Category: Ice Hockey

The NHL had many players hit the waiver wire on Oct. 1. While no current Montreal Canadiens were placed on waivers, two of their former players were.

This is because former Canadiens defensemen Kale Clague (Winnipeg Jets) and William Lagesson (Detroit Red Wings) have been placed on waivers by their current clubs.

Clague signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Jets this off-season. This comes after the 2016 second-round pick recorded 10 goals, 29 assists, 39 points, and a plus-3 rating in 69 AHL games with the Rochester Americans this past season. 

Clague appeared 25 games for the Canadiens during the 2021-22 season, where he recorded two goals, three assists, five points, 14 hits, and a minus-8 rating. 

Lagesson, on the other hand, signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings this summer. This was after the 6-foot-2 defenseman recorded one assist, six hits, seven blocks, and a minus-1 rating in seven games with Detroit in 2024-25. He also had three goals and nine points in 23 AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2024-25. 

Lagesson played in three games with the Canadiens during the 2021-22 season, where he posted one assist, four blocks, and a plus-2 rating. 

Well, it didn't take long for Christián Jaroš to get a job. 

According to Russian Hockey Insider Artur Khairullin, Christián Jaroš will be signing with HC Spartak Moscow of the KHL. 

Per Khairullin, "Defenseman Christián Jaroš, whom Columbus placed on waivers to terminate his contract, will continue his career at Spartak." Jaroš and the Blue Jackets mutually agreed to him being places on waivers just today. 

Blue Jackets Place Christián Jaroš On Waivers To Terminate Contract The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Christián Jaroš on waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

Jaroš has played in 94 NHL games, recording 14 points. In the AHL, he has suited up for 90 games and collected 34 points. 

Before signing in Columbus, Jaroš played the last three seasons in the KHL. He played for Avangard Omsk, CSKA Moskva, and Severstal Cherepovets. He totaled 8 goals and 33 points. 

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Two Former Monsters Earn PTO's With AHL TeamsTwo former Cleveland Monsters have joined AHL teams on PTOs. Erik Gudbranson & Tom Wilson Square Off In Heavyweight BoutLast night, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals squared off in a preseason matchup that saw the Capitals win 4-3. This game, much like most of the NHL preseason, had a fight. However, this fight included two heavyweights that can hold their own. Here’s what happened. 12 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #12The Columbus Blue Jackets have 12 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #12. 

As Tuesday's contest between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens showed, even pre-season NHL games can be intense and emotional.

Even if there's a potential risk of injury in rivalry friendlies, anyone who argues pre-season games should only be between non-rivals should compare the attendance in the Senators' two games in Quebec City.

Sunday's matchup between the Senators and New Jersey Devils at Videotron Centre drew in 12,159 fans. Tuesday's game had 18,259 fans, even though most of them wore the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge and were happy to see a 5-0 win over the"home team" Senators. The intensity of a game between two teams that really don't like each other should often sell more tickets.

That said, it was obvious why emotions were running high between Ottawa and Montreal. These teams will be duelling all season long, whether it's on the ice, in the standings or in the trade market.

Playing in the Atlantic Division – arguably the NHL’s toughest division – the Sens and Habs are essentially in the same boat this season. Both teams wanted the other to know they won't lay down and roll over for their opponent.

Indeed, only six points separated fourth-place Ottawa and fifth-place Montreal last season, and many pundits have the Senators and Canadiens finishing in the same vicinity this season. That’s only the equivalent of three wins that was the difference between the two teams. One bad week could be the difference between these longtime rivals. 

2 Senators Fined For Actions vs. CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Ottawa Senators on Sep. 30 in a preseason contest. While it may have been a preseason game, there is no question that tempers flared during this matchup in Quebec City, as there was plenty of fightning and nastiness.

Here’s something else to picture: if these two teams meet in the playoffs, watch out. You’re going to get two passionate fan bases in close geographical locations, with a healthy hate-on for each other. We already saw it in 2012-13 when the Sens and Habs had a line brawl and in 2014-15 when Montreal got revenge for their first-round loss two years earlier.

Given that the NHL has long been trying to develop and maintain divisional rivalries, we should expect that the league would be thrilled to have Montreal and Ottawa squaring off in the first or second round.

And above and beyond the four regular-season games the Habs and Sens will play against one another this season, the rivalry between the two franchises will manifest in other areas.

Depending on how the regular season plays out, the Senators and Canadiens could be vying for the same players on the trade market. Ottawa has $3.5 million in salary cap space at the moment – a number that could swell to $16 million by this year’s trade deadline. Meanwhile, Montreal has $4.5 million in cap space, which could balloon to $20.8 million by the deadline. So both teams have the financial flexibility to do big things via trades this season, with Montreal potentially wanting a second-line center and Ottawa looking wherever it can for upgrades.

It could well come to pass that the Canadiens and Senators could be wrapped up in an arms race that has a significant effect on their bottom line.

