Category: Ice Hockey

St. Louis Blues top prospects Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jiricek will return to their respective CHL teams, doing so with the confidence of performing well in training camp and the praise from coach Jim Montgomery.

Carbonneau skated in three pre-season games, notching a goal and an assist. His determination to win the puck back was evident in all three games, and the 18-year-old showed no fear, physically engaging himself. Carbonneau will return to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL for what is likely his final season in juniors before competing for an NHL or AHL spot next year.

"I want him to gain that next-play speed," said Montgomery. "When the puck transitions from offense to defense that he gets above it. Anyone that's been a scorer, they hang and hope for a turnover, so they're in a better offensive position. That's kind of what we talked to him about. Watch McDavid, watch MacKinnon, watch Crosby, Aho... when he was on the ice with our players, he naturally was the last guy coming back into our end every time. That's just next-play speed: 'I've got to do this.'"

Jiricek impressed as well, and he, too, will return to the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs for what should be his final season in juniors. The 19-year-old carries an abundance of skill, mixed with excellent physical tools, but Jiricek's biggest issue so far in his career has been his health. 

The Czech defender played just 27 games last year after suffering a knee injury, but after adding muscle to his frame, he's hoping to remain healthy and continue to improve on both sides of the puck. In his two pre-season appearances, Jiricek failed to record any points, but logged big minutes and looked comfortable in each.

"He's elite with the puck. He's just got to learn to move it and not take as many hits as he does," said Montgomery. "He's got the mentality, 'I'm going to take a hit to make the play.' But sometimes just let the puck do the work and jump by the forechecker. Both (Carbonneau and Jiricek) are elite and going to be NHL power-play players. We see all of that. But to get into the NHL as soon as we would like them to be, they've got to improve in those areas."

Including their CHL campaigns, Jiricek and Cabronneau could feature on their countries' World Junior Championship rosters. Jiricek is likely a lock, previously featuring on the roster twice, but Carbonneau will have to compete against several top Canadian forwards. A strong start to his QMJHL campaign could earn him a spot. His ability to play physically could be a trait the Canadian coaching staff are looking for.

Blues' Adam Jiricek Continues To Add Weight; Excited To Compete In Training CampSt. Louis Blues defensive prospect Adam Jiricek has continued to add muscle to his frame and hopes to utilize that weight to compete at training camp. 

Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov reset the market this week, signing an eight-year, $136 million extension that carries a $17 million average annual value. 

The deal has the highest total value in NHL history and immediately raises questions about how it will ripple across the league.

Specifically, the immediate question is how it will impact pending UFAs.

“The reality with the cap going up and Kaprizov making $17 million on his new deal is that every good forward's value on an existing contract just went up exponentially. Players like Tage Thompson at $7 million or William Nylander at $11.5 million have to be considered bargains,” The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote on X.

Let’s look at big names ready to sign big contracts and how, if at all, the Kaprizov deal will affect their negotiations.

Impacted: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings

One interesting name to watch comes from Los Angeles, where the Kings and winger Adrian Kempe might have been close to an extension, but the Kaprizov deal changes things. 

Talks between the Kings and Kempe’s representatives are set to resume this week, and according to Elliotte Friedman on the FAN Hockey Show, his camp was already targeting an ask in the $10.5 million range. How much did that just jump as Kempe watched Kaprizov sign for $6.5 million more per season?

Kempe is not Kaprizov. Kempe’s career high is 75 points, while Kaprizov’s is 108. It’s fair to assume Kempe’s camp knows there’s a difference between the two players, both in terms of their on-ice production and overall value to the franchise. Still, Kempe, a 40-goal scorer two seasons ago, has proven he can drive offense, and the Kaprizov benchmark strengthens his negotiating position.

Impacted: Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor is another player to watch. A consistent scoring threat and former Lady Byng Trophy winner, Connor has been a critical piece for Winnipeg’s attack. Like Kaprizov, Connor is essential to the Jets’ franchise. Unlike Kaprizov, it’s arguably for a different reason.

