Daily Bean: NHL Expansion Talk; Red Wings GM Options; Zdeno Chara

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Daily Bean: NHL Expansion Talk; Red Wings GM Options; Zdeno Chara

Daily Bean: NHL Expansion Talk; Red Wings GM Options; Zdeno Chara — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jack Studley · Boston Hockey Now

Sun, Aug 23, 2026 ·

4 min read

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There are 37 days until the Boston Bruins open the regular season.

After a quick surge, Bruins news has quieted down. Zee's Final Shift was on Friday, and Zdeno Chara reflected on his brotherhood with the 2011 team. David Pastrnak also, unsuccessfully, pitched Patrice Bergeron on another year… which may help with the Bruins' problems down the middle.

On that topic, the NHL releases its top 20 center ranking today.

Elsewhere around the league, the NHL may be expanding to 34 teams sooner rather than later. The Red Wings have some GM candidates, as well as a defenseman who was blindsided by Dylan Larkin 's trade request.

There's also Senators talk, Martin Necas , EA ratings, and the missing PWHL trophy in today's Daily.

Happy Sunday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today's Daily Bean :

Boston Bruins

ZEE'S FINAL SHIFT : Hockey (and a soccer) legends gathered in Trenčín, Slovakia, to bid farewell to Zdeno Chara . After the game, Chara tied his 108.8 mph hardest shot record, left his skates at center ice, and talked about the brotherhood of the 2011 Stanley Cup team.

Hannah (video via 𝕏) : David Pastrnak pitched Patrice Bergeron on one more year after Zee's Final Shift.

Dom.Hockey The Podcast (video via YouTube) : Chris Nosek and Dom Tiano had the chance to speak to Bruins prospect Vashek Blanar earlier this week.

NHL.com : The top 20 list of centers comes out today. There were no Bruins on it last year, and it is unlikely that any make it going into the fall. Ahead of the rankings this year, the NHL looks at which centers made the list last season and some questions surrounding them this year.

Catch the top 20 during the 7:00 PM ET showing on the NHL Network.

NHL News & National Hockey Now

The Athletic : Expansion. We've talked about it before , but Bill Daly said the NHL is "moving forward in Texas" during the NHL's European Media Tour. If the board of governors approves it, it looks like there may be an announcement on Houston or Austin at the end of the calendar year, with the team starting play by the 2029-30 season.

Talks are not as far along, but the NHL is looking to make it 34. Daly said the league has "ongoing discussions both with people in the Phoenix marketplace, but also Atlanta."

NHLTradeRumors.me : Finally, some names for the Red Wings' GM search. Interviews have taken place, and Max Bultman from The Athletic threw out some names of executives under consideration for the job. The current Detroit Tigers GM, Jeff Greenberg, is a person of interest to the Red Wings , but there are a few AGMs working in the NHL that are also candidates.

Detroit Hockey Now : Moritz Seider admitted to being caught completely off guard by Dylan Larkin 's trade request. There is nothing he can do about it, but he's more focused on the season ahead. Seider spoke to a German outlet and touched on the Larkin rumors, as well as the Red Wings falling asleep at the end of the season.

Ottawa Sun : Brady Tkachuk is gone. Tim Stutzle knows it was Tkachuk's decision, but he's still confident that the Senators can thrive. During the European Media Tour, Stutzle said the Sens will be competing for a spot in the postseason. He also did not know that Tkachuk requested a trade, but said that "you don't really talk to your teammates about that."

Colorado Hockey Now : Martin Necas was interviewed back in his home country. The Czech native talked about his time with the Avalanche and playing with Nathan MacKinnon . Avs head coach Jared Bednar usually kept them together, but Necas talked about separating them, which would be an interesting option for Bednar to explore.

Philly Hockey Now : Did EA get it right? Will James looks at the NHL 27 ratings for the Philadelphia Flyers . The Flyers did not have a 90 overall player, but still had 10 players land within the top 300.

ESPN : Oh no. The Montreal Victoire's team-replica of the Walter Cup is missing. The trophy was lost in transit on its way to Lethbridge, Alberta, with the PWHL issuing a statement saying the trophy "did not arrive as expected at its latest stop."

Bruins Offseason Schedule

Friday, September 11: Rookie Camp opens – Warrior Ice Arena, Brighton, MA

Sun, Sept 13-Mon, Sept 14: Prospects Showcase – LECOM Harborcenter, Buffalo, NY

Wednesday, September 16: Training Camp opens – Warrior Ice Arena, Brighton, MA

Sunday, September 20: First preseason game – TD Garden, Boston , MA

Tuesday, September 29: Home opener – TD Garden, Boston, MA

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The post Daily Bean: NHL Expansion Talk; Red Wings GM Options; Zdeno Chara appeared first on Boston Hockey Now .

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