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

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.<h3>Season of generational overlap</h3>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.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).<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>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.<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"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>In many ways, Crosby remains the face of the NHL two decades into his illustrious Mount Rushmore career. Nobody - and I mean nobody - 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.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.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?<h3>Celebrini and the experience question</h3>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.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.<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"> Eakin Howard / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>But of course not everybody sees Olympic roster construction the same way.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.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.<h3>Bridge deals not so hot anymore</h3>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.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.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.<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"> Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"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 just about the money? With most players, no."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?"Never underestimate being happy in professional sports," the agent said.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.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.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.<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"> Derek Cain / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Four Canadian teams are currently on the wrong side of the playoff cutline.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.One note each on 8-7-4 Edmonton and 8-8-2 Toronto:<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>Zdeno Chara, a headlining member of the stacked 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class, is arguably the most unique player in NHL history.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.And the stories about the man are straight out of a Hollywood script.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.)<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"> Dave Sandford / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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."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."<h3>Fightin' Stankoven joins large group</h3>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.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.<h3>Are after-the-whistle antics annoying?</h3>Reader Alan M. recently asked about post-whistle shenanigans:<blockquote>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?</blockquote>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.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.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions.<ul>
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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...

The Maple Leafs have been wildly inconsistent through five weeks of action.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.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>The pessimistic view</h3>The Leafs have an identity problem.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.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.<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"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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."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.""We don't have any of that right now," Berube added a moment later.The defense corps, which went untouched in the offseason, is a major issue.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).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.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.<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"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.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.<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"> Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.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.<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"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>There are also three team-level issues that should be resolved sooner than later.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.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.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.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.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.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).

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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 ...

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.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.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Complete 25-man rosters are due by Dec. 31.Which Canadian and American players have stood out - for better or worse - through the opening month? We discuss the most interesting ones below.<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"> JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP / Getty</figcaption></figure>Macklin CelebriniThe 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.Nick Suzuki 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.Matthew SchaeferNobody 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.Logan ThompsonThompson'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.Mark ScheifeleThere'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.<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"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Sam BennettBennett 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.Sam MontembeaultMontembeault 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.Evan BouchardBouchard 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.Robert ThomasThomas 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.<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"> Ben Ludeman / National Hockey League / Getty</figcaption></figure>Tage ThompsonThe 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.Cole CaufieldCaufield'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.Jackson LaCombeLaCombe 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.Shane PintoYou 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.Adam FoxFox, 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.<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"> David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Brock NelsonThe 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.Patrick KaneKane, 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.Luke HughesHughes 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.Jeremy SwaymanSwayman 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.

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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...

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.<h3>No sellers means no trades</h3>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.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>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.<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"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.<h3>Zegras back in spotlight</h3>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.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."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."<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"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Two Eastern Conference teams are showing dramatic defensive improvements, according to advanced stats produced by Sportlogiq.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:<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>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:<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>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.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.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.<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"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>A few eyebrow-raising stats worth monitoring:<ul>
<li>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.</li>
<li>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.)</li>
<li>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.</li>
</ul><h3>Sizing up hypothetical Team Russia</h3>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.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.Fun hypothetical, though: Would Team Russia be a serious contender for gold?Here's a mock lineup:<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>Russia's biggest strengths are playmaking wingers and stud goalies. Its weaknesses are a lack of natural centers and lack of dynamic defensemen.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.<h3>Who's been lucky? Unlucky?</h3>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.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.<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"> Scott Rovak / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.The team with arguably the worst luck: The Blues, with a dreadful PDO of 0.94.<h3>So long, 2026 UFA class hype</h3>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.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.<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"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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).

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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...

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.<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"> Matt Garies / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>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.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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>— 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>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.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.<h3>Emmitt Finnie, Red Wings</h3>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.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 20-year-old seventh-rounder is exceptional.<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"> Gregory Shamus / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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."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."<h3>Arseny Gritsyuk, Devils</h3>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 in his 10th on Tuesday.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).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.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Arseny Gritsyuk can really rip it! 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/BSiaR1QzMV">pic.twitter.com/BSiaR1QzMV</a>— 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>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.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.<h3>Alexander Nikishin, Hurricanes</h3>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.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.<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"> Josh Lavallee / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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).<h3>Matthew Schaefer, Islanders</h3>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.<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"> Steven Ryan / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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).

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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...

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.<h3>Balanced first line is humming</h3>If Montreal is going to graduate from feel-good wild-card team to legitimate Atlantic Division threat, it must see growth from most players on the roster.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>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.<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"> Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.Caufield's on pace for 64 goals. This could very well be his first 40-goal year.<h3>Entire offensive attack is on tilt</h3>The Canadiens' attack was potent last season. It could be lethal this year.For starters, the club's goals per game average has jumped from 3.0 to 3.6.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.)<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"> Codie McLachlan / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.<h3>... and now for the cold water</h3>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.In other words, making gains on defense is nice but was to be expected.<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"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>OK, now to pour a bit of cold water on the hot start ...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.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).I'd consider special teams and goaltending yellow flags since the early rankings don't align with what those units/goalies have previously shown.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.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).

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What we've learned about the Canadiens through 9 games

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.<h3>Extreme highs, lows in Wings land</h3>Red Wings players and coaches woke up Wednesday riding a five-game winning streak and holding down the top spot in the Atlantic Division.Now, what was the head coach most pleased with following a 5-1-0 start?<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The response after Game 1," Todd McLellan said in the bowels of KeyBank Center in Buffalo."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."<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"> Dave Reginek / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.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."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."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."Detroit dressed nine first-round NHL draft picks Thursday, eight of whom the club selected. That's a ton of pedigree.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.<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"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.Multiple news cycles ensued, and Stolarz's next meeting with reporters was uneventful. Toronto is eager to move on publicly and behind closed doors.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.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?<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"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Sabres goaltending is an early-season success story I did not foresee.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.Beyond the saves, Lyon's teammates are appreciative of his on- and off-ice vibe."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."<h3>Predators, young players don't mix?</h3>The Predators sent Brady Martin back to the OHL's Soo Greyhounds on Wednesday, ending the young forward's weekslong stay in NHL purgatory.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.<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"> Zak Krill / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.<h3>Prospect Reid continues to ascend</h3>Chase Reid, one of Brady Martin's junior teammates, is a prospect to watch.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.Don't be surprised if he's the first OHLer picked in next June's draft.<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"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Three Mammoth-related tidbits.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.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.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.<h3>Hughes, LaCombe, or Hutson?</h3>Three stud defensemen in their early 20s signed long-term, big-money contract extensions in early October.<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>If you could pick one, which D-man would you want on your team long term?"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."<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"> Christopher Mast / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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).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.<h3>Coach: Hurricanes are a wagon</h3>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.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."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."<h3>Playoff expansion coming soon?</h3>Reader Steven S. recently submitted a question about playoff expansion:<blockquote>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?</blockquote>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.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.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>What do you want to know, hockey fans?There are three ways to submit a question for future NHL Inbox editions:<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...

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.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?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.<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"> Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.What more could you ask for?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.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.Hype confidence meter: 🤩<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"> Michael Martin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.Even at 90% health, the Avs are ridiculously talented, deep, and experienced.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.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.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.Hype confidence meter: 🤩🤩🤩🤩 (and a half)<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"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.Montreal is a playoff team. It's too early to predict any postseason fireworks.Hype confidence meter: 🤩🤩🤩<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"> David Becker / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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).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.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.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.The Bruce Cassidy-coached team looked lethal on paper. It's lethal on the ice.Hype confidence meter: 🤩🤩🤩🤩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).

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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...

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.Let's check in on four teams battling a sluggish start. Is it time to panic?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.<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"> Bill Wippert / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.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.Panic meter reading: 😱😱😱😱<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"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.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.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.Panic meter reading: 😱<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"> Andre Ringuette / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.Yet, from a short-term perspective, the 2-3-0 team has plenty to worry about.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.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.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.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.Panic meter reading: 😱😱😱<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"> Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Three big questions swirled around the Canucks ahead of the season.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?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.<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>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).Talk about a mixed bag of early impressions.Panic meter reading: 😱😱 (and a half)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).

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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 ...

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:<h3>Pasta, Pasta, and more Pasta</h3>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.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>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.<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"> John Russell / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.Misa was unfortunately scratched Thursday for Game 1 of San Jose's season.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).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).<h3>Smart Vegas even smarter now</h3>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.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.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.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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>— 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>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.<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>I'd love to see a 40-goal season from 40-year-old Ovi.<h3>Jury's out on Rangers' blue line</h3>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.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.<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"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.<h3>Necas in perfect spot to level up</h3>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.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.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.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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>— 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>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.<h3>Leafs must watch Stolarz's workload</h3>Morgan Rielly's strong showing hogged the headlines following Toronto's 5-2 season-opening victory - and rightfully so, the blue-liner looks rejuvenated.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.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.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.<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"> Kirk Irwin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.The pending restricted free agent's $2.1-million cap hit is very appealing.A non-exhaustive list of win-now teams that could really benefit from acquiring Chinakhov: Utah, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.<h3>Rising Habs somehow younger</h3>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.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.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).<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"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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?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.<h3>Champs haven't missed a beat</h3>Life without Aleksander Barkov is ... not too shabby, apparently.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.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.<h3>Zegras experiment's on in Philly</h3>Seeing Trevor Zegras in a Flyers uniform requires a double take.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.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?<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"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>I find the middle of the Central Division extremely difficult to project.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.The Mammoth are going to rock, and, hey, maybe I was too high on the Blues.<h3>Same old story out of Buffalo</h3>The Sabres sold out their home opener Thursday. That's the good news.The bad: Buffalo lost 4-0 to the Rangers, and oft-injured center Josh Norris left the game due to injury.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.Dramatic stuff. Every loss stings amid an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.<h3>McDavid faster than ever?!</h3>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.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.What a week - and it's not over. The Oilers host the Canucks on Saturday.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.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).

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15 things we learned from a wild first 3 days of NHL action

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

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.<h3>What it means for McDavid, Oilers</h3>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.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.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"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."<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"> Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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 preposterously team-friendly.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.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.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.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.<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"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.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.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.<h3>What it means for other stars, league</h3>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.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.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.)<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"> Leah Hennel / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>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.(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.)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.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.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.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).

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Unpacking McDavid's deal: What it means for Oilers, NHL, other stars

Who's ready for the first season of NHL and Olympic hockey in 12 years?  I've cooked up 26 predic...

