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Sabres Notes: Luukkonen, Kesselring, Mrtka

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The Sabres issued multiple injury updates today, none of them particularly positive. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is dealing with a new injury unrelated to the one that’s kept him out of commission thus far, head coach Lindy Ruff told WGR Sports Radio 550’s Paul Hamilton. According to Ruff, Luukkonen’s injury will keep him sidelined on a week-to-week timeline, ruling him out for the Sabres’ season-opening contest and perhaps several more after that.

Luukkonen, 26, has emerged as the Sabres’ undisputed number-one netminder over the last two years. He was brilliant in 2023-24 posting a .910 save percentage in 54 games, but took a step back in 2024-25. (.887 save percentage across 55 games) With Luukkonen sidelined moving forward, the Sabres will turn to one of Alex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev as the team’s season-opening starting netminder. Georgiev was signed to a league-minimum deal just before the preseason, while Lyon signed a two-year $1.5MM AAV deal earlier in the offseason.

Some other notes from Western New York:

  • Luukkonen was not the only Sabre Ruff said would be out week-to-week: he also noted that defenseman Michael Kesselring would be out of commission on a similar timeline. That’s a tough blow for the Sabres, who acquired Kesselring in the JJ Peterka trade and had hoped his addition would go a long way to shoring up their defense. He still could, of course, but it now appears he’ll miss at least the start of the season. In his place, the Sabres could elevate Conor Timmins from the third pair to play next to Owen Power on the team’s second pairing, or Jacob Bryson could draw into the lineup to fill that role.
  • Ruff also said today that 2025 first-round pick Radim Mrtka is dealing with an illness and will be unable to play in the short-term as a result. Because of this, Rochester Americans defenseman Zach Metsa will be recalled to play in his place in the team’s final preseason game. Metsa, 26, is an NCAA National Championship-winning defenseman who scored an impressive 46 points in 69 games last year for the Americans. He’s expected to begin the season in Rochester, but if his stellar play continues he could be a name to watch for an NHL call-up down the line.

Seattle Kraken Sign Julius Miettinen To Entry-Level Contract

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The Seattle Kraken have announced that forward Julius Miettinen has been signed to a three-year entry-level contract. Per the team release, Miettinen’s new contract will carry a $975K AAV.

Miettinen, 19, was a second-round pick of Seattle in the 2024 draft, selected 40th overall. Ranked as high as 22nd in the public sphere (TSN’s Craig Button) Miettinen drew appreciation from scouts for his combination of size (he stands 6’4, 207 pounds) and offensive ability. In his draft season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, Miettinen scored 31 goals and 67 points in 66 regular-season games, and four points in nine postseason contests.

Last season was an up-and-down affair for Miettinen, as he managed to continue his steady production and earn a silver medal at the World Junior Championships, but did miss some time due to a lower-body injury. Miettinen is currently back in the WHL and has started off well, scoring two goals and four points in his first two games.

It is overwhelmingly likely Miettinen will not factor into the pro hockey equation for Seattle until his final junior campaign ends, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he enters training camp one year from now looking to steal an NHL role. Miettinen was recently ranked as the Kraken’s tenth-best prospect by EliteProspects, with their team noting how it’s “easy to see” Miettinen having an NHL career due to his projectable pro-ready qualities.

He’ll have to step forward and be a top WHL player with the Silvertips for that to be the likely short-term outcome, but regardless of his production, today’s contract signing paves the way for Miettinen to eventually push for a spot in Seattle down the line.

Training Camp Cuts: 10/3/25

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We’re getting into the final few days of training camp. There are only three days until opening night rosters are due, meaning only a handful of teams have significant cuts to make. Otherwise, it’s down to the final few roster battles. We’re keeping track of today’s demotions here:

Boston Bruins (per team announcement)

F Patrick Brown (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
D Frederic Brunet (to AHL Providence)
D Michael Callahan (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
F Riley Duran (to AHL Providence)
F Brett Harrison (to AHL Providence)
F Fabian Lysell (to AHL Providence)
F Georgii Merkulov (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
D Victor Söderström (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
F Riley Tufte (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)

Detroit Red Wings (per team announcement)

F Carter Mazur (to AHL Grand Rapids)
G Michal Postava (to AHL Grand Rapids)
D William Wallinder (to AHL Grand Rapids)

Nashville Predators (per team announcement)

F Zachary L’Heureux (to AHL Milwaukee)
D Tanner Molendyk (to AHL Milwaukee)

New York Rangers (per team announcement)

D Scott Morrow (to AHL Hartford)
F Gabriel Perreault (to AHL Hartford)

Pittsburgh Penguins (per team announcement)

