EAST MEADOW, NY -- Long Island native Marshall Warren is about to live out a dream when the New York Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers for their first preseason game. 

Hailing from Suffolk County's Laurel Hollow, the 24-year-old defenseman and die-hard Islanders fan will get his first chance to don the Blue & Orange in an actual NHL game.

Islanders Matthew Schaefer To Make Preseason Debut vs. FlyersEAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer will be part of the game group that faces the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night. 

"Yeah, it's pretty exciting," Warren said. "For me, it was Nassau Coliseum, but now, like, UBS is obviously their home rink, so that'd be cool to get out there. But you got a job to do, and you got to get out there and have some fun and win the game. I'll get to enjoy it a little bit after the game. But yeah, I'm just kind of focused right now and ready to go."

His family and friends will be in attendance. The ticket count, he's not so sure on the number.

"Good question," Warren said. "I don't even know. Like, really, I think it's word of mouth. I'm sure there'll be a lot of people there, but I don't even know. My parents will be there, obviously my sister."

During training camp last season, Warren was brought to a preseason game in Philadelphia, but did not get to play. Head coach Patrick Roy said that he wanted Warren to get a taste of what an NHL warmup was like and see him work toward getting to play next time.

That time is now, and Warren is ecstatic for the opportunity, as he couldn't contain his smile during his pregame media session.

"It's a good opportunity to showcase what you have and showcase your skills," Warren said. "That's where you want to be. You want to be playing against the other top guys. So I think it's a good opportunity for me."

Islanders captain Anders Lee knows how cool getting a game in on Long Island is for Warren. 

"It's really cool. I'm pumped for him in that regard," Lee said. "And his process, going through that situation last year, and putting in the work and continuing to get better, he's earned that right to play a game tonight.

"He's looked great in camp. He's got a great attitude out there. His focus is there, and it'll be fun to see him on the ice."

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Milwaukee Admirals center Fedor Svechkov (40) skates away after a drill during practice Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Like everyone else associated with the Nashville Predators, Fedor Svechkov is doing his best to put the 2024-25 season behind him.

Easier said than done, especially since he was asked about it Thursday during media availability following the first day of practice.

“What happened last year? I don’t remember,” the 22-year-old Russian center said.

His response may have been tongue-in-cheek, but he made his point. Like everyone else on the roster, Svechkov is ready to move forward.

The disappointing season can hardly be blamed on Svechkov. After being called up from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals in November, he put up eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 52 games. He spent most of the time in the bottom six, but showed flashes of his two-way skillset that impressed the Predators enough to make him the 19th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Before his call-up, Svechkov put up 12 points (5-7-12) in 13 games with Milwaukee. After the Predators failed to qualify for the playoffs, he went back to the Admirals and collected eight points (4-4-8) in 10 post-season games.

More will be expected of Svechkov this coming season. General manager Barry Trotz has hinted he would like to see Svechkov eventually become the No. 2 center behind Ryan O’Reilly.

Quite a jump for a player who is still learning English and adjusting to the NHL. Fortunately, he appears to be staying in the moment.

“Today was the first practice,” Svechkov said Thursday. “I think I worked well. That’s all I can control and all I can do, so I’m not thinking about role and stuff.”

During the Predators’ first scrimmage on Friday, Svechkov was paired on a line with Steven Stamkos and Joakim Kemell. While Stamkos’s production tailed off considerably last season, he could provide the veteran experience Svechkov would need to work his way into a top-six role.

During the off-season, Trotz talked with Svechkov about how to make the necessary mental adjustments that come with having success in the NHL. On Thursday, Svechkov indicated he’s working on both his English and consistency in his game.

“This is the most difficult league in the world, and I have to be ready for every game,” he said.

One of the weaknesses in Svechkov’s game early on in his NHL career is winning faceoffs. He won just 37% of them in 2024-25, a number that needs improvement if he is to assume the No. 2 center role.

Svechkov’s 12.5 shooting percentage was a demonstration of his superior shooting. That was emphasized more specifically on Apr. 8 when his wrister from the slot gave the Preds a 7-6 come-from-behind win in overtime against the New York Islanders.

The Predators did little to improve their center depth in the off-season, other than drafting Brady Martin fifth overall in the 2025 Draft. If head coach Andrew Brunette decides to move Stamkos to the wing, Erik Haula could slide in at center, giving the club more options.

Training camp has only just begun, and a lot needs to be sorted out on the Predators’ front line before the regular season gets underway. Svhechkov will get every opportunity to move into a bigger role; he just has to prove he’s ready for it.

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St. Louis Blues prospect Aleksanteri Kaskimaki took part in the opening pre-season game last night, continuing to make an impression on the coaching staff.

The 21-year-old had a positive rookie season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, notching 11 goals and 34 points in 63 games, good enough for eighth in goals and sixth in points on the team.

Prior to the pre-season opening 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars, Kaskimaki was a force at the prospects tournament and continued to show off his high energy and skill in training camp. Against a Stars team which featured NHLers Mavrik Bourque, Alexander Petrovic, Nils Lundkvist, Sam Steel and Radek Faksa, Kaskimaki finished the game with a shot on goal and a hit in 16:55 of ice time. 

