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Once again, Florida Panthers given unfavorable schedule full of confusing travel, plenty of back-to-back sets

The schedule makers sure seem to love the Florida Panthers.

That seemed apparent when the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs were given a 5 p.m. start time for Opening Night.

On Wednesday, the NHL released its full 2025-26 season schedule.

When looking over Florida’s 82-game slate, a few things seemed to jump off the page.

First off, in similar fashion to last season, the Panthers will play plenty of back-to-back sets.

Last year the number was 14, which included the two games Florida faced the Dallas Stars on consecutive days in Finland.

This season, without the trip overseas, the number got knocked down by one.

In total, there will be 13 back-to-backs, with four coming on home ice, eight on the road and one that includes a home game and a road game. For that split back-to-backer, the road game is the second night and it's in Tampa.

Of Florida's four back-to-back sets on home ice, three of them come during the month of December.

It’s after the calendar flips to 2026 where Florida’s wonky schedule really starts to go sideways.

In January, Florida will endure their longest road trip of the season, a six-gamer that stops in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo, Carolina and Washington. Then the Panthers will return Sunrise for a single home game, then head right back on the road for a trip to Winnipeg, Minnesota and Chicago.

Oh the fun doesn’t stop there. They return home from Chicago and once again, play a single game in Sunrise, then it’s off to St. Louis for a one-game road trip.

Make it make sense. Please.

March could prove to be another rough stretch for the Cats. They play 10 of their 15 games that month on the road, and there will be three back-to-backs mixed in with those road games.

Another interesting tidbit from Florida’s schedule is that when the NHL takes a pause in February for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Panthers will play a back-to-back set going into the break and coming out of the break.

One of the positives when compared to last season is that this time, Florida will only play eight of their back-to-back sets after January 1, while last year that number was 10.

Either way, it’s becoming clear that winning multiple Stanely Cups and becoming the top dog in the league isn’t enough to get some non-wtf treatment from the schedule makers.

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Photo caption: Feb 2, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice watches from the bench against the New York Islanders during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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Resurgent Flyers Prospect Returns on AHL Contract

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Resurgent Philadelphia Flyers prospect Zayde Wisdom has officially re-upped with the organization that drafted him after testing NHL free agency.

Wisdom, 23, was not issued a qualifying offer by the Flyers on June 30, making him an unrestricted free agent ahead of the start of free agency on July 1.

The original decision by the Flyers was a bit perplexing, given that Wisdom was coming off the best year of his pro career by far and was joint-second, tied with Jacob Gaucher, in goals for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the Calder Cup playoffs with his first three AHL playoff tallies.

But, after having a look around in free agency by the Flyers' hand, Wisdom has officially returned to the organization, inking a one-year AHL pact with the Phantoms on Monday.

In the same announcement, the Phantoms announced that captain Garrett Wilson also signed on for another season in Allentown.

Once-Promising Flyers Prospect Resurfaces with WildOnce-Promising Flyers Prospect Resurfaces with WildAfter getting let go by the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of free agency, once-promising prospect Elliot Desnoyers has resurfaced, signing a one-year deal with the AHL Iowa Wild, the minor-league affiliates of the Minnesota Wild, on Monday.

So, while Wisdom didn't do enough to earn an NHL contract in the eyes of the Flyers, he'll stick around as a fairly young prospect and a veteran to lean on for incoming rookies like Denver Barkey, Oliver Bonk, Karsen Dorwart, Devin Kaplan, and Ty Murchison.

Plus, if necessary, or if he earns it, Wisdom can always sign an NHL contract with the Flyers later on.

The 23-year-old netted career-highs in goals (13), assists (19), and points (32) for the Phantoms last season, showing some of the promise he first had on display during that 2020-21 campaign, when he threw down 18 points in 28 games as a first-timer in the pros as a teenager.

Wisdom should continue to fill in as a bottom-six energy forward, and while it's unclear if he still has any NHL upside, the Flyers organization is giving him another shot.

All opportunities are good opportunities.

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Canadiens: About The Joe Veleno Signing

While most Montreal Canadiens fans were hoping their team would find a way to add a second-line center, GM Kent Hughes went out and signed free agent Joe Veleno to a one-year, one-way contract.

This is not the top-six upgrade the Canadiens are so desperate for, but it does add depth down the middle and a much-needed left-shot pivot. Veleno was the Detroit Red Wings' first-round pick, 30th overall, at the 2018 draft. While he became the first player to be granted exceptional status to play in the QMJHL as a 15-year-old, he never lived up to the hype or expectations in the big league.

It took him some time to acclimate to the QMJHL, scoring 43 and 40 points in his first two seasons, 79 points in his third year, before finally exploding with a 104-point campaign in 2018-19.

Scouting reports were optimistic that he could become a second-line center in the NHL, but so far, the most points he has registered in a season is 28, a total he achieved in the 2023-24 season. Jake Evans, a seventh-round pick, has had three seasons as productive or even more productive than that.

Six years after drafting him, the Red Wings finally gave up and traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks at the last trade deadline in return for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith. At that point, he had just 10 points in 56 games. With the Hawks, he skated in just 18 games and put up seven points. In the offseason, he was then traded to the Seattle Kraken and was promptly bought out, making him an unrestricted free agent.

There have been rumbles about the Canadiens being interested in the Montreal native for the last couple of weeks, but the noise had all but died down when the team announced they had signed him to a one-year, one-way contract with a $900,000 AAV. Upon expiry of the deal, he will be an arbitration-eligible RFA.

The Montreal-born forward is getting an opportunity to bounce back on his home turn, and one can wonder if this market’s pressure cooker is the right place for him to do it, but considering how things have turned out for him in the NHL, the expectations shouldn’t be too high.

As things stand, he seems best suited for a bottom-six role, but don’t expect him to fill the void left by Christian Dvorak’s departure at the faceoff dot. The former Hab had a 53.1% success rate on draws while Veleno’s stands at just 46.6%. Still, that’s a much better number than Kirby Dach’s (36.1%) and Alex Newhook’s (41.8%).

The center represented Canada at the 2023 World Championship and came back with a gold medal, but he was suspended for five games during the tournament for a stomping incident. He ended up playing the first five games of the tournament, in which he recorded five points. Current Canadiens Samuel Montembeault and Samuel Blais were his teammates in that tournament.

Why couldn’t Veleno reach his potential in the NHL? Well, perhaps the hype was exaggerated when he came out of Junior’s, given the fact that he only produced over 100 points once. Offensive production in the minor league doesn’t always translate to the professional level, and an exceptional status early on at a lower level is no guarantee of success at a later stage. His lack of production didn’t stem from injury issues, either, since he has managed to stay healthy.

In any case, this is a low-risk depth move for the Canadiens, who now have a somewhat overcrowded bottom-six, which may prompt youngsters like Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen to wonder if there will be room for them in the lineup this season, provided they impress at camp. Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Evans, Blais, Alex Newhook, Beck, Kapanen, and now Veleno could all be vying for those roles. Could this be a sign that something else may be on the way? You never know with Hughes.

Veleno becomes the 12th former first-round pick in the Canadiens’ lineup with Zachary Bolduc, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach, Ivan Demidov, Noah Dobson, Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Newhook, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Nick Suzuki. 10 of the 12 former first-rounders are 25 years old or younger, with Laine (27) and Matheson (31) being the elders.

Furthermore, Veleno also joins a substantial group of Quebecers on the Canadiens, alongside Montembeault, Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Bolduc, and Blais, which is sure to please those who have always lamented the lack of local players with the Sainte-Flanelle.

Photo credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

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Connor Bedard Is Ready To Become An NHL Superstar In His 20s

Everyone in the hockey community will be wishing Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard a happy birthday on Thursday. 

This is his 20th birthday, which should begin his most productive decade in the National Hockey League. Throughout his 20s, he will become a superstar in the NHL. 

Bedard, unlike most players to play in this league, was fortunate enough to play two full seasons as a teenager. Part of that was his talent, and part of that was his birthday allowing it. 

It didn't take long for Bedard to get going offensively in the NHL. He has 45 career goals and 83 assists for 128 points in 150 games. Those 128 points are the second most by a teenager in Blackhawks history. 

22 of those goals and 39 of those assists for 61 total points came his his 68-game rookie season. These totals earned him the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. To say he was a successful NHL teen would be an understatement, despite people still finding a way to be underwhelmed. 

