While it's still early, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

Grebenkin, 22, has begun to understand his role as a support player and power forward of sorts, and even admitted last week that he "didn't understand" his coach in the KHL.

"I go here and Coach Tocc [tells] me, 'It's your game, tough game, you're a big guy, hard-working, it's good for you. You get points and you score here', Grebenkin had said. "I don't want to stay long time behind the net, but now I understand. It's good for me. It's my game."

Grebenkin got to the net again against the New York Islanders on Thursday night, screening superstar goalie Ilya Sorokin on Travis Konecny's second-period one-timer goal to help give the Flyers a 2-1 lead.

And, although the Flyers did ultimately lose by a narrow 4-3 margin, Grebenkin again proved that he can hang with players like Konecny and Sean Couturier and make plays.

"He made that goal, and he's a sticky guy. He comes up with loose pucks, support. You always need those corner guys that could come up with pucks," Tocchet said of Grebenkin after the loss. "If we can continue to teach him to play that way, he can be a real force out there.

"I think in the first period, he almost split the D. That's good stuff. We want that from him, so I hope he continues to do that."

Flyers Roster Prediction 1.0: Nikita Grebenkin Secures Big OpportunityFollowing multiple roster cuts on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers have only a handful of decisions to make before they reach their final roster for the start of the regular season.

Grebenkin finished Thursday's exhibition game with three shots on goal in a relatively modest 14:07 of ice time, and this was a game where the Flyers had only one power play opportunity.

We've seen the blossoming Russian wreak havoc in the crease to create a goal more than once this preseason, and that tool should be equally or more useful with the man advantage as the Flyers' coaching staff grows more and more comfortable with him.

At this point, we can consider Grebenkin a virtual lock to make the Flyers' final roster, with a few players still left jostling for a roster spot. Jett Luchanko and Rodrigo Abols, however, have not done enough consistently enough to leave Grebenkin in limbo on this roster.

Also of note: Owen Tippett played alongside Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov on Thursday night, and all three forwards stumbled to an unproductive outing that saw them each finish with -2 ratings.

Grebenkin played with those two in the first preseason game of the slate, and it could be a look the Flyers return to if Zegras and Michkov can't find chemistry with Tippett soon.

The opportunities are there for the taking, and should Grebenkin continue on this upwards trajectory, he could easily be a pleasant surprise for the Flyers in the top-nine forward group.

The Pittsburgh Penguins practiced on Thursday, and the players were split into two groups. The first one consisted of many players who are expected to be in the AHL this year, while the second was the main NHL group. 

It came one night after the Penguins secured their fourth-straight preseason win. They beat the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, 5-3, thanks to goals from Filip Hallander, Matt Dumba, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, and Avery Hayes. They'll play the Sabres again on Friday in their final preseason game before the regular season starts next week. 

Speaking of the regular season, here's a look at a few observations from Thursday's practice and where some players currently stand.

---

- Owen Pickering and Tristan Broz were in the first practice at 10:30 a.m. ET, a sign that they could be starting the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Both have been competing for spots on the NHL roster during training camp, but the competition is fierce. 

- Sebastian Aho, Danton Heinen, Philip Kemp, Joona Koppanen, Filip Larsson, and Valtteri Puustinen were also practicing with the first group before being placed on waivers at 2 p.m. ET. If all of them go unclaimed, they will be eligible to be reassigned to WBS. 

- Top prospects Benjamin Kindel and Harrison Brunicke were practicing with the main NHL group starting at Noon ET and are trying to secure at least nine-game trials to open the 2025-26 season. Brunicke was skating a lot with Connor Clifton during practice, but also got some time with Ryan Shea. Kindel was skating with Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino, while Filip Hallander also rotated on that line. 

Kindel continues to look better and better in each preseason game he plays in, and has really impressed Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. 

"He's got a lot of poise with the puck, a lot of speed. Those two things probably stand out the most," Crosby said after Thursday's practice. "I think he's using his speed well, he's finding guys. He distributes the puck really well and he seems like he's confident. It doesn't seem like it's been too fast for him or anything like that to this point. He's done a great job, so, sometimes it takes time to adjust to all of that, but it seems like with every game he's getting more and more comfortable."

With Bryan Rust on the mend for a minimum of two weeks, there's an opportunity for Kindel to get a taste of NHL action if he can finish the preseason in style.  

