The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Jackson LaCombe to an eight-year extension worth $9 million p...

The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13808" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13808">Jackson LaCombe</a> to an eight-year extension worth $9 million per season, according to <a href="https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1973807952537792558">Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman</a>.The deal, signed Thursday, is the richest in franchise history, Friedman adds. Ducks icons Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Paul Kariya had higher average annual values, but LaCombe's $72 million is the largest total sum.LaCombe will play out the final year of his current contract in 2025-26, earning $925,000, according to <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/jackson-lacombe">PuckPedia</a>. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2034.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 24-year-old broke out with 14 goals and 43 points in 75 games last season and led all Anaheim skaters in averaging 22:18 per contest.The Ducks drafted LaCombe 39th overall in 2019. He made his NHL debut in 2023 following a four-year tenure at the University of Minnesota.Anaheim also recently signed forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10696" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10696">Mason McTavish</a>, another piece of the club's young core, to a six-year, $42-million contract.The Ducks have missed the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons but improved by 21 points last year.

EDMONTON, CANADA - MARCH 4: Jackson LaCombe #2 of the Anaheim Ducks awaits a face-off during the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on March 4, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Ducks sign LaCombe to reported 8-year, $72M extension

The Calgary Flames signed head coach Ryan Huska to a two-year contract extension Thursday.  "We'r...

The Calgary Flames signed head coach Ryan Huska to a two-year contract extension Thursday."We're thrilled to extend Ryan for two more years" general manager Craig Conroy said in a statement. "He's done an excellent job creating a strong culture in our room and helping our team take steps in the right direction. His communication, work ethic, and commitment to developing our players have been outstanding. We believe in his vision and are confident he's the right coach to lead us forward."Huska's been in the Flames' organization since 2014-15, when he started with the club's AHL affiliate. He joined Calgary as an assistant in 2018 and was named head coach in 2023.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He's guided the Flames to a 79-66-19 record over two seasons behind the bench. Calgary missed the playoffs in 2024-25 due to a tiebreaker scenario with the St. Louis Blues. The Flames begin their regular season Oct. 8 against the Edmonton Oilers.

MONTREAL, CANADA - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Ryan Huska of the Calgary Flames handles bench duties during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on November 5, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Calgary Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime.

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Flames sign Huska to 2-year extension

The Edmonton Oilers acquired goaltender Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth for future considerat...

The Edmonton Oilers acquired goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4611" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4611">Connor Ingram</a> from the Utah Mammoth for future considerations, the teams announced Wednesday. Ingram recently passed through waivers unclaimed and will report to AHL Bakersfield to start his tenure with the Oilers. He's under contract this season and scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2026.The Mammoth are retaining $800,000 of his $1.95-million cap hit.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ingram appeared in 22 games for the Mammoth last season, posting an .882 save percentage. He entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in March and was reinstated in August.The 28-year-old had strong numbers during the two prior campaigns, owning a .907 clip across 77 starts before the Arizona Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City. Ingram started a career-high 50 games in 2023-24 and led the league with six shutouts.Goaltending was a prominent storyline in Edmonton over the offseason after general manager Stan Bowman opted to stick with a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6553" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6553">Stuart Skinner</a>-<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1766">Calvin Pickard</a> tandem. The duo has tended goal for back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, but neither has proven to be a consistent option. Skinner won 26 of 50 starts last season with a .896 save percentage and had a .889 clip in the playoffs. He surrendered the net to Pickard two games into the opening round before taking it back in Round 2.The Oilers begin their season Oct. 8 against the Calgary Flames. Edmonton is under immense pressure to perform in 2025-26 as captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4560" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4560">Connor McDavid</a> enters the final year of his contract.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Connor Ingram #39 of the Utah Hockey Club in goal against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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Oilers acquire Ingram from Mammoth

While there are a handful of surefire Stanley Cup contenders in their own tier of competitiveness...