D Sebastian Aho (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
F Danton Heinen (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
D Philip Kemp (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
F Joona Koppanen (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
G Filip Larsson (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
F Valtteri Puustinen (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)

Utah Mammoth (per team announcement)

F Ben McCartney (to AHL Tucson, cleared waivers)
D Scott Perunovich (to AHL Tucson, cleared waivers)
F Gabe Smith (to QMJHL Moncton)
G Matt Villalta (to AHL Tucson, pending waivers)

Vancouver Canucks (per team announcement)

F Nils Åman (to AHL Abbotsford, pending waivers)

Washington Capitals (per team announcement)

D Ryan Chesley (to AHL Hershey)
F Andrew Cristall (to AHL Hershey)
F Eriks Mateiko (to AHL Hershey)
D Leon Muggli (to AHL Hershey)
F Ilya Protas (to AHL Hershey)
F Sheldon Rempal (to AHL Hershey, pending waivers)

Waivers: 10/3/25

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Twelve new names are on Friday’s waiver list, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports relays. Out of the 22 names waived yesterday, three were claimed: Daemon Hunt heads from Columbus to Minnesota, Cole Schwindt from Vegas to Florida, and Ilya Solovyov from Calgary to Colorado.

Today’s placements are as follows:

Boston Bruins

F Patrick Brown
D Michael Callahan
F Georgii Merkulov
D Victor Söderström
F Riley Tufte

Carolina Hurricanes

F Givani Smith

Tampa Bay Lightning

G Brandon Halverson

Toronto Maple Leafs

F David Kämpf
D William Villeneuve

Utah Mammoth

G Matt Villalta

Vancouver Canucks

F Nils Åman

Washington Capitals

F Sheldon Rempal

Panthers Claim Cole Schwindt Off Waivers From Golden Knights

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The Panthers have claimed forward Cole Schwindt off waivers from the Golden Knights, PuckPedia reports.

Schwindt, 24, begins his second go-around with the Panthers organization. Florida drafted him in the third round in 2019, and he made his NHL debut for them a few years later before getting included in 2022’s Jonathan Huberdeau/Matthew Tkachuk blockbuster trade with Calgary. He stuck with the Flames organization for two more years, but only played four games for them before he was lost on waivers to the Golden Knights in preseason last year.

The Ontario native brings 49 games of NHL experience back to Sunrise, 42 of which came in a depth role with Vegas in 2024-25. His career 1-7–8 scoring line works out to 0.16 points per game and isn’t particularly inspiring. He’s only averaged 9:21 of ice time per game, though, and has produced reliable enough defensive results. In addition to recording 41 hits last year, he had a +3 rating and controlled 52.8% of even-strength expected goals despite a defense-oriented workload.

With Florida dealing with a difficult rash of injuries to their forward group, it’s sensible for them to bring back a familiar name. They still need to make a few cuts, and it’s not a guarantee he doesn’t end up back on waivers in the next two days, but he gives them an option with more recent NHL experience than Jack Studnicka, who’s still hanging around in camp and was projected as their 13th forward to start the year before Schwindt’s pickup. PTO invites Noah Gregor and Tyler Motte are still options to sign and potentially push Schwindt back onto waivers, though.

Avalanche Claim Ilya Solovyov

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The Avalanche have acquired defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Flames via waivers, according to PuckPedia.

Solovyov, 25, is in the second year of a two-year, $1.55MM contract with a $775K cap hit that he signed with Calgary as a restricted free agent in 2024. It carries a one-way structure this year, so even if the Avs managed to have him clear waivers and assign him to the minors, they’re on the hook for that full NHL salary. Solovyov skated in five of his 15 career NHL contests in 2024-25, posting an assist and eight blocks with 12 hits and a -3 rating while averaging 15:40 per game.

The 6’3″ Solovyov commands more intrigue because of his minor-league work with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. The Belarusian rearguard is coming off a career-high 6-22–28 scoring line in 59 appearances for the Wranglers, along with a +8 rating. A seventh-round pick back in 2020, he brings four years of professional experience to the Colorado organization that includes an 18-51–69 scoring line with a +33 rating in 229 career AHL games.

Colorado is weak on left-side defensive depth with NHL upside, so it’s not unsurprising to see them make a claim and give Keaton Middleton some competition for the No. 7 job while also providing a backup option if righty Sam Malinski struggles to adjust to playing on his off side, as he’s projected to do alongside Brent Burns. All of Colorado’s projected extra forwards who remain in camp are waiver-exempt, so they could carry 13 forwards and eight defenders to start the year with Logan O’Connor on injured reserve. That would allow them to retain Solovyov and Middleton without risking losing either on waivers.

