Worldwide Sports News

The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to secure their first win of the preseason on Wednesday night when they travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. 

This will be the Penguins' second preseason game after losing to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout on Monday night. The Penguins released their roster for this game on Tuesday, which features several young players, including Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, Benjamin Kindel, Filip Hallander, Philip Tomasino, and Quinn Beauchesne. 

Koivunen and Hallander may be on a line together after forming some chemistry together on a line during Tuesday's practice.

Broz will likely be in the top six and has had a great September so far. After showing out at the Prospects Challenge, he carried that momentum into camp and was the Penguins' lone goal scorer in their loss against the Canadiens. He has all of his confidence right now and is making a serious push for a full-time spot. 

Fans will also get to see Justin Brazeau suit up as a Penguin for the first time after Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas signed him to a two-year contract when free agency opened on July 1. He was a solid depth scorer last year, finishing with 11 goals and 22 points in 76 games, and hopes to bring that to the Penguins this year. 

The Blue Jackets will be dressing some of their best players in this game, including Sean Monahan, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov, Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner, and Adam Fantilli.

Monahan, Marchenko, and Voronkov are expected to be on the first line, and Jenner and Fantilli are expected to be on the second line. 

Like Monday's game against the Canadiens, this will be a perfect test for some of the young Penguins players who are trying to carve out full-time roles. 

Wednesday's contest will start at 7 p.m. ET and it will be streamed on the Penguins' official website.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

On Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens had two Xhekajs in the lineup: blueliner Arber and center Florian. Playing on the fourth line and seeing 13:49 of ice time, the youngest made an impact and put the organisation on notice that he deserves a real audition.

He skated on the fourth line alongside Luke Tuch and Tyler Thope, two players who will likely spend the year with the Laval Rocket in the AHL, and he still shone brightly. It’s no secret that there aren’t a lot of empty chairs in the Canadiens’ lineup. The one spot that appears to be up for grabs is on the wing of Zack Bolduc and Alex Newhook.

Canadiens: The Xhekajs Have Got The X Factor
Canadiens Prospect Is Already Standing Out
Canadiens: The First Line And A Double Helping Of Xhekaj

On Tuesday night, Joshua Roy got an audition there. He didn’t play poorly; he had an honest game, but he didn’t stand out either. In his best opportunity offensively, he froze on a two-on-one and waited too long to attempt to feed Newhook on a two-on-one, and it was child's play for the defender to intercept the pass.

In both scrimmages, Newhook and Bolduc played alongside Owen Beck. He has been good in the role, played a direct game, as St-Louis would say, but he didn’t exactly stand out. All due respect to Beck, though, he doesn’t bring as much grit and physicality as Xhekaj does.

Beck stands at 6-feet and 197 pounds, while Xhekaj is 6-foot-3 and weighs 217 pounds. The latter gained a significant amount of weight this summer, but he has demonstrated that he can carry it well on the ice and has made himself an even bigger threat in the process.

If training camp serves as a way to evaluate players, then the Canadiens should do their due diligence on Xhekaj and see what he can do playing alongside NHL-level players. Even if he doesn’t manage to crack the opening night lineup and gets sent down to Laval, at least the organization will know what they have in store if they need to call in some reinforcements during the season.

Fallait bin impressionner maman 😌

That was for @SimonaXhekaj

PHI 0, MTL 2#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/91fGA2UdrD

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 23, 2025

Martin St-Louis has said that he wants his team to be harder to play against, not only strategically, but also physically. He quickly added that it’s not just about adding one player who can throw his weight around, but the truth of the matter is, having a player like that in your lineup makes everyone play bigger. That’s something that has always been visible when the older Xhekaj is in the lineup, and the effect would be the same if the younger were there as well.

I’m not saying the Canadiens should pick up fights every time they play, far from it, but we’ve seen in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals just how impactful a player like Tom Wilson will be. The more I watch the youngest Xhekaj, the more I feel like he’s a Wilson in the making. He’s not just a physical threat; he has the skills to put up points as well. He did it last year in the AHL, and he showed it in an exhibition game last night. He deserves a big audition, just as much as Beck and Roy did. There are four preseason games left, that’s ample time to give further auditions. Joe Veleno and Samuel Blais should also get a look.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Each season, the NHL sees multiple players bounce back after tough years. This will undoubtedly be the case yet again in 2025-26. 

