it's highly unlikely they won't be on the NHL roster.
So, which fringe players have stood out enough to earn an opportunity in pre-season games? Here are five of them, plus a few others to keep an eye on.
Hallander, 26, is a name many folks had been omitting when talking about players who could break camp. After all, he did play in only 13 games last season before a blood clot kept him out for the rest of it and into the summer.
But, after a long and challenging return-to-play process, Hallander is healthy and ready to make a run at the roster again.
And, as one of the best players through three days of camp, no one is omitting him anymore.
He said that he had been skating throughout his recovery, and that is noticeable. He looks like he's gained a step. And that's not the only thing, either: He is performing like a player with a season-long lost opportunity due to circumstances entirely out of his control, and his drive to make this roster is tangible.
Hallander is making the small plays. He's showing 200-foot acumen. He's showed off his playmaking ability. Basically, he's picking up right where he left off last season, and then some.
At this point, it will be surprising if he's not on this roster at the end of camp. Unless he tanks in the pre-season games, I think he's earned a spot already.
Okay, maybe I'm cheating a bit here. But hear me out.
Last training camp, the pairing of Pickering and Brunicke was tried in camp until Brunicke separated himself far enough away from Pickering that he was working with the NHL guys. They also got a brief NHL regular season sample that looked, well, pretty disastrous.
Now? They both look NHL-ready, and they look ready as a tandem.
Through these three days of camp - and, particularly, on the third day - Pickering and Brunicke have been paired almost exclusively with the top line of Robertson, Crosby and Rickard Rakell in drills. On day three, they were the only pairing to get reps with that line in any of the line drills, and that was with Sam Girard and Kaedan Korczak in the same group.
They have a great feel for each other out there. Pickering looks poised, has vastly improved his gap control and defensive posture and makes the right decisions in relation to Brunicke. His partner is doing what he does best in joining the rush, creating offense and making better reads at NHL speed. He's made some ridiculous passes, too, and they all look crisp.
At the very least, Pickering and Brunicke have earned a good look in the pre-season. Even if they are still likely to start the season as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's (WBS) top pairing because of the sheer numbers game, I think there's a good chance they stick around until the very end of camp.
It's not exactly a secret that Sergei Murashov probably has the inside track to the second NHL goaltending spot to tandem with Arturs Silovs.
But do not overlook Blomqvist, who has been the most consistent goaltender to open camp.
It has been a tumultuous couple of years for the 24-year-old Finnish netminder, who sustained an injury during a 2025 camp in which he did not look particularly confident. Now, however, it appears he has gotten that confidence back, and he came ready to earn that second NHL spot.
On day one, he outshone Murashov, making save after save and making it look relatively easy. Murashov did come around on day two, and, especially, on day three, making some ten-bell saves. But Blomqvist's performance has not wavered at all during these three days.
On the goaltending front, it's best not to assume anything, even if the outcome seems like a foregone conclusion. Blomqvist is a very capable goaltender who knows his NHL chances with the Penguins are on the line, and he's playing like it. The battle between the two of them will be, perhaps, the most interesting one to watch when games begin Monday.
I can imagine there are few worse feelings in the world as a professional athlete than mixing up a schedule and being late for the first day of tryouts, especially when you know your job is on the line.
And, make no mistake, Soderblom's job is on the line. He is waivers-eligible, and there is so much competition on the forward front that it's difficult to say with certainty that he'll be on the final NHL roster. What makes matters worse for that first day - when he was supposed to report for Team 1 but mixed up the schedule, was late and skated with Team 3, the prospect group - is that camp is shorter, and every day is more impactful.
But, boy, has he showed out since. In addition to scoring a few nice goals in camp on day three, he looks comfortable. He's been showing off his soft hands, his hockey sense, his ability down low and, of course, his advantageous 6-foot-8, 254-pound frame in one-on-one battles.
There is no one else quite like Soderblom on the Penguins' roster, and honestly, he's kind of a bigger, more rounded-out version of Justin Brazeau, who is one of the players in the same positional battle.
He will get a good look in pre-season games, but despite his day one mishap, he looks better than most vying for the precious few NHL roster spots up to this point.
I'm going to put out a name that I feel hasn't been talked about a whole lot in Livanavage.
The Penguins signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract out of the University of North Dakota at the end of the 2025-26 regular season, and he played in one game, activating his ELC. He didn't really have a real opportunity to show much in that one game, but he is really showing out so far in camp.