Kaprizov is the face of the Wild. He brings in fans. Connor, meanwhile, represents the Jets' ability to retain key players in a market that isn’t always at the top of the list for big stars. If he re-signs, that will help attract other players to Winnipeg.

With Kaprizov’s $17 million average annual value approaching as the new ceiling for elite wingers, Connor’s next deal, which was believed to be hovering around the $12 million mark per season, is almost certain to command more than previously projected.

Not Impacted: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

For Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights, Kaprizov’s deal has little direct impact. 

First, Eichel is a center. Second, he’s playing in a market that almost every NHL player wants to go to. Third, no-tax benefits change what Eichel can ask for and will receive. 

Eichel, 28, is finishing up an eight-year, $80 million contract and is expected to ask for more than $13 million annually – surpassing teammate Mitch Marner’s $12 million figure. His case is based on the top of the center market, not the winger market, and he has absolutely no desire to leave Vegas. Eichel’s leverage is more an internal cap thing than it is looking at Kaprizov’s deal and telling Vegas they need to get close. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: How Will Kirill Kaprizov's Contract Affect the 2026 UFA Market?The Minnesota Wild signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136-million contract extension will make the 28-year-old left winger the NHL's highest-paid player starting next season.

Impacted: Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are in a tricky situation that only got trickier with the Kaprizov deal. 

Martin Necas is locked in at $6.5 million this year and is looking to cash in on a new extension. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said in June there was a sense Necas wasn’t thrilled with his run in Colorado after joining the team in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes. As such, it is expected that he will ask for every penny he can get. Otherwise, he’ll test the market. 

Necas is an underrated talent who doesn’t have the same pedigree as Kaprizov. At the same time, the Avalanche gave up Mikko Rantanen in a deal they might likely look back on and regret. If they aren’t willing to let Necas walk away, too, then they may have to pay more than expected to maintain similar margins in cap hit between Necas and a star like Kaprizov.

Not Impacted: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

If there is one unicorn in the group of free agents that wasn’t named Kaprizov, it’s Connor McDavid. His situation is totally unique from anyone else’s, simply because he’s the best player in the world.

If he chooses to take less so the team he’s on can remain competitive, then the Kaprizov contract means nothing. If he wants to be the highest-paid player in the NHL, he should be, and no one will ask questions or try to negotiate with him. McDavid will simply tell the Edmonton Oilers – or another team in free agency this summer – what he wants, and that team will give it to him. 

Some might argue that McDavid will see the Kaprizov deal and feel the need to make more. That said, while McDavid wants to be paid fairly, he doesn’t seem to be motivated by money. He’s motivated by giving himself the best chance to win a Stanley Cup multiple times.

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.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will conclude the preseason against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night inside PPG Paints Arena.

This will be the second preseason game between the two teams after the Penguins won in Buffalo on Wednesday, 5-3. Filip Hallander, Tristan Broz, Matt Dumba, Ville Koivunen, and Avery Hayes scored for the Penguins. 

Friday's lineup will feature a more experienced "A squad" for the Penguins, as the regular season is just a few days away. The coaching staff and management want to get the regulars some reps, while also seeing if some of the younger players (hello Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke) can make one last big push for a full-time spot. 

The Penguins have 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders listed for this game, but not everyone will play. There was an optional morning skate on Friday, but no line rushes, so it's anyone's guess as to which forwards and defensemen will be healthy scratches. 

In goal, head coach Dan Muse announced after the morning skate that Tristan Jarry would play the first half of the game before Sergei Murashov replaces him for the second half. 

Like Wednesday's game, the Sabres will have some of their NHL regulars in the lineup for this game, including Josh Norris, Jason Zucker, Jack Quinn, Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, and Bowen Byram. 

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and fans in the Pittsburgh region can watch the contest on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ or listen to it on the Penguins' flagship station, 105.9 'The X.'

