For the last couple of years, the Montreal Canadiens had a little getaway to Mont Tremblant before the start of the season. This year, the getaway will take place in Quebec City, as the Habs are playing there on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators.

It remains a preseason game, however, and unsurprisingly, the Canadiens will not be using their complete lineup. Captain Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky will not be playing, just like Kaiden Guhle and Noah Dobson. Given the fact that both blueliners have been dealing with groin issues, their absence is not a shock.

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At the morning skate, the only line that remained the same as it was yesterday was the one formed by Ivan Demidov, Alex Newhook, and Oliver Kapanen. Zack Bolduc, who was put on the second line with Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine on Monday, will be skating with the center and Brendan Gallagher against the Sens. Meanwhile, Florian Xhekaj will be taking Gallagher’s spot alongside Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. In contrast, the fourth line will be made up by Joe Veleno, Owen Beck, and Patrik Laine.

This is an interesting mix; it gets a final audition for the younger Xhekaj, Veleno, and Owen Beck, but it also sends a message to Laine. If he wants a role in the top six, he’s going to have to earn it. He’s not with Bolduc and Dach tonight, and while it’s still early, this is clearly a way for Martin St-Louis to show the big Finn that he has some options this year and that he won’t be as patient as he was last season. This is Laine’s second year with the Canadiens, and while he didn’t play for the whole season during the 2024-25 campaign, he played enough to know what’s expected of him and what he needs to do at both ends of the ice.

Asked about losing an opportunity to see if he could create chemistry between Dach and Laine on Tuesday night, the bench boss replied:

Not really, it’s not like the players don’t know each other already. We’re trying to make up lines and see what they’ll give us so that we can keep evaluating.

On the blueline, St-Louis decided to do some mix and match as well. For the first time since the start of camp, Jayden Struble will be skating with Alexandre Carrier, who is already secured in the fifth defenseman’s spot. As for Arber Xhekaj, he will be skating alongside Lane Hutson, while Mike Matheson will be paired with Adam Engstrom.

Speaking about his lines, the coach says that the team now has a good idea who their first line is, but for the rest, they’ll see as they go. It’s not the first time the coach has said that, and it gives the impression that he wants to temper player expectations when it comes to time on ice. With more options come more possibilities to upset some players if they are not playing the role they would like to play. It’s a reality St-Louis will have to deal with this year, both when it comes to its even-strength lines and to the power play.

In net, St-Louis confirmed that Jakub Dobes will be on duty for the whole game, which is a hint that he’s done well enough to deserve to be Samuel Montembeault’s backup this season, just like he was to finish the last campaign. This is not good news for Kaapo Kahkonen, however, and he’ll more than likely be put on waivers soon to be reassigned to the Laval Rocket.

The coach plans to have a more complete team on Saturday when the two teams meet again, this time at the Bell Center. While St-Louis hasn’t said it yet, Samuel Montembeault will likely be on duty for that game.

The Canadiens will have a day off on Wednesday in Quebec, and they’ll then hold a couple of public training sessions on Thursday and Friday. They’ll be back in Brossard for the morning skate on Saturday morning.

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After the latest round of training camp roster cuts, the Philadelphia Flyers are rapidly approaching their final roster ahead of opening night to start the 2025-26 season.

On Tuesday, the Flyers said farewell to a number of their top prospects, including some who were in a realistic battle for an NHL roster spot.

Chief among those prospects is winger Alex Bump, whose lowlight gaffe and otherwise ineffective performance against the Boston Bruins on Saturday helped doom him to an AHL start with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Forward Anthony Richard, a 2024 preseason standout, was also placed on waivers Tuesday with the intention of being assigned to the AHL.

Among the other cuts were Denver Barkey, Alexis Gendron, Devin Kaplan, Emil Andrae, Helge Grans, Hunter McDonald, Ty Murchison, and goalies Aleksei Kolosov and Carson Bjarnason.

Of the players in that group, Andrae stands out as the real surprise.

Grans, having been placed on waivers on Monday and clearing waivers Tuesday, played himself out of consideration.

Injured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityIn what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured

Dennis Gilbert, Noah Juulsen, Adam Ginning, and Egor Zamula are all still in the mix for the Flyers, but Ginning is the only one who has been even remotely impressive or noticeable in a good way this preseason.

