It’s a new NHL season, and that means it’s time for a new THN - Pittsburgh Penguins season prediction piece!

And if training camp and the ensuing roster decisions are any indication of what’s to come this season, it should be an interesting one.

The Penguins are going a bit younger with their roster this season, as top prospects Harrison Brunicke, Ben Kindel, and Ville Koivunen are all starting the year in Pittsburgh. They also still have a collection of talented veterans that - mixed with the young talent - could perhaps make a difference when all is said and done.

So, where will the Penguins finish in the Metropolitan Division standings this season? Will they sniff the playoffs? Are they bottom-five? And who will lead the way for them?

THN - Penguins site editors Kelsey Surmacz and Hunter Hodies give their predictions for the upcoming season:

Penguins At Rangers Preview: Dan Muse Looks To Get His First Win As Head CoachThe regular season is finally here! The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the 2025-26 season inside Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. 

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Kelsey’s Predictions

Metropolitan Division standings:
1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Washington Capitals
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. New York Rangers
6. Pittsburgh Penguins
7. New York Islanders
8. Philadelphia Flyers

Eastern Conference playoff picture:
1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
4. New Jersey Devils
5. Ottawa Senators
6. Washington Capitals
7. Florida Panthers
8. Montreal Canadiens

Western Conference playoff picture:
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Dallas Stars
3. Edmonton Oilers
4. Colorado Avalanche
5. Winnipeg Jets
6. Los Angeles Kings
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Utah Mammoth

Bottom-five teams:
32. Chicago Blackhawks
31. Seattle Kraken
30. Nashville Predators
29. Boston Bruins
28. Buffalo Sabres

Stanley Cup Final Prediction: Golden Knights over Senators in five games

League’s leading scorer: Leon Draisaitl - 132 points

Penguins’ leading scorer: Sidney Crosby - 86 points

Penguins’ breakout candidate: Philip Tomasino

Penguins’ Rookie of the Year: D Harrison Brunicke

One bold prediction: Ben Kindel stays the entire season, records 40-plus points.

Dan Muse And Mike Sullivan Set To Begin New Chapters On Opposite SidesThe Pittsburgh Penguins will open their 2025-26 campaign against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, and the game will hold extra significance for the head coaches on both sides. 

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The ‘why’: I really, really wanted to pick the Florida Panthers to threepeat. Truly. Part of me still feels like I’m getting it wrong and that they’ll surprise everyone (yet not surprise anyone at the same time).

But being without Alexsander Barkov for the entire season - let alone if he misses the playoffs - is a blow I’m not sure they can overcome. Yes, they are like the cockroaches that just won’t die. The league hasn’t figured them out yet, and it literally doesn’t matter where they finish in the playoff standings picture - as long as they make the playoffs, they’re a true contender.

So, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Florida win it all again, but I just can’t bring myself to pick them, given the circumstances. So, I’m going Vegas over Ottawa, who I think will take and step and have a great year before ultimately falling short.

As far as the Penguins? Well, their defense corps and goaltending may be suspect at best, but their forward group is actually… good? It’s certainly better than last year’s from the start, and there is an unpredictable youth factor that makes things a little bit exciting. I just don’t think they’re positioned badly enough to truly tank for Gavin McKenna, and that’s not going to change without some major trades and roster reshuffling.

Penguins Announce Final 23-Man RosterAfter a grueling few weeks of training camp, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster has finally been solidified for the start of the 2025-26 season.

Crosby will be point-per-game again, and I do think Tomasino looked like a completely different player in the pre-season than he did last season and that his new contract has lit a fire under him. I’ll be looking for him to make himself either a solid depth piece or nice trade chip and for rookie blueliner Harrison Brunicke - who I expect to stay in Pittsburgh the whole year - to have pretty big rookie campaign for the Penguins.

Oh, and I agree that Ben Kindel is not going to stick at the NHL level and will go back to juniors unless he blows everyone out of the water… but I think the 18-year-old kid is going to blow everyone out of the water.

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Hunter’s Predictions

Metropolitan Division standings:
1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Washington Capitals
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. New York Rangers
6. New York Islanders
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Philadelphia Flyers

Eastern Conference playoff picture:
1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Florida Panthers
4. New Jersey Devils
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Washington Capitals
7. Montreal Canadiens
8. Ottawa Senators

Western Conference playoff picture:
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Dallas Stars
3. Colorado Avalanche
4. Edmonton Oilers
5. Winnipeg Jets
6. L.A. Kings
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Utah Mammoth

Bottom-five teams:
32. San Jose Sharks
31. Chicago Blackhawks
30. Nashville Predators
29. Philadelphia Flyers
28. Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Final Prediction: Golden Knights over Lightning in 6 games

League’s leading scorer: Connor McDavid - 140 points

Penguins’ leading scorer: Sidney Crosby - 95 points

Penguins’ breakout candidate: Tommy Novak

Penguins’ rookie of the year: Ville Koivunen

One bold prediction: Erik Karlsson registers 70-plus points

3 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-26With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

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The ‘why’: I finally got a Stanley Cup Final matchup right this past season with the Oilers playing the Panthers again, but I can’t pick those two teams again. It’s really hard to keep getting to Stanley Cup Finals and I think there’s finally a couple of teams in the West that can beat the Oilers this year, specifically the Golden Knights. I think they have the best roster in the league and are going to make a move to add a defenseman before the trade deadline.

The East is wide open now that Barkov is lost for at least the entire regular season. If he’s also out for the entire playoffs, I can’t see the Panthers returning to another final. He’s the straw that stirs the drink for that team, and without him, other teams can find some mismatches. I’m being a bit bold and taking the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final, but I think they can get through the East, especially if Barkov isn’t there in the playoffs.

As for the Penguins, I’m going to take Crosby compiling 90+ points every season until he stops doing it. He was one of the best players in the league last year, and I expect that to continue this year.

This is the most intrigued I’ve been about a season in quite some time, and even though I don’t think they will be good, they’re still going to be fun to watch. There’s a brand new staff in place, something that’s been needed for a few years. There are legit young players who are getting opportunities to start the season. The big three are also still around. There are plenty of reasons to watch this team on a nightly basis.

New Defenseman Ready To Bring 'Good Habits' To PittsburghNew Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Caleb Jones may have suited up for the Los Angeles Kings' organization last season prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent. But, oddly enough, he found himself training with some players from a different organization this summer.

