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NHL News

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

Wednesday, September 16

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.

Justin Sourdif Signs Eight-Year, $50.8M Extension With Capitals

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Justin Sourdif has signed an eight-year, $50.8 million contract extension ($6.35 million AAV) with the Washington Capitals ahead of the new CBA deadline. The 24-year-old native of Richmond, British Columbia, is coming off a breakout 2025-26 season in which he recorded 15 goals and 20 assists (35 points) across 78 regular-season games. Currently projected for bottom-six minutes, Sourdif is expected to contend for a more prominent role moving forward.

Conn Smythe Winner Jordan Staal Signs Extension With Hurricanes

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The Carolina Hurricanes signed center Jordan Staal to a one-year, $4.9 million extension through 2027-28. The 38-year-old captain, who led Carolina to a Stanley Cup title in June while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP, can earn up to $5.1 million in performance bonuses under the deal. The extension adds to his existing contract covering 2026-27 as Staal remains a vital defensive anchor on the third line while the team prepares to defend its title.

Alex Newhook Signs Four-Year, $22.2M Extension With Canadiens

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The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Alex Newhook to a four-year, $22.2 million contract extension through the 2030-31 season. The deal carries a $5.55 million annual cap hit starting in 2027-28. Originally acquired from Colorado in 2023, the 25-year-old Stanley Cup champion recorded 13 goals and 12 assists in 42 regular-season games last year despite an ankle injury, then added 10 points in 19 playoff games during Montreal's Eastern Conference Final run.

Chris Kreider Released as Ducks Clear $6.5M in Salary Cap Space

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Chris Kreider was released by the Anaheim Ducks following the termination of his contract, freeing up $6.5 million in critical salary-cap space. The financial flexibility allowed general manager Pat Verbeek to complete contract negotiations with young core players, directly paving the way for Cutter Gauthier's six-year extension. Kreider's contract termination marks a major roster shift for Anaheim ahead of training camp.

Cutter Gauthier Signs Six-Year, $81M Extension With Ducks

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Cutter Gauthier has signed a six-year, $81 million contract extension ($13.5 million AAV) with the Anaheim Ducks. The front-loaded deal includes approximately $69.5 million in signing bonuses secured right before the new CBA takes effect. The 22-year-old winger is coming off a stellar season in which he posted 41 goals and 28 assists over 76 regular-season games. He is locked in as a cornerstone top-six forward for Anaheim.

Thomas Bordeleau Signs AHL Contract With Rochester Americans

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Former San Jose Sharks prospect Thomas Bordeleau has signed an AHL-level contract with the Rochester Americans. The 24-year-old spent time with the Devils' and Blues' AHL affiliates during the 2025-26 season but did not appear in an NHL game. St. Louis opted not to extend a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Bordeleau will look to earn a potential NHL opportunity with Rochester's affiliate, the Buffalo Sabres.

Connor Hellebuyck Expected to Skip Jets Training Camp Amid Trade Request

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Connor Hellebuyck was named to the Winnipeg Jets' 51-player training camp roster running Sept. 17-25, but he is not expected to report following his offseason trade request. TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Hellebuyck will likely be absent, forcing Winnipeg to address the situation before the regular season begins. The netminder is coming off a season where he posted a 23-23-11 record with a .895 save percentage and a 2.86 goals against average across 57 games for the Jets.

Artemi Panarin Nears 1,000 Career Points Ahead of LA Kings Season

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Artemi Panarin enters the 2026-27 NHL season just 46 points away from the 1,000 career point milestone. Over 830 career games with Chicago, Columbus, the NY Rangers, and Los Angeles, Panarin has tallied 330 goals and 624 assists. Having joined the Kings via trade in February 2026 and recording 27 points in 26 games, Panarin is poised to become one of only 104 NHL players to reach 1,000 points, potentially making franchise history for Los Angeles.

Alex Ovechkin Faces Criticism Over Pro-Putin Political Campaign Ad

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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is facing renewed criticism after appearing in a United Russia political campaign ad supporting Vladimir Putin. The Capitals stated that the 41-year-old captain was specifically asked to participate in the commercial this summer. The NHL's 929-goal record holder faced public condemnation from figures like Dominik Hasek and Jose Andres, with critics demanding action over his political ties as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

Alexander Nikishin Formally Requests Trade From Carolina Hurricanes

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Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin has formally requested a trade, seeking a change of scenery after being slated for a third-pairing role and secondary power-play duties. The St. Louis Blues remain heavily interested in acquiring the 6-foot-3 blueliner, though they face competition from the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets. With the season two weeks away and trade talks stalled, Nikishin's public trade request could accelerate movement before puck drop.

Noah Ostlund Signs Eight-Year, $52.8M Contract Extension with Sabres

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The Buffalo Sabres signed 22-year-old forward Noah Ostlund to an eight-year, $52.8 million contract. Coming off a rookie season with 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games plus two playoff points, Ostlund is projected for a top-two role. The 2022 first-round pick joins a young core locked up long-term as Buffalo builds on its recent playoff appearance.

Bill Zonnon Skates on Top Line in Prospect Finale

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Bill Zonnon skated on the Pittsburgh Penguins' top line alongside Pierce Mbuyi and Tanner Howe during their final prospect tournament game against Dallas. The matchup served as the final evaluation contest for young players before heading back to Pittsburgh for the start of full NHL training camp.

Atley Calvert Features in Penguins Tournament Lineup

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Atley Calvert took the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their final prospect tournament game against the Dallas Stars in Detroit. Calvert slotted in alongside Carter Sanderson and Jordan Charron as the young Penguins wrapped up their tournament action before returning to Pittsburgh for NHL training camp.

Max Graham Drops Gloves Twice in Feisty Tournament Finale

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Max Graham brought a physical edge to the Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect tournament finale against Dallas, getting into two separate fights during the feisty matchup. Graham skated alongside Brayden Edwards and Travis Hayes as the Penguins concluded their tournament schedule in Detroit ahead of upcoming training camp.

Pierce Mbuyi Earns Promotion to Top Line for Finale

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Pierce Mbuyi earned a promotion to the top line for the Pittsburgh Penguins' final prospect tournament game against Dallas in Detroit. Mbuyi skated alongside linemates Bill Zonnon and Tanner Howe as the Penguins concluded their tournament schedule and prepared to return to Pittsburgh for the opening of the team's full NHL training camp.