The first game of the 2025-26 season will be played in Sunrise at Amerant Bank Arena, where the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will host former goaltender Spencer Knight and the rest of the Chicago Blackhawks on October 7, at 5 p.m.
Florida’s banner-raising season-opener will be part of an ESPN / TVA Sports tripleheader that will also feature the Pittsburgh Penguins at the New York Rangers (7:30 p.m.) and the Colorado Avalanche at the Los Angeles Kings in the night cap (10 p.m.).
The full schedule will be released on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
In other NHL news, the Penguins acquired goalie Arturs Silvos from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick. Silvos just led the Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup, knocking off the Charlotte Checkers, and was named the playoff MVP.
The Buffalo Sabres re-signed restricted free-agent defenseman Bowen Byram to a two-year, $12.5-million contract. Byram is coming off his most productive season in the NHL. He played in all 82 games and produced seven goals and 38 points while going plus-11.
The Winnipeg Jets came to terms with restricted free agent forward Morgan Barron, avoiding salary arbitration. Barron inked a new two-year deal worth $3.7 million. Barron put up eight goals and seven assists in 74 games for Winnipeg last season. He also collected two helpers in 13 postseason contests.
Viktor Eklund signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders. Eklund was selected in the first round, 16th overall of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old forward registered 19 goals and 31 points in 42 games with Djurgårdens of Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan.
The Islanders also re-signed defenseman Travis Mitchell to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K. Mitchell played in 65 games with the Bridgeport Islanders last season and recorded four goals, nine assists and 101 PIM.
Defenseman Jack Thompson remained with the San Jose Sharks signing a new one-year contract worth $800K. Thompson appeared in 31 NHL games with the Sharks (4G/6A) and also saw AHL duty with the San Jose Barracuda, where he put up 14 points in 27 games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning signed veteran forward Scott Sabourin to a one-year contract worth $775K. Sabourin played in 68 games with the San Jose Barracuda last season, registering ten goals and 25 points. He also made a single NHL appearance with the Sharks.
The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed forward Skyler Brind’Amour to a one-year contract worth $775K. Brind’Amour appeared in two NHL games and scored his first career goal last season. In 68 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, he scored 16 goals and added 8 assists.