- Caleb Jones has continued to be paired with Kris Letang during practice, and there's a chance that could be the second pair to open the season. Jones and Letang started getting reps together when training camp opened, and the two have continued to be a pairing in scrimmages, other practices, and on September 21, when Marc-Andre Fleury played the third period of the Penguins-Jackets preseason game. 

Jones played in only six NHL games last season and has played a total of 31 NHL games over the past two years. He and Letang are on the roster for Friday's preseason finale against the Sabres, so we'll see if they get some more game reps before the Penguins open the regular season on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. 

Penguins Make Wave Of Roster Cuts, Place Six Players On WaiversWith each passing day, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster is coming more and more into focus. 

- Parker Wotherspoon and Erik Karlsson were also a pair during practice again, and it appears those two will be on the top pair to open the season. They also played together during the September 21 preseason game and have already formed some solid chemistry.

Wotherspoon is the Penguins' best player on the left side of their defense and can help cover for Karlsson if he's pinching in the offensive zone. The Penguins signed Wotherspoon to a two-year contract when free agency opened on July 1.

The players that are on the roster for Friday's preseason game will skate at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex at 10:30 a.m. ET before playing the Sabres at 7 p.m. ET. Fans in the Pittsburgh area can watch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ or listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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

The preseason continued for the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in Tampa, but it felt very different than any of the Cats’ previous exhibition games.

That’s because for the first time, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice dressed a lineup made up of only NHL regulars.

It was that roster, which could very well end up looking the same for Opening Night (minus Sergei Bobrovsky, who did not dress on Thursday), that faced off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.

Considering the familiarity between the two teams, it comes as no surprise that the first period was full of contentious play and penalties, with the Cats and Bolts combining for 30 PIMs.

Nearly half of those belonged to A.J. Greer after he picked up a double minor for roughing Tampa’s Darren Raddysh along with a ten-minute misconduct.

With just over eight minutes left in the period and Florida once again shorthanded, Eetu Luostarinen beat two Tampa players to the puck just inside the Lightning blue line, and since one of those players was goaltender Brandon Halverson, it left Eetu with a wide-open net to fire the puck into, giving the Cats a 1-0 lead.

Yet another Tampa Bay power play, their fourth of the period, led to Jake Guentzel finishing off a give-and-go with Nikita Kucherov to tie the game at one during the final minute of the first period.

Those 30 first period penalty minutes turned out to be only an appetizer because the Cats and Bolts took things completely off the rails during the middle frame.

A minor penalty nine seconds into the period by Tampa’s Dominic James set the stage for a Seth Jones power play goal that appeared to deflect off Brad Marchand in front, but was ultimately awarded to the defenseman, to give Florida a 2-1 lead.

From there, the parade to the penalty box was fast and furious.

Another 82 penalty minutes were handed out, including three misconducts, as the two inner-state rivals seemed to forget that they were only playing in a preseason game.

Doesn't matter if it's preseason, the Battle of Florida will always be pure chaos 🥊 pic.twitter.com/tJz3UfM2a1

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 3, 2025

The night’s first even-strength goal came late in the period when Brayden Point finished off a failed 2-on-1 by picking up the puck in the slot while Cats’ goaltender Daniil Tarasov was out of position at the side of the crease.

Arrival of the third period brought more penalties and extracurricular activities, but it also led to a pair of Tampa goals that gave the home squad a 4-2 lead before the first commercial break.

When all was said and done, a total of 186 penalty minutes were called and Tampa came away with a 5-2 win. 

One thing to keep an eye on after the game is the status of Anton Lundell, who did not come out after the second intermission.

Tampa Bay and Florida wrap up their respective preseasons on Saturday night when they face off one more time in Sunrise.

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Photo caption: Oct 2, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers break out in a fight in the second period at Benchmark International Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The New York Islanders have been seeing Maxim Shabanov do the little things effectively through his first NHL preseason. 

While the little things continued, the 24-year-old Russian signing found the back of the net in the Islanders' preseason finale. 

After an on-the-money backhand pass from Simon Holmstrom to spring Maxim Tsyplakov over the Flyers blue line, No. 7 hit Shabanov right on the tape, before he quickly redirected the shot over Flyers netminder Sam Ersson's blocker for the goal. 

Do we have a Russian connection On Long Island?

