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Early Injuries To Key Sabres Players Can't Be An Excuse For Buffalo To Fail This Season

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

We said it earlier this summer, on more than one occasion – if the Buffalo Sabres intend on ending their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years, they can’t afford to let the injury bug take a major bite out of their roster. Obviously, that’s something that only the Hockey Gods can control, but the Sabres simply don’t have the organizational depth to withstand the damage if someone meaningful is sidelined for a notable stretch of time.

With that in mind, if you’re a Sabres fan, you have ample reason to begin the season concerned for the Sabres on the health front. Because on Friday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff revealed the news – Buffalo No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and defenseman Michael Kesselring would begin the year in the injury ward. Luukkonen is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Kesselring is also out week-to-week, this because of an undisclosed injury. 

In both cases, the Sabres had notable expectations for Luukkonen and Kesselring. Kesselring was on course to play on Buffalo’s second defense pairing after the Sabres acquired him this summer in the J.J. Peterka trade. The goaltending picture is a little easier for Buffalo management to handle, given there’s three other goalies – Alex Lyon, Devon Levi and Alexandar Georgiev – to potentially step up in Luukkonen’s absence, and given that the Sabres don’t want to put the weight of the world on youngster Levi’s shoulders, you have to assume Lyon and Georgiev will begin the year as Buffalo’s two goalies.

Of course, that plan could be entirely out the window if the Sabres can’t get solid performances out of Lyon and Georgiev. Buffalo’s desperation to be a playoff team this year could mean they do turn to Levi at some point – especially if Luukonen can’t return to the form he showed only a couple of seasons ago. A netminding crisis will almost assuredly cause Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to panic – and rightfully so, as his job security depends on it – and Levi will probably be their last line of defense to salvage their season.

As it stands, the Sabres are trying not to make eye contact with the injury bug and be 100 percent healthy once Luukkonen and Kesselring return to action. But coming out of the gate with two pieces of the puzzle on the sidelines is not a great harbinger on how things are going to unfold for them the rest of the way. 

Sabres Should Be Looking Into Trading For One Of These Maple Leafs Forwards-On-The-BlockSabres Should Be Looking Into Trading For One Of These Maple Leafs Forwards-On-The-BlockThe Toronto Maple Leafs are about to finish their 2025-26 training camp, and as it happens, the Maple Leafs are very deep at every position -- but certainly, the most depth they've got is on the wings. And as we'll exploain, we're telling you this because the Buffalo Sabres should be looking into acquiring into one of a few veteran Leafs wingers in particular: right winger/center Calle Jarnkrok, and left-wingers David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

There’s still 82 games to be played by the Sabres, and who knows – maybe this early adversity is a rallying point for Buffalo. Maybe they show the expectations on them have been unfairly lowered. Right now, there’s still plenty of time left for them to be the authors of their destiny.

That said, nobody will care to hear Buffalo’s excuses if injuries do cause the Sabres’ playoff hopes to dwindle and die on the vine. This is a bottom-line business the Sabres are in, and if their playoff drought extends to a 15th consecutive season, Buffalo won’t be able to couch it with lines like “moral victory” or any kind of victory, for that matter.

Sabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearSabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearThe Buffalo Sabres need a lot of things to go right for them to be a Stanley Cup playoff team this coming season. They need their goalies to pan out with strong performances. They need star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to put on a defensive clinic and carrry Buffalo to a strong defensive game. And one thing could also be the difference between the Sabres missing or making the 2026 playoffs -- namely, the play of Buffalo's second line of forwards: center Ryan McLeod, and wingers Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker.

Healthy or unhealthy, the Sabres are going to be judged this year only by the bottom line in the wins and losses department. They’ve got to make do with whomever’s healthy enough to play, and let the chips fall where they may. 

And the ramifications that will follow will be well-earned, one way or another.

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Yesavage sets Blue Jays postseason record with 11 Ks, Toronto thumps Yankees 13-7 in ALDS Game 2

TORONTO (AP) — Rookie Trey Yesavage set a Blue Jays postseason record by striking out 11 in 5 1/3 no-hit innings, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit the first postseason grand slam in team history and Toronto beat the New York Yankees 13-7 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the ALDS.

Daulton Varsho had two home runs among his four extra base hits, and Ernie Clement and George Springer also both homered as Toronto reached double figures in hits (15) and runs for the second straight game.

The Blue Jays had three home runs among their 14 hits Saturday in a 10-1 victory. They have as many home runs (eight) as strikeouts (seven) through two games.

Varsho went 4 for 5 with two doubles, scored four runs and drove in four. Guerrero went 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Cody Bellinger homered and drove in three runs and Ben Rice had two hits and two RBIs in a five-run seventh but Toronto won for the eighth time in nine home meetings with New York. The Blue Jays went 2-4 in six games at Yankee Stadium, where the series shifts for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Yesavage (1-0) was selected by Toronto with the No. 20 pick last year in the amateur draft. The 22-year-old right-hander rose through four minor league levels this season before joining the Blue Jays and going 1-0 in three September starts.

