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Colorado Avalanche to Revive Nordiques Look as Teased Third Jersey

The Colorado Avalanche have posted on X of what could be the third jerseys they will use this season, the Quebec Nordiques jerseys that was used before they relocated to Denver Colorado

Before the season started, the Avalanche organization was entering its 30th year as an NHL franchise and unveiled the 30th Anniversary Logo that will be displayed at center ice throughout the season. Now, they aim to further celebrate this organization's heritage by bringing back their old team jerseys.

Colorado Avalanche Unveil 30th Anniversary Logo On Historic Franchise DayColorado Avalanche Unveil 30th Anniversary Logo On Historic Franchise DayThe Colorado Avalanche have revealed their 30th Anniversary Logo, which will be at all home games this upcoming season.

While nothing is official yet, the post on X with the caption "A new look for practice today" appears to tease an imminent official announcement, with media being given a first look at players wearing the new uniforms at practice before their match against the Dallas Stars on October 11.

The Quebec Nordiques' final season in the NHL was the 1994-95 season, before they relocated to Colorado. The Avalanche has previously featured alternate third jerseys with a Nordiques logo in an Avalanche style. Still, it appears the organization is going full baby blue this time, from the jersey to the gloves and pants.

Wedgewood’s 31 Saves Propel Avalanche to 2-1 Win Over MammothWedgewood’s 31 Saves Propel Avalanche to 2-1 Win Over MammothThe Colorado Avalanche defeat the newly introduced Utah Mammoth 2-1 in regulation. It was a bumpy road for the Avalanche offensively, going through multiple shot droughts but timely goals and great goaltending from Scott Wedgewood made sure they picked up the two points.
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Norris Being Evaluated After Leaving Sabres Season-Opening Loss

The start of the Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 regular season could not have gone any worse on Thursday. The club was shutout 4-0 by the New York Rangers and goalie Igor Shesterkin in front of a sellout crowd at KeyBank Center and late in the third period lost center Josh Norris to an upper-body injury. Norris was taking a faceoff, fell to the ice, struggled to get back to the bench and did not return to the game.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after practice on Friday before the club departed for Boston that Norris was being evaluated, but his tone reflected it could be something that could keep him out long term. 

“(Norris is) being evaluated (by) the doctors right now, so we'll have an update later this afternoon," Ruff said. "I know that he's not dealing with it very good, he's pretty disappointed with where he's at with this injury."

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 The 26-year-old center was acquired by the Sabres in a deal that sent Dylan Cozens last March. Injuries have been a constant presence for Norris in his six-year NHL career. The former San Jose first rounder played the full 56-game COVID-shortened season in 2020-21, but since has missed 148 games with an assortment of injuries.After the trade, Norris played just three games for Buffalo and was out the rest of  the season.. 

Norris said at the start of training camp that he had an injury-free summer and was able to workout to prepare for his first full season with the Sabres, centering the top line between Tage Thompson and Zach Benson, and in the preseason he and Thompson seemed to click, tying for the club lead in scoring with seven points. The Sabres have recalled center Josh Dunne from AHL Rochester to fill Norris’s roster spot, and Jiri Kulich has been moved up to center the top line against the Bruins on Saturday.   

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

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Islanders' Jonathan Drouin Suspended One Game For Cross-Checking

New York Islanders left winger Jonathan Drouin is suspended for one game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

Drouin will sit out the Islanders' home-opener on Saturday against the Washington Capitals after he delivered a high cross-check on Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar on Thursday night. He received a major penalty and game misconduct as a result.

As the department's video explanation discussed, Drouin and Dewar engaged in light stickwork after the whistle as a scrum developed around the net. Drouin slashed Dewar, while Dewar shoved Drouin in return.

Drouin then raised his stick with both hands and delivered a high, forceful blow with the stick that hit Dewar in the face and caused him to fall to the ice. NHL Player Safety noted that Drouin said he did not intend to hit Dewar in that manner.

"It is important to note that while sticks occasionally ride up an opponent's body or equipment and land higher than intended during a net-front battle, this is not such a case," the video said.

The cross-check was after the whistle and was not considered a hockey play, and Drouin chose to raise his stick that high, the video said.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, Drouin will forfeit $20,833.33 of salary. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

This is Drouin's first time being suspended. He was previously fined $5,000 in 2022 for cross-checking while he played for the Montreal Canadiens.

