Category: Ice Hockey

Despite the comments he made at the end of his tenure, John Tortorella insists he never quit on the Philadelphia Flyers... or anything else, for that matter.

Tortorella, 67, was fired by the Flyers on March 27, just two days after a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs that prompted the veteran coach to say, "I'm not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season, where we're at right now."

But, Tortorella wanted to set the record straight on why he said what he said. In his eyes, he didn't want to become the guy who lets everyone off easy at the end of the year because they're miles off a playoff position.

“It was kind of weird for me, getting fired with nine games left. It really surprised me. [General manager Danny Briere] and I did have some disagreements on discipline of a player, had some disagreements the last few weeks of that season," Tortorella told Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com. "I loved coaching them."

One such incident of discipline handed down by Tortorella was the benching of Cam York during that game against the Maple Leafs, when the 24-year-old's night ended after just eight shifts and 3:50 of ice time.

Matvei Michkov Says He Was 'Very Upset' When Flyers Fired John TortorellaThe relationship between star Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov and fired head coach John Tortorella was much better than many have made it out to be.

York was benched by interim head coach Brad Shaw for the entirety of the following game for disciplinary purposes, too, but then things eventually blew over.

“I’ve seen teams be really good playing out a season when it means nothing. You’re relaxed. I’ve seen players play better," added Tortorella. "I don’t want to be that guy. It was out of respect to my team that I was not doing a good job. I wasn’t. Do I think I should have got fired for it? No, but I have too much respect for those players to kick the hell out of them right to the bitter end.

“It was the right thing to do by Danny [to sell at the deadline]. They’re doing it the right way, and I was on board with that. But it’s hard. It’s hard for those guys, and that’s what I was trying to say after Toronto.”

With his team falling out of playoff position two seasons in a row, Tortorella had to cope with the departures of players like Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, Scott Laughton, and Sean Walker ahead of the last two NHL trade deadlines.

The key difference from 2024 to 2025 was that in 2025, the Flyers were never particularly close to the postseason and ultimately finished with the fourth-worst record in the NHL.

How John Tortorella Protected Matvei Michkov in Flyers Debut, Rookie SeasonJohn Tortorella may not be the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers anymore, but in his short time coaching rookies Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko, the polarizing bench boss left his mark.

Tortorella also assured Cotsonika he wants to coach again, regardless of what others think of how things ended with the Flyers.

“Do I want to coach again? Yeah. I heard a couple NHL coaches accuse me [of quitting on the team]. Did I quit on the team after those comments I made in Toronto? I haven’t quit on a [bleeping] thing in my life. Those comments were totally taken out of [context]," Tortorella said.

“Listen, I don’t think I explained myself totally correctly, either. But I miss it already. I miss preparing [for] camp. I miss the camaraderie of camp. Yeah, I want to coach, so we’ll see what happens.”

The gruff coach's next opportunity at the NHL level will have to wait, as all of the offseason vacancies have been filled in between his dismissal from the Flyers and now.

In the interim, Tortorella will be coaching the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where he'll be joined by new New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan, Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes, and Rangers assistant coach David Quinn.

The Montreal Canadiens will be playing their third preseason game tonight, and Martin St-Louis is pulling no punches. For the first time, he’s going to be icing his full projected top six, his top defensive pairing, starter Samuel Montembeault, and Jacob Fowler.

That means that on Thursday night, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kirby Dach is going to see his first real action since sustaining yet another knee injury in February. There were rumours of setbacks this summer, and then, when camp started, he only took part in one of the three scrimmages, which of course prompted questions from the media. The coach said that there was a plan and he was sticking to it, before adding that Dach would see some preseason action.

Canadiens Prospect Is Big Player To Watch
Canadiens: Slafkovsky Is Playing Big
Where Are The Canadiens In The Power Rankings?

Asked what he thought about the big center so far at Camp, the pilot explained:

I think he’s really involved and intense. Now it’s time to play the game tonight, take one shift at a time, and make the plays the game calls for. Please get back into the swing of things, but we’ll continue to evaluate and stick to the plan we have for him. […] I wouldn’t call it a leash. I think Dacher is in a better place. He did things differently this summer, and I think he’s further along. So I think he will be more ready to get going right away.