I think Novak surprises a lot of people this year and is a good middle-six/top-nine option. He’s a strong playmaker with an underrated release and isn’t afraid to use it. I think Koivunen is going to be the best of the rookies this season and finish with around 35 points, which would be a great achievement.

As far as my bold prediction, I think Karlsson benefits from a new coaching staff and a new partner. He’s taking the top pairing minutes, which is what should happen since he’s the best defenseman on the team. He’s going to look more like the player we saw at the 4 Nations Face-off last season.

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Briere, Tocchet excited about chance for Flyers to ‘maximize' roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet knows the importance of playoff hockey in Philadelphia.

He knows what it means to the Flyers’ fan base, what it means to the history of the organization.

As a player for the Flyers, he went to the Stanley Cup Final twice and experienced 95 postseason games, eventually putting himself into the franchise’s Hall of Fame.

But as Tocchet takes over the Flyers with the team in a five-year playoff drought, the head coach really hasn’t talked publicly about the postseason being a goal. After all, ownership and management have embraced staying on course with this rebuild. There is a pressure to improve in 2025-26, but the vibe is not playoffs or bust.

So, in Year 1 of guiding the Flyers, how does Tocchet view expectations?

“It’s the development of players,” he said Monday. “We call it maximizing the player. Are players improving? That’s a big part of it. If players are improving, you’ve got a better chance at winning hockey games.

“I understand people want to talk playoffs and all these variables. I don’t know. But for me and my staff, we’re going to be judged, for me, on we’ve got to get guys to maximize their talent. I think that’s really what it comes down to. We have guys that I really believe we can make them really good hockey players.”

The Flyers kick off the regular season Thursday when they visit the two-time defending champion Panthers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). The club submitted its season-opening roster Monday, a group that has a different look up front compared to last season.

Over the summer, Danny Briere addressed the Flyers’ thin picture down the middle. The general manager traded for Trevor Zegras, a talented playmaker, and signed Christian Dvorak, a well-rounded piece who played 82 games for a playoff team last season.

The Flyers are hoping those acquisitions bolster a blend of young and established forwards. Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates and Bobby Brink, the Flyers’ most effective line last season, will be back together. Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett were four of the team’s top five scorers and could have more help this season.

“The addition of Zegras brings us some creativity, the addition of Dvorak brings us flexibility, he can play a little bit of everywhere,” Briere said Monday. “It’s exciting that the Cates line still looks the same way that they finished the season last year. So if you have that line, then it gives you so many options to work in Michkov, Konecny, Tippett, Couturier, etc. I think it’s a great problem for the coaching staff.”

Here were the Flyers’ line combinations Monday, with Nikita Grebenkin and Jett Luchanko as the extras.

Christian Dvorak-Sean Couturier-Matvei Michkov
Owen Tippett-Trevor Zegras-Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster-Noah Cates-Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers-Rodrigo Abols-Garnet Hathaway

The Flyers will keep a close eye on Luchanko, their 2024 first-round pick who made the team out of training camp for a second straight season.

Like last season, the Flyers will be able to play him up to nine games before burning the first year of his entry-level contract. The 19-year-old center got a four-game taste of the NHL last season before going back to his junior club.

Luchanko is not eligible to play for the Flyers’ AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, so a return to the OHL’s Guelph Storm is on the table again. The Flyers will have to find him spots to play because they don’t want a young prospect sitting for too long.

“It can’t be a steady diet of it, not playing,” Tocchet said. “It’s too bad because it’s that rule, that sweet spot — a guy can’t play in the minors, you have to send him to junior. We’re stuck in that situation a little bit. It happened to Barrett Hayton with me in Arizona, you can’t have guys sitting around too much. We’ve got to figure that out, but the first couple of weeks, we’ll see how it goes down.”

That puts Luchanko in prove-it mode again, along with others competing for roles in the lineup.

“Nothing’s set in stone, nothing’s set in stone,” Briere said. “He has to keep earning it, he has to keep playing well. He’s not the only one; it applies with everyone. I know we make a big deal of the opening roster, but that doesn’t mean that you’re on the team forever. Every day, you’ve got to keep earning your ice time and your spot on the team.

“When we discuss Jett, the whole time, it’s about his development. He’s a big part of the future and we’re always keeping that in the back of our mind.”

When it comes to the future on the defensive side of things, the Flyers sent Emil Andrae to the Phantoms after he played in just two preseason games. It was a surprise considering the 23-year-old played 42 games for the Flyers last season and is one of the team’s better prospects on the back end.

But Andrae is 5-foot-9 and the Flyers already have a couple of smaller puck-movers under the age of 25. Could that hurt Andrae’s long-term opportunity with the Flyers?

“Emil is still young, Emil had some struggles in camp, but we still believe in him,” Briere said. “He’s still a very good prospect for us. I think the best thing for him is to play a lot of heavy minutes rather than sit on the sideline and watch at the moment, at his age.

“It’s better for him to go down and play hopefully 22, 24 minutes a night, find his game again, build off of that, get the confidence to make plays, carry the puck and become an everyday, serviceable defenseman.”

The new NHL regular season begins Tuesday, and there is no shortage of storylines for fans to keep their eye on.

Here's what to watch for in Week 1.

Important Matchups And Rivalry Showdowns Right Off The Bat

The first week of the season won't make or break a team's playoff hopes. But people need to understand how important each match is for some squads while the parity in the NHL is as strong as it’s ever been.

When teams are making the playoffs on tiebreakers or by a couple of points, any win or loss to a division rival can be critical.

The Montreal Canadiens – a wild-card team last season – have it particularly tough to start the year with back-to-back road games against Atlantic Division rivals.

After travelling to play a historic foe, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Wednesday, the Canadiens visit another Original Six opponent, the Detroit Red Wings, the next night.

For Montreal and Detroit especially, they need to separate themselves from the rest of the teams in the playoff bubble all season long. So this game is more important than people may think.

The NHL’s marketing centers around the league’s regional rivalries, so those matchups should provide lots of entertainment value early on. But some other ones across the NHL will be worth watching as well for the sake of rivalries and for the standings.