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

There is now officially less than a week before the Detroit Red Wings officially begin the 2025-26 NHL season, which will be their centennial campaign. 

Multiple decisions still need to be made with regard to how the roster shapes up, and to that end, three more names were included in the latest roster trim by the Red Wings.

The club announced on Friday morning that forward Carter Mazur, defenseman William Wallinder, and goaltender Michael Postava were all returned to the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, which means the Red Wings are now down to 25 names. 

UPDATE: The #RedWings have reduced their preseason roster to 25.

📰 » https://t.co/1eCWJRyHR9pic.twitter.com/LztYZ1fat3

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 3, 2025

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

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Emmitt Finnie, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka currently remain with the club, meaning there's a chance that they could be included on the roster that hits the ice on Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens for the regular season opener. 

Mazur will have a chance to get more experience in the AHL, where he performed well before being called up to the Red Wings last March. His experience at the NHL level lasted literally 17 seconds before he suffered a dislocated elbow, which ended his season. 

Wallinder, whom the Red Wings drafted 32nd overall in 2020, already has two full seasons of experience in the AHL, while Postava will be starting his first season of professional hockey in North America after being signed as a free agent. He's played the last several seasons in his native Czechia. 

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

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The earliest NHL teams can sign one of the five players acquitted in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial is Oct. 15. But that hasn’t stopped fans from organizing online petitions and threatening to cancel their season tickets in hopes of pressuring ownership to pass on them.

Apparently, it might be working.

So far, no team has publicly said they intend to sign either Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote or Alex Formenton.

Quite the opposite, actually.

Shortly after the NHL outlined the details for allowing the players back into the league — players can return to action no earlier than Dec. 1 — teams started to dissociate themselves from the players.

The Devils and Flames indicated they would not be bringing back former players' McLeod or Dube, respectively. As well, the Flyers and Senators both used the term, “fresh start,” to explain why they were not re-signing Hart or Formenton, respectively. As for Foote, he hasn't been linked to any teams.

That being said, there has been interest, particularly with the 27-year-old Hart, who had been a No. 1 goalie in Philadelphia before police in London, Ont., laid a sexual assault charge on him. A judge found him and the other four players not guilty of the charges.

NHL Confirms It Will Reinstate Players Acquitted In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault TrialThe five players from Hockey Canada's 2018 world junior team who were found not guilty of sexual assault this summer will eventually be allowed to return to the NHL.

The Carolina Hurricanes were reportedly close to signing Hart and McLeod. But their interest reportedly waned after significant public backlash, which included an online petition that garnered 1,776 signatures, an open letter to the front office, as well as threats to stop attending games.

“By choosing not to sign these players, the Hurricanes can reaffirm their commitment to all their fans and send a powerful statement that they prioritize a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment over winning games at any cost,” the petition stated. “Such a decision would not only resonate with fans who have survived similar traumas but also set a precedent that could influence the broader sports community towards greater accountability and respect.”

The Athletic and others are now reporting that the Hurricanes are now out on both players.

With Carolina no longer an option, The Athletic reported on Thursday that Vegas is interested in signing Hart. That is, unless the team also caves to public pressure.

Like Carolina, fans in Vegas have also started a petition, which has already more than 1,100 signatures, in hopes of preventing the team from taking a chance on Hart.

“Letting Hart on to this team would not only cause mass controversy and cause potential fans to turn against the team, but also it would be a permanent stain on the teams history – a stain they would never be able to get rid of,” the petition stated. “Despite being found not guilty, Carter Hart does not represent the values and morals that the Golden Knights organization proudly stands by, and makes sexual violence victims feel like this is an environment they cannot be apart of.”

Therein lies the difficulty in signing Hart or any other player involved in these sexual assault allegations.

The NHL is all about second chances.

