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NHL News

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

Tuesday, September 29

Jesper Wallstedt Set to Take Over as Wild's No. 1 Goaltender

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Jesper Wallstedt is poised to establish himself as the Minnesota Wild's starting goaltender with Filip Gustavsson beginning the season on injured reserve following offseason hip surgery. Drafted 20th overall in 2021, the 23-year-old netminder is expected to seize the opportunity and command the crease. While Gustavsson will eventually return, Wallstedt has the inside track to anchor the Wild's goaltending duties and start more games heading deeper into the 2026-27 NHL regular season campaign.

Quinn Hughes Enters First Full Season in Minnesota Ready to Lead

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Quinn Hughes enters his first full season with the Minnesota Wild after recording 53 points in 48 regular-season games and 15 playoff points following his acquisition last December. Projected to quarterback the top power-play unit and play massive minutes, expectations are high as he aims to capture his second Norris Trophy. While his long-term contract situation will remain a storyline, Hughes is positioned to anchor a Wild roster looking to build on last season's deep playoff run.

Elvis Merzlikins Set to Miss 4-6 Months With Shoulder Injury

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Elvis Merzlikins is expected to miss 4-6 months to begin the 2026-27 regular season while recovering from a shoulder injury, per Luke Fox. Less than 24 hours after being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a timetable for his return has been provided. The 32-year-old posted a 14-11-3 record, 3.39 GAA, and .883 save percentage across 30 games last season. He will be the clear No. 3 option behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz upon returning to the Maple Leafs organization.

Devon Levi Acquired by Oilers After Goalie Search

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The Edmonton Oilers acquired Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres after also considering a trade for goaltender Clay Stevenson. Oilers teammates have been raving about the ex-Sabre as Edmonton revamps its goaltending tandem this offseason, keeping Tristan Jarry, moving on from Connor Ingram, and adding Frederik Andersen via free agency. Levi now has an ideal opportunity to make a massive impact with a strong Edmonton squad following a tough start in Buffalo.

Clay Stevenson Claimed Off Waivers by Winnipeg Jets

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The Winnipeg Jets claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old joins a crease set to begin the season with Stuart Skinner as starter. Stevenson posted a 3-1-0 record, 2.00 GAA, and .921 save percentage in four games with Washington last season. Prior to acquiring Stevenson, the Edmonton Oilers also considered making a trade for the goaltender before ultimately opting to acquire Devon Levi instead.

Sam Reinhart Highlights Preseason Chemistry on New Line

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Sam Reinhart is gearing up for the new NHL season alongside returning captain Aleksander Barkov and newly acquired forward Brady Tkachuk. During five preseason periods spent together, the formidable new forward line combined for five goals and seven assists on 20 shots with a plus-13 on-ice rating. Reinhart and his linemates are expected to anchor the Panthers' attack as the team prepares to begin its regular-season opening trip.

Brady Tkachuk Skates on Formidable New Line with Panthers

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Brady Tkachuk has been making waves in Panthers training camp, skating on a formidable top forward line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. Acquired in late June, Tkachuk combined with his new linemates to rack up five goals and seven assists on 20 shots during five preseason periods. Panthers coach Paul Maurice noted no worries about his season opening availability after Tkachuk returned to practice ahead of the team's season-opening road trip.

Hoyt Stanley Earns Shocking Spot on Senators' Opening Night Roster

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Fourth-round pick Hoyt Stanley has made Ottawa's 23-man opening night roster after an impressive training camp. The 21-year-old Cornell product showcased strong size and low-error play, capitalizing on an injury opening. In two preseason games, he recorded a beautiful goal, two penalty minutes, and two shots on goal while competing for third-pairing minutes.

Joseph Woll Acquisition Emerges As Early Masterclass For Flyers

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Philadelphia Flyers backup goaltender Joseph Woll continues to look like a shrewd offseason acquisition by GM Danny Briere following a trade with Toronto. Acquired alongside Simon Benoit for a low cost, Woll provides crucial depth behind starter Dan Vladar, solidifying Philadelphia's goaltending and defensive rotation as the regular season approaches.

Matthew Knies Traded To Columbus Blue Jackets In Major Trade

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Power forward Matthew Knies was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a blockbuster six-player deal that brought Kirill Marchenko to Toronto. Knies, who recorded 23 goals and 66 points last season, departs a Leafs squad where his slower start to training camp and skating metrics factored into the massive roster shakeup.

