Summer Synopsis: Florida Panthers
With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective. Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled. Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason. Next up is a look at the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers are poised to make history as they aim for their third consecutive Stanley Cup title this season. They are only the third team during the salary cap era to repeat as champions and hope to become the first to three-peat. It’s within the realm of possibility for the Panthers to make history, as they are bringing back almost all the key components of last year’s roster after Bill Zito orchestrated a masterclass by locking up key free agents below market value. While some might say it’s easier to attract players to a city with advantageous tax benefits, players hadn’t been eager to sign with the Panthers in the 25 years before 2022, which reflects the culture of winning that the team has fostered in Florida.
Draft
4-112 – LW Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, Frölunda HC (J20 Sweden)
4-128 – LW Shea Busch, Everett (WHL)
5-129 – RW Shamar Moses, North Bay (OHL)
6-192 – RW Arvid Drott, Djurgårdens IF (J20 Sweden)
7-197 – D Brendan Dunphy, Wenatchee (WHL)
7-224 – G Yegor Midlak, Spartak Moscow Jr. (MHL)
The Panthers didn’t get to pick until the fourth round of the draft, and with their first pick, they selected what they hope will be a power forward in Klyvø. The native of Frederikshavn, Denmark, is an above-average skater and is difficult to move off the puck thanks to a stride that relies on a low center of gravity. He doesn’t have high-end skill, but he could develop into a net front presence as well as a relentless forechecker.
Also in the fourth round, the Panthers selected another potential power forward in Busch. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native is strong on his skates and tough to knock off the puck. He has all the tools to become a net-front presence and has an underrated touch around the net.
In the fifth round, the Panthers chose to pick another forward in Moses. Moses is a savvy late-draft choice because he is the type of high-reward player who could develop into a skilled NHL player if his growth continues to progress nicely. Moses has good hands, solid vision, and a terrific shot, but whether he can carry these talents beyond the OHL remains uncertain. If he can, the Panthers might have found a steal.
In the sixth round, the Panthers selected another power forward in Drott, who may not stand out in any one area but has a well-rounded game. Drott willingly takes the puck to the net to create scoring opportunities and uses his solid frame to set picks, giving his teammates chances to score. He battles along the boards and in the defensive zone to gain puck possession and is likely to be popular with his teammates because of his selfless style of play.
Trade Acquisitions
G Daniil Tarasov (from Columbus)
The Panthers acquired Tarasov from the Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. It was a worthwhile gamble for Florida as they aimed to add depth behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Not long ago, many believed Tarasov was a future starter for the Blue Jackets, but after moving to North America, he was used sparingly, which slowed his development. Tarasov dressed in 21 games over his first two NHL seasons and never managed a prolonged, solid stretch of play. In the 2023-24 season, Tarasov found some consistency, posting an 8-11-3 record with a .908 SV% and 3.18 GAA. While his traditional stats weren’t remarkable, his underlying numbers told a different story—he posted a goals saved above expected of 0.0 in 24 games. Tarasov was likely a non-tender candidate in Columbus and is essentially playing for his NHL career this season. He will look to prove himself in Florida behind a much stronger team, which he hasn’t experienced during his brief NHL career.
UFA Signings
G Brandon Bussi (one year, $775K)*
F Nolan Foote (one year, $775K)*
F Noah Gregor (one year, $775K)*
F Luke Kunin (one year, $775K)
F Tomas Nosek (one year, $775K)^
D Jeff Petry (one year, $775K)
F Jack Studnicka (one year, $775K)*
*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing
The Panthers faced the formidable challenge of starting the offseason with three key players from their championship roster about to become unrestricted free agents. General manager Bill Zito worked hard to secure long-term contracts for Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett, leaving him with little to worry about on July 1st. Nonetheless, he still pursued inexpensive depth options, aiming to strengthen the lower end of his roster with the remaining cap space.
Petry was signed to play bottom-pairing minutes for league minimum, and he represents a worthwhile gamble given his resume. At 37, he is no longer a top-four defenseman, but given his role with Florida, he doesn’t need to be. In Detroit, Petry was averaging nearly 19 minutes per game, which was excessive considering his age and skill set. However, with the Panthers, it appears Petry will settle into roughly 14-15 minutes per game, which is more reasonable. He isn’t going to control play like he once did, but he should be a steady presence on the bottom pair, and if he isn’t, the Panthers can easily move on and look for another option.