Anaheim Ducks Explain Why They Hired Joel Quenneville As Their Next CoachJoel Quenneville is returning to the NHL as the 12th coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

Though it's not the same, Milan Lucic, who was charged with a domestic violence charge (which was then dropped) was recently granted a professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues. Logan Mailloux, who was charged in Sweden for allegedly taking and distributing offensive photos without consent, was drafted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens. And Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman are back in the league after a two-and-a-half year ban for how they mishandled sexual assault allegations involving a former player and staff member. 

The fact is that all five players involved in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were acquitted on all charges. And yet, the NHL still chose to suspend them, because it found their actions following a world junior celebration in London, Ont., to be "deeply troubling and unacceptable." While they were not found to be criminal, the players' conduct still did not meet the standard of moral integrity, the NHL said.

That being said, on Oct. 15, the players will have served their time. But for some fans, it's still not enough. And so, the challenge for Vegas and any other team that is interested in Hart, McLeod, Dube, Foote and Formenton is weighing the competitive advantage of adding a player with the public backlash of turning away fans.

NHL Made The Right But Difficult Decision With The Five Former WJC Players Found Not Guilty When a London, Ont., judge ruled on Thursday that all five players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were not guilty on all charges, the NHL found itself at a crossroads of moral decency. 

For Vegas, Hart could be the difference between winning a championship or losing in the second round again. Then again, he could be the difference between dissociating itself from a fan base that has up until now been loyal.

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.

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell exited Thursday's pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Following the Panthers' 5-2 loss in what was a very chippy affair, coach Paul Maurice mentioned that Lundell would be evaluated tomorrow, and the injury he sustained was to the upper body.

“He’ll get looked at tomorrow.”

Lundell played just 8:40, recording a shot on goal and a hit before he was forced to exit the game and did not return for the third period. The hope is that the injury is nothing serious and he'll be ready for the season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

With both Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov out long-term, Lundell will see his ice time rise, his role increase and feel the pressure to fill in the shoes as a top-six center. The as of today 24-year-old has stated that Barkov's absence is awful news for the team, but he is ready to step up and take on a larger role.

He and the Panthers want that to be from Game 1 of the regular season, which is why his health is imperative. The best-case scenario is that the Panthers removed him as a precaution and he is day-to-day. The Panthers are facing enough long-term injuries and don't need to add their young center to that list.

Penalty-filled contest consumes Panthers preseason loss to Tampa BayThe preseason continued for the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in Tampa, but it felt very different than any of the Cats’ previous exhibition games.

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features two Florida Panthers turning one year older on Oct. 3: Seth Jones and Anton Lundell.

Jones turns 31 just more than three months after he became a Stanley Cup champion for the first time. Lundell, who turns 24, is already a back-to-back champion who set a franchise record in the plus-minus rating last post-season.

 Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.

It is preseason game number five and preseason home game number two for the Chicago Blackhawks. This time, they will play host to the Minnesota Wild. 

When these two met in St. Paul last week, the Hawks defeated the Wild by a score of 4-1. In that match, the Wild only had a handful of their top players in the lineup while the Blackhawks dressed a fair number of their NHL regulars. 

This is Minnesota’s last dress rehearsal before the 2025-26 season begins. For Chicago, this is their second-to-last exhibition game as they play the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that an NHL group would go against the Wild on Friday, while the Blues will be facing an AHL-caliber team a day later.

The roster for preseason game 5 looks like this:

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xsecond to last preseason game🏒 🆚 @mnwild ⏰ 7:00PM CT 📺@CHSN__ https://t.co/3io3UBwW49

Notably, Ethan Del Mastro is not playing in this one. He was paired with Louis Crevier in practice, and it seems like he might be one of the odd men out when it comes to making the team. 

Alex Vlasic was cut by a skate last weekend and remains out. The Blackhawks remain optimistic that he will play against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. If Del Mastro goes to the AHL and Crevier remains on the team as the seventh defenseman to keep him off waivers, that leaves Nolan Allan and Matt Grzelcyk for the final spot on the blue line. The opportunity to earn it is there.  

