Around the Hockey World — Saturday, October 17
The day's hockey news in one place — and somewhere to talk about it.
For more granular team coverage, check out the team pages.
24 items · updated 12:21 AM
Top stories
- Sources: Connor Hellebuyck suspension ends Friday — Sportsnet
Excerpt
According to multiple sources, Hellebuyck informed the Jets before their first game of the season (Oct. 2) of his intention to end his absence and report to the team. Since he did not have permission from the organization to stay away from training camp, Winnipeg had some additional power under the CBA.
News
- 'Don Cherry is smiling somewhere': Oilers vet Trent Frederic gets revenge with wild beat down of Utah forward — the Edmonton Journal
Excerpt
Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic broke the Internet on Saturday night with his wild beat down of Utah forward Jack McBrain in one of the roughest, wildest hockey fight in a few years. Frederic took a few punches but landing even more against big McBain.
- Report: Penguins Ready to Trade Veterans — Pittsburgh Hockey Now
Excerpt
The Pittsburgh Penguins could look quite different sooner rather than later. On Hockey Night in Canada Saturday, Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman reported that the Penguins’ general manager is ready to make the franchise-altering move to trade veteran players in exchange for future assets.
- Maple Leafs would deal prime asset for difference-maker on blue line — Sportsnet
Excerpt
"(The Maple Leafs) have said that they will pay a premium asset if they believe that they are getting a difference-maker on the blue line," Friedman reported on the latest segment of Saturday Headlines . "They've told people they're not moving what they consider 'A-assets' for a B-level replacement."
- Capitals place Pierre-Luc Dubois on injured reserve — Daily Faceoff
Excerpt
On Saturday, the Washington Capitals announced that forward Pierre-Luc Dubois has been placed on injured reserve due to an illness. In response, the team has recalled Johnny Brodzinksi from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
- Stars’ Wyatt Johnston returns to lineup after two-game absence — Daily Faceoff
Excerpt
The Dallas Stars are getting a boost to the lineup, as center Wyatt Johnston is set to return for Saturday night’s road clash against the Chicago Blackhawks . Johnston missed the Stars’ last two games with illness and is poised to re-enter the top six, as well as his power-play role against the Blackhawks, in front of expected starting goaltender Jake Oettinger.
- Senators’ Jake Sanderson expected to return Wednesday vs. Panthers — Sportsnet
Excerpt
After missing the Ottawa Senators ' last eight games, head coach Travis Green told reporters that he expects Sanderson to play Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Sanderson last played in Ottawa's season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs, suffering a lower-body injury after logging just 4:29 of ice time.
- Red Wings waive defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker — Sportsnet
Excerpt
Bernard-Docker, 26, has yet to appear in a game for Detroit this season. In 63 contests last year, he had one goal and four assists with an even rating. The Canmore, Alta., native spent the first five seasons of his career with the Ottawa Senators after being drafted 26th overall to the nation's capital in 2018.
- Canadiens’ Oliver Kapanen to make season debut against Sabres — Daily Faceoff
Excerpt
The team announced on social media that forward Oliver Kapanen and defenseman David Reinbacher will make their 2026-27 regular-season debuts Saturday night when they host the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. Kapanen, 23, is coming off a 2025-26 rookie campaign that saw him finish with 22 goals and 15 assists for 37 points and was a key reason for the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Final.
- Stars hope to begin contract talks with Robertson in December — NHL.com
Excerpt
CHICAGO -- The Dallas Stars will soon be ready to begin contract negotiations with Jason Robertson , general manager Jim Nill said on Saturday. “I’m going to wait until probably around the first of December,” Nill said before Dallas faced the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center (7 p.m. ET; Prime Video, CHSN).
- McKenna had ‘good talk’ with Maple Leafs coach Hiller after benching — NHL.com
Excerpt
TORONTO -- Gavin McKenna is ready to move forward after the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft was benched by Toronto Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller on Thursday. The 18-year-old left wing sat the final 32:54 of a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. McKenna played just 6:36 and had one shot on goal.
10 more
- Coulier helps Red Wings raise awareness, funds on Hockey Fights Cancer Night — NHL.com
Excerpt
The 67-year-old actor had come to Little Caesars Arena for two reasons: One, he grew up a huge Red Wings fan in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Two, Detroit was hosting Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Coulier is a cancer survivor. He and Barber wore special Red Wings Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys to a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, raising awareness and money for the cause.
