NHL IN 60 SECONDS
Zeev Buium has signed an eight-year, $75.04 million Vancouver contract that begins in 2027-28, while insisting he intends to earn the club’s faith every day. Cale Makar is the early Norris Trophy favourite in a 15-person panel vote after signing his own major extension. Ottawa’s 2-0-0 start has offered an immediate response after Brady Tkachuk’s departure, though Linus Ullmark left Monday’s game as a precaution. Elsewhere, Macklin Celebrini was ruled out before puck drop with a lower-body injury, and Montreal’s Kirby Dach remains a subject of reported speculation rather than a settled transaction.
THE BIG FIVE
Buium ready to earn Vancouver’s long-term faith
Zeev Buium says the standards he sets for himself will outweigh any outside expectations after signing an eight-year, $75.04 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 4. The deal carries a $9.38 million average annual value and begins in 2027-28. The 20-year-old defenseman arrived from the Minnesota Wild in the Quinn Hughes trade on Dec. 12, alongside Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi and a 2026 first-round pick. Buium produced 12 points in 45 Vancouver games after recording 14 in 31 with Minnesota. Four games into this season, he is seeking his first point while playing on the left of Filip Hronek on Vancouver’s top defense pair. He is averaging 21:40 per game and works on the second power-play unit.
IHM Signal: Buium’s contract is long-term, but his stated focus is on daily improvement and proving Vancouver right.
Coach Mark: Top-pair usage and second-unit power-play work give Buium meaningful opportunities to build consistency while carrying those expectations.
READ FULL STORY: Zeev Buium ready to earn Canucks’ long-term faith
Canadiens reportedly prepared to assess Dach
Kirby Dach remains the subject of speculation, but the reported position is that the Montreal Canadiens want to see what they have before making further roster changes. Montreal’s forward and blue-line depth has been cited as a source of flexibility, while Dach was said not to have had the best camp. The discussion connected him with teams in Alberta, partly because his brother is in Edmonton, but that link was characterised as people potentially connecting dots. There were said to have been loose discussions, not a completed move or a firm negotiation. Any deal would depend on another club offering an asset Montreal considers worthwhile, potentially involving additional pieces. Morgan Frost in Calgary was also raised only as a possible comparison in a wider hypothetical discussion.
IHM Signal: The available reporting points to monitoring and evaluation, not an imminent Dach trade.
Coach Mark: With roster spots limited, Dach’s on-ice case during the season may matter more than early speculation around possible destinations.
READ FULL STORY: Canadiens Reportedly Still Assess Kirby Dach’s Future
Celebrini ruled out for Sharks with lower-body injury
Macklin Celebrini did not play for the San Jose Sharks at the Dallas Stars after being ruled out with a lower-body injury shortly before puck drop. The 20-year-old forward had taken part in warmups before the announcement. Celebrini opened San Jose’s 2-0-0 season with three assists in a 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers, then added two assists in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings. Last season, he ranked fourth in the NHL with 115 points, including 45 goals and 70 assists, in 82 games. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft has 183 points, made up of 70 goals and 113 assists, across 154 NHL games.
IHM Signal: Celebrini’s absence followed a five-assist start in San Jose’s first two wins.
Coach Mark: His late withdrawal removed a forward who had helped drive San Jose’s early offence, making a collective response necessary.
Makar takes early lead in Norris Trophy panel vote
Cale Makar has been selected as the early Norris Trophy choice by a 15-member panel, receiving 70 voting points and 11 first-place votes. The Colorado Avalanche defenseman finished ahead of Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, who had 51 points and two first-place votes. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski was third with 36 points, while Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin received the remaining three first-place votes. Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract on Aug. 28 that starts next season and carries a $20.4 million average annual value. The 27-year-old had 79 points in 75 games last season, including 20 goals, and averaged 24:51 of ice time. He was also plus-32 and had 29 power-play points.
IHM Signal: Makar has early panel support after another high-output season and a new long-term contract.
Coach Mark: His ability to contribute across situations, including both special teams, underpins the workload Colorado can place on him.
Senators make fast start after Tkachuk departure
The Ottawa Senators are 2-0-0 after opening the season with wins against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, scoring seven goals and allowing three. Their 4-1 victory in Boston came in the club’s first season since 2017-18 without Brady Tkachuk, who produced 463 points in 572 games over eight Ottawa seasons. The Senators began last season 2-4-1 through seven games and opened the previous season 6-7-0 through 13, making the immediate improvement notable without defining the season. Linus Ullmark was removed after the second period against Boston following a collision with JJ Peterka in the crease. Coach Travis Green described the decision as precautionary. Ottawa’s players have stressed that the belief inside the group has remained intact.