He's largely been paired with Ilya Solovyov, which is a good indicator of who the Penguins feel is close to NHL action, as Spezza suggested. Solovyov was the seventh/eighth defenseman for the stretch run of the season last year, so it's not a nothing burger that these two are paired together.
And Livanavage, who added 15 pounds to his 6-foot frame this offseason, has looked entirely comfortable in all the drills. He hasn't missed a beat when jumping into plays or helping drive offense from the blue line, but he has been calculated in his defensive efforts, too. He's even sniped a few pucks with authority past Murashov and Blomqvist.
His tandem with the bigger, more stay-at-home Solovyov has been seamless. I expect that pairing to stick in pre-season games, but to me, this almost reads like a legitimate one-v.-one battle for what is likely the seventh and final defensive spot on Pittsburgh's roster.
- I didn't name him in this piece, but Rutger McGroarty is putting together a nice camp, too.
Perhaps, other than Hallander, there is not a soul at camp who wants this more than McGroarty. His effort and drive is tangible, as are some of his improvements in skating and other aspects of the game.
It's an uphill climb for him to make this roster, but I do think he's right in the mix as far as the battle for the final spots. This is a guy who wants to be an NHLer, and he wants to be an NHLer right now. That is very evident through three days of camp.
- Ville Koivunen has put together a solid camp, too, although I liked his first two days better than his last. He's one of the guys who needs to be seen in game action before any further determination can be made on his readiness.
Just through the drills, it looks like his decision-making and processing is happening a bit quicker, which is the main hurdle that has prevented him from securing a full-time spot. He's also, noticeably, a whole lot bigger than he was last year, and he is noticeably harder to knock off the puck.
He needs to stand out just a bit more to have a legitimate shot over some others like Hallander and Soderblom, though.
- Robertson is worth mentioning again because, man, has he looked good.
The speed is noticeable. The shot is popping. He already looks to be developing some chemistry with Crosby, and he looks like a natural fit on that line along with Rakell.
I think this line will stick. It's hard to tell with the different groupings, obviously, and Rust has been Crosby's longtime winger. But Spezza said groupings and lines are a bit more intentional this time around, and I don't think Robertson and Rakell being glued to Crosby for three straight camp days - and the only camp days - is a coincidence.
- Piggybacking off of that, the idea of a Kuzmenko-Ben Kindel-Rust third line is certainly an intriguing prospect.
Rust's five-on-five defense has sharply declined, and Kuzmenko has never been particularly apt defensively. But, in a third-line role, Rust may not feel as much pressure to sacrifice defense for offense, so that could be mitigated a bit.
At the end of the day, though, if this is a line that sticks, it's a line that can score. Rust is good for 25-30 goals in a full, healthy season. Kuzmenko has 30-goal upside and scored 39 during his rookie season. Guess who benefits greatly from that?
The 19-year-old Kindel, who still has a ton of untapped offensive potential. If this is the third line to start the year, I'd expect Kindel's production to spike quite a bit.
- Dan Muse was voiceless after days two and three, to no one's surprise. He is a high-energy coach who operates a high-energy camp and expects maximum effort from every single player there. He demands a lot.
But, off the ice, he is as mild-mannered as they come. When Team 3 was transitioning rinks Saturday, Muse took the time to chat with some young fans and sign a few jerseys. This is the kind of human he is. Very genuine, very conversational.
This is only year two for Muse, but I expect big things from him. The Penguins have a good coach on their hands.
- Don't be surprised to see Liam Ruck get one pre-season game. He was moved to Crosby's group on day three, and that's because he earned it.
I don't expect him to make the roster for a number of reasons, including his lack of an ELC. But he looked pretty natural in the NHL group, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a look in game action so the Penguins can see what they have and where he is.
- Pre-season rosters for Monday's tilt will be an interesting thing to look out for. Given the shortened camp - and the two-game maximum for NHL players with 100 or more games - it stands to reason that the first two will be prospect-heavy, especially with a day off Wednesday and roster cuts likely.
However, the first two games are also the home games. Traditionally speaking, veterans aren't typically asked to travel for pre-season action. So, we may see some veterans sprinkled into the home lineups.
But because the final two games are road games in Columbus and Buffalo and the roster will be smaller for those games, they might be travelling this year.
In other words, I actually have no idea what to expect as far as how rosters for four games in five days will be handled with all of the new circumstances. It will certainly be interesting to see who gets paired with who, nonetheless.
The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have their work cut out for them Sunday night as they prepare to face the Florida Panthers in their preseason opener.