Let's look at four NHL forwards who are prime bounce-back candidates to watch during the 2025-26 season.

Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks 

The 2024-25 season was a tough year for Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson. In 64 games, the 6-foot-2 center recorded 15 goals, 45 points and a minus-10 rating. This was after he had 34 goals and 89 points in 82 games with Vancouver in 2023-24 and a career-high 39 goals and 102 points in 2022-23.

Pettersson was in the first year of an eight-year contract carrying an $11.6-million cap hit, and he was already the topic of trade rumors and speculation due to his decreased production and rumored rift with J.T. Miller. After the Canucks traded Miller, Pettersson is Vancouver's clear-cut No. 1 center.

The new season offers Pettersson a clean slate, and the possibility of him bouncing back is there. He's surpassed 60 points in a season in all but two of his seven NHL seasons, is close to a career point-per-game player, and has recovered from injuries that hampered him last year. He should be much better in 2025-26 and return to his top-end form.

Chris Kreider, LW, Anaheim Ducks 

The 2024-25 season was disappointing for the New York Rangers, and it is no secret that Chris Kreider struggled during it. In 68 games with the Blueshirts, he posted 22 goals, eight assists, 30 points and 152 shots. This was after he recorded at least 36 goals, 54 points and 229 shots in each of his previous three seasons.

Now, with Kreider getting a fresh start with the Anaheim Ducks and no longer having trade rumors surrounding him, he is a clear bounce-back candidate to watch. Just back with the Rangers in 2023-24, he recorded 39 goals and 75 points in 82 games. With this, it would not be surprising if his offense rebounds in 2025-26 with Anaheim.

Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators 

Steven Stamkos had a tough first year for his standards with the Nashville Predators in 2024-25. In 82 games, he recorded 27 goals, 53 points and a minus-36 rating. This was after he had 40 goals and 81 points in 79 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023-24.

Considering Stamkos played 16 seasons with the Lightning, it is understandable that he had some struggles hitting the ground running with the Predators.

But Stamkos did seem to improve in the final two months of last season. He had 10 goals and 20 points in 24 games in March and April after being held without a point in February. 

Now that he has completed his first year in Nashville and is more adjusted to the team, it would not be surprising if he bounces back in 2025-26. 

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. 

Trevor Zegras, C, Philadelphia Flyers 

Trevor Zegras was overdue for a change of scenery, and he got one with the Philadelphia Flyers. This comes after he had another injury-affected down season with the Ducks in 2024-25, recording 12 goals and 32 points in 57 games. 

Now that Zegras is on the Flyers, he is undoubtedly a bounce-back candidate to watch. He had two seasons with 23 goals and more than 60 points before injuries got in the way, but his ice time has a chance to increase in Philadelphia under coach Rick Tocchet. At 24 years old, Zegras can get back on track toward becoming an NHL star.

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.

Gabe Perreault has been emerging through the New York Rangers’ preseason and training camp, and it’s hard to ignore. 

Compared to when he arrived in New York at the end of last season, Perreault seems to be more prepared to play at a professional level. 

Through training camp, Perreault has continued to stand out during practices among some already established veterans. 

The 20-year-old forward has already recorded two goals in two preseason games, as he’s making it hard for the Rangers to deny him a roster spot. 

“I just think obviously, Gabe has NHL talent,” Mike Sullivan said. “I think that’s on display. He’s a really talented kid. I think he’s a terrific hockey player… I think he plays with courage. He's willing to go into the battle areas. I think he can get a little bit stronger, and that's going to help him and will help him in that area, but we've been really encouraged with this game.”

The big question is whether Perreault will benefit from playing with the Rangers in a more limited role or with the Hartford Wolf Pack in an expanded role where he’ll get a ton of opportunity.

While Sullivan did not commit to one direction or the other, he believes that in time Perreault will make himself a known commodity in The Big Apple. 