Based solely on merit, Andrae should have been given a roster spot, or at least a chance to earn one until the very end, but it would seem that head coach Rick Tocchet and the Flyers were gravely concerned about his 5-foot-9 size.

Andrae is waivers-exempt, so there's no real risk here, but it's hard to feel that the Flyers are icing their best possible lineup at this time.

With Bump and Barkey officially out of the mix, it would seem that Nikita Grebenkin and Rodrigo Abols have unblocked paths to NHL roster spots out of camp, and both players fully earned it if so.

According to PuckPedia, the New York Rangers have placed forward Brendan Brisson and defenseman Connor Mackey on waivers. 

The Rangers acquired Brisson this past season in the deal that sent forward Reilly Smith back to the Vegas Golden Knights. Following the trade, Brisson appeared in 16 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2024-25, where he posted two goals, four assists, six points, and 12 penalty minutes. 

Brisson was selected by the Golden Knights with the 29th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 24 career NHL games, he has recorded two goals, six assists, eight points, and a plus-2 rating. 

Mackey, on the other hand, recorded six goals, 14 assists, 24 points, and 102 penalty minutes in 66 games last season with Hartford. He also played in two NHL games with the Rangers during the 2024-25 season, recording zero points, five penalty minutes, and an even plus/minus rating.

In 42 career NHL games over five seasons split between the Calgary Flames, Arizona Coyotes, and Rangers, Mackey has recorded four goals, seven assists, 11 points, and 80 penalty minutes. 

The Philadelphia Flyers can consider themselves somewhat lucky that prospect defenseman Helge Grans went unclaimed on waivers Tuesday, but where do the two sides go from here?

Grans, 23, is still under contract through next season after inking a two-year, $1.58 million contract extension this offseason.

At the same time, though, he was considered a shoo-in for the Flyers' roster this year in the wake of Rasmus Ristolainen's injury, only to get cut before players like Noah Juulsen, Adam Ginning, Emil Andrae, Dennis Gilbert, and Egor Zamula.

That's particularly prudent, as Ginning had an awful training camp last year and played in only one NHL game, whereas Grans played in his first six NHL games for the Flyers.

Now, the tables have turned, with Ginning putting himself in the driver's seat for a roster spot and Grans enduring the disastrous training camp. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet prefers to have a lefty and a righty on each defense pair, which underscores how bad Grans was to get to this point.

The 6-foot-3 Swede was such an attractive prospect heading into his draft year due to his rare combination of size and skating ability, but despite that size and skating ability, Grans was uncharacteristically and regularly beaten to the net with speed in the preseason.

Now that he can start the season in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Grans will have an opportunity to impress Flyers brass and begin auditioning for another opportunity as soon as possible.

Injured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityIn what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured

Clearly, the moment was too big for Grans after an offseason full of hype and promise, but the opportunity isn't completely gone.

In addition to being under contract for two seasons, the Flyers just simply can't count on Ristolainen surviving the rigors of a long and arduous regular season any longer.

On top of that, the battle on defense for a roster spot has been so unflattering so far that anyone who makes the team can falter and open a place in the lineup in the blink of an eye.

The Flyers were probably wise to cut Grans from their roster before other teams had the opportunity to make their final cuts and the league-wide waivers carousel begins around the NHL.

The 23-year-old would have been far more likely to get claimed at the end of the preseason, though it's also possible that teams saw Grans's performance in the preseason and decided that if he can't make the lowly Flyers, he won't be able to help them, either.

Regardless, the Flyers have no reason to rush the process along. For Grans, it's now time to roll with the punches, learn from this experience, and return to the Flyers in the future as a better player.

The New York Islanders have placed goaltender Marcus Hogberg on waivers, which means that David Rittich has won the opportunity to start the season as Ilya Sorokin's backup.

#Isles have placed G Marcus Hogberg & F Matthew Highmore on waivers.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 30, 2025

The writing was on the wall, which had been the case ever since the 33-year-old Czech backstop put pen to paper on his contract this summer. His one-year, $1 million deal was never intended for Bridgeport. 

For Marcus Hogberg, he looked solid in his two preseason appearances, posting a 3.56 GAA with a .900 SV%, allowing three goals on 27 shots. 

His numbers were actually better than Rittich's, who recorded a 3.58 GAA and an .855 SV% in his three appearances, allowing eight goals on 47 shots.  

The biggest difference is the two's Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAA), if you believe in that sort of thing. In essence, it's which goals should have been stopped based on the quality and quantity of the shots. 

