Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola spoke about the rumors surrounding Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule with the open Penn State football job. Here's more.
Tocchet wants Michkov to play through slow start, be ready for more minutes
Tocchet wants Michkov to play through slow start, be ready for more minutes originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
VOORHEES, N.J. — Rick Tocchet, for a couple of reasons, isn’t too fixated on Matvei Michkov’s ice time just three games into the season.
His club has been in the penalty box way too often. The Flyers have committed five penalties in each game. Those 30 total penalty minutes have taken away from Michkov’s minutes because the young winger doesn’t play when the Flyers are shorthanded.
And when you beat the two-time defending champion Panthers, it’s tough to complain about Michkov not playing the final seven and a half minutes. He still finished with a comprehensible 14:56 minutes and he wasn’t the only player to lose ice time down the stretch of the Flyers’ 5-2 home-opening win Monday night.
“I’ve got to get people on the ice, so I get it,” Tocchet said Tuesday. “But he’s playing 15 minutes and we won the hockey game, so we’ve got to kind of move past that.
“We’re killing five penalties a game, so the game shrinks to 50 minutes. You’ve got to get people out there, I get it, but we’re a balanced type of team, we’re not a one-line team, we’re not a team that plays guys 25 minutes if we’re going to win.”
Michkov doesn’t have a point through the Flyers’ 1-1-1 start. After Monday’s morning skate, Tocchet divulged that Michkov dealt with an ankle issue at some point this offseason, which limited some of his training.
But the 20-year-old still looked like his dynamic self in training camp and the preseason.
“He had some stuff in the summer that he couldn’t really train and he’s behind the eight ball,” Tocchet said, “so we’ve got to get him skating.”
The head coach liked the way Michkov skated Monday night and Tuesday in practice.
“There’s two good days together,” Tocchet said. “We’ve just got to stack some days for him.”
Last season, Michkov played 80 of 82 games and was one of the NHL’s top rookies. The Flyers wanted to be careful with a teenager from Russia making the jump to the NHL. As part of the process, former head coach John Tortorella sat Michkov for two games in November and cut his minutes at different times of the season.
Tocchet was asked about the thought of healthy scratching players to give them a mental or physical reset. It doesn’t sound like he’ll go that route with Michkov, especially this early in the season.
“No,” Tocchet said. “For a guy like him, he has got to play through it.”
'He's Ready To Make That Jump': Brandon Bussi To Make First NHL Start In San Jose
The Carolina Hurricanes look to be in line to see an NHL debut tonight as goaltender Brandon Bussi is slated to make his first career start in San Jose after being the first to leave the ice at Tuesday's morning skate.
The 27-year-old goalie has bided his time, even dressing as the backup for a handful of games over his three year professional career, but the ultimate opportunity is now before him.
"He's been great," Hurricanes goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder told The Hockey News. "Good in practice, he has a great attitude, good work ethic. Obviously I didn't know him personally before he got here, but he's been great and has fit in real well. He's worked hard and I think if he shows what he does in practice in a game, then he'll be fine."
It's been quite a month for Bussi, who has gone all the way from an AHL reassignment to the Charlotte Checkers to now playing in the NHL, all in the span of nine days.
Bussi signed this summer with the Florida Panthers after three seasons with the Boston Bruins organization, but he was among the final cuts from the defending Stanley Cup champs, and so he and his fiancée packed the car and headed up north to join the Cats' AHL affiliate.
One phone call from Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky, though, changed everything.
And luckily for him, it wasn't too hard to make a slight adjustment east to Raleigh.
"The hockey world can be crazy at times and that call was a special moment for me, my fiancée and my family, everyone involved," Bussi told The Hockey News. "Any day you're in the NHL is a privilege so I'm pretty pumped to be here."
The next day, the Hurricanes' assumed third-string goalie Cayden Primeau was claimed off of waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs and then another day later, Hurricanes netminder Pyotr Kochetkov was sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Life has a funny way of working out like that sometimes.
New Guy Bussi pic.twitter.com/XYOGx89GcT
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) October 9, 2025
Bussi hasn't had a ton of time to get acclimated with his new team, but he said that everyone has welcomed him with open arms so far.
"It's a great locker room," Bussi said. "And everything from the top down, management, coach, players, staff, everyone has made me feel super welcome and just like another one of the guys."
But another aspect of the game that he hasn't had too much time to get used to either, though, is getting familiar with how the team in front of him plays.
That's where Schonfelder comes in.
