‘We’re against a team where history speaks for itself’
Antonio Conte said Napoli’s opening Champions League game at Manchester City will pit his “students against the teachers” of Pep Guardiola’s side, with the Italian asking Kevin De Bruyne for advice about his former team.
Napoli will make their debut in the 36-club format in their meeting with City on Thursday. While they were last in the competition two years ago, Conte was not in charge then. He views his side as still in development despite being Serie A champions.
Thanks to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers have an exciting new prospect everyone is hoping makes the NHL roster out of training camp this fall.
A reduced role for Nick Deslauriers and the losses of Joel Farabee, Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and Scott Laughton have opened up opportunities for the Flyers' young guns, and one who is poised to make the most of one of those opportunities is Nikita Grebenkin.
Grebenkin, 22, has been one of the early standouts in rookie camp and, in my estimation, looked head-and-shoulders above most of his peers and the New York Rangers youngsters he was going up against in the rookie series.
Earmarked for a bottom-six role just based on his size, playstyle, and skillset, Grebenkin, alongside Alex Bump, has a rather clear path to NHL time this season with the Flyers.
In fact, the former Maple Leafs prospect was called up by the Flyers on an emergency basis at the end of last season before a game against the Ottawa Senators, only for the emergency conditions to expire.
By rule, Grebenkin had to be re-assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with whom he spent the rest of the season.
But, the hype he's managed to generate through his play (and affable personality) show exactly why the Flyers targeted him in the Laughton trade with the Maple Leafs.
Laughton, 31, has only one year remaining on his contract at a $3 million cap hit - the Maple Leafs are only paying half - and hasn't exactly fit in well in Toronto thus far.
The 2025-26 season will tell the story, but if Grebenkin manages to become a full-time NHLer, the Flyers will have comfortably won this trade - more so than they have already.
They will have replaced Laughton's presence and personality in the bottom-six with a player nine years younger and arguably more skilled in addition to adding a 2027 first-round pick, which could later be used to draft a player or leveraged in a trade to help the team improve in the short-term, as Flyers GM Danny Briere alluded to in his press conference Tuesday.
If that happens, the Flyers ought to bust out a thank-you letter to send to the Maple Leafs for making this trade in such an unfavorable and volatile NHL trade market for buyers.
Grebenkin was featured in one of the Flyers' media day posts ahead of training camp on Twitter/X on Wednesday morning, and he was also the thumbnail for the rookie game livestreams.
It would be unwise to read much more into it than that, but the Flyers clearly believe in this player, and Grebenkin has nearly instantly established himself as a much-watch prospect.
Briere believes Grebenkin, Bump, and the other prospects will be a reason to be excited about the Flyers this season, and it's going to be full steam ahead for the Russian winger in just a few days.
Bishop Fitzgerald's high school coach is still convinced he could have been a great college quarterback. USC coaches say his past helped Fitzgerald become a top safety.
The Winnipeg Jets could look to add another bottom-six forward with Dillon Dube available following the controversial Hockey Canada legal cases.
The hockey news cycle has shifted recently following the acquittal of the five Hockey Canada players, who had been involved in a lengthy criminal and civil case over an alleged sexual assault in a hotel room.
The players, Dillon Dubé (Forward – Calgary Flames), Michael McLeod (Centre – New Jersey Devils), Alex Formenton (Forward – Ottawa Senators), Cal Foote (Defenceman – New Jersey Devils) and Carter Hart (Goaltender – Philadelphia Flyers), were found not guilty after the complainant’s testimony was deemed inconsistent, and key video evidence contradicted several of her claims, leading the court to conclude that the allegations lacked sufficient credibility and merit.
Following the conclusion of the trial, the NHL stated that the players will be allowed to sign with a team on October 15th and could return to playing full-time on December 1st. It begs the question of if NHL General Managers are willing to outweigh talent over controversy and take in a player that could create a dramatic scene around the organization.
The Winnipeg Jets are Stanley Cup contenders and are on the verge of a championship with offense being their weakness in their final games of the season. Excluding their 4-0 win over Dallas in Game 5, they scored only four goals across the other three of their final four games and could look to add more depth to their lineup after already bringing in Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquist this past off-season.
Three of the five players are forwards with the most impactful player being Dillon Dube as a former 45-point scorer with the Flames during the 2022-23 season. The 27-year-old BC native has been garnering interest from around the league and could be looking to stay within Canada.
Dube routinely played in bottom-six roles when with the Flames and did quite well in the role as a 30-40 point player. He could join the Jets lineup and take on a fourth-line center role, filling the gap left by Rasmus Kupari’s departure. From his first full-time NHL season up until the year before his final season, when his performance likely declined due to the off-ice legal distractions, he recorded 115 points in 257 games, averaging 0.45 points per game.
Over a full season, that translates to roughly 37 points, which would be a solid contribution for a bottom-six forward in Winnipeg. He typically played between 10 and 12 minutes per game and also logged time on the penalty kill, which could help him carve out a role with the Jets.
Joining a Stanley Cup contender would give him an immediate chance to compete for a championship in his first season back in the NHL while also having to worry less about the media attention he would get by joining a team in a city like Toronto or New York. Dube will have a lot to prove and could be an energetic, gritty addition to the Jets' bottom six and push the likes of Morgan Barron and Cole Koepke to compete at a higher level.
As training camp kicks off and NHL pre-season games begin this weekend, teams have been providing injury updates on their players.
While a chunk of them might only miss some pre-season action, others will likely miss the start of the season and longer.
Players Hopeful For The Season Opener
David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney informed reporters that superstar right winger David Pastrnak will not skate for the first few days of training camp. Sweeney said he’s dealing with a little tendonitis but should be in full practice as early as next week.
Max Domi, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving announced center Max Domi tweaked something in his lower body and likely won’t be a full participant at training camp. However, no reports suggest he won’t be ready for opening night.
Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings
According to Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, defenseman Simon Edvinsson will be out for a couple of weeks due to a lower-body injury. Nonetheless, the team expects the 22-year-old to be ready for the season opener.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, Buffalo Sabres
After the Buffalo Sabres signed Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year deal, some suspicions about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s health kicked in. Turns out the 26-year-old goaltender is dealing with something.
"There's no alarms right now, but there was a tweak where he didn't feel great," Sabres GM Kevyn Adams told reporters.
Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar provided updates on three players, and MacKenzie Blackwood was one of them. The goaltender had apparently dealt with something over the summer and has been rehabbing it along the way. He’s been listed as week-to-week and hopeful for the Avs’ season opener on Oct. 9.
Samuel Girard, D, Colorado Avalanche
Samuel Girard is another player for the Avalanche who will miss time with a lower-body injury. Although the 27-year-old D-man will miss a part of training camp, the expectation is that he’ll be ready for opening night.
Jordan Greenway, LW, Buffalo Sabres
During the off-season, Sabres left winger Jordan Greenway faced a setback in his recovery from an injury that affected him last season. He received a second surgery in July to treat his injury. It’s expected that he’ll be cleared to play around opening night.
Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo Sabres
Alex Tuch's situation is minor and day-to-day.
“He may not be out there tomorrow or the next day or two, but nothing significant,” Adams said. “Just a little bit of a minor thing.”
Liam O’Brien, LW, Utah Mammoth
Liam O’Brien has been listed with a week-to-week, lower-body injury. It’s unclear exactly when O’Brien is expected to return, but that’s the report supplied by Utah Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny.
Out To Begin The Season
Tomas Nosek, C, Florida Panthers
Tomas Nosek went through knee surgery at some point in the summer.
“It’s going to be months, for sure,” Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito said.
Matthew Tkachuk’s injury has been known for some time now. On Wednesday, Zito predicted that the 27-year-old left winger could be out until around December as he deals with a serious lower-body injury.
Logan O’Connor underwent hip surgery sometime in June of this past off-season. Per coach Bednar, Colorado’s right winger will remain out of the lineup until the early stages of November.
Nick Paul, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois revealed that center Nick Paul is coming off surgery from Friday to treat an upper-body injury. The team expects the 30-year-old to be out until November.
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Former Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri saw his tenure with the organization come to a close last offseason when he was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks, who are overseen by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman's former Detroit teammate and assistant GM Pat Verbeek.
In his first and only season in Southern California, Fabbri recorded eight goals and eight assists in yet another injury-shortened campaign. He underwent surgery in November to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, sidelining him for several weeks.
As if that weren't enough, he also suffered a season-ending hand injury in February.
Entering this offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Fabbri was unable to land a new NHL contract but has now been given a chance to earn one.
He's accepted a Professional Tryout Agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins:
Hearing the Penguins will bring Robby Fabbri to training camp on PTO.
Former first-round pick. Has 106 goals and 216 points in 442 career games. Spent last season with Anaheim.