-

Turns out it’s time for that action now. While the bench boss said Dach was penciled in as the second-line center this season, he still needs to see what the Albertan center can offer and if some chemistry can bloom between him, Patrik Laine, and Ivan Demidov. Needless to say, everyone will be keeping an eye on that line when the puck drops on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the Leafs have opted for a lineup that doesn’t include any of their marquee names, such as Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly. However, they are bringing along promising prospects Easton Cowan and Matias Maccelli, who might find their way into a top-six role. Former Hab Max Domi, who’s dealing with a lower-body injury, won’t be part of the roster, but there will be one former Canadien: Micheal Pezzetta. Cedric Pare, who injured Laine last year, will not be in the lineup.

As for the bottom of the Canadiens' lineup, it will include two interesting young lines: Filip Mesar, Vinzenz Rohrer, and Joshua Roy will be skating together, while Florian Xhekaj will center Jared Davidson and Luke Tuch. It will be another opportunity for these young players to showcase their abilities.

On the blueline, David Reinbacher, who had a tough outing Tuesday, will be paired with Kaiden Guhle while Lane Hutson has a day off. Ryan O’Rourke and Nate Clurman will complete the defense corps.

It will be interesting to see if the Cola Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky line can perform as well as they did on Tuesday night. At practice on Thursday morning, Slafkovsky was wearing a full cage following the skate to the face he took in the game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and this is the second-to-last home exhibition game. On Saturday, the Canadiens will face the Leafs again, this time in Toronto, before taking on the Ottawa Senators on September 30 in Quebec City and playing them again in Montreal on October 4.

---

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

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

While the odds of making a loaded championship-caliber lineup are long, Atro Leppänen is making a name for himself early in the preseason with the Edmonton Oilers.

Fresh off a record-setting season in Finland’s SM-Liiga, where he led all defensemen with 63 points, he is turning heads early in Edmonton Oilers training camp, and the Finnish defenseman is embracing the challenge of adapting to the NHL. He chose the Oilers -- a team with a tough lineup to crack -- and despite the hurdles, has aspirations to play in Edmonton.  

Speaking with Leppänen after Wednesday's preseason loss to the Seattle Kraken, the defenseman shared his thoughts on adjusting to the pace of the NHL and his decision to join the Oilers.

“The speed is very fast compared to what I’m used to, but I’ve been able to move the puck well and play pretty solid defensively,” Leppänen said. "It's a little bit faster, but just to get used to a couple of shifts and then it's gone."

Leppänen, 26, signed with the Oilers in the spring after weighing options from multiple teams. “They reached out in the spring, and another team did as well,” he explained. “It was an intuition choice. The Oilers had good players and nice plays, so it was a pretty easy decision.” He also had some familiarity with the organization, having played with Finnish teammates who had connections to Edmonton.

Trending Stories:

Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Goalies

Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Forwards

Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Defense

Adjusting to the smaller North American ice surface hasn’t been a major hurdle. “Honestly, it hasn’t been that bad,” he said. "I think, pretty fast and well, and the forecheck is harder. They check and hit harder, but just move the puck, and guys are good that you play with."

Leppänen's Path to the NHL Has Been An Interesting One

Leppänen's recent strides towards a shot at the NHL seem all the more impressive when you consider where he's come from. He recounted the challenges of balancing hockey with odd jobs during his younger years. “I worked in factories and even in a museum, watching the paintings,” he said with a laugh. "Nobody touched the painting. Yeah, that was my job.“

He said he had no interest in anything beyond hockey. "I mean, I was pretty young and had no really interest in going to school, yet I didn't really have anything that I else that I wanted to do. So why not just play? It wasn't really that hard of a decision, I wasn't thinking about too much about quitting and stuff like that most of the time. So it was just to play and had nothing else to do. So why not?"

His hard work has paid off. The defenseman signed a one-year deal with the Oilers, and while his immediate path might lead him to the AHL, head coach Kris Knoblauch didn't rule out a scenario where Leppänen could get NHL games. 

Defenseman Atro Leppänen Making Things Interesting For The OilersAtro Leppänen is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing storylines of the Edmonton Oilers' training camp and preseason. The 26-year-old Finnish defenceman is set to play in his third straight preseason game tonight, earning more looks after a string of impressive performances.

Knoblauch said when asked where Leppänen might fit on a team that seemingly has no spots, that he is looking for the best player at every position. That message seems to have been passed on to Leppänen, who isn't done fighting for a spot on the roster. When asked if he was used to fighting, he suggested that was a strong choice of words, even hinting that battling might not be the best description. 

