Browsing: Takeaways

Oct 15, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The NBA’s preseason is drawing to a close

The curtain will rise on the 2025-26 season in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, when the defending champion Thunder will celebrate their first title as they host former Thunder star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. And while much of the preseason is about rounding into shape and getting to the start of the season healthy, there are still things that can be gleaned from the early October action.

To take stock of where things sit after most of the exhibition slate has been played, our NBA reporters — Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Vince Goodwill, Baxter Holmes, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Anthony Slater, Michael C. Wright and Ohm Youngmisuk — provided their takeaways on several contenders from each conference, and what each franchise looks like heading into the upcoming season.

Jump to a team:
ATL | CLE | DAL
DET | GSW | HOU
LAC | LAL | MIL
NYK | OKC | ORL
PHI | SAS

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Barkley: ‘I wish a person loved me as much as the Bucks love Giannis.’

Charles Barkley weighs in on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks after Milwaukee had trade conversations with the Knicks earlier in the offseason.

Eastern Conference

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One of the early observations made by players during the first days of Hawks camp was that everyone was on the court, and the trainer’s room was empty. The Hawks are healthy and buzzing over new additions Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Being healthy again is vital to the Hawks’ success and growth. A huge factor for Atlanta this season is Jalen Johnson, who looked good in his first two preseason games back from left shoulder surgery that ended his 2024-25 season; Johnson made 7 of 11 shots and had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes against Memphis.

Coach Quin Snyder said Johnson’s improvement on defense will be the next step for the young forward. If he can stay healthy and continue to grow as a playmaker to help Young and Porzingis, the Hawks could really take off this season. — Youngmisuk

The Cavaliers have a lot of depth, and they will need it. Max Strus is likely out for a few months with a Jones fracture in his left foot. Darius Garland will miss the opening weeks of the season as well after offseason turf toe surgery. New addition Lonzo Ball is not going to play back-to-backs, and he played 35 games last season for the Chicago Bulls after missing the prior two seasons with injuries. De’Andre Hunter has never played more than 67 games and has missed at least 25 games in three of his six seasons. And Dean Wade has eclipsed 60 games in only one of his six seasons.

So while Cleveland feels good about where it sits after claiming the top seed in the East last season, it is already navigating injuries — and likely will be throughout this season. — Bontemps

Giving third-year forward Ausar Thompson more responsibility has come into focus. The team began to take off last season when his health restrictions (blood clot) were lifted and his two-way prowess was unleashed. Now, the Pistons view him as a secondary ball handler, initiating offense as a change-of-pace guard to contrast the more deliberate Cade Cunningham.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted how Thompson initiated some offense with Cunningham on the floor to present a different look. With Jaden Ivey (left fibula) still “dealing with some discomfort,” according to Bickerstaff, the team is bringing him along slowly, thus creating more opportunity for Thompson on offense. As for Cunningham, preseason is the smallest of sample sizes, but according to sources, “he’s proving last year wasn’t a fluke.” — Goodwill

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0:50

Cooper Flagg shines in preseason debut for Mavs

The 18-year-old rookie scored 10 points and contributed 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot in 14 minutes.

The Giannis saga is far from over. Despite attempts from the Bucks to quell speculation over Antetokounmpo’s future since the start of camp, the two-time MVP has simultaneously emphasized his current commitment to the Bucks while leaving the door open that he could continue his career elsewhere.

Antetokounmpo has doubled down on his desire to compete for championships with an unwillingness to accept anything less. It has put the pressure on the Bucks this season to prove he can win another championship in Milwaukee. For a team that has lost in the first round in three consecutive seasons, not advancing further in the playoffs could lead to a day of reckoning. — Collier

Off the floor, the Antetokounmpo situation will hang over the team all season following the revelation that the Knicks and Bucks discussed a potential trade of the power forward this offseason. Several key players will be on notice and have an eye on what’s going on with Milwaukee to track Antetokounmpo’s frame of mind. On the floor, the Knicks want to play faster on offense and shoot more 3s, but it has been a work in progress through four preseason games. The Knicks have a favorable schedule to start the season, which should provide an early window into how the Mike Brown era will look in New York. — Goodwill

The Magic are getting healthier, and that is a big deal. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner started camp healthy after both dealt with oblique injuries last season; they missed a combined total of 58 regular-season games. Orlando isn’t whole yet, though. Guard Jalen Suggs is still slowly making his way back from left knee surgery and Mo Wagner remains out with a torn left ACL sustained in December 2024.

In the meantime, Banchero, Wagner and the rest of the Magic will try to develop chemistry as quickly as possible with new addition Desmond Bane while hoping to drastically improve on their league-worst 31.8% 3-point shooting last season. The Magic have started out camp playing faster, focusing on getting out in transition and using defense to create offense. Through the first three preseason games, the Magic averaged 104 possessions. They averaged a league-low 96.5 last season. The most important thing will be going into the season with Banchero, Wagner and Bane healthy and hoping Suggs can add to the team once he is ready. — Youngmisuk

Joel Embiid might be healthy? That feels strange to say after everything that has happened over the past 18 months, but so far it has been a relatively stress-free preseason in Philadelphia. Embiid appears on track to be ready for the 76ers’ opener against the rival Celtics on Oct. 22. Anyone who has followed Embiid’s tenure in Philadelphia knows how quickly things can change, and he has had enough issues with his left knee that it’s fair to wonder how long it will last until another flareup.

Embiid said at the start of training camp they’re just taking things day-by-day. But unlike last year, when his preseason was a waiting game to see when his knee would be ready to go, Embiid has practiced regularly, participated in Sunday’s open scrimmage and is expected to play Friday against Minnesota in Philadelphia’s preseason finale. — Bontemps

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1:27

LeBron’s injury puts his Warriors-Lakers opening night in jeopardy

Dave McMenamin confirms that LeBron James will be sidelined an additional three to four weeks because of sciatica.

Western Conference

The mantra of Dallas GM Nico Harrison is “defense wins championships,” but the Mavericks have some things to figure out on that end of the floor, particularly on the perimeter. Coach Jason Kidd said he has to “continue to look at different combinations to see what gives us the best way to start the game” after the Hornets scored 95 points through three quarters as the Mavs played their starters into the second half. Klay Thompson was tasked with being the primary defender on Charlotte star LaMelo Ball, which is probably asking too much of a 35-year-old with his injury history.