Rittich had a -0.56 GSAA, which means he stopped fewer shots than the numbers thought he should. Hogberg played to a 1.06 GSAA, which means that he stopped one more goal than the model expected. 

That mixed with how Rittich's 2024-25 season went, tying a career-low with an .886 SV% and a 2.84 GAA, could have people questioning why he won the backup job. 

It comes down to Roy's trust in the goaltender. 

In Monday night's 3-2 preseason loss to the New York Rangers, Rittich had a rough start, allowing two of the first three goals to go in -- two goals he'd want back. 

"I don't feel bad," Rittich said about how he's played this preseason. "It's just some sort of things. It's better when that happens in the preseason than in the regular season. So I hope I got rid of those unlucky bounces and bad reads by me. I just hope it's gonna get better."

When asked about Rittich's performance, Roy had this to say: 

"He said something that he had a couple of bad reads. But I will say this, he's a great pro, so I have no worry about him," Roy said. "I think he has the quality to be able to evaluate himself very well. And if he says that he had a couple of bad reads, I'm on his side. So I mean, I know that he's a great competitor. He's going to do everything to help the team, and I have a lot of trust in him."

Trust is the keyword, as it played a part in the Islanders needing to go out and get another goaltender this summer, despite Hogberg being under contract (with one year remaining at $775,000). 

When Semyon Varlamov went down in November, it took Roy a little bit before deciding that he trusted Hogberg with NHL minutes, with the veteran returning to the NHL following three seasons back home in Sweden. 

Once he got his shot, Hogberg played well. But after an upper-body injury before the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, he struggled.

Over his final eight starts of the season, he went 0-5-3, with a 5.00 GAA and an .821 SV%. That led to the Islanders going out and bringing in some competition, knowing that Varlamov would not be ready for the start of the season. 

However, if Hogberg plays well in Bridgeport and Rittich struggles, there's a chance that Hogberg could get NHL time. 

The key question here is whether Hogberg makes it through waivers, and what the Islanders do if he doesn't. 

Unless they are hopeful that another goaltender hits waivers -- maybe Boston Bruins Michael DiPietro or a Buffalo Sabres' Alex Lyon or Russian Alexandar Georgiev -- Darche may need to look at making a cheap deal because Bridgeport will need a veteran to pair with Tristan Lennox. 

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Max Pacioretty has called it a career.

The University of Michigan announced on Tuesday that Pacioretty, an alum, will join the hockey program as a Special Assistant to Head Coach Brandon Naurato. For the 17-year NHL veteran, this move to Ann Arbor is the natural endpoint for a career consistently plagued by brutal Achilles injuries."

NHL Veteran Max Pacioretty Joins Michigan Hockey Staff

Read >> https://t.co/oc2xbmgdel#GoBlue〽️ pic.twitter.com/oz4Z8yJG7p

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) September 30, 2025

"After 17 seasons in the NHL, I'm excited to begin this next chapter with Michigan Hockey," Pacioretty said in a statement. "I'm so thankful for the teammates, coaches and fans who have been a part of my journey. Hockey has given me so much, and now I have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of players. Michigan has a tradition of producing elite talent, and I can't wait to share what I've learned to help these guys grow on and off the ice. Just as important, this next step allows me to be closer to my family and spend more time with my kids. I'm going to be coaching my four boys in youth hockey and that's something I'll really cherish as a dad."

Pacioretty joined the Toronto Maple Leafs last season on a professional tryout before signing a one-year contract with bonuses that paid him $1.5 million. The acquisition for Toronto and his brief tenure was a low-cost, high-reward bet that paid off in some aspects. 

Why the Maple Leafs Signed Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz to Contracts Following Their Professional TryoutsThe Maple Leafs also signed defenseman Cade Webber to a two-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26.

Limited by the effects of twice suffering a torn Achilles tendon—a brutal injury that cost him the latter part of his career—he tallied a modest five goals and eight assists in 37 regular-season games with the Leafs. However, his value materialized in the postseason.

After Pacioretty was a healthy scratch for Toronto’s first two postseason games, he went on to score three goals and add five assists for eight points in just 11 games, finishing fourth in scoring behind William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Pacioretty's goal in Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators was crucial in helping Toronto advance to the second round, after the opponents erased a Toronto 2-0 lead.