Drouin also scored against the Penguins in the season opener, a 4-3 loss. In 608 career games, the 30-year-old has 108 goals and 267 assists for 375 points. He also has 27 points in 43 playoff games.

Drouin signed a two-year contract with a $4-million cap hit with the Islanders on July 1 after spending two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

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.

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Islanders Jonathan Drouin Suspended One Game For Cross-Checking Penguins Connor Dewar

EAST MEADOW, NY --New York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin has received a one-game suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety after cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar on Thursday. 

Drouin, 30, has never been suspended before, but he did receive a $5,000 fine for cross-checking Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin during the 2021-22 season, when he was a member of the Montreal Canadiens. 

He will miss their home opener against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night and will be eligible to return on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets. 

Here's the league's reasoning for the one-game suspension:

 

Drouin suspended one game | NHL.comDrouin suspended one game | NHL.comNew York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin is suspended one game for cross-checking against Penguins forward Connor Dewar

The Islanders will skate on Saturday morning before the game, so we'll see who gets into the lineup. Marc Gatcomb is likely to draw in, as he and Kyle MacLean are the only two extra forwards on the roster. 

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Jonathan Toews returns to NHL with hometown Jets after being out 2 seasons with long COVID-19

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The spotlight was on Jonathan Toews when the Winnipeg Jets skated onto the ice for their season opener against Dallas.

The Winnipeg-born Toews received a loud, long cheer from the sold-out crowd when he was introduced before the Jets’ 5-4 loss.

The 37-year-old Jets center, who was playing his first NHL game since April 13, 2023, with the Chicago Blackhawks, logged 18:19 of ice time in his 1,068th career regular-season game. He had one shot on goal.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Chicago captain missed the past two seasons for health reasons related to Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and long COVID-19.

“Just a lot of energy. A lot of excitement. I’m just trying to contain myself there,” Toews said about the crowd’s welcome.

Toews said he felt “close” to being in game form. He played on the second line with wingers Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Chibrikov.

“But a lot of room for improvement, a lot of little things I can do better,” Toews said. “Definitely trying to start the play with the puck off the faceoffs. Didn’t really get that going for my line out there. But other than that there were some situations where the three of us created and had some chances, even on the power play as well.

“I was pretty close to making things happen, getting us on the board, so I think there are some positives I’m excited about. (I’ll) just keep trying to build on it.”

Jets coach Scott Arniel said Toews was a lot like his teammates — it took awhile for everyone to get going.

“I thought I saw changes in his game in that second period,” Arniel said. “He started to have the puck a little bit more, had some looks, that line started to do some things.

“At the end of the day, that’s a tough one because our whole group wasn’t good. And for him, certainly would’ve liked for it to be a better first game.”

The Dallas Stars also appreciated Toews’ effort to return to NHL action.

“It’s great to see him back,” Mikko Rantanen said. “I think it’s good for the league to have a player like him back in the lineup and back in the NHL, so happy for him.

“It was kind of long journey back and I thought he looked good out there, so just great for the league to have a face like that back on the ice.”

Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan, making his debut behind the bench in his second stint with the franchise, also tipped his hat to Toews.

“I felt good for him, you know,” Gulutzan said. “I’ve watched him and, you know, still a big body, strong on pucks. And you can see his, just some of his ‘headsiness’ around.

“And for a guy who hasn’t played for a while, boy, he’s a great player. He still looks good, and you watch him a little bit because he was one of the big guys in the game.”

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How effective will the Knicks bench be during the 2025-26 season?

Over the past two years, depth has been one of the largest challenges for the Knicks' roster. 

The Knicks bench ranked dead last in scoring during the 2024-25 regular season. In the playoffs, the club was ranked second to last in bench scoring, as then-head coach Tom Thibodeau often went to a seven-and-a-half man rotation for long stretches of the postseason.

New York responded this offseason by adding depth. 

The club signed free agents Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to bolster the rotation. The two new Knicks join Miles McBride and either Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson in the bench rotation. New York also added veteran guards Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews, who are all vying for spots on the roster. Second year players Ariel Hukporti, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek are in the mix as well.

It does seem likely that Robinson will start at center at the beginning of the season since he’s started all three preseason games, while Hart has missed two of the three games due to injury and illness. 