Still, he gets the notion he's going to have to stand out to earn a spot.

When asked, "Why did you like some guys would pick a team that's easier to make, it's hard team to make two Stanley Cups in a row... Did you think about that?" He responded, "So I'm kind of used to it, and it's just kind of grind it out." He added, "I mean, it's definitely a tough lineup to crack. I think, I think there's a chance."

Leppänen Seems Appreciative Of The Opportunity

Leppänen credited the coaching staff for their guidance. “They’ve been very positive, telling me to keep moving the puck and playing my style. That’s what I plan to do,” he said.

I specifically brought up how much he's playing thus far in preseason, getting several games in a row and big minutes in those games. Was this something he wanted to keep doing, taking as many opportunities as would be tossed his way? “I mean, sure, the more you play, I think even, it can be a little bit more exhausting, but you get the feel for the game, and you can get a little bit of flow going. So it's, I think it's easier to more you play, kind of easier to go."

"I think just kind of once in a lifetime chance to come, and if you get it, get the opportunity. Just gotta take it."

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made another cut on Thursday, assigning defensive prospect Quinn Beauchesne to the OHL's Guelph Storm.

Beauchesne, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, was at Penguins' training camp for a week before getting cut. Before that, he participated in the Prospects Challenge and was one of the Penguins' best prospects in those three games. He showcased his fluid skating, snarl, and ability to break the puck out of his zone with ease. 

Those traits can definitely translate to the NHL, but he still needs to keep developing, and the Penguins don't want to rush him. He finished last season with six goals and 24 points in 49 games with the Storm, and will be an assistant captain for them this year. 

He's a prospect that a lot of fans should keep an eye on this year. The Penguins may have gotten a steal in the fifth round. 

The Penguins will return to practice on Friday, and it's expected to be a special day, as Marc-Andre Fleury will practice with the team before his sendoff on Saturday night. 

---

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

Utah Mammoth goaltender Connor Ingram is among seven players placed on NHL waivers Thursday afternoon.

Ingram, along with Philadelphia Flyers left winger Oscar Eklind and the Ottawa Senators' Hunter Shepard, Cameron Crotty, Wyatt Bongiovanni, Xavier Bourgault and Garrett Pilon are on waivers. 

If these players clear waivers by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, they're eligible to be sent to the minors. That said, the rest of the league has a chance to claim them.

Ingram, 28, and the Mammoth plan to mutually part ways. He has not been part of Utah's training camp despite being cleared to play by the NHL and NHLPA's Player Assistance Program on Aug. 20.

"We'll at some point in time put him through waivers, and through that process, he will either get a chance to play for another NHL team, or he will go to an (AHL) team," Armstrong told reporters last week. "But at the end of the day, he will be playing, and that's what we're so excited for."

Ingram played 22 games last season before entering the NHL/NHLPA program on March 9. He put up a 9-8-4 record, 3.27 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.

In 2023-24 with the Arizona Coyotes, Ingram took over starting duties with 50 games played, a 23-21-3 record, 2.91 GAA, .907 SP and six shutouts. He received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy that season.

Arizona had claimed Ingram off waivers from the Nashville Predators in October 2022. He did play one game for the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners last season but otherwise last played in that league in 2021-22 with the Predators' affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

Ingram is in the final campaign of a three-year contract with a $1.95-million cap hit.

Utah Mammoth And Connor Ingram Reportedly Parting WaysUtah Mammoth goaltender Connor Ingram will reportedly not attend the team’s training camp this week.

The other six players on the waiver wire spent most, if not all, of last season in the AHL.

Eklind, 27, played his first season in North America last year after working through the junior, second-tier and first-tier Swedish men's leagues. He had five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 64 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers' affiliate. He's on a one-year contract worth $800,000.

Senators goaltender Shepard, 29, had played all of his professional career in the Washington Capitals' system, backstopping the Hershey Bears to two Calder Cup championships in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He was named the AHL's playoff MVP in 2022-23 and the best goaltender in 2023-24. He put up a 23-11-4 record with a 2.80 GAA and .891 SP in 39 games for the Bears, along with a 2-5-0 record in the playoffs. He has five games of NHL experience and signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Ottawa this off-season.

