Welcome back everyone to Season 8 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk! Tonight we are back with another jam-packed Episode 7 with Evan Renaerts. Now that we’re well into the new season, let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories making waves around the league:
- NHL Attendance Becoming a Slight Concern – Has the NHL simply become too expensive for the average fan? That question is starting to come up early this season as some traditionally strong markets (like Vegas and Edmonton) are showing unexpected empty seats. Vegas recently had its nine-year sellout streak snapped, while more than 2,000 seats were empty for an Oilers home game against the Utah Mammoth, creating a lot of chatter online from fans of the game as to why (ticket and concession prices) despite being some of the league’s best teams. The Chicago Blackhawks has had its own attendance concerns, including the smallest crowd of the Connor Bedard era. This is all in relation to the fact that the NHL is also a gate driven revenue (around 50%) and so those dollars have to come from somewhere. As many fans noted on X, between tickets, parking, food (or dinner) and drinks, bringing a family to an NHL game can quickly turn into a very expensive night. But there is no reason to panic, after last season had record league-wide attendance, but it is something we will continue to monitor and something the NHL should be paying attention to.
- Matvei Michkov Is Starting to Heat Up – After a slow start for the Flyers the season, Matvei Michkov is beginning to show why the Flyers believe he can become the centerpiece of their franchise. Michkov, 21, has scored in three straight games, picking up four goals and an assist during that stretch, including a two-goal performance in Philadelphia’s 3-2 win over Colorado on Monday. He now leads the Flyers with 6 goals and is tied with Trevor Zegras for the team lead with seven points. Philadelphia has struggled overall at 2-6-3, but Michkov’s recent surge gives Flyers fans something to be excited about especially as his ice time increases. If he can continue finding the back of the net, Philadelphia may have found the offensive spark they desperately need to turn their season around (as it is still early on).
- Brady Tkachuk Returns to Ottawa – One big storyline going into Wednesday night hockey will take place in Ottawa, where Brady Tkachuk returns to Canadian Tire Centre for the first time since being traded to the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk, spent five seasons as the Senators’ captain before being traded to Florida in exchange for two first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a second-round pick in 2027 and a conditional first-round pick in 2029 (which went on to go to San Jose for Eklund). Now, Tkachuk gets to face his former team while trying to help the Panthers get back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing out last season and having back to back hat-tricks. But Ottawa has also gotten off to a very strong start without Brady, sitting at 6-3-0 and is tied with Florida for 12 points in the Atlantic. There most certainly will be fireworks on the ice tonight.
- Jacob Markstrom Out 10-14 Days – Speaking of the Florida Panthers, they have also been dealt a bit of a blow as goaltender Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss the next 10 to 14 days after being hit by a puck at practice. Markstrom has been solid for the Panthers posting a 3-1-1 record with a 2.21 GAA and a .897 Save % through 6 games. With Markstrom out, Akira Schmid will take on a bigger role, while the Panthers have recalled Cooper Black from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Black, 25, who is 6’8”, has yet to play an NHL game, is expected to make his debut during Florida’s upcoming four-game road trip and could easily become the tallest starting goaltender in NHL history.
- Connor McDavid continues to be Hot – Connor McDavid continues to look unbelievable . Through the Oilers’ first eight games, the Edmonton captain leads the NHL with 23 points, including 6 goals and 20 assists, while Edmonton has gone 7-1-1 to start the season. McDavid has recorded at least one point in every game and already has two five-point performances, putting him on pace for one of the best starts of his career. If the Oilers can continue getting this level of production from their captain while playing responsible hockey, they could be a very dangerous team come playoff time and they could potentially challenge for the President’s Trophy.
- The Hurricanes Take NHL Lead as Canucks’ Skid Reaches Eight – The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes continue to roll, beating the Vancouver Canucks 6-3 Tuesday night to improve to 8-2-1 and move into first place in the NHL standings. Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers each recorded two goals and an assist, while Nicolas Deslauriers chipped in with 2 goals. Carolina has been one of the league’s most consistent teams early in the season after winning the Stanley Cup, but a major test awaits them on as they travel to Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers. Meanwhile, the struggles continue in Vancouver. The Canucks have dropped eight straight games and fallen to 2-8-1, really highlighting the rebuild in full view.
- Connor Hellebuyck Saga Takes Another Turn – The Connor Hellebuyck situation in Winnipeg is getting closer to a breaking point, with at least 3 teams reportedly still in the mix for the former NHL MVP (Carolina, Utah, Buffalo and L.A.) that we know of so far. Hellebuyck requested a trade during the offseason and has been suspended without pay after failing to report to training camp but according to Elliotte Friedman, his suspension is set to expire Friday, October 23, meaning the Jets will soon have to decide whether to trade him, bring him back, or continue paying him to stay away from the team. The big issue is that Hellebuyck has a full no-movement clause, giving him significant control over where he would go. The other challenge is him returning back to the locker room as Winnipeg is off to a solid 4-1-2 start without him, so the Jets don’t necessarily have to make a deal at this time. Someone also has actually created a website called Hellebucks.com that tracks, down to the second, how much money Connor Hellebuyck is losing while suspended by the Winnipeg Jets based on his AAV of $7.5 million. As of October 20, Hellebuyck had already forfeited nearly $800,000. So do we see a trade take place soon, and will the New York Rangers also be involved in some capacity?
- Ben Kindel in Stable Condition after a scary Medical Episode – The Pittsburgh Penguins received a major scare Tuesday when Ben Kindel, 19, suffered a medical episode shortly after the team’s plane took off from Salt Lake City. The plane was forced to turn around, and Kindel was treated by the team’s medical staff before being taken by ambulance to a Utah hospital for further evaluation. Thankfully, the Penguins announced that Kindel is conscious, alert and in stable condition. The team has not released any further details about what happened and has asked for privacy for Kindel and his family. Kindel, a former Calgary Hitmen standout and 11th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is in his second NHL season and has 2 goals and 4 points through 9 games. We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.
Agree? Disagree? Let’s talk Hockey! 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’