Yesavage needed fewer than four innings to beat Toronto’s previous record for postseason strikeouts, eight, held by Dave Steib, David Price (twice) and Juan Guzmán.

Known for his elite split-finger fastball, Yesavage set a Blue Jays record by striking out nine Rays batters in his Sept. 15 debut. Eight of his 11 strikeouts Sunday came on the splitter. The other three came on fastballs that reached 96 mph.

Yesavage opened the game by striking out Trent Grisham on a splitter. He walked Aaron Judge on four pitches, then fanned Bellinger and Rice to start a streak of 12 straight outs that ended when Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached on Guerrero’s fielding error in the fifth.

Yesavage responded by getting Ryan McMahon to pop up and fanning Anthony Volpe for his 11th strikeout.

Yesavage struck out six straight over the third and fourth innings as Volpe, Austin Wells, Grisham, Judge, Bellinger and Rice were retired.

Left-hander Justin Bruihl came on to face Grisham after Yesavage threw 78 pitches, 48 for strikes. Manager John Schneider was booed as he came out to remove Yesavage with Toronto leading 12-0. The crowd of 44,7564 then roared until Yesavage came out for a curtain call, lifting his arms over his head at the top of the dugout steps.

Bruihl retired Grisham on a grounder before Judge reached on an infield single for New York’s first hit. Bellinger followed with a homer.

Yankees left-hander Max Fried (0-1) allowed seven runs and eight hits in 3-plus innings. He gave up seven runs in 33 1/3 innings in five September starts.

Fried went 11-1 with a 1.82 ERA in 16 starts after a Yankees loss in the regular season, but suffered another difficult start in Toronto. He was 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two regular season road starts against the Blue Jays, giving up 10 runs, eight earned, five walks and nine hits, including two home runs.

Up next

Toronto RHP Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, is scheduled to start against Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón in Tuesday’s Game 3. Bieber went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in seven starts after returning from elbow surgery in August. Rodón allowed three runs and four hits in Game 2 of the Wild Card round against Boston, striking out six in six innings.

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Max Fried rocked, Yankees' late charge not enough in 13-7 loss to Blue Jays in Game 2 of ALDS

The savages in the box were no match for rookie Trey Yesavage, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. blasted the first grand slam in Toronto history and the Blue Jays hammered the Yankees, 13-7, Sunday in Game 2 of their American League Division Series. 

The Blue Jays, who bullied Yankee starter Max Fried, are in full control of the series and can eliminate the Yankees when the best-of-five affair resumes Tuesday for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. 

Toronto has outscored the Yankees, who had the best offense in baseball this season, 23-8, so far in the series, though the Yanks made a late charge to make the final deficit Sunday a tad more tidy. Perhaps that gives them some oomph heading into Game 3.

Here are the main takeaways...

-- It was a nightmare outing for Fried, who has been the Yankee ace all season. He had been so good in starts following a Yankee loss – 11-1, 1.82 ERA in 16 such starts – but he was no stopper on Sunday. Fried was charged with seven runs over three-plus innings while giving up eight hits, walking two and striking out one.

He allowed a two-run homer to the Jays’ Ernie Clement. It was a far cry from Fried’s first outing of the postseason – 6.1 scoreless frames against the Red Sox in last week’s playoff opener. Should the Yankees rally to force a Game 5, Fried would get another chance in this series – with two off-days between now and then, Fried could start on regular rest. You know, if. 

-- Guerrero had struggled in his first six games of postseason play in his career, but the Toronto star has changed that narrative in a hurry. He’s on fire in this series. After homering and going 3-for-4 in the opening game, he smashed the first grand slam in Jays' postseason history Sunday. His blast, measured at 111 mph off the bat, traveled 415 feet to left field and upped the Jays’ absurd lead to 9-0. Guerrero victimized Will Warren on the blast, crushing a 95.8-mph fastball. 

-- Daulton Varsho had a huge day for the Blue Jays, too. He doubled twice off Fried and homered twice off Warren. He might have been on cycle watch early in the game save for a scorer’s call on his first double. He ripped the ball down the right-field line, a sure extra-base hit, and the ball caromed off the side wall and Aaron Judge missed it. Varsho got to third because of that and he was credited with a double, advancing to third only because of what was scored an error on Judge. Varsho finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored.

-- Yesavage, who turned 22 in July, is a great story. He was drafted in 2024 out of East Carolina and began this season in Single-A before ascending through four different levels of the Toronto system to reach the majors in September. He was just the third pitcher ever to make a postseason start within his first four MLB appearances, including the playoffs. Shane Baz (2021) and Matt Moore (2011), both of the Rays, are the others. 

Jays manager John Schneider said earlier in the series that he decided to have Yesavage pitch at home instead of Shane Bieber. Bieber, a veteran, would be more likely to handle a hostile environment at Yankee Stadium, so he’ll start Game 3 there on Tuesday. 