Crotty, a 26-year-old defenseman, captained the Iowa Wild, AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, last season. He had 10 assists and 56 penalty minutes in 64 games. In 2017-18, he was part of the Boston University team that was Hockey East champions in the NCAA. The Coyotes drafted him 82nd overall in 2017, and he's played two career NHL games. The Sens signed the Ottawa native to a two-year, two-way contract worth $812,500 annually.

Bongiovanni, a 26-year-old forward who can play center or on the wing, put up 22 goals and 11 assists for 33 points in 54 games for the Belleville Senators last season. He's on a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

Bourgault, 22, played his first season with Belleville last year after being traded in a package that sent Roby Jarventie to the Edmonton Oilers. The 2021 22nd overall pick by Edmonton recorded 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 61 games. The right winger is on a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

Pilon, 27, captained the B-Sens last season and recorded 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points in 68 games. He won the Calder Cup with Hershey in 2022-23 and has played three career NHL games. He's in the second campaign of a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

Expect many more names to hit the NHL waiver wire over the next two weeks as teams trim their training camp rosters.

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.

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced 10 further cuts to their training camp roster ahead of Thursday night's preseason game against the Washington Capitals, but some names were more surprising than others.

Generally speaking, the AHL players who were cut were, by all accounts, expected to be next on the chopping block, with many not even appearing in a preseason game.

Forwards Sawyer Boulton, Cooper Marody, Garrett Wilson, and Zayde Wisdom were all cut Thursday, alongside goalies Keith Petruzzelli and and Yaniv Perets.

Oscar Eklind, who was signed as a free agent ahead of last season, was placed on waivers with the intention of being assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Then came the surprises, although it's a relative term.

Ex-Flyers Goalie Quietly Dominating NHL PreseasonIt may only be two games of NHL preseason action, but this former Philadelphia Flyers goalie has been dominant in limited ice time.

Forward prospects Samu Tuomaala, Tucker Robertson (acquired in the J.R. Avon trade), and Massimo Rizzo were all included in this set of roster cuts, and Tuomaala was the only one who managed to appear in a preseason game.

The 22-year-old played in Sunday night's 3-2 shootout win over the New York Islanders, recording one shot on goal in 13:13 of ice time and missing his shootout attempt.

Tuomaala's early exclusion, along with the others, is a surprise in the sense that he is fairly experienced at the professional level and hardly had a chance to make an impression in the preseason.

But, on that note, sometimes the question reveals more than the answer, and Tuomaala's lack of an impression is the impression in itself.

Flyers Stock Up, Stock Down Heading into Training Camp Week 2Heading into the second week of Philadelphia Flyers training camp, a number of key players have boosted their stocks and chances of making the NHL roster. Others? Not so much.

Fortunately, the Finn isn't exposed to waivers and will remain in the Flyers organization, but it just got that much harder to envision him playing any sort of role for the Flyers in the future.

The fact that players like Devin Kaplan and Alexis Gendron lasted longer in training camp than Tuomaala says a lot about his prospects of an NHL future in Philadelphia.

As for Robertson and Rizzo, those players are/were more upside dart-throws than anything, but they are clearly on the outside looking in at this point and may end up career AHLers in the absence of meaningful preseason action.

It is a measure of his astonishing NHL playing career that Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St-Louis will never be able to top his on-ice feats, including winning a Stanley Cup championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014.

But in three-and-a-half years coaching the Montreal Canadiens, St-Louis has delivered some phenomenal results, including an unlikely playoff berth last year.

So the question arises – what in heaven’s sake does St-Louis do for an encore?

He’s done as well as just about anyone could as the Canadiens continue their rebuild from the foundations, but St-Louis has raised the competitive bar for his team as they head into the 2025-26 regular season.

Without a doubt, it would be devastating for the Canadiens if they slipped a bit and missed out on a post-season berth this year. BetMGM gave the Canadiens better odds of making the playoffs (1.80, -125) than missing out (2.00, +100), after all.

But everybody knows that progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes a backward step or lateral move is what's necessary to create a team that can handle adversity and thrive in the face of it. That may wind up being true for St-Louis and this generation of Canadiens players, but not if they can help it.

Last year at this time, the expectations on Montreal was that it should be aiming for some sort of step forward. In fact, on Nov. 4, 2024, the Habs were tied for the fewest points in the NHL, and it looked like they were making no progress at all under St-Louis.

