NHL superstar poll: Rule changes, Texas expansion, fan culture

HENDERSON, Nev. -- With training camps opening up this week, I caught up with over two dozen NHL superstars to get their takes on vital and trivial issues.

Some of hockey's biggest names discuss NHL rule changes they'd like to see; how an 84-game regular season will impact them; how they feel about the current state of fan culture; as well as their offseason life highlights and what they'd name a new expansion team in Houston or Austin, Texas.

Interviews were conducted at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour last week in Las Vegas. Enjoy!

How to watch the 2026-27 NHL season on ESPN networks, including 100 exclusive games and the out-of-market package (over 1,050 games).

What was your favorite experience of the summer?

"My dad finding out he got into the Hall of Fame. He honestly played it off so cool. But that first moment of him telling us, you could see the smile on his face. That was pretty special." -- Brady Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

"Lots of concerts. I went to Luke Combs, which was actually an awesome concert. Got to meet him afterward, and he was just an amazing guy. I mean, he's a Hurricanes fan, so I wasn't happy about that, but he was an amazing guy." -- Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders

"We did a family trip to Cabo. It's nice to get away from real life for a minute and just shut everything down and just be present with your family. My wife and three kids, and then my parents and my aunt and uncle. The more, the merrier." -- Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres

"Going to the World Cup final. Got to go with a bunch of buddies, so it made it fun." -- Trevor Zegras, Philadelphia Flyers

"I just went to Spain with my family. Mallorca. Just chilled there and didn't do much." -- Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks

"Our family did a little get-together in Michigan, just on the lake, on the water. We all took five days off and just spent time together, fished, hung out, played games. Caught a couple bass, pike. It was really good fishing waters. I had my girlfriend out, and she was out-fishing me, catching these huge bass. It was pretty sad." -- Frank Nazar, Chicago Blackhawks

"My favorite experience was flying back home to Stockholm for a week and bringing my two older kids. They're now 6 and 5 years old and they really hadn't experienced Sweden because they were 1 and 2 last time they went. It was just so awesome getting to see my hometown through their eyes for the first time. Showing them where I grew up and seeing all of our Swedish friends and family. So it was really great. That was my absolute favorite week of the summer." -- Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

"I got married in Vancouver just with our families, and then we had a big celebration in Minnesota. I actually was a little nervous. I didn't think I was going to get nervous, but yeah, I was a little nervous for the whole wedding part." -- Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks

"My day with the Cup. It was a good day with friends, family, and then got to eat some really good food out of it. Some barbecue and a Slavin Sundae: ice cream, brownies, Heath bits, chocolate fudge, red sprinkles." -- Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

"I went to Scotland on a golf trip. That was probably my favorite. A couple good rounds, actually. Overall, it was just cool to experience those courses." -- Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings

"I was able to buy a cottage up in Muskoka [Ontario], so just being able to share that with my family. I had some friends up there. It was pretty cool." -- Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings

"My newborn. That's the best experience I could have asked for." -- Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

"I had a kid. It's been awesome." -- Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

The NHL is adding another team in Texas, in either Houston or Austin. What would you like for them to be called?

"The Houston Humidity." -- Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars

"I guess it depends what city. But maybe the Rattlers or something?" -- Thompson

"It's got to be something bull-riding related maybe. Rodeo-related. Bull Riders. There you go." -- Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

"The Houston Hammers." -- Jamie Drysdale, Flyers

"The Austin Cattle." -- Eichel

"The Ranchers." -- Boeser

"The Mustangs." -- Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

"The Houston Aeros. Run it back." -- Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens

"The Butt-Kickers. Because of the boots." -- Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

"I was going to say Cowboys. I think it's baller. Would make a sick logo, too." -- Logan Cooley, Utah Mammoth

"Maybe the Houston Sparks? Spurs, Sparks? I don't know." -- Slavin

"The Wranglers. Oh no, that's Calgary. Eh, we can do the same name for Texas." -- Tkachuk

"Every time I think of Texas, I just keep thinking of other teams' names. I mean, I like the Longhorns." -- Byfield

"Texas Hockey Club." -- Zegras

"Not for me to decide." -- Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals

How will your life be impacted by an 84-game season?

