Off The Crossbar

As the sun sets on another offseason and a new campaign approaches, Opening Week is one of the best times to be a hockey fan; every team is afforded the same opportunities and players are ready to take the ice in hopes of achieving their childhood dreams. For a few of them, individual and team milestones start to take shape during the very first game of the season, and if those expectations are met, fans, and players alike could be in for quite an intriguing first few weeks of the 2025-26 NHL campaign. 

Panthers Commence Three-Peat Quest on Opening Night 

The defending two-time champions enter the 2025-26 campaign as the team to beat, especially now that they’re aiming for North American sports history; the last team to three-peat across major professional sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) was the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-02, which could make the Panthers the first team to accomplish the feat in over two decades. But that’s not all, as they could become the first team to raise three consecutive Stanley Cup Champions banners since the New York Islanders did so in 1980-83 and join elite company across the sport’s history. It might be an uphill battle for the already injury-riddled South Florida team, but who knows what will happen when the puck drops on their season during ESPN’s Opening Night coverage. 

Alex Ovechkin Could Reach 900 NHL Goals 

While The Gr8 Chase might have ended during the 2024-25 season when Ovechkin passed all-time great Wayne Gretzky last season with his 895th tally, the Washington Capitals captain still has history to make by becoming the first NHL player to ever score 900 goals in a career. He ended last campaign with 897, leaving him just three short of the milestone, and given the early schedule of the Capitals (they face the Bruins, Islanders, and Rangers to open the season) fans might just see the all-time leading goal scorer tally no. 900 on the road at Madison Square Garden. Talk about cinematic, am I right? 

Anze Kopitar to Skate in Final First Game 

Anze Kopitar, who is nothing short of a Los Angeles legend, announced that the 2025-26 campaign would be his last during preseason, making the Kings’ opening game against the Avalanche one to watch. The two-time Stanley Cup Champion is sure to get his flowers throughout the season as he makes the rounds for a final time, but there’s nothing like opening up a new season at home. Kopitar, who sits in the top five for all major categories (points, goals, assists) in franchise history is sure to receive a warm welcome from the Kings’ faithful as the sun rises on his 20th season skating for Los Angeles. 

As One Era Ends, A New One Begins 

With one team starting to bid farewell to the cornerstone of their franchise, another is getting ready to welcome what they hope will be a stepping stone towards the heights of the hockey world. The New York Islanders announced on X that their 2025 no. 1 overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, will make his NHL debut for the team when they open the season on Thursday against the Penguins. Schaefer has a lot to offer the team and their fan base, who fully believe he might just be what they need to get back to the postseason and beyond. 

Whether your team is rebuilding, trying to get back to the playoffs, or even doing their best to win a championship, a new season holds the same thing for everyone: endless possibilities. With that comes expectations, but with how excited teams and players seem to get the ball rolling the 2025-26 campaign, I have nothing but high hopes for the way the season shakes out, starting with Opening Week on Tuesday.