Few pundits had the Habs as a playoff team, so St-Louis more than earned his salary when he steered them to a first-round playoff appearance.

But here’s where the increased expectations come in for this season: a playoff appearance and another quick exit – like the one the Canadiens had last spring at the hands of the Washington Capitals – will not be seen as a positive for Montreal. To be sure, nothing short of a first-round win will be seen as progress for the Habs this year. And at a point in time where NHL coaches are fired on an alarmingly-regular basis, St-Louis can only assure himself of job security if he has some tangible type of progress to show for it. 

What can St-Louis do for an encore? Well, a first-round series win would be another terrific achievement for him. Or a seven-game series loss in the first round would be understandable if, say, the Canadiens lost the deciding game in a close matchup.

The bottom line would be the same – the Habs don’t yet have a team that can win home-ice advantage in the highly competitive Atlantic Division – but making them tougher in every regard would be something St-Louis could point to as an indication he’s got the Canadiens on the right path.

Montreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsThe Montreal Canadiens had a game-changing off-season.

The rest of the Atlantic – and the NHL – won’t hand the Habs a playoff spot this year or any year. Montreal is going to have to earn that. But under St-Louis' guidance, the Canadiens overachieved last season, and making the playoffs is now the expectation, not a pleasant surprise. There’s no evidence to declare they can’t do it again. 

If they actually do it again and then win a round, St-Louis’ impact on the Habs will be all the more impressive.

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.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs' non-playing group stepped onto the ice for practice on Thursday, William Nylander wasn't out there.

He's the latest player to miss a skate during camp. Already, Toronto has had Max Domi, Nicolas Roy, and Simon Benoit held off the ice at one point during camp. However, when asked about Nylander after practice, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube poured cold water on whatever's going on with the forward.

"Just maintenance," the head coach said. "Camp kind of stuff. Get a little banged up, but he's fine."

We'll find out on Friday morning if there's anything to worry about. Nylander has been fairly healthy over the course of his NHL career. The 29-year-old has played three straight 82-game seasons and hasn't been out of the lineup — aside from the 2024 playoffs — since April 4, 2022, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nylander began camp alongside his usual center, John Tavares, and Bobby McMann, who has played on the line before. With McMann headed to Montreal to play against the Canadiens later on Thursday, Tavares skated with Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok on his wings at practice.

Maple Leafs non-playing group lines at practice:

Knies - Matthews - Domi
Robertson - Tavares - Jarnkrok
Barbolini - Roy - Valis
Boyd - Haymes - A. Nylander

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
Ekman-Larsson - Danford
Smith - Prokop

Stolarz
Akhtyamov

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 25, 2025

Max Domi and Nicolas Roy skated with the non-playing group on Thursday. After dealing with injuries (both lower-body ailments) early on in camp, Domi may get into Saturday's game at home against Montreal. He skated with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies at practice.

"I mean, there's a chance [he could play]. I don't know for sure right now," Berube said. "But he could possibly."

Maple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To WatchThe Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Thursday as they drop the puck on their third pre-season game.

The only other injured player is Simon Benoit. The defenseman hasn't skated with the team since Sept. 19 and is dealing with an upper-body injury. Benoit skated before the two groups on Wednesday, but didn't get on the ice on Thursday.

"That was the plan," Berube said. "He'll be on the ice tomorrow."

Benoit was paired with Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the first day of training camp after the two were a duo for most of last season. Benoit played 78 games last year, scoring one goal and nine assists while averaging 16:33 of ice time.

Latest stories:

How Scott Laughton And Steven Lorentz's Strong Relationship Can Bring The Best Out Of The Maple Leafs’ Fourth Line

Maple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To Watch

Ben Danford’s Stock Is Rising As Prospect Earns Recognition From Maple Leafs' Veterans

Michael Pezzetta’s journey to the NHL has been a long one, yet he recalls a special pre-season night that marked his breakthrough.

Five years after the Montreal Canadiens drafted him in the sixth round (160th overall) in the NHL Draft, Pezzetta finally got his pre-season opportunity against his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored twice—including an empty-netter—in a 5-4 victory on September 27, 2021.

“I just remember how cool that was, and I remember them talking about it on the panel on television, being like, ‘It's a cool experience for this kid, but he's probably never going to make it. It was a cool experience for him to get those two goals,’” Pezzetta recalled. “I ended up making it later that year, so I just remember that. It was funny."

