Category: Ice Hockey

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- On the eve of training camp for their 59th season in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues have a plethora of players that you will want to keep an eye on for one reason or another as camp progresses.

Let’s take a look at my top 10:

1. Mason McTavish – For obvious reasons, the Blues’ biggest acquisition this past off-season when they acquired the 23-year-old from the Anaheim Ducks on Day 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft for a pair of 2026 first-round picks, McTavish comes in with plenty to prove, plenty of motivation and a huge chip on his shoulder, like he disclosed here recently.

McTavish will come in and be given the keys as the No. 2 center behind Robert Thomas and will be a driving force whether the Blues will have the ability to put forth two strong top two lines on the ice behind Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud top line.

McTavish said he’s worked on his power skating this past summer that should affect his defensive awareness on the ice. That will be something to look for from the get-go. I expect him to be highly motivated after being cast off the island in Orange County, Calif. Just one year after signing a six-year, $42 million ($7 million average annual value) contract.

2. Connor McMichael – Another top acquisition by the Blues this past summer, acquired from the Washington Capitals for a package that sent Jordan Kyrou to the nation’s capital.

It’s going to be human nature for Blues fans to look at the 25-year-old as the guy that needs to replace Kyrou’s production since he is the one that was traded for him, but what I will be looking for is if McMichael can fit onto that second line next to McTavish and bring with him similar numbers (57 points; 26 goals, 31 assists) that he put up two seasons ago.

McMichael has speed and plays with some sandpaper and grit and has a cutting edge to his game and the Blues are banking on him getting back to that after investing in him on July 16 with a six-year, $40.50 million ($6.75 million AAV) contract.

3. Pavel Buchnevich – Which Buchnevich will come out for the Blues this season, the one who first came to St. Louis five years ago and averaged over a point per game (76 points in 73 games) in 2021-22 or the one that struggled mightily at times last season but came on strong in the end to reach the 20-goal marker for the sixth straight season?

What I’m going to watch for is if Jim Montgomery puts Buchnevich on that second line with McMichael and McTavish, and if he does, it will be because the 31-year-old will have earned it.

McTavish and Jake Neighbours have a history together playing for Team Canada, so that’s a possibility but my sense is Buchnevich will get first dibs on that right wing in the hopes of jump-starting his offense early.

Buchnevich’s six-year, $48 million contract ($8 million AAV) kicks in this season, so there will be more pressure on him to perform to the standards the Blues paid him at, and if he can find that stout two-way play of his and play between the dots, success should follow him.

4. Robert Thomas – Now that Thomas has bought into new GM Alex Steen’s concept and vision for the Blues moving forward and was recently named the 25th captain in franchise history, this should be another player hungry and motivated.

Can Thomas anchor that top line that helped fuel a run that put up 92 points after the Winter Olympic break (Thomas had 31 points; 14 goals, 17 assists in 22 games)?

This is his team now, and Thomas needs to play like the No. 1 center that averaged 1.41 points per game down the stretch for the Blues to get out of the gates strong and have any chance of returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

5. Jimmy Snuggerud – Now that the Tuesday 11 p.m. (CT) deadline has passed and the new collective bargaining agreement has kicked in, the Blues no longer have the option of extending the 2022 first-round pick that had 21 goals and 51 points in 70 games, his first full season in the NHL, to a max eight-year contract. The highest they can go for Snuggerud, entering the final year of his entry-level deal, is seven, but that’s a topic of discussion for another day.

I want to see if Snuggerud can pick up – just like Thomas and Holloway – where he left off last season when what No. 1 line left a trail of fire to end the season following the Olympic break.

Somehow the 22-year-old doesn’t seem like the kind that would leave a potential contract extension weigh in on his play on the ice. He had 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 25 games down the stretch and is capable of putting up similar numbers moving forward, but let’s see that hunger from the start; his shot and skating will be something to watch as camp unfolds. The potential of 30-plus goals or close to it is definitely in play.

6. Dylan Holloway – With a new five-year, $38.75 million ($7.75 million AAV) contract in the bag, no pressure on Holloway from me … other than I have him pegged to hit 30-35 goals this season.

No pressure at all ;)

But for a player that overcame a freak abductor injury late in the 2024-25 season and finally got his bearings underneath him, watch for a player to open camp coming out flying looking to make an impact as one of the young, rising players.

As part of that line with Thomas and Snuggerud, Holloway, tied with Macklin Celebrini with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) after the Olympic break in just 25 games, should have a channeled focus when camp opens on Thursday. He has a contract to live up to now, and I see no reason why he won’t have a focused, high-energy level right from the first whistle on Thursday.

7. Jordan Binnington – The 2019 Stanley Cup champion has clearly seen his partner not only catch him but all but pass him as camp opens, so how does the 33-year-old veteran in the final year of a six-year, $36 million contract handle the situation?

I still think this will be an open competition, and Jim Montgomery will play the guy that is the most consistent, but Joel Hofer, who was tied for the league lead in wins (12-2-2 with a 2.04 goals-against average) and third with a .933 save percentage after the Olympic break, will get the leash to open the season as the No. 1

This can be a solid tandem moving forward and a 45-39 start split isn’t out of the question, but it will be highly important for Binnington to have a sharp focus once camp opens; he did last year but the numbers didn’t translate. That’s going to have to change if he were to want to move on as a No. 1 elsewhere or continue to get a large number of reps here. The goaltending situation should be a fun storyline to watch.

8. Dalibor Dvorsky – Two questions I have when it comes to the 2023 first-round pick: can he find ways to take the next step and be more of an impact player (12 goals, nine assists in 71 games in his first full season last year) and will he be used more down the middle or as a wing on the third line?

We’ll see what Jim Montgomery has in store, but you could see a third line somehow in the form of a combination with Dvorsky, Jake Neighbours and/or Pavel Buchnevich, Pius Suter and Jonatan Berggren.

The third line makeup will be one of the more intriguing storylines as camp unfolds, and Dvorsky will need to come out of the gates showing that progressive steps will be necessary. The Blues aren’t souring on him by any stretch, but the competition for ice time is most definitely there and a sharp, focused Dvorsky will be imperative. Keep an eye on this one.

9. Adam Jiricek – Does the 2024 first-round pick have enough to knock the socks off the coaches and management to win a job on opening night? As former GM Doug Armstrong said, Jiricek will be given every opportunity to win a job but nothing’s guaranteed.

A couple of interesting observers noted to me that Jiricek’s play at the two-game prospect play against Chicago Blackhawks prospects on Monday and Tuesday produced mixed results but it’s not the tell-all the direction the Blues are looking as far as the blue liner is concerned.

