#nhl

#nhl

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov needed to be helped off the ice Thursday after appearing to sustain an injury to his right leg during the first full training camp practice of the season for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. There was no immediate word on the extent of the injury. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Barkov was getting further evaluation.

With the 2025-26 NHL season nearly here, it's time to make some bold predictions about what will and will not happen on the way to handing out the Stanley Cup. That established, here are bold predictions for the NHL's 32 teams in the 2025-26 season. These educated guesses range from statistical achievements to awards predictions to coach firings to Stanley Cup playoffs prognostications. Enjoy, and welcome back, hockey!

Offensively led by Stützle, who is "knocking on the door of superstardom" according to The Athletic, the 23-year-old already has a 90-point season under his belt and is certainly primed to outpace the 78 points he scored in 82 games from 2024-25. Trailing not far behind on the scoresheet is linemate Drake Batherson, who is coming off of a career-best season with 68 points in 82 games. That dynamic duo has proven to hold up against some of the NHL's most elite competi

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Kings forward Corey Perry will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery. The 40-year-old Perry was injured Friday while skating at his new team's training complex, the team announced Saturday. The Kings will report for training camp in less than a week, and their season opener is Oct. 7 against Colorado.

The Atlantic Division could be the NHL's most competitive group in the 2025-26 season. Several top-tier teams will be jockeying for position atop the bunch, while the rest could be mired in a season-long battle for playoff spots. But one thing is certain. There will be no shortage of star power in the Atlantic. The sheer number of star players will be remarkable. These stars could be poised to have monster years, adding to the excitement in this division. So, here's a look at what could unfold in the Atlantic Division during the 2025-26 season. We'll start the preview in reverse order, projecting the final standings and playoff seedings.

"The players co-operated with every investigation,"

"Honestly, I'm not afraid to say it... Eventually, I'd love to play with him," the 24-year-old centerman told reporters at the NHL's Player Media Tour on Tuesday. "Whether that's in New Jersey... At some point, I want to play with Quinn. That's the question going around. They talk all day about it up in Vancouver. I'd love to play with Quinn at some point."

"I think the 84-game season makes perfect sense," Yzerman told MLive. "I think it'll give more balance to divisional games."

Lucic entered the league's Player Assistance Program, completed it, and has been reinstated by the NHL. This indicates his commitment to addressing personal issues.

I'm extremely grateful for this tremendous honor. Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise.

Adam Pelech has been a mainstay in the Islanders' lineup since the 2016-17 season, but the wear and tear on his body has begun to catch up with him.

Connor Bedard put up 67 points during the 2024-25 season while Macklin Celebrini put up 63, demonstrating both players' emergence as offensive stars.

Bobrovsky, a racehorse named after the NHL goaltender, won the Skidmore Stakes, highlighting a connection between horse racing and hockey culture.

Alexeyev expressed happiness about his new opportunity with the Penguins, where he's expected to play more than the eight games he saw last year.

Miller's acquisition addressed the Rangers' need for a true 1C, providing depth and shifting Zibanejad and Trocheck to 2C and 3C roles.

Joseph Woll, slated as the day one starter, missed the initial games due to lower body tightness but returned to start 41 games with a 27-14-1 record.

Klim Kostin may secure a professional tryout or contract soon despite a challenging season with one goal and six assists over 35 games.

Matthew Tkachuk's addition to the Florida Panthers through a trade is considered one of the most important in the franchise's recent history, arguably leading to multiple Cup victories.

"We just want to continue to show off the amazing work that we're doing. None of us gain anything from this personally, financially, or in any type of way. It's just the families and communities that continue to blossom and grow through our program."

The Golden Knights have significantly boosted their lineup by acquiring marquee-level talents such as Mitch Marner, enhancing their potential for the upcoming NHL season.