Recently, we discussed four forwards who are clear bounce-back candidates heading into the 2025-26 season. 

Now, let's look at four NHL goalies who have the potential to bounce back for their teams.

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins 

After a long off-season of tense negotiations last year, the Boston Bruins signed Jeremy Swayman to an eight-year, $66-million contract right at the start of the 2024-25 season.

After landing his big payday and becoming the Bruins' true No. 1 goalie, Swayman recorded a 22-29-7 record, a 3.11 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage in 58 games. There is no question that Swayman struggled in 2024-25. 

Yet, when looking at Swayman's past success, he is an obvious bounce-back candidate for 2025-26. Before last season, Swayman had a .914 save percentage or better in each of his four previous campaigns. He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy with Linus Ullmark in 2022-23 and played in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game. With this, he should be better in 2025-26.

Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks 

The 2024-25 season was tough for Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko.

The 29-year-old did not make his season debut until December due to injury and never seemed to shake off the rust fully. In 23 appearances, the 2014 second-round pick posted a 10-8-3 record, 2.90 GAA and a career-worst .889 SP.

Now that Demko is entering this season healthy and with a clean slate, it will be fascinating to see if he can turn things back around. Considering his past success, it should not be ruled out.

Demko recorded a 35-14-2 record, a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average in 51 games just back in 2023-24, and he's had a save percentage of at least .913 in four campaigns.

Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators 

Juuse Saros is another star goalie who will be looking to bounce back in 2025-26. Saros struggled with the Nashville Predators, posting a 20-31-6 record, 2.98 GAA and .896 SP in 58 games. With this, there is no question that he performed below expectations.

Yet, when noting that Saros had a .906 save percentage or better from 2016-17 to 2023-24, it is hard to bet against him bouncing back this season. The 30-year-old has been an excellent goalie throughout his career, and he should still be in his prime. Just back in 2022-23, he recorded 46.7 goals saved above expected, which led the NHL, according to moneypuck.com.

Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers 

New York Rangers star goalie Igor Shesterkin had a 27-29-5 record and set new career worsts with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. That said, he still had 21.6 goals saved above expected, so his season wasn't as rough as the others here.

Given Shesterkin's incredible resume, he could bounce back to being a Vezina Trophy candidate this season. The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner had a .912 save percentage or better in each of his first five NHL seasons before 2024-25.

If Shesterkin does regain his top form, it would be massive for a Rangers club looking to prove that missing the playoffs last year was a fluke. 

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"The preseason is not solely about results!"

That’s the line everyone falls back on after a lopsided score, and in truth, it’s accurate. The Philadelphia Flyers’ 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Hershey didn’t reveal anything catastrophic about the team’s direction, but it did sharpen a few storylines—including Cam York's comeback, a (for some) surprising frontrunner for a roster spot, and the imminent roster trims as preseason trucks on.

For a September night, that’s plenty to sift through.

---

Welcome Back, Cam York

There was no hiding how central this game was to Cam York’s preseason. The 24-year-old defenseman finally suited up after sitting out the first two contests, and he wasted no time stepping into a role he's long deserved a chance to play at the NHL level but never fully got a chance at: a truly offensive defenseman (and quarterback of the power play!)

It wasn’t flawless—York himself admitted as much—but the intent was there. He wanted to push the pace, dictate possession, and involve himself in the attack.

“Just always trying to push the pace,” York said postgame. “I always want to be in the play, I had a couple opportunities there that just didn’t go in, but, yeah, first game, definitely some rust there, but things to build on, for sure.”

Rust is expected, but the bigger picture is clear: the Flyers need York to be bold. His legs looked heavy in the opening period, but as he noted, “after that, you can kind of push them and they start to feel better, but good to get the first [preseason game] out of the way.”

There was also symbolism in the “A” stitched on his sweater. Head coach Rick Tocchet has been deliberate about stressing York’s leadership qualities, and York himself leaned into that responsibility.