The young centermen skated on a line with Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko, fitting in perfectly and helping the line win plenty of small ice puck battles. Kaskimaki's lone hiccup was on an ill-advised play in overtime that was intercepted in the middle of the ice on an outlet that led to Carbonneau's penalty.

Kaskimaki was involved in the Blues' only goal, moving the puck to Dylan Holloway behind the goal and then quickly getting to the front of the net. After Holloway sent the puck to Logan Mailloux, he fed it to Justin Carbonneau, who used Kaskimaki as a pass option to sneakily beat the Stars' goaltender.

There is plenty to like from Kaskimaki's overall game. He plays with a high pace, always looking to carry the puck through the neutral zone and initiate rush offense. Offensively, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound center uses deception and his hands to create shooting chances. He likes to use the defender's legs to his advantage, sliding the puck through their legs with different release points in an attempt to change the angle and confuse the goaltenders. 

He found success with it in Liiga, Finland's top professional league, before the jump to North American hockey, recording 10 goals and 17 points in 48 games as a 19-year-old. 

The 2022 third-round pick (73rd overall) possesses several NHL-translatable skills. His skill set screams successful bottom-six player, and with some more time to refine his game in the AHL, Kaskimaki could be one of the many players who earn a call-up to the NHL sometime this season or next. 

"Kaskimaki is one of my ... I saw him at the World Junior in Sweden. There's something about that player that attracts me to him," said GM Doug Armstrong in the exit interviews following the Blues' elimination from the playoffs. "His detail. He reminds me a lot of, I hate putting comparisons out because I get held to it, but not the offense of Alex Steen; he doesn't have that offense yet, might never have that offense, but he has that understanding of the game, understanding the important times of the game, where important ice is, how to get to it. I saw that when he represents his national team. He's a guy if does what he's supposed to do, I see him getting games next year. If he does what he's supposed to do and has a great training camp, he could start with us."

Making the team is certainly a long shot, but Kaskimaki is off to a flying start in showing that he is more NHL-ready than some may believe. 

The NHL pre-season has officially arrived this weekend as another season approaches. Not only is pre-season a great time for coaches and management to test out line combinations and review their roster, but it’s a great time for the NHL and the teams to try new things.

Games have started to be held in neutral venues, where neither team participating in the pre-season outing is considered the home team. Other games will be held nearby at the home arena of an AHL affiliate, just outside of the big city.

This season, the NHL has scheduled several contests to be played at neutral sites.

Colorado Avalanche vs Utah Mammoth, Magness Arena

The first neutral-site pre-season game is between the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. This game will be held at Magness Arena in Denver. While the location is still technically home for Colorado, this isn’t Ball Arena.

Magness Arena was opened in 1999 and is home to the University of Denver in the NCAA. The University of Denver’s hockey program, the Denver Pioneers, have been a force for the last 10 years, earning three NCAA championships in 2024, 2022 and 2017. 

The University of Denver is also known for its gymnastics program, as it hosted the NCAA Region Gymnastics Championships five times at Magness Arena.

Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angeles Kings, Toyota Arena

Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., will host state rivals the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. Toyota Arena is the home of the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the affiliate team of the Kings. This venue is about a 50-minute drive west to the Kings’ Crypto.com Arena. 

This is the second straight year that the Ducks take on the Kings in a pre-season affair at Toyota Arena. Los Angeles won that game 3-2 with two goals from Alex Laferriere and one from captain Anze Kopitar.

The Kings are participating in the most pre-season games held at neutral sites, with the game against Anaheim being one of three.

Calgary Flames vs Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Centre

Just like the Kings, the Vancouver Canucks will play in the home of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, their affiliate club. Vancouver will take on the Calgary Flames at Abbotsford Centre in a pre-season clash on Wednesday.

The Abbotsford Canucks are coming off a Calder Cup championship. They didn’t get to hoist the Cup in the Abbotsford Centre, but it was the first championship for the franchise since they moved to Abbotsford in 2021.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Washington Capitals, Giant Center

On Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals will face off at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. This is another AHL home, which belongs to the Hershey Bears of the Washington Capitals organization.

Since the opening of the arena in October 2002, Giant Center has seen plenty of success from the Bears. Hershey has won five Calder Cups in that span, including back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024, making it the home of one of the most storied franchises in AHL hockey.

Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angeles Kings, Dignity Health Arena

The Ducks and Kings are back at it again on the 27th, this time at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, Calif. This is the home arena of the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. However, they aren’t the affiliates of the Kings or Ducks.

The Condors are the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. The distance between the two cities is nearly 1,300 miles, one of the longest distances between an NHL team and their AHL affiliate.

New Jersey Devils vs Ottawa Senators, Videotron Centre

On the 28th, the New Jersey Devils will take on the Ottawa Senators in a venue that is home to the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. The Videotron Centre in Quebec City is a relatively new arena, as it opened in September 2015.

Quebec City hasn’t seen competitive NHL hockey in a long time. While it has hosted a handful of pre-season games in the past, it’s been 30 years since the Quebec Nordiques were the talk of the town as the city’s beloved NHL team. 

