More from this series:   Canada 🇨🇦  United States 🇺🇸  European teams 🇪🇺   With Russia banned from...

<p><strong>More from this series:</strong></p><ul>
<li><em><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3408377" href="https://thescore.com/news/3408377">Canada</a> 🇨🇦</em></li>
<li><em><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3408396" href="https://thescore.com/news/3408396">United States</a> 🇺🇸</em></li>
<li><strong><em>European teams 🇪🇺</em></strong></li>
</ul><p>With Russia banned from international competition, Canada and the U.S. are the consensus favorites to claim gold at the 2026 Olympics. Which European countries can challenge them? Below we rank the participating nations from most to least likely to medal in the Feb. 11-22 tournament held in Milan, Italy.</p><p>(Note: The 12-team men's hockey field splits into three groups. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, and the remaining two spots are determined by a qualifying round. A knockout stage then ensues.)</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Sweden 🇸🇪</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-vGdHq" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vGdHq/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="207" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>If there's one country that can go toe to toe with Canada and the U.S., it's Sweden, which has the requisite depth and high-end talent (most notably on the wings, led by Nylander) to win gold if things break its way.</p><p>The biggest development for Sweden two months into the NHL season is the emergence of Carlsson as an elite top-line center. The third-year Ducks pivot knocks Pettersson, Eriksson Ek, and Zibanejad into more appropriate roles down the lineup and generally beefs up a somewhat weak area on the roster.</p><p>The backbone of Team Sweden, as always, will be its blue line. The super experienced group has a healthy variety of offensive game-breakers (Dahlin, Hedman, Karlsson) and stay-at-home defenders known for slowing down the most dangerous players on the planet (Forsling, Ekholm, Brodin).</p><p>Goaltending is a minor concern with Markstrom struggling in the early going. We penciled him in as the No. 1 guy for now. Wallstedt, who has a .944 save percentage through 10 games, could begin the tournament as the starter if he stays hot.</p><h3>Finland 🇫🇮</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Finland 🇫🇮" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-emgHa" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/emgHa/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="391" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>The Finns' gold-medal chances were dealt a significant blow in September when the country's best player, center Aleksander Barkov, suffered a major knee injury. The Panthers captain is sidelined at least until late April.</p><p>Finland will still ice an intriguing forward group. The incredibly clutch Rantanen is its bona fide superstar, and each of the top three lines features multiple impactful two-way contributors. However, the fourth-liners and extras don't stack up well against depth pieces on Sweden, Canada, and the U.S.</p><p>As for the defense corps, well, it drops off a cliff after Heiskanen, who'll likely log 30 minutes a game in Italy. Finland may go only as far as its goaltending takes it. How does Saros fare after a disappointing two games at the 4 Nations Face-Off? Or is it Lankinen who'll be tasked with saving the day?</p><h3>Czechia 🇨🇿</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-nVRkR" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nVRkR/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="352" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>The Czechs boast legitimate firepower up front with Pastrnak and Necas. Multiple goalies are capable of getting hot enough to steal games against the tournament's powerhouses. That's a recipe for a Cinderella run all right, but they'll have to overcome concerns on the blue line - specifically the left side.</p><p>Czechia won gold at the 2024 World Championship with several players from this projected roster, including the 40-year-old Cervenka - a Czech league legend who's shown great chemistry with Pastrnak on the international stage.</p><h3>Germany 🇩🇪</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-rsdF7" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rsdF7/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="263" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>Germany is a rising power in men's hockey, having produced a few world-class players over the past decade and won a silver medal at the 2023 Worlds.</p><p>Coach Harold Kreis will lean heavily on his NHL contingent, which includes one megastar (Draisaitl), two young studs (Stutzle, Seider), one burgeoning talent (Peterka), and three less impactful pieces (Reichel, Sturm, Grubauer).</p><p>Germany's in Group C with the U.S., Denmark, and Latvia. It has enough juice to finish second behind the Americans and thus earn a quarterfinal berth.</p><h3>Switzerland 🇨🇭</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-RQuGy" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/RQuGy/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="381" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>With an NHL-caliber top six up front and top four on the back end, Switzerland is much deeper than Germany on paper. The list above doesn't even include ex-NHL forwards Denis Malgin and Sven Andrighetto or veteran goalie Leonardo Genoni, all three of whom are national team stalwarts.</p><p>However, Switzerland's path to medaling could be significantly more difficult than Germany's because Group A also features Canada, Czechia, and France. Its Feb. 15 matchup against Czechia will be particularly huge for both teams.</p><h3>Slovakia 🇸🇰</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-0LvXc" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0LvXc/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="265" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>Slovakia fell off as a tertiary hockey power in the 2010s. But it's relevant again following a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics (caveat: no NHL participation) and the selection of five players in the first rounds of the 2022 and 2023 drafts.</p><p>That core, led by Slafkovsky and Nemec, should blossom into a feisty squad by the 2030 Olympics. This time around, the Slovaks are the third-best team in Group B (Sweden, Finland, Italy) and thus fighting hard for a quarterfinal spot.</p><h3>Denmark 🇩🇰</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-iTtGQ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iTtGQ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="207" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>It's safe to say Andersen will have to be at his very best between the pipes for the Danes to make any sort of noise. That hasn't been the case for the 36-year-old this season in the NHL, but his body of work over a 13-year career suggests that stealing a game or two isn't beyond the realm of possibility, especially in Group C, which includes fellow underdogs Germany and Latvia.</p><h3>Latvia 🇱🇻</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-fxP9E" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fxP9E/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="236" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>Latvia doesn't have an NHL top-six forward, top-four defenseman, or reliable starting goalie. What it does have: a history of pulling off upsets at marquee tournaments. Canadians, in particular, can recall demoralizing losses to the plucky Latvians at the 2021 Worlds and 2025 world juniors.</p><h3>Italy 🇮🇹</h3><p>Italy will be the only nation in the tournament without a player who's suited up for an NHL game this season. The Italians project to be led by promising goalie Damian Clara, a 2023 second-round pick by the Ducks who's currently playing in Sweden. If the raw, 6-foot-6 20-year-old can put it all together for a brief stretch with the energy of the home crowd behind him, maybe Italy can eke out a win against Slovakia, its most gettable opponent in Group B.</p><h3>France 🇫🇷</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-iwJgt" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iwJgt/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="90" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>France is battling two extreme forces: its own dearth of talent and very tough competition in Group A. One standings point would be cause for celebration.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33603103/related

Who can challenge for Olympic gold? Ranking projected European rosters

More from this series:   Canada 🇨🇦  United States 🇺🇸  European teams 🇪🇺   Olympic hockey is on th...

<p><strong>More from this series:</strong></p><ul>
<li><em><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3408377" href="https://thescore.com/news/3408377">Canada</a> 🇨🇦</em></li>
<li><strong><em>United States 🇺🇸</em></strong></li>
<li><em><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3408398" href="https://thescore.com/news/3408398">European teams</a> 🇪🇺</em></li>
</ul><p>Olympic hockey is on the horizon. The men's tournament is set for Feb. 11-22 in Italy, and final rosters are due in roughly four weeks, on Dec. 31.</p><p>Below is a projection of Team USA's 25-man Olympic roster. We picked players who we believe the United States' brain trust - led by general manager Bill Guerin - will take, not who we would personally select.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Note: Bolded players were named to the team in June.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812297/USA_FORWARDS.jpg?ts=1764701553" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812297/USA_FORWARDS.jpg?ts=1764701553 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812297/USA_FORWARDS.jpg?ts=1764701553 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812297/USA_FORWARDS.jpg?ts=1764701553 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812297/USA_FORWARDS.jpg?ts=1764701553 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812297/USA_FORWARDS.jpg?ts=1764701553 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1DUUu" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1DUUu/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="207" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><strong>Toughest omissions: </strong>Cole Caufield, Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier, Clayton Keller, Shane Pinto<strong> </strong></p><p>Did you really think an overtime loss to Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final would completely change Guerin's team-building philosophy? Not a chance.</p><p>The lower half of the U.S.' forward group will be filled mostly with heavier players who can check, which is why we omitted smaller, high-skill players like Caufield, Cooley, and Keller. Robertson, who's 6-foot-3, 204 pounds but doesn't have great speed or tenacity, is one pick we don't feel super confident about. That said, we couldn't deny him a roster spot based on how well he's played for the Stars all year (36 points in 28 games) - and especially of late.</p><p>Thompson and Knies are the only other projected forwards who weren't on the 4 Nations squad. A tantalizing one-time option for the top power-play unit, the 6-foot-6 Thompson's tied for third in goals over the past two seasons.</p><p>It's easy to see why Guerin would be infatuated with Knies, the 6-foot-3, 232-pound Maple Leafs winger who's strong on the puck and crafty in tight quarters. His game should translate well to a depth role on a loaded team, though he could climb the lineup to play with longtime linemate Matthews. </p><p>The Trocheck and Miller picks may raise some eyebrows, but U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan will surely be pounding the table for a right-handed center whom he can count on to win key defensive-zone draws. Pinto received consideration, but we gave Trocheck the edge because of how dependable he's been for Sullivan and the Rangers this season, when healthy. Sullivan gave Miller the "C" in New York, and while it's been a tough year, Team USA's decision-makers value the 33-year-old's competitive fire, toughness, and versatility.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812296/USA_DEFENSEMEN.jpg?ts=1764701550" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812296/USA_DEFENSEMEN.jpg?ts=1764701550 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812296/USA_DEFENSEMEN.jpg?ts=1764701550 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812296/USA_DEFENSEMEN.jpg?ts=1764701550 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812296/USA_DEFENSEMEN.jpg?ts=1764701550 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812296/USA_DEFENSEMEN.jpg?ts=1764701550 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-DiDWf" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/DiDWf/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="178" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><strong>Toughest omission: </strong>Jackson LaCombe</p><p>Most spots on the American blue line are spoken for. Hughes and McAvoy are already on the team. Slavin, Faber, Werenski, and Sanderson are virtual locks.</p><p>Fox has bounced back nicely after a down 2024-25 campaign that included a concerning performance at 4 Nations. While the 2021 Norris Trophy winner is battling an injury, and the timeline for his return is a little foggy, we believe Fox's playmaking chops would be hugely beneficial to the U.S.' defense corps.</p><p>The last spot could be filled by several defensemen, including 4 Nations member Noah Hanifin, defensive stalwart Mikey Anderson, or wily vet John Carlson. (Sorry, Lane Hutson fans, you'll have to wait until next Olympics.)</p><p>Realistically, Jones and LaCombe probably have the inside track. LaCombe is undoubtedly one of the NHL's brightest young D-men, but Jones gets the nod because he has the size and championship pedigree Guerin seemingly covets. It doesn't hurt that Jones' right shot balances out the group.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812295/USA_GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701551" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812295/USA_GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701551 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812295/USA_GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701551 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812295/USA_GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701551 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812295/USA_GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701551 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812295/USA_GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701551 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-VvvG8" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/VvvG8/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="148" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><strong>Toughest omission: </strong>Spencer Knight</p><p>This trio remains unchanged from 4 Nations.</p><p>Hellebuyck is currently out with a knee injury, but he's projected to return before the Olympics. The reigning Hart Trophy winner will be Team USA's starting goalie - at least to begin the tournament. If he struggles yet again in a big-game setting, anything can happen. The Americans have enviable depth.</p><p>Knight has been lights out for the Blackhawks this season and warrants consideration. However, neither Oettinger nor Swayman have played their way off the roster. Key context: If Guerin was willing to pick Swayman for 4 Nations amid the worst season of his career, it's hard to imagine the GM would leave the Bruins netminder off the Olympic team during a resurgent campaign.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33591973/related

Projecting United States' 2026 Olympic men's hockey roster

<p><strong>More from this series:</strong></p><ul>
<li><em><strong>Canada 🇨🇦</strong></em></li>
<li><em><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3408396" href="https://thescore.com/news/3408396">United States</a> 🇺🇸</em></li>
<li><em><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3408398" href="https://thescore.com/news/3408398">European teams</a> 🇪🇺</em></li>
</ul><p>Olympic hockey is on the horizon. The men's tournament is set for Feb. 11-22 in Italy, and rosters are due four weeks from Wednesday, on Dec. 31.</p><p>Below is a projection of Team Canada's 25-man Olympic roster. We picked players who we believe Canada's brain trust - led by general manager Doug Armstrong - will take, not who we would personally select.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Note: Bolded players were named to the team in June.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812299/Forwards.jpg?ts=1764701554" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812299/Forwards.jpg?ts=1764701554 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812299/Forwards.jpg?ts=1764701554 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812299/Forwards.jpg?ts=1764701554 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812299/Forwards.jpg?ts=1764701554 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812299/Forwards.jpg?ts=1764701554 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-YWUWs" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YWUWs/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="257" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><strong>Toughest omissions: </strong>Connor Bedard, Sam Bennett, Mark Scheifele</p><p>Canada's 14-man forward group can be split into four subgroups. Two are non-controversial: McDavid, Point, Crosby, MacKinnon, and Reinhart are already on the team, while Marner, Hagel, and Marchand are virtual locks.</p><p>Cirelli, Stone, and Jarvis make up the third group. Each of them was on February's 4 Nations Face-Off squad, and each has the trust of head coach Jon Cooper - Cirelli for his shutdown abilities, Stone for his veteran savvy, Jarvis for his versatility. Remember: Armstrong and his staff are trying to build the very best <em>team </em>possible. Every player must fill a role, sometimes multiple.</p><p>That leaves three spots. Suzuki, who's racked up 67 points in 51 games since 4 Nations, is the perfect third-line center. Celebrini has quickly become one of the best two-way forwards in the entire NHL and slots nicely at third-line left wing. And right-winger Wilson brings a unicorn skill set: a mix of shooting, playmaking, big-man physicality, and lockdown defense.</p><p>We believe Canada's managers will think long and hard about Bedard (currently third in league scoring) but ultimately opt to fill the depth spots with more experienced, well-rounded players. Scheifele is a tough cut as another top-10 scorer. Bennett, a practical shoo-in coming into the season, is also on the outside looking in following a poor first 25 games for the Panthers.</p><p>Wyatt Johnston, John Tavares, Bo Horvat, Travis Konecny, and Morgan Geekie are five other players surely garnering serious consideration up front.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812298/DEFENSE.jpg?ts=1764701553" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812298/DEFENSE.jpg?ts=1764701553 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812298/DEFENSE.jpg?ts=1764701553 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812298/DEFENSE.jpg?ts=1764701553 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812298/DEFENSE.jpg?ts=1764701553 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812298/DEFENSE.jpg?ts=1764701553 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-S97JK" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/S97JK/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="218" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><strong>Toughest omission: </strong>Matthew Schaefer</p><p>We believe Canada will return the same defense corps that won the 4 Nations, even if it makes this exercise less exciting. (Seven defensemen were permitted at that event, but Harley was added mid-tournament after Theodore's injury.)</p><p>Toews is the closest thing to a lock outside of Makar. Morrissey, Harley, and Theodore all bring offense (and power-play quarterbacking capabilities, if Makar were to miss any time), but none of them have an outsized amount of risk in their game compared to someone like Evan Bouchard. Parayko and Sanheim present much-needed size and snarl and will likely be counted on to kill penalties.</p><p>Doughty was fresh off a significant ankle injury at 4 Nations yet showed he can handle the speed of best-on-best hockey. His experience as a two-time Olympian and two-time Stanley Cup champion make him an easy choice.</p><p>With due respect to players like Bouchard, Jakob Chychrun, Noah Dobson, and Brandon Montour, Schaefer was the only defenseman who really gave us pause. What the 18-year-old phenom is doing for the Islanders is nothing short of remarkable. However, it's worth noting that New York has sheltered him from opposing top lines all season. Against countries like the United States and Sweden, there's nowhere to hide, so we think Armstrong will err on the side of caution and keep intact the group that flourished at 4 Nations.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812294/GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701552" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812294/GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701552 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812294/GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701552 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812294/GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701552 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812294/GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701552 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812294/GOALIES.jpg?ts=1764701552 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-RaOOJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/RaOOJ/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="148" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><strong>Toughest omissions: </strong>Mackenzie Blackwood, Darcy Kuemper</p><p>Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault were Canada's goalies at 4 Nations. All three have struggled mightily in 2025-26 (save percentages below .890), and Hill's appeared in just five games for Vegas due to injury.</p><p>In other words, Canada's goaltending room will look much different in Italy. </p><p>Binnington, a key member of the 2019 Stanley Cup-winning Blues, will be the one familiar face. He was between the pipes for every minute of the 4 Nations experience and stoned the Americans multiple times in a dramatic, tension-filled title game. Even in a down year, Binnington's big-game resume holds tremendous value for a nation without a legitimate star goalie to call upon.</p><p>Thompson, meanwhile, is rocking a .913 SV% and strong underlying numbers in 62 games over the past two seasons. Leaving the Capitals starter off the Olympic roster would be indefensible given the lackluster other options.</p><p>Wedgewood would fill the No. 3 role well. He's built a terrific reputation as a career backup and happens to be excelling in an expanded role this year (.920 SV% in 19 games). His stiffest competition has either been hurt for much of the season (Blackwood) or is fading into the background with good-but-not-great late-career numbers (Kuemper). Wedgewood sticks out.</p>

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Projecting Canada's 2026 Olympic men's hockey roster

Combining his own perspective with what he's been hearing from those in and around the game, seni...