In any case, we should never be surprised to see ill feelings between the Sens and Habs, no matter what time of year it is. It’s true that the pre-season proves nothing to anyone, but the NHL needs its divisional rivalries to thrive for the league to succeed – and in that regard, the Canadiens and Senators have nothing to worry about.

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Only Sergei Bobrovsky and the Edmonton Oilers' Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard can say they've backstopped their teams to the Cup final in each of the last two years.

Of course, Bobrovsky is the two-time Cup champion, and Skinner and Pickard form a tandem that's raised doubts about Edmonton's netminding.

Starter Skinner and understudy Pickard played well enough to give Edmonton a chance of winning the Cup. But there was still an overriding anxiety about them this past summer. Pickard had the higher save percentage in the regular season at just .900, while Skinner had the higher stat in the playoffs at an ugly .889.

More than a few observers thought Edmonton GM Stan Bowman would address his team’s goaltending by acquiring a proven veteran between the pipes.

While it took Bowman almost to the start of the 2025-26 regular season to tweak his goalie situation, he did exactly that Wednesday when he acquired veteran goaltender Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth. Utah is retaining $800,000 of Ingram’s $1.95-million cap hit.

Bowman did well considering who was available at this point. He wasn’t going to get a bona fide starter on the trade market, let alone in free agency.

But while Ingram’s stock has fallen from its peak a couple years ago, the Oilers clearly felt this was a low-risk gamble that could pay off.

You can see why Ingram was an attractive-enough option. In 102 career games over four NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes and Mammoth, Ingram generated a record of 39-44-15 with a 3.14 goals-against average, .902 save percentage and seven shutouts. From 2022-23 to 2023-24, Ingram posted an SP of .907. He was thriving on the ice at the times, which makes him an excellent insurance option in net.

Oilers Acquire Goaltender Ingram From Utah With Retained SalaryThe Edmonton Oilers acquired goaltender Connor Ingram from Utah Mammoth, the team announced on Wednesday.

There’s no rush to get Ingram on the NHL roster in Edmonton. He'll play for the AHL's Bakersfield Condors for the time being, which will be good for Ingram to get back in form. But of course, if Skinner or Pickard struggle out of the gate this year, there’s a distinct possibility the Oilers will fast-track Ingram’s return to hockey’s top league.

Ingram has had personal issues that led him to receive care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program from March to August of this year. He now deserves a chance to re-establish himself as an NHL-caliber goalie. It may take a while before he gets that opportunity, but the Oilers see enough in him to roll the dice and see what he can do behind what will be a stacked Edmonton lineup.   

Ingram is still only 28, giving him more than enough time to solidify a spot at the NHL level. If he thrives, he could be the final piece of a championship puzzle for the Oilers. And if he doesn’t – well, let’s just say Edmonton won’t be the final spot in his playing career.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have reached the point of preseason where the decisions get messy.

Training camp is designed to clarify the picture, to sort the hopefuls from the keepers, to separate potential from reality. Yet, as Philadelphia stares down its final roster cut before the regular season, the picture feels less like a clear photograph and more like a painting in progress—strokes of promise here, smudges of frustration there.

Two players—Rodrigo Abols and Jett Luchanko—stand at the center of the conversation, each with very different résumés but equally compelling cases to stay.

Two others—Alex Bump and Emil Andrae—are already on the outside looking in, victims of timing, circumstance, and the unforgiving math of NHL roster building.

This is the part of camp that no one romanticizes: the part where good players get sent down, where bright flashes of potential are dulled by pragmatism, and where “deserving” doesn’t always mean “staying.”

---

Rodrigo Abols: The Case Closed

At this point, it feels less like a roster battle and more like a foregone conclusion. Rodrigo Abols has not just survived camp—he’s owned it.

The Latvian forward is the only Flyer to play in all five preseason games so far, logging five appearances in nine nights, a workload usually reserved for fringe players the coaching staff isn’t quite sure about. But instead of wilting under that grind, Abols thrived. He didn’t just hold up under the fatigue—he made himself indispensable.

He scored a goal against Boston, showed poise in transition, and most importantly, never looked overwhelmed. Even in games where the minutes were lighter, he made himself noticeable with smart, mistake-free hockey.

Rick Tocchet has been clear about what he values in players like Abols: “It’s hard to play tired, and he can still contribute. He’s been practicing, he’s playing, and he had a tired night against Washington… but he was effective. That’s the key. Sometimes you just don’t feel great. Sometimes you can play neutral—just don’t make those mistakes.”

Abols has embodied that lesson to perfection. He’s shown that he can deliver with his A-game and survive with his B-game, the mark of a professional who belongs in the league. Add in his positional flexibility—equally comfortable at center or wing—and the verdict is in. At this point, it would be shocking if Abols wasn’t on the roster come opening night.

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Jett Luchanko: Talent Meets Time

If Abols is the sure thing, Jett Luchanko is more of a question mark.

The 19-year-old forward turned heads last season when he became the youngest player to ever debut for the Flyers after making the roster out of camp mere months after he was drafted. While this camp hasn’t been dazzling, it has been revealing. Luchanko hasn’t forced the Flyers’ hand with spectacular plays, but he has quietly shown the qualities that make him such a special prospect: maturity beyond his years, confidence building on last season’s foundation, and a willingness to do the little things coaches love.