Tsyplakov to Shabanov with the “silky mitts” on the power play. pic.twitter.com/Q3FFsRrhX8

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) October 3, 2025

While Shabanov continues to get adjusted to the NHL game, expecting flashiness on every shift, his ability to find space and alter his positioning to get certain shots off is what's going to lead to him having success. 

Sportico released its NHL team valuations this week. It now has the average value for NHL teams at $2.1 billion. Check it out to learn more.

The Hockey News owner W. Graeme Roustan shares his NHL team valuations every year in the Money & Power hockey business annual. In Money & Power 2025, the average team valuation was at $2.03 billion.

It's no wonder the NHL's salary cap is rising quickly. It's also no wonder that any expansion team would probably cost at least $2 billion to enter the league. Which potential expansion city do you think could easily pay that price?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to finish their 2025-26 training camp, and as it happens, the Maple Leafs are very deep at every position -- but certainly, the most depth they've got is on the wings. And as we'll exploain, we're telling you this because the Buffalo Sabres should be looking into acquiring into one of a few veteran Leafs wingers in particular: right winger/center Calle Jarnkrok, and left-wingers David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

Let's be clear -- we're in no way aruging Robertson, Jarnkrok and Kampf are going to be big-time difference-makers for the Sabres if Buffalo acquires one of them. These are fringe, not foundational players. But there could be something to the Sabres improving their bottom-six group of forwards, and that should get Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reaching out to Leafs counterpart Brad Treliving and inquiring about the asking price for each of the three. Indeed, the price can't be much at all, other than the cap space Toronto is looking to build up.

Now, the Sabres don't have any obvious holes, so a player like Jarnkrok or Robertson would have to work their way into being a Sabres regular. But they'd be closer to a bona fide opportunity in Buffalo than any of the trio woulde if they remain in Toronto. And only Kampf is signed beyond this season, so it would be a low-risk, decent-reward acquisition if the Sabres were bold enough to make it.

If the move pans out, voila -- you've acquired a veteran for next season at a bargain price. Those are the type of moves no GM can afford to turn down. At a time in league history when it's all but impossible to acquire high-end talent, every team should be aiming to improve its bottom-six group of forwards, and that's what Buffalo would be doing by picking up Jarnkrok, Kampf or Robertson.

Again, you have to consider the price here if you're a Sabres fan hearing this idea for the first time. You're only taking the money off Toronto's hands. And for giving the Leafs that luxury, you wind up with a player who can contribute positive things for you as you push to end a 14-year Stanley Cup playoff berth. To quote TV's Breaking Bad: "Everybody wins."

Sabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearThe Buffalo Sabres need a lot of things to go right for them to be a Stanley Cup playoff team this coming season. They need their goalies to pan out with strong performances. They need star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to put on a defensive clinic and carrry Buffalo to a strong defensive game. And one thing could also be the difference between the Sabres missing or making the 2026 playoffs -- namely, the play of Buffalo's second line of forwards: center Ryan McLeod, and wingers Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker.

The Sabres have $5.3-million in salary cap space, so they can absorb the full contract of either Robertson, Jarnkrok or Kampf and still have sufficient cap space to make other acquisitions during the coming season. But they'd be setting a new bar for their forwards by trading for one of Toronto's surplus wingers

Adams can't bank on acquiring true needle-movers during the year. But what he can do is recognize a solid gamble when he sees one, and move quickly to improve the Sabres' overall depth and add the experience that Jarnkrok, Kampf and Robertson would bring to the organization.

Sabres' Defense Corps Could Be The Difference Between Buffalo Making And Missing Out On PlayoffsYesterday, we put forth our opinion that the Buffalo Sabres need a big year out of star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin if they were going to contend for a Stanley Cup playoff berth (and end their 14-season playoff drought. And 24 hours later, we're sticking with that notion. But this column is an addendum to yesterday's column. Because while the Sabres need Dahlin to spearhead a defensive renaissance for this franchise, Buffalo isn't going to be a playoff team unless something else happens in addition to Dahlin being very difficult to play against particularly in their own zone.

It might not work, but at least you could say you more or less spent every penny available to you under the cap  by spending these last few millions on a veteran or two to be an improved team. Remember, you don't accrue cap space year after year. So there's really no excuse for not emptying the coffers and investing all the salary you can.

It could wind up being the difference between making and missing the post-season. And if you're a Sabres fan, you should be happy with an improved team to cheer on, regardless of how that improvement takes place. And there are options in Leafs Land that can help Buffalo with its playoff push.