The Edmonton Oilers will take on the Calgary Flames in their first game Wednesday. Calgary then plays the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in an important game for two teams that lost the playoff race last season. Edmonton then faces Vancouver on Saturday.

There are other rivalries that are a work in progress this year. For instance, Central Division opponents, the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche, face off on Thursday. The Mammoth have every incentive to lock up a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, while Colorado is aiming its competitive bar a little higher, as it focuses on earning home-ice advantage. 

Any team could theoretically bounce back from a poor beginning to the season or regress after a strong start. But don't think these games don't mean anything – they're quite the opposite.

Veterans Can Hit Major Milestones In Week 1

Tampa Bay Lightning star left winger Nikita Kucherov begins the season just six points away from reaching the 1,000-point plateau in his incredible career.

Considering the Lightning play twice this week, it’s not an exaggeration to say Kucherov might generate six points in these first two games against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

The 32-year-old posted 84 assists and 121 points last season. While that was a step back from his 100 assists and 144 points in 2023-24, Kucherov will reach the 1,000-point mark quickly and drive straight through it.

Meanwhile, Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin is a hat trick away from 900 goals. Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are becoming the first trio in NHL history to play 20 seasons together. Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is beginning his 20th and final NHL season. And Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Dallas’ Jamie Benn are each a goal away from 400.

There’s no shortage of noteworthy achievements across the league, and that’s why the savvy hockey fan will be highly attuned to every NHL team’s veteran players.

New Faces In New Places

As is true of every NHL season, there are a slew of familiar faces in unfamiliar cities.

For starters, there are NHL rookies who will be notable to watch this year: Minnesota Wild defenseman Zeev Buium will get a good deal of the spotlight as he challenges Canadiens right winger Ivan Demidov for the Calder Trophy. Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin also will be a prominent rookie who could get Calder votes. The Calgary Flames' Zayne Parekh and San Jose Sharks' Michael Misa could also be integral components for their team this season.

Eight bench bosses make their debuts with their new teams this week as well. The Anaheim Ducks hired longtime coach Joel Quenneville to steer them into a playoff berth. The Penguins hired Dan Muse to help lead a youth movement while their veterans are still there.

Former NHL player Marco Sturm will try to guide the Boston Bruins back to the playoffs. Former Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill gets another try, this time with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Canucks chose former star defenseman Adam Foote to replace Rick Tocchet, who is now coaching the Philadelphia Flyers. The Seattle Kraken hired former New York Islanders coach Lane Lambert after one season of Dan Bylsma. Ex-Pens coach Mike Sullivan is now coach of the New York Rangers, while Glen Gulutzan returns to the Dallas Stars for a second stint.

​​Finally, there are veteran NHL stars wearing different uniforms this season.

Former Leafs star winger Mitch Marner is now a Vegas Golden Knight. Former Winnipeg Jets right winger Nikolaj Ehlers signed in Carolina.

Vladislav Gavrikov left the Kings for the Rangers, while former Capitals center Lars Eller signed with the Ottawa Senators. And former Oilers, Leafs and Sens winger Connor Brown is now a Devil.

All in all, there are plenty of reasons to tune in from every team’s Game 1 through Game 82 this season. Time will tell which players and teams succeed this year, but until final judgment is rendered on them, it’s going to be extremely intriguing to watch everything play out.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Cayden Primeau's last 24 hours have been a whirlwind.

The 26-year-old was plucked off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday afternoon and had to make the quick trek up from Raleigh, North Carolina, to join the team for practice one day before their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

"I don't think my phone stopped blowing up when people found out because I have so many friends and family in Toronto. They were texting me non-stop," Primeau smiled.

"It was a little hectic. My flight was delayed out of Raleigh, and then I was sprinting through the Newark airport trying to catch my connection. So, I made it. That's a good thing. But I was a little tired."

Primeau's acquisition gives the Maple Leafs more depth at the goaltending position, with Joseph Woll away from the team due to personal reasons. Originally, Toronto had James Reimer on a professional tryout, but that ended shortly after the club claimed Primeau from the Carolina Hurricanes.

Maple Leafs Believe ‘Things Are Progressing Well’ With Joseph Woll And An Updated Look At Toronto's Goaltending Situation One day before the Toronto Maple Leafs' regular season opener, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving provided an update on goaltender Joseph Woll, who has been absent for most of training camp to tend to a personal matter.

The netminder had signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Hurricanes on July 2 after spending the first five years of his pro career with the Montreal Canadiens.

"With Cayden, it was, obviously, with Joe's situation, we had brought (James Reimer) in. We felt bad for James. He really didn't have a lot of time to get up and go through a camp and get his feet under him," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Tuesday.

"We probably felt having someone that's been through a camp, we like the background of Cayden. It gives us more depth. The other piece with that is, Dennis has had a really good camp. Now, I know we all get excited about opening day rosters. This allows us to have depth at the position.

"It allows us just need be for Dennis (Hildeby) to come back and play. It allows him to keep playing, so really, at the end of the day, we felt it gave us depth of the position with Joe's absence right now with a goaltender we like. And with Anthony (Stolarz), Cayden, Dennis, and (Artur Akhtyamov), we've got some depth here at the time right now."

Primeau and Stolarz worked with Maple Leafs goaltending coach Curtis Sanford before Maple Leafs practice. During the skate, the now-Toronto netminder received several stick taps from his new teammates.

"They've been super welcoming, and it's been good so far," Primeau said.

Maple Leafs 2025-26 Season Opening Roster Revealed The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially submitted their 23-player regular season roster.

Primeau even wore blue pads and a blue mask as he stepped onto the ice.

"I don't know [how they got it done so quickly]," he grinned. "You've got to ask the equipment managers. That was impressive."

And what was day one like working alongside Stolarz?

"We were talking about just [being] two goalies from Jersey. So, yeah, he's been great as well. Super welcoming like the rest of them," he smiled, before stamping down that they're not from the same part of Jersey.

"He's North Jersey. That's like a different state," Primeau joked. "Yeah, North and South don't get along very well."

It remains unknown as to when Primeau could step into the Maple Leafs' crease. If anything, he might get into one of Toronto's back-to-back games next week — either against the Detroit Red Wings on Thanksgiving Monday, or vs. the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

"I had a great off-season. I feel stronger and that's definitely going to translate on the ice," he said. "I'm just trying to build off of the last couple of weeks that I had and just trying to get better."