-- The Yankees were perhaps at an extreme disadvantage in that they had not seen Yesavage before and he has a distinctive arm angle with a high release point over the top. He was 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA in three September starts for the Jays and his plunging splitter is a marvel. It certainly was on Sunday when he used it to great effect – eight of his strikeouts were finished by a diving split. He got 18 swings-and-misses, according to Statcast, 11 of them on splitters. 

-- The Rogers Centre has been the Horror Centre for the Yankees this year. They are 1-8 at the Blue Jays’ nest and played some of their sloppiest baseball of the season there over the summer. But it wasn’t as humiliating as this. And the Yankees were the second-best road team in the majors this season, a fact that was overwhelmed by the Blue Jays being the AL’s top home team, apparently. 

-- The Yankees trailed, 12-0, entering the sixth inning before they finally got their first hit and got on the scoreboard. Judge broke through with an infield single and then Cody Bellinger smacked a two-run homer. Both came off reliever Justin Bruihl. It was the 10th postseason home run of Bellinger’s career. 

-- The Yankees scored five times in the seventh inning to creep closer. With the bases loaded and one out, Judge blooped an RBI single to center. Bellinger hit a ball down the left-field line that could have been big trouble, but Myles Straw made a terrific sliding catch near the side wall. Still, the Yanks got a run on what was a sac fly. Then Ben Rice whacked an RBI double and Giancarlo Stanton, who had been 2-for-18 in the series, hit a two-run single to left, drawing the Yankees within 13-7. 

-- George Springer homered for the Jays in the fifth inning, his 20th career postseason homer. That ties him with Derek Jeter for fifth all-time. 

-- Warren allowed six runs, including four home runs, on seven hits over 4.2 innings of relief. At the very least, he provided some bulk innings to give the Yankee bullpen some rest. Luke Weaver, who had not retired any of the six batters he’d faced so far in the postseason, got the final out of the eighth inning, inducing a flyout to left by Varsho. 

-- Judge (2-for-3) was on base four times for the Yanks, including two walks. He is batting .444 this postseason. 

Game MVP: Trey Yesavage

Yesavage, a righty who threw 5.1 scoreless innings and allowed no hits. He had 11 strikeouts – a Toronto record for a postseason game – and walked only one. Not bad for a guy who started the season in Single-A.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Blue Jays head to New York for Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday at 8:08 p.m.

Carlos Rodon (18-9, 3.09 ERA) will face Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA) in the elimination game.

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Cutdown Day: Kaliyev Among Seven Ottawa Senators Ticketed For Belleville

With the preseason now in the books, the Ottawa Senators cut their roster from 31 to 24 players on Sunday afternoon, with seven players ticketed for the AHL's Belleville Senators.

Stephen Halliday is waivers-exempt, so he's been loaned directly to Belleville. Jan Jenik, Hayden Hodgson, Olle Lycksell, Arthur Kaliyev, Lassi Thomson and Mads Sogaard have been put on waivers for the purpose of a loan to the B-Sens.

Many fans today are pointing to last fall when Adam Gaudette was placed on waivers at the end of camp, yet he still made the Senators’ opening-night NHL roster. But that's not likely to happen with any of today’s assignments, which are specifically labelled for the "purpose of being loaned to Belleville."  According to Puckpedia, Gaudette didn't have that label when he was waived last year.

So, all seven of these players are expected to report to Belleville if/after they clear waivers, and that leaves just one extra player in camp that the Sens have to let go before Monday’s 5:00 p.m. deadline because the NHL's maximum roster size is 23.

Tyler Kleven and Drake Batherson are still dinged up right now, so the Sens are probably waiting for one more day of healing before making the decision on who their last cut will be.

For example, if Batherson is still hurt, MacDermid would likely move into the starting 12 for Thursday’s opener. At the same time, the team probably wouldn't want to head for a two-game Florida road trip this week with no extra forward. So one of the forwards who was placed on waivers today would probably be recalled for the trip. If that happens, the Sens might keep one fewer defenseman than they were planning.

That’s just one of the potential variables, and there’s nothing to say the Sens couldn’t decide to roster 22 players if they choose and go with just one extra D and one extra forward.

If nothing else, Kleven and Batherson are close to returning — even if they miss opening night. So the last cut between now and tomorrow is likely a defenseman, and we’re still of the opinion that Carter Yakemchuk will end up in Belleville, where he’ll get to play big, important minutes.

With today's news, here's what a sample lineup might look like if they go with a full 23-man roster.

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux

Fabian Zetterlund – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson

Ridly Greig – Shane Pinto – David Perron

Nick Cousins – Lars Eller – Michael Amadio

Kurtis MacDermid (extra)

Defence

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub

Thomas Chabot – Nick Jensen

Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence

Nikolas Matinpalo (extra #1) – Donovan Sebrango (extra #2)

Goalies

Linus Ullmark - Leevi Merilainen

The Senators open the 2025-26 regular season in Tampa Bay on Thursday night, taking on the Lightning.