"My life will not be impacted by it." -- Matt Coronato, Calgary Flames

"I don't think it will be. Now, we play four preseason games, and I can only play two. And previously we had seven, so at the end of the day, I think you're still really playing the same amount of games." -- Thompson

"Impacted for the better. Shorter training camp, less preseason games. I feel like it just kind of becomes a drag a little bit when you're playing four preseason games." -- Werenski

"Just more time on the ice. Nothing better than that." -- Tkachuk

"I feel like the beginning of the season is going to be a little more offensively open. Obviously, having a bunch of preseason games and longer training camp gets you into your structure a little bit more and a little more comfortable. So, I feel like the start might be a little more chaotic, but it's just two more games, and I'm excited to play more hockey." -- Byfield

"I think the fact that they started the season early to spread out the games, I think we won't notice it as much." -- Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning

"I think once you get past the 50-game mark, it kind of blends, to be honest with you. So, I think the extra two and probably the two preseason games that you miss out on will kind of even out." -- Drysdale

"Shorter preseason is going to be huge. But more back-to-back [games], which is going to be a shame." -- Zegras

"I don't think it really changes much. I think once you're in the grind and you just keep focused on that and a couple extra games won't be a big deal." -- Wilson

"I don't think it'll be too bad. Two extra games. Eighty-two is a lot of games; 84, you're not feeling any necessarily different, I think. I think we'll all be alright." -- Matty Beniers, Seattle Kraken

"I think your total workload for the year with the shortened preseason is pretty similar. Maybe you get a chance to get a couple more points." -- Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues

"I'm excited. Two more games is always fun when you can play more hockey." -- Schaefer

"More chances to shoot the puck." -- Caufield

If you could change or drop one rule in the NHL, what would it be?

"Not so much of a rule as it's a judgment call, but it's when you call a tripping and an embellishment at the same time. Oh my God, it drives me nuts. And I'm always talking to the refs about it, and they're like, 'Well, I don't know.' It's really like it just has to be one or the other. I think that's common sense. I understand there can be a little bit of both, but if you're giving out a penalty, just pick one. Which one was worse? Was the dive worse or was the tripping worse?" -- Landeskog

"If you score on a power play, they don't come out of the box. You just keep your power play. Full two minutes, no matter what." -- Coronato

"Icing the puck on the penalty kill. Hate it." -- Zegras

"I just think if you score a short-hand goal, the guy's penalty should be done." -- Guentzel

"Delay of game. Puck over the glass. I don't think there's a person in the history of the game who purposefully puts the puck over the glass." -- Drysdale

"The puck-over-the-glass penalty. I've had too many of those. I won the Lady Byng [in 2020-21], and my one penalty was puck over the glass. That's not why I'm against it, but that's just a good example of it being a silly penalty." -- Slavin

"The league's always looking for more goals. Fans want more goals. If you took away goals being taken down because of a kicking motion, I think that's something that would instantly change it. You'd have a lot more goals. I think, also, if you're skilled enough to be able to use your feet to redirect the puck or kick it when you're tied up in front of the net, I think that should be a goal. I mean, obviously, you don't want guys just kicking at it all the time. I get the injury-prevention stuff there. But, at the same time, it's not as much of a true kicking where your blade's coming up. If you've worked hard enough and you put the puck in the net, it should be a goal." -- Thompson

"Getting kicked out of the faceoff. I might be be the guy who got kicked out the most." -- Byfield

"How the rookies have to wear helmets during warmups. I'd love to take a bucket off. I think that'd be nice." -- Schaefer

"No offsides. Get a few more breakaways." -- Cooley

"Just take off offsides completely. Play it like it's roller hockey where you could just be anywhere on the ice. The whole game would change. Like, do you take the power play and let the guy just cherry pick all the way down? But then he might have a breakaway. And I think the whole game would be different." -- Nazar

"The rule where when we dump it in on the goalie, sometimes we're not allowed to change. I don't know what the point of that rule." -- Boeser

"I honestly would let people travel day of games if they want to. Sometimes, we do it for Christmas games, usually where we go to St. Louis. But instead of flying the day before, for us, to Carolina or Detroit, some of those cities where you can just morning skate at home and go right to the game type of thing." -- Forsberg

"I like goalies playing the puck, so I would take out the dead space in the corners. The trapezoid. Especially with our goalies." -- Thomas

"Goals on high sticks, like tip-ins. I say if it looks like a skill, I think it should be counted." -- Caufield

"Add more time to 3-on-3 overtime. I don't love the shootout. I would rather someone wins in overtime. So, instead of five [minutes], maybe 15 or 10 or even 20. I don't know." -- Beniers

"I think the league's really good now. Anything that continues to keep guys healthy and safe and limit big injuries, I'm a proponent of, but I think the league's in a good spot." -- Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild

"The one thing is the offsides [review]. It's so hard, but at some point, it's like if you're a centimeter off 30 seconds before the goal, I think just leave it as a good goal. I think it's better for the game. I think that's where it gets hard though, because it's like in a playoff game you might be upset that it was offside, but I don't know what the right way to do it is. You think with AI now, you could almost just have it automatic, like they have in soccer for the offside." -- Johnston

"The offside review, when it's long after the play. If it's offside and they score right away, it should be offside. But if it's 30 seconds after and then the team scores, it's like, 'Oh, come on.' It doesn't affect the play. But I do love it when the other team scores, and then it's offside." -- Carlsson

"I think we're getting pretty nitpicky on all these different rules, like leg up over the blue line, all the cameras. Too much gets screwed up. As we get crazier and crazier, it's just counterproductive. I just want to go back and play it like it was in the 1800s or whenever the game was invented." -- Wilson

How do you feel about hockey fan culture in 2026, like how they engage with you in person and on social media?