Wild Claim Daemon Hunt, Release Jack Johnson

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The Wild have claimed defenseman Daemon Hunt off waivers from the Blue Jackets, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. The club also released Jack Johnson from his professional tryout in a corresponding move and summoned the previously waived Matt Kiersted from AHL Iowa, although that’s a short-term move to give him more preseason action before being returned to the minors.

Today’s move marks a reunion between Hunt and the Wild, who drafted him in the third round of the 2020 draft. The 23-year-old has only ever suited up for Minnesota in the NHL, but he only played one game for them last year before he was included in the early-season trade that saw the Wild acquire David Jiricek from Columbus. This is his first year requiring waivers to head to the minors, where he spent the vast majority of last season.

Hunt, a 6’1″, 201-lb lefty, will begin his fourth professional campaign in a more familiar environment. Drafted as a true two-way defender, his results in AHL Cleveland after moving to the Blue Jackets organization weren’t what Columbus hoped for. He only managed a 2-12–14 scoring line with a -8 rating in 48 appearances after the trade. That offensive output was down significantly from what Hunt had in the Wild organization with Iowa the year prior, logging 29 points in 51 games on their blue line.

In his 13 prior NHL appearances with Minnesota, Hunt had one assist and a -1 rating while averaging a minuscule 11:14 per game. His possession numbers were good in those limited, albeit sheltered minutes, controlling 54.6% of shot attempts and 57.1% of expected goals at even strength.

As such, he’s now slated for an opening-night job with the Wild. With Johnson released, Hunt is one of seven healthy defenders remaining in Wild camp, not counting Kiersted. Jonas Brodin has long been expected to start the year on injured reserve after an offseason upper-body surgery, and that hasn’t changed.

Johnson, 38, will now look elsewhere to continue his career. The veteran of 19 NHL seasons and 1,228 games was reduced to a No. 7/8 job on the Blue Jackets’ depth chart last year, recording six assists and a -13 rating in 41 games. With that stat line as his platform, interest will be limited.

Hurricanes Sign Givani Smith To Two-Way Deal

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The Hurricanes announced Friday they’ve signed winger Givani Smith to a two-way deal. He had been in camp on a professional tryout. The deal carries a $775K NHL salary and a $140K AHL salary with a guarantee of $250K.

A second-round pick by the Red Wings in 2016, Smith has become a journeyman over the past few seasons. Carolina will be the 27-year-old’s sixth NHL organization in the last four years. He split the 2022-23 campaign between the Red Wings and Panthers, spent all of 2023-24 in San Jose, and then split last year between the Sharks, Avalanche, and Flyers organizations. However, he never made an NHL appearance for Philadelphia.

The 6’2″ enforcer has gone 575 days since recording his last NHL point. He went without one in 13 showings last year and spent the back half of the campaign in the minors after clearing waivers. Since his debut six years ago, Smith has a 9-13–22 scoring line in 168 appearances with a -31 rating, 268 PIMs, and 330 hits. He’s averaged just 8:12 of ice time per game.

It remains to be seen whether the Canes keep Smith around for opening night or opt to waive him and stash him with AHL Charlotte. Considering fellow fringe forwards Juha Jaaska and Mark Jankowski are carrying day-to-day injury designations, it’ll likely be the former. He got a relatively long look in preseason, averaging nearly 13 minutes per game across four contests while scoring twice, adding an assist and 28 PIMs.

Smith beat out fellow PTO invite Kevin Labanc for a job, as well as first-round picks like Bradly Nadeau and Ryan Suzuki – the latter of whom managed to clear waivers this week. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Rangers Reassign Scott Morrow, Gabe Perreault

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As Monday’s opening night roster deadline nears, there are set to be some quite newsworthy demotions in the coming days. The Rangers made one this morning, assigning their top two prospects – defenseman Scott Morrow and winger Gabriel Perreault – to AHL Hartford, according to a team announcement.

Perreault and Morrow were the club’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked prospects by NHL.com this summer. Neither were locks to make the opening night roster, but both were penciled into a good portion of projections at the beginning of camp.

In Perreault’s case, it’s likely a matter of top-six ice time not being available. Alexis Lafrenière has settled back into a top-line role alongside Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, as new head coach Mike Sullivan looks to jumpstart the former first-overall pick’s production after a down year in 2024-25. The Rangers’ second line has filled up too, with Mika Zibanejad shifting to wing on a more permanent basis and William Cuylle jumping into a left-wing spot beside him and J.T. Miller following his breakout year. New York would be understandably reluctant to risk stunting their most promising young forward’s development by starting him in third-line duties on a team without a ton of bottom-six depth, so he’ll instead look to play a starring role in Hartford to begin his professional career.