Veteran Brandon Carlo was brought in via trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs for two third-round picks in 2026 for this very reason so Jiricek isn’t rushed to the NHL, but I’ll be watching him closely to see if he continues to make progress at this level.

10. Dillon Dube – The noise surrounding one of the five 2018 Canadian World Junior players accused of sexual assault before being acquitted in court has been loud and clear.

But the Blues brought the 28-year-old to St. Louis on a one-year, one-way, $850,000 contract for this season after a successful run with AHL’s Springfield last season.

Off the ice aside, I’ll be looking to see if Dube can steal one of the spots on the bottom six and really make this a quagmire of players management and the coaching staff will have to address if Dube is able to make this team. After all, this is a player that just as recent as 22-23 had the second of two 18-goal seasons who also put up 45 points then.

Imagine a player playing a third/fourth line role that can have that kind of offensive output? Can he get back to that kind of form or anything like it? It’s worth watching as camp progresses.

Brandon Carlo Welcomed, Needed A Trade; St. Louis Blues Came Calling For Someone With ExperienceAfter what veteran described as not being his best with Maple Leafs, 29-year-old brought to St. Louis to complement a defensive unit with size, length, bring stabilityDillon Dube Understands Opinions Will Vary On His Reinstatement To NHL, Wants To Earn Another Chance To Prove His Worth As Person, Player On IceForward, among five 2018 Canada World Junior Players accused of sexual assault eight years ago before being acquitted, will get chance at return to NHL after signing one year contract with St. Louis Blues'Yeah, I Think I Have A Chip On My Shoulder, For Sure' -- New Blues Forward Mason McTavish Has Ample Reason For Motivation Entering 2026-27St. Louis acquired third overall pick in 2021 for pair of 2026 first-round picks after subpar season in Anaheim last yearSt. Louis Blues Prospect Adam Jecho To Enter Player Assistance Program2024 third-round pick will return to the club when cleared for on-ice competition by program administrators; fellow prospect Zach Dean was in assistance program a year agoRoss Johnston Midwestern-Type Upbringing Brought Him To St. Louis BluesNew Blues enforcer, who grew up on a family farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada, signed a three-year, $6 million contract that brings toughness, grit to a lineup that has been lacking it

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The Buffalo Sabres were one of a number of clubs to get a player signed to a  long-term extension before the September 15th deadline, locking up forward Noah Ostlund to an eight-year, $52.8 million deal, but some of the Sabres competition in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference also got their business done before 12 midnight Wednesday. 

The Montreal Canadiens, on the heels of adding veteran winger Chris Kreider on a one-year, bonus-laden deal locked up winger Zach Bolduc, center and playoff hero Alex Newhook, and defenseman Arber Xhekaj. Bolduc($4.2 million AAV) and Newhook($5.5 million AAV) were signed to four-year deals, while Xhekaj signed a one-year deal for $1.5 million.

The Washington Capitals, after signing forward Ryan Leonard to an eight-year, $84 million deal on Monday, consummated another max deal with forward Justin Sourdif. The 24-year-old was acquired from Florida in June 2025 for a pair of draft picks and scored 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) as a rookie with the Capitals last season. The deal which begins in 2027-28 carries a $6.35 million AAV. 

The Ottawa Senators locked up veteran winger Drake Batherson on an eight-year, $86 million deal ($10.75 million AAV) and the New Jersey Devils late on Tuesday signed recently acquired forward Luke Evangelista to a five-year, $36.25 million deal ($7.25 million AAV).

 Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

In the latest episode of “As Connor Hellebuyck Turns”, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday that the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner will not report to training camp on Wednesday. The 33-year-old revealed publicly late last month through his agent that he had requested a trade after last season. The revelation put more pressure on GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to make a deal before the season. 

Dreger revealed earlier in the week that the offers that the Jets have received for Hellebuyck have been “terrible” and well below expectations, but with it publicly known that the gold medal winner does not want to play in Manitoba any longer, it is hard to imagine that the offers will get significantly better. The Sabres were reportedly the leading candidate to land Hellebuyck around the NHL Draft i June, but recent reports have connected him to Utah, Carolina, possibly New Jersey and San Jose. 

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The Florida Panthers are going to be without one of their veteran stars at the start of the new season.

On Wednesday, the Panthers held their annual Media Day at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, which is connected to the team’s practice facility, the Baptist Health IcePlex.

The opening act was Florida General Manager Bill Zito, and one of the first things he was asked about was the health status of forward Brad Marchand.

Over the summer, Marchand revealed that he had a procedure done that he said would keep him off the ice at least in the short term.

While he’s been working on his recovery, there has not been an official timetable set for when he could be ready for game action.

Zito’s answer was a positive one.

“I anticipate Marchy back early in the season,” Zito said.

Marchand, 38, will be playing in his 18th NHL season and his second full year with the Panthers after being acquired at the 2025 Trade Deadline.

He racked up 27 goals and 54 points in 52 games last season before shutting things down due to injury.

“I would say that we’re going to be very conservative with bringing him back,” Zito said.

Outside of Marchand, the Panthers are expected to enter the season fully healthy. It’s a stark contrast from last season, when injuries decimated Florida’s hopes of defending their back-to-back championships.

Training camp officials begins Thursday morning.

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Photo caption: Feb 27, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wingBradMarchand(63) looks on against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Buffalo Sabres revealed their 2026-27 training camp roster on Tuesday, as 53 players will take part in on-ice workouts on Thursday. The group consisting of 31 forwards, 15 defensemen, and seven goaltenders will take part in practices in multiple groups, a Blue and Gold scrimmage at Key Bank Center on Saturday, September 19, and four preseason games against Pittsburgh (home and away), Columbus, and Detroit between September 21 and September 26.   

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen and head coach Lindy Ruff will meet with the media on Wednesday. The club made a few additions to the camp roster on Tuesday, signing former NHLer Thomas Bordeleau and goalie Talyn Boyko to AHL deals. Bordeleau, 24, split time between the San Jose Sharks and their AHL affiliate after being selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Last season, he split time between Utica and Springfield, posting 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in 60 games. 

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Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Boyko is a 2021 fourth rounder of the New York Rangers, who split time between AHL Hartford and KalPa in the Finnish SM-Liiga last season. The 23-year-old participated in last weekend’s Prospect Showcase, and was brought in for depth purposes, as Amerks goalie Topias Leinonen will be unavailable to start camp due an injury in off-season training.   