In The Hockey News’ pre-season fan survey, Quebec City was voted as the most deserving city for NHL expansion.

Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning, Kia Center

Kia Center will host the Battle of Florida between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. This arena was opened in 2010 as the Amway Center, before it was renamed to the Kia Center in 2023.

The Kia Center is home to three teams. The NBA’s Orlando Magic, the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears - affiliate of the Lightning - and the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.

Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators, Videotron Centre

The Ottawa Senators are back in the Videotron Centre on the 30th, but this time they match up with the Montreal Canadiens. This could be an attractive matchup for fans in the Quebec City area, as both teams participating have the largest French-speaking population.  

Another fact about Quebec City and the Videotron Centre is that they’ll be the hosts of the IIHF’s 2027 Women’s World Championship and the 2029 World Junior Championship.

Los Angeles Kings vs Utah Mammoth, Idaho Central Arena

The final neutral venue for the 2025-26 NHL pre-season will be the Idaho Central Arena. This will be the third neutral site for the Kings and the second for the Mammoth of this campaign.

The Idaho Central Arena is in Boise, Idaho and is home to the Idaho Steelheads. The Steelheads, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, are entering their 18th season in the ECHL and have played in this arena since 1997.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 22 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #22. 

Let's take a look.

Chris Nielsen - 2001-2002 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1998. 

After signing with Columbus, Neilsen played 52 games over the course of two seasons. After bouncing around the AHL for a few seasons, he left for Europe and played in Germany for a year. He decided to retire in 2006.

Nowadays, he's the attending surgeon at University Health Network and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Luke Richardson - 2003-2006 - Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987. 

Richardson, a former Captain of the CBJ, played 190 games in Columbus. On March 8, 2006, he was traded to the Maple Leafs, later signing with the Senators, and then retiring on November 27, 2008. 

He moved into coaching in 2008 and has bounced around the NHL and AHL. His last job was with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he was fired on December 6th, 2024. Richardson will be an asst. coach for the Nashville Predators for 25-26. 

Mike Commodore - 2009-2011 - Drafted by New Jersey in 1999. 

Commodore was signed by Columbus on July 1, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.75 million. After 158 games, he was put on waivers on January 17, 2011, in which he cleared, and was assigned to the Springfield Falcons. He would report to the AHL and play 11 games, but that was it for the Mike Commodore experience. 

He bounced around for a few seasons and finished his career playing in the KHL. Mike Commodore is mostly famous for his very nasty feud with Mike Babcock. 

Václav Prospal - 2012-2013 - Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993. 

Vinny Prospal played 130 games for Columbus and had 85 points. After two seasons, he retired on January 24, 2014. 

After retiring, he moved into coaching. He coached youth in the Tampa area before returning to Czechia until 2021. In 2023, he was named an asst. coach for the Rochester Americans of the AHL. 

Sonny Milano - 2016-2020 - Drafted by Columbus in 2014. 

Milano played 116 games for Columbus over five years and totaled 42 points. He spent the majority of his time playing for the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters, playing in 163 games. He scored 45 goals and had 112 points. 

The Sonny Milano experiment ended on February 24, 2020, when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. 

Jake Bean - 2022-2024 - Drafted by Carolina in 2016.

On July 23, 2021, Bean was traded by the Hurricanes to the Columbus Blue Jackets and then immediately signed to a three-year contract. Bean only played 153 games for the CBJ, which was season in which he only played 14 due to having shoulder surgery. 

The Jackets let him walk in 2024. He signed a deal with Calgary and played 64 games last season. 

Jordan Harris - 2025 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in 2017. 

Harris was traded to Columbus prior to the 2024-25 season in exchange for Patrik Laine. He only played 33 games for the CBJ last season, even though he was healthy all year. The Jackets kept a lot of defensemen on the roster, and that led him to being a healthy scratch for most of the season. 

Harris was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2025, and he signed with his hometown Boston Bruins. 

There are 22 days until opening night at NWA. The season kicks off by the playing the first game of the season on the road against the New Jersey Devils. 

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, September 18. The camp will run until the preseason begins and then transition directly into the full preseason schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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On Sunday night, the New York Islanders battle the Philadelphia Flyers to kick off their preseason slate. 

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM ET at UBS Arena, where Matthew Schaefer is likely to make his preseason debut. 

Here's how to watch:

Plan accordingly!

The #Isles preseason game tomorrow night will stream LIVE on the Islanders + UBS Arena app and https://t.co/II8TDuHWyn!

Download the app now: https://t.co/qun2pbQ2hXpic.twitter.com/KAjYZSPpAb

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 20, 2025

As of now, we do not know who is calling the game, but with Brendan Burke not returning just yet, I wouldn't be surprised if it were Alan Fuehring, who does a fantastic job. 

The Islanders will hold a morning skate and that's when we'll find out the game roster.

Islanders Tony DeAngelo Raves About Matthew Schaefer's Power Play Ability EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer took shifts quarterbacking the second power-play unit at training camp on Saturday. 

Stay tuned...

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

The New Jersey Devils will play their first preseason game today at 1 p.m. against the New York Rangers.

