February 9 is a big date in Montreal Canadiens history, not only is it the date of Martin St-Louis’ hiring, but it’s also the date on which 31 years ago, then GM Serge Savard made one of the worst trades of his tenure.

On that date, Savard, keen to acquire some real star power, made a big trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. He traded Mark Recchi and a third-round pick in 1995 (who became Martin Hohenberger, an Austrian player who never made the NHL) for John LeClair, Eric Desjardins, and Gilbert Dionne.

At the time, Recchi was 27 years old, had won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and had registered three 100-plus-points seasons (one in Pittsburgh with Mario Lemieux and two in Philadelphia with Eric Lindros). He was already an established NHL star.

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Meanwhile, John Leclair was 25 years old, had never scored more than 19 goals in a season, and his most productive season had yielded 44 points, but he did contribute 10 points in the Canadiens’ run to the 1993 Stanley Cup.

As for Eric Desjardins, the right-shot defenseman was also 25 years old, and a key element of the Canadiens’ blueline. He had registered 45 points in his most productive season. He contributed 14 points in 20 games during the 1993 Stanley Cup conquest, including a hat trick in game two of the final, the game that is now known as the turning point of that series because of the illegal stick penalty.

Finally, Dionne was 25 years old and had played only two and a half full seasons in Montreal, during which he had scored 21, 20, and 19 goals. He had also produced 12 points in 20 games during the 1993 playoffs, but he could be a frustrating player to watch at times.

Recchi went on to play parts of five seasons in Montreal, never putting up more than 80 points on a Canadiens’ team that didn’t feature a Lindros or a Lemieux. Vincent Damphousse, Brian Bellows, and Patrick Roy were Canadiens at the time, but not for much longer for the last two. Bellows left in June 1995, and Roy in December. Pierre Turgeon was also acquired later in 1995 but was traded in October 1996.

Recchi led the Canadiens in points in the shortened 1994-95 season with 43 points, three more than Damphousse. The following season, he was third with 78 points behind Turgeon (96) and Damphousse (94). In 1996-97, he was second with 80 points behind Damphousse, who had 81 points. In 1997-98, he was the team's highest scorer with 74 points; no one else cracked the 60-point mark, with Damphousse second at 59 points. Finally, in 1998-99, he had 47 points in 61 games before being traded back to the Flyers. The years that followed the Roy trade in Montreal were a very dark time. There were three seasons in which the Canadiens made the playoffs with Recchi, but they never got very far.

It’s not that Recchi didn’t play well for the Canadiens, but he wasn’t surrounded well enough to have the same kind of impact he had with his previous teams. Meanwhile, John LeClair became a three-time 50-goal scorer in Philadelphia, adding another two seasons with 40-plus goals. He was a third of the famous Legion of Doom line alongside Lindros and Mikael Renberg, a line that has marked the Flyers’ history and that took them to the Stanley Cup Final in 1997.

The power forward spent nine and a half seasons in Philadelphia and was one of their key players, just like Eric Desjardins. The blueliner spent 10 and a half seasons in Pennsylvania, finishing his career with the Flyers, reaching new heights in points production, including three 40-plus-point seasons and two 50-plus-point campaigns, and all the while remaining a stabilizing presence on the blueline, very rarely finishing the year with a negative differential (twice).

As for Dionne, he never managed to establish himself as an NHLer in Philadelphia and played only 27 NHL games after being traded from Montreal, the last five with the Florida Panthers.

In the end, that trade helped the Flyers become Cup contenders by giving them two of their key pieces while the Canadiens were on the verge of entering a very dark age with Roy’s departure. Recchi was an important piece of the Canadiens during his stay, but he didn’t make the kind of impact LeClair and Desjardins had in Philadelphia. For younger fans, he remains the Boston Bruins player who made questionable comments on the Max Pacioretty-Zdeno Chara incident. 

---

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Who's playing for USA men's hockey at the Olympics? Roster, captains and coaches originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Will Team USA’s gold medal drought end in Italy?

The U.S. men’s hockey team enters the 2026 Milan Cortina Games looking for its first Olympic title in over 40 years. 

The Americans’ latest gold medal bid comes as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games. The U.S. has reached the podium in two of the five Olympics that have featured NHL players, winning silver in 2002 and 2010.

Team USA proved itself as a serious 2026 Olympic medal contender in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, a midseason NHL tournament between the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden. The Americans finished atop the standings in round robin play before falling to Canada in overtime of the final.