<p><em>Combining his own perspective with what he's been hearing from those in and around the game, senior NHL writer John Matisz breaks down the hot topics across the hockey landscape.</em></p><h3>Hart Trophy is MacKinnon's - for now</h3><p>On the surface, the early Hart Trophy debate isn't much of a debate.</p><p>Nathan MacKinnon, the best player on the best team in the NHL, paces the league in goals (19) and points (41). The ultra assertive and skilled center drives the Avalanche's attack, consistently funneling pucks to the slot for his teammates or bullying his way to the net himself. No slouch defensively, he owns a plus-25 five-on-five goal differential in just 23 games.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>MacKinnon, the 2023-24 Hart winner, is the obvious choice for MVP - at least, for now.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811833/cropped_GettyImages-2248048596.jpg?ts=1764370345" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811833/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248048596.jpg?ts=1764370345 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811833/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248048596.jpg?ts=1764370345 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811833/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248048596.jpg?ts=1764370345 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811833/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248048596.jpg?ts=1764370345 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811833/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248048596.jpg?ts=1764370345 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Martin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>There's no crystal ball for this kind of stuff, but MacKinnon's challengers may offer more compelling stories by season's end.</p><p>Teenager Macklin Celebrini is flat-out dominating. His 36 points in 25 games capture only a portion of his nightly impact. If the Sharks stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff race, Celebrini's overall value will be undeniable.</p><p>Connor Bedard, 20, is also on a team that shouldn't make the playoffs but might be dragged in. Amazingly, he trails only MacKinnon in primary points, having compiled 14 goals and 15 first assists for the Blackhawks.</p><p>Jack Eichel's case revolves around his five-on-five on/off splits. With Eichel on the ice, the Golden Knights have outscored the opposition 24-14. Without him: They're down 30-22.</p><p>Dylan Larkin's being leaned on for heavy defensive minutes, yet he leads the Red Wings in points and ranks first in the NHL in individual expected goals.</p><p>Connor McDavid recently entered the chat thanks to a 20-point November. He's collected just seven fewer points than MacKinnon while playing for the Oilers.</p><h3>Geekie is Kraken's loss, Bruins' gain</h3><p>Morgan Geekie leads all NHLers in 2025 goals: 43 snipes in 69 games.</p><p>That fun bit of trivia represents a gigantic success story for the Bruins, who signed Geekie in 2023 as a 24-year-old unrestricted free agent.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811829/cropped_GettyImages-2205217240.jpg?ts=1764366659" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811829/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205217240.jpg?ts=1764366659 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811829/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205217240.jpg?ts=1764366659 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811829/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205217240.jpg?ts=1764366659 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811829/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205217240.jpg?ts=1764366659 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811829/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205217240.jpg?ts=1764366659 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Boston Globe / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Geekie had achieved UFA status at such a young age because his former team, the Kraken, didn't issue him a qualifying offer after extension talks cooled. Players who don't receive a QO tend to be disposable - which Geekie decidedly was not, even if he had yet to truly break out at the NHL level.</p><p>It was an odd decision by then-general manager Ron Francis, and it looks far worse in hindsight. Seattle, whose 2.57 goals per game rank 30th out of 32 teams, desperately needs a sharpshooter like Geekie. (Francis and Geekie have a long history. The executive acquired him in the 2017 entry draft as GM of the Hurricanes and again in the 2021 Kraken expansion draft.)</p><p>Geekie received interest from seven teams in 2023 free agency, ultimately picking the Bruins and a two-year, $4-million deal for the on-ice fit and Original Six environment. Boston's become home. The winger from tiny Strathclair, Manitoba inked a six-year, $33-million extension in June.</p><p>Geekie and superstar David Pastrnak (41 goals since Jan. 1) are a lethal one-two punch up front. "He has everything to score 50 (goals) in this league," Pastrnak <a href="https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2025/10/31/morgan-geekie-goals-bruins-david-pastrnak/">told reporters</a> in October. "I keep telling him, keep reminding him, he has a heck of a shot, and he has the goal-scorer instinct. So, he's gonna get it one day. The shot that he has, it's amazing. It's the best on our team."</p><p>Geekie recorded the hardest shot of the NHL season: 103.3 mph on Nov. 11.</p><p>The path from no QO to high-impact player is rarely traveled. Of late, Geekie, Dylan Strome (Chicago to Washington), and Carter Verhaeghe (Tampa Bay to Florida) have taken it.</p><h3>Can Islanders become Stars 2.0?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811827/cropped_GettyImages-2247189672.jpg?ts=1764366399" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811827/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247189672.jpg?ts=1764366399 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811827/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247189672.jpg?ts=1764366399 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811827/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247189672.jpg?ts=1764366399 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811827/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247189672.jpg?ts=1764366399 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811827/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247189672.jpg?ts=1764366399 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Rich Graessle / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>In September, Mat Barzal was asked about the Islanders entering a new era with GM Mathieu Darche, hired in May, making three first-round picks.</p><p>"With the draft we just had and some of the other kids that we've got coming in over the next two, three years, I see us having a good team this year, and I see us having a blend of Dallas," Barzal said at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour.</p><p>My eyebrows rose. <em>The Stars? Barzal thinks the Islanders can emulate the Stars?! </em></p><p>"They have (Matt) Duchene, (Tyler) Seguin, and (Jamie) Benn, who are still very much the engine of that team," the playmaking center continued. "And then you have (Miro) Heiskanen, (Jason) Robertson, (Roope) Hintz, and (Wyatt) Johnston come in later. With myself, (Bo) Horvat, and some of the older guys, (we have that veteran core), and hopefully these young kids can come in and be like the young players in Dallas. That team could have easily won a Cup the last two years, right? So, that's the way I kind of see it."</p><p>Let's be clear: 13-9-3 New York is definitely not a Cup contender like Dallas.</p><p>Yet Barzal's comparison makes much more sense now that we've seen the incredible Matthew Schaefer in action. Maybe, if Darche plays his cards right over the next few years, the Isles can evolve into some version of the Stars.</p><h3>State of the 11-9-5 Blue Jackets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811804/cropped_GettyImages-2241800349.jpg?ts=1764353231" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811804/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241800349.jpg?ts=1764353231 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811804/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241800349.jpg?ts=1764353231 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811804/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241800349.jpg?ts=1764353231 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811804/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241800349.jpg?ts=1764353231 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811804/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241800349.jpg?ts=1764353231 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jason Mowry / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Blue Jackets fans have let me know that Columbus was the one relevant team I didn't write about in a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342899" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342899">Thanksgiving check-in story</a> published Thursday.</p><p>Fair enough. Here are a few thoughts on the Dean Evason-coached squad.</p><p><strong>Kirill Marchenko rules</strong>: The Russian winger has this rock-star vibe - quick feet, silky hands, bullet of a shot, 6-foot-3, long hair, tucked jersey. Marchenko is second in the NHL in scoring chances generated off the rush per game because he transports the puck well and executes high-end plays. While he's currently day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Marchenko's trending toward a career high in points after putting up eight goals and 14 assists in 22 games.</p><p><strong>Yegor Chinakhov is stuck</strong>: It's well-documented that the forward and Evason don't get along. Chinakhov, who requested a trade in the offseason, has seen his nightly usage drop from 15:43 a game last season to 10:21. The impasse is hurting the player more than the team. Columbus is chugging along without a big contribution from Chinakhov, and rivals aren't willing to give up much for a 24-year-old who's failed to round out his shoot-first game.</p><p><strong>Jet Greaves may be the guy</strong>: Elvis Merzlikins has been too inconsistent over his career. Daniil Tarasov kept getting injured before leaving in free agency. Can Greaves solve the Blue Jackets' goaltending woes? He's rocking a .915 save percentage through 37 career games, which is well above league average. There are no major flaws in his game. Greaves, 24 and undrafted due to size concerns, is by all accounts a tireless worker and beloved teammate.</p><h3>Matheson deal guarantees strong top 4</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811814/cropped_GettyImages-2242573409.jpg?ts=1764359326" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811814/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242573409.jpg?ts=1764359326 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811814/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242573409.jpg?ts=1764359326 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811814/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242573409.jpg?ts=1764359326 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811814/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242573409.jpg?ts=1764359326 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811814/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242573409.jpg?ts=1764359326 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andy Devlin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Canadiens <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3412115" href="https://thescore.com/news/3412115">signed</a> Mike Matheson to a five-year, $30-million contract extension Friday. He'll be 32 years old when the deal kicks in next season.</p><p>There's a small chance Montreal ends up not loving the $6-million cap hit in the final year or two. That said, it's a generally low-risk, high-upside deal. Matheson, a smooth-skating two-way defenseman, has aged gracefully so far.</p><p>Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, and Kaiden Guhle will make a combined $29.85 million a year, or 29% of 2026-27's projected $104-million salary cap. Matheson and Guhle are signed through 2030-31, while Dobson and Hutson are up after 2032-33 and 2033-34, respectively.</p><p>That's money well spent considering the talent level and versatility.</p><h3>Second-line centers are all the rage</h3><p>For years, right-handed defensemen were the hot commodity everybody talked about in the lead-up to the trade deadline. There never seemed to be enough good ones to properly fill out the league's blue lines.</p><p>Second-line centers are the new RHD. A large chunk of teams have a steep drop-off after first-line center. Even the Hurricanes, Canadiens, Wild, and Flyers - all of whom currently sit in the top 10 in points percentage - would all benefit greatly from an upgrade at 2C.</p><p>It'll be fascinating to see what kind of packages veteran top-six centers (think Ryan O’Reilly and Nazem Kadri) command ahead of the March 6 deadline.</p><h3>Bigger, better November prospect event</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811790/cropped_GettyImages-2247925062.jpg?ts=1764344073" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811790/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247925062.jpg?ts=1764344073 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811790/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247925062.jpg?ts=1764344073 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811790/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247925062.jpg?ts=1764344073 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811790/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247925062.jpg?ts=1764344073 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811790/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247925062.jpg?ts=1764344073 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Leah Hennel / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The landscape for NHL prospects changed forever last fall when the NCAA lifted its ban on Canadian Hockey League players. Hundreds of players, including several premier prospects, have switched leagues over the past year, and the leagues have been forced to reposition themselves on the recruiting circuit.</p><p>The CHL USA Prospects Challenge ran this week in Alberta. The two-game scouting showcase pits draft-eligible prospects from the CHL's three leagues (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) against the U.S. National Team Development Program.</p><p>An NHLPA agent shared a better idea via text: Why not widen the scope of the event and throw a five-team prospect tournament every November? The OHL, QMJHL, and WHL could each put together a team, with the USNTDP as the fourth group, and the fifth could be a mix of players from the closely tied USHL and NCAA.</p><p>This supercharged version of the prospects challenge would accomplish three things: build legitimate early-season buzz for the draft, celebrate what each league has to offer, and give NHL scouts more valuable opportunities to watch players.</p><h3>Should NHL follow PWHL's lead?</h3><p>Reader BrokenEars recently asked about the NHL points system:</p><blockquote><p>Are there any plans for the NHL to adopt the highly successful 3-2-1-0 points system from the Professional Women's Hockey League, as it incentivizes teams to win in regulation?</p></blockquote><p>The league has no plans to award three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, and one point for an OT loss - like the PWHL does - even though it's probably the most sensible way to distribute standings points.</p><p>The NHL loves its current 2-0-1 system (two points for a win of any kind, zero for a regulation loss, one for an OT loss) because the loser point allows a bunch of teams to remain in the playoff hunt. This season has featured an abnormally high number of OT games, and the standings are a jumbled mess.</p><p>Parity, even if it's artificially created, provides hope. Hope sells tickets. The NHL's bottom line relies more heavily on gate revenue than is the case for other major pro leagues.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center><u>                    </u></center></figure><p>What do you want to know, hockey fans?</p><p>There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions.</p><ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email John at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
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https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33508917/related

Early Hart Trophy vibes, Kraken's Geekie fumble, more NHL hot topics

Turkey. Stuffing. Football. Awkward dinner table conversations.  All these things are closely ass...

<p>Turkey. Stuffing. Football. Awkward dinner table conversations.</p><p>All these things are closely associated with Thanksgiving in the United States.</p><p>But there's an important NHL tie-in, too. Roughly 50 days since opening night, the holiday serves as a natural inflection point for the season. History suggests that the majority of teams in a playoff spot at Thanksgiving will remain there come April.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The salary cap era spans 17 full seasons. In three of those campaigns, 11 of the 16 teams holding a playoff spot at Thanksgiving went on to compete in the postseason. Seven times, 12 of 16 clubs stayed in the playoff picture. In six years, 13 of 16 teams held on, and in one season - 2008-09 - 14 of 16. The cap-era average: 12.3 of 16 teams, or 77% of the playoff field, are already decided by Thanksgiving.</p><p>With this trend in mind, let's assess each conference's current state.</p><h3>Eastern Conference</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-8KEcP" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/8KEcP/4/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="306" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><em>Just below cutline: Montreal, Philadelphia, Detroit, Columbus, Rangers</em></p><p><strong>Who's for real?</strong></p><p>Forget the last few games, Carolina is the scariest team in a wide-open East. Rivals should be worried about the challenge the Hurricanes will present once stud defenseman Jaccob Slavin returns from injury, blazing winger Nikolaj Ehlers starts burying his scoring chances, and management pulls off its annual high-profile trade. The Canes have $11 million in salary cap space.</p><p>Tampa Bay deserves props for holding down the Atlantic Division's top seed while battling significant blue-line injuries. (How about a little Jack Adams Award love for Lightning coach Jon Cooper?) Washington's also a bona fide threat. The Capitals' place in the standings (third in the Metropolitan) hardly reflects their conference-high goal differential, strong underlying numbers, and deep lineup.</p><p>Although New Jersey is without superstar center Jack Hughes until mid-January, the Devils have already banked a ton of points and roster more than enough talent at each position to secure a Metro seed. Ottawa, meanwhile, has quietly become a high-floor team (wild card at worst) thanks to coach Travis Green's defensive system and player buy-in over the past two seasons.</p><p><strong>Who's overachieving? </strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811576/cropped_GettyImages-2247836421.jpg?ts=1764192497" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811576/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247836421.jpg?ts=1764192497 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811576/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247836421.jpg?ts=1764192497 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811576/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247836421.jpg?ts=1764192497 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811576/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247836421.jpg?ts=1764192497 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811576/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247836421.jpg?ts=1764192497 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jared Silber / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Islanders, Pittsburgh, and Boston are all due to regress in some way.</p><p>The Islanders are unquestionably fun. Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal look rejuvenated alongside rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer, and allowing just 2.79 goals per game is an impressive feat given how porous Patrick Roy's squad can be defensively. This feels a little too good to be true, though.</p><p>The Penguins are first in power play percentage, second in save percentage, fifth in penalty kill percentage, and ninth in shooting percentage. Some of the Penguins' success is well-earned and it'd be great to see Sidney Crosby back in the playoffs. But at some point the numbers are going to turn on a team that was supposed to be rebuilding.</p><p>The Bruins are a mix of New York and Pittsburgh. They're undoubtedly an early-season darling, yet the roster thins out quickly, and what they've put on tape so far doesn't exactly scream "sustainable." Can Boston keep this up for 82 games?</p><p><strong>Who might move up?</strong></p><p>Toronto and the Rangers, the biggest disappointments of the NHL's first quarter, have dug massive holes. A bounce back, while not impossible, is highly unlikely for the patently flawed Maple Leafs. Mismanaged New York is fighting against the current in an extremely competitive Metro.</p><p>Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Philadelphia are tied for fourth in the conference in points percentage. Led by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and a host of other young difference-makers, the Canadiens are by far the best bet to jump into a playoff spot sooner than later and stay there. Montreal's biggest roadblock is its goaltending. The Flyers, still incomplete, aren't a serious playoff threat.</p><p>The Red Wings are a tough team to get a firm handle on. They rely on their top players way too much but look lethal when everything's clicking.</p><p>The Panthers, who are slowly getting healthy and fully settled into life without Aleksander Barkov, are another team to monitor. <a href="https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm">MoneyPuck.com</a> has the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions' playoff odds listed at 64.7% - the second-highest in the Atlantic and fifth-highest in the East.</p><h3>Western Conference</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-9sSRy" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9sSRy/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="306" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p><em>Just below cutline: Chicago, San Jose, Edmonton, Winnipeg</em></p><p><strong>Who's for real?</strong></p><p>With one regulation loss and a plus-44 goal differential in 23 games, Colorado is nothing short of a juggernaut. Name a meaningful statistical category, and there's a good chance the Avalanche rank first. The pleasant surprise amid all the positivity: Scott Wedgewood (17 starts), Mackenzie Blackwood (five), and Trent Miner (one) have combined for a league-best .920 save percentage.</p><p>Dallas and Vegas are titans in their own right, even if there are questions about killing penalties (Stars) and making saves at a high rate (Golden Knights). Anaheim's breakout, from 80 points last season to a projected 103 points, seems to be mostly legitimate. The impact of Joel Quenneville's coaching is unmistakable. Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier are making real developmental strides, while Lukas Dostal's an elite goalie. And, according to <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/remaining_schedule_strength">Tankathon</a>, the Ducks own the second-weakest remaining schedule.</p><p>Utah and Minnesota comprise the West's third tier. Both boast playoff-worthy lineups and have enjoyed a lengthy, confidence-building winning streak. Both have also endured two humbling losing skids of three games or longer.</p><p><strong>Who's overachieving?</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811599/cropped_GettyImages-2248262027.jpg?ts=1764201672" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811599/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248262027.jpg?ts=1764201672 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811599/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248262027.jpg?ts=1764201672 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811599/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248262027.jpg?ts=1764201672 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811599/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248262027.jpg?ts=1764201672 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811599/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248262027.jpg?ts=1764201672 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Steven Ryan / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Seattle is primed to take a step back. No team's worse at generating quality scoring chances than the Kraken, who sit 29th in goals per game. This isn't a puck-luck issue that'll balance out over the course of a season. Instead, it's a personnel and tactics problem - not nearly enough firepower or creativity.</p><p>Los Angeles profiles similarly to Seattle, though its stout defense lowers its chances of turning into a pumpkin. That being said, the Kings fall more on the overachieving side of the real-to-overachieving spectrum, which means a fifth straight trip to the playoffs is far from guaranteed.</p><p>San Jose and Chicago have captured the hockey world's imagination. Watching the meteoric rises of Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard has been thrilling, while franchise goalies Yaroslav Askarov and Spencer Knight have authored very good first quarters. However, for all the progress, 2025-26 is merely a stepping stone - neither franchise is ready for prime time.</p><p><strong>Who might move up?</strong></p><p>The Sharks and Blackhawks are the future of the West. For this season, a pair of battle-tested Canadian teams could be the ones climbing the standings.</p><p>Edmonton may be a mess - most nights, it's the definition of a studs-and-duds team - but the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl duo is a trump card. Nos. 97 and 29 have shown they can go on half-season heaters, so the Oilers shouldn't be counted out of the playoff hunt until mathematically eliminated. Especially since the third seed in the Pacific Division is up for grabs and the Oilers' front office is determined to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3410629" href="https://thescore.com/news/3410629">finally upgrade</a> at goalie.</p><p>It's been a strange season for NHL injuries, with so many impactful players sidelined for weeks at a time. Winnipeg is one of a handful of teams haunted by the trend. Cole Perfetti, Adam Lowry, and Dylan Samberg all missed the first month-plus of the season. Shortly after the last of those key cogs returned, Connor Hellebuyck and Neal Pionk landed on the shelf. Luckily for the Jets, none of those five injuries were season-ending. This is a well-balanced, hungry club that will rebound soon and grab a postseason spot.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33482174/related

Who's for real? What to make of NHL standings at Thanksgiving mark

The Stanley Cup was awarded June 17. The regular season started October 7. Hundreds of players sw...