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26 bold predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season

Below is a list of 10 people who will define the upcoming NHL season (and Olympic tournament) for...

Below is a list of 10 people who will define the upcoming NHL season (and Olympic tournament) for one reason or another. Some are influential or transcendent. Others are staring down big decisions. All of them are intriguing.<h3>Patrick Kane</h3>Kane, who signed a one-year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings in June, is well past his prime. He isn't chasing 100-point seasons or fat paychecks at 36.Still, the table is set for a memorable season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kane enters 2025-26 with 492 goals and 1,343 points. Eight more goals and he joins the 500-goal club. Thirty-two more points and he's the all-time leader among Americans, passing Mike Modano. Fifty-seven more points and he becomes the 23rd or 24th player in NHL history to reach 1,400 (Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin is also close at 1,346 points to start the season).<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803550/cropped_GettyImages-2209382588.jpg?ts=1759195791" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803550/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209382588.jpg?ts=1759195791 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803550/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209382588.jpg?ts=1759195791 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803550/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209382588.jpg?ts=1759195791 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803550/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209382588.jpg?ts=1759195791 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803550/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209382588.jpg?ts=1759195791 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Then there's the Olympics. Kane's a long shot to crack Team USA's roster, but his dream of competing in a third Games is by no means dead. "I don't want to be chosen just for what I've done in the past or to just be another guy," Kane said recently. "I'd love to be a guy who gets off to a great start, gets picked for the team, and can help in any way possible once you get there."Young Kane inspired an entire generation of playmakers."He was laying the foundation for the shiftiness and the hands of so many guys now," Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. "He changed the game of hockey. He's an absolute legend. And it's great that he's an American."Lastly, the Red Wings: The Original Six franchise that Kane picked as a November 2023 free agent is anxious to snap a nine-year playoff drought. "We really feel like we're on the verge, and we should do it this year," Kane said.<h3>Bill Zito</h3>It was never going to be easy for Zito's Florida Panthers to win a third straight Stanley Cup. The three-peat case has been weakened significantly of late, with three forwards - All-Star Matthew Tkachuk, ever-important Aleksander Barkov, and fourth-line center Tomas Nosek - sustaining long-term injuries ahead of the season.Tkachuk's sidelined until around December, Nosek's out for "several months," and Barkov's gone for seven-to-nine months, giving him a return timeline of April-June.How does Zito, a finalist for the NHL's General Manager of the Year award in four of his five seasons in Florida, navigate the next six months? Does Zito acquire someone to "replace" Barkov (note: nobody can truly replace the marvelous Finn) or hope he returns in close-to-normal form for the playoffs?Zito's no stranger to swinging for the fences in trades. The Panthers' front office as a whole excels at bringing in the right pieces at the right time.<h3>Quinn and Jack Hughes</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803602/cropped_GettyImages-2181356948.jpg?ts=1759238783" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803602/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181356948.jpg?ts=1759238783 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803602/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181356948.jpg?ts=1759238783 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803602/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181356948.jpg?ts=1759238783 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803602/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181356948.jpg?ts=1759238783 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803602/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181356948.jpg?ts=1759238783 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>For Quinn Hughes, 2025-26 is vital to figuring out if the Vancouver Canucks are a franchise worth committing to over a second long-term contract. (He's eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2026.) This season is also massive for proving he's a legitimate threat to Cale Makar for best-defenseman-on-the-planet honors.For Jack Hughes, 2025-26 is key for silencing critics of his injury woes. (The six-year NHLer has missed a batch of games in every season but one.) It's also big for showing he can be the man in New Jersey and lead the Devils to the playoffs.The Hughes brothers will be hugely important to the U.S. Olympic squad. Quinn, who missed the 4 Nations Face-Off due to injury, should log top-pair minutes in Milan, while Jack has a chance to snatch a premier winger spot despite looking overwhelmed and contributing only one assist at 4 Nations.<h3>Connor McDavid</h3>McDavid has posted gaudy numbers and won individual trophies consistently over the past decade. He helps define every season simply by being the best player in the world. Theoretically, his 11th season could be his wildest yet.With McDavid and running mate Leon Draisaitl dominating every night, the Edmonton Oilers automatically deserve inner-circle Cup contender status. Meanwhile, McDavid's competing in his first Olympics and Canada has an excellent shot at winning gold. Oh, and McDavid remains undecided on his future. He could re-sign on a record-breaking long-term deal, go short with Edmonton, or create by far the craziest bidding war in NHL history by testing free agency.<h3>Sidney Crosby</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803554/cropped_GettyImages-2237817081.jpg?ts=1759196128" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803554/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237817081.jpg?ts=1759196128 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803554/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237817081.jpg?ts=1759196128 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803554/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237817081.jpg?ts=1759196128 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803554/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237817081.jpg?ts=1759196128 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803554/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237817081.jpg?ts=1759196128 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Still one of the faces of the sport at 38, Crosby will be part of the national conversation on a near-daily basis over the course of his 21st season.Crosby's level of play is an important story. Does he remain elite or does his production begin to dry up?His future is a juicy story. Does he choose to endure the Pittsburgh Penguins' rebuild or does he give management the green light to explore a midseason trade?And his international resume is a legacy-affecting story. Does Canada win a third Olympic gold medal with him as its on- and off-ice leader, or does the team flounder?<h3>Spencer Carbery</h3>Carbery is a superstar in coaching circles. The 43-year-old's entering his third year behind the Capitals' bench and, boy, did everything click into place in Year 2. Washington grabbed 111 points to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Alex Ovechkin scored Goal 895 earlier than expected, and Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Protas, and many others enjoyed career years.The flip side of all that success: Regression is probably around the corner.The Caps probably won't finish first in the league in shooting percentage or get stellar night-to-night goaltending from the Logan Thompson-Charlie Lindgren tandem again. Ovechkin - 40 and looking it, no longer chasing history, and perhaps playing his final season - is primed to decline.Washington's lineup is strong enough to grab one of three playoff spots in a weak Metropolitan Division. However, nothing will be given to them, which means Carbery's ability to elevate a team is going to be put to the test often.<h3>Ivan Demidov</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803555/cropped_GettyImages-2212198443.jpg?ts=1759196245" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803555/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212198443.jpg?ts=1759196245 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803555/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212198443.jpg?ts=1759196245 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803555/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212198443.jpg?ts=1759196245 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803555/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212198443.jpg?ts=1759196245 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803555/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212198443.jpg?ts=1759196245 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Demidov put up 49 points in 65 KHL games last season as a teenager. He triumphantly arrived in Montreal in April and impressed in seven NHL games.The 2024 fifth overall pick has continued to add to his personal highlight reel during preseason action and looks set to begin his official rookie campaign in a prominent role on the second line alongside Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine.Demidov is a tantalizing talent already being compared to countryman Nikita Kucherov for his effortless skating, ankle-breaking dangles, and off-the-charts offensive instincts. The 19-year-old playmaking winger will be spotlighted for several reasons: He plays in a major market, the Canadiens are on the rise, and he's exact brand of player (offensive dynamo) the Habs desperately need.Frankly, it would be surprising if Demidov didn't win the Calder Trophy.<h3>Kevin Cheveldayoff</h3>Cheveldayoff didn't make our "<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3343618" href="https://thescore.com/news/3343618">people under the most pressure</a>" list because his job in Winnipeg appears as secure as ever under owner Mark Chipman.The second-longest-tenured GM in the league lands on this list because this Jets season has so many layers. Cheveldayoff is betting that Jonathan Toews is the answer at second-line center after two-plus years away from the game. The front office and coaching staff must figure out the right way to lessen starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck's regular-season workload. The reigning Hart Trophy winner needs to peak in the playoffs, not in December or March.The Jets haven't advanced past the second round since 2018 and didn't directly replace departed free agent Nikolaj Ehlers in the offseason. Cheveldayoff is armed with first-round picks and enough desirable prospects to pull off a needle-moving trade or two ahead of the March 6 deadline.Winnipeg has 10 pending unrestricted free agents on its roster, most notably top sniper Kyle Connor. Cheveldayoff can't fumble the Connor negotiation.<h3>Gavin McKenna</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803657/cropped_GettyImages-2167207668.jpg?ts=1759267783" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803657/w220xh124_GettyImages-2167207668.jpg?ts=1759267783 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803657/w320xh180_GettyImages-2167207668.jpg?ts=1759267783 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803657/w640xh360_GettyImages-2167207668.jpg?ts=1759267783 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803657/w768xh432_GettyImages-2167207668.jpg?ts=1759267783 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803657/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2167207668.jpg?ts=1759267783 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leila Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>McKenna may not be officially affiliated with the NHL at the moment, but viral highlights and the multi-team race to the bottom of the standings for the opportunity to draft him next June will soon thrust him into the limelight.Is he a future Shark? Blackhawk? Penguin? Islander? Kraken? Flyer?McKenna's a talent worth tanking for - the unquestioned top prospect for the 2026 draft and the caliber of player who can change a franchise's trajectory overnight. The 17-year-old winger is a tremendous skater and thinker with the passing and shooting abilities to make him a true dual threat at the NHL level.McKenna left junior for the NCAA in the offseason. He'll star for Penn State while making a reported $700,000 in name, image, and likeness (NIL) money.<h3>Paul Theofanous</h3>Theofanous doesn't have the name recognition of fellow player agents like Pat Brisson, Judd Moldaver, or Darren Ferris. Make no mistake, though: The rep will be highly influential behind the scenes over the next 10-12 months.For starters, Theofanous just finished negotiating the most lucrative contract in history - $136 million over eight years for hotshot client Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild winger doesn't boldly turn down $128 million a few weeks ago without first discussing at length the risks and rewards of doing so with Theofanous.Kaprizov's front-loaded, signing-bonus-heavy deal carries a $17-million average annual value. It sets the bar for the rest of the 2026 UFA class, which is stacked with impact forwards, and resets the overall landscape as the salary cap rises from $95.5 million to $113.5 million over the next two years.Theofanous reps <a href="https://puckpedia.com/agent/paul-theofanous">nine NHLers</a>, including pending UFAs Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. Panarin's stock is up with Kaprizov now off the market.The agent keeps a low profile, but the little we know about him is fascinating. Theofanous has served on three separate enlistments with the U.S. Army's Special Forces, deploying twice to Afghanistan since 9/11, according to one <a href="https://www.sftrust.org/new-index">online bio</a>. He speaks Russian, studied at the University of Denver (business) and Harvard (Soviet studies), and sits on the Special Forces Trust board.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).

