NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Badly Need Defensive Upgrades
The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly scouring the NHL trade market for much-needed defensive reinforcements, but which players are actually going to be worth their while?
After the Ryan Ellis trade, the Flyers have $6.64 million in cap space, which allows them the opportunity to target virtually any player they want as far as salary goes.
We know that Egor Zamula had a poor preseason, which resulted in Adam Ginning overtaking him in the Flyers' lineup. Next to Ginning could be Zamula, Noah Juulsen, or Dennis Gilbert--it's really anyone's guess this early into the season.
That said, it's been reported that the Flyers are going to exhaust their external options at the position.
"Not sure we’re going to see much trade action too early, but Philadelphia is definitely checking what’s out there on defence," NHL insider Elliotte Friedman briefly reported in his "32 Thoughts" column on Tuesday.
We can already comfortably say that the Flyers aren't going to be trading assets for an older player, nor will they add a smaller, offensive-minded defenseman to the fold.
It's not in their team-building philosophy, and that's why, evidently, Emil Andrae was left off the Flyers' roster in favor of inferior options like Zamula and Gilbert.
The problem for the Flyers is that good teams usually look for defensemen around the playoffs and NHL trade deadline, so they'll be reduced to striking a deal for a younger player, and likely one in need of opportunity and/or a change of scenery.
I could see some interest in a player like Emil Lilleberg in Tampa Bay, a 6-foot-2 bruiser who scored 19 points in 76 games last year while racking up 105 penalty minutes but has since fallen out of favor.
Would there be mutual interest in an Emil-for-Emil trade that swaps Andrae and Lilleberg? It could work for Tampa Bay if they want some extra offensive juice and puck-carrying from the blueline from players not named Victor Hedman and J.J. Moser.
Bowen Byram has been floated again, and the Flyers have been linked to him before, but he's no defensive stalwart. Byram could excel with first-unit power play time, but that would mean less opportunities for Cam York and Jamie Drysdale by default, and the Flyers are still invested in the success of those players.
Rising stars like Thomas Harley and Philip Broberg are in the last years of their respective contracts and are due for big raises, but it's unlikely that either player is dealt by teams aspiring for the postseason in St. Louis and Dallas.
Shai Buium, the older brother of Zeev, is playing in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins after playing his first pro season last year. There's also Jordan Harris, a formerly promising Montreal Canadiens prospect who made the Boston Bruins as the presumptive seventh defenseman.
Like Friedman noted, the Flyers aren't likely to find many willing dance partners before they even play Game 1, but they have plenty of options, especially when it comes to low-risk, high-reward choices.
Byram could be a big swing for the Flyers, but I'm not overly optimistic about the fit in Philadelphia given the way the team's roster is currently constructed. And, no, New Jersey is not trading Simon Nemec to a division rival.
The Flyers should be actively working the phones moving forward, but don't expect an immediate resolution to the issue that is the team's defense, which was only further exacerbated by York's new injury.
Panthers open season with victory over Chicago after raising Stanley Cup banner
There was a lot going on around Florida Panthers before the puck ever dropped on Opening Night.
That’s life when you’re the Stanley Cup Champs.
A lavish championship ring ceremony and a Stanley Cup Champions banner raising were on the checklist of things to get done ahead of actual hockey being played.
Once the Cats got to the game, though, they picked up right where they left off last season, picking up a solid 3-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.
It was the Blackhawks who picked up the game’s opening goal, and it came right after the visitors killed off the night’s first power play.
Speedy sophomore Frank Nazar got behind Florida’s defense and beat Sergei Bobrovsky on his stick side to give Chicago a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening period.
It was a lead that lasted all of 63 seconds.
With Florida’s fourth line putting on some post-goal pressure, a point shot from Gus Forsling was stopped by Knight through a screen, but A.J. Greer was waiting at the doorstep to bang home the rebound and quickly tie the game.
Just 3:01 later, Florida took their first lead of the game.
Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov was called for his second minor penalty of the period, and this time Florida cashed in when Carter Verhaeghe found himself with the puck on his stick and all kinds of time and space to the left of Spencer Knight.
Verhaeghe’s first of the season made it 2-1 Florida with 5:52 left in first period.
Florida held a 17-3 shot advantage after the opening period, but it took the Blackhawks all of 69 seconds to log two shots and a goal once the middle frame began.
Connor Bedard was stopped by Bobrovsky on a breakaway, but moments later Teuvo Taravainen finished off a great feed from Nazar on a 2-on-1 to knot the score at two.
Soon after, with the Blackhawks on the power play, Evan Rodrigues needed help getting off the ice after blocking a point shot with the inside of his right knee.
Fortunately for the Panthers, both Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart, who left the ice after taking a Seth Jones backhand clearing attempt off the face, were back on the ice later in the period.
The game remained deadlocked at two until the 9:40 mark of the third period.
Mackie Samoskevich chased down a puck dump in the corner to the left of Knight and sent a backhand feed to the front of the net.
Flying down the slot, Jesper Boqvist choked up on his stick and batted the puck out of midair and into the net to give the Cats a 3-2 lead.
Florida continued to put the pressure on, but couldn’t solve Knight, who came up with big save after big save.
It was all good for the Panthers, as they earned the big two points on Opening Night.
On to the Flyers.
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Photo caption: Oct 7, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
AI Predicts Golden Knights To Win Stanley Cup 42% Of The Time In Season-Predicting Simulations
The Golden Knights are just favored to win the Stanley Cup at BetMGM, as a computer simulation of the NHL season run 100 times has Vegas as the overwhelming favorite to hoist its second Stanley Cup in four years.
The Knights, who opens its 2025-26 campaign Wednesday at home against the Los Angeles Kings, made the playoffs 89 times in the 100 simulations, and won the title 42 times - 16 more than the next team, the Dallas Stars.
The study, conducted by RotoWire.com, was run through ChatGPT to simulate the entire 2025-26 NHL season 100 times, to see how often each team would advance to the playoffs and predict who would win the most Stanley Cups.
Vegas is the co-favorite to win the Cup, along with Edmonton, both at 8-to-1 at BetMGM Sportsbook.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers made the playoffs a league second-highest 95 times, one less than the Tampa Bay Lightning, but were predicted to three-peat just two times.
Two-time Western Conference champion Edmonton made the playoffs 89 times during the simulation, but was predicted to win the title just three times.
Every team in the NHL was predicted to make the postseason at least twice, but only seven won the Stanley Cup a minimum of two times: Vegas (42), Dallas (26), Carolina (20), Tampa Bay (5), Edmonton (3), Florida (2) and Winnipeg (2).
Per the site: "Anyone trying the same experiment likely would get different results; your mileage may vary depending on the query that's fed into the system."
Also, according to the website, the Golden Knights "have been one of the best franchises in the league since the day they started in 2017-18. That season, the expansion Golden Knights stunned the hockey world by winning eight of their first nine games in their debut season and they kept steamrolling all the way to the Stanley Cup final before losing to the Washington Capitals."
It wouldn't surprise many if Vegas advanced to the postseason, as it's made the playoffs in seven of the eight seasons it's been a part of the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup in 2022-23.
Vegas has added firepower to this year's team when it traded for 100-point forward Mitch Marner just before free agency, to join forces with top-tier center Jack Eichel.
3 Players The Oilers Can Spend The $5 Million McDavid Savings On
Realistically, Connor McDavid could have asked for $17.5 million and gotten it without anyone blinking an eye. That number ($500K over Kirill Kaprizov) was a number many thought was realistic before the Edmonton Oilers' captain signed a two-year, $12.5 million extension on Monday. When asked why that number, McDavid responded, "Gives us a chance to extend our window here in Edmonton."
The urgency it creates in Edmonton to now use those savings wisely is a "good byproduct" of his deal, said McDavid. What he was really doing was giving the Oilers a chance to keep the core and add to it, using that $5 million elsewhere.
Where will GM Stan Bowman use it and what will he spend it on?
