Category: Sports News

Nobody could have anticipated that during the 2025–26 season, the Vancouver Canucks organization would be without three of their goaltenders at the same point in time. This very situation occurred over the weekend, with Thatcher Demko taking time off for maintenance while Nikita Tolopilo remained out due to injury. An injury to Ty Young on Friday resulted in the Abbotsford Canucks requiring the use of an emergency backup goalie for the remainder of their game, as Jiří Patera was on his way up to Vancouver after being recalled under emergency conditions. All these injuries have also resulted in both Jonathan Lemieux and Aku Koskenvuo receiving call-ups from the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. As well, Kevin Lankinen ended up starting both of Vancouver's games during their weekend back-to-back at home. 

During this stretch of goaltending complications for the Canucks, there is one thing that comes to mind — where would Artūrs Šilovs fit into this equation? Vancouver traded their former goaltender and Calder Cup Championship MVP to the Pittsburgh Penguins during the off-season in exchange for Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. While he has only been with Pittsburgh since then, he has started in nine games for the Penguins and registered a record of 4–2–3. Šilovs also has a GAA of 2.49 and a .916 SV%. With Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry out for a few weeks due to injury, Šilovs’ workload will only increase. 

The Canucks’ current goaltending circumstances lead many to wonder if the team was better off keeping Šilovs and getting rid of one of Demko or Lankinen, or retaining all three and moving their goaltending depth cabinet around a bit. The latter situation is the least likely of these options, as Šilovs made it clear that, while his NHL play didn’t instil a whole lot of confidence last season, he was ready to make the jump after posting stellar numbers during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Keeping him in the AHL would have helped Abbotsford out insurmountably, but wouldn’t have made sense for a goaltender who was looking for his chance at making the NHL. 

At the same time, trading one of Demko or Lankinen to make room for Šilovs in Vancouver was too risky of a move to make on a goaltender who hadn’t quite proven himself long-term at the NHL level. While the goaltender did carry his team to Game 7 of the second-round in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, reality set in the regular season after when Šilovs couldn’t quite find his footing early on as the Canucks’ anticipated starter. This opened the door for Lankinen to step in and take the role of Vancouver’s starter, a transition that ultimately resulted in the goaltender signing a five-year contract extension. 

Choosing to stay with Šilovs rather than one of Lankinen or Demko would not have been the right move for this particular organization, though this may have been the opposite if this were a different team with a different trajectory. For starters, both Lankinen and Demko have proven themselves on a consistent basis at the NHL level. While Šilovs could have definitely been capable of doing-so this season or even the next, with the way Vancouver approaches their seasons — as if their playoff window is open — it wouldn’t have made sense for them to wait for a goaltender with potential, even if that may have been a better move in the long-run. At the end of the day, the Canucks have been adamant that they believe in their current core and want to stick with players who will help them win now. Demko and Lankinen’s ages and experience levels match that of their current core, making it an unfortunately easy decision for the team. 

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Joakim Kemell, you've won a trip to Sweden. 

On Monday, ahead of their game against the New York Rangers and days before their pair of games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sweden, the Nashville Predators have recalled forward Joakim Kemell from the Milwaukee Admirals. 

Kemell is called up following Zachary L'Heureux's lower-body injury, which has him out for 4-6 weeks.

L'Heureux was recalled after Cole Smith suffered an upper-body injury, which sidelines him for at least five more weeks. 

Kemell made the opening night roster after an impressive preseason and has played two games with the Predators this season, against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 and the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 13. He has yet to record his first NHL point. 

This season in Milwaukee, Kemell has recorded six points in six games (one goal and five assists), and four penalty minutes. 

He is also from Jyväskylä, Finland, which is about 630 miles from where the Predators will be playing their NHL Global Series games against the Penguins at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The Predators face the Rangers on Monday at 6 p.m., then travel abroad to face the Penguins in Sweden on Friday at 1 p.m. CST and Sunday at 8 a.m. CST. 

Nov 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) skates his rookie lap before making his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Another former ECHL player saw his lifelong dream come true on Sunday.

Former Wheeling Nailers goaltender Sergei Murashov made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.

While the Penguins ultimately fell 3-2 to the Kings, the 21-year-old netminder accounted himself well. Murashov stopped 24 of 27 shots faced, making several key saves to keep his team in the game.

“I need some time just to watch video and see what more I can do better, where I was good,” Murashov said after the game. “But overall, I just like how I felt for all the game. I enjoyed it. Again, just a huge thanks to my team, because it’s [their] third game in four days, and they were battling.”

