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Around the NHL: Panthers, Bennett talking extension, Stamkos ‘tough-sledding’ with Predators, Crosby not blaming goaltending
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Shane Seney
Oct 21, 2024, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 21, 2024, 12:30 EDT
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The 2024-25 NHL season is a few weeks old, and already, the year has been loaded with surprises. From the Calgary Flames leading the Pacific Division with a 4-0-1 record to the Nashville Predators joining the San Jose Sharks as the only two winless teams remaining league-wide, it’s been a whirlwind start to the new season.
Here’s all the very latest from around the NHL:

Florida Panthers begin extension talks with Sam Bennett

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend, that the Florida Panthers and forward Sam Bennett have begun contract extension talks, but Friedman reiterated that the talks are very much in the preliminary stage.
Bennett, 28, is in the final season of his current contract, set to earn $4.42 million against the cap this season. He’s coming off a 41-point season, however, also contributed 14 points in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and brings a ton of intangibles to the Panthers, that aren’t necessarily seen on the scoresheet.
Bennett is a huge part of the Panthers’ core, and someone the team is very interested in locking in long-term. Florida is off to a 4-2-1 start, good for first in the Metropolitan Division. The Panthers next host the Maple Leafs on Nov.27.

Predators new-look roster in tough early on

The Predators re-tooled on the fly this past offseason, as GM Barry Trotz signed free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. So far, not so good.
Nashville is 0-5-0 to start the year, and after their latest loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, Stamkos spoke to the media and aired out some frustration. “It’s tough sledding, for sure,” Stamkos said via the team’s website. “We can’t just keep saying the same things over and over in terms of, ‘OK, the effort was there, OK, we had a lot of shots, we had a lot of looks.’ At some point, we’ve got to go do it. … It’s certainly not fun when you’re not winning, and it’s a tough league to win in, no question about it. But, we’re a better group than what we’re showing right now.”
Stamkos has one point in five games, Marchessault has chipped in with four points in five games, meanwhile, Juuse Saros has gone winless through four starts and has registered a .875 save percentage. It’s still early, no doubt, but there’s certainly some growing concern surrounding the Predators’ slow start.

Sidney Crosby isn’t pointing fingers at Penguins’ crease

Speaking of struggles, the Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a tough start, sitting 3-4-0 to start the new season. Pittsburgh has given up an NHL-leading 31 goals to this point, as presumed starter Tristan Jarry has seen 22-year-old rookie Joel Blomqvist appear in more games, meanwhile, last season’s backup Alex Nedeljkovic has very recently worked his way back from injury.
At this point, it hasn’t mattered who’s been between the pipes, the Penguins can’t seem to get a save. Even through the struggles, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby isn’t about to start pointing fingers. “It’s not our goalies,” Crosby told The Athletic’s Josh Yohe following Sunday’s 6-3 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets. “It’s on us to play better in front of them.”
“We’re giving up odd-man rushes,” Crosby said. “We’re not getting clears. Look at the game-winner. I lose the faceoff. Then I don’t get my guy. And it ends up in the back of the net. We can’t keep giving up five or six goals a game if we want to win.”
While there’s plenty of blame to go around, the Penguins’ biggest concern could be getting Jarry back on track. He’s signed for three more seasons, and after a disappointing season in 2023-24, has begun 2024-25, posting a .836 save percentage through three appearances.

Quick Hits from Around the NHL:

  • San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini is still a few weeks away, after sustaining a lower-body injury to begin the season.
  • The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Penguins 6-3 to begin the season 5-0-0 for the first time in franchise history. The Jets’ faithful were ruthless on Sunday, chanting ‘where is Rutger?’. The collective chirp was directed at former first-round pick Rutger McGroaty, who asked for a trade out of Winnipeg, without playing a single game. McGroaty was dealt to the Penguins before the season, and even though started the year in the NHL, has since been sent down to the American Hockey League.
  • Utah HC’s defenceman John Marino sustained an upper-body injury before training camp and has been confirmed unavailable for at least a couple of months. Meanwhile, defenceman Sean Durzi underwent surgery last week and is expected to be out 4-to-5 months.
  • Heading into Monday night’s action, New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar, and Panthers’ forward Sam Reinhart are all tied atop the NHL points leaderboard, with 12 points.
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