Fabbri’s NHL career, which began when he was selected in the first round (21st overall) by the St. Louis Blues in 2014, has been plagued by more major injuries than many players endure in their entire careers.
He tore the ACL in his left knee twice during his time with the Blues, then suffered another ACL tear, this time in his right knee, while with Detroit in 2022. He later missed the final weeks of the 2022-23 season after undergoing yet another surgery on his left knee.
For his perseverance and dedication, he was named the Red Wings’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy that season.
Acquired from the Blues in November 2019 in exchange for Jacob de la Rose, Fabbri was one of the few bright spots in Detroit’s lineup during the difficult 2019-20 campaign.
In what proved to be his final season with the Red Wings in 2023-24, he tallied 18 goals and 14 assists while appearing in 68 games, the second-highest total of his career.
UCLA players, including Nico Iamaleava, can enter the transfer portal after Deshaun Foster was fired. However, the quarterback is still with the Bruins.
Briere reiterated that sentiment Tuesday with his rebuilding club two days out from training camp. Despite a five-year playoff drought, matching the worst in franchise history, the Flyers don’t have a postseason-or-bust mindset for 2025-26.
But, without losing focus of the long-term vision, they do have a pressure and need to get better.
“Going into the season, certainly, the message is we expect our team to take a step forward and try to help them, but not at the detriment of the future of this organization,” Briere said. “We don’t feel we’re there, we’re still kind of building this thing brick by brick and that’s the approach still going. Now, if there’s an opportunity, we’re going to jump on it. But we’re still in the early stages of where we want to take this organization.”
Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones are entering Year 3 of their tenure. Their future-centric plan has the support of ownership.
“The goal is to build a team that’s going to become a contender for years to come,” Briere said. “The goal is not just to make the playoffs one year, get knocked out, disappear for two years. … It’s about building a team that eventually will have a shot at winning some rounds and winning a Stanley Cup for years to come and be there year after year.”
“I’ve played center kind of my whole career up until two seasons ago,” Zegras said in June. “I’ve always felt more comfortable there. I think there are definitely areas that I need to work on, whether it’s in the faceoff circle or below the goal line or in front of the net in the D-zone.”
And what kind of lift can Christian Dvorak provide down the middle? The Flyers signed the 29-year-old to a one-year deal in July. He’s a bottom-six pivot who had his best NHL season under Tocchet with the Coyotes in 2019-20.
“He helped me out a lot in Arizona as a young guy, we had a really young team there and he was really good with us,” Dvorak said in July. “I know he’s going to be great with the young guys here in Philly.”
Last October, the Flyers had forwards Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Scott Laughton and Ryan Poehling in their season-opening lineup. Farabee and Frost were traded to the Flames in January, Laughton was dealt to the Maple Leafs in March and Poehling went to the Ducks in the Zegras trade.
“The trades of Farabee, Frost, Laughton, the reality is those guys were starting to lose responsibilities because our young guys were starting to step up,” Briere said. “Now we have more young guys that are pushing and that, to me, is what is exciting.
“Nobody can be comfortable or happy with what they’ve done in the past. They’ve got to keep getting better and better, and that includes all our veterans, because our young guys are starting to push and they want more and they’re hungry for more.”
Alex Bump might be the hungriest of the Flyers’ prospects. He could crack the season-opening roster as a 21-year-old winger. He’d seemingly have to beat out a veteran like Rodrigo Abols or Nicolas Deslauriers for a lineup spot. We’ll see if the Flyers give him a look on the second or third line throughout camp and the preseason.
Goaltending remains the biggest question for the Flyers’ present and future.
Last season, the club had an NHL-worst save percentage at .872. The season before that, it was tied with the Senators for the league’s worst mark at .884.
At the end of last season, Briere challenged his goaltenders, informing them that he’d be bringing in outside help. He signed Dan Vladar to a two-year deal in July. The Flyers are hoping Tocchet’s preferred style of play and Vladar’s experience relieve the burden on Samuel Ersson, who turns only 26 years old in October.
“I expect the goaltending to be better, no doubt about it,” Briere said. “I think also the system might protect them a little better, that Rick Tocchet and his staff are going to put forth. … I think Vladar will come in and probably be a little bit more support for Sam.
“But we do believe in Sam still. He has shown some flashes. I think with Sam, having a guy there to protect him and not expecting him to play three games a week should probably help Sam in the long run, that’s my feeling. But Sam is still developing and we still believe in him.”
“I’m a big believer in Sam Ersson,” Jones said a week ago. “I think that Sam is in a position now age-wise and being pushed by the depth at that position now, that it’s going to benefit him. I think that Sam is going to stand up to the test here this year.”
The trade of Ivan Fedotov three days ago cleared some cap space for the Flyers and it also provided a clearer picture of their tandem at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. Aleksei Kolosov, a 2021 third-rounder, is No. 3 on the Flyers’ depth chart and Carson Bjarnason, a 2023 second-rounder, is No. 4 as he turns pro this season.
Half of the Flyers’ defense appears like it could be jostling for minutes and responsibilities.
There’s even a job up for grabs with Rasmus Ristolainen’s absence. As expected, the 30-year-old will miss camp and the early part of the season as he recovers from surgery on a second triceps tendon rupture.
“Risto is moving ahead,” Briere said. “We knew all along that he wouldn’t start the season, but everything is looking good for him to meet up with the team in hopefully the first month and a half, two months of the season, at some point. On that front, it’s trending in the right direction.”
The Flyers know what they have in Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler. It’ll be interesting to see how the new coaching staff utilizes Cam York. The 24-year-old looks poised for a rebound season after he re-signed in July to a five-year, $25.75 million contract.
Jamie Drysdale is still really young, but he’s in a contract year and searching for more consistency. Egor Zamula is also in a contract year and could be competing for games with free-agent additions Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.
Is Emil Andrae ready to become a regular? And could Helge Grans, Hunter McDonald or Oliver Bonk work their way to the big club?
“I don’t know the exact roster spots that we have available because we have different options,” Briere said. “We could go with 13 or 14 forwards, we could go seven or eight D, so those are all things, depending on how guys perform during camp, that we’re going to evaluate.”
There are a lot of reasons to keep Matt Grzelcyk beyond his training camp PTO. The Chicago Blackhawks lack veteran depth on the blue line and proven puck movers over 82 games. Plenty of young players project to have that ability, but there is no evidence quite yet.
There is also a lack of experience playing with truly elite players in the locker room. Guys like Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Nick Foligno have been around some incredible players, but Grzelcyk may have the most impressive list of former teammates.
Of course, the Boston Bruins selected Matt Grzelcyk with a third-round pick (85th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He ended up playing with them for parts of 8 seasons.
During that time, he was a great defender with some puck-moving ability. He played an important role on some great teams alongside superstars like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, David Pastrnak, Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand, and Tuukka Rask.
Last season, as a depth defenseman on the team, Grzelcyk played with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 40 points, which is a career high for him. There are other keys to being a great defenseman in the NHL besides points, but these are some good numbers.
Despite being a lousy team overall, he got to share the ice with legends like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang. So with both of his NHL teams up to this point, he has had some of the best teammates the game has had to offer in the last 10 years. Experiences like this make him the type of veteran worth considering for a young locker room.
Both on and off the ice, Grzelcyk can help players looking to become elite like some of his former teammates. Will Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, or Artyom Levshunov reach that tier? It would take some time, but it’s possible.
Grzelcyk can help them with his play, which is the most important thing, but he can also give them knowledge on how superstars carry themselves if they were to inquire.
It isn’t a guarantee that Grzelcyk makes the team, but this level of time spent with good players is a checked box that makes him worth considering for a roster spot.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their full 2025-26 training camp roster on Wednesday, since camp is set to start on Thursday.
They invited 69 players to camp, and the roster is obviously headlined by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. There are also a lot of other returning players on the roster, including Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson, Kevin Hayes, Danton Heinen, and Blake Lizotte.
The roster includes 37 forwards, 24 defensemen, and eight goaltenders. One of the goaltenders is Marc-Andre Fleury, who will practice with the team on September 26 before playing in part of the Penguins' preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 27.
Tickets for that game continue to skyrocket since it will be the final time that Penguins fans will get to see Fleury play in a Penguins uniform. Fleury is one of five players attending camp on a professional tryout contract, joining Robby Fabbri, Brett Murray, Cal Burke, and Jake Livingstone.
Some of the top prospects in the Penguins' system will also get to attend camp, including Ville Koivunen, Harrison Brunicke, Sergei Murashov, Emil Pieniniemi, Owen Pickering, and Ben Kindel. There are other prospects who will be there, including Rutger McGroarty, Bill Zonnon, Tanner Howe, and Peyton Kettles, but they aren't cleared to practice since they're injured.