The NHL season is upon us. 

In a week, the Nashville Predators will open up their 2025-26 campaign, taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets Oct. 9 at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST. 

Last season was statistically one of the worst in Predators franchise history as the team finished in seventh in the Central Division with a 30-44-8 record and 68 points.

The season followed a free agency period in which Nashville acquired notable names like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. 

With a new season on the horizon, Predators fans shared their expectations, thoughts, opinions and ideas for this year. 

Fans on r/predators on Reddit were given a survey to gather their thoughts on the last season, this coming season, and specific opinions they may have. Answers were logged anonymously, and not every question was required to be answered.

Here are the results of that survey. 

Who is your favorite current player? 

1. Filip Forsberg

2. Juuse Saros 

3. Roman Josi 

4. Ryan O’Reilly 

5. Fedor Svechkov

What was the biggest thing you took away from last season? 

Struggles with the defense and center depth seemed to be the biggest concern for Predator fans last season. 

We definitely need high-caliber centers if we want to really be competitive.

-

Need a playmaking center and to shore up the backend.

-

While center depth remains a concern for the Predators entering this season, they have addressed this issue by making a handful of acquisitions on the back end, trading for Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nic Hague and signing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix. 

One fan mentioned that goalie Juuse Saros could've had a better season if the defense in front of him had improved. 

Juuse Saros is an incredible goaltender, but he can't steal games without more stability in the D-Core. Nashville famously has incredible defense and historic goaltending, but never an explosive offense. Now, it seems we've even lost that defensive piece.

-

Coaching was also cited as a concern from last season. In his second year, after reaching the playoffs in his first season as head coach, Andrew Brunette had a massive sophomore slump.

It's put him in a difficult position coming into this season as he has the highest odds to get fired first according to BetMGM. 

Need better coaching. I think the system prevented the players from achieving success and becoming a winning team.

-

What is something you think the Predators can realistically achieve this season? 

Every hockey fan wants their team to win the Stanley Cup every season, but for the Predators, right now, that isn't the most realistic goal. 

Many Predators fans believe that a true, realistic goal for the team is to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Central Division is deep, but fans think this team has a chance to squeak its way into the playoffs. 

I think there is a shot that the team competes for the last playoff spot in the conference/division. The new talent, a refreshed year brings that potential.

-

Other fans were a little bit more skeptical, saying that playoffs are still out of reach. 

I would like to believe the playoffs are possible, but that’s a stretch that may be just beyond realism.

-

Some fans want to see general improvement, that being a higher finish in the standings than last year, more consistent play and possibly an identity change focused on a rebuild. This will be a critical year in deciding if the Predators want to continue with their current model or start from scratch. 

I believe the Preds can realistically be a middle of the pack team this year. I'm not one of the Preds doomers wanting us to tank, I want to see effort and improvement.

-

Settle in craft a new identity. The Preds have played gritty dump-and-chase hockey for as long as I've watched. That may be Brunette's system too, but our aging veterans can't play to that intensity for the entire season. We need to take a step back, analyze strengths, then adjust the system and settle in."

-

Who will benefit the Predators the most this season? 

This is where the answers started becoming a little bit more open ended. 

Fans were asked back-to-back questions about individuals. Who was going to benefit the team this season, and who wasn't? 

Let's start with the positive. The bulk of the Predators fans who answered believe that there's a lot of potential in future prospects, and the team can start benefiting from that talent now.

"n general, our younger talent as a whole can have the biggest benefit. Going out there and hustling, forcing contact, and trying new things can really help the team open up scoring chances. Out of that group, [Zachary] L’Heureux has my eye for being a key driver of this.

-

Youth movement. Need to see legit performance from [Luke] Evangelista, L'Heureux, [Joakim] Kemell. Would like to see [Spencer] Stastny bounce back but I think that's unlikely. Give [Brady] Martin his games because he looks comfortable enough to play them.

-

Fedor Svechkov and Tanner Molendyk were two other names, alongside the ones mentioned, that fans believe could have a significant impact. 

As for the veterans, fans believe that Roman Josi and Saros can have "bounce back" seasons. Josi missed the final few games of last season due to a Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) diagnosis and spent the entirety of the offseason recovering. He has already returned for training camp. 

Saros just had a down year compared to the previous seasons. Signed to an extended contract, this is going to be a big year not just for him, but for the front office that signed him to the extension 

Josi is a make-or-break season. If he's in form, the team can win.