<p><em>The Stanley Cup was awarded June 17. The regular season started October 7. Hundreds of players switched teams through trades and free agency between those key dates. How are those newcomers doing? We've identified the best and worst acquisitions at the quarter mark of the 2025-26 campaign.</em></p><h3>Best offseason acquisitions</h3><p><strong>Noah Dobson, Canadiens</strong>:<strong> </strong>Montreal's blue line was incomplete last season. The addition of Dobson has allowed everybody else to click into place on a depth chart that includes the talented trio of Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, and Kaiden Guhle (currently injured). Dobson, 25, is still a young NHLer. He's mobile and poised, wields a very good defensive stick, and has picked up 13 points in 20 games despite scoring on only 2.8% of his shots.</p><p>The Canadiens acquired Dobson in June for the present and future, signing him to an eight-year, $76-million extension upon arrival from the Islanders. New York's undoubtedly happy with the haul it received in return (top-six winger Emil Heineman and the picks used to select high-end prospects Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson), yet the Dobson-Habs fit is off the charts.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810789/cropped_GettyImages-2244804304.jpg?ts=1763666360" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810789/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244804304.jpg?ts=1763666360 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810789/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244804304.jpg?ts=1763666360 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810789/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244804304.jpg?ts=1763666360 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810789/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244804304.jpg?ts=1763666360 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810789/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244804304.jpg?ts=1763666360 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Hrycych / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Josh Doan, Sabres: </strong>The 23-year-old winger was part of the June trade that sent rising Sabres star JJ Peterka to the Mammoth. While Peterka's doing well in Utah, Doan's been a revelation in Buffalo - exactly what the Sabres needed.</p><p>The son of Coyotes franchise icon Shane Doan is a tone-setter: responsible in all three zones, relentless on the forecheck, and creative with the puck on his stick. Similar to Zach Benson, Doan injects connective tissue to a top six that, when healthy, features Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Jiri Kulich, and Josh Norris. Doan, who's logging 15:39 a night, ranks fourth on the team in points, second in shots on goal, second in individual expected goals, second in penalty differential, first in five-on-five on-ice expected goals share, and first in takeaways.</p><p><strong>Trevor Zegras, Flyers</strong>: Philadelphia acquired Zegras in hopes that a change of scenery would jolt the 24-year-old's flatlined career, and the early returns are fantastic. Zegras, who's never come close to reaching point-per-game status, has posted six goals and 14 assists in 19 games. He drives play, consistently feeds linemates slot passes, and is a perfect 3-for-3 in the shootout.</p><p>Looking like a more well-rounded player, Zegras has been rewarded with the second-most minutes among Flyers forwards. He's transitioned seamlessly on and off the ice, jibing with fellow core pieces and the coaching staff. It's official, folks: General manager Daniel Briere hit a home run in June when he sent depth forward Ryan Poehling and two draft picks to Anaheim for Zegras.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810790/cropped_GettyImages-2242994715.jpg?ts=1763666610" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810790/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242994715.jpg?ts=1763666610 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810790/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242994715.jpg?ts=1763666610 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810790/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242994715.jpg?ts=1763666610 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810790/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242994715.jpg?ts=1763666610 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810790/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242994715.jpg?ts=1763666610 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Sargent / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Arturs Silovs, Penguins</strong>: Pittsburgh is first in the NHL in team save percentage in large part due to Silovs' excellence. Case in point: Sportlogiq awards a quality start every time a goalie posts a positive goals saved above expected value, and Silovs already has nine quality starts in 11 appearances.</p><p>Silovs, a 2019 sixth-round pick out of Latvia, was named AHL playoff MVP last season as a member of the Calder Cup-winning Abbotsford Canucks. Vancouver traded the 24-year-old to Pittsburgh in July for AHL winger Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick because it had two other NHL goalies. The Canucks' front office surely regrets the move. Silovs is not only six years younger than No. 2 guy Kevin Lankinen but also brimming with potential.</p><p><strong>Honorable mentions</strong>: <em>Andre Burakovsky (Blackhawks)</em>, <em>Vladislav Gavrikov (Rangers), Mitch Marner (Golden Knights), Victor Olofsson (Avalanche)</em></p><h3>Worst offseason acquisitions</h3><p><strong>Cody Ceci, Kings</strong>: Los Angeles has been outscored 15-7 during Ceci's 339 five-on-five minutes this season. That 31.8% goal share is tied for 423rd out of 451 players who've logged 200 minutes. It's not simply bad puck luck, either, as the Kings are getting dominated territorially with Ceci on the ice.</p><p>If used and deployed carefully, Ceci can be a decent third-pair defenseman. If he isn't, well, the opposition feasts. The worst part of the equation is his contract. On July 1, most pundits said the Kings were insane for giving the slow 31-year-old a four-year deal at $4.5 million per season, and here we are.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810791/cropped_GettyImages-2240667176.jpg?ts=1763666716" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810791/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240667176.jpg?ts=1763666716 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810791/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240667176.jpg?ts=1763666716 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810791/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240667176.jpg?ts=1763666716 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810791/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240667176.jpg?ts=1763666716 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810791/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240667176.jpg?ts=1763666716 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Richard Lautens / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua, Maple Leafs</strong>: Roy, picked up in the Marner sign-and-trade deal with Vegas, looked like the answer to Toronto's third-line center problem. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder has instead blended into the action most nights. In 19 games, Roy's contributed one goal, three assists, and the rare staunch defensive play. He's currently on injured reserve.</p><p>Joshua, acquired in a July trade that saw a fourth-round pick head to Vancouver, is another newcomer who's not living up to his billing. He's provided little substance beyond five points in his first 21 games for the 9-9-3 Leafs. If Joshua was on an expiring, league-minimum contract, no biggie. But he's making $3.25 million annually through 2027-28 and thus expected to make an impact.</p><p><strong>Evander Kane, Canucks</strong>: Only two NHLers fit this description at the quarter mark of the season: plays forward, has logged at least 300 minutes at five-on-five, and hasn't scored a single goal in those minutes. Young Kraken playmaker Matty Beniers is one. Perennial 20-goal-scorer Kane is the other.</p><p>The Canucks acquired Kane from the Oilers for a fourth-rounder, so, like Joshua and the Leafs, the trade itself isn't the problem. The issue is the lack of value Kane is providing relative to his sizable cap hit and premium role. Kane, 34, is making $5.125 million in the final season of a four-year deal and logging 18:07 a night alongside some of Vancouver's top players. Yet he's pitched in an underwhelming three goals and eight assists in 22 games. Not good enough.</p><p><strong>Logan Mailloux, Blues</strong>:<strong> </strong>The 22-year-old was demoted to AHL Springfield in early November after nine miserable games in St. Louis. Mailloux's five-on-five goal differential rests at a cringe-worthy minus-12, yet he's just one of several players, including both goalies, with poor numbers on the 6-9-6 Blues.</p><p>Young defensemen struggle all the time. Mailloux makes this list primarily because his GM, Doug Armstrong, tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. In June, St. Louis traded promising winger Zack Bolduc (19 goals in 72 games as a rookie) to Montreal for Mailloux, one for one, under the assumption that Mailloux could immediately slide seamlessly into the Blues' top four. That obviously hasn't happened. While Bolduc's season hasn't been perfect, his shooting ability, speed, and motor provide versatility to the Canadiens' forward group. Bolduc has the higher floor and arguably the higher ceiling.</p><p><strong>Honorable mentions</strong>: <em>Nicolas Hague (Predators),</em> <em>John Klingberg (Sharks), Jeff Skinner (Sharks), Vladimir Tarasenko (Wild)</em></p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33397426/related

Best and worst offseason acquisitions at NHL quarter mark

Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong is a large man. A pro defenseman in the 1990s, he's l...

<p>Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong is a large man. A pro defenseman in the 1990s, he's listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds on <a href="https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5903">HockeyDB</a>.</p><p>Still, it took until this spring for the 55-year-old to be called a mammoth man.</p><p>Armstrong was walking through a Moncton, New Brunswick, hotel in May, eager to drop off his luggage and head out to scout some players, when he drew the attention of other guests. His golf shirt, emblazoned with the brand-new, ice-age Mammoth logo, instantly became the focus of their fascination.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810155/cropped_GettyImages-2218445132.jpg?ts=1763320281" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810155/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218445132.jpg?ts=1763320281 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810155/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218445132.jpg?ts=1763320281 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810155/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218445132.jpg?ts=1763320281 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810155/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218445132.jpg?ts=1763320281 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810155/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218445132.jpg?ts=1763320281 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Hrycych / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>"I checked in, got my room key, and when I started to go upstairs, all of these kids in town for a youth hockey tournament followed me into the elevator and to my room," Armstrong recalled in a recent sit-down interview with theScore. </p><p>"They were chanting, 'We know you're on this floor, Mammoth Man! We know you're on this floor! We want the Mammoth! We want the Mammoth! We want the Mammoth!' It was great. It was unexpected. I was laughing my ass off."</p><p>The anecdote is both amusing and revealing. Unlike the <a href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2257928">dysfunctional</a>, cheap, and largely irrelevant Arizona Coyotes, the Mammoth franchise has charisma - this inherent likability - because it's in capable hands. The Smith Entertainment Group has created a palpable buzz locally and nationally through thoughtful reveals of the nickname, logo, jerseys, and mascot. Ownership has done exactly what various Coyotes owners didn't do by renovating the home arena, building what Armstrong calls a "state-of-the-art" practice and training facility, and allowing the GM to spend freely on players.</p><p>All of this in the 19 months since tech billionaire Ryan Smith bought the Coyotes' hockey assets and moved the club to Utah's capital in Salt Lake City.</p><p>"They've got high standards," Armstrong said of Smith and his wife, Ashley, who also own the NBA's Utah Jazz. "We're very grateful for how they conduct their business and, honestly, it really inspires us on the hockey side."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810159/cropped_GettyImages-2246458628.jpg?ts=1763321720" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810159/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246458628.jpg?ts=1763321720 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810159/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246458628.jpg?ts=1763321720 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810159/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246458628.jpg?ts=1763321720 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810159/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246458628.jpg?ts=1763321720 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810159/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246458628.jpg?ts=1763321720 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Hunter Dyke / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Utah's 10-7-3 record puts them on pace for 94 points, right around the typical Western Conference cutline and a modest five-point improvement from the previous season. The Coyotes/Mammoth last made the playoffs in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign, and <a href="https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm">MoneyPuck</a> lists their 2025-26 odds at 66.5%.</p><p>Armstrong, hired as Coyotes GM in September 2020, isn't the type to get caught up in the moment - whether his team is rolling (seven-game winning streak in October) or grasping for consistency (2-5-3 in its last 10 games).</p><p>The former scout and assistant GM for the Blues knows that some parts of the team-building process can't be forced if the ultimate goal is to develop a sustainable winner. To Armstrong, the evolution involves four distinct phases.</p><p>First comes the roster teardown and search for cornerstone players. Next, in Phase 2, the core pieces play competitive hockey alongside a solid supporting cast. Phase 3 calls for night-to-night consistency and a return to the postseason. In the fourth and final phase, the team is mature, deeper, and battle-tested, ready to win playoff series and challenge for the Stanley Cup.</p><p>"When you're 80% done the build, you can fill in the rest of the roster with guys from the minors, other small moves," Armstrong said. "But there are still pieces for us to add - elite pieces. I figure we're about 60% of the way there."</p><p>Utah's nucleus consists of 10 players: seven forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie, all under the age of 30. Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and JJ Peterka all have electric qualities - quick, intelligent, highly skilled, and a threat to break a game open at any moment. Barrett Hayton and Jack McBain are versatile centers. Mikhail Sergachev and Dmitri Simashev are big and dynamic blue-liners facing the other team's best players every night. Fan favorite Karel "Veggie" Vejmelka is the clear-cut No. 1 goalie.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810210/cropped_GettyImages-2245050521.jpg?ts=1763330720" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810210/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245050521.jpg?ts=1763330720 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810210/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245050521.jpg?ts=1763330720 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810210/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245050521.jpg?ts=1763330720 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810210/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245050521.jpg?ts=1763330720 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810210/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245050521.jpg?ts=1763330720 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Hunter Dyke / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Peterka, McBain, and Vejmelka are signed through the 2029-30 season, while Sergachev, Guenther, and Cooley run through 2030-31, 2032-33, and 2033-34, respectively. Those six players will account for just $42 million against the salary cap once Cooley's eight-year, $80-million extension kicks in next year.</p><p>Meanwhile, Keller's second contract and Simashev's entry-level deal expire after 2027-28. Hayton and leading scorer Schmaltz are the nucleus' two unknowns as pending free agents - the former restricted, the latter unrestricted.</p><p>"We had talks at the start of the year," Armstrong said of Schmaltz's representatives. "It's the same (vibe) as the free agents last year - the Brad Marchands, the Sam Bennetts of the world, all of those guys. It's, 'Play it out.' We know where you live. We've got your home address. Play it out."</p><p>Regardless of what happens with Schmaltz, the Mammoth boast an enviable top of the lineup and haven't broken the bank to retain several essential pieces. Utah's on a very short list of NHL teams that check off the following four boxes: good enough to make the 2026 playoffs, financially flexible now and for the foreseeable future, impressive prospect pool, loads of draft capital.</p><p>The Mammoth play an up-tempo brand of hockey under coach Andre Tourigny. They're a nightmare to defend off the rush, in general, and especially after the other team coughs up the puck. Utah sits second in the league in goals scored within 10 seconds of a five-on-five turnover, according to Sportlogiq, doing it 22 times in 20 games. If only the power play - ranked 29th - could be more effective.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810267/cropped_GettyImages-2246054345.jpg?ts=1763344594" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810267/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246054345.jpg?ts=1763344594 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810267/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246054345.jpg?ts=1763344594 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810267/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246054345.jpg?ts=1763344594 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810267/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246054345.jpg?ts=1763344594 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810267/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246054345.jpg?ts=1763344594 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>On defense, the Mammoth apply constant pressure on the puck carrier. Their aggressive approach has limited opponents to only 20.1 five-on-five shots on goal per game (tied with Florida for first in the league) and 39.3 five-on-five shot attempts per game (second behind Carolina). One hiccup: Vejmelka and backup Vitek Vanecek have five-on-five save percentages of .883 and .870.</p><p>"What is Mammoth hockey?" Armstrong asked rhetorically the morning after a 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs in early November. "It's fast hockey. Playing for 60 minutes. In your face the whole time. You don't take your foot off the gas. We haven't finished all of our games so far like that, but we're getting there."</p><p>Rough translation: Utah is currently stuck between Phases 2 and 3.</p><p>For one, the core is young and impressionable ("We can read our press clippings sometimes and get away from our game") and can be too cute with the puck on occasion. That said, Armstrong won't hesitate to add reinforcements if his team remains in the playoff hunt ahead of the trade deadline. He'd love for his players and the fans to taste postseason hockey.</p><p>The GM was asked to share the biggest takeaways from his 16-year run with the Blues, who won the Cup in 2018-19, his second-last season in St. Louis.</p><p>"Patience," Armstrong said without hesitation.</p><p>"Fan bases or ownership groups, they don't really want to hear that. We've made a lot of changes to our team, put our build on steroids a little bit, fast-forwarded it. But you can't fast-forward what the team has to go through to get there. I believe that you need adversity and scars to get to that next step."</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

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The Mammoth are coming (soon)