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Reviewing Four Of The Nastiest Moments From Senators–Canadiens Game On Tuesday
Brady Tkachuk On Starring In Prime Video Show: 'I'm An Open Book To Begin With'
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
Sens Goalie Linus Ullmark Says He Enjoys The Struggle

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Chase Stillman: A Fresh Start And A Chance To Prove Himself With The Vancouver Canucks

When Chase Stillman learned he’d been traded to the Vancouver Canucks organization this summer, it was unexpected but exciting. Rather than dwelling on the uncertainty of being moved, not once, but twice in the same season, the 22-year-old forward is choosing to focus on what it represents: opportunity.

“It was awesome,” Stillman said. “Obviously, getting traded twice in the same season is a lot on a player, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to look at it as someone wanting you. I got traded for a pretty important piece on the team last year, so it’s clear they see me as high value.”

That mindset —resilient, grounded, and optimistic — has defined Stillman’s approach to his career so far. The American-born winger, originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, joins the Canucks organization that prizes speed, grit, and relentless competition. After a strong showing at training camp, Stillman began the year in Abbotsford, where he’s eager to establish himself as a key piece of the team’s forward group.

“I just want to get my foot in the door and play in the NHL,” Stillman said. “Regardless of what that takes or what kind of player I have to be to get there. That’s the goal this year. It’s a brand new season, zeros across the board, so I’m just trying to enjoy the process.”

Over the summer, Stillman focused on building both his physical strength and mental resilience. He trained with his agency’s development group alongside other pros, sharpening his skating and conditioning, but he admits the mental reset was just as important.

“It was a tough start to last year, for sure,” he reflected. “But mentally, I’ve been working on building back my confidence and remembering that every season is a clean slate. I’ve been really excited about coming here. The fans are great, and obviously, Canada loves their hockey.”

Stillman’s enthusiasm for Vancouver is palpable, and he’s already experienced a taste of what’s to come. “I played in the exhibition game here in Abbotsford, and it was pretty rowdy,” he laughed. “I’m excited to see what it’s like during the regular season for sure.”

Hockey runs deep in the Stillman family. His father, Cory, played over 1,000 NHL games and won two Stanley Cups, while his brother, Riley, is a defenceman in the Buffalo Sabres organization. When asked if his brother had any advice about playing in Vancouver, Chase smiled.

Chase Stillman of the Abbotsford Canucks (Photo Credit: @abbycanucks on

“Yeah, he said the fans really like their hockey here. Regardless of what you do or what your job is, if you do your job really well, you’re going to be liked. There’s no better feeling than when you’ve got fans that love the way you play.”

For Stillman, that’s what this new chapter is about: proving himself to a new city, a new organization, and to the fans who fill the stands. “I just want to show them that I’m a fun player to watch,” he said. “That I can do a lot of things on the ice. I’m excited to get going.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Al Horford demonstrates how he can elevate Warriors in preseason win vs. Lakers

Al Horford demonstrates how he can elevate Warriors in preseason win vs. Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Al Horford, 39, knows he’s old by NBA standards. He doesn’t sweat it, nor do the Warriors. If his regular season looks anything like his performance on Sunday, neither should the good citizens of Dub Nation.

Horford came off the bench for 14 hyperactive minutes in a 111-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Golden State’s preseason opener at Chase Center. He scored only three points, a triple that splashed neatly through the net, but the rest of his game put skeptics on alert.

The 6-foot-9 forward/center had four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. Moreover, he was plus-13 for his effort.

“Fun,” coach Steve Kerr said of Horford’s showing. “To see the size and the shooting ability, passing ability, just the flow of the game. What an addition he is.”

Horford earned the right to join fellow veterans Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green as spectators once the halftime buzzer sounded.

When Moses Moody picked up three fouls in the first three minutes, Horford hopped off the bench and took the floor, receiving a warm ovation from the sellout crowd. He immediately went to work.

Horford was sprinting the floor. Bouncing about the paint. Rotating with ease and timing. He slides over to trap Bronny James and comes away with a steal. When Nate Williams pump-fakes Draymond Green out of position, Horford rotates over and uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan for the block.

“It’s more a sign of his basketball IQ than it is him flying around trying to impress anybody,” Kerr said. “He’s just always in the right spot. He had (three) blocked shots. The two that I remember, he just rotated over perfectly, recognized the late shot clock, knew exactly where he was, what he needed to do. He’s been around for a long time, he’s seen everything, and it comes very naturally to him.”

For all that Kevon Looney gave this franchise, this was an 18-year veteran, with more comprehensive skills, making spectacular plays, and nobody appreciated it more than Curry, who turned a Horford dime into an easy bucket.

“Obviously has a high IQ,” Curry said. “An experienced, championship-caliber player that can fit with any lineup out there. He gives us space. He gives us presence on the defensive end. You saw the pass he made to me out of the corner on the give-and-go. There’s just an unspoken chemistry that will continue to get better.