- Leafs’ John Tavares week-to-week with lower-body injury — Daily Faceoff
Excerpt
The Toronto Maple Leafs got a tough update on one of their key players, as they announced on Saturday that center John Tavares is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Tavares sustained the injury during Thursday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres . Nick Paul and Josh Norris were tangled with each other in the middle of the ice, and when Paul shoved Norris onto the ice, Norris fell into a
- Ice Chips: Leafs’ Bobrovsky to get start vs. Islanders — TSN
Excerpt
Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips. Lines at Leafs skate Roslovic - Matthews - Nylander Cowan - Paul - Marchenko McKenna - Sissons - Groulx Duhaime - Blueger - MacEwen McCabe - Raddysh Rielly - Stecher Ekman-Larsson - Blankenburg Rifai Bobrovsky starts Stolarz @TSNSports
- Canadiens’ Reinbacher, Kapanen to make season debuts against Sabres — Sportsnet
Excerpt
Defenceman David Reinbacher and centre Oliver Kapanen have been inserted into the lineup ahead of the team's game against the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Saturday. The Canadiens recalled Reinbacher from the AHL's Laval Rocket ahead of the second half of a back-to-back against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, but he did not appear in the game.
- NHL Status Report: Jarvis could make season debut for Hurricanes against Jets — NHL.com
Excerpt
Seth Jarvis could make his season debut this weekend for the Hurricanes, who begin a five-game road trip at the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNW, CARNHL, HHN) before visiting the Calgary Flames on Sunday. The forward has yet to play after having shoulder surgery in June. He led Carolina with 32 goals last season and had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 19 games during
- NHL On Tap: Brady Tkachuk has chance for hat trick history with Panthers — NHL.com
Excerpt
Brady Tkachuk has a shot at making NHL history as the only player to score a hat trick in three consecutive games when the Florida Panthers (4-2-2) host the Seattle Kraken (5-2-1) at Amerant Bank Arena (6 p.m. ET; Prime Video, SCRIPPS, KONG). The Florida forward scored all three goals in a 3-2 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. It followed a three-goal, four-point performance
- NHL Rumor Mill – October 17, 2026 — Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey
Excerpt
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: some potential late-season trade candidates and the latest on the Flames. THE ATHLETIC : Harman Dayal recently listed five NHL stars who could become late-season trade candidates.
- Tonight's games — Saturday, October 17 — NHL
- 2027 free agency class is set to be barren yet again — Daily Faceoff
Excerpt
Following the Detroit Red Wings signing forward Alex DeBrincat to a seven-year contract extension , it was another notable player off the list for free agency next summer. Players like Cale Makar and Mark Stone also have signed contracts. That leads many to wonder how many big names will be available to be signed on July 1, 2027.
- Meet trailblazer Onni Hautamaki, Finland’s first NHL official — Sportsnet
Excerpt
Unbeknownst to almost anyone inside Little Caesars Arena, chills coursed through the veins of linesperson Onni Hautamäki as he carved into the ice for the first time on Tuesday night. Yes, the solo rookie lap tradition extends to the officials’ ranks, too — and it just hits different when you’re the first Finnish official to make your NHL debut, on your 31st birthday no less.
Columns
- Six Feet In 20 Minutes: Kyle Clark's Incredible Journey Back To Hockey — The Hockey News
Excerpt
Kyle Clark suffered a scary injury when he was hit by a car while riding a bike. Through training and rehab, Clark's journey back to playing hockey is an emotional story of perseverance.
- Have NHL Fans Finally Reached A Breaking Point? — The Hockey News
Excerpt
October has always statistically been the worst month for NHL attendance, and numerous NHL markets across the U.S. are failing to sell out their arenas despite previously being able to do so.
- Which early-season NHL overreactions do we believe in most? — Daily Faceoff
Excerpt
A few days from now, we’ll reach the three-week mark of the 2026-27 NHL season, and every franchise will have played at least half a dozen games, give or take. Let’s assess what we’ve seen so far. Roundtable members: What’s an early-season overreaction you truly believe in?
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