<p><em>Combining his own perspective with what he's been hearing from those in and around the game, senior NHL writer John Matisz breaks down the hot topics across the hockey landscape.</em></p><h3>Season of generational overlap</h3><p>The state of the NHL is often reflected in the names atop the scoring leaderboard. As of Friday morning, Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon occupied the top spot with an absurd 33 points in 18 games, while 28 others - 27 forwards plus Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar - were at 20 or more points.</p><p>Seven of the players with at least 20 points are early in their careers (19-24 years old). Seventeen, including MacKinnon and Makar, are in the middle of their careers (25-31). And five are late in their careers (32-39).</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Maybe I'm a prisoner of the moment, but I can't recall a time in which there was such a striking overlap of not two but three generations of stars this deep into a season. The younger guard is Macklin Celebrini, Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard, Matthew Knies, Cutter Gauthier, Wyatt Johnston, and Jack Hughes. Old dudes: Mark Scheifele, John Tavares, Evgeni Malkin, Brad Marchand, and Sidney Crosby.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809828/cropped_GettyImages-2082130623.jpg?ts=1763061870" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809828/w220xh124_GettyImages-2082130623.jpg?ts=1763061870 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809828/w320xh180_GettyImages-2082130623.jpg?ts=1763061870 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809828/w640xh360_GettyImages-2082130623.jpg?ts=1763061870 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809828/w768xh432_GettyImages-2082130623.jpg?ts=1763061870 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809828/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2082130623.jpg?ts=1763061870 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andy Devlin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>In many ways, Crosby remains the face of the NHL two decades into his illustrious Mount Rushmore career. Nobody - and I mean <em>nobody</em> - is more respected on or off the ice, which is wild to say about a 38-year-old. Crosby's the main attraction right now at the Global Series event in Stockholm, overshadowing Swedish stars Erik Karlsson and Filip Forsberg, and he isn't receiving the attention as part of a farewell tour. No, No. 87 is still elite.</p><p>Twenty-eight-year-old Connor McDavid, who's second in scoring with 27 points, is the world's best player. He, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3347322" href="https://thescore.com/news/3347322">World No. 2 MacKinnon</a>, and standard-setting blue-liners Makar and Quinn Hughes are certainly marketable faces as well.</p><p>But this new group of Gen Zers appears to be gaining some ground in 2025-26. Once Crosby's retired and McDavid and MacKinnon start slowing down (we might be talking mid-2030s), will Celebrini and Bedard be the sport's dominant faces? Will they become the new Crosby and Alex Ovechkin?</p><h3>Celebrini and the experience question</h3><p>I, like most observers of the past 13 months of NHL action, believe Celebrini should be one of the 14 forwards named to Canada's 2026 Olympic roster.</p><p>The budding superstar has followed up a terrific rookie season with a Hart Trophy-caliber performance 17 games into Year 2. Celebrini's biggest supporters whisper about how he's already a top-10 forward in the league.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809830/cropped_GettyImages-2245784186.jpg?ts=1763061994" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809830/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245784186.jpg?ts=1763061994 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809830/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245784186.jpg?ts=1763061994 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809830/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245784186.jpg?ts=1763061994 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809830/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245784186.jpg?ts=1763061994 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809830/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245784186.jpg?ts=1763061994 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Eakin Howard / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>But of course not everybody sees Olympic roster construction the same way.</p><p>I was reminded of that when I recently asked an NHL coach about Celebrini potentially making Team Canada. The coach acknowledged Celebrini's talent level and projected the kid would be a first-line forward on the 2030 Olympic team. As for 2026 in Italy? If the coach was in charge, there's absolutely no way he'd take Celebrini over the likes of Sam Bennett, Anthony Cirelli, or Seth Jarvis.</p><p>The coach said you must know with absolute certainty that every Canadian player is going to deliver defensively, and, at least in his opinion, Celebrini is unproven. In other words, you can't teach experience. At 19, Celebrini has zero NHL playoff games or best-on-best international games to his name.</p><h3>Bridge deals not so hot anymore</h3><p>The NHL is transitioning from a five-year run of minimal salary cap growth to a boom period. The upper limit rose to $95.5 million this year from $88 million in 2024-25, and it's projected to reach a whopping $113.5 million by 2027-28.</p><p>An early trend: Fewer impactful young players are signing bridge deals (two-to-five-year extensions) because teams are seeing tremendous value in locking up a core piece for six years or more. The trade-off is a relatively high cap hit.</p><p>Logan Cooley, Thomas Harley, Lane Hutson, Jackson LaCombe, Luke Hughes, Mason McTavish, Dustin Wolf, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven are all 24 or younger and have signed hefty long-term deals since July 1.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809831/cropped_GettyImages-2246051599.jpg?ts=1763062178" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809831/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246051599.jpg?ts=1763062178 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809831/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246051599.jpg?ts=1763062178 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809831/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246051599.jpg?ts=1763062178 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809831/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246051599.jpg?ts=1763062178 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809831/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246051599.jpg?ts=1763062178 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>"A lot of these young players are still going to be young when their second contract expires," one prominent agent said of the benefits of going long. "Is it about the money? Sure. Is it <em>just</em> about the money? With most players, no."</p><p>The agent continued, saying if a player likes where he is and is confident there's another substantial deal on the other side of the second contract, then why not take the early payday and security? If the player becomes "underpaid" halfway through the second deal because the upper limit of the cap has skyrocketed, yet he loves his teammates, the team's staff, and its facilities, then so what?</p><p>"Never underestimate being happy in professional sports," the agent said.</p><p>One veteran team executive noted that general managers should avoid grinding young core pieces down with intense negotiations that ultimately lead to a bridge deal neither team nor player is particularly pleased with. That type of penny-pinching can create resentment. That said, as the executive pointed out, capped-out Stanley Cup contenders have no choice but to offer a bridge.</p><p>Carolina, Montreal, and Utah are three teams clearly trying to capitalize on the new cap world. Each club is in tremendous shape financially moving forward.</p><p>Ducks GM Pat Verbeek did well with the McTavish and LaCombe deals but must be kicking himself for being too conservative on other files. Cornerstone forwards Carlsson and Gauthier became eligible for extensions on July 1, which means Anaheim could have gotten ahead of each player's unsurprising breakout by offering enticing long-term contracts. But Verbeek, who's known for being a tough negotiator, wasn't proactive, and now Carlsson (26 points in 17 games) and Gauthier (12 goals in 17) have all the leverage in the world.</p><h3>Early-season woes across Canada</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809833/cropped_GettyImages-2244249829.jpg?ts=1763062288" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809833/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244249829.jpg?ts=1763062288 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809833/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244249829.jpg?ts=1763062288 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809833/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244249829.jpg?ts=1763062288 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809833/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244249829.jpg?ts=1763062288 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809833/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244249829.jpg?ts=1763062288 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Derek Cain / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Four Canadian teams are currently on the wrong side of the playoff cutline.</p><p>The Flames rank last in the NHL in points (12) and goal differential (minus-18) roughly 20% into the season - OK, not a groundbreaking development. The Canucks, who are running Quinn Hughes into the ground at 27 minutes of ice a night, have been mildly disappointing at 8-9-1. The Oilers and Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have severely underwhelmed relative to preseason expectations.</p><p>One note each on 8-7-4 Edmonton and 8-8-2 Toronto:</p><ul><li>If you didn't understand McDavid's reluctance to sign a long-term deal in the offseason, surely you get it now. The talent in Edmonton's forward group drops off a cliff after McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the injured Zach Hyman. McDavid and Draisaitl, individually and together, have been involved in 66% of the Oilers' 58 goals this year. Isaac Howard, Vasily Podkolzin, Adam Henrique, Matthew Savoie, David Tomasek, and Trent Frederic have combined for just 11 goals. At least Hyman's imminent return from injury is giving the fan base some hope.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>Toronto taking a step back in the regular season wouldn't qualify as shocking, given that it lost a 100-point two-way winger in Mitch Marner. But the body of work through 18 games feels like multiple giant steps back. The Leafs are the worst defensive team in the league. They're playing a style completely <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3394408" href="https://thescore.com/news/3394408">misaligned with their strengths</a>, and top forward Auston Matthews and top goalie Anthony Stolarz are sidelined by injury. All of a sudden, goalie Joseph Woll is tasked with being the savior as he slowly returns from a leave of absence. Not ideal, even in the short term.</li></ul><h3>Hall of Famer Chara: unique all around</h3><p>Zdeno Chara, a headlining member of the stacked 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class, is arguably the most unique player in NHL history.</p><p>He's the tallest player on record. He comes from obscurity as a native of Trencin, Slovakia. He was an intimidating defenseman on the ice and a gentleman off it. His 2006 six-year contract with Boston might be the greatest free-agent signing of the cap era. He played well into his 40s, retiring at 45.</p><p>And the stories about the man are straight out of a Hollywood script.</p><p>Longtime Bruins GM Don Sweeney visited Chara in the hospital during the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. The captain had broken his jaw in Game 4 and couldn't speak, so, as Sweeney <a href="https://x.com/bobbiebrewski/status/1988089443543351324">recalled</a> this week, Chara slipped him a note with a short message. "I'm playing," it read. (He returned for Game 5.)</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809834/cropped_GettyImages-1154665689.jpg?ts=1763062447" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809834/w220xh124_GettyImages-1154665689.jpg?ts=1763062447 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809834/w320xh180_GettyImages-1154665689.jpg?ts=1763062447 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809834/w640xh360_GettyImages-1154665689.jpg?ts=1763062447 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809834/w768xh432_GettyImages-1154665689.jpg?ts=1763062447 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809834/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1154665689.jpg?ts=1763062447 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Dave Sandford / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Chara's considered an all-time leader. He treated everybody the same, from the highest-paid player to the equipment manager. He called rookies "first-year players" and despised any form of hazing. He banned the so-called rookie lap, where a player making his debut begins the on-ice warmup alone.</p><p>"Z ... he's just the best," Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in September. "He would literally be like, 'No, there is no such thing as rookies on our team.' That was his thing."</p><h3>Fightin' Stankoven joins large group</h3><p>Stankoven, 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, fought for the first time in his life Tuesday. The Hurricanes forward was assessed a five-minute major after <a href="https://x.com/WaltRuff/status/1988406128431288602">throwing down</a> with 6-foot-2, 215-pounder Martin Fehervary of the Capitals.</p><p>It turns out Stankoven isn't close to being the shortest NHLer in history to drop the mitts. According to the league's stats and research department, 96 players listed 5-foot-8 or shorter have earned at least one fighting major in the regular season or playoffs. The shortest of them all: 5-foot-5 forwards Bobby Lalonde and Doug Palazzari, whose careers peaked in the brawling 1970s.</p><h3>Are after-the-whistle antics annoying?</h3><p>Reader Alan M. recently asked about post-whistle shenanigans:</p><blockquote><p>The one thing that annoys me about hockey is all the after-the-whistle antics. Facewashing, checking, pushing. Once the whistle is blown, the game stops, and anything after should be penalized. What do you think?</p></blockquote><p>Call me old school, but I enjoy the occasional scrum. It adds to the drama of the specific matchup and is something you don't see in other sports. I like how there's the game within the game - an art to agitating, drawing penalties.</p><p>Do referees sometimes complicate matters by, say, taking just one player to the penalty box after a massive scrum? Yes. But by and large post-whistle shenanigans are entertaining, and the NHL is in the entertainment business.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center><u>                    </u></center></figure><p>What do you want to know, hockey fans?</p><p>There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions.</p><ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email John at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
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NHL Inbox: Crosby's long prime, the Celebrini question, more hot topics

The Maple Leafs have been wildly inconsistent through five weeks of action.  Toronto won its seas...

<p>The Maple Leafs have been wildly inconsistent through five weeks<strong> </strong>of action.</p><p>Toronto won its season opener, then lost two, won two, lost three, won two, lost one, and won three, before dropping two games at home this past weekend.</p><p>What can we make of this 8-7-1 team ahead of Tuesday night's meeting with the Bruins? Here are some reasons for pessimism and optimism 16 games in.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>The pessimistic view</h3><p>The Leafs have an identity problem.</p><p>General manager Brad Treliving built a roster best suited for a heavy, low-event brand of hockey. Bench boss Craig Berube possesses the coaching chops and has the right demeanor to deliver wins through said grinding style.</p><p>Yet Toronto has often found itself in the middle of chaotic track meets to begin the season. The average Leafs game features 7.44 total goals - 3.69 for Toronto, 3.75 for the opposition - which is the highest rate in the NHL. Most nights they've been trading rush scoring chances with the opposition, and that's a problem because the Leafs don't have the requisite speed to keep up.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809459/cropped_GettyImages-2241779321.jpg?ts=1762827724" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809459/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241779321.jpg?ts=1762827724 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809459/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241779321.jpg?ts=1762827724 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809459/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241779321.jpg?ts=1762827724 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809459/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241779321.jpg?ts=1762827724 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809459/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241779321.jpg?ts=1762827724 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>This team is supposed to forecheck hard, hold its own territorially, and eek out 2-1 and 3-2 victories. It's instead chasing the run of play and getting middling results. While there's plenty of time to reverse course, Berube's frustrated.</p><p>"It's just a mindset," the coach <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCX9SsPLToM">told reporters</a> following Sunday's turnover-loaded 5-4 loss to the Hurricanes on home ice. "If you want to be a good defensive team, you have to check. You have to have good sticks. You have to be hard. You have to win battles. And you have to have a good structure."</p><p>"We don't have any of that right now," Berube added a moment later.</p><p>The defense corps, which went untouched in the offseason, is a major issue.</p><p>Toronto's defensemen are big - the regulars range from 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds to 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds - but size isn't everything in today's NHL. The blue line lacks mobility and puck skills beyond Morgan Rielly (who has his own warts).</p><p>Most discouragingly, the Leafs' blue line isn't excelling in the areas where big defensemen typically thrive, such as clearing the front of the net, maintaining tight gaps, making crisp first passes, and laying the body to change possession.</p><p>It's no mystery why the Leafs rank 25th in offensive zone puck possession time and 24th in O-zone possession time against, according to Sportlogiq.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809462/cropped_GettyImages-2244429286.jpg?ts=1762828766" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809462/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244429286.jpg?ts=1762828766 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809462/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244429286.jpg?ts=1762828766 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809462/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244429286.jpg?ts=1762828766 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809462/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244429286.jpg?ts=1762828766 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809462/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244429286.jpg?ts=1762828766 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Brandon Carlo, acquired from Boston for a haul at the 2025 trade deadline, has been especially ineffective while logging 20 minutes a night. Chris Tanev, one of the league's finest defensive defensemen over the past decade, has missed eight games due to concussions and been only OK when healthy. Depth defenders Philippe Myers and Simon Benoit have been liabilities.</p><p>Up front, newcomers Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua have been unable to replace departed star Mitch Marner in the aggregate. While Roy and Maccelli have shown promise, they've been mild disappointments overall. Joshua, on the other hand, looks purposeless in a jumbled bottom six.</p><p>The Leafs currently have $1.3 million in salary cap space, <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs">per PuckPedia</a>. That may not seem like a lot, but Toronto has usually had even less to spend midseason. Plus, any trade the Leafs make between now and the deadline will most likely see salary coming off the books. Put another way, Treliving has some wiggle room to improve the Leafs' lineup through the trade market.</p><p>Minor problem: most of the club's tradable assets are gone. The Leafs don’t have a first- or second-round pick this year (Carlo and Jake McCabe trades), a first in 2027 (Scott Laughton), or a deep pool of desirable prospects.</p><h3>The optimistic view</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809468/cropped_GettyImages-2244426190.jpg?ts=1762829667" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809468/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244426190.jpg?ts=1762829667 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809468/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244426190.jpg?ts=1762829667 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809468/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244426190.jpg?ts=1762829667 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809468/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244426190.jpg?ts=1762829667 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809468/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244426190.jpg?ts=1762829667 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>For all the doom and gloom, there's one significant positive for Leafs fans to latch onto: three of the club's four top forwards are producing at high levels.</p><p>William Nylander has been electric, with his 1.77 points per game ranking second in the entire NHL. John Tavares looks 25 - not 35 - on the ice, and he's tied for 10th in points with 21. Matthew Knies, with 20 points, is leaving no doubt that he can be an impact power forward every single night.</p><p>The other top forward? Auston Matthews. The captain's been fine while logging a team-high 21:54 a night, contributing 14 points in 16 games. He isn't dominating games like he used to, and "fine" isn't good enough, yet it's too early in the season to write off a player with Matthews' skill set and track record. Consider him a work in progress as opposed to a definitive negative.</p><p>Back to the positives. Nick Robertson, who's struggled to earn consistent ice time in the past, has found his footing. The 24-year-old is giving the Leafs secondary scoring (nine points) through an assertive, shoot-first playing style.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809509/cropped_GettyImages-2244713227.jpg?ts=1762863296" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809509/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244713227.jpg?ts=1762863296 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809509/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244713227.jpg?ts=1762863296 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809509/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244713227.jpg?ts=1762863296 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809509/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244713227.jpg?ts=1762863296 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809509/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244713227.jpg?ts=1762863296 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>There are also three team-level issues that should be resolved sooner than later.</p><p>The Leafs' carelessness with the puck feels like a phase. The roster is too experienced to be turning the puck over constantly. They will snap out of it.</p><p>The power play sits 26th in the league in success rate. Marner's absence is unquestionably being felt here. However, Toronto is armed with enough game-breakers to be average, at the very least, on the man advantage. And, remember, a humming power play can make up for a team's imperfections elsewhere.</p><p>The Leafs finished fourth in team save percentage in 2024-25, with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll combining for a .905 in 74 starts. Toronto currently sits 27th with an .878 off 12 starts from Stolarz and four from minor-leaguers.</p><p>Woll hasn't been available, having taken a month-long leave of absence to attend a personal family matter, and Stolarz has crumbled under the heavy workload. This is a tandem setup. When one guy is out, the other suffers.</p><p>Woll is back with the club and has performed well to start his AHL conditioning stint. There are no guarantees with goaltending, but Stolarz and Woll have both shown in the past that they're not only competent NHL goalies but strong ones - in a tandem setting. Woll's return could unlock something.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

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Reasons for pessimism, optimism after Maple Leafs' roller-coaster start

The 2025-26 NHL season passed the one-month mark on Friday, which means it's time to take a trip ...

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1 quick thought on all 32 teams a month into the season

For some NHLers, there's more at stake in the first half of the season than simply helping their ...