McBride and Robinson were both crucial off the bench for the Knicks in the postseason. If Hart is a reserve this season, he adds a versatile wing capable of rebounding and making plays who can help add some pace to the offense.

Adding Yabusele specifically has given the Knicks more versatility in the frontcourt and another outside threat. The Frenchman can play as a power forward with Karl-Anthony Towns or Robinson at the five. He can also be a small ball center for stints with smaller lineups. Clarkson brings an ability to create his own scoring opportunities while occasionally setting up teammates. 

Early returns

With new head coach Mike Brown implementing a read-and-react offense, the Knicks bench could see more opportunities. Brown has focused on upping the pace, moving the ball and bombing away from behind the three-point line.

The offense is still a work in progress. 

In New York’s Thursday night preseason win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the club tossed up 57 three-point attempts, missing 42 of them. New York was 27th in three-point attempt rate last season. The club hoisted over 50 three-pointers once all season. So far in preseason, New York is shooting just 26.5 percent from beyond the arc.

It’s going to take some time for all the players to get comfortable under a new offensive system. But the potential for a free-flowing offense that relies on more ball movement can loosen up scoring opportunities for the bench, making the reserves more of a strength. That will be important in the long run so the Knicks don’t overuse their core four of Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

Brown said during training camp that he expects to play a nine-and-a-half to 10-man rotation. In three preseason games, it’s been clear that McBride, Yabusele and Clarkson are locked into the rotation, as well as the absent Hart. Shamet received rotation minutes against Minnesota after Brogdon’s run of minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers last Saturday. Those two, as well as Hukporti or Dadiet, could see action situationally. It will all depend on who ends up with the final roster spots at the end of preseason.

Defense from the reserves will also be important to watch. Clarkson is a subpar defender, and Yabusele is not elite on the defensive end. When fully healthy, the Knicks bench should be less of a glaring weakness compared to last season despite defensive concerns. There’s more offensive versatility and perimeter shooting featured across the roster which should help throughout both the regular season and playoffs.

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Three NHL Teams That Should Blow It Up If They Have A Bad First Half

Every NHL team clearly wants to avoid a bad start to the season, but there's more on the line for some.

Some squads need to prove their roster and blueprint works, because otherwise, they'll have more of a reason to start trading away veterans instead of keeping them around and hoping they'll drive the team toward success.

The Nashville Predators, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are in different stages of the cycle, but after down seasons in 2024-25, they can't â€“ and likely won't â€“ stick with what they have if they struggle again in the first half of this year. Here's why.

Nashville Predators

The Predators took a risk by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei in the summer of 2024. One year earlier, they brought in center Ryan O'Reilly.

What looked like a squad set to become a Stanley Cup contender finished third-last. 

Now, all those veterans joined Nashville for a reason, but given that all three are between 31 and 35 years old, they may not want to battle for a playoff spot and miss out year after year. 

Stamkos and Marchessault have full no-move clauses, and Skjei has a 15-team no-trade list. O'Reilly doesn't have trade protection, but GM Barry Trotz treated him as if he did last season.

Last fall, Trotz suggested the team needed to reset, but he emphasized that the Predators aren't in a rebuild and selling off pieces.

But again, why would any player who has won Stanley Cups – such as Stamkos, O’Reilly and Marchessault – want to end their playing days with no chance of winning on a team they haven't been on for very long? If the Predators are struggling, those who want out will almost certainly be granted their wish, and the team can't just keep adding players just to miss the post-season.

New York Rangers

The Rangers already made huge moves this past year, with GM Chris Drury hiring coach Mike Sullivan and trading away veterans Chris Kreider, K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba.

But if the Blueshirts wobble out of the gate this season, Drury may sense a familiar dread about the state of this team and really take out the scalpel to do some serious roster renovations.

The Rangers don’t have many pending UFAs, but they are intriguing. One is star left winger Artemi Panarin, and another is backup goalie Jonathan Quick.

Panarin and his $11.6-million salary are the primary concern, but if the Rangers want to ease the pressure on star goalie Igor Shesterkin, they’ll need to pay more money than the $1.15 million they’re paying 39-year-old Quick. They don't have a ton of room to pay Panarin more money.