Roster (courtesy of the Sabres website)

Forwards(31)

6 | Zach Benson, LW | 21 | 65 GP, 13 G, 30 A

77 | Thomas Bordeleau, C | 24 | 60 GP, 9 G, 12 A (AHL)

10 | Sam Carrick, C | 34 | 73 GP, 9 G, 7 A

59 | Matteo Costantini, C | 24 | 33 GP, 6 G, 3 A (AHL)

15 | Justin Danforth, RW | 33 | 4 GP, 0 G, 0 A

91 | Josh Doan, RW | 24 | 82 GP, 25 G, 27 A

45 | Riley Fiddler-Schultz, C | 24 | 62 GP, 21 G, 16 A (AHL)

54 | Zac Funk, RW | 23 | 23 GP, 9 G, 10 A (ECHL)

55 | Mason Geertsen, LW | 31 | 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A

94 | Konsta Helenius, C | 20 | 9 GP, 1 G, 3 A

48 | Tyson Kozak, C | 23 | 46 GP, 2 G, 4 A

19 | Peyton Krebs, C | 25 | 82 GP, 12 G, 27 A

20 | Jiri Kulich, C | 22 | 12 GP, 3 G, 2 A

52 | Trevor Kuntar, C | 25 | 70 GP, 21 G, 16 A (AHL)

29 | Beck Malenstyn, LW | 28 | 81 GP, 7 G, 7 A

27 | Aidan McDonough, LW | 26 | 65 GP, 23 G, 21 A (AHL)

71 | Ryan McLeod, C | 26 | 81 GP, 14 G, 40 A

49 | Carson Meyer, RW | 29 | 55 GP, 14 G, 17 A (AHL)

9 | Josh Norris, C | 27 | 44 GP, 13 G, 21 A

86 | Noah Ostlund, C | 60 GP, 11 G, 16 A

13 | Matthew Peca, C | 33 | 63 GP, 12 G, 35 A (AHL)

41 | Jason Polin, RW | 27 | 46 GP, 10 G, 11 A (AHL)

22 | Jack Quinn, RW | 24 | 82 GP, 20 G, 31 A

70 | Jake Richard, RW | 22 | 38 GP, 10 G, 17 A (NCAA)

81 | Redmond Savage, C | 23 | 29 GP, 3 G, 3 A (AHL)

43 | Conor Sheary, LW | 34 | 62 GP, 7 G, 11 A

67 | Graham Slaggert, C | 27 | 58 GP, 2 G, 5 A (AHL)

72 | Tage Thompson, C | 28 | 81 GP, 40 G, 41 A

28 | Liam Valente, RW | 23 | 39 GP, 20 G, 15 A (NCAA)

42 | Brendan Warren, LW | 29 | 63 GP, 5 G, 7 A (AHL)

17 | Jason Zucker, LW | 34 | 62 GP, 24 G, 21 A

Defensemen (15)

46 | Louis Crevier, RHD | 25 | 78 GP, 7 G, 18 A

26 | Rasmus Dahlin, LHD | 26 | 77 GP, 19 G, 55 A

44 | Dennis Gilbert, LHD | 29 | 8 GP, 0 G, 1 A

33 | Ryan Johnson, LHD | 25 | 56 GP, 5 G, 14 A (AHL)

76 | Vsevolod Komarov, RHD | 22 | 55 GP, 4 G, 7 A (AHL)

38 | Noah Laaouan, RHD | 25 | 40 GP, 2 G, 7 A (AHL)

62 | Gavin McCarthy, RHD | 21 | 36 GP, 4 G, 17 A (NCAA)

73 | Zach Metsa, RHD | 27 | 43 GP, 2 G, 4 A

57 | Radim Mrtka, RHD | 19 | 43 GP, 1 G, 33 A (WHL)

25 | Owen Power, LHD | 23 | 81 GP, 8 G, 21 A

3 | Jack Rathbone, LHD | 27 | 49 GP, 5 G, 13 A (AHL)

23 | Mattias Samuelsson, LHD | 26 | 78 GP, 13 G, 28 A

64 | Maxim Strbak, RHD | 21 | 37 GP, 3 G, 15 A (NCAA)

21 | Conor Timmins, RHD | 27 | 39 GP, 0 G, 8 A

8 | Olen Zellweger, LHD | 23 | 76 GP, 7 G, 15 A

Goaltenders (7)

35 | Talyn Boyko | 23 | 5 GP, 0-2-2, .894 SV%, 3.10 GAA (AHL)

92 | Colten Ellis | 25 | 16 GP, 8-4-2, .903 SV%, 2.90 GAA

50 | Topias Leinonen | 22 | 8 GP, 3-3-3, .855 SV%, 3.48 GAA (AHL) (Injured)

1 | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 27 | 35 GP, 22-9-3, .910 SV%, 2.52 GAA

34 | Alex Lyon | 33 | 36 GP, 20-10-4, .907 SV%, 2.77 GAA

32 | Scott Ratzlaff | 21 | 13 GP, 4-6-3, .878 SV%, 3.44 GAA (AHL)

31 | Matt Villalta | 24 | 33 GP, 16-12-3, .895 SV%, 3.10 GAA (AHL)

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Arttu Piiparinen may not be ready for the NHL just yet, but the Vegas Golden Knights are giving their 2026 first-round pick an early glimpse at what it will take to get there.

Piiparinen, selected 29th overall in June's NHL Draft, has been invited to join the Golden Knights for training camp after beginning the 2026-27 season with Tappara in Liiga.

The move shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise, even if some might view it as an early look for an 18-year-old defenseman who is still developing. Vegas wouldn't have invested a first-round pick in Piiparinen without believing there was significant potential to work with, and bringing him into camp gives the organization an opportunity to begin that process firsthand.

More importantly, it gives Piiparinen an opportunity to experience the NHL environment before he's expected to make the jump permanently.

He has already appeared in one game for Tappara this season after recording three assists, eight penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating across 29 regular-season appearances with the club last year. His numbers are hardly the most important part of this particular opportunity; the real value comes from spending time around an NHL organization and seeing what the next level actually looks like.

That includes working alongside players such as Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone, veterans who have spent years learning how to prepare, recover and maintain themselves through the demands of an NHL season.

Piiparinen isn't going to become a finished product simply by spending a few weeks around those players, but the lessons can extend well beyond the ice. How veterans approach nutrition, recovery, off days, preparation and the daily grind of an 84-game season can provide a young player with an education that isn't available in a traditional development setting.

For Piiparinen, however, the biggest lesson may come from the pace of the game itself.