Team reporter Amanda Stein released her projected lineup for the contest, which closely mirrors the roster head coach Sheldon Keefe is expected to use. While not official, here is Stein’s predicted lineup:

Forwards

• Cotter – Glass – Gritsyuk
• Crookshank – Lammikko – Legare
• Gruden – Glendening – Halonen
• Hardman – Rooney – Bordeleau

Defense

• Chowolski – Casey
• Edwards – Strand
• White – Addison
• van de Leest – Osipov

Goaltenders

• Daws
• Romanov
• Malek

If these lines hold, the Devils’ first power-play unit would feature Casey, Gritsyuk, Glass, Cotter, and Bordeleau.

Sheldon Keefe confirms this is pretty close to what the #NJDevils roster will look like for the first preseason game tomorrow against the Rangers.

Might be a slight tweak or two, but very close to this: https://t.co/t1u9m6RbkB

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) September 20, 2025

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Players to Watch

Arseny Gritsyuk The highly anticipated Russian forward will make his Devils debut today. Drafted 129th overall in 2019, Gritsyuk spent the past several seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League before joining New Jersey this fall. After an impressive showing at training camp, today’s performance will be an early indicator of where he might fit in the lineup.

Nico Daws A reliable depth option in recent years, Daws has stepped in multiple times when the Devils’ top goaltenders were sidelined. With Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen ahead of him, his NHL role likely won’t change this season, but his preseason play will show how much progress he’s made during the offseason.

Juho Lammikko Lammikko last played in the NHL during the 2021–22 season with Vancouver. Known for his two-way game, he has an opportunity to earn a role in New Jersey’s bottom six.

Angus Crookshank After leaving the Ottawa Senators and testing free agency, Crookshank signed a two-year deal with the Devils on July 2. He’s looking to prove he belongs on the NHL roster and could use today’s game as a showcase.

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Keefe’s Emphasis

Coach Sheldon Keefe made it clear what he expects from his players in the preseason opener:

“We’re at the portion of the program here where I want to see effort, speed, pace—it’s a very fast league. Tomorrow isn’t going to be the NHL in terms of speed, but it’s a good way to stand out. That’s been the emphasis for us from our very first meeting: ability to skate, pressure the puck, and do all the things when the puck isn’t on your stick, which is a very large percentage of the game.”

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The puck drops at 1 p.m. The official lineup will be confirmed closer to game time.

If the first few days of training camp are anything to go by, the Philadelphia Flyers could have a new-look defense under first-year head coach Rick Tocchet.

Through three days, Tocchet has done nothing short of glow about Cam York, who was the recipient of a five-year, $25.75 million contract extension from the Flyers this offseason.

The potential for the 24-year-old defenseman, and the hope, perhaps, is that he can "carry his own pair," in the words of Tocchet.

That would certainly imply far less minutes with frequent defense partner Travis Sanheim, the Flyers' de facto No. 1 defenseman and leader on the back end.

York has spent most of his training camp reps alongside prospect defenseman Helge Grans, a young player of similar age who is looking to finally establish himself as an NHL regular after playing six NHL games for the Flyers last year.

Grans, 23, is no longer waivers-exempt, so this training camp is functionally a now-or-never thing for him in a Flyers uniform.

Flyers Training Camp: Nikita Grebenkin Continues to Shine as Roster Battles Get RealAfter three days, forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin has been the one constant in Philadelphia Flyers training camp, flashing his intriguing potential at seemingly every turn.

It says a lot about the Swede that he's playing with York, who has been talked up so much by Tocchet and the organization this summer.

It should also be noted that Grans, a right-shot, makes sense as a natural 1:1 replacement for the injured Rasmus Ristolainen as a tall, rangy defender.

So, while someone like Emil Andrae might have played more NHL games and played better in most of those games (including on a pair with Sanheim), the 5-foot-9 size and left-handedness will work against him. Fortunately, Andrae is still waivers-exempt for 34 more NHL games or until the end of this season.

As for Sanheim, it's been a little harder to get a read on his role this early into training camp.

The 29-year-old has spent time so far with prospect Spencer Gill, who, while impressive, is still too young and has virtually no chance of making the team this year, and veteran Noah Juulsen, who has struggled mightily and already profiled as a No. 7 or No. 8 defenseman if and when Ristolainen is healthy.

"I think I've already played with two different partners here through three days, so I'm not quite sure whether I'm playing left or right or who I'm with," Sanheim said Saturday. "I think I have the capability of being able to play with a lot of different guys, so whatever they do with me and my pair, I feel comfortable being able to play with whoever back there."

During Saturday's training camp scrimmage, Sanheim also featured on the second power play unit, which consisted of himself, Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink.

Flyers' Travis Sanheim Poised for New Leadership Role in 2025-26The Philadelphia Flyers have had a leadership opening since the NHL trade deadline, and Travis Sanheim is a prime candidate to step in and step up.

York and center Christian Dvorak rotated in for Sanheim and Cates at times.

So, while this isn't all to be taken as gospel at this stage, it's a potential new role for Sanheim, and a departure from the days of Ristolainen and Egor Zamula getting valuable power play minutes.

"I think there's more offense to my game," added Sanheim. "I think you saw I was on the power play today, and if that's something I'm asked of this season, I think that excites me."