Bedard didn't become Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews in year one. There were some growing pains, but he looked like he belonged. His defensive game and decision-making need improvement, but that will come with experience. 

It may take another two or three years for the world to see Connor Bedard truly break out like the top ten players in the NHL. However, it will be in his 20s when he becomes a superstar. You can tell by his demeanor, skills, and commitment level that he will reach a certain level of stardom. He won't accept anything less. 

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils are two shiny examples of superstars in the NHL who were first overall picks that took some time to get going. Bedard was incredibly more productive than those two in their first two years. Is he as good a skater as them? No. But he does have the talent to produce at their level once he's in his prime. 

Over this off-season, Bedard has been working on his hockey mechanics and skating. He made the wise (mature) choice to stay back from the IIHF World Championships, which would have dramatically increased his chance of playing in the Olympics, to prepare for 2025-26 with Chicago.  We will see the results of this dedication when the puck drops in October. 

The Blackhawks are going to be one of the youngest teams in the NHL next season. There will be tough times in terms of wins and losses. With that in mind, Bedard (and a handful of other players) taking big steps is what truly matters for Chicago. Now that he's in his 20s, expect him to soar.

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

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Buster Posey intrigued by ABS challenge system after debut in MLB All-Star Game

Buster Posey intrigued by ABS challenge system after debut in MLB All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears there is another polarizing change coming to MLB in the near future.

The automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system, which first was tested in the minor leagues in 2021, with implementation at the Triple-A level in 2022, made its debut at the MLB level in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Truist Park.

The system allows players to challenge a limited number of umpire calls at the plate and on the mound, and was used successfully on a few occasions in the National League’s eventual 7-6 win over the American League.

MLB is considering implementing the system as soon as 2026, and although it remains a very polarizing idea, even after it seemed to have a positive impact in Tuesday’s exhibition game, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey is intrigued by it.

“Yeah, I think it’s interesting,” Posey told KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Thursday. “We got to see it up close this spring. I think umpires will all tell you they want to get it right. These guys are so good behind the plate. We over-analyze so much a pitch they call that’s an inch or two off the plate or vice versa if they miss one that’s an inch on the plate. It’s a tough job, and I think as much as anything, the nice part about it would be if it’s a pivotal part of the game and it’s a pitch that should go one way or another, the ability to get it right is intriguing.

“I think it would be something that would add some entertainment value. There’s a few guys on our team that I know right off the top of my head — I won’t mention [who] — we would say, ‘You don’t get to challenge unless that pitch is middle-middle.’ But there’s that element to it too, where some guys like Brandon Belt, I felt like he knew the strike zone as well as anybody.”

Posey, one of the greatest catchers in the modern era, knew the strike zone as well as any player during his time, and understands how important pitch-framing is behind the plate.

The ABS challenge system likely would limit catchers’ ability to frame pitches slightly out of the zone as strikes, but if the change could make the game better, it appears Posey is on board.

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Warriors are only NBA team not to add, re-sign player in free agency thus far

Warriors are only NBA team not to add, re-sign player in free agency thus far originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have been patient this offseason.

As they wait to see how the Jonathan Kuminga situation plays out, and how the dominoes will fall thereafter, they remain the only NBA team not to add or re-sign a player in free agency (h/t ESPN).

On the flip side, they have had to say their goodbyes to fan favorite Kevon Looney after the 29-year-old center signed a two-year free-agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

That now leaves a massive hole for Golden State, which, per multiple reports, plans to fill it with Al Horford.

Another player repeatedly linked to the Warriors is guard De’Anthony Melton, who was with the Warriors for less than two months before getting injured and being traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season.

But on the 18th day of free agency, it’s been crickets and tumbleweeds for Golden State.

On this post shared to Instagram by ESPN and NBA on ESPN, young Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski shared choice words in the comments.

“Why everyone worried about us,” Podziemski wrote.

Last week, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy addressed Golden State’s quiet offseason in an interview with ESPN’s Katie George during halftime of the Warriors’ summer league matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

“So far, so far. We’ve got a ways to go here,” Dunleavy said. “I consider the offseason kind of from the time the season ends all the way to training camp, so we’ll give ourselves that buffer to add to our roster. … We’ve got the whole summer to do it.”

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The Open 2025: first round updates from Royal Portrush – live

This opening tee shot is messing with a few heads already. KJ Choi skies his effort 176 yards into thick rough down the left. Even if that was straight it wasn’t reaching the fairway. In the next group, the 2022 champion Cameron Smith somehow manages to be even worse, a mishit low hook fizzing into the same native area, covering just 153 yards. Marco Penge, who came so close at last week’s Scottish Open, also sails way left, though he’s gone 226 yards at least. A lot of people will be mindful of Rory McIlroy’s quadruple-bogey eight start here in 2019. To repeat: OB left, OB right. Is it any wonder?

The morning wave look to have the more favourable conditions compared to the later starters. There are dark clouds rumbling over Portrush right now, but “intermittent rain … with briefly heavier bursts” is the worst expected this morning. The breeze will pick up though, and there could be a chance of 25-35 mph gusts and possibly “thundery downpours” later this afternoon.

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: State of saves at the All-Star break

In this week's Closer Report, we review the first half in saves across the closer landscape and take a look at which late-inning situations are worth monitoring with two weeks left until the trade deadline.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader gave up another home run in his last outing before the break, blowing a save against the Rangers. Six of the eight home runs he's allowed have come over the last month. With four runs allowed over his previous two outings, it pushed his ERA from 1.80 to 2.53. Still, those numbers show he had some room for regression, and he remains the top closer for fantasy purposes.

Tier 2: The Elite

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

Muñoz gave up two runs to blow a save against the Yankees last Thursday, then bounced back with a clean inning in a non-save situation against the Tigers on Sunday before the break. Muñoz recorded just one save in June before locking down four saves in six days to start July. The 26-year-old right-hander enters the second half with 21 saves and a 1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 46/14 K/BB ratio across 36 innings.

Díaz, in his last outing before the break, converted a two-inning save against the Royals on Saturday, striking out one batter for his 19th save of the season to go with a 1.66 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 55/13 K/BB ratio across 38 innings. The 31-year-old right-hander is back dominating on the mound after missing the 2023 season and a disappointing 2024 in his first year back from injury.

Chapman has actually been the best closer in baseball over the last month, leading all relievers by a wide margin with a 49% K-BB ratio since the start of June. He added two saves against the Rays before the All-Star break, striking out five batters over two scoreless innings, extending his scoreless outing streak to 18 games.

Duran worked two outings against the Pirates before the break. He picked up a save on Friday, striking out two in a scoreless inning. He then took the loss on Sunday, giving up a run on three hits. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 1.66 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 49/16 K/BB ratio with 15 saves over 43 1/3 innings into the second half. Both Duran and setup man Griffin Jax are expected to draw major interest at the trade deadline. Jax would make a capable closer should he land in a favorable situation or if the Twins decide to move Duran. Both relievers still carry three seasons of team control, so the team would likely need to come away with a significant trade package to make a move.

Clase worked a scoreless inning to convert a save against the White Sox on Friday, then pitched two innings to come away with a win against Chicago on Sunday. The 27-year-old right-hander has converted 20 saves with a 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 42/10 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings. And in San Diego, Suarez worked a clean inning with one strikeout for a save against the Phillies last Thursday, then worked another perfect frame with a strikeout for his 28th save before the All-Star break.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Mason Miller - Athletics
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels

Miller made three scoreless appearances in the days leading up to the break, including back-to-back saves against the Blue Jays. He appears to be getting back on track with eight consecutive scoreless outings. The 26-year-old right-hander now has 19 saves with a 4.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 57/17 K/BB ratio across 35 2/3 innings.

After giving up two runs against the Blue Jays on July 2, Williams went into the All-Star break with four straight perfect outings. He fell in line for a win last Thursday against the Mariners, then struck out two in a clean frame against the Cubs. Meanwhile, Megill did not make an appearance since the last column and remains at 21 saves with a 2.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 43/15 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.

Bautista pitched a clean inning against the Mets last Thursday for his 18th save. The 30-year-old right-hander has made an impressive return from Tommy John surgery, posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 48/20 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.

In Los Angeles, Scott struck out two in a clean inning on Saturday for his 19th save, then blew an opportunity Sunday, giving up two runs against the Giants. The 30-year-old left-hander allowed five runs over his last four outings. Blake Treinen appears ready to be activated from the injured list out of the All-Star break and could figure into some save chances based on matchups.

Vest blew a save in his only appearance this last week, uncharacteristically walking three batters against the Mariners on Sunday. Still, he's had a stellar first half, emerging as Detroit's primary closer with 15 saves, a 2.30 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 48/15 K/BB ratio across 43 innings.

Pagán made back-to-back scoreless outings against the Rockies last week, picking up a win on Saturday before locking down his 20th win on Sunday. The 34-year-old right-hander has had an excellent season in Cincinnati, posting a 2.93 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 50/13 K/BB ratio across 40 innings. Bednar also pitched both days over the weekend, converting his 13th save Sunday against the Twins. Meanwhile, Palencia grabbed two more saves Saturday and Sunday with two scoreless outings against the Yankees. The 25-year-old right-hander has been a breakout in the first half, recording a 1.57 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 39/11 K/BB ratio over 34 1/3 innings.

In San Francisco, Doval worked around a hit and a walk to convert a save against the Dodgers on Friday, then tossed a scoreless inning in a non-save situation on Sunday. Doval's walk issues and lower strikeout rate this season continue to make him a volatile closer. Still, he's generally gotten the job done since taking back the ninth-inning role.

Helsley took a loss on Saturday, giving up a run on two hits against the Braves. He bounced back on Sunday with a scoreless inning for his 19th save of the season to go with a 3.27 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a 36/14 K/BB ratio over 33 innings.

Estévez struck out two in a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Mets on Friday, then fell in line for a win despite giving up two runs on Sunday. Meanwhile, Hoffman broke a nine-game scoreless streak with three runs allowed against the Athletics on Friday to give him a 5.03 ERA over 39 1/3 innings at the break.

In his only appearance this week, Fairbanks blew a save and took the loss with two runs allowed against the Red Sox on Friday. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 2.75 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 31/15 K/BB ratio across 36 innings. Finnegan also blew a save and took a loss, giving up three runs against the Brewers on Saturday. And in Anaheim, Jansen picked up a win with a scoreless inning of work against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering - Philadelphia Phillies
Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers

Strahm picked up a save for the Phillies on Sunday against the Padres, his sixth of the season. No saves out of Arizona over the weekend. Ginkel, Kendall Graveman, and Kyle Backhus could all figure into the saves mix. And the Rangers went without a save to close out the first half. Garcia did take a loss with a run allowed against the Astros on Saturday.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Calvin Faucher/Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox
Seth Halvorsen/Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Last week's column touched on the trade speculation surrounding Minnesota relievers Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran. While it would be a surprise to see both relievers traded by the deadline, it may not hurt to take a look at who could step up in their place. Louis Varland has been the next reliever down in the high-leverage order. The 27-year-old right-hander has made the transition from starter to reliever this year and has been incredibly effective, posting a 1.81 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 43/11 K/BB ratio across 44 2/3 innings. And when healthy, Brock Stewart has flashed some strikeout upside over the last three seasons. The 33-year-old veteran right-hander's 29 1/3 innings so far are the most he's pitched since 2017. He's posted a solid 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 38/10 K/BB ratio.

The Angels remain in the Wild Card mix at four games behind at the All-Star break. But if they fall further behind over the next couple of weeks, we could see veteran closer Kenley Jansen on the move. His departure could open the door for Reid Detmers to step into the closer role. Despite the speculation that he could move back into a starting role, he'll reportedly continue to work out of the bullpen, where he's been most effective. The 26-year-old left-hander had a rough stretch in early May but has posted a 1.24 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 29 innings since May 9.

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Busy March, Early California Trip Highlight Penguins’ 2025-26 Schedule

The Pittsburgh Penguins had their schedule finalized for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday. 

Fans already knew they would be starting the season on the road against the New York Rangers on October 7, but were waiting for the rest of the schedule so they could plan which games to attend. The Penguins will have their home opener two nights later, on October 9, against the New York Islanders, before playing the Rangers in Pittsburgh on October 11. 