While there are a handful of surefire Stanley Cup contenders in their own tier of competitiveness, several teams enter the 2025-26 season looking to take the next step or avoid falling out of relevance.Below, we look at two clubs trending up, two trending down, and two that are a coin toss.<h3>Trending up 📈</h3>Montreal Canadiens<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750413/cropped_GettyImages-2178251057.jpg?ts=1729262599" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750413/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178251057.jpg?ts=1729262599 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750413/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178251057.jpg?ts=1729262599 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750413/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178251057.jpg?ts=1729262599 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750413/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178251057.jpg?ts=1729262599 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750413/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178251057.jpg?ts=1729262599 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Habs flipped a switch late last season, surging into the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot and transforming from a rebuilding team to a dark horse in a matter of months. Now, they look primed to take another step forward. Captain Nick Suzuki has established himself as one of the league's premier two-way centers, and Montreal has another offensive weapon potentially ready to break out in Ivan Demidov. If the 19-year-old can meet expectations of a Calder-worthy campaign, the Canadiens' attack will be difficult to slow down.To supplement a core that proved capable of making noise in the East, Montreal acquired Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc in trades over the summer. Dobson can play top-line minutes as Lane Hutson continues to grow, and Bolduc is a sneaky effective bottom-six player who bagged 19 goals for the St. Louis Blues last season.Center depth is a legitimate concern, but the Canadiens are still on an upward trajectory as constructed.Utah MammothThe Mammoth were in the hunt for a wild-card spot last campaign with 89 points, a total the Arizona Coyotes hadn't matched in their final 10 years of existence. Utah boasted five 20-goal scorers in its debut season and added another over the summer in JJ Peterka. Offense won't be a problem for this club. And the Mammoth should get a natural boost on the back end with a healthy Sean Durzi and John Marino, who were limited last year to 30 and 35 games, respectively.Although Utah's unlikely to push for a Central Division crown, building on last season's progress is a fair expectation. The margins in the Western Conference were so thin in 2024-25 that some better fortune in extra time could have propelled the Mammoth into the playoffs. Utah lost 13 games in overtime and was 1-4 in shootouts.<h3>Trending down 📉</h3>Winnipeg Jets<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784972/cropped_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746884357" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784972/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746884357 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784972/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746884357 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784972/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746884357 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784972/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746884357 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784972/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746884357 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Jets technically have nowhere to go but down in the standings after winning the Presidents' Trophy, but there are legitimate reasons to expect some regression in Winnipeg this season. Expecting another MVP-caliber campaign from Connor Hellebuyck is a big ask, especially considering no goalie has won three consecutive Vezina Trophies since Dominik Hasek in the late 1990s. The Jets' backbone will also take on extra responsibility with Team USA at the Olympics this winter, and he faces enormous pressure to erase the recent playoff disappointment.The club also lost Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency, and captain Adam Lowry is out injured to start the campaign. Winnipeg's group of centers is a major concern against the West's top teams, even if the Jonathan Toews experiment works out.Los Angeles KingsNew general manager Ken Holland was reckless with his cap space in his first summer in Hollywood, signing Brian Dumoulin, Cody Ceci, Joel Armia, and Corey Perry for a combined $13 million. While they're all established NHLers, none of them bring Los Angeles closer to Stanley Cup contention after four consecutive first-round exits. The additions of Dumoulin and Ceci compound the loss of Vladislav Gavrikov, who was quietly one of the best shutdown defenders in the NHL during his tenure with the Kings.Additionally, L.A. is in a questionable spot in goal. Darcy Kuemper is fresh off his first Vezina Trophy nomination, but he has struggled to string together healthy seasons throughout his career. He's only hit the 50-game barrier four times in 13 years and has only done it once in consecutive campaigns.<h3>Could go either way ↕️</h3>Toronto Maple Leafs<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784834/cropped_GettyImages-2182485466.jpg?ts=1746804412" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784834/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182485466.jpg?ts=1746804412 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784834/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182485466.jpg?ts=1746804412 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784834/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182485466.jpg?ts=1746804412 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784834/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182485466.jpg?ts=1746804412 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784834/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182485466.jpg?ts=1746804412 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty</figcaption></figure>Whether the Maple Leafs will be better or worse without Mitch Marner was a popular offseason debate, and we're about to find out which side of the argument is correct. Losing a perennial 90-point player isn't easy for any club to overcome, but Toronto's forward depth looks more competitive on paper now that the "Core Four" era has ended.Although the Maple Leafs will ice a different look, their campaign hinges on captain Auston Matthews. If he's back to being an MVP and "Rocket" Richard candidate, Toronto should breeze into the playoffs. If injuries plague Matthews like they did last season, the Leafs might not have the firepower to get where they want to go.Vancouver CanucksThe Canucks are hoping to have a drama-free season after last year's soap opera, but they're not off to a great start. Chatter about Quinn Hughes potentially uniting with his brothers outside of Vancouver was a major story in the buildup to camp, and the narrative won't die down if the Canucks stumble out of the gates. That said, this team has more pressing concerns than the captain's contract expiring in two years.At the top of the list is Elias Pettersson. The 26-year-old desperately needs a rebound year as Vancouver can't afford another 45-point output from its highest-paid player. If Pettersson can return to his 100-point form, the Canucks' chances of competing in a wide-open Pacific Division increase significantly.The health of Thatcher Demko is another factor that could make or break the club's efforts to get back to the playoffs. He was the Vezina runner-up in 2024 but posted underwhelming numbers across 23 games in his return from injury. Demko rediscovering his game could make the biggest difference of all for the Canucks, who ranked 25th with an .885 save percentage last season.

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Trending Up or Down: 6 teams to watch in 2025-26

Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander will miss 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery on a lower...

Vancouver Canucks forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9827" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9827">Nils Hoglander</a> will miss 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery on a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday.Hoglander suffered the injury in Vancouver's preseason win over the Calgary Flames on Sept. 24. He was initially labeled week-to-week.The 24-year-old managed 25 points in 72 games last season, a down year after notching a career-high 24 goals in 2023-24.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hoglander is entering the first campaign of a three-year, $9-million extension signed last October. The Canucks drafted Hoglander 40th overall in 2019. He's managed 115 points in 293 NHL games.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 26: Nils Hoglander #21 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Boston Bruins during the second period at the TD Garden on November 26, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Canucks won 2-0.

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Canucks' Hoglander out 8-10 weeks after lower-body surgery

The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Cam Fowler to a three-year contract extension Saturday.  Th...

The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1706">Cam Fowler</a> to a three-year contract extension Saturday.The deal is worth $6.1 million per season, according to <a href="https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1972102935338524943">Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman</a>. Fowler is entering the final campaign of an eight-year, $52-million contract he signed as a member of the Anaheim Ducks in 2017.The Blues acquired Fowler in December after he spent parts of 15 seasons with the Ducks. He had four assists in 17 games with Anaheim before the trade, then contributed 36 points in 51 contests with St. Louis.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 33-year-old added 10 points in the first round of the playoffs as the Blues lost in seven games to the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets. Fowler was the 12th overall pick in 2010. He's notched 493 points in 1,042 career games.

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 24: Cam Fowler #17 of the St. Louis Blues acknowledges fans after being named the third star of the game after beating the Winnipeg Jets in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 24, 2025 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Blues sign Fowler to 3-year extension

United States captain Keegan Bradley hopes his team can channel the 2016 New England Patriots to ...

United States captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/796" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/796">Keegan Bradley</a> hopes his team can channel the 2016 New England Patriots to overcome a massive deficit heading into the final day of the 2025 Ryder Cup.When asked what Bradley can say to his players to inspire a comeback, he referenced Super Bowl LI. "28-3," Bradley said after Saturday's shellacking at the hands of the Europeans, according to <a href="https://x.com/BrentleyGC/status/1972072899780792609">Golf Channel's Brentley Romine</a>. "I was at that Super Bowl. I watched it. What a cool thing to have witnessed live in person."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Tom Brady and the Patriots shocked the Atlanta Falcons that winter, orchestrating the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. This year's American squad enters Sunday's singles session trailing 11.5-4.5, the biggest deficit for any team after two rounds since 1975, according to <a href="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/1972071141872164964">SportsCenter</a>.Europe took six of eight points Saturday and needs only three wins in the singles format to retain the Ryder Cup. Europe hasn't won on American soil since 2012.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Team United States Captain Keegan Bradley watches on the 13th hole during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.

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Bradley's message to inspire U.S. Ryder Cup comeback: '28-3'

For deeper Ryder Cup insights, check out our live running analysis of the action at Bethpage Blac...

