The Red Wings play their second preseason game Thursday when taking on a division rival in the Buffalo Sabres.  

The Detroit Red Wings restart their preseason on Thursday with a divisional showdown against the Buffalo Sabres. Before last preseason, these two haven't faced off in exhibition action since the 2021-22 season. With little history between them, the Red Wings have a 1-1-1 record over their last three exhibition matchups versus Buffalo. 

Let's play another!

🏒 7:00 P.M.
📻 @WWJ950
💻 https://t.co/jLX5LxaXCP
📱https://t.co/8GQ54x1f7J
🎟️https://t.co/6EexVqDKvDpic.twitter.com/xRO0dEuVxM

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

Fans could see some big names take to the ice for the first time this season like in Detroit's preseason opener on Tuesday when they faced off against the Chicago. The Blackhawks played some of their highest end talent like star center Connor Bedard and 2024 second overall pick Artyom Levshunov.

Detroit is coming off a gutsy win in their preseason opener as they downed the Blackhawks 3-2 thanks to an impressive performance from former seventh round pick Emmitt Finnie, who scored and dished for an assist in a multi-point performance. Other notable names in the win were his linemates in other top prospects for Detroit with Nate Danielson, who also scored, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who recorded a pair of assists. 

What a slick little pass from Emmitt Finnie to Carter Mazur! pic.twitter.com/IErr5a1Fti

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 23, 2025

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With Detroit playing mostly their prospects in the opener, except for J.T. Compher, Jonatan Berggren and Travis Hamonic, we get a more veteran-focused lineup deployed for Thursday's matchup as Red Wings bench boss Todd McLellan would like to make sure all their routine starters have enough time to get their legs underneath them before the start of the season.

Tonight's lineup vs. Buffalo 👇 pic.twitter.com/pLJ9mnVrim

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

In the action will be captain Dylan Larkin, Marco Kasper, Lucas Raymond, Andrew Copp, Moritz Seider and Cam Talbot backing up starter Michal Postava. Making his Red Wings debut is Mason Appleton, who is expected to play on a line with Michael Rasmussen and Copp. 

"It's Time": Dylan Larkin Lays Out Clear Goal For Red WingsThe city of Detroit hasn't hosted a Stanley Cup Playoff game since April 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Joe Louis Arena, who at that time were overseen by general manager Steve Yzerman.

Last Sunday, the Red Wings played in their signature split squad game called the Red and White Game in Grand Rapids and led to some impressive performances.  Finnie was again a standout after scoring while playing on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Detroit winger Elmer Söderblom also made his case for the top-line left wing spot, turning heads after scoring twice and impressing during training camp scrimmages while playing on the top unit. The battle for the top-line left wing spot remains one of the key storylines to watch, with no clear frontrunner emerging. 

Another position battle heading into the season could be with naming a No. 1 starting goaltender despite the team trading for a former all-star netminder in John Gibson. The former Ducks goaltender appeared in 29 games (28 starts) and posted a lesser record than Talbot at 11‑11‑2 while playing for a weaker team in the Ducks but posted a better goals against average (GAA) at 2.77 and a better save percentage at .912 compared to Talbot's GAA at 2.93 and his .901 save percentage. Both haven't seen the ice yet in the preseason as former first round pick Sebastian Cossa took the crease for the opener and will make the decision in net for the Sabres matchup an interesting one.

Click Here if you want to check out more expanded storylines on the Red Wings training camp roster.   

Red Wings Prospect Signs Four-Year Deal To Stay With Russian ClubRed Wings recent 5th round pick Nikita Tyurin signs four-year extension with Russian club

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As much as the hockey world tries to predict how well a player performs in any given season, NHLers continue to cause double takes with incredible campaigns.

Two great examples from last year would be Brandon Hagel's 90 points, or even Sam Bennett earning a spot at the 4 Nations Face-Off, winning the Conn Smythe and leading the Stanley Cup playoffs in goals.

Call them breakouts, comebacks or whatever you want. One thing is for sure is these three players could surprise fans and teams across the NHL in a good way this season.

Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

Morgan Rielly was a shadow of himself last season and didn’t perform anywhere close to expectations as the No. 1 D-man for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It got to the point where the defenseman lost his quarterback position on the top power-play unit.

Part of his drop-off could be from playing in coach Craig Berube’s system for the first time, where toughness and simplicity took over puck possession and offensive zone time, both Rielly’s strengths. The 31-year-old scored seven goals and 41 points in 82 games, his lowest points-per-game average since 2016-17. In addition, he made 99 giveaways last season, the most in his career.

While his offensive play picked up in the post-season, with seven points in 13 games, it’s uncertain whether Rielly will get back to being a 60-plus point D-man. 

However, Rielly is ready to turn a new page, rewrite the narrative and surprise people in 2025-26.

