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While the Colorado Avalanche added some goalie depth a little more than a week ago with the claiming of Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from Winnipeg, he wasn’t available to them as he went through the work visa process. However, the Avs announced that he has joined the team and will take part in practice with them Saturday, meaning he has cleared that process.
Goaltending has been an issue for the Avs early on this season with Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen combining to allow 24 goals on just 123 shots for a combined save percentage of .805. While this is certainly a case of a small sample size, it’s also an area of concern with Georgiev struggling at times in the second half of last season.
While Kahkonen is coming off somewhat of a rough year himself that saw him post a 3.64 GAA and a .898 SV% in 37 games between San Jose and New Jersey, he will at least give them another option with some NHL experience. Annunen has just 20 career appearances under his belt. Kahkonen will likely need a few practices before he’s game-ready with how long he had to sit, but he should be a playable option for them before too long.
With Kahkonen joining the active roster, a corresponding move was needed to formally activate him as they were already at the maximum of 23 players. That was made with the team moving Devon Toews to injured reserve.
Meanwhile, the team also revealed that winger Valeri Nichushkin has arrived in Denver and will begin to work out and skate on his own. He remains in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and isn’t eligible to return to NHL action until Nov. 13. However, the fact that he is coming to the city several weeks in advance to start working out suggests that he’s on track to return at that time.
For the time being, Nichushkin’s $6.125M AAV is not counting against the Avs' cap number. Assuming he gets the green light next month, he’ll come back on their books. That said, with Gabriel Landeskog and Tucker Poolman presently on LTIR, they will have enough cap flexibility to activate him without any issues at that time.
More must-reads:
- Avalanche injury losses continue to mount early in season
- Every Calder Trophy winner from the NHL expansion era
- The '2000-01 Colorado Avalanche' quiz
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3 takeaways from Leafs-Blues: Nylander’s sensational goal could be turning point, Stecher’s excellent debut
William Nylander bookended Tuesday’s game in the type of galvanizing fashion that only he could pull off. Nylander scored one of the best goals of the season, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues, snapping a five-game losing skid. It was a glorious goal, that very well could be the turning point if the Maple Leafs rally out of a November slump. And it didn’t always appear to be a magical night for Nylander. During the opening minutes of the game, Nylander inexplicably batted a puck into Joseph Woll’s net, for the game’s opening goal. Nylander didn’t have a real answer for the mistake afterwards, only noting that he apologized to Woll, which was graciously accepted. It was the 20th game of the season, so pace yourself accordingly, but it could be viewed as a must-win game. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving held a quarterly press conference on Tuesday morning, which served as a de facto state of the union, after the team’s sorely disappointing start to the year. Treliving provided head coach Craig Berube with a vote of confidence, while a battered and beleaguered roster took the ice on Tuesday. Matthew Knies was ruled out an hour before the game. Berube later explained that Knies was dealing with a lingering injury, and told Sammy Blais to be on standby following Tuesday’s morning skate. Blais left the game during the third period, and Berube revealed he was coughing up blood afterwards. “I thought we battled hard,” Berube assessed post-game. “The guys were competitive. I thought our checking game was pretty good for the most part throughout the game. Managed the game well. Really liked our first period. Woll was really good. We had a lot of guys in there that are new and haven’t played, but I thought they did a good job.” Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Blues: William Nylander’s sensational goal could be a turning point for Maple Leafs William Nylander scored one of the best goals of the 2025-26 NHL calendar, which may serve as a turning point for the Maple Leafs. It’s too early to count the Maple Leafs out and Nylander has an uncanny ability to respond to challenges presented during the regular season. After notching an own goal during the first period, it’s only fitting that Nylander walked it off with a sensational goal of his own. Nylander took a pass from Morgan Rielly, waltzed around Dylan Holloway, then dangled Jordan Binnington out of his skates for the overtime victory. It was Nylander’s ninth goal of the season, and at the time of this filing, he’s tied for third in NHL scoring. John Tavares did an outstanding job of fending off three Blues defenders on the wall, before the puck broke free to Rielly. “I mentioned it to the team, because that’s what he’s all about,” Berube said. “And that play there symbolizes John Tavares: 3-on-1, keeps the puck alive. Morgan gets in there quickly and makes a play. And Willy does what he does.” Nylander didn’t always dictate play at 5-on-5, and was looking to pick his spots. He couldn’t have selected a better time to show off his extraordinary skill set, while remaining cool, calm and collected. It’s just one moment, in one game, but remember this moment if the Leafs actualize their lofty goals this season. “His persona is kind of his superpower,” Joseph Woll said of Nylander post-game. Troy Stecher was arguably the best player in his Leafs’ debut Troy Stecher was arguably the Maple Leafs’ best player in his team debut. Stecher told reporters Monday that he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder after being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers and he responded with an excellent game. “Good game, skated, moved the puck well,” Berube said post-game. “Competitive. All the things that we know of him, but I really liked his feet tonight. I thought he was aggressive, moved his feet really well.” Stecher provides a different