NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2026

by | Sep 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2026

Could the Canadiens or Oilers acquire Connor Hellebuyck? Where could Quinn Hughes end up next season? What’s the latest on the Blues? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons recently dismissed the notion that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck doesn’t want to play for Canadian teams, calling it “senseless.”

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Hellebuyck, 33, requested a trade and is currently suspended without pay by the Jets for not reporting to training camp.

“If he were dealt to Edmonton or Montreal, he would report in a minute,” Simmons wrote. “He wants out of Winnipeg, not because the Jets are lousy, but because his family has apparently been treated poorly by the local community.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In March, Hellebuyck spoke about backlash he and his family received on social media after he backstopped Team USA to gold against Canada in the Winter Olympics. However, he also said he wasn’t booed by Jets fans following the Olympics.

Hellebucyk never mentioned any poor treatment by the Winnipeg community during his end-of-season comments, when he was critical of his performance and that of his teammates. He instead spoke about how much he loved playing in Winnipeg and the connection he had with the fans.

THE SICK PODCAST: James Murphy reports an NHL source confirmed the Montreal Canadiens have not expressed any interest in Hellebuyck. The source believes Simmons’ report likely came from Hellebuyck’s camp, led by his longtime agent, Ray Petkau.

Assuming Hellebuyck would be interested in joining the Canadiens, Murphy’s source said the feeling isn’t mutual. “The Habs are very content with their goaltending situation right now and aren’t going to pay the ransom of roster players the Jets will want for something they’re not looking for right now.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ biggest needs are an established second-line center and an experienced right-shot defenseman. Goaltending isn’t an issue. They’re currently carrying Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, and Samuel Montembeault, with the latter regularly surfacing in trade rumors.

As for the Oilers, they’d probably love to acquire Hellebuyck, but they can’t afford his $8.5 million AAV and lack the assets necessary to meet the Jets’ asking price.

THE SCORE: Kyle Cushman, Sean O’Leary, and Josh Wegman looked at whether Hellebuyck or Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin would be traded first. O’Leary and Cushman believe it’ll be Hellebuyck, partly because his holdout could force a quick resolution.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m with Wegman that it’ll likely be Larkin before Hellebuyck. He believes there’s a larger market for a first-line center in his prime than a high-priced goaltender.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a well-earned reputation for patience when shopping players who have requested trades, moving them when he gets a return that helps his team.

THE SCORE: Cushman, O’Leary, and Wegman also predicted Quinn Hughes’ future. The 26-year-old superstar defenseman is UFA-eligible next summer, raising questions about whether he’ll re-sign with the Minnesota Wild or join his brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils.

Wegman believes Hughes will sign a three-year contract extension and the average annual value would be $19.5 million. O’Leary believes he’ll get traded to New Jersey, and Cushman thinks he’ll sign with the Devils next summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes’ future will remain a hot topic for speculation the longer he goes without a new contract. I think he’ll re-sign with the Wild because they should give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup, especially if they can suitably address their need for a first-line center.

32 THOUGHTS: THE PODCAST: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the St. Louis Blues could be open to trade offers for some of their bottom-six forwards.

Friedman said not all of their bottom-six forwards will make their team for this season. He believes Blues management have let it be known around the league that they have extra players to spare if teams are seeking roster depth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News listed Alexey Toropchenko, Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist, Jack Finley, and Dillon Dube as players who could be fighting for roster spots.

Gaudio suggested three of them could end up on waivers, where they could be claimed by other clubs. He also speculated that Pius Suter could be moved if Aleksanteri Kaskimaki or Zach Dean challenge for the fourth-line center role.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2026

by | Sep 23, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2026

Recaps of Tuesday’s preseason action, the Wild re-sign GM Bill Guerin, the Ducks have a new captain, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: Matthew Schaefer had a goal and two assists, and Matias Macelli scored twice and collected an assist as the New York Islanders nipped the New York Rangers 4-3. Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped all 10 shots he faced in his first NHL game since a knee injury sidelined him in November 2024. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his first preseason goal with the Rangers, who acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights in the offseason.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on shootout goals by Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum. Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist but left after the second period for precautionary reasons with a minor injury. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov also had a goal and an assist.

Anders Lee tallied twice in his first game with the Utah Mammoth as he led his new club to a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Lee signed with the Mammoth as a free agent this summer after 14 seasons with the Islanders. Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke had a goal and an assist.

Buffalo Sabres forward Noah Ostlund scored two goals and Owen Power had three assists to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1. However, the Sabres lost defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger to injuries. Samuelsson left in the second period after blocking a shot, and Zellweger suffered a concussion after being hit by Blue Jackets defenseman Carson Soucy in the second period. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will provide updates on both blueliners on Wednesday.

