Around the Hockey World — Saturday, September 26

22 items · updated 9:47 PM

Top stories

• Kucherov’s comments on NHL’s ‘low IQ’ prompt debate — Sportsnet11:06 AM
  Excerpt

  Nikita Kucherov is one of the NHL's most elusive interview subjects. The two-time league MVP isn't the type to welcome reporters to his dressing room stall for chats, and on the rare occasion he speaks into a microphone, the exchange tends to be uneventful.

News

• Suzuki brothers face-off for first time at NHL level — Sportsnet9:47 PM
  Excerpt

  Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki and his brother Ryan of the Ottawa Senators faced each other for the first time at the NHL level as their two teams played a pre-season game. The Suzuki brothers' parents were in the stands and the two coaches marked the occasion by having them meet at centre for the opening face-off.

• Senators acquire G Johansson in trade with Lightning — TSN9:46 PM
  Excerpt

  The Ottawa Senators acquired goaltender Jonas Johansson in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for future considerations, it was announced on Friday. Johansson, 31, appeared in 25 games (23 starts) last season with the Lightning, where he held an .884 save percentage and a 3.29 goals-against average.

• Flames sign left-winger Nylander to one-year contract — TSN9:46 PM
  Excerpt

  CALGARY — The Calgary Flames have signed forward Alex Nylander to a one-year, two-way contract worth US$850,000. The 28-year-old son of Michael Nylander, who played for the Flames between 1993 and 1999, went to Calgary’s training camp on a professional tryout offer.

• Wild waiting for more information on Faber after defenceman exited Friday’s game — TSN7:10 PM
  Excerpt

  The Minnesota Wild are still waiting on more information on star defenceman Brock Faber, who departed Friday’s preseason game after taking a shot to the head during a play in the defensive zone. Faber was hit in the left ear area by a shot from Sam Steel in the second period of their game against the Dallas Stars. He went down to the ice quickly, before skating to the bench under his own power. F

• Maple Leafs visit Mayich family before Arizona practice — Sportsnet7:10 PM
  Excerpt

  As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for the 2026-27 regular season, the team visited with Matthew Mayich's family in Arizona. Mayich is a 21-year-old defenceman and St. Louis Blues prospect who joined the Sun Devils for the upcoming season after playing four seasons with the OHL's Ottawa 67's and one at Clarkson University.

• Flyers players tuck jerseys in for warm-up after Zegras penalty — Sportsnet5:49 PM
  Excerpt

  Multiple Flyers players took the ice before a game against the Washington Capitals with their jerseys tucked in in apparent solidarity with teammate Trevor Zegras . Zegras was penalized for improperly wearing equipment after his jersey was tucked in during a game against the Boston Bruins earlier in the week.

• 'Sky Is The Limit' For Top 2027 NHL Draft Russian Prospect Sergei Skvortsov — The Hockey News5:09 PM
  Excerpt

  NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA — For a player who many scouts believe could go in the top-3 of the 2027 NHL draft, Sergei Skvortsov's first goal in the KHL was not exactly a thing of beauty.

• Red Wings, Predators claim NHL players on waivers for Sept 26 — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)4:27 PM
  Excerpt

  The Detroit Red Wings have claimed defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers from the Calgary Flames . Additionally, the Nashville Predators have claimed defenseman William Trudeau off waivers from the New York Rangers . Friedman also confirmed that the other 59 players placed on waivers Friday all went unclaimed. That includes Utah Mammoth forward Brandon Tanev, who still has two seasons remaining

• Red Wings claim Andreas Englund off waivers from Flames — Sportsnet4:27 PM
  Excerpt

  The Detroit Red Wings claimed the veteran defenceman off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Saturday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Englund, 30, signed with the Flames on a one-year, two-way deal this past off-season after spending the previous two years with the Nashville Predators.

• 18 NHL players placed on waivers for Sept. 26 — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)4:26 PM
  Excerpt

  On Saturday, 18 NHL players were placed on waivers, making them available to the other 31 teams in the NHL. If they were to clear waivers on Sunday, they would be eligible to be assigned to their respective American Hockey League affiliates.

Columns

• McDavid Or Matthews?: With The Cap Rising To Unheard-Of Levels, Who Will Be The NHL's First $30-Million Player? — The Hockey News5:49 PM
  Excerpt

  According to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman , the NHL's salary cap is expected to jump from $104 million to $127.5 million in the next two years. And just like that, all the contracts that were signed this summer now seem like bargains.

• Predicting The NHL's Final Visor-Less Skater After Reaves' Retirement — The Hockey News4:27 PM
  Excerpt

  Ryan Reaves ended his NHL career as not only one of the league’s top fighters but also one of its last visor-less veterans. With Reaves announcing his retirement on Sept. 16 , only three NHL skaters now roam the ice without a visor fastened to their helmets – Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn, Minnesota Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian and Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly.

• Four NHL Teams With The Cleanest Salary Cap Sheets Heading Into 2026-27 — The Hockey News4:26 PM
  Excerpt

  The NHL salary cap is recalculated each year based on the league's revenue. The salary cap for the 2026–2027 season is $104 million at the upper limit, with the cap floor at $76.9 million. The maximum salary for individual contracts is $20.8 million.

• Ranking The Six New NHL Coaches By Probability For Success — The Hockey News2:28 PM
  Excerpt

  The word "success" can mean many things in the NHL. For some teams, merely making the playoffs is a great season. For others, nothing short of winning a Stanley Cup is considered a reason to celebrate. There are even a few for whom simply having the kids get better is the only real goal.