Not Much Will Change This Season
Because McDavid's new deal doesn't kick in until next season, Bowman did admit, “Right now, we’re focused on the opening game, seeing how our team looks, and making adjustments. The number affects next summer more than this year.” The Oilers were already going to be aggressive this season. That went without saying. This summer and in seasons to come, expect the Oilers to be extremely aggressive.
As for who and what players might be available with the savings McDavid offered the organization, there's a lot to consider.
First, as the cap rises, finding players worth $5 million or less is becoming increasingly complex. Edmonton will likely be looking at players already under contract, unless the plan is to move on from some of the current roster pieces. McDavid made it clear on Tuesday-- without explicitly saying as much -- that there are some untouchables on this team.
Young RFAs are commanding much higher salaries than $5 million per season. Pending UFAs might look at discounts in Edmonton, but $5 million might be asking a lot considering the changing NHL salary landscape.
3 Players The Oilers Might Want to Look At
Let's focus on teams that aren't likely playoff contenders. Let's also look at players who aren't rentals and are under contract on fairly reasonable deals. Let's exclude players who are older, since the Oilers are prioritizing getting younger. Finally, let's look at players who can actually help the Oilers.
That limits the list.
Teuvo Teravainen - Chicago Blackhawks
Teuvo Teravainen already has a goal in the 2025-26 NHL season and this is a player who might not stick with the Chicago Blackhawks if they don't start turning things around. Teravainen has two seasons remaining on his current deal at $5.4 million. Asking the Blackhawks to retain $400K-$1 million is not much of an issue.
We're tied up at two thanks to Teuvo Teravainen! ✌️ #NHLFaceOff
— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2025
📺: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnHpic.twitter.com/c12RtEyg08
Teravainen has steadily produced points in the NHL. He's a top-six NHL winger who is teetering on the edge of being a bit too old (31), but is still productive. He scored 58 and 53 points in his previous two seasons and has scored 20-plus goals in four seasons.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - Buffalo Sabres
If the Oilers prioritize grabbing a new goaltender, there is one in Buffalo making just the right amount of money and locked into a deal at the right age that he can be a difference-maker for years to come.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is just 26 years old and signed to a contract with the Sabres that pays him $4.75 million until the 2028-29 season. There's no reason for the Sabres to move their starter, but the Sabres are a bit of anomaly. Despite their best efforts, that organization fails to make ground every season and they move on from players most teams wouldn't dare trade.
The netminder has mixed results when it comes to his numbers, but some of his seasons have been solid, with some consideration being given to the fact he's playing in Buffalo.
He's played 55 and 54 games in each of the previous two seasons.
Jared McCann - Seattle Kraken
If the Oilers want to add a top-six goal scorer, Jared McCann is an ideal option out of Seattle. He scored 22 goals last season and 29 the season before. However, in 2022-23, he scored 40.
There's been unconfirmed speculation that the Kraken might be open to moving McCann. If they are -- and that would assume they aren't headed toward the playoffs -- the Oilers should take a look.
Edmonton doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of a return, but the Oilers are all in, so moving future picks is not out of the question. That's the kind of return Seattle might be looking for if they move the 29-year-old who has two seasons (including this one) left on his contract.
McCann has a limited no-trade list that allows him to exclude 10 teams. It seems unlikely that a contender like the Oilers would be on that list. McCann makes exactly $5 million per season.
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Minnesota Wild Recall Forward Hunter Haight From Iowa Wild
ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild open the 2025-26 season on Thursday and have already made some roster moves.
Hunter Haight was recently sent down because center Nico Sturm was healthy and practiced again after playing in the final preseason game.
But the Wild placed Sturm on the opening season injured reserve (IR) so Haight was recalled from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) to replace Sturm on the roster and lineup.
Haight, 21, was the Wild's 47th overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft. He recorded 20 goals, 14 assists and 34 points in 67 games with the Iowa Wild in his rookie season in the AHL.
The 5-foot-10 center joins fellow 2022 NHL Draft picks Liam Ohgren (19th overall) and Danila Yurov (24th overall) on the Wild's opening night roster.
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Lakers get first glimpse of what Marcus Smart brings to the court
The Lakers’ first practice of the week gave them hope of what they can look like whole when Marcus Smart takes the court.
Smart has been dealing with Achilles tendinopathy most of training camp and has been limited in practice. But coach JJ Redick said after practice Tuesday that Smart “did most of practice, including some live play."
Redick said LeBron James and Luka Doncic — along with Maxi Kleber (quad) and Gabe Vincent — did “modified, mostly individual work.”.
“Marcus participated in some live [practice] and then was out at the end,” Redick said. “Yeah he was awesome. He was awesome. He, I think given the workload of today, I was impressed that he was able to sustain his level of intensity for as long as he did.”
Redick said Doncic was out for “load management.” Then Redick laughed.
Smart has been one of the NBA’s better defenders over his career, winning defensive player of the year for the 2021-22 season while playing for the Boston Celtics and being named to the All-Defensive first team three times — 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Read more:With their big three out, Lakers work on 'championship habits' against Warriors
That will be a big part of his role with the Lakers, and during practice they got a glimpse of his defensive tenacity.
"Yeah, he guarded me a little bit at the first of practice,” Austin Reaves said. “You still feel that pressure. You feel the intensity that he brings on the defensive end, and that's going to be big for us. We need that. We need him to be the best version of himself. With that communication that he brings, especially defensively, he's been in the league a while. He knows how to win at the highest level. So, very excited to have him."
After the Washington Wizards bought out his contract, Smart received several calls from Doncic about joining the Lakers.
Smart eventually signed with the Lakers for two years and $11 million.
At practice Tuesday, Smart left an impression.
“He looked great. He was moving great,” Jarred Vanderbilt said. “But like I said, his main power is that he’s vocal. So being able to help the guys. Communicate, that’s a big part of defense also. Being physical is one of them, but also being vocal, being able to communicate. I think he does both at a very high level. So, he can definitely help us on that end of the floor.”
Vanderbilt is the Lakers’ other top defender, his versatility allowing him to guard multiple positions.
He was asked to envision what the Lakers' defense will be like with himself and Smart together on the court.
“Aw, man, just causing havoc,” Vanderbilt said. “Not only physically but just vocally. He’s a vocal guy as well, so it’s being the anchor of the defense, flying around, setting that tone defensively. Like, I’m excited. I can’t wait to share the court together.”
LeBron James ad
At some point after practice, the Lakers were asked if any one texted them about James’ cryptic post about “#TheSecondDecision” on Monday.
It left many wondering if James was talking about retiring.
He was not. It was about an ad for Hennessy that was posted on social media Tuesday morning.
“You guys are idiots,” Redick said when asked, laughing as he spoke. “We all knew it was an ad, right? No, I think most people that text me are also aware that it's probably an ad, so it wasn't. … Nobody was freaking out.”
Still, James is entering his NBA-record 23rd season.
"I just got a couple calls, like, 'what is this?'" Reaves said, laughing.
Rui Hachimura wanted to know what was going on.
So he contacted James just to be sure.
“I mean, [I got] a couple texts. But I texted him too,” Hachimura said. “But he was using a [weird] emoji. I don’t even know. I didn’t understand at all. But he loves to do that type of stuff. Surprises, right?”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
After 'Tremendous Camp' Devils' Prospect Expected To Take On Big Role With Comets
After a strong training camp and preseason with the New Jersey Devils, rookie defenseman Ethan Edwards was assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL) to begin the 2025-26 season with the Utica Comets.
The 23-year-old made his AHL debut last season, playing in the Comets' final 10 games. Before his re-assignment to Utica on Oct. 5, Edwards left a positive impact in New Jersey after what Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon called a tremendous training camp.
"I would describe him as an elite, powerful skater, even at the NHL level," MacKinnon said. "He is not necessarily an offensive defenseman as an NHL prospect; he is a highly competitive, mobile, two-way defenseman who can end plays, but also mobilize the puck."
With his college degree in sports management from the University of Michigan in hand, Edwards will now focus on developing his game and transitioning into a full-time NHLer.
"I want to be in the (NHL) and will do whatever it takes," he told The Hockey News during camp. "I feel like my game can adapt to any role, and they can put me in any situation. I am just trying to do my best to stick around."
When the Comets open their regular season on Friday, against the Cleveland Monsters at Adirondack Bank Center, expect Edwards to take on an elevated role on the blue line.
"What we want to see from him is going to Utica and giving us what we call monster minutes," MacKinnon said. "20-plus minutes a night at even strength, penalty kill, and defensive zone starts. He probably will get some power-play time, but not necessarily power-play one.
"It is more about the minutes he is going to play as a rookie in the American Hockey League," he continued. "It is going to be a tremendous opportunity to show and say, 'Hey, I can handle this load and excel in this role.'"
During the preseason, fans saw glimpses of Edwards on the penalty kill. The 23-year-old was credited with more than 12 blocked shots and was not afraid to throw his body around with seven hits over his first two appearances.
"It is something I have always taken pride in," he said of the penalty kill. "You know, it is adapting to a role here, and maybe it is not going to be running the first power play. It is taking control of what I can and doing my best in that role."
Edwards will make up the Comets' blue line along with Calen Addison, Colton White, Austin Strand, Topias Vilen, and Dmitri Osipov.
Throughout the season, all eyes will be on Edwards as he seeks to make his mark, despite not knowing, at this moment, what that may entail.
"I think my game can adapt to any role, so looking forward to seeing what that role is."
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Golden Knights Ink Contract With Forward
LAS VEGAS -- On the eve of their season-opener against the Los Angeles Kings, the Golden Knights announced a contract signing
Not the one everyone has been anticipating - Jack Eichel's extension - however, as the team signed forward Alexander Holtz to a two-year contract through the 2026-27 season worth an average annual value of $837,500.
Holtz, 23, appeared in 53 games and registered 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) for Vegas last season.
Holtz also saw action in Henderson, playing 16 games with the organization's AHL squad in nearby Henderson, the Silver Knights.
The forward recorded 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists) with the Silver Knights.
The Stockholm native has played in 163 NHL games during his career, posting 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) with both Vegas and New Jersey combined.
Holtz - who was acquired by Vegas in June of 2024 from New Jersey, along with goaltender Akira Schmid - had a career-high 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 82 NHL games with the Devils during the 2023-24 season.
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Florida Panthers play tribute videos for former goaltender, popular superfan who passed away
The Florida Panthers honored a former goaltender and a longtime season ticket holder during Opening Night on Tuesday.
During the first TV timeout of the game, the Panthers honored current Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight with a video going through some of the great times had during his tenue with the Cats.
Florida drafted Knight in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
He played the first 80 games of his career with the Panthers before being a key piece in a Trade Deadline deal that brought Seth Jones to South Florida.
Now, Knight is the goaltending backbone of the Blackhawks’ rebuild.
Panthers honor former goaltender Spencer Knight during the season’s first TV timeout. pic.twitter.com/kSfaVIu1ZD
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) October 7, 2025
Later in the period during another TV timeout, Florida played a touching tribute video to fan Steve Elario.
A well-known yacht broker, Elario was extremely popular with Panthers fans for years.
Elario, with long silver hair and a big smile, resembled wrestling legend Ric Flair and every time the Panthers would put Elario on the jumbotron, it would elicit loud ‘WOOOs!’ from fans.
Sadly, Elario passed away in early September.
It was a touching moment inside Amerant Bank Arena as fans reacted to the tribute video with a chorus of ‘WOOs’ and cheers.
The Panthers also asked fans to come together for a collective ‘WOO’ after the tribute, and you can check out video of it in the X post below:
A touching tribute from the Panthers and their fans to Steve Elario, a massive Cats fan who sadly passed away last month.
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) October 7, 2025
WOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/l7O4Xx7Y5R
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Yankees ALDS Notes: Aaron Boone living and dying with same lineup for must-win Game 3
Prior to Game 3 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Blue Jays on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone spoke about a variety of topics...
Dance with who brung ya
If the Yankees survive elimination and force a must-win Game 4 in the Bronx on Wednesday, they'll do so with the same exact lineup that placed them in a daunting 0-2 series hole this past weekend.
With veteran right-hander Shane Bieber slated to start for the Blue Jays, the Yankees decided to leave their batting order untouched. For a third straight game, they'll trust Trent Grisham in the leadoff spot, Ben Rice batting cleanup at first base, Giancarlo Stanton hitting fifth as the designated hitter, and Austin Wells handling catching duties.
When asked about deploying an identical lineup and weighing lefty-righty matchups, Boone didn't mince words. He wants his best hitters in the box right away, even if some metrics recommend a shuffling.
"I'm putting out there what I think has the best chance to be successful against Bieber," Boone said. "I understand in the short time at the back-end of this season, he's been a reverse-split. Throughout his career, he's been very neutral -- some years, one way or the other... But the people they have in their bullpen, the lefties are very lefty specialist-type guys. Having the threat of a couple of our righties is a presence I like to have."
One of the righty bench options will be Paul Goldschmidt, who, in a tiny six at-bat sample, has three hits off of Bieber. He and Stanton (3-for-15) happen to be the only Yankees players with multiple knocks against the former AL Cy Young winner. Aaron Judge is a measly 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts.
Boone still prefers Rice over Goldschmidt at first, and based on the power potential, the choice makes sense. But the rookie infielder hasn't exactly posed a threat since ripping a home run in Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Red Sox. He looked wobbly at the plate in Toronto, striking out four times with no luck against off-speed pitches.
"He's just been more than a dangerous hitter, especially here down the stretch," Boone said of Rice. "He kind of killed the ball all year against right-handed pitching. He's just a real threat in the middle of the order. Goldy has that presence looming over there. Hopefully, I can get him into a good matchup and even better than that, I'm putting him in late because we have a lead and he's playing defense at first."
With no margin for error, the Yankees can ill afford to fall behind early and look off-balance. They were held scoreless through five innings in Games 1 and 2 at Rogers Centre, and their swing-early-and-often approaches to starters Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage were fruitless.
The Yankees also must buck the strikeout trend. They've already whiffed 21 times in the series, and with 50 total punchouts in five playoff games this season, they're once again resembling an offense that can't deliver hits in bunches under bright October lights.
Running out of time
History has shown that 0-2 LDS deficits aren't death sentences -- 10 teams have defied the odds and advanced to the LCS, and the most recent instance came in 2017, with the Yankees' three-win comeback over the then-Indians.
But the Yankees' pair of road losses eight years ago weren't lopsided and humiliating like their latest road letdowns in Toronto. The Blue Jays flexed their muscles with home-field advantage, scoring a whopping 23 runs on 29 hits.
As if there wasn't enough pressure on the Yankees' bats to adequately produce, Carlos Rodón is tasked with do-or-die stakes on the mound against a lineup -- from top to bottom -- that causes fits. The trick will be containing a red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who's hit a lifetime .308 (203 plate appearances) at Yankee Stadium and .588 (21 plate appearances) against the veteran southpaw.
"I think we'll respond well," Boone said. "We've handled adverse situations well all year, navigated that. It's a group that's very close together. They trust in one another. That's important this time of year... But it all comes down to playing well, and I feel like our guys are in the right frame of mind to go do that."
While both teams finished the regular season tied atop the AL East with 94 wins, the head-to-head tiebreaker favored the Blue Jays, who thumped the Yankees with 10 wins in 15 meetings. Only time will tell if some home cooking keeps the Yankees' hopes alive for at least one more day.
8 Bold Penguins' Predictions For The 2025-26 Season
In case you haven't heard, the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.
And that means the 2025-26 regular season is underway.
Well, we've already provided you with some regular predictions for the upcoming season, but what about some bold ones?