The options are limited if D’Angelo Russell starts alongside Thompson. P.J. Washington typically took the toughest perimeter defensive assignment last season, but he came off the bench in the first two preseason games. Would the Mavs be better off starting Washington with 18-year-old Cooper Flagg as the primary offensive initiator? That’s the look Kidd went with against the Utah Jazz on Monday, when Russell rested. — MacMahon

The headliners aren’t showing any alarming signs of age at the moment. Al Horford has fit the culture and system well so far. One of the leftover questions is how exactly Steve Kerr will deploy his starting lineup around Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. Horford will start at center on some nights, but Kerr said he wants to be careful considering Horford’s age and the need to limit his minutes.

“If Al were a little younger, he’d be in the starting lineup for sure,” Kerr said.

Kerr has hinted that he might employ a small-ball unit that includes Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. But Moody hurt his left calf in practice and his status is uncertain to start the season. Podziemski punctuated a great camp with a 23-point night in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Kerr wouldn’t officially commit to him as the starting shooting guard, but the presumed lineup for opening night is Curry, Podziemski, Butler, Green, Horford — though it is anticipated Kerr will change it around often. — Slater

Houston’s offensive initiation by committee approach will work out just fine in the wake of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury. Rockets coach Ime Udoka often throws around the term “KYP” (know your personnel) in news conferences. Perhaps that intricate knowledge of Houston’s roster played a major role in Udoka’s confidence that his group “can get the job done” in VanVleet’s absence.

Early returns in the preseason have been promising with the Rockets utilizing multiple players — mainly center Alperen Sengun and forward Amen Thompson — to initiate offense. Expect Houston to also lean on Durant to facilitate the offense along with second-year guard Reed Sheppard, who appears to be growing more confident in his role. — Wright

Playing beneath the cloud of an NBA investigation — and one centered around a team’s star player — is no small thing. But it appears the Clippers, for now, are resolved to not let that inquiry serve as a distraction. Through two preseason games, Kawhi Leonard appears in midseason form. He scored 18 points in 18 minutes in one game and 17 points in 19 minutes in the other. New acquisitions Brook Lopez and John Collins have seemed to fit in already, and Chris Paul’s reunion with the Clippers feels seamless.

The Clippers boast one of the league’s oldest rosters, but it’s also among the deepest, which should help some of their more veteran players as the season moves along. There are a few preseason games left, not that those offer concrete evidence of the season to come, but despite the small sample size, the rebuilt Clippers appear especially promising. — Holmes

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1:27

LeBron’s injury puts his Warriors-Lakers opening night in jeopardy

Dave McMenamin confirms that LeBron James will be sidelined an additional three to four weeks because of sciatica.

The extra time to practice and jell together that the team pined for after last season’s abrupt first-round exit was not to be. Unfortunately, training camp didn’t provide the opportunity everyone hoped for. LeBron James was limited to being a vocal participant in the Lakers’ scrimmages from the sidelines because of sciatica down his right side, which also kept him out of the preseason.

Luka Doncic was purposely held out of the majority of L.A.’s preseason slate and was given a modified workload for a handful of practice days, with the medical staff cognizant of his EuroBasket duty over the summer. Marcus Smart, signed in the offseason, was out with Achilles tendinopathy. Maxi Kleber, who was only healthy and available for one game after being acquired from Dallas in the Doncic trade in February, missed most of camp with a quad injury. Rookie Adou Thiero was also limited because of knee swelling.

“These are the cards we were dealt,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I surely would like everybody to be healthy.” — McMenamin

All-NBA wing Jalen Williams is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season as he continues to recover from surgery on his right wrist, an operation he had on July 1, after playing the entire postseason with torn ligaments.

“I would have cut my right hand off to win a championship,” Williams told ESPN.

He has only recently begun to shoot with his right hand again and has yet to be cleared for contact work. The Thunder and Williams have not publicly discussed a timetable for his return as they take a patient approach.

“Whenever I feel like I can be a hundred percent and do that whole thing, then I’ll rock out,” Williams said. — MacMahon

The Spurs will look different this season. Team president and former coach Gregg Popovich has always encouraged new coach Mitch Johnson to be himself. It’ll be apparent on the floor this season as Johnson incorporates more of his own principles in San Antonio during his first full season on the job. Victor Wembanyama made that point clear in describing how the staff put together “a more extended plan” over the summer that emphasizes “better recognition of our roles together.” Veteran Harrison Barnes pointed out, “We have a lot of new stuff that we’re doing,” adding, “We’ve changed some of the processes of how we’re doing [things]. That comes with Mitch implementing his style, which I think has been well-received by players.”

Expect the Spurs to flex their collective youth and athleticism to play a faster style. — Wright

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Oct 14, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron (47) celebrates with forward Cole Smith (36) after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

After a 4-1 victory in Ottawa against the Senators Monday afternoon, the Nashville Predators faced their first test of finishing a back-to-back on the road.

Tuesday night, the Preds traveled to Toronto for the second of a four-game swing through Canada. They fought hard, but came up short in a 7-4 loss to the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, John Tavares, Bobby McMann, Auston Matthews (2) and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs.

Michael McCarron, Erik Haula, Roman Josi and Nick Perbix tallied the Preds’ goals. Josi scored his first goal in nine months after coming back from an upper-body injury and a POTS diagnosis.

HAULLLLAAAAAAAA pic.twitter.com/HEhtxpURC7

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) October 15, 2025

The Maple Leafs were coming off two consecutive losses to the Detroit Red Wings, and took out their frustrations on the Predators. They built a 2-0 lead before the Preds roared back early in the second with two goals in 44 seconds to tie the score.

The Leafs answered with three goals of their own and staved off a spirited comeback by the Predators, who suffered their first loss in regulation and fall to 2-1-1 for the season.

“A little bit slow early, but we got to our game in the second period,” Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said during his media availability after the game. “I thought we played fast, thought we got in there, and we had some opportunities.”