The defenseman has earned attention for his ability to move the puck and help his team exit the defensive zone under pressure, but NHL forechecking presents an entirely different challenge. The forwards closing in will be faster, stronger and more experienced, leaving less time to identify an outlet, make a decision and execute the play. Don't make the play in time and risk getting crushed.

That is precisely the type of pressure Piiparinen needs to experience.

He won't make the Opening Night roster, but the training camp experience can give him a much clearer understanding of the standard required to eventually become an NHL regular. Every practice, shift and conversation provides another piece of information he can take back to Finland and incorporate into his development.

There is no need for Vegas to rush him.

At this stage, the opportunity itself is what matters.

The Senators have unveiled their 57-man roster for their 2026-27 training camp.

Camp began Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre and Bell Sensplex and it's composed of seven goaltenders, 18 defencemen and 32 forwards. Players reported for medicals on Wednesday morning, with on-ice practices beginning on Thursday.

Some interesting wrinkles this year will be the camp's brevity and the removal of fitness testing.

The regular season is already less than two weeks away and this is the year the league moves to an 84-game schedule. So they've shortened the preseason (amen) and the Sens will cram in five exhibition games on three dates. 

With 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies all on one-way NHL deals, job openings are already scarce to non-existent. Now players on the bubble will also see very little game action to make an impact on evaluators.

Carter Yakemchuk represents one of the few fluid situations. He's easily in the club's top seven, but to stay in the NHL, he'll need to crack the top six. The Sens aren't likely to keep a waivers-exempt, 20-year-old first-rounder in Ottawa to sit in the press box most nights. He needs to play.

Also, as part of the new CBA which starts today, fitness testing is no longer allowed. So you won't see any TV shots of players riding bikes to the point of exhaustion or parting ways with their breakfast.

The Senators say their camp roster features 13 former first-round draft picks and 27 players who were Ottawa selections in NHL drafts. 14 players were signed as free agents, 12 were obtained in trades, two are at camp on professional tryouts (PTO), and two are on amateur tryouts (ATO).

Twenty-five (25) of the camp’s players appeared in at least one game with the Senators during the 2025-26 season while another six (6) players dressed for other NHL clubs. Of the 29 players who were invited to recent rookie camp and tournament, 20 players were invited to training camp.

One new face is Vadim Zherenko, a 25-year-old Russian goalie who's spent the past four years in Springfield of the AHL. With Leevi Meriläinen the third man on the depth chart and on a one-way deal, he may need to be exposed to waivers at some point. That would leave Jackson Parsons and Kevin Reidler to man the fort in Belleville.

Zherenko gives Belleville some serious AHL experience if the Sens decide it's needed.

2026-27 Senators Training Camp Roster (Projected NHL players in bold)

Goaltenders (7)

Linus Ullmark (Ottawa – NHL)
Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia – NHL)
Leevi Meriläinen (Ottawa – NHL, Belleville – AHL)

Lucas Beckman (Baie-Comeau – QMJHL, Chicoutimi – QMJHL)
Jackson Parsons (Allen – ECHL, Belleville – AHL)
Kevin Reidler (Penn State – Big-10, Belleville – AHL)
Vadim Zherenko (Springfield – AHL).

Defencemen (18)

Thomas Chabot (Ottawa – NHL)
Tyler Kleven (Ottawa – NHL)
Nikolas Matinpalo (Ottawa – NHL)
Jake Sanderson (Ottawa – NHL)
Jordan Spence (Ottawa – NHL)
Carter Yakemchuk (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL)
Artem Zub (Ottawa – NHL)

Matthew Andonovski (Kitchener – OHL, Belleville – AHL)
Samuel Bolduc (Ontario – AHL, Belleville – AHL)
Cameron Crotty (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL)
Jorian Donovan (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL)
Gabriel Eliasson (Barrie – OHL)
Tomas Hamara (Belleville – AHL)
Scott Harrington (Belleville – AHL)
Christian Kyrou (Texas – AHL, Lehigh Valley – AHL)
Harris Pangretitsch (Sault Ste. Marie – OHL)
Hoyt Stanley (Cornell – ECAC, Belleville – AHL)
Djibril Toure (Allen – ECHL, Belleville – AHL)

Forwards (32)

Michael Amadio (Ottawa - NHL)
Drake Batherson (Ottawa - NHL)
Andre Burakovsky (Chicago – NHL)
Nick Cousins (Ottawa – NHL)
Dylan Cozens (Ottawa – NHL)
William Eklund (San Jose – NHL)
Warren Foegele (Los Angeles – NHL, Ottawa – NHL)
Claude Giroux (Ottawa – NHL)
Ridly Greig (Ottawa – NHL)
Stephen Halliday (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL) 
Kurtis MacDermid (Ottawa – NHL)
Shane Pinto (Ottawa – NHL)
Tim Stützle (Ottawa – NHL) 
Fabian Zetterlund (Ottawa – NHL)

Eskild Bakke Olsen (Linkoping – SHL)
Samuel Blais (Laval – AHL, Montreal – NHL, Toronto – NHL)
Tyler Boucher (Belleville – AHL)
Xavier Bourgault (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL)
Louis-Felix Bourque (Drummondville – QMJHL)
Jaxon Cover (London – OHL)
Philippe Daoust (Belleville – AHL)
Lucas Ellinas (Kitchener – OHL)
Kasper Halttunen (San Jose – AHL)
Hayden Hodgson (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL)
Landen Hookey (Allen – ECHL, Belleville – AHL)
Blake Montgomery (Wisconsin – Big-10, Belleville – AHL)
Luke Mistelbacher (Brandon – WHL, Belleville – AHL)
Adam Nemec (HK Nitra – Slovakia, Sudbury – OHL)
Oskar Pettersson (Belleville – AHL)
Ryan Suzuki (Chicago – AHL)
Philip Tomasino (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – AHL, Lehigh Valley – AHL, Pittsburgh – NHL) Blake Vanek (Wenatchee – WHL, Calgary – WHL)

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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The Colorado Avalanche probably aren't going to look quite as unstoppable as they did a year ago.

And that's okay.

After a 121-point regular season, a Presidents' Trophy and a stretch in which Colorado looked almost untouchable, the Avalanche have set an extraordinarily high bar for themselves. Anything short of that kind of dominance is going to invite questions, second-guessing and, inevitably, a little bit of panic.

But there is a danger in judging this team solely by what happens between October and April. The Avalanche don't need to be the best team in the NHL for 82 games. They need to be the best team in the NHL when the games matter most, and that distinction is important heading into the 2026-27 season.

Colorado's regular season last year was remarkable, particularly the first half. The Avalanche became the first team in NHL history to suffer only two regulation losses through their first 40 games, establishing themselves as one of the most dominant teams the league had ever seen over that stretch.

Eventually, however, the season became more complicated. The losses started to pile up more regularly, Colorado limped into the Olympic break, returned a little sluggish and then went through another stretch of uneven hockey before the postseason arrived.

The Avalanche still handled business when the playoffs began, sweeping Los Angeles before eliminating Minnesota in five games. Then came Vegas, and suddenly all of that regular-season dominance felt like a distant memory.

That's why expecting another 121-point season from Colorado may be missing the bigger picture. The Avalanche don't necessarily need to replicate last year's regular-season performance to have a successful season. If anything, there is an argument that the team would be better served by entering the postseason healthy, structurally sound and equipped to handle the teams that have given it problems in recent years.

A 4-2 win and an 8-1 win both count for two points. Nobody remembers how loudly the goal horn sounded in November when the Stanley Cup is being handed out in June.

There were warning signs in Colorado last season, even during stretches when the team looked nearly invincible. Puck management was one of them, while defensive breakdowns were another. Turnovers in dangerous areas repeatedly put pressure on the goaltenders, and Scott Wedgewood came up with more than his share of big saves to keep Colorado afloat. Mackenzie Blackwood did the same after arriving in the second half of the season.

That was a significant reason the Avalanche finished with the William M. Jennings Trophy.

The power play was another concern. Colorado's man advantage struggled badly before the Olympic break before finding its footing afterward, only to become an issue again once the playoffs began.

Those aren't exactly the flaws of an indestructible hockey team, and another problem became impossible to ignore once Colorado reached the postseason: its struggles against teams capable of clogging up the ice, disrupting passing lanes and making life miserable in front of the net.

Dallas has done it. Vegas has done it. Those teams have helped eliminate Colorado from the postseason five times during the post-COVID era.

If the Avalanche are going to finally get through that type of opponent, they need more than speed and skill. They need some bite.

That's where Zach L'Heureux could become particularly important.

Joe Sakic addressed that need by acquiring the forward from Nashville in the deal that sent Jack Drury to the Predators and brought Fedor Svechkov to Colorado. L'Heureux brings an element the Avalanche have been missing for years: someone who can make opponents uncomfortable without sacrificing his ability to contribute offensively.

He's physical, competitive and difficult to play against, but he can also score. That combination could matter considerably more in April and May than it does in November.

Colorado's depth also creates an interesting variable. On paper, the Avalanche may not appear quite as deep as they were last season, but there are plenty of ways that could change over the course of an 82-game schedule.

If Parker Kelly builds on his first season in Colorado, that helps. If Logan O'Connor returns to form, that helps. If Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas stay healthy and produce at the level they're capable of, that changes the equation entirely. And if the goaltending remains as reliable as it was last season, Colorado has a foundation it can build around.

Then there are the wild cards. Fabian Lysell and Fedor Svechkov represent two relatively inexpensive options with legitimate upside. If either player earns a larger role and provides more than expected, the Avalanche suddenly have another layer of depth that wasn't necessarily accounted for when the season began.

That's how an NHL roster changes. It's rarely about whether every player performs exactly as expected; it's about finding a few players who give you more than anticipated.

So if Colorado doesn't win by five or six goals every other night, don't panic. If the Avalanche don't win the Presidents' Trophy, that doesn't automatically mean something has gone wrong, and if they don't finish with another franchise-best point total, it shouldn't overshadow what they're actually trying to accomplish.

Because the regular season is only the beginning.

The real test comes when the ice gets tighter, the hits get harder and opponents have seven games to figure out how to take away everything that makes Colorado dangerous. That's where the Avalanche have to be better.

They need to protect the puck, defend more consistently, make their special teams hold up, get dependable goaltending and have enough physicality to keep teams like Dallas and Vegas from dictating the terms of a playoff series.

Most importantly, they need to arrive at the postseason healthy.

If they can do that while maintaining the speed, skill and offensive firepower that made them so dangerous last season, Colorado's Stanley Cup window remains wide open. But it isn't an endless window.

Cale Makar's new eight-year contract carries a $20.4 million annual cap hit beginning after this season. Nathan MacKinnon isn't getting any younger, and the core that has carried this franchise for years is entering another season with the same objective.

The Avalanche don't need to prove they're the best team in hockey in October. They need to prove it come playoff time.

The time to do that is now.

Training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs is nearly here, and with all the new faces around the organization, the roster and management, the lead-up to the 2026-27 season will be interesting.

It'll be an opportunity for new players to become accustomed to each other and build chemistry. It's also a chance for players to leave a good first impression on the ice with new head coach Jim Hiller. And for some, that early impression of the coach means more than for others.

Here are four players on the Maple Leafs who must have a great training camp to solidify their spots on the NHL roster. Especially for opening night on Sept. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.

Emil Andrae, D

Emil Andrae was the main get when Toronto traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 5-foot-9 defenseman backs himself as a mobile player who likes to move the puck. That's a defenseman that the Leafs could've used in last year's back end as they struggled to move the puck out of their own zone efficiently.

Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Emil Andrae said he suspected that he would get traded from the Philadelphia Flyers. "But when I found out it was Toronto, I couldn't be happier."

At training camp, Andrae must prove that his ability on the puck is enough to overcome his small frame and limited NHL experience. Not to mention, there will be competition among the Leafs' defense group, specifically with Troy Stecher, as well as Nick Blankenburg, looking to make a name for himself on a PTO. Even 20-year-old Ben Danford has set lofty goals for himself to make the NHL roster out of camp.

The 24-year-old Swede has played a total of 107 career games, 61 of which came last year. Andrae averaged 15:20 of ice time per game, scoring two goals and 13 points, and finishing second on the team in plus-minus with a plus-15.

Easton Cowan, LW

Easton Cowan isn't really at risk of losing a job on the Maple Leafs' NHL roster. But how many minutes he gets throughout the year remains unclear.

The 21-year-old certainly grew over the course of 2025-26. Cowan featured in 66 regular-season games for Toronto, registering 11 goals and 29 points. With that, he averaged 14:43 of ice time per game. 

If the Maple Leafs were in contention for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Cowan's young career to this point could look completely different. He wouldn't have received as much ice time or opportunity if the team had more to play for and had maintained their veteran players rather than trading them at the deadline (Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Nic Roy). Cowan didn't get an opportunity in the NHL just because some veterans got traded, but it definitely gave him some room in the lineup.

Nonetheless, with Hiller now overlooking the lineup, he'll need to prove that he's more than a player who benefited from a team that had little to play for. He's already a middle-six player on the team, but can he propel himself to a constant second-liner with a good first impression?