'You Take It In From A Different Perspective': Maple Leafs Rave About Atmosphere At Blue Jays' Postseason Game Vs. YankeesThe Toronto Maple Leafs had a lot to talk about on Monday.

In 55 career NHL games (over the span of six seasons with Montreal), Primeau has tallied 13 wins and an .884 save percentage. It's not the most promising, however, Primeau did put up 21 wins and a .927 save percentage — the third-best among qualified AHL goaltenders — in 26 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket last season.

After that year, plus being placed on waivers by Carolina, Primeau is very motivated to prove his value to the Maple Leafs and their fans.

"I mean, anytime you're in the NHL, or being able to play the sport you love, you're super motivated," he said. "So, I wouldn't say there's one set of goals or anything that I've put on myself for the time being. Just trying to get out there and play and get better and give the team the best opportunity to win."

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Part of Doug Armstrong wanted to be selfish and keep goalie prospect Colten Ellis in the St. Louis Blues organization.

But the Blues' GM also understands -- and is happy -- that the 25-year-old gets a crack to be on an NHL roster, something that may or may not have happened in St. Louis after Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

The Blues are locked in with Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer as their 1-2 punch in the NHL, and Ellis would have been the organization's No. 3 goalie on the depth chart and starter in Springfield of the American Hockey League, but the Blues needed waivers in order to put Ellis back in Springfield, and with the Sabres' starting goalie, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, and despite the Sabres having Alex Lyon, Alexandar Georgiev and Devin Levi available, Ellis is an intriguing option for Buffalo. Georgiev was put on waivers Tuesday and Levi was sent to their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Still, Armstrong was taken aback a bit to lose Ellis.

"I'd say somewhat surprised," Armstrong said. "Only because he doesn't have that NHL resume. When he gets put into that first contest with the Sabres, it's his first contest (in the NHL). Sometimes when you're dealing with injuries, you're looking for stability of someone that's got a proven track record that the players can see. But he had a great year last year (22-14-2, 2.62 goals-against average, .922 save percentage). He's progressed very well.

"When I called him yesterday, I said, 'I'm really happy for you and really disappointed for the organization because you've done everything you could to put yourself in a great spot.' He was clearly our No. 3 going into the year. Now he has the opportunity to take whatever Buffalo gives him and carve out an NHL career quickly. He wasn't going to get that obviously here with Hofer and Binnington."

Blues coach Jim Montgomery echoed those thoughts.

"It's a tough loss for our organization," Montgomery said. "A young man that ... he's a guy you cheer for. He started in the East Coast League, he just kept on working, kept on building his game and he's established himself as a premier goalie in the American League and had a really good camp. Every time he was in the nets, he's battling, he's making difficult saves look easy. So he's right on the cusp. It's unfortunate. We'll see how everything else develops from there from the goaltending aspect in our organization."

Once the Sabres do get Luukkonen back, they could always carry three goalies, which isn't likely, but then they will have to put someone on waivers to assign them to Rochester, and if it's Ellis, the Blues could always reclaim him if given the chance and assign him right to Springfield. 

In the meantime, it does take away from Springfield's strengths, and the Thunderbirds would have gone with a tandem of Ellis and Vadim Zherenko, but now it will be Zherenko and Will Cranley for the foreseeable future.

"Right now we'll go with 'Z' and Cranley," Armstrong said before joking. "It's a great business. The agents are always looking out for the St. Louis Blues. My phone is ringing off the hook on potential guys to help us. It's great to see everyone care about us."

Blues Know Jordan Binnington Is Elite, Yet Goalie Has To Prove Once Again He's One Of The BestST. LOUIS – The NHL season for 2025-26 drops the puck on Tuesday. For the St. Louis Blues, it opens Thursday at home against the Minnesota Wild. Blues GM Gives Update On Sundqvist, Lucic MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong provided updates on two veteran forwards before the regular-season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. St. Louis Blues Set Opening Night Roster For 2025-26ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have set their opening night roster, and the big question heading into it was whether they'd sign veteran Milan Lucic to a contract and have him on the opening night roster.

Two former NHL starting goalies are among five players on NHL waivers as the season begins Tuesday.

The Anaheim Ducks placed Ville Husso on the waiver wire, while the Buffalo Sabres did the same with Alexandar Georgiev, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and PuckPedia.

Also on waivers are Carolina Hurricanes winger Juha Jaaska, Utah Mammoth center Kevin Rooney and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Davies.

For each player, the rest of the NHL can submit a claim on them by 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Otherwise, they're eligible to be assigned to the AHL.

Husso, 30, was once the Detroit Red Wings' No. 1 netminder in 2022-23. Detroit acquired him in July 2022 after he played 40 games for the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22, posting a 25-7-6 record, 2.56 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. In his first season in Detroit, he played 56 games that year and went 26-22-7 with a 3.11 GAA, .896 SP and four shutouts.

In 2023-24, Husso played just 19 games as Alex Lyon broke out as the new starter. Last season, Detroit traded Husso to Anaheim for future considerations. He played 13 NHL games, going 2-6-3 with a 3.47 GAA and .890 SP. He also played 22 AHL games between the Grand Rapids Griffins and San Diego Gulls.

In the pre-season, Husso had a win and a loss with a 2.02 GAA and .929 SP. He's in the first season of a two-year contract with a $2.2-million cap hit. Anaheim appears to be running with a tandem of Lukas Dostal and Petr Mrazek.

In Buffalo, Georgiev hit waivers two days after the Sabres claimed netminder Colten Ellis from the Blues. Georgiev signed a one-year contract worth $825,000 before training camp.

The 29-year-old was the Colorado Avalanche's bona fide starter for two seasons after their Stanley Cup championship. Between 2022-23 and 2023-24, no NHL goalie had more wins than Georgiev's 78. He even earned one second-place vote for the Vezina Trophy in 2022-23.

In the last two seasons, Georgiev hasn't posted a save percentage above .897 and a goals-against average below 3.02. After starting last year with an 8-7-0 record, 3.38 GAA and .874 SP, the Avalanche traded him to the San Jose Sharks in a package that sent Mackenzie Blackwood the other way. Georgiev played 31 games for San Jose and posted a 3.88 GAA and .875 SP.