The Boston Bruins downed the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1. Michael Eyssimont scored two goals for the Bruins. Flyers starting goaltender Dan Vladar left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no post-game update on Vladar’s condition.

Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard tallied twice, and prospect defenseman Anton Johansson had four assists in a 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. John Gibston stopped 22 shots through two periods. Nick Robertson had a shorthanded goal in his debut with the Penguins.

The Nashville Predators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on an overtime goal by prospect Felix Nilsson. Matthew Wood scored twice in regulation for the Predators. Winger Jeffrey Viel tallied both goals for the Lightning.

San Jose Sharks rookie Ivar Stenberg had an assist in his preseason debut as his club dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Stenberg also scored in the fourth round of the shootout. Braedon Bowman scored the winning goal, and Carter Hart made 28 saves for the Golden Knights.

Calgary Flames forward Joel Farabee had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Farabee’s teammates Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin each collected two assists.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Viljami Marjala scored in overtime to give his club a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.

TWINCITIES.COM: The Minnesota Wild signed general manager Bill Guerin to a contract extension. Guerin was named GM of the Year last season after re-signing superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and acquiring defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. The Wild went on to win its first playoff series in 11 years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin is positioning the Wild as a Stanley Cup contender. He still has to sign Hughes to an extension and address his club’s need for an experienced first-line center. If he can address those issues, he could be in the running for GM of the Year again.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks named forward Mikael Granlund as their new captain. He replaced departed defenseman Radko Gudas, who held the role from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

TSN: Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said progress is being made in his contract negotiations with center Adam Fantilli. However, he couldn’t say if they were close to a deal.

Fantilli, 22, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He had 24 goals and 59 points last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sharp increase in player salaries this summer is the reason why Fantilli remains unsigned a week into training camp. He’s rumored to be seeking an average annual value between $13 million and $15 million, while the Blue Jackets are reportedly offering between $12 million and $12.5 million.

The Jackets have $11.7 million in cap space for this season. Once Fantilli is signed, they can exceed the $104 million cap by placing sidelined goaltender Elvis Merzlikins ($5.4 million AAV) on long-term injury reserve to start the regular season. However, they must be cap-compliant when Merzlikins is ready to return, which could force Waddell to make a cost-cutting trade.

THE ATHLETIC: Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer said family reasons were behind Brady Tkachuk’s trade to the Florida Panthers.

“Blood is thicker than water, and let’s just say that his father and brother got in his kitchen,” Andlauer said, referring to soon-to-be Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk and Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk. “Ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother. It’s a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa. And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady – even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some fans have accused Tkachuk’s father and brother of tampering. However, discussions among family members aren’t a violation of the league’s anti-tampering rules.

TSN: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league’s Board of Governors discussed expansion to Houston or Austin, Texas. However, they are taking a “wait-and-see” attitude to examine the pros and cons.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly met last week with an ownership group led by billionaire Dan Friedkin. Bettman said the league should know by the end of the year which market the group would prefer. “But we still and they still have a lot of work to do.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I predict the NHL will expand to Houston by 2030. It’ll take that long because a new arena must be constructed to house an expansion franchise.

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs is stepping down as chairman of the league’s Board of Governors after 19 seasons. His replacement is Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals forward Andrew Cristall was fined $2,250.86 for cross-checking Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald during a preseason game on Monday.

CBS SPORTS: Seattle Kraken center Jake O’Brien is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2026

by | Sep 22, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2026

Check out the latest on Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko and Stars winger Jason Robertson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: During Monday’s episode, Johnston and co-host Julian McKenzie weighed in on winger Kirill Marchenko ducking questions last week about his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko (NHL Images).

Marchenko, 26, reportedly isn’t interested in signing a contract extension with the Blue Jackets. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.

Johnston doesn’t believe those reports were misinterpreted or misconstrued. He thinks the Blue Jackets and the Marchenko camp will keep the peace for this season. However, he anticipates the Blue Jackets will see how things unfold, suggesting they could look at the trade market to see what Marchenko’s value could be.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline noted that Marchenko’s deflating comments did nothing to explain or dispel the reports about his unwillingness to sign an extension when his current deal expires.

Portzline pointed out that Marchenko’s status as a restricted free agent gives the Blue Jackets more leverage than if he were unrestricted. They’ll still own his rights when his current contract expires. He also stated that Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness has had no issues with Marchenko’s attitude in training camp, nor have his teammates.

TSN 1050: During an appearance on “FirstUp”, Darren Dreger noted the offseason trade rumors linking Marchenko to the Montreal Canadiens. However, the problem for any club interested in the scoring winger is finding sufficient salary-cap space to sign him.

According to Dreger, it’s bad enough that a team must give up significant assets to acquire Marchenko. On top of that, his new club would have to come up with a significant salary to re-sign him. Dreger suggested it could be around $12 million per season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes, it’s fun to speculate about what teams might be interested in Marchenko and what the Blue Jackets’ asking price might be. However, paying the winger will be expensive.

