Another year, another battle between Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble for a role on the Montreal Canadiens' third pairing. Both blueliners saw a lot of action last year thanks to injuries suffered by other members of the defense corps. Stuble skated in 56 games (just like the previous year) and Xhekaj took part in 70 games (more than he had ever played in a season); the former finished the regular season in the lineup, while the latter reintegrated the lineup for the playoffs.

They’re not particularly young anymore. Struble is about to turn 25, Xhekaj will in January, and they’ve both matured a lot playing-wise. It’s been clear since before the start of camp that Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, and Alex Carrier all have their chair reserved, which leaves just one spot for the other two.

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Stuble hasn’t had a bad training camp, but Xhekaj turned up at camp in much better shape. He’s still as heavy as he was, but the baby fat is gone, and it’s now all muscle. It shows on the ice that he skates faster, and his mobility has improved.

Much like Juraj Slafkovsky knows he needs to play a good physical game to be effective, Xhekaj knows that he needs to pick his moments on the ice. He needs to play the game that’s in front of him, despite the constant temptation of chasing that one big hit or of dropping the gloves. What the Canadiens have on their hands right now is a leaner and wiser Xhekaj. He doesn’t need to be meaner; he has always been mean enough.

Since the start of camp, Xhekaj is the one who has taken the spotlight, be it because of that one game in which both he and his brother played and scored, or because of the hard hits he’s able to land. On Saturday night in Toronto, he was playing alongside Carrier once again, as he has since the start of camp, whether in preseason games or scrimmages. Furthermore, Xhekaj also had an A on his jersey.

At a time when Martin St-Louis says his team needs some grit and sandpaper, Xhekaj is the logical choice. The Canadiens need to commit to Xhekaj because if they don’t and he lands somewhere else, he will hurt them. Perhaps not on the scoreboard, but physically. The Canadiens have long sought toughness in their lineup, and now that they have it, they shouldn’t be afraid of it.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 14 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #14. 

Let's take a look.

Ray Whitney - 2001-2003 - Drafted by San Jose in 1991. 

Whitney played 151 games as a Jacket and was the Captain for one. During the one year he was the Captain, he scored 24 goals and totaled 76 points, which set a CBJ record. Ray Whitney is the best player to have worn #14 for the Blue Jackets.

When Ray Whitney was traded to the Blue Jackets, the 28-year-old had already played 528 games in the NHL spanning 10 seasons. But he had never played a full 82-game season; he only averaged 53 games a year. So, when the CBJ traded for him in 2001, fans were as excited as ever for the fledgling franchise. They were getting a goal-scorer and a relatively young playmaker.

After his time with Columbus, he went on to play for another 10 years and a total of 1,330 games. He played a total of 22 seasons in the NHL and had over 1,000 points. He would retire in 2015. 

In a game at Nationwide Arena in November of 2001 against the St. Louis Blues, Whitney would score this goal, which is still a legendary goal in CBJ history. The radio call from play-by-play icon George Matthews, with his partner Bill Davidge, still gives me chills.

Greg Mauldin - 2004 - Drafted by Columbus in 2002. 

Played 6 games for Columbus and had no points. He went on to play 30 more NHL games after leaving Columbus.

Mauldin left for Europe in 2012, where he played in Switzerland, Russia, Germany, and Norway. He played until 2024 before retiring. 

Raffi Torres - 2009-2010 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2000. 

Torres played 111 games for the Jackets and had 51 points. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on March 3, 2010. 

Torres retired on November 5, 2016.

Grant Clitsome - 2011-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2004.

He played 93 games for Columbus and had 36 points before being put on waivers on February 26, 2012. 

On June 1, 2016, Clitsome retired after suffering a serious shoulder injury. 

Blake Comeau - 2013-2014 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2004. 

Comeau played 79 games and had 21 points for the CBJ. In the summer of 2014, he left in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He would go on to play 909 games in the NHL and retired during the 21-22 season. 

Dean Kukan - 2015-2022 - Kukan is undrafted out of Volketswil, Switzerland.

Dean Kukan made his NHL debut in March of 2016 after playing the majority of the season with the Lake Erie Monsters. After playing in 8 games near the end of the season, he was sent back to Lake Erie and would help the Monsters win their first-ever Calder Cup. He had 5 points in 17 playoff games.

Kukan would bounce up and down between Columbus and Cleveland until 2022. He would play a total of 153 games for the CBJ and total 30 points. Where he excelled was in the minors, though. He played in 142 games for Lake Erie/Cleveland and totaled 59 points as a fairly skilled two-way defenseman.

After the 2022 season, Kukan made the decision to return to Europe. He returned to his home country of Switzerland to play for his original club, the ZSC Lions, on a five-year contract. 

Kukan is also routinely chosen to represent the Swiss in international competitions. He played in the 2025 IIHF Worlds where he scored 9 points in 10 games.  