Most of the U.S. players who competed in the 4 Nations Face-Off will once again don the red, white and blue as they look to capture the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey title since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

So, who’s suiting up for Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics? Here’s a look at the roster, captains and coaches:

Who is the USA men’s hockey coach?

New York Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan is serving as head coach of Team USA. Sullivan, who also held the role for the 4 Nations Face-Off, coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships from 2015-16 to 2016-17.

Sullivan’s assistants include Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes, Rangers assistant coach David Quinn and longtime NHL head coach John Tortorella.

Who are the USA men’s hockey captains?

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will don the “C” for the Americans. The 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner also captained Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Team USA has two alternate captains: Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.

Who’s playing for USA men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA’s 25-man roster features players from 18 different NHL teams. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Forwards

• Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
• Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
• Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
• Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
• Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
• Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
• Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
• J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
• Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
• Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
• Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
• Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
• Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers

Defensemen

• Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
• Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
• Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
• Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks (injury replacement for Florida’s Seth Jones)
• Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
• Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
• Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
• Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

• Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
• Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
• Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

When does USA men’s hockey play at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA will play three games in the preliminary round:

• USA vs. Latvia: Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m. ET
• USA vs. Denmark: Feb. 14 at 3:10 p.m. ET
• USA vs. Germany: Feb. 15 at 3:10 p.m. ET

How many Olympic gold, total medals has USA men’s hockey won?

USA men’s hockey owns 11 Olympic medals: two gold, eight silver and one bronze. The Americans’ two Olympic titles were won at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games and 1980 Lake Placid Games.

The U.S. last reached the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, winning silver.

Who's playing for USA men's hockey at the Olympics? Roster, captains and coaches originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Will Team USA’s gold medal drought end in Italy?

The U.S. men’s hockey team enters the 2026 Milan Cortina Games looking for its first Olympic title in over 40 years. 

The Americans’ latest gold medal bid comes as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games. The U.S. has reached the podium in two of the five Olympics that have featured NHL players, winning silver in 2002 and 2010.

Team USA proved itself as a serious 2026 Olympic medal contender in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, a midseason NHL tournament between the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden. The Americans finished atop the standings in round robin play before falling to Canada in overtime of the final.

Most of the U.S. players who competed in the 4 Nations Face-Off will once again don the red, white and blue as they look to capture the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey title since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

So, who’s suiting up for Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics? Here’s a look at the roster, captains and coaches:

Who is the USA men’s hockey coach?

New York Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan is serving as head coach of Team USA. Sullivan, who also held the role for the 4 Nations Face-Off, coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships from 2015-16 to 2016-17.

Sullivan’s assistants include Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes, Rangers assistant coach David Quinn and longtime NHL head coach John Tortorella.

Who are the USA men’s hockey captains?

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will don the “C” for the Americans. The 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner also captained Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Team USA has two alternate captains: Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.

Who’s playing for USA men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA’s 25-man roster features players from 18 different NHL teams. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Forwards

• Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
• Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
• Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
• Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
• Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
• Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
• Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
• J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
• Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
• Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
• Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
• Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
• Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers

Defensemen

• Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
• Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
• Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
• Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks (injury replacement for Florida’s Seth Jones)
• Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
• Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
• Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
• Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

• Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
• Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
• Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

When does USA men’s hockey play at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA will play three games in the preliminary round:

• USA vs. Latvia: Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m. ET
• USA vs. Denmark: Feb. 14 at 3:10 p.m. ET
• USA vs. Germany: Feb. 15 at 3:10 p.m. ET

How many Olympic gold, total medals has USA men’s hockey won?

USA men’s hockey owns 11 Olympic medals: two gold, eight silver and one bronze. The Americans’ two Olympic titles were won at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games and 1980 Lake Placid Games.

The U.S. last reached the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, winning silver.

How Macklin Celebrini, Sharks adjusting to more defensive attention this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

There arguably is nobody more important to his team than Macklin Celebrini is to the San Jose Sharks.

Celebrini has 42 more points than his teammate in second, Will Smith (39). To put that in perspective, that’s the largest canyon between the No. 1 and No. 2 scorer on a team, followed by MacKinnon’s 31-point gap over Martin Necas (62) on the Colorado Avalanche and Kucherov’s same differential over Jake Guentzel (60) on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Safe to say, he’s the focus of any game plan against San Jose.

So, how have the Sharks and Macklin Celebrini adjusted to all the defensive attention this season?

How Are Teams Trying To Defend Celebrini? (+)

First things first, Celebrini is simply better this year.

“Bigger, stronger, faster, more experienced,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice summarized in November.

Celebrini and the Sharks coaching staff have also put the franchise center in positions to succeed.