"As far as the team goes, we talk a little bit about systems and what he can expect, stuff on the PK," Schonfelder said. "But mostly, it's been about me getting to know him on an individual level. Sometimes it happens quick and obviously Brandon got here pretty quick, so just trying to get an idea of what makes him tick and how he likes to play certain things, so when it's game time, he can just go out there and play. The process isn't over yet, to be honest with you, but you just do your best to get caught up and see how it goes."
However, the Hurricanes have historically done pretty well when bringing in a third or even a fourth goaltender throughout a season.
With injuries to Kochetkov and the Hurricanes wanting to avoid wearing out starting netminder Frederik Andersen this early into the year, the team really has no choice but to give Bussi his shot, but it's one they feel he is ready for.
"He was somebody I identified in the summertime," Schonfelder said. "He obviously ended up signing in Florida, but he was somebody who was on my list of people to go after. I had him down as somebody who, he obviously played down in the American league for three years, but is ready to make that jump to the NHL. I feel that's where his game is at right now."
Bussi has 111 games of AHL experience under his belt with the Providence Bruins, where he posted a 63-31-13 record along with a 0.915 save percentage and eight shutouts.
"He looks good," Brind'Amour said. "Big guy. Hopefully we're not going to be relying on that too much, but if we do, we have a lot of confidence in him."
Recent Articles
Hurricanes Potentially Without Two Big Pieces As They Head Out On Six-Game Road Trip
Miller Time: K'Andre Miller Dazzles In Carolina Hurricanes Debut
'It's Just A Matter Of Time': Top Line Confident Despite Slow Start
Oilers Sign Former Hurricanes Forward Jack Roslovic
Olympic Aspirations, New Teammates and Rising Stardom: A Q&A With Seth Jarvis
Carolina Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov Out At Least A Week With Lower-Body Injury
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
Who should replace James Franklin at Penn State? + Texas Tech’s investment paying off & CFP predictions
Who should Penn State hire to replace James Franklin? The Big Ten hits another hurdle with private equity. An expensive offseason is proving fruitful for Texas Tech. The American conference seems bound for the CFP.
Warriors star Steph Curry set to join exclusive club in NBA history this season
Warriors star Steph Curry set to join exclusive club in NBA history this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Another year, another career milestone for Stephen Curry.
When the Warriors tip off the 2025-26 NBA season next Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, Curry will become the 10th player in league history to play at least 17 seasons with one team, joining an esteemed list of fellow franchise icons.
For Curry, it has been a long but ultimately glorious road. Golden State selected the Davidson guard with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft in hopes that he could help turn a struggling organization around.
Curry, of course, has accomplished much more than that. He turned the Warriors into must-see television while winning two Most Valuable Player awards and delivering four NBA championships to a team that had not won one since 1975. As his 17th season begins, Curry is arguably the most popular figure in Bay Area sports history and is integral to Golden State’s status as the most valuable NBA franchise.
Even in an era when team mainstays are largely a thing of the past, perhaps it shouldn’t shock us that Curry and the Warriors have chosen to stick by each other’s side.
It doesn’t appear as though that will change anytime soon, either. Curry is signed through an 18th season in 2026-27 and has publicly acknowledged in the past his desire to remain with Golden State for the entirety of his career.
If things transpire the way Curry, the organization and its fans hope they do, the Warriors’ leader will join an even more exclusive club. Of the nine other players to tally 17 years with one franchise, only six did it while spending their entire career in one jersey.
Game #3: Ducks vs. Penguins Gameday Preview (10/14/25)
In their 2025-26 home opener, the Ducks (1-1-0) take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-1-0). The Ducks are coming off a thrilling 7-6 overtime win on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, while the Penguins are coming off a 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Anaheim showed incredible resilience against the Sharks, coming back from multiple two-goal deficits and evening the score in the final minute of the third and then winning in overtime, courtesy of a Leo Carlsson goal.
"I thought the second half of (our first game), we just weren't as good as we were in the first half," Jacob Trouba said. "I think it was a pretty big difference that we can tell when we switch between the two games we were playing. We had more offense in that San Jose game, more consistently, and a better result. Gave up a little more than we wanted, but found a way (to win)."
Takeaways from the Ducks 7-6 OT Win over the SharksThe Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their season-opening two-game road trip on Saturday when they traveled to take on the San Jose Sharks after Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
"We've done a good job," Alex Killorn said. "We're playing different systems and we're still trying to figure these little things out of when to jump, when to pinch. But, it feels like we're playing free there. We're getting a lot more shots than we typically get, so a lot more scoring chances. It's been good so far. It's just two games, but we'll see how it continues to go."