“Yeah, it was awesome,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been here a pretty long time and there’s a lot of new faces in the locker room, a lot of new young guys, so just trying to help them out as much as I can. I’ve worn a letter in the past and definitely feel like I have some leadership qualities, so just trying to make it as easy as possible for these young guys.”

Cam York wearing an A tonight. Really interesting to see, especially after Rick Tocchet said today, "He was captain of the [2021 USA World Juniors] team. He's got leadership qualities when he's on the ice. I want him to take control." https://t.co/8V09jxWFur

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) September 25, 2025

---

Rodrigo Abols Keeps Showing Up

When camp opened, Rodrigo Abols’ name wasn’t exactly circled in Sharpie as a top candidate for an NHL spot. Yet here we are, three games into preseason, and Abols has been in the lineup for all of them.

More importantly, he hasn’t just been present—he’s been effective.

“The nice part about having those games is you can work on things so that once the season goes, we can hit the ground running and have the things we talked about be second nature,” Abols explained. “I think, sometimes, you can see guys and I can feel myself kind of second guessing or have that split second where I’m thinking about what we talked out. It’s nice to get that rust out of the game in the preseason.”

That’s a veteran’s take, and it’s telling. Abols isn’t trying to be anybody but himself, to prove that he can do the simple things consistently at an NHL pace. Even when he admitted that fatigue was creeping in (“I’m not gonna lie, you can feel that it’s the third game in five nights”), he framed it as a learning curve.

“That’s where I’ve gotta learn to pick my spots and kind of put myself in good positions—not play cheaper offense, not get stuck out there," he said. "I think I’ve managed that pretty well.”

Tocchet has been noncommittal so far, but if the coach is serious about rewarding consistency, Abols has earned another long look.

---

Vladar’s First Impression

Dan Vladar’s Flyers debut lasted only a single period (a plan that was in place before the game even started), but it was enough to spark intrigue. Washington could have easily blown the game open early if not for several sharp stops from the 6-foot-6 netminder, whose mobility and awareness were immediately noticeable.

One period doesn’t make a case concretely for or against him, but in a crowded goaltending picture, every rep matters. The Flyers were intentional in giving him only a short assignment, with Tocchet explaining beforehand that it was about letting Vladar settle into structure before heavier workloads later in the schedule.

He’ll get those full-game opportunities soon, but for now, the Flyers can feel encouraged that his debut leaned more towards "reliable NHL tandem partner for Sam Ersson" rather than inciting the mass panic and overreaction that tends to hover around Flyers goaltenders like mist at dawn.

---

Roster Cuts Are Coming

If the first three preseason games were about casting a wide net, the next few will be about narrowing focus.

Tocchet didn’t mince words after the game: “I don’t know if there are any guys that played. That’s OK, though. Third game, two-, three-hour bus ride. There are some factors to it. I’ll probably have to give these guys off the ice tomorrow, to give them some rest. It was just a tough night for a lot of guys. That’s going to happen.”

It wasn’t a dismissal as much as a reset. The Flyers are halfway through their exhibition slate, and while no prospect has embarrassed himself, the time has come for more NHL-leaning lineups. That means several young players will be reassigned to the AHL, juniors, or college programs soon, freeing up space for veterans to tune up and bubble players to fight for their spots.

---

The Bottom Line

A 5-1 loss never feels good, even in September. But the score mattered far less than the subplots within it: guys like York who needed to find themselves again under a new coach are doing so undeniably; the goaltending picture isn't looking as desolate as it has in years past; the roster is starting to really take shape and identity. 

Preseason is a process. Some nights, the takeaways outweigh the goals—and this was one of them.

On Tuesday night, Montreal Canadiens power forward Juraj Slafkovsky took former teammate Christian Dvorak’s skate to the face and suffered a cut to the face in the game against the Philadelphia Flyers. As a result, he missed most of the second period while he was being attended to.