“It’s about putting [him] in situations where we can kind of get away from that,” Warsofsky said of the defensive attention, “get to his skill-set of being able to play when playing in space. That’s usually when players are at their best, is when they have time and space.”

Warsofsky will typically use Celebrini to close periods, basically get him an extra shift at a key time in the game, and not necessarily with his line.

Celebrini (71) steals it from Granlund (64), Wennberg (21) sets up Celebrini at end of period (on 12/29/25) pic.twitter.com/ekNi7pmCM1

— San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) February 10, 2026

Off the Alex Wennberg (21) draw, Celebrini (71) is “disguised” at wing, surprising Mikael Granlund (64) from behind on the backcheck. That turnover puts the Ducks in scramble mode, and Celebrini exploits that with his speed.

This time, on the fly, Warsofsky puts his best player with third-line center Ty Dellandrea (10) and fourth-line winger Barclay Goodrow (23).

Dellandrea and Goodrow do the grunt work on the forecheck, Celebrini sets up for a scoring chance, and Goodrow cleans up the garbage.

“We try to do some different things that can get him away from [the defensive attention], whether it’s a matchup-based challenge or flow of the game, momentum in the game situations,” Warsofsky said.

Celebrini has also been given license, both at 5-on-5 and on the power play, to stay on the ice longer, if warranted.

Here’s an example, down 5-1 at the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 23, of Celebrini taking a double shift, Sharks lines scrambled after a penalty kill.

That was a 2:11 shift by Celebrini, a sensitive topic, because no player wants to be seen as hogging another player’s ice-time.

But Celebrini isn’t doing that, he’s been empowered to make decisions on the fly for the betterment of his team.

“He’s earned some rope. He has, by the way he’s played,” Warsofsky said. “I get it, we were down, 2, 3, 4-nothing. He’s taken some long shifts because he wants to fix the problem.”

He added: “There’s a balance to that, for sure, but that’s an extreme competitor that’s frustrated with what’s going on in the hockey game and he wants to make a difference. I’d much rather have that than a guy that’s out there for 15 seconds that doesn’t want to be on the ice because something bad is going to happen.”

“Some of it’s situational. I don’t really want to be out there for too long,” Celebrini said. “Sometimes, you just get caught out there, and it’s better just stay out there and take a [defensive] lane away, instead of screwing over your teammates and putting them in a bad spot.”

“Of course, we don’t want him out there two minutes, right?” Warsofsky said. “Mack and I talked about it. We had a conversation about that, and he understands that, but I also understand the flipside of it, of that competitiveness. That’s what we want around here.”

Trust me, this isn’t a normal conversation between a second-year player and a head coach (see Matvei Michkov and Rick Tocchet).

Celebrini staying on the ice a little longer often benefits the Sharks, creating mismatches and more offense.

Here’s an example against the Lightning on Jan. 3: Celebrini’s linemates, William Eklund (72) and Igor Chernyshov (92), change, but Celebrini stays on to provide defensive support.

Of course, a dynamic player like Celebrini is more than a defensive security blanket, beating pinching defenseman Erik Cernak (81) to the puck, then evading forechecker Yanni Gourde (37), to spring Pavol Regenda (84) and Jeff Skinner (53) for a 2-on-1.

At the end of Celebrini’s 1:21 shift, Regenda scores right as the superstar center reaches the bench to change.

Here’s another example at the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 16, Celebrini staying on, as he should, as the first forechecker as Will Smith (2) and Collin Graf (51) change. It’s what Celebrini does from this point on, which is why you want him on the ice as much as possible.

F1 Celebrini harasses Ben Chiarot (8) into a turnover, staying on because the Sharks have full OZ possession. Then, Adam Gaudette (81) and Celebrini work a nifty give-and-go for a Grade-A scoring chance.

Celebrini is commonly double-shifted on the power play, too, playing most or all of the two minutes, and has been part of plenty of second-unit PP goals, Gaudette on Dec. 20 against the Seattle Kraken, Regenda on Jan. 3 against the Lightning, and Gaudette on Jan. 7 against the Los Angeles Kings, for example.

“That’s all you need. You need the trust of your teammates and your coaches,” Celebrini said. “That’s what’s important, is they trust you to do your job and get that result. As long as they trust me to do that, then that’s a good thing.”

But in the end, Celebrini’s adjustment to all the defensive attention is simply being a better player than he was as a rookie. He wouldn’t be double-shifted or relied upon late in the periods if not for his evolutionary leap.

It’s not just physical, it’s mental growth.

“He plays a more of a give-and-go game at times, reads gaps, reads who’s in front of him. That’s the most that I’ve seen him grow,” Warsofsky said.

Last season, Celebrini was more of a one-trick pony offensively, a speed demon always trying to push play “vertical”, often as fast as possible.

He’s still that, but he’s also slowed his game down, too, when it matters.

Celebrini (71) dumps it in for Smith (2), Klingberg (3) finds Graf (51) on 12/9/25 pic.twitter.com/RybzbMAhqD

— San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) February 10, 2026

Celebrini does something counterintuitive to his most obvious skill, his skating, dumping it in for Smith to claim. All the Flyers are watching Celebrini, which gives Smith a headstart to jump on the puck. Smith, an offensive prodigy in his own right, makes the most of it.

Celebrini (71) sees Chernyshov (92) and Graf (51) for down-low 2-on-1 strike on 12/18/25 pic.twitter.com/zTLNJmJ12S

— San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) February 10, 2026

Chernyshov pushes back the Stars’ defense, allowing Celebrini to get open high. But instead of attacking defenseman Esa Lindell (23) with his customary pace, Celebrini slows it down, seeing a developing 2-on-1 down-low, for Chernyshov and Graf, which his linemates execute flawlessly.

“It’s kind of part of learning, trying to add parts to my game,” Celebrini said.

The Sharks will also add around Celebrini.

Celebrini, with all the defensive attention that he gets, can become more dangerous when the Sharks put another puck transporter and protector with him. This allows Celebrini to play off the puck more and get open.

Chernyshov has done that for Celebrini when they’ve played together, as has Eklund.

Eklund is probably the Sharks’ second-most effective player, after Celebrini, carrying the puck from blueline to blueline.

William Eklund (72) attacks Flames defense & finds an open Macklin Celebrini (71), which leads to Adam Gaudette (81) chance on 11/13/25 pic.twitter.com/yZLxgULiQe

— San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) February 10, 2026

Eklund drives the Calgary Flames’ defense back on Nov. 13, absorbing four Flames, which leaves Celebrini open. Gaudette almost puts in the rebound.

Eklund (72) holds off Stars, freeing up Celebrini (71) and Chernyshov (92) chance on 1/10/26 pic.twitter.com/t2FkqYTTgq

— San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) February 10, 2026

Eklund is also crafty with the puck along the wall, attracting Thomas Harley (55) and Colin Blackwell (15), before finding Celebrini and Chernyshov for a down-low 2-on-1.

There’s another way to think about Celebrini’s dominance this season.

As the Sharks surround him with better players, and the youngsters around him, such as Smith, Eklund, Chernyshov, Graf and Co. get better, Celebrini, carrying a little less of the load, should become even more dominant.

Imagine that.

Right now, defenses can key in against Celebrini, and he’s still beating them consistently. He’s going to overpower them even more, with the help that’s coming.

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Who's playing for USA men's hockey at the Olympics? Roster, captains and coaches originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will Team USA’s gold medal drought end in Italy?

The U.S. men’s hockey team enters the 2026 Milan Cortina Games looking for its first Olympic title in over 40 years. 

The Americans’ latest gold medal bid comes as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games. The U.S. has reached the podium in two of the five Olympics that have featured NHL players, winning silver in 2002 and 2010.

Team USA proved itself as a serious 2026 Olympic medal contender in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, a midseason NHL tournament between the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden. The Americans finished atop the standings in round robin play before falling to Canada in overtime of the final.

Most of the U.S. players who competed in the 4 Nations Face-Off will once again don the red, white and blue as they look to capture the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey title since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

So, who’s suiting up for Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics? Here’s a look at the roster, captains and coaches:

Who is the USA men’s hockey coach?

New York Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan is serving as head coach of Team USA. Sullivan, who also held the role for the 4 Nations Face-Off, coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships from 2015-16 to 2016-17.

Sullivan’s assistants include Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes, Rangers assistant coach David Quinn and longtime NHL head coach John Tortorella.

Who are the USA men’s hockey captains?

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will don the “C” for the Americans. The 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner also captained Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Team USA has two alternate captains: Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.

Who’s playing for USA men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA’s 25-man roster features players from 18 different NHL teams. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Forwards

• Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
• Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
• Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
• Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
• Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
• Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
• Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
• J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
• Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
• Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
• Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
• Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
• Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers

Defensemen

• Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
• Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
• Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
• Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks (injury replacement for Florida’s Seth Jones)
• Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
• