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The NHL pre-season is just about wrapped up, and for the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, it ended on a violent note.

Florida and Tampa Bay played each other three times in a row to end their respective pre-season campaigns. With each game, the contests became more violent, and the final contest ended with more than 300 penalty minutes.

The two Floridan giants are no doubt rivals, but did this pre-season cement themselves as the biggest and nastiest rivalry in the NHL?

The first exhibition game between these two teams this season came on Sep. 30. It was rather ordinary as the Lightning took that tie 3-2.

However, on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4, these games were anything but ordinary.

The game on Oct. 2 was interesting because both teams had set out the majority of their NHL rosters. Veterans who would likely want to get through pre-season matchups without any drama, injuries, or making the games longer than they have to be.

Nonetheless, a total of 186 penalty minutes were accumulated, with Panthers left winger AJ Greer recording a game high of 29 penalty minutes. Most of his time was created from a bout with Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel. 

As a result, Hagel did not continue to play the rest of the game due to injury. Greer went on to receive a fine worth $2,213.54 for his actions, the maximum allowed under the CBA. 

It turns out this rivalry was only scratching the surface in comparison to the game on Saturday night. In the opening three minutes, Tampa right winger Scott Saubourin laid a huge hit on Florida D-man Aaron Ekblad. They dropped the gloves immediately after, and the floodgates were open for the rest of the outing.

Sabourin received a match penalty for his actions on Ekblad and was one of many players who would get ejected from this game. Along with Sabourin, Bolts defenseman JJ Moser will receive a hearing from NHL player safety.

Moser is receiving disciplinary attention for boarding Panthers center Jesper Boqvist. Tampa’s blueliner was another player who got ejected from this game. 

In addition to the two hearings, two members of the Lightning received fines for cross-checking. Center Gage Goncalves was fined $3,125 for cross-checking Evan Rodrigues. Meanwhile, defenseman Roman Schmidt was fined $2,098.52 for cross-checking Carter Verhaeghe. Both fines were the maximum allowed under the CBA.

By the end of the contest, there were 16 ejections, 312 penalty minutes from 65 penalties, and there was even a goal removed from the board several minutes after it was scored.

At one point, this game was 8-0 for the Panthers. However, over five minutes of game clock after the 8-0 goal, the officials were having a discussion during a TV timeout that led to that goal being removed. 

This is because Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola provided an assist on the goal, despite being ejected sometime before that. The referees were able to sort out the situation, sending Mikkola to the dressing room, and the game proceeded and ended with a 7-0 score.

With all the chaos that ensued over this pre-season between the two teams from Florida, it’s safe to say that this rivalry is alive and well. It’s certainly one of the nastiest, violent and filled-with-hatred rivalries in the NHL to date.

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The Chicago Blackhawks finished the preseason on Saturday, and they are leaving for Sunrise on Sunday. The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers await them for the season opener on Tuesday night. 

Ahead of their trip, the Blackhawks made some announcements. They started with a one-year deal for Matt Grzelcyk, which will carry a cap hit of $1 million. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xsunday signing✍️ everyone say hi Matt!!👋 🚨 https://t.co/DVBQHSYtY5

Grzelcyk wasn't above-average during the preseason, but he is a veteran player who has experience playing in the league. Being the team's security blanket on defense is a good role for him right now.

None of Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, or Elthan Del Mastro earned the team's confidence as their permanent 6th defenseman. Louis Crevier is not waiver exempt, so he was the obvious 7th defenseman option. 

Del Mastro was not one of the roster cuts made, but the team is unsure if Alex Vlasic will be ready for opening night as he recovers from a lower-body injury sustained during the preseason. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on X‼️roster update‼️ 📰➡️ https://t.co/ml6NerC6Xw

All of the players who were called up specifically to play in the preseason finale against the St. Louis Blues were sent back down to the AHL. 

Nolan Allan and Kevin Korchinski were among those who were sent down to the Rockford IceHogs. They will have to play their way up and wait for chances to get in the NHL lineup. 

At forward, Ryan Greene and Oliver Moore joined those going back to Rockford. The situation is different here than it is on defense. Both had solid camps and preseasons, but they will go to the AHL to play a lot of minutes and keep working on getting better.

Lukas Reichel remains with the big club as one of their bottom forwards, so until that day comes when he's traded, he will be a part of the group. 

All of these moving parts are fluid, and the team that plays the season finale might look a lot different than the one that plays on opening night. For now, most of the early decisions have been made. Vlasic's status will be learned before puck drop on Tuesday, which will influence things as well.

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

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have signed Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $1 million contract for the 2025-26 season.

Grzelcyk had been skating with the Blackhawks on a professional tryout (PTO) this training camp. Clearly, he impressed management during it, as he has now landed a contract for the season from the Central Division club. 

sunday signing✍️
everyone say hi Matt!!👋

🚨 https://t.co/DVBQHSYtY5pic.twitter.com/lrT5nUIj2x

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 5, 2025

Overall, there is very little risk in this move for the Blackhawks. They have brought in a veteran defenseman who will provide them with more depth and experience on the blueline. That is never a bad thing. 