The Hurricanes will primarily be icing a roster comprised of prospects and AHL players while the Panthers meanwhile will be playing almost their entire NHL roster.
"It'll be a huge challenge for us, obviously," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "But it's also an opportunity for guys because if they can show in a game like that, they can show in any type of game."
The game will take place at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
The game will be streamed on the team's website.
Here's how the Hurricanes lined up at the morning skate on Sunday:
Bradly Nadeau - Charlie Cerrato - Felix Unger Sorum Juha Jaaska - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Viktor Neuchev Josiah Slavin - Skyler Brind'Amour - Justin Robidas Gleb Trikozov - Ivan Ryabkin - Zach Lansard
Mike Reilly - Joel Nystrom Juuso Valimaki - Dominik Badinka Noel Fransen - Charles Alexis Legault
1. One of the keys for me will be seeing how some of the younger guys handle themselves in what's going to be a very difficult environment. There's a lot of very young and inexperienced players on the Hurricanes' roster, but will any of them be able to shine a little bit?
2. It'll also be notable to see which defensemen can separate themselves from the rest of the pack. With five guys competing for one roster spot (four of whom will be playing in the game), this is going to be a golden opportunity for guys to try and standout.
3. The final thing I'm looking for is how does Pyotr Kochetkov look. It's been a long time without NHL action for the Russian goalie and so I'm curious to see how he looks. Obviously he's not gonna have a lot of help, but I'm more so curious to see how he looks physically and if he is making good reads.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rieger Lorenz wanted to make sure the jump to professional hockey didn't catch him by surprise.
So far, it hasn't.
Lorenz was one of the Minnesota Wild's most noticeable young players in their preseason action Saturday, scoring a goal and earning praise from both head coach John Hynes and veteran center Nico Sturm.
“I thought Lorenz was impressive tonight,” Hynes said. “You kind of notice him in camp. Really good energy, highly competitive.”
The goal certainly helped Lorenz stand out, but it wasn't what impressed Hynes most.
“Obviously he scored the goal, but I just think his overall game,” Hynes said. “He had a big blocked shot, and he was a player that I think over the course of the game, he kind of caught your eye quite a bit.”
That's exactly what Lorenz is trying to accomplish during his first training camp with the Wild.
The 22-year-old forward spent the summer training in Calgary alongside professional players and made a concerted effort to increase the pace of his game before arriving in Minnesota.
“I'm really comfortable,” Lorenz said. “My group in the summer back in Calgary, we got a lot of pro guys out there. I really pushed myself this summer to try and pick up the pace in my game. I think those guys pushed me, so it's been a pretty seamless jump into camp so far.”
Lorenz also had an opportunity to get an early taste of professional hockey last season.
After finishing his college career, he joined the Iowa Wild and got a firsthand look at what would be required of him at the next level. Instead of entering the offseason wondering how his game would translate to professional hockey, Lorenz had a blueprint for what needed to improve.
“I think that was a big emphasis on going to Iowa and seeing what the pro game entails,” Lorenz said. “I think doing that allowed me to kind of see where my game needs to grow in the offseason. Not kind of going in blind and just wondering what it's like.”
Now he's putting those lessons to use.
Lorenz has also been paying close attention to the NHL players around him during camp. While watching stars such as Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber has given him a glimpse at the skill and pace required at the top of an NHL lineup, Lorenz understands his path to the league will likely require something different.
“The bottom depth guys, they're super reliable,” Lorenz said. “That's kind of going to be my role as I move up the ranks. So kind of learning as much as I can from those guys, which Foligno and Sturm have been great for that.”
Sturm has apparently been impressed with his young teammate, too.
“Oh yeah, Reegs was great,” Sturm said. “He's really shifty, but most importantly, he's got a little bit of a bite to him.”
That bite has shown up in more ways than one.
According to Sturm, Lorenz hasn't acted like a young player afraid to make his presence known while surrounded by NHL veterans.
“He is chirping out there and stuff, which is, you know, a lot of guys that play their first game or NHL preseason games, they shy away from some stuff,” Sturm said. “But he was out there, just full of confidence.”
Then Sturm offered perhaps the strongest endorsement of Lorenz's night.
“Also a guy that I think is going to be a good NHL player.”
One preseason performance won't determine Lorenz's future, but Saturday provided another encouraging glimpse.
He scored. He blocked shots. He competed. He picked up an assist. And, maybe most importantly for a prospect trying to establish himself during training camp, he made people notice him. Including the Wild's head coach.