The practice forward line of Lucas Reichel, with Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene, is also not participating in this game. It is unclear who will be the extra forward to make the team, but there is still Saturday's game to play as well. One may be the 13th forward out of camp, and the others could be off to the AHL. 

Projected Lines

Donato-Bedard-Burakovsky

Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi

Slaggert-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Dach-Foligno-Lafferty

Grzelcyk-Rinzel

Kaiser-Levshunov

Allan-Murphy

Knight

Soderblom

How To Watch

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 United Center at 7:00 PM CT.

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

The New York Rangers are not planning on taking any risks with J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin as training camp comes to a close. 

Both Miller and Panarin have been dealing with their own respective lower-body injuries. 

During Monday’s practice, Miller lunged to save the puck from exiting the zone as he dove and was slow to get up, appearing to favor his leg.

The 32-year-old ultimately limped his way off the ice and into the locker room. He did not return to practice. 

While Miller hasn’t practiced or played in a preseason game since suffering this injury, he’s listed as day-to-day, and his condition isn’t considered to be serious. 

Panarin suffered a lower-body injury early on in training camp, which resulted in him missing a couple of practices. 

Brett Berard Reflects On The Past And The Future Going back to last training camp, Brett Berard was the new kid on the block for the New York Rangers. 

The 33-year-old forward is yet to play in a preseason game, but is yet to play in a preseason game. 

Sullivan made clear on Thursday night that he intends to take things slow regarding Miller and Panarin’s health before the Rangers’ season opener on Oct. 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

"We're going to err on the side of caution with both him and J.T,” Sullivan said. 

Both players should be ready to play next week to kick off the regular season.

The New Jersey Devils' new contract with defenseman Luke Hughes raises more questions about Dougie Hamilton's future with the club.

Hughes, 22, agreed to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million, tying him with the 32-year-old Hamilton for the highest average annual value on the Devils. The latter is signed through 2027-28.

Hamilton surfaced in the rumor mill earlier this summer as negotiations between the Devils and the Hughes camp were ongoing. TSN's Pierre LeBrun recently asked how many power-play quarterbacks one team needed in today's NHL.

On Sept. 23, Hamilton addressed the trade conjecture, saying he didn't pay much attention to it. He reminded everyone that he signed with the Devils because he believes he can help them win the Stanley Cup. Nevertheless, Peter Baugh and Chris Johnston of The Athletic wondered about Hamilton's future in New Jersey.

Most of the trade rumors regarding Hamilton had the Devils peddling him in a cost-cutting move to free up salary-cap space for Hughes' new contract. They now sit above the $95.5 million salary cap by nearly $4 million ($3.983 million, according to PuckPedia).

However, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now pointed out that defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic ($4 million AAV) remains sidelined indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery during the summer. The Devils are expected to place him on LTIR, which should make them cap compliant before their regular-season schedule begins on Oct. 9. They could also place injured forward Stefan Noesen ($2.75 million) on LTIR.

Those moves will only provide short-term cap relief for the Devils. At some point, Kovacevic and Noesen are expected to return to the lineup this season, meaning the club must shed salary to become cap-compliant.

That could resurrect the Hamilton trade speculation, but his $9 million cap hit won't be easy to move during the regular season. He also carries a 10-team trade list, which narrows significantly the number of potential trade partners for the Devils.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Jacob Markstrom And Yegor ChinakhovThe New Jersey Devils took care of a big piece of business on Wednesday, re-signing RFA defenseman Luke Hughes to a seven-year, $63-million contract.

Meanwhile, former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart could be joining a new NHL club soon.

Hart, 27, was part of the five former members of Hockey Canada acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from a 2018 incident in London, Ont. They are eligible to sign with NHL clubs on Oct. 15 and can return to action once their suspension with the league ends on Dec. 1.

Chris Johnston of The Athletic reported Wednesday that Hart is “almost certain” to sign with the Vegas Golden Knights. He had drawn interest from several teams, but he'll play meaningful minutes with a contender in Vegas.

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.