Bringing back Nosek was an obvious choice for the Panthers, given the low cost and minimal maintenance required. Nosek is a straightforward forward who won’t score much but is steady and dependable on the fourth line. He is expected to play around 10 minutes a night once he recovers, but it seems likely that he will miss the first few months of the season. Versatile, Nosek can also fill in on the wing, but he shouldn’t be moved up the lineup and, unless injuries occur, he probably won’t be.
Kunin’s signing offers another affordable option who can play in the bottom six. The 27-year-old, surprisingly in his ninth NHL season, continues to find opportunities in the league but did take a significant pay cut for the upcoming season after earning over $2.75MM in each of the previous three years. Kunin hits hard and has no trouble reaching the front of the net, which will be valuable in Florida, where he will play alongside skilled depth players who can pass the puck to that area. While Kunin won’t produce much offense, he can contribute on the forecheck and serve as a leader in the Panthers’ dressing room. They could certainly improve by finding a more skilled option than Kunin, but given where the team stands, his signing aligns with their current needs.
RFA Re-Signings
D Mike Benning (one year, $775K)*
D Toby Bjornfot (one year, $775K)*
F Mackie Samoskevich (one year, $775K)
F Wilmer Skoog (one year, $775K)*
G Daniil Tarasov (one year, $1.05MM)
*-denotes two-way contract
The Panthers didn’t have much work to do this summer on the RFA front since most of the deals they signed were two-way contracts with cap hits at the NHL minimum. The exceptions were Samoskevich and Tarasov, who both signed one-way contract extensions.
After finishing 11th in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year, Samoskevich was probably hoping to secure a contract above the NHL minimum. However, with his 10.2(c) status, he lacked significant leverage in negotiations. He chose a guaranteed one-way salary instead of a two-way qualifying offer, which would have provided a higher NHL salary but only a fraction of the league minimum if demoted to the AHL. While this is a bit of a setback for a player who had a strong rookie season, it opens the door for the 22-year-old to earn significantly more next summer when he has more rights as a restricted free agent. Hopefully, the Panthers will also have more room under the salary cap by then. Samoskevich scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 72 games last season and has already had a strong start this year. If he can improve on last year’s production, he might be looking at a multi-year deal with a salary five times (or more) his current $775K rate.
Departures
G Brandon Bussi (claimed off waivers by Carolina)
F Rasmus Asplund (signed in Switzerland)
G Evan Cormier (signed with AHL Charlotte)
G Kaapo Kahkonen (signed with Montreal, one year $1.15MM)
D Matt Kiersted (signed with Minnesota, two years $1.55MM)*
F William Lockwood (unsigned free agent)
D Jaycob Megna (signed with Vegas, two years $1.6MM)
F Jesse Puljujärvi (signed in Switzerland)
D Nate Schmidt (signed with Utah, three years $10.5MM)
F Justin Sourdif (traded to Washington)
F Nico Sturm (signed with Minnesota, two years $4MM)
G Vitek Vanecek (signed with Utah, one year $1.5MM)
*-denotes two-way contract
The most significant loss for the Panthers came in the form of defenseman Schmidt, who turned a solid season in Florida into a multi-year deal at $3.5MM per year. The Panthers couldn’t have asked for more from Schmidt, who arrived after a buyout and was excellent in a third-pairing role. The 34-year-old remains a decent playmaker, responsible with the puck, and capable of defending the zone, especially against entries and plays on the rush. As long as he isn’t asked to play too much in Utah, his signing should be a win for them. It did create a hole for Florida, but that’s what happens when depth players outplay their contracts and need to go elsewhere to get paid.
Sturm was another depth loss for the Panthers, but he likely wasn’t part of their long-term plans after he was acquired at last year’s Trade Deadline. Sturm remains a solid faceoff man who can still skate and get in on the forecheck. He will never produce much offense, topping 20 points just twice in his seven-year NHL career, but he battles hard for the Wild and lays the body fairly often. The Panthers shouldn’t have trouble replacing his production, and if they can’t find a suitable replacement, they should be able to acquire a depth player midseason to fill the gap.
