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Snapshots: Lapierre, Ritchie, Steen

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The Washington Capitals did not enter the 2024-25 preseason with an abundance of NHL roles up for grabs, but that hasn’t stopped some roster hopefuls from making their mark on the team’s leadership. NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti relayed word from Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery that 2020 first-round pick Hendrix Lapierre has had an impressive preseason and may have played his way into the team’s third-line center role. Carbery told Gulitti that his level of confidence that Lapierre can play the center position and potentially earn “that third-line center role” has led to him considering alternate options for how to deploy other players – namely Connor McMichael moving back to the wing.

Should Lapierre claim the third-line center role, it’d be a significant, positive development for a player in need of exactly that. Lapierre looked like he was on the way to establishing himself as a full-time NHL player in 2023-24, scoring 22 points in 51 games. But he failed to build on that momentum in 2024-25: he was strong in the AHL (32 points in 32 games) but only played in 27 NHL games and only registered eight points. While at this stage it appears more unlikely he’ll meet his draft-year projection of becoming a top-six center, his progress so far this season is an encouraging sign that he still could become an impactful middle-six pivot, which remains a strong return for a first-rounder in the early 20’s range.

Some other notes from across the NHL:

  • The New York Islanders announced that young center Calum Ritchie has suffered a lower-body injury that will sideline him for at least one-to-two weeks. The 20-year-old pivot is entering his first season of professional hockey, something that is overwhelmingly likely to occur with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. Ritchie is one of the Islanders’ top prospects and is widely considered to be a potential future top-six center. While this injury will slow him down, his performance in the OHL suggests he could be one of the top rookies in the AHL this season, assuming he does not play his way into the NHL too quickly.
  • The St. Louis Blues announced that special assistant to GM Doug Armstrong (and future GM) Alex Steen has been named to the management team of Sweden in advance of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. According to a press release, Steen “will assist with scouting and roster selection” for his native Sweden. The move is notable in part due to the fact that Steen’s boss, Blues GM Doug Armstrong, has long been the top management figure for Hockey Canada’s men’s teams and will continue in that role for the 2026 Olympics. Sweden is among the top contenders to win a gold medal at the upcoming Olympics, alongside Canada and the United States.

Devils Trade Kurtis MacDermid To Senators For Zack MacEwen

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The New Jersey Devils have acquired winger Zack MacEwen from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid, per a team announcement.

This trade is a swap of two highly physical, down-the-lineup players. MacEwen, 29, is a 6’4 227-pound winger set to play out the final season of a three-year, $775K AAV one-way contract. He was signed by the Senators before the 2023-24 season and has played in 51 games in Ottawa across the last two seasons. During his stint in Ottawa, MacEwen managed four goals and six points to go alongside 78 penalty minutes and 104 hits.

MacEwen was in a battle to earn an NHL roster spot in Ottawa to start the 2025-26 season, but was not considered to be a favorite to win a fourth-line role. Now, rather than potentially hit the waiver wire and be sent to the AHL’s Belleville Senators, MacEwen has received a new opportunity with the New Jersey Devils.

At face value, it appears the Devils’ primary motivation behind this trade was financial. While both players are highly physical talents, MacDermid is generally considered to be a marginally more imposing player than MacEwen. But MacEwen is making $775k this season, while MacDermid is set to make $1.15MM against the cap and carries an additional year of term. So in swapping the two players, the Devils have managed to save some cap space while replacing MacDermid with a player who is likely to fill a similar (if not identical) on-ice role.

Having just committed $9MM in cap space to Luke Hughes, this move allows the Devils to gain a marginal amount of additional financial flexibility moving forward.

From the Senators’ perspective there are valid reasons as to why they’d agree to pay the higher price for MacDermid compared to MacEwen. Beyond being just a little bit bigger than MacEwen, MacDermid has been a full-time NHL player since the 2019-20 season – he hasn’t played in the AHL over that entire span. (Meanwhile MacEwen played 30 games in the AHL last season.)

As a result, while the Senators have taken on a greater financial commitment, MacDermid very well could prove to be an upgrade over MacEwen. The Senators recent preseason game against their division rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, was a rambunctious, highly physical affair – and it led to some in Ottawa questioning the team’s level of toughness and ability to endure some of the game’s more physical players. (such as Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj) With this trade, it appears the Senators have made an attempt to reinforce their team’s toughness in advance of what is likely to be a set of bitterly-fought divisional matchups over the course of 2025-26.