That second Rangers game will feature Mike Sullivan’s return to Pittsburgh for the first time since being named the head coach of the Rangers. He and the Penguins parted ways on April 28, paving the way for the Rangers to hire him on May 2. According to Bob Grove, this marks the first time the Penguins will open a season with three straight games against New York-based teams since the 1998-99 season.

Now that the full schedule is out, here are some quick miscellaneous thoughts on it. 

March is a gauntlet

The Penguins will have a super busy March once the NHL players return from the Winter Olympics at the end of February. They will play 17 games in 31 days and face some of the top projected teams in the league, including the Vegas Golden Knights (twice), the Carolina Hurricanes (twice), the Colorado Avalanche (twice), the Winnipeg Jets, and the Dallas Stars. It’s going to be a brutal stretch of games, and it may feature a short-handed Penguins team, as they will likely be sellers at the 2026 trade deadline. 

The California trip is early

This season’s California trip is beneficial for the Penguins because they will be able to complete it relatively quickly. After opening the season with three games against two of the New York teams, they will head to California to take on the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. The road trip will take place during the second week of the season in October before the Penguins come home to play the Vancouver Canucks. They will start in Anaheim, then proceed to Los Angeles, and conclude in San Jose. It’s never too early to start planning to drink some coffee or your beverage of choice for those late-night matchups. 

Apr 13, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) looks on before a face-off against the Boston Bruins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

16 back-to-backs

In addition to the Penguins’ busy March, they’ll have 16 back-to-back games throughout the season, the most since the 2017-18 season. Penguins fans should be used to a good amount of back-to-back games in the Sidney Crosby era, since this is the ninth time that the team has had at least 16 during his tenure. One of the back-to-backs that stands out on the schedule is when the Penguins host the Florida Panthers on April 4 and 5. Although this type of scheduling occurred frequently during the 2020-21 season due to pandemic restrictions, it hasn’t happened much since. It at least helps the travel for the Panthers while also allowing Penguins players to sleep in their own beds both nights. Get ready for the goalies to split most, if not all, of these back-to-backs when they come up on the schedule. 

Get ready to wake up early!

November will feature the NHL’s annual Global Series, with the Penguins taking on the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 14 and 16. The game on the 14th will start at 2 p.m. ET, but the game on the 16th will begin at 9 a.m. ET. It’s even worse for Penguins fans who live in California, as the game will start at 6 a.m. PT. Be sure to set your alarms to avoid oversleeping!

NHL Opening Night Features Poetic Reunion Between Mike Sullivan, PenguinsNHL Opening Night Features Poetic Reunion Between Mike Sullivan, PenguinsThe NHL announced the schedule for the 2025-26 season's opening night on Monday. The Florida Panthers will raise their second-straight Stanley Cup banner against the Chicago Blackhawks, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins traveling to New York to take on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Opening night will conclude with the Colorado Avalanche taking on the Los Angeles Kings.

Only one trip to D.C. 

The Penguins and Washington Capitals have had a bitter rivalry during the Crosby and Ovechkin era, and it will continue for at least one more season. The two teams will play three times, with two of the games at PPG Paints Arena. That means the Penguins will only go to the D.C. once, but there’s a catch. The Penguins will play at Capital One Arena on April 12 in their second-to-last game of the season, right after they play the Caps on April 11 in their final home game of the season. If this is Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season, we could see quite a sendoff for two of the best players in NHL history. Both players have yet to decide if this will be their final season. Their contracts are set to expire at the end of this upcoming season. 

Each NHL season is unique, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how the Penguins deal with some of these factors on their schedule when they come up. The season may still be a little more than two and a half months away, but it’s going to be here before you know it. 

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Moesha Johnson wins Australia’s first 10km open-water swimming gold at world championships

  • Compatriot Kyle Lee takes bronze in men’s 10km race in Singapore

  • Events were postponed multiple times due to water quality concerns

Moesha Johnson has won Australia’s first 10km open water world title as compatriot Kyle Lee opened the team medal tally with bronze in the men’s race.

It is Australia’s fifth open water world title over all distances with Johnson and Lee in the quartet that will defend the mixed-team title at the Singapore world aquatics championships.

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