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Florida will open their abbreviated preseason slate when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has said that his plan during the shortened training camp and preseason would be to play his veterans early and then give them time to rest ahead of Opening Night.
For those who may have forgotten, Florida’s regular season opener is just nine days away.
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sandis Vilamanis
Cole Reinhardt – Cole Schwindt – Jack Devine
Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Dmitry Kulikov – Radko Gudas
Matvei Shuravin (seventh defenseman)
The goaltenders are Jacob Markstrom and Cooper Black. Markstrom is expected to play at least some of the game, but its not yet known if he will play all sixty minutes.
Maurice said that Panthers goalie coach Robb Tallas would be handling how the goaltenders are used during the preseason, but did indicate the expectation was that Markstrom would play Sunday.
Photo caption: May 20, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; FloridaPantherscenter AleksanderBarkov(16) celebrates his goal against CarolinaHurricanesgoaltender Antti Raanta (32) in the second period of game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena. (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues have made their first eight cuts of training camp.
The club announced Sunday morning that forwards Juraj Pekarcik, Simon Robertsson, and Jakub Stancl, defensemen Michael Buchinger and Lukas Fischer, and goalie Parker Gahagen have been assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League. Also, forward Maddox Dagenais, the 16th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, returns to Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and goalie Vladimir Proskurin, a fourth-round pick in 2026, returns to Victoria of the Ontario Hockey League.
With Sunday's cuts, the Blues reduced their camp roster down to 40, although forwards Felix Trudeau and Nikita Susuev and defenseman Marc-Andre Gaudet, who was placed on waivers Saturday, were not on the ice on Sunday.
The Blues practices Sunday with 37 players.
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It won't be long now before the Detroit Red Wings begin play in the 2026-27 NHL season, and for forward Andrew Copp, it's a contract year.
Copp, an Ann Arbor native and former Michigan Wolverines forward whom former Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman signed to a five-year contract in 2022, has centered Detroit's top line through the early stages of Training Camp in place of the injured Dylan Larkin.
During Training Camp last year, Copp said in no uncertain terms that the Red Wings "had" to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While Detroit put itself in a good position to do so, the team experienced yet another unraveling in March and ultimately missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year.
Has Copp's mindset regarding the expectations for 2026-27 changed? Not at all.
"We can't accept anything less," Copp said of making the playoffs.
"I don't think there's any other way to look at it - what more growth can we do without making the playoffs? We've done all that the last three or four years since I've been here," he continued. "So there's only really one way to go."
As far as his own contract status goes, he said that there are more pressing matters that have his attention at the moment.
"I have enough to concentrate on my game this year, that's kind of where my mind's at right now," he said.
"Copper is a very cerebral player, a very deep thinker about the game," McLellan said.
"(He'll) be a coach one day, if he wants to be," McLellan continued. "He's got that type of mindset. He probably didn't have a great year as far as goals go, offense, and five-on-five, but he produced with the other two (power-play and shorthanded) in other ways. A lot of helpers, a lot of net-front stuff."
Last season, Copp appeared in 79 games, scoring nine goals with 34 assists.
Since joining the Red Wings in 2022, Copp has tallied 41 goals with 100 assists in 296 games.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 11 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #11.
Let's take a look.
Kevin Dineen - 2001-2003 - Drafted by Hartford in 1982.
A CBJ Original, Dineen played 129 games for the Jackets and had 29 points in the early days of the franchise. He appeared in only four games in the 2002–03 season with Columbus, and on November 5, 2002, he retired from playing. In 1188 career games, Dineen recorded 355 goals and 760 points while registering 2229 penalty minutes.
After retiring, he joined the Blue Jackets front office as a Pro Scout and later as an assistant. General Manager. He was the head coach of the AHL's Portland Pirates for six seasons before being hired as the head coach of the Florida Panthers. After two and a half seasons in Florida, he was fired and hired as an assistant by the Chicago Blackhawks.
He has since coached the San Diego Gulls and the Utica Comets in the AHL. He's been with the Utica Comets since 2021.
Craig MacDonald - 2009 - Drafted by Hartford in 1996.
MacDonald played eight games as a Jacket in 08-09 and had two points. He never played another NHL game after his time in Columbus.
He left for Germany in 2009 and retired in 2013.
Chris Clark - 2010 - Drafted by Calgary in 1994.
Clark played 89 games for Columbus and had 20 points. He never played another NHL game after Columbus.
After retiring from the NHL, he was hired by the Blue Jackets as a Scout. He later moved into the position of Development Coach and did that for 8 years. In 2019, he was promoted to the positions of Director of Player Personnel for Columbus and General Manager of the Cleveland Monsters, and he still holds those positions today. In 2023, he was also named General Manager of Team USA for the World Championships.