Sabres Notes: Luukkonen, Kesselring, Mrtka

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The Sabres issued multiple injury updates today, none of them particularly positive. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is dealing with a new injury unrelated to the one that’s kept him out of commission thus far, head coach Lindy Ruff told WGR Sports Radio 550’s Paul Hamilton. According to Ruff, Luukkonen’s injury will keep him sidelined on a week-to-week timeline, ruling him out for the Sabres’ season-opening contest and perhaps several more after that.

Luukkonen, 26, has emerged as the Sabres’ undisputed number-one netminder over the last two years. He was brilliant in 2023-24 posting a .910 save percentage in 54 games, but took a step back in 2024-25. (.887 save percentage across 55 games) With Luukkonen sidelined moving forward, the Sabres will turn to one of Alex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev as the team’s season-opening starting netminder. Georgiev was signed to a league-minimum deal just before the preseason, while Lyon signed a two-year $1.5MM AAV deal earlier in the offseason.

Some other notes from Western New York:

  • Luukkonen was not the only Sabre Ruff said would be out week-to-week: he also noted that defenseman Michael Kesselring would be out of commission on a similar timeline. That’s a tough blow for the Sabres, who acquired Kesselring in the JJ Peterka trade and had hoped his addition would go a long way to shoring up their defense. He still could, of course, but it now appears he’ll miss at least the start of the season. In his place, the Sabres could elevate Conor Timmins from the third pair to play next to Owen Power on the team’s second pairing, or Jacob Bryson could draw into the lineup to fill that role.
  • Ruff also said today that 2025 first-round pick Radim Mrtka is dealing with an illness and will be unable to play in the short-term as a result. Because of this, Rochester Americans defenseman Zach Metsa will be recalled to play in his place in the team’s final preseason game. Metsa, 26, is an NCAA National Championship-winning defenseman who scored an impressive 46 points in 69 games last year for the Americans. He’s expected to begin the season in Rochester, but if his stellar play continues he could be a name to watch for an NHL call-up down the line.

Seattle Kraken Sign Julius Miettinen To Entry-Level Contract

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The Seattle Kraken have announced that forward Julius Miettinen has been signed to a three-year entry-level contract. Per the team release, Miettinen’s new contract will carry a $975K AAV.

Miettinen, 19, was a second-round pick of Seattle in the 2024 draft, selected 40th overall. Ranked as high as 22nd in the public sphere (TSN’s Craig Button) Miettinen drew appreciation from scouts for his combination of size (he stands 6’4, 207 pounds) and offensive ability. In his draft season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, Miettinen scored 31 goals and 67 points in 66 regular-season games, and four points in nine postseason contests.

Last season was an up-and-down affair for Miettinen, as he managed to continue his steady production and earn a silver medal at the World Junior Championships, but did miss some time due to a lower-body injury. Miettinen is currently back in the WHL and has started off well, scoring two goals and four points in his first two games.

It is overwhelmingly likely Miettinen will not factor into the pro hockey equation for Seattle until his final junior campaign ends, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he enters training camp one year from now looking to steal an NHL role. Miettinen was recently ranked as the Kraken’s tenth-best prospect by EliteProspects, with their team noting how it’s “easy to see” Miettinen having an NHL career due to his projectable pro-ready qualities.

He’ll have to step forward and be a top WHL player with the Silvertips for that to be the likely short-term outcome, but regardless of his production, today’s contract signing paves the way for Miettinen to eventually push for a spot in Seattle down the line.

Training Camp Cuts: 10/3/25

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We’re getting into the final few days of training camp. There are only three days until opening night rosters are due, meaning only a handful of teams have significant cuts to make. Otherwise, it’s down to the final few roster battles. We’re keeping track of today’s demotions here:

Boston Bruins (per team announcement)

F Patrick Brown (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
D Frederic Brunet (to AHL Providence)
D Michael Callahan (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
F Riley Duran (to AHL Providence)
F Brett Harrison (to AHL Providence)
F Fabian Lysell (to AHL Providence)
F Georgii Merkulov (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
D Victor Söderström (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)
F Riley Tufte (to AHL Providence, pending waivers)

Detroit Red Wings (per team announcement)

F Carter Mazur (to AHL Grand Rapids)
G Michal Postava (to AHL Grand Rapids)
D William Wallinder (to AHL Grand Rapids)

Nashville Predators (per team announcement)

F Zachary L’Heureux (to AHL Milwaukee)
D Tanner Molendyk (to AHL Milwaukee)

New York Rangers (per team announcement)

D Scott Morrow (to AHL Hartford)
F Gabriel Perreault (to AHL Hartford)

Pittsburgh Penguins (per team announcement)

D Sebastian Aho (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
F Danton Heinen (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
D Philip Kemp (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
F Joona Koppanen (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
G Filip Larsson (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)
F Valtteri Puustinen (to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, cleared waivers)

Utah Mammoth (per team announcement)

F Ben McCartney (to AHL Tucson, cleared waivers)
D Scott Perunovich (to AHL Tucson, cleared waivers)
F Gabe Smith (to QMJHL Moncton)
G Matt Villalta (to AHL Tucson, pending waivers)

Vancouver Canucks (per team announcement)

F Nils Åman (to AHL Abbotsford, pending waivers)

Washington Capitals (per team announcement)

D Ryan Chesley (to AHL Hershey)
F Andrew Cristall (to AHL Hershey)
F Eriks Mateiko (to AHL Hershey)
D Leon Muggli (to AHL Hershey)
F Ilya Protas (to AHL Hershey)
F Sheldon Rempal (to AHL Hershey, pending waivers)

Waivers: 10/3/25

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Twelve new names are on Friday’s waiver list, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports relays. Out of the 22 names waived yesterday, three were claimed: Daemon Hunt heads from Columbus to Minnesota, Cole Schwindt from Vegas to Florida, and Ilya Solovyov from Calgary to Colorado.

Today’s placements are as follows:

Boston Bruins

F Patrick Brown
D Michael Callahan
F Georgii Merkulov
D Victor Söderström
F Riley Tufte

Carolina Hurricanes

F Givani Smith

Tampa Bay Lightning

G Brandon Halverson

Toronto Maple Leafs

F David Kämpf
D William Villeneuve

Utah Mammoth

G Matt Villalta

Vancouver Canucks

F Nils Åman

Washington Capitals

F Sheldon Rempal

Panthers Claim Cole Schwindt Off Waivers From Golden Knights

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The Panthers have claimed forward Cole Schwindt off waivers from the Golden Knights, PuckPedia reports.

Schwindt, 24, begins his second go-around with the Panthers organization. Florida drafted him in the third round in 2019, and he made his NHL debut for them a few years later before getting included in 2022’s Jonathan Huberdeau/Matthew Tkachuk blockbuster trade with Calgary. He stuck with the Flames organization for two more years, but only played four games for them before he was lost on waivers to the Golden Knights in preseason last year.

The Ontario native brings 49 games of NHL experience back to Sunrise, 42 of which came in a depth role with Vegas in 2024-25. His career 1-7–8 scoring line works out to 0.16 points per game and isn’t particularly inspiring. He’s only averaged 9:21 of ice time per game, though, and has produced reliable enough defensive results. In addition to recording 41 hits last year, he had a +3 rating and controlled 52.8% of even-strength expected goals despite a defense-oriented workload.

With Florida dealing with a difficult rash of injuries to their forward group, it’s sensible for them to bring back a familiar name. They still need to make a few cuts, and it’s not a guarantee he doesn’t end up back on waivers in the next two days, but he gives them an option with more recent NHL experience than Jack Studnicka, who’s still hanging around in camp and was projected as their 13th forward to start the year before Schwindt’s pickup. PTO invites Noah Gregor and Tyler Motte are still options to sign and potentially push Schwindt back onto waivers, though.

Avalanche Claim Ilya Solovyov

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The Avalanche have acquired defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Flames via waivers, according to PuckPedia.

Solovyov, 25, is in the second year of a two-year, $1.55MM contract with a $775K cap hit that he signed with Calgary as a restricted free agent in 2024. It carries a one-way structure this year, so even if the Avs managed to have him clear waivers and assign him to the minors, they’re on the hook for that full NHL salary. Solovyov skated in five of his 15 career NHL contests in 2024-25, posting an assist and eight blocks with 12 hits and a -3 rating while averaging 15:40 per game.