As for Zamula, he was interestingly paired with Jamie Drysdale on Saturday, swapping places with Nick Seeler, who was next to Gill.

Zamula and Drysdale did spend some time together last season, though not nearly enough to draw conclusions one way or another on their chemistry and performances.

What is clear, though, is that Tocchet recognizes that he may not be able to get the most out of York and Sanheim when they're on the ice playing together at the same time.

How York rises to the challenge remains to be seen, but if the Flyers can manage to give themselves two legitimate top-four defense pairs, it lightens the load on everyone and should allow other guys, such as Grans, to step up and play more comfortably.

The fact that the Montreal Canadiens were looking for a second-line center this summer was one of the worst-kept secrets in the NHL, and as a result, it’s been a summer of speculation in town. While there were rumours about a potential move for Mason McTavish, an RFA who has yet to sign with the Anaheim Ducks, and about Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Research Group’s Jimmy Murphy published an article Saturday in which he explains that the Canadiens have also shown interest in Evgeny Malkin in the past.

Could Malkin be the center the Habs are keeping close tabs on? It’s not unlikely, after all, as Murphy says in his article, what’s going on in Pittsburgh is pretty obvious for all to see, and for an aging star, the prospect of a rebuild is not exactly thrilling. The big center has even told the media after Friday’s practice that he would be open to waiving his no movement clause to get a chance with a Cup contender.

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The 39-year-old has had some great years in Pittsburgh, and he does have three Stanley Cup rings to show for it. Even though he’s now a bit long in the tooth, at least in hockey terms, he still managed to put 50 points in 68 games last season, and 67 in 82 games the year before. Still, as talented as he is, the center has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career. He only played 82 games in four of his 19 seasons with the Pens.

Of course, getting some veteran leadership couldn’t hurt the young Canadiens, especially not a veteran who has won it all and knows what it takes, plus, as Demidov revealed back in April, Malkin was his idol growing up.

While I can understand why the Canadiens have enquired about his availability, I firmly believe that Crosby would be a better option. However, I’m still not convinced that the captain will eventually want to move. Besides, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Malkin could be a rental, and the price tag would be considerably lower than for Crosby, who still has another year left on his contract.

If Malkin remains healthy and things go according to plan for the Canadiens, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad option for a playoff run, unless the veteran doesn’t see Montreal as a contender yet…

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On Jun. 28, something pretty special happened for Pittsburgh Penguins' forward prospect Avery Hayes. 

Fresh off of signing a two-year entry level contract with the Penguins at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Hayes got to watch as his brother's name was called from the podium during the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Travis Hayes - selected in the fourth round (105th overall) by Pittsburgh on that day - officially became a member of the Penguins, following in the footsteps of Avery. Now, as training camp is officially underway for the 2025-26 season, the brothers get to share the ice, just as they did at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo last week.

“It’s been awesome," Travis said. "Obviously, going to Buffalo and playing with him, then got a few shifts with him [in camp] and seeing him out here, his practice habits and stuff… yeah, it’s great.”

And Travis isn't the only family member Avery got to unite with during the first weekend of training camp. The USHL Fall Classic also took place at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in the evenings following the first three days of camp - and Avery's and Travis's, brother, Eli, is competing for the Honeybaked Hockey Club out of Detroit - a team that Penguins' forward Bryan Rust used to play for and, ironically, one that has yet another Penguins' connection. 

"Rutger [McGroarty's] dad, Jimmy, is the head coach of the team, which is funny," Hayes laughed. "So, it's pretty cool. 

Avery and Travis attended one of Eli's games on Saturday evening, and they also got to reunite with their own father at the event. 

"It’s really cool to see all of them," Avery said. "I don’t get to see them at all during the season, so it's nice."

Could This Penguins' Prospect Crack The NHL Roster Out Of Camp?When looking back at the past three prospects challenges for the Pittsburgh Penguins - all of which they have won - there is a common denominator.

And even if the family business is a welcome thing for Avery, he knows there is other business to attend to as well - which includes trying to stay in Pittsburgh beyond training camp.

Undrafted, Hayes initially joined the Penguins' organization when he signed a two-year AHL contract prior to the 2023-24 season. His first season was riddled with injury, but he really began to make a name for himself and the type of player he is in 2024-25.

A scrappy, effort-driven forechecking forward, he kicked off that campaign with a standout performance at the Prospects Challenge, followed by a strong training camp showing. He carried all of that momentum into the AHL regular season, when he put up 23 goals and 42 points in 60 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS).

The practice habits Travis referred to - as well as his skillset - are well-known to his teammates by now, as they certainly translate to game days and in trying to stand out at training camp.

“He works hard and looks really shifty out there," said forward Rickard Rakell , who is in Hayes's training camp group. "He’s hard to catch. He’s a smaller guy but quick with the puck. Good with the puck. Plays with a lot of confidence.” 

Here's a snippet of Travis (73) and Avery (85) Hayes skating on opposite teams in the 4v4 drill. #LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/6B93jn0nNr

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) September 20, 2025

And that nod of confidence from the organization in the form of that two-year NHL contract this summer opened up an opportunity for Hayes to vye for an NHL roster spot. It's an opportunity he's grateful for and that he doesn't want to waste, and to go up against guys like Rakell and Bryan Rust in drills during camp is giving him a taste of what's expected at the NHL level.