Matt Calvert - 2011-2018 - Drafted by Columbus in 2008.
Calvert played 416 games as a Jacket and had 149 points. Known as a player who was not afraid to step in front of a puck or lay a huge hit, Calvert personified what it meant to be a Columbus Blue Jacket. Calvert was loved by all fans for his toughness and for being a great person.
Forced to retire in 2021 due to medical issues, he co-founded CAL Sports Management, where he is the Director of Recruitment and Development.
Kevin Stenlund - 2019-2022 - Drafted by Columbus in 2015.
The big Swede played 71 games as a Blue Jacket and had 20 points. He is currently playing for the Utah Hockey Club, but won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers alongside former CBJ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
Elite prospects described Stenlund as "An intelligent, big-bodied center with superb puck-handling ability. His greatest asset is his mature mindset: he thinks the game at a high level. Plays a simplified, complete game and doesn't make low-percentage plays. Uses his edges well at a level that suits his style of play - physical and hard to play against; that being said, there is still room for improvement in his skating and first three strides. Protects the puck well."
Unfortunately, it didn't work out for Stenlund in Columbus, which is a shame.
Adam Fantilli - 2024 - Drafted by Columbus in 2023.
After suffering a brutal skate cut in 2024, he was forced to miss the rest of the season. He scored 12 goals and totaled 27 points.
Two seasons ago, Fantilli got off to a bit of a slow start but really turned it around as the season went on. He finished the season tied for the team lead with 31 goals. He also chipped in 23 assists and totaled 54 points.
Last season, he set career highs in assists and points, and looks to continue that this season, but only if he's signed soon.
Luke Kunin - 2025 - Drafted by Minnesota in 2016.
Kunin played 12 games for Columbus after being traded from the San Jose Sharks at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. He failed to register a point in those 12 games.
As a free agent, Kunin signed with the Florida Panthers in August on a one-year deal. He remains unsigned today for 26-27.
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: New Jersey Devils Ethan Edwards #73 skates with the puck during a game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House at Prudential Center on September 13, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils versus the New York Islanders
The Time: 1:00 PM ET
The Broadcast: Local TV — MSGSN/MSG and DAZN Streaming, NHLN; Radio — Devils Hockey Radio
Shaking Out the Lines and Roles
Yesterday, I did a bit of an overview of the trends going on at Devils training camp. In addition to those lines, the third day of camp featured the first look at special teams units.
And here comes the first look at #NJDevils power play unit thinking:
PP1: Jack, Bratt, Nico, Evangelista and Luke
PP2: Timo, Rodrigues, Mantha, Gritsyuk and Dougie
Mercer looks like he's getting ready to sub in on PP2. But isn't going out with the first run.
Hischier — Rodrigues — Pesce —Hughes Glass — Brown — Siegenthaler — Hamilton Boqvist — Noesen — Dillon — Chisholm
Of course, these players will not all play today. Since it is preseason, the Devils only need to play a limited number of veterans, while the rest of players involved will be from Utica. Most of those players will not necessarily be fighting for an immediate NHL job, but for the right to be called up from Utica at some point during the season in case of injuries. Given the looks in camp so far, the true “battles” seem to be:
Amadeus Lombardi vs. Stefan Noesen vs. Jesper Boqvist for the 12th and 13th forward spots
Anton Silaev vs. Vladislav Kolyachonok vs. Seamus Casey vs. Ethan Edwards for the 7th defensive spot
Nico Daws vs. David Rittich for the 2nd goalie spot
Unless someone else really plays out of their mind during pre-season, this is more or less the spread of possibilities for the Devils in camp. They do not have a ton to worry about, but with the injuries to Bjugstad (long-term) and Kovacevic (short-term?), things are a tad more open than they were a few weeks ago.
The Islanders
Today will be our first look at the Islanders for this season. Per Andrew Gross, the Islanders have been using the following forward lines in practice:
Gross also shared the non-NHL lines and pairings, some of which will be featured in today’s game. But the big stories for the Islanders include Matthew Schaefer being tried out on the right side, largely due to the arrivals of Kashawn Aitcheson and Isaiah George, per Peter DeBoer. But they will also be watching Kyle Palmieri, who is returning from injury after missing most of last season after an ACL repair. Palmieri will turn 36 this season, so his rehabilitation will be something to keep an eye on.