look for the Maple Leafs as a mobile, right-handed defenceman, and he was actively jumping into the rush. The single-game stats support the idea that Stecher made a tremendous impact, while drawing an early penalty on Pavel Buchnevich. Stecher finished with a team-best 79.9 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick, and his teammates couldn’t be happier. “Troy Stecher, stepping in with a new team, he was excellent,” Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe said. “Just poise with the puck, skating. Just simple plays. It made a difference. He gave us a little spark on the back end. He was vocal, too. He’s not some young guy coming in here, he’s been around. We want to make sure he feels comfortable here. Can’t speak highly enough about him because he was excellent tonight.” “Troy was great tonight,” Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz said. “Mobile defenceman, undersized but he’s not afraid to go into those corners, and he’s winning puck battles. Stick on puck, just taking guys bodies and taking their hands away, it was great to see. We’re really happy to have him.” You don’t want to categorize a No. 6 defenceman as a star, or exploit expectations, but Stecher has an opportunity to make a real impact for the Maple Leafs, and he used his speed and tenacity to great effect against the Blues. Easton Cowan, Jacob Quillan make the most of increased opportunity One of the unintended benefits of an injury-ridden lineup is that it presents increased opportunities for younger players. Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan were among the Leafs’ best forwards during Tuesday’s win. Quillan was playing in his second career NHL game, where his pace was a weapon throughout the night, and his teammates agreed. “Q, he’s got great speed,” Berube said of Quillan pre-game. “He’s fast, he’s powerful for a young kid. He’s going to bring energy to the game. He’s going to work. He’s going to compete, that’s what he’s going to bring to the game tonight. Cowan was assertive throughout the game and narrowly missed what would’ve been the best goal of his young career. The 20-year-old danced around Philip Broberg in the neutral zone, flew into the offensive zone and fired a shot off the post. Cowan was shaking his head on the bench afterwards, but he was the best player on his line and the Leafs controlled 71 percent of the expected goals when he was on the ice, trailing only Stecher and Max Domi. As for Quillan, he’s slated to play Thursday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was tenacious throughout the contest, throwing hits and using his speed to create separation during the game. “Quill looked great tonight,” Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz said post-game. “I think he’s gained a step, too. For a young kid, it’s only his second (NHL career game) for him. The guys were very excited for him. He was all over the ice. Centre is not an easy position to play in this league and to be able to play a handful minutes tonight, he played more than a handful of minutes. He looked comfortable out there. He was taking pucks from the middle of the ice, which can be overwhelming as a young guy, but for him to show that maturity in his game, it’s great to see.” Berube also appeared to reinforce his pre-game assessment after the 3-2 victory. “Last year, to this year, a lot of growth, from what I saw tonight in the game. Comfortable and confident in his play. His speed is dangerous, he got behind the D a couple of times. Overall, I thought he was a pretty good player for us tonight,” Berube said of Quillan post-game.
Steve Spurrier has two endorsements for next Florida HC
Steve Spurrier is a legend for the Florida Gators. Known as "the head ball coach" down in SEC-land, Spurrier was a star both as a player and as a coach for Florida. Heck, the dang field in Gainesville is named after him. That means what he says about the Florida program carries a lot of weight, and he recently revealed that he believes there are only two people who would live up to the expectations and be a great fit for the Gators as they look to replace fired head coach Billy Napier sooner rather than later. “I know Lane Kiffin and I know Eli Drinkwitz,” Spurrier recently said, according to Daniel Hager of On3. “Obviously, either one of those guys would be super if it works out. But, it’s a long way from whoever we’re going to get as our coach right now.” The Gators are currently making a full-court press for Lane Kiffin, but they're not alone in their pursuit in the Ole Miss head coach. While the Gators reportedly flew members of Kiffin's family down to Gainesville to check things out recently, the LSU Tigers also pulled the same trick — hoping to get Kiffin to ultimatly come down to Baton Rouge. LSU is probably Florida's biggest competitor for Kiffin right now, but there's also Ole Miss to consider. It's not like the Rebels are going to let a coach who has led them to a 54-19 record over the past six seasons go without a fight. Kiffin would absolutely be a home-run hire for the Gators, though. He's a high-level recruiter and a high-level offensive mind in the SEC. Those are two things that the Gators desperately need in the wake of the middling Napier era. Not only that, but Kiffin has ties to the state. He was the head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2017-19. Eli Drinkwitz an interesting option for Florida if it can't land Lane Kiffin Drinkwitz is another interesting option, though. You'll also notice that there's a trend here for Florida, and that's going after established SEC head coaches. Napier had come from the Sun Belt conference. Drinkwitz has made Missouri a tough out in the SEC and he's won a ton of football games. His overall record at Mizzou is 45-27, though his record in big games does leave a little to be desired. He's 7-14 against ranked opponents and 0-7 against top-10 teams. Still, Drinkwitz is a young coach at just 42, so the upside is there. He's a big personality who does well on the recruiting trail, and he could do a lot of good things with the firepower of the Florida Gators behind him. There are other options out there for Florida. Washington head coach Jedd Fisch is a Florida alumnus, for instance. If Spurrier has narrowed it down to Kiffin and Drinkwitz in his mind, though, you can bet those in power at Florida are likely thinking the same thing.