Gustav Nyquist - 2020-2023 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2004. 

Nyquist played 200 games as a Jacket before being traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2023. During his time in Columbus, which included a missed season due to injury, he scored 43 goals and had 117 points. 

After being traded to the Wild, he would leave that summer and sign with the Nashville Predators in 2023 on a two-year deal. On 1 March 2025, he was traded back to the Wild to finish the season. On 2 July 2025, Nyquist signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets. 

Gus Nyquist and his family still live in the Columbus area. 

Joseph LaBate - 2025 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2011. 

LaBate played a total of six games for the Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season. He originally signed a PTO with the Cleveland Monsters, but in November, the CBJ signed him to a one-year deal, which allowed him to play for Columbus. 

LaBate signed a one-year deal with Vancouver this past offseason. 

There are 14 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. 

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

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The Buffalo Sabres made a significant roster reduction after their fourth exhibition game on Saturday, sending a total of 24 players to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, including 2021 first-rounder Isak Rosen, 2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius, and goaltender Devon Levi. On Sunday, the club continued to diminish their roster, placing center Jake Leschyshyn and defenseman Zachary Jones on waivers for the purpose of sending them down to the American Hockey League. 

Leschyshyn was a 2017 draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights and spent five seasons in the organization until he was claimed off of waivers by the NY Rangers in January, 2023. The 26-year-old center was spent the majority of his two-and-a-half seasons in the Rangers organization with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack and in the summer he signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Sabres. 

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Jones, 24, was a third-round pick of the Rangers in 2019 who played two seasons with UMass Amherst before turning pro in 2021. The blueliner saw spot duty with New York over five seasons, compiling 28 points (4 goals, 24 assists) in 115 games, and did not receive a qualifying offer from the Rangers in June. The Sabres signed Jones to a one-year, two-way deal for $900,000 on the opening day of free agency.

The Sabres will be down to 30 players and will need to get down to 23 players before the start of the regular season on October 9. Currently on the roster are three goalies (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Alexandar Georgiev), 2019 first-rounder Ryan Johnson, 2022 first-rounder Noah Ostlund,  and 2025 top pick Radim Mrtka. Luukkonen is expected to play at least one of the final two preseason games against Pittsburgh, which will go a long way in determining whether the club will carry two or three goalies going into the season. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

The Carolina Hurricanes are finally in the win column this preseason following a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

The Canes, with a roster bulked up with NHL talent, were simply too much for a younger Nashville group and it showed on the ice.

Carolina outshot Nashville 38-20 and outchanced them 48-23 at 5v5, ultimately beating them in virtually all phases of the game.

Here are some of my observations from the game.

'I'll Give It All I've Got And See Where Things Go From There': Bradly Nadeau, Kevin Labanc, Rod Brind'Amour On Preseason WinThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Nashville Predators 4-2 Sunday night at Lenovo Center.

It was the team's first win of the preseason and a strong showcase for a couple of the young prospects.

After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Bradly Nadeu, who scored two goals, and Kevin Labanc spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:

For one, Bradly Nadeau continues to impress this preseason, and this time,  he was demonstrating his bread and butter: goal scoring.

Playing on a line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, Nadeau didn't look out of place.

He scored a power play goal in the second period, first denting the crossbar with a rocket seconds earlier, then depositing the puck into a yawning cage after Blake froze Justus Annuen from the slot.

Then late in the third period, Nadeau worked his way to the middle of the ice and beat Annunen clean off of a behind-the-net feed from Stankoven.

"We played him with the top guys tonight and it should look like that, when you think about it," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "You could tell, the NHL guys, they were at another level. It should look like that, but putting him in that mix, he didn't look out of place there, for sure."

But Nadeau's value is going beyond the score sheet. He's up on the forecheck, he's backchecking, he isn't afraid to get physical. It's all these little things that will make him a better player and give him a better shot at making the roster.

"I came in here and I only wanted to work hard and play my game," Nadeau said. "I think I've done that so far. You can always show how you can play and keep doing the right things, but those small details are huge and you can never have a perfect game. It's about building on that and trying to get those small details right every time."

Nadeau's linemates too were tremendous as Blake and Stankoven easily looked like the best players on the ice. Both guys were all over the offensive zone and were moving the puck at will and with ease.

The two combined for seven shots on goal and set up each of Nadeau's scores.

For Stankoven, it's yet again another promising performance at center.

In two games, Stankoven has won 19 out of 31 draws (61.29%), has outchanced opponents 26-9 (74.29 CF%) at 5v5 and has a goal and primary assist.

"He might have been the best player, for sure, in both games that he's played," Brind'Amour said. "So that's good. Again, at that level, he should dominate. So we'll see when we get closer here when we get down to one more game and what the lineups are like. We'll make a judgement then.