On Thursday, at the Canadiens’ morning skate, the young Slovak was wearing a full cage and a neck protector. One could have thought he had been scared straight since the incident with Dvorak could have had much more serious consequences if the blade had caught him lower. Who doesn’t remember Clint Malarchuk or Richard Zednick being cut to the neck in the NHL or, more recently, Adam Johnson tragically dying in a Challenge Cup match between the Sheffield Steelers and the Nottingham Panthers in England?

Canadiens: Three Takeaways From A Subpar Effort
Canadiens Defender Is Important Piece This Season
Canadiens: Slafkovsky Is Playing Big

I reached out to Juraj Slafkovsky Sr. to see if perhaps it was a concerned parent who got the left winger to wear the additional protection, but it wasn’t. The dad replied:

 We watched the game at home via stream, and we also communicated with Juraj right after the match. Of course, the protectors will help, he probably realized himself that this type of protection is suitable.

- Juraj Slafkovsky Sr. on his son's cut

When the player jumped on the ice for Thursday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was still wearing the full cage, but the neck guard had disappeared in warm-up. After the game, he was asked what it was like playing with a cage, and he replied:

It was awful; I felt like I couldn’t see to the sides, but I have to do it for a couple of days, and then it will be fine.

- Slafkovsky on playing with a cage

Hockey players are creatures of habit, and his comments are not at all surprising, but it’s a shame that NHLers are not more open to protecting themselves. In the PWHL, all players wear full cages, and they have no issues with it because that’s how they’ve always played. While I don’t have statistics, I’m pretty sure that fewer teeth have been broken in that league and fewer cuts sustained.

Perhaps, one day, protective gear will be obligatory, but for now, it’s up to the players themselves, and even a serious scare isn’t enough to make them change their ways.

---

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Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård may be more known for his hard-nosed approach to the game, but he gave Red Wings fans a demonstration of his offensive abilities as well on Thursday night. 

He sniped a shot from the face-off circle while the Red Wings enjoyed a first period man-advantage, beating goaltender Alexandar Georgiev cleanly and looking like a 30-goal scorer in the process. 

MBN on the POWER PLAY! #LGRWpic.twitter.com/Ta7S1BR1UZ

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 25, 2025

While his shooting abilities may be a more sneaky element of his game, head coach Todd McLellan explained that from what he's seen, Brandsegg-Nygård has always been ready to fire away when he gets the puck from a teammate. 

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

"The information I've received is that he's a hell of a shooter, and I watched the one playoff game in Grand Rapids last year and I thought he set himself up to shoot all the time," McLellan said after Detroit's 5-2 win over Buffalo. "If someone gets him the puck, he's ready to shoot. I think it's a big part of his game, he has that heaviness and all those other things but for me, the shot isn't a surprise. I've been told it and I've witnessed it." 

Brandsegg-Nygård himself is adapting to the North American-style of play on the smaller ice surface, having spent last season with Skellefteå AIK.

“I’m just trying to show that I’m willing to play hard to play here, and I know the hockey in the NHL is pretty hard, so trying to get used to that and use my body as much as possible,” Brandsegg-Nygård said.

Red Wings Improve To 2-0 In Pre-Season Play With Dominating Win Over Sabres While it may have only been the second pre-season game, the Detroit Red Wings played as if they were in mid-season form took control over the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena, handily winning not only on the scoreboard but on the shot counter. 

Emmitt Finnie, who scored twice during Detroit's pre-season opening victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, nearly had himself his third goal in two games, but his backhand attempt was stopped by Georgiev with only an inch to spare on the goal line.

He spent Thursday's game playing on Detroit's top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, and according to McLellan, he looked the part. 

"We've talked about him a lot lately, my opinion hasn't changed - I thought he was a factor," McLellan said. "Both sides of the puck, his pace fit well with Larkin and Raymond. He's a pretty trusting player - it's not just about trying to go out and score a goal, he plays the game with an awareness of what's going on around him, very mature. It was a good night for him." 