Finally, the Panthers decided to let goaltender Vanecek go in favour of Tarasov, who will serve as the backup for now. It’s uncertain if Tarasov can handle the role, but Vanecek wasn’t exactly a reliable option either, posting modest numbers over the last two seasons with three different teams. Vanecek’s underlying numbers last year were probably worse than his traditional stats, as he recorded a -8.5 goals saved above expected in 25 games, indicating he was a below-average choice in limited duty. Suppose the Panthers need to find a goaltender later in the season. In that case, they should have no shortage of backup options, as players like Alex Nedeljkovic and possibly Vanecek will be available at a low cost.
Salary Cap Outlook
The Panthers are technically over the salary cap this season by about $6.1MM, but have Tkachuk and Barkov on LTIR for now. Tkachuk will return at some point this season, while Barkov could be out for at least seven months or more, which means he might return for the playoffs. The LTIR placements give the Panthers roughly $2.267MM in cap space (all figures via PuckPedia), allowing them to navigate injuries and call-ups and possibly make a midseason addition to their lineup. It’s not a ton of room for Florida, but their roster is pretty set as it is.
Next summer, the Panthers will have over $18MM available in cap space with 15 players signed, which means they will need to do some work. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a UFA and should demand a significant deal, which could use up half of the available cap space.
Key Questions
Can they win a third straight Stanley Cup?
It would be silly to dismiss the Panthers this season, considering they’ve won back-to-back titles and reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. However, the odds are against them in several ways this year. The injuries to their top players are difficult to overlook (we’ll address them later), and at some point, fatigue will likely catch up with them. Many forwards will need to play beyond their usual roles, which will be hard on their bodies, especially against more formidable opponents than they’re used to. Add to that the fact that many Panthers players have played a lot of hockey over the past three years, creating numerous challenges they must overcome to win another championship.
How will they navigate Barkov’s injury?
How do you navigate losing one of the best players in the world for an entire season? The Tampa Bay Lightning achieved this in 2021 for two-thirds of a season (a pandemic-shortened season) and made it work. But just because it worked elsewhere doesn’t mean it will work here. Florida will need the likes of Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen to elevate their games to the next level and take on a heavier workload, as the team may need to adjust lines to address holes created.
When will Matthew Tkachuk return?
Tkachuk is expected to be out until December, although GM Bill Zito’s timeline seems more like his best guess. Tkachuk is sidelined with a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia on the same side he injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off. His absence isn’t definite, but it seems unlikely to extend past January, given that the 2026 Olympics are approaching. Tkachuk is expected to return in the latter half of the season. Although the Panthers will face challenges with him and Barkov out for an extended period, they should have sufficient depth to remain competitive in the standings.
Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Buffalo Sabres
Navigating the salary cap is one of the most important tasks for a front office. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those who don’t often see struggles and front office changes.
PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2025-26 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of PuckPedia. We’re currently covering the Atlantic Division, next up are the Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres
Current Cap Hit: $93,341,521 (below the $95.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
F Zach Benson (one year, $950K)
F Josh Doan (one year, $925K)
F Jiri Kulich (two years, $886.7K)
Potential Bonuses
Benson: $650K
After a strong rookie year in 2023-24, Benson’s sophomore campaign was largely the same. While he didn’t take a step back in his development, he didn’t really progress either. While he’s someone the Sabres clearly feel will still be a part of their long-term plans, finding a price point low enough for them to be comfortable with and high enough for Benson to be happy with will be tough. With that in mind, a short-term bridge deal around the $4MM territory might make the most sense for both sides. He has three ‘A’ bonuses in his deal and if he stays in their top six all year, he could hit some of those.
Doan was one of the pieces coming to Buffalo in the JJ Peterka trade this offseason. He held his own in a bottom-six role for the bulk of last season with Utah but that’s not the type of player that typically signs a long-term deal at this point. A short-term bridge pact makes sense here, potentially in the $3MM area if he has a similar showing this season. Kulich showed some promise last season despite a relatively limited role. They’re hoping he can be a top-six center of the future and if it looks like he’ll be there at the end of this deal, a long-term pact could be on the table. The rate for that could be in the $8MM territory, even if he’s on the second line given the inflation coming to the cap.
