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NHL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Wednesday, September 30

Brad Marchand Closing In On Return From Lower-Body Injury

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Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand is recovering faster than expected from a lower-body injury and could return to the lineup before the end of October. The 38-year-old veteran winger, who recorded 27 goals and 54 points in 52 regular-season appearances during the 2025-26 campaign, has been skating on the road trip and is ahead of schedule following a procedure last month. Upon his return, Marchand is expected to rejoin a forward line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

Matt Duchene Placed On Injured Reserve By Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a lower-body injury that has bothered him since the start of training camp. The 35-year-old recently suffered a setback in his recovery and will miss the team's season opener on Friday. With no extra forwards currently on the roster, the Stars are expected to utilize seven defensemen in Duchene's absence as they manage his ongoing recovery process early in the 2026-27 NHL season.

Teuvo Teravainen Gets Major Opportunity With Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen has been gifted a golden opportunity to secure a top-six role following an injury to Andrew Mangiapane. During practice in Salt Lake City, Teravainen was inserted onto the second line's left wing alongside Roman Kantserov and Nick Lardis. After missing out on the opening-night lineup during camp, Teravainen must now capitalize on this new chance to maintain his roster spot under head coach Jeff Blashill while the team navigates early-season injuries.

Casey DeSmith Inks Two-Year, $5M Extension With Dallas Stars

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The Dallas Stars have signed backup goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year, $5 million contract extension. The deal keeps the veteran netminder under contract in Dallas through the 2028-29 season, solidifying the team's goaltending depth behind their starting rotation with a manageable average annual value of $2.5 million per year over the life of the agreement.

Tyler Tucker Undergoes Successful Right Knee Surgery In St. Louis

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his right knee following an injury sustained in practice on Sept. 20. Tucker will miss the foreseeable future and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in six weeks. In his absence, the Blues have made roster moves on the blue line, recalling Adam Jiricek and claiming Justin Barron off waivers. Tucker played 69 regular-season games last year, recording 17 points with three goals and 14 assists.

Alex Nedeljkovic Expected to Be Available for Thursday's Game

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Alex Nedeljkovic is currently battling an illness but is expected to be available for Thursday's home matchup against Florida. He is likely to serve as Yaroslav Askarov's understudy. In the 2025-26 season with the Sharks, Nedeljkovic recorded an 18-14-4 record, a 2.87 goals-against average, and an .896 save percentage across 40 regular-season appearances.

Matthew Schaefer Named Islanders Alternate Captain Ahead of Season Opener

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Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer enters his second NHL season as an alternate captain for the New York Islanders in their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Schaefer was bestowed the leadership role earlier this week following a standout rookie campaign where he tied the league's rookie record for goals by a defenseman with 23 tallies. The 2025 first-overall pick will showcase his skills on defense as the Islanders start their 84-game regular season slate under coach Peter DeBoer.

Moritz Seider Teams Up With Tim Stützle To Launch New German Podcast

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Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and Ottawa Senators center Tim Stützle have launched a new monthly podcast titled "Seider & Stützle" via Kicker Podcasts. The hour-long first episode and trailer debuted on YouTube, featuring discussions on summer training, season expectations, and their long-term contracts. The audio-only show will release on the last Wednesday of each month, conducted entirely in German and recorded alongside their shared international history.

Darcy Kuemper Set to Start Wednesday Against the Colorado Avalanche

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Darcy Kuemper was the first goalie to leave the ice Wednesday, indicating he will start in goal on the road against the Colorado Avalanche. Last season, Kuemper posted a 19-14-15 record across 50 regular-season appearances, falling short of the 20-win mark for the second time in three years. The Kings are looking for fewer overtime defeats from Kuemper in the 2026-27 campaign to help him return to his winning ways.

Unsigned Simon Edvinsson Returns to Sweden Amid Contract Standoff

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Unsigned restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson has returned to Sweden to train with Frölunda in Gothenburg as he awaits a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Edvinsson attended training camp with personal insurance, participating in non-scrimmage drills. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff stated talks are ongoing, while teammates Moritz Seider, Andrew Copp, and Lucas Raymond expressed support. The Red Wings open their season Friday against the New York Rangers.

