Welcome back everyone to Season 8 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk!
We hope you tuned in to another great jam-packed Episode 4 show last night with me and Evan Renaerts. With the regular season back in action, so let’s jump right into some of the biggest stories we’re tracking as we get set for the new NHL season:
- William Karlsson extends with Vegas – The Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson, who has signed a two-year contract extension worth $13.5 million, carrying an average annual value of $6.75 million. The deal begins next season and keeps Karlsson in Vegas through the 2028-29 season. The 33-year-old has been one of the original faces of the Golden Knights franchise since their inaugural season in 2017-18, ranking second in franchise history in both goals and points. Karlsson has also been an important part of Vegas’ success, including their 2023 Stanley Cup championship. After missing significant time with an injury last season, the new contract gives Karlsson some security while allowing him to remain with the organization where he has spent the majority of his NHL career. They also opened their season with a 5-2 victory over Chicago, with Jack Eichel recording three points and it was also the NHL head-coaching debut for Ryan Craig, who took over behind the Vegas bench after the success John Tortorella had.
- Evan Bouchard Makes NHL History despite Oilers loss – Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had himself a night as he recorded a hat trick and five points in Edmonton’s season opener against Vancouver, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a season opener. The performance was remarkable considering the Oilers eventually lost 6-5 in overtime after blowing a 5-2 third-period lead. Paul Cotter scored the overtime winner for Vancouver, while Bouchard’s historic night nevertheless provided Edmonton with a major positive to take away from the loss. With Edmonton once again entering the season with Stanley Cup expectations, Bouchard’s performance is certainly something to build on, even though the defensive issues and blown lead will be something the team will want to address quickly. It’s going to be a long season if Edmonton doesn’t address its goaltending and defensive structure.
- Jared Bednar Signs Four-Year Extension With Colorado Avalanche – The Colorado Avalanche have extended their head coach Jared Bednar to a four-year contract extension with keeping him in Colorado through the 2030-31 season. Bednar, who has been behind the Avalanche bench since 2016, is the winningest coach in franchise history and led the team to the 2022 Stanley Cup. The extension comes after Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy with 121 points last season before being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference Final. With the Avalanche opening this season with an impressive 8-4 win over Los Angeles, the organization has made it clear that Bednar remains a major part of their plans moving forward.
- Casey DeSmith Signs Two-Year Extension With Dallas Stars – The Dallas Stars have signed goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year, $5 million contract extension that runs through the 2028-29 season. The 35-year-old has been a dependable backup to Jake Oettinger since joining Dallas, posting a 29-16-8 record, a .911 SA and a 2.50 GAA over his first two seasons with the Stars. The extension gives Dallas the potential to keep the same Oettinger-DeSmith goaltending tandem, providing the team with some stability between the pipes.
- Flames Sign Chase Harrington to Entry-Level Contract – The Calgary Flames have signed 18-year-old forward Chase Harrington to a three-year, entry-level contract worth $1.075 million annually. Harrington was selected 36th overall by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Draft after recording 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 61 games with the Spokane Chiefs last season. He was recently named Spokane’s captain and opened the new WHL season with a Gordie Howe hat trick. Harrington also impressed during Flames training camp and appeared in one preseason game, giving Calgary plenty of optimism about his development.
- Flames also sign Alex Nylander to One-Year, Two-Way Deal – Speaking of the Flames, they have also signed forward Alex Nylander to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level after he impressed during his professional tryout. Nylander, 28, spent last season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, recording 53 points (24 goals, 29 assists) in 65 games while helping Toronto win the Calder Cup. The former eighth-overall pick has appeared in 126 career NHL games with Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Toronto, recording 49 points. The signing gives Calgary another experienced forward option and some additional organizational depth heading into the 2026-27 season.
- Several More Major Injury Questions to Start the Season – There are already a number of injury situations worth monitoring around the league. Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene is considered doubtful for Friday’s season opener against St. Louis because of a lower-body injury, while Chicago forward Andrew Mangiapane is expected to miss at least the Blackhawks’ next two games after suffering a lower-body injury in Vegas. Buffalo is also monitoring its goaltending situation, although Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start the Sabres’ opener after dealing with a lower-body issue during preseason. Meanwhile, Ottawa defenseman Artem Zub is progressing from a knee injury and is expected to return early in the season.
- Sidney Crosby Begins His 22nd NHL Season – Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are officially back (with a 7-0 win over their state rivals the Philadelphia Flyers). The 39-year-old captain has now begun his 22nd NHL season and his 20th as Pittsburgh’s captain, moving past Steve Yzerman for the longest captaincy in NHL history. Crosby has also entered the season seventh all-time in NHL scoring with 1,761 points and needs 11 more points to pass Marcel Dionne for sixth. He, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are also beginning another season together, giving the trio 21 seasons as teammates, the most by three players in North American professional sports history.
- Canadian Gold Medallist Thompson Retires From Hockey – Canadian Olympic gold medallist Claire Thompson has announced her retirement from hockey to pursue a career in medicine. After a successful playing career that included representing Canada on the international stage and winning Olympic gold, Thompson is now stepping away from the game to focus on her medical career. Her decision marks the end of a notable hockey journey and highlights the transition many athletes eventually face as they move into the next chapter of their lives.
- Brock Faber Undergoes Surgery After Skull Fracture – Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured skull suffered during Friday’s preseason game against the Dallas Stars. Faber was struck near his left ear by a deflected puck from Sam Steel but was initially able to skate off under his own power. Faber underwent surgery and is now recovering, with the Wild saying there is currently no timetable for his return. Faber is coming off a strong 2025-26 season in which he recorded 51 points while averaging more than 24 minutes per game, while also helping Team USA win Olympic gold earlier this year. His absence is a significant early-season setback for Minnesota as the Wild prepare to open their 2026-27 campaign.
Agree? Disagree? Let’s talk Hockey!
Tune in every Wednesday at 7 PM MST for Season 8 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk, where we break down the latest news and biggest stories in hockey, interview people from around the game, and bring you plenty of opinions, discussion and more. For more hockey news, different takes, and to join the conversation, follow us on X at @hockey_two and @revinev, subscribe to us on YouTube, and visit twoguysandhockeytalk.com for articles and regular hockey content. Want to get in touch or become a partner or sponsor? Email us anytime at twoguyshockeytalk@gmail.com.
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