The Metropolitan Division is going to be more competitive than it was last year, and that means the Rangers could miss the playoffs for the second straight season. That would be indefensible, and surely, Panarin wouldn't be pleased with that. If there’s a foreboding in Drury by or before this year’s trade deadline, it wouldn’t shock anyone if he pulled the chute on this group.

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Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have missed the playoffs three straight times despite having likely first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and maybe Erik Karlsson.

The Penguins finished seventh in the Metro last season, and they didn't really do anything to improve for 2025-26. In fact, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is leaning more toward bringing in younger players to develop in the NHL. There's less room for veterans now.

Pittsburgh did win its first two games, but the team will likely miss the playoffs again this year. Pens GM Kyle Dubas can still move veteran wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, who have little or no trade protection. If the Penguins underachieve, it’s more probable than not that Pittsburgh’s lineup will look significantly different.

The Penguins need all hands on deck to beat the odds and get into the playoffs, but if the odds beat them, there will be plenty of changes to their future and present.

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.

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'We'll See What Happens': Could Easton Cowan Make His NHL Debut Against Red Wings?

Easton Cowan is staying patient for his NHL debut.

The 20-year-old made the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp, but was a healthy scratch for the team's season-opening 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Cowan was an extra on the ice again on Friday as the Maple Leafs prepared for a trip to face the Detroit Red Wings the next day.

Despite being one of the forwards on the outside of the lineup, there were a couple of signs during Friday's practice that suggest maybe Cowan does make his debut against the Red Wings.

The young forward rotated through Toronto's third line of Dakota Joshua, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson. If there's anyone Cowan would swap places with in the lineup, it'd be one of Robertson or Calle Jarnkrok.

Jarnkrok found the back of the net, while Robertson was a minus-one in 10:40 of ice time.

Cowan also rotated into the Maple Leafs' second power play unit in practice on Friday. The player he swapped places with was Robertson.

"Yeah, it's been great. I mean, you're on an NHL team, so it's pretty cool, especially your hometown team," Cowan said after making the Maple Leafs out of camp. "Just enjoying every day and just keep trying to get better each and every day."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wouldn't reveal much after Friday's practice about whether Cowan would play in Detroit or not. Berube did mention, though, that the young forward is "close" to making his NHL debut.

"He's got a great attitude, he works hard, he had a good practice today. That's decisions that we have to discuss and make, and right now we'll see what happens tomorrow."

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If Cowan does get into Saturday's game against the Red Wings, he'll have plenty of family in attendance (20-30 people, he said). Being from around the London, Ontario, area, he also joked that it's probably easier for his family to get to Detroit than downtown Toronto.

"Yeah, it might be better with the traffic," he smiled.

Being a healthy scratch for Toronto's first game of the season, Cowan got a chance to gain a birds-eye perspective of the NHL game. He noted that the NHL is very different from junior, where you have plenty of time to make plays and decide where the puck is going.

"If you get a chance, you've got to be able to bear down, so it all starts in practice," he said. "That's what I've been trying to do, just work on in-tight scoring and stuff like that, and it’ll translate to the game."

'I Know What He Expects From Me': Why Maple Leafs' Sammy Blais Is Excited For Opportunity To Play Under Craig Berube Again'I Know What He Expects From Me': Why Maple Leafs' Sammy Blais Is Excited For Opportunity To Play Under Craig Berube AgainSammy Blais is back playing with head coach Craig Berube.

Cowan has already learned a lot in his first few days with the NHL squad. But if there's one thing he's picked up from a teammate, who's it from, and what did he learn?

"Probably from Auston (Matthews)," he said.

"Just watching the way he leads on and off the ice. I mean, he's so dialed in, works hard in the gym, and then on the ice, he's special. I mean, you see the plays he makes, like today in practice. He's looking to the inside, he goes outside like that. So super cool, and just try to learn from him a lot."

A player making their NHL debut is an incredible moment, but it should come at the right time. Berube cited on Friday afternoon that while it might be important to get Cowan into the lineup, he's thinking about the team first.

"I love Cowan, and we all do. He's going to be a good Leaf, I'll tell you that. He's going to be a good hockey player, and he is a good hockey player," Berube said. "But the team is the most important thing, and we've got to make decisions. They don't always please everybody."