“He’s a multidimensional as a 5-man. Excited to see what that looks like for me, for Jimmy, for JK and Draymond. Any lineup, you can throw him out there at the 5 and he lifts the group.”

Horford spent time with most of the team’s rotation players, and even shared the court with fellow center Quinten Post. That probably won’t be last time Kerr resorts to utilizing two big men together.

Though Horford was not in the starting lineup, he still projects as the likely starter at center. He certainly will be in the finishing lineup.

No player in franchise history has been projected as a starter at such an advanced age, so initial concern about Horford’s health is valid. Any concern about his conditioning, however, should be put to rest. Not one of his teammates brought more velocity.

Horford played 60 games, with 42 starts, last season with the Celtics, as planned by coach Joe Mazzulla. He hasn’t played more than 70 games since appearing in 72 in 2017-18. He averaged 27.7 minutes last season, 26.8 the year before.

The Warriors will follow a similar regimen.

“We’ll do the same thing,” Kerr said. “We have to preserve all our older guys as best we can to have them ready for the playoffs. That’s the idea.

“But no question, he’s still got it. He’s incredible player. Great fit for us.”

It’s a preseason game. The opener. But there was not one clumsy moment for Horford. The pro looked like a pro with enough game to render his age irrelevant.

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4 Former Flyers Placed On Waivers

Cal Petersen (© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

With the 2025-26 NHL regular season almost here, several players were placed on waivers on Oct. 5. The Philadelphia Flyers were one of the clubs involved, as they placed newcomer Carl Grundstrom on waivers shortly after acquiring him from the San Jose Sharks. 

Yet, four former Flyers have also been placed on waivers, as Cal Petersen (Minnesota Wild), Tyler Pitlick (Wild), Erik Gustafsson (Detroit Red Wings), and Olle Lycksell (Ottawa Senators) have all hit the wire. 

Petersen signed with the Wild this summer. This was after he had a 13-15-3 record, a .885 save percentage, and a 3.14 goals-against average in 31 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2024-25. In five games with the Flyers in 2023-24, he had a 2-2-0 record, a .864 save percentage, and a 3.90 goals-against average. 

Pitlick also signed with the Wild during the summer. In 63 games with the Flyers during the 2019-20 season, he posted eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points, and a plus-11 rating. 

Gustafsson is entering his second season with the Red Wings, where he carries a $2 million cap hit. In 24 games with the Flyers during the 2020-21 season, he recorded one goal, 10 points, and a minus-2 rating. 

As for Lycksell, he signed with the Senators this summer. In 45 games over three NHL seasons with the Flyers from 2022-23 to 2024-25, he recorded one goal, 11 points, 14 hits, and 16 blocks. 

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2 Former Canadiens Placed On Waivers

Michael Pezzetta (© Kim Klement-Imagn Images)

The NHL saw several players around the league be placed on waivers on Oct. 5. The Montreal Canadiens were one of the many teams that placed players on waivers, as Sammy Blais and Kaapo Kahkonen hit the wire.

Two former Canadiens are also available to be potentially claimed, as the Carolina Hurricanes have placed Cayden Primeau on waivers, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Michael Pezzetta on waivers. 

Primeau's time with the Canadiens organization came to an end this off-season, as he was traded to the Hurricanes in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick back in June. This was after he had a 2-3-1 record, an .836 save percentage, and a 4.70 goals-against average in 11 games with the Canadiens last season. He also had a 21-2-2 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 1.96 goals-against average in 26 AHL games with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25.

In 55 games over six seasons with the Canadiens, Primeau had a 13-24-7 record, an .884 save percentage, and a 3.69 goals-against average. 

Pezzetta, on the other hand, signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs this off-season. This was after he recorded zero points, 24 penalty minutes, 73 hits, and a minus-2 rating in 25 games with the Canadiens last season. 

In 200 games over four seasons with the Canadiens, Pezzetta posted 15 goals, 23 assists, 38 points, 241 penalty minutes, and 710 hits. 

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Flyers Preseason Stock Up, Stock Down: Chemistry and Causes for Concern

(Photo: Eric Canha, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers finished the 2025 preseason with a 3-4-0 record, needing a shootout to achieve each of those three wins. Despite some new players impressing, there are causes for concern, too.

Chief among those concerns is the performance of the defense, especially the third defense pairing, as the group continues to adjust to the new Box +1 system preferred by Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet.

The Flyers already waived Dennis Gilbert on Saturday, so the final three roster spots on defense, at least for now, are going to Adam Ginning, Egor Zamula, and free agent addition Noah Juulsen.

Stock Up: Adam Ginning

A disastrous preseason and training camp last year left many, including myself, thinking Ginning, 25, was effectively done for at the NHL level with the Flyers.

Ginning appeared in just one NHL game for the Flyers last season and played a measly eight minutes, but a solid AHL campaign and offseason have put him right back where he was at the end of 2023-24.

The Flyers' former second-round pick won't be mistaken for Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes, but he has the size the team wants at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and uses that size far more effectively than Zamula, for example.

