NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 1, 2026, 10:20 PM ET
NHL Transactions and Contracts
The Ducks have signed defenseman Tristan Luneau to a six-year extension espn.com worth $43.2 million after just 14 NHL games. The Stars locked in backup goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year deal espn.com valued at $5 million. The Buffalo Sabres agreed to terms with defenseman Louis Crevier on a four-year extension espn.com worth $16 million. The Vegas Golden Knights re-signed center William Karlsson to a two-year contract espn.com worth $13.5 million. The Colorado Avalanche secured head coach Jared Bednar through the 2030-31 season, ending coaching questions espn.com with a long-term commitment.
Player Updates and Injuries
Olympic and world championship gold medalist Claire Thompson announced her retirement from hockey to return to med school espn.com. New York Rangers backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo remains week-to-week espn.com with a lower-body injury. No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna, made his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs in a 3-2 loss to the Canadiens, recording his first appearance espn.com despite the defeat.
Management and League Trends
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addressed concerns over the misuse of no-trade clauses, stating they are no longer being used as originally intended espn.com. The Flyers are working to overcome a challenging offseason as they fight regression espn.com after being one of the league’s biggest surprise teams last season.
Schedule and Fantasy Insights
With 10 teams set to make their season debuts tonight, fans can consult the schedule hack espn.com to optimize their fantasy hockey lineups based on uneven scheduling. For tonight’s matchups, key games to watch include the Braves-Phillies Game 3 and the Steelers at Browns, with top bets and odds cbssports.com available from CBS Sports. The NHL also provided a preview of tonight’s action, highlighting stat leaders and betting intel for the Battle of Pennsylvania espn.com between the Flyers and Penguins, as well as other rivalry games. Analysts project the Panthers as strong contenders to win the Cup espn.com in the upcoming season, citing their roster depth and recent performance.