All any team can do is beat the teams in front of them. It has been fortuitous for the Buffalo Sabres, in the midst of their struggles to start the season, that their schedule took them to California to face two struggling talented clubs in the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings, who won their first home game against Ottawa on Thursday.
Buffalo followed up a win over the Sharks in which they clinged to a 1-0 lead until Zach Benson’s empty-net goal with a chaotic 7-6 victory over the Ducks at the Honda Center. The Sabres continued their trend of falling behind, trailing 3-1 in the first period after surrendering a pair of power play goals, but rallied with six straight goals, including a natural hat trick from Tage Thompson.
With Colten Ellis winning the last two games, is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's place as goalie of the future in question?
The Sabres came dangerously close to blowing a four-goal lead, as Cutter Gauthier, Tristan Luneau, and Beckett Sennecke narrowed the lead to one, but the Ducks ran out of time to score the equalizer on Colten Ellis, who made a sprawling save with seconds remaining to preserve his second straight victory.
“I didn’t like the way we started the game, I didn’t like our discipline for the type of penalties we took early, but then you’ve got to like the middle 50 minutes, you’ve got to like the fact that our power play scored a couple,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “All you need to do is concentrate on playing good defense, and you are going to get more offense. Your rush coverage, read where guys are going, we’re better than that.”
The win moved Buffalo to 6-4-3 and into a tie with Detroit and the NY Rangers, just one point behind Florida for the second Eastern Conference wildcard spot. Sam Carrick returned to the lineup and had an assist on Tyson Kozak’s first period goal, taking the place of injured rookie Konsta Helenius.
Helenius sustained an upper-body injury in San Jose on Tuesday, and was sent back to Buffalo to be evaluated.
One of the newest names to hit the trade rumour mill is Washington Capitals winger Ivan Miroshnichenko. The 22-year-old has struggled to get ice time with the Capitals and has dressed for just three games this season. Initially drafted 20th overall in 2022, it appears that the best option at this point is for Washington to find Miroshnichenko a new home.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Vancouver Canucks are one of the teams reportedly interested in Miroshnichenko. As for Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff, he reported the price being "at least a first-round pick." The question now is whether the Canucks should send the Capitals at least a first-round pick for Miroshnichenko.
The short answer is no. While Miroshnichenko is a talented young player, Vancouver is not in a position to send a first-round pick and potentially another asset for a player who has struggled in the NHL. For reference, the Russian winger has played 55 games so far in his career and recorded 14 points.
Now, in Miroshnichenko's defence, he hasn't been given many opportunities in the NHL either. He has spent the majority of the last four years in the AHL and has yet to play more than 22 NHL games in a season. That said, he has yet to show Washington he's earned a full-time spot in the lineup, which is why the situation has unfolded as it has.
Ultimately, while Miroshnichenko fits the Canucks' current rebuild timeline, the price of at least a first-rounder is too high. If he were a 20-year-old defender or center, the conversation would be different, but unfortunately, that is not the case. In the end, at this stage of the rebuild, Ryan Johnson and his team should be focused on acquiring as many picks as possible, rather than trading them away.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson (43) and forward Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) celebrate Wilson’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
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The Calgary Flames have recalled two players from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken.
Following injuries to goaltender Devin Cooley and forward Brennan Othmann during Wednesday’s Battle of Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames announced Friday that goaltender Arsenii Sergeev and forward William Stromgren have been recalled.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Stromgren has been off to a strong start with the Wranglers, recording three goals and eight assists for 11 points through 11 games. His point total currently ranks tied for fourth in the AHL.
The Flames selected Stromgren in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut last season, appearing in three games during his recall.
Sergeev has also put together a solid start in the AHL, posting a 4-2-0 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage through six appearances.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
A seventh-round selection (205th overall) by Calgary in 2021, Sergeev made his NHL debut last season and picked up his first career NHL victory in the process. He turned aside 27 of 28 shots in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on April 16, 2026, in the Flames’ regular-season finale.
With Cooley’s availability uncertain following Wednesday’s injury, Sergeev could be in line for an opportunity with the Flames once again.
Calgary will look to get back on track Saturday night when they host the Seattle Kraken at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Following their 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins, the St. Louis Blues assigned top prospect Otto Stenberg to the AHL.
Stenberg was recalled on Oct. 18 and played three games in his call-up stint. He recorded one assist, two shots on goal, three hits, and one block while averaging 10:31 of ice time. Stenberg last played on Oct. 24 against the Carolina Hurricanes, serving as a healthy scratch for the previous two games.
The 21-year-old has now played 35 NHL games, tallying three goals and 11 points.
Stenberg returns to the AHL, where he's scored one goal and four points in six games, tied for third on the team in points behind Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and T.J. Tynan, and tied with Justin Carbonneau.
The return to the AHL was coming. Alexey Toropchenko returned from his injury on Oct. 27, and Ross Johnston is expected to be back soon. Not only would they not have the roster space, but sitting in the press box is not what's best for Stenberg's development.
He needs game action. In the AHL, he'll play higher in the lineup and in more goal-scoring situations than in the NHL, where he played on the fourth line in a checking role.
The Thunderbirds are 3-3-2 to start the season and sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. However, they rank fifth by points percentage.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League after one month of play. At 4-9-0, they are in last place in the Central Division and second-to-last in the entire league.
Chicago ranks dead last in goals for with 27. They've also allowed 48, giving them a -21 goal differential. Their defensive system forces them to step back before they step forward, and the players are getting hemmed in their own end as a result. Against good teams especially, they have a hard time breaking the puck out when they do get possession.