In the pre-season, Georgiev played 157 minutes across four games and went 1-2-1 with a 4.19 GAA and .872 SP.

Five NHL Veterans Who Cleared Waivers Years After Their Last AHL GameA handful of NHL veterans found themselves on the other side of the waiver wire in the past week.

Rooney, 32, signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Mammoth on Monday. He recorded a goal and assist in four pre-season games for the New Jersey Devils on a professional tryout. He played 70 games last year for the Calgary Flames' fourth line, putting up five goals, 10 points and 109 hits.

Jaaska, 27, played 18 games for Carolina last season and recorded four assists. He added another 33 points in 53 AHL games. He didn't play in the pre-season due to injury. He's in the first season of a two-year contract worth $775,000 annually.

Davies, 28, recorded 11 goals and 48 points in 72 games for the AHL's Belleville Senators last season. The 5-foot-11 blueliner was a minus-1 with one shot in two pre-season games for Vegas.

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The regular season is finally here! The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the 2025-26 season inside Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. 

Penguins head coach Dan Muse is looking to win his first game as an NHL head coach against the team he coached the previous two years. He was an assistant coach under Peter Laviolette for the last two seasons before the Penguins hired him as their new head coach during the offseason.

On the other side, Mike Sullivan is trying to get his first win as the head coach of the Rangers after they hired him during the offseason. He was with the Penguins for 10 seasons before he and the team agreed to part ways after the 2024-25 season. 

The Penguins lost the season series against the Rangers last year (1-3) and are hoping to change that this year. Here's a look at the expected Penguins' lines for tonight's game.

Forwards

Koivunen-Crosby-Rakell

Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau

Novak-Kindel-Tomasino

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defensemen

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Jones-Brunicke

Goaltenders

Silovs 

Jarry

Top prospects Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke will make their NHL debuts on Tuesday night after having great training camps. Brunicke was really close to making the roster last year and did even more this year to make the opening-night roster.

Kindel continued to improve throughout camp and passed each test that came his way during the preseason. He may not stay up past the nine-game trial, but the coaching staff is at least rewarding him for his outstanding camp. 

Arturs Silovs will get the start in goal over Tristan Jarry after Jarry struggled during the Penguins' last preseason game. He gave up three goals on 19 shots against the Buffalo Sabres last Friday and will start the regular season as the backup goaltender.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Matthew Schaefer made the New York Islanders roster, a surprise to absolutely nobody who's been around him since he heard his name called first at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The excitement is in the air, but for the mature 18-year-old, he's trying to focus on the task at hand -- winning a hockey game on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

"You want to take it day-by-day. You get drafted for a reason, and then you just want to go out, you want to forget about the media and stuff, and just go play your game," Schaefer said following Tuesday's skate.  "So I think every step of the way was a good step in the right direction, from the draft to preseason to now. I want to keep getting better. I want to keep working on things. But, I mean, it's a dream come true. It's the game of hockey, and you know, now the work starts. So I can't wait to get started."

No. 1 Overall Pick Matthew Schaefer to Start Season With IslandersNew York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer has made the team. The 18-year-old had his rookie moment throughout preseason, but there's no question his best development path is at the NHL level. 

Schaefer will have a ton of people in attendance in Pittsburgh.

"My dad, brother, and his girlfriend [are coming]. And then there's, like, a couple of my buddies from school and their parents are coming down," Schaefer said. "One of my best friends from hockey when I played when I was younger, his family's coming down. And there's gonna be a lot of people, and then I think they're gonna make the trip to opening night, too. So, I mean, it should be good, but I mean, like I said, I'll be dialed into the game, so I won't be worrying about any of that."

#Isles No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer:

"Everyone wants to make it to here, but you haven't made it yet. You will never really make it. You're always gonna be battling against people. You're always gonna be up against people. You're always gonna want to be getting better."

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 7, 2025

The Islanders would love to see Schaefer play to the best of his abilities, but head coach Patrick Roy wants him to focus on one thing and one thing only. 

"Have fun," Roy said. "I know how special it will be for him, because it was very special for me when I started my career, and it's funny because it was in Pittsburgh. My first start of my career was in Pittsburgh, and same thing for him. So happy for him. He deserves it. He played hard, practiced hard, so it's the beginning of a new journey for him and for the Islanders organization."

What does Roy want young kids watching to notice about Schaefer?

"His swagger, how confident he is [...] You want to see them going & have fun with their friends, & have that swagger, that confidence, that trust in themselves, that they could do it."#Isles

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 7, 2025

Schaefer has thought about what his debut is going to look like but is really just trying to remained focused on the objective. 

"It's gonna be pretty cool," Schaefer said. "I mean, obviously, I've been playing in the NHL and playing against guys like that, but when you get on the ice, you just gotta zone it out. I mean, everyone's out there to play hockey. I mean, you really don't think about who you're going up against. Obviously, you've got to know what kind of style they play, like a little faster, all that stuff. But I think just going out there, putting your head down, working through it, and just working is going to be the big thing. I don't want to go out there and just be like, Oh, I'm going up against him. It's just hockey, right? So you want to go out there and work as hard as you can. And, you know, just forget about who is on the ice."

Puck drops on Thursday night at 7:30 PM at PPG Paints Arena. Fans can watch the game on MSGSN. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to return for regular-season hockey with a group excited about the future. They likely aren’t a playoff team, but they’re a young squad that has the potential to show growth. 

Over the last handful of years, Chicago has inserted a lot of players with little to no experience. This year will see a fair level of that again. 

When the Blackhawks take the ice against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, three players will be looking to score their first career NHL goal, and they all play very different games. 

Sam Rinzel

Although Sam Rinzel has played in the NHL for years, he has only nine games under his belt. Those nine games occurred at the end of 2024-25, when Rinzel and Minnesota were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. 

In those contests, he collected five assists, played stout defense, but didn't score a goal. His first of the season will be the first of his NHL career. 

Artyom Levshunov

When the Chicago Blackhawks selected Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, they were hoping for tons of goals, assists, and defensive gems. 

So far, his development has been excellent. That includes 18 career NHL games. He is still, however, looking for his first career NHL goal. He had a big overtime game-winner in the AHL playoffs last year, so you can expect to see that memorable first one in the not-so-distant future.