“I think it's important that he gets minutes and that he plays because it's probably in the best interest of his overall development, and in turn, be in the best interest of the New York Rangers,” Sullivan emphasized. “Whether that takes place in New York or in Hartford, will yet to be determined. As I said, we are really encouraged with his game. He seems to get better with each game that he plays. We're trying to reserve judgment and just kind of let the camp unfold here…

Mike Sullivan Will Be Tasked With Bringing Excitement Back To Madison Square Garden For years, Mike Sullivan has been a division rival of the New York Rangers, coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

“The question with young players is, what's the best formula for that player to help him ultimately become the impact player that we all foresee him to be? Is it playing lots of minutes at the American League level, or is it playing at the NHL level? I don't know that there's an exact formula for that. I think that's a little bit of a feeling-out process. I think every player is unique. And so it's kind of a case-by-case basis, based on circumstance. What I will tell you is my impression of him, and just watching him is he's an he's an NHL player in the making.”

Perreault’s status with the Rangers for this season is still in doubt, but if he keeps playing like he has been over the past couple of weeks, it will only be a matter of time before he’s playing in the NHL.

Swedish goaltender Felix Sandström, 28, has signed a short-term contract with Kärpät Oulu as an injury replacement for the Finnish Liiga club.

The contract runs until Nov. 2 and includes an option for Sandström – who has spent the past seven seasons in North America – to leave early should he receive an NHL offer in that time.

“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Sandström is quoted in the club’s announcement. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the team and the city and I can’t wait to get to know everyone.”

Kärpät starting netminder Niklas Rubin was injured this past weekend, leaving 20-year-old Seattle Kraken prospect Visa Vedenpää as the team’s temporary starter.

“We’ve acquired an experienced player to partner with Visa for the next six weeks – one who has played in both the SHL and NHL in his career,” said Kärpät sports director Kimmo Kapanen. “We are pleased that things were able to progress so quickly, and Felix will be able to join the team as early as the end of the week.”

Originally from Gävle, Sweden, Sandström advanced through the ranks of local club Brynäs, turning pro at age 17.

Former Flyers 2nd Rounder Signs In Germany Canadian winger Wade Allison, 27, has signed a one-year contract with the Straubling Tigers, the DEL club announced this weekend.

He was a third-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015 and played in the organization from 2019 to 2024, appearing in 30 NHL games but spending most of that time with the AHL’s Leigh Valley Phantoms. Sandström’s NHL record is 4-18-0 with a 3.66 goals-against average, an .880 save percentage and no shutouts.

Sandström spent the 2024-25 season in the Buffalo Sabres organization, playing 19 AHL games for the Rochester Americans.

Kärpät has won two of its first five Liiga games so far this season. The team’s leading scorer is Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen with six points. It also includes Chicago Blackhawks prospect Janne Peltonen and ex-NHLers Markus Nutivaara, Marcus Björk and Aku Räty.

A club that is used to success in Finland, Kärpät had high expectations for last season but missed the playoffs, causing the club mangement to issue an apology to the fans.

Leafs Prospect Returns Home To Finland Finnish defenseman Roni Hirvonen, 23, has signed a one-year contract with Kärpät Oulu, the Liiga club announced on Monday.

Goaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, and understandably so. 

In July, the Penguins dealt Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks and acquired 24-year-old netminder Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks, and he has looked solid. Young Russian goaltender Sergei Murashov has opened a lot of eyes since training camp last season, and his 2025 camp has led many to believe he has star potential. And, of course, there's Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. 

But there is one guy who probably deserves to get a bit of a light shone on him, too, and that's 27-year-old Filip Larsson. 

Larsson was selected in the sixth round (167th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2016, and after a few successful seasons in Sweden and a standout season with the University of Denver in 2018-19 - he went 13-6-3 with a .932 save percentage, 1.95 goals-against average, and four shutouts - he struggled in the Red Wings' organization in 2019-20 - which included an .843 save percentage in seven games at the AHL level.

After that, he returned to play in Sweden from 2020-24, and he posted save percentages at or above .920 in two consecutive seasons prior to 2024-25 - including a .929 save percentage across five playoff games in 2024 - which earned him a two-year deal with the Penguins the following summer. 