One of Murashov’s biggest saves came off a 2-on-1 rush by the Kings in the middle frame. Alex Laferriere took the puck off a Penguins turnover, raced up ice, and fed Quinton Byfield on the doorstep. Murashov stretched his full 6-foot-2 height to make a critical stop and preserve what was then a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead.

Murashov played in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailers last season and became the 70th former Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL with his debut on Sunday.

Murashov began his North American professional career last season with the Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. His first campaign in Wheeling was outstanding, as he went 17-7-1 with a 2.40 goals against average and a .922 save percentage in 26 games.

The Yaroslavl, Russia native etched his name in the Wheeling record books twice, as he set team records for the longest winning streak by a goaltender (13) and the longest point streak by a goaltender (15; 14-0-1). He allowed two goals or fewer in 15 of 26 games and recorded at least 30 saves on 13 occasions.

One of Murashov's most notable performances was his first ECHL shutout, a 42-save effort against the Tulsa Oilers on Feb. 22.

In addition to his success in Wheeling, Murashov has thrived in the American Hockey League with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He is 17-5-0 in 23 career appearances in the AHL, as he went 12-3-0 last season. He is off to a 5-2-0 start this year.

The netminder earned AHL Goaltender of the Month honors for his 5-1-0 record in October, and also earned AHL Player of the Week honors. Those are the second and third league honors for Murashov, who was November's ECHL Rookie of the Month with the Nailers last season.

Murashov’s first NHL save on Sunday came against Adrian Kempe, who scored his 200th career goal earlier this season.

In addition to being the 70th former Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL, Murashov is the 18th to do so as a goaltender, the 20th to debut with the Penguins, and the fifth to debut as a goaltender for Pittsburgh. Prior to Murashov, the last Wheeling player to make his NHL debut with the Penguins was fellow goaltender Casey DeSmith, who did so on Oct. 29, 2017. DeSmith is now the backup goalie for the Dallas Stars.

In a fun twist, Murashov's NHL debut came on the one-year anniversary of his WesBanco Arena debut, as he made 27 saves to lead the Nailers past the eventual Kelly Cup Champion Trois-Rivières Lions, 4-3, on Nov. 9, 2024.

Sunday’s loss was the Penguins’ third in the last four games, but they have to be encouraged by the solid debut of Murashov, who continues to turn heads with each rung of the professional ladder he climbs.

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Milestone Monday rewinds to Nov. 10, 1962, when Chicago Black Hawks netminder Glenn Hall did something he hadn't done in seven years: not play.

In fact, it's what Hall didn't do that night against the Montreal Canadiens that cemented how impressive his 502 consecutive games played NHL record really is.

What started in 1955 with the Detroit Red Wings and ended in 1962 with the Hawks became hockey history.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.  

If we’ve learned anything over the last week, it’s not to underestimate Gavin Brindley. 

The 21-year-old delivered the knockout blow in overtime Sunday night, capping a breakout performance that signaled, unequivocally, his arrival at the NHL level. Brindley netted the game-winner on his very first shift of extra time, extinguishing the team’s notorious five-game overtime curse—a streak that had become a running jest despite the Avalanche’s standing as the league’s preeminent squad.  

NHL (@NHL) on XGAVIN BRINDLEY IS YOUR OT HERO!! 😱 The @Avalanche win it in @Energizer overtime!

Although Brindley’s rise has been swift, his first career game-winning goal carried an element of surprise, coming immediately after a brief absence due to a concussion sustained against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 31. Yet even amid that setback, The Hockey News inadvertently caught a glimpse of the sheer passion Brindley harbors for the game. 

Brindley Is a Kid That Loves This Game 

Moments before puck drop for the Avalanche-Lightning matchup on November 4, the elevator doors opened to reveal a man, shorter than this writer, clad in a beanie and black hoodie, clearly animated—whether from haste, excitement, or a combination of both. He beamed and announced, simply, “I passed! I’m playing this weekend.” 

It was reminiscent of a child barreling down the stairs on Christmas morning. The relief that his injury had not been more severe, coupled with the fact he would be shedding the red non-contact jersey and returning to the ice at full capacity, had him practically sprinting. Naturally, we asked Brindley for permission to share the news on X (formerly Twitter), which he graciously granted before sprinting off to his next destination. 

Brindley carried that same energy into the weekend’s action. In his first game back, he contributed a goal and an assist as Colorado cruised to a 9–1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. It was a dominant team effort, with 12 players recording at least one point and eight posting multi-point games, Brindley included. And this is a player coming off a concussion, yet his energy and drive have proven to be completely overwhelming for the opposition.  

