As the NHL preseason barrels toward its conclusion, hockey fans across North America are treated to a flurry of exhibition action, roster battles, and a few traditions that might soon be lost to league reforms. Tuesday, September 30, 2025, saw several teams take the ice in pivotal preseason matchups, with the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the Detroit Red Wings, the Colorado Avalanche wrapping up their home exhibition slate against the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning reigniting their cross-state rivalry in Orlando.
Let’s start in Chicago, where anticipation was sky-high for the Blackhawks’ return to the United Center. After three consecutive road games to start the preseason, the Hawks finally skated in front of their home fans, facing off against the Red Wings in what’s become a spirited exhibition rivalry. The Red Wings had edged the Blackhawks 3-2 in Detroit just a week prior, and with both teams’ rosters narrowing down, Tuesday’s contest offered a preview of opening night lineups.
The Blackhawks’ training camp roster had been trimmed to 30 by game time, and the top-six forwards—Connor Bedard, Ryan Donato, Frank Nazar, and Tyler Bertuzzi—were back together after strong performances in Minnesota. Nazar, in particular, is turning heads in his first full NHL campaign, fresh off a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over the Wild. “Big things are in store for Nazar,” noted Chicago Hockey Now, and his continued emergence could be a game-changer for the Hawks’ offense.
On the blue line, young defensemen Sam Rinzel, Ethan Del Mastro, Wyatt Kaiser, and Artyom Levshunov each made their third preseason appearance. Levshunov, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, rebounded from a rocky start against Detroit to help anchor the defense in Minnesota. His performance against the Red Wings would be closely watched, with a roster spot seemingly within reach.
Between the pipes, Spencer Knight earned his second preseason start. Knight was sharp in his debut, stopping 31 of 33 shots to secure a win in St. Louis. With the regular season opener against the Florida Panthers just a week away, Knight’s consistency could be crucial for a Blackhawks squad looking to rebound from last year’s struggles.
Chicago head coach Jeff Blashill, in his first home game behind the Hawks’ bench, had extra motivation—he spent seven years coaching the Red Wings. With two preseason wins over Central Division foes already in the books, a victory over his former team would be especially sweet. “Blashill also would surely love to get a win against the team he formerly coached for seven years, especially in his first game behind the Blackhawks’ bench on home ice,” observed Chicago Hockey Now.
The projected Blackhawks lineup featured familiar faces and a few hungry prospects. Ryan Donato centered the top line with Bedard and Andre Burakovsky, while Tyler Bertuzzi, Frank Nazar, and Teuvo Teravainen formed a dynamic second trio. The bottom six remained a battleground, with Colton Dach, Ryan Greene, and Oliver Moore all vying for roster spots. On defense, Matt Grzelcyk, currently on a PTO, was given another look as the coaching staff weighs its options.
For Detroit, the game capped a back-to-back stretch and served as their preseason finale. The Red Wings’ lineup was missing several familiar names—Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Erik Gustafsson, and Ian Mitchell had played the night before against Pittsburgh and were scratched in Chicago. However, stalwarts Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond suited up, giving the Red Wings a boost of firepower. The team’s recent draft success, with first-rounders like Moritz Seider, Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, and Marco Kasper already making an NHL impact, is a testament to Detroit’s renewed focus on youth.
Not all was rosy for the Red Wings, though. One of their impressive first-round picks suffered an injury in the last preseason contest, a setback as the team looks to integrate its young talent. Head coach Todd McLellan didn’t mince words about his expectations: “Detroit needs the kids to continue to take steps. They also need John Gibson to hold the fort down in goal.” McLellan added that he hadn’t been entirely impressed with the team’s play, signaling that the final roster spots were still very much up for grabs.
Elsewhere, the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena in their final home preseason game. With a 6 p.m. MT puck drop, the Avalanche were nearly set, having made the bulk of their roster cuts on Monday. The team would soon hit the road for Dallas and Vegas before opening their regular season in Los Angeles. The Avalanche’s preseason tune-up was more than just a test of line combinations; it was a final audition for several young players desperate to make the cut.
Meanwhile, in the Sunshine State, the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning brought their preseason rivalry to Orlando. The neutral-site matchup, played at the home of the NBA’s Magic and ECHL’s Solar Bears, has become a fan favorite in recent years. But with the NHL set to trim the preseason to a maximum of four exhibition games starting next September, these Orlando clashes may soon be a thing of the past.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice embraced the occasion, hoping to see more Florida fans in the stands. “We’re hoping there’s a few more Panther fans,” Maurice said. “It was a little skewed to Tampa Bay when we first got there. Maybe we get a few more red sweaters in the stands. That would be good.” Maurice also noted that the game would feature plenty of young Panthers, using the trip as a team bonding opportunity ahead of the regular season. The Panthers, 2024 Stanley Cup champions, entered the game with a 1-2 preseason record and a busy week ahead, including more tilts against the Lightning and a highly anticipated opening night against the Blackhawks on October 7.
With the preseason winding down, the stakes are high for players on the bubble. In Chicago, young defensemen like Ethan Del Mastro and Artyom Levshunov are fighting for roster spots, while veterans like Matt Grzelcyk look to prove they still have something left in the tank. In Detroit, the pressure is on the next wave of prospects to step up and fill key roles, especially with injuries testing the team’s depth. Colorado and Florida, meanwhile, are fine-tuning their lineups and building chemistry, eager to hit the ground running when the games start to count.
As teams make their final cuts and fans soak in the last few exhibition games, there’s a sense that the NHL’s preseason is changing. Neutral-site games like those in Orlando might soon disappear, and the window for prospects to impress is getting shorter. But for now, the action remains intense, the competition fierce, and the anticipation for opening night palpable across the league.
With just days left before the regular season, every shift, save, and goal carries extra weight. The preseason may be coming to a close, but the storylines—and the dreams of players and fans alike—are only just beginning to unfold.
