Cristall the Shootout Winner, Capitals Defeat Devils 3-2
On Sept. 28, the New Jersey Devils had a split-squad game for their fourth game of the preseason. While some of the Devils players headed up north to take on…
Monthly Archives: September 2025
Senators Shut Out Devils 2-0 for Preseason Victory
On Sunday afternoon, the New Jersey Devils had a split-squad Metropolitan matchup, with half of the club traveling to Québec City to take on the Ottawa Senators, and the other…
Jets Reduce Training-Camp Roster By 4 Players to 45
The Winnipeg Jets have made their second round of training-camp cuts, reducing their roster by four to 45. Forwards Jacob Julien and Fabian Wagner and goaltender Isaac Poulter have been assigned…
Jets Reduce Training-Camp Roster By 4 Players to 45
The Winnipeg Jets have made their second round of training-camp cuts, reducing their roster by four to 45. Forwards Jacob Julien and Fabian Wagner and goaltender Isaac Poulter have been assigned…
Sabres Make Roster Cut After Third Preseason Win
The Buffalo Sabres bounce back from a 5-2 loss to the Red Wings in Detroit on Thursday with their own 5-2 win over the Wings at KeyBank Center on Saturday afternoon. Tage Thompson scored a pair of goals in the victory, with Josh Norris, Rasmus Dahlin, and rookie Radim Mrtka adding singles. Alex Lyon went all the way for the Sabres, making 26 saves in the contest.
Just after the game, the club announced a massive 24-player roster cut, demoting 15 players to AHL Rochester Americans; forwards Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Konsta Helenius, Tyler Kopff, Olivier Nadeau, Viktor Neuchev, Isak Rosen and Anton Wahlberg, defensemen Isaac Belliveau, Vsevolod Komarov, Zach Metsa, Nikita Novikov, and Jack Rathbone, and goaltenders Topias Leinonen, Devon Levi and Scott Ratzlaff.
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Rathbone was placed on waivers and cleared on Sunday, enabling him to be sent to the Amerks, as were nine players on AHL contracts: forwards Matteo Costantini, Jagger Joshua, Trevor Kuntar, Redmond Savage, Graham Slaggert, Brendan Warren, and defensemen Aiden Fulp, Noah Laaouan, and Peter Tischke.
Helenius, 19, played well during the exhibition slate for the Sabres, but will benefit from more AHL experience and could be an option for an NHL call-up later in the season if he continues to progress. Rosen will be embarking on his fourth AHL campaign after leading the Amerks in scoring last season, while Levi (who was an AHL All-Star but went 2-7-0 in nine games with Buffalo last season) seems destined to play another year in Rochester, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen healthy, and veterans Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev ahead of him on the depth chart.
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"Found My Game Faster": Red Wings' Lucas Raymond Beaming With Confidence After Camp
It was decided by Detroit Red Wings general manager that Lucas Raymond, whom he drafted with the fourth overall pick in 2020, is a foundational building block.
To that end, he re-signed Raymond to an eight-year contract extension just over one year ago, ensuring Raymond would be wearing the Winged Wheel all throughout the prime of his NHL career.
Raymond responded in the first season of his new contract by establishing a new career-high 80 points in 82 games played, and as far as the Red Wings are concerned, the sky is the limit.
If Raymond's words last week are any indication of what Red Wings fans can expect from him this season, a new career-high in points could potentially be in the cards.
"I feel like I found my game faster than usual when you feel comfortable and up to speed out there," he said following Training Camp.
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It wasn't long ago that Raymond himself was a rookie who's place in the forward lineup wasn't a sure thing when he began his inagural NHL Training Camp in September 2021. Not only did Raymond claim a roster spot, but he firmly put himself into the conversation for Rookie of the Year by tallying 23 goals with 34 assists.
The honor ultimately went to his teammate, Moritz Seider, who also began his NHL career at the same time Raymond did that season.
Raymond knows what some of the younger players who are trying to establish position in the Red Wings' system and thus far have made impacts in pre-season play, including Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Carter Mazur, and Emmitt Finnie.
"I think a lot of guys coming up have had a really good Camp, it's fun to see," Raymond said of the numerous prospects who were present in Training Camp. "You see guys put their foot forward out there and try to make it as hard as possible for coaches and management."
Raymond also acknowledged that the skill of Detroit's younger players attempting to make the team have a motivating effect on the current players on the roster to up their own games.
"It's really exciting, and I think that just adds to it, the pressure coming from underneath and kind of puts a fire underneath everyone's ass a bit," Raymond said with a smile. "It's been fun."
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A Five-Year Glance At The Ottawa Senators Roster Overhaul
Five years might not seem like a long time, but in the NHL, it can feel like a lifetime. For the Ottawa Senators, the difference between their 2020–21 opening night roster and the group projected to hit the ice to open the 2025–26 season is quite staggering. In fact, of the 19 players who dressed for that first game in January of 2021, only a small handful would have any shot at cracking today’s lineup.