“We started both games getting off to a really good start,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “First 20 minutes set the pace and didn't continue on out of game one, but we talked about it going into the next game, trying to be strong and consistent for 60 minutes. We sustained what we're looking to do with possession and zone time pretty well.
“But both games, we haven't had the lead yet, so that'll be the next test. Hopefully, we get to apply it one of these games, and then you can learn a little bit more about our team. But we know we can score goals. Let’s prioritize checking first, and then we get the puck.”
“We just couldn't bury the puck in Seattle,” Radko Gudas said. “I thought we had our chances. Also, in San Jose, I thought we played a lot longer in our game that we wanted. In Seattle, we kind of got away from our game towards the end of the game.”
Gudas, who is in his second season as Ducks captain, is just one point away from 200 NHL points. Known more for his bruising hits and shot blocking, the Czech defenseman can also rip it from time to time.
After starting the season opener in Seattle and getting the night off in San Jose, Lukáš Dostál will be back in the starter's crease for the home opener. He is 1-0-1 with a .950 SV% and 2.34 GAA in his career against the Penguins.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and his status for tonight’s game is unknown.
The Penguins did not have a morning skate today, so their starting goaltender won’t be known until 5:30 p.m. PST, when head coach Dan Muse speaks to the media.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Alex Killorn
Cutter Gauthier - Mason McTavish - Beckett Sennecke
Frank Vatrano - Mikael Granlund - Troy Terry
Ross Johnston - Ryan Poehling - Nikita Nesterenko
Jackson LaCombe - Radko Gudas
Olen Zellweger - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Penguins Projected Lines
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Benjamin Kindel - Phillip Tomasino
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Filip Hållander
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea - Kris Letang
Caleb Jones - Harrison Brunicke
Tristan Jarry (projected)
Related articles:
Jackson LaCombe's Elevated Composure Despite Payday
Four Anaheim Ducks Lines Performing Raises Lineup Questions When Ryan Strome Returns from IR
Anaheim Ducks Prospect Spotlight: Takeaways from Roger McQueen's NCAA Debut
Report: Beckett Sennecke's Usage Will be Similar to 'The Leo Carlsson Plan'
Maybe The Florida Panthers Don't Need To Worry About Barkov And Tkachuk's Injuries
If the Florida Panthers are worried about missing Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, they aren't playing like it.
Lo and behold, the Panthers have started the season on a 3-1-0 run, and it’s time to ask the question – what were we worried about with this team?
Now, it’s understandable why people were concerned for Florida and why the Panthers aren't out of the woods yet.
Whenever a team loses one of its core components for a considerable stretch of time, the ripple effect on the organization can be a significant problem. So, to have Tkachuk out of the lineup until December or January and Barkov being sidelined for potentially all of the season, it’s certainly OK to be worried.
When we’re looking at the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Panthers’ all-around depth, you can see why they’ve absorbed the loss of two stars.
The NHL's schedule-maker did give Florida soft touches in the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers in Games 1 and 2, although Philly got revenge on Monday with a win at home. But on Saturday, the Panthers pounded the Ottawa Senators 6-2, showing Florida can rise to the occasion and beat a team that should make the playoffs again.
But the Panthers’ depth is reflected in their offensive totals. They may not have a front-runner for the Art Ross Trophy, but they did have 10 players who produced at least two points in their first three games and 11 players after the first four. The Panthers also have six players with three points apiece. The Colorado Avalanche, in comparison, have three players with at least five points and seven players with at least two after their first four games.
The Panthers' top six scorers have a mix of stars and depth. While left winger Brad Marchand and right winger Sam Reinhart are stars, they're arguably not the biggest on the team. The other four – Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, Mackie Samoskevich and budding top defenseman Gustav Forsling – are making life a lot easier on each other by providing some secondary scoring.
Florida is also going full steam ahead with nearly the full defense corps GM Bill Zito put together this season. That means veteran star D-men Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad are playing alongside Forsling, Niko Mikkola and Jeff Petry and contributing at both ends of the ice. Florida’s defense corps indeed took a blow with the injury to veteran Dmitry Kulikov, but by and large, the ‘D’ corps has looked strong and capable of making a positive impact night in and night out.
Finally, Panthers star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has a .925 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average in three appearances. Bobrovksky was named the third star of the week for his efforts, and that’s a great harbinger of what’s to come in net for Florida this season.
Bobrovsky is now in the final season of his seven-year contract worth $10 million annually. He’s got every motivation to play well, given that, at age 37, he could be looking at his final NHL contract next summer. Bobrovsky will be asked to be a workhorse in net and appear in 50 to 60 games once again, and right now, he looks up to the challenge.