Heading into the next month of NHL action, it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Blackhawks to gain any ground within the division. Their next five games are at the Boston Bruins, home vs the Colorado Avalanche, at the Florida Panthers, at the Tampa Bay Lightning, at the Carolina Hurricanes, and home vs the Buffalo Sabres. Those teams have a combined record of 42-18-7.
The Central Division standings look as follows:
1. Minnesota Wild: 9-3-3, 21 points
2. Utah Mammoth: 9-5-0, 18 points
3. Colorado Avalanche: 7-5-1, 15 points
4. Dallas Stars: 7-5-1, 15 points
5. St. Louis Blues: 6-6-1, 13 points
6. Nashville Predators: 4-4-5, 13 points
7. Winnipeg Jets: 4-6-3, 11 points
8. Chicago Blackhawks: 4-9-0, 8 points
As you can see, the Blackhawks are four points behind the Jets after 13 games played. Winnipeg had a good start to the season, but are currently on a 3-game losing streak. The Blackhawks have a win against them, and it looks like they will be competing for last in the division all year. However, none of Winnipeg's losses have been as non-competitive as some of Chicago's losses. The Jets have a better goal differential by 11.
The rest of the division already looks out of reach for Chicago. The Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues are solid teams, even if they aren't as good as the division's top four.
The Minnesota Wild are obviously off to the hottest start of the bunch, but they have the Quinn Hughes issue hanging over their head. Is he going to stay, or is he as good as gone in free agency? Will they trade one of the five best players in the world if he doesn't commit to them by the deadline?
The Utah Mammoth came into the season with mixed expectations. They were less proven than the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, or Colorado Avalanche, but they gave the Vegas Golden Knights (who ended up winning the conference) a tough test in the first round of the playoffs last year. Now, it looks like they are the real deal with a great young core.
By their standards, Dallas and Colorado have been just okay so far, but the number of elite players who reside on those two rosters is unbelievable. By the end of the year, they are certainly going to enter the playoffs as Stanley Cup contenders.
The Blackhawks are 2-2-0 within this division, but the two losses are against top-four Central teams (Utah, Dallas), while the two wins are against the lower half (St. Louis, Winnipeg). It may be difficult to find wins within the division early in the season, unless a change they make turns things around.
Without Connor Hellebuyck and an aging roster, it is hard to see the Jets making much noise, but they are certainly better equipped than the Blackhawks. However, the rest of the division will play meaningful games until the very end.
Both the Central and Pacific Divisions may send one Wild Card team each, but there could be a world where 5 of these Central teams make it. It likely depends on how the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks finish their seasons. Overall, the Pacific is worse than the Central from top to bottom.
When evaluating the Eastern Conference divisions, the Atlantic Division is the best in the NHL right now. The Metropolitan Division is not bad either, but the Central Division has been much better over the first month.
The Blackhawks are the team in the division that everyone is looking forward to playing, and that won't change until they make a change, whether it be roster, coaching staff, or front office-related.
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From the inaugural 2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights season onward, they were all in. In the spirit of Las Vegas, they pushed the chips into the middle of the table and pushed to win the Stanley Cup every season.
It’s led them to three Stanley Cup Final appearances and a title in 2023. The Golden Knights are in their 10th season of existence, and a regression is expected. Yet, they remain one of the best teams in the Western Conference and on the shortlist of Cup contenders in the Pacific Division.
They set the tone and a template for going all-in and making aggressive moves to win it all. In the modern NHL, with a salary cap and free agency, it’s more difficult to remain at the top. Yet, the Golden Knights proved to teams like the New Jersey Devils how it’s possible.
While the Devils weren’t always operating with that mindset, things changed when general manager Sunny Mehta took over. He’s running the Devils with a similar mindset to how Kelly McCrimmon runs the Golden Knights.
The Drive To Build A Superteam
When the Golden Knights made the 2018 Cup Final, they weren’t the star-studded team that they are now. They were a team built on depth, on a remarkable expansion draft haul where cast-offs from Alex Tuch, Jame Neal, and Jonathan Marchessault became key players. But that team wouldn’t win a Cup, and McCrimmon pivoted.
It’s led to tough decisions, from letting go of Marc-Andre Fleury to Ryan Reeves, two fan favorites. There were some regrettable trades, including acquiring Max Pacioretty from the Montreal Canadiens for Nick Suzuki. It also led to some moves that built the champion team in 2023 and the team that made the Final last season, including some of the big ones below.
Acquiring Mark Stone ahead of the 2019 trade deadline.
Signing Alex Pietrangelo in the 2020 offseason.
Acquiring Jack Eichel in the middle of the 2021-22 season.
Signing Mitch Marner in the 2025 offseason.
Acquiring Rasmus Andersson at the 2026 trade deadline.
A common perception in front offices is that it’s best to build through the draft and then develop prospects. Trevor Connelly became the first Golden Knights first-round selection to make his debut with the team. He was drafted in 2024 and made his debut this season.
Mehta got to work from day one when he took over the Devils this offseason. While none of the moves he made were splash additions, they added depth and set the table for big moves. Then came the big swing when the Devils landed Connor Hellebuyck in a blockbuster trade.
Now, the Devils are set on the next big move, whether it’s Dylan Larkin, Quinn Hughes, or another star player. “We’re never done. We’re never done,” Mehta stated during Hellebuyck’s introductory presser, and it’s the message that he’s willing to embody. He won’t stop making moves until the Devils are a super team.
The Non-Conventional Way Of Adding Depth
When the Golden Knights made moves for Eichel, Stone, and Andersson, they depleted the farm system and gave up draft picks. By default, they became a top-heavy team and lacked depth.