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The Chicago Blackhawks looked to be sending hints regarding their potential opening night roster with their practice groups on Thursday, but there is nothing final set yet. 

For one, the “NHL group” had more players than spots available. Secondly, Jeff Blashill said after practice that there were still spots to be earned by certain players on the “AHL team” and that these can change from day to day during camp. 

For Friday’s practice, we are already seeing that he was telling the truth. Kevin Korchinaki and Nolan Allan will make the switch to the NHL-loaded “Team 1” while Louis Crevier and Matt Grzelcyk (PTO) are going to skate with the AHL-filled “Team 2”. 

Both of these young defensemen will see NHL time in 2025-26. Louis Crevier will as well. It all depends on who’s healthy, playing well, and what the team’s situation is at the time. If Matt Grzelcyk signs a deal with Chicago after camp, he is sure to play in the NHL. He didn’t come to this camp with any intentions of playing in the AHL. He will move on to another team before that happens. 

The “unavailable list” remains unchanged from Thursday. Laurent Brossoit and Ty Henry will stay out. AJ Spellacy, Brett Seney, Landon Slaggert, and Samuel Savoie are all skating before practice but haven’t joined the team on the ice yet. 

In terms of preseason action, the Blackhawks will travel to play the St. Louis Blues on Saturday and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Expect these groups to continue to be shaken up so they can decide on how to handle these two weekend games. 

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

NEW YORK, NY -- The chances of New York Islanders prospect Calum Ritchie making the team out of training camp are slim -- it's not zero. 

And the more he plays, the more enticing it's getting to picture him flying up the ice at the NHL level. He's playing with that pace, poise, and hockey sense that Patrick Roy has been craving. 

Patrick Roy's Latest Comments On Islanders Prospect Calum RitchieEAST MEADOW, NY -- When the New York Islanders acquired center prospect Calum Ritchie from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson deal, they knew they were getting a player who would help this franchise for a long time. 

It's exactly what general manager Mathieu Darche is looking for, which is why on Jeff Marek's The Sheet, the first-year general manager said that if Ritchie plays well enough, he'll make room for him. 

In Ritchie's first preseason game, he scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 6-2 losing effort. While recording power-play points is important, which both were, we weren't really able to see his 5-on-5 game enough since the New Jersey Devils controlled much of the posession throughout the game. 

But, against the Rangers, a pointless night for the 20-year-old, Ritchie showed exactly why he's a top prospect. His ability to skate, use his body, and read the ice in front of him doesn't just make him good -- it makes him dangerous. 

He makes so many subtle plays that make the game easier for his linemates. He had one nifty pass to Emil Heineman in the neutral zone, which allowed No. 51 to break over the Rangers' blue line with ease off the rush for what was almost a breakaway.

He had a one-handed chip pass off the bench boards to lead to another transition chance.

Defensively, which may be the most important thing a young player can demonstrate, Ritchie was rarely out of position, and his active stick allowed him to intercept a few passes.

In the second period, he stripped a puck at his own blue line before turning on the jets. He cut across the high slot and, instead of taking a low-danger shot, he held onto the puck, drawing a few defensemen his way before another strong pass to Heineman, who just sailed the shot wide. 

Really good sequence from Cal Ritchie here:

-Creates the turnover
-Uses patience to try and create a scoring chance#Islespic.twitter.com/lI3mEBOHSg

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) September 26, 2025

His strong defensive play earned him an opportunity to defend a 6-on-5 situation late, helping the Islanders come away with a slim 5-4 victory. 

"I trust him. I like his 200-foot game. He's playing well offensively, but he can also defend," Roy said postgame. "That's the first thing you want to know with younger guys [...] he's certainly going to make our decision very difficult.

"He's very poised with the puck. He moves the puck well. He spins very well and creates space for himself very well. So, I mean, it's interesting for a young guy like him." 

Following the game, Ritchie was honored to get the late-game opportunity. 