All things considered, the Panthers are firing on all pistons to start the season. In the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division, they’ll need to be consistently great to stay at or near the top of the standings. But as it stands, Florida is demonstrating it will not go away quietly simply because two stars are out of action.
They’re deeper than that. They’re more talented than that. And it’s going to take an even bigger bite from the injury bug to set them back as they push toward Atlantic supremacy once again.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
'I Remember Being In That Same Position': Maple Leafs' Brandon Carlo Shares Funny Story About Easton Cowan's Early Days In NHL
Easton Cowan is enjoying life up in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 20-year-old made his NHL debut on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings, playing alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on Toronto's top line. Cowan finished with one shot, three hits, and 14:05 of ice time.
With any young prospect, whether they begin in the AHL or come straight in from junior, there's always a couple of eye-opening experiences about NHL life, which make the veterans chuckle a little bit.
Brandon Carlo, who's been in the league for what's now 10 seasons, got a front row seat to Cowan's first few days of being up with the Maple Leafs.
"It's been great. It's fun for me being around young guys. I still feel like a young guy myself, but at times when you get to talk to younger guys, especially like him, he brings a lot of energy each and every day. He's got a smile on his face," Carlo said on Tuesday morning.
"We went to dinner the other night and he was just having a great time enjoying the meal. It was pretty funny because there was a lot of things where he was like, 'I've never had this before', 'I've never had this before', and I remember being in that same position.
"It's great to see the game through young guys again and something we can all feed off of that energy."
'If You Stick With It, Good Things Will Come': What Easton Cowan Will Remember About His NHL Debut With Maple LeafsAs Easton Cowan skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".
What was on the menu that Cowan was saying he'd never had before?
"I think it was like the tuna tartar or something like that," Carlo smiled. "One of those meals that I didn't grow up having in Colorado by any means. I guess you can get used to it a little bit, but I think he liked it."
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube opted to stick with the same lineup ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Nashville Predators. Cowan will remain alongside Knies and Matthews after earning more trust from the head coach in the loss to Detroit the day prior.
"I thought he had a great game. He made a lot of good plays with the puck," Berube said on Monday. "I just thought five-foot plays all over the ice. He made a lot of them, too. He was very good on the forecheck. He's got a great hockey IQ, that's the bottom line."
Latest stories:
Steven Lorentz All Smiles As Maple Leafs Forward Nears Return To Lineup
‘When It Rains, It Pours’: Kings’ Disastrous Discipline Costing Wins And Points
Despite a strong effort by the Los Angeles Kings to push for a point against the Minnesota Wild on Monday evening after facing a 3-0 deficit, they can only blame themselves.
The Kings are holding themselves back as they continue to rack up the minor penalties in this young 2025-26 campaign.
In fact, after their 4-3 shootout loss to the Wild, the Kings are second in the league in penalty minutes (55 PIMS) and penalties taken (23). Only the Chicago Blackhawks are ahead of them in those two categories.
In the first period against Minnesota, Los Angeles took four minor penalties. Because of that, the Kings can’t play the game they planned.
Wild Weather Kings’ Late Comeback, Edge Out Los Angeles 4–3 in ShootoutAnother game, another overtime game that ends in a shootout for the Los Angeles Kings. This time, the match doesn’t go in the King's favor; it ends in a shootout loss in Minnesota, 4-3.
The line combinations get mixed up, skilled players such as Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko don’t see the ice as much because they aren’t penalty killers, and that hurts the flow.
“First off, we need to stay out of the box,” defenseman Drew Doughty told reporters after the game.
“One of our strengths is rolling four lines, three D-pairs, and once you get penalties, the momentum goes away.”
Not only will a parade to the penalty box ruin the team’s momentum, but it can also ruin the scoreboard.
With about five minutes remaining in the first period, center Quinton Byfield took a delay-of-game penalty as he chucked the puck over the glass, trying to flip the puck up the ice.
“We’re taking too many penalties, and I might be the main guy, I’ve taken a ton,” Byfield told reporters. “So, that’s something that we’ve got to fix.”
It didn’t help that 18 seconds after Byfield’s penalty, right winger Adrian Kempe was called for hooking on Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov.
By that point, the score is already 1-0 for Minnesota, and now the Kings need to kill off a 5-on-3 penalty for almost a full two minutes.
Sure enough, the Wild score twice, 20 seconds apart, taking advantage of both power-play opportunities created by Byfield and Kempe.
With that, Los Angeles gave Minnesota a huge head start and a 3-0 lead going into the second period. From that point on, the Kings needed to chase the game. And to their credit, the team was great at 5-on-5.