Brunette scratched Brady Martin for the second game in a row. He told reporters earlier in the day this was part of Martin’s development plan.

With Martin sitting, Tyson Jost skated on a line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly. Ozzy Wiesblatt made his season debut and collected two assists on the night.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

The Preds Showed A Lot Of Heart

Toronto was desperate to play well in front of the home crowd, and showed it in the opening period.

The Preds couldn’t register a shot through the first six minutes, but finally began narrowing the gap and ended the frame with eight shots to Toronto’s nine. Problem was, two of the Leafs’ shots went into the net, and built a 2-0 lead.

The second period saw the Preds outshoot the Leafs 14-6, with McCarron and Haula bringing them even 2-2 with goals just 44 seconds apart.

Once again, Toronto refused to give in, and the Preds found themselves sinking in quicksand despite showing grit throughout the game.

“Probably gave up a little bit more than we wanted to…a couple weird bounces for them, but in saying that, we maybe shot ourselves in the foot a little bit,” McCarron said. “We gave up too many chances against. At the same time, we scored four goals, good PK. You’re going to run into some good teams here.”

The two teams traded a total of four goals in the final four minutes of the game. The Preds tallied eight goals in their first two road games, twice the number they scored in the first two home games combined. They left Toronto without a win, but didn’t allow the Leafs to run away from them.

Big Juice Was Outdueled

It was a battle of the backup goalies, with Justus Annunen getting his first start of the young season. Cayden Primeau was in net for the Leafs.

It was Primeau who came out on top, stopping 22 of 26 shots. Annunen saved 18 of 23 Leafs shots.

While Annunen kept the game from getting completely out of hand, he was out of position on McMann’s goal after Brady Skjei made a great defensive play on the initial shot. That gave the Leafs their two-goal lead back after the Predators had worked hard to get back in the game.

“There were times when I thought we carried the play and we looked great,” Perbix said. “We were pressing on them, leaning on them, and then we just kind of gave something up. There’s a team over there (that will) capitalize on almost every opportunity you give them. So we’ve got to tighten that up.”

Juuse Saros has been virtually unstoppable through his first three games, posting a 2-0-1 with a 1.64 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. No one is expecting Annunen to be Saros’s equal, and the No. 1 guy has to be rested once in a while.

One game is too small a sample size to judge, but Big Juice will need to have some big games to keep hopes of a turnaround season alive for the Preds.

The Power Play Has Lost Power

Stop us if you’ve read this before: the Preds’ power play was stalled again.

The unit seems to be more inclined to pass rather than take a shoot-first approach. They’re failing to get penetration and find consistent chances to score.

Nashville came into the game a paltry 1-for-15 with the man advantage, an Tuesday did nothing to raise that percentage. They didn’t have as many opportunities as they did against the Sens the day before, but failed in both their tries against the Leafs.

“You just got to flush it, got to move on from this one,” Perbix said. “Obviously, we’ll do some video, learn from this, from the mistakes we made, and build off the stuff that we did good, because I do believe there was plenty of good that we did out there.”

The penalty-kill unit didn’t have to work as hard, either, compared to the penalty fest in Ottawa. They successfully killed off both penalties and are now 11-of-12 through four games.

Their only blemish on the young season came Monday against Ottawa, when they gave up an empty-net goal on a 6-on-4. Otherwise, they are perfect in 5-on-4.

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The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their season-opening two-game road trip on Saturday when they traveled to take on the San Jose Sharks after Thursdayâ€s 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Heading into this game, one of the biggest stories was the debut of Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson, long-time friend, teammate, and opponent of Ducks†star rookie Beckett Sennecke.

Lines and pairs for the Ducks remained mostly the same from the game before, with the only change coming in the form of Nikita Nesterenko slotting in for Sam Colangelo on the fourth line.

This was a wild game from start to finish with mental lapses, shoddy defensive habits, electrifying offensive sequences, and questionable goaltending on both ends.

Petr Mrazek got his first start as a member of the Anaheim Ducks and saved 17 of 23 shots.

Mrazek was opposed by Sharks star rookie netminder Yaroslav Askarov, who was making his season debut as well. Askarov stopped 36 of the whopping 43 shots he faced in this one.

Here are my notes from this game:

Beckett Sennecke-Sennecke showed new layers of technical proficiency unseen before at any level from him (at least by me). He was a pest on the forecheck, getting quick sticks on retrieving defenders, and showed a high motor, not giving up on plays that seemingly moved past him.

The stick lift on Gauthierâ€s first goal wonâ€t count on a scoresheet, but it was instrumental to that tally and an example of Senneckeâ€s anticipation and manipulation skills and unexpected involvement in plays in every zone. His net front game was surprisingly proficient for a player who typically operates more on the perimeter before attacking the middle. He was more than willing to mix it up and take a beating to get to the tight areas of the ice.

Sennecke only had one or two “rookie plays†where he was outmuscled or failed to advance a puck on a breakout, but those plays are to be expected. Overall, it was an extremely refined performance for being just his second professional hockey game.

Mikael Granlund and Chris Kreider-These are a pair of players one would expect detail-oriented performances from, and they delivered. Granlundâ€s supportive instincts allow him to gain possession, while his IQ and vision lead to his ability to manipulate the on-puck defender and cleverly find moving teammates throughout his teamâ€s offensive structure.

In a completely different style from Granlundâ€s, Kreider is a small-area master. He instinctively knows when to stop rimming pucks or feint a stop and allow them to pass through him to a teammate. He knows how goalies are trying to see pucks around him when heâ€s screening and when to let plays breathe a bit so he can pounce on a loose puck or broken play in front. “Savvy veteran†is the phrase that came to mind when analyzing these two in this game.

Defensive Details-Itâ€s been made clear by head coach Joel Quenneville and the players from training camp until now that the goal of their defensive systems is to kill plays with quick secondary pressure. Thereâ€s still work to be done when it comes to how that pressure engages, how the tertiary pressure reacts, and how to minimize damage when the first two waves fail, because it will happen every so often.