However, they didn’t add depth through the draft. Most of the time, it came through under-the-radar signings, whether it was Paul Cotter, Michael Amadio, or Adin Hill, who, like many Golden Knights, was a castoff who became the starting goaltender during the 2023 Cup run.
The Devils similarly are adding depth through trades and free agent signings. Anthony Mantha, Evan Rodrigues, and Jesper Boqvist make up their third line. All three were acquired in the offseason. They allowed Mehta to trade Dawson Mercer, a middle-six winger, in a Hellebuyck deal. Likewise, Luke Evangelista, who was acquired this summer, has turned into a top-six winger, and it allows the Devils to move other depth players in a blockbuster deal.
Adding depth works twofold for contenders. It helps the team right away with players who round out the roster, and it allows the GM to flip them or other depth players for stars. The Golden Knights proved it time and time again, and the Devils are doing the same.
Ultimately, It Keeps These Teams Competitive, It Certainly Did With Vegas
The Golden Knights are a decade into their existence and show no signs of slowing down. Eventually, they might regress, and they’ll be forced into a rebuild. However, they’ve managed to replace the top-end talent over the years.
It’s largely because they’ve become a destination. The outside factors play a role, with Vegas being in a tax-free state with great weather. That said, they’ve built up a perennial winner, and it’s made them attractive.
The message that a blockbuster trade sends to the room is that the front office is willing to do what it takes to win. The players respond by doing their part. The Devils saw the jolt that Hellebuyck provided and the energy shift in the room after the splash.
Likewise, an aggressive front office is noticed around the league. Players heading to free agency want to join a team that’s willing to spend and make a push for a Cup. It’s how the Golden Knights landed top free agents in the past and how the Devils are starting to become an attractive spot for players looking to win.
“You just look for an organization that’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Hellebuyck stated in his introductory presser when asked why the Devils were a team he wanted to lift his no-trade clause to play for. Mehta is willing to make the aggressive moves, and players have noticed.
Nevada Day is getting a little extra gold, silver and hockey this year. The Vegas Golden Knights are turning Friday’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils into a full-on celebration of the Silver State, with specialty merchandise, signed jerseys up for auction and plenty of reasons for fans to show up in white.
The Golden Knights announced Tuesday, Oct. 28, their plans for the annual Nevada Day game, set for 3 p.m. PT Friday, Oct. 30, at T-Mobile Arena. The game, presented by Travel Nevada, honors the state’s admission to the Union on Oct. 31, 1864. Vegas will take the ice in its white jerseys, and fans are encouraged to match the look by wearing white to the game.
There will be more than hockey happening around the arena, too.
Fans heading to Paramount+ Plaza will get the first chance to shop the latest Golden Knights x VANS collection, with sales beginning at 10 a.m. PT. Additional co-branded VGK x VANS merchandise by Violent Gentleman will also be available.
For fans looking to take home something a little more exclusive, specialty signed Nevada Day jerseys will be up for auction. Bidding opens at 1:45 p.m. PT on Friday and closes at 5 p.m. PT. Fans can register and place bids at VGKNevadaDay.givesmart.com or by texting VGKNevadaDay to 76278.
Want a closer look before placing a bid? The jerseys will be on display along the concourse near sections 11 and 12. Proceeds will benefit the VGK Foundation and support its ongoing programming with the Clark County School District.
Nevada Day merchandise won't stop at the arena, either. T-shirts, pucks and other commemorative items will be available for purchase at The Arsenal at City National Arena.
Travel Nevada has already helped kick off the celebration with its "Ultimate Hockey Experience" sweepstakes. One lucky winner and three friends scored tickets to Friday's game, official Golden Knights jerseys, premium transportation to and from T-Mobile Arena and an exclusive opportunity to attend the postgame press conference.
With a holiday crowd, fresh merchandise and some one-of-a-kind jerseys up for grabs, Friday's game is shaping up to be more than just another afternoon at the rink. And with the Devils coming to town, the Golden Knights will have a chance to give Nevada fans one more reason to celebrate.
The Buffalo Sabres did not remedy the offensive gap created by the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram last summer. The club was minus 44 goals from last season, and appeared to be relying on the internal development of youngsters Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich to make up the difference.
Early returns have proven that to be a miscalculation by GM Jarmo Kekalainen, as these four forwards have combined for just six goals, and before their breakout 7-6 win in Anaheim on Thursday, the Sabres were averaging 2.75 goals per game and were 25th in scoring. ,are moving forward with goalie Connor Hellebuyck now with the New Jersey Devils, but details continue to filter out as to what the club offered to acquire the 33-year-old Hart and Vezina Trophy winner before the NHL Draft last June.
Owen Power has become an offensive threat this season for the Sabres.
According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Kekalainen is looking to add some scoring help, but unless Buffalo is looking for a temporary solution, such as a scorer on an expiring contract, it will likely cost the Sabres one of their top prospects. Timing could be an issue for Kekalainen, since teams who may be sellers at the deadline, like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames or Chicago Blackhawks, are probably not ready to move players until they get overpaid or the calendar is closer to the trade deadline.
The cost for the Sabres on a rental with an expiring contract would likely be a high draft pick, but if Kekalainen is looking for a forward with term, such as Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust, it could cost Buffalo a pick and an excellent prospect, such as 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, or NCAA prospects Adam Kleber or Brodie Ziemer.
If Buffalo is looking for a scorer with significant term remaining, such as Vancouver's Brock Boeser, it could cost them a forward like Doan, Benson, or Ostlund, who are younger and also signed to long-term deals, or Helenius, who is 20 years old and in the first year of his entry-level contract.