For deeper Ryder Cup insights, check out our <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3354256" href="https://thescore.com/news/3354256">live running analysis</a> of the action at Bethpage Black.Europe grabbed a 5.5-2.5 lead over Team USA to open the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Friday, marking its first lead after Day 1 on American soil since 2004.The Europeans built a 3-1 advantage in the morning foursomes session before winning the afternoon session 2.5-1.5 to capture all the early momentum at the highly anticipated international showdown.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Afternoon session (Four-ball)</h3>Match 1: Rahm/Straka 🇪🇺 3&amp;2 over Scheffler/Spaun 🇺🇸<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1111" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1111">Jon Rahm</a> continued his Ryder Cup dominance and led the charge in handing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1540" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1540">Scottie Scheffler</a> his second loss of the day. The Americans won the opening hole but were 1-down by No. 3. Rahm and Straka went 3-up by the 11th hole, answering every time Scheffler and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2217" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2217">J.J. Spaun</a> tried to make it interesting. Rahm is now 7-1-3 at the event since Whistling Straits in 2021.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jon Rahm keeps it at 3UP with a huge putt! 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/uN5CfYHHG2">pic.twitter.com/uN5CfYHHG2</a>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1971678938868208124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Match 2: Fleetwood/Rose 🇪🇺 1-up over DeChambeau/Griffin 🇺🇸 This match was neck and neck the entire way, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1013" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1013">Justin Rose</a> sealing the point with a birdie on 18. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/437" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/437">Bryson DeChambeau</a> got the crowd on his side with early nuclear drives but largely played on his own as rookie <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5287" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5287">Ben Griffin</a> struggled outside of a memorable 57-foot putt. The Americans still took a 1-up lead to the closing nine, but Rose and Fleetwood chipped away and were up two on the 16th hole. After DeChambeau birdied No. 17 to force a trip up to the last, the visitors slammed the door on the final green. Rose's winning putt was strikingly similar to the one he drained in 2023 to win his opening-day match as the sun set in Rome.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Justin Rose delivers on the 18th once again 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/RYx6YBxJss">https://t.co/RYx6YBxJss</a> <a href="https://t.co/hQI5Tej457">pic.twitter.com/hQI5Tej457</a>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1971695483195408747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Match 3: Young/Thomas 🇺🇸 6&amp;5 over Aberg/Hojgaard🇪🇺<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803054/cropped_GettyImages-2237603351.jpg?ts=1758922518" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803054/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237603351.jpg?ts=1758922518 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803054/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237603351.jpg?ts=1758922518 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803054/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237603351.jpg?ts=1758922518 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803054/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237603351.jpg?ts=1758922518 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803054/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237603351.jpg?ts=1758922518 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Maddie Meyer/PGA of America / PGA of America / Getty</figcaption></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5830" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5830">Cameron Young</a>'s Ryder Cup debut couldn't have gone any better. The New York native, who previously held the course record at Bethpage Black, provided the Americans an instant spark and took control in this match with a birdie on the second hole. Young carried the load early, and Thomas avenged a poor showing in the morning session with some strong play of his own. Young's brilliant round will certainly raise questions about captain Keegan Bradley's decision to bench him in the morning.Match 4: McIlroy/Lowry 🇪🇺 tie Burns/Cantlay 🇺🇸The anchor match went down to the wire, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/599" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/599">Rory McIlroy</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1319" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1319">Sam Burns</a> both narrowly missing birdie putts on 18 that could've secured a point. The American duo grabbed the lead on the opening hole, but it didn't last long. Europe tied it on No. 2 and were 2-up by No. 11. Burns and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1451" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1451">Patrick Cantlay</a> then turned the tides as Europe's putters became inconsistent. The two sides went toe to toe until the end, but the match's most memorable moment came as McIlroy ignited the crowd on No. 7 with his second consecutive birdie.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rory's at it again!! 🗣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/7qZFsLUBAf">pic.twitter.com/7qZFsLUBAf</a>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1971653887649370120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Morning session (Foursomes)</h3>Match 1: Rahm/Hatton 🇪🇺 4&amp;3 over DeChambeau/Thomas 🇺🇸A <a href="https://x.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1971536007922352221">ridiculous drive</a> from DeChambeau on the opening tee was supposed to set the tone for Team USA. While it was followed by a birdie and a 1-up lead, DeChambeau and Thomas failed to build on it, and they let Rahm and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/994" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/994">Tyrrell Hatton</a> hang around too long. The Euros won holes No. 7, 8, 12, and 13 to essentially put this match on ice.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hatton &amp; Rahm move to 3UP 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/vUp4Zdwmsk">pic.twitter.com/vUp4Zdwmsk</a>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1971577009932587344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Match 2: Aberg/Fitzpatrick 🇪🇺 5&amp;3 over Scheffler/Henley 🇺🇸After trading birdies on the opening two holes, it was all <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5384" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5384">Ludvig Aberg</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/808" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/808">Matt Fitzpatrick</a> the rest of the way. The European duo made four more birdies on the front nine to take a commanding lead en route to a stunning upset over World No. 1 Scheffler and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1700" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1700">Russell Henley</a>. Match 3: McIlroy/Fleetwood 🇪🇺 5&amp;4 over Morikawa/English 🇺🇸In a clinical performance, the seasoned European "Fleetwood Mac" pair of McIlroy and Fleetwood made five birdies on the front nine alone to win in a landslide. McIlroy hit one of the better approaches of the day on No. 6 to set up a tap-in birdie for Fleetwood.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Oh, Rory 😮‍💨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/a10vacdJj0">pic.twitter.com/a10vacdJj0</a>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1971558911775060113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>On paper, this was arguably Europe's biggest match advantage in the opening session, and McIlroy and Fleetwood took care of business brilliantly.Match 4: Schauffele/Cantlay 🇺🇸 2-up over MacIntyre/Hovland 🇪🇺The Americans desperately needed their tried and true pairing of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a> and Cantlay to pick up a full point, and they delivered versus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/4894" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/4894">Robert MacIntyre</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5297" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5297">Viktor Hovland</a> - but it wasn't easy. Schauffele and Cantlay never trailed and were 3-up through 11 holes before MacIntyre and Hovland stormed back and won three of the next four holes to tie it. But a birdie on No. 17 saved Schauffele and Cantlay from a catastrophic collapse. Schauffele and Cantlay are now 10-3 together in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 26: Sepp Straka of Team Europe and teammate Jon Rahm celebrate after defeating J.J. Spaun and Scottie Scheffler of Team United States, 3&2, during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.