Pezzetta has since played in 200 NHL games. This summer, the Maple Leafs signed Pezzetta to a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $812,500.

On Thursday, he will wear the Maple Leafs uniform for the first time.

Even though it’s just a pre-season game, Pezzetta is excited about the opportunity to return to the Bell Centre.

“It's always a game that if you can't get up to that game, there's probably something wrong with you because they're exciting,” Pezzetta said. “They're usually on a Saturday night. It gets going. They're just a lot of fun to be a part of, and I think it's something special, and I think it's something I'm so grateful that I've had to experience it.”

Pezzetta is a long shot to make the Leafs’ roster and will probably start this season with the Toronto Marlies. But anything can happen. Even though his two-goal pre-season performance in 2021 was dismissed, the forward went on to play 51 games with the Canadiens in 2021–22. Depending on what the Leafs need as injuries and personnel shifts arise, Pezzetta could be called upon at some point.

And if he has another memorable outing in Montreal, he'll probably get the panel talking about him again.

Latest stories:

How Scott Laughton And Steven Lorentz's Strong Relationship Can Bring The Best Out Of The Maple Leafs’ Fourth Line

Maple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To Watch

Ben Danford’s Stock Is Rising As Prospect Earns Recognition From Maple Leafs' Veterans

Three months after the Abbotsford Canucks won the Calder Cup, the team is gearing up to defend their title for the first time in franchise history. Also, for the first time in franchise history, goaltender Arturs Silvos won’t be on the roster. The Calder Cup MVP netminder was traded this offseason to the Pittsburgh Penguins due to salary cap constraints and limited roster spots for Vancouver’s flurry of goaltenders.

All eyes now look to Nikita Tolopilo, the six-foot-six, 229-pound Belarusian undrafted goaltender the Canucks acquired in free agency two years prior. Tolopilo has played in the majority of games over the last two seasons for Abbotsford, participating in 35 games in his rookie 2023–24 campaign (one more than Silovs played that year), and being the only Canucks goaltender to play in over 25 games last season. Over the two seasons, he has a 40-27-3 record, with a 0.903% save percentage, and a 2.74 goals against average.

Having spent the majority of his professional North American career in tandem with Silovs, Tolopilo now steps into a new role as a bona fide veteran starter for the Canucks in net, as the 25-year-old will likely be sharing the crease with Ty Young. Young played in 11 games last season for Abbotsford, posting an 8-3 record, though he spent most of the season playing with Kalamazoo in the ECHL. 

Despite these big changes in the crease, Tolopilo is unperturbed by the year that lies ahead, telling The Hockey News that the dynamic shift isn’t on his mind. 

“I don't really think about that, because every year is different. So [I] just try to focus on myself. Focus on my thing. What should I do to win more games, to help my team win more games? And kind of, you know, do [the] best I can.”

To end the AHL regular season, Tolopilo had an eight-game win streak, along with a two-game appearance in the NHL with Vancouver. In his first NHL start, he earned a 2–1 win in overtime against the San Jose Sharks, as well as a loss after coming in relief of Kevin Lankinen in the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights two days later.

Tolopilo also made one appearance in the Abbotsford Calder Cup run, coming in during the second period of game two in the division semifinals against the Coachella Valley Thunderbirds, where he allowed two goals on 23 shots in the eventual 5–4 overtime loss. 

Headed into the next season as defending champions is placing the spotlight on Abbotsford, especially without the goaltender who arguably brought them that trophy. Tolopilo, though, remains optimistic about what lies in store for the upcoming season, ready for “new challenges” to arise. After what he deemed a “short summer,” Tolopilo returned to training camp in Penticton, still working towards improvements in his game. 

​​Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Vancouver Canucks Podcast Rundown: Hockey, Actually, Episode 7

3 Standouts From The Vancouver Canucks’ Second Pre-Season Game Of 2025–26

Nils Höglander Leaves Canucks Pre-Season Game Versus The Flames

“It's like a lot of small things, you know, like you try to clean up some area where you [are] not that good. And also work on the good things, you know, try to get even better. And of course, to be in good shape and feel good,” he explained to The Hockey News.

“I feel confident [in] myself like this [is] my third year here in North America, so I wanted to take another step forward, you know, in my development, in my career. I have some goals in my head, but, you know, it's just more for myself.”