-

If Saros is back to form, then his impact could change everything.

-

Who will benefit the Predators the least this season? 

These answers centered around mainly two things: Barry Trotz and aging players. 

Trotz, the Predators' first-ever head coach, returned to the organization in 2023 as general manager. His tenure has been complicated, to say the least, as he tries to stick to the Predators' "Smashville" identity while building toward the future in a more offensively focused NHL. 

A handful of acquisitions, or lack thereof, this offseason have left fans uneasy heading into this season. 

GM Barry Trotz. He’s a coach who has no business being a GM. He’s been taken advantage of in trades and has handed out some really awful contracts that have hamstrung the team financially.

-

Barry Trotz. Continues to sign and play players that seem not to fit the coaches’ preferred schemes.

-

The other concern comes around older players in core roles. Specifically, Brady Skjei, who is 31 years old, is entering the second year of a seven-year contract. Since joining the Predators in the 2024 offseason, his production has gradually declined. 

Skjei. I would love to see him have a breakout season, but he can be a weak aspect that really hinders the team's ability to stay consistent across every shift.

-

Honestly, I'm kind of worried about Skjei. He gets a lot of flak, and I tend to cut him more slack than that, but now we have so many defensemen, it feels like he and his huge contract are just in the way, and I still am not convinced he will turn it around yet. Would rather have a younger guy in his spot.

-

Older talent in general is becoming an issue for fans, and there is a growing need to get the next generation of Predators players to Nashville. 

We can't double down on getting more 30+ year old forwards that won't help the team now nor be part of the core in the long term.

-

Fans' prediction for Predators' 2025-26 season

The majority of fans who took the survey believe that the Nashville Predators will not make the playoffs, with the "no" vote making up 55.3% of the poll. 

When it comes to placement in the standings, fans averaged that the Predators would finish 23rd in the NHL and sixth in the Central Division.

Compared to the 2024-25 standings, that would be a seven-spot improvement in the league standings and a one-spot improvement in the divisional standings, but still 14 points outside of a Wild Card spot. 

Final thoughts

Trotz is getting a lot of hate, some of it is deserved, but I am on his team for now. I love his draft picks and think we need to give him another 3 years or so before we start to judge him, not only for his past decisions but to give him time to grow in a position he hasn't done before. Few people can step into a new role like that and immediately be successful, or even "average", at it.

-

Future outlook isn't as bad as some outlets say, but this team is still missing top-line talent on forward and defense. Lots of good prospects in the system with Martin, Surin, Molendyk, Svechkov, Wood, Lee, etc.

-

Getting fans a 3rd jersey (it's been 14 years).

-

It feels like the Preds are wanting their cake and to eat it too. The team feels devoid of identity and direction.

-

We need a direction other than just playoff edge, even if it’s a full rebuild, and we need to draft and develop way better.

-

Go Preds!

-

Puckpedia announced on Thursday that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Daemon Hunt was placed on waivers for purpose of American Hockey League (AHL) assignment.

Hunt, 23, was drafted by the Wild with the 65th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He spent parts of five seasons in the Wild's organization before he was traded to the Blue Jackets.

The 6-foot-1 defenseman played 13 NHL games with the Wild the last two seasons. He was traded with a first round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, third and fourth round picks in 2026 and a second round pick in 2027 for David Jiricek and a fifth round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Hunt played 48 games for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL last year after the trade. He recorded two goals and 14 points.

Defenseman Daemon Hunt Placed On WaiversDefenseman Daemon Hunt has been placed on waivers per PuckPedia.com.

The Wild are in need of a left-shot defenseman and are familiar with Hunt. It would not shock me if Hunt is claimed, but also by the Wild. 

Jack Johnson is on a PTO right now and hasn't been signed yet. Zach Bogosian is a right-shot defenseman and played on the left-side last game and will again on Friday.

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.

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The NHL had several players hit the waiver wire on Oct. 2. One of them was former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Riley Stillman, as the Edmonton Oilers placed him on waivers.

Stillman joined the Oilers this off-season by signing a two-year, two-way contract with them in free agency. The expectation is that he will be a depth defenseman/call-up option for the Oilers' organization. However, before he can be sent down to the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, he must clear waivers.