I still have reservations about Ginning's ability to move the puck, but he's no more mistake-prone than Zamula in that regard while being a substantially more physical and quicker (relative to his size) player.

He's earned his spot on this roster, though we'll have to see if he keeps it when Rasmus Ristolainen returns from injury.

Stock Down: Egor Zamula

Those of you who have followed my coverage of the Flyers on here often know that I was skeptical of Tocchet's patience for Zamula's play, and it seems that Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Islanders pushed Tocchet over the hump.

Injured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityInjured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityIn what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk is, unfortunately, missing out on a big opportunity.

Zamula, 25, has squarely lost his spot to Ginning and has shown little development over the last two seasons, and he's prone to turnovers and doesn't use his size.

Zamula already carries a $1.7 million cap hit and is on an expiring deal, like Ginning; I can't see him re-signing and/or earning a raise unless he can completely turn over a new leaf by April.

Stock Up: Nikita Grebenkin

Seemingly everyone's favorite Flyers rookie, Nikita Grebenkin has quickly endeared himself to Flyers fans and the coaching staff with his slick playmaking, underrated zone entry skills, and dominant presence around the opponent's net.

The 22-year-old former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has produced in a variety of roles up and down the lineup, at times featuring with Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink.

Grebenkin can be a little over-zealous with his stickhandling and passing at times, but it's refreshing to see a young Flyers player try to make plays at every opportunity.

The 6-foot-2 winger also had two screens to help his teammates score goals in as many games to finish the preseason, which should help him establish a foothold on one of the power play units with time.

Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'While it's still early, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

As Grebenkin continues to learn the game, adjust to the language barrier, and clean up some miscues, he could easily become a formidable top-six support winger for the Flyers.

Stock Up: Dan Vladar

As far as goaltending goes, I feel that Dan Vladar had a better season overall than Sam Ersson, at least as far as shot-stopping goes.

I was skeptical of the Flyers signing the 28-year-old to a two-year deal in the summer when they are clearly prioritizing the development of their prospects, which still, apparently, includes Aleksei Kolosov, but Vladar has looked legit.

The former Calgary Flame and Boston Bruin did have a miscue in Saturday's preseason win against the New Jersey Devils, mishandling the puck behind his net and allowing Arseny Gritsyuk to feed Paul Cotter for a slam-dunk score that gave the Devils a temporary 3-2 lead in the third period.

As for the other goals, though? Vladar had no chance on the Kevin Rooney deflection and was hung out to dry when Shane Lachance connected with Lenni Hameenaho on a back-door pass on the power play.

Right now, Ersson probably still starts for the Flyers on opening night, but Vladar is certainly going to push for 50% or more of the starts this season, health willing.

Stock Down: Owen Tippett

To say this is a big year for Owen Tippett would be an understatement, but equal onus should be placed upon the Flyers to put him in a position to succeed.

The 26-year-old played with Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, and Travis Konecny, respectively, to finish the preseason, but those combinations don't work. Why?

Simply put, Tippett is at his best when he generates his own offense with his legs, but often settles for low-danger looks rather than getting in position for high-danger looks.

Stats via Moneypuck.

The Flyers are right for trying to get him more of those high-danger looks with players like Zegras and Michkov, but Tippett would be at his best driving the offense for Cates and Brink, for example.

He can still hit and check and has improved enough defensively to be utilized on the penalty kill, where he can also find some scoring opportunities by using his legs to latch onto breakaways.

Tippett is basically the Jaromir Jagr of Daniel Sprongs--he has considerable offensive talent, but there's a reason the top-six isn't calling for him.

Right now, the chemistry with those top-six players isn't there, and I like Tippett's game more when he plays with guys like Cates and Jett Luchanko.

Yes, the former No. 10 pick is just one year removed from a 28-goal, 53-point campaign, but that was before the days of Michkov and Porter Martone.

The Flyers' $49.6 million man will need to adapt to stay in Philadelphia long-term; his 10-team no-trade list will come into effect on July 1, 2026.

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Penguins Assign Five Players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton On Sunday

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed five players on waivers on Saturday in their attempt to finalize their 23-man roster ahead of Monday's deadline. 

Defensemen Alexander Alexeyev and Ryan Graves, plus forwards Sam Poulin, Boko Imama, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard were placed on waivers but didn't get claimed by another team. They've now been assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are having their training camp and preseason right now.

The Penguins signed Alexeyev and Harvey-Pinard during free agency in July, and they could be call-up options from WBS if some injuries arise during the season. 

Imama made his Penguins' debut last season and scored one goal in 16 games. He's great in the locker room and can be a physical presence on the ice. 

Poulin has been with the organization since 2019 when the Penguins selected him in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Since then, he has only appeared in 13 NHL games, compiling no goals and two assists. 

Graves is in the third year of a six-year contract he signed during the 2023 offseason and hasn't been the player that the Penguins were hoping they were getting when they brought him in. He had a rough first season in 2023-24 and never improved last year or during training camp this year. 

