NHL Prepares for the 2025-26 Season: News and Expectations
Henderson, Nev. – With training camps starting this week, the NHL is approaching its return to action for the 2025-26 season. After a summer marked by a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players, expectations are high. During the NHL Player Media Tour near Las Vegas, prominent figures shared their perspectives on various topics. Alofoke Deportes brings you a summary of the most relevant conversations.What is your favorite “cheat meal”?
One of the lightest and most entertaining topics was that of favorite meals outside the diet. The answers varied widely, showing the personal tastes of each player:
- Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins): “A huge plate of chicken wings.”
- Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders): “A 7th Street burger in New York.”
- Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks): “Probably a burger and fries.”
- Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes): “Pizza. Domino’s. Incredible.”
- Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche): “A burger, there are good places in Denver.”
- Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers): “Shake Shack. Burger, fries, and a chocolate shake.”
- Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning): “Pizza. Pineapple and ham.”
- Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks): “Pizza with prosciutto, the good, Italian kind.”
- Brady Skjei (Nashville Predators): “Nachos. Tacos. Something Mexican, for sure.”
- Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars): “Chick-fil-a. Or a Culver’s burger, fries, and chocolate shake.”
- Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks): “A burger. From anywhere. I’m easy.”
What do you like most about the new collective agreement?
Players also expressed their opinions on the most significant changes in the new NHL collective bargaining agreement:- Seth Jarvis: “I appreciate training camp being a little shorter.”
- Jake Oettinger: “The relaxed dress code is great.”
- Jack Hughes: “The shorter preseason is probably the biggest thing.”
- Pierre-Luc Dubois: “No more suits. That’s pretty good.”
- Charlie McAvoy: “The playoff salary cap compliance thing was good.”
- Clayton Keller: “The medical care they added.”
- Victor Hedman: “No to the dress code. I like players expressing their fashion.”
- Lukas Dostal: “The dress code. You can express yourself a little more.”
- Jordan Eberle: “No to the fitness testing was nice.”
- Robert Thomas: “I like the pension and medical care for retirees.”
- Connor Hellebuyck: “I like the dress code being a little more lenient.”
Which player on your team will take the most advantage of the relaxed dress code?
This question sparked some predictions about who will stand out for their personal style:
- Charlie McAvoy: “Pasta [David Pastrnak] will be the one with the most. He has the best style.”
- Jack Hughes: “Myself. [Timo Meier], [Luke Hughes], [Jesper Bratt] too.”
- Jordan Eberle: “Probably [Vince Dunn].”
What is your favorite song to motivate you before a game?
Music is key to concentration and mood. These were the players’ choices:- Seth Jarvis: “I don’t have one.”
- Brady Skjei: “I like things from the 90s.”
- Jake Oettinger: “I like Drake.”
- Jack Hughes: “Best of You, Foo Fighters.”
- Travis Sanheim: “Morgan Wallen.”
- Victor Hedman: “A lot of country.”
- Pierre-Luc Dubois: “French rap.”
- Cale Makar: “Oldies.”
How would you change or expand the playoff format?
The playoff format always generates debate, and the players are no strangers to it:
- Alex DeBrincat: “I like it the way it is.”
- Victor Hedman: “I would go back to 1 to 8.”
- Lukas Dostal: “I would change it.”
- Brady Skjei: “We could go back to 1 to 8.”
- Jordan Eberle: “I like it the way it is.”
- Travis Sanheim: “I wouldn’t expand it.”
- Pierre-Luc Dubois: “I wouldn’t expand it.”
- Seth Jarvis: “I’m happy with 16 teams.”
- Jack Hughes: “I’m happy with 16 teams.”
What’s your weirdest quirk with the team?
Rituals and manias are part of the game. Here are some of the most curious ones: Sam Reinhart: “Move my helmet all the time before a faceoff.”Highlighted Statements
The players shared their thoughts on different aspects of the upcoming season:
Quinn Hughes on the new Canucks coach, Adam Foote: “He’s been very good. He brought structure, competitiveness, good guy. So we’ll see how he does as a coach, but I think he’s very excited and looking forward to the opportunity.”Zach Werenski on confidence in Columbus: “We were there. We were in the playoff [mix] until game 82. So we know we’re a good team. Now it’s doing it consistently, doing it again year after year, right? We had a good year last year. It still wasn’t good enough. So it’s doing it again and doing it even better. So I think the confidence that [General Manager Don Waddell] has in us will also give us some confidence.”
Patrick Kane on the invitation to the Olympic development camp: “I think I was just talking to my agent about how there’s a possibility that I might be on the team and that I was under consideration. So when you hear that, it’s really not a huge surprise that you’re there. Probably a little more surprised that Alex [DeBrincat] was left out, but I think we both have some motivation to get off to good starts this year.”
Robert Thomas on his goals for this season: “I would like to get 100 [points]. I think I was pretty close to that pace last year, minus an injury. So, staying healthy and continuing to improve, I think 100 points is my next goal.”Connor Hellebuyck on learning from the 4 Nations Face-Off ahead of an Olympic year: “The emotional grind of the 4 Nations was definitely a learning experience. Not only that, but I learned about things off the ice and what to expect from that, and how to manage bringing your family, managing how many extra media there are and the stress that’s in that. I definitely learned good things from that.”Sam Reinhart on the Florida free agent re-signings: “I think it’s a testament to what we have there. Guys could make more elsewhere, you know? But we have something they want to be a part of and they don’t want to leave. Obviously, it’s pretty exciting to see it all get done the way it has and see everyone back on board.”Patrick Kane, after Sidney Crosby interrupted an interview to say hello: “That would be a good center to play with.”
