logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Notebook: Panthers could lose Barkov for season, Miller plays first game as Rangers captain, and more
alt
Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Tyson Cole
Sep 26, 2025, 12:56 EDTUpdated: Sep 26, 2025, 13:09 EDT
Comments
Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!
We are now under two weeks away from the official puck drop of the 2025-26 NHL season. Players around the league are getting their chance to showcase their abilities to their respective teams, hoping to make the roster. There are always a few standouts around the league who surprise and impress in training camp and preseason, who play themselves into the opening night lineup.
With players now hitting the ice comes new debuts, but also comes the risk of serious injury, which we’ve already seen for the defending champs.

Aleksander Barkov injured in practice

The two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were already planning to be without Matthew Tkachuk until mid-December. But after Thursday’s practice, they’re now dealing with another injury to their captain, Aleksander Barkov.
Here is the Barkov injury:
Barkov needed to be helped off the ice. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told reporters that Barkov is undergoing surgery to repair his right knee and is hoping to know more details later today. But according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the fear is that his season may be lost.
Barkov, 30, has captained the Panthers since the 2018-2019 season. His leadership will be lost on the Panthers bench, as they look to three-peat as Stanley Cup champions for the first time since the New York Islanders four-peated from 1980-1984.

JT Miller plays first preseason game as Rangers captain

Earlier this month, ex-Canucks assistant captain JT Miller was named as the new captain of the New York Rangers. And on Thursday night, Miller made his debut as Rangers captain.
The Islanders got off to a 2-0 lead, with goals from Gleb Veremyev and Chris Terry just 23 seconds apart. But Vincent Trocheck got them on the board 16 seconds after. The Rangers added two more goals to their tally before the period was over, with Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard scoring 12 seconds apart.
Miller was relatively quiet through the first half of the game, before capitalizing on a snapshot from the bumper spot on the power play – a place he did not play much of in Vancouver.
Taking a 4-2 lead heading into the third period, the Rangers made a goaltending change, giving 23-year-old, Victoria, BC native Dylan Garand some NHL action. However, it did not work out well for him, as the Islanders scored three unanswered goals and took the 5-4 victory.
Miller finished his captain debut with one goal, two shots on goal and two hits with a minus-1 rating in 21:21 minutes of ice time. He was outshot 11-6 at five-on-five, and won just one of his five faceoffs. While these games don’t really matter, it was an unfortunate ending for Miller’s debut as Rangers captain.

Maple Leafs sign familiar face to PTO

According to the Athletic’s Chris Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed veteran goaltender James Reimer to a professional tryout contract.
Reimer, 37, was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. He played the first five and a half seasons in Toronto before bouncing around the league as a backup for the following 10 years with the San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and, most recently, the Buffalo Sabres.
With the Sabres last season, Reimer started 19 games, finishing with a 10-8-2 record, with a 2.90 goals against average and a .901 save percentage, with one shutout.
The news comes just three days after the Maple Leafs granted Joseph Woll a leave of absence to deal with a personal family matter.
With Woll’s length of absence unknown, the Maple Leafs are bringing in a familiar face as goaltending insurance to potentially backup Anthony Stolarz.
Sponsored by bet365

Editorials

Breaking News