It was just a matter of time until a talented player would reset the market, but few expected it to be Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov. The Russian star signed an eight-year, $136 million contract on Tuesday. The deal, which takes effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 season, sees the player earn $17 million in Average Annual Value (AAV) per season.

Kaprizov didn’t just become the new NHL leader in AAV; he smashed the previous high of $14 million per season that Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl received in his eight-year extension. Perhaps a player like Mitch Marner could have approached that number. His agent, Darren Ferris, indicated he wanted to take the player on a tour around the NHL to see what was out there, but the former Toronto Maple Leafs player was set on joining the Vegas Golden Knights agreeing to a sign-and-trade deal worth $12 million per season. The Wild didn't want to let Kaprizov walk, and after reports that the player turned down $16 million, here we are at $17 million.

This $17 million contract is the new benchmark, and there is one player who is an even bigger threat to reset the market: the hard-to-dispute No. 1 player in the NHL, Connor McDavid. While reports suggested McDavid could take less money with the Oilers if he chooses to stay, it’s hard to know if that's true after Kaprizov set the market into a state of uncertainty. The salary cap is projected to be $104 million for 2026-27. If McDavid took the maximum allowable percentage of the cap, he could command as high as $20.8 million per season. And while he probably doesn’t demand that much, how do you not command $17.5 million per year if Kaprizov got $17 million?

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.

This financial escalation directly affects the Maple Leafs, who are still looking to improve their forward depth and would like to acquire a top-six winger following Marner's absence. What does this escalation mean for other players in the top-10 or top-20 in the NHL?

The Maple Leafs have about $20.3 million in cap space for 2026-27 based on a roster of 18 players. Their defense and goaltending are essentially locked in; they need forwards. A player like Kyle Connor would certainly fit that bill of an elite winger. With 97 points in 82 games with the Winnipeg Jets, he certainly could have commanded $11 million per season in his next contract. But maybe that’s now $14 or $15 million after seeing what Kaprizov got. Jack Eichel is in the final year of an eight-year contract. Perhaps Vegas gets a discount to keep the player and flex the tax advantage, but he’s probably a $14–$15 million guy otherwise, if not more. What about second-line forwards? Does a player like Alex Tuch get $9 million in this new financial landscape? It’s hard to argue against it based on what we’ve seen.

Why The Maple Leafs’ Best Chance to Replace Mitch Marner Will Come At The 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineIt’s been a quiet August for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and unless something unforeseen happens before training camp, the team’s roster could head into camp as it is currently constructed. This means there is no direct replacement for Mitch Marner, who departed the organization in June in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Suddenly, $20.3 million doesn’t look like a ton of money for Toronto to work with, though they could certainly clear out more. In this instance, the Leafs weren’t the market setters, as Minnesota paid what they had to for the player to not entertain offers. But it doesn’t mean they are thrilled about seeing Kaprizov get that kind of salary. Just think about the money Auston Matthews will command when he’s eligible for a contract extension on July 1, 2027.

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It’s been 20 years since Quebec City lost its beloved Nordiques thanks to the need for a new building and the weakness of the Canadian dollar, but last night at Centre Videotron, Quebec showed it was ready for another team. The Centre Videotron was filled to the brim for the preseason tilt between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators. While the Sens were technically the local team, the Habs were clearly the crowd’s favourite.

Canadiens: Kicking Things Off In Quebec
Canadiens' Hutson Ranked Among NHL's Best Players
Canadiens: Crave’s Toujours Canadiens - Stephane Richer

A Fantastic First

Martin St-Louis had decided to test some new lines in this second-to-last preseason game, and one of his newly formed combinations wasted no time in paying dividends. Ivan Demidov may not have gotten an assist, but it was his play that led to the only goal of the first frame. The puck went from him, to Mike Matheson, to Alex Newhook, to Oliver Kapanen and finally, to the back of the net. The crowd erupted with joy as the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead.

Still fighting for a place in the lineup, Florian Xhekaj dropped the gloves against Jan Jenik, and if the younger Xhekaj couldn’t get a win against Nicholas Deslauriers last week, he certainly did this time. It was a spirited fight that saw him get the better of his opponent, much to the delight of everyone in attendance, especially the Canadiens players who weren’t playing but were watching from a box above the press gallery.

By making changes to his lines, the bench boss was clearly hoping to see a renewed level of effort from his men, and he certainly did. Demidov was relentless on the forecheck, forcing two turnovers. Kirby Dach dove in desperation to break up a shorthanded chance he created by missing the puck on a back pass. After 20 minutes, the Canadiens were up 1-0, and spirits were flying high in Quebec.

The Pack Mentality

St-Louis said earlier in camp that he wanted to see a pack mentality, and he was served in the second frame. After the Canadiens had scored another two goals, Hayden Hodgson hit Alex Newhook from behind, and the Habs collectively took exception. Carrier (who had scored the third goal) flew to his teammate's defense. Once that tilt was over, Xhekaj and Struble were talking to the Senators by center ice, and whatever was said led to two more fights breaking off. Jenik came out of it worse for wear, bleeding profusely.

It seems like the days of the Canadiens being labelled “soft” are truly over. Of course, being three defensemen down is not a brilliant outcome, but the coach wanted to see his team play harder to be more physical. Based on tonight, that box can be checked.

After the game, the bench boss said:

I liked how we behaved as a pack; we stuck together from a physical and grit standpoint, but what I liked even more was how we played hockey together as a pack. I think we played an excellent game, and we were there for one another.

- St-Louis on his team's performance

When Things Go Too Far

There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, especially when it comes to preseason hockey, and tonight, former Hab Nick Cousins crossed that line. To quote Friends, he was so far over the line that the line was a dot to him. In the final frame, the Canadiens’ rookie avoided his hit by the boards, and the Senators forward then decided to slash the Russian player in a very aggressive manner. St-Louis didn’t seem overly worried about Demidov in his post-game press conference, but things could have turned out very badly.

Ivan Demidov first dodged a boarding hit by Nick Cousins, then he was slashed on the arm/wrist with a dirty two handed axe chop.

He looked in visible pain afterwards. pic.twitter.com/PyZkv7mWrt

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 1, 2025

What should be taken away from this 5-0 win over the Senators, though, is not only the rough stuff, but the fact that several Habs players shone brightly. Demidov was an absolute force, and the truth of the matter is, if you let him control the puck too much, he will burn you. He finished his night with two assists, but was also instrumental in a couple of other goals. Kapanen had a strong game as well, putting six shots on net and scoring a goal. Newhook also picked up a pair of assists, and the line meshed very well.

As for Patrik Laine, who found himself on a line with Joe Veleno and Owen Beck, the coach said he thought he played very well at even strength throughout the game. The big Finn also scored a power-play goal and got three shots on net; it was a good response to what was a significant demotion.

Dach also had a solid game, not only because of his backchecking effort in the first frame, but offensively, he was very much involved and chasing the puck hard when the Habs weren’t in possession. He had two shots and got a goal and an assist, the lamplighter was a fantastic piece of hand-eye coordination as well, batting in a saucer pass for the goal. As always, Lane Hutson was very noticeable, with plenty of twists and turns that led to him scoring a goal and an assist as well.

(つ•—•)つ 🚨

MTL 5, OTT 0#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/hRr5czvL80

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 1, 2025

Jakub Dobes saved the 16 shots he faced for the shutout, and it was also an excellent night for Brendan Gallagher, who was named the first star of the game thanks to his three assists and heard the sold-out building chant “Gally, Gally, Gally!” as it was announced.

Will tonight’s events alter St-Louis’ plans for the last preseason game? He’s giving himself a few days to think about it…

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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ST. 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.

Philip Broberg also scored, and Jordan Kyrou assisted on both Holloway goals in his preseason debut; Pius Suter also made his Blues debut and had an assist, and Joel Hofer was the first Blues goalie to play an entire preseason game; he made 25 saves.

The Blues dropped to 0-3-1 and will host the Ottawa Senators on Thursday in their final home preseason game before finishing against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Here are some observations of the game:

* Holloway is ready for Oct. 9 – Cut to the chase. Holloway is ready for Oct. 9 when the Blues open the regular season against the Minnesota Wild.

When this guy told me he wants to be one of the best players in the league, there was a reason why.

Not only did Holloway scored twice on Tuesday, but just watching the game, his attention to detail right now seems to be pristine. And there’s a reason, according to Blues coach Jim Montgomery.

“What you love about him is his second- and third-effort on pucks,” Montgomery said. “I've said it a couple times last year, this is a second- & third-effort league and he is relentless on pucks. That's why he comes up with pucks. That's why everyone wants to play with him. If I was to ask anyone on our team, ‘Who do you want on your line?’ He’s going to be one of the first names that comes up because you know you’re going to get the puck, you know you’re going to get offensive opportunities because he’s relentless, and I think he brings us real good energy and a real good role model as to how you need to play. We need more of that permeating throughout our lineup in training camp right now.”

Holloway’s stick always seemed to be in the right place, he’s going to get more opportunity on the penalty kill this year, his hustle and jump on pucks is second to none, and he never gives up on a play. That’s what he’s shown previously, and he did so again in a meaningless preseason game playing it like he still has to win a job.

“He’s just in tremendous shape, he can handle a lot of ice,” Montgomery said. “Being able to get him PK, we’ll be able to get him up into the 18, 19 minutes a night, which the way he’s continuing to develop, that’s the kind of ice time he’s demanding right now with his play.”

* Suter looked solid between Holloway, Kyrou – It’s the first time this preseason since the coaching staff has put Suter between those two wingers that they’ve played in a game and each finished a plus-1.

Suter (16:24) led the ice time of the trio, with Kyrou (16:07) and Holloway (15:59) following.

Holloway led the Blues with six of their 24 shots on goal on nine attempts and scored two beauties.

His first cut the Stars’ lead to 2-1 at 12:56 of the first:

His second made it a one-goal game at 4-3 off a beautiful give-and-go with Kyrou at 13:07 of the third period:

But the fact that playing against a loaded Dallas lineup, one of the Blues’ top lines going into the season wasn’t penetrated defensively. They looked to be on the same page quite often.

“I thought it was pretty good,” Montgomery said of the line. “Obviously they scored the two goals, but besides the two goals, I didn't think they gave up all that much and I thought they continued to support each other really well.”

* Kaskimaki is a puck hound – One under-the-radar forward continues to be 2022 third-round pick, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who was a plus-1 in 15:04 in the game on Tuesday.