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Ivan Demidov and 10 other people who will define the 2025-26 NHL season

Sam Reinhart is one of two NHL forwards to finish in the top five in Selke Trophy voting in each ...

Sam Reinhart is one of two NHL forwards to finish in the top five in Selke Trophy voting in each of the past two seasons. He is, in many ways, the epitome of a two-way forward - extremely detailed with and without the puck.Still, one opponent is virtually impossible to contain."There are some other superstars who you can defend - you can make it tough on them. But with (Connor) McDavid, it's a full 20 guys who are trying to defend him," Reinhart said recently at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"That stress is a little higher when he's out there as opposed to anybody else in the league."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803060/cropped_GettyImages-2218982225.jpg?ts=1758928411" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803060/w220xh124_GettyImages-2218982225.jpg?ts=1758928411 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803060/w320xh180_GettyImages-2218982225.jpg?ts=1758928411 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803060/w640xh360_GettyImages-2218982225.jpg?ts=1758928411 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803060/w768xh432_GettyImages-2218982225.jpg?ts=1758928411 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803060/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2218982225.jpg?ts=1758928411 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>McDavid is the best player on the planet. Everybody knows it.And yet it's revelatory when Reinhart - whose Panthers defeated McDavid's Oilers in back-to-back Stanley Cup finals - notes that No. 97 puts extra stress on an entire team. NHLers compete with and against each other while we watch on TV or from the press box. Nothing beats the ice-level perspective.Reinhart slots McDavid in the top spot without issue, but he struggles to name the next-best player in the world. First of all, there are a bunch of worthy candidates. Secondly, Reinhart argues, any gap between one megastar and another can be mostly attributed to external factors. "You've got guys in all different positions, all different scenarios, all different teams," he said.We surveyed 10 other NHLers at the player media tour about the ongoing second-best-player debate. Some were indecisive, like Reinhart. Others immediately offered a name (or two) to fill in the No. 2 spot. Here are four takeaways from the picks and rationales.<h3>Maybe MacKinnon deserves his own tier </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803103/cropped_GettyImages-2205315855.jpg?ts=1758982933" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803103/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205315855.jpg?ts=1758982933 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803103/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205315855.jpg?ts=1758982933 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803103/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205315855.jpg?ts=1758982933 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803103/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205315855.jpg?ts=1758982933 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803103/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205315855.jpg?ts=1758982933 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2423408">Three years ago</a>, the No. 2 debate included Auston Matthews, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Leon Draisaitl, and Nikita Kucherov. All six remain in the mix to varying degrees, while hipster cases could be made for Quinn Hughes and Aleksander Barkov.That's a lot of options with truly no wrong answer. As Islanders center Mat Barzal put it, "On any given night, it can be Leon, Nate, Kucherov, or Makar."Kings winger Adrian Kempe cast a vote for MacKinnon, who won the 2023-24 Hart Trophy with 140 points, then posted 116 last season. Matt Boldy of the Wild picked the "absolute beast" that is MacKinnon. Utah captain Clayton Keller also went with MacKinnon. Chicago's Connor Bedard - yep, MacKinnon."MacKinnon is up there. I think they're pretty close," Kempe said of the electric Avalanche center challenging McDavid. "It's their one-on-one skills. When you're out there against MacKinnon ... I don't know how to explain it. (It's amazing) how powerful he is and what he can do with the puck."Added Bedard: "McDavid's the best, and I really don't think there's any argument. But MacKinnon's the closest thing to that. Kind of similar (styles)."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803122/cropped_GettyImages-2213090777.jpg?ts=1758987878" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803122/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213090777.jpg?ts=1758987878 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803122/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213090777.jpg?ts=1758987878 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803122/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213090777.jpg?ts=1758987878 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803122/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213090777.jpg?ts=1758987878 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803122/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213090777.jpg?ts=1758987878 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Martin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>MacKinnon receiving the most votes isn't surprising. However, the lack of variety in the responses is a bit odd with so many other strong cases. (Of course, the extreme results could be a product of a tiny sample size.)Players cited MacKinnon's unparalleled mix of power and quickness. His skating is somehow both explosive and beautiful, and he combines those darting strides with rapid stickhandling to tear defenses apart. Nobody peppers goalies with more shots from the slot area than MacKinnon, who's also an excellent playmaker, strong defensive player, and respected leader."MacKinnon comes up. That's probably the name that comes to mind first," 36-year-old Red Wings winger Patrick Kane, a top-five player during the prime of his career, said. "Cale Makar's incredible as well. Those guys are examples of guys who are pushing the envelope to get better every year. They're never really satisfied with what they're doing. They're pushing the league (forward)."San Jose's Macklin Celebrini and Buffalo's Tage Thompson couldn't decide between MacKinnon and Kucherov, the 2024-25 Ted Lindsay Award winner for "most outstanding player" as voted on by NHL Players' Association members. (The Hart, or MVP award, is picked by the pro writers' association.)"It's tough to compare those two types of players just because they're so different," Celebrini said of his dual pick. "But the calm and the smarts that Kucherov has - there's so much to learn from him, with the way he plays and the speed he plays at. Nate: he hits you with force and steps on your throat."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803121/cropped_GettyImages-2205627463.jpg?ts=1758987661" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803121/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205627463.jpg?ts=1758987661 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803121/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205627463.jpg?ts=1758987661 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803121/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205627463.jpg?ts=1758987661 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803121/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205627463.jpg?ts=1758987661 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803121/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205627463.jpg?ts=1758987661 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark LoMoglio / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Kucherov's brain operates on a different frequency than any other NHLer. The Lightning winger's exceptionally deceptive and creative, and rivals gush over his bag of tricks. Case in point: If a puck is rimmed along the boards, most players have to handle it before making a play, whereas Kucherov can smoothly pick the puck off the dasher and fire it to a teammate in one motion."The game," Thompson said, "looks so easy for him."Kucherov doesn't play a premium position, and he can be lazy on defense. Those factors probably held him back from properly challenging MacKinnon.<h3>Matthews' stock is down - for now</h3>Courtesy of the Flames' Dustin Wolf, below is another example of a player unsure how to answer and ultimately settling on no one in particular."There's so many guys who can be No. 2," the young goalie said. "You can look at (Draisaitl) - he's remarkable. You've got Sid, who's done incredible things over his career. Honestly, I don't know if I can pinpoint one guy. Everyone is so unique in their own way. McDavid encompasses a lot of it."Notice anything about the quote? No mention of Matthews.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803110/cropped_GettyImages-2215572928.jpg?ts=1758984659" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803110/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215572928.jpg?ts=1758984659 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803110/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215572928.jpg?ts=1758984659 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803110/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215572928.jpg?ts=1758984659 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803110/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215572928.jpg?ts=1758984659 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803110/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215572928.jpg?ts=1758984659 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Wolf wasn't alone in leaving the Maple Leafs captain out of the discussion. In fact, not a single player uttered his name - not even at the end of a long list.The omission is noteworthy for a few reasons. One, Matthews is arguably the greatest goal-scorer in the game today, and scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in hockey. Two, the 2023-24 Selke finalist also boasts a well-rounded skill set. Three, the Arizona native led our 2022 second-best player survey (which included 11 other participants) with four full votes and two partial votes.At the time, Matthews was fresh off scoring 60 goals in 73 games. He then potted 40 in 74 contests in 2022-23, a spectacular 69 in 81 in '23-24, and 33 in 67 last season. The game count is key context, given Matthews' injury history. Toronto's postseason struggles surely aren't helping his stock, either.All of that said, it wouldn't be shocking if Matthews got more love in the No. 2 debate next year. He's a prodigious sniper and, with premier passer Mitch Marner no longer by his side, producing a high goal total would be persuasive.<h3>Old-man Crosby's still got it!</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803144/cropped_GettyImages-2208648007.jpg?ts=1758996042" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803144/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208648007.jpg?ts=1758996042 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803144/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208648007.jpg?ts=1758996042 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803144/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208648007.jpg?ts=1758996042 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803144/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208648007.jpg?ts=1758996042 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803144/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208648007.jpg?ts=1758996042 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Joe Sargent / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Crosby didn't receive any full votes, but he got name-dropped a few times.He's 38, about to start his 21st season, and still holds a special place in the hearts of NHLers. He's been the north star for multiple generations - millennials first, Gen Zers now - and remains supremely effective on the ice.Crosby banked a record 20th point-per-game season last year despite playing for a rebuilding Penguins that finished tied for 24th in the standings."Sid's the bar in our league, not just as a player but as an ambassador for the NHL," 35-year-old Kraken forward Jordan Eberle said. "The way he goes about his business - as a human, as a professional - every kid should look up to that example and strive toward that.""Generational talent," Eberle added. "He's going to be on the Mount Rushmore of hockey."Seth Jarvis, 23, grew up watching Crosby. Now they're Team Canada teammates."They always say, 'You don't want to meet your heroes.' But I'm so happy I got to meet him because he is the best person," the Hurricanes forward said of interactions at the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympic orientation camp.<h3>Barkov receives obligatory shoutout</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787903/cropped_GettyImages-2159111509.jpg?ts=1758998216" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787903/w220xh124_GettyImages-2159111509.jpg?ts=1758998216 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787903/w320xh180_GettyImages-2159111509.jpg?ts=1758998216 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787903/w640xh360_GettyImages-2159111509.jpg?ts=1758998216 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787903/w768xh432_GettyImages-2159111509.jpg?ts=1758998216 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787903/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2159111509.jpg?ts=1758998216 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Elsa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Barkov will miss <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3354388" href="https://thescore.com/news/3354388">seven-to-nine months</a> as he recovers from knee surgery. It's devastating news. The proud Finn won't be representing his country at the Olympics and is out of the Panthers' lineup for at least the regular season.Weeks before Barkov went down with the injury last Thursday, Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal picked him as the world's second-best player - well, sort of."It's very hard to put someone No. 2," Dostal said. "But if you would ask me, 'Who's the most underrated player?' I would say Sasha Barkov. The fans, they look at the points and all that, but the impact he has (on) the game (is enormous). And what he has done in Florida is just unbelievable."Barkov has his fingerprints all over three straight Cup Final appearances. He's the NHL's consensus best defensive forward, strong and rangy, and elite at so many nuanced parts of the game. For instance, countless players over the years have marvelled at how good Barkov is at knocking pucks out of the air."When I skated with him, I had to focus 100% or he's going to beat you," Dostal said of offseason skates in Finland. "That's just the fact. He's so good in tight. People don't even realize how good he is."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).

