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NHL News

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

Friday, September 25

Andrei Kuzmenko Returns to Russia After Father Killed in Bear Attack

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia prior to the start of the NHL season following the tragic death of his father, Alexander, who was killed by a bear during a fishing trip in Southern Siberia. Despite the tragedy, Kuzmenko chose to practice with his teammates before flying to Moscow to be with his family. The Penguins organization expressed deep sympathies and full support for the 30-year-old forward, who signed a one-year deal with the team this summer.

Thursday, September 24

Tristan Jarry Stops 25 Shots in Oilers Preseason Win Over Canucks

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Tristan Jarry stopped 25 of 26 shots to lead an undermanned Edmonton Oilers squad to a 2-1 preseason victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Making his second exhibition appearance, the veteran netminder looked sharp and fluid in the crease while crediting his young teammates' hard effort postgame. Jarry, who will not play in Saturday's contest against Calgary, remains in an open battle with Devon Levi for Edmonton's No. 1 starting goaltender job heading into Opening Night.

Adam Jiricek Shines in Preseason, Complicating Blues' Roster Decision

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Adam Jiricek delivered an exceptional preseason performance, logging 17:04 of ice time with four shots and two takeaways in a 1-0 win over Chicago. Following an injury to Tyler Tucker, the 20-year-old first-round pick has made management's decision on the seventh defenseman role extremely difficult. Displaying high-level offensive instincts and increased confidence, Jiricek is pushing hard for an opening-night roster spot.

Owen Pickering Earns NHL Spot With Impressive Training Camp

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering has put together a stellar training camp, proving he is NHL-ready after substantial growth in the AHL. The 22-year-old blueliner has showcased improved skating, physicality, and defensive poise. Despite outplaying several presumed regulars, his waiver-exempt status leaves his opening-night roster spot uncertain as management weighs development and contract logistics ahead of the season opener.

Trevor Zegras Penalized For Equipment Rule Under NHL Crackdown

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Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras became an early preseason victim of the NHL's strict equipment enforcement, receiving a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game due to having his jersey tucked into his pants. Zegras stated his jersey was tucked before the shift, triggering an automatic penalty following a league-wide warning. Zegras signed a four-year, $9.125M AAV extension this offseason after recording 26 goals and 67 points last season.

Filip Chytil Exits Preseason Game After Scary On-Ice Collision

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Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil suffered an injury during a preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers after colliding with referee Riley Brace in the first period. Chytil's skate tangled with Brace's, sending him crashing into the boards shoulder-first and hitting his head on the ice. He went to the dressing room and did not return, though the team did not disclose the specific injury, adding to Chytil's recent history of concussion and injury struggles.

Arvid Soderblom Shines With 35 Saves In Blackhawks Preseason Loss

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Goaltender Arvid Soderblom delivered a standout performance for the Chicago Blackhawks, stopping 35 of 36 shots in a tight 1-0 preseason loss to the St. Louis Blues. The lone goal he allowed came off an early third-period turnover finished by Calle Rosen. Soderblom's strong preseason play solidifies his case to secure the full-time backup role behind Spencer Knight, providing a crucial bright spot for the Blackhawks' lineup as they prepare for the regular season.

Alex DeBrincat Scores OT Winner And Fights In Preseason Thriller

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Detroit Red Wings sniper Alex DeBrincat delivered a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres by scoring a power-play goal just 33 seconds into overtime. The feisty exhibition contest featured multiple skirmishes, including DeBrincat dropping the gloves with Trevor Kuntar after Kuntar was leveled by Moritz Seider. DeBrincat landed multiple punches during the bout, capping off an intense night and improving Detroit's preseason record to 2-0-1.

Alex Lyon Suffers Upper-Body Injury in Preseason Start Against Red Wings

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After being confirmed to start Thursday's preseason game against Detroit, Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon sustained an upper-body injury late in the first period while diving for a puck. Lyon stopped seven of eight shots prior to his early exit. He had previously stopped 16 of 19 shots in his preseason debut against the Penguins. If Lyon misses time, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to serve as Buffalo's primary starter with Colten Ellis backing him up.