Among the forwards, the Islanders have few newcomers. Matias Maccelli and Victor Eklund are the two to watch. Maccelli had 39 points for the Maple Leafs last season, while Eklund will be playing his first full NHL season this year. Last season, Eklund had 24 points in 43 games for Djurgardens of the Swedish Hockey League before scoring 10 points in nine AHL games along with an assist in his NHL debut. Eklund was New York’s first-round draft pick in 2025.
This policy is being met with widespread contempt, especially given the short notice. For people taking bags off of public transit into Newark, they will be forced into using the lockers at the Prudential Center. Hopefully that does not turn into an absolute disaster.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of today’s game? Will you be watching? Who do you want to see on the ice? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped both pre-season split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. In Montreal, the Canadiens won in overtime with a Cole Caufield game-winning goal. At Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Habs took the contest 4-1.
With several players debuting for the Maple Leafs and a new style under a new coach, here are the main takeaways from Saturday night.
1. Gavin McKenna Learning, But Not Afraid
In Gavin McKenna's first pre-season game in the NHL, he logged 20:27 of ice time, three shots on goal, two blocks, a minus-one rating and a minor penalty.
"It was good," McKenna said about how he felt. "Obviously, not the result we wanted, but I think it was a good start. There's lots to work on. It's the first game of the year. A little bit scrambly, but I think as we build, it'll get a lot easier.
"I felt pretty good. I thought I created a bit, but also had a couple turnovers, which I think kind of just happens with nerves. But I think it was a good start, and a lot to build on," he added.
He didn't get on the scoresheet, but he wasn't away from the action and had a handful of chances throughout the contest.
"I thought it was good," head coach Jim Hiller assessed McKenna's performance. "In a game where I didn't think there was a lot of offense from either team, you know, he was in on three or four chances, so you'll take that every day. So, yeah, I thought he was good. Good start for him."
At some points in the game, McKenna was distant from the play. But there is no mistake to be made that he is a confident player who knows how skilled he is. And most importantly, he wasn't afraid to make a pass that would thread the needle, or a rink-wide connector in transition. That's proof of a confident individual, especially in his first game wearing NHL colors.
"If I say one thing to him, just to be a little bit closer to the puck, a little bit closer," Hiller said. "We want him to have the puck. And sometimes in the NHL, you've got to just get right there and surround it and then make plays out of that rather than, you know, waiting and seeing if somebody can get it to you. So he'll figure that part of the game out for either side."
"It's not easy," captain Auston Matthews admitted. "You jump into your first game after a very short two practices and then right into a pre-season game in the NHL. But (McKenna's) going to continue to get better as camp goes on, as he gets more comfortable and adjusts to this pace of play. But, you know, obviously he had moments out there where you can tell just how skilled and how talented he is and what he can do."
Matthews played his first NHL game in a long time. His last appearance was against the Anaheim Ducks on March 12.
With an extended summer of rehabbing and recovering from his major knee injury and surgery, he looks to be much faster on the ice than all of last season.
"I think the first, maybe first half of the first period, definitely felt pretty rusty, but as the game went on, it felt better and better," Matthews said after the game. "As we continue to skate and practice and play one more game, I think just the conditioning of the legs kind of get going a little bit more and transition into game shape a little bit.
"But all in all, I mean, it was a good first game. I thought I had some good moments, good opportunities, and take that and go from there and keep building."
Hiller remembers one notable moment from Saturday's game that stood out to him.
"I thought he was really skating," the bench boss said. "I thought he had the puck, and he looked dangerous. I think if I think of one moment in the game was when he rounded the net, came through, kind of sliced through a couple guys end-to-end. You know, I hadn't seen that a lot out of him last year, and so that was a really positive thing to see. He was moving, carrying the puck. It was dangerous, and the goalie and made a couple really good saves on him."
Matthews recorded one assist, played 22:19 of ice time, a minus-two rating and a game-high of six shots on goal.
Despite all that bodily distress over the past year, the shutdown defenseman looked the part and like his usual self on the back end.
Tanev had three blocks in this game, and also notched 18:23 of ice time. It's also worth noting that he and his D-partner, Jake McCabe, were the only skaters for the Maple Leafs to not finish the game with a minus plus-minus rating.
"To me, being out as much as he did, I would have never guessed," Hiller said of Tanev's first performance since his long-term injury. "Played quite a bit of minutes. You see him penalty kill, he's breaking up plays, he's doing what he does. So, yeah, it's just a really important player for us. It's great to have him back out there."