Ryan Greene

Ryan Greene played in two games with the Blackhawks after his season at Boston University ended last spring. He is not only looking for his first career goal in the NHL, but his first career point. He was initially sent down out of camp, but was called back up quickly because of Landon Slaggert's injury. 

None of Greene, Levshunov, or Rinzel will have goal scoring as their main goal in the NHL. The former two are defenseman, and the latter is a defensive-minded forward. With that said are all incredibly skilled and are capable of bringing some offense here and there. 

Oliver Moore is an honorable mention. He didn't make the team out of camp as the Blackhawks want him getting top-line minutes in Rockford to begin the year, but he will almost certainly play in the NHL at some point this season. When that time comes, he will also be looking for his first career NHL goal. 

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

While speaking to reporters, Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff announced that former New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev will be placed on waivers, The Hockey News' Michael Augello reports. 

Georgiev signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Sabres last month. This was after he posted a 15-26-4 record, a .875 save percentage, and a 3.71 goals-against average in 49 games this past season split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

Georgiev being placed on waivers comes after the Sabres claimed goaltender Colten Ellis off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 6. 

If Georgiev clears waivers, he will be assigned to the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Georgiev started his NHL career with the Rangers. In 129 games over five seasons with the Blueshirts from 2017-18 to 2021-22, Georgiev recorded a 58-48-11 record, a .908 save percentage, a 2.94 goals-against average, and eight shutouts. 

By Benjamin Kirshenblatt, The Hockey News intern

Hockey fans are some of the most underrated, loyal and sometimes unhinged supporters in all of pro sports.

Whether you ended up matching with a Kraken fan on a dating app, find yourself deep in enemy territory at a rival hockey game or just want to know more about what your NHL team says about you, keep reading to find out.

Anaheim Ducks

Their past best characterizes the Ducks. They are nearly a decade removed from real competitiveness – and nearly two decades since they won their only Stanley Cup. If you are a Ducks fan, you are likely to have ambitious goals and big dreams but seemingly find a way to fall short of them every time and are then left wondering if you really did peak in high school.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have been one of the most competitive NHL teams of the 21st century, consistently in the mix for Stanley Cup contention. However, more often than not, the Bruins come up short in one round or another, and they are always leaving their fans disappointed. If you are a Bruins fan, although you’re driven, you are likely to leave the people in your life disappointed when you are needed the most.

Buffalo Sabres

If you’re a Sabres fan, you’ve had a lot to be miserable about since 2012. The Sabres have become notorious for their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought. If you are a Sabres fan, you once had dreams but have suffered a fall from grace and haven’t been able to pick up the pieces since, instead yearning to be the fan you used to be.

Calgary Flames

Despite their name, the Flames have been one of the NHL’s cooler teams as of late. The Flames have been unable to recapture their 1989 glory, coming oh-so-close in 2004 but instead enduring the disappointment of a series-defining no-goal. If you are a Flames fan, you are making slow and steady progress toward being back in full force and better than ever. It may not be tomorrow, but a return to contention is closer than you think.

Carolina Hurricanes

The only Hurricane that can be associated with Carolina is an emotional one. The Hurricanes have made it a routine to make it to the Eastern Conference final and then lose quickly. Being a Hurricanes fan can be best associated with big promises and high expectations, but when the moment actually comes to execute, you freeze without fail and end up embarrassing yourself in the end.

Chicago Blackhawks

It’s time for a reality check, Chicago: 2015 was 10 years ago now. To this day, the Blackhawks are continuing to pay the tax of winning three Cups in one decade. If you are a fan of the Blackhawks, it’s time to stop living in the past and smell the ashes of the present. You had some good times a while ago, but you need to get yourself in order.

Colorado Avalanche

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the Avalanche is they’ve proven they can deliver but just don’t do it often enough. The Avalanche have been a promising team in the past and present but often perform below expectations. And they only have themselves to blame. If you are an Avalanche fan, you need to do a better job of delivering on your promises. You are capable of more than you are willing to give, and it’s about time you showed that.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have made the playoffs six times since their inception in 2000, not winning their first series until 2019. If you are a Jackets fan, you’ve had a hard time, but you’re dedicated, and the best is still yet to come. Just be patient and keep cheering, and one day, you will be rewarded.

Dallas Stars

Although the Stars have yet to relive their 1999 Cup dreams, they are big spenders who are not afraid to make that bold move to get one step closer to their destiny. However, it seems as if they’re paying a big price for those moves. If you’re a Stars fan, you are capable of accomplishing great things in life – but chase that dream before the window closes.

Detroit Red Wings

If you’re a Red Wings fan, you’ve enjoyed success in your life but are struggling to find purpose nowadays. The Red Wings have won many Cups but are also on a streak of futility. GM Steve Yzerman has much to prove this coming season, and if you’re a Red Wings fan, that’s the best way your life can be described. You’ve accomplished great things but have much to prove in this chapter.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have much to prove this coming season. Many have surmised that what the Oilers will go on to accomplish this year will define their future in a big way: whether or not McDavid is here to stay past 2028. Fresh off back-to-back losses in the Cup final, the Oilers have more to prove than possibly anyone in the league. If you’re an Oilers fan, a lot is being expected of you and fast, so brace yourself.

Florida Panthers

If you are a Panthers fan, you are on cloud nine right now. You’ve proven to everyone in your life you have what it takes and delivered in the biggest way when it was asked of you on more than one occasion. If you are a Panthers fan, you’ve got nothing left to prove. Just sit back, have fun, try your best, and whatever happens, nobody will be disappointed in you.

NHL Power Rankings: All 32 Teams' Significant StorylinesThis time next Wednesday, the 2025-26 regular season will be underway, but we're already in Week 2 of the NHL power rankings.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have faced the same Oilers team in the first round for the last four seasons and lost each time. With captain Anze Kopitar set to retire following this season, the Kings are scrambling for one last kick at the can. If you’re a Kings fan, you’ve been struggling to get over the hump for the longest time, so it’s important you focus and give it your all, and maybe, this year will be different.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild are in a great position right now after Kirill Kaprizov signed the richest contract in NHL history. With the failures of the North Stars looming large, Minnesota still has much to prove to its faithful, and it all starts with Kaprizov. If you’re a Wild fan, you’ve got one objective in mind, and it’s important you accomplish it first, and the rest will fall into place.