The Canadiens have projected salary cap space of over $29 million, with 14 active roster players under contract. They must re-sign or replace UFA-eligible players like Chris Kreider, Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson, Alexandre Carrier, Kirby Dach, and Samuel Montembeault.

Oliver Kapanen, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble will be RFAs who must be signed or traded. Promising prospects Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky could also sign their entry-level contracts next year.

Assuming Dreger’s correct that it’ll cost $12 million annually for Marchenko, that’ll blow a big hole in the Canadiens’ cap space, potentially complicating efforts to retain some of those UFAs and RFAs, and could be an additional complication when trying to fit Hage or Zharovsky into the roster for next season.

That’s not to suggest that the Canadiens won’t make any significant additions. However, their preference could be a player with a contract that fits more comfortably within their salary-cap payroll.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill considers re-signing Jason Robertson to be a priority this season.

Robertson, 26, signed a one-year, $12 million contract following contentious negotiations. At one point, he seemed on the verge of being traded to the Seattle Kraken, but that deal fell through when he refused to sign with the Kraken.

Nill said he met with Robertson and his family to mend the relationship. He remains hopeful of re-signing Robertson within the Stars’ salary-cap constraints.

The earliest the two sides can start extension talks is Jan. 1. LeBrun speculated the idea of reaching UFA status could weigh heavily on Robertson by then. It doesn’t make sense for the Stars to move him at the March trade deadline if they expect to be a Stanley Cup contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars have a projected $39.2 million salary-cap space for 2027-28 with 12 active roster players signed. They have sufficient room to re-sign Robertson, though the asking price could jump to $18 million if he has another 90-point season.

How this season unfolds could determine Robertson’s future in Dallas. If they’re still in Stanley Cup contention, they’ll likely hang onto him for the playoffs and try to work something out before July 1.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2026

by | Sep 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2026

Recaps of Monday’s preseason action, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: Defenseman Bowen Byram made an impressive debut with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring in overtime to complete a hat trick and defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3. Byram was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 23, signing a six-year, $75 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value) on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram’s performance in this contest bodes well for what the Blackhawks expect from him as their new No. 1 defenseman.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Lane Hutson had the primary assists on both goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield also scored in overtime during the Canadiens’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in split-squad action on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. Bryan Rust scored and collected two assists for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins sophomore forward Ben Kindel left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury. He was still being evaluated post-game. Before this game, the Penguins announced forward Blake Lizotte is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes snapped a 2-2 tie for a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Rangers prospect Adam Sykora left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period.

Washington Capitals forward Jonny Brodzinski tallied two goals as his club defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Flyers forward Denver Barkey left his contest early in the second period with a lower-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets blanked the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Jet Greaves turned in a 16-save shutout, and Conor Garland scored the winning goal. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro left this game with an upper-body injury.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner kicked out 31 shots in his debut with the Winnipeg Jets in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Gabriel Vilardi scored and added an assist, and Josh Morrissey collected two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner joined the Jets as a free agent this summer. He’ll be their starting goaltender, with Connor Hellebuyck likely having played his final game for the Jets. Hellebuyck requested a trade and is currently suspended without pay for not reporting to training camp.

The Dallas Stars nipped the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Casey DeSmith stopped 30 shots, and Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist scored for the Stars. Jonatan Berggren replied for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker missed this game with an injured knee suffered during practice on Sunday.

HEADLINES

THE SCORE: Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour wouldn’t mind if the NHL abolished preseason play.

“Guys just want to play. Guys just want to drop the puck and start for real,” Brind’Amour told TSN’s “Overdrive” on Monday. “They don’t like practicing – nobody does.”

Brind’Amour said he’d be fine with the league going to 86 regular-season games and no preseason. He pointed out that players are already well-conditioned and there are few available roster spots compared to previous years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL isn’t likely to take Brind’Amour’s advice, but it would be interesting to see how many players, coaches, and general managers share his view.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Sam Steel signed a four-year contract extension worth $14.8 million ($3.7 million AAV).

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua’s status for the season opener is uncertain after battling an injury through the opening days of training camp.

TSN: Former NHL forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement after playing five games with KHL team Ak Bars Kazan.

Hayes, 35, spent 12 seasons in the NHL from 2014-15 to 2025-26 with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 185 goals and 261 assists for 446 points in 805 regular-season games, and 26 points in 56 playoff contests.

OTTAWA SUN: Former NHL coach Jacques Martin, 73, is considering retirement. Martin was part of the Senators’ front office, but confirmed on Friday that he’s no longer with the organization.