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There'll be several decisions over the next 24 hours for Berube, such as adjustments that need to be made ahead of their matchup against the Red Wings. However, there'll be no bigger decision than whether he puts Cowan in the lineup or not.

"You know, that’s out of my control," Cowan said when asked what it's like waiting for his name to be called. "I'm just trying to do my thing, and that's work hard each and every day, have good practices, good scratch skates, just getting better, and as soon as I get in, I know I'll be ready."

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King's Achilles' Heel is already blatantly obvious

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

We’re only two games into the NHL regular season, and yet it's already evident that the Los Angeles Kings have a few glaring weaknesses. Sure, there are still 80 games left to go, and we shouldn’t hit the panic button yet, but this is a big issue that could cost the Kings a playoff spot. 

Against the Colorado Avalanche and the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Kings’ biggest problems on the ice were committing too many penalties, poor defense, and neutral-zone turnovers.  

These costly mistakes nearly derailed them to a 0-2 start to the season. Thankfully, they pulled out a miraculous win last night against the Golden Knights after getting embarrassed at home against the Avs, but they need to make adjustments heading into their next games. 

Penalties Continue to Hurt 

In the season opener against Colorado, the Kings played so bad that it was offensive to watch. Los Angeles took seven penalties, putting constant pressure on their penalty-kill unit. 

The key moment came when the Avalanche capitalized on one of the Kings' penalties and scored in the power play by Martin Necas from the right side of the ice. There was a lot of poor discipline from the Kings in that game, which led to extended time in the defensive zone and disrupted LA’s offensive momentum. 

Against Vegas, the Kings performed much better in terms of penalties and looked more effective offensively, but some of their other problems got much worse. One of their major penalties was when Alex Turcotte committed midway through the second period, which completely shifted the game's tone. 

Power-Play Defense Collapse

The Kings held a 3-1 lead heading into the second period, but two major power-play goals turned that lead into a 3-5 deficit just like that, looking like the Kings were going to have a meltdown of a game.

It was really against Vegas that the power play looked weak and lacked cohesion. A Golden Knights team that was one of the best on the power play last season, it was no surprise that with Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel, they would look even better this season. 

The breakdowns from the Kings weren’t just about not being in the right place at the right time; it was slow rotations and late reactions. Vegas exposed those gaps to move the puck freely and find open looks, exposing the Kings' defensive unit that was looking completely lost out there. 

It’s only two games into the season, and it’s clear the Kings’ Achilles’ Heel lies in their undisciplined penalties, inconsistent power-play defense, and neutral-zone miscues. This is how the games will look for Los Angeles this season, ending in shootouts and high-scoring thrillers. 

But if the Kings are going to contend in this tough division, they must clean up those areas quickly. 

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Jimmy Butler's dominant practice sends strong message about Warriors' ceiling

Jimmy Butler's dominant practice sends strong message about Warriors' ceiling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors went through a spirited scrimmage on Friday, and the performance of one of the team’s elder statesmen drew rave reviews.

The gym on this day belonged to Jimmy Butler III.

“He just had an incredible practice,” coach Steve Kerr said.

“He wasn’t on my team, so I didn’t like to see it,” Stephen Curry said partly in jest.

“But it was indicative of the ceiling that we can get to with a guy like that. A guy who at any moment knows how to win.”

Even Butler’s faux nemesis, Buddy Hield, offered nothing but props to the man who turned 36 last month.

“Jimmy dominated practice today,” Hield said. “It was great for him. He looked really good and professional today. It was great. Great energy.”

Though general praise tends to flow freely in every training camp, the reaction in this instance is highly encouraging for the Warriors. There are many stories of Butler dominating scrimmages in his previous stops, whether Chicago or Minnesota or Philadelphia or Miami.

Butler’s infamous scrimmage with the Timberwolves in 2018 is one that made its way around the NBA. Three weeks after asking to be traded, he led a group of reserves to victory over a squad that included four starters, with center Karl-Anthony Towns often the target of his ferocity. Butler was loud, hyperaggressive and, well, a winner.

That last trait is welcome in Golden State. Though there was no indication hostility, seeing him bring juice to a scrimmage warms the heart of the team’s established veterans like Curry and Green.

For doing so with the Warriors, who belong to Curry more than anyone, suggests Butler still is capable of being The Man. That while he embraces being “Robin” to Curry’s “Batman,” – the roles can be interchangeable upon request.