The need for a move will depend on where the Sabres are in the standings come the end of November, when clubs begin to take stock of where they are.
The Florida Panthers gave us a sneak preview at their Hometown Remix uniforms on Friday.
When the Panthers took the ice for their morning skate at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, the Cats were wearing equipment to go with the soon-to-be-released specialty uniforms.
That includes the goaltenders, who had pads and gloves showing off the pink, dark blue and gold colorway that the new uniforms will feature.
Even the goalie masks were specially painted, with Jacob Markstrom featuring some hot pink popping off the cage and Akira Schmid prominently featuring the Hometown Remix logo on the crown.
As for the players, their new colored gear consisted of dark blue gloves, pants and helmets with gold numbers and lettering.
The Panthers are going to officially release the Hometown Remix gear on Monday at 9:54 a.m. at Pantherland in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs, as well as on their official website.
Later that evening, Florida will debut their Hometown Remix uniforms when they host the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena.
They’ll also wear the flashy uniforms the following home game, Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The eight additional games that Florida will feature the Hometown Remix gear will be on Nov. 26 vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dec. 19 vs. the Calgary Flames, Dec. 26 vs. Tampa Bay, Jan. 2 vs. the Montreal Canadiens, Jan. 16 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights, Feb. 13 vs. the Dallas Stars, March 6 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs and March 27 vs the Philadelphia Flyers.
You can check out footage of Florida wearing the Hometown Remix gear during Friday’s morning skate in the video below:
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Montréal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It should have been a storybook night for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel.
In his most recent game, at Utah, it ended with him being robbed on a last-second shot that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime. Then he had a medical episode that resulted in him spending what were almost certainly a couple of stressful days in a Utah hospital, then missing two games in a row.
He returned on Thursday night, against Utah, and helped jumpstart a sluggish Penguins offense with a goal and an assist.
The goal, with 20 seconds to play in regulation, should have been the game-winner.
It seemed almost impossible to believe that they could give up a tying goal, with a neutral zone face-off, and only 20 seconds to play.
But these are the Penguins, and surrendering baffling, unacceptable goals in the closing seconds is kind of their thing. And then they did. And then they could not control the puck in overtime, taking part in a four-minute comedy of errors that eventually ended with Mikhail Sergachev’s game-winning goal.
It was a point against a contender, but it should have been more.
There are a few things that should be incredibly frustrating about that result for the Penguins.
The obvious is, well, that it happened.
The second is that it was an opportunity for them to do something they have not done anywhere enough of this season and actually won a game in regulation. They have now played 13 games, and even though they have five wins, only two of them have come in regulation. That was a chance to secure a regulation win, against one of the better teams in the league, and they squandered it. There are only four other teams in the league that don’t have at least three regulation wins at this point: San Jose, Columbus, Los Angeles and Vancouver. It’s not the type of company you want to be keeping.
The third is that it is a continuation of their inability to close out games. It is already the third time this season they have allowed a team to tie a game in the final minute, with the other two coming against the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. They were able to salvage the first two with wins in overtime/shootout, but could not do the same Thursday.
It’s a rough look for everybody involved that it keeps happening this frequently.
But it is an especially rough look for the coaching staff, especially given some of the deployment decisions.
In all three instances it was the fourth line on the ice, but with Sidney Crosby inserted in on the first two occasions (yesterday Lizotte maintained his spot). Declan Carlile has been on the ice for two of them.
What makes Thursday’s so baffling is that they could have, in theory, put any player and defense pairing on the ice that they wanted. Utah argued the go-ahead goal for more than a minute. There was a delay while the play was reviewed. Then Utah called a timeout. Everybody was rested. Everybody was fresh. The entire bench was at your disposal. Muse responded by sending out a defense pairing of Carlile and Kaedan Korczak, a pairing that had only played two minutes together on Thursday. And then Carlile committed about every possible mistake imaginable in trying to secure the lead. When the puck was pinned against the wall, he dug it free. He lost his man. He then let his man have a free whack at the puck in front of the crease.
At that point, just tackle him. Who cares if you commit a penalty. There are three seconds left.
Leave the puck pinned against the wall.
Do anything other than what you did.
A few other quick Penguins thoughts….
1. If we get to game 20 and Crosby still looks like this, you have to start having a discussion about where his season is going to go, and by extension, where the Penguins season is going to go. He has seven points in 13 games. The only other time in his career that he’s had less than 11 points through 13 games was the start of the second Mike Johnston year, and we all know how bad that was (for everybody, not just Crosby). He’s had some slow starts in recent years, but never this slow, and honestly, never this bad. And that’s not an inappropriate word to use. He’s been bad. Something just looks … wrong. His line is consistently one of their worst ones every night, and it has been getting buried defensively more than any other. We are far enough into the season that you should be paying attention to it. Maybe not fully worried. But certainly paying attention. They are getting solid play from every other line at times. Maybe not as consistently as you would like in some cases, but a lot of solid play. They are not getting anything from his line. Certainly not enough. You can make the argument that he would have a few more assists if Rickard Rakell had some better finishing early on, and that’s certainly true, but the lack of chances from him and just how pedestrian he looks are eye-opening.
2. I am trying to be generous with Andrei Kuzmenko given, *gestures hands* what he went through before the season */gesture hands*, but it’s not working right now. If there’s somebody that is going to come out for a healthy Elmer Soderblom, or to get an Avery Hayes or Rutger McGroarty back in the lineup, or Justin Brazeau when he returns, that is pretty obviously the guy at this point.
3. I think you have to sit Carlile for a game or two. I liked the signing and the mindset behind it. I liked the gamble. I am certainly not giving up on it. But right now he is struggling a bit and I don’t love some of the decision-making. The end of Thursday’s game was shocking.
4. I am not overly concerned about the lack of playing time for Sergei Murashov at this point. He needs to play. He will play. I don’t think it’s damaging his development to sit for a bit here while Arturs Silovs played well. Especially given the way his past two starts went. Sometimes a reset and a chance to watch is helpful.
Larkin appeared to be public enemy number one during the home opener, when he sat on the bench undressed as the team introduced its lineup and the Detroit crowd rained boos down on the former captain.
It made sense, based on what Friedman said, as Larkin returned to the lineup on October 6, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a win over the Ottawa Senators. He played the way a captain should, with heart, sticking up for teammates and acting as the team's motor, with minutes on both special teams units.
He earned some respect back, to the point where the crowd offered more cheers than boos when he came back out as the game's first star. However, that has all changed as just ten games into his season, as Larkin appears to have lost everything he gained.
On Thursday, Larkin's agent announced that the 30-year-old would not play another game for the Red Wings, citing how long the process of finding a trade has taken. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff promptly suspended Larkin without pay.
Parts of the hockey world had fun at the expense of former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, counting the money he lost while serving his own suspension. Now fans have turned their attention to Larkin, creating a website called "Larkin's Losses" that tracks how much money he is losing.
On Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit fans made their feelings clear with colorful chants aimed at Larkin, even though he was not in the lineup.
As in the Hellebuyck situation, the Red Wings could take their time and wait for the best offer to appear. The longer Larkin sits out, the more his value as a player could fall, and the harder a return to game action becomes.
Trade talks reportedly picked up on Thursday with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, who are all on Larkin's trade list, reaching out and expressing interest. Others not on the list, including the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues, have reportedly expressed interest if he eventually adds them.
Teams on his list that are reportedly not interested, or that once were but no longer are, include the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth and the Washington Capitals.
It appears to be an unfortunate end to the Dylan Larkin saga as it appeared to be potentially ending on a positive note with his return to the lineup, however he quickly soured his stance with Red Wings fans once again and will make for a memorable night when he makes his eventual return to Little Caesars Arena.
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Alex Newhook is beginning to find his offensive rhythm in Montreal, and Thursday night offered another glimpse of what the former Colorado Avalanche first-round pick can bring.
The Canadiens forward scored twice in a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars, continuing a productive start to the season as he looks to build on last year's encouraging postseason.
Newhook opened the scoring late in the first period with an impressive individual effort. After taking a long stretch pass from Noah Dobson, he carried the puck into the Dallas zone, worked his way around defenseman Thomas Harley and beat Jake Oettinger with a backhand shot. Just 27 seconds later, Cole Caufield scored to put Montreal up 3-1.
Newhook added his second goal early in the second period, taking advantage of a fortunate bounce that left the puck sitting beside the Dallas net. It marked the ninth multi-goal game of his NHL career and capped a productive night for the Canadiens forward, who has quietly put together a solid start to the season.
Injuries made it difficult for Newhook to build any momentum last year. He played just 42 games, missing 40, but still finished with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. He nearly matched his total from the 2023-24 season, when he recorded 26 points in 82 games.
His scoring rate last season suggested there was room for more. Had he stayed healthy, Newhook could have been in line for the best offensive season of his career. Instead, he had to settle for a shortened campaign before making up some ground in the playoffs.
Newhook was particularly productive during Montreal's postseason run, scoring seven goals and adding three assists in 19 games. Those 10 points marked the best playoff production of his NHL career. He also has a Stanley Cup on his résumé, having won with Colorado in 2022, although his role with the Avalanche was much smaller at the time. He recorded four assists in 12 games during that championship run.
Now in his fourth season with Montreal, Newhook is starting to put together some encouraging offensive numbers. Through 13 games, he has three goals and three assists for six points. That's a pace of 19 goals and 19 assists over an 84-game season, which would put him on track for 38 points.
There's still a long way to go, but Newhook has given Montreal some production to work with early in the season. Staying healthy will be a big part of what comes next. If he can manage that, there's a chance he finally puts together the kind of full season that has been difficult to come by in his young NHL career.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks “3 Standouts From The Game.” In this recurring series, The Hockey News’ Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver’s last game. This article will focus on the Canucks’ most recent 3–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
Forward Elias Pettersson
Coming off a strong game on Tuesday night that saw him log two assists, Elias Pettersson had himself yet another solid effort against the Sharks. He finished the game with an assist, three shots, and one block. The forward also registered his team’s lead in scoring chances-for with 18 on the night, also allowing only four against (tied for the third lowest on Vancouver).
Pettersson’s most noticeable play on Thursday was undoubtedly his assist on Drew O’Connor’s game-opening goal. The forward made a strong effort to keep the puck within the blueline by tipping the puck between his own skates while facing pressure from two Sharks and then lobbing it at the Sharks’ net. O’Connor was able to pounce on the rebound by driving hard to the net.
Liam Öhgren
After finding the back of the net against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, Liam Öhgren scored once again on Thursday against the Sharks. This was the first time in his NHL career that the forward has scored in back-to-back games, with Öhgren now vaulting up to a tie for second on his team in scoring after three games without a goal.
Öhgren also managed to get some first-unit power-play time, though this took place due to Brock Boeser missing some playing time after blocking a shot. He played a total of 13:21 minutes and logged three shots on goal.