“It’s awesome," Hayes said. "Those are the guys that you want to be going up against and playing with in the future. That’s the kind of standard to make it. So, they’re great players, and it really pushes me to be better.

"I also get to play with great players, too, which is awesome. You get to see how they kind of think the game and play off them. So, it’s a really cool experience. You don’t really want to get starstruck in the moment, you just want to go out there and play.”

And he's taking a thing or two from those great players.

“Just the details. I mean, they compete," Hayes said. "They’re guys that have been playing in the NHL for 10-plus years, some of them. They treat every rep like it’s a Game 7. So, I’d say that’s the biggest thing and just how fast-paced and competitive it is."

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Forward Earns His SpotHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Hayes is slated to be in the lineup for Pittsburgh's first pre-season game on Monday in Montreal against the Canadiens, and he will be competing with - and against - several forwards who figure to be in contention for a final roster spot along with him, including Tristan Broz, Rafeal Harvery-Pinard, Sam Poulin, Boko Imama, Joona Koppanen, and Robby Fabbri.

So what does Hayes need to do in order to separate himself? It's simple: just be himself and take things day-by-day.

"Just play my game and be myself," Hayes said. "I mean, it got me this far, so I just have to continue to play with confidence and just take it one day at a time, take it one practice at a time. Honestly, I’m not looking too far into the future. Just taking it one day at a time.”

---

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Can Bowman Build A Winner? - October 8, 1993 - Volume 47, Issue 04 - Keith Gave 

Call it Great Expectations, The Sequel.

Only this time, the Detroit Red Wings have hired the best in the business to author a happier ending. Frustrated by futile efforts in the playoffs that have cost them millions in gate receipts over the past two springs, owners Mike and Marian Ilitch spent nearly $2 million to bring coach Scotty Bowman to Detroit for at least two seasons.

But despite the impressive rebuilding effort general manager Bryan Murray has orchestrated over the past three years, Bowman has his work cut out for him in 1993-94.

Like last season, the Wings begin the season with a deeply talented lineup that ranks them the best team in the west, ready again to challenge the Pittsburgh Penguins or whoever in the Stanley Cup-a trophy that has eluded them since 1955.

There is pressure, from team ownership to the legion of devoted fans running out of patience. Unlike last year, however, this team begins the season with more questions about its preparedness to win it all, than answers. Notable among them:

□ How does this team replace its leader, Gerard Gallant, the most respected player in the dressing room?

□ Is Tim Cheveldae the goaltender to lead Detroit all the way?

□ Is the defense as set as it appears?

□ Will Keith Primeau finally emerge as an assertive, consistent force in the Wings’ lineup?

□ Will this team, despite all its talent, measure up to Bowman’s lofty standards?

□ Can the NHL’s best offense last season play enough defense to satisfy the coach?

Though much will be made in training camp of young players challenging veterans for jobs up front, the real competition is for the top positions. Which is why Primeau’s progress will be monitored carefully by the Detroit management.

He prefers to play center, his natural position, and the Wings have him penciled in as the No. 3 pivot behind Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov. With both expected to play upwards of 25 minutes a game, that doesn’t leave much time for Primeau and precious little for a fourth center.

This suggests Primeau will remain flexible. He began showing an inclination towards playing the wing on Fedorov’s left flank down the stretch last season and he could wind up there again.

But who plays on Yzerman’s left side after Gallant left as a free agent for a better offer from the Tampa Bay Lightning?

The Wings hope Bob Probert can turn his game around and fill that spot. But they hoped that last year, when he slipped to 14 goals and 43 points with a team-leading 292 penalty minutes.

Dallas Drake was the team’s top-scoring left winger with 18 goals and 44 points and played with the kind of aggressiveness that most coaches appreciate. He could see time with Yzerman and Dino Ciccarelli.

But if the Wings were to acquire Steve Larmer from the Chicago Blackhawks, or someone like him, that would enable them to try Ray Sheppard on his off wing.

The defense appears set, but Murray still sees a hole to fill.

He covets a big defenseman that he has been seeking for two seasons. Until then, the Wings enter the season with the defense they ended with last spring. The pairings: Paul Coffey and Nicklas Lidstrom; Steve Chiasson and Vladimir Konstantinov; and Mark Howe and Yves Racine.

Detroit’s goaltending isn’t nearly the concern to Bowman as it is to fans and others around the NHL. Cheveldae, the workhorse who ranked among NHL leaders in games and victories the past three seasons, has achieved a lot at 25, though he didn’t come through when it counted most.

Bowman compares Cheveldae to Pittsburgh’s Tom Barrasso, among others, who had to overcome adversity early in their careers before achieving success. But the coach also adheres to a strict commitment to team defense that should help the goalies.

Bowman said he feels pressure to win not only from the team’s generous owners, but wherever he goes around Detroit.

“There’s something about wearing the jersey of some teams. Detroit is a very vibrant hockey city,” he said.

One with high expectations and desperate for a happy ending.