Dustin Wolf Named Calgary Flames' Expected Starter for Thursday Opener

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Dustin Wolf is set to start in goal for the Calgary Flames in Thursday's home matchup against the Seattle Kraken, according to QR Calgary 770 AM. Wolf enters the 2026-27 season as Calgary's top netminder after posting a 23-29-3 record, 3.01 GAA, and .899 save percentage across 57 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. Backup goalie Devin Cooley is expected to make his season debut either Saturday in Vancouver or Sunday in Seattle.

Amadeus Lombardi Earns New NHL Opportunity With New Jersey Devils

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Amadeus Lombardi is set for a potential NHL opportunity with the New Jersey Devils as they open the 2026-27 season Thursday against Philadelphia. The 23-year-old prospect was traded to New Jersey from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a fourth-round pick after nearly averaging a point per game in his sophomore and junior AHL seasons. Lombardi will look to establish himself in the Eastern Conference after moving past a crowded Detroit prospect pipeline.

Jake Oettinger Healthy and Available for Season Opener

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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (lower body) is available for Friday's season opener at home against St. Louis. Oettinger hasn't been named the starter yet, but chances of him getting the assignment are high. He had a 35-12-6 record, 2.59 GAA and .899 save percentage in 54 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. Oettinger remains Dallas' clear No. 1 netminder, with Casey DeSmith serving as his understudy.

Dylan Larkin Labeled Day-to-Day With Upper-Body Injury

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Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin is considered day-to-day due to an upper-body injury ahead of Friday's season opener versus the Rangers. Larkin has reached the 30-goal mark in each of the previous five seasons and should be capable of hitting that threshold again in 2026-27, assuming he isn't sidelined for too long. Once given the all-clear, Larkin should reclaim his spot on the first line for the Red Wings.

Morgan Rielly Confident In Pairing With New Defense Partner Darren Raddysh

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Morgan Rielly expressed confidence in his new defensive partnership with Darren Raddysh following the Toronto Maple Leafs' season-opening 3-2 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens. Rielly, who missed time in training camp due to a viral condition, stated that balancing their offensive instincts is not difficult and relies strictly on game flow and opportunity. Head coach Jim Hiller has backed the top pairing combination, acknowledging that it will take time for the new teammates to build chemistry.

Darren Raddysh Works To Overcome Shaky Debut After Signing With Maple Leafs

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Following a rough minus-2 debut in a 3-2 loss to Montreal where he logged a team-high 23:47 of ice time and five giveaways, Darren Raddysh is looking to bounce back. Signed to an eight-year, $68 million contract, the defenseman admitted to opening-night jitters and rust. Head coach Jim Hiller and defensive partner Morgan Rielly expressed confidence in his adjustment to the new system, noting that chemistry alongside Rielly will improve as the team works through early-season adjustments.

Alex Ovechkin Confirmed Ready for Washington Season Opener

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Alex Ovechkin (lower body) will be in action against the Hurricanes on Friday. The 41-year-old winger appeared in all 82 regular-season games last year, notched 32 goals and 32 assists, including 19 power-play assists. While unlikely to challenge for the Rocket Trophy, he remains a potent goal-scoring threat for the Washington Capitals.

Bo Groulx Set To Make Season Debut For Toronto Maple Leafs Against Islanders

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After the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-2 season-opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens, head coach Jim Hiller announced that Bo Groulx will make his season debut against the New York Islanders on Wednesday. Groulx skated in an optional morning skate alongside Nick Blankenburg, though his exact placement in the lineup remains unconfirmed. Last season, the 26-year-old forward played 13 NHL games for Toronto, recording three goals and five points while starring in the AHL with the Marlies.

Anthony Stolarz Expected to Start Wednesday Against Islanders

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Anthony Stolarz is set to start at home against the Islanders on Wednesday. Toronto is playing the second half of a back-to-back after a 3-2 loss to Montreal where Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 24 shots. Stolarz recorded a 10-10-3 record, 3.28 GAA and .893 save percentage in 26 games last season and serves as a capable option for the Maple Leafs.

Ivan Provorov Misses Three Straight Practices Before Opener

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Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (undisclosed) hasn't been on the ice for three straight days, raising concern ahead of Thursday's season opener against Buffalo. While he hasn't been officially ruled out, missing multiple morning skates puts his availability in jeopardy. Emil Andrae is expected to draw into the lineup if Provorov cannot play.