Those areas are where the Ducks struggled in this game. A strong-side defenseman (Radko Gudas) pinches in the neutral zone, and the supporting forward (Mason McTavish) leaves too big a gap, which led to the Sharks†first goal. Five players are caught on the ice for a minute and a half, and the weak-side winger (Cutter Gauthier) doesnâ€t or canâ€t stay with his activated point man (Mario Ferraro) on the Sharks†third goal. Those small details are, in theory, easy to clean up, but they can lead to quick goals if not refined.

McTavish, Gauthier, and Gudas all played very well aside from those instances.

With the puck, the Ducks did well to maintain possession and create consistent, dangerous chances from all four lines and all three pairs. They were smart on forechecks and communicated well on breakouts and regroups to build plays up ice.

The Ducks will return home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for their home opener on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PST.

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Score: Giants 34, Eagles 17

Giants Takeaway: Young Backfield Creates Long-Term Excitement

The New York Giants have something special brewing with quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo in the same backfield. The energy both bring to the field is infectious. This Giants squad looks reinvigorated compared to the same group less than three weeks ago when Russell Wilson was getting booed off the field.

However, the Giants are now 2-1 with Dart as their starter. He’s making plays with his arm and legs. Skattebo sets a different physical tone. Even an often-maligned offensive line is now winning at the point of attack and playing hard for the two rookies. The arrow is pointing up for Big Blue.

Winner: RB Cam Skattebo

Skattebo’s ruggedness as a runner and competitor was well-known prior to his NFL arrival. It’s translated well and helped provide the Giants with an identity in their run game. New York’s coaching staff must lean on him more as the season progress.

During Thursday’s contest, the fourth-round ball-carrier set career-highs with 98 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He can be the hammer to take pressure off Dart and keep defenses honest.

Eagles Takeaway: Offense Still Isn’t on Same Page

All week, the discussion surrounding the Eagles centered on the offense not playing well and its top performers meeting to hash out why the unit isn’t clicking. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown apparently didn’t figure things out, because the Eagles offensive once again disappeared for an extended period.

Philadelphia didn’t score a single second-half point after trailing by only three at halftime.

Loser: Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo

Plenty of finger-pointing will occur this week after another disappointing performance by the Eagles. Since the same issues continue to occur, Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator will receive the brunt of the vitriol.

It’s deserved, though. If every position group is misfiring at points, then the coaching staff isn’t doing a good enough job making sure the entire unit is prepared.

During Thursday’s contest, the Eagles punted three straight times coming out of halftime, with two turnovers to end the contest. It’s the second straight game the group went M.I.A. for some or all of the second half.

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CALGARY — Ryan Huska preceded the Flames†final pre-season tilt with a rather philosophical reminder to those on the bubble

“First impressions are important, but last impressions are critical,†said the Flames coach.

He wasnâ€t speaking of anyone in particular, but as the teamâ€s final cut looms Matvei Gridin came to mind.

Heâ€s been, without question, the breakthrough story of camp.

A first-round draft pick in 2024 who was the QMJHLâ€s rookie of the year last season, the 19-year-old has used his speed and shot to earn a look right until the end of the silly season.

In Fridayâ€s final audition, he further bolstered his chances of cracking an opening night roster that could certainly use his offensive skills.

A nifty backhand tuck through Connor Hellebuyckâ€s legs in a loss to Winnipeg Friday night gave the young Russian a team-high three goals in the pre-season.

Add to that a shootout-winning move earlier in the week, the confident youngster is already dubbing the ‘Gridin Signature’ and youâ€ve got enough ingredients to form a pretty solid argument for starting his pro career in the bigs next week.

“Obviously happy because I scored goals and built my confidence and feel like I could make the team,†said Gridin following a 5-4 shootout loss at the Dome.

“If coaches think Iâ€m ready to go, Iâ€m ready.â€

Playing on a line with Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato, Gridin raised eyebrows early when he slipped a beauty backhand pass through Neal Pionkâ€s legs in close, setting Mikael Backlund up for a great chance the captain wasnâ€t able to get a handle on.

His goal put the Flames up 2-0 when he corralled a loose puck in front of the Jets’ net and quickly finished, as he did 36 times in Shawinigan.

Asked how it felt to beat the worldâ€s best goalie, the soft-spoken lad smiled.

“Felt good,†beamed Gridin, who was later denied in the 14-person shootout in which he had the game on his stick.

“Gotta score in the shootout though. The ‘Gridin Signature’ didnâ€t work.â€

Heâ€s been hearing plenty from his teammates the last few days about his “trademark†shootout finish.

“Ras (Rasmus Andersson) is trolling me every day now,†he chuckled, comfortable that such internal ribbing is a sign of acceptance.

Late in the second he made a great play to intercept a breakout pass at the Jets’ blueline, creating a good scoring chance all by himself. Even as the pace and intensity elevate, heâ€s made things happen throughout camp.

In three short weeks, Gridin has shown heâ€s going to be a key piece for the Flames.

The only question now is whether it starts Wednesday in Edmonton.

“Heâ€s been good, heâ€s had impact, so weâ€re happy for him and we know weâ€ve got a really nice young player there who is going to do some really nice things,†said Huska, who gave Gridin almost 14 minutes of ice time, including more than two minutes on the power play.

“Heâ€s given himself an opportunity and thatâ€s all we can ask.â€

Hereâ€s the tough part for Gridin — heâ€s the easiest one to send down, as heâ€s the only candidate that doesnâ€t have to clear waivers.

The good news for him is that the Flames†decision on how to pare down their season opening roster from 24 to 23 could be made for them if Jonathan Huberdeauâ€s day-to-day status turns into a stint on the injured reserve list.

In that case, Gridin avoids demotion and sticks around.

If Huberdeau and the rest of the crew is healthy, the team would have to risk putting someone on waivers to make room for Gridin, namely Daniil Miromanov.

Putting anyone else through that process makes no sense, as potential opening night extras like Brayden Pachal, Adam Klapka or Martin Pospisil are valued pieces.

The Flames are essentially off for the weekend, and the deadline to declare their 23-man starting grid is Monday afternoon.

While many would like to see the exciting prospect rewarded for his pre-season production, there is certainly no damage done by sending him to the Wranglers for his introduction to the pro game.

Regardless of where he starts, you can bet Gridin will be in Flames silks soon.

