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NHL News

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

Wednesday, September 16

Thatcher Demko Will Not Be Full Participant in Vancouver Training Camp

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Vancouver Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson announced that goaltender Thatcher Demko will not be a full participant in training camp as he continues his recovery from offseason hip surgery. Demko will be on the ice in Penticton with teammates, though his ultimate availability for the regular-season opener remains unclear. Kevin Lankinen, Chris Driedger, and Nikita Tolopilo are candidates to see time in net if the goaltender is forced to miss additional time.

Nate Danielson Sets Sights on Detroit Red Wings Roster Spot

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Nate Danielson is aiming to secure a spot on the Detroit Red Wings roster out of training camp after participating in the NHL Prospects Tournament. Last season, the 2023 first-round pick appeared in 28 NHL games with two goals and five assists before a mid-February stress fracture ended his season. Griffins head coach Dan Watson notes Danielson's defensive responsibility can sometimes hinder his offense, but expects his rehab to help him become a more impactful net-front contributor.

Elvis Merzlikins Remains Out Indefinitely Following Shoulder Surgery

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins remains out indefinitely after failing his physical due to ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery. General manager Don Waddell stated there is no clear timetable for his return, noting he will not be seen in the near future. Merzlikins recorded a 14-11-3 record, 3.39 GAA, and .883 save percentage across 30 regular-season appearances. Cam Talbot is projected to serve as the backup to Jet Greaves during his absence.

Aleksander Barkov Confident And Ready For Training Camp Return

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Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is available for the start of training camp after missing the entire 2025-26 campaign with a knee injury. Barkov expressed confidence ahead of his comeback, stating that the hardest part of his rehabilitation is behind him. Although he missed last season, he logged three goals and 11 points in 10 outings for Team Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. When healthy, Barkov remains a point-per-game player.

Barrett Hayton Healthy And Ready For Utah Mammoth Season

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Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton is fully healthy ahead of training camp after dealing with upper-body injuries that limited him to 67 games and the postseason last year. During those appearances, the 26-year-old recorded 10 goals, 15 assists, and six power-play points. With a clean bill of health, Hayton aims to challenge for the 20-goal and 50-point thresholds over a full 84-game schedule.

Morgan Rielly Limited In Camp By Viral Issue But Expected Ready

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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is dealing with a viral issue that will limit him early in training camp, but he is expected to be ready for Opening Night against Montreal. Rielly logged 78 appearances last season and projects to remain on the second power-play unit following Darren Raddysh's arrival, raising questions about whether he can cross the 40-point plateau.

Adam Jiricek Competes For Roster Spot At St. Louis Camp

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St. Louis Blues 2024 first-round pick Adam Jiricek will receive every opportunity to win a roster spot on opening night during training camp. Following mixed results in recent prospect games against Chicago, management emphasized that nothing is guaranteed for the young defenseman. The team also acquired veteran Brandon Carlo to stabilize the blue line and ensure Jiricek is not rushed into an NHL role prematurely.

Connor McMichael Joins Blues To Boost Secondary Scoring

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Acquired from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Jordan Kyrou, 25-year-old Connor McMichael looks to secure a top-six role with the St. Louis Blues. Signed to a six-year, $40.5 million contract, McMichael brings speed, grit, and a scoring touch. The Blues are counting on him to recapture the production from two seasons ago where he tallied 57 points, anchoring a line alongside fellow newcomer Mason McTavish.

Mason McTavish Seeks Fresh Start As Blues' New No. 2 Center

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Acquired from Anaheim on Draft Day, 23-year-old Mason McTavish enters St. Louis Blues training camp with a chip on his shoulder and a locked-in role as the No. 2 center behind Robert Thomas. McTavish worked on his power skating over the summer to improve defensive awareness. The former high pick is expected to drive the offense on a secondary line alongside newcomers, bringing high motivation after his departure from the Ducks.

Jordan Binnington Faces Competition For St. Louis Starting Job

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St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington enters the final year of his six-year contract facing an open competition in training camp. Following a strong finish by Joel Hofer—who tied for the league lead in wins after the Olympic break—coach Jim Montgomery will rely on consistency to set the rotation. Binnington must sharpen his focus and improve his underlying numbers to maintain his heavy workload as the team's primary netminder.