“We’re taking too many penalties and we’re getting scored on,” Kings coach Jim Hiller admitted.
However, he shed some light on how the team played at even strength in the last couple of outings.
“Our 5-on-5 game is starting to feel a little bit more like how we play,” Hiller said. “We’re going to score goals, I’m not worried about that, but we just have to tighten it up. I think we’re getting there. We take some of the penalties away, we’ll be a good team.”
The Kings are now 1-2-1 with the Pittsburgh Penguins coming to town on Thursday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo says he would like to play in NBA until age 36-38, then finish career in Greece
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future has been a hot topic of late — a year from now, will he still be in Milwaukee, or will he be preparing to start the season with a new team? Nobody knows. Antetokounmpo doesn't know.
What he does know is that he wants to play another six to eight NBA seasons, until age 36-38, and then finish his career in his home country of Greece. He said so on ANT1’s The 2night Show, a Tonight Show-style talk show in Greece (hat tip BasketNews.com and Bleacher Report).
"I don't want to live in the United States. As soon as I leave the NBA, I want to return to Greece. I could end my career here, whether this team is called Filathlitikos, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, or Aris, I'm talking about all the teams now."
Filathlitikos is the team Antetokounmpo played with before coming to the NBA. The other teams he listed are European powerhouses (ones that could be part of whatever the NBA Europe league ends up becoming in a couple of years).
We have seen European players head home to finish their careers before — Tony Kukoc from the Jordan-era Bulls, but more recently Serge Ibaka and Evan Fournier, among others — plus big-name NBA players such as Allen Iverson and Dominique Wilkins played there after the NBA. However, none of them were as internationally renowned as Antetokounmpo or would be the draws that he would be back in his home country.
This is years away, Antetokounmpo is 30 (he turns 31 in December) and said he would want to play in the NBA until age "36-38." That's another contract or two.
Which teams those final NBA contracts will be with will be the focus of a season of speculation coming up.
Jackson LaCombe's Elevated Composure Despite Payday
The 2025 offseason was the busiest in Pat Verbeek’s tenure as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. He overhauled the coaching staff, shipped out a pair of long-time roster pieces (Trevor Zegras and John Gibson), brought in a trio of forwards (Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling), ran his fourth NHL Draft process with the Ducks, got some important piece of business done early (Lukas Dostal extension), was part of another important piece of business lingering well into training camp (Mason McTavish extension), and just when it seemed like the table was set and pencils were down, he inked the Ducks’ number-one defenseman Jackson LaCombe to the largest contract in franchise history (eight years, $72 million) just a week before the puck was set to drop for the Ducks’ regular season.
After an up-and-down rookie campaign in 2023-24, LaCombe (24) burst on the scene in 2024-25, tallying 43 points (14-29=43) in 75 games and leading the Ducks in TOI (22:18/G), playing in all situations, taking advantage of the opportunities afforded, and becoming the Ducks' top defenseman of the present and future.
Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report - 10/13/25
Four Anaheim Ducks Lines Performing Raises Lineup Questions When Ryan Strome Returns from IR
When he was drafted six years ago (39th overall in 2019), LaCombe was always seen as a smart, smooth-skating project of a defenseman with what could one day become an NHL frame. He’s now a finished product, or close to one, and is hitting his prime right as the Ducks are hoping to turn the corner on their elongated rebuild.
Signing a contract like that has the potential to negatively affect a player in LaCombe’s situation, where he is still in the early stages of his career. It places a great deal of pressure on players, perhaps leading them to feel like they have to perform to a certain standard or impact games with every movement. That hasn’t been the case for LaCombe thus far.
LaCombe is now 150 games into his NHL career, the long extension is signed, and now that his role is clearly defined, there is an air of poise and assuredness surrounding his approach, both on and off the ice.
Through the Ducks' first two games of the season and though he’s yet to find the scoresheet, it should come as no surprise to see LaCombe’s name atop the team’s TOI chart, averaging 26:20 TOI per game. He also leads the team in power play TOI (6:34) and is second in penalty kill TOI (6:28), just three seconds less than leader Radko Gudas (6:31).
“It means a lot for sure,” LaCombe said ahead of the Ducks' home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. “For me, I’m trying to take full responsibility for that and just come to every game playing the best I can. We have so many good players that anyone can play anywhere, so I’m just trying to do the best I can.”