Monday, September 28

Alex Ovechkin Faces Regression Projections In 2026-27 Fantasy Bold Forecasts

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Alex Ovechkin headlines the latest 2026-27 fantasy hockey bold predictions as analysts debate whether the legendary Washington Capitals forward will finally experience a statistical decline. As the 84-game NHL season gets underway, experts are heavily scrutinizing veteran production and career trajectories across the league, placing Ovechkin's upcoming performance under intense scrutiny among major preseason preview storylines.

Igor Shesterkin Tops Rankings And Headlines 2026-27 Fantasy Goalie Outlook

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As the 2026-27 NHL season approaches, Igor Shesterkin is once again ranked as the best goalie in the world, topping The Athletic rankings for the third straight year. Featured prominently in fantasy hockey bold predictions as a prime bounce-back candidate, the New York Rangers star netminder enters the new campaign carrying massive expectations as analysts look toward schedule analysis and opening week waiver wire strategies.

Miles Wood Acquired by Maple Leafs in Seven-Player Blockbuster

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Forward Miles Wood was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside Kirill Marchenko and Elvis Merzlikins on Monday. In exchange, Columbus received Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz, and a second-round draft pick. Recently placed on waivers by Columbus, Wood brings depth to Toronto's forward group, entering the 2026-27 season with 99 goals and 97 assists across 567 career NHL games.

Matthew Knies Headlined in Blockbuster Trade to Blue Jackets

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Matthew Knies was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz, and a second-round pick for Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins, and Miles Wood. Knies serves as the marquee piece returning to Columbus coming off a career-best campaign where he recorded 23 goals, 66 points, and 152 hits across 79 games. The 23-year-old power forward is expected to fit into a top-six role alongside Adam Fantilli.

Steven Lorentz Traded to Blue Jackets in Multi-Player Deal

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Center Steven Lorentz was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick for Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins, and Miles Wood. Lorentz, a 2024 Stanley Cup champion with Florida, departs Toronto after tallying 15 goals and 22 assists over two seasons, joining a retooling Columbus roster ahead of the 2026-27 regular season opener.

Emil Andrae Dealt to Blue Jackets in Blockbuster Trade

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Defenseman Emil Andrae was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick for Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins, and Miles Wood. Andrae's tenure in Toronto was brief after being acquired from Philadelphia in June. The 2020 second-round pick logged three goals and 17 assists over 107 career games with the Flyers prior to his recent moves.

Kirill Marchenko Traded to Maple Leafs, Signs $75M Extension

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Kirill Marchenko has been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs alongside Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood in exchange for Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz, and a conditional second-round draft pick. Immediately following the deal, Marchenko signed a six-year, $75 million extension ($12.5M AAV). The 26-year-old winger led Columbus with 27 goals and 67 points last season (102 goals in four seasons) and is expected to join Auston Matthews on Toronto's top line.

Elvis Merzlikins Traded to Maple Leafs While Recovering from Injury

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Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Kirill Marchenko and Miles Wood for Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz, and a draft pick. Columbus retained 18% of his salary. Currently on long-term injured reserve following late-August shoulder surgery, his return timeline remains unclear. Merzlikins posted a 14-11-3 record with a 3.40 GAA and .883 save percentage across 30 games last season.

Dylan Larkin Returns To Practice Amid Off-Ice Injury Recovery

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Dylan Larkin has returned to practice with the Detroit Red Wings after recovering from an off-ice training injury that kept him out of all four preseason games. Coach Todd McLellan noted Larkin needs to get back up to speed and will evaluate his status for the season opener following a doctor's appointment. Larkin requested a trade in June but remains with the club, though he was stripped of the captaincy. Teammates praised his energy upon returning to the ice.

Troy Terry Shifts to Injured Non-Roster List After Hip Surgery

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Troy Terry shifted to the non-roster injured reserve on Monday while recovering from June hip surgery. The 29-year-old forward played through the injury during the 2026 postseason before undergoing the procedure. Terry is expected to miss another two to three months, slating him for a prolonged absence to start the year. Fantasy managers can now place the Anaheim Ducks winger on injured reserve.