Following their acquittal, the return to the NHL of Carter Hart and Michael McLeod seems imminent. I visited Carolina and Vegas — the two likeliest landing spots — to see how the teams are handling the possibility. The two trips went... differently. My story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Jake Allen has a clean, retro look to his masks for 2025-26. I absolutely love this look. Painted by Sylabrush Photos by SebastienGervaisPhoto

New POWERS & LAZ bonus episode: @jessegranger.bsky.social joins me to discuss the Blackhawks' promising goaltending situation, from Spencer Knight's ceiling to Drew Commesso's potential. Listen here: www.patreon.com/posts/jesse-...

The Golden Knights lose preseason game No. 2 by a score of 3-1. Next up: they host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.

The drought is over! Viliam Kmec with a ripper of a wrist shot in transition that beat Forsberg's blocker.

That was a pretty incredible save by Akira Schmid on a backdoor one-timer, but unfortunately for him the rebound bounced right back onto the stick of Jeff Malott's stick and he buried it.

The Golden Knights have yet to score in 100 minutes of preseason hockey. They also finished the playoffs on a 127-minute scoreless drought. The two aren't really related in any way. Just interesting.

Schmid has replaced Hill in the net for the 2nd half of the game.

Pavel Dorofeyev has been ruled out of the game with a lower-body injury.

Anton Forsberg loves using paddle-down when the puck gets in tight, and so far tonight it's worked like a charm.

Dorofeyev didn't return for the start of the 2nd period.

Pavel Dorofeyev isn't on the Vegas bench. Bowman took the last shift with Hertl and Saad.

It's preseason for everyone... Mark Stone clanked one off the elbow of the goalpost. The referee initially ruled it a goal, but Stone shook his head immediately. He knew. It's no goal. Still 1-0.

Important to consider the competition, but Dorofeyev and Hertl's cycle game is looking fantastic. It looks like they could hold onto the puck for the rest of the game if they wanted.

Year 9 Which is actually pretty insane

Adin Hill will play the first half of the game. Akira Schmid will play the second half.

Adin Hill was the first goalie off the ice. Will confirm if he’s playing the whole game or just the first half of it.

Golden Knights line rushes at morning skate: Smith—Karlsson—Stone Saad—Hertl—Dorofeyev Demek—Uchacz—Lavoie Cataford—Laczynski—Bowman Hanifin—Whitecloud Sedoff—Coghlan Hutton—Kmec

Who is the best goalie to wear every jersey number in NHL history? I tried to answer that, on @theathletic.com ⤵️

Alex Pietrangelo said he’s going to continue rehabbing his injured hips, and doesn’t want to resort to surgery yet. He said the rehab has been going well. He wouldn’t say whether playing this season is off the table or not. He said he’s taking everything day by day.

Spencer Knight’s 2025-26 mask for Chicago. Painted by David Gunnarsson

The Flyers lost more than just one of the greatest players in NHL history over the weekend. They lost a true ambassador. "His spirit was relentless. He just wanted to be a part of things. He did fight through tremendous pain towards the end." 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Carl Lindbom looked good in the first period of his NHL preseason debut. He wasn’t very busy, but looked poised and not timid at all. He challenged shots at the top of his crease (and sometimes beyond).

Connor Hellebuyck’s 2025-26 mask, painted by Eyecandyair

Andrei Vasilevskiy’s new Gzhel-style mask for 2025-26 Painted by Sylabrush

Juuse Saros’ 2025-26 Predators mask By David Gunnarsson

Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick both have awesome masks commemorating the Rangers’ Centennial Season. Both painted by David Gunnarsson.

Cool moment: After 6 (six!) on-ice sessions for Golden Knights training camp today (spanning 6 hours with 6 different goalies), Sean Burke is still out on the ice, coaching his son.

Jack Eichel is on the ice for today’s skate.

Karel Vejmelka is really leaning into the Mammoth theme in Utah. Here’s his new mask, by David Gunnarsson.

Here’s a look at Akira Schmid’s new True setup for the 2025-26 season.

Cassidy said Jack Eichel didn’t skate in the 2nd session because he had “a little tweak.” He said it was the first day and they didn’t want to risk it.

Golden Knights lines and pairs on Day 1 of training camp: Barbashev—Eichel—Marner Smith—Karlsson—Stone Saad—Hertl—Dorofeyev Howden—Sissons—Kolesar McNabb—Theodore Hanifin—Whitecloud Lauzon—Korczak Hill Schmid

First session of VGK camp is winding down. There are still 2 more sessions today.

Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner are skating together with Ivan Barbashev in the first session of Golden Knights camp.

Kelly McCrimmon says that aside from Alex Pietrangelo the Golden Knights are fully healthy entering camp.

• Mitch Marner’s linemates • Jack Eichel’s potential extension And the other biggest questions entering Golden Knights training camp, which opens today ⤵️

Golden Knights full training camp roster:

The Utah Mammoth will be waiving goalie Connor Ingram, GM Bill Armstrong announced today. Where might he land? My story on @theathletic.com ⤵️

David Rittich has gone full Gorton's Fisherman for his debut mask with the Islanders. Painting and graphic by David Gunnarsson

5 biggest questions heading into Golden Knights training camp, which opens on Thursday. On @theathletic.com ⤵️

It’s getting to that time of year! Our first look at Jeremy Swayman’s new mask for the upcoming season, from David Gunnarson.

Blackhawks sign goalie Spencer Knight to a three-year contract extension. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

I helped out at a “Try Goalie” event this morning. The station I ran was a fun one: Try to recreate Marc-Andre Fleury’s diving glove save from 2019. The goalies loved it, and by the end they were trying Adin Hill’s paddle save from the 2023 Cup Final. Goaltending is the best.

The Flames signed Dustin Wolf to a 7-year $52.5M extension. I absolutely love Wolf’s future. His 26.38 GSAx as a rookie were the most by a goalie under 24 since 2007. He has elite quickness, some of the best edgework of any goalie in the world, and his reads were excellent.

One of the greatest mismatches in hockey history: In my very first TV appearance, TVO had me to debate Ken Dryden about concussions. You might assume that I lost, but I didn’t, because I immediately just started agreeing with everything he was saying. My parents did not raise a fool.

The average save percentage in the NHL during Dryden’s career was only .892 Dryden’s save percentage? .922 (tied with Hasek for the highest in NHL history)

Ken Dryden played only 7 full NHL seasons, and this is what he did in them: 1971: Conn Smythe + Cup 1972: Calder Trophy 1973: Vezina + Cup 1974: Sits out (contract dispute) and earns his law degree 1976: Vezina + Cup 1977: Vezina + Cup 1978: Vezina + Cup 1979: Vezina + Cup

Ken Dryden, the legendary Montreal Canadiens goalie from the 1970’s, passed away at the age of 78. Dryden won six Cups and five Vezinas in only 8 seasons in the NHL. Story on @theathletic.com ⤵️

• Goalies I’m excited about going into this season • 3 veteran goalies still looking for contracts that could help your team • Which goalies are due for big extensions this season?