<p>For some NHLers, there's more at stake in the first half of the season than simply helping their teams win games: They're auditioning for a chance to represent their country in Italy at the 2026 Olympics from Feb. 11-22.</p><p>The auditioning relates mostly to players from Canada and the United States, as the North American nations have the greatest player pools to select from.</p><p>Each participating country named six Olympians in June. Canada went with Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart, while the U.S. chose Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy, Brady Tkachuk, and Matthew Tkachuk.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Complete 25-man rosters are due by Dec. 31.</p><p>Which Canadian and American players have stood out - for better or worse - through the opening month? We discuss the most interesting ones below.</p><h3>Trending up 🇨🇦📈</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785149/cropped_GettyImages-2213986427.jpg?ts=1746986800" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785149/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213986427.jpg?ts=1746986800 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785149/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213986427.jpg?ts=1746986800 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785149/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213986427.jpg?ts=1746986800 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785149/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213986427.jpg?ts=1746986800 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785149/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213986427.jpg?ts=1746986800 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Macklin Celebrini</strong></p><p>The 2024 first overall pick has taken a major leap to begin his sophomore season. His 18 points are tied for seventh most in the NHL as of Wednesday morning. It's not just the production that should have Celebrini on Canada's short list, however. The 19-year-old's 200-foot game is mature beyond his years. Also: Celebrini's handedness - he shoots left - could help his chances, as Canada has more righties than lefties on the bubble at forward.</p><p><strong>Nick Suzuki</strong><br><br>Suzuki used a 4 Nations Face-Off roster snub as a launching pad to stardom. The Canadiens captain shares the NHL lead in points since the February event, collecting 18 goals and 38 assists for 56 points in 39 games (including 19 points in 13 contests this year). The 26-year-old is a responsible player who can be slotted at center or wing, on any line, for Canada. The only "knock" against Suzuki at this point is that he's declined offers to represent Canada at past world championships - something the Olympic brain trust might care about.</p><p><strong>Matthew Schaefer</strong></p><p>Nobody expected Schaefer to be a consideration as an 18-year-old defenseman, but his play thus far has warranted at least a serious discussion. The production (11 points in 13 games) speaks for itself, but it's Schaefer's poise and defensive chops that should have him firmly on Canada's radar.</p><p><strong>Logan Thompson</strong></p><p>Thompson's .935 save percentage is tops among Canadian goalies, and he's earned a quality start in all eight of his appearances this season. In other words, the Capitals' No. 1 goalie is making a compelling case for a roster spot. The question is, will Canada general manager Doug Armstrong finally buy in? Thompson played well last year, too, yet he didn't sniff a 4 Nations spot or receive an invite to Canada's Olympic orientation camp in August.</p><p><strong>Mark Scheifele</strong></p><p>There's no way Scheifele, whose 20 points are one off the league lead, can be denied a roster spot ... right? Offense aside, there are still valid concerns about how his lack of pace and inconsistent defensive game would factor in if he's tasked with a bottom-six role. That said, if Scheifele stays hot, Canada may have no choice but to roll the dice and take the bad with the good.</p><h3>Trending down 🇨🇦📉</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790954/cropped_GettyImages-2220655343.jpg?ts=1750223346" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790954/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220655343.jpg?ts=1750223346 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790954/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220655343.jpg?ts=1750223346 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790954/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220655343.jpg?ts=1750223346 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790954/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220655343.jpg?ts=1750223346 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790954/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220655343.jpg?ts=1750223346 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Sam Bennett</strong></p><p>Bennett is the definition of a big-game player, and the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner entered the season as a virtual lock to make the team. However, his start has been worrisome: only two goals and two assists, and the Panthers have been outscored 10-3 in his five-on-five minutes. Old-fashioned bad puck luck and a Stanley Cup hangover aren't helping a guy who, in his best years, doesn't put up eye-popping regular-season totals. Bennett hasn't lost his spot 13 games in, but his grip on it will loosen if he can't rebound soon.</p><p><strong>Sam Montembeault</strong></p><p>Montembeault was the third-stringer at 4 Nations and one of three goalies invited to Canada's orientation camp, giving him an inside track for an Olympic spot entering 2025-26. What's Montembeault done? Posted an .855 SV% in seven games and lost Montreal's starting job to Jakub Dobes. Yikes.</p><p><strong>Evan Bouchard</strong></p><p>Bouchard has always been a mistake-prone player. But it was fair to wonder if this season would be different, considering the Olympic year and him having turned 26 years old. The answer through 15 games is a hard no. Bouchard has been a turnover machine, and so many of them are avoidable, terribly timed, or both. If the Oilers defenseman was putting up gaudy numbers, OK, sure, he'd have an outside chance of being Canada's eighth blue-liner. But 10 points isn't special enough to rid the baggage Bouchard carries around.</p><p><strong>Robert Thomas</strong></p><p>Thomas might have made Canada's 4 Nations roster if he didn't get injured to start last season. He's quick, smart, and versatile - the kind of player Canada coach Jon Cooper would love at his disposal. Thomas needed a strong first month to re-enter the Olympic conversation but, again, got hurt. Now healthy, he's produced a modest two goals and six assists in nine games.</p><h3>Trending up 🇺🇸📈</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779274/cropped_GettyImages-2208892953.jpg?ts=1743993276" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779274/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208892953.jpg?ts=1743993276 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779274/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208892953.jpg?ts=1743993276 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779274/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208892953.jpg?ts=1743993276 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779274/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208892953.jpg?ts=1743993276 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779274/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208892953.jpg?ts=1743993276 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ben Ludeman / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Tage Thompson</strong></p><p>The U.S. prioritized versatility and playoff experience when making its 4 Nations squad. GM Bill Guerin must now prioritize skill and finishing. Thompson leads all NHLers with 37 five-on-five goals since the start of last season. The 6-foot-7 Sabres sniper impressed at the 2025 Worlds and is off to a solid start with five goals and five assists in 13 regular-season games.</p><p><strong>Cole Caufield</strong></p><p>Caufield's lack of size and potential inability to adapt to a bottom-six role will surely give USA's management pause. Yet his game-breaking ability may be too difficult to ignore if he keeps up this pace. Caufield is tied for the NHL lead in goals with 10 in 13 games.</p><p><strong>Jackson LaCombe</strong></p><p>LaCombe hasn't become a household name yet, but the rising star signed the richest contract in Ducks franchise history in October for a reason. He's an excellent skater with plus puck skills who's also very good at disrupting attacks and retrieving loose pucks. While the U.S. has a dozen good options to fill out its defense corps, LaCombe's certainly in the mix.</p><p><strong>Shane Pinto</strong></p><p>You can bet coach Mike Sullivan will vouch for a right-handed center whom he can trust to take key defensive-zone faceoffs, not unlike how Vincent Trocheck was used at 4 Nations. With Trocheck injured and getting up there in age, Pinto could be a stellar replacement. The 6-foot-3 pivot is sound defensively, has won 60.4% of his draws, and - bonus - has racked up eight goals in 13 games.</p><p><strong>Adam Fox</strong></p><p>Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner, looked out of sorts for the vast majority of 2024-25. He struggled for the Rangers, in part because of injury, and slid down USA's depth chart at 4 Nations as the event's fast, physical play exposed his slow boots and small stature. He's bounced back through 14 games, collecting 11 points alongside impressive underlying numbers.</p><h3>Trending down 🇺🇸📉</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775773/cropped_GettyImages-2204638863.jpg?ts=1749051610" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775773/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204638863.jpg?ts=1749051610 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775773/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204638863.jpg?ts=1749051610 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775773/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204638863.jpg?ts=1749051610 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775773/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204638863.jpg?ts=1749051610 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775773/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204638863.jpg?ts=1749051610 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Brock Nelson</strong></p><p>The Avalanche are off to a great start, but they've done so without much help from Nelson, who has just three goals and two assists in 14 games. Nelson has a reputation as a big-game player, but he was mostly a nonfactor at 4 Nations and is now 34 years old. There are simply better center options for the U.S.</p><p><strong>Patrick Kane</strong></p><p>Kane, who turns 37 in November, isn't who he used to be and was thus an Olympic long shot coming into the season. Yet, if you squinted hard enough, you could envision "Showtime" in an American jersey, assuming the role of power-play specialist and off-ice leader. That idea is currently dead, with Kane appearing in just five of the Red Wings' first 14 games, thanks to an injury.</p><p><strong>Luke Hughes</strong></p><p>Hughes missed most of training camp due to a contract stalemate, possibly contributing to the slow start that he needed to avoid to have any chance of making the team. He's yet to score and has been sloppy defensively at times. In what would be a depth role, the Americans would likely prefer a safer option over Hughes.</p><p><strong>Jeremy Swayman</strong></p><p>Swayman hasn't played poorly this year. The Bruins netminder hasn't dominated, either, and there are only three U.S. goalie spots. Connor Hellebuyck is a lock for one, and Jake Oettinger's a good bet for another. Meanwhile, Thatcher Demko is enjoying arguably the best season among all American goalies.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33144276/related

Olympic stock report: Which way are bubble players trending?

With the calendar flipping to November, the 2025-26 season is starting to take shape. Some patter...

<p><em>With the calendar flipping to November, the 2025-26 season is starting to take shape. Some patterns and storylines will have staying power; others will disappear as the sample size grows. For now, let's try to make sense of a bunch of curious trends emerging at roughly the 12-game mark.</em></p><h3>No sellers means no trades</h3><p>It was crickets on the trade front from the back half of July through early September. Then a quiet preseason. And the start of the regular season has featured just two trades involving two NHLers (Kurtis MacDermid, Lukas Reichel), neither of which qualify as a significant addition to the acquiring team.</p><p>There's a trade drought because seemingly every general manager thinks his group is at the very least decent. No team has declared itself a definitive seller.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Calgary and Boston are obvious candidates to offload a key veteran or two. However, both entered 2025-26 eyeing the best-case scenario on the ice. The Bruins are a respectable 6-7-0 and the Flames are a miserable 2-8-2. There should be movement on the Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson files soon.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807993/cropped_GettyImages-2243704601.jpg?ts=1761928114" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807993/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243704601.jpg?ts=1761928114 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807993/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243704601.jpg?ts=1761928114 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807993/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243704601.jpg?ts=1761928114 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807993/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243704601.jpg?ts=1761928114 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807993/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243704601.jpg?ts=1761928114 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Penguins and Kraken, two other potential sellers, are off to hot starts and thus uninterested in shipping out pieces (at least not anytime soon). Longtime bottom-feeders Chicago, San Jose, and Anaheim are on the rise, and while they're all unlikely to add, they're also unlikely to subtract. The Predators and Islanders are worth keeping tabs on; if a disappointing first three weeks stretches to six, or eight, management will be incentivized to consider moves.</p><h3>Zegras back in spotlight</h3><p>Trevor Zegras was once one of the young faces of the NHL, having buried multiple lacrosse-style goals, pulled off a Michigan assist, and appeared on the cover of NHL 23. The flashy playmaker slowly faded into the background as an underperforming member of a rebuilding Ducks team before getting shipped to Philadelphia in change-of-scenery trade in late June.</p><p>Zegras is suddenly relevant again, leading the 6-3-1 Flyers in assists (eight) and points (12). The 24-year-old put on a clinic Thursday, sniping twice and adding an assist in a 4-1 win over Nashville. He's been skating well, seeing the ice well, and shooting well. Most encouragingly, Zegras seems rejuvenated and at ease, as though a reset was exactly what he and his career needed.</p><p>"He's playing with a ton of confidence right now," Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtwYhwfsiPU">told reporters</a> following Thursday's victory. "You can see that he has got his legs and his hands, and he's just playing a really solid game. I'm happy for him. He's been working hard and trying to play the right way."</p><h3>Positivity for Rangers, Canadiens</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807994/cropped_GettyImages-2237209859.jpg?ts=1761928200" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807994/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237209859.jpg?ts=1761928200 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807994/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237209859.jpg?ts=1761928200 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807994/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237209859.jpg?ts=1761928200 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807994/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237209859.jpg?ts=1761928200 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807994/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237209859.jpg?ts=1761928200 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Two Eastern Conference teams are showing dramatic defensive improvements, according to advanced stats produced by Sportlogiq.</p><p>The Rangers, under new coach Mike Sullivan, are tied for third in goals against per game (2.42) after finishing 19th last season. Goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick have been lights-out most nights (.910 combined save percentage) and the skaters have provided excellent support:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Defensive stat</th>
<th>2024-25 rank</th>
<th>2025-26 rank</th>
<th>Rank differential</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Expected goals</td>
<td> 26th</td>
<td> 14th</td>
<td> +12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shot attempts</td>
<td> 22nd</td>
<td> 12th</td>
<td> +10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shots on goal</td>
<td> 27th</td>
<td> 5th</td>
<td> +22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Slot shots</td>
<td> 30th</td>
<td> 7th</td>
<td> +23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner-slot shots</td>
<td> 30th</td>
<td> 4th</td>
<td> +26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OZ possession time</td>
<td> 25th</td>
<td> 21st</td>
<td> +4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Canadiens, under fifth-year bench boss Martin St. Louis, are tied for 14th in goals against per game (3.00) after finishing 22nd last season. While goaltending has been inconsistent (.887 team SV%), Montreal's young group of skaters has stepped up, cleaning up the defensive zone year over year:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Defensive stat</th>
<th>'24-25 rank</th>
<th>'25-26 rank</th>
<th>Rank differential </th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Expected goals</td>
<td> 24th</td>
<td> 15th</td>
<td> +9 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shot attempts</td>
<td> 27th</td>
<td> 13th</td>
<td> +14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shots on goal</td>
<td> 19th</td>
<td> 8th</td>
<td> +11 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Slot shots</td>
<td> 26th</td>
<td> 5th</td>
<td> +21 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner-slot shots</td>
<td> 23rd</td>
<td> 6th</td>
<td> +17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OZ possession time</td>
<td> 29th</td>
<td> 12th</td>
<td> +17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Coming soon: 2 new titans</h3><p>If the playoffs started Saturday, seven teams that didn't make the cut last year would be in: Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Columbus in the East, and Utah, Anaheim, and Seattle in the West.</p><p>With apologies to Penguins, Flyers, Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Kraken fans, the Red Wings and Mammoth are the two clubs that look legitimately good. When the Wings play their A game, they're not just a playoff-caliber team, but also a squad that could win a series. Utah, meanwhile, is building something special over the long term and currently has enough talent and depth to claim a wild-card spot.</p><p>More broadly, the Mammoth and Canadiens (second wild-card team in the East last season) are slowly altering the power dynamics in their respective divisions, conferences, and the league as a whole. It might not all come together this year, or next, but it sure feels like Utah and Montreal will be perennial Stanley Cup contenders soon enough. Both franchises have drafted well and invested in young core pieces, and it's all beginning to pay off.</p><h3>Tight games and goals galore</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807995/cropped_GettyImages-2243719121.jpg?ts=1761928277" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807995/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243719121.jpg?ts=1761928277 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807995/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243719121.jpg?ts=1761928277 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807995/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243719121.jpg?ts=1761928277 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807995/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243719121.jpg?ts=1761928277 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807995/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243719121.jpg?ts=1761928277 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andy Devlin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>A few eyebrow-raising stats worth monitoring:</p><ul>
<li><p>The season was 177 games old as of Friday morning. A whopping 139 of those contests (or 78.5%) were decided by either one goal or two-plus goals with an empty-netter. That's the highest percentage of "close" scores through 177 games in history, according to NHL public relations.</p></li>
<li><p>The average game in 2025-26 has included 6.5 power-play opportunities, up from 5.4 last year. (The average power-play success rate, or PP%, has gone virtually unchanged - 21.6% in 2024-25, 21.2% this season.)</p></li>
<li><p>Save percentages have steadily declined over the past decade. The league-wide SV% sits at .895 heading into Saturday's slate. The last time a season-ending SV% dipped below .900 was way back in 1995-96.</p></li>
</ul><h3>Sizing up hypothetical Team Russia</h3><p>The early-season Art Ross Trophy race consists of Canadian and American players, plus two outsiders in Czech David Pastrnak and Russian Evgeni Malkin. The "Rocket" Richard race is all Canadians and Americans, except for Czech Martin Necas, German Leon Draisaitl, and Russian Pavel Dorofeyev.</p><p>Unlike their peers, Malkin and Dorofeyev won't be headed to Italy in February. Russia is banned from competing in the 2026 Olympics due to sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country's exclusion is totally understandable.</p><p>Fun hypothetical, though: Would Team Russia be a serious contender for gold?</p><p>Here's a mock lineup:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>LW</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>RW</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Kirill Kaprizov</td>
<td> Evgeni Malkin</td>
<td> Nikita Kucherov</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Artemi Panarin</td>
<td> Kirill Marchenko</td>
<td> Pavel Dorofeyev</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Ovechkin</td>
<td> Pavel Buchnevich</td>
<td> Ivan Demidov</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Valeri Nichushkin</td>
<td> Ivan Barbashev</td>
<td> Dmitri Voronkov</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><div> </div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>LD</th>
<th>RD</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Mikhail Sergachev</td>
<td> Vladislav Gavrikov</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nikita Zadorov</td>
<td> Artem Zub</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Nikishin</td>
<td> Alexander Romanov</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><div> </div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Starter</th>
<th>Backup</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Igor Shesterkin</td>
<td> Sergei Bobrovsky</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Russia's biggest strengths are playmaking wingers and stud goalies. Its weaknesses are a lack of natural centers and lack of dynamic defensemen.</p><p>Russia wouldn't be a top-tier gold-medal threat like Canada or the United States. But, based on the lineup above, the team would be in the second tier alongside Sweden.</p><h3>Who's been lucky? Unlucky?</h3><p>We're working with small sample sizes three-plus weeks into the season. Still, even limited data can help us identify who's gotten super lucky and unlucky.</p><p>Golden Knights star winger Mitch Marner has enjoyed arguably the best puck luck in the league. He's rocking an 18.8 on-ice shooting percentage and .929 on-ice save percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick. Vegas is destroying the competition 22-6 in Marner's 231 total minutes.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807997/cropped_GettyImages-2242561253.jpg?ts=1761928416" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807997/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242561253.jpg?ts=1761928416 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807997/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242561253.jpg?ts=1761928416 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807997/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242561253.jpg?ts=1761928416 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807997/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242561253.jpg?ts=1761928416 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807997/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242561253.jpg?ts=1761928416 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Scott Rovak / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux, with an on-ice SH% of 3.3 and an on-ice SV% of .706, has battled arguably the worst puck luck. St. Louis is down 1-10 in Mailloux's 99 minutes. What a frustrating start for the 22-year-old.</p><p>Pittsburgh is arguably the luckiest team given its league-high PDO (on-ice shooting and saving percentages combined) of 1.06. This is unsurprising since the Penguins are a team in transition that's overachieving.</p><p>The team with arguably the worst luck: The Blues, with a dreadful PDO of 0.94.</p><h3>So long, 2026 UFA class hype</h3><p>The 2026 unrestricted free-agent class looked absolutely stacked coming out of the summer. It can be best described as mediocre at the start of November.</p><p>Kirill Kaprizov, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, and Necas all signed contract extensions between Sept. 30 and Oct. 30. Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, and Alex Tuch now headline the class - and it's possible two or three of them will also sign extensions, muting any remaining buzz ahead of July 1.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807998/cropped_GettyImages-2242680504.jpg?ts=1761928557" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807998/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242680504.jpg?ts=1761928557 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807998/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242680504.jpg?ts=1761928557 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807998/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242680504.jpg?ts=1761928557 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807998/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242680504.jpg?ts=1761928557 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807998/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242680504.jpg?ts=1761928557 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Those five recent extensions were relatively similar: front-loaded, bonus-heavy contracts for high-impact players in their mid-to-late 20s. McDavid, who's a special case, was the only one who didn't sign for the maximum eight years.</p><p>The rules around contract structure are changing next September as the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and NHL Players' Association comes into full effect. The max term will decrease from eight to seven years for an extension (and from seven to six years on deals signed in free agency), while restrictions will be placed on front-loading and bonuses.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33065463/related

New contenders? No trades? Zegras back? Making sense of 8 early NHL trends

The 2025-26 NHL rookie group is star-studded and deep. Any serious Calder Trophy debate can be pu...

<p><em>The 2025-26 NHL rookie group is star-studded and deep. Any serious Calder Trophy debate can be put on hold this early into the season though. Let's instead discuss what we've seen so far from five particularly intriguing rookies.</em></p><h3>Ivan Demidov, Canadiens</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807608/cropped_GettyImages-2240674997.jpg?ts=1761681134" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807608/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240674997.jpg?ts=1761681134 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807608/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240674997.jpg?ts=1761681134 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807608/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240674997.jpg?ts=1761681134 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807608/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240674997.jpg?ts=1761681134 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807608/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240674997.jpg?ts=1761681134 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Matt Garies / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Demidov intrigue revolves around his silky playing style and high ceiling. He offers a level of offensive genius the Canadiens simply don't have elsewhere in their lineup or pipeline, and one day, he might reach 100 points.</p><p>Demidov leads all rookies with nine points despite playing almost exclusively with solid yet unremarkable players in Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen at five-on-five and skating for just 13:47 a night overall. The 19-year-old was recently elevated to the top power-play unit and is now its main playmaker.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Demidov is a patient, possession-loving winger in all game states. He protects the puck through evasive spins, speed differentials, and manipulative dekes. He prioritizes high-quality scoring chances and also lives for the big moments. His game-tying goal against the Kraken captures his brilliance well.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr">IVAN DEMIDOV!! TIE GAME!! 🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLFaceOff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLFaceOff</a> <a href="https://t.co/SiPM6zOwwD">pic.twitter.com/SiPM6zOwwD</a></p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1978276947340742845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Demidov won't be challenging for the Selke Trophy anytime soon, but he's putting in the effort on defense. His active stick has produced a few turnovers.</p><p>As for an area of improvement, Demidov needs to start shooting the puck more often. He's averaging 2.7 shot attempts and 0.9 shots on goal per game. He's become predictable to goalies by almost always opting for the pass.</p><h3>Emmitt Finnie, Red Wings</h3><p>Thirteen members of the 2023 draft class have appeared in 10 or more NHL games. Eleven were selected in the first round. Another, Gavin Brindley, went early in the second, 34th overall to Columbus. The other dude is Finnie, who heard Detroit call his name in the seventh round, pick 201 of 224.</p><p>Making the NHL as a seventh-rounder is a rare feat. Excelling in a first-line role on a team with playoff aspirations as a <em>20-year-old</em> seventh-rounder is exceptional.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807604/cropped_GettyImages-2242820736.jpg?ts=1761680574" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807604/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242820736.jpg?ts=1761680574 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807604/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242820736.jpg?ts=1761680574 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807604/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242820736.jpg?ts=1761680574 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807604/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242820736.jpg?ts=1761680574 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807604/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242820736.jpg?ts=1761680574 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Gregory Shamus / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>But Finnie's done it, and the 6-foot-1, 190-pound left-winger is tied for second in rookie scoring with eight points (four goals, four assists) in 10 games. Every shift, he takes care of his own end, pushes pace, drives the net, and finds quiet ice alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on the Red Wings' top line.</p><p>As Raymond put it recently, Finnie's flourished in large part due to self-awareness and attention to detail. The Lethbridge, Alberta, native knows what he must do as the worker bee on a highly skilled line and simply gets after it.</p><p>"When you come in as a kid, you're so focused on the big picture, whether that's points or whatever, and you can forget about the details that actually make you successful," Raymond said of the typical rookie mindset. "But he's figured out his role, and he's doing all of the right things out there. He puts himself in the right spots to be successful, and that's really all you can do."</p><h3>Arseny Gritsyuk, Devils</h3><p>Gritsyuk is getting more comfortable with each passing game, and Devils coach Sheldon Keefe has rewarded the progress. The Russian winger logged 9:52 in his debut, 12:24 in his fifth game, and 15:35<strong> </strong>in his 10th on Tuesday.</p><p>In Gritsyuk, New Jersey's inserted a much-needed shoot-first righty into its top nine and a player type that can be matched with any existing duo. The 24-year-old's spent most of his five-on-five minutes with either the second (Nico Hischier, Timo Meier) or third line (Cody Glass, Connor Brown).</p><p>Gritsyuk owns a wicked release and will be counted on to score over his career. However, as the clip below shows, there's a edginess to his game.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arseny Gritsyuk can really rip it! 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/BSiaR1QzMV">pic.twitter.com/BSiaR1QzMV</a></p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1982499523487285481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Devils drafted the high-motor Gritsyuk in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. He put up 44 points in 49 KHL games for SKA St. Petersburg last season before signing a one-year entry-level contract with New Jersey in May.</p><p>The native of Krasnoyarsk - one of the largest cities in Siberia - is very active on the messaging app Telegram. Gritsyuk provides regular detailed updates on life in North America to family and friends, recently sharing photos of his Halloween costume, the team plane, a Chipotle order, and his daughter.</p><h3>Alexander Nikishin, Hurricanes</h3><p>Nikishin, who turned 24 on Oct. 2, is a 6-foot-3, 218-pound defenseman. He had arguably the best game of his young career Tuesday night in Carolina's loss to Vegas, recording four shots on goal, three hits, three blocked shots, and one desperate goal-line save in a game-high 27:33.</p><p>Nikishin's still learning English, adjusting to the NHL grind, and adapting to the Hurricanes' system. Yet, the club's outscored the opposition 12-4 with him on the ice during five-on-five action. Being on the right side of 75% of the goals over a nine-game stretch is impressive stuff for any player, let alone a rookie.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807606/cropped_GettyImages-2240106738.jpg?ts=1761680831" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807606/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240106738.jpg?ts=1761680831 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807606/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240106738.jpg?ts=1761680831 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807606/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240106738.jpg?ts=1761680831 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807606/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240106738.jpg?ts=1761680831 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807606/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240106738.jpg?ts=1761680831 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Josh Lavallee / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>A former KHL teammate of Gritsyuk's, Nikishin was once viewed as the No. 1 blue-line prospect on the planet. He was named 2023-24 KHL defenseman of the year and captained SKA for two seasons. Nikishin's in the final season of a two-year deal with the Canes after a four-game cameo in the 2025 playoffs.</p><p>It's a safe bet that Nikishin will be a top-four force for 10-15 years. He brings mobility, physicality, and a heavy shot (he reached 98.97 mph recently).</p><h3>Matthew Schaefer, Islanders</h3><p>All recent first overall picks are intriguing by default, so Schaefer was always going to be one to watch. That baseline interest has morphed into wide-eyed fascination nine games in because Schaefer looks like the next great NHL defenseman - someone primed to consistently contend for the Norris Trophy.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807607/cropped_GettyImages-2240979314.jpg?ts=1761680997" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807607/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240979314.jpg?ts=1761680997 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807607/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240979314.jpg?ts=1761680997 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807607/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240979314.jpg?ts=1761680997 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807607/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240979314.jpg?ts=1761680997 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807607/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240979314.jpg?ts=1761680997 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Steven Ryan / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Barely 18 years old, Schaefer pairs explosive skating with an elite hockey brain to impact virtually every aspect of the game. At even strength, he's active and aggressive with and without the puck in all three zones. On special teams, he's showing signs of grasping the nuances of killing penalties and of running a top power-play unit. Schaefer and Islanders center Mat Barzal feed off each other so well, having quickly developed a potent give-and-go schtick.</p><p>Schaefer's usage is bananas; he's logging 23:15 a night, which is the highest time on ice among all Isles by two minutes and highest among NHL rookies by three minutes. His shot profile is wacky, too; he's recorded both the most shot attempts and most shots on goal among rookies and sits seventh among all NHL defensemen in attempts per 60 minutes. He is, in a word, overwhelming.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33029550/related

5 NHL rookies who've grabbed our attention early - and why

The Canadiens have enjoyed a largely successful (and definitely eventful) first two-plus weeks of...

<p><em>The Canadiens have enjoyed a largely successful (and definitely eventful) first two-plus weeks of the season. Montreal owns a 6-3-0 record ahead of a Saturday night road game against the Canucks. The season's young, so things will change, but here's what we've thus far learned about the 2025-26 Habs.</em></p><h3>Balanced first line is humming</h3><p>If Montreal is going to graduate from feel-good wild-card team to<em> </em>legitimate Atlantic Division threat, it must see growth from most players on the roster.</p><p>Yet only a handful have an outsized impact on results. At forward, everything's downstream from budding superstar Ivan Demidov and the three first-liners.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>It's hard to overstate the importance of captain and No. 1 center Nick Suzuki, premier sniper Cole Caufield, and skilled power forward Juraj Slafkovsky - individually and as a unit. The Habs need dominance from their top trio.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807056/cropped_GettyImages-2242596738.jpg?ts=1761336971" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807056/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242596738.jpg?ts=1761336971 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807056/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242596738.jpg?ts=1761336971 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807056/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242596738.jpg?ts=1761336971 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807056/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242596738.jpg?ts=1761336971 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807056/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242596738.jpg?ts=1761336971 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The early returns are promising, with the Suzuki line outscoring the opposition 7-2 in 108 five-on-five minutes. The trio's expected goals rate has improved significantly in a small sample (66% versus 50% in 2024-25), which suggests the lopsided results were well-earned. Their differing styles blend so smoothly, and each guy has a defined role. Suzuki drives two-way play, Caufield creates and shoots, and Slafkovsky fills in gaps as the commanding connective piece.</p><p>Most encouragingly, the Suzuki-Caufield duo has risen to the occasion twice already. Caufield scored the overtime winner (Suzuki snagged an assist) against Seattle last Tuesday. Two days later, Caufield delivered the tying goal in the third period and another in OT (with a beautiful assist from Suzuki on the latter) to beat Nashville.</p><p>Caufield's on pace for 64 goals. This could very well be his first 40-goal year.</p><h3>Entire offensive attack is on tilt</h3><p>The Canadiens' attack was potent last season. It could be lethal this year.</p><p>For starters, the club's goals per game average has jumped from 3.0 to 3.6.</p><p>Montreal had generated 17.7 quality scoring chances per game - fifth most in the NHL - entering Friday, according to Sportlogiq. (Last season, it recorded 14.3 quality chances per game for a middling rank of 19th.)</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807059/cropped_GettyImages-2242564387.jpg?ts=1761337397" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807059/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242564387.jpg?ts=1761337397 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807059/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242564387.jpg?ts=1761337397 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807059/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242564387.jpg?ts=1761337397 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807059/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242564387.jpg?ts=1761337397 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807059/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242564387.jpg?ts=1761337397 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Codie McLachlan / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The spike in chances can be attributed at least partly to an emphasis on pushing the pace. The Habs trail only Carolina in chances generated off the rush, and oftentimes it's a defenseman forcibly moving the puck north. Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson have already completed 22 stretch passes each.</p><p>The Martin St. Louis-coached squad has so far done a marvelous job maintaining possession of the puck after gaining the blue line and prioritizing high-danger areas. On a per-game basis, Montreal ranks second in the league in offensive-zone possession time and ninth in inner-slot shots; in 2024-25, it was 14th in O-zone possession and a shocking 30th in inner-slot shots.</p><p>Two forwards deserve a shoutout here: 19-year-old winger Demidov for his patient and precise playmaking off the rush and 22-year-old winger Zack Bolduc for his skill and smarts in prime scoring areas. Montreal, the youngest team in the league, is filled with players who are just scratching the surface.</p><h3>... and now for the cold water</h3><p>The Canadiens seem more dedicated to the defensive side of the puck this season. Some of it is probably related to the young core growing up, some of it is probably tied to tactical changes, and some of it is probably roster turnover.</p><p>In other words, making gains on defense is nice but was to be expected.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807062/cropped_GettyImages-2241599675.jpg?ts=1761338354" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807062/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241599675.jpg?ts=1761338354 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807062/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241599675.jpg?ts=1761338354 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807062/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241599675.jpg?ts=1761338354 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807062/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241599675.jpg?ts=1761338354 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807062/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241599675.jpg?ts=1761338354 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>OK, now to pour a bit of cold water on the hot start ...</p><p>The quality of Montreal's opponents has been fairly low, with Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Nashville, Buffalo, and Calgary comprising two-thirds of the early schedule. Each game against playoff-caliber competition - Maple Leafs, Rangers, Oilers - has ended in a loss, though, to be fair, two of them were close.</p><p>The talent-rich power play (tied for 22nd in the league) and well-equipped penalty kill (18th) have been underwhelming, while goalies Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes have combined for a below-average save percentage (.888).</p><p>I'd consider special teams and goaltending yellow flags since the early rankings don't align with what those units/goalies have previously shown.</p><p>As for a red flag: Thanks to poor second and third periods, the Habs have been involved in six one-goal games. They're 4-2-0 in those contests, and there's been no shortage of entertaining moments. But scraping by on thrilling wins is not a sustainable brand of hockey. Montreal needs to put teams away.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

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What we've learned about the Canadiens through 9 games

<p><em>Combining his own perspective with what he's been hearing from those in and around the game, senior NHL writer John Matisz breaks down the hot topics across the hockey landscape.</em></p><h3>Extreme highs, lows in Wings land</h3><p>Red Wings players and coaches woke up Wednesday riding a five-game winning streak and holding down the top spot in the Atlantic Division.</p><p>Now, what was the head coach most pleased with following a 5-1-0 start?</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"The response after Game 1," Todd McLellan said in the bowels of KeyBank Center in Buffalo.</p><p>"We felt we had a real productive training camp, where we worked (hard) and put in play a lot of our structure and the way we wanted to play in certain situations," he added. "That didn't show up in Game 1 ... but the response since that day has been real positive."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806916/cropped_GettyImages-2241304587.jpg?ts=1761250982" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806916/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241304587.jpg?ts=1761250982 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806916/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241304587.jpg?ts=1761250982 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806916/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241304587.jpg?ts=1761250982 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806916/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241304587.jpg?ts=1761250982 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806916/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241304587.jpg?ts=1761250982 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Dave Reginek / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Hours after McLellan's answer, Detroit put forth another lackluster effort. The Wings were flat from puck drop, took three penalties in the first period, and never recovered, losing 4-2 to Buffalo. On Thursday, Detroit's record slumped to a mediocre 5-3-0 following an embarrassing 7-2 defeat at the hands of the Islanders. The Wings were deficient and sloppy in all areas.</p><p>The 2025-26 season is still young. However, a trend appears to be emerging: Detroit's "on" nights will be tantalizing, and its off nights will be ugly.</p><p>Such is life for a proud Original Six franchise attempting to break a nine-year playoff drought. The Wings' floor is relatively high. Yet, the club's ceiling is anybody's guess eight games in. Claim an Atlantic seed? Wild-card spot? Miss the playoffs again? The biggest variable might be McLellan's system.</p><p>He was hired midway through last season, which means the longtime NHL bench boss had to wait until September to drill down on team identity.</p><p>"We try to be a fast-playing team, whether that's through our own zone or neutral zone. Of course, we then try to spend as much time as we can in the offensive zone, preferably down low," star winger Lucas Raymond, who's collected six points in six games, told theScore prior to the loss in Buffalo.</p><p>"Teams get to that kind of offense in different ways. With Florida, they pound the puck in and go after it. Then you look at Edmonton, and they spend a lot of time in the O-zone but are possessing the puck for longer periods. For us, it's about playing fast. We've got a lot of fast, hard-working guys to execute that plan. The more puck touches deep in the O-zone, the better. And then we just have to be hard on the opponent. In the D-zone, we have to be really detailed."</p><p>Detroit dressed nine first-round NHL draft picks Thursday, eight of whom the club selected. That's a ton of pedigree.</p><p>Put another way, the Wings are done taking steps back individually and collectively. Three lousy efforts in seven games would've been a minor story as recently as two years ago. It isn't the end of the world now, but it is cause for concern because it suggests McLellan's standards aren't being met.</p><h3>Rival: Stolarz poured gas on fire</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786336/cropped_GettyImages-2213090016.jpg?ts=1761251281" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786336/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213090016.jpg?ts=1761251281 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786336/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213090016.jpg?ts=1761251281 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786336/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213090016.jpg?ts=1761251281 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786336/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213090016.jpg?ts=1761251281 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786336/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213090016.jpg?ts=1761251281 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz called out his team after its recent loss to the Kraken, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3372242" href="https://thescore.com/news/3372242">blasting</a> everything from William Nylander's backchecking to the meh offensive attack to a lack of response to Seattle's crease crashing.</p><p>Multiple news cycles ensued, and Stolarz's next meeting with reporters was uneventful. Toronto is eager to move on publicly and behind closed doors.</p><p>Asked about the whole ordeal, one veteran NHLer said he wasn't a fan of Stolarz's comments. He believes players should avoid fueling negative storylines during media interviews - especially if they play for a Canadian franchise - and keep that kind of candidness between the players and coaches.</p><p>If somebody's going to spout off, the veteran continued, it should be the captain, not the goalie. The vet then offered an interesting metaphor: If your kids were acting up at home and you and your partner were frustrated, would you ramble on about it to your neighbor the next time you saw him or her? Or would you smile and wave to keep the family's private issue ... well, private?</p><h3>Journeyman Lyon vibin' in Buffalo</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806918/cropped_GettyImages-2242602853.jpg?ts=1761251217" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806918/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242602853.jpg?ts=1761251217 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806918/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242602853.jpg?ts=1761251217 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806918/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242602853.jpg?ts=1761251217 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806918/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242602853.jpg?ts=1761251217 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806918/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242602853.jpg?ts=1761251217 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Sabres goaltending is an early-season success story I did not foresee.</p><p>AHL call-up Colten Ellis turned aside 29 of 31 shots Wednesday to win his NHL debut, and Alex Lyon owns a .924 save percentage despite facing 198 shots through six starts. Lyon, who's shouldering a larger load than anticipated with partner Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen sidelined by an injury, has earned a quality start in all but one appearance, according to Sportlogiq.</p><p>Beyond the saves, Lyon's teammates are appreciative of his on- and off-ice vibe.</p><p>"He always comes to the rink super wired," Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins said of the 32-year-old journeyman. "You can always hear him talking when you're out there. He not only leads by example, but he's also very vocal."</p><h3>Predators, young players don't mix?</h3><p>The Predators sent Brady Martin back to the OHL's Soo Greyhounds on Wednesday, ending the young forward's weekslong stay in NHL purgatory.</p><p>Martin, the fifth pick in this summer's draft, dressed for three of Nashville's first seven games. He logged what are essentially fourth-line minutes (12:44, 10:40, 10:51), contributing one assist, two shots on goal, and not much else. The Ontario kid watched the entirety of a four-game Canada road trip from the press box.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806919/cropped_GettyImages-2209996625.jpg?ts=1761251448" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806919/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209996625.jpg?ts=1761251448 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806919/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209996625.jpg?ts=1761251448 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806919/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209996625.jpg?ts=1761251448 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806919/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209996625.jpg?ts=1761251448 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806919/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209996625.jpg?ts=1761251448 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Zak Krill / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It feels as if the team never had a concrete plan for Martin. I wouldn't be shocked if general manager Barry Trotz and head coach Andrew Brunette had wildly different opinions on the 18-year-old's NHL readiness. More concerning for Preds fans, people around the league are getting suspicious. A few sources have recently brought up Nashville's track record with young players.</p><p>The drawn-out Luke Evangelista negotiations, which ended Oct. 4 with a completely reasonable two-year, $6-million extension, was unnecessarily contentious. The 2024 Yaroslav Askarov trade was unnecessary, period. Philip Tomasino, Eeli Tolvanen, and Kevin Fiala are three other high picks who butted heads with management/coaching and currently play elsewhere.</p><h3>Prospect Reid continues to ascend</h3><p>Chase Reid, one of Brady Martin's junior teammates, is a prospect to watch.</p><p>The big-bodied right-shot defenseman was one of 27 players to receive an <a href="https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/wie2axdger9u2k2ycr4r.pdf">"A" rating</a> this week from the NHL's Central Scouting group, indicating he's a strong 2026 first-round candidate. Reid's an effortless skater with offensive flair and a defensive conscience. He was off the radar to start last season, playing 18 games for the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL before a transfer to the Greyhounds in December. Now an integral part of the club, Reid's up to 54 points in 53 career OHL games - no small feat for a seventh-round OHL pick.</p><p>Don't be surprised if he's the first OHLer picked in next June's draft.</p><h3>3 appealing developments in Utah</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806920/cropped_GettyImages-2241798964.jpg?ts=1761251843" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806920/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241798964.jpg?ts=1761251843 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806920/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241798964.jpg?ts=1761251843 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806920/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241798964.jpg?ts=1761251843 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806920/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241798964.jpg?ts=1761251843 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806920/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241798964.jpg?ts=1761251843 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Three Mammoth-related tidbits.</p><p>One: Dmitri Simashev, the sixth pick in the 2023 draft, has impressed over his first eight NHL games. The Russian's currently averaging 14:41 a night. Watch for him to eventually take on penalty-killing duties and for his nightly usage to climb closer to 20 minutes by season's end. Simashev is a suffocating defender who can close in on opponents quickly, thanks to a wide wingspan, elite skating, and excellent defensive instincts. He helped keep Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon off the scoreboard Wednesday in a Utah win.</p><p>Two: The Mammoth's top offensive line of Logan Cooley between JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther is cooking early in Peterka's Utah tenure. The trio's outscoring the opposition 7-1 through 77 five-on-five minutes. Pure speed from Peterka. Give-and-go's featuring Cooley. Finishing ability with Guenther.</p><p>Three: While talks between Utah and Cooley's camp are ongoing, I don't sense a long-term extension is imminent. The 21-year-old, who's accumulated 116 points in 165 career games, is in the final season of his entry-level deal.</p><h3>Hughes, LaCombe, or Hutson?</h3><p>Three stud defensemen in their early 20s signed long-term, big-money contract extensions in early October.</p><ul>
<li>Luke Hughes, 22 years old: seven-year deal with an average annual value of $9 million (starting this season)</li>
<li>Jackson LaCombe, 24: eight years, $9 million AAV (starting 2026-27)</li>
<li>Lane Hutson, 21: eight years, $8.85 million AAV (starting 2026-27)</li>
</ul><p>If you could pick one, which D-man would you want on your team long term?</p><p>"LaCombe is the guy I would take," an NHL assistant coach said of the Anaheim blue-liner. "He's the best at defending, in my opinion. Offensively, he's calm and smooth, and I expect him to keep getting better with the puck."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806922/cropped_GettyImages-2239628373.jpg?ts=1761252031" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806922/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239628373.jpg?ts=1761252031 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806922/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239628373.jpg?ts=1761252031 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806922/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239628373.jpg?ts=1761252031 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806922/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239628373.jpg?ts=1761252031 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806922/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239628373.jpg?ts=1761252031 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Christopher Mast / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>LaCombe boasts a more varied skill set than the thoroughbred Hughes and the dazzling Hutson. Smart, extremely mobile, and fairly large at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, LaCombe drives play at five-on-five despite facing stiff competition. He's central to Anaheim's No. 1 power-play unit and No. 2 penalty kill, as well, resulting in the highest usage on the team (24:52).</p><p>What really sticks out to the coach from afar: LaCombe, a second-round pick in 2019, once had offensive dynamos and first-rounders Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger ahead of him on the organizational depth chart. Now, in his third full NHL season, he's the undisputed alpha dog of the Ducks' back end.</p><h3>Coach: Hurricanes are a wagon</h3><p>The Hurricanes have finished in the top 10 in standings points in each of Rod Brind'Amour's seven seasons behind the bench. They've altered their style slightly over the years but still dine out on the forecheck. In other words, it can be easy to gloss over Carolina's 6-1-0 start because we know the drill.</p><p>The coach has seen the 2025-26 Canes operate up close. He thinks the offseason additions of defenseman K'Andre Miller and winger Nikolaj Ehlers make them a uniquely terrifying opponent. There's no room to breathe.</p><p>"Miller can really skate and so can Ehlers, who's really one of the fastest guys in the league. So, basically, they're playing similar to other years but are now faster than ever," the coach said. "The way that they come at you in waves, the depth at forward and defense - it's all very tough for teams to handle."</p><h3>Playoff expansion coming soon?</h3><p>Reader Steven S. recently submitted a question about playoff expansion:</p><blockquote><p>Has there been any talk about adding an extra round to the playoffs or including every team in the playoffs using a 1-16, 2-15, 3-12, etc. format? This would generate extra money for all teams and could potentially make for an excellent Cinderella story, where a team that would not have made the playoffs under the current format makes a run for - and possibly wins - the Cup. Admittedly, the season would have to be adjusted to ensure the playoffs finished before the end of June, but that could easily be fixed by starting a week earlier. Thoughts?</p></blockquote><p>In general, don't expect any changes to the playoff format in Gary Bettman's final years as commissioner. He's strongly against a return to the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3347318" href="https://thescore.com/news/3347318">popular one-versus-eight</a> format, so adding a round or bucking tradition completely with a March Madness-style playoff bracket currently qualify as nonstarters.</p><p>That said, Bettman, 73, won't be in charge forever. The sense I get from conversations over the past couple of years is that his successor - whoever that may be - won't have issues pushing through some kind of change. Many team owners, presidents, and general managers see the value (i.e. money) in adding a wrinkle to what's widely viewed as the best postseason in sports.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center><u>                    </u></center></figure><p>What do you want to know, hockey fans?</p><p>There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:</p><ul>
<li>Comment on this article in theScore app</li>
<li>Email John at <a href="mailto:john.matisz@theScore.com">john.matisz@thescore.com</a>
</li>
<li>Send John a message on X (<a href="https://x.com/MatiszJohn">@matiszjohn</a>)</li>
</ul>