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Who's the second-best player in the NHL? A group of NHLers chime in

The puck drops on the 2025-26 NHL season in less than two weeks, which means we're about six week...

The puck drops on the 2025-26 NHL season in less than two weeks, which means we're about six weeks from the hockey world fixating on a select group of players levelling up. Who's poised to break out in a big way? Who will become this year's Jackson LaCombe or Nick Suzuki? Below, we predict two types of breakout candidates: players who will jump from "OK" to "good" (like LaCombe) and players who will jump from "good" to "great" (like Suzuki).<h3>Zack Bolduc, Canadiens</h3>Type of breakout: OK to goodBolduc authored one of the finest late-season performances in the NHL - 13 goals in 26 games following the 4 Nations Face-Off to cap an impressive rookie campaign. The Canadiens were clearly watching closely. In July, they acquired Bolduc from the Blues for fellow 2022 first-round draft pick Logan Mailloux.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bolduc brings a hard-nosed element to Montreal's forward group as a speedy, forecheck-loving winger. He can slot anywhere in the lineup at five-on-five and assume the bumper role on the power play. Armed with a bullet of a shot, Bolduc was a prolific sniper in junior and has so far been efficient in the NHL, scoring on 15.2% of his shots on goal through 97 games.The most revealing bit from his statistical profile: St. Louis outscored the opposition 38-20 last season when Bolduc was on the ice at five-on-five.<h3>Dylan Guenther, Mammoth</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802729/cropped_GettyImages-2204650836.jpg?ts=1758735230" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802729/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204650836.jpg?ts=1758735230 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802729/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204650836.jpg?ts=1758735230 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802729/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204650836.jpg?ts=1758735230 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802729/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204650836.jpg?ts=1758735230 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802729/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204650836.jpg?ts=1758735230 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Sabau / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Type of breakout: Good to greatGuenther is a thoroughbred sniper. His release is lightning quick and deceptive. He's capable of getting "lost" in coverage and is always the first to backcheck if things go awry - in other words, a playmaker's dream. He lives to score goals.Appropriately nicknamed "Gunner," the right-shot winger missed 12 contests last year. The injury killed some of Guenther's momentum, but he still managed to lead the Mammoth in game-winning goals (nine) and power-play goals (12), and he finished second in total goals (27) and shots on goal (204).Guenther, 22, and center Logan Cooley have chemistry. JJ Peterka, acquired in the offseason, could become the third member of an explosive young line.While Utah's supporters and hardcore NHL fans elsewhere are well aware of Guenther's tantalizing skill set and sky-high ceiling as a player, the 2025-26 season could be his official mainstream coming-out party. Forty goals?<h3>Lian Bichsel, Stars</h3>Type of breakout: OK to goodBichsel, listed at 6-foot-7 and 231 pounds, loves laying the body and is happy to absorb a check to make a play. Among 221 defensemen who logged 500-plus minutes last season, he finished first in hits delivered per 60 minutes of action and second in hits received per 60.Make no mistake, the Swiss blue-liner won't post eye-popping point totals during his career. He's a shutdown defenseman, full stop. However, Bichsel is mobile for his size and can move the puck well enough to hold his own in key situations.Dallas' back end has defined tiers right now: Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley in Tier 1, Esa Lindell in Tier 2, and Ilya Lyubushkin, Nils Lundkvist, and Bichsel in Tier 3. It'd be surprising if Bichsel, who's impressed the club through 56 NHL games, doesn't level up to Tier 2 by season's end.<h3>Jake Sanderson, Senators</h3>Type of breakout: Good to greatName a metric that captures the nuances of the defenseman position, and there's a good chance Sanderson finished last campaign in the top 25, if not top 10, in the entire league. The 23-year-old workhorse controls the game with spectacular skating ability, next-level smarts, and an extremely active stick.Sanderson's approaching Jaccob Slavin-level defensive dominance but actually has better offensive tools. (The Senator tied for 10th in total points and had the second-most power-play points among defensemen in 2024-25.)Sanderson demanded the hockey world's attention with a strong performance in two games at the 4 Nations, and, despite stiff competition, will challenge for a spot on Team USA's Olympic squad. Trip to Milan or not, expect him to be in the middle of the Norris Trophy conversation for years to come. He's that automatic.<h3>Will Cuylle, Rangers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802731/cropped_GettyImages-2194542111.jpg?ts=1758735450" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802731/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194542111.jpg?ts=1758735450 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802731/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194542111.jpg?ts=1758735450 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802731/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194542111.jpg?ts=1758735450 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802731/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194542111.jpg?ts=1758735450 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802731/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194542111.jpg?ts=1758735450 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Type of breakout: OK to goodCuylle, 23, broke out to some extent last season by compiling 45 points in 82 games as a sophomore. In fact, he was the only NHLer to bag 20 goals and issue 300 hits. What a player - and he has at least one more gear to reach.Chris Kreider is no longer a Ranger following a June trade to Anaheim, which means Cuylle will be in the spotlight moving forward. He now occupies a premium winger spot at even strength and is the main net-front guy on the power play.Cuylle can be the New York version of Toronto's Matthew Knies. Both have linebacker size and strength, excel along the walls in all three zones, and can alternate between retrieving pucks and finishing scoring chances.<h3>Macklin Celebrini, Sharks</h3>Type of breakout: Good to greatCelebrini finished third in Calder Trophy voting last season, partly because the surface-level narrative wasn't overly compelling. He sat out a chunk of games due to injury, the Sharks missed the playoffs by 44 points, and his raw production - 63 points in 70 games - was noteworthy but not mind-blowing.Shift to shift, though, Celebrini looked phenomenal. He won the third-most puck battles in the NHL, generated scoring chances at an exceptionally high rate, and consistently transported the puck safely from zone to zone.Celebrini, now 19, simultaneously resembled a 10-year All-Star (with a polished game) and a rookie (just getting started). He's on the cusp of superstardom."He's really hungry. You could see last year. As the season went on, he got better and better," Penguins great Sidney Crosby said in early September.Crosby got to know Celebrini at the 2025 world championships in May and the Olympic orientation camp in August. He then invited the youngster and his San Jose teammate, Will Smith, to Nova Scotia for a few days of private training."He's even better than he was at worlds, (improving greatly) even over a couple of months," Crosby said of those on-ice sessions out east.<h3>Jake Neighbours, Blues</h3>Type of breakout: OK to goodNeighbours, a shoot-first winger, scored a combined 49 goals over the past two regular seasons. He put up six points in his first seven playoff games this spring as the Blues lost to the Jets in the opening round. Neighbours' name surfaced in offseason trade rumors, firing up Sabres fans about the possibility of him being a key piece in a move that would send Bowen Byram to St. Louis.Is the first 30-goal campaign of Neighbours' young career next?Like Cuylle, Neighbours possesses an enviable mix of size, strength, and skill that coaches drool over and star players - in this case, No. 1 center Robert Thomas - crave in a linemate. He's good at leveraging his thick frame (6-foot, 201 pounds) to get high-quality puck touches in and around the opposing net.<h3>Lukas Dostal, Ducks</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802732/cropped_GettyImages-2210019422.jpg?ts=1758735605" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802732/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210019422.jpg?ts=1758735605 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802732/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210019422.jpg?ts=1758735605 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802732/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210019422.jpg?ts=1758735605 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802732/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210019422.jpg?ts=1758735605 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802732/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210019422.jpg?ts=1758735605 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Type of breakout: Good to greatDostal is just 25, but he's already proven he can be a reliable No. 1 goalie. His league-wide stock would be much higher if he played in a Canadian market.Dostal had an underrated 2024-25, ranking ninth in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes among netminders with 40 or more appearances. The Czech native's 0.40 GSAE/60 rate was right behind Dustin Wolf, Igor Shesterkin, and Linus Ullmark. What's more, no goalie "stole" more games over the course of the season than Dostal. (A steal, according to Sportlogiq, is awarded to a goalie when his GSAE value is the difference in the game's final score. Dostal and Filip Gustavsson of the Wild each recorded nine).Veteran John Gibson's departure is another reason to keep an eye on Dostal. The Ducks, who are on the upswing, fully believe in their guy. Dostal's entering the first season of a five-year extension paying him $32.5 million.<h3>Mackie Samoskevich, Panthers</h3>Type of breakout: OK to goodSamoskevich checks off key boxes of a breakout player.Coming off a quietly productive season - check. The sharp-shooting winger posted 15 goals, including five game-winners, and 16 assists for a 31-point first full season. Logging only 13:19 a night over 72 games, Samoskevich's 0.94 goals per 60 minutes ranked fourth among all Panthers.Starting the new campaign in an elevated role - check. Matthew Tkachuk is expected to be sidelined until December, so the Panthers need Samoskevich to fill a top-six spot at even strength. He'll also get a look on the power play.Playing for a raise - check. Samoskevich, 22, signed a one-year, $775,000 extension in July to help keep the band together in Florida. His next deal won't be so team-friendly if his play and numbers continue to trend upward.<h3>Dylan Samberg, Jets</h3>Type of breakout: Good to greatSamberg, a late bloomer, is the oldest player on this list and also plays the least sexy brand of hockey. That said, he blossomed into a needle-moving shutdown defender last season and surely has more to give in Winnipeg.Samberg, 26, is a master of the finer details - controlling gaps, blocking shots, angling at the blue lines, killing plays with his stick - that lead to strong results in rush and net-front defense. He logged the fourth-most minutes among Jets defensemen in 2024-25 while skating alongside childhood buddy Neal Pionk on the second pair. In July, he inked a three-year contract extension.Can Samberg develop a meaningful offensive game? Can he close the gap between him and top dog Josh Morrissey, as far as role and overall impact?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).

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10 young NHLers poised to break out in a big way in 2025-26

Sidney Crosby's future - specifically, whether he's open to leaving the Penguins one day - was at...