“I just think he took it up a notch today,” Hield said. “He wasn’t chirping like that Jimmy we know of. He was a silent killer, and his work speaks himself.”

There were shades of that Jimmy last season, as Butler occasionally took over portions of a game, usually when Curry was off the floor. He managed to make a significant impact despite being the new guy, tossed onto the roster during the searing heat of a playoff chase.

“Last year, Jimmy didn’t know any defensive terminology,” Draymond Green said last week. “We were just making it work.”

Butler this season is with the Warriors for a full training camp, which followed team workouts he arranged in the days before camp officially began. He’ll miss the third preseason game, Sunday against the Lakers in Los Angeles, for what Kerr called a “wonderful” personal matter, but he is scheduled to practice Saturday in LA before departing.

This was, in a way, a reminder. Butler putting together a “Himmy Lives” display can only be beneficial for young Warriors to witness and veterans to realize his back pocket contains plenty of what they hope to see once the regular season begins on Oct. 21.

“He was very impactful, across the board, getting to his spots, (flashing) his competitive will,” Curry said. “Our practices have been at pretty high level. Not every day, scrimmaging, but he kind of built up to a good session today. From the jump, Jimmy was attacking the rim, dictating the pace on both ends.”

This is the Butler the Warriors need to threaten teams beyond Curry, and every occasion he shows up will be greeted with delight.

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Who Will Be The First NHL Player To Earn $20 Million Per Season?

Four NHL stars signed new contracts in the past two weeks.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million annually on Monday, while Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov signed the richest deal in NHL history at eight years and a $17-million cap hit.

On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets re-signed Kyle Connor for eight years at $12 million per season, and the Vegas Golden Knights re-signed Jack Eichel for eight years at $13.5 million annually.

Kaprizov’s new deal is a prime example of how NHL players' compensation is changing with the increase in the salary cap.

Some were under the impression that McDavid would become the highest-paid player in the league, given his reputation and the boatload of Hart Trophies, Ted Lindsay Awards and more individual honors he’s won over the years.

In any case, it may have to be a different player who overtakes Kaprizov in terms of average annual value before McDavid's contract extension expires following the 2027-28 campaign.

Some incredibly talented players will require new contracts before then. This raises the question: who will be the first NHL player to earn a $20-million cap hit?

Nikita Kucherov, Auston Matthews, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are among several other high-caliber players who will be requiring contract extensions in the near future. 

Kucherov and Matthews have noteworthy individual awards to their name, including a Hart Trophy each, Art Ross Trophy wins for Kucherov and 'Rocket' Richard wins for Matthews. Due to their unique abilities and results offensively, they could earn themselves a big ticket, especially Matthews, who is a center, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and located in a high-taxed environment.

When Matthews signed his four-year contract worth $13.25 million per season, he took 15.06 percent of the salary cap. According to the NHL, when his contract expires following the 2027-28 season, the salary cap is projected to be $113.5 million.

This means if Matthews were to sign a contract that paid him $20 million per season at that projected cap number, he would receive about 17.62 percent.

Richest Contracts In NHL History: McDavid Doesn't Break Kaprizov's New RecordRichest Contracts In NHL History: McDavid Doesn't Break Kaprizov's New RecordKirill Kaprizov’s new contract is an NHL history-maker, and Connor McDavid chose not to break it one week later.

Makar and Hughes are two superstar defenseman who provide a sense of offensive dominance from the back end that is rarely seen in NHL history. Both blueliners earn a cap hit of under $10 million, and many would believe they’re underpaid.

Each negotiation for every player is different, including the demands and motives of signing a new contract. However, there is a possibility that these two D-men could get massive raises on their next contracts.

When the Colorado Avalanche failed to re-sign star right winger Mikko Rantanen, they traded him and found a replacement who performs nearly as well for less money. They'll be hard-pressed to find anyone available who can do anything close to what Makar does. The same goes in Vancouver with Hughes, who demonstrates valuable leadership qualities on top of his play.

It's possible that in the summer of 2028, these players will deserve not only double their current cap hits but potentially $20 million a year as well.

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.