Then, there was last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins, where - for a good chunk of the year - he looked like the organization's best goaltender. An injury in the second half thwarted him a bit, but at the end of the day, he is looking to build off of last season, which concluded with a .910 save percentage and a 12-9-3 record.

Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season.

And his 2024-25 season with WBS proved that he is capable of performing at the highest levels of professional hockey.

“I know I can play at that level, and, obviously, my goal is to take another step this year," Larsson said. "I know there are a lot of really good goalies in the organization right now, so I’ve got to take my chance, wherever that might be."

Larsson acknowledged that he doesn't know where he'll end up for the 2025-26. As highlighted earlier, the goaltending battle in camp is a contested one, and that's not even accounting for Taylor Gauthier - currently out with a longer-term injury - who put up better ECHL numbers than even Murashov last season.

5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training CampOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins officially opened training camp for the 2024-25 season. And through three days, there has been a lot of action.

But, if anything, Larsson knows who he is as a goaltender. He also knows what he can work on to try and separate himself and add more to his repertoire, which is something that will be required if he hopes to make a push for the NHL roster at some point this season.

"A few things I can work on... obviously, when I watch NHL games, [I see] how really good some NHL goalies are with playing the puck. I think I can be better with that. I mean, our goalie coach [Kain Tisi] in Wilkes talked a lot about that last year, so that’s one area, I think, for the season.”

The biggest challenge for Larsson in camp this season - and as the season progresses, wherever he finds himself - is that he doesn't have the benefit of being a young, inexperienced goaltender anymore. Unlike Murashov, Silovs, and Blomqvist - who still have a lot of runway left in front of them - it's pertinent for Larsson to make an impact and an impression now if he hopes to be part of the organization's plans moving forward - especially as the team steers itself back toward contention.

And this is especially true for a new coaching staff that is coming into the fold with a clean slate. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas also said in his pre-season press conference that performances in camp and in pre-season - and, to a smaller degree, what they deem is best for each player's development - will "determine who the two goalies are to start with the Penguins."

Larsson will get his first chance to prove himself in game action when the Penguins visit the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET. And, even if he knows what he needs to work on in order to make himself stand out, he also knows what he's already good at - and he can use those strengths to his advantage against NHL-caliber competition.

“I feel like I have that calmness to read plays really well and be in the right position all the time," Larsson said. "I’m not a goalie who wants to slide to the boards when I make a save. I want to be in the right position every time. I feel like if I can continue doing that to be ahead of plays, that’s a huge play to get to the next step."

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

There have been several stories written about Arseny Gritsyuk this preseason. As the New Jersey Devils’ most anticipated prospect, it makes sense. From his strong offensive showing in the first preseason game to his work ethic in practice, the 24-year-old Russian has gained plenty of attention.

But his name is also making the rounds for another reason: his social media.

Now, he’s not the next Nikita Popugayev. Gritsyuk isn’t planning to ditch the Devils for a career as an influencer, so no need to panic there. Still, his posts have gained traction, drawing positive attention as the young forward looks to secure a spot on the Devils roster.

Gritsyuk has taken to Telegram, a platform described as:

“A free, cloud-based instant messaging app that allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and large files, join large groups, and subscribe to channels for news and content.”

He posts in Russian, sharing his thoughts as he begins his NHL journey.

When he traveled from Russia to North America in September, he documented the three-leg trip online. Since then, he has kept fans updated throughout training camp. On September 18, ahead of Day 1, he posted a selfie with the caption:

“Off to my first training session 👍 I'll tell you how it went a little later 🤙”

Later that day, he followed up:

“Today I skated with Cotter and Lammikko ))) The first ice was tough, we ran and caught our breath. Tomorrow is a new day and new exercises, we'll see how it goes 👍 For now, I'm going home to rest 😉 Hello everyone, and have a nice evening 🤙”

On September 20, before his first NHL preseason game, he shared:

“I'm reporting to you that I skated on a line with Cotter and Glass today, and of course, me too. Tomorrow we play the Rangers at 1 p.m.; it's exciting to test my skills against other teams! Now, as usual, we're heading home and relaxing. Thank goodness, no cooking today 😂 Have a good evening everyone! A hug and a warm welcome 👋”

After the game, he reflected:

“So, I have to share my impressions ))) To say it was hard is an understatement 😂 Yes, it really was very hard + I was a little nervous, but from the second period onwards I seemed to feel more confident. And the scoring started, the 1+1 looks great, and I'm happy with that, but starting with a loss, even in preseason, is still unpleasant. Now I have time to rest, analyze what happened today, and prepare for the future 🤙 Thank you all so much for your support))) Hugs and raises”

Ahead of last night’s win against the New York Islanders, he wrote:

“Getting ready for the Islanders game tonight at 7:00 ))) I'm playing on the 4th line with Lammikko and Halonen today! It's a little easier emotionally, but I'm still a little nervous. I hope it'll all be better after I get some sleep 😉 I gave everyone a big hug and a lift 🙃”

Following the 6–2 victory, he posted again:

“Good afternoon everyone, I'm already going to bed ))) Today we played our second preseason game against the Islanders and won 6-2. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to score, but I had good efficiency and played for the team 😂💪 Today I certainly felt better and calmer 😇 We'll work on finishing, and now I'm off to bed 🤙 I gave everyone a big hug 😂”

These posts don’t just add a lighthearted note to training camp; they give fans a direct line into his experience as he pushes for a roster spot.

His personality shines through, consistently optimistic and engaging, and it’s winning people over quickly. With his play on the ice and his approachable off-ice presence, Gritsyuk is setting himself up to become a fan favorite for the New Jersey Devils.

The second weekend of the WHL season will feature plenty of familiar faces. With NHL teams reassigning players after training camp, some of the WHL's best will make their 2025-26 season debuts this week. Here is a look at which players have been reassigned to the WHL. 

Brandon Wheat Kings:

• Brady Turko-  Anaheim Ducks 
• Carter Klippenstein- Minnesota Wild

Calgary Hitmen

• Brandon Gorzynski- Dallas Stars 
• Axel Hurtig- Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oil Kings:

• Blake Fiddler- Seattle Kraken camp
• Max Curran- Colorado Avalanche
• Adam Jecho- St. Louis Blues

Everett Silvertips:

• Julius Miettinen- Seattle Kraken
• Tarin Smith- Anaheim Ducks
• Shea Busch- Florida Panthers 

Kamloops Blazers:

• Tommy Lafreniere- Edmonton Oilers
• Nathan Bhem- Chicago Blackhawks

Kelowna Rockets:

• Tomas Poletin- New York Islanders
• Nate Corbet- Los Angeles Kings
• Hiroki Gojsic- Nashville Predators
• Mazden Leslie- Vegas Golden Knights

Medicine Hat Tigers:

• Kadon McCann- Calgary Flames

• Nillio Muhonen- Dallas Stars
• Jordan Switzer- Calgary Flames
• Veeti Väisänen- Utah Mammoth

Portland Winterhawks:

• Max Pšenička- Utah Mammoth

Prince Albert Raiders:

• Max Heise- San Jose Sharks

Prince George Cougars:

• Corbin Vaughan- New York Rangers
• Josh Ravensbergen- San Jose Sharks

Red Deer Rebels:

• Jaxon Fuder- Dallas Stars
• Chase Wutzke- Minnesota Wild

Saskatoon Blades:

• Evan Gardner- Columbus Blue Jackets
• David Lewandowski- Edmonton Oilers

Seattle Thunderbirds:

• Coster Dunn- Utah Mammoth

Swift Current Broncos:

• Joshua McGregor- Carolina Hurricanes

Tri-City Americans: 

• Charlie Elick- Columbus Blue Jackets
• Jaxen Adam- Edmonton Oilers
• Cash Koch- Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Giants:

• Cameron Schmidt- Dallas Stars
• Burke Hood- New York Islanders

Wenatchee Wild:

• Blake Vanek- Ottawa Senators

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News. 

Edmonton, Spokane, Everett & Kelowna Named To 2025-26 CHL Top-10 Week 1 Rankings

Rudolph Ready For Second WHL Season With Prince Albert Raiders

Vancouver Giants Defenceman Ryan Lin Named To Team CHL For 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Red Deer Rebels' Chase Wutzke Signs ELC With The Minnesota Wild

Standouts From Week 1 Of The 2025-26 WHL Season