During those minutes, one would be forgiven for wondering if LaCombe was breaking a sweat. Visually, he seems to be teetering on the line between poised and casual during his shifts, seeming to barely take effortful strides when defending or on the attack. However, that statement isn’t meant to accuse him of playing lackadaisically whatsoever. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“I think that’s always kind of part of my game, growing up and stuff, but I think as you play more, you kind of learn the speed of the game and the pace, and you read plays differently,” LaCombe. “Having that calmness and poise is something I want to have in my game, and I wanted to work on it all summer.”
LaCombe has achieved a level of seemingly effortless yet effective skating, reminiscent of only the most elite to ever play the position. He’s using his ability to dissect plays, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the puck, to his advantage, blending it with his comfort and calmness to positively impact the game in every zone.
When defending, he is anticipating and sealing walls on the strong side, while never losing a race to a loose puck when retrieving. With just one or two strides, he can get to the front of the net and has become adept at boxing out opponents and taking sticks away.
On the attack, he’s as aggressive as ever when joining rushes off-puck to make himself an option and keep opponents on their heels. With the puck, he’s become proficient at shielding the on-puck defender with his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame while maintaining possession and advancing pucks North, consistently in search of the most optimal play.
While maintaining a sense of the competitiveness that had allowed him to seize control of the number-one defenseman spot in Anaheim, signing a massive, record-setting contract only seems to have enhanced LaCombe’s self-assurance and composure. If he continues to impact games while displaying this collected brand of hockey and can consistently produce on top of it, he will continue to invoke shades of elite defensemen of the past and present like Scott Niedermayer, Niklas Lidstrom, and Miro Heiskanen
Author Disclaimer: I’m not alluding to LaCombe one day becoming a hall-of-fame defenseman, but simply stating what his play style is becoming reminiscent of.
Knicks Notes: How will final roster spot shake out between Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, Garrison Mathews?
Mike Brown on Monday said the Knicks are facing an ‘extremely tough’ decision at the end of their roster. They have three veteran contributors vying for one open roster spot.
Here are few things to know about the extremely tough decision facing the Knicks:
VETS BATTLE
Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews are currently battling for one available roster spot. The Knicks have *14 players on standard deals. They can carry a maximum of 15 players on standard contracts. So they have enough room on the roster to keep one of the three veterans.
Also, due to CBA rules, the Knicks’ team salary cannot exceed $207.8 million. The Knicks only have enough money to keep one of Shamet, Brogdon or Matthews.
In order to keep two of the three veterans, the Knicks would need to trade one of their players currently signed to a traditional contract.
WHAT ABOUT THE TRADE
If the Knicks want to keep two of those three, trades involving Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet, or Tyler Kolek are the most direct paths to do so.
If the Knicks traded one of those three players to a team with cap space (Utah, Brooklyn), the club would have enough room under the second apron to keep two of Shamet, Brogdon, and Mathews.
Before these players agreed to join the Knicks, the club told agents that there would be a true competition for the one open roster spot.
“That’s what they said,” Mathews said on Monday night. “It’s a tough roster; let’s see what happens.”
The Knicks also want to compete for an NBA championship this season. So every roster spot – and the decisions made around those spots – is crucial. Does New York value veterans over one of their young players like Dadiet (drafted with the 25th pick in 2024 NBA Draft) or Kolek (selected with the 34th overall pick in 2024)? If so, they will probably trade one of them to make room for two of Shamet, Brogdon or Mathews.
As noted Monday, the Knicks have had dialogue with opposing teams as this decision approaches.
New York would obviously need an incredibly high return to even consider moving McBride. McBride is one of their most important rotation players. He is also eligible for an extension at the end of the calendar year (Between Mitchell Robinson’s pending free agency and McBride’s pending extension, the Knicks will have to commit significant money to keep both players in the coming seasons).
Trading Kolek to a team with cap space would give the Knicks enough space to keep two veterans. But the Knicks would not have enough space to add a veteran during the season. Last season, they added PJ Tucker midseason, fitting the veteran just under the second apron. They would like the flexibility to do the same thing (adding a veteran during the season) in 2025-26.
WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT?
You will know what the Knicks decide by 5pm on Saturday. That is the deadline to waive a player on a nonguaranteed deal without taking on any salary. So the Knicks will need to make a decision on Shamet, Brogdon, and Mathews by Saturday evening.
Regular season rosters then need to be set by Oct. 20.
The Knicks can choose to waive all three veterans and enter the season with 14 players on the roster. Teams can dip under the 14-player minimum for two consecutive weeks and 28 days in total.
But that seems unlikely. The Knicks, again, communicated that these veterans were competing for a spot. So the Knicks will probably keep at least one of the veteran players.
