The day's biggest NHL news: trades, signings, injuries, suspensions and officiating, from the league's top reporters.
Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov earned his first NHL win in 712 days, stopping Ryan O’Reilly’s shootout attempt in New York’s 4-3 victory over Nashville. The 38-year-old returned after double partial knee replacements, a two-year recovery that left the Islanders unsure he could play again.
The Oilers placed Zach Hyman on injured reserve with a neck injury after he was hit into the boards Monday; he has one goal in six games this season and will miss Wednesday’s game against Calgary. The NHL’s status report also says Capitals goalie Logan Thompson could return Wednesday, while Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall had a setback and missed Tuesday’s game.
Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli projects the NHL salary-cap ceiling could reach about US$150 million by 2029-30, up 44 per cent from this season’s $104 million, based on five per cent annual revenue growth. The estimate reflects a cap held below revenue-linked levels after pandemic-era rules; league projections cited by Seravalli put the 2028-29 cap at $127.5 million, and players are tracking to receive a roughly seven per cent top-up this season because current salaries understate their share of league revenue.
The Boston Bruins announced that CEO Charlie Jacobs will replace his father, Jeremy M. Jacobs, as the team’s governor and represent the club on the NHL Board of Governors. Jeremy held the role for 51 years and recently stepped down as chair of the league’s board.
Daily Faceoff’s Ryan Cuneo reviews six trades of star NHL goalies in their primes to assess the history surrounding Connor Hellebuyck’s move from Winnipeg to New Jersey. He finds mixed results: Roberto Luongo’s trade helped Vancouver contend, while several other deals produced little for the acquiring or selling teams; Cuneo says the Devils will hope Hellebuyck has a Luongo-like impact.
The available text only identifies a David Alter story about “tagging” and its effect on the Maple Leafs’ roster management; it provides no details about the practice or its impact.
Connor McDavid has 34 points in 12 games, a pace that would surpass Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 215, though he would need to average 2.38 points per game over an 84-game season to reach 200. The Athletic’s Sean Gentille and Thomas Drance examine the factors that could shape his chase, including playing with Leon Draisaitl, heavy ice time, Edmonton’s power play, shooting percentages, schedule and McDavid’s durability.
Seattle Kraken GM Jason Botterill says the team’s 7-4-1 start reflects its four-line scoring approach, with Kaapo Kakko leading the team and young center Berkly Catton contributing. Botterill says Seattle will keep pursuing scoring wingers after missing out on Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson, while prioritizing player development and trying to re-sign defenseman Vince Dunn.
Alex Ovechkin has one goal in his first 10 games of his age-41 final season, and tracking data show the Capitals allow more expected goals and generate a smaller share of shots with him on the ice. Coach Spencer Carbery has cut his minutes and is trying to help him regain form, while Washington’s young players can defer to Ovechkin instead of taking their own scoring chances. The Capitals are still winning and rank 10th in scoring, but the article argues his slow start presents a challenge for both Ovechkin and the team.
André Lacroix, an original Philadelphia Flyers center and the World Hockey Association’s all-time leading scorer, has died at 81. He scored 798 points in 551 WHA games, won two league scoring titles and played for Canada in the 1974 Summit Series.
The story appears to be about a former Colorado No. 1 player who is now without an NHL team. The supplied text does not identify the player or provide details.
Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart left Tuesday’s morning skate with an undisclosed injury, so Adin Hill was set to start against the Ottawa Senators, coach Ryan Craig said. Hart and Hill have split much of Vegas’s goaltending workload; Hart entered the game 4-3-1 with a 2.76 goals-against average.
NHL.com reports Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall was activated from injured reserve and could return against Boston on Tuesday; coach Rod Brind’Amour expects him to play despite Hall leaving practice early. The league’s injury roundup also says Seattle’s Jared McCann will miss 10 weeks, Flyers defenseman Cam York is set to return, and Penguins forward Ben Kindel practiced for the first time since a medical episode.
The story reports that Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart left a morning skate with an apparent injury. The provided text gives no details about the injury or the team’s response.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel returned to full-contact practice Tuesday, a week after losing consciousness on the team plane and being diagnosed with vasovagal syncope. The 19-year-old said he feels back to normal and could return Thursday against Utah; he has missed two games.
Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis argues that 21-year-old Jacob Fowler has taken over as Montreal’s top goalie after Jakub Dobeš struggled and Samuel Montembeault was injured. Fowler is 5-1 with a .924 save percentage and one shutout in six games, and Ellis says his performance makes it unlikely Montreal will send him back to the AHL when Montembeault returns.
The Flyers are still seeking a trade for a center with top-six potential, but sources say Ottawa’s Ridly Greig is an uncertain fit and Chicago is unlikely to move Frank Nazar; Philadelphia is also skeptical of Oliver Moore. The article identifies Minnesota prospect Charlie Stramel and a future first-round pick as a package the Flyers could consider for winger Owen Tippett, who is more likely to be tradeable than Travis Konecny because Konecny has a no-movement clause.
New York Post reporter Andrew Crane argues that Adam Fox’s seven-year, $66.5 million Rangers extension, once a market-setting deal, has become a bargain as NHL defenseman salaries have risen. Fox, who signed after winning the 2020-21 Norris Trophy, has continued to produce at roughly a point per game; he recorded 16 assists in the Rangers’ first 13 games of 2026-27.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews questioned a third-period delay-of-game penalty in Monday’s 5-2 loss to Calgary, saying officials should be “100 per cent” sure he played the puck with his glove after a faceoff. Coach Jim Hiller said referees told him the puck hit Matthews’ glove; the penalty made Toronto’s newly started power play a 4-on-4.
Maple Leafs winger Kirill Marchenko left Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury after falling into the boards following a hit by Yegor Sharangovich. Toronto confirmed the injury; Marchenko had six goals and 14 points in 13 games with the team.
Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says he is ready to play after joining New Jersey from Winnipeg, and coach Sheldon Keefe intends for him to appear during the team’s three-game road trip. Keefe said Hellebuyck still needs to get through practice and travel before the team decides whether he’ll debut against Dallas, Colorado or Vegas.
Ottawa Senators captain Thomas Chabot shed his non-contact jersey at Monday’s practice as he recovers from an upper-body injury sustained Oct. 18. Coach Travis Green said Chabot is close to returning but was uncertain whether he would play Tuesday against Vegas; Chabot had one goal and three assists in nine games before the injury.
Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer is averaging 26:13 per game, more than 90 seconds above last season and fourth-most in the NHL, but coach Pete DeBoer says removing him from penalty-kill duty helps manage the workload. Schaefer, 19, says he feels good and enjoys the extra ice time, while the longer-term effects of heavy minutes remain a potential concern.
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka said Dakota Joshua has completed a four-game conditioning stint with the AHL Marlies and is expected to be recalled soon. Chris Tanev is progressing toward a return to practice, John Tavares has resumed skating, and Max Domi—out indefinitely after complications from offseason surgery—is skating on his own.
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka said Toronto will keep assessing the trade market for a defenceman but believes the team can improve defensively through better structure and internal progress. He praised rookies Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna, backed the coaching staff’s approach to McKenna’s development, and said he remains open to another major in-season trade.
Kings coach Peter Laviolette is hopeful center Quinton Byfield can return Monday against the Rangers after he missed two games and practiced in a noncontact jersey; Byfield has two points in seven games. The NHL status report also says Seattle forward Jared McCann will miss 10 weeks with a lower-body injury, while Calgary’s Mikael Backlund is a game-time decision and Carolina’s Taylor Hall has resumed practicing.
The Philadelphia Flyers announced that defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen will miss about two weeks after re-aggravating a left-hand injury against Anaheim on Saturday. He had just returned after missing nine games; coach Rick Tocchet said he hurt the hand again in the 5-4 loss.
The story previews an interview with Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy about the team’s rebuild timeline, a new arena and possible trade pieces. The available text says Conroy is trying to keep the Flames competitive each night while staying realistic about the rebuild.
Jets captain Adam Lowry said the team can move forward now that Connor Hellebuyck’s situation is no longer a “cloud hanging over” the Jets, adding that the roster includes players who want to be there.
