Around the Hockey World — Thursday, October 1
The day's hockey news in one place — and somewhere to talk about it.
For more granular team coverage, check out the team pages.
35 items · updated 11:15 PM
Top stories
- Edvinsson remains unsigned on eve of Red Wings’ season-opener against Rangers — TSN
Excerpt
DETROIT (AP) — Simon Edvinsson remained unsigned as a restricted free agent the day before the Detroit Red Wings were to open the season at home against the New York Rangers. Edvinsson did not skate with the Red Wings on Thursday, but the 23-year-old defenseman was seen training with a team in his native Sweden on Wednesday.
- Cheveldayoff: Timeline for a Hellebuyck trade remains ‘undefined’ — TSN
Excerpt
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says there remains no timeline for a Connor Hellebuyck trade as the team gets set to open its 2026-27 season on Friday. The Jets will be without Hellebuyck when they open their season against the Boston Bruins as the star goaltender remains suspended from the team for failing to report to training camp.
- The morning email: yesterday in hockey, 5am Eastern - kkhockey.com/newsletter — KK Hockey3 💬
Excerpt
Paul's readers started the day at Kukla's Korner, and hopefully at KKHockey now. This is that, in your inbox. Every morning at 5am Eastern you get everything that happened in hockey yesterday — the stories, and who reported them — plus last night's scores, each one linking into that game's thread, so the community discussion is one click away. Sign up here(/newsletter), or use the form at the…
- Rogers purchases full ownership of MLSE — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)
Excerpt
On Thursday, Rogers Communications Inc. announced that they it has completely acquired Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Rogers completed its takeover by purchasing the remaining 25% of MLSE from Kilmer Sports Inc. for $4.35 billion.
News
- Goalie Shesterkin notches empty-netter in Rangers' victory — ESPN
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Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers became the 18th goaltender in NHL history to score a goal Thursday night.
- Knies scores twice, adds assist in debut with Blue Jackets — TSN
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Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies got off to a hot start with his new team, scoring a goal and adding an assist in his first period with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
- Canadian hockey star Claire Thompson retires to dedicate herself to medical school — The Globe and Mail — Hockey
Excerpt
The pull to return to medical school prompted decorated Canadian hockey player Claire Thompson to announce her retirement Thursday. The 28-year-old defender from Toronto, who won Olympic and world championship gold and a Professional Women’s Hockey League title, was back at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine to pursue her goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
- Luneau signs six-year, $43.2 million contract with Ducks; has 14 games of NHL experience — NHL.com
Excerpt
Tristan Luneau signed a six-year, $43.2 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $7.2 million and begins next season. The 22-year-old defenseman has 14 games of NHL experience, playing one game for the Ducks last season after playing six in 2024-25 and seven in 2023-24. He is entering the final season of his entry-level contract and could have become
- Olympic, PWHL star Thompson retires to return to med school — ESPN
Excerpt
Claire Thompson, who won Olympic and world championship gold with Canada and the PWHL's Walter Cup with Minnesota, has retired at age 28 to return to medical school.
- Ovechkin says he’s ready for season opener: ‘I feel fine’ — TSN
Excerpt
Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin will be ready to play in the team’s season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. “Of course, maybe it’s going to be hard the first couple of games because I didn’t play in pre-season games and my training the last week was not what I expected and how I expected it,” Ovechkin said Wednesday, per NHL.com. “But overall, I feel fine.”
- Hyman out for Oilers against Canucks with upper-body injury — NHL.com
Excerpt
VANCOUVER -- Zach Hyman will not play for the Edmonton Oilers against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; SN1, SNP) because of an upper-body injury. Coach Mike Babcock said the top-line forward is out day to day, but added, “I told you I think that (day to day) means two weeks, right?”
- Gary Bettman on rise in trade requests: ‘I don’t think that’s a good thing’ — Sportsnet
Excerpt
It started when Dylan Larkin went public with desire to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings , despite having four years remaining on his contract. Then former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was dealt to the Florida Panthers after requesting a trade out of Canada's capital following the team's first-round exit.
- Early Trading: Latest from the blueline in Minnesota and Detroit — TSN
Excerpt
Let’s start with Quinn Hughes : What’s the latest on general manager Bill Guerin’s efforts to keep the star with the Minnesota Wild? Pierre LeBrun : Well, Bill Guerin is obviously just trying to be patient. And if you would have asked him three months ago whether he thought it was even possible that Quinn Hughes would not have extended by puck drop for the regular season, he probably would
- ‘We’re thrilled’: Gary Bettman keen on Hot for Hockey romance series — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)
Excerpt
Hockey romance novels and TV shows have taken the NHL by storm, and the league is diving into the topic head-on with the launch of its “Hot for Hockey Series,” ahead of the 2026-27 season openers.