BROWN GIVING ASSISTANTS OPPORUNITY TO GROW
During timeouts, Brown has allowed multiple assistants to address the Knicks huddle. You’d expect Brendan O’Connor and Chris Jent to address the group. They are the defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively, for New York this season. But other coaches have had the chance to address the team in a huddle during the preseason. Brown sees it as an opportunity for his coaches to grow.
“I’ve done it quite a bit. Did it with Sacramento. Actually, I got it from Steve (Kerr). When I was with Steve in Golden State, I led the huddle multiple times in multiple games. Throughout the course of a game probably almost 90 percent of the time — I didn’t even tell him what I was about to tell the guys defensively. He had that much trust in me. And it helped me grow,” Brown said Monday. “It helped save (Kerr’s) voice and gave the players another voice to hear. So I did it in Sacramento. I liked it. I’m going to try it here. Our offensive coordinator is Chris Jent. Our defensive coordinator is Brendan O’Connor, BOC. All those guys as well as everybody else, they’ve done a fantastic job coaching, so to give them an opportunity during games is something that I’ll do.”
'He Always Has Good Feedback': Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Details What Conversations Are Like With William Nylander
If there's anyone on the Toronto Maple Leafs who can come out on the good side of adversity, it's William Nylander.
The 29-year-old has four points in his first three games, which, to some, is a good sign. However, his play hasn't been up to the standard it usually is. Despite clipping at over a point per game, Nylander's expected goals sit at 42.68 percent, the sixth-lowest among Maple Leafs, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
Aside from his empty-net goal in the club's season-opening win against the Montreal Canadiens, Nylander hasn't scored for Toronto yet. One of his three assists also came on an empty-netter in that game.
"We need him to obviously score goals, right? That's what he does, but more to his game than that. It's not just on all Willy. It's just, like I said, our guys got to put the puck in the net," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday morning, ahead of their game against the Nashville Predators.
"So that's the side of it that I'm looking at when I talked last night. But it's not all on Willy, it's on all our guys that we depend on the score goals."
Following Toronto's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Berube admitted that he'd like more offense from his second line. Although he briefly mentioned John Tavares, the Maple Leafs' coach preached for Nylander to shoot the puck more.
‘We Need More From Him’: Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube Challenges William Nylander For Offense Following Defeat To Red WingsThe Toronto Maple Leafs fell 3-2 to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena, earning no points in the standings. Despite clawing back from a 2-0 deficit, Detroit's Mason Appleton scored the game-winning goal with 45 seconds left in regulation time.
In three games, the forward has just three shots.
What has Tavares learned about Nylander when Berube pushes him?
"Well, I've always said, that's why I think Willy does tremendously well in this market. I think, (Nylander), more than anyone, will look himself in the mirror, knows maybe that he can do more, he can play better," Tavares said.
"He's one of the best in the league. We're very lucky to have him. We know what he's capable of and his ability to respond, not only when he's challenged from whether it's anyone within our locker room, coaching staff, but just himself and the expectations he has for him, and the standards he set and how great he wants to be night to night, so he responds really well."
What's good about Berube and Nylander's relationship is that the door's always open for discussion. When Berube wants Nylander to play better, he'll let him know. And vice versa when Nylander wants more playing time.
'If You Stick With It, Good Things Will Come': What Easton Cowan Will Remember About His NHL Debut With Maple LeafsAs Easton Cowan skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".
There's always an open line of communication, which can be a positive thing between a coach and one of the NHL's most skilled players.
"I mean, he always has good feedback to be honest with you. He sees things that maybe I don't see that he talks about and where he's at mentally and puck touches and stuff like that," Berube added.
"These guys need to puck in their hands. They want to have the puck, and sometimes they're not getting in enough, so they're not feeling like they're into the game. So those are the types of conversations we have most of the time, just different things like that. They're good (conversations), though.
"I see his perspective where he's coming from that maybe I don't see. I'm not in his head, and what he's feeling and what I'm feeling and what I'm seeing. So I think they're good conversations. It's really good feedback for me, and I just want him to hear me and what I think."
With no lineup changes ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Predators, Nylander will line up again alongside John Tavares and new linemate Matias Maccelli. There's hope that, with a bit of rest following their Monday afternoon game, Toronto's top players can return to the scoresheet in a big way.
Latest stories:
Steven Lorentz All Smiles As Maple Leafs Forward Nears Return To Lineup
Count On Panarin, Zibanejad Charging Rangers Past Oilers in Upset Win
New York's top duo of Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad headline Best Bets options for Tuesday's marquee matchup between the Rangers and Oilers.