Felix Unger Sorum also had a goal, capping off a 2-on-1 rush with Eric Robinson. He's had a much better camp and preseason this year as opposed to last and he looks much more comfortable too back at his natural position on the wing.

He's such a creative player with the puck on his stick, able to slow down the game and find those lanes. I love the way that he's able to protect the puck and get off of walls as well.

I don't know if he's done enough yet to make the roster at any point this year, but I think he's certainly getting closer and closer. That level of hockey IQ is just something that is so hard to find, in my opinion.

Charles Alexis Legault scored the final goal for Carolina, beating Annunen clean after activating from the blueline.

He looks the role of a steady NHL defender and I wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot at some point if injuries pop up.

It's hard enough for a promising prospect to make the Canes' current roster, so it's almost a zero percent chance that one of the PTO players will earn a contract in Raleigh.

But those guys are certainly putting their best foot forward regardless.

"That's what you would expect," Brind'Amour said. "These guys come in without security and they're trying to prove themselves and they've all done a nice job."

Kevin Labanc, who earned a contract with Columbus after signing a PTO with New Jersey last year, has been given ample opportunity and he's making the most of it.

"It's a showcase," Labanc said. "You're out there giving it your all and proving that you can play the game and proving you can play the system."

He's played in all four preseason games so far for Carolina and after recording an assist in each of the first three, he got into a fight in this one against Nashville.

Labanc was none too happy to see Oasiz Weisblatt take a run at Tyson Jost and the veteran immediately threw off the gloves and came to his teammates defense.

"I just saw someone take a liberty with one of our guys and so I stuck up for him," Labanc said.

Another solid performance from Cayden Primeau.

The newly acquired netminder stopped 18 shots in his second preseason appearance and looks to be a steady presence so far in net for Carolina.

The Hurricanes know that they're more than likely going to need him at some point, so it's good that he's looking good early.

"There's a good chance that we're going to need him at some point just based on history," Brind'Amour said. "Hopefully we don't have what we had last year, but it's very, very important in today's game — the way goalies... the wear and tear on them — to have that guy you can count on. Only two starts, but they've both been solid." 

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We're officially 10 days into Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, and if one thing is for certain, there has been a ton of competition. 

On Saturday, the Penguins cut 15 players from their roster, reducing their training camp number to 58. There is a healthy mix of roster locks as well as veterans and prospects trying to assert themselves into the conversation for a roster spot. 

When examining how the prospects - in this case, players who have 25 NHL games or less under their belt - have performed up to this point, there have been some standouts, some surprises, and some letdowns.

Who is most likely to crack the final NHL roster out of camp, and who still needs to show a bit more to keep themselves in the conversation? 

Here are some mid-camp prospect tiers.

Should be an NHL lock

F Ville Koivunen
Koivunen has stood out from the very first practice, and there is no reason to believe that he won't be on the roster come Oct. 7. He is clearly NHL-ready, his skating looks better than it did last season, and he hasn't missed a beat playing with Pittsburgh's top players throughout camp. 

D Harrison Brunicke
When I initially made this list, I didn't expect Brunicke to be in this spot. But he has earned himself at least a nine-game trial by being one of the three best defensemen in this camp, period. And the situation he finds himself in - either play the entire season on a terrible junior team that he's clearly outgrown or spend it developing on an NHL bottom-pairing - lends to him making the cut. A veteran like Connor Clifton may have to play the off-side, but the Penguins need to make it work. I'm convinced that the NHL is what's best for his development right now. 

Has earned a spot

D Owen Pickering
If we're being honest, Pickering should be a lock for the roster as well. He has looked every bit as deserving as Brunicke, and they have been a pairing for most of camp. The only reason he's not in the "lock" tier is because there are a lot of defensemen competing for spots, and Brunicke's situation is a bit more dire than Pickering's. Pickering would more than likely be the first defenseman called upon from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) if he does not make the NHL roster - especially since the left side is abysmal.

F Tristan Broz
Broz has, arguably, been the best forward prospect not named Koivunen in camp so far. He has shown off his versatility and - perhaps, even more importantly - his ability to put the puck in the back of the net. His responsible play in all three zones and his offensive upside should earn him a position when final rosters are announced.

F Avery Hayes
Right next to Broz is Hayes, who continues to get better and better. He played alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust in Saturday's 4-1 pre-season victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he didn't look out of place in the slightest. His forechecking and play-driving ability - as well as his tendency to hang around the net-front - have stood out amongst others during camp.

G Arturs Silovs
Silovs let in one questionable goal this pre-season in the Penguins' loss against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, but that aside, he has been really solid. With Joel Blomqvist injured - and development being the priority for another young goaltender - he likely has the inside track to be the second half of the tandem with Tristan Jarry.

Well, if the roster is going young...

F Ben Kindel
Kindel, 18, has been the biggest surprise of training camp this season. The 11th overall pick in 2025 has shown more NHL readiness than expected, and he - like Hayes - has not looked the least bit out of place skating with some of the Penguins' best players. In fact, he has gotten better as the competition has gotten better. A nine-game trial is unlikely because of the forward logjam, but if GM and POHO Kyle Dubas meant it when he said "the young guys are coming," Kindel has earned that through his performance.

G Sergei Murashov
Speaking of, Murashov has been far and away the best goaltender in this camp, and I don't think its particularly close. He is quick, athletic, and poised, and he didn't flinch when faced against a pretty decent Columbus lineup Saturday. There is a maturity to his game and his demeanor that is advanced for a 21-year-old, and he has been dominant. I thought he would begin the season in the AHL for certain, but given his camp performance, I'm not entirely sure that he isn't NHL-ready now. 

Show me more

F Filip Hallander
By no means has Hallander, 25, had a bad camp. He came over from the SHL on a new two-year contract with the Penguins after a standout campaign, he's a center, and the Penguins are down a center in Kevin Hayes. That said, I do believe there are simply other players - namely Broz - who have shown more than him up to this point. If he is to make the roster, he needs to separate himself more in these final days of camp.

F Sam Poulin
Much of the same applies for Poulin, who has actually had a pretty decent camp up to this point (aside from his performance in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the Penguins' first pre-season tilt). He has shown flashes in the practices that hasn't fully translated to game action, so he - like Hallander - needs to show a bit more over the next few days.

Wild cards

F Rutger McGroarty
McGroarty was just about a lock heading into camp - that is, before we became privy to his injury situation, which hasn't changed. He is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, and this is really unfortunate for a guy who probably should be on the NHL roster. The reality is, however, that he'll probably have to earn his way back to a spot once he returns - especially since others have shown more NHL readiness than expected. 

F Atley Calvert
In a lot of ways, Calvert, 22, is a bit like Avery Hayes. He doesn't play quite the same style, but his trajectory as an undrafted signee who impressed in the ECHL and AHL last season - especially in the goal-scoring department - makes him an interesting case. The cards aren't in his favor, but don't count him out entirely. And definitely keep an eye on him wherever he plays this season.

F Joona Koppanen
Koppanen is currently injured, but he is skating, and the Penguins generally liked what they saw from him last season. He's another center, which the Penguins value, but his injury situation is probably going to limit his opportunity to make the NHL roster.

F Aidan McDonough
McDonough - signed by WBS this offseason - has actually stood out a bit in this camp. He's almost the exact kind of Mark Donk-esque winger that plays a style complementary to Crosby, and he's looked pretty solid alongside Crosby in some short samples. His path to the roster is unlikely, but it's not entirely closed - and he's one of the hardest workers out there consistently. 

G Joel Blomqvist
Quite frankly, Blomqvist's injury - which will keep him out at least one month - came at the worst possible time for the young goaltender. He was the default competition for a spot on the NHL roster against Silovs, and with his injury, he will have to battle his way back into the mix. And - with Murashov in the picture, too - he'll likely have to do that at the AHL level as well. 

Long shots

D Jake Livingstone
Livingstone hasn't really shown that he is anything more than an AHL-level defenseman up to this point, and his age of 26 isn't exactly going to do him any favors in terms of asserting himself over younger players. 

F Nolan Renwick
Renwick - who was signed by WBS out of the University of Maine - will be a player to watch in the AHL this season, but he hasn't shown enough in this camp to earn a spot on the NHL roster.

D Chase Pietila
Pietila looks a step behind in this camp, and - although defensively sound - could certainly use more development before we revisit the NHL conversation.

D Finn Harding
I actually think Harding has looked better than expected at this camp, and I do think he could be in the mix for a roster spot next season with a strong camp. But the circumstances with Pickering and Brunicke and the other competition don't leave much room for him this time around.

F Mathieu De St. Phalle
De St. Phalle, 25, has been fine, but he hasn't played up to his competition in camp, and the fact that he is a bit undersized and gets knocked around quite a lot doesn't help his case. 

F Aaron Huglen
Huglen could, potentially, be a fringe option for the Penguins in the future. But after four seasons with the University of Minnesota, he could use some development in professional hockey first to get up to speed.

D Philip Kemp
There are a lot of defensemen in the mix at this camp. A lot. And Kemp, while serviceable, hasn't shown nearly enough to supplant anyone else up to this point. 

G Filip Larsson
Putting Larsson here was tough, as I do think he has been perfectly sound during the pre-season. But given how Murashov and Silovs have performed, I just don't think he has much of a chance right now. That could change in an instant if he puts up numbers at the AHL level, though - or wherever he ends up. He certainly has potential as a reliable NHL backup. 

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