Returning under the tutelage of Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra and goaltending coach Justin Pogge is another source of motivation for the towering Belarusian. 

“They’re excellent people. They’re super professional. Like, we won the Calder Cup in our first year with them. [...] I like to work with them, with everyone.”

Tolopilo also enters the first year of the two-year contract he signed with the Canucks in early July, which carries a $775k NHL cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The contract is also a two-way deal, and it is likely that in the case of either Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen being unable to play, Tolopilo will have to venture westbound on Highway 1 to join the team in Vancouver as the third-string option. 

The Canucks had seven goalies on their roster heading into training camp, now down to six at the time of writing, as 2025 second-round pick Aleksei Medvedev has returned to the London Knights of the OHL. Along with Tolopilo, Young, Demko, and Lankinen, the Canucks also have Jiri Patera on contract for another season, though he only played in seven games for Abbotsford last year, and 2021 fifth-round pick Aku Koskenvuo, who played most recently with Harvard University in the NCAA, and signed a two-year, entry-level contract back in March.

With under a month until the Canucks grace the Abbotsford ice once again, Nikita Tolopilo is looking to replicate the success from last season through this year and beyond — no matter what changes the 2025–26 AHL season has in store for the defending champions.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

The Ottawa Senators continued to trim their roster on Thursday, making 17 cuts as their training camp moves into its next phase.

Eight players were assigned directly to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League: Matthew Andonovski, Tyler Boucher, Jake Chiasson, Jorian Donovan, Tomas Hamara, Jackson Parsons, Oskar Pettersson and Djibril Toure. All eight will now join Belleville’s camp as they look to take the next steps in their development.

Five additional players will require waivers before being sent down to Belleville. That group includes forwards Wyatt Bongiovanni, Xavier Bourgault and Garrett Pilon, along with defenceman Cameron Crotty and goaltender Hunter Shepard. They will be available to the other 31 NHL clubs before officially reporting to Ottawa’s AHL affiliate.

Four more players — Philippe Daoust, Landen Hookey, Jamieson Rees and Keean Washkurak — were also reassigned to Belleville. Each is on an AHL contract and attended Ottawa’s camp on a tryout basis.

With the latest moves, the Senators’ training camp roster has been reduced to 31 players. The group now consists of three goaltenders, ten defencemen and eighteen forwards still competing for opening-night spots.

The team will shift its focus to Quebec City over the next five days, where they will hold practices and play a pair of preseason games at the Videotron Centre. Ottawa is set to face the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, September 28, followed by a matchup with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, September 30.

The Senators are 1-1 in preseason play so far after splitting a home-and-home series with the Toronto Maple Leafs to open their exhibition schedule earlier this week.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Will This Be Shane Pinto's Breakout Year With The Senators?
Drake Batherson Joins Ottawa Senators List Of Preseason Injury Concerns
Pinto Plays Hero In Senators Preseason Overtime Win Over Leafs
Senators Send Prospect Gabriel Eliasson And Two Others Back To Junior
After Two Broken Clavicles, Kaliyev Targets Capital Comeback
Senators Winger Fabian Zetterlund Ready To Prove Himself This Season

The Montreal Canadiens have multiple young players to keep an eye on as the preseason continues. Among the most intriguing is forward Joshua Roy, as the 22-year-old forward is looking to prove that he deserves a spot on the Canadiens' opening night roster.

Roy played in 12 games this past season with the Canadiens, where he scored two goals. He also played in 23 games for the Canadiens during the 2023-24 campaign, where he posted four goals and nine points. Overall, the 2021 fifth-round pick has shown signs of promise when given the chance to play for Montreal, but now he will be looking to have a breakout season in 2025-26 for them.

Where Are The Canadiens In The Power Rankings?

Canadiens: Florian Xhekaj Deserves A Big Audition

Canadiens: Demidov Shuts Down Michkov Comparisons

Roy will be in the lineup for the Canadiens in their Sep. 25 preseason matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is a big game for Roy, as this will allow him the opportunity to try to stand out. If he puts together a strong performance for the Habs, it could very well help his odds of making the NHL roster.

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what happens with Roy from here. The young forward has the potential to become a solid NHL player, and time will tell if he takes that next step this season. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 18 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #18. 

Let's take a look.

Robert Kron - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1985.