Maple Leafs 2026-27 Line Projections: Where Do Gavin McKenna And Easton Cowan Fit?The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be done tinkering with their lineup between now and training camp. So we did our best to look at projected lines for opening night.

Dakota Joshua, LW

Dakota Joshua is another player who has a spot in Toronto's lineup. But his role is a little less solidified than Cowan's, per se.

He's projected to be the fourth-line left winger for opening night, with training camp still to happen between now and then. But for any fourth-line player, they can be taken out of the lineup the second the coach doesn't feel like they are fulfilling the role or having an impact on the game.

Joshua's challenge in camp is to show that he is a useful player who can be physical with his 6-foot-3 frame. If he can be that heavy player, as well as put up 10-plus goals in the year, that would be acceptable.

Where Does The Maple Leafs' Forward Group Rank In The Atlantic Division?The Toronto Maple Leafs executed a near-overhaul of the forward group going into next season. Where does the team stand in terms of its offense on paper in comparison to the rest of the Atlantic Division?

Steven Lorentz, LW

With all the bottom-six additions to the Maple Leafs this off-season, Steven Lorentz appears to be the odd man out in terms of the 12 forwards to dress for opening night.

Lorentz, 30, will be competing for a regular spot on this roster just as much as anyone else will be going into 2026-27. Training camp is the opportunity for him to showcase himself to Hiller and the rest of the coaching staff. It's the chance for him to set himself apart from his peers and those also jostling for a fourth-line role.

He has to show that he can do a little more than skate the length of the ice each shift. The fallout with Calle Jarnkrok was that he didn't provide many dimensions other than being an option on the penalty kill. Lorentz can't fall into that realm.

As a 6-foot-4 forward, he should be able to be a little more physical and bring some energy. With that, he's got decent speed and can make plays offensively, notching 18 points last season on an average of 11:52 per game.

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Trevor Lewis never had the chance to play for his hometown team.

For most of his 17-year NHL career, that team simply didn't exist.

The Utah Mammoth played their inaugural season in 2024-25, the same season Lewis was preparing to close the book on a career that saw him win two Stanley Cups, play more than 1,000 NHL games and establish himself as one of the most accomplished hockey players Utah has ever produced.

Now, though, Lewis finally has a place within his hometown club.

Just not in uniform.

The Utah native has joined the Mammoth staff as a part-time video scout and youth and amateur hockey ambassador, bringing nearly two decades of NHL experience back to the state where his love for the game began.

“Trevor Lewis fell in love with the game of hockey right here in Utah,” Mammoth president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “He went on to win two Stanley Cups over the span of his 17-year NHL career, retiring as the most accomplished player ever from this state.”

Lewis retired following the 2025-26 season, ending a career that began when the Los Angeles Kings selected him 17th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He spent the bulk of his career in Los Angeles, helping the Kings capture the Stanley Cup in 2012 and again in 2014.

His résumé extends well beyond those championships.

Lewis played 1,034 NHL games, the most in league history by a player from Utah, and finished second among Utah-born players with 237 career points. His draft position also remains the highest ever for an NHL player from the state.

Those accomplishments now give Lewis a unique perspective to bring into the Mammoth organization.

His role will extend beyond video scouting and hockey operations. Lewis will also work to help grow youth and amateur hockey throughout Utah, returning to the same community where his own journey in the sport began.

For a state whose hockey profile has grown considerably in recent years, having one of its most accomplished players involved at the grassroots level gives Lewis an opportunity to influence the game long after his playing career has ended.

“Being able to tap into the mind and championship experience of someone who cares so personally and so deeply about the continuous growth of hockey in Utah, and who knows what it would mean to bring a Stanley Cup to the fans here, is both a rare opportunity and a natural fit for us,” Armstrong said.

Lewis never got to wear the jersey of Utah's NHL team.

But after spending 17 years building a career that made him one of the state's hockey pioneers, he now gets to help build what comes next.

The Anaheim Ducks have reached an agreement to sign left wing Cutter Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension ($13.5 million average annual value), securing his place with the team through the 2031-32 NHL season.

Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers before being acquired by Anaheim via trade for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round selection in early 2024. Last season, Gauthier tallied 41 goals and 69 points as the Ducks' leading scorer. His offensive production helped lead Anaheim to its first playoff appearance since 2018, ending an eight-year postseason drought.

"We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time," said Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 15. "He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player."

Gauthier’s contract was finalized in the final hours of the previous NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Under the new CBA, which took effect at midnight, teams can now offer a maximum of seven years to re-signing players and six years to free agents. The updated agreement also changes the structure of signing bonuses and limits how much can be paid upfront, reducing the prevalence of front-loaded contracts.

More: Alex Ovechkin faces backlash over pro-Putin political campaign ad

"This is a very exciting day for my family and I," Gauthier said in a statement. "I'm so pleased to be able to sign long-term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cutter Gauthier signs six-year, $81 million contract with Anaheim Ducks

Kent Hughes has done it. The Montreal Canadiens have signed all their players, but it took longer for Arber Xhekaj. The big defenseman only put pen to paper on the eve of training camp, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The question everyone is asking is: why did it take all summer for that kind of deal?

After this season, both parties will be right back where they started since, once again, Xhekaj, who will then be 26, will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. In the past, Hughes had always signed the Ontarian and Jayden Struble to two-year pacts; what’s different this time around?

Canadiens’ Bolduc Thought It Was Important To Stay As Long As Possible
Canadiens Finally Re-Sign Arber Xhekaj To Smart Deal
Canadiens Sign Alex Newhook To Multi-Year Extension In Good Move

Given the logjam on the blueline and the fact that eventually someone will have to go, perhaps Hughes wanted to make Xhekaj’s contract more attractive in a potential trade. After all, if he were traded during the season, the team that acquires him wouldn't just be buying one year of his services, since he would remain under team control at season's end. The Habs had no issue signing Zachary Bolduc to a deal that walked him straight to free agency at age 27, but it’s a much longer deal. Or the hulking defenseman may feel he’s worth more than $1.5 million and doesn’t want that to be his salary for the next two seasons; that’s also a possibility.

Now that the deal is signed, however, Xhekaj has another chance to prove he belongs on the Canadiens for the long haul. According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, Kaiden Guhle will miss the start of the season and won’t be available to play until perhaps November. That gives Xhekaj runway to make the sixth-defenseman role his own.