Montreal Canadiens

If you’re a Canadiens fan, you know the feelings of pain and pleasure as a fan of the franchise with the richest history in the NHL. It’s hard to forget, but the best hasn’t passed you by. It’s only a matter of time before the Habs are back to contention. If you’re a Habs fan, the same can be said about you. Don’t give up on your dreams, because they haven’t given up on you.

Nashville Predators

Nashville learned last season that money can’t always buy you happiness. The Preds added three big fish in 2024 free agency but were in for a rude awakening when the team went on to miss the playoffs. If you’re a Preds fan, it’s time to be more conservative with your money and not spend it on the next big thing to make yourself happy. Otherwise, you may end up in the same boat as your team.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils seem to be just now hitting their stride after some difficult seasons. With three Cups and a series win over the Rangers in 2023 that they won’t soon forget, the Devils faithful have much to be happy with, but the goal remains the same. If you’re a Devils fan, you have big goals in mind but are content with enjoying the journey it takes to get there.

New York Islanders

It’s not super easy being an Islanders fan, being forced to cope with accusations of being hockey’s most boring team. Sadly for the Islanders, after making back-to-back playoff semifinals in 2020 and 2021, first-round exits now seem to be their best-case scenario if they don’t miss the playoffs altogether. Adding Matthew Schaefer is a huge plus, even though they traded their former No. 1 D-man, Noah Dobson. If you’re an Islanders fan, you desperately need to give the people in your life something to cheer about, because right now, they’re unconvinced.

New York Rangers

Last season, the Rangers were the soap opera of the NHL. It might just be the one NHL team where being named captain is a sign you’ll probably be traded. Longtime veterans like Chris Kreider weren’t even safe from the Rangers' liquidation sale, being banished to Anaheim in the off-season. If you are a Rangers fan, you’ve got serious commitment issues and might want to treat the people in your life a bit better.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators are finally just now enjoying a return to relevance after an extended break from post-season contention. Although the bitter taste of losing to the hated rival Leafs is still fresh on the tongues of Sens fans, they’ve got nothing to be ashamed of heading into this season. With that said, if you’re a Sens fan, don’t get hung up on the past. Instead, look towards the future – it’s all you can do now.

Philadelphia Flyers

Despite icing many talented teams and making it to the finals six times since their runs in the ’70s, the Flyers have consistently come up short and now find themselves more times out of the playoffs than in. If you’re a Flyers fan, you have distant memories of what it was like to be at the top, and have been doing all you can to get back ever since, for better or for worse.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh has cemented itself as a city of champions, especially when it comes to the NHL. The Penguins have a total of five championships between two star-studded eras, but even with all they’ve proven, they’re still hungry for more, and it’s too much for their own good. If you’re a Penguins fan, there is no shame in remembering the good times, but it’s imperative you move on and embrace the changes inevitably coming your way.

NHL Pre-Season Fan Survey: Best And Most Annoying Fans, Expansion, Favorite Rink And MoreThe finale of The Hockey News’ NHL pre-season fan survey results is here. 

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks live with the bittersweet memories of always being a contender but never being the one to go all the way. It feels like there are good ol’ times they should be missing, but in reality, it’s just two decades’ worth of underperformance. If you’re a Sharks fan, it’s important not to let your past define your future. Instead, it’s time to embrace brighter days ahead.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken are the newish kids on the block. After Vegas entered the NHL in 2017 and immediately ran the show, people wondered if Seattle could follow suit, until they only mustered one playoff appearance in four seasons. If you’re a Kraken fan, there’s an air of mystery and confusion to you – people don’t really seem to understand you in the slightest. That can be a good thing sometimes, but be wary.

St. Louis Blues

Despite their recent Stanley Cup win in 2019, St. Louis fans are left feeling blue after failing to carry over that success. It seems the Blues have been flirting with mediocrity as of late, losing within the first two rounds if they even make the playoffs at all. If you’re a Blues fan, your accomplishments are not lost in the rearview mirror, but it might be time for a spark.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are one of the most accomplished teams in recent NHL history. However, since their three straight final runs, they appear to be thunderstruck, having lost in the first round every year since. If you’re a Lightning fan, you’ve accomplished a lot and still can accomplish more, but you better make it quick before time runs out on you as fast as lightning hits the ground.

Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s a poorly kept secret in the NHL that Leafs fans are in their own land of make-beleaf. The Leafs didn’t peak in high school; they peaked in childhood. If you’re a Leafs fan, you will spend the rest of your life convincing people that your best days are yet to come, but in reality, they are far behind you in the past. You also might want to place more value on those closest to you.

Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth are the NHL’s youngest franchise and best attempt to retcon the Arizona Coyotes. Though they haven’t made the playoffs yet, the Mammoth are a youngish team on the rise. If you’re a Mammoth fan, you’re a trendsetter and not afraid to try new things, even if they sometimes fail. However, it’s also important to embrace the past and how you got here, not forget it ever happened.

Vancouver Canucks

Canucks fans are an unruly bunch who have proven twice they don’t take losing in the final well. They’ve also had to deal with a lot of drama lately, including Elias Pettersson’s setback on offense getting national attention, Quinn Hughes’ future and a playoff miss after winning the Pacific the year before. If you’re a Canucks fan, you definitely need to let your guard down, stay optimistic and maybe consider anger management.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Knights spent extra cash to skip the painful part of being an expansion team. From the jump, they were finalists and have only missed the playoffs once. Though unafraid to make that big move, they received criticism in 2020 for not informing Marc-Andre Fleury he was being traded before reports came out on social media. If you’re a Vegas fan, you’re a follower who needs to find independence, and you need to be honest and direct with people in your life.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals impressed the league with a surprising return to relevance last season, despite being on the older side of teams, unlike their rivals in Pittsburgh. Though the dream of adding a second cup to Ovechkin’s resume still looms large, the Capitals are hopeful they can continue to exceed expectations. If you’re a Capitals fan, you’re full of surprises, but be wary, not every surprise is a good one.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets seem to be a tale of two seasons as of late; they impress in the regular season and then completely drop the ball in the playoffs. The Jets have given fans little to cheer about in recent post-seasons. If you’re a Jets fan, you have the potential to do great things but desperately need to get over your stage fright before the opportunity passes you by.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs began practice one day before their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan were on a separate rink working with the team's development staff.