When you stack the two rosters side by side, the transformation is impossible to ignore. Ottawa has gone from a patchwork rebuilding lineup to a team brimming with talent and high expectations.
Players Who Wouldn’t Get A Look Today
Of those 19 players from 2020–21, the majority would have little to no chance of making the current Senators roster. Names like Matt Murray, Nikita Zaitsev, Christian Wolanin, Derek Stepan, Cédric Paquette, Josh Brown, Artem Anisimov, Braydon Coburn, and Chris Tierney are reminders of a different era — one where Ottawa was barely treading water. It was hard to say which was more severe, the volatility of Sens' ownership or the sluggishness of their rebuild attempt.
Most of the players above have since retired (Stepan, Anisimov, Coburn), shifted overseas (Zaitsev, Paquette, Tierney), or are now clinging to bubble status between NHL and AHL (Murray, Wolanin, Brown, Watson). Simply put, they’re no longer near the standard set by Ottawa’s current core.
Players Who Might Have An Outside Chance
Two others, Erik Gudbranson (now in Columbus) and Evgenii Dadonov (in New Jersey), are still in the NHL, but neither would have an easy time carving out a spot in Ottawa’s lineup today. Back in 2020–21, they were relied on as everyday players. Now, they’d be depth options.
Players Who Were Good Enough, But Moved On
A few names from that opening night roster remain good NHL players, just not in Ottawa anymore. Nick Paul has found a long-term home in Tampa Bay, Connor Brown is still in the league as a two-way forward with New Jersey, and Josh Norris was traded to Buffalo back at the deadline. All three were quality players who would still be assets in Ottawa, but the page has been turned.
The Pillars
That leaves just four players from that night who are still here and thriving: Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Thomas Chabot, and Drake Batherson.
Tkachuk, now captain, has been the heartbeat of the franchise for most of the past five years. Stützle, still a teenager back in 2020–21, has blossomed into a superstar center. Chabot remains a solid puck-moving top-four defenseman, while Batherson continues to be a consistent offensive weapon. These are the four building blocks that carried Ottawa through the darkest days of the rebuild and into what they hope is the start of a sustained run of contention.
When you step back and see that only six of the 19 players from that opening night lineup in 2020–21 would realistically have a place in the current roster, it underscores just how much things have changed. It also explains why it took so long to return to contention.
This wasn’t just about waiting for prospects to develop — it was about clearing out and replacing nearly an entire roster.
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LA Kings 2025-26 Player Preview: Liam Greentree
The 19-year-old winger Liam Greentree was selected 26th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2024 NHL draft and will likely not be on the official roster come the 2025-26 opening night, but the top prospect could make it sooner than people might think.
Who is Liam Greentree
Greentree has been one of the OHL’s most talented forwards with the Windsor Spitfires this past season, lighting the league on fire with 49 goals, 70 assists, and 119 points.
The size and height Greentree possesses are imposing, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing over 200 pounds, he already has a body ready for the NHL. Add his ability to drive the puck in the goal, the speed, and IQ, and it’s easy to see why he’s considered to have immense potential for the Kings' system.
Last season, Greentree took a massive leap in the OHL, demonstrating his offense, decision-making, and vision, making him a dual threat. Many analysts have highlighted his contributions and why he could be a top priority for the Kings this upcoming season.
The Ducks defeat the Kings 5-3 for LA's first loss in the preseason.
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) September 28, 2025
-Trevor Moore: 1 goal
-Cody Ceci: 1 goal
-Taylor Ward: 1 goal
-Liam Greentree: 1 assist pic.twitter.com/Nd8rIGQ0YD
Expectations for this season
Under different situations, Greentree might have found his way on the ice consistently throughout the regular season on a rebuilding team. Still, Los Angeles is in win-now mode, especially with Anze Kopitar announcing that this will be his last season with the Kings.
Kings are going to go all in on Kopitar’s last season and will look to raise another banner for the first time in over a decade. With their forward group already set, the organization has made it clear they’re choosing veterans with more experience over younger players who have no experience playing on the ice.
This doesn’t mean Greentree won’t be successful for the Kings organization, but it does mean that he will likely return to the OHL for another year, where he will play top minutes and further develop his game, rather than being limited to a bench role.
The Kings will closely monitor his progress, with a potential call-up later in the season or next season if an injury occurs or a player leaves in free agency.
Wonder if Tyler Toffoli's development pathway is a blueprint for Liam Greentree. Four years in the OHL with high production levels. Then a full year in the AHL with an NHL cup of coffee. Then a fulltime NHLer around age 22. @ByronMBader@NHLRussellpic.twitter.com/CSVNbFLiA4
— Marina Cities (@MarinaCities8) September 24, 2025
Long-Term Outlook
Again, while Greentree will most likely play out these last preseason games this weekend before being reassigned to the OHL, his future remains bright in LA.