What’s different this season? Well, as we heard at the golf tournament, Derek Lalonde will bring a fresh set of eyes to the defensive structure and the penalty kill. Perhaps he’ll like what he sees from Xhekaj and will be willing to give him a fair audition on the PK. His presence might also be good news for the blueliners, since he could teach them a thing or two about their role. While he wasn’t a defenseman himself in his playing days, Lalonde was a netminder who had the opportunity to watch defensemen’s play up close.

Whether he’s pleased with the outcome of the negotiations or not, Xhekaj must approach training camp as another chance for a fresh start and find a way to make himself essential to the Canadiens. That starts with playing a safe, consistent game and knowing when to use the rough stuff. Making good reads and making good decisions on the ice will be key to securing a regular spot in the lineup. His teammates love Xhekaj and love having him in the lineup; they’ve said it time and time again. He needs to get the coaching staff to feel the same.

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Heading into their 2026 rookie camp, the Philadelphia Flyers had one message for their prospects, especially with a shorter training camp and preseason: "Get noticed."

The more experienced players, like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey didn't need to hear that twice, though they took it upon themselves to take the extra practice time seriously anyway.

For other players, it's already been decided that they will head back to junior hockey, and for a much smaller group, now is the time to make an impression.

With two Rookie Series games against the New York Rangers over the weekend, the prospects who could conceivably make the Flyers' NHL roster in the next few years had their first chances to make an impression, and from those games and the camp overall, we can begin to assess the trajectories of those with the most at stake.

Winner: Cole Knuble

Cole Knuble was a bit of a wildcard heading into rookie camp, as he had joined the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the tail end of last season, scoring a goal, two assists, and three points in seven games.

Before that, the 22-year-old former fourth-round pick starred at the University of Notre Dame for three years, scoring 21 goals and 70 points across his last 70 collegiate games.

Knuble, the son of former Flyers forward Mike, only played in one of the Rookie Series games against the Rangers, and that was all he needed to open some eyes.

Featuring on the top line alongside Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko, Knuble was consistently making things happen, using his legs to advance the play and crashing into bodies on the forecheck despite his modest 5-foot-10, 192-pound build.

Knuble's rapid ascent and ceaseless motor are reminiscent of former Flyers forward Bobby Brink, who improved considerably over the years and made himself a third-line staple before being exchanged at the 2026 trade deadline for David Jiricek as the Flyers sought to clear their logjam of wingers and make room for Porter Martone.

If Knuble's arrow continues to point upwards, a Brink projection is certainly possible and would be a phenomenal outcome for the Flyers, who are in need of some more mid- and late-round hits from their drafting.

Loser: Devin Kaplan

On the other side of the coin, Devin Kaplan already has some NHL experience and a full pro season under his belt, but was far less noticeable than his peers.

Kaplan, 22, is heading into a contract year and scored just five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 49 games with the Phantoms last year, and while he does project as more of a grinder than anything else, Noah Powell was considerably more noticeable in that regard.

It was a disappointing initial showing from the 2023 third-rounder, who was impressive this time last year, but not so much this time around.

Kaplan does deserve some grace as he shakes off the rust coming back from a season-ending injury and subsequent surgery, but the combination of the Flyers' overall glut of wingers and the strong performances from Knuble and Powell don't bode well for his future prospects with the organization.

Kaplan will have another chance to draw some eyes when training camp officially opens Thursday.

Winner: Carson Bjarnason

Deservedly so, Egor Zavragin is always a hot topic when Flyers prospects are being discussed, but we often forget that draft classmate and fellow goalie Carson Bjarnason was picked ahead of him in the same year.

After four seasons with the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings, including three as the starter, Bjarnason turned pro last year, playing in 32 games for the Phantoms.

The 21-year-old's results were mixed, as a strong start faded into a skid, and Bjarnason eventually played two games for the ECHL Reading Royals, going 1-1-0 with a 3.57 GAA and .881 save percentage.

In the AHL, Bjarnason ultimately finished with a 14-11-7 record while playing second-fiddle to Aleksei Kolosov, posting a 3.43 GAA and .877 save percentage.

But, it's worth noting that the Phantoms dealt with tons of roster turnover losing Emil Andrae, Barkey and Bump, as well as injuries to Bonk, Kaplan, and Ty Murchison. Reinforcements in the forms of David Jiricek, Boris Katchouk, Powell, Knuble, and Jack Berglund didn't arrive until the season was long lost.

Bjarnason should have a more stable environment around him in 2026-27, and he put some doubts to bed with a very good full game against the Rangers over the weekend. The former second-rounder was beaten only twice, and both goals came on the power play.

Look for Bjarnason to get some preseason ice time as he continues to build on a strong start to camp.

Losers: Veteran defensemen

We're going a little off the cuff here, but Bonk, Ty Murchison, Spencer Gill, Brek Liske, and Maksim Sokolovskii were all impressive this past week in their own ways.

For older Flyers like Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen, the time has come for them to begin watching the rearview mirror a bit. Murchison wore the 'C' in the first game against the Rangers this weekend and already got some NHL games last year, and Bonk, after making his NHL debut and playoff debut to finish the season, was as impressive as he needed to be in a camp of this nature.

Seeler no longer has trade protection and has just two more years left on his contract. A transition to No. 7 defenseman, especially after Simon Benoit's contract expires next summer, seems likely with Murchison continuing to ascend.

As for Ristolainen, the trade rumors never really went away, and he now has Bonk and Jiricek pushing him for a roster spot and ice time with Gill and Liske still on the way.

If both Bonk and Jiricek look the part and convince Flyers brass that they can handle expanded workloads and added responsibilities, that could very well start the countdown on Ristolainen's tenure in Philadelphia.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

A five-year extension for Luke Evangelista:

Luke Evangelista’s 5-year extension kicks in for the 2027-28 NHL season.

Here’s the breakdown:

$7,250,000 AAV

2027-28: $9,700,000
2028-29: $8,260,000
2029-30: $6,120,000
2030-31: $6,085,000
2031-32: $6,085,000 https://t.co/GdWFzBDSpa

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) September 16, 2026

The Hockey Guy previews the season for the Devils:

Hockey will be here soon:

Time to report to main camp. 🫡#NJDevils vets are officially back tomorrow for Media Day, with their first on-ice session on Thursday!

Let's get this started!

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) September 16, 2026

“The Devils will play their first of four preseason games, starting Sunday, Sept. 20, and there’s plenty to follow as the regular season approaches. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on as the preseason gets underway.” [Devils on the Rush]

Hockey Links

A flurry of deals:

Cutter Gauthier, six years x $13.5M AAV with Anaheim

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 16, 2026

Hurricanes announce a one-year Jordan Staal extension for 2027-28

$4M signing bonus
$900K salary

Up to $5.1M in additional performance bonuses

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 16, 2026

SOURDS SECURED

The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Justin Sourdif to an eight-year, $50.8 million contract. Sourdif’s contract will carry an average annual value of $6.35 million.