12 more
- ‘Game has never been better’: Bettman breaks down NHL’s success, growth — Sportsnet
- Frost, Zacha lead an NHL center market that is thinner than ever — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)
Excerpt
Save for Dylan Larkin, whose fragmented market is more a consequence of the Detroit Red Wings ‘ long-term dysfunction than anything else, the pool of available centers is thinner than Dickensian gruel. Virtually every prominent pivot across the league is either locked up already or almost certainly will be soon — but at the same time, contenders from coast to coast continue to search for more help
- Darche confirms Islanders were in on Marchenko, still looking to boost offence — TSN
Excerpt
General manger Mathieu Darche has confirmed that the New York Islanders were among the teams pursuing Kirill Marchenko before the Columbus Blue Jackets traded the winger to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. “Every time there’s a good player available, we make calls,” Darche told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in the Athletic Wednesday prior to his team’s 2-1 loss to Toronto . “He’s a good play
- Bettman: ‘We’ve gotten past the way no-trade clauses were originally intended’ — Sportsnet
- Arizona State places men’s hockey coach Greg Powers on paid leave — Sportsnet
Excerpt
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State placed hockey coach Greg Powers on administrative leave on Wednesday as the school investigates the collapse of a player during an outdoor workout. Powers will not join the team for its season opener at Lindenwood on Friday in the wake of the Aug. 20 collapse of defenceman Matthew Mayich. Assistant coach Mike Corbett will lead the team against Lindenwood, and an inter
- Swiss win IIHF Sustainability Award — the IIHF
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Switzerland’s approach to embedding sustainability throughout the IIHF World Championship 2026 has earned it this year’s IIHF Sustainability Award, recognizing work designed to leave a positive legacy long after the final whistle. Christian Hofstetter accepted the award on behalf of the Organizing Committee from Beate Grupp, Chairperson of the IIHF Sustainability Committee. France took second plac
- Crevier signs four-year, $16 million contract with Sabres — NHL.com
Excerpt
Louis Crevier signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $4 million and begins next season. The 25-year-old defenseman had 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 78 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season and was acquired by Buffalo on June 23 in the trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to Chic
- Evan Bouchard's Norris Trophy Revenge Tour Is Officially Underway — The Hockey News
Excerpt
Somewhat lost in the Edmonton Oilers ' 6-5 loss to the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday was the herculean effort put in by star defenseman Evan Bouchard. The 26-year-old made history Tuesday by being the first to score a hat trick in a season debut since legendary blueliner Mark Howe did it in 1980. He also added a pair of assists for a stunning five-point total.
- NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2026 — Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey
Excerpt
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some bold trade predictions for 2026-27. THE ATHLETIC : Jonas Siegel predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski . We know that Werenski would’ve accepted a trade to Toronto this summer. The Maple Leafs could come calling if the Blue Jackets struggle again and he resurfaces in trade rumors.
- The PodKaz: Digging into NCAA women’s hockey rule changes and this week’s games — USCHO.com — U.S. College Hockey Online
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What's legal contact and what should be penalized as body checking in NCAA women's hockey? The PodKaz goes through some of the clarifications.
- Busy opening day of IIHF Semi-Annual Congress — the IIHF
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The IIHF’s Semi-Annual Congress has concluded for the day but not before a lively series of presentations that helped define the events of the past year. Here are the highlights from Day One. President’s Report “We have one responsibility,” Luc Tardif said at the end of his President’s Report, which led off the Congress in Tenerife today, “and that is to leave our sport in better shape than we fou
- Tonight's games — Thursday, October 1 — NHL
Columns
- The Wraparound: Is Sidney Crosby The Greatest Captain In NHL History? — The Hockey News
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Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jim Parsons break down Sidney Crosby's milestone as the longest-tenured captain in NHL history, Jared Bednar's extension as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, and more.
- Was Hellebuyck’s trade request inspired by external narratives? — Sportsnet
- The Top NCAA Hockey Storylines To Follow In 2026-27 — The Hockey News
Excerpt
As you might imagine with more than 60 teams and six conferences — plus a handful of independent clubs — there's no shortage of storylines that emerge each season. From the teams projected to get to the Frozen Four and the players who will guide them there, to the ones that are just starting new eras, here's what to watch for as the season begins:
- Scout’s Analysis: Rookies who could earn a big role this season — Sportsnet
Excerpt
With the puck dropping on a new NHL season this week, much of the attention surrounding the new crop of rookies has revolved around Gavin McKenna (Toronto) and Ivar Stenberg (San Jose). And it's only normal that the top two picks of the most recent draft, who both project to be frontrunners challenging for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, would be in such a spotlight.
5 more
- Would Connor Hellebuyck consider a trade to the Oilers? — Sportsnet
Excerpt
The Oilers are looking like they might need a goalie. The Jets are trying to trade one. But would Connor Hellebuyck agree to a trade to Edmonton or is he focused on playing in the United States? Frank Seravalli explores the possibility.
- Top 5 Hobey Baker candidates for 2026-27 — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)
Excerpt
While there’s loads of talent scattered across the country, there are a select number of players who are going to stand out for the next few months and be in contention for one of the prestigious awards in hockey – the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
- The Hockey News Morning Skate: MacKinnon Drops The Mitts, Cowan Steps Up For Maple Leafs — The Hockey News
Excerpt
In this edition of The Hockey News Morning Skate, Eric Cruikshank and Michael Traikos recap Easton Cowan's standout performance in the Toronto Maple Leafs' win over the New York Islanders, Nathan MacKinnon's fight in the Colorado Avalanche's win over the Los Angeles Kings, and more.
- How the Blue Jackets, Leafs pulled off the Kirill Marchenko trade at the last possible second — Daily Faceoff (Frank Seravalli)
Excerpt
People are still amazed that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets came together right before the start of the 2026-27 regular season and made a deal that might go down as one of the biggest trades of the year.
- NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026 — Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey
Excerpt
Recapping Wednesday’s games, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has a new contract, Golden Knights center William Karlsson and Stars goalie Casey DeSmith get new deals, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines. NHL.COM : Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon led the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Makar had two assists, becoming the first defenseman in
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