“We need whoever is going to give us a chance to win,†said Huska, admitting the team has a tough decision on its hands.

“What I do look at is if youâ€re a young guy you need to play. So for me, if heâ€s here heâ€s going to play. If heâ€s not here heâ€s going to play somewhere else.â€

Despite blowing a 4-2 lead in the third period Friday, the Flames ended the pre-season feeling much better than they did two nights earlier when they lost 8-1 to the Canucks. They finished the exhibition season 3-4-1.

Rasmus Andersson scored in the seven-round shootout, as did Justin Kirkland, with his (legit) signature finish. But the game ended in bizarre fashion when Dustin Wolf stopped Tanner Pearsonâ€s initial shot, only to bobble it with his glove as he turned and it dropped down and trickled into the net. “That will be on a weird clip show soon,†smiled Wolf, who made 31 saves.

The Flames were relieved Rory Kerins cleared waivers on Friday, but the club lost Ilya Solovyov, who was claimed by Colorado.

Flames second-round pick Theo Stockselius had his rights traded from Seattle to the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, but no word when or if the 18-year-old centre will join the club, as heâ€s currently on the roster with Djurgardens in his native Sweden.

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Lomberg-Kirkland-Sharangovich

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Bahl-Andersson
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Wolf (Starter)
Cooley

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EDMONTON — If Connor McDavidâ€s performance was any indication, then itâ€s time to ditch the pre-season and start playing for reals.

Try as he might, almost nothing went the way of the Edmonton Oilers captain in a 3-2 overtime loss at Vancouver Friday night. Right into OT, where the trio of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard were on for all 90 seconds and dead tired as Conor Garland dissected them for a solo dash that gave the Vancouver Canucks the victory.

Let the record show, this was the last eight-game pre-season weâ€ll see — hopefully forever — and McDavid wasnâ€t bad. He just couldnâ€t finish anything he started.

Next year the pre-season will be limited to four games, with the regular season bumping up two games to 84. But a 4-2-2 pre-season record is just fine for an Oilers team that is breaking in a few new faces after another short summer, even if they only played one good period in Vancouver according to head coach Kris Knoblauch, who thought his team over-passed somewhat.

“Making the extra pass, the extra move… You end up giving the puck away,†Knoblauch said.

Pre-season lends itself to a game thatâ€s not played in straight lines. But the truth is, when Calgary visits Rogers Place for the season opener on Wednesday, a straight-ahead effort by a superior Oilers roster should be enough to beat the Flames.

Get too cute, and you open the door for an upset.

With a couple of young wingers, plus David Tomasek and Andrew Mangiapane new to the roster, a veteran whose name was rarely spoken in Edmonton this summer and fall was Kasperi Kapanen.

So, he went out and scored three pre-season goals, stepping into a Tomasek drop pass on Edmontonâ€s first goal, ripping a slapper past a chanceless Thatcher Demko.

Kapanenâ€s speed, size and experience — on a one-year deal at $1.3 million — gets overlooked sometimes. But heâ€s found a level of consistency in Edmontonâ€s bottom six that none of Toronto, Pittsburgh or St. Louis received. If he brings his game consistently, he helps you win — full stop.

Meanwhile Tomasek, who set up Kapanenâ€s goal, looks like heâ€ll be part of things as the season opens. Heâ€s manning Zach Hymanâ€s spot down low on the power play, and was robbed on a redirect of a McDavid pass by Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko.

“It was a long pre-season, but Iâ€m happy I got those games. I needed them,†said the 29-year-old, playing his first season in North America. “You need the games to be able to be with the team, and everyone is excited about Wednesday.”

Howâ€s he finding his way in the PP?

“Just trying to ask what the guys need, work with the coaches, try and be available. Iâ€m happy we were able to score one in the second (Draisaitl) — on a different look. A different set up.â€

Stu Skinner missed his scheduled start Friday. He took the morning skate in Edmonton but didnâ€t feel well enough to take the flight to Vancouver, as a bug rips through the team.

Calvin Pickard went the distance instead, allowing a pair of one-timer blasts from Jonathan Lekkerimaki to elude him as well as Garlandâ€s solo dash in OT, while Matt Tomkins was called up from Bakersfield to back up.

Knoblauch said that Jake Walman and Max Jones were both day-to-day to be available for the home opener, while Mattias Janmark is out at least a week, also with an undisclosed injury.

Here is how the Oilers lined up in Vancouver:

Draisaitl – McDavid – Frederic
Podkolzin – RNH – Mangiapane
Henrique – Philp – Savoie
Howard – Tomasek – Kapanen

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Kulak – Emberson

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch got a well-deserved three-year deal on Friday, worth $2.75 million annually.

The money is great, weâ€ll assume. But so is the stability, for a guy who has coached in six cities since his first job as an assistant coach for the Prince Albert Raiders, 19 seasons ago.

“My daughter is still in high school.,†said Knoblauch, whose son plays for the Edmonton Huskies junior football team. “Theyâ€ve been moving around so many times. (There is) some stability, some security in staying around — sheâ€ll be able to finish high school here in Edmonton without having to move again. Weâ€re all very happy about that.â€

Knoblauch arrived in on the heels of Jay Woodcroft being fired, just 13 games into the 2023-34 season. He took that Oilers team all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, then did it again last season.

It canâ€t be easy to walk into a dressing room of a team that was supposed to challenge for a Stanley Cup, yet is floundering enough early in the year to gets its coach fired.

How did he get the players to respect him right away?

“The most important thing is being yourself,†the 47-year-old said. “Not trying to do something that would be out of character. You might be able to pull it off for a while, but the players pick up on that. Itâ€s phony, not genuine, insincere, and it wonâ€t go very far.

“Any coaching position Iâ€ve had — whether it was junior, the American League or the NHL — Iâ€ve tried to treat it the same. Theyâ€re different players, and a different level, but theyâ€re still hockey players and coaching hockey is still coaching hockey.

“It was always a good hockey team that was going to correct itself sooner or later. I donâ€t think it was myself coming in that had that much of an impact.â€

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  Ian DarkeOct 3, 2025, 04:46 AM ET

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  Darke, who called games for the network during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is ESPN lead soccer voice in the United States. He has covered the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League since 1982, and has one of the world’s most recognizable soccer voices.

