The day's biggest NHL news: trades, signings, injuries, suspensions and officiating, from the league's top reporters.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev expects to return from an unspecified injury against Vancouver, pending medical clearance, while forward Dakota Joshua is also set for his season debut after recovering from a core injury. Coach Jim Hiller said Joshua’s physical play could help address Toronto’s struggles along the boards and in front of the net.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Nikita Kucherov has told the Tampa Bay Lightning and teammates he will not re-sign and wants a trade, citing multiple sources. The reigning NHL MVP is in the final season of an eight-year, $76-million contract; Lightning GM Julien BriseBois and agent Dan Milstein declined to comment.
Daily Faceoff’s Scott Maxwell, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton argue Anaheim’s 5-7-1 start was foreseeable after an offseason that stripped depth, including the losses of Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, Mason McTavish and Chris Kreider. They point to weak defensive and expected-goals numbers, a projected $1.4 million cap overage in 2026-27, and rising pressure on the club as Beckett Sennecke leads it with eight goals in 13 games.
The Ottawa Senators placed forward Warren Foegele on the injured list with a knee injury, Postmedia reporter Bruce Garrioch reported. Foegele was hurt in a knee-on-knee collision with Vegas’ Jeremy Lauzon on Tuesday and has one goal and three assists in 13 games this season.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson is expected to miss eight weeks with an ankle injury, coach Jared Bednar said Friday; Manson was hurt during Wednesday’s win over New Jersey. He has four points in 13 games, and Noah Juulsen is expected to take a regular spot in the lineup.
The text reports that the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled the IIHF must immediately readmit Russia to its international hockey events; it gives no details on the NHL’s World Cup decision.
Ottawa Senators winger Andre Burakovsky left Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with an upper-body injury and did not return. The injury appeared to happen during a first-period battle along the boards; Ottawa had already been without forwards William Eklund and Warren Foegele.
The story previews reporting on which teams on Dylan Larkin’s 10-team trade list are realistic destinations and which are most interested. The excerpt also flags updates on Jason Robertson and Simon Edvinsson but provides no details about them.
Carolina signed restricted free-agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million contract, ending a stalemate that kept him out of the season so far. Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games as a rookie and helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup last season; general manager Eric Tulsky said the team was glad to have him back.
The Canadiens announced that defenceman Mike Matheson would miss Thursday’s game against Dallas with a lower-body injury and be reevaluated when the team returns to Montreal. He had just returned on Oct. 23 after missing four games with a lower-body injury; Matheson has one goal and four points in eight games this season.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Carolina tried to acquire forwards from other teams and flip them to Winnipeg as part of a trade for goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The Hurricanes would not include Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankoven or Jackson Blake, and Winnipeg instead traded Hellebuyck to New Jersey for a package including Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, prospect Alexander Command, goalie Nico Daws and two draft picks.
New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock left Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild with an upper-body injury after two shifts totaling 51 seconds; the team confirmed he would not return. The Islanders have not disclosed the injury’s cause or severity, and it is unclear whether it involves the shoulder he had surgery on in the offseason.
Ottawa Senators forward Hayden Hodgson was ejected after receiving a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke in Thursday’s game. Clarke stayed in the game, and the Kings scored on the resulting power play, with Artemi Panarin making it 5-1.
Viktor Arvidsson scored three goals and added an assist as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Thursday. Detroit announced the same day that it had suspended former captain Dylan Larkin after he said he would no longer play for the team while awaiting a trade.
The available text says the Rangers’ recent slide may reflect problems beyond goaltending, but the article’s analysis is behind a subscription paywall. It notes that Igor Shesterkin is out for the season with a knee injury and backup Joonas Korpisalo has a foot infection; columnist Mollie Walker provides no further details in the excerpt.
Daily Faceoff’s Jonny Lazarus says Quinn Hughes could sign a one-year extension with Minnesota, but is unlikely to commit longer if he stays. Hughes is nearing free agency, and Lazarus says the Wild might keep him through the trade deadline and pursue a Stanley Cup run even if he remains unsigned.