I can best describe Kaskimaki as a puck hound, someone who also doesn’t give up on a play.

“I’m trying to just show my compete and my skills in the O-zone and the 200-foot game,” Kaskimaki said. “If you compare (training camp) it to last year, it feels like you have a little more time there on the ice.”

Kaskimaki skated with Dalibor Dvorsky and Alexey Toropchenko on Tuesday.

“His awareness without the puck primarily,” Montgomery said regarding Kaskimaki’s play. “He’s really shown that his defensive side of the game is really good. He’s almost too safe. I understand. He doesn’t want to give up much. I imagine he’s been well-coached in the past.

“He seems to be a puck hound on top of pucks, and he’s always on the right side, so he always seems to be in a good position to handle pucks.”

* Skinner is making a case for himself – Montgomery mentioned multiple times how he’s noticed defenseman Hunter Skinner’s game, and the fourth-round pick in 2019 by the New York Rangers who was acquired in the Feb. 9, 2023 trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to the Rangers is making things very interesting for that seventh defensive position.

“I feel a lot better,” Skinner said. “Trying to prove that I can play and put my best foot forward this year, hoping for an opportunity. Just keeping my head down, just keep working, grinding through it hoping for an opportunity.

More so just focusing on my game. I think worrying about playing physical, playing my game, getting shots through, playing hard.”

Skinner played 18:28 and had two shots on goal with four hits despite being a minus-2 when both goals against went in off partner Leo Loof’s skates.

“I like how assertive he is,” Montgomery said. ‘I think he’s had a good training camp. He’s assertive physically, he’s assertive taking away time and space. He’s not afraid to hold onto pucks and make a play, so that confidence is nice to see in a young defenseman.”

Should Matthew Kessel be looking over his shoulder? I would.

* Broberg – After what Montgomery said he didn’t think Broberg had his best first period, the top-pair defenseman in this game, playing with Justin Faulk, asserted himself quite nicely and scored a beauty of a goal. In the second at 15:24 to tie the game 2-2.

It came after Dvorsky won a face-off, Broberg took the puck off the left wall, gave Casey DeSmith a small pump fake like he was coming with it to the front of the net just enough to freeze the Stars goalie long enough to pull off a wraparound goal:

Broberg was a plus-1 in 21:03 of ice time.

“I think he’s really starting to understand how gifted he is as an athletic hockey player,” Montgomery said. ‘What I really liked is I didn’t think ‘Broby’ had the best first period, but he responded within the game, found his game and became dominant in the second period and I thought he was good in the third. It’s good because there was a lot of times last year, and I thought he started to do that at the end of the season last year, but when he would kind of have an off period, he’d get down on himself, and I could see him talk to himself tonight. He talked himself into being a good player tonight. That’s a real good sign of a young pro becoming a better pro.”

* Lucic verdict still out there – It was the second preseason game for Milan Lucic, who is in training camp on a professional tryout.

The 37-year-old tied with Loof and Mathieu Joseph for a game-high five hits in 13:58, his second preseason game after playing Sept. 21 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Just personally, feeling better overall,” Lucic said. “I felt like I did some good things, especially on the forecheck. Made some better plays coming out of the D-zone, but I still feel like I’ve got another gear. Good thing is two more preseason games here to play. Every day just get a little bit better.

“Having a good practice yesterday just helped me with my confidence. Even more so getting that first game out of the way. I almost felt like a rookie again, the jitters and being nervous and everything like I was that first game in Columbus. I felt little bit more comfortable, but I have more and I’m going to get a chance to prove that. That’s on me.”

Lucic strained his groin a week ago Tuesday and missed the next three practice days and did not play last Saturday against the Blackhawks but was back on the practice ice Monday. He skated on a line with Joseph and Alexandre Texier.

“I thought he skated much better,” Montgomery said. “I thought he was around the puck, I thought he caused disruptive plays. Next couple games with the opportunity, he’s going to be able to make more. We’ve got to see more with the puck, but we know he’s capable of it. It was good to see him have a good game.”

* See ya, Leo – It was a tough game for Loof, the Blues’ 2020 third-round pick. He did play a physical game, but his skating wasn’t always there, and his positioning in front of his net left a little to be desired.

The Stars scored two goals that caromed in off Loof’s skates, including one by former Blue Radek Faksa late in the second period.

Loof played 18:06 and had a shot on goal to go with a team-high tying five hits but his days are likely numbered and will be heading back to Springfield in short order.

* Texier not helping his cause – For someone playing for his job, it just hasn’t been there for Texier, who played 15:22 and had two giveaways in the game.

The Blues have tried the 2017 second-round pick an opportunity at wing and at center but he was just too non-existent in the game, and defensively, it has to be there if the offensive game isn’t working, and I didn’t think he was sound without the puck either.

The Blues are going to have to make a decision soon enough, and there are younger forwards (Kaskimaki, Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg) and Lucic who would love to grab one of those final jobs.

* Dvorsky needed that "it" game – Training camp has been pretty solid for Dvorsky, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, but for him to really knock down the door to a job out of training camp, I thought he needed to back up his solid performance from Saturday with another one tonight.

Dvorsky did have an assist on the Broberg goal when he won the face-off, but he only won four of 12 and was a minus-1 in 15:58. Dvorsky also had three missed shots on goal, and for a player who predicates himself to be dangerous offensively, it just wasn't there on Tuesday against a strong Dallas side.