"They're passionate, that's for sure. So, you've got to love the passion." -- Tkachuk

"I think it's great, with the way the game's trending and the amount of attention it's getting. Social media obviously has kind of been pushing that. Fans being able to interact with players a little bit more than they've been used to is something that they like. I know from a few of my buddies, they love following along with a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff and things that fans usually don't get to see -- the curtain being pulled back for some of these fans that have been watching hockey for a long time." -- Thompson

"I love our fans in the league. They make it special. The playoffs in Minnesota are amazing. Dallas was great. Colorado was great. I try not to focus too much on engagement and social media and whatnot, just because there's a lot of negativity out there. But when you run into a fan in person and they're just a true fan of the game; that's always nice to see." -- Quinn Hughes

"I think obviously everything online is crazy, but I think 2026 was a great year for hockey and its fans, just with Olympics and the brand and the young talent coming up. I think there's a lot of players that people can root for." -- Jack Hughes

"I love it. There are definitely a lot more rivalries online. You can feel it in arenas and it's fun. I think we're starting to get more and more European soccer atmospheres at games, and it's starting to grow in that area. I think the more involved fans are in the game, the more you feel them on the ice; it's just awesome." -- Thomas

"I love it. When I'm in Chicago, I get a lot of great, positive things. I'm walking down the street, someone will be like, 'Hey man, let's go this year. Good luck.' I love that stuff. I think it's great. The fans are what make the sport, right? Yeah. I mean, we're here to play hockey and entertain, but they're what keeps the stadium full and what keeps us wanting to go back at it day in, day out." -- Nazar

"I think there's a great momentum behind the game right now. Obviously, everybody has an avenue to say whatever they want at any time, so that's always interesting. But it's part of the gig." -- Wilson

"I think it's cool to interact with fans. You always want to give a great impression. Ever since we moved [to Utah], they've been super supportive of us and have given us everything. They've been unbelievable people. So, I think anytime you could be nice to people and make someone's day, it means a lot to them." -- Cooley

"I'd say they're a bit ruthless at times. But for the most part, they're great people. There's just a lot of negativity and that stuff always sticks a little bit more, which is unfortunate. But not all people are like that. We've got great fans in Philadelphia, very supportive, so they're great." -- Zegras

"I think with the betting now in sports, they're a little more intense online. But we're lucky in Tampa. They're a great fan base. They support us well, and we're obviously lucky to have them." -- Guentzel

"I think the more access that you have, I think it brings people more into the sport. I think the more you meet the people behind the players, the more obviously you'll enjoy the game personally. There's a lot of good guys. The more you can personalize people, the better it'll be." -- Drysdale

"I'd say I have mixed feelings about it. I think there's parts of it that are great, but then there are parts of it are not great." -- Slavin

"I mean obviously, a lot of fans are great. Most of the fans are really great. They're great in public, too, when I see them. It's always going to be some guys on the Internet who are going to talk s---, of course. [With the offer sheet], obviously some guys could tell you to do whatever and some guys said, 'I'm so happy for you,' and all that stuff. So it's something that I'm used to, too. I'm not really getting offended by that." -- Carlsson

"I think everyone has an opinion. I think in person, players are more accessible now than ever. Not a bad thing. Fans are what make the sport good and grow the game. So obviously, you want as many fans to be having great experiences as you can. In saying that, sometimes it could be a little much, I guess, especially with what I went through [this offseason]. But it's all a part of it." -- Werenski

"I feel like hockey fans are the best fans. They're so passionate. You're getting booed, you're getting chirped. I love how everybody has their opinions. And the thing is, I don't care what their opinions are, to be honest. I just want to worry about myself and the Islanders' fans because they're the best fans in the league, and they're the ones I'm worried about." -- Schaefer

"My favorite, especially in Denver and Colorado, is meeting people out. Our fans are so great. They never want to bother you. They never want to hassle you. All they want to do is say 'hi,' shake your hand, maybe take a picture and that's it. It's not, 'Why did you do this? Why'd you do that? Why did you guys lose that?' It's just like, 'Hey man, go get them. Good luck. Best of luck.' They're so gracious that way. They care, they're supportive, but also they understand that we're humans. They see us out and about quite a bit. Families eating dinner, doing whatever we're doing, and they see that there's a human element to what we do." -- Landeskog