Around the Hockey World — Thursday, October 15
The day's hockey news in one place — and somewhere to talk about it.
For more granular team coverage, check out the team pages.
36 items · updated 10:39 PM
Top stories
- Blackhawks Kane sets NHL assist record for U.S.-born players with a helper on Bedard’s goal — TSN
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CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane earned another career milestone in becoming the NHL’s career leader in assists among U.S.-born players. The 37-year-old from Buffalo, New York, earned his 895th career assist on Connor Bedard’s game-opening power-play goal against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. In doing so in his 1,377th game, Kane surpassed the American-born record hel
- Arizona State hires Dave Hakstol as head coach — Daily Faceoff
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Arizona State has announced that it has hired Dave Hakstol as the new head coach for its men’s hockey program. On September 30, Arizona State placed former head coach Greg Powers on leave , just prior to the start of its 2026-27 season. Assistant coach Mike Corebett has been acting as the program’s interim head coach in Powers’ absence.
- David Perron to join Stars for 20th NHL season — Sportsnet
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The 38-year-old forward is joining the Dallas Stars for his 20th NHL season, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Thursday. The Sherbrooke, Que. native has 1,239 NHL games under his belt, with 332 goals and 812 points across his two-decade career. He was drafted 26th overall in 2007 by the St. Louis Blues and played three stints with the team — from 2007-2013 then a single season in 2016-17,
- Red Wings owner Ilitch: ‘I understand fan frustration’ — Sportsnet
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The Red Wings entered the season already with the longest active playoff drought, but off-season turmoil on multiple fronts created plenty of noise as the team returned to the ice in September. That turmoil included an unresolved trade request from former captain Dylan Larkin, a prolonged contract negotiation with top-pair defenceman Simon Edvinsson and Ilitch's decision to fire general manager S
- Maple Leafs acquire Räty from Canucks for Quillan, Buhr — Daily Faceoff
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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Thursday that they have acquired forward Aatu Räty from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr. Räty, 23, cleared waivers earlier on Thursday and will now be eligible to go between the NHL and AHL freely until he appears in 10 NHL games or spends 30 days on an NHL roster. The 6’2″ center has one goal in four games with the C
- Gotta See It: Marchenko goes between the legs and roofs highlight-reel goal — Sportsnet
News
- Insider Trading: Amid return speculation, trading Hellebuyck remains Jets’ priority — TSN
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TSN’s Hockey Insiders with the latest on the Jets and Connor Hellebuyck , Chris Tanev ’s injury status, why a Josh Anderson extension is more likely than the UFA market, the Alex DeBrincat extension, Vegas’ non-sellout streak continuing and Landon DuPont’s start to the NCAA season.
- Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Jacob Quillan, Brandon Buhr To Vancouver Canucks For Aatu Raty — The Hockey News
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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are shaking up their forward depth.
- Early Trading: Dreger weighs in on Hellebuyck return speculation, price for Larkin — TSN
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TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins Gino Reda to discuss speculation around Connor Hellebuyck ’s return, the price tag for Dylan Larkin , Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev being ruled week-to-week, Josh Anderson ’s future in Montreal and Rick Bowness calling out his team again.
- James Reimer signs PTO with Rangers’ AHL affiliate — Sportsnet
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The 38-year-old goaltender has signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack, the New York Rangers ' affiliate announced Thursday. The Rangers are trying to bolster goaltending depth in the organization after star netminder Igor Shesterkin was ruled out for the season on Saturday.
- Ducks’ Mikael Granlund out day-to-day with upper-body injury — Daily Faceoff
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On Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks announced that captain Mikael Granlund is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. While the team didn’t specify what is exactly ailing the veteran forward, there’s a chance that Granlund might not be in the lineup on Friday night, when the Ducks play host to the Boston Bruins .
- Kings among teams kicking tires on Connor Hellebuyck trade — Sportsnet
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Count the Los Angeles Kings among teams who have recently kicked the tires on Connor Hellebuyck . While the depth of these trade talks is difficult to qualify, the belief is Kings GM Ken Holland at the very least has ascertained an understanding on the price required to pry the three-time Vezina Trophy winner out of the prairies. And yes, the Kings have received affirmation that Hellebuyck appare
- Canucks’ Filip Chytil to make season debut after shoulder injury — Daily Faceoff
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Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil is slated to make his 2026-27 season debut Thursday after missing the first eight games while recovering from a shoulder injury. Chytil, 27, skated on a line with Paul Cotter and Brock Boeser in the Canucks’ morning skate ahead of their matchup with the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The 6’2″ center initially rejoined the club for practice on Tuesday, midway t
- Blackhawks’ Bowen Byram day-to-day with upper-body injury — Daily Faceoff
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When speaking to the media, Chicago Blackhawk s head coach Jeff Blashill announced that defenseman Bowen Byram will not be in the lineup on Thursday night, when the Blackhawks take on the Winnipeg Jets . Blashill noted that Byram is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
- Avalanche hire Brett McLean as assistant coach — Daily Faceoff
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On Thursday, the Avalanche announced that they have hired Brett McLean as an assistant coach. McLean, 48, comes in to replace Dave Hakstol, who leaves Colorado after accepting the head coaching position for the troubled Arizona State men’s hockey program on Thursday.
- Ice Chips: Senators assign two to AHL, making room for possible Sanderson, Zub returns — TSN
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Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
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- Sens F Eklund out 10-to-12 weeks after surgery on torn ankle tendon — TSN
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Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund is set to miss 10-to-12 weeks after undergoing surgery on a torn ankle tendon. Eklund was injured in the first period of the Senators’ 2-1 victory over the Flyers last week after taking a hit from defenceman Simon Benoit while chasing the puck into the corner in the offensive zone.
- NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Connor Hellebuyck, No Dylan Larkin For Montreal — The Hockey News
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Suggestions that the New York Rangers should pursue Connor Hellebuyck likely won't result in the Winnipeg Jets goalie landing in the Big Apple. Meanwhile, efforts by Montreal Canadiens fans to convince Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin to join their team appear to have been unsuccessful.
- Leafs’ Chris Tanev week-to-week with upper-body injury — Daily Faceoff
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On Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs revealed that the veteran defenseman is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Tanev was hurt during the first period of the Maple Leafs’ matchup with the Colorado Avalanche this past Saturday night. It has yet to be reported exactly what led to the 36-year-old’s departure, but the injury is severe enough that he was placed on injured reserve on Mo
- NHL Rumor Mill – October 15, 2026 — Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey
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In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the Red Wings aren’t interested in trading Simon Edvinsson , the Maple Leafs could be looking for a defenseman, and the latest on the Canucks. DETROIT HOCKEY NOW : Kevin Allen reports Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff told reporters yesterday that he has “zero interest” in trading Simon Edvinsson . The 23-year-old restricted free-agent defenseman remains u
- Wysh List: The NHL team being run by a fan — ESPN
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Sunny Mehta is a former derivatives trader and poker player and AGM of the Panthers -- but grew up rooting for the Devils.
- After offseason chaos, the Red Wings have an 'us against the world' mentality — ESPN
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A captain's trade request, a key young player's holdout and a resigned GM. Here's how the Red Wings are holding it all together.
- Tonight's games — Thursday, October 15 — NHL
- Larry Tanenbaum brings Brendan Shanahan back as PWHL adviser — the Toronto Sun
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Kilmer Sports Ventures is invested in the league, but could eventually have its own professional women's hockey team.
- Canucks’ Aatu Raty clears waivers — Sportsnet
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The 23-year-old forward can now freely be assigned to Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, after being made available to all 31 other teams on Wednesday. Raty has struggled to start the season. He has scored one goal over four games and was a healthy scratch for Vancouver's first two games of the season. The Finn was scratched again on Tuesday for the Canucks' game against the New Y
- Ullmark leading Senators with dream-like start to season — Sportsnet
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Through the first fortnight of the 2026-27 NHL season, the Ottawa Senators' No. 1 goaltender is flashing the form that won him a Vezina four seasons ago. “He’s so big, he takes away the whole net and it’s pretty awesome,” Tim Stutzle said after one of Ullmark’s recent starts, a shootout triumph against the Nashville Predators.
Columns
- NHL Sour Rankings: Flames And Flyers Among Floundering Teams To Open The Season — The Hockey News
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Tony Ferrari's NHL Sour Rankings return with an early assessment of all seven teams below .500 to start the season.
- Backup goalies are becoming even more important in the NHL — Daily Faceoff
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More and more teams are employing a 1-A / 1-B system, with goalies splitting starts at a rate closer to 50-50 than ever before. Even teams with top-tier starters have reliable No. 2 keepers, including Charlie Lindgren of the Washington Capitals and Casey DeSmith of the Dallas Stars .
- The Hockey News Wraparound: Can Lafreniere Lead The Rangers To The Playoffs Without Shesterkin? — The Hockey News
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Emma Lingan and Michael Augello are joined by Kelsey Surmacz to discuss Alexis Lafreniere's hot start to the season with the New York Rangers, Alex DeBrincat's seven-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings, and more.
- How Adam Pelech became one of the NHL’s best (and most underrated) defensive defensemen — Daily Faceoff
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To be fair to the casual follower, it’s sometimes difficult to properly enjoy a defensive masterclass. If you want to appreciate an elite goal scorer or intelligent playmaker, you just have to watch for when the puck is on their stick and witness them work their magic. Defensive players thrive when nothing is happening. Kind of hard to follow along with nothing, right? Unless these players accumul
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- NHL Power Rankings: Captain check for all 32 teams — Sportsnet
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When Connor Bedard made his season debut this week, he became the eighth player to serve as a new full-time captain for his club. Ryan Dixon uses this week’s Power Rankings as a captain check for all 32 squads.
- Healthy and engaged: Analyzing Auston Matthews’ best start in years — Sportsnet
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Auston Matthews is tied for fifth in NHL scoring, was last week’s first star, and has 12 point sin his past five games. What’s behind this production? Adam Vingan takes a look at the numbers to see how Matthews has performed.
- Eight early-season stats that actually matter in 2026-27 NHL season — Daily Faceoff
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Often, the numbers lie to us when the NHL calendar hasn’t yet exited October. As of Week 3 in the 2025-26 season, the Chicago Blackhawks held down a playoff spot. They missed the big dance by 18 points. Recency bias could’ve steered you wrong if you thought they were suddenly a competitive team after half a dozen games.
- 32 Thoughts Podcast: The Cat gets the bag — Sportsnet
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Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
- The Hockey News Morning Skate: Dobes Stumbles For Canadiens, DeSmith Stands Tall For Stars — The Hockey News
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In this edition of The Hockey News Morning Skate, Eric Cruikshank and Michael Traikos break down Jakub Dobes' struggles for the Montreal Canadiens, the Dallas Stars' standout tandem after a huge outing for Casey DeSmith, and more.
- Scout’s Analysis: Why Landon DuPont is ranked No. 1 for 2027 NHL Draft — Sportsnet
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Between now and next June there is certain to be a lot of movement within the NHL Draft rankings. But judging by what I witnessed last weekend at the University of Michigan, I don’t anticipate that Landon DuPont will relinquish his hold on being the top-rated pre-season prospect.
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