I think the center will get at least another look in a preseason game before a decision is made, but Tuesday could have really made the decision difficult with backed up with another solid performance.

Fowler, Parayko Have Meshed From The Word Go, St. Louis Blues Top Defensive Pair Now Locked In Through 2029MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Cam Fowler wasn’t the only one smiling after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $18.3 million contract extension that will keep the defenseman with the St. Louis Blues through the 2028-29 season. 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.

There are a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this year. Many of them involve young players making an impression and pushing for the NHL roster.

And one of those young players has been the biggest surprise of the pre-season.

Penguins' forward prospect Ben Kindel has been a standout in camp this year, and his play has opened a lot of eyes. The 18-year-old center was selected 11th overall by the Penguins in the 2025 NHL Draft after registering 35 goals and 99 points in 65 WHL games with the Calgary Hitmen last season, and there were many unfamiliar with Kindel's game who assumed that he was a reach at his draft position.

But one look at Kindel's tape from last season goes to show that his performance in training camp up to this point should come as no surprise at all. 

Although he may be a hair undersized at 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, Kindel doesn't let that get in the way of what he's trying to do. His hockey IQ, vision, edgework, and playmaking ability have always been hallmarks of his game, and those skills are translating on the ice at the NHL level - that is, at least in the pre-season.

Kindel seems to be getting better with every game he plays, and along with each game has come better competition. He hasn't missed a beat, and it has led some to conclude that Kindel should be given the "nine-game trial."

In the NHL, a junior player can play in nine NHL games before their entry-level contract would kick in at Game No. 10. If a player stays in the NHL beyond nine games, a year of their contract is burned regardless of whether or not they get sent back to their junior team at any point that same season. 

Mailbox Monday: What Will The Penguins' Final Roster Look Like?Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is beginning to draw to a close, and there is sure to be a lot of drama in the next several days. 

So the Penguins have some decisions to make regarding Kindel, especially if he continues to build on every performance. He is slated to appear in the Penguins' sixth pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, and he is the only player on the camp roster who has participated in four games up to this point. 

Should the Penguins give Kindel a nine-game trial, or should they just send him back to Calgary for another season of development instead? Here is the case for and against the nine games.

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The case for

Quite simply, Kindel has earned it.

Yes, there have been other young forwards in the pre-season up to this point who have proven themselves worthy of the NHL roster conversation, and many of them are suiting up Wednesday as well. This includes Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Filip Hallander, and Ville Koivunen. 

Cases can be made for each of these players to make the NHL roster. They're all older, more established, and less raw than Kindel, and they've earned more looks up to this point.

But Kindel has been the standout for the past two games. He only has one goal in four games, but this is a situation where the stat sheet doesn't tell the entire story. Kindel was one of the best players on the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets during Marc-Andre Fleury's final game as a Penguin, and he was the best player on the ice in a tight-checking, well-played 2-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.

Penguins Oust Blue Jackets On 'Fleury Night' In PittsburghWhat a game, what a night, and what a player.

Many have argued, "Why burn a year of his entry-level contract on a terrible Penguins' team? Let him dominate the WHL next season."

While this is understandable to an extent, it's also, arguably, a bit nonsensical.

Kindel is not a step behind. His reads are up to speed. He's keeping up with the speed of the game in general, and he doesn't look out of place in the slightest.

If a player is showing that he is NHL-ready - at least, for now, in this short sample - what is the hurt in giving him a nine-game trial to prove it's not a fluke?

If a player is NHL-ready, what exactly is the holdup? Why hold a player back when he proves he can rise above the occasion? Is dominating a level he has likely outgrown best for his development, or is putting him in a league of players who will challenge him better?

The easy road would be to send him back to Calgary. But there is logic in giving him nine games to prove he belongs. If he does, he'll be an important player for the Penguins this season. If he does not, he'll be sent back to juniors like nothing happened. There's not really much risk involved.

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The case against

Even if the argument can be made that Kindel is NHL-ready, there are simply too many other factors that make giving Kindel the nine-game trial a bit too complicated. 

For one, those other players are deserving, too. Koivunen is likely to make the roster, anyway.  Broz and Hayes have been every bit as good as Kindel for most of camp. And Hallander has not only had a pretty good camp, his experience and all-around game as a two-way center give him a bit of a leg-up on others. 

In a perfect world, all of these players and Kindel crack the roster. But, that's simply not realistic. There are too many other players - veterans and carryovers from last season alike - in the mix in addition to the prospects already. And several of them - such as Robby Fabbri, Connor Dewar, and Philip Tomasino - have turned in strong camps as well. 

Penguins' Mid-Camp Prospect Tiers: Who Is Most Likely To Make NHL Roster?We're officially 10 days into Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, and if one thing is for certain, there has been a ton of competition. 

This makes it unlikely that Kindel would be able to stick, anyway. So why bring him into the fold in the first place?

The other part of this concerns the Penguins' goals for this season. It's anyone's guess what the roster is going to look like on Oct. 7, and Dubas said that the "young guys are coming." It will be interesting to see just how many young guys make the roster over veterans. 

But there is a world - and not one that seems far-fetched at all - where having all that youth on the roster makes the Penguins better than expected this season. Depending on organizational goals, is that the best thing for 2025-26?