The problem is context. Luchanko is in that strange, frustrating in-between zone: too advanced for juniors, but not quite ready to prove he can be an everyday NHLer. (He is not eligible to be assigned to the AHL.) Sending him back to juniors risks stunting his development. Keeping him in the NHL risks asking too much, too soon.

The Flyers have been clear that they want to keep an eye on him, to give him more runway to grow. But growth takes patience, and patience is a tricky commodity when roster spots are scarce.

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Alex Bump: The One That Got Away (for Now)

If there was a player who probably deserved a longer look, it’s Alex Bump. The young winger put together a good overall camp, showing impressive creativity and confidence with the puck. But hockey can be cruelly unforgiving, and a tough outing against the Bruins on Saturday may have sealed his fate.

It wasn't treated as the end of the world, but it was enough to remind the coaching staff that he’s still developing. That doesn’t mean he’s out of the Flyers’ plans—it just means the timing wasn’t right. Bump remains very much on the radar, and if his trajectory continues upward, it’s only a matter of time before he gets another crack at NHL ice.

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Emil Andrae: Stuck in the Numbers Game

And then there’s Emil Andrae, whose situation is less about performance and more about profile.

The Swedish defenseman has done almost everything right. His camp was fine, but he's already proven that he can handle life in the big leagues. His NHL call-ups last season were extremely encouraging, and his skill set—calm with the puck, creative offensively, and deceptively tough—suggests he can be an everyday NHL defenseman.

I really dont understand how @NHLFlyers Emil Andrae is not a lock to make THIS team.

In his 46 @nhl games so far:

54.28% xGF (1st on Flyers D)
+0.13 xGF rel (1st on Flyers D)
2.29 xGF/60 (2nd on Flyers D)

When you delve into it he has not struggled at all defensively. #Flyers

— Alexander Appleyard (@avappleyard) October 1, 2025

But hockey, as much as it celebrates talent, often defaults to archetypes. Andrae’s archetype is working against him.

With Cam York and Jamie Drysdale already on the roster, the Flyers are reluctant to ice three smaller, offensively tilted defensemen. The preference is for size and balance, which means players like Adam Ginning or Helge Grans (though he’s currently with the Phantoms) hold more appeal. Andrae, through no fault of his own, is the odd man out.

It’s a frustrating reality because Andrae has proven his game isn’t best suited to the AHL. He’s too polished for the minors, too skilled to be simply a call-up option. Yet unless there’s an injury to York or Drysdale, he’s stuck in purgatory—ready, but without a role.

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The Unfairness of the Cut

This is the paradox of preseason. Success doesn’t always guarantee survival. Sometimes the math just doesn’t work. 

For the Flyers, the final cut may come down to a choice between security and potential: Abols, the known quantity who has earned his spot with sweat and steadiness, or Luchanko, the high-upside teenager whose ceiling screams “future cornerstone.” It’s a decision that says as much about the Flyers’ short-term priorities as it does about their long-term vision.

What’s certain is this: camp has revealed that the Flyers are richer in depth and options than they’ve been in years. And as painful as the final cut may be, it’s the kind of problem an organization should want to have.

The Nashville Predators have made a handful of roster transactions on Wednesday, the latest reassigning forward Reid Schaefer to the Milwaukee Admirals and placing defenseman Andreas Englund on waivers. 

With the addition of Carolina Hurricanes forward Tyler Jost, claimed off waivers, the Predators training camp roster remains at 28 players - 16 forwards, 10 defensemen and two goaltenders. 

In the preseason, Schaefer recorded a goal in the Predators' 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and committed a hooking penalty in the Predators' 3-2 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Schaefer has yet to make his NHL debut, playing the last two seasons with the Admirals. Last year, he scored 14 points in 19 games. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers 32nd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, but was traded to the Predators in the 2023 offseason. 

Englund's only stat from the preseason was a boarding penalty in the 4-1 loss to the Lightning.

This is the second time in less than a year that the Englund has been placed on waivers. His former team, the Los Angeles Kings, placed Englund on waivers after scoring a point in 11 games.

The Predators claimed Englund, but his production continued to falter, scoring two points in 24 games. 

As the Los Angeles Kings look to try and make a deep run into the playoffs after struggling over the past several seasons to even get out of the first round, the contract situation surrounding forward Adrian Kempe is on everyone's mind. Recently, an update was provided by insider Elliotte Friedman.

Elliotte Friedman: I'd heard that Kempe's ask was in the $10.5 range...you wonder now, does it stay like that, or...maybe it's a little bit higher [post-Kaprizov extension] - FAN Hockey Show (9/30)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) October 1, 2025

Kempe is the heart and soul of the Kings' forward core, and with the retirement of legendary forward Anze Kopitar coming after the 2025-26 season, the Kings will need to do everything in their power to keep him around. Guys like Quinton Byfield will also be key in terms of their core moving forward, but if they aren't able to keep Kempe around, it is a huge hole to fill.