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Europe holds 3-point lead after thrilling 1st day at Ryder Cup

Team USA and Team Europe announced pairings Thursday afternoon for Friday's opening session at th...

Team USA and Team Europe announced pairings Thursday afternoon for Friday's opening session at the Ryder Cup.Morning foursomes begin at 7:10 a.m. ET, while the afternoon four-ball session starts at 12:25 p.m. Here's who will face off in the first opportunity to secure points at Bethpage Black.Match 1: Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas vs. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton (7:10 a.m.) Match 2: Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley vs. Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick (7:26 a.m.) Match 3: Collin Morikawa and Harris English vs. Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood (7:42 a.m.) Match 4: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay vs. Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland (7:58 a.m.)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Foursome sessions use an alternate shot format.DeChambeau and Thomas have never been paired at the Ryder Cup. DeChambeau is 0-2-0 in the format while Thomas is 1-2-0. Rahm and Hatton are teammates on LIV Golf's Legion XIII and are 2-0-1 as partners at this event.Scheffler will look to continue his dominant season on the international stage and avenge an 0-2-2 record at Marco Simone in 2023. Henley is a Ryder Cup rookie but went 3-1-0 for the United States at last year's Presidents Cup.Aberg and Scheffler have history: The young Swede and Hovland dismantled the World No. 1 and partner Brooks Koepka with a 9&amp;7 result at the Saturday foursomes session in 2023.Morikawa and English are a surprising choice from captain Keegan Bradley, as the duo ranks 132nd of 132 among Data Golf's optimal pairings, according to <a href="https://x.com/KurkerSam/status/1971306501227917314">Sam Weitzman-Kurker of the Wesleyan Argus</a>. Morikawa was 1-3-0 in 2023 and English was 1-2-0 for the American side that dominated Whistling Straits in 2021.McIlroy and Fleetwood are the most high-profile European pairing for Friday's first session. The pair are 2-0-0 together and McIlroy had the best showing of his Ryder Cup career in 2023 with a 4-1-0 record. Schauffele and Cantlay have been a common pairing for the USA, going 2-2-0 together. Hovland and MacIntyre haven't played together at the event, but both were on Europe's most recent winning squad. Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, and Cameron Young will be on the sidelines for the Americans during the first session, while Rasmus Hojgaard, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka will wait their turns for Europe.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States looks on while Justin Thomas of Team United States reacts during a practice round prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 25, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.

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Bryson, JT vs. Rahm, Hatton headlines opening Ryder Cup pairings

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov needed help off the ice after sustaining an apparent l...

Florida Panthers captain <a href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3004">Aleksander Barkov</a> needed help off the ice after sustaining an apparent leg injury during Thursday's practice.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here's video of Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov going down today at practice... <a href="https://t.co/g32uLiJzjk">https://t.co/g32uLiJzjk</a> <a href="https://t.co/QIAamOdqzd">pic.twitter.com/QIAamOdqzd</a>— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) <a href="https://twitter.com/WPLGLocal10/status/1971257393851007173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Head coach Paul Maurice said Barkov will be evaluated, with Florida expecting an update on its leader Friday."It's beyond our control," Maurice said, per <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nhl/florida-panthers/article312256170.html">Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald</a>. "We have to learn to win hockey games without good players. If that's the adversity or the test that we face this year, then that's what we're going to do. I'm not a doctor, so whatever the report is won't affect how we handle the next days."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Panthers start their regular season Oct. 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are already without winger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5591" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5591">Matthew Tkachuk</a> until at least December. He underwent surgery over the offseason to repair injuries sustained last season. Barkov was limited to 67 games in 2024-25 but still managed 71 points and won his second consecutive Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward. He added 22 points in 23 playoff contests.

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 26: Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) warms up before the third period during game four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, May 26, 2025 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

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Panthers' Barkov helped off ice during practice, will be evaluated

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn will undergo surgery for a collapsed lung and be re-evaluated in ...