Having Kindel on the roster would give a boost to the lineup, and, maybe, the Penguins don't want to get too carried away with winning a ton of hockey games this season. Then again, maybe they do. A team is never going to try to lose on purpose, of course. But GMs have the power to make losing more or less likely.

Keeping Kindel would make that less likely. So it's certainly something to think about.

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CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks made their return to the United Center on Tuesday for the fourth preseason game. Their first three all came on the road, and now they will close out the exhibition season with some home cooking. 

The Detroit Red Wings were the first team to visit, and they dressed a lineup that included some of their regular-season players in addition to some roster hopefuls. 

The Blackhawks dressed a group that will mostly make up their group on opening night against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise. There are a few positional battles to sort out, which were a part of Tuesday's evaluation, but most of their lines from this game will be how things look next week. 

It wasn't necessarily due to terrible overall play, but some bad mistakes led to the Blackhawks being down 3-0 after two periods. Whether it was them pressing too hard offensively or not being strong on the puck after failing to score on a power play, they weren't good enough.

Early in the third period, however, the Blackhawks finally got on the board. Colton Dach drove the net all on his own and put one away. 

That would be all they were able to muster up, as the 3-1 score stood up as the final. Shots on goal favored the Blackhawks, 28-19. 

Part of the issue for Chicago in this one was the power play. The Blackhawks went 0/6, despite having double-digit chances with the man advantage. Even one goal in that situation could have turned the tide of the whole game. They got their looks, and now it's just about executing. 

Spencer Knight, who played the whole game, gave up three goals on 19 Detroit shots. It wasn't his best performance, but all three goals had more problems with skaters in front of him making errors that are hard to recover from.

Although goalies making tough saves can be the difference in winning and losing, none of these three goals against can be viewed as his fault alone. 

Dach's goal showed that he will bring some offense in addition to the physicality that he has brought in other preseason games so far. Other Blackhawks players had their chances, but they weren't able to bury on Cam Talbot, who had a great game in his own right. 

There are two more preseason games to go for Chicago. The Minnesota Wild will be at the United Center on Friday night, followed by the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Both of those games, in addition to the film that came from this one, will provide clarity on the roster that will eventually exist come Tuesday. 

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

NHL preseason games are rarely memorable anyway, but the Ottawa Senators’ matchup Tuesday night in Quebec City against the Montreal Canadiens is one they’ll want to forget as quickly as possible. The Senators were dominated on the scoreboard and in the alley, falling 5–0 to the Habs, who got a whopping 10 power play chances on the night.

In a week when Ottawa had hoped to win over hockey fans in Quebec City, it ended with the pro-Canadiens crowd singing “Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” in the final minutes.

It wasn’t a great outing for backup goalie Leevi Meriläinen, who played the entire game and surrendered five goals on 23 shots. Brendan Gallagher helped set up three of the five goals.

Quebec City hockey fans were treated to two of the easiest shutouts this week that you’ll ever see. In Sunday’s game, Linus Ullmark stopped 14 shots in Ottawa's 2–0 win over the Devils, and on Tuesday, Jakub Dobeš needed only 16 saves for Montreal to blank the Senators.

The night was also filled with fights, which all went Montreal’s way. Jan Jenik got into two of them and left with a bloody nose that looked like it might be broken. That was part of a bizarre second period sequence that somehow left the Sens having to try and kill of a 5 on 3 power play. 

So Struble cross-checks Jenik in the face. Two fights break out. Both Struble and Xhekaj win their fights handily, and both get in a big late punch in after their opponent has fallen to the ice. Jenik's nose has exploded.

The Habs end up with a 5 on 3 out of it? pic.twitter.com/st9E2sKUk3

— Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia) October 1, 2025

The Sens had over 100 penalty minutes in this game, and the Habs made them pay for their sins, going 3 for 10 on the power play. It doesn't seem to matter if it's preseason or regular season, Sens-Habs games always seem to boil over. They'll be destination viewing again this season. 

The Senators were technically the home team, but the atmosphere felt like a game at the Bell Centre. This neutral-site series in Quebec City was intended to help Ottawa grow its fan base in the region, but former Nordiques fans in Quebec City have either long since converted to being Montreal supporters or were drowned out by Habs fans who bought up the tickets and made the trip up the highway. 

The Senators slip to 2-2 in preseason and will be in St. Louis for their next game on Thursday night.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
Ullmark Sharp In Senators Victory, Embraces The Struggle
Stephen Halliday's NHL Stock Continues to Rise
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When Pittsburgh Penguins' center Evgeni Malkin made his NHL debut on Oct. 18, 2006, it was impossible to predict that - two decades later - one of the rarest stories in professional sports would still be ongoing. 

But, 20 years later, the beat goes on for Malkin and the "Big Three" in Pittsburgh - and now, they're being celebrated. 

In their home opener against the New York Islanders on Oct. 9, the Penguins will celebrate 20 years of Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Kris Letang all playing together for the same franchise. Since the day Malkin entered the league - he was the last of the three to make his debut - Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have combined to play in 3,726 NHL games and combined for 3,703 points - which is the highest point total for a trio of single-team teammates in NHL history.

The Penguins will celebrate the longest-tenured trio in North American professional sports history with a pre-game ceremony, and they will also offer various food, ticket, and prizes packages throughout the game and some throughout the season starting Oct. 9.

Malkin, Crosby, and Letang have expiring contracts in consecutive seasons, beginning with Malkin's at the end of the 2025-26 season and Letang's at the end of the 2027-28 season. Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas said that the organization will revisit Malkin's contract situation during the 2026 Olympic break to gauge whether or not he plans to retire at the end of the season.

Mailbox Monday: What Will The Penguins' Final Roster Look Like?Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is beginning to draw to a close, and there is sure to be a lot of drama in the next several days. 

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The Florida Panthers played what could end up being one of their last neutral site preseason games on Tuesday night.

Florida faced off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Kia Center in Downtown Orlando, something that has become a regular occurrence of late, but a game that could be in jeopardy due to the NHL shrinking preseason schedules starting next season.

It was Tampa who got on the board first, with Oliver Bjorkstrand taking advantage of the extra space allowed during a 5-on-3 power play and beating Brandon Bussi to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame.

MacKenzie Entwistle tied the game for Florida less than five minutes later, centering a pass toward Wilmer Skoog in the slot that went off a Tampa defenseman and past goaltender Jonas Johansson.

🤭 pic.twitter.com/d6qDhFYYXm

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) September 30, 2025

Two quick goals by Tampa about midway through the game gave the hosts (it was a Lightning home game in Orlando) a two-goal lead heading into the third period.

Ryan McAllister, one of Florida’s top young AHL prospects, scored his first goal of the preseason just 2:30 into the final frame to bring the Cats within one.

It was what you might call a goal scorers’ goal as McAllister was quick to one-time a nifty pass by Skoog through Johansson from a sharp angle inside the right faceoff circle.

McAllister puts us within 1 👀 pic.twitter.com/5cSgHuAQUn

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 1, 2025

That would be as close as the Cats would get, unfortunately.

Johansson stopped five of Florida’s six third period shots on goal, securing the narrow victory for the Bolts.

Neither team dressed any of their ‘big guns’ but that is expected to change in the coming days.

Florida and Tampa will battle two more times, Thursday in Tampa and Saturday in Sunrise, to wrap up their respective preseason schedules.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice has said previously that he plans to play many of his NHL regulars in the two tune-up games.

Florida will host the Chicago Blackhawks for Opening Night in exactly one week, on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

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Photo caption: Sep 24, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers right wing MacKenzie Entwistle (44) gets ready for the face off against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Things are going pretty well these days for former Ottawa Senators goalie Joey Daccord. For one, he's starting his new set-for-life contract, a five-year deal worth $25 million to tend goal for the Seattle Kraken.

Secondly, his old school announced this week it plans to honour Daccord by retiring his number 35 jersey. Daccord's number will rise to the rafters at Arizona State University in the Sun Devils' season opener when they face Gavin McKenna and Penn State on October 3rd.

Daccord will become the first ASU player to ever have his number retired, and he's also the first to be drafted, sign, and play with an NHL team. The Sens selected him in the seventh round back in 2015.

But he's long gone from the Sens organization because they left him unprotected in the 2021 Seattle Expansion Draft. Teams could only protect one goalie, and the Sens went with Filip Gustavsson, while leaving Daccord, Anton Forsberg, Marcus Hogberg, and Matt Murray unprotected.

It got me thinking about players the Senators have historically lost in the expansion drafts of the past.

Here's the full list:

2021: G Joey Daccord (Seattle Kraken)

2017: D Marc Methot (Vegas Golden Knights)

2000: F Kevin Dineen (Columbus Blue Jackets)

2000: F Joe Juneau (Minnesota Wild)

1999: F Phil Crowe (Atlanta Thrashers)

1998: F Denny Lambert (Nashville Predators)

1993: D Mark Ferner (Anaheim Ducks)

1993: F Marc LaBelle (Florida Panthers)

Because the pre-Vegas expansion draft rules allowed existing teams to protect many more talented players on their rosters than we saw in the past, there's a huge drop-off in calibre before 2017. So any discussion about the greatest player Ottawa ever lost in an expansion draft is a two-horse race between Methot and Daccord. 

We'll give the edge to Methot right now, because his loss was the biggest to the team, simply because the Sens spent a lot of years trying to find another right-shot defenseman like him. But Meth is now long retired, and Daccord has a lot of race track still ahead, so we may have to revisit this in a few years.

In the meantime, we'll always have a soft spot for Daccord, especially after his emotional interview following his first NHL win, a few months before he headed for Seattle.

After unexpected start, Joey Daccord candidly details ‘special’ first NHL winundefined

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When you become an NHL player, you’re fortunate to join a highly elite club.

Now try to picture how elite and fortunate you have to be to play meaningful, memorable hockey in two Original Six markets. You’re the cream of the crop of the cream of the crop.

That’s what you have to know about longtime NHL left winger Max Pacioretty, who retired Tuesday after 17 seasons, including playing the most of his career with the Montreal Canadiens and finishing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Despite his lofty stature, Pacioretty didn’t make some grand pronouncement he was done playing. Instead, news came that Pacioretty would be joining the University of Michigan – his NCAA team, in his adopted home state – as a special assistant to Michigan coach Brandon Naurato. And in revealing his next chapter, Pacioretty was, as he was his entire life as an NHL player, a class act through and through.