After Toronto's playoff exit against the Florida Panthers, Pacioretty was reflective, citing the personal sacrifice his family had made while he played in Toronto. His family remained in Michigan as the player played in Toronto last year.  The opportunity to return to his alma mater as an assistant to the Wolverines program fits the personal needs of the player. He retires with 389 goals and 399 assists for 788 points across 939 games with the Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and Leafs.

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Brady Tkachuk is one of the most unique players in the NHL.

His blend of skill and physicality is unmatched, making him the preeminent power forward in the NHL. Since the beginning of the 2018-19 season, when the young left winger entered the NHL, there has been only one player during this span who has recorded 30-plus goals and 240-plus hits in a season.

It is Brady Tkachuk, and he has done it three times.

As meaningful as his individual accomplishments have been, Tkachuk has married that ruggedness on the ice by exhibiting a natural and comfortable disposition off it. Being around NHL locker rooms from a very young age assuredly helped him develop and prepare for a potential NHL future, but Tkachuk's charm and candour have helped transform him from being just another hockey player. They have endeared him to this community and hockey market, making him one of the most popular players in Ottawa Senators history.

Tkachuk's 2024-25 season made him one of the most marketable figures in the sport, and Amazon's Prime Video was there to capture it all as part of their second season of 'Faceoff: Inside the NHL'.

The storylines involving Brady were compelling.

The Ottawa Senators had missed the postseason for seven consecutive seasons, while Brady's brother Matthew had just won his first Stanley Cup in Florida. Brady and his wife, Emma, welcomed their first child, Ryder, into the world. Balancing family life and his philanthropic work while trying to push the Senators towards a postseason berth added layers of compelling stories before even considering Tkachuk's starring role playing for the United States in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off.

And Amazon had access to it all, inviting fans and media to watch an early screening of Brady's episode at Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne this past Wednesday.

The captain of the Ottawa Senators held court with the assembled media before the showing.

"I'm an open book to begin with," Brady stated while explaining what fans can take away from his episode. "To see the ins and outs at the rink and the stuff that people normally wouldn't see. Our team camaraderie, too. It shows our group and the city well.

"I'm excited for everybody to see a part of my life. It was an awesome experience, and I'm really looking forward to everybody seeing it."

Having the cameras constantly be around was a process that Tkachuk admitted he had to get used to.

"They did a great job of not being invasive or in your face," Brady said appreciatively. "Even in the room, you almost forget that they're there.

"They do such a good job of respecting your space, but capturing those moments that not everybody wants to (have seen). Those raw, emotional moments when not everything's all sunshine and rainbows. There are emotional moments, and I think they did a great job of capturing those."

Marketing and growing the game is an obligation Tkachuk recognizes and wants to help with.

"Growing up, I was always watching (HBO's) Road to Winter Classic," Brady acknowledged. "Seeing the behind-the-scenes (footage), I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.

"Now, being able to have this opportunity to do that for myself, and have the next generation of future fans and kids now look up to me and see not just a hockey player, but see how I treat my family. Family is so important to me. To have an opportunity to showcase yourself, and people and fans can be a part of it, to get to know that side of (me). That's a super cool opportunity."

Brady believes that fans will really enjoy the 4 Nations Face-Off footage, but feels that Amazon accurately portrayed the team's push for the postseason.

"At the time we started, we were right outside of a playoff spot," the captain recalled. "When I had this opportunity, it was just going to be meant to be. (Amazon was) going to capture this drought being over, and we're going to make the playoffs.

"To capture that ride and the highs and lows of that stressful time of the year (was important). It was the perfect opportunity to show the hunger, the drive, and what it took to get to the playoffs. It's going to be really cool for the city and the fans to see the behind-the-scenes of what it took to get there."

The episode even delved into the Senators' early-season struggles and the unfounded trade rumours that began emanating out of the United States. For a smaller market like Ottawa, the episode was a notable opportunity to showcase itself to a much bigger audience.

"(Amazon) did a great job (portraying Ottawa)," Brady said when asked about whether the series would help put this city at the forefront. "It shows us going to Icelynd with its skating trails and something fun that the city has to offer.

"For me, it's an honour to be able to represent this city and what it's all about. The passion and the care that everybody has in this city (comes through). I'm excited for everyone to be a part of this episode and for the future things to come.

Tkachuk's is the first of the six-episode docuseries that will launch on Friday, October 3rd. All six episodes will premiere exclusively on Prime Video.

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