In the next two years, he should be on the roster and play a pivotal role for a playoff-contending team that can drive the offense and step into a major role after Kopitar and other veterans ride off into the sunset.
Senators Shane Pinto Primed for a Big Breakout in 2025-26
There’s a lot of excitement around the Ottawa Senators this season. The team had a good showing in last season’s playoffs, pushing the Toronto Maple Leafs to six games despite…
Flames Must Accomplish the Opposite Of Last Season To Avoid 'Mushy Middle'
The Calgary Flames were a surprising team last season. While they didn’t make the Stanley Cup playoffs – that part was expected of them – the St. Louis Blues beat them out on a tie-breaker after the two teams levelled on points for the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Ultimately, this Flames team could once again be what they were last season – a 'mushy middle' team. A club that's too good to finish at the bottom of the standings and earn a top draft pick, but not good enough to make the post-season.
In this writer’s mind, that’s the worst place a team can be because you really have nothing to show for it – no elite prospect for the future, nor a playoff experience. Flames GM Craig Conroy has to be smart enough to recognize that and want more of this Calgary team from a futuristic standpoint.
The Flames should be setting themselves up for help from the draft in the next three to five years. Otherwise, the team could be mired in the mushy middle, always chasing their own tail, never quite finding the mix to give Flames fans something to invest their time, money and emotion in. It would be an emotional sinkhole, swallowing everyone and their pride in the process.
With that said, Calgary has players who, if traded, could accelerate their much-needed rebuild. Everyone knows Calgary star defenseman Rasmus Andersson will probably be dealt. Even Flames captain Mikael Backlund said it's "obvious" that Andersson will get traded.
NHL's Biggest Trade Bait With 2025-26 Season Almost HereIt is an exciting time for hockey fans with the new season approaching. Soon, NHL teams will be back to playing regular-season hockey, as it officially begins Oct. 7.
Star center Nazem Kadri could be another player that Conroy sacrifices down the road. However, Kadri's contract includes a full no-movement clause for the 2025-26 season. Unless the 34-year-old waives that clause, the Flames will have to wait one more year before exploring the market for Kadri.
Even after this season, Kadri has a 13-team no-trade list for the remaining three years of his contract, which pays him $7 million against the salary cap.
If all these circumstances of trading Kadri fall into place, only then can Conroy dangle his veteran in front of buyers.
Some have said Kadri’s $7-million salary is an obstacle to him being moved, but in an NHL where the salary cap ceiling is rising exponentially until further notice, taking on Kadri’s salary shouldn’t be a problem, whether or not the Flames retain some salary.
If they do retain in a Kadri deal, they’ll get better prospects and draft picks; if they don’t retain, they get Kadri’s cap space to invest in someone who isn’t approaching their mid-thirties.
By moving Andersson and exploring Kadri as a trade piece in the future, the Flames would be tacitly admitting that their current core just isn’t good enough, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. It could be time to change course from a future mired in mediocrity.
Predicting The NHL's Pacific Division Rankings In 2025-26As we approach September, it’s a great time to post some predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season.
For most teams, the only way you do that is to take a step back. There’s a reason why teams regularly tear it down to the studs. It’s the most reliable, most proven method to build a long-term Cup contender.
For example, the San Jose Sharks have traded away star players such as defensemen Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns, as well as center Tomas Hertl and right winger Timo Meier. In return, they received assets that aid the franchise's future and gave the team a better opportunity to receive a higher draft pick.
Now, the Sharks have one of the most exciting young cores in the league, including Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa from the 2025 draft, and more. It's all thanks to the hard decision of moving the aging core.
It’s far more preferable than running as fast as you can, just to make the playoffs and be roadkill for a team that’s at the top of your division.
Though the Flames surprised many by challenging for a playoff spot last season, this is still a flawed Calgary team that doesn't have the depth to get them through a competitive season.
Furthermore, the Pacific Division has gotten more competitive this past off-season. The Seattle Kraken and Anaheim Ducks, who both finished below Calgary last season, have made improvements this summer. There's a real possibility that either the Kraken or the Ducks push their way up the division, forcing the Flames to drop.
In many ways, that would be a good thing, because Calgary would benefit from bottoming out. It's not to say Flames fans should celebrate every loss, but the truth is the Flames do not have comparable talent to players like Edmonton Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid or Vegas Golden Knights’ center Jack Eichel. The only way they’re going to get one is through the draft. Thus, more regular-season pain is required for Calgary to make significant off-season gains.
Therefore, the organization needs a step back or two before stepping forward, and this year will be a year where they need patience and understanding as their youngsters develop and they make moves with an eye toward three or four seasons from now.
In sum, Calgary has to avoid being a mushy middle team at all costs. The only way to do that is to go on the competitive roller-coaster that includes a steep plunge before they can reach exciting heights again.
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