Signed Through 2025-26, Non-Entry-Level
D Jacob Bryson ($900K, UFA)
D Michael Kesselring ($1.4MM, RFA)
F Peyton Krebs ($1.45MM, RFA)
F Beck Malenstyn ($1.35MM, UFA)
F Alex Tuch ($4.75MM, UFA)
Tuch’s contract situation is one of the biggest discussion points in Buffalo right now. He’s a local player who has publicly stated that he wants to re-sign but no agreement has been reached just yet. Seeing the recent explosion of the winger market, it’s likely that Tuch’s camp is seeking to more than double his current price tag. He has only passed the point-per-game mark once in his career but with two 36-goal efforts over the last three seasons, he’s still producing enough that he could very well surpass the $10MM mark on his next deal. If Buffalo continues to struggle, his name will come up in trade speculation quickly so it wouldn’t be surprising to see both sides plug away at this in the coming weeks.
Krebs bounced back last season after a tough 2023-24 campaign but he still hasn’t progressed to being a consistently reliable producer; he has yet to reach 30 points in a single season. However, given that he plays a premium position and has arbitration rights, he should be able to double this price tag next summer. Malenstyn wasn’t anywhere near as impactful in his first year with Buffalo compared to his 2023-24 season with Washington. However, with his physicality, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him pass the $2MM mark next summer, even as a pure fourth liner.
Kesselring was the other part of the return for Peterka and is someone Buffalo likely views as an important building block on the back end. He hasn’t become a full-time top-four piece yet but as a coveted right-shot defender with arbitration rights, he should be in a position to push for $4MM on a shorter-term deal while a long-term pact would likely run past $5MM per season. Bryson has been a depth defender for the last few seasons and is likely to remain in that role moving forward. That should keep him close to the minimum salary for next season and beyond.
Signed Through 2026-27
D Bowen Byram ($6.25MM, UFA)
F Justin Danforth ($1.8MM, UFA)
G Colten Ellis ($775K, RFA)
F/D Mason Geertsen ($775K, UFA)
F Jordan Greenway ($4MM, UFA)
G Alex Lyon ($1.5MM, UFA)
F Jack Quinn ($3.375MM, RFA)
D Conor Timmins ($2.2MM, UFA)
F Jason Zucker ($4.75MM, UFA)
Zucker and Greenway found themselves in similar situations last season, players on expiring contracts who were likely to be moved if they didn’t sign extensions. Instead, both worked out short-term deals that gave them some stability and kept Buffalo’s long-term options open. Zucker’s trips through free agency haven’t always proven fruitful but if he stays in the 50-point range the next couple of years, he could land a small raise and a multi-year pact, even as a 35-plus contract. As for Greenway, he has been the beneficiary of the power forward premium. When healthy, he struggles to reach 30 points and even staying in the lineup has been a concern. But given his size, physicality, and defensive acumen, there’s a high enough floor that Buffalo was willing to pay a premium on. He’ll need to produce a bit more if he wants to beat this by any sort of significant amount.
Quinn wasn’t quite able to live up to offensive expectations last season, resulting in this bridge deal getting signed back in June. Both sides will be hoping that he will be able to take that step forward and become a legitimate top-six piece. If that happens, he could plausibly push past $6MM or more two years from now. Danforth came over from Columbus in free agency as a versatile piece who can move up and down the lineup. But he will have to find a way to produce more if he is going to have a shot at beating this in his next trip to the open market. Geertsen hadn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22 before surprisingly making Buffalo’s roster in training camp. Unless he can establish himself as an every-game player, he’s likely to remain at the minimum salary in the future.
To avoid any risk of an offer sheet, the Sabres filed for arbitration with Byram this summer, setting him up for a two-year deal that took him right to unrestricted free agency. While they settled before the hearing, they couldn’t get any additional team control, meaning he’ll hit the open market at 26, in the prime of his career. Given how much salaries have exploded, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he pushes for a deal in the $10MM range on a max-term agreement. Timmins, acquired in a swap of third-pairing defensemen this summer, also managed to avoid arbitration with this deal. He has shown flashes of offensive upside over the years but has been more of a fifth or sixth option for most of that time. There’s a fine line to navigate for players in his situation as if he remains a lower-producing piece, the offers two years from now might not get to this level. But a few more points could propel him past the $3MM mark.