At the beginning of training camp, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said he had a real good, honest chat with Rielly and believes he took it to heart. Rielly also said he did a lot of reflecting over the summer and had some challenging conversations.

"I believe that I did everything I could to be prepared for a great season, and I think that's the truth for all of our guys," Rielly told reporters. " I know everyone puts a lot of pressure on themselves, approaching a new season, and you try to do everything you can to be prepared.  So for me, I took steps, and my goal was to leave no stone unturned in trying to bounce back and have a great year."

Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton Oilers

Stuart Skinner has received a lot of attention with the Edmonton Oilers over the last couple of years. His play has been under a microscope, specifically in the playoffs, where Edmonton made back-to-back Stanley Cup final appearances.

The Oilers goaltender has been inconsistent in between the pipes, especially last season, when he recorded a .896 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average. It was statistically his worst campaign of the three full seasons he’s played in the NHL.

His 26 wins were also worse than his 36 in 2023-24 and 29 in 2022-23. Sportsbook BetMGM has the odds of Skinner winning more than 29.5 games at 1.91 and under 29.5 at 1.87.

Skinner is still a relatively young goaltender in this league, with a long road ahead of him. With that, the 26-year-old netminder has gained plenty of experience over the years, dealing with the workload of a true starter and seeing two deep playoff runs.

He has also won at two different levels before he reached the NHL. In junior, he won the WHL championship in 2017-18 with the Swift Current Broncos, leading his team to the Memorial Cup. He also won the Pacific Division playoffs with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors in the 2020-21 season affected by COVID-19.

Oilers GM Stan Bowman likes what he's seen from Skinner entering this fall.

"I just really like his attitude coming in," Bowman told reporters last week. "He's trained hard this summer. He looks to have a refreshed approach to the year with a new goalie coach."

Skinner also said he aimed to help his joints and extend his career by losing weight this past summer.

While people seem to write off Skinner, he could be the best version of himself this season.

Dylan Guenther, RW, Utah Mammoth

Utah Mammoth right winger Dylan Guenther had a hot start to last year. After scoring the franchise’s first NHL goal on opening night, he went on a three-game goal streak. In that span, he scored five times and was named the NHL’s first star of the week.

He was solid for Utah all season, recording 27 goals and 60 points in 70 appearances. However, toward the end of the season, Guenther cooled down and has since fallen back under the radar. 

Along with his fellow Mammoth young stars, such as Logan Cooley and JJ Peterka, Guenther will look to surprise fans, and he could reach the 40-goal mark. He was on pace to score more than 30 goals in a full 82-game season last year. So, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility for him to join the rest of the league’s elite scorers in 2025-26.

BetMGM has set the odds for Guenther to reach at least 40 goals at 9.00 (+800), and the odds for the 22-year-old to take home the Rocket Richard Trophy are at a whopping 301.00 (+30,000).

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The 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.

As is usual, the Maple Leafs will dress mostly second-string players alongside the mandated minimum of NHL veterans. The Canadiens are expected to ice an NHL-loaded lineup.

Noteworthy is the inclusion of Easton Cowan, who will play in his third consecutive pre-season game. Toronto’s top prospect has impressed through the first week of training camp, earning praise from teammates and head coach Craig Berube.

Maple Leafs lines at morning skate ahead of preseason game vs. Montreal:

Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan
McMann - Kampf - Maccelli
Joshua - Quillan - Lettieri
Pezzetta - Groulx - Tverberg

Mermis - Myers
Rifai - Thrun
Webber - Benning
Villeneuve

Hildeby
Peksa

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 25, 2025

Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, David Kampf, and Dakota Joshua highlight the everyday NHLers on Toronto’s roster.

None of Toronto’s projected top-six defensemen will dress; Dakota Mermis and Philippe Myers will instead get the top defensive assignments.

Leafs PP units at skate

QB: Mermis
Flanks: Lettieri, Cowan
Middle: Tverberg
Net front: Laughton

QB: Benning / Myers
Flanks: Maccelli, Kampf
Middle: McMann
Net front: Joshua @TSN_Sports

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) September 25, 2025

Goaltender Dennis Hildeby is slated to start in Montreal, drawing attention following Joseph Woll's indefinite departure to tend to a personal family matter. Hildeby made 23 saves on 23 shots in 40 minutes of work during Toronto’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.

'We're All Here For Him': Maple Leafs React To Joseph Woll Taking A Personal Leave of Absence, Lend SupportThe Toronto Maple Leafs revealed some unexpected news on Tuesday when they announced that goaltender Joseph Woll had stepped away to deal with a personal family issue.

Puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TSN4 in Toronto’s viewing region, while Canadiens fans will tune in on TSN2.

