Maple Leafs acquire Kirill Marchenko from Blue Jackets in trade that sends Matthew Knies to Columbus
Toronto lands the Blue Jackets' top scorer and signs him to a six-year extension, a swap that reshapes both clubs' top-six forward groups on the eve of the 2026
ESPN · +14 outlets
Pastrnak named Bruins captain, succeeding Brad Marchand as Boston's leader
Boston hands the captaincy to its star winger for the first time since Marchand's departure, marking a leadership transition for the franchise.
NHL.com · +14 outlets
Hurricanes, Panthers, Avalanche tabbed among top Stanley Cup favorites entering new season
Oddsmakers, executives, coaches and players converge on a small group of contenders, with Carolina, Florida and Colorado leading most lists.
ESPN · +8 outlets
NHL unveils new rule changes for 2026-27 while keeping Stanley Cup playoff bracket format
Rule tweaks take effect for the new season, but the league retains the existing postseason bracket structure.
Bleacher Report · +14 outlets
Rogers and Quebecor sign 12-year French-language NHL sublicensing agreement
The deal secures French-language NHL rights in Canada for more than a decade, extending the league's media footprint in Quebec.
scanx.trade · +13 outlets
Hurricanes receive Stanley Cup rings featuring hidden 'Storm Surge' details
Carolina's championship celebration continues with rings that include Easter eggs referencing the team's season-long identity.
ESPN · +3 outlets
Canes still hoping to sign holdout defenseman Alexander Nikishin
Carolina enters the season without a deal for the young blueliner, leaving a hole in its defense corps as its title defense begins.
ESPN · +2 outlets
Matheson fined $5,000 for roughing Senators' Ridly Greig in preseason game
The Canadiens defenseman avoids suspension but faces supplemental discipline for an on-ice attack during the preseason.
CityNews Montreal · +8 outlets
NHL leans into pop culture, fashion and BookTok to build new fans
Inspired by the success of hockey-adjacent romance properties, the league is marketing off-ice personalities and lifestyle content to widen its audience.
ESPN · +1 outlets
Rising NHL revenues fuel record summer spending on player contracts
A surging salary cap era has teams committing bigger money and longer terms, leaving some earlier signers second-guessing their deals.
Medicine Hat News · +8 outlets
Group calls for law requiring free Canadian TV access to NHL games
With NHL games increasingly behind paywalls in Canada, an advocacy group wants regulators or legislators to mandate free over-the-air availability.
The Globe and Mail · +4 outlets
Crosby and Penguins say they feel no pressure to complete a new contract
Pittsburgh's captain enters the season without an extension, though both sides describe the situation as unhurried.
NHL.com · +14 outlets
NHL and DoorDash announce partnership across U.S. and Canada
The delivery platform becomes an NHL sponsor in both markets as the league leans further into consumer-brand tie-ins.
DoorDash · +7 outlets
Seven Arizona State hockey players dispute school's review of teammate's collapse
The players call for athletic staff to be placed on leave pending an independent investigation into how a teammate's medical emergency was handled.
ESPN · +7 outlets
Penguins' Dubas seeks more certainty from Malkin on his future beyond this season
Pittsburgh's GM signals he wants clarity from the franchise legend rather than another year-to-year contract dance.
ESPN
Hurricanes and Panthers open season in Cup chase rematch showdown
The defending champions face Florida on opening night, with the Panthers citing extra motivation after last spring's playoff exit.
NHL.com · +1 outlets
Jets scramble to replace Connor Hellebuyck in goal for 2026-27
Winnipeg enters the season without its long-time starting goaltender, the central question in its team preview.
NHL.com
Oilers move from cap flexibility to cap crunch after five injuries
Injuries have erased Edmonton's salary cap room, complicating roster moves early in the season.
Edmonton Journal · +1 outlets