With the recent monster extension that was signed by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL with a $17 million annual cap hit, things will have changed around the NHL, with some of the superstars looking for new deals. Most eyes are on Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, but the reality is that this also seriously impacts how the Kings and Kempe move forward.

Kempe, who is 29 years old, scored 35 goals and added 38 assists for 73 points through 81 games with the Kings last season. Throughout his career, he has scored 194 goals and added 207 assists for 401 points through 630 games, which comes out to a 0.64 points-per-game average.

He is also a proven playoff performer, having scored four goals and added six assists for 10 points through six games last season, and having recorded 29 points through 28 career playoff games.

He is a very important piece of the Kings' roster, and if the ask from him is over $10.5 million annually, it should be a no-brainer to sign him. Even if he is pushing closer to $12 million, it shouldn't be an issue to get that deal done. Losing Kempe means the Kings move away from being consistent contenders and fall back into having to retool or move into a full-blown rebuild.

There doesn't seem to be any concern from either side, and a deal will likely get done at some point, but the price will have gone up after the recent signings around the NHL. 

Time will tell what a new deal looks like - but the Kings need to get something done.

Stay tuned in with your Los Angeles Kings here at The Hockey News, as the 2025-26 season inches closer.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues practiced Wednesday with as much of their opening night lineup as possible, with a few exceptions, and the purpose was to get it ready with the regular season opener just over a week away on Oct. 9 at home against the Minnesota Wild.

But the first practice group will be one that is utilized on Thursday when the Blues play the second-to-last preseason game, and last home preseason game, against the Ottawa Senators.

“Not definitively but like 95 percent of it, yes,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said.

Jake Neighbours and Alexey Toropchenko each was left off the top group with what Montgomery called general soreness. Neighbours in fact skated with the extra group following the main group, but Toropchenko, who toe-picked in the first period and fell hard backside into the boards, did not skate.

“We’ve got to get the continuity of our lines and everybody being together,” Montgomery said. “The last two home games, we had the (Robert) Thomas power play unit playing and last game we had the (Dylan) Holloway-(Jordan) Kyrou unit playing together and we wanted to give them both most of the power play time and tomorrow night, we’ll do our usual one minute, one minute. We’re not getting a lot of power plays but that seems to be the way the league is going.”

Neighbours would have been slotted alongside Brayden Schenn, but it was Mathieu Joseph there on Wednesday, with Nick Bjugstad, a center by trade but someone versatile to play either spot, on the right wing, a position the Blues are eager to see someone grab.

“All along, we were going to play him a couple games at center, a couple games at wing,” Montgomery said of Bjugstad. “That was part of it. We’ve been putting everybody there kind of-sort of with Schenn and Neighbours; he’s a little sore today so we didn’t put him out there, but he usually would be playing.”

The job seems wide open.

“Until we find one,” Montgomery said. “I think players have had good moments, players have had off moments, so to answer your question, I don’t think anyone’s clearly grabbed it, no.”

Bjugstad, signed to a two-year, $3.5 million contract on July 1, doesn’t mind whatever spot the Blues put him.

“I told them I’m comfortable at either spot,” Bjugstad said. “It depends on how the lineup’s sitting, what the needs are obviously from that standpoint. For me, I’ve done enough of both at this point. Center is the natural. That’s what I grew up playing obviously and was drafted us, but I don’t know. I’m indifferent I’d say on wherever I’m at. I’ll go wherever. I made that clear I’m just trying to help the team. Wherever that is, whatever that fit is, I’ll do it.”

Bjugstad has played in two preseason games, and although it’s been more bottom of the lineup with younger linemates, there seemed to be more offensive bite Wednesday.

“I thought he was good out there,” Montgomery said. “I noticed a lot more offensive plays happening. Now maybe that’s because he was with Schenn, I don’t know. But it seemed like he was involved with a lot more offensive opportunities.

“He made a high-end pass on the one drill that we did where he toe-dragged and went backhand to the backdoor to ‘Snuggy’. Those are the kind of plays I hadn’t seen before, so it looks like he’s pretty comfortable at right wing. I talked to him before training camp began and he said he’s comfortable at center or right wing.”

If the Blues can get Bjugstad

Also a versatile choice: Oskar Sundqvist, who has experience at either center or wing. Sundqvist was centering Milan Lucic and Nathan Walker on Wednesday.

“He’s an option,” Montgomery said. “We know he can play there. His defensive stick is so good down low and he covers over for people. It’s hard to get away from him being there as a coach.”

- - -

Don’t discount the seventh defensive spot being an open competition this late into camp.

And it’s Hunter Skinner that’s making things very interesting for Matthew Kessel, the assumed seventh D-man heading into training camp.

“Everything’s a battle. It’s training camp,” Montgomery said. “The people that go out and grab it, it’s like third-line right wing, have we had someone grab it yet? No, so that’s why we’re continuing to look at people. We know what our top six is going to look like. We know what our top eight’s going to look like.”

As for Kessel?