Are they realistic? Probably not. But, hey, they're not impossible, either.
Here are eight bold predictions for the 2025-26 season.
1. Erik Karlsson is in prime form and turns in a point-per-game season
Karlsson showed that he is still capable of being that game-changing, generationally talented offensive defenseman during the 4 Nations Face-off for Team Sweden last season. With another opportunity to vie for Team Sweden's roster on the line - Karlsson has not yet been named to Sweden's 2026 Olympic team - as well as the potential to be dealt to a Stanley Cup-contending team before the trade deadline, Karlsson has a lot to play for.
And I do believe Karlsson will be dealt to a contender at the deadline in the Carolina Hurricanes.
2. Evgeni Malkin also returns to point-per-game this season and earns himself another contract
Malkin has not been point-per-game since the 2022-23 season, when he recorded 27 goals and 83 points. But, since then, he has also had a rotating carousel of linemates.
This season? That should not be the case. He's starting the season with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau, but once Bryan Rust returns from injury and the kids - like Rutger McGroarty and Tristan Broz - start to populate the roster, he'll have the talent around him to give him that boost.
3. Ville Koivunen wins the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year
Demidov who?
It's hard to argue against Ivan Demidov taking home the Calder before the season even begins. But a full season of Koivunen alongside Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell?
Sure, his seven points in eight games to end the 2024-25 season is going to be hard to replicate, but if he's always next to Crosby or Malkin, why can't he replicate it? Why can't he sniff point-per-game alongside one of the greatest players of all time and one of the league's best goal-scorers?
After all, these are bold predictions... so let's shoot high!
4. Sidney Crosby hits the 100-point mark for the first time since 2018-19
Crosby has been hovering around 90 points for what seems like forever, and recently, he's had slow starts to seasons.
Well, what if that slow start never happens this year? There's no reason to believe that the longest-tenured captain in NHL history can't make up 8-10 points in that time. And he'll have some young talent to play with this season, too.
5. Ben Kindel stays the entire season and registers more than 40 points
Many - myself included - have rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke outlasting his nine-game NHL trial and Kindel going back to the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL after his.
Kindel already surprised everyone by his performance in training camp. Why can't he do it again?
Hey, never say never. I'd say it would require Kindel blowing everyone out of the water during his nine games in order to be kept around.
I say he blows everyone out of the water.
6. Sergei Murashov is the starting goaltender by season's end
To be honest, I'm not really even sure that this is a "bold" take. But, it's a take nonetheless, and we'll run with it.
Murashov, 21, was the best goaltender in Penguins' training camp. He also dominated the AHL level last season. Arturs Silovs is slated to start game one for the Penguins against the New York Rangers. Tristan Jarry was waived last season and will likely have a short leash.
If Murashov dominates the AHL again - and one of the NHL goaltenders falters - how long before Murashov simply takes the net for himself?
My bet is that it happens this season. Murashov is the real deal.
7. Harrison Brunicke is the top-pair right defenseman by season's end
If Karlsson is dealt at the deadline - and Brunicke stays the entire season - it's reasonable to suggest that he will be the best defenseman on the Penguins' roster at that point, even if that bar is low.
Of course, Kris Letang is the best defenseman in Penguins' history and could very well have himself a bounceback campaign. But, it's possible that Brunicke - although young and unrefined - will have an even better season.
Bold? Maybe. But, with Karlsson out of the picture, it's certainly not impossible.
8. The kids will push the Penguins into the playoffs
Ah, the "P" word.
That may make some Penguins' fans quake in their boots given the shiny prize for the winner of the draft lottery next summer. But, if the Penguins' roster truly does go young - and the Penguins can acquire a young left defenseman or see a decent one emerge in their system - how far can the kids take them?
There is talent in the system. Murashov, Koivunen, Brunicke, and McGroarty could all be on the roster at some point this season, and they're not the only ones. This team is a better one with the kids on it, and - maybe, just maybe - they can provide enough of a spark to squeak this team into a wild spot.
For better or for worse, of course.
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