4. Fight Night In Montreal And Nick Blankenburg Paying The Price
While eyes were on McKenna and the rest of the stars that featured in Toronto, there was a feisty game at the Bell Centre, particularly in the early stages of the contest.
Maple Leafs' Michael Pezzetta and Teddy Blueger dropped the gloves with Canadiens' Lucas Condotta and Ethan Samson, with both tilts coming in the first period of the game. Pezzetta accumulated 17 penalty minutes, including a 10-minute misconduct, with his short night complete with 4:50 of ice time.
Beyond the fisticuffs, Nick Blankenburg, who is on a PTO with the Maple Leafs this pre-season, registered eight blocks against the Canadiens and logged 24:47 of ice time, which was three seconds shy of matching Lane Hutson's game-high 24:50.
The 5-foot-9 defenseman certainly found a way to stand out for the side that Daniel Alfredsson watched over in Quebec.
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The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Bell Centre, and while the Habs had their top six in the lineup, the visitors showed up with a much weaker side, leaving their big guns at home to face the other half of the Canadiens. Habs fans got an entertaining game with a little bit of everything: nice attacking play, big hits, and fights; the crowd liked every minute, including Cole Caufield's overtime game-winner.
While Martin St-Louis’ decision to put Juraj Slafkovsky on the second line to start the preseason might have surprised a few people, the move made the coach look very good in the first game. The three youngsters looked like they'd never stopped playing together and linked up with ease. There’s a predictability there that's hard to deny; they know where they are on the ice. Shots came in from every direction, and without numerous posts, their shot total would have been even higher than seven. Overall, they were the Canadiens’ most visible line.
Speaking about playing with Ivan Demidov, the big Slovak explained:
I know the way he plays; I know what he’s going to do. I feel that’s why it’s working between him and me, because I anticipate what he’s going to do. I think we know where we are; even if sometimes we throw a blind pass or something, we know what moments, which areas, where we are on the ice…I think it’s pretty good, but I feel like there’s so much room to improve; I feel we’re only going to get better.
With Kaiden Guhle being injured to start the season, there’s a job to be won on the blueline, and Arber Xhekaj would love to grab that spot. The hulking blueliner had an interesting game, throwing his body around a lot and logging eight hits. However, at times, that meant he got himself out of the play and was beaten to the net, giving the opponent scoring opportunities.
On the Leafs’ first power-play goal, he finished a check in the corner but let his man beat him to the net. Dobes made that save, but seconds later, Xhekaj pushed his man into the goalie, causing him to lose his stick. He didn’t recover it before Toronto scored. Then, on the Leafs’ go-ahead goal in the second frame, his man got free to set it up from behind the net. This is only the preseason, though, and the coach wasn’t going to hold it against him; he still gave him 21:31 of action, made him kill penalties, even the one in overtime. Commenting on his game, the bench boss explained:
He played to his identity; he played a physical game; he got some reps on the PK; he was good in puck possession. It was a good game for him; he played to his DNA. He’s still a young player. Even though he’s got a lot of NHL experience for his age, the game may have slowed down for him too; it may be easier to make the right reads. Stress normally diminishes for a young player as they gain experience.
On the Jayden Struble – Xhekaj pairing, St-Louis said:
I don’t mind Xhako on the right side; they’re two guys that play a physical game. If Guhles can’t start the season, it’s a scenario that maybe those two play together; some familiarity there, they’ve done it last year. We’ll keep evaluating, but I liked what I saw.
The blueliner seems to have made a conscious decision to shoot more; he tried his luck five times tonight, with two attempts reaching the net. It can only help his case to use that big shot. Yes, he can bring grit and physicality, but he has other attributes he should use as well. Clearly, he’s come to the same conclusion, telling the media post-game that he has to shoot more and can’t always be looking for a pass.
Of course, he was also asked about his brother’s game in Toronto and looked like a proud teacher when he said: it was sick. I was fired up after watching it and texted him right away; it was a sick fight!
As for the top line, it wasn’t as visible as the Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov unit, but it did have its moments. Having just been brought into the fold, it’s not surprising that Chris Kreider needs to adapt to the Canadiens’ style of play; but we’ve already seen some positive signs. His best play of the night might have been a great cross-zone feed to Caufield, who one-timed it right on the post; a little bit of rust is perfectly normal.