We knew from training camp and the preseason that this Brindley kid was going to be something special, but there’s a difference between excelling on the ice when there’s no one around and shining when the lights are at their brightest, but Brindley has gone above and beyond.  

Acquired from Columbus last June, the rookie mustered only a single assist through his first 10 games. But as soon as he scored his first-career NHL goal on October 11 en route to 5-4 overtime against the Dallas Stars, it’s like a lightning bolt went off. Now Brindley has four points—two goals and two assists—in his last four contests. He plays with the heart and soul of a player who wants to be in this league for a long time. 

Brindley needed to make a strong first impression—and he did. With Logan O’Connor soon returning from his second hip surgery, a roster spot will be up for grabs. Brindley has already cleared two major hurdles: he excelled in training camp and preseason, and he has exceeded expectations in the early part of the regular season. Simply put, Gavin Brindley has firmly secured his place in the lineup. 

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 or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Detroit Red Wings welcomed one of their top prospects, center Nate Danielson, for his NHL debut this past Sunday, slotting him on the third line alongside Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton. Danielson finished the game without a point but recorded four shots on net from five attempts and added one takeaway.

Todd on Nate “we wanted to see him now, so we could make some decisions perhaps on some other players”

Interesting. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/3otzuaKBAo

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) November 10, 2025

The 21-year-old Red Deer native logged 15:16 of ice time, with 11:46 at even strength and 3:30 on the power play, ranking sixth among all Red Wings forwards, ahead of players like James van Riemsdyk, Marco Kasper, and J.T. Compher. While Danielson struggled on the faceoff dot, winning just two of ten draws, his effort and hustle were clear. Despite Chicago scoring five goals, none came with Danielson on the ice, and he helped limit high-danger chances, spending most of his night in the neutral zone or generating offensive pressure in the Blackhawks’ end.

In his first shift, Danielson drove to the front of the net and redirected a point shot through his legs, creating a scoring opportunity on the goaltender. On his second shift, he made a heads-up play behind the net, cutting off Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom and jumping into the glass to keep the puck in Chicago’s zone. Defensively, Danielson was strong, covering for teammates and limiting scoring chances, though he had one misstep when a breakaway slipped behind him when he was covering for the defense but Detroit goalie John Gibson came up big with two key saves to keep the play from turning into a goal.  

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

Brandsegg-Nygård Nets First Goal, Griffins’ Historic Win Streak Snapped in Loss To WolvesBrandsegg-Nygård ignites with his first AHL goal, but a gritty shootout loss ends the Griffins' historic streak.

He was active on the power play, working in with the second unit as a defenseman with Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Danielson made plays where he would work the puck low to set up teammates as well as getting open for chances himself like when he had a one-timer chance that was blocked. Danielson’s hustle in the neutral zone and transition game was notable, often picking up loose pucks and quickly moving them to the point. 

Offensively, he created scoring chances through quick passes and puck cycles, including a cross-crease attempt for Finnie and a setup for Marco Kasper in the slot. He showed grit in battles along the boards, tying up opponents to maintain possession, and even engaged physically to support teammates during scrums behind the net.

Despite a few missed opportunities, such as a loose puck that could have led to a high-danger chance, Danielson remained resilient, recovering quickly like when he was about to fall into the boards on one shift. It scared many at first as Danielson fell into the boards into his same shoulder that he just came off the injury reserve after injuring. He quickly got up though, stripped the puck off a Blackhawks forward and worked the puck back into Chicago's zone. 

Danielson will look to build on the performance and hopefully record his first NHL point Thursday, when the Red Wings take on the Anaheim Ducks at home.

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The Colorado Avalanche are currently at the top of the NHL standings with a 10-1-5 record and 25 points. Former Montreal Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen has certainly played a role in the Avalanche's strong start to the 2025-26 season.

Lehkonen has had an excellent start to the campaign, as he has recorded six goals, nine assists, 15 points, and a plus-13 rating in 16 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the former Canadiens forward is producing strong offense this season for the Avalanche.

Lehkonen is also showing no signs of slowing down as the season continues. In his last four games, the former Canadiens winger has recorded four points. This included him scoring two goals in the Avalanche's most recent contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 9. 

If Lehkonen continues to produce offense like this, he could very well end up setting new career highs with the Avalanche this season. Time will tell what happens on that front, but it is clear that the former Canadiens forward is feeling it right now. 

The Canadiens selected Lehkonen with the 55th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 396 games over six seasons with the Habs from 2016-17 to 2021-22, he posted 74 goals, 149 points, and a minus-2 rating.