“He’s had some really good moments," Montgomery said. “Last night, I thought he was good red line in. I thought red line towards our net, there were sometimes he could have made more assertive, more aggressive plays to end plays, and that’s something I feel has been Kessel’s issue, probably why he’s been in and out of the lineup is because of that. He’s a great kid, he’s working on it and he continues to work hard. He’s doing a good job.”

We know who will not be starting here. Not this season, anyway, is 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) is Theo Lindstein, who is playing in North America for the first time. The lefty will be Springfield-bound at some point.

“This is a tough situation,” Montgomery said. “When you come over for your first time, you’re in your first (season), not only is he getting used to the pace of play and smaller rink, but he’s getting used to living in North America for the first time. So there’s a lot going on. I think he’s had days where he’s been really good and he’s had days where he looks, I don’t know if overwhelmed is the right word, but he looks like a deer in headlights at times because there’s a lot being thrown at him.”

Observations From Blues' 5-3 Preseason Loss Vs. StarsST. LOUIS – Dylan Holloway scored twice, but the St. Louis Blues are now winless in four preseason games after a 5-3 loss against the Dallas Stars at Enterprise Center on Tuesday. Former Blues First Overall Pick Announces Retirement After 17 NHL SeasonsFormer 2006 St. Louis Blues first overall pick Erik Johnson has retired from professional hockey after 17 seasons in the NHL. Blues Prospect Wins KHL Rookie Of The Week For Second Consecutive WeekSt. Louis Blues prospect Mikhail Fyodorov has won the KHLrookie of the week for the second consecutive week.

The NHL had plenty of players hit waivers on Oct. 1, and two of them are former New Jersey Devils. This is because Nolan Foote has been placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers, while the Washington Capitals have placed Graeme Clarke on waivers. 

Foote's time with the Devils came to an end this off-season after he was not tendered a qualifying offer from the Devils. With this, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Panthers in July. 

Foote played in 30 games with the Devils over five seasons, where he recorded six goals, three assists, nine points, 32 hits, and a plus-3 rating. He spent the majority of his time with the Devils in the AHL, where he had 62 goals, 67 assists, 129 points, and a plus-11 rating in 191 games. 

Clarke, on the other hand, was traded by the Devils to the Minnesota Wild during the 2024 NHL off-season in exchange for forward Adam Beckman. He then joined the Capitals this off-season after signing with them in free agency. 

Clarke played in three games for the Devils during the 2023-24 season, where he recorded zero points, two shots, and a minus-2 rating. He was selected by the Devils with the 80th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. 

After Tuesday night’s win over the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens alternate captain Brendan Gallagher was asked about Max Pacioretty’s retirement, and he only had good things to say.

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Gallagher played for six seasons in Montreal alongside the former captain during some particularly tough years. When asked about the Connecticut native retirement, he said:

I really enjoyed playing with him; he was a guy who did a lot for this organization. I’m sure there will be a time when he comes back to the city and gets his due response that he deserves. He did a lot of things as captain, represented the team incredibly well, and he was a good teammate. The career he had, he can be incredibly proud. He had some tough injuries and worked his way back, scoring a ton of goals, and now he’s going to get to spend some time with his boys.

- Gallagher on Pacioretty

Pacioretty spent 10 years of his career with the Canadiens, playing in 626 games, scoring 226 goals along the way, and picking up 222 assists in the process for a total of 448 points. He hangs up his skates, having played 917 NHL games, scored 335 goals, and picked up a total of 681 points.

Last season, Gallagher overtook Pacioretty on the all-time Canadiens’ list in goals, points, and assists, something very few people would have thought possible when Pacioretty was in his prime.

Whichever way you look at it, trading Pacioretty when they did was the right move for the Canadiens. He was sent to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nick Suzuki, Tomas Tatar, and a 2019 second-round pick. The pick was eventually traded for two other picks, which became Mattias Norlinder and Jacob LeGuerrier. They didn’t pan out, but the trade was nevertheless a steal for the Canadiens.

Tatar went on to become a first-line player for the Canadiens for a couple of seasons, putting up numbers quite similar to Pacioretty’s in Vegas for those two years. But the masterpiece of the trade was, of course, Nick Suzuki, the gift that keeps on giving. He went from being an unproven prospect to becoming the face of the franchise and captain. Last year, he almost reached the 90-point mark for the first time in his career. At 26, he shows no sign of slowing down, and why should he? His best years are yet to come.

As for Pacioretty, he stayed in Vegas for four seasons before having short injury-plagued stays with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Washington Capitals, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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This time next Wednesday, the 2025-26 regular season will be underway, but we're already in Week 2 of the NHL power rankings.

As training camp continues this week, a few things have already happened that will have a huge impact on the upcoming season. At the forefront is the knee injury to Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, which threatens him to miss the entire season.

Rosters will be finalized before puck drop on Oct. 7. In this week’s NHL power rankings, we look at some interesting storylines for each team heading into the season.

1. Florida Panthers (47-31-4, +29 goal differential. Previous Rank: 1)

Even with the loss of captain and back-to-back Selke Trophy winner Barkov for perhaps the entire season, we’re not ready to knock off the Panthers from the top spot. Admittedly, though, the race has become a little more open. 

2. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, +23. PR: 2)

Once Zach Hyman returns, the Oilers will once again figure out how to configure their lineup. There are a lot of candidates for very few jobs and still holes in the lineup to fill.

3. Dallas Stars (50-26-6, +53. PR: 3)

It doesn’t matter where the Stars finish during the regular season. Only one thing matters: if Glen Gulutzan can take this team to the Stanley Cup final.

4. Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, +56. PR: 5)

The loss of Alex Pietrangelo will certainly hurt, and their goalie depth will certainly be tested. One season of Ilya Samsonov was apparently enough for the Knights to commit to Akira Schmid as their backup, who has 36 career starts and made just five appearances in the NHL last season.

5. Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5, +33. PR: 4)

Forgive me while I snicker as Jesperi Kotkaniemi becomes a $4.82-million fourth-line center. Who didn’t see that coming? The search for a proper No. 2 pivot behind Sebastian Aho continues. This time, they’re hoping Logan Stankoven is the answer.

NHL Power Rankings: Setting The Stage For 2025-26The 2025-26 season is just two weeks away, which means the NHL power rankings are back every  Wednesday. We are back, baby.

6. Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4, +86. PR: 6)

Do the Jets have enough depth beyond their top line? They’re counting on Jonathan Toews, who hasn’t played in two seasons due to long-COVID, and 36-year-old Gustav Nyquist, who scored 28 points last season, to form two-thirds of their second line. 

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, +37. PR: 7)

Can they still reach the same highs without Mitch Marner? Did you know the Leafs have never won consecutive division titles?

8. Colorado Avalanche (49-29-4, +43. PR: 8)

It’s looking like Mackenzie Blackwood will not be ready for the season opener. A season after overhauling their goaltending tandem, the Avs might be in trouble again in net, though it’s more just bad luck than incompetence this time.

9. Washington Capitals (51-22-9, +56. PR: 9)

The Caps are spreading out their talent across three lines to create a more balanced attack, but how long before we see Tom Wilson back on Alex Ovechkin’s line again? Everything went right for the Caps last season, and re-capturing that magic will be difficult.

10. Minnesota Wild (45-30-7, -11. PR: 12)

Kirill Kaprizov is a very, very rich man, but the Wild are even richer because they’ve locked up their franchise player in anticipation of many wins and many playoff successes… right?

Why Connor McDavid Shouldn't Consider An Oilers Discount After Kaprizov SigningNews that Minnesota Wild superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov signed an eight-year contract extension Tuesday sent ripple effects throughout the NHL – most notably, in Edmonton, where Oilers dynamo Connor McDavid is in need of a contract extension.

11. Los Angeles Kings (48-25-9, +44. PR: 10)

Can the Kings’ defensive depth hold up? In Anze Kopitar’s swan song, the Kings are trying to avoid a fifth straight first-round playoff exit against the Oilers.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (47-27-8, +75. PR: 11)

Andrei Vasilevskiy has returned to practice but has yet to play a minute in the pre-season. The Lightning aren’t the juggernaut they once were, and they rely heavily on their elite players, so any sign of a potential injury is a little worrisome.

13. St. Louis Blues (44-30-8, +21. PR: 13)

The key for the Blues is to continue where they finished off last season when they were a top-10 team under Jim Montgomery. Honestly, they have one of the most balanced lineups in the NHL.

14. New Jersey Devils (42-33-7, +20. PR: 14)

Hallelujah, Luke Hughes is finally signed. With defensemen Seamus Casey and Simon Nemec waiting for a prolonged shot in the NHL, the focus turns to Dougie Hamilton's future.

15. Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, +9. PR: 15)

Drake Batherson is questionable for the season opener, which puts a little damper after the Sens made the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. This may be Claude Giroux’s last chance to win a Cup. 

16. Montreal Canadiens (40-31-11, -20. PR: 16)

Can Kirby Dach be their No. 2 center? Flanked by brilliant scorers in Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov, the Habs cannot afford to lose him again to a long-term injury considering their lack of depth down the middle.

17. Utah Mammoth (38-31-13, -10. PR: 17)

Logan Cooley has apparently been dealing with an injury for a week, and they’ll need his playmaking prowess to help set up sharpshooter Dylan Guenther. The pair of young forwards set career highs last season, and with their name and identity finalized, the Mammoth must deliver amid big expectations. 

18. Columbus Blue Jackets (40-33-9, +5. PR: 18)

Stay healthy and keep the momentum going. And also hope that between Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves, one of them emerges as a reliable starter for Columbus.

19. New York Rangers (39-36-7, +1. PR: 19)

The Rangers survived a small scare when newly minted captain J.T. Miller left the ice from a non-contact injury, but he appears to be fine. The impending free agency of Artemi Panarin looms large. 

20. Vancouver Canucks (38-30-14, -17. PR: 20)

Elias Pettersson said he put on nearly 13 pounds of muscle, but you wonder if his shoulders got big enough to carry the weight of a fragile franchise. Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks hinges on how well they do this season, and his decision will have a lasting impact on this franchise.