Preseason games mean very little, but if this 4-3 overtime win is anything to go by, the Canadiens’ fans are in for another fun season watching their favourites. Montreal’s next game is Monday, when they’ll face the Ottawa Senators in Trois-Rivières.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 02: Riley Duran #62 of the Boston Bruins skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals in the first period during a preseason game at Capital One Arena on October 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just the Facts
The Time: 5pm EST
The Place: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Place to Watch: NHLN, NESN Plus
Place to Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Game Preview
ITS PRESEASON! ITS TIME TO GET SUPER HYPERBOLIC ABOUT PROSPECT PERFORMANCE BETWEEN GAMES
LETS GET READY TO GET SUPER F#!KING STUPID ABOUT PROVIDENCE THIRD LINERS LETS GOOOO-
Preseason’s new format is enormously truncated; consisting of only two opponents stretched out over a week’s time thanks to the NHL adding two extra games to the regular season schedule. For Boston this year that means playing the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers. For tonight’s game, it would probably be more accurate to call what slouches into the TD Garden away locker room as the unholy amalgam of the Hershey Bears and Washington Capitals’ depth.
That’s going to be a harder fight than you might expect, as the H-Bears are perennial AHL Eastern Conference monsters. The Caps have been pretty good at getting promising depth pieces from their central Pennsylvanian club and have only continued to improve with young guns like Lyndon Lakovic and the other Protas, as well as Cole Hutson; Lane’s brother. There’s a lot of “jesus there’s MORE of them!?” on the Capitals depth chart at the moment.
Boston will more than likely be putting a pretty prospect heavy roster out on the ice tonight, and so it will be a major test for many of these young kids and in-betweeners to get consideration for potential call-ups in the future; as the NHL roster, at least from my perspective, seems entirely set in stone at the moment; with only defense being a potential place of ingress for a young hopeful.
If nothing else, it’ll be a good test after five days of camp, and maybe a good preview of what the P-B’s are gonna be like down in Rhode Island. And hey! It might be mostly minor league Bruins hockey, but it is Bruins hockey coming back!
So let’s see how all that offseason training did them! Let’s go B’s!
Drew Fortescue’s path to ice time with the Rangers has become complicated.
As a left-handed defenseman for an organization suddenly filled with them, it’ll be difficult for the top prospect — who received a nine-game taste of the NHL at the end of last season to burn the first year of his entry-level deal — to make the roster out of training camp.
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But that doesn’t mean the 21-year-old former Boston College star has dwelled on his complicated reality with the Rangers after the additions of veteran Marcus Pettersson via trade and rookie Alberts Smits via the first round of the draft. Nor has his belief about returning to the NHL wavered.
“That’s nothing that’s in my control,” Fortescue said after the Blueshirts’ training camp sessions Saturday, when asked about their additions. “All I can do is just work the hardest that I can and whoever’s here or whatnot, I think that I know that I’m good enough — and someday, if it’s not now or in the future, that I’ll be able to play here.”
Even while skating with Group B during the first three sessions, Fortescue reiterated that he’s here — at his first NHL training camp — to “show that I can be on this team.” He collected a pair of assists across his nine-game cameo at the end of 2025-26, capitalizing on the lost Blueshirts season to become one of the young pieces auditioning for future roles.
“You want to play at the highest level,” said Fortescue, who has been going back and forth between the hotel and his home in Pearl River during training camp. “It’s your dream as a kid, and kinda getting that little glimpse last year, that month I was there, it was pretty special.”
Drew Fortescue is looking to find a spot on the Rangers’ blue line. Jason Szenes for New York Post
The offseason arrived, and while Fortescue said he made strides in every area throughout the summer, the Rangers added pieces around him. AHL Hartford emerged as a likely destination to start the season. Injuries could expedite his return to the NHL at any point, but for now, it might take time for Fortescue to claw his way back to the Rangers.
Tye Kartye, the fourth-liner whom the Rangers claimed off waivers last season, scored two more goals during the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, giving him three through the first three scrimmages.
Team Blue — the group that Kartye skated for — defeated Team White 4-1.
“He loves hockey,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of Kartye, adding that he’s an “easy guy to root for.” “Brings great energy to the rink. Just, he’s an enthusiastic learner. I think all those things are important. I think that stuff’s contagious inside the confines, and so, for me, you can’t have enough of those guys that love hockey, that love to be here, that want to play, that want to get better — and Tye’s all of those things.”
While the Rangers lines mostly remained unchanged, Matt Rempe got the first reps with the fourth line. … Matthew Robertson left the ice early in the Group A practice after getting hit in the face and returned with teeth seemingly knocked out. … Cole Beaudoin, who entered training camp day to day, wore a blue jersey and was a full participant in the scrimmage.