Dallas Stars captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/353" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/353">Jamie Benn</a> will undergo surgery for a collapsed lung and be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Thursday.He sustained the injury in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Minnesota Wild. The Stars begin their regular season Oct. 9 against the Winnipeg Jets.Benn signed a one-year, $1-million contract with the Stars in June to stick with the club for a 17th season. The Stars selected Benn in the fifth round of the 2007 draft.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 36-year-old forward produced 49 points in 80 games last season. However, he struggled in the playoffs with one goal and two assists and the Stars were eliminated in the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive year.Benn ranks second in Stars history in goals (399), points (956), and games played (1,192). He trails only Hall of Famer Mike Modano in each category.

WINNIPEG, CANADA - MAY 09: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars skates during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre on May 09, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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Benn out at least 4 weeks due to collapsed lung

David Pastrnak joined his teammates at Boston Bruins training camp for the first time Monday and ...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4122" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4122">David Pastrnak</a> joined his teammates at Boston Bruins training camp for the first time Monday and said the week he took off the ice to deal with knee tendinitis is nothing to be concerned about."I played with that the whole year last year, so I wouldn't be too worried about it, obviously," Pastrnak said, per <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/david-pastrnak-not-concerned-about-knee-injury">NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin</a>. "I spent a lot of time in the summer to make it better, and it did get much better than it was last year. Obviously it wasn't perfect (and) it's not perfect yet, so it was perfect timing to try to get it even better - it already got better."Like I said, nothing too concerning. It's just something that's nagging me for a very long time."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Pastrnak showed no ill effects last season, appearing in all 82 games and ranking fourth in league scoring with 106 points - 49 higher than any other Boston skater.He's unsure if the injury will hold him back in 2025-26."I guess (it's) just something that time will tell," Pastrnak said. Pastrnak's led the Bruins in scoring the past three campaigns and will be tasked with carrying the offense again as they look to rebound from last season's 28th-place finish. The B's hired Marco Sturm as head coach in June but didn't make any major changes to the roster.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4111" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4111">Viktor Arvidsson</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9747" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9747">Tanner Jeannot</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9819" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9819">Mikey Eyssimont</a> were Boston's most notable additions over the summer. The Bruins begin their season Oct. 8 against the Washington Capitals.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 2: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins shoots the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 2, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bruins defeated the Flyers 3-0.

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Pastrnak not worried about 'nagging' knee injury

Plenty of teams across the NHL will be sporting new uniforms this upcoming season. Some are perma...

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Ranking each new NHL uniform set to hit the ice in 2025-26

Leon Draisaitl already has an MVP, "Rocket" Richard, and Art Ross Trophy on his resume, but the E...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a> already has an MVP, "Rocket" Richard, and Art Ross Trophy on his resume, but the Edmonton Oilers superstar has a different individual honor on his radar for the 2025-26 season: top defensive forward."I'd like to be in the Selke (Trophy) conversation at the end of this year," Draisaitl told reporters Friday, according to <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/2025/09/19/draisaitl-id-like-to-be-in-the-selke-conversation-at-the-end-of-this-year/">TSN</a>. "Obviously there's a lot of things that go into that and a lot of things that I can learn and get better at. But there's also a lot of things I that think I do really well already."Just looking to chip away at it and get even better." <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Draisaitl finished sixth in Selke voting last season, the highest finish of his career.The Oilers controlled 59.8% of expected goals with Draisaitl on the ice at five-on-five last season, according to <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/skater_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_sk_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_sk_team=%22EDM%22&amp;std_sk_pos=%22All%22&amp;std_sk_str=%225v5%22&amp;std_sk_adj=%22Score%20%26%20Venue%22&amp;std_sk_type=%22Rates%22&amp;std_sk_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_sk_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_sk_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_sk_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_sk_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_sk_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_sk_status=%22All%22&amp;std_sk_info=%22No%22&amp;std_sk_players=null&amp;std_sk_toi=%2250%22&amp;std_sk_season=%2220242025%22">Evolving-Hockey</a>. His on-ice expected goals against per-60 rate of 2.41 ranked 35th among all NHL forwards who logged more than 1,000 minutes.While Draisaitl's team statistics are favorable, he's got room for improvement when it comes to his individual defensive impact. The perennial All-Star ranked 140th among forwards in Evolving-Hockey's defensive goals above replacement metric.Draisaitl's defensive game may have some warts, but his offensive abilities are nearly unmatched in NHL ranks. He led all players with 52 goals last season and broke the 100-point barrier for the sixth time in seven years (the only exception being the 2021 COVID-shortened campaign).Florida Panthers captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3004" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3004">Aleksander Barkov</a> has won the Selke in three of the past five seasons. An Oilers player has never won the award, which was introduced in 1978.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates after his first period goal during the Edmonton Oilers versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on February 23, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C..

