Hockey headlines for October 8, 2025

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Panthers start quest for third straight Stanley Cup with win over Blackhawks (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Avalanche back up training camp talk with impressive opening-night win (Denver Post)
Rookie Arturs Silovs records shutout as Penguins blank Rangers in coach Dan Muse's debut (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Knights sign right wing to 2-year contract before season opener (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Yes, McDavid thought long and hard about leaving the Edmonton Oilers (Edmonton Sun)
Auston Matthews has bad news for Atlantic Division rivals on eve of Leafs season opener (Toronto Star)
Kirill Kaprizov isn’t celebrating record NHL contract; he’s focused on Wild’s success (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Walman 'ecstatic' to ink long-term deal with the Oilers (Edmonton Sun)
Under Quenneville, Ducks are eager to end playoff drought (Orange County Register)
Anze Kopitar’s final season doesn’t start well as Kings lose to Avalanche (Los Angeles Times)
Rangers can't find the net, shut out in season opener by Penguins (New York Newsday)
Gavin Brindley makes most of fresh start with Avalanche, wins spot in opening-night lineup (Denver Post)
Jesper Boqvist providing the clutch play the Panthers will need in the long term (Miami Herald)
Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke soak in experience, impress Penguins in their joint NHL debut (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mike Sullivan’s debut spoiled by former team — led by ex-Rangers assistant (New York Post)
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Panthers-Lightning preseason brawls: ‘That was over the top’ (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Stanley Cup or bust? Maple Leafs’ real challenge is finding the right fit (Toronto Sun)
The Sabres see what they could be. The NHL sees the them differently. How does this team break the spell? (Buffalo News)
Optimistic Capitals have ‘no doubts’ about potential ahead of NHL opener (Washington Times)
Red Wings adopt playoffs or bust mentality in 2025-26 as drought lingers (MLive.com)
What will the Wild’s lines look like to open the season? (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel top storylines as Knights open season (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras headline the Flyers’ opening roster; Cam York to start season on IR (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Oskar Sundqvist out week to week with lower-body injury, Doug Armstrong says (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Pierre-Olivier Joseph on IR, Victor Mancini back from Abbotsford (Vancouver Province)
Milan Lucic to rehab injury in St. Louis, could sign another PTO with Blues (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Colten Ellis 'super excited for the opportunity' in Sabres net (Buffalo News)
With Olympics on the horizon, Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington looks to keep building (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
The Flyers still believe in goalie Sam Ersson. But can he take the next step and become a bona fide No. 1? (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Excitement level ramps up for Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault (Montreal Gazette)
Horvat sees goals and playoffs ahead for Isles (New York Newsday)
Why Quinn Hughes is 'grateful' the team let him grow, make mistakes (Vancouver Province)
Toews only surprise omission on Jets opening-day roster (Winnipeg Free Press)
Day by day, Lightning’s Jack Finley earns opening-night roster spot (Tampa Bay Times)
‘He’s a clutch player’: Stories from Matvei Gridin’s rise to Flames’ pre-season surprise (Calgary Sun)
Adam Erne, Justin Hryckowian earn spots on Stars’ roster for season-opener (Dallas Morning News)
Kraken training camp survivors bask in their opening-night inclusion (Seattle Times)
What’s the Sharks’ development plan for Misa, Dickinson? It’s not totally clear, yet (San Jose Mercury News)
New goalie Colten Ellis delighted by Sabres' claim; Georgiev waived (Buffalo News)
Red Wings name alternate captains but Todd McLellan banks on '23-man' leadership (Detroit News)