Veteran forward Noel Acciari, who has been with the team for the last two seasons, is also banged up and won't be practicing to start camp.
All training camp practices will be held at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and will be free and open to the public. The first practice is set to get underway on Thursday at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Faustino Asprilla will be in attendance as Eddie Howe aims to prove his side are Champions League contenders
It is only two years since Eddie Howe attended his first Champions League match but now Newcastle’s manager is on a mission to disrupt Europe’s elite.
As Barcelona arrived on Tyneside on Wednesday Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions certainly displayed no sign of complacency. Indeed Flick warned of the “intensity” his players must be braced for at St James’ Park on Thursday night.
The Los Angeles Kings are just a few weeks away from training camp and less than a month from opening night. For this season, there are still talks around the roster lacking a little firepower, but it's good enough to make the postseason and go home early again.
However, with a few roster spots still available, the Kings should consider targeting restricted free agents after the market thins out. The question then becomes whether the Kings can tap into the restricted free agent (RFA) pool to add young, high-end talent.
With the Kings needing fresh talent and the organization looking for answers after repeated playoff disappointment, it’s fair to ask whether this could be the moment LA takes a swing.
LA needs to fill some vacant spots on the roster, especially after Corey Perry’s injury, who is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. The Kings can sign a young talent in the market who is looking to prove something and get a contract offer.
The Kings’ Needs and Outlook
Los Angeles is pressed against the salary cap with long-term deals for Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Kevin Fiala already on the books. They'll need to manipulate things carefully if they're to make a significant addition.
What they need is clear: scoring depth behind Fiala, long-term center assistance with Kopitar aging, and young defensemen who can grow into bigger roles. With that as context, here's a look at which RFAs are a fit — and how likely each might be.
Dream Scenarios (Unrealistic, but Fun to Imagine)
Mason McTavish (Ducks): Anaheim would never let a top young center cross the freeway to LA. Still, Anaheim is listening to trade offers from several teams interested in McTavish, so it is possible. Still, the Ducks and McTavish will most likely sign a long-term deal, forcing the Kings to give up a lot of their young pieces for him in a trade to make it possible.
Intriguing but Complicated
Luke Evangelista (Predators): A skilled forward with offensive upside, Evangelista could complement LA’s forward group. Nashville would likely match any reasonable offer, but the deal between the two has continued to linger and caused frustration from Evangelista’s side.
So, that gives another team like the Kings a chance to step in and give Evangelista an offer or come up with a trade, but we will have to wait and see how the situation ends with both parties.
Luke Hughes (Devils): A left-shot defenseman with elite skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive upside. That’s precisely the type of player LA could use as Drew Doughty gets older. The Kings could benefit from picking up Hughes and moving into developing him for the future, as Doughty is slowly declining at his age.
Why It’s Unrealistic
Even though Luke isn’t on the same level as his brother Jack, he’s still improving and has shown significant progress this past season. So, it would be doubtful that the Devils would move him or let him go without offering a long-term contract, which is most likely to happen.
However, it’s still possible that Hughes signs elsewhere if contract talks stall. Since the Kings aren't his top destination, a trade would be necessary, involving the Devils asking for draft compensation and more to finalize the deal.
Realistic Options
Wyatt Kaiser (Blackhawks): Still developing, the young defenseman could provide organizational depth and long-term upside. With the Kings needing blue-line reinforcements, Kaiser represents a more practical type of target.
The Verdict
While the idea of Mason McTavish in a Kings jersey is fun for fans, the reality is that LA’s best chance in the RFA market lies with the most realistic options like Evangelista, Kaiser, and maybe Hughes if the Kings get creative and really want to target him. These aren’t flashy names, but they could fill immediate needs while still fitting the cap structure.
Fabbri spent the 2024-25 season with the Anaheim Ducks but was limited to 44 games, finishing with eight goals and 16 points. He has six double-digit goal seasons during his career and scored 18 goals and compiled 32 points during the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings.
His best individual season came in 2015-16 when he was a member of the St. Louis Blues, finishing with 18 goals and 37 points in 72 games. When healthy, he's a good depth player, but has been banged up a lot during his career.
Murray has spent his entire pro career with the Buffalo Sabres organization and has compiled two goals and six points in 26 NHL games. He has played in 325 AHL games with the Rochester Americans and has 100 goals and 206 points.
The first practice of Penguins training camp will start at 8:45 a.m. ET on Thursday from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Each practice is free and open to the public.
Derek Souders/NBC Sports Philadelphia