Played 118 games for the Jackets from 2000 to 2002. He never played another NHL game after Columbus. In March 2001, Kron broke his ankle when he fell over awkwardly after taking a puck to the face. It was truly one of the oddest moments in CBJ history.

Nowadays, Kron is the Director of Amateur Scouting for the Seattle Kraken. 

Zenith Komarniski - 2004 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1996

Komarniski played in two games for Columbus in 03-04 and had zero points. He would never play another NHL after his time in Columbus and would retire in 2007. 

Komarniski is now a youth coach in Canada.

Geoff Platt - 2006 - Undrafted out of Toronto, Ontario.

Platt played 41 games as a Jacket and had a total of 14 points. After playing five games for Anaheim in 07-08, he left for Europe where he played until he retired in 2023.

Platt is now a Development Coach for the Tappara U20 team in Finland. 

R.J. Umberger - 2009-2014 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2001. 

The former Ohio State Buckeye played 445 games after coming to Columbus via trade with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2008. He scored 120 goals and totaled 250 points during his time in Columbus. He was traded back to Philly in 2014 and would retire in 2017 after signing a PTO with the Dallas Stars and being subsequently released. 

Umberger is now the Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach for the Columbus Chill 18U AA.

David Clarkson - 2015 - Undrafted out of Etobicoke, Ontario.

Clarkson only played 26 games in Columbus before a serious back injury derailed his career. His contract was then traded twice before he officially retired. Clarkson stayed in the Columbus area after retiring, coaching the Upper Arlington High School Hockey Team for a season.

These days, he owns the NAHL's Colorado Grit. The Grit is a Tier II junior team based in Greeley, Colorado. The Grit will not participate in league competition during the upcoming season, as per the NAHL, but could return next season. For 25-26, Clarkson will be the head coach for the Okanagan HA Colorado 13U AAA.

Rene Bourque - 2016 - He was undrafted out of Lac La Biche, Alberta.

Bourque played 57 games for Columbus over two seasons. He totaled 7 goals and 12 points. He signed in Colorado for the 16-17 season, and then after one year, left for Sweden, where he would retire after one season.

Pierre-Luc Dubois - 2018-2020 - Drafted by Columbus in 2016. 

The former number 3 overall pick for Columbus played 239 and amassed 159 points wearing #18 for the Jackets. He was traded to the Washington Capitals in 2024 from the LA Kings and will attempt to get his career back on the right track. Washington is his fourth team since 2021. 

Last year with the Caps, Dubois set career highs in assists (46) and points (66). 

Our Ken Campbell said of Dubois: "To say that Dubois, the third overall pick in the 2016 draft, had something of a deer-in-the-headlights complex during his first training camp would not be an overstatement. Tortorella saw a young player who was overwhelmed, so much so that he had to check with team management to make sure that was the kid they had just picked third overall. But in everything to his physique to his body language to his swagger, so much was different this year. Tortorella said that at the beginning of the season he was concerned about putting Dubois in a situation he wasn’t prepared to accept and contemplated playing Dubois at the wing. But that has kind of gone out the window with Alexander Wennberg unproductive and injured. Brandon Dubinsky was never going to fill that No. 1 center role, but he was also hurt, and the depth at center took a hit. So it’s a good thing Dubois stayed in the middle and started to produce. “We think we’re so smart, the coaches, the managers,” Tortorella said. “We have all these ideas about developing players, and we worry too much. He has blown us away with how he has handled the situation. He’s grabbed ahold of it and wants more.”

Lane Pederson - 2023 - Undrafted out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Pederson played 16 games as a Jacket after being picked up on waivers in 2022-23 and had three points. He didn't play any NHL games in the last two seasons, and he signed with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

There are 18 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. 

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

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

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

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

* Games in bold are home games * 

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

Let us know what you think below.

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

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.  

More from THN Columbus

Blue Jackets Overpower Penguins In Preseason Game #4Yegor Chinakhov, Jake Christiansen, Kent Johnson, and Dante Fabbro provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 24 of 25 Pens shots in the 4-1 CBJ win on Wednesday night.  Blue Jackets Send Charlie Elick Back To Junior TeamThe Blue Jackets have announced that they've loaned young prospect Charlie Elick back to the Tri-City Americans of the WHL.  Blue Jackets' Werenski & Monahan Among Stars In FACEOFF: Inside The NHLYesterday, Prime Video released the trailer for the second season of their FACEOFF: Inside the NHL docuseries.