Taylor Gauthier Formalized in Roster Cuts to AHL Wilkes-Barre

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Taylor Gauthier has been assigned to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after successfully clearing waivers, part of a larger wave of 12 roster cuts announced by Pittsburgh on Thursday. The moves help fill out the AHL affiliate's roster for their Friday preseason game while the parent club trims down toward the mandatory 23-player limit ahead of the regular-season opener next Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Sebastian Cossa Slated to Start Preseason Game in Vegas

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Sebastian Cossa is slated to start in Thursday's preseason road game against Vegas. This marks his second appearance of the 2026 preseason after turning aside 11 of 12 shots across 40 minutes during a 4-1 loss to Colorado on Sunday. Cossa enters the matchup looking to build momentum off a strong 2025-26 campaign where he posted a 2.33 GAA and a .915 save percentage over 39 regular-season appearances.

Devin Cooley to Tend Twine in Preseason Clash Against Kraken

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Devin Cooley will start on the road in Thursday's preseason game against the Seattle Kraken for his second exhibition appearance. Cooley previously stopped 19 of 22 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Kraken in Calgary on Sunday. He enters the 2026-27 season slated for a backup role behind Dustin Wolf, though a weaker Flames roster could challenge his defensive metrics.

Ville Husso Projected for First Preseason Start Versus Sharks

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Ville Husso will protect the road goal in Thursday's preseason game against the San Jose Sharks, marking his first start of the exhibition schedule. Projected to begin the 2026-27 campaign as the backup to Lukas Dostal, Husso looks to build on his previous regular-season numbers where he went 10-8-2 with a 3.25 GAA and an .884 save percentage across 20 outings in 2025-26.

Philipp Grubauer to Make Final Preseason Start Against Flames

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Philipp Grubauer will protect the home goal Thursday in a preseason matchup against the Calgary Flames, marking his final appearance of the preseason. The 34-year-old netminder previously stopped 15 of 16 shots over two periods against the Flames on Sunday. Grubauer is set to open the 2026-27 campaign as Joey Daccord's backup, though both could operate in a tandem if performance dictates.

Zach Hyman Invites Mark Messier to Witness Oilers' Positive Environment

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Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman has invited Hall of Famer Mark Messier to visit and observe the team's operations under controversial coach Mike Babcock. The response comes just one day after Messier publicly expressed that he was horrified by the Oilers' decision to hire Babcock. Hyman defended the current coaching regime, encouraging Messier to see firsthand the positivity and environment being built within the locker room and organization.

Daniil Tarasov Slated to Start Thursday Against the Buffalo Sabres

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Detroit Red Wings goaltender Daniil Tarasov is slated to get the start at home against Buffalo for Thursday's preseason game. Tarasov previously stopped all 15 shots he faced in regulation during Monday's 1-0 preseason shootout loss to Columbus, manning the net for 40 minutes of that contest. He is expected to open the upcoming campaign serving as Detroit's No. 2 goaltender behind veteran netminder John Gibson, providing reliable depth for the team between the pipes.

Michael DiPietro Set to Guard Goal in Thursday's Preseason Matchup

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Boston Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro will guard the road goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in Thursday's preseason contest, per Belle Fraser of the team's official site. DiPietro was busy in his first exhibition appearance Sunday, stopping 30 of 32 shots versus the Washington Capitals. He is currently preparing for what will likely be his first full campaign in the National Hockey League, where he is slated to serve as the primary backup behind starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman.

Artem Zub Expected to Miss Start of Season as Rehab Continues

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Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub is not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, according to head coach Travis Green. Zub continues to recover from an injury suffered five months ago during Game 1 of the playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes. His extended rehabilitation leaves a significant void on the right side of Ottawa's top-four defense corps, forcing the team to rely on younger options like Carter Yakemchuk to fill the roster opening out of camp.

Carter Yakemchuk Positioned for Senators Roster Spot Amid Zub Injury

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Carter Yakemchuk is in line to secure an opening-night roster spot with the Ottawa Senators due to Artem Zub's injury. The 20-year-old defenseman has been paired with Tyler Kleven in camp, showcasing strong puck movement and offensive upside despite ongoing adjustments to NHL speed and defensive play. Yakemchuk recently logged a heavy 25:29 of ice time during a 6-1 preseason loss to Toronto. With limited right-shot options available, he remains in the driver's seat for an NHL role.

Pyotr Kochetkov Expected to Start Thursday's Preseason Game

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Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start at home in Thursday's preseason game against Nashville, according to Brooks Bratten. Kochetkov will look to rebound after allowing five goals on 33 shots in his previous exhibition outing on Sunday. He is currently projected to enter the upcoming campaign as Carolina's No. 2 goaltender behind Brandon Bussi, though strong performances could earn the netminder a significant chunk of the team's workload moving forward.