"Yeah, it means a lot," Ritchie told The Hockey News. "It's the type of player that I want to be. I want to be trusted by my coaches in any situation. And yeah, I think obviously being on the ice in a 6-on-5 is really important. I just try to do my best to be in the lane, block some shots, and [Isaiah] George had a big block at the end, so that was huge for the win."

THN spoke to Islanders veteran Kyle Palmieri, who skated on a line with Ritchie, to get his thoughts on the youngster.

"There's a learning curve. I think he had the taste of the NHL last year. I think that's good for him to be more comfortable coming into camp," Palmieri said. " But it's the NHL. He was matched up against two good centermen tonight. We were out there against Miller and Trocheck, and it's tough. There's a learning curve. And we talked after the goal we had scored against us. It's the attention to detail you have to have, especially as a centerman. Yeah, there are growing pains. So you knew there'd always be it.

"Everyone goes through them. I thought he played a great game. He got a great head on his shoulders, and to learn from it, he keeps trying to get better every day."

As a young player, when a coach gives you minutes defending a 6-on-5 late in a game, that certainly means something.

"I look back long time ago now, but when I was young and trying to break into the league, if there was any sort of lead with 10 or 12 minutes left, I was basically stapled to the bench," Palmieri said. "It teaches you a lot, and then eventually you get the opportunity to prove yourself, and you learn from your mistakes. It's part of that process of maturing and getting used to playing in this league against the best players in the world. 

"I got nothing but good things to say about him, the way he's carried himself, and the way he came into camp."

The question began with whether or not Ritchie would play well enough to make the Islanders out of training camp.

Now, the question shifts to who will come out to make room for Ritchie, or will injuries take care of that?

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Sharks unveil new Heritage 2.0 throwback jerseys for upcoming 2025-26 NHL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The Sharks are unveiling new jerseys.

In honor of their 35th anniversary, the Sharks are donning Heritage 2.0 sweaters.

These uniforms are a recreation of the San Jose’s second-generation Nike jerseys, worn from 1998 to 2007.

Welcome to the Heritage 2.0 Era. pic.twitter.com/POexAWZdtf

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 26, 2025

Down to the details. 🔍

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 26, 2025

San Jose will wear its Heritage 2.0 uniforms four times this NHL season. These will be Alumni Games that feature appearances from classic Sharks:

• Thursday, Oct. 30 vs. New Jersey Devils: Jeff Friesen, Kyle McLaren and Mark Smith
• Thursday, Nov. 20 vs. Los Angeles Kings: Joe Thornton Hall of Fame Celebration Game
• Wednesday, Dec. 3 vs. Washington Capitals: Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabokov and Mike Ricci
• Sunday, March 1 vs. Winnipeg Jets: Scott Hannan, Owen Nolan and Scott Thornton

Read the full story on San Jose Hockey Now

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The New York Rangers have several players to keep an eye on as the preseason carries on. One of them is Conor Sheary, as the veteran forward is on a professional tryout (PTO) and looking to secure a contract for the season from the Rangers.

Right now, Sheary is undoubtedly making a case for himself to get a contract, as he has had a strong start to the preseason. 

During the Rangers' first preseason game against the New Jersey Devils on Sep. 21, Sheary scored an excellent goal to give the Blueshirts a 3-1 lead. Now, in the Rangers' latest preseason matchup against the New York Islnaders on Sep. 25, the 33-year-old once again made an impact. 

Sheary put together a multi-point night for the Rangers against the Islanders, as he recorded two assists in the contest. Yet, besides getting two helpers, he also stood out because of his effort. Thus, it was an all-around solid effort for the Massachusetts native.

It will now be fascinating to see how Sheary builds on his strong preseason from here. If he keeps this up, he could very well officially be a Ranger for the year once the regular season starts. 

In 593 career NHL games over 10 seasons split between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, and Tampa Bay Lightning, Sheary has recorded 124 goals, 143 assists, and 267 points.