NHL News Today: Fantilli Signs as Hellebuyck Trade Rumors Heat Up

The latest NHL News for Friday, September 25, 2026, features a major contract finally getting done, more movement on the NHL trade-rumor front and several important injury developments with the regular season approaching.

Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets ended their contract standoff with a six-year, $82.5 million deal carrying a $13.75 million annual cap hit. Meanwhile, the Connor Hellebuyck situation in Winnipeg continues to create ripple effects around the league, with San Jose linked to the star goalie and Mark Scheifele emerging as another fascinating Jets name to monitor.

Alex Ovechkin also received encouraging news Friday. Washington expects its captain to be available for the Capitals’ regular-season opener despite a lower-body injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the preseason. Tyler Seguin, meanwhile, is scheduled to make his preseason return for Dallas after undergoing ACL surgery last December.

And there was plenty of action Thursday night. Eleven preseason games were played, including a stunning 10-0 San Jose Sharks victory and a Carolina Hurricanes comeback that ended with only three seconds remaining.

NHL News and NHL Rumors for September 25, 2026

The biggest confirmed transaction involves Fantilli.

The 21-year-old centre signed for six years and $82.5 million after missing the opening portion of Blue Jackets training camp while negotiations continued. Fantilli is coming off a career-high 59-point season, producing 24 goals and 35 assists in 82 games.

There is also an interesting confirmation trail here. Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday that Columbus and Fantilli appeared to be making a serious push to complete the contract. Hours later, the agreement became official.

That is exactly the kind of rumor-to-confirmation development worth separating from the endless speculation that circulates at this time of year.

My observation: the $13.75 million number initially jumps off the page, but the rising NHL salary cap changes how the contract should be evaluated.

The league’s 2026-27 upper limit is $104 million, making Fantilli’s cap hit approximately 13.2 percent of today’s ceiling. The NHL has already projected a $113.5 million upper limit for 2027-28; at that level, the same $13.75 million cap hit would represent roughly 12.1 percent.

If Fantilli continues developing into a legitimate franchise centre, the percentage of Columbus’ available cap devoted to him should become easier to absorb.

Connor Hellebuyck Rumors Continue to Drive the NHL Trade Market

Connor Hellebuyck remains one of the biggest names in NHL Rumors.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported this week that the San Jose Sharks have at least explored the possibility of acquiring Hellebuyck, and NHL Network was still discussing the Sharks’ inquiry Friday.

There is an important distinction here: an inquiry is not evidence that a trade is close.

But San Jose joining the conversation gives Winnipeg another possible avenue as general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff searches for a return that makes sense.

Nick Kypreos has also reported that Buffalo, Utah and San Jose continue to monitor Hellebuyck while teams attempt to persuade Winnipeg to focus more heavily on high-end prospects rather than established roster players.

Then there is the Mark Scheifele wrinkle.

Kypreos reported that Montreal is among the teams asking about Scheifele after its pursuit of Dylan Larkin failed to advance.

Scheifele produced 103 points last season, including 36 goals and 67 assists, and carries an $8.5 million cap hit through 2030-31.

That combination of production and contract value would make him an extremely expensive player to acquire.

This does not mean a Scheifele-to-Montreal trade is imminent.

My observation: the more important development is Winnipeg potentially considering a much larger roster pivot if the Hellebuyck situation cannot be resolved.

Moving a No. 1 goalie is one decision. Exploring the market for a 103-point centre at the same time would signal something considerably bigger.

Pavel Zacha is another centre worth watching.

The Bruins forward has been linked in reporting to multiple teams, including Montreal, as he enters the final season of his contract.

Again, that is interest rather than evidence that Boston has decided to move him.

Ovechkin Expected to Be Ready for Capitals Opener

Washington received encouraging news surrounding Alex Ovechkin.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Friday that he expects Ovechkin to be ready for Washington’s October 2 opener against Carolina.

The 41-year-old will not play in Washington’s remaining preseason games as the team takes a cautious approach with his lower-body injury.

Ovechkin enters the season with an NHL-record 929 career goals after scoring 32 last season.

Dallas also receives a significant player back Friday.

Tyler Seguin is expected to make his preseason debut against Minnesota after being sidelined since December 2 by a torn right ACL. He underwent surgery December 16 and had seven goals and 17 points through 27 games before the injury.

Elsewhere, Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon is being evaluated for an upper-body injury sustained Thursday, Vancouver forward Filip Chytil is undergoing evaluation for a right-shoulder injury, and New Jersey defenseman Seamus Casey is expected to miss time after being injured against the Rangers.

Buffalo also signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 contract Friday.

NHL Scores From Thursday, September 24

Thursday produced 11 preseason games, and several carried storylines that could matter beyond exhibition hockey.

San Jose’s young talent stole the night in a 10-0 destruction of Anaheim.

Ivar Stenberg recorded a hat trick and an assist, Michael Misa had a goal and three assists, and Igor Chernyshov scored twice. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped all 21 Anaheim shots.

Carolina supplied perhaps the night’s most dramatic comeback.

Nashville led 5-1 before the Hurricanes scored five unanswered goals. Logan Stankoven tied the game with 1:24 remaining before Felix Unger Sorum scored with just three seconds left for a 6-5 Carolina victory.

Philadelphia shut out Boston 2-0 behind Joseph Woll’s 28 saves, Columbus blanked Pittsburgh 4-0, Vegas rallied to defeat Utah 5-4 in overtime, and Seattle erased a third-period deficit before beating Calgary in a shootout.

The score module above gives readers a quick way to scan every result, while the analysis underneath highlights the games and individual performances most likely to matter as teams make their final roster decisions.

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