Lyon became a full-time backup goaltender over his two years with Detroit, getting into 74 games overall. However, his save percentage dipped to .896 last season which hurt his chances of getting a bigger deal this summer. Still, he did enough to get his biggest guaranteed contract. At this point of his career, it’s hard to see him moving into that top echelon of backups so while another small raise could be doable, he’s probably not going much higher than that. Ellis was claimed off waivers and has yet to make his NHL debut. Buffalo feels he has some upside as evidenced by the claim but when everyone’s healthy, he’s no higher than third on the depth chart. This doesn’t feel like a situation where he’s going to get a chance to play into a big contract but if he does well in limited action, he could land where Lyon is now.
Signed Through 2027-28
D Ryan Johnson ($775K, RFA)
F Tyson Kozak ($775K, RFA)
Both Johnson and Kozak are on identical three-year deals. However, with the minimum salary moving to $850K next season and $900K in 2027-28, their cap hits beginning next season should jump to $841.7K.
Kozak made his NHL debut last season, getting into 21 games where he did okay with limited playing time. He wasn’t a big point producer with Rochester either but the security of a three-year pact with two one-way years was enough to get him to sign. He’ll need to establish himself as a regular and make a bit of an impact to help his cause for a new deal as if he winds up with minimal production, he’ll become a non-tender candidate to avoid arbitration eligibility.
Johnson, a 2019 first-round pick, has had a limited role so far when he has played, including a 41-game stint in his rookie year. He also opted for the security of two one-way years while he looks to establish himself as a full-time defender. Like Kozak, he’ll want to be more established by the end of this deal to avoid being a non-tender candidate to avoid arbitration eligibility. If he’s a regular third-pairing option by then, Johnson could move up into the $2MM range on a contract.
Snapshots: Cooley, Davidson, Dubois, Wood, Didier
While the Flames didn’t claim any goaltenders off waivers this fall, it appears they’re not completely sold on Devin Cooley being the backup. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link) that Calgary has been talking to teams to see what other options might be out there. However, they plan to give Cooley a look between the pipes, potentially on Wednesday, in the hopes that he can play his way into securing this position. If the Flames were to trade for (or sign) another netminder, that would give them four on one-way contracts, typically not an ideal situation to be in. Friedman added that as Calgary searches for another goaltending option, teams are asking for an incentive to take on one of those extra one-way goalies, something they’re resisting. If Cooley does well and earns the trust to be the full-time backup, this will work out okay but if he struggles, expect to see them looking around the market some more in the coming days.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- It has been nearly four years since the Blackhawks promoted Kyle Davidson to GM with the team posting a 107-187-35 record with him at the helm. Despite their struggles, team owner Danny Wirtz gave Davidson a vote of confidence in an interview with Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, saying that “Everything Kyle set out to do, he continues to deliver on”. Chicago has been stockpiling draft picks and prospects for several years now in the hope that a contender can emerge from this group and it appears Davidson will have a long leash from ownership to see if that will happen down the road.
- Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois left Sunday’s game with an undisclosed injury, notes Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post (Twitter link). An update on his status is expected on Tuesday. The 27-year-old had a career year last season in his first year with Washington, notching 20 goals and 46 assists in 82 games during the regular season. He was off to a slower start before this injury though, being held off the scoresheet in his first three appearances in 2025-26.
- Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood left tonight’s game against New Jersey with an upper-body injury, the team announced (Twitter link). He took a high stick from Dougie Hamilton in the first period and did not return. Wood is in his first season with Columbus after being acquired from Colorado in the offseason and scored in his second game of the campaign.
- Veteran defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a PTO deal with AHL Laval, the team announced (Twitter link). The 32-year-old was drafted by Montreal (who is Laval’s parent team) back in 2011 but he didn’t sign with them. Didier has spent parts of 12 seasons in the AHL, totaling 496 games overall where he has 83 points and 530 penalty minutes. With his experience, he’ll count towards their veteran limit whenever he suits up.
Brett Leason Signs AHL PTO With Charlotte
Last season, unrestricted free agent winger Brett Leason saw some regular action with Anaheim, primarily slotting in on their fourth line. However, no firm contract has come his way just yet so to get back on the ice and playing, he has signed a PTO contract with AHL Charlotte (affiliate of the Panthers), per a team release.
The 26-year-old played in 62 games with the Ducks last season where he notched five goals and 12 assists in just under 13 minutes a night of playing time. That output was a little below his 2023-24 output when he had 11 goals and 11 helpers in 68 contests. While Leason was non-tendered at that time to avoid arbitration, he quickly re-signed a one-year, $1.05MM contract. This past summer, Anaheim simply non-tendered him and moved on.
Leason took part in training camp with Minnesota on a PTO agreement and got into four games with them where he was held off the scoresheet before being let go at the end of September, sending him back to the open market.
This will be Leason’s first taste of AHL action in a while. The last time he saw time in the minors was back in 2021-22 with Hershey when he was still in Washington’s system. He has 18 goals and 29 assists in 114 games over parts of three seasons at that level and will look to have a strong showing there to help lock down a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season.
Injury Notes: Sharks, Tkachuk, Raymond, Koepke
San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky told the media today that forward Will Smith is currently dealing with a lower-body issue, and while he should still be in line to play in tomorrow’s game, Warsofsky did note that this ailment is something Smith has been dealing with since even before Saturday’s game. In addition to providing detail on an injury to Smith, Warsofsky also revealed that 2025 second-overall pick Michael Misa will make his NHL debut tomorrow.
Misa, 18, will make his NHL debut in what is the Sharks’ third game of the season. Tomorrow’s contest will not just be Misa’s NHL debut, it will also be his first regular-season game of professional hockey, as he was drafted out of the OHL. According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, Misa was slotted into the Sharks’ third-line center position in today’s practice, hinting at how he’s likely to be used in his NHL debut. Given that the Sharks put Misa in between two players who have experience playing center at the NHL level (Ty Dellandrea and Philipp Kurashev) it appears Warsofsky may be trying to ease Misa, as much as possible, into the level of responsibility that comes with playing center at the NHL level.
Other injury updates from around the league:
- Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported today that Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was forced out of the team’s loss to the Nashville Predators today, stating that he is currently being evaluated for an injury after being on the other end of a Roman Josi cross-checking minor penalty. Tkachuk only managed to skate in 13:53 in today’s game, and although there is no further information other than Tkachuk being under evaluation, any injury he could suffer would be a serious blow to the Senators. He is among the team’s most important wingers and has started off the season with three assists in three games.
- Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond was forced out of today’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury, and head coach Todd McLellan did not issue an update on the forward’s status post-game. As Detroit’s leading scorer in each of the last two seasons, Raymond has emerged as one of the Red Wings’ most important players, and their undisputed most lethal offensive threat. While we await further information on Raymond’s injury, Red Wings fans will likely have their fingers crossed that his absence was more precautionary than anything else.
- The Winnipeg Jets announced today that forward Cole Koepke did not return to today’s victory over the New York Islanders due to a lower-body injury. Koepke was playing on the Jets’ fourth line alongside Morgan Barron and Tanner Pearson, and had registered an assist on Barron’s goal early in today’s game on Long Island. At this point, there is no further update on Koepke’s status. The Jets have 25-year-old Providence College product Parker Ford on their roster ready to enter the lineup should Koepke miss any time.
Carolina Hurricanes Recall Charles-Alexis Legault
The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault from their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. In a corresponding move, the Hurricanes placed netminder Pyotr Kochetkov on injured reserve, and made the move retroactive to Oct. 5 to provide some more flexibility as to when Kochetkov is allowed to be recalled.
The move puts Legault, 22, in line to potentially make his NHL debut on the Hurricanes’ western road trip this month. Legault’s recall appears at first glance to be directly connected to the injury news announced by the team related to top blueliner Jaccob Slavin. As we covered earlier, Slavin is currently being evaluated for an injury and may not travel with the team on its upcoming road trip. By recalling Legault, the Hurricanes have given coach Rod Brind’Amour another defenseman to work with in case Slavin misses some time.