The 6’3″ Solovyov commands more intrigue because of his minor-league work with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. The Belarusian rearguard is coming off a career-high 6-22–28 scoring line in 59 appearances for the Wranglers, along with a +8 rating. A seventh-round pick back in 2020, he brings four years of professional experience to the Colorado organization that includes an 18-51–69 scoring line with a +33 rating in 229 career AHL games.

Colorado is weak on left-side defensive depth with NHL upside, so it’s not unsurprising to see them make a claim and give Keaton Middleton some competition for the No. 7 job while also providing a backup option if righty Sam Malinski struggles to adjust to playing on his off side, as he’s projected to do alongside Brent Burns. All of Colorado’s projected extra forwards who remain in camp are waiver-exempt, so they could carry 13 forwards and eight defenders to start the year with Logan O’Connor on injured reserve. That would allow them to retain Solovyov and Middleton without risking losing either on waivers.

Wild Claim Daemon Hunt, Release Jack Johnson

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The Wild have claimed defenseman Daemon Hunt off waivers from the Blue Jackets, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. The club also released Jack Johnson from his professional tryout in a corresponding move and summoned the previously waived Matt Kiersted from AHL Iowa, although that’s a short-term move to give him more preseason action before being returned to the minors.

Today’s move marks a reunion between Hunt and the Wild, who drafted him in the third round of the 2020 draft. The 23-year-old has only ever suited up for Minnesota in the NHL, but he only played one game for them last year before he was included in the early-season trade that saw the Wild acquire David Jiricek from Columbus. This is his first year requiring waivers to head to the minors, where he spent the vast majority of last season.

Hunt, a 6’1″, 201-lb lefty, will begin his fourth professional campaign in a more familiar environment. Drafted as a true two-way defender, his results in AHL Cleveland after moving to the Blue Jackets organization weren’t what Columbus hoped for. He only managed a 2-12–14 scoring line with a -8 rating in 48 appearances after the trade. That offensive output was down significantly from what Hunt had in the Wild organization with Iowa the year prior, logging 29 points in 51 games on their blue line.

In his 13 prior NHL appearances with Minnesota, Hunt had one assist and a -1 rating while averaging a minuscule 11:14 per game. His possession numbers were good in those limited, albeit sheltered minutes, controlling 54.6% of shot attempts and 57.1% of expected goals at even strength.

As such, he’s now slated for an opening-night job with the Wild. With Johnson released, Hunt is one of seven healthy defenders remaining in Wild camp, not counting Kiersted. Jonas Brodin has long been expected to start the year on injured reserve after an offseason upper-body surgery, and that hasn’t changed.

Johnson, 38, will now look elsewhere to continue his career. The veteran of 19 NHL seasons and 1,228 games was reduced to a No. 7/8 job on the Blue Jackets’ depth chart last year, recording six assists and a -13 rating in 41 games. With that stat line as his platform, interest will be limited.

Hurricanes Sign Givani Smith To Two-Way Deal

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The Hurricanes announced Friday they’ve signed winger Givani Smith to a two-way deal. He had been in camp on a professional tryout. The deal carries a $775K NHL salary and a $140K AHL salary with a guarantee of $250K.

A second-round pick by the Red Wings in 2016, Smith has become a journeyman over the past few seasons. Carolina will be the 27-year-old’s sixth NHL organization in the last four years. He split the 2022-23 campaign between the Red Wings and Panthers, spent all of 2023-24 in San Jose, and then split last year between the Sharks, Avalanche, and Flyers organizations. However, he never made an NHL appearance for Philadelphia.

The 6’2″ enforcer has gone 575 days since recording his last NHL point. He went without one in 13 showings last year and spent the back half of the campaign in the minors after clearing waivers. Since his debut six years ago, Smith has a 9-13–22 scoring line in 168 appearances with a -31 rating, 268 PIMs, and 330 hits. He’s averaged just 8:12 of ice time per game.

It remains to be seen whether the Canes keep Smith around for opening night or opt to waive him and stash him with AHL Charlotte. Considering fellow fringe forwards Juha Jaaska and Mark Jankowski are carrying day-to-day injury designations, it’ll likely be the former. He got a relatively long look in preseason, averaging nearly 13 minutes per game across four contests while scoring twice, adding an assist and 28 PIMs.

Smith beat out fellow PTO invite Kevin Labanc for a job, as well as first-round picks like Bradly Nadeau and Ryan Suzuki – the latter of whom managed to clear waivers this week. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

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