IHM Signal: Ottawa has answered early doubts with two wins, but the group is treating the start as only a beginning.
Coach Mark: Green’s emphasis on playing the right way reflects a focus on sustaining the habits behind the opening results.
READ FULL STORY: Senators Make a 2-0 Start Without Brady Tkachuk
IHM SHORT ICE
Panthers-Larkin link remains hypothetical
Dylan Larkin was discussed as a possible Florida Panthers target if Aleksander Barkov misses significant time, with Florida described as a club Larkin would approve in a trade.
Reportedly, Detroit seeks an immediately useful return for Larkin, who was not expected to play the past weekend because of injury.
READ FULL STORY: Report Links Panthers to Dylan Larkin Amid Barkov Concern
Byfield embraces the Kings’ opening
Quinton Byfield wants to become the player who helps fill the void left by retired Kings captain Anze Kopitar, while acknowledging that the responsibility belongs to the whole team.
The 24-year-old entered Los Angeles’ home opener with two points and had logged 22:40, won 13 of 20 face-offs and recorded four shots against San Jose.
Lee finds a new home with Utah
Anders Lee signed a three-year, $16.2 million contract with the Utah Mammoth on July 1 after his Islanders contract expired and no new agreement was reached.
After 13 seasons with the Islanders and eight as captain, Lee said settling his family was the priority as they adjusted to Utah.
READ FULL STORY: Anders Lee quickly finds his place with Utah Mammoth
Crosby and Malkin salute Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin praised Alex Ovechkin after the Capitals captain announced that his 22nd NHL season would be his last.
Crosby recalled their many battles, while Malkin said Ovechkin had done everything for his team and the League and wished him health.
READ FULL STORY: Crosby and Malkin salute Ovechkin’s NHL legacy
Ovechkin’s Washington impact endures
Alex Ovechkin will finish his NHL career after this season as the League’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 929 goals entering Washington’s game against Pittsburgh.
His 895th goal, scored against the New York Islanders on April 6, 2025, surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record and added to a legacy that includes the 2018 Stanley Cup.
IHM NHL PULSE
Leadership transitions are defining early storylines
Several clubs are navigating major changes in responsibility. Buium is taking on prominent minutes after Vancouver committed to him through an eight-year deal, while Byfield wants to help cover the void created by Kopitar’s retirement. Ottawa, meanwhile, has begun 2-0-0 in its first season without Tkachuk. Each case carries a different context, but all place an early premium on players and groups proving they can handle changed expectations.
Long-term commitments sit beside short-term uncertainty
Makar and Buium have each signed eight-year contracts that begin in future seasons, signalling their clubs’ confidence in them. At the same time, uncertainty surrounds immediate availability and roster direction elsewhere: Celebrini was ruled out with a lower-body injury, Barkov was expected to miss time pending further clarity, and reporting on Dach described monitoring rather than a completed move.
Early returns are not final verdicts
Ottawa’s players and coach have welcomed their two-win start while stressing that two games do not settle a season. The same measured perspective applies to Makar’s early Norris lead: the panel vote recognises his standing at the outset, not an award decision.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING NEXT
- Zeev Buium’s eight-year Vancouver contract begins in the 2027-28 season.
- Cale Makar’s eight-year Colorado contract begins next season.
- Washington hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday, with Alex Ovechkin entering the game on 929 NHL goals.
SHORT ICE Q&A
What are the terms of Zeev Buium’s new Canucks contract?
Buium signed for eight years and $75.04 million. The contract has a $9.38 million average annual value and starts in 2027-28.
Has Kirby Dach been traded by Montreal?
No trade was reported. The discussion described possible loose talks and roster flexibility, while saying Montreal wants to assess its group before further changes.
Why did Macklin Celebrini miss the Sharks game in Dallas?
Celebrini was ruled out shortly before puck drop because of a lower-body injury after participating in warmups.
Who led the early Norris Trophy panel vote?
Cale Makar led with 70 points and 11 first-place votes from the 15-member panel. Quinn Hughes was second with 51 points.
How have the Senators started without Brady Tkachuk?
Ottawa is 2-0-0, with wins against Toronto and Boston. The Senators have scored seven goals and allowed three.
When will Alex Ovechkin retire from the NHL?
Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 season, his 22nd in the NHL, will be his final season.
FAN PULSE
Which early storyline is most significant for your club?
A) A young player taking on a larger role.
B) A strong start after a major departure.
C) A star player’s health and availability.