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NHL Inbox: Dissecting hot topics, answering your questions, and more

The NHL season is nearing the end of its second week, which means various states of misery and jo...

<p>The NHL season is nearing the end of its second week, which means various states of misery and joy have permeated through 32 fan bases.</p><p>On Friday, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3368577" href="https://thescore.com/news/3368577">we checked in</a> on four struggling teams. Now let's evaluate some of the hot starts. How much stock should we put into what these clubs have accomplished in the early going? What level of hype do they actually deserve?</p><p>We've rated each situation on a starstruck emoji scale, with one (🤩) being the lowest reading on the hype confidence meter and five (🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩) being the highest.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Boston Bruins</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805980/cropped_GettyImages-2240295225.jpg?ts=1760717665" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805980/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240295225.jpg?ts=1760717665 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805980/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240295225.jpg?ts=1760717665 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805980/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240295225.jpg?ts=1760717665 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805980/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240295225.jpg?ts=1760717665 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805980/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240295225.jpg?ts=1760717665 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Based strictly on final scores, the start of the Bruins' season has been a resounding success. They've won three times and lost twice by a single goal.</p><p>This is a team in transition, with Marco Sturm taking over behind the bench and the roster largely unsettled beyond stars David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman. Boston's begun games well, competed hard for pucks, and blocked a ton of shots. Six players co-lead the team with two goals.</p><p>What more could you ask for?</p><p>Some better measuring sticks. The Bruins' wins have come against Washington (a good but not great team), Chicago (bottom-feeder), and Buffalo (bottom-feeder). Their losses: Stanley Cup contenders Tampa Bay and Vegas. We'll learn a lot about Boston's potential over the next five games, with Colorado, Utah, Florida, Anaheim, and Colorado again on the menu.</p><p>The center group of Elias Lindholm, Casey Mittelstadt, Fraser Minten, and Sean Kuraly has thus far been competent, if not good. But there's simply not even talent down the middle to sustain a winning record over a full season.</p><p><strong>Hype confidence meter:</strong> 🤩</p><h3>Colorado Avalanche</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805982/cropped_GettyImages-2240615140.jpg?ts=1760717784" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805982/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240615140.jpg?ts=1760717784 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805982/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240615140.jpg?ts=1760717784 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805982/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240615140.jpg?ts=1760717784 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805982/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240615140.jpg?ts=1760717784 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805982/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240615140.jpg?ts=1760717784 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Martin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Colorado was my preseason pick for 2026 Cup winner, so I'm processing their 4-0-1 record and league-high nine points through rose-colored glasses.</p><p>The Avalanche are relatively healthy to kick off a season for the first time in a long time, which is scary news for rivals. The current injury list of starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, second-pair defenseman Sam Girard, and bottom-six winger Logan O'Connor is nothing compared to last October.</p><p>Even at 90% health, the Avs are ridiculously talented, deep, and experienced.</p><p>The top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Artturi Lehkonen has outscored the opposition 6-0 in just 59 five-on-five minutes. Necas continues to pile up points. The toolsy winger's three goals and nine points have upped his totals in an Avalanche uniform to 15 goals and 42 points in 42 games.</p><p>The most encouraging sign of all is the play of backup Scott Wedgewood. The 33-year-old journeyman isn't simply surviving as the temporary No. 1 guy; he's thriving, posting a .939 save percentage and 4.9 goals saved above expected (<a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22No%20Adjustment%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%221%22&amp;std_gl_season=%2220252026%22">per Evolving-Hockey</a>) over a league-high 305 minutes in the crease.</p><p>Wedgewood's run of excellence won't last forever, and the Avs aren't going to cruise through the regular season. Yet, there's a lot of substance to their start.</p><p><strong>Hype confidence meter:</strong> 🤩🤩🤩🤩 (and a half)</p><h3>Montreal Canadiens</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805989/cropped_GettyImages-2241215687.jpg?ts=1760718217" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805989/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241215687.jpg?ts=1760718217 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805989/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241215687.jpg?ts=1760718217 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805989/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241215687.jpg?ts=1760718217 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805989/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241215687.jpg?ts=1760718217 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805989/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241215687.jpg?ts=1760718217 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>If this was an exercise evaluating long-term potential, Montreal would be an easy five out of five on the hype confidence meter. Saying the Canadiens will become perennial Cup contenders within a few years now qualifies as a boring, cold take. They're on a rocketing trajectory.</p><p>However, this exercise is focused on 2025-26, and I'm not convinced the current squad is as dominant as its 4-1-0 record suggests. For starters, the Canadiens haven't exactly faced a murderers' row of opponents in Toronto (loss), Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, and Nashville. Also, while comeback and overtime wins are entertaining and great for morale - especially in the case of a very young group like the Habs - barely scraping by is unsustainable.</p><p>OK, that's the skeptical angle on the hot start. The optimistic angle? Rookie Ivan Demidov is solidifying himself as a legitimate superstar with every passing game, offseason acquisitions Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc have made a seamless transition, and team defense has taken a giant step forward.</p><p>Montreal is a playoff team. It's too early to predict any postseason fireworks.</p><p><strong>Hype confidence meter:</strong> 🤩🤩🤩</p><div> </div><h3>Vegas Golden Knights</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805984/cropped_GettyImages-2240044853.jpg?ts=1760717855" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805984/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240044853.jpg?ts=1760717855 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805984/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240044853.jpg?ts=1760717855 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805984/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240044853.jpg?ts=1760717855 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805984/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240044853.jpg?ts=1760717855 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805984/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240044853.jpg?ts=1760717855 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Becker / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Golden Knights were considered an inner-circle Cup contender heading into the season and have yet to lose in regulation through five games (3-0-2).</p><p>The dynamic duo of Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev has combined for 11 of the team's 20 goals. The power play is humming along. The rush attack is frightening. Newcomer Mitch Marner hasn't enjoyed a breakout game in Golden Knights threads, but he also hasn't looked out of sorts.</p><p>All that positivity and still it feels as if Vegas is merely scratching the surface. They have so many secondary weapons up front - from Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl to William Karlsson and Ivan Barbashev. All of them are capable of cushioning the blow when guys like Eichel and Marner have an off night.</p><p>The defense and goaltending units are strong as well, though they could use reinforcements. The blue line needs another top-four guy with Alex Pietrangelo officially out for the season. And it remains to be seen what kind of impact, if any, controversial signee Carter Hart will have on stopping pucks.</p><p>The Bruce Cassidy-coached team looked lethal on paper. It's lethal on the ice.</p><p><strong>Hype confidence meter:</strong> 🤩🤩🤩🤩</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/32861258/related

NHL hype meter: How much stock should we put into these hot starts?

The NHL season opened 10 days ago. As of Friday morning, every team but the San Jose Sharks had p...

<p>The NHL season opened 10 days ago. As of Friday morning, every team but the San Jose Sharks had played between four and six games. That translates to about 5% of the 82-game grind - or just enough action to form opinions off.</p><p>Let's check in on four teams battling a sluggish start. Is it time to panic?</p><p>We've rated each situation on a screaming face emoji scale, with one (😱) being the lowest reading on the panic meter and five (😱😱😱😱😱) being the highest.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Buffalo Sabres</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805791/cropped_GettyImages-2240845015.jpg?ts=1760626278" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805791/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240845015.jpg?ts=1760626278 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805791/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240845015.jpg?ts=1760626278 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805791/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240845015.jpg?ts=1760626278 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805791/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240845015.jpg?ts=1760626278 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805791/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240845015.jpg?ts=1760626278 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bill Wippert / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Buffalo's first three games were demoralizing. The poor performances led to viral sound bites from multiple star players, chants calling for five-year general manager Kevyn Adams to be fired, a jersey being thrown onto home ice, and several fans wearing paper bags on their heads.</p><p>In other words, the spiraling of another Sabres season was well underway following three losses in which the team was outscored 10-2. Full panic mode.</p><p>On Wednesday, Buffalo exploded offensively in an 8-4 win over Ottawa to inject a dash of relief and hope, at least temporarily. This is a patently flawed team - the "Fire Adams!" chants weren't uncalled for - that's dealing with injuries to forwards Josh Norris and Jordan Greenway, defensemen Michael Kesselring and Mattias Samuelsson, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.</p><p>Expectations weren't particularly high coming into 2025-26, as most pundits believed the Sabres' best-case scenario was a wild-card spot. The panic level is nevertheless high after a 1-3-0 start due to the uninspiring play and the fan base's growing disenchantment with both management and ownership.</p><p><em>Panic meter reading</em>: 😱😱😱😱</p><h3>New York Islanders</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805804/cropped_GettyImages-2241106054.jpg?ts=1760629184" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805804/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241106054.jpg?ts=1760629184 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805804/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241106054.jpg?ts=1760629184 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805804/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241106054.jpg?ts=1760629184 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805804/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241106054.jpg?ts=1760629184 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805804/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241106054.jpg?ts=1760629184 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The last successful Islanders teams were stingy under Barry Trotz in the late 2010s. The current Isles, led by bench boss Patrick Roy, are the opposite - a porous defensive unit that allows an ungodly amount of odd-man rushes.</p><p>New York's first three opponents made life incredibly difficult on goalie Ilya Sorokin by generating 5.12, 4.79, and 4.26 expected goals, respectively. Sorokin, who's nearly impossible to beat on his best nights, couldn't hold down the fort in those losses, with the final scores reading 4-3, 4-2, and 5-2.</p><p>While the Isles defeated the Oilers on Thursday to snap the losing skid, the 60-minute breakdown of New York's season paints a bleak picture. They've, on average, trailed for 36:04, tied for 22:01, and led for a league-low 1:55.</p><p>Rookie Matthew Schaefer's been a rare bright spot. He's flashed world-class skating and a super polished overall game for a recently turned 18-year-old defenseman. Roy has trusted him to the tune of 22 minutes a night.</p><p>The Isles are set up nicely to "ethically tank" (i.e. ice a competitive lineup but lose a bunch of games) then draft a long-term running mate for Schaefer. Put another way, the lackluster start might be more of a blessing than a curse.</p><p><em>Panic meter reading</em>: 😱</p><h3>Ottawa Senators</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805826/cropped_GettyImages-2241221997.jpg?ts=1760633644" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805826/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241221997.jpg?ts=1760633644 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805826/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241221997.jpg?ts=1760633644 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805826/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241221997.jpg?ts=1760633644 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805826/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241221997.jpg?ts=1760633644 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805826/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241221997.jpg?ts=1760633644 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Unlike the other teams discussed in this piece, Ottawa is unquestionably on the rise. There is no existential crisis to discuss five games into its season.</p><p>Yet, from a short-term perspective, the 2-3-0 team has plenty to worry about.</p><p>The Senators have carried play, and their goal differential is nearly even (11-9) over 230 total five-on-five minutes. On an individual level, center Shane Pinto has burst through the opening gates with six goals and a shootout winner.</p><p>But abysmal special teams and goaltending have muted the good. The Sens have scored four goals on 18 power-play opportunities, while their opponents have tallied nine times (!!) on 20 chances. Starter Linus Ullmark (.862 save percentage off four starts) and backup Leevi Merilainen (.731 off one) have failed to provide the squad with what one might consider a terrific outing.</p><p>Brady Tkachuk's health is the most concerning development. The winger will be sidelined six-to-eight weeks following thumb surgery. Tkachuk, the team captain and a key top-line forward, is the caliber of player that's nearly impossible to fully replace, and his recovery timeline covers 20-25 games.</p><p>That isn't a season-crushing number of games without Tkachuk in the lineup. But it's still a significant chunk. The Sens will be challenged here.</p><p><em>Panic meter reading</em>: 😱😱😱</p><h3>Vancouver Canucks</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805828/cropped_GettyImages-2239630596.jpg?ts=1760633934" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805828/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239630596.jpg?ts=1760633934 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805828/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239630596.jpg?ts=1760633934 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805828/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239630596.jpg?ts=1760633934 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805828/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239630596.jpg?ts=1760633934 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805828/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239630596.jpg?ts=1760633934 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Three big questions swirled around the Canucks ahead of the season.</p><p>Can highest-paid player Elias Pettersson return to a dominant two-way form? How does Thatcher Demko look coming off a major injury? Will Filip Chytil, a top-six center along with Pettersson, rise to the occasion in a premium role?</p><p>None of those questions have been answered definitively a week into the season, of course, but here are the early returns for the 2-2-0 Canucks.</p><ul><li>Pettersson continues to generally underwhelm (two assists and four shots in four games), though his gaudy underlying numbers suggest he's on the verge of turning the corner. The sky isn't falling ... yet.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>Demko looks fantastic in net. He was arguably the NHL's top goalie in Week 1. This is a huge development for a team that's, in part, designed to go only as far as Demko and partner Kevin Lankinen will take it.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>Chytil unsurprisingly doesn't appear to be a natural fit at second-line center, despite scoring three times already. That's a roster issue (where are the offensive catalysts?!), not a Chytil issue. He's a solid 3C capable of filling in at 2C in a pinch.</li></ul><p>Beyond the central questions, power forward Kiefer Sherwood's picked up where he left off last year (three goals and a team-leading 20 hits). The club's turning the puck over too much (74 giveaways in four games). And the transition game's out of whack (perhaps simply adjusting to a new coach).</p><p>Talk about a mixed bag of early impressions.</p><p><em>Panic meter reading</em>: 😱😱 (and a half)</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/32848545/related

NHL panic meter: How worried should 4 teams be after sluggish starts?

Three days, 21 games, all 32 teams in action. What a shot of adrenaline to start the 2025-26 NHL ...