Stillman played in five games this past season with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he recorded zero points, one block, seven penalty minutes, eight hits, and a minus-1 rating. However, he primarily spent this past season in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. In 35 games with the Wolves in 2024-25, he posted three goals, six assists, nine points, 58 penalty minutes, and a minus-9 rating.

Stillman was traded by the Florida Panthers to the Blackhawks during the 2020-21 season. From there, he played two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2020-21 to 2021-22. In 65 games as a member of the Blackhawks over that span, he recorded three goals, 10 assists, 13 points, 88 blocks, 159 hits, and a minus-5 rating.

The NHL had several players hit waivers on Oct. 2, and one of them was a former New York Rangers forward. This is because the Vancouver Canucks have placed forward Vitali Kravtsov on waivers.

Kravtsov returned to the Canucks on a one-year, two-way contract this summer. This was after the 6-foot-2 winger spent each of the last two seasons in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk. After recording 18 goals and 34 points in 55 games with the KHL squad in 2023-24, Kravtsov posted 27 goals, 31 assists, and 58 points in 66 games with them in 2024-25. Thus, he undoubtedly is coming off a strong year overseas.

Kravtsov was selected by the Rangers with the ninth-overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He was once considered one of the Rangers' top prospects after this, but he never blossomed into the top-six winger they hoped he would after they drafted him. In 48 games over two seasons with the Rangers, he recorded five goals, five assists, 10 points, 14 blocks, 18 hits, and an even plus/minus rating.

Given the year Kravtsov just had in the KHL, it is fair to wonder if another NHL team could consider claiming the former first-round pick off waivers. It will be interesting to see what happens on that front from here.

Flyers get look at potential season-opening lineup in preseason loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With a full NHL lineup, the Flyers suffered a 4-3 preseason loss Thursday night to the Islanders at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Rick Tocchet’s club scored goals on the power play, penalty kill and at even strength. Travis Sanheim, Travis Konecny and Noah Cates provided the markers.

The Flyers dropped to 2-4-0 through the exhibition slate and have one more to go before the real thing starts in a week.

“I think we’re continuing to build each and every game,” Nick Seeler said of the team picking up Tocchet’s system. “Our meetings have been really good in the room, I think each game we’re doing a little bit more than the last. It’s an ongoing process and that’s what preseason is for, is continuing to build and I think we’re getting better and better.”

• This one sure looked like a dress rehearsal for opening night.

“I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent in stone, but the majority of it, I would say yes,” Tocchet said Thursday morning. “Most teams at this point, the last couple of games, you start to try to chunk things together.”

Rodrigo Abols and Jett Luchanko were the extras up front, while Dennis Gilbert and Noah Juulsen were the extras on defense. More on the Flyers’ final decisions here.

• Christian Dvorak looks like somebody who could play a lot of roles for the Flyers.

“So far in preseason, I’ve played winger and center, so I think it’s a high probability I’ll do that during the season, too,” Dvorak said. “I’m pretty comfortable doing both, I take pride in doing that and playing a two-way game.”

The free-agent addition delivered a nifty drop pass through his legs to Sanheim for the Flyers’ game-opening shorthanded goal in the first period.

“I think he’s a really good player,” Sanheim said. “He’s a guy that can play at both ends of the ice, wins draws and is pretty creative and can make plays. I think he’s going to fit in well.”

Dvorak had another shorthanded breakaway in the second period, but Ilya Sorokin denied him with a nice save.

The 29-year-old centered the fourth line Thursday night, but there’s clearly some versatility there.

“The guy that I’ve got to get more ice time — because the fourth line usually doesn’t play as much — is Dvorak,” Tocchet said Thursday morning. “I might move him around, I might put him on the wing sometimes with certain people. I’ve got to find him more minutes, I don’t think he’s a fourth-line center.”

• Samuel Ersson played the full game in net, stopping 23 of 27 shots.

The Flyers were slow to get back on New York’s game-winning goal with 2:54 minutes left in the third period.

“I think we’ve got to quit giving up some of those easy ones, that’s something that we’ve got to clean up for the regular season,” Sanheim said. “But I think some of the system stuff we’re definitely picking up, guys are getting a little bit more used to what’s expected. But in saying that, there are still turnovers and little things that we need to clean up that isn’t going to cut it in the regular season.”

Fifteen seconds after Konecny gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second period, Anders Lee drew the Islanders even. Ersson reacted as if he would have liked that one back.