Perreault, 20, was the No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 draft and has spent the last two years with Boston College, tearing up the Hockey East conference with 108 points in 73 career NCAA games. He turned pro at the end of last year and got five games with the Blueshirts, although he didn’t get on the scoresheet.

His demotion leaves the Rangers with 15 forwards on their training camp roster and just one cut to make to get down to the 23-player limit by Monday’s deadline. There are two spots up for grabs, meaning the game of musical chairs will leave one of veteran Jonny Brodzinski, rookie Noah Laba, and PTO invite Conor Sheary without a spot. Laba faces the longest odds; he’s waiver-exempt and doesn’t stand much of a chance on the roster unless he usurps Juuso Pärssinen as the Blueshirts’ No. 3 center to open the season.

Morrow’s demotion also comes down to roster math. The 22-year-old righty has Adam Fox, William Borgen, and Braden Schneider ahead of him on that side of the depth chart, meaning he’d either be ticketed for long stretches in the press box or someone would need to shift to their off side to get him playing time. The latter never happened in camp, so he’ll now head to the Wolf Pack to serve as their presumptive No. 1 defenseman until another NHL opportunity comes.

A 2021 second-round pick by the Hurricanes, the offensive-minded Morrow recorded six points in 16 NHL games with Carolina over the last two seasons. He was the headlining piece of the return the Rangers received from the Canes in the K’Andre Miller sign-and-trade this offseason. He had a 13-26–39 scoring line in 52 AHL games last year and will look to build on that in Hartford.

With Morrow gone, seven defensemen remain on the Rangers’ roster. That’s their likely opening-night contingent, meaning Matthew Robertson has all but locked up his first opening-night NHL job. The 6’4″ lefty was a second-round pick in 2019, but the 24-year-old only has bottom-pairing ceiling at this stage of his development. That means a No. 7 role is far less harmful to his development than Morrow’s. Robertson made his NHL debut for New York in a two-game call-up last season and is coming off a career-best offensive campaign in Hartford, where he logged a 1-24–25 scoring line in 60 games with a -5 rating.

Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton Out Week-To-Week

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Maple Leafs center Scott Laughton is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the club announced Friday. He was injured in last night’s exhibition loss to the Red Wings, Darren Dreger of TSN reports, although he didn’t appear to miss a shift. He’ll presumably start the season on standard or long-term injured reserve as a result.

Laughton, 31, is entering his first full season with the Maple Leafs, which acquired him from the Flyers at last season’s trade deadline. The pending unrestricted free agent had a spectacular preseason showing, notching a pair of goals and assists each for four points in three games. That’s a semi-promising sign after he didn’t factor in much offensively following his pickup last year. While Laughton has rattled off four straight 30-point seasons, he only had a 2-4–6 scoring line in 33 combined regular-season and playoff games for Toronto.

A decrease in production should have been expected with Laughton moving into a reduced role on a deeper Toronto offense, but that was a sharp dropoff from the 27 points he had in 60 games for the Flyers before the swap. Still, Laughton averaged around 13:30 per game to close out the year with Toronto, which would have been his lowest deployment in a full season since the 2017-18 campaign.

Laughton slotted in primarily as the Leafs’ fourth-line center after his acquisition and is widely projected to do so again this year, at least after he’s back in the lineup. He’s spent the vast majority of training camp between Steven Lorentz and 2023 first-round pick Easton Cowan, who looks primed to break camp for the first time and make his NHL debut on opening night. He’ll do so at a reasonable $1.5MM cap hit, reduced by Philly retaining the other half of his $3MM average annual value in last season’s trade.

While Laughton not taking up a roster spot on opening night makes life a little easier for the Maple Leafs as they look to clear their depth forward logjam, it doesn’t entirely remove the problem. David Kämpf, who routinely served as Toronto’s 4C before Laughton’s pickup, practiced in that spot today, per David Alter of The Hockey News, indicating his job is likely safe as long as Laughton’s out. They still have one forward cut to make to get down to 14, though, even with Laughton projected to land on IR. Not counting Kämpf, Calle Järnkrok, Michael Pezzetta, and Nicholas Robertson were the three forwards who didn’t play in the loss to Detroit that featured an opening-night preview. All are waiver-eligible, so barring a trade, one of them will land on the wire in the coming days.

Robertson, who’s on a one-year deal paying him $1.825MM and has averaged 19 goals and 32 points per 82 games over the last two seasons, carries the highest risk of a claim and will presumably remain with the club as a result. That leaves the veteran Järnkrok, who missed all but 19 games last year with multiple injuries and carries a cap hit of $2.1MM on an expiring deal, and the league-minimum enforcer Pezzetta. While the latter ultimately carries less utility, the former might have an easier time clearing thanks to his more consequential cap impact.

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