21. Calgary Flames (41-27-14, -13. PR: 21)

Morgan Frost has had a strong pre-season with six points in four games, an encouraging sign for a young center who has yet to live up to his potential. If Frost’s line can provide consistent offense, it’s going to a lot of pressure off Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau and potentially convince Flames GM Craig Conroy to entrust the team to a younger core.

22. Detroit Red Wings (39-35-8, -21. PR: 22)

It’s time for the Red Wings’ prospects to make their mark. Marco Kasper and Simon Edvinsson are two players who need to play significant roles for the Yzerplan to move forward. 

23. Anaheim Ducks (35-37-10, -42. PR: 24)

Hallelujah, Mason McTavish is finally signed. It’s onward and upward for the Ducks, and all eyes will be on Joel Quenneville’s return to the bench. 

24. New York Islanders (35-35-12, -36. PR: 23)

Just… maybe? Matthew Schaefer and Maxim Shabanov look pretty good, and with a healthy Mathew Barzal, the Isles have some playoff potential. Hopefully, they can also improve their special teams.

25. Buffalo Sabres (36-39- 7, -20. PR: 25)

Can the Sabres ever just put it together? It’s possible that when opening night rolls around, their entire left-side defense with Bowen Byram, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson will be sitting out due to injury.

26. Seattle Kraken (35-41-6, -18. PR: 26)

Jared McCann and Brandon Montour are both nursing injuries, which is bad, but they’re expected to be ready for the season opener, which is good. With a new coach and patience running thin on a fan base that expected the team to be good right away, it strangely feels like time’s already running out for the five-year-old Kraken.

27. Philadelphia Flyers (33-39-10, -48. PR: 29)

We saw some magic between Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras, so even if the Flyers lose a lot of games, at least their top duo will be pretty good at putting pucks in net. Whether their duo in net can stop any pucks, though, is a different story.

28. Boston Bruins (33-39-10, -50. PR: 27)

Outside of David Pastrnak, can the Bruins score? 

29. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-36-12, -50. PR: 28)

Don’t let Marc-Andre Fleury’s most recent pranks on Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin distract you from the fact that this team might be in full sell mode by December.

Marc-Andre Fleury Signs Off On His Career With the Penguins In A 'Special' NightThe Pittsburgh Penguins and the entire hockey community said goodbye to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury as he played his final NHL game. The team signed him to a PTO earlier in the month to allow him to call his career from where it all began.

30. Nashville Predators (30-44-8, -60. PR: 30)

Nic Hague is slated to miss the start of the season which puts the Preds behind the eight ball already. The Preds didn’t make any significant changes from the prior season, so either they think they’re in a good position to bounce back, or worse, don’t have a clue how to fix things. 

31. San Jose Sharks (20-50-12, -105. PR: 31)

As if they needed even more scoring talent – who doesn’t, though – Michael Misa is on track to make this club. If there’s a team that isn’t afraid to throw young centers into the deep and see if they sink or swim, it’s definitely the Sharks. Their next best option is Alex Wennberg, so I guess I do see the point. 

32. Chicago Blackhawks (25-46-11, -70. PR: 32)

I swear, sometimes we talk about Connor Bedard as if time has already passed him by. I hope he takes some of the criticism and turns it into jet fuel and drags the rest of his team to new highs… I mean, you can’t get any lower than 32, anyway. 

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As NHL teams begin to make more and more cuts from their training camp rosters, one notable former Philadelphia Flyers forward has been placed on waivers.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that recent Flyers trade acquisition Jakob Pelletier was placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning, ending his push for an NHL roster spot for the time being.

Pelletier, 24, was one of the main pieces in the Jan. 30 Flyers trade that sent Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost to Calgary in exchange for himself, forward Andrei Kuzmenko, a 2025 second-round pick (Shane Vansaghi), and a 2028 seventh-round pick.

The Flyers, of course, didn't retain Pelletier and traded Kuzmenko, and neither player returned to Philadelphia this summer.

Ex-Flyers Forward Could Receive Big Opportunity After Latest Lightning InjuryFormer Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakob Pelletier could be in for a breakout season after the latest Tampa Bay Lightning injury update.

Pelletier signed a three-year, $2.33 million contract with the Lightning on July 2, while Kuzmenko remained West and re-upped with the Los Angeles Kings on a one-year, $4.3 million pact.

A reunion with Pelletier might have made some sense from the Flyers' perspective, especially given the lack of competition behind Nikita Grebenkin, but the former first-round pick's three-year contract is likely to turn off other NHL teams from claiming him on waivers, league-minimum price point notwithstanding.

The Flyers had a degree of interest in re-signing Pelletier earlier in the offseason had their first priorities in free agency not panned out, but Pelletier signed elsewhere on Day 2 and Christian Dvorak seemingly gave the Flyers what they needed on Day 1.

Injured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityIn what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk is, unfortunately, missing out on a big opportunity.

Going forward, Pelletier will have to again prove himself in spite of his diminutive size at the AHL level until he earns and is given an opportunity in the NHL again.