The St. Louis Blues opened the preseason with a 2-1 shootout loss against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday.

The Blues were 0-for-3 in the shootout (Dalibor Dvorsky, Justin Carbonneau, Dylan Holloway), and Sam Steel’s only goal in the first round proved to be the difference. Carbonneau’s power-play goal was the only goal for the Blues.

Here are some observations from the game:

* Binnington looked strong – Not that it’s any surprise, but Jordan Binnington looked like he was in mid-season form.

His save on Steel pushing from his right to left on a backdoor play in the first period was the best save of his 19 after facing 20 shots through two periods.

Jordan Binnington in mid-season form already but what else did you expect? pic.twitter.com/NI73DrRg8a

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 20, 2025

He only allowed a Mavrik Bourque goal at 14:33 of the second period off a one-time slap shot from the left point and rebound in front.

His puck-handling was smooth, a strength of Blues goalies transitioning pucks to the defensemen for smoother zone exits. A good sign.

Colten Ellis, who took over for Binnington in the third, made a tremendous save on Adam Hryckowian with just over three minutes remaining to keep the game 1-1.

Colten Ellis makes the SAVE OF THE GAME!!! #stlbluespic.twitter.com/z16IZhKfIj

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 21, 2025

Blues goaltending depth is anything but little.

* Carbonneau didn’t look out of place – Besides the power-play goal the 2025 first-round puck scored, the 18-year-old had some particularly good shifts in the first period with linemates Dylan Holloway and Dalibor Dvorsky, making a couple subtle plays off the walls enabling Holloway to get some strong looks at the goal.

It’ll be interesting to ask, but his goal looked like a combination look-off from the left circle after taking a point pass from Logan Mailloux 50 seconds into the second period to feeding Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who was positioned at the left side of the post.

Justin Carbonneau was our first-round pick for a reason. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/zMX2VzqUle

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 21, 2025

This kid has such a good shot that should only get better and more assertive as he matures and gets the reps at this level, but I was impressed with some of the puck-making decisions he made.

* Walker/Toropchenko still got it – Nathan Walker, who just signed a two-year extension on Thursday, and Alexey Toropchenko will – and should be – a staple on the Blues’ fourth line this season and they exhibited some of those traits in this game with good, strong sticks, breaking plays up, killing plays and at the end of the first period, drawing a penalty with an extended zone time shift.

Walker showed why again he is a fan favorite, getting into a scrap just 4:21 into the game with Hryckowian.

That line, along with 2022 third-round pick Kaskimaki, handled itself well in the small areas of the ice.

Kaskimaki did have one hiccup on an ill-advised play in overtime that was picked off in the middle of the ice on an outlet that led to Carbonneau's penalty. He will be seeing that one in video.

* Mailloux looked sharp – What I like about Mailloux is his no-hesitation putting pucks to the net from the point, and being precise. He did a solid job in that area on Saturday.

But what stood out for the 22-year-old was such a strong, defensive play he made in overtime when the Blues were killing a penalty, with Carbonneau in the box for tripping, killing a play that ended with the Stars only getting one shot during a 4-on-3, and that defensive stick was a large reason why the Blues were able to kill it off.

It shows the confidence the coaching staff has in putting the defenseman in those situations to see what he can do, and it was truly a moment that will be shown to him through video on what to do correctly, and do well.

Mailloux, who was second behind Philip Broberg (26:15) in time on ice at 25:29, didn’t have any shots on goal, but his willingness to get pucks there, whether they get knocked down or not creating rebounds, should be a benefit for the forwards when he’s on the ice to get to the front of the net.

* Broberg, Holloway were strong – Holloway made his return to the lineup for the first time since tearing the abductor muscle off his hip on April 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins playing with Carbonneau and Dvorsky, finishing with a forward-high 22:09 of ice time and one shot on goal.

Broberg looked like he's taken his game to the next level. He looked smooth, assertive and was a great complement on a pair with Mailloux, leading the Blues with a team-high four shots on goal, including a couple of poised plays to the backhand in the middle of the ice. A strong showing.

* Some of the young guys looked the part – There were plenty of young players in this game, and there will be teaching moments off of it for the coaching staff, and the second period was a strong example of the Blues playing too much in their end, getting hemmed in and not making smarter decisions with the puck.

The Stars outshot the Blues 12-4 in the second and 13-4 in the third (34-15 for the game) in large part to the Blues not being able to manage pucks well enough at times and another reason was not being good enough on face-offs. The Blues won just 15 of 46 on the dot and were chasing the puck a lot as a result.

The Chicago Blackhawks have some interesting prospects to watch this season. One of them is goaltender Drew Commesso, as the 23-year-old will be looking to take another step forward in his development.

Commesso just completed his second season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford Ice Hogs, and it was a solid year for the Norwell, Massachusetts native. In 39 games for the AHL squad on the year, he posted an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.54 goals-against average. He then followed that up with a 4-3 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage in seven playoff games for Rockford this spring.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Commesso demonstrated good promise this past campaign. Now, he will be looking to build off that during the 2025-26 season.