It's been a fascinating week of following what could happen with Cowan. Early on and even towards the end of training camp, it appeared as if he had made the Maple Leafs. However, everything changed when Scott Laughton suffered a lower-body injury.

At first glance, it seemed like David Kampf would take Laughton's spot and center the fourth line with Cowan and Steven Lorentz. Kampf was then placed on waivers after that practice.

A day later, the lineup was mashed up with Max Domi as the third line center with Dakota Joshua and Nick Robertson on his wing, and Nicolas Roy in the middle of Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok on the fourth line.

Cowan was then on the outside looking in.

Toronto then claimed Cayden Primeau and Sammy Blais off waivers on Monday afternoon. And a few hours later, when the Maple Leafs' opening day roster was submitted, Cowan was nowhere to be found.

Explained: Why Easton Cowan Was Temporarily Left Off Maple Leafs Season-Opening RosterThere was some chaos around 5 p.m. ET when the Toronto Maple Leafs announced their opening night roster. Jacob Quillan was on it rather than Easton Cowan, who many expected to be.

Quillan was there, though, after taking in a few days of Toronto Marlies camp after moving away from the NHL camp. The moves were so that Toronto could get as close to the cap ceiling as possible.

"The plan is right now, today (Cowan is) not on the roster, and then we'll see what happens tomorrow, right?" Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Tuesday.

"Easton has had a really good camp. I think he's right there ready to play for us. We want to manage it appropriately. If he's going to be playing with us here, great. But if he's not, I want him playing, right? So we'll manage it here the next little bit. We'll get through today and see what tomorrow brings."

Cowan believed he did everything he could to earn a spot on the Maple Leafs. And again, for the majority of camp, it appeared he was going to be in their opening night lineup. He played in five of Toronto's six preseason games and rarely looked out of place.

'I Played Some Of My Best Hockey': Has Easton Cowan Done Enough To Make The Maple Leafs Out Of Training Camp?If this was the final game of Easton Cowan's training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he should be proud of himself.

"He's made such big strides in a couple years here. I thought he looked really great in camp, all camp. He played in most of the preseason games. I thought he put on a really good show," Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said.

"He looks physically strong. I think he's matured a lot as a guy, and as a player as well, and I think it showed throughout the whole camp. I know there's tough decisions to be made, but I think he should definitely be proud of what he accomplished during camp and the way he handled everything."

Both Treliving and Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube stated they had a plan for the forward, but they didn't reveal the inner workings of said plan. "That's about all I'm going to say about that right now," added Berube after Tuesday's practice.

If anything is for certain, it's that the Maple Leafs want Cowan to play. Whether that's in the NHL or AHL remains to be seen.

"Well, yeah, [an opportunity to play Cowan] can present itself for sure. And I said, he had a good camp," said Berube. "I liked him in camp. We all liked him in camp. He's a player that can help the Toronto Maple Leafs."

Latest stories:

Maple Leafs Believe ‘Things Are Progressing Well’ With Joseph Woll And An Updated Look At Toronto's Goaltending Situation

Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid On Track for 2028 Free Agency Together — What It Means For The Maple Leafs Star

'You Take It In From A Different Perspective': Maple Leafs Rave About Atmosphere At Blue Jays' Postseason Game Vs. Yankees

Sportsnet insiders hold a unique team-based draft that surprisingly saw the Detroit Red Wings picked last, reflecting doubts about young defense.

The NHL season is nearly here as experts and insiders are starting to make their season long predictions with guesses ranging from some teams winning the Stanley Cup to missing the playoffs entirely. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas added to the conversation when drafting their new fantasy hockey league. 

🎊A New year of hockey is upon us!🎊

Welcome to Season 5 of the In-Season Cup! 🏆@sportsnetkyle@emilyagard@RandipJanda@FriedgeHNICpic.twitter.com/4t3lMwG6VQ

— The In-Season Cup (@InSeasonCup) October 7, 2025

Instead of drafting individual players, Friedman, Bukauskas, along with Sportsnet’s Randip Janda and Emily Agard each selected teams of eight as part of their league and how it works is quite interesting. This league is based on a traveling “In Season Cup” that moves from team to team throughout the NHL season. 

It starts with the defending champion Florida Panthers and is passed on whenever the current cup holder loses a game. The team that beats them takes the cup and begins accumulating days with it, starting on the day of their win and continuing until their next game. Every time the cup changes hands, the new holder starts a new count of days. This draft showcased what each Sportsnet personality thought of teams around the league with a surprising assessment for the Detroit Red Wings. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Good News, Bad News For Several Former Red Wings Players The 2025-26 NHL Season is officially just hours away now, as the campaign begins for a handful of teams on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings remain on the presipace of their centennial season, which begins on Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. 

Friedman is known as an hockey insider around the league while Bukauskas and Janda are known as broadcasters for hockey and Agard is more primarily known for her work with the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite the hockey knowledge within the league, the Red Wings were picked much later than expected, going as the last team off the board after teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres had all been selected. It's one of the few mediums that have seen the Red Wings listed as one of the worst teams in the league. 

There is a level of strategy to it as Detroit plays in a difficult Atlantic division where they will have a tougher schedule than most but still going behind teams like the Sabres and Bruins is surprising. Friedman did recently express his concern behind the Red Wings young defense in a '32 Thoughts' podcast episode.

"They put Holl and Gustafsson on waivers, which is totally fine, but that says to me, they're thinking about doing a really young defense to start the year, like a really young D, we talked about this at the year end last year how Yzerman didn't give out term to veterans because he's like, the young guys need to play and I will bet on these young players, I wonder if that bet really starts right now, I just I don't think that they're ready," Friedman said. 

As the NHL season approaches, the unique fantasy draft by Sportsnet’s insiders offers an intriguing glimpse into how experts view the league's landscape and the Red Wings have clearly raised some eyebrows. While Friedman’s concerns highlight the risks of betting on a youthful defense, Detroit now find themselves in a position with little outside expectation and a setup that could either validate these doubts or fuel a surprising breakout.

Red Wings Face Pressure to Extend Simon Edvinsson After Ducks’ LaCombe DealThe Ducks’ big contract for Jackson LaCombe sets a market benchmark that could push the Red Wings to prioritize an early, high-value extension for young defenseman Simon Edvinsson. 

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