What the Leafs can expect from the Canadiens tonight

The Leafs' veterans like Lorentz and Laughton will have a tough test on their hands going up against Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson, acquired from the New York Islanders, in addition to the likes of Russian star Ivan Demidov.

Canadiens projected lines/lineup vs Leafs tonight (bottom six might be lined up a bit different but it's a best guess)

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Laine-Dach-Demidov
Roy-Rohrer-Mešár
Tuch-F.Xhekaj-Davidson

Matheson-Dobson
Guhle-Reinbacher
O’Rourke-Clurman

Montembeault
Fowler

— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) September 25, 2025

"I know Dobson's been around a little bit, but this Demidov kid seems pretty electric when he's got the puck on his stick," Lorentz said Thursday morning "So it's going to be a good test for the veterans that we got in the group tonight, it's going to be a good test for the young guys to see what these young world-class players are really all about."

Laughton, acquired by the Maple Leafs at the NHL trade deadline from the Philadelphia Flyers, will get his first taste of Toronto vs. Montreal.

"I haven't been part of much here so far, so I'm excited to get into it. Great building to play in, so it's always fun going there," Laughton said. "I haven't seen too much of those new guys there (in Montreal), they've got some skill up front. They got a ton of speed, and adding Dobson, I think, helps their back and big guy that can move the puck. And they got a good goalie. So it's a good team and a younger team, but, yeah, excited to go there today."

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Last week, Ben Kuzma of The Provincereported the Detroit Red Wings were among the clubs monitoring Quinn Hughes' situation with the Vancouver Canucks this season.

Hughes' future in Vancouver has been the subject of ongoing speculation since the spring, after Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said his captain would one day like to play alongside his brothersJack and Luke, who both belong to the New Jersey Devils.

The Canucks aren't shopping Hughes, who is signed through 2026-27. However, this season could be crucial in determining his fate. If they miss the playoffs again, the 25-year-old defenseman could be reluctant to sign a contract extension, forcing the Canucks to consider trading him.

Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now pointed out Hughes' ties to Michigan, including playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth and with the NCAA's Michigan Wolverines.

If Hughes were interested in playing for the Red Wings, Duff believes they should make a serious trade bid next summer. That would include offering up top prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka in a package deal.

PuckPedia indicates that Hughes lacks no-trade protection, meaning the Canucks can ship him to the highest bidder. However, if the Wings become one of them, they must ensure he's willing to sign an extension.

NHL's Biggest Trade Bait With 2025-26 Season Almost HereIt is an exciting time for hockey fans with the new season approaching. Soon, NHL teams will be back to playing regular-season hockey, as it officially begins Oct. 7. 

Turning to the Calgary Flames, they seemed headed toward an amicable parting of ways with Rasmus Andersson.

The 28-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July, and contract extension talks broke down in June, sparking speculation about possible trade destinations.

Andersson denied he only wanted to be traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, calling it “fake information.” While this season could be his last with the Flames, he doesn't believe it will distract his teammates.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes Andersson is likely to be moved by the March 6 NHL trade deadline. However, he reported that neither side has fully closed the door on a contract extension.

LeBrun believes Andersson might be open to an eight-year contract, but doesn't think the Flames are willing to go that long. Andersson turns 29 in October, which explains their reluctance.

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The Anaheim Ducks are now a week into their 2025-26 training camp and are still reportedly far apart in negotiations with projected second-line center Mason McTavish on a contract extension.

The Ducks don’t have many position battles to speak of heading into the season, at least not in terms of impact roles.

With McTavish in the lineup, the Ducks’ top nine forward group is relatively set, consisting of himself, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry, Alex Killorn, Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Chris Kreider, and Mikael Granlund.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Los Angeles Kings

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-0 Loss to the Kings

Through the unknown duration of McTavish’s absence, however disappointing on a macro level, it allows an opportunity for a hungry forward to earn a look in the top nine.

Beckett Sennecke

The most substantial benefactor could come in the form of 2024 third-overall draft pick Beckett Sennecke, who played back-to-back games to open the exhibition season, including in Monday’s 6-1 win over the Utah Mammoth, when he scored tenaciously off the rush. He was slotted on a potent line centered by Leo Carlsson and opposite Chris Kreider.

“He’s got some skill. He’s got a lot of nice things to his game,” Ducks new head coach Joel Quenneville said of Sennecke after Monday’s win. “The growth in a young player taking that next big step is their consistency. Learn how to be a good pro.

“The tendencies from junior, you gotta make sure you take the right habits with you. But, he showed some really good flashes and we like the way he’s progressing in camp.”

After signing his ELC in the summer of 2024, Sennecke’s only options for the 2025-26 season are to either play in the NHL or head back to the CHL to play for the Oshawa Generals.

To make the team out of camp, Sennecke needs to prove, beyond any doubt, that he’s not only NHL-ready but can have a positive nightly impact. Especially because the stated mandate from the team is to make the playoffs this season.