Grzelcyk, 31, posted one goal, 39 assists, and 40 points in 82 games this past season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. If he can produce that kind of offense from the point in 2025-26, he could end up being a good value signing for the Blackhawks. 

The Edmonton Oilers are just a few days away from the start of the regular season, skating on Sunday morning after a loss on Friday in their final preseason game of the season.

The Oilers made some key decisions this week, with others yet to be made. Among the major off-ice moves: the team has signed head coach Kris Knoblauch to a three-year extension through the 2028-29 season. There is also talk about Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and which players will make the opening night roster. 

Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Goalies

Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Forwards

Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Defense

Knoblauch Inks New Three-Year Extension

Knoblauch, who took over during the 2022-23 season, has posted a 94-47-10 record in 151 games and guided the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, both of which were losses to the Florida Panthers. We spoke to Knoblauch after the extension was announced and he was grateful to the organization and the Katz family for giving him an opportunity and excited to get this deal done before the start of the season. 

It will be fascinating to see if Knoblauch’s extension will influence Connor McDavid’s contract situation, a storyline that has dominated offseason chatter.

Latest on McDavid's Contract Talks

While the Oilers captain has yet to sign a new deal, sources suggest he remains committed to Edmonton, with speculation pointing toward a short-term, in-season extension (there is still a chance it happens before October 8) rather than a massive long-term commitment.

Analysts continue to debate whether McDavid could top Kirill Kaprizov’s AAV, but most are now expecting his salary to come in under Kaprizov's, a decision he'll make to help the Oilers build a championship team around him. 

His influence may already be shaping the roster, as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions with GM Stan Bowman to potentially bring in an impact player to boost the team’s championship window.

TSN's Darren Dreger said this week that he believes McDavid re-signing in Edmonton now sits at 50/50 odds. When asked why so low, he responded that anything higher likely would have seen McDavid already signed by now. 

Should Oilers Circle Back On A Still-Unsigned UFA?NHL and TSN insider Darren Dreger said on Flames Nation and TSN OverDrive that the Edmonton Oilers had made unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic a multi-year offer, but he turned it down. 

Final Opening Night Roster Decisions

Off the ice, the Oilers face tough decisions for their opening-night roster. Several players were sent down this week, but more decisions need to be made, with at least three more cuts coming. 

Names like Troy Stecher, Curtis Lazar, and Max Jones have surfaced as potential candidates to go down, while prospects such as Alec Regula and David Tomasek, and Noah Philp remain key considerations.

Waiver-exempt forwards like Matt Savoie, Ike Howard, and Tomasek provide flexibility for GM Stan Bowman, but all three arguably deserve to be on the opening night roster. Depth players like Lazar and Jones are most vulnerable, though moving them could be tricky if younger talent needs NHL minutes.

Is Zach Hyman Getting Closer to a Return?

Zach Hyman continues his recovery from a wrist injury suffered last season. While November 1 was initially projected as his return, sources suggest he may be back sooner, giving the Oilers another boost in the lineup.

He hopped on the ice after morning practice on Friday, taking shots and doing workouts with the Oilers' conditioning coach. He looked pretty good, even though he's not ready for opening night. 

In other injury news, Jake Walman is expected to be ready for opening night, while Mattias Janmark is hurt and could be up to a week. Jones should be ready to go as well. 

Is Draisaitl the Contract Comparable for Eichel?

As the Oilers try to figure out extensions for McDavid, Walman, Mattias Ekholm, Brett Kulak, and their goaltenders, another superstar sees Leon Draisaitl as a potential contract comparable. 

Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly negotiating an eight-year deal worth roughly $14 million AAV, mirroring Draisaitl’s contract. Eichel’s camp appears to be using Draisaitl’s salary as a benchmark instead of comparing him to other players who are signing deals this summer or are expected to over the next few weeks and months. 

Oilers Ranked Atop The Points-Getters List

The Athletic ranked the Edmonton Oilers as the top team in the NHL when predicting which NHL club will get the most regular season points. With 109, the Oilers led the way as potential Presidents' Trophy candidates. 

With preseason games wrapping up and opening night just days away, the Oilers’ combination of roster moves, McDavid speculation, and coaching stability sets the stage for a compelling 2025-26 campaign. Between potential acquisitions, Hyman’s return, and key roster decisions, Edmonton’s front office has some big decisions to make and fans will watch closely in the hopes that every move is the right one. 

The Oilers are trying to get one step closer to the Stanley Cup.

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues are down to their final roster cuts, and five were assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

The club announced it has assigned 2023 first-round picks, forwards Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg and defenseman Theo Lindstein, along with forward Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and defenseman Leo Loof to the Thunderbirds, reducing the training camp number down to 26.