Full details: https://t.co/Gd0ySeLuKi#ALLCAPS | @Shift4pic.twitter.com/2BlS2aXwEY

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 16, 2026

“There’s always a possibility for a sudden change of heart, but as we have this conversation as a group of insiders, I do not believe Hellebuyck will report to the opening of training camp. If that is the case, that forces the Jets to respond. That response will likely come Wednesday or Thursday.” [TSN]

“With training camps opening up this week, I caught up with over two dozen NHL superstars to get their takes on vital and trivial issues. Some of hockey’s biggest names discuss NHL rule changes they’d like to see; how an 84-game regular season will impact them; how they feel about the current state of fan culture; as well as their offseason life highlights and what they’d name a new expansion team in Houston or Austin, Texas.” [ESPN]

“Will Adam Fantilli sign a contract in time? When will Quinn Hughes sign an extension? What will happen to Connor Hellebuyck? This week, The Athletic asked its staff for one burning question facing each NHL team heading into training camp, and those were just a few of the enticing storylines we heard about in response. With camps opening this week and the preseason around the corner, here’s what we have our eyes on.” [The Athletic ($)]

Neck protection:

The NHL has released its 2026-27 rule book and there's only one change for this year:

All players with 0 NHL games experience must wear neck protection starting this season, even in warmups.

For players with at least 1 NHL game experience, neck protection remains optional.

— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) September 15, 2026

Blackhawks have a new captain:

a new letter on the chest, a new chapter ahead ❤️

introducing the 37th 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 of the Chicago Blackhawks, 𝐂onnor Bedard! pic.twitter.com/Lg4U1McJDa

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 15, 2026

The Red Wings (sort of) have a GM:

The Detroit Red Wings name Shawn Horcoff interim General Manager.

Details » https://t.co/Joaqi8DKURpic.twitter.com/fYf5419PF8

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 15, 2026

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin training camp in earnest on Thursday, followed by preseason action. Before any pucks drop, a few Penguins players were spotted around Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods on Tuesday, delivering tickets to season ticket holders by continuing a yearslong tradition.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said the event has helped shape his view of Penguins fans, adding that the support they have given him and the team over the years has meant a lot.

“Every time we [deliver season tickets], you recognize the pride people have, and hearing their stories [about] how long they’ve had tickets for or how they got connected to going to games, it’s fun to hear that, but you always feel the support. That’s the main thing,” Crosby said. “I think it’s a pretty cool event we’ve been able to do for a long time and it doesn’t ever get old.”

Several other players hit the streets as well, including defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov.

The moment you realize Sidney Crosby is at your house 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Rlaz2kb4dQ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 15, 2026

Signed, sealed, delivered… It's Rusty!!! pic.twitter.com/XnCtwavXzN

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 15, 2026

Officially kicking off Season Ticket Holder Delivery Day! 👏 pic.twitter.com/CcquWpzf1F

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 15, 2026

POV: Raks shows up on your doorstep 🤩 pic.twitter.com/L9pBNl4HU4

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 15, 2026

The team has been hand-delivering season tickets and special packages to fans since 2007, making it a 19-year tradition as of 2026.

When the Devils acquired winger Luke Evangelista a few weeks ago, one of the first questions that I asked was whether or not the Devils should sign him to a contract extension.

If you’ve been paying attention to what’s going on around the league, there has been a flurry of contract extensions across the NHL. Yesterday was the last day for teams to sign players for a maximum of eight years, and we saw a few of those deals with Drake Batherson extending in Ottawa, Noah Ostlund in Buffalo, and Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif in Washington DC. So it was only to wonder if any of the Devils pending free agents would put pen to paper, as Jackson wrote about earlier this week.

Sunny Mehta didn’t quite go the full eight years of term with Evangelista, but late Tuesday night, he did get Evangelista to agree to terms on a new five year contract. The deal is for $36.25M total ($7.25M AAV). The deal will begin with the 2027-28 season and will be tacked on to the final year of his current $3M AAV deal.

Per the Devils press release

The contract breakdown is as follows: 2027-28: $9,700,000; 2028-29: $8,260,000; 2029-30: $6,120,000; 2030-31: $6,085,000 & 2031-32: $6,085,000. 

According to PuckPedia, the deal is signing bonus heavy, with roughly 75% of it coming in bonuses ($27.915M). There is also relatively light trade protection over the final three years of the deal with a 7-team no-trade list in 2029-30, a five team no-trade list in 2030-31, and a three team list in 2031-32. The deal is also buying out three years of UFA.

My initial reaction was that it seems a little high given some of the recent comparables. Evangelista secures a bigger AAV than Fraser Minten (7x$7.2M) who really just has the one full NHL season to speak of and plays a premium position. He comes in higher than Connor McMichael (6x$6.75M), although he does have a higher scoring rate for his career.

After taking a step back though and looking at it again, I think it’s just where the NHL is going nowadays and getting a top six winger under $10M is probably a bargain at this rate. Especially when you’re buying out three years of unrestricted free agency beginning in 2029-30.

We’re seeing more and more teams make those long-term bets on their young players that they envision being part of their core. When your options are sign the player now or pay more for the same player a year from now, I get why teams are being proactive when it comes to signing their own. The salary cap is only continuing to increase and yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price.

Evangelista has 253 games of NHL experience, so it’s not a pure gamble like, say, what the Sabres are doing with Ostlund and his 68 games of experience. Granted, we don’t know how he’s going to fit in yet with THIS Devils team since he has yet to play a game for the Devils. But if he fits in well, that contract would’ve only gotten more expensive next summer if he put up another 56 point season playing out his current deal.

I view this bet as being similar to the ones that Mehta (or more specifically, Bill Zito) made in Florida with players such as Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, and others. Florida was proactive in getting their supporting cast locked up on manageable deals and it paid off in a big way on the back end of those deals when those players became key contributors on their Stanley Cup championship teams. I also look at the market in general and acknowledge that UFA isn’t going to be the answer. Especially when players like the aforementioned Batherson remove themselves from the equation by forgoing UFA and signing long-term in Ottawa.

At the end of the day, I’m not surprised that Mehta doubled down on the bet he previously made by acquiring Evangelista in the first place. This deal only reaffirms his belief in said player.

That’s how I’m looking at this deal. Perhaps you are looking at it differently. Please feel free to leave a comment below, and thanks for reading.