Legault is a 6’4 right-shot defenseman who made his pro debut last season. His 2024-25 campaign was spent entirely with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, and he scored 14 points in 63 games playing a defense-first role. Before his days in the pro ranks, Legault manned the blueline for Quinnipiac University, winning the men’s hockey national championship in 2022-23 and back-to-back regular-season titles in the ECAC conference.
The Hurricanes have thus far absorbed the loss of Slavin by slotting veteran Mike Reilly onto the left side of their defense, but this recall gives them a right-handed option with which to further augment their defensive pairings. Reilly has the experience advantage over Legault (he has played in over 400 NHL games) but Legault brings an element of size and a physical edge that Reilly cannot match.
Should he end up making his NHL debut, Legault will become the third member of the 2022-23 National Champion Bobcats to make his NHL debut with the Hurricanes, joining forward Skyler Brind’Amour and netminder Yaniv Perets.
East Notes: Hurricanes, Samuelsson, MacEwen
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour issued injury updates to two key players today: Jaccob Slavin and Pyotr Kochetkov. As relayed by team reporter Walt Ruff, Slavin is still “being evaluated” for a lower-body injury, and is currently questionable to travel with the team on its upcoming six-game road trip. Additionally, Kochetkov will not travel due to his own lower-body injury, though they did add the caveat that he may join the team on the road at some point. Finally, Brind’Amour said that waiver addition Brandon Bussi will get to start a game “at some point” on their road trip.
While the full extent of Slavin’s injury is not known at this point, any extended Slavin absence would be a massive loss for Carolina. Slavin is the team’s most important defenseman and is in the eyes of many the league’s premier shutdown defender. He was the team’s number-one defenseman last season and averaged nearly three minutes a night on its penalty kill. Meanwhile the loss of Kochetkov is also notable, though the Hurricanes are more well-equipped to handle his absence. They already have experienced veteran Frederik Andersen on their roster, and Bussi’s resume from the AHL suggests he very well could be able to handle a backup’s workload while Kochetkov recovers.
Other notes from the Eastern conference:
- The Buffalo Sabres announced today that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson did not play in today’s game against the Colorado Avalanche due to an undisclosed injury. Head coach Lindy Ruff said that “the initial prognosis on the injury was positive,” and expressed optimism that Samuelsson would be ready to play in time for the team’s game Wednesday. Samuelsson played alongside Jacob Bryson in the team’s Saturday game against the Boston Bruins, and saw his spot filled by 2019 first-rounder Ryan Johnson for today’s contest.
- New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe told the media today, including The Hockey Writers’ Mark Scheig, that forward Zack MacEwen will miss “an extended period” after leaving the team’s Saturday win over the Tampa Bay Lightning early. Keefe elaborated that MacEwen suffered an injury late in the team’s game, and will be out indefinitely. MacEwen played nine shifts in his lone game with the Devils, registering two shots, a hit, and a blocked shot. The 6’4″ grinder was slotted into the Devils’ fourth line and was recently acquired by the team from the Ottawa Senators.
Brendan Smith Agrees To PTO With AHL Cleveland
Oct. 13th: Although his professional tryout with the Blue Jackets proved unsuccessful, Smith will remain in the organization for the time being. The AHL’s Cleveland Monsters announced they’ve signed Smith to a PTO. Smith will play in his first AHL contest since the 2017-18 season.
Aug. 19th: Defenseman Brendan Smith has signed a PTO with the Blue Jackets, according to a team release.
Smith, 36, was once a fringe top-four option but has slid into a definitive No. 7 role in recent years, even sometimes slotting in as a fourth-line winger. He spent 2024-25 with the Stars on a one-year, $1MM deal, spending most of the year in the press box and averaging a career-low 13:13 per game. He logged 32 appearances, recording six points with a -9 rating and 41 hits. The 6’2″, 200-lb lefty didn’t see any playoff action for Dallas, either.
After long stretches with the Red Wings and Rangers to begin his career, he’s now played for three teams, the Hurricanes, Devils, and Stars, in the last four seasons. Smith’s best years came in Detroit, where he topped out with 19 points in 71 games during his first full-time season in the NHL back in 2013-14. He also went his entire career with the Wings without having negative possession impacts at even strength, even once, proving there was some definite defensive upside there when they selected him in the first round in 2007.