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Pezzolano sacked by Watford after ‘resisting pressure to use players linked to agent’

  • Watford sources deny the claims after this week’s sacking

  • Claims relate to players with connection to agent Bayat

Paulo Pezzolano was sacked by Watford because he resisted pressure to select players who have a connection to the agent Arnaud Mogi Bayat, it has been claimed, although this has been denied by sources at the Championship club.

Pezzolano and his technical team were dismissed on Wednesday after five months and 10 matches, with Javi Gracia installed for his second spell. It is understood Pezzolano and his staff were surprised and dismayed, having secured successive league victories at Vicarage Road after a slow start to the season.

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Gibson Takes the Heat, But Detroit’s Defensive Lapses Deserve the Blame in Montreal Rout

A closer look at Montreal’s five goals in Thursday’s victory over Detroit and an assessment of how many can truly be pinned on John Gibson. 

The Detroit Red Wings had a troubling start to the season of Thursday as they found themselves down 3-1 early in the first period. They saw their chances in the second and third but never were able to crack the Habs defense and young goaltender Jakub Dobes. Montreal ended up prevailing 5-1 as the Red Wings were booed off the ice in their very first game of the season. 

John Gibson Pulled In Red Wings Debut As Part Of 5-1 Loss To Canadiens John Gibson Pulled In Red Wings Debut As Part Of 5-1 Loss To Canadiens The Detroit Red Wings have seen it all through 100 years of history in the National Hockey League, and have delivered multiple cherished memories for their legions of fans across the world. 

Every facet of the Red Wings’ game came under scrutiny, the offense struggled to finish, the defense blew key assignments, and newly acquired goaltender John Gibson couldn’t come up with the saves Detroit needed. While the forwards generated a decent number of chances, it wouldn’t be fair to pin the loss solely on Gibson. Most of Montreal’s goals were avoidable, but defensive breakdowns turned them into easy opportunities for the Canadiens.

Take the Habs first goal for example. The Canadiens opened the scoring with a quick and efficient passing play. Brendan Gallagher, positioned along the boards, spotted a streaking Zach Bolduc breaking up the ice. After receiving a pass from defenseman Mike Matheson, Gallagher immediately sent the puck ahead into open ice, perfectly placed for Bolduc to collect.

Bolduc blew past Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic and forward Michael Rasmussen, creating a clean breakaway. He finished the play with a low blocker-side shot past goaltender John Gibson for the first goal. 

Breakaways are difficult for any goalie to stop, but the Red Wings’ defensive struggles continued on Montreal’s second tally. The pairing of Hamonic and Albert Johansson was again caught out of position. Johansson was caught deep in the offensive zone, allowing Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen to slip behind him. A quick pass found a charging Alex Newhook, setting up a two-on-one rush.

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Newhook fed Kapanen across the slot, and although Gibson managed to get a piece of the shot, it wasn’t enough to prevent Kapanen from burying it into the open net. 

"We Earned Those": Todd McLellan Says Red Wings Deserved Fan Boos After 5-1 Loss Throughout his first Training Camp as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Todd McLellan emphasized the importance of mental fortitude and responding the right way when things inevitably go wrong over the course of an 82-game season.

Montreal’s next two goals came off unfortunate deflections, one off Ben Chiarot’s stick and another off Johansson, continuing Detroit’s defensive woes. The fifth goal was likely the only one Gibson could have handled better. On a Canadiens power play, Cole Caufield fired a point shot that Gibson initially stopped but failed to control. The rebound kicked directly into the slot, where Juraj Slafkovsky pounced and fired it home. 

Ideally, Gibson would have directed the rebound to the corner or toward the side boards, keeping it away from a dangerous netfront chance. While the shot itself was difficult to handle, better rebound control or a quicker defensive response from Detroit could have prevented the goal.

Gibson was eventually pulled for Cam Talbot in the third, who finished the game with saves on four shots. Gibson's final stat line was just eight saves on 13 shots with five goals allowed but the game tells a very different story as many of the goals he never had a chance on. 

The Red Wings management team took a big swing grabbing Gibson and he likely has more to prove than what was showed on Thursday. There’s no word yet on who will start Saturday against the Maple Leafs, but if Gibson gets the nod again, the hope is that he’ll have a better chance to showcase his abilities, rather than being left in no-win situations where he’s forced to make highlight-reel saves on odd-man rushes and breakaways.

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