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Draisaitl aiming to be in Selke conversation

Washington Capitals icon Alex Ovechkin hasn't decided if the upcoming season will be his last, he...

Washington Capitals icon <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1280" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1280">Alex Ovechkin</a> hasn't decided if the upcoming season will be his last, he told <a href="https://x.com/TomGulittiNHL/status/1968756916231745914">NHL.com's Tom Gulitti</a> at training camp Thursday.Ovechkin, who turned 40 on Wednesday, is entering the final campaign of a five-year contract signed in 2021. He noted he hasn't spoken with Capitals management about an extension to this point.The 2025-26 season will be Ovechkin's 21st in the NHL after the Capitals drafted him first overall in 2004. He was one of the league's biggest stories last campaign, scoring 44 goals in 65 games to eclipse Wayne Gretzky as the league's all-time leading goal-scorer.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ovechkin's resurgence helped Washington to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Carolina Hurricanes ultimately ousted the club in the second round of the playoffs.Not long after being eliminated, the Capitals <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3293257">denied</a> that 2025-26 would be Ovechkin's last campaign, following an email from the team's sales department to season-ticket holders that suggested otherwise.Ovechkin enters the upcoming season on the cusp of becoming the first player ever to score 900 goals and is only nine games shy of 1,500 for his career.The Capitals open the regular season Oct. 8 against the Boston Bruins.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period in Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Ovechkin undecided on 2025-26 being final NHL season

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz are working to find common ground on a contract exten...

The Toronto Maple Leafs and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9766">Anthony Stolarz</a> are working to find common ground on a contract extension, but the goaltender is unwilling to continue negotiating into the regular season, sources told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6637642/2025/09/17/anthony-stolarz-maple-leafs-camp-contract-negotiations/">The Athletic's Chris Johnston</a>.Stolarz is entering the final season of the two-year, $5-million contract he signed with the Leafs in summer 2024. If Stolarz signs an extension with Toronto, his new cap hit is likely to be higher than goaltending partner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8266" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8266">Joseph Woll</a>'s $3.67 million, Johnston notes.Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3337452" href="https://thescore.com/news/3337452">said</a> earlier in September that he'd love to get Stolarz's extension done and revealed Wednesday that he's optimistic about reaching an agreement before the regular season begins Oct. 8.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I'm confident until proven otherwise that we can find something that's going to work, and hopefully we can do that in short order," Treliving said.Stolarz had a terrific first season with the Leafs, going 21-8-3 with a league-leading .926 save percentage. He missed time during the campaign due to knee surgery and was knocked out of the playoffs in Game 1 of Toronto's second-round matchup with the Florida Panthers.The Maple Leafs are projected to have approximately $24.8 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season, which would be the first year of Stolarz's potential new deal.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Anthony Stolarz #41 of the Toronto Maple Leafs tends goal against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game at KeyBank Center on April 15, 2025 in Buffalo, New York. Toronto won, 4-0.

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Report: Stolarz unwilling to negotiate extension during season

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is feeling fresh heading into the 2025-26 campaign af...

Toronto Maple Leafs captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5586" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5586">Auston Matthews</a> is feeling fresh heading into the 2025-26 campaign after a lingering injury held him back last season. "Health-wise, I'm feeling really good," Matthews said Wednesday at the opening of the Leafs' training camp, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6637376/2025/09/17/leafs-auston-matthews-health-training-camp/">The Athletic's Joshua Kloke</a>. "I had a good summer. I did a lot of things that put me in a position to come into training camp feeling really good. So I'm really happy about that."Matthews missed 15 games last season after sustaining an undisclosed injury in training camp. Although he declined to delve into specifics after Toronto was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, Matthews admitted the issue impacted him throughout the year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The three-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner's production dipped from 69 goals to 33 in 2024-25, and he managed only three tallies in 13 playoff games.Matthews was selected this summer as one of the United States' first six players for the upcoming Olympics. With the Games set to begin in February in Milano Cortina, the seven-time All-Star acknowledged he'll need to be more mindful of his schedule to stay healthy."I think it's just kind of as the season goes along, how you manage that," Matthews said. "It's a pretty condensed season, similar to, you know, the COVID year with the Olympics. But the main focus right now is obviously camp."Toronto kicks off its regular season on Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens.

TORONTO, ON - May 18: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) is seen during a break in the first period of game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 18, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.

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Matthews 'feeling really good' after injury-plagued season

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced Wednesday that forward Matthew Tkachuk will ...