Tom Willander
While he didn’t end up on the scoresheet, Tom Willander put together a strong effort against the Sharks. In his 19:55 minutes on the ice, the defenceman registered three shots on goal, two blocks, and one hit. He also ended up skating a shift that saw him on the ice for over three minutes during the second period.
Willander also managed to put up a fair number of scoring chances of his own, helping advance play into the O-zone by carrying it in or even testing out shots from the blueline. His five high-danger scoring chances-for were tied for the second-most on the Canucks.
Oct 29, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Michael Misa (77) and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) fight for the puck during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 17: Connor Brown #16 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates after a goal during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (8-5-0) @ Vegas Golden Knights (9-4-1)
Note the unusual start time. Today is Nevada Day, and the Golden Knights are celebrating with a weekday afternoon game. It’s odd, but it certainly beats the usual 10pm start time for games in Vegas.
Last Devils Game
On Wednesday, the Devils traveled to Colorado and lost to the Avalanche, 5-2. Connor Brown scored both goals, his first markers of the season. Jake Allen got the start and made 40 saves on 45 shots.
Last Golden Knights Game
Vegas’s last game was on Tuesday, when they defeated the Ottawa Senators, 4-1. The win snapped the Golden Knights’ three-game losing streak, with Adin Hill getting the win while making 25 saves on 26 shots.
The First Dud In A While
The 5-2 final score from Wednesday’s contest was, plain and simple, a very poor game by the Devils. Yes, the score was tied 1-1 after two periods, but through 40 minutes, the Avalanche were handily controlling play. The floodgates finally burst open in the third, with Colorado scoring four times in a row and coasting from there.
The Avalanche outshot the Devils 45-22. According to Natural Stat Trick, New Jersey posted a ghastly Expected Goals% of just under 30%. There were moments here and there that New Jersey could be proud of, but overall, this really was the first dud in a while after a prolonged stretch of good hockey. Only Jake Allen and Connor Brown had unambiguously good games. Yes, Allen’s save percentage doesn’t look great, but he was the only reason this game wasn’t 10-1 after two periods. Allen had himself a very strong night, regardless of what the numbers say.
But in the end, I get it. Think about all the factors going against the Devils on Wednesday:
Second half of a back-to-back
Travel required
Playing a well-rested team
That well-rested team just so happening to be an elite group in the Colorado Avalanche
In the thin air of Colorado
Going through Kurt’s game recap from Wednesday and the comments on that post, I saw the phrase “schedule loss” thrown around a lot. I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. Wednesday was a night where New Jersey was set up to fail, and while it’s certainly possible to win or at least come away with a loser point under those circumstances, I can’t be too hard on the Devils for how poor they looked. Every team has off-nights, and considering how much was working against them, Wednesday’s loss is one I’m content to write off as a schedule loss and move on from.
…so long as the Devils bounce back strong.
That’s the one thing that worries me, that the loss to the Avalanche kick starts a string of bad games. Tonight is going to be a very tough contest as well, going up against a strong Vegas team. I would not be surprised if New Jersey lost again, but at the very least, I expect a much better outing than on Wednesday. If the Devils lose a hard-fought, back-and-forth, 3-2 or 4-3 game or something, I won’t be happy but I can accept that. But if they lose again while looking like they did against the Avalanche, that will be disappointing and a bit of a concern.
Finishing The Trip Strong
All that being said, if the Devils can find a way to win this game, and maybe even get back to their dominant puck possession selves in the process, that would be a great sign. This was always going to be a brutal road trip. Not only is it a western swing, but it just so happens to be against three of the very best teams in the NHL. You could argue that Dallas, Colorado, and Vegas are the top three squads in the west. Throw in a back-to-back, and I don’t think anyone’s expectations were particularly high coming into the trip.
But the Devils not only won their opening contest of the road trip, they looked great while doing so. I’m of the opinion that New Jersey was a little leakier defensively than most people think, as while they gave up very few shots, the individual quality of those shots were quite high. Still, they outshot the Stars by a million and won 5-1, so it’s hard to complain too much. They laid an understandable egg against Colorado, and now they have a chance to go home with a winning road trip.
Vegas is a great team, but they are not unbeatable, as their recent three-game skid indicates. The Devils can absolutely steal a win from the Knights this evening. As mentioned, I won’t be too broken up if they lose. But I think the vibes would be through the roof if New Jersey collects four out of six points on this trip. All of us would have signed for that before this three-game journey began.
Power Outage
Colorado game aside, the Devils have been a play-driving machine over the first month of the season at 5-on-5. But for all their territorial dominance at even strength, the power play remains a big concern.
New Jersey went 0-for-3 against Colorado on Wednesday, including failing to score on roughly half a minute of 5-on-3 time at the end of the second period. I’m not sure if that game turns out to be any different if they convert, but I have to believe the Devils’ chances of squeezing at least a point out of that game would’ve gone up dramatically. Remember, the game was still knotted at 1-1 when the Devils went on the power play, and then got that 5-on-3. The second penalty carried over into the third period, so imagine if New Jersey could play with a lead in the final 20 minutes. Again, it’s very possible they still would have lost, but the power play failures are what truly sealed their fate.
Entering play today, the Devils are rocking a power play conversion rate of 17.5%. That’s good for 22nd in the league, which is not truly awful, but it’s certainly not good either. For a team as talented as New Jersey, that figure is unacceptable.
Now, brace yourselves. I’m about to give you some stats that I think a lot of you will be shocked by. I know I was.