<p><em>Three days, 21 games, all 32 teams in action. What a shot of adrenaline to start the 2025-26 NHL season. With no games Friday, it's an ideal time to take a (very early!) pulse of the league. Here are 15 things we've learned thus far:</em></p><h3>Pasta, Pasta, and more Pasta</h3><p>David Pastrnak finished 11th in Hart Trophy voting last season after earning one second-place vote, two fourths, and 11 fifths. The downballot MVP case for Pastrnak was pretty straightforward: his 106 points were a whopping 49 ahead of the Bruins' second-highest scorer, linemate Morgan Geekie.</p><p>Pastrnak opened the season Wednesday with a goal and two well-deserved primary assists in a win over Washington then added an assist in an overtime victory over Chicago on Thursday.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Czech winger looks primed to lead the attack to an extreme degree again - not just because he's a truly electrifying player, but because, beyond Pastrnak, the Bruins have perhaps the league's least inspiring forward group.</p><h3>These 2025 kids are all right</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804965/cropped_GettyImages-2239605549.jpg?ts=1760055139" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804965/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239605549.jpg?ts=1760055139 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804965/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239605549.jpg?ts=1760055139 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804965/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239605549.jpg?ts=1760055139 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804965/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239605549.jpg?ts=1760055139 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804965/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239605549.jpg?ts=1760055139 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">John Russell / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Five picks from the 2025 draft - Matthew Schaefer (first overall), Michael Misa (second), Brady Martin (fifth), Ben Kindel (11th), and Braeden Cootes (15th) - cracked a season-opening roster. If that seems like a lot of immediate jumps to the NHL, especially for a so-called "weak" draft class ... well, you're onto something.</p><p>Misa was unfortunately scratched Thursday for Game 1 of San Jose's season.</p><p>The last time the top two picks of a class played in their teams' ensuing season opener was 2019-20 - Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. That same campaign was also the last time multiple players selected outside the top 10 suited up for opening night - Ville Heinola (20th) and Tobias Bjornfot (22nd).</p><p>The last time five guys from a class skated in their team's opener was 2016-17 - Auston Matthews (first), Patrik Laine (second), Jesse Puljujarvi (fourth), Matthew Tkachuk (sixth), Mikhail Sergachev (ninth), and Jakob Chychrun (16th).</p><h3>Smart Vegas even smarter now</h3><p>Hockey IQ has never been in short supply in Vegas, especially in the Bruce Cassidy era. The team's front-line players - think Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin - process the game exceptionally well.</p><p>Coach Cassidy's group is brighter than ever, thanks to the offseason acquisition of Mitch Marner, and the impact of a high collective IQ was on full display in games on Wednesday and Thursday. The Golden Knights aren't a particularly fast team skating-wise, but their smarts allow them to play a quick brand of hockey.</p><p>Here's a prime example of Marner, Eichel, and Ivan Barbashev playing chess, while the Kings' defense plays checkers - the puck keeps finding open ice.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE MARNER, BARBASHEV AND EICHEL LINE IS ON FIRE WITH BACK-TO-BACK GOALS 😱🔥 <a href="https://t.co/r6jxODSVgD">pic.twitter.com/r6jxODSVgD</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1976146840765550617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Welcome to your 40s, Ovi</h3><p>Alex Ovechkin, who's three goals from 900, struck out in Washington's season opener against Boston and goalie Jeremy Swayman. Here's what he recorded in what was ultimately a decent start to the winger's 21st season.</p><ul>
<li>Time on ice: 18:16</li>
<li>Shot attempts: 9</li>
<li>Shots on goal: 3</li>
<li>Scoring chances: 1</li>
<li>Hits delivered: 2</li>
<li>Penalties drawn: 1</li>
</ul><p>I'd love to see a 40-goal season from 40-year-old Ovi.</p><h3>Jury's out on Rangers' blue line</h3><p>Rangers management turned over six of its eight defenseman spots in the past 12 months. Adam Fox and Braden Schneider were the only blue-liners to appear on the opening-day rosters in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.</p><p>In theory, top-six newcomers Vladislav Gavrikov, Carson Soucy, Will Borgen, and Urho Vaakanainen bring more to the table as a group than goners Ryan Lindgren, K'Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Zac Jones. Yet, the difference in talent feels fairly insignificant given the amount of work general manager Chris Drury put in (three trades plus the Gavrikov signing) to insert those new guys.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804933/cropped_GettyImages-2239852192.jpg?ts=1760042230" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804933/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239852192.jpg?ts=1760042230 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804933/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239852192.jpg?ts=1760042230 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804933/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239852192.jpg?ts=1760042230 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804933/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239852192.jpg?ts=1760042230 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804933/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239852192.jpg?ts=1760042230 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Was the overhaul worth it? The season's first two games suggest maybe not. I'm concerned about the revamped blue line's footspeed, or lack thereof.</p><p>That said, the flurry of moves will pay off if Scott Morrow develops into a difference-maker. The Rangers acquired the 22-year-old righty in the July 1 trade that sent Miller to Carolina, but he's starting the season in the AHL. Morrow has the skating and puck-moving chops the big club needs right now.</p><h3>Necas in perfect spot to level up</h3><p>The 2026 unrestricted free agent class has lost a ton of star power, with Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, and Kyle Connor all re-signing before the season. The remaining headliners are Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Alex Tuch, and Martin Necas - though a couple may extend, as well.</p><p>Necas, who posted 83 points for Carolina and Colorado last season, is the most intriguing case. The 26-year-old winger, who's currently making $6.5 million, is going to cash in whether he re-signs with the Avalanche or heads elsewhere next July. And his future average annual value will only increase if he's skating with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3347322" href="https://thescore.com/news/3347322">second-best-player-in-the-world</a> Nathan MacKinnon all year.</p><p>Necas has quick feet and smooth handles. He also flashed world-class deception Tuesday during Colorado's 4-1 win over Los Angeles. Check out his hands in the clip below. On Necas' second goal of the night, he's pressing them against his body in an unnatural way as he launches the puck forward.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">John Buccigross pays tribute to Sam Rosen's legendary call: "it's a power play goal" on this goal by Martin Necas<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYR</a> <a href="https://t.co/A6Zejl3nrR">pic.twitter.com/A6Zejl3nrR</a></p>— NYRONLY (@nyronly) <a href="https://twitter.com/nyronly/status/1975795962145595866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>We're a long way from serious free-agency talk, but based on available cap space and competitive timeline, Detroit should be a serious player in 2026. Necas would look fantastic on many teams, including the goal-starved Wings.</p><h3>Leafs must watch Stolarz's workload</h3><p>Morgan Rielly's strong showing hogged the headlines following Toronto's 5-2 season-opening victory - and rightfully so, the blue-liner looks rejuvenated.</p><p>Yet, the top Maple Leafs story of the early season is and will continue to be the status of Joseph Woll. The 27-year-old goalie took a leave of absence a couple of weeks ago to attend to a family matter, with no return date set. Let's hope Woll and his family are doing all right, first and foremost.</p><p>Anthony Stolarz will be shouldering a larger load, which is less than ideal for a Leafs squad set up for a 1A/1B situation in the crease. The recently re-signed netminder appeared in a career-high 34 games last campaign, so it would be risky business to let that number climb to 50 or higher by season's end.</p><p>Cayden Primeau (.884 save percentage in 55 career starts) is Woll's temporary replacement. AHL starter Dennis Hildeby is the next man up otherwise. It might be worth scanning the trade market if Woll isn't back in a few weeks.</p><h3>Chinakhov-CBJ drama continues</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804938/cropped_GettyImages-2206724869.jpg?ts=1760043883" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804938/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206724869.jpg?ts=1760043883 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804938/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206724869.jpg?ts=1760043883 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804938/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206724869.jpg?ts=1760043883 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804938/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206724869.jpg?ts=1760043883 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804938/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206724869.jpg?ts=1760043883 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kirk Irwin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>No healthy scratch raised eyebrows across the league quite like Yegor Chinakhov's on Thursday. Columbus coach Dean Evason felt his squad was better off without the talented Russian in the lineup on opening night (a 2-1 loss to Nashville), upgrading the odds of a trade from likely to super likely.</p><p>Chinakhov is a middle-six winger with a bullet of a shot. He received limited ice time last campaign (15:43), requested a trade in the summer, and recently fired his agent. It is, to put it mildly, time for a change of scenery, and you can bet at least half of the league's GMs have checked in with Don Waddell to gain an understanding of the Blue Jackets' asking price for the 24-year-old.</p><p>The pending restricted free agent's $2.1-million cap hit is very appealing.</p><p>A non-exhaustive list of win-now teams that could really benefit from acquiring Chinakhov: Utah, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.</p><h3>Rising Habs somehow younger</h3><p>Montreal was the second-youngest team in the league last season (opening-day roster average age of 26.0). They're now the youngest, at 25.8.</p><p>This isn't a misleading fact where the average age is being dragged down by a couple of 18-year-olds who'll suit up for a few games then get sent back to junior. No, the Canadiens are legitimately led by guys in their early-to-mid 20s.</p><p>Through two contests, the lineup has featured only three players in their 30s: 31-year-olds Josh Anderson and Mike Matheson, and 33-year-old Brendan Gallagher. Meanwhile, its leading goal-scorers are 22-year-olds Oliver Kapanen and Zachary Bolduc, and its top line in usage and expected goals generation is Juraj Slafkovsky (21), Cole Caufield (24), and Nick Suzuki (26).</p><h3>Recalibrating expectations ASAP</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804940/cropped_GettyImages-2239489557.jpg?ts=1760044127" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804940/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239489557.jpg?ts=1760044127 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804940/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239489557.jpg?ts=1760044127 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804940/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239489557.jpg?ts=1760044127 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804940/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239489557.jpg?ts=1760044127 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804940/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239489557.jpg?ts=1760044127 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andy Devlin / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The opening week of the season is fun because we can start dropping the phrase "on paper" from our vocabulary. A team is no longer simply a [insert adjective] on paper since we've now seen what it looks like in a real game.</p><p>Seattle, for instance, is destined to fall short of expectations. On paper, the Kraken are a squad with solid players up and down the lineup. Pundits can convince themselves that making the playoffs is a realistic outcome. In reality, having only good-but-not-great players severely limits a team's ceiling.</p><p>On the flip side, the Flames have adopted a scrappy style out of the gates for a second straight year. They should be more competitive night to night than expected - a team greater than the sum of its parts. Nobody saw 96 points coming last season (Dustin Wolf's emergence sure helped!). Is this deja vu?</p><p>The Hurricanes are the most predictable team in the league as far as tactics and year-over-year performance. The club's expected to fight for the Eastern Conference's top seed, and Thursday's 6-3 win affirmed that. It's just one game, but the on-paper vibe seems to match reality in the case of the Canes.</p><h3>Champs haven't missed a beat</h3><p>Life without Aleksander Barkov is ... not too shabby, apparently.</p><p>The Panthers are 2-0 following wins over Chicago and Philadelphia (OK, not the stiffest competition), and the man tasked with "replacing" Barkov while he recovers from knee surgery is off to a thrilling start. Anton Lundell, who was nicknamed "Baby Barkov" years ago, is logging two extra minutes a night this year, bringing his average to 18:34. He scored a <a href="https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1976444724593799240/">nifty goal</a> Thursday.</p><p>Lundell's been centering Florida's second line at even strength. Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen are on his wings. Man, what an unreal two-way trio.</p><h3>Zegras experiment's on in Philly</h3><p>Seeing Trevor Zegras in a Flyers uniform requires a double take.</p><p>Everybody knows he's a Flyer following a June trade But the move from Anaheim to Philadelphia felt permanent only when Zegras, one of the most recognizable NHLers, entered the broadcast frame without a Ducks logo on his chest. For the record, Zegras had an uneventful debut with the Flyers: zero shot attempts, zero points, and one minor penalty in 16 minutes of ice.</p><p>Will he blossom into a legitimate first-line star, or has he tapped out as a middle-six guy and the Ducks were smart to ship him out?</p><h3>Central Division second thoughts</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804984/cropped_GettyImages-2239613644.jpg?ts=1760061831" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804984/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239613644.jpg?ts=1760061831 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804984/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239613644.jpg?ts=1760061831 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804984/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239613644.jpg?ts=1760061831 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804984/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239613644.jpg?ts=1760061831 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804984/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239613644.jpg?ts=1760061831 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>I find the middle of the Central Division extremely difficult to project.</p><p>Last week, I <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3355079" href="https://thescore.com/news/3355079">predicted</a> the Central standings would shake out like this: Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, Utah, St. Louis, Minnesota, Nashville, Chicago. After catching a glimpse of what each group offers in a real game, I'd consider flipping two sets of teams: Winnipeg and Utah, and St. Louis and Minnesota.</p><p>The Mammoth are going to rock, and, hey, maybe I was too high on the Blues.</p><h3>Same old story out of Buffalo</h3><p>The Sabres sold out their home opener Thursday. That's the good news.</p><p>The bad: Buffalo lost 4-0 to the Rangers, and oft-injured center Josh Norris left the game due to injury.</p><p>The ugly: A large group of fans, fed up with the home team's performance, left KeyBank Center early. Many who stayed until the final buzzer booed the Sabres off the ice.</p><p>Dramatic stuff. Every loss stings amid an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.</p><h3>McDavid faster than ever?!</h3><p>On Monday, McDavid signed a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3362272" href="https://thescore.com/news/3362272">preposterously team-friendly</a> contract extension with the Oilers. Teammate Jake Walman re-signed the same day.</p><p>Early Wednesday, it was Mattias Ekholm's turn for an extension, while Edmonton also announced a deal for free-agent forward Jack Roslovic. Late Wednesday, McDavid received a thunderous ovation during player introductions then recorded two assists in a loss to Calgary, logging 26:21.</p><p>What a week - and it's not over. The Oilers host the Canucks on Saturday.</p><p>My favorite tidbit: McDavid was clocked skating 24.6 miles per hour in the second period of the Flames game. The NHL started tracking player skating speed in 2021-22, and that burst now stands as No. 97's fastest mark.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

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Megastar Connor McDavid signed a two-year, $25-million contract extension with the Edmonton Oiler...

<p><em>Megastar Connor McDavid <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3324153" href="https://thescore.com/news/3324153">signed</a> a two-year, $25-million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, the eve of the NHL regular season. The details of the deal stunned the hockey world. Here's what the contract means for McDavid, the Oilers, other star players, and the rest of the league.</em></p><h3>What it means for McDavid, Oilers</h3><p>McDavid's standing as the consensus best player in the world gave him nearly limitless leverage against the Oilers' management group. The phrase "he's been given a blank check" gets tossed around a lot in pro sports, often in jest, yet this truly was a blank-check situation.</p><p>This was by no means a negotiation: McDavid could have signed for as many years as he wanted (maximum of eight) and for as much money as he wanted (max 20% of the salary cap). He ultimately put his lifelong goal of winning a Stanley Cup above everything else. The Cup-or-bust vibe in Edmonton will continue beyond this season, and the cap-crunched front office suddenly has money to play with next summer.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It's a steal for them," a member of a rival front office told theScore, referring to the Oilers. "He's giving them a clear window of opportunity, and if they don't win, he'll leave, having done his part."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790956/cropped_GettyImages-2220655330.jpg?ts=1759777767" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790956/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220655330.jpg?ts=1759777767 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790956/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220655330.jpg?ts=1759777767 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790956/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220655330.jpg?ts=1759777767 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790956/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220655330.jpg?ts=1759777767 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790956/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220655330.jpg?ts=1759777767 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brian Babineau / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The NHL is littered with team-friendly contracts. This is different: a unicorn deal for a unicorn player. McDavid signing for $5 million below market value (conservative estimate) upgrades the label to <em>preposterously</em> team-friendly.</p><p>McDavid signed for the same average annual value as his current deal even though the cap rose from $87.7 million last year to $95.5 million this year and is set to jump to at least $104 million in 2026-27 and at least $113.5 million in 2027-28.</p><p>In other words, the three-time Hart Trophy winner will account for 13% of the cap this year, 12% next year, and 11% in '27-28 (based on projections). While McDavid isn't technically taking a pay cut, his piece of the pie will shrink.</p><p>That $12.5-million AAV is currently the fifth highest for '26-27, slotting in $100,000 below Nathan MacKinnon and $500,000 above Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen. Kirill Kaprizov signed a record-setting eight-year, $136-million extension last week. The Russian winger is a tremendous player - arguably top 10 on the planet - but his $17-million AAV looks ridiculous now.</p><p>Keep in mind, too, that McDavid should be knocked down a few spots on the '26-27 and '27-28 cap hit lists once pending unrestricted free agents Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, and Kyle Connor put pen to paper on new deals.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804499/cropped_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1759773881" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804499/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1759773881 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804499/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1759773881 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804499/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1759773881 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804499/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1759773881 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804499/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219113501.jpg?ts=1759773881 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Steph Chambers / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>McDavid, who's entering his 11th season, will be 31 years old at the end of his extension, which means he'll have spent the entirety of his 20s and the bulk of his prime in an Oilers uniform. Even if he leaves for another club in 2028 free agency, absolutely no one should feel sorry for the Oilers, including the Oilers themselves. They were gifted a generational player, they did a decent but unremarkable job of supporting him, and that player remained incredibly loyal.</p><p>A short-term deal always made the most sense from No. 97's perspective. It allows him to simultaneously commit to the Oilers and keep his options open.</p><p>With close friend and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl helping carry the offense, Edmonton has a legitimate shot at reaching a third straight Cup Final this season. On the flip side, it's fair to wonder about the next iteration of this group. Goaltending remains an organizational sore spot, many of the core pieces up front and on the back end are in their 30s, and premier young talent isn't on its way.</p><h3>What it means for other stars, league</h3><p>The pending UFA market was turned on its head over the past week, with Kaprizov signing for above market value and McDavid signing for below.</p><p>General managers and agents may view both situations as wholly unique and thus not particularly relevant to their own negotiations. Or perhaps the new extensions, particularly McDavid's, will reduce how much leverage Eichel, Panarin, and Connor can wield in contract talks.</p><p>Either way, you can bet there are some players and agents out there who aren't too happy with McDavid's team-first approach. As the thinking goes, the best player in the world should raise the bar for everybody else. (Counterpoint: That's pretty unfair. McDavid's already earned $92 million over his career, makes millions per year in endorsements, and is sick of losing.)</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799195/cropped_GettyImages-2231676729.jpg?ts=1759777722" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799195/w220xh124_GettyImages-2231676729.jpg?ts=1759777722 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799195/w320xh180_GettyImages-2231676729.jpg?ts=1759777722 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799195/w640xh360_GettyImages-2231676729.jpg?ts=1759777722 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799195/w768xh432_GettyImages-2231676729.jpg?ts=1759777722 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799195/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2231676729.jpg?ts=1759777722 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Leah Hennel / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It'll be interesting to see whether McDavid's reasoning influences his peers. Will any other stars feel emboldened to buck peer pressure and prioritize winning over money? McDavid and Sidney Crosby have both done that now - in fact, Crosby's done it more than once.</p><p>(And guess who else is lined up to hit free agency in 2028? Auston Matthews - who, like McDavid, is represented by Wasserman's Judd Moldaver.)</p><p>At the team level, the Oilers retaining McDavid is terrible news for Pacific Division teams - especially the Kings, who've lost to Edmonton in the first round for four straight seasons. It's bad news for the Western Conference in general, and of course for any franchise holding out hope that he'd test free agency.</p><p>Edmonton will be a default Cup contender for as long as McDavid continues to play at the level of an unquestioned world No. 1. There's nobody like him, and he's as motivated to win as ever. The most significant takeaway from this deal, however, might be that Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson and GM Stan Bowman will have plenty of flexibility instead of relative restriction. Think about it: McDavid and Draisaitl have a combined cap hit of just $26.5 million in '26-27 and '27-28.</p><p>If Jackson and Bowman fail to surround those two top-five players with a championship-winning roster, McDavid will surely be gone in 2028. If his new deal signals anything, it's that he's doing the Oilers a favor and wants to be rewarded accordingly.</p><p><em>John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (<a href="https://twitter.com/MatiszJohn">@MatiszJohn</a>) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).</em></p>

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