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced Wednesday that forward Matthew Tkachuk will be out until at least December as he recovers from offseason surgery, according to <a href="https://x.com/JamesonCoop/status/1968301532392398996">team reporter Jameson Olive</a>.However, Zito noted the timeline isn't firm.Tkachuk suffered a torn adductor and sports hernia while representing the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He missed the remainder of the regular season but returned at the start of the playoffs to help Florida win its second consecutive Stanley Cup.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Tkachuk had 57 points in 52 regular-season games before being sidelined. He added 23 points in the playoffs, tied for the most on the Panthers.The 27-year-old was selected as one of the United States' first six players for the upcoming Olympics. General manager Bill Guerin said in August that he expects Tkachuk to be healthy in time for the tournament in Milano Cortina. The Panthers opened training camp Wednesday and will play their first preseason game Sunday against the Nashville Predators. Florida's regular season begins Oct. 7.

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 26: Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) skates tot the bench in the second period during the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

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Panthers' Tkachuk out until at least December after surgery

Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar wants the NHL to return to its previous playoff format, a...

Colorado Avalanche superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8539" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8539">Cale Makar</a> wants the NHL to return to its previous playoff format, and he's adamant he isn't alone."I feel like all the players want back to 1 to 8," Makar told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/46260627/nhl-2025-26-star-top-players-roundtable-playoffs-meals-dress-code">ESPN's Greg Wyshynski</a>. "I think that's a thing that we'd like, but I get it. I understand the playoff format now. It makes the road harder sometimes."The NHL moved away from Makar's preferred format prior to the 2013-14 season. The current system sends the top three teams in each of the four divisions to the playoffs along with two wild-card teams per conference. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Makar's preference has been echoed by several players and pundits over the years, but commissioner Gary Bettman has said on numerous occasions that the league has no plans to change the playoff setup. Most complaints about the format are based around repetitive matchups or Cup contenders being forced to meet in the first round because of the divisions they play in."I mean, if you're from Edmonton or L.A., I'd say so, yeah," Makar said. "Sometimes you get a good matchup and sometimes you are playing a top-six team with another top-six team like we did this past year. That's the way she goes."The Oilers and Kings met in the first round for the fourth year in a row this past spring. The Avalanche, who finished fifth in the Western Conference, started the playoffs against the third-place Dallas Stars. Dallas ultimately won the series in seven games.Makar has made the playoffs in each year of his career. He's notched 85 points in 79 career postseason contests, and won the Stanley Cup as well as the Conn Smythe in 2022.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 02: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche shoots the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at the United Center on April 02, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Makar: All players want 1 vs. 8 playoff format back

The Minnesota Wild's leadership group isn't worried about Kirill Kaprizov's contract saga resulti...

The Minnesota Wild's leadership group isn't worried about <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7294" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7294">Kirill Kaprizov</a>'s contract saga resulting in anything other than an extension in the Twin Cities."He's a franchise player," alternate captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1489" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1489">Marcus Foligno</a> told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6632124/2025/09/15/kirill-kaprizov-wild-contract-teammates/?source=emp_shared_article">The Athletic's Joe Smith</a>. "He's so special, and those guys, you can't let go, right? It's going to take time. You look at a lot of the superstars in the league. It's going to take time. (There are) things they have to go back and forth with. We're positive that he'll be around, knowing he's just focused on the next game and how to win as a team this season."Kaprizov, who's entering the final year of his deal, became extension eligible July 1. He <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342420" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342420">reportedly</a> turned down an eight-year, $128-million deal, which would've been the richest contract in NHL history.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Wild general manager Bill Guerin <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342789" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342789">refuted</a> the report. Kaprizov hasn't commented on the situation but said in May that he loves "everything" about playing in Minnesota.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1873" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1873">Jared Spurgeon</a>, who's captained the Wild for the past five seasons, said the team won't be distracted if negotiations drag into the campaign."It's the business side of things," Spurgeon said. "It's up to (Guerin) and him to go through that stuff. It doesn't affect us. Everyone goes through it in their career. And everyone has those years where you're coming into a contract negotiation. We’d love to have him here as long as he wants."Kaprizov is the Wild's highest-paid player with a cap hit of $9.5 million. He's registered 386 points in 319 games with the club since arriving from the KHL prior to the 2020-21 season.Minnesota's preseason begins Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets.

ST. PAUL, MN - NOVEMBER 16: Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) is congratulated after scoring a goal during the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on November 16th, 2024, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.

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Wild teammates confident Kaprizov will sign: 'It's going to take time'

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Sean O'Leary

News Editor

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