When he moved to the Rangers, though, those possession metrics took a hit that they never really recovered from. He even ended up on waivers during the 2017-18 campaign and had a brief demotion to AHL Hartford, although he hasn’t played in the minors since then.
With Columbus, Smith now competes for a contract in a decently crowded mix of depth forwards and defensemen. His ability to jump up on the wing will certainly help his case when doing roster math. He’s not a threat to unseat a name like Erik Gudbranson or Damon Severson for a bottom-pairing role, so his best-case objective would be to unseat the more offensively gifted Jake Christiansen as an extra defender or beat out a name like the newly-signed Hudson Fasching for the 14th forward spot and be used as a flex.
Columbus already has 15 defensemen under contract, 14 of whom will staff the NHL and AHL rosters. That certainly makes it an uphill battle for Smith to land a two-way deal since his fit with AHL Cleveland would be murky.
Blue Jackets Activate, Reassign Jordan Dumais
One of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ up-and-coming forward prospects is getting back to work in the AHL. According to a team announcement, the Blue Jackets have activated Jordan Dumais from the season-opening injured reserve and have assigned him to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
Dumais has dealt with injuries the past few years, and nothing has changed to start the 2025-26 campaign. Dumais suffered a hip strain during Columbus’s rookie showcase, preventing him from participating in the team’s training camp and preseason.
Still, he’s only a few years removed from an impressive performance in the QMJHL.
Despite being selected in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Dumais was coming off an electric sophomore campaign with the Halifax Mooseheads, scoring 39 goals and 109 points in 68 games with a +7 rating. The next year, he dwarfed his previous output, leading the QMJHL in scoring with 54 goals and 140 points in 64 games, earning the league’s MVP award. Further, he registered five goals and 21 points in 15 postseason appearances.
Due to injuries, Dumais played only 21 games in the 2023-24 season, finishing the campaign with 16 goals and 47 points. He additionally played for Team Canada at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championships, tallying one goal and one assist in five tournament contests.
Again, injuries limited Dumais to 21 games throughout his first year of professional hockey. Still, he made the most of his brief time with the Monsters, collecting four goals and 11 points in his rookie campaign. The Blue Jackets are hoping that with the hip injury behind him, Dumais can participate in most of the Monsters’ games this season to get his development back on the right track.
Sharks’ Jack Thompson, Lucas Carlsson Clear Waivers
Oct. 13th: According to Friedman, both players have made it through waivers unscathed. The Sharks quickly shared that they’ve reassigned both defensemen.
Oct. 12th: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet mentioned today a pair of Sharks defenders who find themselves on waivers: Lucas Carlsson and Jack Thompson.
As the organization goes through its hardcore rebuilding phase, there has been a revolving door on the back end for San Jose. However, GM Mike Grier was very busy last offseason adding veterans headlined by Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, among others. Unlike a forward group which is full of high-end youngsters, San Jose offers just Sam Dickinson and Shakir Mukhamadullin as the only true young, high-upside defensemen on the roster at this point, as the rest are more established veterans, perhaps who could be flipped at the deadline come spring.
With this in mind, it appears Carlsson and Thompson have become expendable as the Sharks have seemed to move on from the two who were both in the lineup at times last season.
Carlsson, 28, was signed as a free agent in 2024. A once intriguing prospect of the Blackhawks and Panthers, the Swede has been extremely productive in the AHL, including a 20-goal effort in 2022-23 with the Charlotte Checkers. However, as many others have found themselves, Carlsson has not managed to carved out a role in the NHL since 2021-22, where he played 40 games as a Florida Panther. It is not highly likely Carlsson will be claimed, and perhaps the San Jose Barracuda will be relieved to have a big contributor back.
Thompson, on the other hand, could bring some intrigue as a 23-year-old right-hander with two-way potential. Originally drafted 93rd overall in 2020 by Tampa Bay, the Ontario native was sent to the Sharks in the Anthony Duclair trade, after putting up strong numbers with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Thompson posted 10 points in 31 NHL games last season, albeit on a 50-loss team. Several teams could have their eyes on Thompson, including Tampa Bay, who could bring their prospect back in with open arms. It is interesting that the Sharks have opted to keep much older reclamation projects on their back end, than the young player who has legitimate untapped potential.