And it’s not just NST either. According to Hockey Stats, the Devils have an xG/60 rate of 8.6 on the power play, tied for seventh-best in the league with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks. Post Hockey is lower on the Devils, tabbing them at an xG/60 rate of 7.61, down at 13th in the league. The important thing to note about Post Hockey’s numbers is that, if I’m reading the stats correctly, they adjust for shooting talent. So it makes sense that their model would have New Jersey much lower than Natural Stat Trick and moderately lower than Hockey Stats. Still, 13th-best seems higher than I would have expected.
I’m sorry, but as much of a believer as I am in analytics, I cannot endorse these numbers. There is no way the Devils’ process is the 4th-best in the league. Heck, 8th is way too high for me as well, and 13th is better but still a tad rich. From what I’ve watched of the power play this year, there is a serious problem with the process. PP1 consists mainly of The Hughes brothers and Jesper Bratt playing catch on the perimeter, with Jack and Luke occasionally taking medium-danger shots that mostly get blocked or go wide. On the rare occasions those three include Nico Hischier and Luke Evangelista on the inside of the formation, it’s either broken up quickly or fumbled away. There’s not nearly enough movement, not nearly enough decisiveness, and not nearly enough shooting threats to actually make this power play run.
PP2, on the other hand, has much less talent but provides way better process. Players like Timo Meier and Arseny Gritsyuk operate with confidence and decisiveness, providing the shooting threats the man advantage needs. Dougie Hamilton quarterbacking the unit works, and players like Evan Rodrigues and Anthony Mantha complement the unit as well. There’s an intentionality on PP2 that is missing on PP1, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the vast majority of New Jersey’s glowing process numbers come from the second unit.
In any case, the top power play unit is pretty busted at the moment, and it’s on the coaching staff to figure it out. There is way too much talent here for this unit to be as bad as it is.
Round Two For Hellebuyck?
The Devils did not practice yesterday, so we didn’t get any indication on who would start in net this evening. We’ll have to wait for morning skate today to get that answer. But I’m going to assume it will be the newest Devil, Connor Hellebuyck. The future Hall of Famer was strong in his debut with the club on Tuesday, stopping 17 of 18 shots in the victory.
What impressed and surprised me the most was just how Hellebuyck always seemed to be one step ahead of the play. The Stars didn’t get that many looks at the net on Tuesday, but as I mentioned earlier, when they did get their looks there was a healthy amount of danger sprinkled in. Maybe I’ve just gotten so used to watching the likes of Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood and Akira Schmid and Jacob Markstrom and even Jake Allen over the past few years. But something that really struck me when watching Hellebuyck was how often he made me go “…Oh…that was it?”. When the Stars would fire a prime chance at Hellebuyck, instead of flailing around to get into position at the last minute like all the other Devil goalies, Hellebuyck seemed to already be waiting for the shot. He read each play so well, he managed his positioning so well, and he controlled his rebounds so well that even the premium shots looked relatively nonthreatening. One moment I’m clenching up at a one-timer from the inner slot, and the next moment I’m watching the shot harmlessly settle into Hellebuyck’s chest for a stoppage, as if it was always destined to be that way.
And I would go “…Oh…that was it?”.
Obviously I’ve watched Hellbuyck over the years, but I haven’t taken the time to really study him. It’s only one game, but after watching him play for the Devils for the first time, and taking into account every stat and scouting report I could get my hands on about why Hellebuyck is so great, I can certainly understand it. His hockey IQ is stellar. It’s the equivalent of someone like Luke Evangelista, who might not skate fast (below 50th percentile in all skating speed metrics per NHL Edge), but who plays fast thanks to how smart he is and how quickly he processes. But unlike Evangelista, Hellebuyck is also gifted physically with monstrous size. When a goalie is borderline telepathic like Hellebuyck, AND they have a massive frame, it is very, very difficult to get pucks behind him.
All of that to say, even though it’s only one game, it was a terrific one. And I am thrilled Hellebuyck is a Devil. Assuming his second outing with the club really does come tonight, I expect another strong outing from New Jersey’s franchise netminder.
The Golden Triangle
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Vegas Golden Knights are, once again, one of the best teams in the league. And it also shouldn’t surprise anyone to see who is leading the charge. Vegas is getting contributions up and down the lineup, but Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner are the spearheads of a potent Golden Knights attack.
Eichel leads the way with seven goals and 20 points in 14 games. Next is Stone, with eight goals (leading the team) and 16 points in 14 games. Marner is in third with two goals and 13 points in 12 games. The only other Knight in double figures in points is Ivan Barbashev, with an odd 1-9-10 statline. But considering Barbashev is logging 16:17 of ice time per game while the big three are up in the 18-20 minute range, Barbashev definitely falls under the “support” camp rather than the core.
On the backend, Vegas’ defense corps has been a bit disappointing from a point production standpoint. Their usual number one, Shea Theodore, has only registered a pair of goals and five points through 14 contests. Vegas’ second in command, Noah Hanifin, has that same exact statline as well. If the defensemen pick their game up, Vegas’ Golden Triangle could turn into a Golden Pentagram Pentagon. And if that happens, then the Pacific Division and the rest of the league will really be in trouble.
Under The Hood
Aside from the traditional production, Vegas’ underlying metrics are in good-not-great territory through the first month of play:
Category
Rate
League Rank
CF%
52.34%
10/32
SCF%
51.75%
13/32
HDCF%
53.33
11/32
xG%
53.78
11/32
Unlike last year when Vegas had superb advanced metrics but didn’t have the results to show for it (in the regular season at least), Vegas has been outkicking their coverage a little bit, rocking the sixth-best points percentage in the league entering play today.