But New York’s other two goals were awfully tough to stop. One was an impressive power play redirection and the other was a 2-on-0 shorthanded breakaway.

“It’s a new system, you’ve got to go through these things,” Tocchet said. “But the Grade As, the 2-on-1s, the breakaway on the power play — they’re just freebies. You might give up about three freebies a month; you can’t give them two or three a game. It just can’t happen, you can’t give free goals in this league.”

Ersson finished exhibition play with 53 saves on 63 shots through seven periods. Dan Vladar is set to play the full game in the finale.

• Tocchet said Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told him that Nikita Grebenkin was a sticky player.

And you can see why that was the scouting report. The 22-year-old winger hunts the puck and competes hard for it. He’s getting a great look with Konecny and Sean Couturier.

Grebenkin played seven games for Toronto last season before coming to the Flyers in the Scott Laughton trade.

• There was some good and bad from the Flyers’ power play.

In the second period, a real sloppy attempt at a zone-entry by the first unit led to a go-ahead shorthanded goal for the Islanders.

But the Flyers’ second unit got the goal back when Cates was set up by Tyson Foerster.

• Karsen Dorwart and Lane Pederson were both cleared to return from their upper-body injuries and loaned to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley after practicing Thursday morning.

Excluding two injured players in camp (Oliver Bonk and Ethan Samson), the Flyers’ roster is at 24 players. It needs to be down to a maximum of 23 by Monday at 5 p.m. ET.

• The Flyers wrap up the preseason Saturday when they host the Devils (12:30 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

According to PuckPedia, former Philadelphia Flyers forward Tanner Laczynski has been placed on waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Laczynski is entering his second season with the Golden Knights organization after signing with them during the 2024 NHL off-season. The Minooka, Illinois native played in eight games last season for the Golden Knights, where he recorded one goal, three blocks, three hits, six penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating.

However, Laczynski spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Golden Knights' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. In 41 games with the Silver Knights this past campaign, the 6-foot-1 forward recorded 15 goals, 22 assists, and 37 points. With numbers like these, he proved to be a key part of the Silver Knight's roster last season. 

Laczynski started off his professional career with the Flyers organization, as he was selected by the Metropolitan Division club with the 169th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. In 38 games with the Flyers over three seasons, he recorded two goals, two assists, four points, 12 blocks, 13 takeaways, 38 hits, and a minus-5 rating. This included playing in a career-high 32 games with the Flyers during the 2022-23 campaign, which was his final season in Philly. 

The Buffalo Sabres 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday was merely a distraction to the big story to emerge from the club’s final preseason game. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who started his first exhibition game, left the contest for precautionary reasons after feeling some lower-body discomfort.

"UPL felt good getting into the game, and then after he made a couple saves, just didn't feel quite right," Ruff said after the game.  "We took him (as a) precaution....(we)didn't want to really risk anything.....We don't to take a chance."

The 26-year-old has been dealing with pain since tweaking something in ramping up for training camp in late August / early September. Concerns over the lower-body injury forced Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to sign veteran Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year deal just before the start of camp.

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 Adams said last month that Luukkonen went through tests and that it came out clear, but after rehabbing and a week of practice leading into the start against Pittsburgh, the discomfort came back after facing 12 Penguins shots in the opening 20 minutes. On Thursday, Ruff indicated that Luukkonen was undergoing further testing, that is possible that the injury is different than the one that made him miss the start of camp, but that it is possible that he could miss the season opener against the NY Rangers one week from today.

Defenseman Michael Kesselring, who was playing elevated in the in the lineup due to injuries to Bowen Byram and Owen Power, left the game in the second period. Ruff stated that the blueliner has been dealing with an injury since the start of camp and that he is also undergoing further testing.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Niko Mikkola has signed an eight-year, $5 million AAV contract extension with the Florida Panthers.

Mikkola has been a key cog in the Panthers' blueline in their back-to-back Stanley Cup triumphs and was rewarded with a massive extension. The 2024-25 season witnessed the 29-year-old set career highs in goals and points with six goals and 22 points in 76 games.

“Niko has proven himself to be a dependable defenseman who uses his speed and physicality to impact both ends of the ice,” said Panthers GM Bill Zito. “He was an indispensable piece of our past two championship campaigns, and we are thrilled that Niko will be continuing his career with the Florida Panthers.”