Tuesday promises to provide a loaded slate of NHL action on Monday with several marquee matchups including two of the best teams from each of their respective conferences in the New York Rangers hosting the Edmonton Oilers. The Blueshirts have had a mixed start to the season with a 2-2-0 record as they still search for their first home win of the season while the Oilers will go on the road for the first time this season, looking to improve on a 1-0-1 record.
It should set up to be a thrilling night of games with several chances to hit it big and win cash along the way. We're looking to build off a successful beginning to the season as well as some player props from last season in Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck.
All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.
Expect Tavares, Stamkos Scoring in High-Scoring Leafs-Predators ShowdownToronto's John Tavares and Nashville's Steven Stamkos headline Best Bets options for Tuesday's marquee matchup between the Leafs and Predators.
New York Rangers vs Edmonton Oilers Best Bets:
Rangers ML (+115)
Artemi Panarin anytime goal (+190)
Mika Zibanejad Over 0.5 Points (-166)
Oilers Under 3.5 Goals (-153)
The Oilers have dominated this high-scoring matchup with a 9-2-1 record over their last 12 matchups against the Rangers. The majority of the games were high-scoring shootouts with six or more goals scored in six of the past nine clashes. However, two of their last four games in New York have stayed under that mark, making the total a tricky call this time around.
It'll be a risky game when it comes to the total but one thing we know is that Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan doesn't like to lose at home. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he guided the Penguins to two Stanley Cups and maintained a stellar 245-107-39 home record, second only to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who reached three Finals and captured two championships in that span. New York fans have experienced heartache in recent years with their sharp decline from winning the President's trophy down to out of the playoffs the following year.
With Sullivan behind the bench, this team has a new feel to it with many pegging the Rangers as one of the best in the East once again. What’s missing so far is production from their stars as winger Artemi Panarin has yet to score, managing just two assists, while his center Mika Zibanejad has one goal and no helpers.
That could change against a shaky Oilers defense that surrendered four goals to a mediocre Calgary Flames offense in the season opener. Panarin has three goals and ten assists for 13 points over his last eight games against the Oilers while Zibanejad has also excelled in this matchup with seven goals and three assists for ten points over his last 13 games versus Edmonton.
The Rangers should be able to jump out to an early lead and hold it, thanks in part to their upgraded blue line anchored by former Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Widely regarded as one of the league’s premier shutdown defenders, Gavrikov posted a +26 rating last season, among the top 12 in the NHL, while averaging over 23 minutes per game, second-most on Los Angeles. He also led the Kings with 140 blocked shots (36th overall in the league) and logged nearly 270 shorthanded minutes, the third-highest total in the NHL, underscoring his value as an elite penalty killer.
Since joining forces with Adam Fox, the pair has allowed just one goal, and with that level of defensive stability, New York should be equipped to contain Edmonton’s top threats, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and close out the game with a win.
Why New York's Shesterkin Presents Best Case for 2026 Vezina TrophyNew roster additions help Rangers' Igor Shesterkin appear to be the best bet early on in the 2025-6 Vezina trophy race.
Steven Lorentz All Smiles As Maple Leafs Forward Nears Return To Lineup
The Toronto Maple Leafs could have Steven Lorentz back in the lineup as soon as Thursday when the club hosts the New York Rangers.
The forward took part in Toronto’s optional skate, which was limited to players not taking part in Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators (with the lone exception of goaltender Cayden Primeau). It was his second consecutive session since sustaining an upper-body injury when he was hit high by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot in Toronto’s 6-3 loss at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday.
Lorentz looked fully healthy while on the ice, first helping to get Primeau ready for his debut. When he caught The Hockey News taking a video of him, Lorentz offered a quick wink, maintaining his ever-present smile.
— David Alter (@dalter) October 14, 2025
“He was a possibility tonight but I decided not to (play him),” Berube said of Lorentz, who picked up two assists in Toronto’s season-opening 5-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens.
Could Steven Lorentz Return To Maple Leafs' Lineup Against Predators?<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/steven-lorentz-exits-maple-leafs-game-against-red-wings-with-apparent-injury">Steven Lorentz</a> could be back in the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup sooner rather than later.
The Kitchener, Ontario, native first joined the Leafs in 2024-25 on a professional tryout and then signing a one-year, league-minimum $775,000 deal, where he scored eight goals and added 11 assists in 80 games. Lorentz, who grew up cheering for the Leafs, signed a three-year, $4.05 million extension on June 30, 2025. He dressed in all 13 of Toronto’s 2025 playoff games, adding two assists.
Latest stories: