Let’s be clear – the Buffalo Sabres’ signing of young winger Josh Doan is very much a gamble.
Indeed, when you commit a seven-year, $$48.65-million contract to a 23-year-old who came into the current season with exactly 62 games of NHL experience, you’re gambling. But as we’ll explain below, the Sabres can afford to take this type of gamble.
With Doan’s contract done, there will be nobody wondering whether Doan could follow the guy he was traded for – sniper J.J. Peterka – and orchestrate an exit out of town a few years from now. Now, you have him for a full seven years, and he’s a cost-certain asset. But there’s no question Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen has gambled on Doan.
The reality, though, is that these are the type of deals teams make all the time. They project on players, and sometimes, they project wrongly. But the bottom line is this – Buffalo has to make these projections if they want to keep players on the rise in town.
Now, the Sabres know they’ve got Doan to stay in the top-six of the team. Now, they can now worry about players pushing their way out of town the way Peterka did. It’s about committing more now for the Sabres in hope of the contract looking like it was worthwhile.
Doan could be a terrific winger for a long time in this league. And the Sabres believe he’s worth the investment. Time will tell whether they were right to do so.
I think it's safe to say that the NHL is going to learn very quickly you shouldn't 'F' with Alexander Nikishin.
The Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman has been known for a while now for his booming slapshot and big hits, but he also demonstrated just how powerful his fists are too.
The 24-year-old Russian had his first career NHL fight on Thursday against Chicago Blackhawks forward Oliver Moore and man was it one-sided.
If that looks like the mismatch of the century on paper — Nikishin (6-foot-3, 218lbs); Moore (5-foot-11, 188lbs) — you'd be right.
And Nikishin wasn't even the one to instigate the fight either is what makes it even crazier.
The Canes defenseman had laid a big hit on Chicago's Nick Lardis along the boards and Moore immediately went after Nikishin and clearly challenged him.
Nikishin seemed unwilling at first, but eventually obliged and within seconds, the fight was over as the Hurricanes defenseman fed Moore three quick right hands to drop him, before delivering an emphatic fourth as the Blackhawks was falling to the ice.
Alexander Nikishin with a HEAVY hit on Nick Lardis, then drops the gloves with Oliver Moore 😳 pic.twitter.com/YiPFlvD7I4
Moore had an open cut on his face as he skated off the ice and you could tell from his wide-eyed expression that he knew he made quite the miscalculation.
Also probably not the best 21st birthday present that the American centerman will receive this year, but hey, you know what they say...
Mess around and find out.
In the end though, Moore got the last laugh, scoring the shootout winning goal for the Blackhawks and he was a good sport about the fight postgame.
"It was a good way to ring it in," Moore said. "Got beat up, won a hockey game. ... He's a big boy and Russian. I talked to him a little bit and he said it was his first fight too — can't buy that — but it was all good."
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What a season it's been for Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman Joel Nystrom.
The 23-year-old blueliner made his NHL debut on Oct. 23, registered his first NHL point on Nov. 8, signed a four-year contract on Dec. 12 and now, 36 games into his career, he has his first NHL goal as well.
Joel Nystrom talks about scoring first career NHL goal
In the first period of the Canes' Thursday night game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Nystrom wristed one from the left circle that found its way past Hawks netminder Spencer Knight to tie the game up for his team.
It was a little bit of a full-circle moment for Nystrom too as he picked up as Jesperi Kotkaniemi was the one who teed him up for his first goal, and Nystrom's first career point came by setting up a Kotkaniemi goal.
"I'm happy to get my first goal," Nystrom said after the game. "I've been waiting for it. It was a great pass by KK and I had a lot of space there, so I tried to shoot it. Happy to see it went in."
The Swede has really made his way into the league in a big way, after injuries opened the door for him.
He's been a reliable presence on the blueline and he hasn't been afraid to shoot the puck, with 115 shot attempts and 40 shots on goal already under his belt, so it's good to see him finally get one.
"Nys' been great all season long," said captain Jordan Staal. "He's stepped up and played a lot of minutes, especially early there and has played really well. He's fit in nicely with the group and he's gotten a ton of chances and a ton of shots on net. Kept telling him it was math and one was bound to go in for him if he kept shooting the puck, so it nice to see him get one. He acted like he's done it before and I'm sure he will again."
The 2021 seventh-round pick has become a key contributor to the Hurricanes and it's safe to say we'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
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The Buffalo Sabres signing of winger Josh Doan is the first major move made by Jarmo Kekalainen, but could be an indicator of what the newly-hired Sabres GM will do before the NHL Trade Deadline in early March. Doan has 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games in his first season with the Sabres, and agreed to a seven-year, $48.65 million contract ($6.95 million AAV).
The 23-year-old winger was in the final year of his entry-level contract. The new deal represents a departure from all of the long-term extensions under former GM Kevyn Adams. Deals for Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, Tage Thompson, Ryan McLeod, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen all had signing bonuses only in the first year, while Doan’s extension includes a $3.5 million signing bonus in both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Discussing the Josh Doan contract extension with the Sabres.
Doan, along with forward Zach Benson and defenseman Michael Kesselring, were to be restricted free agents at the end of this season, a complicating factor to the Sabres salary structure with the potential signing of Alex Tuch before the winger becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. With the dead money on Jeff Skinner’s buyout increasing to $6.44 million next season, the Sabres (according to Puckpedia) have $90.783 million allocated for 2026-27.
Tuch is reportedly asking for in excess of $10 million on an eight-year deal, similar to the contract signed by LA forward Adrian Kempe earlier this season. If Kekalainen is not able to get Tuch at a lower number, it increases the possibility of the 29-year-old winger being dealt before the March 6th trade deadline. The Sabres can ill afford to keep a player who will likely leave this summer and get nothing in return, but trading Tuch could hamper their chances at ending their 14-year playoff drought.
The Buffalo Sabres are currently fourth in the Atlantic Division standings with a 27-17-5 record. With this, the Sabres have a real shot of finally breaking their 14-year playoff drought.
However, with the Eastern Conference playoff race being so tight, it would be wise for the Sabres to add to their roster to help their odds of making the post-season. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL who could be good fits, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner stands out in a big way.
Jenner has been creating chatter in the rumor mill as a trade candidate, as he is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blue Jackets currently do not hold a playoff spot. If he is officially made available ahead of the deadline, the Sabres would be wise to make a big push for him.
If the Sabres brought in Jenner, they would be adding an impactful forward who plays both down the middle and on the wing. Furthermore, he would give the Sabres another good leader in their room, which could be excellent for a Buffalo club that is looking to take the next step.
Jenner is also in the middle of a strong season with the Blue Jackets. In 35 games on the year, the 2011 first-round pick has recorded eight goals, 17 assists, 25 points, and 79 hits. With numbers like these, he would be a solid addition to the Sabres' top nine if acquired.
Jenner would also give the Sabres another player who works on both the power play and penalty kill, as he plays a solid two-way game.
The 2021 NHL Draft is beginning to look like one of the stronger classes in recent memory, producing several impact players across the league. For the Detroit Red Wings, that success now includes towering defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a six-foot-six Swedish blueliner who has quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing young defensemen in the sport. His emergence raises a natural question in if the draft were held again today, would Edvinsson go higher, lower, or remain at sixth overall?
At the very top of a redraft, there appears to be little debate. Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston has developed into a legitimate top-six NHL scorer and is on pace to finish just shy of 90 points this season.
Johnston leads all players from the 2021 class in total points and holds a 53-point advantage over the next closest skater, Seattle’s Matty Beniers. Based on current production and trajectory, Johnston would almost certainly be the first overall pick in a redraft.
From there, the picture becomes more complicated as Beniers remains a cornerstone player in Seattle, while Utah’s Dylan Guenther, Toronto’s Matthew Knies, and Anaheim’s Mason McTavish have all emerged as impactful forwards.
Each brings a combination of scoring, physicality, and top-line upside that would likely push them ahead of Detroit’s original sixth selection. In a redraft scenario, it is reasonable to expect those five forwards to come off the board before the Red Wings are on the clock.
That is where Edvinsson re-enters the conversation. While teams generally preach drafting best player available over positional need, a redraft inevitably accounts for organizational context and proven NHL performance. Detroit’s defensive depth is thinner than its forward group, and Edvinsson’s skill set would fill a clear need. Among remaining options, he stands out as one of the best all-around talents available.
New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes presents the closest competition as the fellow 22-year-old is more offensively inclined and has already posted multiple 40-point NHL seasons, but recent injury concerns and defensive inconsistencies could give teams pause.
Edvinsson, by contrast, offers size, reach, and defensive reliability while still contributing offensively, finishing with only 13 fewer points than Hughes last season despite a different role. His physical presence and durability make him an attractive long-term option for a team seeking stability on the back end.
Other defensemen such as J.J. Moser have also carved out solid NHL careers, but Edvinsson’s five-inch height advantage and two-way impact give him the edge. There are also several forwards including William Eklund, Kent Johnson, Owen Power, Matt Coronato, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake who could reasonably climb in a redraft. Even so, most projections would place Edvinsson firmly in the same range, either remaining with Detroit at sixth overall or sliding only slightly later.
For Red Wings fans, the takeaway is reassuring. Detroit’s scouting staff identified a legitimate top talent, and Edvinsson’s continued development suggests the organization made the right call. In a draft that continues to age well, Detroit’s sixth overall pick looks every bit the part of a franchise cornerstone.
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It has been 5,171 days since a 21-year-old Roman Josi was called up from the Milwaukee Admirals to join the Nashville Predators.
He remembers it vividly. On Nov. 26, 2011, Josi played his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings.
"I remember going out there for warmups and thinking that it was the coolest thing," Josi said. "It was at Joe Louis Arena, which was historic and across from me, you had guys like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, which was pretty surreal. You never forget your first one."
Thursday, in the Predators' home matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Josi will play his 1,000th career game and become the first player in franchise history to play all 1,000 games with the Predators.
"It's a crazy number and a pretty special day," Josi said at Thursday morning's skate. "It's a good time to reflect a little bit and think about the time you've been here. It's pretty special to do it with this organization and the only team I've played for."
Josi's list of accolades, not just in the Predators organization, but in the NHL and internationally, is a long one.
He's established himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation, a four-time NHL All-Star, 2020 Norris Trophy Winner, and just the second defenseman ever to lead an NHL franchise in points, the other being Hall of Famer Ray Bourque (1,506 points) with the Boston Bruins.
Over 999 career games, Josi has tallied 198 goals and 554 assists for 752 points.
"To play 1,000 games in one uniform is really hard these days," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "With the CBA and free agency, it's a heck of an accomplishment."
Josi has been a pioneer in the growth of Switzerland's hockey presence, winning three silver medals at the IIHF World Championships, competing in the 2014 Olympics, and gearing up for another run at the 2026 games next month.
While he's originally from Switzerland, Nashville has become home to Josi. It's where he met his wife, Ellie Ottaway-Josi, and where his two kids were born and are being raised.
Josi's family will be attending the game on Thursday.
"My kids are at a good age now where they kind of understand what's happening a little bit," Josi said. "I met my wife here. My kids were born here. There are so many things that have happened in this town over the last 15 years.
"My family is here from back home (Switzerland). They've been here so many times and they love it."
Nov 26, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) takes the puck up ice against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at the Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
Reaching 1,000 games means even more, considering Josi's health and the possibility in the 2025 offseason that he may not reach the milestone.
After missing the final two months of the 2024-25 season, it was revealed that Josi had been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a circulatory disorder that causes a rapid heart rate increase.
With his status in flux throughout the summer, days before training camp, General Manager Barry Trotz announced that Josi would be ready, "100 percent healthy."
"We were all a little bit scared last year. I'm sure he was," Brunette said. "I think the clarification with what he was dealing with eased a lot of tension in all of us, especially him. To see him back, he's pointed at a really high level this year.
"We played better because Roman's healthy and in his groove, so I'm happy to see him. He's been scoring some goals lately. His game is at a really high level."
Josi said a lot has to go right health-wise in order to get to 1,000 games, but he credited the people around him in the Predators organization who got him there.
"There are a lot of people to be thankful for," Josi said. "Our staff does an amazing job to keep you healthy and a lot goes into it. I feel very lucky, health-wise, to make it to 1,000."
Feb 9, 2011; St. Paul, MN USA; Minnesota Wild forward Andrew Brunette (15) with his wife Laurie Brunette (second left) and father Dan Brunette (left) is presented with a silver hockey stick for his 1000th game played last week before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-Imagn Images
The moment allowed Brunette to reflect on his 1,000th career game, which he eclipsed in 2011, with the Minnesota Wild. He said the moment can be emotionally "tough."
"When you get to that game, sometimes it feels like an obituary at times," Brunette said. "You see everybody talk about it and you gotta kind of catch yourself that you're, you're not dead. The tributes and the things people say.
"As a hockey player, you're always moving forward. Next game, next shift, the next play. To take a second and reflect, for me, wasn't a great feeling."
The celebration has already begun ahead of the game, as Josi has received gifts from his teammates, including a limited-edition Norqain watch and VIP tickets to the US Open.
It'll be a special celebration Thursday night, but Josi is aware of the task at hand of beating the Senators and avoiding a third straight loss.
"You obviously want to enjoy the moment, but once the game starts, we're trying to win," Josi said. "It's a special game for me, but once the game starts, you focus on that."
The Winnipeg Jets host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a tape-measuring matchup at Canada Life Centre on Thursday, January 22.
Winnipeg needs to start stringing together wins to climb the standings, and my top NHL picks and Panthers vs. Jets predictions are calling for back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to play a leading role in picking up the victory tonight.
Panthers vs Jets prediction
Panthers vs Jets best bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves (-135)
Winnipeg Jets No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has hit the Over in this market in six of his past seven games, and he’s been particularly sharp across his past three starts with a .926 SV% and a 2.23 GAA.
This is also a plus-matchup, with the Florida Panthers ranking eighth in shots per game (29.1) and seventh in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5.
With Winnipeg allowing 28.0 shots per game and ranking 21st in CF% at 5-on-5, I’m anticipating Hellebuyck seeing more than enough rubber to clear this saves total tonight.
Panthers vs Jets same-game parlay
Winnipeg has won five of its past seven games while scoring 3.71 goals per and posting a plus-nine goal differential. On the opposite bench, Florida is hovering along a 4-5-1 stretch with 3.9 goals against per game and a minus-17 goal differential.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Jets winger Cole Perfetti has recorded two or more shots in nine of his past 14 games for 27 total on 58 attempts. Perfetti also sports a 52.5 CF% and 53.5% shot share at 5-on-5 during the stretch, and is cemented into a Top 6 role with secondary looks on the power play.
Panthers vs Jets SGP
Jets moneyline
Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves
Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal
Panthers vs Jets odds
Moneyline: Panthers -110 | Jets -110
Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 | Jets -1.5
Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Panthers vs Jets trend
The Winnipeg Jets have hit the Over in 14 of their last 20 games at home (+7.55 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Jets.
How to watch Panthers vs Jets
Location
Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
WHDT-TV, TSN3
Panthers vs Jets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Blues are struggling with injuries and are having trouble winning games. They sit 31st overall in the NHL and haven’t given any reason to believe they can magically turn things around with 32 games remaining in the season.
The Kraken, on the other hand are outperforming expectations. They currently sit two points out of third place in the Pacific Division and tied for the second wild card spot. While the Blues will be sellers, the Kraken believe they should be buyers, looking to upgrade their team.
A recent report shared by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggested that the Kraken could be “open to moving Shane Wright” in a package to acquire a top-six forward. The Kraken struggle score goals and create offense, ranking 25th in goals scored and 28th in shots on goal. Kyrou’s speed and offensive flair would be exactly what the Kraken are hoping to add to their top six.
Kyrou is in the midst of a down year with just nine goals and 21 points in 40 games, but a change of scenery should help him find his game again.
Wright could also be looking for a change of scenery. The 22-year-old was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft and hasn’t been given the opportunity to develop at the NHL level. In his rookie season, he averaged 14:04 of ice time, scoring an impressive 19 goals and 44 points. This season, he’s averaging 13:44 of ice time, notching seven goals and 17 points in 49 games.
Wright has been stuck as the third-line center with limited opportunities both at even strength and on the power play.
A move to St. Louis could change that. When healthy, the Blues’ centers are Robert Thomas, Pius Suter, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Nick Bjugstad/Oskar Sundqvist. There have been reports that the Blues could trade Thomas and Suter if the right deal comes along.
If they are moved, it presents the perfect opportunity for Wright to slot into a top-six role.
Wright projects as a second-line center, similar to Dvorsky, but with the right opportunity, he could become more than that. Wright has all the tools of a two-way center. Standing six-foot, 192 pounds, he has the frame to be physical, as well as the skating and shot to be an offensive threat. His playmaking is his biggest blemish, but he is still capable of making plays with the puck.
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Las Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone has piled up 30 assists through 32 games while serving as a driving force on one of the league’s highest-powered offenses.
Ahead of tonight's showdown in Boston, my Golden Knights vs. Bruins predictions expect a well-rested Stone to help facilitate another goal.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Thursday, January 22.
Golden Knights vs Bruins prediction
Golden Knights vs Bruins best bet:Mark Stone Over 0.5 assists (-130)
Mark Stone has recorded at least one assist in 59% of his appearances this season and in 72% of Vegas’ wins — noteworthy with the Vegas Golden Knights favored on the road against the Boston Bruins.
He’s been especially effective against teams that bleed shots to forwards. Stone has played 14 games against Bottom-10 shot-prevention defenses versus forwards, averaging — yes, averaging — two points. He’s logged at least one assist in 11 of those games, including a three-assist outing against these same Bruins back in October.
That success isn’t surprising given Stone rides shotgun with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev on a loaded top line, while also skating with Pavel Dorofeyev and Tomas Hertl on the man advantage. He’s surrounded by elite finishers who can capitalize on the chances he creates.
As a bonus, Jeremy Swayman is expected to get the night off. He ranks 14th in Goals Saved Above Expected per start, well ahead of tandemmate Joonas Korpisalo (47th).
This sets up as a spot where the Golden Knights could put up a healthy number.
Golden Knights vs Bruins same-game parlay
Eichel is a Boston kid who always seems to shine against the Bruins. He’s posted four straight multi-point games and has found the scoresheet in three of the past five head-to-head meetings.
With Eichel centering Stone at both 5-on-5 and on the power play, there’s a strong chance a Stone assist comes via a goal from his superstar linemate.
Shea Theodore averages 2.3 shots on 5.1 attempts and has cleared this line at a 70% clip this season. With two days of rest, those numbers jump to 3.2 shots on 6.3 attempts.
Golden Knights vs Bruins SGP
Mark Stone Over 0.5 assists
Jack Eichel anytime goalscorer
Shea Theodore Over 1.5 shots
Golden Knights vs Bruins odds
Moneyline: Golden Knights -135 | Bruins +115
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+170) | Bruins +1.5 (-205)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Golden Knights vs Bruins trend
Mark Stone has racked up seven assists over his last five games. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Bruins.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Bruins
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Vegas 34, NESN
Golden Knights vs Bruins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
There is a lot to like about the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. It was not only another workman-like win where they outplayed another opponent, but they did it without their top-two defenseman in Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. Calgary might not be a particularly good team, but that is still two points you want to get. Not only given the fact it is two points in the standings, not only because of who you were playing without, but also because you know you are going to have a tough game on Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers in the second-half of the back-to-back. They did what they needed to do.
It also put them, for the time-being, in second place in the Metropolitan Division as they head into Game No. 50 of the 2025-26 regular season on Thursday night. We are not really talking about a small sample size of games for the season. They are more than halfway through the season and not only still collecting points like a playoff team, they are also playing like a playoff team.
They have a top-10 points percentage in the NHL and for the season are top-10 across the board in expected goal share, scoring chance share and high-danger scoring chance share. Over the past 25-30 games they have also started to defend at a really high level when it comes to suppressing shots, scoring chances and expected goals. They have the results and they have the process. It is all encouraging.
There are a lot of factors at play in this.
Obviously Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are still playing great, and that changes the math on things and the overall expectations.
Head coach Dan Muse has brought a new voice and injected a new energy into the team.
Kyle Dubas has also been on a roll in terms of his roster moves and piecing together the roster and the future. That is the thing I want to focus on today.
When Dubas took over the Penguins job he was not exactly inheriting the best situation. The prospect pool was among the worst in the NHL, they had spent significant draft assets for years and had a relatively empty cupboard of picks, and had just seen their playoff streak end with a very flawed NHL roster. In his first offseason he took some pretty significant swings and tried to go all in on winning right away. It did not work. There were mistakes. There were bad moves. Things did not work.
From the start of the 2024-25 season, however, Dubas has been on an absolute roll in terms of his moves. It has produced a pretty good hockey team right now, some real long-term roster and salary cap flexibility, a rapidly improved farm system and a cupboard full of draft pick capital.
Let’s recap some of it.
Buying draft picks by taking on bad contracts created more trade opportunities
Going into the 2024-25 season the Penguins had real salary cap flexibility for the first time in years, and they put a lot of that to use by taking on some bad contracts to stockpile draft picks.
They received a second-round pick from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for taking on the remainder of Kevin Hayes’ contract.
They built off of that move by flipping that pick back to the Blues so they could use it for an offer-sheet, with the Penguins receiving St. Louis’ second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2025. They basically got two draft picks for nothing other than taking on some salary and hiding Hayes in the lineup.
Along with the Hayes move in 2024, they also acquired third-and sixth-round picks from Nashville in exchange for Jordan Frasca and taking on Cody Glass’ contract.
That resulted in trading Glass at the deadline, along with minor league forward Jonathan Gruden, for Chase Stillman, Max Graham and a 2027 third-round pick. The third-round pick was the key piece of that deal, meaning the Penguins essentially added two third-round picks and a sixth-round pick for Jordan Frasca and Jonathan Gruden. That is a win in terms of asset management.
Before this season the Penguins acquired a 2028 second-round pick from Dallas in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok and taking on Matt Dumba’s remaining contract.
Those additional picks proved to be significant, with the Penguins trading that 2026 Blues pick, as well as one of their additional 2027 third-round picks, for forward Egor Chinakhov a few weeks ago. Chinakhov is still young, still extremely talented, and is off to a great start with the Penguins. It is a good gamble, even if it does not not pan out long-term.
Even with that move the Penguins still have multiple picks in the second-and third-rounds in each of the next three classes.
None of these moves on their own are cornerstone moves or the type of thing that are going to move the needle much in a rebuild, or re-tool, or whatever you want to call it. They are, however, small little wins. Like I said on Tuesday, a bunch of small little wins add up into big wins.
The 2025 Trade Deadline looks like huge win
With realistic playoff expectations slipping away mid-way through the 2024-25 season, and with some pending unrestricted free agents they were probably were not going to re-sign, the Penguins went into another sell mode in advance of the 2025 trade deadline.
They traded defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor, both pending UFAs, to the Vancouver Canucks for the New York Rangers 2025 first-round pick, Vincent Desharnais, Danton Heinen and Melvin Fernstrom.
Desharnais and Heinen were nothing more than roster-filler, and both have already been traded. Heinen as part of the Chinakhov deal, and Desharnais for the San Jose Sharks fifth-round pick in 2028. Fernstrom is at least an intriguing prospect.
The first-round pick was the key piece of that deal, and it ended up being the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Penguins then flipped that pick on draft day for picks No. 22 and 31. After selecting Bill Zonnon with the No. 22 overall pick, the Penguins traded pick No. 31 and pick No. 59 (which was acquired at the deadline from the Washington Capitals for rental forward Anthony Beauvillier) to the Los Angeles Kings for pick No. 24 which was used to select forward Will Horcoff. Zonnon and Horcoff are both now among the Penguins top prospects, and very intriguing prospects.
Along with that, they added another branch to the Jake Guentzel trade tree by sending forward Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators for forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn. Novak has been a very solid middle-six player for the Penguins this season that has played a variety of roles. Not a star, but a talented player that is going to score 15-20 goals with 45-50 points on an affordable contract. There is value in that. They then turned around and immediately dealt Schenn to the Winnipeg Jets for their second-round pick in 2026 and their fourth-round pick in 2027. With Winnipeg sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings, that second-round pick is looking way more valuable than it did at the time of the trade.
The trade that received almost no headlines at the time was the acquisition of forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Conor Timmins from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Dewar has become a key part of the Penguins strong fourth line, while Timmins was flipped on draft day for the No. 39 overall pick in the draft (defenseman Peyton Kettles) and defenseman Connor Clifton.
Again, a lot of little small wins adding up into one big advantage.
The current result of those in-season trade deadline moves has been:
Penguins traded: Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor, Michael Bunting, Cody Glass, Jonathan Gruden, Anthony Beauvillier
That is three of the top-39 picks in a draft class (Zonnon, Horcoff and Kettles), two productive NHL players (Novak and Dewar), a depth defenseman (Clifton), another potential top-40 pick in this year’s draft (Winnipeg’s second-round pick), Winnipeg’s 2027 fourth-round pick and San Jose’s 2028 fifth-round pick.
That is a lot of value, both current and potential, for three pending non-elite free agents and two organizational depth guys.
Ben Kindel looks like a player
The Penguins did not have any sort of NHL Draft Lottery luck, falling two spots when the numbers were actually drawn. They still ended up coming away with what looks to be a really good player in center Ben Kindel. Kindel is Dubas’ highest draft pick with the Penguins, and the early returns on it look outstanding.
Even though Kindel is in an extended goal drought, the fact he is more than holding his own as an 18-year-old center in the NHL, as a non-top-five pick, is largely unprecedented in the modern NHL. He is still on pace for more than 40 points this season while also playing an extremely advanced two-way game. He may not be a superstar, but he looks like a player that has an outstanding 15-year career ahead of him as a top-of-the-lineup player.
When you add in the aforementioned moves to get Zonnon, Horcoff and Kettles and that draft class significantly altered the Penguins prospect pool in a very positive way. While the farm system is still lacking a truly elite cornerstone player, there are at least future NHL players here. That is a complete 180 difference from what it was when Dubas was hired.
Bargain free agent signings are paying off
The expectation for the free agent signing of Anthony Mantha was that he would probably be this year’s version of Anthony Beauvillier. A cheap, low-risk veteran that would get plugged into a top-six role, score some goals and then get flipped at the trade deadline for a second-round pick.
Even with the Penguins in playoff contention, that very well still could happen. But going into play on Thursday he is already up to 14 goals and 32 points in 49 games, and has been a great bargain signing. Keep in mind, Beauvillier had just 13 goals and 20 points in 63 games before he was traded for that second-round pick.
Then there is Justin Brazeau, who was signed to a two-year contract worth just $1.5 million per season. He has already set a career high in goals (14) in just 35 games, while also showcasing surprisingly smooth hands for a big, power forward. He has been a late-bloomer, and eventually a productive player, at every level he has played at. Even if there is some shooting percentage regression in the second half or next season, he at least looks like a solid depth player at a cheap rate.
Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon’s two-year, $1 million per year deal has also produced more than reasonably expected. He has taken advantage of his biggest opportunity in the NHL yet and showed he can at least be a capable depth player.
None of this even gets into the addition of Rutger McGroarty or the Tristan Jarry trade, which were two other significant trades over the past two seasons.
The jury is ultimately still out on a lot of this. We have no idea how those draft picks are going to develop, what the Penguins are going to do over the next few months this season and what sort of form this rebuild is going to take on in the coming seasons. The fact remains that Dubas has built what looks to at least be a playoff contending team this season, while the Penguins still have one of the best long-term salary cap situations in the NHL, a rapidly improved farm system and more draft pick capital than any other team in the NHL.
He had some huge — and bad — misses in his first year. He has been on a roll ever since. The Penguins are better for it this season and arguably much better for it in the future.
After the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild, former Canadiens’ star defenseman P.K. Subban took to social media to talk about current Hab blueliner Lane Hutson. While the 21-year-old has been snubbed by Team USA for the Milano-Cortina twice now, the ESPN hockey analyst believes he should be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy this season.
Subban believes that Hutson impacts the game at both ends of the ice, offensively and defensively, thanks to his competitiveness and drive. He sees him as a leader who galvanizes the young Canadiens, and a player who craves the big moments, who wants to be THE guy in those big moments.
According to Subban, not only should Hutson be in the conversation, but he has a legitimate chance of winning the Trophy, before adding that anyone who doesn’t believe he should be in the conversation is “absolutely nuts”. Unsurprisingly, he also believes that Team USA is making a mistake by not taking the youngster to the Olympics.
Subban was a Canadiens’ second-round pick (just like Hutson) at the 2007 draft and spent the first seven seasons of his 13-season NHL career in Montreal. He played 434 games with the Canadiens, putting up 278 points, including 63 goals. He’s the last Canadiens’ defenseman to have won the Norris trophy back in 2012-12, when he put up 38 points in a lockout-shortened 48-game season in which he played 42 matches.
A reportedly polarizing figure in the Canadiens’ dressing room, Subban was traded to the Nashville Predators on June 29, 2016, for Shea Weber, who would go on to become the Canadiens’ 21st captain. As for Subban, he spent three years in Nashville, reaching the Stanley Cup Final once but falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, before being traded to the New Jersey Devils during the 2019 offseason. He played the last three years of his career with the Devils, who then decided not to offer him a new contract, which led to his retirement from the game.
The Colorado Avalanche lost a game in a shootout yet again last night, but long before that, it was clear that the Avalanche weren’t exactly locked into a highly intense contest. Lukas Dostal had a great game and nearly secured the shutout if not for a one-timed beauty from Artturi Lehkonen late in the contest. Even with that, last night’s game watched like a late-night infomercial, and I’m not in the market for any non-stick pans. I had this article queued up before the Avs and Ducks put us to sleep, but the game solidified my opinion. The Colorado Avalanche are bored.
I don’t want this article to be perceived as a slight to the Avalanche organization or players. I am simply pointing out what we all know. It’s human nature not be all that interested in inconsequential contests. The same season in which Colorado has a 10-point lead on the rest of their division, 77 points in 48 games played, all of the NHL will come to a pause to make way for the grandaddy of them all. International high-stakes hockey. It would only be human nature for the likes of Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon to feel like they are just biding their time before things get going in Milan, Italy.
Moreover, this team as a whole has already proven it’s a dominant regular season team, but the true proving grounds and arena of opportunity come in the postseason. This is yet another cup-or-bust year, smack dab in the middle of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar’s prime. The remaining 34 games of the regular season are gonna be slow going.
Dallas downgrading
The only saving grace for high-stakes hockey on a nightly basis early on in the season was that the Dallas Stars were just about keeping up all along the way, that is, until recently. Dallas being hot on the Avalanche heels gave Colorado plenty to play for, as winning the division should mean avoiding the Stars and the Minnesota Wild, who should still take two and three in the Central.
The Avalanche experienced some injuries lately, finally dropped a game in regulation at home, lost consecutive games again, and are 5-3-2 in their last ten. Guess what Dallas is up to? They are 3-5-2 in their last ten, including a three-game losing streak.
— Starcastic Remarks-THPN Stars Podcast (@StarcasticR) January 2, 2026
Colorado has faced more adversity than ever as of late, and what has it cost them in terms of the standings and their big lead? Absolutely nothing.
Now I’ll never root for the Dallas Stars, but I would actually be pretty annoyed if they lost to the tune of being a wildcard team and a potential first-round matchup. So I guess Dallas needs to win some more games.
Reason for concern
I’m not writing this as some hard-hitting analysis or take, but mostly pointing to something that could rear it’s ugly head in the future. A wise man once told me that we are only as good as our habits, and it’s super hard to maintain great/elite-level habits when the stakes aren’t that tangible. That’s what makes these guys pros, and that will be the challenge for the rest of the regular season.
We saw Nathan MacKinnon appearing plenty passionate in Colorado’s bounce-back win over the Capitals earlier in the week, which is a good sign. He will have to fabricate and convince himself more than ever this regular season that it’s about the details and habits.
I think they are in good hands with Bednar at the helm, as he seems to be fine with keeping his big-name guys out when the opposition shortens their bench. Even when they have a stranglehold on the division.
I suppose it’s better to ease up now and save the best for last. I just hope that switch flips with ease, because sometimes that’s not the case. Would hate for that to pop up at the worst possible time. That’s exactly what has happened to other clubs in the past, namely the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning and the 2022-23 Boston Bruins.
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres meet for the second time in the span of a week on Thursday, January 22.
Both of these Atlantic Division teams find themselves firmly in playoff spots, and the Sabres are looking to end an egregious 14-season playoff drought.
My Sabres vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest another high-scoring thriller between these two offense-centric teams, with Lane Hutson continuing to cement himself as one of the league's best defensemen.
Sabres vs Canadiens prediction
Sabres vs Canadiens best bet: Lane Hutson 1+ assists (-150)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has taken his seemingly nonsensical omission from the American Olympic team personally.
The sophomore leads all defensemen in assists this season (43) and is only two points behind Cale Makar for the lead among blueliners. Over his last 21 games, Hutson has 26 helpers — four more than any other defenseman has points over that span.
Bill Guerin's least favorite defenseman has six apples in his last three games, including two against the Buffalo Sabres a week ago.
Sabres vs Canadiens same-game parlay
On a related note, Alexandre Carrier is another Habs defender who has been on fire lately. Not only does he have four goals in his last five games, but the Quebec City native leads the entire NHL with 26 blocked shots in his last eight games.
His 113 blocked shots are good for fifth in the league this season, and for good measure, the 29-year-old now has more points than Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault.
Montreal, despite being the league's youngest team, trails only the Colorado Avalanche in scoring and has tallied 4+ goals in five of its last six against Buffalo.
Montreal has won five of the last six and seven of the last 10 games against Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Sabres vs Canadiens
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG Sportsnet, TSN2
Sabres vs Canadiens latest injuries
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