Sidney Crosby's future - specifically, whether he's open to leaving the Penguins one day - was at the heart of multiple news cycles earlier in September.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3341758" href="https://thescore.com/news/3341758">The first one</a> followed a comment from Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, who said a late-career trade is "always a possibility." Then Crosby himself <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3346318" href="https://thescore.com/news/3346318">stated</a> Pittsburgh is "where I want to be."But how will Crosby - who absolutely despises losing - feel when the rebuilding Penguins are more or less out of playoff contention by December? The 38-year-old, who's under contract through 2026-27, controls his future thanks to a no-movement clause. He's earned unparalleled respect as a generational player also known for being a class act. This is his choice.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802713/cropped_GettyImages-2203472065.jpg?ts=1758726467" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802713/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203472065.jpg?ts=1758726467 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802713/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203472065.jpg?ts=1758726467 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802713/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203472065.jpg?ts=1758726467 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802713/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203472065.jpg?ts=1758726467 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802713/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203472065.jpg?ts=1758726467 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Martin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>I personally find it difficult to even imagine Crosby in a different No. 87 uniform. We assumed for the longest time that he'd be a one-team player.Then again, circumstances change. An elite athlete's career, even one as prosperous as Crosby's, is rarely as long as the athlete wants it to be. What-ifs can become more compelling when the end approaches. If Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and other all-timers can make late-career pivots, why not Crosby?The main reason Crosby would leave Pittsburgh midseason, next offseason, during the 2026-27 campaign, or in free agency is to chase a fourth Stanley Cup. He also cares about his public image and the history of the game, so his list of preferred destinations would probably be shorter than most players'.Here are five teams, ordered from most likely to least likely, that make sense:Avalanche: Stanley Cup contender. Fellow Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native and close friend Nathan MacKinnon would make for a dream running mate.Canadiens: Childhood team. Original Six franchise. Ascendant young core.Oilers: Lure of playing with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. (Sub in McDavid's new NHL city if the best player in the world leaves the Oilers.)Panthers: Cup contender working on dynasty status. Model franchise.Golden Knights: Somehow, some way, they're in on virtually every high-profile player.<h3>No. 1 Schaefer's unique situation </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802714/cropped_GettyImages-2222536258.jpg?ts=1758726711" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802714/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222536258.jpg?ts=1758726711 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802714/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222536258.jpg?ts=1758726711 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802714/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222536258.jpg?ts=1758726711 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802714/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222536258.jpg?ts=1758726711 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802714/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222536258.jpg?ts=1758726711 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Juan Ocampo / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Erik Johnson and Owen Power are the only first overall picks since 2000 to have spent the season directly following the draft in a league below the NHL.There's an outside chance Matthew Schaefer - the Islanders' new franchise cornerstone who turned 18 just a few weeks ago - could join them. His situation is unique and layered.Johnson and Power, defensemen like Schaefer, both opted to play in the NCAA, where the competition is pro-like and a light game schedule allows for extra time in the weight room. Schaefer became ineligible for college hockey after he signed his entry-level NHL contract. He can't suit up in the AHL because players drafted out of Canadian junior - Schaefer starred for the OHL's Erie Otters the past two seasons - are currently ineligible as teenagers.Schaefer has two options: NHL or OHL. The intelligent two-way blue-liner with a gorgeous skating stride turned heads in his first preseason game Sunday, recording an assist and five shots on goal while logging nearly 25 minutes. Islanders coach Patrick Roy gushed to reporters about Schaefer's debut, labeling one <a href="https://x.com/Aj_piazza31/status/1970197869316726950">backchecking sequence</a> in overtime "out of this world.""He's going to be one of, if not the best defenseman in the league - I think, at some point, just based off of his instincts right now," Isles forward Mat Barzal said prior to the 3-2 shootout loss to the Flyers.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802700/cropped_GettyImages-2236633962.jpg?ts=1758721329" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802700/w220xh124_GettyImages-2236633962.jpg?ts=1758721329 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802700/w320xh180_GettyImages-2236633962.jpg?ts=1758721329 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802700/w640xh360_GettyImages-2236633962.jpg?ts=1758721329 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802700/w768xh432_GettyImages-2236633962.jpg?ts=1758721329 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802700/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2236633962.jpg?ts=1758721329 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Schaefer's early game tape and the praise from within the organization suggest he'll stick with the Isles for the full season. At worst, he's earned a handful of regular-season games.But there's still a chance the Isles make the safer choice and return him to the Otters at some point. Unlike most top prospects coming out of junior, Schaefer doesn't have a dominant season under his belt. He played only 17 OHL games last year after suffering an injury at the world juniors. He needs game reps, and he'd be able to assert himself in a way that's impossible at the NHL level.Schaefer playing in the OHL could hurt the Isles in the short term but help in the long run. New York's better off claiming premium draft lottery odds than scratching and clawing all year just to finish 10th in the Eastern Conference.<h3>Bruins searching for 'perfect triangle' 2.0</h3>Charlie McAvoy thinks the 2025-26 Bruins are "a playoff team every day." Sportsbooks disagree. Boston's over-under for points <a href="https://thescore.bet/sport/hockey/organization/united-states/competition/nhl/section/team-points">sits at 80.5</a>, largely due to a lack of depth. The lineup thins out quickly - it's McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman, Hampus Lindholm, and then a bunch of dudes.This transitional season will involve a reset behind the scenes.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802398/cropped_GettyImages-2178818834.jpg?ts=1758558093" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802398/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178818834.jpg?ts=1758558093 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802398/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178818834.jpg?ts=1758558093 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802398/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178818834.jpg?ts=1758558093 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802398/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178818834.jpg?ts=1758558093 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802398/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178818834.jpg?ts=1758558093 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Matthew Stockman / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Boston and San Jose are the only NHL teams without a captain. The Bruins might go all season without naming a successor to Brad Marchand (who took over for Patrice Bergeron in 2023, who took over for Zdeno Chara in 2021). But if someone's going to get the "C," it's either McAvoy, 27, or Pastrnak, 29.McAvoy said earlier in September that recalibrating the culture is the Bruins' "biggest objective" right now. Pastrnak is the only player still around from McAvoy's NHL debut in the 2017 playoffs, while Marco Sturm is now running the bench. The German is the fifth head coach of Pastrnak's NHL career and McAvoy's fourth."Me and Pasta aren't Bergy or Z or Marchy," McAvoy said at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. "How am I going to help him and how is he going to help me, as we lead? Because those three had the perfect triangle."He explained, "Z leaned on Bergy to do A, B, and C. When that didn't work, he leaned on Marchy to do it. Then Marchy would go back to them. The way they (led) - what they had in place (in complementing each other) - was so special. That doesn't just happen."<h3>Dubois on living the 'no bucket' life</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802422/cropped_GettyImages-1244976811.jpg?ts=1758567190" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802422/w220xh124_GettyImages-1244976811.jpg?ts=1758567190 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802422/w320xh180_GettyImages-1244976811.jpg?ts=1758567190 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802422/w640xh360_GettyImages-1244976811.jpg?ts=1758567190 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802422/w768xh432_GettyImages-1244976811.jpg?ts=1758567190 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802422/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1244976811.jpg?ts=1758567190 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The NHL player pool is split into two groups: those who entered the league in or before 2018-19 and thus aren't required to wear a helmet in pregame warmup, and those who entered in or after 2019-20 and must wear a helmet.Going "no bucket" is dangerous - hence the helmet mandate, which took effect in fall 2023. Even so, it's a quirk veterans take pleasure in. Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois says warming up with your face fully exposed, your manicured hair on display, and pucks flying around can be a real "rush." You feel cool - Hollywood cool. And your senses are heightened."I feel alive and awake," he said before listing off the associated hazards. "You can't go behind the net. You can't (get caught skating at a) bad angle. You always have to be on the lookout for anything. You don't want to fall."Going bucketless apparently also adds a fear factor for opponents. Dubois, who debuted in 2017-18, recalls shooting a glance at the other end of the ice during warmup versus the '17-18 Kings and realizing the next 60 minutes wouldn't be easy."There's like 14 guys without a helmet," he laughed. "I was like, 'This is so intimidating.' I'm 19 years old and these guys have won Cups. They're huge. They have no helmets. They have no teeth. They just look so scary."<h3>New CBA takes better care of alumni</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802682/cropped_GettyImages-1462747061.jpg?ts=1758714010" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802682/w220xh124_GettyImages-1462747061.jpg?ts=1758714010 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802682/w320xh180_GettyImages-1462747061.jpg?ts=1758714010 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802682/w640xh360_GettyImages-1462747061.jpg?ts=1758714010 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802682/w768xh432_GettyImages-1462747061.jpg?ts=1758714010 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802682/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1462747061.jpg?ts=1758714010 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The newly signed collective bargaining agreement includes a playoff salary cap, player-friendly dress code, mandatory neck protection, 84 regular-season games, and other <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3347318" href="https://thescore.com/news/3347318">headline-grabbing items</a>. One element isn't getting a ton of attention but is extremely important: vastly improved health benefits for alumni.The league and the players' association will contribute a combined $4 million annually to the Retired Players Emergency Healthcare and Wellness Fund. The program will help the NHL Alumni Association be more proactive, not reactive like it's been in the past when trying to help a member experiencing a health crisis."This is groundbreaking. This is Christmas Day for us," NHLAA executive director and former NHL goalie Glenn Healy said at the player media tour.Among the benefits: players who have "played one shift or 10,000 games" will have access to a family doctor and mental health professional, Healy said.One of Healy's favorite sayings is "short career, long life." Whatever's going on in retirement - health issue, tax issue, family issue - the association will help the ex-player, who probably didn't make millions of dollars, navigate it."It’s a unique brotherhood," Healy said.<h3>Quick hits</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802425/cropped_GettyImages-2209376261.jpg?ts=1758568361" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802425/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209376261.jpg?ts=1758568361 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802425/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209376261.jpg?ts=1758568361 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802425/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209376261.jpg?ts=1758568361 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802425/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209376261.jpg?ts=1758568361 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802425/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209376261.jpg?ts=1758568361 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kirk Irwin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Colorado's ceiling: The Avalanche were without impact forwards Artturi Lehkonen (injury) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) for the first month of 2024-25, while captain Gabriel Landeskog (career-threatening injury) didn't return to the lineup until the third game of the playoffs. Management also turned over a third of the roster midseason, most notably swapping superstar Mikko Rantanen for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and draft picks. The chaos has subsided following a quiet offseason and normal training camp - "There's no question marks with anything," stud defenseman Cale Makar pointed out recently - so now we wait to see what this revamped, settled-in version of Colorado can accomplish. MacKinnon's suddenly 30 years old and Makar's already 26. The Avalanche have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons but advanced past the second round just once - in 2022, when they won the Cup.Panthers' grind: It's tempting to pencil in Florida as a top-three team in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers have been the NHL's alpha-dog franchise for the past few years and are running it back with roughly the same roster. But expectations around the regular season should be tempered. How about an Eastern Conference wild card? Think about it: The Panthers will not only be feeling the wear and tear of three straight trips to the Cup Final but also the effects of the Olympics. Matthew Tkachuk (USA), Sam Reinhart (Canada), Aleksander Barkov (Finland), Nico Sturm (Germany), and Uvis Balinskis (Latvia) have already been named to a roster. A handful of other Panthers are in contention for spots. And the whole group faces a stiff test before the break, as Florida plays 16 games - including 11 on the road! - from Jan. 5 to Feb. 6.Future of the cap: After a decade of zero-to-limited year-over-year growth, the salary cap is trending up. It jumped from $87.7 million in 2024-25 to $95 million this season and is expected to increase to $104 million in 2026-27 and $113.5 million in 2027-28. This is great for players. Behind the scenes, however, front offices are wondering when the have/have-not era will begin. The "haves" in this context are high-revenue clubs willing to spend to the upper limit no matter the number, while the "have-nots" are budget teams that will hit an internal ceiling sooner than later. One assistant general manager told theScore he's bracing for league dynamics to shift in 2027-28. He believes that will be the first season in which about a third of the league's ownership groups - including his own - will tell their respective front offices to get extra creative and frugal because they won't be able to spend to the cap.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).