Could Crystal Palace shock the world as Leicester City did a decade ago and win the Premier League title? It is an outlandish suggestion, but already heavy hints are being dropped that this might be a season in which we should expect the unexpected.

After ending Liverpool’s perfect start to the season on Saturday, third-placed Palace are now unbeaten in 19 matches across all competitions, a run that included a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final. This season, even after letting star player Eberechi Eze move to Arsenal for £67.5 million, they still look impressive with a rock-solid defense that has conceded only three times.

Oliver Glasner’s team are a threat to every club they face, showing that the 3-4-2-1 system, similar to the one failing Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, will work if the players know how to play it. They clearly don’t at Old Trafford.

Palace have United States international Chris Richards, France’s Maxence Lecroix and England’s Marc Guéhi as an unchanging, excellent back three; two good wing backs in Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell; the superb Adam Wharton anchoring midfield; a goal threat from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr; and new signing Yeremy Pino from Villarreal a lively replacement for Eze.

The quality is there to sustain a challenge somewhere near the top if their first European campaign for 27 years does not take a toll, and if Glasner’s outstanding achievements do not lead to lucrative offers from elsewhere (possible even from Man United).

Palace’s bold start — and newly promoted Sunderland’s defiance of the critics up in fifth place — are exactly the kind of narratives the Premier League needs as a diversion from the well-worn storylines involving Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and the other big clubs.

Crystal Palace have parlayed their FA Cup triumph last season into sustainable Premier League success. Sebastian Frej/Getty Images

Liverpool’s defeat at Selhurst Park was no accident. Their suspect defense is a problem and as manager Arne Slot said, they could have been 4-0 down at half-time. This time, the late, late shows that have all gone Liverpool’s way so far this season went against them with Palace striker Eddie Nketiah‘s winner.

Slot looks short of cover in central defense with a long-term injury to young Giovanni Leoni, leaving them with only Virgil van Dijk, an out-of-form Ibrahima Konaté, and the injury-prone Joe Gomez. Failing to land Guéhi on deadline day, after he was heavily linked with a £35 million move to Liverpool over the summer, might be costly.

Nevertheless, at the start of the season, Liverpool would have settled for this start of five wins in six games, especially as they have not yet hit top gear while trying to bed in a plethora of new signings worth over £450 million. It is only a matter of time before midfielder Florian Wirtz, for instance, shows the full range of his talent, while striker Alexander Isak is still shedding his ring rust after going on strike at Newcastle.

With Liverpool slipping up, Arsenal had to cash in with a win at Newcastle last weekend to be taken seriously as credible title challengers. They left it late, but found a way, and you could see how much this potentially pivotal win meant to their players. It was a heartbreaker for the Magpies, who have won only once so far in the league.

Eze’s signing is vital for Arsenal, so long as manager Mikel Arteta gives him the license to cause damage as an X-factor from central areas. Eze was forced to hug the left touchline in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City until the Gunners let him loose to create the equalizer for Gabriel Martinelli late in the game.

– Tighe:What Premier League pass maps tell us: Salah needs the ball, Man United rely on Shaw
– O’Hanlon:Revisiting every big transfer from this summer: Should our expectations be dialed back?
– Ogden:Man United’s Amorim running out of excuses: The numbers don’t lie

City — with Erling Haaland scoring 12 goals in his past six matches for club and country, and Phil Foden looking more like his old self — are gathering momentum. They have earned 10 points out of 12 since their careless loss at Brighton on Aug. 31. City manager Pep Guardiola copped some criticism for “parking the bus” at Arsenal, but I thought it showed how a top coach can change his approach to suit the situation. City were leading 1-0 away to a dangerous rival, so what was the crime in forsaking their usual possession-based game to defend deep and well? That is, until Martinelli scored a beautiful goal after City inexplicably pushed up and left space in behind.

Such flexibility would be welcome from Amorim at United, who needed to follow up their win over Chelsea with a strong display at Brentford. Instead, after losing 3-1 to the Bees, they are back to square one. Amorim’s slavish devotion to his 3-4-2-1 system — which he says he will not change “even for the Pope” — is making his regime unsustainable. If United carry on like this, it would be no surprise if he was gone before Christmas.

Thomas Frank’s start at Tottenham Hotspur was excellent, but a bit of air has gone out of the balloon with uninspired draws against Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, and much of their season’s hopes might depend on Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons ability to add a creative spark.

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What to make of Chelsea? Hampered by red cards in their past two games, they have hit a roadblock. The Blues gave a tepid effort at Old Trafford, where manager Enzo Maresca got in a mess with his substitutions. Then they struggled in a home loss to Brighton, who cashed in after center back Trevoh Chalobah was sent off. Their play can look a little pedantic and with the talent available, Maresca needs to take off the hand-brake a little more.

The other big twist in the Premier League plot has been the performances of the three promoted clubs, especially Sunderland, who already have nearly as many points (11) as Southampton managed all last season. The Black Cats have invested wisely and look organized and physically imposing. They can stay afloat.

Likewise, Leeds United are doing quite well, following up a great 3-1 win at Wolves with a fine display against Bournemouth in a 2-2 draw. Leeds coach Daniel Farke has learned from previous bad experiences in the top flight, and Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff look like very good midfield signings.

Burnley might have more of a problem. They are feisty and competitive, but you wonder where the wins (one so far) will come from. Scott Parker will believe his team can start to climb from the bottom three with some more manageable fixtures than it has had so far. Burnley have played Liverpool, City, Spurs already.

Unlike last season, when three teams got cut adrift, there is probably not a really bad team in the division, though West Ham United have to improve a lot under new coach Nuno Espírito Santo. Wolverhampton Wanderers are probably better than their one point earned so far might indicate, so several managers will be looking over their shoulders — including Amorim at United, based on the evidence so far.

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Joni Mitchell was mostly right when she sang, “You donâ€t know what you got till itâ€s gone.†But in the case of the Vancouver Canucks, everyone knows what theyâ€ve got in Quinn Hughes — and heâ€s still here.