Chiefs React to Travis Kelce's Decision on Sunday
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce continues to make headlines on and off the field. Entering Sunday's Week 11 game against the Denver Broncos, Kelce has been one of the most reliable players on the Chiefs. In nine games this 2025, he has recorded 41 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. He actually leads in the team in receptions and receiving yards and is second in receiving touchdowns. Off the field, the Chiefs tight end has been the subject of plenty of interest due to his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. Not to mention, he has been growing his personal brand by diversifying his ventures — from going into acting to opening up his own restaurant with teammate Patrick Mahomes. Now, prior to their showdown with the Broncos, Kelce drew plenty of attention again with his off-field decision. The 36-year-old star arrived at Empower Field at Mile High wearing a black blazer with a subtle striped pattern, which he paired with matching pants. What stood out from his outfit were his bags, as he brought a Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere and Horizon 55 that cost over $9,000 combined, per Style By Kelce. Even the Chiefs couldn't help but react to Kelce's outfit, as they shared photos of him on social media. "Find you someone who cleans up like @TKelce," the Chiefs wrote. For what it's worth, fans agreed with the Chiefs' post, taking to the comment section to share their reactions. "He cleans up Nicely," a commenter wrote. Another one said, "He Polishs up real nice!" A fan added, "There’s only one Travis Kelce." "Looking good as usual Travis! Let's go Chiefs! Let's get those Broncos," a supporter remarked. A fifth follower shared, "He always keeps it tidy." Kelce's popularity remains sky-high. That being said, it shouldn't be a surprise that anything he does is talked about.
Mets, Brandon Nimmo Trade Development Emerges on Tuesday
The New York Mets are entering the offseason looking to retool the roster with hopes of returning to the MLB playoffs in 2026. The Mets collapsed during the second half of the year, finishing with an 83–79 record. Despite the disappointing end to the year, outfielder Brandon Nimmo remained a bright spot in the lineup. The 32-year-old veteran posted a .262 batting average, .324 on-base percentage, .760 OPS, 25 home runs and 92 RBIs across 155 games. Nimmo has continued to be a reliable player for New York and just finished playing in his tenth season for the organization. The Mets are the only franchise Nimmo has ever known in his professional career since they selected him in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. However, that could change following a report on Tuesday from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. “The Mets are blowing up plenty. It's not just Luisangel Acuña or Mark Vientos or Brett Baty — center fielder Brandon Nimmo (who has full no-trade protection) and utilityman Jeff McNeil can also be had,” Passan wrote. Nimmo’s name surfacing as a trade possibility is a genuine surprise given everything he has meant to the organization. At the very least, the Mets are now faced with a decision on whether to explore moving him. As noted, Nimmo has a full no-trade clause, which gives him the final say on any potential deal. He still has five years remaining on the eight-year, $162 million contract he signed with New York in 2023. While the Mets would likely prefer to keep Nimmo’s bat and leadership in the lineup, trading him could help replenish the farm system or address other areas of need, particularly pitching, which was a major weakness in 2025. A deal would also free up significant payroll space, potentially allowing the team to pursue other upgrades, including a possible reunion with first baseman Pete Alonso. The decision to trade Nimmo is not an easy one, but it is certainly intriguing. He will be entering his age-33 season, and offensive players often begin to decline around that point. Whatever the Mets decide, this offseason is shaping up to be a pivotal one for the future of the franchise.
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