Connor Hellebuyck is officially a New Jersey Devil, Winnipeg is entering the Heritage Classic without its longtime franchise goaltender, and the Toronto Maple Leafs just delivered one of the weekend’s loudest statements with a 7–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Elsewhere, William Nylander reached 300 career goals, Nikita Kucherov passed Steven Stamkos for Tampa Bay’s all-time scoring record, and Ottawa’s Drake Batherson torched the New York Rangers with a hat trick. Detroit’s Dylan Larkin rumors also continue, while Washington could move Ivan Miroshnichenko.
Below are the confirmed developments, the rumors that still need caution, and all 12 final NHL scores from Saturday, October 24. The bigger story is how those results could reshape the season.
NHL News and NHL Rumors: Biggest Stories for October 25, 2026
Connor Hellebuyck to Devils: What the completed trade means
The biggest NHL trade headline of the week is now fact, not speculation. On Friday, October 23, the New Jersey Devils acquired Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg received Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, the rights to Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Hellebuyck, 33, carries an $8.5 million annual cap hit. Elite goaltending is difficult to buy, and New Jersey clearly believes its Cup window is open.
My read: The return is more revealing than the headline. Winnipeg wanted usable players as well as future assets, and Mercer gives the Jets a 24-year-old forward who can immediately become part of their next competitive core. The six assets also differ enormously in certainty and potential value.
Hellebuyck has not yet played an NHL game this season. The next meaningful update is his first start, not another speculative destination.
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Winnipeg faces Montreal outdoors with a changed identity
The 2026 NHL Heritage Classic arrives tonight with Montreal visiting Winnipeg at 7 p.m. ET. It’s Winnipeg’s first game since the trade. Mercer is expected to join Adam Lowry’s line and contribute on the penalty kill, according to NHL.com’s Sunday reporting.
The Canadiens have their own significant problem: captain Nick Suzuki is out approximately two to four weeks with an upper-body injury, while Ivan Demidov is also unavailable. Montreal is expected to use Oliver Kapanen in a top-line center role between Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.
My observation: Winnipeg must prove it can defend without relying on Hellebuyck to erase mistakes. For Montreal, the immediate issue is replacing Suzuki’s two-way decisions rather than simply his points.
Maple Leafs beat Oilers 7–2: A result with substance
Toronto beat Edmonton 7–2 on Saturday, its fourth consecutive victory. Anthony Stolarz stopped 30 shots, Auston Matthews scored, and William Nylander had two goals, including the 300th of his NHL career. Jack Roslovic contributed a goal and an assist, while Kirill Marchenko set up two goals. NHL.com’s game recap confirms the details.
Edmonton still received two goals from Leon Draisaitl, while Connor McDavid extended his season-opening points streak to 11 games. Toronto beat Edmonton even as its biggest stars produced.
My read: Toronto created transition chances, received timely saves and won without relying entirely on Matthews. One October game doesn’t predict a playoff series, but this was a convincing team performance.
Dylan Larkin rumors: Detroit’s asking price takes shape
Detroit’s Dylan Larkin situation has not become a completed trade. According to Sportsnet’s reporting, the Red Wings have been asking about young centers and highly rated center prospects while considering their options involving Larkin and unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
There is an important qualification. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff has publicly said he has “zero interest” in trading Edvinsson. That does not mean Detroit will move both players. The team has an $8.7 million annual cap commitment to Larkin and is under no obligation to take an inadequate package simply to generate headlines.
My read: The center preference makes strategic sense. Replacing a top-six forward with picks alone could lengthen a rebuild; obtaining a controllable young center gives Detroit a positionally valuable foundation. If Larkin moves, the best asset matters more than the number of names returned.
Capitals trade chatter and a Rangers goaltending move
A separate report attributed to Elliotte Friedman says Washington has given Ivan Miroshnichenko and his representatives permission to speak with other teams about a possible trade. The Capitals reportedly want a meaningful return. That is permission to explore a move, not confirmation of an agreed trade.