Pittsburgh forward Ben Kindel is set to return against Utah nine days after fainting from a vasovagal episode aboard the team plane; Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov are also expected back. The NHL status report also says Carolina’s Taylor Hall will miss a couple more games, Edmonton placed Zach Hyman on injured reserve with a neck injury, and Dallas defenseman Kyle Capobianco is expected to be out four weeks.
The Buffalo Sabres say forward Konsta Helenius will miss at least their next two games with an upper-body injury sustained against San Jose on Tuesday; he is returning to Buffalo for evaluation. Sam Carrick is expected to come off injured reserve and could play Thursday against Anaheim.
The text identifies a story about Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and an agent’s claim that he has “had enough” amid a trade stalemate, but provides no details on the dispute or the agent’s identity.
The text says only that Connor Hellebuyck has joined the New Jersey Devils in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets, calling it a “gold medal reunion.” It gives no details about the trade or its terms.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov could return in about four weeks after skating Wednesday for the first time since injuring his left knee Oct. 1, coach Paul Maurice said. Forward Brad Marchand, sidelined by a left knee injury since Oct. 6, also skated and could return in about three weeks.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber has cleared the return-to-play protocol after suffering a skull fracture in the preseason, allowing him to resume skating, though no return date was given. Jared Spurgeon is out week to week with an undisclosed injury sustained Tuesday, leaving the Central Division-leading Wild without two key defensemen.
Detroit forward Dylan Larkin will sit out Thursday’s game against Chicago, coach Todd McLellan said, with interim general manager Shawn Horcoff set to address the situation later. Larkin, who requested a trade this summer and lost the captaincy in September, has six points in 10 games; he did not practice Wednesday.
NHL teams have made emergency backup goalies full-time employees under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, requiring them to practice with and travel alongside their club. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin profiles Washington’s Connor Leslie, Tampa Bay’s Kyle Konin and Carolina’s Jorge Alves, describing their varied backgrounds and additional duties, from relieving goalies of practice shots to equipment work.
The Athletic’s NHL stats roundup finds the Boston Bruins’ 9-3-1 start is backed by improved chance creation and defensive play, not just hot shooting; Boston also leads the league in combined goaltending with 11.1 goals saved above expected from Jeremy Swayman and Michael DiPietro. The piece also highlights early-season trends across the league, including Ottawa’s goalie problems, Carolina’s pass defense and Minnesota’s top line outscoring opponents 10-0.
Calgary goaltender Devin Cooley left Wednesday’s game against Edmonton with a lower-body injury after colliding with Oilers forward Colton Dach; the Flames said he would not return. Forward Brennan Othmann also exited with an upper-body injury, and Calgary replaced Cooley with Dustin Wolf after the first period.
Barry Trotz, who coached Alex Ovechkin to the 2018 Stanley Cup with Washington, expects Nashville fans to honor the NHL’s all-time leading scorer when he plays his final regular-season game there Thursday. Ovechkin, 41, announced this will be his last NHL season; Trotz recalled their 2018 playoff talks and said the farewell tour can give Ovechkin and fans a chance to appreciate his career.
Martin Brodeur said the Devils’ acquisition of Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg gives the team a better chance to win while its core is in its prime. Hellebuyck made 17 saves in a 5-1 win over Dallas in his New Jersey debut; the trade sent Winnipeg Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws and draft assets.
Sportsnet analyst Jason Bukala examines how Matvei Michkov’s second NHL season could shape his next contract, due in 2027. Michkov’s scoring totals have dropped under coach Rick Tocchet, but his ice time is increasing and he currently leads the Flyers in goals.
Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin said he has not recently discussed a new contract with Quinn Hughes and has not decided how to handle the negotiations, though he called keeping the defenceman best for the team. Hughes, who has 18 points in 14 games, is in the final year of his deal and says he is enjoying Minnesota; he could also consider joining brothers Jack and Luke in New Jersey.