The Penguins will open the 2025-26 regular season against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. 

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What we learned as Steph Curry shines in Warriors' preseason win over Lakers

What we learned as Steph Curry shines in Warriors' preseason win over Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Vibes are sky-high now that Warriors basketball has returned to Chase Center after what felt like an extra-long offseason.

The Warriors opened their 2025 preseason schedule with a 111-103 win Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers in front of their home fans.

Steph Curry played like he wishes he could fast forward to the regular season opener already. Curry in 15 minutes scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and went 3 of 5 from 3-point range. As coach Steve Kerr noted pregame, Curry only played the first half.

So did Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. Butler also played 15 minutes and stuffed the box score with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting, four rebounds and two assists. He also was 3 of 4 on free throws. 

Green played 14 minutes and was a step behind Curry and Butler, knocking off some preseason rust. Going just 1 of 6 from the field while missing both of his 3-point attempts, Green had two points, three rebounds and five assists. But he also turned the ball over twice, was called for two fouls and found himself in a mini situation that referees had to review after Green and Jarred Vanderbilt got tangled at halfcourt.

As impressive as Curry’s first half was, it didn’t allow him to be the Warriors’ leading scorer. Moses Moody was. Moody scored 13 points in the first half and ended as a plus-21 with 19 points in 15 minutes. Moody went 7 of 9 overall, and made five of his seven shots from long distance.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ win to open the preseason.

Warriors Start Small

The first starting lineup of the Warriors’ 2025 preseason did not include one of their biggest additions. Center Al Horford began the game on the bench before being the first reserve to enter after three minutes. Coach Steve Kerr instead opted to go with the same lineup that helped propel them in their second-half success. 

Along with Curry, Butler and Green, Brandin Podziemski and Moody also were in the starting five. The lineup played 21 regular-season games together for a total of 211 minutes and registered a 16.4 net rating with a 120.6 offensive rating and 104.2 defensive rating. The Warriors trailed 11-8 when Kerr made his first change, bringing in Hoford for Moody. 

Though Moody had scored five of the Warriors’ first eight points, a nasty dunk and a 3-pointer, he also was whistled for three fouls in three minutes.

Curry looked like he was in midseason form right away, scoring 11 points over eight minutes in the first quarter. The Warriors are bound to use multiple starting lineups and combinations throughout the preseason. Curry appears ready to play with anybody.

First Look At Horford 

It didn’t take long to notice what kind of impact Horford will have on the Warriors, whether he starts or comes off the big. A minute and a half after coming onto the floor, Horford showcased his high IQ by finding Curry for a perfectly executed give-and-go. 

Horford in the first quarter only took one shot, a missed three, yet he still was a plus-4 in nine minutes. He already blocked two shots and dished two assists, as well as adding one rebound and one steal. 

In the second quarter, Horford spent time with 7-foot center Quinten Post, displaying the Warriors’ new two-bigs lineup. Horford also blocked another shot and made his first three as a Warrior. The ball hummed when he was on the court, and the defense had a clear rim protector too.

Like Curry, Butler and Green, Horford’s night was over after the first half. Horford in 14 minutes was a game-high plus-13 for the first half with three points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and three blocked shots.

Second Half Stars

As the veterans enjoyed the second half as spectators, Kerr began the third quarter with Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Post as his first five. 

Post within the first minute buried a three from the left wing. The Warriors’ first five made shots of the third quarter were all threes – one by Post, two by Podziemski and two from Moody. Spacing will be a key to the Warriors’ success, and it showed up and down the roster. 

Podziemski missed his one 3-point shot in the first half and then made two of his three in the third quarter. Moody’s strong shooting through the first two quarters followed him to the third quarter before he took a seat. 

Then there’s Kuminga. He played 15 minutes overall, coming out for good with six and a half minutes left in the third quarter. The results are what the Warriors want from Kuminga. Stats weren’t eye-popping, but that’s not the point. 

Kuminga totaled five points, six rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot. He was active defensively, hit the glass and kept the ball moving offensively. For all the negative chatter in the offseason, this was a strong showing of a player bought-in for the betterment of the team.

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Final Cuts: Projecting What The Senators Opening Night Roster Will Look Like

The Ottawa Senators' 2025 preseason schedule has come to a close, and as of this writing, they still haven't made a player cut that would qualify as surprising or, quite frankly, even that interesting. But that's about to change. The season starts on Thursday night in Tampa, and the Senators – like all NHL teams – have to have their 23-man roster filed by Monday at 5 pm.

"We've got some decisions to make," head coach Travis Green told the media after the 3-1 win in Montreal on Saturday night. "With Drake Batherson still being out of the lineup – we'll see if he can start the season – but in the next 24 hours, we'll make some hard decisions and see where we end up."

Right now, they have 31 players still in Camp. Here's the full list from the Sens website, with asterisks that we've placed beside names of players who aren't considered locks for the final 23-man roster..