Right now, the Blackhawks currently have Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their NHL goaltenders. While this is the case, it would still be significant if Commesso can take that next step and give the Blackhawks another solid option to consider for their NHL roster. This is especially so if the Blackhawks end up dealing with more injury trouble between the pipes at all this campaign.

Of all the players on the ice for the first on-ice session of the Senators' training camp, few players have more to prove than Fabian Zetterlund.

The Swedish winger arrived at the 2025 NHL trade deadline for Zack Ostapchuk and a 2025 second-round pick, carrying expectations to provide quality depth and secondary scoring for one of the lowest-scoring five-on-five teams in the league.

Unfortunately, that production failed to materialize.

Zetterlund's two goals and five points in 20 games are well-documented. His numbers were a constant source of messageboard and talk radio fodder over the offseason.

General manager Steve Staios and the organization were certainly unfazed by Zetterlund's surface stats, rewarding the 26-year-old with a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $4.25 million.

If Zetterlund was concerned about the pressures placed on him, he refused to let it show. When he arrived for a one-on-one interview following his group's gruelling on-ice skating session on the second day of training camp, Zetterlund was all smiles.

It is the most engaging and comfortable that I have seen him be since arriving last March.

"The body is fresh. (My mind) is fresh," said Zetterlund enthusiastically. "I want to start the season well, and that's been one of my main focuses the whole summer. Now I'm here, and I feel ready."

During his exit interviews with the coach and general manager, Zetterlund listened to their feedback and constructive criticism before acknowledging that their respective sentiments aligned with his own.

"I know what I want to do better, and they pointed out the same things," Zetterlund remarked. "So, that's what I've been working on. I feel fresh, ready, and quick out there. Strong and hungry.

"Overall, (I need to) be a prick out there," the winger said while outlining what the organization asked him to work on. "I need to be hard to play against every day, and be strong on the puck. I need to hold on to it, use my shot, and hit the net more."

Zetterlund's preparations for the 2025-26 campaign began back home in Sweden, where he trained and spent most of his free time enjoying the company of friends and family.

The winger returned to Ottawa on September 1st to participate in Brady Tkachuk's organized 'Captain's Skates', providing himself with an extra three weeks to skate and build chemistry and camaraderie with his teammates ahead of the opening of camp.

The hope is that the experience will benefit Zetterlund this season, but what should really help him is his familiarity with the coaching staff and the team's systems and structure.

"I know exactly what to do out there," Zetterlund stated. " Structurally, our system is easy, and I've been playing for (26 games, including the postseason) now.

"I know exactly where to go and how to handle things out there. Now it's just up to me to do it."

What may also help Zetterlund is that he experienced a similar stretch of poor production after being dealt from New Jersey to San Jose at the 2023 trade deadline. Zetterlund was a younger player trying to establish himself as an NHL regular at the time. Nonetheless, in the 22 games after the deadline, he was held goalless while adding only three assists.

The winger followed that stretch up by having the most productive campaign of his NHL career in 2023-24. Zetterlund played in each of San Jose's 82 games and led the team with 24 goals and 204 shots. His 44 points trailed only Mikael Granlund (60) and William Eklund (45).

When asked whether he could draw any parallels between his two post-trade deadline stretches, or whether the experience and success of his first full season in San Jose could serve him well now, Zetterlund expressed a preference to focus on the future.

"That's the past," the winger affirmed. "I forgot about that, but I'm just looking forward to a new season and being with the Ottawa Senators from the start. It's gonna be fun."

When Zetterlund joined the Senators, it was obviously exciting to join a team that was on the verge of clinching its first postseason berth in eight years. Under the surface, however, the Swede arrived at a challenging time.

At the time of the trade, the collection of forwards playing in the Senators' top nine was playing really well, relegating Zetterlund to a fourth line role that afforded him time to acclimatize to his new surroundings.

He would eventually get opportunities on the power play and to play with the team's more skilled players, but the goals and points did not come.

The encouraging part is that Zetterlund's underlying numbers were incredibly strong.

Of the forwards on the team who logged more than 200 five-on-five minutes, only Brady Tkachuk, a noted volume-producing machine, generated a higher rate of shots (iCF/60), shots on goal (shots/60), and individual expected goals (ixG/60) than Zetterlund per NaturalStatTrick. The problem was that his five-on-five shooting percentage (3.13%) was the fifth-lowest on the team, ahead of defencemen like Nik Matinpalo, Nick Jensen, Artem Zub and Travis Hamonic.

When I told Zetterlund about how strong some of his analytics were and whether he felt like he was creating a high volume of chances, he deflected and expressed a desire for the team's success.

"I don't know what to say," he admitted. "I try to work hard every shift out there. It doesn't matter if the puck goes in or not.

"I still want to help the team win. That's the most important thing. We had a good stretch last year, and we want more (success) this year for sure. I want to produce. I want to be a goal scorer, of course. But when the puck doesn't go in, you're going to do other stuff out there to help the team, and that's what I'm trying to bring every day. It's just a bonus if the puck goes in."

As a career 9.6 percent shooter, it is reasonable to believe that Zetterlund's shooting percentage will normalize. When it does, it will provide some of the incremental gains this organization is looking for to help this team rise in the Atlantic Division.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News Ottawa

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