The 6-foot-6 defender was a fifth-round pick (127th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Blues. His team with St. Louis wasn't great, recording four goals and 20 points in 139 games. Mikkola tended to have defensive mishaps and took far too many ill-advised penalties. 

With the Panthers, that's all changed. He's defensively reliable, a more than capable puck mover and has cut down on the needless penalties while maintaining a physical nature. 

Mikkola and Seth Jones built solid chemistry in their short time together, and they'll be a key pairing for the Panthers for years to come.

Panthers Agree To Eight-Year Contract Extension With Niko MikkolaThe Florida Panthers have handed Niko Mikkola an eight-year, $5 million average annual value contract extension.

With each passing day, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster is coming more and more into focus. 

And on Thursday, it got a little bit closer to the finish line.

Following practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa., the Penguins announced a series of roster moves. Forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Jack St. Ivany were both placed on injured reserve, there were five players cut from the training camp roster, and six players were sent to the waiver wire.

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The five players re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's (WBS) AHL training camp are:

- D Scooter Brickey
- F Mathieu De St. Phalle
- G Taylor Gauthier
- F Aidan McDonough
- D Chase Pietila

Penguins' Pre-Season: Prospects Lead Way As Penguins Defeat Sabres, 5-3The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their winning ways in the pre-season on Wednesday when they visited the Buffalo Sabres.

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The six players sent to the NHL's waiver wire are:

- D Sebastian Aho
- F Danton Heinen
- D Philip Kemp
- F Joona Koppanen
- G Filip Larsson
- F Valtteri Puustinen

Penguins' Defenseman Out Six Weeks, Adds To Growing Injury ListThe bad news keeps piling up for the Pittsburgh Penguins on the injury front. 

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The biggest surprise among the group is veteran forward Danton Heinen, who was re-acquired by the Penguins as part of the deal that sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson to the Vancouver Canuncks in January. The journeyman forward is on his second stint with the Penguins' organization, and in those two stints combined, he has registered 29 goals and 66 points in 169 games. 

Also among the waiver group is Larsson, who was in competition with Tristan Jarry, Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, and Joel Blomqvist - up until Blomqvist's lower-body injury - for one of the two NHL goaltending posts. Larsson had an impressive start to his AHL season last year with WBS, but a late injury and inconsistency following that injury put him in a tough spot with Murashov and Blomqvist.

Larsson, 27, went 12-9-3 with a 2.84 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 26 AHL games last season.

Penguins Forward Bryan Rust Out Week-To-WeekThe Pittsburgh Penguins will be without one of their best players to start the 2025-26 season.

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With camp numbers dwindling, the Penguins' roster is now down to 39 players. They are:

Forwards (22)
- Noel Acciari
- Justin Brazeau
- Tristan Broz
- Sidney Crosby
- Connor Dewar
- Robby Fabbri
- Filip Hallander
- Rafael Harvey-Pinard
- Avery Hayes
- Danton Heinen*
- Boko Imama
- Ben Kindel
- Ville Koivunen
- Joona Koppanen*
- Blake Lizotte
- Evgeni Malkin
- Anthony Mantha
- Tommy Novak
- Sam Poulin
- Valtteri Puustinen*
- Rickard Rakell
- Philip Tomasino

Penguins' Pre-Season: Final 23-Man Roster Prediction EditionA few days ago, we had our Mailbox Monday, and I gave my final predictions for the Pittsburgh Penguins' final 2025-26 roster.

Defensemen (13)
- Sebastian Aho*
- Alexander Alexeyev
- Harrison Brunicke
- Connor Clifton
- Matt Dumba
- Ryan Graves
- Caleb Jones
- Erik Karlsson
- Phil Kemp*
- Kris Letang
- Owen Pickering
- Ryan Shea
- Parker Wotherspoon

Goaltenders (4)
- Tristan Jarry
- Filip Larsson*
- Sergei Murashov
- Arturs Silovs

Injured Reserve (8)
- G Joel Blomqvist
- F Kevin Hayes
- F Tanner Howe
- D Jack St. Ivany
- D Peyton Kettles
- F Rutger McGroarty
- F Bryan Rust
- F Bill Zonnon

Should Ben Kindel Get The Nine-Game Trial? The Case For And AgainstThere are a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this year. Many of them involve young players making an impression and pushing for the NHL roster.

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The Penguins will play one final pre-season game when the Buffalo Sabres come to town on Friday before making final roster decisions.

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