Robert Thomas Named Captain And Ready To Lead St. Louis Blues

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Newly named St. Louis Blues captain Robert Thomas enters training camp motivated to anchor the team's top line. Thomas averaged 1.41 points per game down the stretch last season, totaling 31 points in 22 games following the Winter Olympic break. Under new GM Alex Steen's vision, Thomas is positioned as the definitive No. 1 center tasked with getting the Blues off to a strong start and pushing for a playoff return.

Yanni Gourde Ruled Out Until December After Hip Surgery

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde underwent offseason hip surgery and will be sidelined until December. Gourde played all 82 games last season, producing 9 goals and 19 assists. With Dominic James also unavailable to start the year, the Lightning face early depth challenges at center, potentially opening an opportunity for Jansen Harkins. Gourde is expected to begin the campaign on long-term injured reserve.

Andrei Vasilevskiy Comfortable With Shortened Preseason

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy does not believe the shortened training camp—reduced to four games to accommodate an expanded 84-game schedule—will impact his readiness for 2026-27. The Lightning will rely heavily on him, with potential for him to reach 60 starts for the fifth time in his career. In 2025-26, he posted a 39-15-4 record, 2.31 GAA, and .911 save percentage across 58 appearances.

Trent Miner Sidelined Due to Undisclosed Injury

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Trent Miner is currently battling an undisclosed injury. There are no specific details yet regarding the severity or whether it will force him to miss preseason games. The Avalanche are unlikely to rush him through exhibition tilts. The 25-year-old netminder is projected to start the 2026-27 season in the minors, but could receive a call-up if Scott Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood face availability issues during the campaign.

Nikita Kucherov Unconcerned About Upcoming Contract Status

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov stated that he is focused entirely on helping the team win and performing on the ice rather than his contract situation. Entering the final season of his eight-year, $76 million deal signed in 2018, the 33-year-old is unconcerned about potentially becoming a free agent after the 2026-27 campaign. Kucherov has topped 100 points in four consecutive seasons and is expected to command massive interest if he reaches the open market.

Brad Marchand Expected Back Early Despite Missing Opening Night

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Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand will miss Opening Night due to a lower-body injury following a procedure over the summer. GM Bill Zito stated that the team will be very conservative with his recovery, but anticipates the veteran forward back early in the regular season. Marchand, 38, played 52 games last year, recording 27 goals and 54 points before shutting things down. Outside of Marchand, the Panthers enter training camp fully healthy.

Trevor Lewis Joins Utah Mammoth Staff After 17-Year NHL Career

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Two-time Stanley Cup champion Trevor Lewis has joined the Utah Mammoth organization as a part-time video scout and youth and amateur hockey ambassador. Following a 17-year NHL career that included 1,034 games and 237 points, the Utah native returns home to help grow the game locally. Mammoth president Chris Armstrong praised Lewis's championship experience and deep personal commitment to expanding hockey development throughout the state following his retirement.

Arber Xhekaj Signs One-Year, $1.5M Deal With Canadiens

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The Montreal Canadiens signed defenseman Arber Xhekaj to a one-year, $1.5 million contract on the eve of training camp. The deal keeps the 26-year-old under team control, as he will remain a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. With Kaiden Guhle expected to miss the start of the season until November, Xhekaj has a prime opportunity to secure a regular lineup spot as the sixth defenseman under new defensive assistant coach Derek Lalonde.

Sidney Crosby Delivers Season Tickets to Pittsburgh Fans

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby participated in the team's annual tradition of hand-delivering season tickets to fans' homes across Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods ahead of training camp. Crosby reflected on the 19-year tradition, emphasizing how much he appreciates hearing long-time supporters' personal stories. He highlighted that feeling the pride and support of the community never gets old as the team prepares for preseason action.

Tuesday, September 15

Luke Evangelista Signs 5-Year, $36.25M Extension With Devils

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Luke Evangelista signed a five-year, $36.25 million extension ($7.25M AAV) with New Jersey through 2031-32, starting in 2027-28. The deal includes $27.915M in signing bonuses and light trade protection in its final three years. Acquired recently from Nashville, the 24-year-old winger has 253 NHL games of experience and comes off a 56-point season in 2025-26. The contract structure pays $9.7M in year one, descending to $6.085M in the final two years, locking in Evangelista as a core top-six forward.