No matter how this season unfurls for the Canucks, there will be angst on the West Coast about the future of Hughes, who will make a decision next summer whether to negotiate a long-term extension in Vancouver or seek to join his brothers in the National Hockey League in New Jersey.

This uncertainty only heightens the appreciation for what Hughes does on nights like Wednesday (and most nights), when the Canucks†all-world defenceman beautifully set up the first two goals for his team and then later deftly scored one himself as Vancouver dismantled the Calgary Flames 8-1 in their penultimate pre-season game.

Hughes was easily the best player on the ice in Calgary, although there were a lot of strong Vancouver performances.

With their captain headlining what will be close to the Canucks†opening-night lineup against the Flames next Thursday, the team further cranked up its intensity and urgency and checked a pile of boxes for what new head coach Adam Foote wants.

The Canucks played fast and aggressively. They got their defencemen up on the rush consistently, and were outstanding on special teams. Top winger Brock Boeser sniped the first goal on a breakaway from Hughes†brilliant stretch pass, and top centre Elias Pettersson continued his strong pre-season and made it look like 2023 when he lasered in a one-timer on a power-play that went 2-for-4.

Vancouver penalty killing went 6-for-6 and generated a pair of shorthanded goals. Would-be NHL centres Aatu Raty and Max Sasson scored to put exclamation marks on their auditions, and the defence looks close to set, although Derek Forbort played only one shift in the third period and may need to be replaced.

Now 3-2 in the pre-season and building momentum, the Canucks play their final tuneup Friday at home against the Edmonton Oilers before embarking on their 82-game redemption tour next week.

Foote generated some chatter back home in Vancouver when he left out promising forwards Braeden Cootes and Jonathan Lekkerimaki, along with veteran winger Evander Kane, from what was otherwise the Canucks†full, NHL lineup.

But the Kane-Cootes-Lekkerimaki line that practised Tuesday in Vancouver is expected to play together Friday against Edmonton in a last chance (at least for the pre-season) to show that they belong on the season-opening roster that will be set Monday.

Young, promising defencemen Elias Pettersson (Junior) and Tom Willander could also get last looks. At least one of them will play if Forbort canâ€t. The Canucks could also choose to rest veteran Tyler Myers, who looked good in 19:17 of ice time Wednesday after nursing a minor injury for a few days during the pre-season.

It sure looks like Victor Mancini, the prospect component of the package of assets the Canucks received from the New York Rangers last season in the trade of J.T. Miller, has made the team. The defenceman led Vancouver skaters with 22:28 of ice time, which included 5:41 on the penalty kill and 2:54 of power play. Mancini also blocked three shots.

At six-foot-four and 229 pounds, with offensive tools and outstanding mobility, the 23-year-old seems perfectly suited for Footeâ€s demands that defencemen aggressively close down opponents and get up the ice on the attack.

“Personally, I really enjoy it,†Mancini said of the game plan. “As someone who wants to use their skating as much as they can, be aggressive and attack pucks, but also on the other side, breaking pucks out and joining that second layer (on the rush) … I think it’s really important, and it’s been fun.â€

“He’s a specimen,†Canucks assistant general manager Ryan Johnson said during an intermission interview on Sportsnet. “He’s 6-4, he can skate, he’s strong, he’s a beast (on) the ice and in the gym, and I still think his game is evolving. We saw a lot of great things in the Calder Cup run for him (in the AHL last spring). But I still think his ceiling … we still haven’t seen it yet. So we’re obviously very excited about somebody that may have been a forgotten piece in a very big trade for the organization.â€

Itâ€s also the pre-season for referees and linesmen who are adjusting again to NHL speed and reaction time. So itâ€s understandable that some calls get missed, like Nazem Kadri being at least a foot offside on the Flames†only goal. But missing serial offender Martin Pospisilâ€s slew foot on Boeser in open ice in the second period was harder to understand.

The Canucks didnâ€t miss it, though. A few minutes later, as a post-whistle scrum in the Vancouver zone coalesced around Mancini and Blake Coleman, Forbort grabbed Pospisil and threw him to the ice. Pospisil left the game immediately, and Forbort played only six more shifts.

The worst result of any pre-season game is injury and, unfortunately, both Pospisil and Forbort seemed to suffer them.Â

One of four Canucks who cleared waivers on Tuesday, a day after the team cleaved its pre-season roster by 17, 32-year-old journeyman Joe LaBate was back on Vancouverâ€s fourth line in Calgary. The six-foot-five Minnesotan, originally a Vancouver draft pick 14 years ago, registered two shots and one hit during 9:32 of ice time and again displayed some net-front presence.

So, what gives? Well, now that he has cleared waivers, LaBate can spend up to 10 games or 30 days with the Canucks without requiring waivers a second time. Itâ€s possible Foote and GM Patrik Allvin like the idea of LaBate as a depth forward on their season-opening roster, and believe the organization had a better chance to retain him by hiding him in the tsunami of players being waived this week rather than exposing him on waivers a couple of weeks into the regular season. Just a thought.

Boeser to reporters in Calgary: “I thought we worked really hard tonight. We had a good game plan going into it, and we talked about our effort level and reloading hard and being aggressive. And I thought we did that well tonight. It should give us a lot of confidence. I think it shows that when we put the effort in, and determination, I think it really shows what we can do and the chances we can create.â€

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Boeser; Oâ€Connor-Blueger-Garland; LaBate-Raty-Sherwood; Bains-Sasson-Karlsson.

Hughes-Hronek; M. Pettersson-Myers; Forbort-Mancini

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CALGARY — As Matvei Gridinâ€s confidence grows, so do his chances of sticking around.

As if the 19-year-old Calgary Flames hopeful wasnâ€t making enough of an impression in Seattle Monday with a goal in his second straight game, Gridin punctuated the evening by adding the shootout winner in a 2-1 win over the Kraken.

Winding his way into Seattleâ€s zone by taking slow, wide turns at either side, he then flashed the shot that has Flames brass so excited, roofing it past Philipp Grubauer to kickstart a celebration that saw the self-assured youngster tuck his stick into his holster before being mobbed.

“I would say itâ€s a Gridin Signature, like (Justin) Kirklandâ€s Signature,†he chuckled.