To this point, he’s left something to be desired. He’s flashed his trademark skill, has had some extended puck touches, and appeared dangerous multiple times, but his puck management and fundamental defensive tendencies have proved costly at both the “Golden State Rookie Faceoff” and in his two preseason games.

As with anything, these are only exhibition games and not many overarching conclusions should be reached, but these are the opportunities for young players like Sennecke to earn spots on NHL rosters.

Sam Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko

Though spending the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, both Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo were given extended looks with with Ducks last season.

Nesterenko tallied six points (4-2=6) in 20 games over two separate NHL stints, while Colangelo notched 12 points (10-2=12) in 32 games over three stints.

Neither player has a prototypical fourth-line skill set, though they’ve both worked tirelessly to improve those aspects of their games; they are perhaps more suited for traditional top-nine roles.

Colangelo has added levels of battle and puck possession prowess while showing a scoring touch at every level he’s played.

“I think I proved last year I could play in the top nine, but that doesn’t really mean anything now,” Colangelo said at training camp. “It’s a fresh slate, a new coaching staff, so I’m just trying to bring it every day and take that spot.

“Obviously, it sucks with Mac not being here as one of my best friends, but like everyone said, it’s kind of part of the business, and I know when he shows up, he’ll be ready to go.”

Nesterenko uses his feet to create plays and provides more of a transition element with layers of playmaking and creativity.

Ryan Poehling

The Ducks brought in Ryan Poehling as the NHL piece of the trade that sent Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.

The anticipation was (and remains) that Poehling would slot into the fourth-line center spot. However, he, like Nesterenko and Colangelo, has shown more offensive upside to his game than that of a typical fourth-liner, as he’s coming off of his most productive season a year ago, when he scored 31 points (12-19=31) in 68 games.

“I pride myself on a 200-foot game, and defense is something that’s very important to me and something that can help this team win. We’ve got a lot of skill guys on this team, a lot of guys that can put pucks in the back of the net.

“For myself, I think it’s just playing a 200-foot game and helping out offensively when I can, but more importantly, just shutting down the other team defensively.”

He’s a detailed fleet-of-foot center who can have an impact in every zone as well as in transition. If the Ducks decide to load up a top six with the majority of their firepower, he could, in theory, contribute to a more defensive-oriented third line with some scoring upside, a la Yanni Gourde during the Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup years.

The hope is that McTavish’s contract dispute is settled as soon as possible, but this window could be seen as an audition of sorts for those third/fourth line bubble players should injury occur at some point in the season.

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The Providence Bruins are going to have a boatload of talent going into next season, specifically offensively. For the 2025-24 campaign, their top-six forward group, and maybe even deeper, will be littered with NHL-fringe players.

Last season, Providence finished eighth in the overall AHL standings, registering 90 points and a 41-23-8 record. With that, they advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, but were eliminated by the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division semifinal, losing in five games.

The Bruins’ offense was already one of their strong suits last season. They finished fifth overall in goals scored with 240, averaging 3.33 goals per game. They also had the best power-play percentage in the Eastern Conference - third-best in the entire league - registering 21.4 percent.

Providence lost two of its top five scorers from last season in Vinni Lettieri and Tyler Pitlick. However, center Georgii Merkulov, their leading scorer from last season with 54 points, remains. On top of that, center Patrick Brown and Riley Tufte are also sticking around as they signed one-year contracts in the off-season.

Coach Ryan Mougenel won’t have to worry about making up for lost scoring because they’ll be receiving a few players who will only bolster their attack.

Five AHL Coaches Nearing Promotions To The NHLOftentimes, when an NHL coach is fired or removed from their role in any fashion, it’s natural to immediately look for candidates who are next in line to take that job. The obvious picks are outside hires who have NHL experience and who are one or two years removed from an NHL coaching position.

Along with the previously listed players, Providence will still have Matthew Poitras, Fraser Minten, Fabian Lysell and others on the roster. But still coming in are center Alex Steeves and right winger Matej Blumel.

Steeves is coming off the best season of his four-year pro-hockey career. He scored 36 goals and 62 points in 59 games for the Toronto Marlies last season. He finished second in the league in goals and eighth in points. He also made a few NHL appearances for the Toronto Maple Leafs in each of those four years.

The one player who had more goals than Steeves last season was also picked up by the Bruins organization in Blumel. The Czech right winger scored a league-leading 39 goals, but also ended up second in the AHL in points with 72 to his name. He was just one point behind San Jose Barracuda center Andrew Poturalski, who is now a member of Omsk of the KHL.

There’s no denying that a handful of those players who make up Providence’s scoring depth will get looks with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. But, in the big picture, this team should be reaching new heights this coming season.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.