"I'm so thankful for the teammates, coaches and fans who have been a part of my journey,” Pacioretty said in the announcement. “Hockey has given me so much, and now I have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of players. Michigan has a tradition of producing elite talent, and I can't wait to share what I've learned to help these guys grow on and off the ice. Just as important, this next step allows me to be closer to my family and spend more time with my kids. I'm going to be coaching my four boys in youth hockey, and that's something I'll really cherish as a dad.”

We’ve said often that, in the pro hockey world, you wind up cheering not for any one team but for players as human beings. And the 36-year-old Pacioretty was very easy to root for.

When Pacioretty made his NHL debut in 2009, he still had some serious adversity to deal with right away. In 2010-11, an injury at the hands of Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara caused Pacioretty to miss the rest of the season.

When he returned to action in the fall of 2011, Pacioretty thrived, recording 33 goals and 32 assists while being named winner of the Bill Masterton Trophy, given to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication” to the sport.

Even then, he was only really getting started.

From 2013-14 onward, Pacioretty reeled off four straight seasons with at least 30 goals and 60 points. And in 2015, he was rewarded for his diligence, skill and professionalism by being named the 29th captain in the history of the Canadiens. 

Pacioretty became such a star in Montreal, Quebec-based McDonald’s restaurants named a burger in Pacioretty’s honor.

But all good things have their end, and Pacioretty eventually struggled, not only in terms of point production but in terms of his health. So when Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018, Habs fans were happy to get back an up-and-coming star and future Montreal captain in center Nick Suzuki.

Thus began a turbulent time for Pacioretty.

Despite netting 32 goals and 66 points in his second season with Vegas, Pacioretty’s injury issues came back. He missed 33 games in 2021-22 with a broken foot and wrist, and after the Golden Knights traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022, he suffered a devastating torn Achilles tendon and played only five games with the Hurricanes. One year later, he was playing with the Washington Capitals, but another Achilles injury limited him to only 47 regular-season games. The end seemed near for him.

But something unpredictable and inspiring happened for Pacioretty last season. Following his modest playing contract with the Maple Leafs, Pacioretty emerged as an effective power forward for Toronto.

Injuries, healthy scratches and salary cap limitations kept Pacioretty to only 37 regular-season games with the Blue and White. But in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Pacioretty had the final renaissance of his NHL days, posting the Leafs’ series-clinching goal against the Ottawa Senators in the first round. Pacioretty wound up with three goals and eight points in 13 playoff games with the Buds last spring, earning a notable place in Leafs history.

In the end, Pacioretty didn’t win a Cup. But his performance last year was a good one to go out on. He’ll always be loved in Montreal, and Leafs Nation will remember him fondly. There are very few players who can make that specific claim.

Not every NHLer's exit ends with a championship, but Pacioretty became an icon (small letter 'i' in Toronto) in two Canadian markets. That's no small feat. And now, he goes home to Michigan and gets to give back while playing for his collegiate team. Despite all the unfortunate parts of his on-ice days, Pacioretty has still been quite fortunate.

Pacioretty almost assuredly won’t be a Hockey Hall of Famer. But he has always been a first-class human being, a terrific ambassador for the game and a credit to the sport. He’ll be missed in NHL circles, but he’ll undoubtedly keep on giving back.

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

And that "something else" is this: the Sabres need their entire defense corps to make a major step forward this year and cut down Buffalo's porous D-zone play. The Sabres were tied for third-from-last place in goals-against average last season at 3.50 goals-against per-game. Only one team -- the Montreal Canadiens -- finished outside of the playoffs last year despite posting a G.A.A. that was outside the top-16 in that department.

That tells you all you need to know about the importance of defense. When you have it, the way the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights had it last season, you know you've got it. And when you don't have it, the way the Sabres didn't have it last year, or the year before that, or the year prior to that, you know what you're missing.

So while the majority of the pressure defensively will be on Dahlin (and of course, Buffalo's goaltenders) to lead the way this season, the reality is that his fellow Sabres blueliners also have to come through with big step-up years.

To be sure, Buffalo needs bigger and better years from defenseman Owen Power. The 22-year-old posted career highs in goals (7), assists (33), and points (40) last season, but there's a troubling aspect or two about Power's improvement that will get plenty of attention this season. For one thing, Power's ice-time average was nearly three full minutes less than Dahlin's.

Sabres Need This Key Player To Have Big Season If Buffalo Is To Be Playoff TeamThe Buffalo Sabres need solid years from everybody to even come close to being in the mix for a Stanley Cup playoff appearance for the first time in a decade. But (and at the risk of just pointing out one of those players when it will take big efforts from most Sabres players to make Buffalo a playoff team) we're going to focus on a player this writer believes has to have a big year to get the Sabres back in the post-season.

We get it -- Power is on Buffalo's second defense pairing, so it's understandable why he'd have fewer minutes than Dahlin. But when you're paying a player $8.35-million for the next six seasons, you probably want the defender to be playing more time than 21 minutes a night.

But it isn't just Power and Dahlin that have to be good for Buffalo to be a playoff team. Freshly re-signed D-man Bowen Byram also needs a big year -- to prove the Sabres were right to re-sign him at a $6.25-million salary, and to set himself up for another big payday when he becomes a UFA in the summer of 2027. And if he's on the top pairing with Dahlin, Byram's individual numbers should spike in a positive direction. Byram did have career-best numbers in assists (31) and points (38) last season, but with his new salary, more will be expected of him.

Value In Former Sabres Shows Buffalo Has Talent -- But So Far, The Mix Has Always Been WrongBelieve it or not, the Buffalo Sabres and their players are not inherently terrible. Sure, there are Buffalo players you may believe to be flawed, and sure, the Sabres have been consistently sub-par for the past 14 seasons -- none of which have ended with Stanley Cup playoff games being played in Western New York.  But if you look at some of Buffalo's former players, you see that they have some value across the league, even though they have a stint with the Sabres on their resume.

Finally, the rest of Buffalo's D-men also have to come through with some type of solid contribution this season. Matias Samuelsson will need to be a stable stay-at-home defender, while new acquisitions Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins will need to make better-than-average first impressions in their own way.

There's no area in which the Sabres are too good in order to make up for bad Sabres areas. They need everything working in their favor if they're to be a playoff team in 2026.

And if they don't get that -- if they don't improve significantly on defense this year -- the defense corps in Western New York at this time next September will look drastically different.

New Jersey Devils star Jesper Bratt had an excellent 2024-25 season for the Metropolitan Division club. In 81 games on the year, the 27-year-old winger scored 21 goals and set career bests with 67 assists and 88 points. This was also the third year in a row that he set a new career high in points, so he just keeps better. 

Now, Bratt has been rewarded for his big season, as he has made another top NHL players list. 

Sportsnet ranked Bratt as the No. 47 spot in their top 50 NHL players list heading into the 2025-26 season. With this, Bratt ranked ahead of other notable stars like Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens), Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars). 

Given the year that Bratt just had for the Devils, it is entirely understandable that he has been ranked among the NHL's best 50 players by Sportsnet. It is well deserved, as Bratt was one of the top wingers in the league this past season and is expected to be the same in 2025-26 for New Jersey. This is especially so when noting that he has been over a point per game player in each of his last two seasons with the Devils. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have a few forwards fighting for that final spot on the opening night roster when they team plays the Florida Panthers in Sunrise. 

One of those forwards for all of camp has appeared to be Lukas Reichel. However, a new report suggests that he may not even make it to next week in the organization. 

CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) on XFull response today from @frank_seravalli on a question about Lukas Reichel’s future in Chicago (🎥 @BR_OpenIce)

NHL insider Frank Seravalli said on his Bleacher Report Open Ice show that the Blackhawks have been trying to shop Reichel actively. 

He made sure to mention that the Blackhawks would like to have this deal done before the season begins. They aren't likely to get a big return for the former first-round pick, but they are looking to move him nonetheless. 

Reichel is a supremely talented forward who can create offense because of his natural tools, but he hasn't been able to put it together in the NHL on a consistent basis. While he still has value, the Blackhawks want to move him before he has none. 

With the talent that Reichel has, a different situation could work out well for him. If he went to a team with playoff aspirations, you might see him take a step in his development. A change of scenery has worked for players in the past. 

What will the Blackhawks do if he is moved out in terms of replacing the void? Well, guys like Landon Slaggert, Colton Dach, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene are all competing for long-term positions on the team as well. There is no shortage of players looking for an opportunity at this time. 

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

The Laval Rocket, American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, has unveiled the list of players invited to its training camp.

Among them is a record-setting group of seven players under contract with the Kelly Cup Champion Trois-Rivières Lions: Cedric Desruisseaux, Logan Nijhoff, Jacob Paquette, Wyatt McLeod, Emmett Serensits, Jacob Dion, and Vincent Duplessis.

Back in North America, Desruisseaux will be attending his third American Hockey League camp. He previously participated in the Rocket’s camp in 2021, in addition to receiving an invitation to the Montreal Canadiens’ camp that same year. The following season, he joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ camp.

The forward from Warwick also suited up for the Lions in 39 games during the 2021-22 season.

Nijhoff will be taking part in his second camp with the Rocket. This will mark his fifth consecutive AHL camp, after previous stops with San Diego in 2021 and 2022, Rockford in 2023, and Laval in 2024.

Nijhoff signed a new contract with the Lions at the end of the summer. He finished last season tied for first in team goals with 25, alongside Jakov Novak and Anthony Beauregard.

This will also be Paquette’s second camp with Laval. Over the course of his career, the defenseman from Ottawa has also attended Nashville Predators’ camps in 2017 and 2018, as well as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ rookie camp in 2019.

Paquette is set to begin his second full season with the Lions after finishing sixth in the ECHL last year in plus/minus with an impressive +32 rating.

For McLeod, this marks his second AHL camp. In 2024, he was invited by the Chicago Wolves, affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, before joining the Lions at the start of their training camp.

The 6-foot-3 blueliner signed a new deal with Trois-Rivières at the beginning of September.

Serensits, Dion and Duplessis will all be attending their first AHL camps. Emmett signed with the Lions at the end of last season and suited up for 10 regular-season games under head coach Ron Choules, while Dion is preparing to make his professional debut with the Lions.

Duplessis, meanwhile, spent last season with the Utah Grizzlies, affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

The Trois-Rivières training camp will follow the Rocket’s and will get underway next Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Colisée Vidéotron.