All five played in the preseason finale on Saturday, a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks, but it was clearly evident as things progressed to Monday's 4 p.m. (CT) deadline for opening night rosters to be submitted that these players had made strides but would not make the initial cut to be on the roster for opening night on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.

"I think they had really good camps; we just have a lot of good depth in the organization," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "We have 14 really good forwards here that are signed and we have seven really good defensemen. And those other guys, they've got to go down there and be really good. Our organization's in a real good place with all positions."

That leaves three more cuts for the Blues to make by Monday, and among those is expected to be goalie Colten Ellis, who has to clear waivers to go to Springfield, as does defenseman Hunter Skinner, who had himself a terrific training camp. Neither were on the ice Sunday morning and likely on waivers by Sunday afternoon.

"If I had to pick a couple (tough ones that got sent down) off the top of my head, I would say Skinner, Stenberg and Kaskimaki," Montgomery said. "All did a lot to show that they can play in the league, but again, they've also got to show that they can really be good American League players."

Observations From Blues' 4-0 Preseason Win Vs. BlackhawksThe St. Louis Blues closed out the preseason in impressive fashion with a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center in Chicago on Saturday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 8 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #8. 

Let's take a look.

Geoff Sanderson - 2001-2006 - Drafted by Hartford in 1990. 

Sanderson played 268 games as a Jacket and had 168 points. In the franchise's first season, he dazzled the NWA crowds when he scored 30 goals and had 56 points. Sanderson was a very good player for the Blue Jackets and brought some excitement to a fledgling franchise desperate to win some games. He's the only player in CBJ history to score 4 goals in a single game and was the first player in franchise history to have 5 points in a game. 

He retired in 2008 after playing 1100 games and totaling 700 points. Last season, he was a pro scout for the New Jersey Devils. 

His son Jake is now a star defenseman for the Ottawa Senators.  

Jan Hejda - 2008-2010 - Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2003. 

Hejda signed with Columbus in 2007 after playing one year with the Edmonton Oilers. In all, he played with Columbus for four seasons and totaled 302 games. He scored 11 goals and 67 points playing on the Columbus blue line. 

He left for the Colorado Avalanche in 2011 when free agency opened. He would play there until 2015. He signed a PTO with the Lake Erie Monsters in December of 2015 and was released in January of 2016 and would retire.

Scottie Upshall - 2011 - Drafted by Nashville in 2002.

Upshall played 21 games as a Jacket and had seven points after being traded on February 28, 2011, from the Phoenix Coyotes.  After his time in Columbus, he played for the Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues.

He left for Europe in 2019 to play a single season in Switzerland. 

Maksim Mayorov - 2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2007.

Mayorov played 22 in Columbus and totaled 11 points. He never played another game for the Jackets.

He left for Russia 2012 and played there until he retired in 2021. He is now an amateur scout for the Washington Capitals. 

Nathan Horton - 2014 - Drafted by Florida in 2003. 

Horton only played 36 games for Columbus after signing with the Jackets in 2013. After netting 19 points, he was forced to medically retire due to a back issue. 

During the first period of a March 10, 2014, game against the Dallas Stars, Horton scored a goal to put the Blue Jackets ahead, 1–0. Shortly thereafter, Dallas Stars center Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench. Play was suspended, and on April 9, 2014, the game restarted from the beginning, with the Blue Jackets leading, 1–0. Horton was unavailable for the restarted game due to an injury. However, his goal from the original game was still recorded in official statistics, making him the only NHL player known to score in a game in which he did not play.

Zach Werenski - 2017-2025 - Drafted by Columbus in 2015. 

Zach Werenski has cemented himself as the best defenseman in Columbus Blue Jackets history. Werenski came into the league like a lion and really hasn't stopped since. Unfortunately, injuries set him back during his career, but last year, he stayed healthy and became a top-scoring, elite defenseman. 

Last season, he set single season records for a Blue Jackets defenseman in goals (23), assists (59), and points (82). He also passed CBJ legend Rick Nash in career assists, a mark that will probably take two decades to catch, if it's ever caught. His assist mark stands at 271, and there isn't an active Blue Jacket that even has 100 career assists. By the time his career is over, he could very well have 500 assists.

Per the NHL, Werenski is looking to become just the seventh U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history with three career 20-goal seasons.   

He'd join Phil Housley (7x), Reed Larson (6x), Brian Leetch (5x), Gary Suter (3x), Al Iafrate (3x), and Mark Howe (3x) as the only ones to do so to date.    

Last season, he also had a historic home points streak. The streak tied Phil Housley for the third-longest by a defenseman in NHL history, trailing only Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey. It was also the fourth-longest home point streak by an active player in the league, with only Nathan MacKinnon (35 GP in 2023-24), Connor McDavid (26 GP in 2023-24), and Nikita Kucherov (24 GP in 2022-23) having a longer streak.

Zach Werenski will look to continue his spectacular play when the season starts next week in Nashville. How many points do you think Werenski will have this season? 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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