Forwards

  1. Michael Amadio
  2. Drake Batherson (injury concern)
  3. Nick Cousins
  4. Dylan Cozens
  5. Lars Eller
  6. Claude Giroux
  7. Ridly Greig
  8. Stephen Halliday*
  9. Hayden Hodgson*
  10. Jan Jenik*
  11. Arthur Kaliyev*
  12. Olle Lycksell*
  13. Kurtis MacDermid*
  14. David Perron
  15. Shane Pinto
  16. Tim Stützle
  17. Brady Tkachuk
  18. Fabian Zetterlund

Defense

19. Thomas Chabot

20. Nick Jensen

21. Tyler Kleven (injury concern)

22. Nikolas Matinpalo*

23. Donovan Sebrango*

24. Jake Sanderson

25. Jordan Spence

26. Lassi Thomson*

27. Carter Yakemchuk*

28. Artem Zub

Goalies

29. Leevi Merilainen

30. Mads Sogaard*

31. Linus Ullmark

Last year, the Senators began the year with the full lineup of 23 players, opting for a ratio of 14 forwards, 7 defensemen and two goalies. Complicating decisions this time of the year are things like injuries and who's waiver exempt and who is not.

Among the bubble players, the most intriguing name by far is defenseman Carter Yakemchuk. He was excellent in last year's NHL preseason, leading the Sens with 7 points in 4 games. This year, he had 0 points in four games. His junior numbers also tumbled last season, and he seems like a young man still adjusting to being asked to toggle back his offence to be a better defender.

But it was his offence that caught the eyes of NHL scouts, and it's why the Sens drafted him seventh overall. They're likely asking themselves right now, 'Does Yakemchuk upgrade the right side of our defence enough (or at all) that he should forego some valuable development time in the AHL, where his inevitable mistakes won't be splashed all over TSN highlight reels?'

For all the talk about Jensen's injury over the offseason, he's going to be ready to start the season. Artem Zub is a lock as well, leaving Jordan Spence and Nikolas Matinpalo as the 6-7 options to round out the right side of the defense. So there's no obvious reason to rush Yakemchuk, and what's more, he simply might not be good enough yet to crack this lineup.

We expect him to be joined in Belleville by Lassi Thomson. On the left side, if Kleven isn't ready, Sebrango might get a stay of execution on reassignment. Either way, after appearing in all playoff games last spring, Matinpalo has the edge as the seventh man.

In goal, Sogaard is our odd man out to be reassigned to Belleville, but first, he would need to clear waivers. That will be intriguing to see if some goalie-poor organization takes a shot at a young 6-foot-7 goalie.

Up front, 12 forwards are locks, but some of the lower-rung players may be interchangeable. So, depending on Batherson's injury, we'll keep two or three more forwards beyond that. We're rolling with a group of MacDermid, Kaliyev and Lycksell, and when one eventually has to go down, we're choosing Lycksell. 

Hodgson's stock fell hard with MacDermid's addition on Friday. So Hodgson, along with Halliday and Jenik, will be reassigned to Belleville.

So that's our game plan. Let's see now what the Sens actually do over the next 24 hours.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Senators Land A True NHL Heavyweight In A Deal With The Devils
More Senators Broadcast Changes: Marc Methot Out At TSN
Reviewing Four Of The Nastiest Moments From Senators–Canadiens Game On Tuesday
Brady Tkachuk On Starring In Prime Video Show: 'I'm An Open Book To Begin With'
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
Sens Goalie Linus Ullmark Says He Enjoys The Struggle

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Sabres Demote Dunne, IR Stints Could Get Them Down To 23

After their 5-4 preseason finale overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, the Buffalo Sabres reduced their roster to 28 players by returning four players to the AHL Rochester Americans, including 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka, blueliners Vsevolod Komarov and Zach Metsa, and injured center Noah Ostlund. On Sunday, the club placed forward Josh Dunne on waivers to get down to 27 players. If Dunne clears, he will be sent down to the Rochester Americans of the AHL.  

All NHL clubs must be down to 23 players and be cap compliant by Monday afternoon, which means that the Sabres have four moves to make, but based on the information available regarding some of their injuries, GM Kevyn Adams could get a slight reprieve by placing four players on injured reserve. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

After suffering a lower-body injury last Wednesday against Pitsburgh, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will not be available for the season opener against the NY Rangers next Thursday, which means that Alexandar Georgiev will back up Alex Lyon until Luukkonen is cleared to play. 

Defenseman Michael Kesselring had been dealing with an injury throughout camp that flared up on Wednesday and head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that it was something more than a day-to-day injury. Mattias Samuelsson is out week-to-week, but Ruff said he's ahead of schedule and could return to practice before the opener on October 9. 

Injured reserve is a minimum of seven days, which would seem to be likely for Luukkonen, Greenway, and Kesselring. If Samuelsson is close to returning, then an IR stint is unlikely, and the Sabres would have to make one roster cut on Monday. 

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