Taking a look at some of the individual line combinations over at Moneypuck, many of Vegas’ forward combinations look quite good from a process standpoint. But a secret weapon of sorts appears to be the Tomas Hertl-Trevor Connelly combination. Hertl and Connelly are both a part of the top two lines on the Golden Knights according to Moneypuck’s 5-on-5 xG% numbers. In about 24 minutes with Braeden Bowman, the trio is posting a pretty silly 91.7% xG mark. In just over 29 minutes with Victor Olofsson, they’re rocking an xG% of 71.4%. Those are tiny sample sizes, but at this early stage, a pattern is emerging.
Connelly and Hertl have each played 14 games so far. Connelly has four goals and nine points, while Hertl has five goals and eight points. Decent point production, but certainly not elite. However, the Devils need to hope that their results don’t catch up with their process until after New Jersey leaves town. Eichel, Stone, and Marner need to be page one of the gameplan tonight. But Hertl and Connelly have earned the right to appear on page two.
A Tale Of Two Special Teams Units
Another interesting battle tonight might be the special teams battle. We’ve already went over New Jersey’s power play struggles, but they might get a chance to right the ship against Vegas this evening. The Knights come in with a penalty kill success rate of 67.6%, all the way down at 26th in the league. If ever there was a time to snap out of it, tonight might be the Devils’ opportunity.
On the other side, New Jersey better be careful not to take too many penalties. For as bad as the Golden Knights’ PK has been, their PP is making up a lot of the slack. Vegas enters with a power play conversion rate of 25.6%, good for eighth-best in the NHL. Against New Jersey’s 24th-ranked PK (72.4%), Vegas could wreak havoc.
One of the keys to this game for New Jersey absolutely has to be staying disciplined. Two points could be decided over it.
Projected Lineup
Here’s how the Golden Knights lined up in their most recent game:
What are you anticipating out of tonight’s game? Do you think the Devils will bounce back after their dud in Colorado? Who on the team do you think will have a big game? Who on the Golden Knights will you be keeping an eye on the most? As always, thanks for reading!
The Montreal Canadiens had a chance to complete a perfect road trip with a win over the Dallas Stars in the Lone Star State on Thursday night, and they didn’t disappoint their fans. Mike Matheson missed the game with a lower-body injury the Habs said was new, so Arber Xhekaj returned to the lineup. In net, Jakub Dobes finally returned between the posts after Jacob Fowler pitched three near-perfect games.
The Stars were no easy prey, despite dealing with injuries to Matt Duchene, Esa Lindell, and Oskar Back. Glen Gulutzan’s men started the game in third place in the Central Division with 15 points in 12 games and one of the league’s best goaltenders in Jake Oettinger.
After playing a key role for the Canadiens in the last playoffs and scoring both Game 7 game-winning goals, Alex Newhook fully deserved a look on the first line. In fact, if the Habs hadn't been showcasing Oliver Kapanen after Nick Suzuki’s injury, he might have gotten it earlier. That didn’t matter to him, though; he kept his head down, went to work, and answered the call when it came.
He scored a brace, and both lamplighters were impressive in their own way. Newhook has incredible speed, but when he turns on the jets to enter the zone on the power play, and the blueline is crowded, the play often dies. However, when he gets a pass at full speed and catches a defenseman flat-footed, he can easily outrun them and cut to the net, as he did to score the Habs’ second goal of the game. As for his second goal, it was a fantastic display of hand-eye coordination: he backhanded the puck in mid-air while heading to the back of the net. Right in front of a helpless Lian, Bichsel tried to kick the puck clear after losing his stick.
The Canadiens led by three in the second frame, and unsurprisingly, the Stars started to push back. These are the moments Martin St-Louis talks about when he says his players have to play a mature game and know the situation. Still, Juraj Slafkovsky once again made one of his all-too-frequent no-look backhand passes near the offensive blueline, and the hosts picked it up.
When you’re protecting a lead, you can still attack, but you need to keep defense in mind. On the offensive side of the puck, you need to evaluate the odds of your play succeeding and what failure could mean. If you make that kind of play on the power play when you can see four defenders in a box shape in front of you, it's one thing; doing it at even strength, when you don’t know where the opposing players are, is quite another.
Slafkovsky doesn’t lack defensive instincts; his forecheck proves it. He played a big role in Caufield’s second goal through his forecheck, but he needs to do the same in other situations. It took him time to understand why St-Louis wanted him to bring speed and movement on the forecheck, but he gets it now. Hopefully the same occurs with this issue. If and when the team is healthy, and the coach has more options, he could suffer the consequences of repeating the same mistake.
Dobes Bounced Back
Dobes didn’t hide it; he spoke with his mental coach this week, and it certainly showed. While he wasn’t peppered with shots, the Stars only got 19 shots on net, and he made some big saves. The Czech netminder isn't Fowler; he never will be, and that’s perfectly fine. Two goaltenders can have different styles and perform well.
Fowler is calm, collected and always well positioned. Dobes is more aggressive and loves to challenge shooters. Fowler, who’s three inches shorter and smaller in his net, has had to be technically sound; he couldn’t get away with Dobes's brand of aggressive goaltending. Those extra three inches matter when he gets in the shooter's face to cut their angle; he’s big, and it limits their options. However, that only works when he’s fully confident; if he’s tentative, it becomes risky. On Thursday night, he was in the right mindset, and it showed. It took time, but he finally got his second win of the season.
Ultimately, the Canadiens won 5-2, with Cole Caufield scoring a brace as well and Phillip Danault getting his first of the season in an empty net thanks to Jake Evans. The Habs notched their fourth consecutive road win, a feat that has only happened five times in 30 years. The team heads back to Montreal on Friday morning and will then prepare to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Halloween night at the Bell Centre.