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Imagining Crosby elsewhere, Schaefer's unique spot, and 6 other NHL items

The 2026 Olympics are five months away, with the 12-team men's hockey tournament scheduled for Fe...

The 2026 Olympics are five months away, with the 12-team men's hockey tournament scheduled for Feb. 11-22 in Milan, Italy. Countries announced <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3300782" href="https://thescore.com/news/3300782">six roster selections</a> each in June and will name their final 19 players in January. Here are a handful of Olympic storylines to monitor as the NHL season nears.<h3>Goalie spots (should be) flexible</h3>Goaltending is arguably the most volatile position in sports. Nobodies become somebodies within weeks, and proven stars falter for months on end. Each country should take an open-minded approach to the selection process.Just because Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault represented Canada at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off doesn't mean all three automatically deserve an Olympic spot. Darcy Kuemper posted the best numbers among Canadian goalies in 2024-25 - 30 goals saved above expected, according to Sportlogiq, and a .922 save percentage in 50 games. He should be strongly considered along with Mackenzie Blackwood (first full season in Colorado) and Logan Thompson (rising role in Washington).<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801901/cropped_GettyImages-2215411915.jpg?ts=1758291514" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801901/w220xh124_GettyImages-2215411915.jpg?ts=1758291514 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801901/w320xh180_GettyImages-2215411915.jpg?ts=1758291514 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801901/w640xh360_GettyImages-2215411915.jpg?ts=1758291514 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801901/w768xh432_GettyImages-2215411915.jpg?ts=1758291514 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801901/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2215411915.jpg?ts=1758291514 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The U.S. net is Connor Hellebuyck's to lose, for sure. But let's use pencil, not ink, to write the reigning Hart Trophy winner's name next to "starter." Jake Oettinger or Jeremy Swayman could get hot and look better suited for top duty by February. Thatcher Demko's proven he can stop pucks at a Vezina-caliber level when healthy; can he earn the No. 2 or 3 spot? Others with long-shot odds: Joey Daccord, John Gibson, Dustin Wolf, and Anthony Stolarz.Jacob Markstrom is Sweden's starter on paper, but Linus Ullmark and Filip Gustavsson are fully capable of outplaying him before rosters are finalized.There should be some kind of competition in Finland, too, even though Juuse Saros has already been named to the roster. He's coming off a subpar campaign in Nashville, while countrymen Kevin Lankinen (Year 1 of a five-year deal) and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (aged just 26) are both on the upswing.<h3>Sizing up Canada's returnees</h3>Canada's roster for the Sochi Olympics featured 25 players. More than a decade later, only seven of them continue to play in the NHL: Sidney Crosby, Drew Doughty, John Tavares, Jamie Benn, Corey Perry, Matt Duchene, and Jonathan Toews. (Technically, Alex Pietrangelo and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are active NHLers. Practically, though, both are retired).Among the active seven, one's already been named to the 2026 team (Crosby), one's a strong contender for a spot (Doughty), one's a long shot (Tavares), and four aren't even on the radar (Benn, Perry, Duchene, Toews).What a difference 12 years makes.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801947/cropped_GettyImages-2231665043.jpg?ts=1758312673" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801947/w220xh124_GettyImages-2231665043.jpg?ts=1758312673 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801947/w320xh180_GettyImages-2231665043.jpg?ts=1758312673 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801947/w640xh360_GettyImages-2231665043.jpg?ts=1758312673 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801947/w768xh432_GettyImages-2231665043.jpg?ts=1758312673 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801947/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2231665043.jpg?ts=1758312673 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leah Hennel / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Crosby, 38, is the most consistently brilliant player of all time (a point per game or better in each of his 20 seasons!). So it's safe to assume No. 87 will maintain an at least borderline elite level of play in the lead-up to Milan.But does Father Time come for Doughty, who turns 36 in December? Or Marchand, 37? Or Mark Stone, another Canadian hopeful, who's 33 but has already dealt with many serious injuries? Will one, two, or all three fall off to the point where they can't crack Canada's roster?<h3>Young studs and USA's blue line</h3>Canada, the U.S., and Sweden all have an abundance of talent on the blue line. Each nation has a case for the best defense corps in the tournament. As for which country has the finest crop of up-and-coming D-men, it's USA all day.A quick breakdown of general manager Bill Guerin's options: Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy were already named to the team, while Jaccob Slavin and Zach Werenski are locks, barring injury. Filling out the final four blue-line spots won't be easy, although Brock Faber and Jake Sanderson - both 23 - have the inside track on two of them. Mid-career guys Adam Fox, Noah Hanifin, and Seth Jones will be in the hunt as well.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801928/cropped_GettyImages-2212812027.jpg?ts=1758305044" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801928/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212812027.jpg?ts=1758305044 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801928/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212812027.jpg?ts=1758305044 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801928/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212812027.jpg?ts=1758305044 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801928/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212812027.jpg?ts=1758305044 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801928/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212812027.jpg?ts=1758305044 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Scott Taetsch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>From there, there's roughly a dozen dark-horse candidates - including some youngsters with upside - who could force management's hand by performing exceptionally well in the early stages of 2025-26. Luke Hughes, Lane Hutson, Jackson LaCombe, and Alex Vlasic are all 21-24 years old, and there's a non-zero chance one of them gets picked as the eighth defenseman.Warning: USA will have an absolutely stacked blue line at the 2030 Olympics.<h3>GM-player familiarity factor</h3>Robert Thomas is a classic bubble player. The Blues forward deserves to play in a best-on-best tournament because he's an above-average first-line center in the NHL. Yet he's far from a slam-dunk pick for Canada since the group of managers filling out the roster has so many equivalent or better options.No executive knows Thomas better as a player or person than Canada GM Doug Armstrong. He scouted Thomas in 2016, drafted the Aurora, Ontario, native 20th overall in 2017, and watched the cerebral two-way playmaker grow into an impact player.This all seems advantageous for Thomas. But sometimes a special kind of bias can emerge from such closeness. The GM knows the player's flaws and limitations and may be scarred by a few underwhelming performances. (That said, St. Louis' Binnington and Colton Parayko suited up for Canada at 4 Nations, so clearly Armstrong isn't opposed to taking his own players.)The same logic can be applied to Team USA. Bill Guerin is also GM of the Wild. He knows Faber and Matt Boldy extremely well - the good and the bad.<h3>Matthew Tkachuk's bounce back</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801948/cropped_GettyImages-2200092824.jpg?ts=1758312784" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801948/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200092824.jpg?ts=1758312784 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801948/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200092824.jpg?ts=1758312784 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801948/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200092824.jpg?ts=1758312784 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801948/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200092824.jpg?ts=1758312784 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801948/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200092824.jpg?ts=1758312784 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Matthew Tkachuk missed the back half of the 2024-25 regular season after tearing his adductor muscle and suffering a sports hernia injury at 4 Nations. He returned to the Panthers' lineup in the playoffs and contributed 23 points in 23 games en route to the franchise's second consecutive Stanley Cup.Tkachuk, one of the faces and top leaders of American hockey, will be sidelined to start the coming season as he recovers from offseason surgery. He likely won't see action until at least December, Panthers GM Bill Zito <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3347489" href="https://thescore.com/news/3347489">said</a>.Tkachuk was one of USA's original six selections, so the agitating winger's roster spot is secure, but it's worth monitoring how he looks after the layoff. Do we see him at the peak of his playmaking powers despite a relatively short runway, or does he still not quite seem like himself heading into the Olympics?On paper, Tkachuk is a top-six presence for the United States, as he was at 4 Nations. But he could theoretically get pushed down the lineup due to somebody else's stellar first half of the season. The USA, after all, has enviable depth at forward.<h3>Laine Watch is on in Montreal</h3>The first thing that jumps out from Finland's projected roster is the steep drop-off on defense after Miro Heiskanen. The second thing: Damn, that's a nice group of forwards! The third: Yeah, OK, but who's going to score?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801951/cropped_GettyImages-2200244994.jpg?ts=1758312898" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801951/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200244994.jpg?ts=1758312898 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801951/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200244994.jpg?ts=1758312898 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801951/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200244994.jpg?ts=1758312898 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801951/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200244994.jpg?ts=1758312898 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801951/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200244994.jpg?ts=1758312898 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chase Agnello-Dean/4NFO / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Finns have plenty of silky passers and defensive maestros - the incredible Aleksander Barkov fits both descriptions - but their supply of snipers is limited. Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, and Artturi Lehkonen were the only Finns to score 25 or more goals in the NHL last year and none of them reached 35.Enter Patrik Laine, the enigmatic marksman from Tampere. The 27-year-old right-handed winger potted 20 goals, including 15 on the power play, in 52 games for the Canadiens in 2024-25. That would be a 32-goal pace over a full season. His rocket of a shot can be a real weapon. He's a potential X-factor for Finland.That said, Laine's also a wild card who doesn't always deliver on the hype.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).

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6 Olympic storylines to monitor as NHL season approaches

The collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association outlines the...

The collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association outlines the terms and conditions of employment, as well as the rights of the league, its 32 teams, and the players' union. The latest CBA, ratified in July, will run from Sept. 16, 2026, to Sept. 15, 2030.For fans, it means labor peace - no lockout! - for the next five seasons.For Quinn Hughes, it means the fitness testing he underwent earlier this week to kick off Canucks training camp counts as the last batch of mandated strength and conditioning challenges he'll endure for the foreseeable future. The new CBA includes a ban on fitness testing, which to outsiders may seem like a minor win for the players, but in fact addresses a significant issue.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I train my ass off all summer, then I get to show that I'm in shape in camp, then I get buried in camp, and then I'm not fresh for the start of the season. The process is so archaic to me," Hughes said last week in Las Vegas."Why wouldn't you want your guys coming out of camp feeling fresh? I need to prove that I'm in shape? I play the most minutes in the league, and I'm going to be tired in camp now because I have to do this bike test to show that I'm in shape even though you know who I am already."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801698/cropped_GettyImages-2202543112.jpg?ts=1758135581" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801698/w220xh124_GettyImages-2202543112.jpg?ts=1758135581 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801698/w320xh180_GettyImages-2202543112.jpg?ts=1758135581 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801698/w640xh360_GettyImages-2202543112.jpg?ts=1758135581 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801698/w768xh432_GettyImages-2202543112.jpg?ts=1758135581 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801698/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2202543112.jpg?ts=1758135581 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vitor Munhoz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Hughes was in Vegas for the NHL/NHLPA player media tour, an annual event in which 30-plus NHLers fly to one city to participate in TV commercial shoots, media interviews, and other activities to promote the upcoming season.theScore asked more than a dozen prominent players to list their favorite item in the CBA (spoiler alert: many shared Hughes' disdain for fitness testing) and to answer a fun hypothetical question: If you were commissioner for a day and had absolute power to add, subtract, or tweak a rule, what would it be?Here's what they had to say.<h3>Playoff format and cap</h3>Pierre-Luc Dubois let out a sigh."I've got a lot," the Capitals forward said of his idea bank, flashing a full-toothed grin. "I've got to find which one will get me in less trouble."I like the wild card. I like the concept of that, but I do think that sometimes (the playoff matchups become predictable). The Oilers and the Kings have played in the first round for what feels like 12, 25 years. ... Some people want one-to-eight again. I think that'd be fun."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801686/cropped_GettyImages-2150512316.jpg?ts=1758132135" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801686/w220xh124_GettyImages-2150512316.jpg?ts=1758132135 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801686/w320xh180_GettyImages-2150512316.jpg?ts=1758132135 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801686/w640xh360_GettyImages-2150512316.jpg?ts=1758132135 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801686/w768xh432_GettyImages-2150512316.jpg?ts=1758132135 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801686/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2150512316.jpg?ts=1758132135 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Edmonton and Los Angeles, one of Dubois' former teams, have met in the opening round of the playoffs for four straight years and could very well meet again next spring. The wild-card playoff format, in place since the 2013-14 season, optimizes for divisional matchups. Sometimes, like in the case of the Avalanche and Stars last campaign, it can pit two of the NHL's most stacked teams against each other in Round 1 simply because they share a division."Going one-to-eight in the playoffs," Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim said of his pick, echoing Dubois' wish to return to a format in which the conference's No. 1 seed draws No. 8, No. 2 faces No. 7, and so on."It creates more memorable playoff series if you go one-to-eight," added Red Wings winger Patrick Kane, who won Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015.Sanheim, Kane, and Golden Knights star Jack Eichel are among a large group of players not sold on the idea of an expanded playoff field, whether through an NBA-style play-in round or by adding secured spots. Proponents of an expanded field point to untapped revenue and the league's maturation. The NHL has grown from 21 to 32 franchises during the era of 16 playoff teams, and it looks primed to reach 34 clubs (Atlanta? Houston?) in the near future."I'm more of a traditionalist on that," Eichel said. Expanding the field, the center noted, would devalue what's an indisputably gruelling regular season. "I'm a big believer in 'two points in October equal the same as two points in March,'" he said. "Being in the playoffs is a correlation of your entire season.""Sixteen is a good number," Predators defenseman Brady Skjei said. "Right now, half the teams are making it, which is probably fair."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801695/cropped_GettyImages-2205801902.jpg?ts=1758134937" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801695/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205801902.jpg?ts=1758134937 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801695/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205801902.jpg?ts=1758134937 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801695/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205801902.jpg?ts=1758134937 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801695/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205801902.jpg?ts=1758134937 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801695/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205801902.jpg?ts=1758134937 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Hunter Dyke / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Clayton Keller disagrees. He thinks a play-in round would be "pretty cool.""There's a lot of eyes on that when the NBA does it. It's a huge game, and if you're on that bubble, you have a chance to get in and make some noise," the Mammoth captain said. "Your team could get hot at the right time, and you never know what could happen."However, Keller acknowledged the issue is above his pay grade and something NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has publicly expressed a distaste for.The new CBA features one major change to the postseason landscape. Teams must ice a cap-compliant lineup in the playoffs starting in 2026. Translation: The days of exploiting the long-term injured reserve loophole are over."The playoff salary cap just makes sense to everybody," Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. "You shouldn't be able to field a roster that's $20 million over the cap, and I think everybody understood that. If there was a pressing issue that maybe you'd like to see (resolved), like immediately, that was probably the one. So, I think that was a good job by (the NHL and NHLPA)."<h3>Overtime theories</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801706/cropped_GettyImages-2194050464.jpg?ts=1758138757" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801706/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194050464.jpg?ts=1758138757 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801706/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194050464.jpg?ts=1758138757 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801706/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194050464.jpg?ts=1758138757 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801706/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194050464.jpg?ts=1758138757 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801706/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194050464.jpg?ts=1758138757 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Claus Andersen / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Anybody remember the original shootout setup? Miss it? Jordan Eberle does."I enjoyed the old shootout - when they used to flood the ice down the middle (of the rink) and get a clean sheet. I miss that," the Kraken forward said, recalling the NHL's fix for snowy ice in the early stages of his career in the early 2010s.There isn't a lot Eberle finds endearing about the current shootout experience. The 35-year-old's in favor of extending the three-on-three OT period, like the NHL did for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The move from four-on-four to three-on-three back in 2015 has significantly reduced the number of shootouts. Of the 271 games that required extra time in 2024-25, 194 (or 71.6%) ended in OT."You don't see a lot of fancy, fancy stuff anymore," Eberle said of creativity in shootouts. "Also, it's funny how you can play a really good game - I've been in this spot - and you're the last guy to shoot and miss, and (it's amazing) how crappy you feel. I just wish we went to (a longer) three-on-three."Skjei's on the same wavelength: Extend OT to 10 minutes so the vast majority of games end on a true hockey play. "No more shootouts," Dubois declared. "I think over time, some team is going to score at some point."<h3>Off-ice fit check</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801715/cropped_GettyImages-2219179259.jpg?ts=1758143498" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801715/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219179259.jpg?ts=1758143498 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801715/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219179259.jpg?ts=1758143498 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801715/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219179259.jpg?ts=1758143498 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801715/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219179259.jpg?ts=1758143498 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801715/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219179259.jpg?ts=1758143498 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Carlson / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Scrapping fitness testing was overdue in the eyes of many surveyed - a decade overdue, Eberle joked. Like Hughes, Seth Jarvis dreads the testing process. Even in Vegas, a full week out from training camp, the Hurricanes forward couldn't get his mind off what was waiting for him back in Carolina."If you know anything about Rod, it's not going to be easy," a smirking Jarvis said of his famously jacked head coach, Brind'Amour.Easing the dress code was another rule change the union pushed hard for during CBA negotiations. According to the memorandum of understanding, "players are required to dress in a manner that is consistent with contemporary fashion norms," but are otherwise free to wear whatever. Effective immediately, teams can't propose or enforce a game-day suit policy."I enjoy wearing a suit," Sabres sniper Tage Thompson said. "But it's one of those things where you see other sports leagues - NFL, NBA - and (it's obvious the casual vibe) allows guys to express their personalities a little bit more. That's something that fans are starving for - that behind-the-scenes look of not just you as an athlete but also you as a person."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801719/cropped_GettyImages-1739274324.jpg?ts=1758144314" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801719/w220xh124_GettyImages-1739274324.jpg?ts=1758144314 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801719/w320xh180_GettyImages-1739274324.jpg?ts=1758144314 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801719/w640xh360_GettyImages-1739274324.jpg?ts=1758144314 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801719/w768xh432_GettyImages-1739274324.jpg?ts=1758144314 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801719/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1739274324.jpg?ts=1758144314 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Darren Clark / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Fans will no doubt see a more relaxed NHLer walking into the arena moving forward. ("If they start letting sweats and sweaters into the rink, I'm going to be all over that," Jarvis said.) That sounds great in theory, but what are these players, especially the veterans, going to do with all of their expensive suits?"Some guys who have been playing 15 years probably have like 50 suits or something crazy," Devils center Jack Hughes remarked before hinting he'll be rotating between the classic hockey-player black suit and less formal wear."We have some guys who have pretty good style. Let 'em loose a little bit," Skjei said of the Preds. "But I won't be one of those guys, I'll tell you that."Athletes are creatures of habit, and habits die hard. "Basically, my whole life, when you get ready for a game, you put on a suit. I think that helps with my mentality going into the game," Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat said.<h3>Calendar, goalies, and alumni</h3>Starting in 2026-27, the NHL regular season will begin earlier (late September) and end earlier (early to mid-June) - a "pretty ideal" calendar, according to Cale Makar. The superstar defenseman noted the absurdity of the Avs' nearly three-month playoff run in 2022. (They hoisted the Cup on June 26!)Sanheim is glad the regular season's moving from 82 to 84 games in '26-27. The blue-liner's rationale: players tend to arrive in their NHL cities in late August for captain's skates, which act as an unofficial start to training camp. But players don't compete in a meaningful game until early October. "I play a lot of minutes, so to go and play four or five preseason games that mean nothing, I'd rather tack it onto the regular season and put my energy into that," Sanheim said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801730/cropped_GettyImages-2031358826.jpg?ts=1758148502" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801730/w220xh124_GettyImages-2031358826.jpg?ts=1758148502 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801730/w320xh180_GettyImages-2031358826.jpg?ts=1758148502 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801730/w640xh360_GettyImages-2031358826.jpg?ts=1758148502 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801730/w768xh432_GettyImages-2031358826.jpg?ts=1758148502 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801730/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2031358826.jpg?ts=1758148502 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ben Green / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Jake Oettinger and Linus Ullmark, perhaps unsurprisingly given the uniqueness of the position they play, brought up goaltending-specific issues:<ul>
<li>Dallas' Oettinger loves the professionalization of emergency backup goalies (or EBUGs). Having a third full-time goalie on the team as of '26-27 will reduce the burden on workhorse No. 1s. Starters should be resting late in the season, not facing slap shots in practice.</li>
<li>Ottawa's Ullmark wants better representation in the league's Situation Room in Toronto. Too often, he said, goaltender interference is being judged without the perspective of a former goalie. Like so many fans and media, Ullmark is perplexed by the inconsistency of interference calls.</li>
</ul>Blues forward Robert Thomas provided the most thoughtful take on the new CBA, shouting out improved health and pension benefits for NHL alumni."There were so many guys who did so much for the league and the players in the past," Thomas said. "Trying to continue to make (alumni health) a No. 1 priority moving forward is something that a lot of players feel really good about."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).