The New York Rangers, meanwhile, have signed James Reimer to a one-year contract. With Igor Shesterkin sidelined by a season-ending lower-body injury, an experienced goaltender provides important depth behind the club’s younger options.
Miroshnichenko remains a rumor; Reimer is a confirmed signing.
Milestone watch: Kucherov, Batherson and Boston
Even in defeat, Nikita Kucherov made history Saturday. An assist against Utah gave him 1,138 career points, passing Steven Stamkos for the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise record. Utah ultimately won 5–4 in overtime on Dmitri Simashev’s winner.
Ottawa’s Drake Batherson registered three goals and an assist in a 7–4 win over the Rangers. In Boston, David Pastrnak tied Patrice Bergeron at 427 Bruins goals as Boston rallied to beat San Jose 6–4. Three different milestones, each worth following beyond one Saturday scoreboard.
NHL Scores Yesterday: All 12 Results From October 24
Saturday produced 82 combined goals across 12 games, with four overtime decisions. Toronto and Ottawa each scored seven, Carolina delivered the night’s shutout, and Utah, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Washington all secured overtime wins.
NHL Scores: Saturday, October 24
Every final score plus the biggest takeaway from each game.
Anaheim erased a deficit and snapped a five-game losing streak.
Brett Pesce scored the third-period winner as New Jersey won its third straight.
Boston scored four in the third; David Pastrnak reached 427 Bruins goals.
Drake Batherson led Ottawa with a hat trick and an assist.
Ville Koivunen completed the Pittsburgh comeback with the overtime winner.
Alex Tuch scored twice against his former team, including the winner.
Adam Fantilli sealed a tight game with the overtime goal.
Pyotr Kochetkov earned the shutout and won his seventh straight start.
William Nylander scored twice, including career goal No. 300; Stolarz made 30 saves.
Nikita Kucherov set Tampa Bay’s points record; Dmitri Simashev won it in overtime.
Joel Farabee recorded three points in Calgary’s third straight win.
Blake Coleman scored twice; Kirill Kaprizov posted a goal and an assist.
Final scores from October 24, 2026. Times and games are Eastern; OT indicates overtime.
Boston’s four-goal third period and Pittsburgh’s overtime comeback show why a final score alone doesn’t tell the full story.
NHL Trade Salary-Cap Analysis: Hellebuyck Versus Larkin
The NHL and NHLPA set the 2026–27 salary-cap ceiling at $104 million. For comparison, Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million annual cap charge represents 8.17% of the ceiling, while Larkin’s $8.7 million represents 8.37%.
In a purely hypothetical Larkin trade with 50% salary retention, the acquiring team would carry a $4.35 million annual cap hit while Detroit retained the other $4.35 million. No such retention agreement has been reported. Retention would also leave Detroit with a multiyear cap charge.
NHL Trade Watch: The $104M Salary-Cap Reality
NHLTradeRumor.com calculation | 2026–27 regular-season cap ceiling
These bars show each annual cap hit as a percentage of the league ceiling, not each club’s remaining cap space. A retention scenario requires Detroit’s agreement and applicable NHL rules.
Hellebuyck trade: The return by asset type
This is our independently grouped asset-mix analysis, not a market-value score or prediction of player performance.
Sources: NHL/NHLPA 2026–27 salary cap announcement, NHL’s Oct. 23 trade tracker, and original NHL-reported contract AAVs. Calculations: 8.5 ÷ 104 × 100; 8.7 ÷ 104 × 100; 8.7 × 0.5.
My takeaway: Cap room creates options, but doesn’t override trade protection or force another GM to surrender top prospects.
NHL Games Today: Sunday’s Five Matchups
Five games are scheduled for Sunday, October 25, all times Eastern: Florida at Chicago (3 p.m.), New York Islanders at Dallas (6 p.m.), Montreal at Winnipeg (7 p.m.), Colorado at Nashville (8 p.m.), and Minnesota at Vancouver (10 p.m.).
Minnesota also visits Vancouver on a back-to-back, with Quinn Hughes returning to a familiar market. Check the NHL TV schedules for game times, broadcast channels and viewing options.
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