Martin coached 18 seasons as an NHL head coach from 1986-87 to 2023-24 with the St. Louis Blues, Senators, Florida Panthers, and Montreal Canadiens. He holds the Senators record for wins (367) and won the Jack Adams Award in 1998-99. Martin won the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

RG MEDIA: Marco D’Amico interviewed University of Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato on his plans for the upcoming season with one of the NCAA’s most talented hockey rosters.

Promising youngsters Landon DuPont, Cam Reid, and Henry Mews will join Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff, and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jayden Perron this season.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 21, 2026

by | Sep 21, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 21, 2026

How will the Avalanche replace Valeri Nichushkin? Could a former Canadiens winger be a fit with the Red Wings? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak wondered how the Colorado Avalanche will adjust to the absence of Valeri Nichushkin, who was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the offseason.

Former Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (NHL Images).

“When Nichushkin was available and in form, he was one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL,” Masisak wrote, describing him as a “massively valuable player on a team-friendly contract.”

Masisak asked how the Avalanche could replace Nichushkin, especially after trading him for salary-cap reasons.

The Avalanche signed free-agent winger Jaden Schwartz to replace some of Nichushkin’s offense. They could look to veterans such as Artturi Lehkonen, Nicolas Roy, or recently acquired Zachary L’Heureux to help fill the void on the penalty kill.

Masisak noted that Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic plans to accumulate salary-cap space during this season to have more available at the March 1 trade deadline. He could use that space at the deadline to add an impact forward if necessary to solve the riddle of replacing Nichushkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I realize this isn’t a trade rumor, but it will be worth monitoring as the season progresses. The Avalanche could surface in the rumor mill if they can’t adequately replace Nichushkin from within during this season.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently wondered if former Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine would be a fit with the Detroit Red Wings.

LeBrun cited a piece by Max Bultman in The Athletic about whether recently acquired winger Viktor Arvidsson might help the Red Wings’ scoring at even strength.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine is among the few notable players remaining in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. The Canadiens mostly used the 28-year-old winger as a power-play specialist. He might help the Red Wings on the man advantage, but less so at even strength.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2026

by | Sep 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2026

Recapping Sunday’s preseason action, plus the latest on the Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson, Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm, Sabres forward Jiri Kulich, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Brady Tkachuk had a Gordie Howe hat trick in his debut with the Florida Panthers as they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 in preseason action on Sunday. Tkachuk scored twice, collected an assist, and received a major penalty for fighting Hurricanes prospect defenseman Charles Alexis Legault.

Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthew Tkachuk had the primary assist on Brady’s first goal. Team captain Aleksander Barkov also assisted on Tkachuk’s goal and scored the Panthers’ second goal. It’s the first time he’s played with his teammates since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year’s training camp.

Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke tallied a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Ducks defenseman Tristan Luneau had a goal and two assists.

The Boston Bruins nipped the Washington Capitals 3-2 on James Hagens’s shootout goal. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy scored the tying goal late in the third period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McAvoy must make the most of the shortened preseason. He will miss the first six games of the upcoming regular season serving a suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson in Game 6 of their 2026 first-round playoff series.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman logged over 19 minutes of ice time during his club’s 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators. It was Hedman’s first game since taking a personal leave of absence on March 19. Ilya Mikhayev scored and John Carlson collected an assist in their debuts with the Lightning.

The Colorado Avalanche downed the Utah Mammoth 4-1. Brock Nelson scored and Gavin Brindley had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche.

New Jersey Devils forward Connor Brown scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Devils goaltender David Rittich stopped 23 shots for the win.

The Seattle Kraken doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2.

MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings face a challenge getting center Dylan Larkin and defenseman Simon Edvinsson ready for the upcoming season during the shortened four-game preseason.

Larkin, 30, missed the first four days of training camp with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Edvinsson remains an unsigned restricted free agent. He’s skating with his teammates during practice but cannot scrimmage with them or play in preseason games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edvinsson wouldn’t be in this position had the Red Wings resolved their search for a new general manager before training camp opened last week. He might be signed by now if assistant GM Shawn Horcoff had been named interim GM in July or August instead of last week.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Eyebrows were raised when Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm was skating in a third-pairing role during the first two days of training camp. However, head coach Mike Babcock explained that the 36-year-old Ekholm was with Shakir Mukhamadullin to help the latter adjust to a new team and surroundings. The Oilers acquired Mukhamadullin from the San Jose Sharks in July as part of the return in the Darnell Nurse trade.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich is thrilled to be scrimmaging with his teammates after being sidelined since Nov. 10 with a blood clot.

“It’s unreal,” Kulich said. “I can’t even describe the feeling. It’s just unreal seeing everyone, being around them, and being with them on the ice is just, yeah, it’s pretty special.

THE ATHLETIC: Egor Chinakhov is looking forward to his first full season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 25-year-old forward was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, and went on to a career-best season with 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games in Pittsburgh after netting just six points in 29 games with the Blue Jackets.