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Commish for a day: What star players would change about the NHL

Who's feeling the heat? Below is a list of 10 people under supreme pressure ahead of the 2025-26 ...

Who's feeling the heat? Below is a list of 10 people under supreme pressure ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. It consists of five players, two head coaches, two general managers, and one franchise owner, presented in alphabetical order.<h3>Kevyn Adams</h3>The margin of error is razor-thin for the Sabres and GM Kevyn Adams.Tensions are high in Buffalo as the club tries to snap an NHL-record playoff drought of 14 years. A deep Atlantic Division makes for a crowded path to the postseason. In other words, this could go off the rails quickly for Adams, who's become the main punching bag for a smart, (rightfully) fed up fan base.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Adams recently traded young core pieces Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka for Josh Norris, Josh Doan, Michael Kesselring, and Jacob Bernard-Docker, who was then replaced by free agent Conor Timmins. Those moves will elicit elation or another round of face-palming in the coming months. It feels like there's no middle ground for a franchise that's finished 31st, 24th, tied for 19th, 22nd, and 26th during Adams' five years in charge.Other important business: The futures of first-line winger Alex Tuch (pending unrestricted free agent) and top-four blue-liner Bowen Byram (trade rumors).<h3>Rasmus Andersson</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/cropped_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801419/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209898133.jpg?ts=1757954926 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Leah Hennel / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Andersson's intentions of leaving Calgary are out in the open, and fresh takes on his future seem to hit the rumor mill every other week. It can't be easy for him to fully concentrate while on the ice."The thing that bothers you is fake information that comes out," the 28-year-old Flames defenseman <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/rasmus-andersson-flames-can-co-exist-just-fine-in-contract-year/">told reporters</a> last Tuesday."I saw some reports that I would only sign with one team (Vegas) and this and that. I mean, it couldn't be further from the truth. Me and (Calgary GM Craig Conroy) have had a few conversations over the summer, and I would never handcuff him and give him one team."So, how does the pending UFA start the season? Will Andersson boost his trade value by doing his usual thing - eating minutes and pucks while pitching in offensively in a prominent role on the right side of Calgary's back end? How will he factor into the Swedish national team as it works to solidify an Olympic roster that will rely heavily on D-men performance?Andersson's $4.55-million cap hit won't be overly difficult for a Stanley Cup contender to absorb. The Golden Knights are an obvious fit as a super aggressive team with a gaping hole at RHD now that Alex Pietrangelo is out long term.<h3>Andrew Brunette</h3>Brunette's seat might be the hottest among all 32 head coaches.The Predators were a disaster last season, collecting only 68 points after being crowned winner of the 2024 offseason for reeling in free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The offensive attack, a supposed strong suit under Brunette, slumped from 10th in goals scored to 31st and dropped from 12th in expected goals generated to 20th (per Sportlogiq).Brunette, a former Preds player who's entering his third season as bench boss, doesn't deserve all the blame. Management hasn't exactly assembled a Cup-contending roster, and virtually every player on the 2024-25 squad - including star goalie Juuse Saros - had a down year. It's certainly possible, arguably probable, that the pendulum swings in a positive direction in Nashville.If it doesn't, surely GM Barry Trotz will strongly consider a coaching change.<h3>Connor Hellebuyck</h3>The numbers are damning. Hellebuyck, one of the greatest goalies of his generation, is rocking a .918 save percentage through 568 regular-season games. He won the Hart and Vezina trophies last year after posting a .925 during a season in which the league average settled way down at .900. But the longtime Jet's SV% plummets when his team needs him most (.903 in 58 career playoff games, including an ugly .866 mark across 13 games versus St. Louis and Dallas this spring).Hellebuyck tried to adjust on the fly during the 2025 playoffs, and it backfired."I thought maybe I could add something here, tweak something there. That's typical stuff you do during the regular season too," he said during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. "But once I did that, I didn't like it. I didn't like the look of the game. I thought I was out of what makes me, me."The upcoming campaign could offer Hellebuyck playoff redemption - or provide another bit of evidence suggesting he simply can't perform under the bright lights. Along with his heavy workload in Winnipeg, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck is the presumptive starting goalie for Team USA at the Olympics, though Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Thatcher Demko are capable of stealing the job.<h3>Craig Leipold </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/cropped_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w220xh124_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w320xh180_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w640xh360_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w768xh432_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801420/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1998843866.jpg?ts=1757955030 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Leipold, the billionaire owner of the Wild, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3337621" href="https://thescore.com/news/3337621">said</a> in early September that the club and superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov were "not that far off" with regards to hammering out a contract extension. A week later, NHL insider Frank Seravalli <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342420" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342420">reported</a> that Kaprizov turned down what would've been the richest contract in league history ($128 million over eight seasons).Oh ... OK then.Owners typically aren't directly involved in negotiations, but this is an atypical situation. Leipold's influence looms large because Kaprizov, the best player to ever don a Wild uniform, is clearly testing the team's commitment level. Either the financial stakes will raise enough to sell the Russian on staying or Leipold and GM Bill Guerin pivot. If Kaprizov is intent on testing free agency, the Wild can try to trade him midseason (his current deal includes a no-move clause). They could also keep him and treat 2025-26 as a "last dance" of sorts.The Wild's middling existence complicates the issue. Having missed the playoffs or lost in Round 1 each of the past 10 seasons, they need more game-breaking talents like Kaprizov, not fewer, to truly challenge for a Cup.<h3>Mitch Marner</h3>Without proper context, Marner shouldn't be on this list.With it, he's a no-brainer.The 28-year-old playmaker is coming off a career-high 102 points as well as a strong showing for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He's starting an eight-year, $96-million contract after Vegas acquired him in a June sign-and-trade with Toronto. Marner is no longer at the center of a hockey-mad market or angling for a massive long-term deal.But - and this is a significant but - Marner still needs to slay some demons. Regardless of market size or intensity, the dazzling winger must finally elevate his game late in playoff series. The pressure's on until he breaks through.<h3>Auston Matthews</h3>Matthews' shine has worn off over the past 12 months, with multiple injuries limiting him to 67 games (and 33 goals) in 2024-25 and the Leafs again failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs. Toronto has tallied just two series wins in the captain's nine seasons with the team.If you asked players, coaches, managers, media members, and fans to list the NHL's top five players, Matthews would be left off many ballots despite scoring 69 goals two years ago. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3333617" href="https://thescore.com/news/3333617">As I wrote last week</a>, he's somehow become underrated.Three questions linger: Can Matthews, who's believed to be fully healthy ahead of his 10th NHL season, return to his dominant two-way form in the regular season - without Marner by his side? What impact will No. 34 have on the Olympics as a top-six center on a stacked Team USA? Can Matthews and William Nylander carry Toronto to its first deep playoff run?<h3>Elias Pettersson</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/cropped_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801422/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206126669.jpg?ts=1757955563 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Derek Cain / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Pettersson doesn't need to come out of the gate flying. He doesn't have to outproduce ex-teammate J.T. Miller - now in New York after a fallout between the two - or set a new personal best in goals or points. He just needs to show early progress, look like himself again, and ride that momentum.Bounce back - that's all.It sounds like a small ask for a $11.6-million player. And, hey, maybe it is. But being a solid top-line center would be a nice first step toward removing the target from his back in the Vancouver market and beyond. Pettersson is currently a wildly overpaid second-liner, having accumulated 59 points in 84 games since signing an extension in March 2024. Yes, he's a high-end defensive player; however, at that cap hit, he needs to also lead the attack.Quinn Hughes sees a rebound coming: "He's a competitive guy," the Canucks captain said recently. "I don't think he gets that stature (as a highly paid NHLer) without having some intangibles inside you. I've seen it before."<h3>Joel Quenneville</h3>Quenneville last coached in October 2021, resigning from his coaching job with the Panthers in the wake of the Blackhawks' sexual abuse case. The NHL determined Quenneville and other staffers <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2934557/nhl-reinstates-bowman-quenneville-after-ban-for-their-role-in-blackhawks-assault-scandal">inadequately responded</a> in 2010 to allegations that player Kyle Beach had been assaulted by Chicago's video coach, who reported directly to Quenneville.Reinstated by the league in July 2024, Quenneville was hired in May to run the Ducks' bench. Similar to Mike Babcock's return to the NHL in 2023, Quenneville's behavior will be under the microscope, especially in the early going. On a more practical, coaching-specific level, it's fair to wonder if the sport has passed him by. He's 67 and hasn't worked at all the past four years.That said, Quenneville - a Jack Adams Award winner and three-time Cup champion - has inherited a team on the rise. Anaheim jumped from 59 points in 2023-24 to 80 last season. Its core has a ton of untapped potential. Plus, management has slowly but surely filled out the roster with useful veterans.<h3>Steve Yzerman</h3>Armed with the so-called Yzerplan for rebuilding an Original Six franchise, Yzerman is about to embark upon Season 7 as the Red Wings' GM.Detroit has yet to make the playoffs, and it's a coin flip if the skid ends at nine years given the competition for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Yzerman's job should be hanging in the balance, but then again, he's a franchise icon who's ostensibly mastered the art of tempering expectations.Detroit's forward group is roughly NHL average. Its blue line is one gigantic question mark beyond cornerstones Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Goaltending's been upgraded through the John Gibson acquisition. Todd McLellan, meanwhile, can flex his coaching muscles in his first full season.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).

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10 people under the most pressure entering the 2025-26 NHL season

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/john-matisz/content_cards

John Matisz

Senior NHL Writer

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/josh-wegman/content_cards