“I scored like five goals last year in the shootout like that.â€

Gridin, a first round pick of the Flames in 2024, was the QMJHLâ€s rookie of the year with 36 goals and  79 points in 56 games.

A soft-spoken Russian who may just have the best shot/speed combination of any Flames prospect, Gridinâ€s game has been building throughout camp.

Intrigued by Gridinâ€s talents, coach Ryan Huska placed him on the top line with Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato Monday. By far the teamâ€s best trio all night, it was responsible for the teamâ€s lone regulation goal when Gridin took a slick pass from Ilya Solovyov, skated in alone and unleashed a rocket past Grubauer.

“Amazing pass by Solo, a breakaway so Iâ€ve just got to score,†laughed Gridin.

“I know my shot is my strength, so shoot more and find the back of the net. Playing with Frosty and Matty builds my confidence up, so I felt nice.â€

Gridinâ€s co-star on the night, Dustin Wolf, enjoyed seeing the NHL debut of the “Gridin Signature.â€

“I hadnâ€t seen the shootout yet, until today, but I could tell taking it slow and taking it wide he knew what he was doing,†said Wolf.

“Pretty neat release. Excellent shot. Every day he picks your corners. Heâ€s going to score a lot of goals in this league.â€

Although heâ€s still junior-eligible, Gridin is also eligible to play in the AHL this season where heâ€s likely to open the season. However, if he continues to impress like he has the last few outings thereâ€s an outside chance he could open the season in the bigs.

It’s a longshot as one of the other tough decisions Flames brass must make revolves around Rory Kerins, who is the teamâ€s second-leading scorer, with four points in five pre-season games. Kerins was 8 of 13 in the faceoff circle Monday and would be a risky player to try putting through waivers for the purposes of returning him to the AHL.

Gridin doesnâ€t require waivers, so he would most likely start in the minors and be eligible for promotion later on.

No one was sharper Monday than Wolf, who made 16 of his 35 saves in the first period when the flat-footed Flames allowed 10 high-danger scoring chances.   Â

“They came out hard in the first and we found our footing as the game went on,†said Wolf, who will make one last pre-season start Friday at home against Winnipeg.

“This is a great step for me.â€

Frost continues to impress, pacing the Flames†top line once again, spearheading the top power play, scoring in the shootout and finishing 11 of 13 in the faceoff circle. His assist on Gridinâ€s goal puts him amongst NHL pre-season leaders with six points in four outings.

Speaking of league leaders, former Flames prospect Matthew Phillips has three pre-season goals in Anaheim, one off the pace set by Sonny Milano.

Martin Pospisil was in vintage form, drawing penalties and the ire of Vince Dunn (once again) on a night when he was in the fray regularly.

For the record, Kirkland used his signature move in the shootout, but hit the post.

The Flames shooters were Frost, Kirkland, Coronato and Gridin.

Gridin – Frost -Coronato
Farabee – Kerins – Klapka
Lomberg – Kirkland – Pospisil
Honzek – Morton – SunievÂ

Bean – Pachal 
Kuznetsov – Brzustewicz
Solovyov  – CicekÂ

Flames host Vancouver Wednesday

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On Monday night at Honda Center, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the San Jose Sharks for the first time this exhibition season and in their fifth of seven overall preseason games.

The Ducks iced a squad nearly full of NHL-caliber players that will likely closely resemble their opening night roster.

The Sharks, on the other hand, sent a team mostly consisting of AHL players, not one of which was over 30 years old. It was a tale of two rosters, and the Ducks were expected to control play from puck drop.

Ville Husso got the start for the Ducks and stopped 22 of 24 shots, not allowing many second-chance opportunities and working to find pucks through traffic.

Opposite Husso, Jakub Skarek got the start for the Sharks and stopped 13 of 16 shots before he was pulled in a scheduled goalie switch halfway through the second period. Gabriel Carriere entered the game in relief and saved all 14 shots he saw off Ducks sticks.

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Once again, it is preseason, but for this game especially, any statement surrounding it should be taken with a grain of salt.

That said, here are my takeaways from this game:

Chris Kreider-The Ducks have been starved for a true netfront difference-maker, especially on the power play, and thatâ€s where Kreider earns his money. He instinctively knows how goalies move when tracking pucks throughout the offensive zone and reacts accordingly to always remain in their field of vision.

His battling ability was on display in this game, as he consistently won pucks back that were shot and deflected below the goal line to extend zone time substantially, an underrated but impactful quality.

Cycle-Since the start of camp, coaches have implemented a cycle system in the offensive zone built on constant player and puck movement from all five skaters on the ice. Rather than continuous efforts to move pucks from low to high, followed by a shot, and an attempt to win an ensuing board battle, forwards run give-and-gos up the wall to defensemen, who jump to the middle or switch with their d-partner to create one-timer looks.

There are elongated sequences where forwards remain high at the blueline, weaving while defenseman remain low after shifting in efforts to draw defenders well out of position.

“Just kept it simple,†Nikita Nesterenko said after the game. “Got the puck in, trying to create energy for the other lines, tie their D up. I think every like was rolling. Leoâ€s line played incredible. Itâ€s fun to watch those guys.â€

Leo Carlsson-This was a game that Carlsson was expected to dominate while implementing some of the aspects of his game that needed refining in the past. He didnâ€t disappoint. He displayed vision, patience, and anticipation skills with the puck on his stick heâ€d only shown flashes of to this point in his career. This game may have solidified Kreider a spot on his left wing for the foreseeable future with the way they consistently found each other in dangerous areas of the ice.

Beckett Sennecke-Sennecke was one of the few players for the Ducks in this game who could stand to gain a lot. This was the most dynamic heâ€d been all preseason and displayed true game-breaking potential with the kind of quick strike offense that teams crave. Whether itâ€s a pure strength factor or if he needs to tweak his approach, the next step in his progression will be to enter battles more efficiently and come away from them with the puck with greater frequency.

“I thought he didn’t play a lot, but every time he was out there, he was a threat & he was dangerous,†Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “He was fun to watch, and on every given night, it could be a different situation. He gives you a lot of versatility as a wild card player.â€

The Ducks will head to San Jose to take on the Sharks again on Wednesday night for their sixth of seven preseason games.

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