According to PuckPedia, former Chicago Blackhawks players Ian Mitchell, Mackenzie Entwistle, Andreas Englund, and Boris Katchouk have all been placed on waivers.

Mitchell was placed on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings. The right-shot defenseman is entering his first season with the Red Wings organization after signing with them this summer. In 15 games with the Boston Bruins in 2024-25, he posted one assist and a minus-2 rating. In 82 games over three seasons with Chicago, Mitchell had four goals, 16 points, and a minus-21 rating. 

Entwistle was placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers. The gritty winger was limited to only seven regular-season games this past season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, where he posted one goal and one assist. He also had two goals, one assist, and 20 penalty minutes in eight playoff games for Charlotte this spring. In 193 games over four seasons with Chicago, Entwistle had 15 goals, 35 points, and 404 hits.

Englund was placed on waivers by the Nashville Predators. In 35 games last season split between the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville, he had one goal, three points, and 48 penalty minutes. He played in 11 games with the Blackhawks in 2022-23, where he had one assist. 

As for Katchouk, he was placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent all of last season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording 21 goals and 49 points in 67 games. In 117 games over three seasons with Chicago, he had 11 goals, 26 points, and 176 hits. 

Goaltender Marcus Hogberg and forward Matthew Highmore have cleared NHL waivers and will report to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. 

G Marcus Hogberg and F Matthew Highmore have cleared waivers and will report to Bridgeport. #Isles

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 1, 2025

Both will help Bridgeport, for sure. 

While those two made their journey across the sound, head coach Rocky Thompson got behind the bench for his first preseason game since the Islanders hired him to take over AHL coaching duties after clearing house. 

Bridgeport came away with a 6-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers' AHL affilaite. This game was not available on video. 

After allowing the opening goal just 8:09 into the first period, forward Eetu Liukas tied the score at 12:27, with Cam Thiesing recording the primary assist on what was a shorthanded goal. 

Hartford found themselves ahead 2-1 at 15:09 of the opening period to head into the first intermission up by one.

Then, it was all Bridgeport, scoring four unanswered goals. Defenseman Calle Odelius scored at 2:09 of the second, with Hunter Drew and Matthew Maggio recording the assists. A few minutes later, at 5:41 of the second, Joey Larson scored with Maggio snagging his second assist of the day.  Cole McWard regarded the secondary assist. 

Then it was Adam Beckman times two, scoring at 10:33 and 19:13 of the second, the latter of the two a shorthanded marker, Bridgeport's second of the game. 

Beckman is not eligibl to play in Bridgeport's first three games due to a suspension that carries over from last season.

Islanders Bring Back Beckman For BridgeportOn Tuesday night, the New York Islanders brought back forward Adam Beckman on a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $150,000 at the AHL level with a guaranteed  

The first was assisted by Sean Day with the second goal coming off a play from Alex Jefferies. 

Hartford made it 5-3 at 15:38 of the third courtesy of Shane Ott but Cam Berg answered with an empty-net tally at 19:29 of the third, with McWard earning his second assist of the night. 

Parker Gahagen got the start in goal, turning aside 17 of the 20 shots he faced. 

After being outshot 11-5 in the first period, the Islanders outshot them 10-3 in the second and 12-6 in the third to win the shooting battle 28-20. 

Thompson said during his introductory press conference that Bridgeport would no longer be punching bags after a miserable 2024-25 season that saw them win a historic-worst four home games. 

Rocky Thompson's Plan To Building A Winning Culture In BridgeportLOS ANGELES -- On Thursday afternoon, Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rocky Thompson addressed the media for the first time since the New York Islanders announced his hiring on June 23. 

While preseason games don't matter in the standings, seeing Bridgeport's offense come alive while keeping pucks out of their own net is a sure positive. 

Bridgeport's next presesaon game is Friday at 6 PM ET vs. the Hartford Wolfpack, the New York Rangers AHL affiliate. 

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Former 2006 St. Louis Blues first overall pick Erik Johnson has retired from professional hockey after 17 seasons in the NHL.

Johnson was selected as the defenseman who was supposed to turn the Blues' blueline around, and although he went on to have an impressive NHL career, he never quite lived up to the billing of a first overall pick. 

He spent just two and a half seasons with the Blues, notching a career-high of 39 points in his sophomore season, a total that was matched once afterwards. In 203 games with the Blues, Johnson scored 20 goals and 91 points.

His Blues tenure didn't last as long as some thought it would. In the 2010-11 season, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche alongside Jay McClement and draft picks for Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and draft picks. 

Johnson went on to play 731 of his 1023 NHL games with the Avalanche, winning a Stanley Cup in 2021-22. Shattenkirk played 425 games with the Blues, scoring 59 goals and 258 points, but was dealt before the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2018-19. 

Including the Blues and Avalanche, the 37-year-old Johnson had brief stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers late in his career.

Internationally, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound defender won two gold medals at the U-18s, bronze at the World Junior Championship and the World Championship, and won a silver medal at the 2010 Olympics with Team USA.