Welcome back everyone to Season 8 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk! Tonight we are back with another jam-packed episode 8 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:
- Connor Hellebuyck Finally gets Traded – The Connor Hellebuyck saga is finally over as the Winnipeg Jets traded their star goalie to the New Jersey Devils for Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2029 2nd round pick and a 2027 7th round pick. The trade came on the day that suspension was set to end. For Winnipeg, it’s the end of an incredible 11-year run, and Hellebuyck leaves as the franchise leader in games played, wins and shutouts. But it also didn’t take long for Hellebuyck to make his season debut just days after the trade, stopping 16 of 17 shots in a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars. If he can return to his Vezina-caliber form, the Devils may have just become one of the biggest threats in the Eastern Conference, as they currently sit second in the Metropolitan division with a record of 8-4-0 so far.
- Jacob Fowler is slowly becoming a Great NHL Goaltender – Speaking of great goaltending, the Montreal Canadiens are certainly happy with Fowler who put up a great performance of his young NHL career Tuesday night, stopping all 46 shots he faced as Montreal blanked the St. Louis Blues 2-0. Even more impressive, Fowler stopped 24 shots in the third period alone as the Blues desperately tried to get back into the game. The performance gave Fowler his sixth straight win and his second shutout of the season, while also setting a Canadiens franchise record for saves by a rookie in a shutout. Montreal has now won three straight and has points in five consecutive games, moving to 7-3-2 on the season and 2nd in the Atlantic. This is after Samuel Montembeault has been dealing with injuries. We love to see it and wish him the best this season.
- Zach Hyman Injured Again – The Edmonton Oilers received some unwanted news ahead of Wednesday night’s Battle of Alberta as Zach Hyman has been placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. Hyman was injured during Edmonton’s 4-3 shootout loss to Detroit on Monday after being hit into the boards by Red Wings defenseman Andreas Englund. Hyman has played only six games this season and has 1 goal, so this has already been a frustrating start from a health standpoint. His absence comes at a difficult time for Edmonton as they still have a few other bodies out (Ekholm) but also Mike Babcock having to healthy scratch Jake Walman.
- The Canucks Finally Snap Their Losing Streak – Another team in the Pacific, the Vancouver Canucks, erased a late deficit against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night by scoring three goals in the 3rd period before eventually winning 6-5 in overtime. Jonathan Lekkerimäki was the hero of the comeback, scoring twice late in the third period to tie the game before Filip Hronek finished things off in overtime. The victory snapped Vancouver’s long losing streak and provided the team with some much-needed positive momentum. Vancouver still has plenty to figure out (as it is a rebuilding year), but getting a comeback like this from some of its younger players could be exactly what the Canucks need to get their season moving in the right direction.
- Matthew Schaefer Makes NHL History – The New York Islanders may not have gotten the win in regulation, but Matthew Schaefer certainly made an impact on the game, as he became the first skater in NHL history to play all five minutes of a regular-season overtime period during New York’s eventual shootout victory over the Nashville Predators. Schaefer’s performance is another example of just how much trust the Islanders already have in the young defenseman as the team tries to compete in the East for a playoff spot. They are currently 6-4-2 thus far in the season.
- Pyotr Andreyanov Named KHL Rookie of the Week – Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Pyotr Andreyanov has been named league’s Rookie of the Week in the KHL. Andreyanov, 19, was selected 20th overall by Columbus in the 2025 NHL Draft, won two of his three games last week with HC Sochi, stopping 23 of 25 shots in a 3-2 overtime win over Dinamo Minsk before making 30 saves in a 4-3 victory over Lada. For the Columbus Blue Jackets, this is another encouraging step in the development of one of their top prospects. Andreyanov is under contract with CSKA Moscow through 2029-30 but is currently on loan to Sochi, giving him valuable experience against professional competition. Columbus will have to be patient, but with his size, draft pedigree and regular KHL playing time.
- Kirill Marchenko is Out Week-to-Week – The Toronto Maple Leafs have noted that Kirill Marchenko is officially listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Marchenko, 26, left Monday’s 5-2 loss to Calgary in the second period after taking a hit from Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich and falling awkwardly. He briefly returned for one more shift but couldn’t continue. This is a pretty significant loss for Toronto because Marchenko has been one of the Leafs’ best players since coming over from Columbus in a trade for Knies. So far this season, he has 6 goals and 8 assists in his first 14 games with Toronto, recording points in 11 of those games. Toronto is already without John Tavares, while Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai are also listed as week-to-week. The good news is that Chris Tanev has been upgraded to day-to-day and is progressing toward a return. We wish him a speedy recovery.
- The Heritage Classic Was a Huge Success – The 2026 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic was a great success as more than 32,000 fans packed Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday where Montreal beat Winnipeg 2-1. The stadium was sold out, and the crowd was nearly split between Canadiens and Jets fans, making for a fantastic Canadian hockey atmosphere. What made the weekend also successful was the outdoor fan festival before puck drop with an alumni game featuring former stars from both organizations. Fans in person (and on tv) also got performances from Canadian musicians. We enjoyed watching it, and did you?
- NHL Hometown Remix Jerseys Leaked – If you are online right now, you might have seen the reported leak of 20 of the league’s 32 new Hometown Remix jerseys. The NHL will be introducing the jerseys this season to give each team a design that represents its city and local identity like the Anaheim Ducks appear to be going with a throwback-inspired Mighty Ducks look. Obviously, these are still leaks and details could change, but once all 32 designs are officially released, it should be interesting to see how they look on and off the ice.
- James Reimer Has a Rough Debut – James Reimer, who signed a 1-year contract with the New York Rangers, had a difficult start after allowing 3 goals on 8 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Reimer signed with the Rangers just one day earlier after a professional tryout with their AHL affiliate in Hartford, where he posted a 35-save shutout two days before and after both of their goalies are out (Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo). The Rangers added him after the increased workload for Dylan Garand. The game marked Reimer’s 493rd NHL start and his time with a ninth NHL team, tying the league record for most teams played by a goaltender. Despite the rough debut, the Rangers’ need for goaltending depth.
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’
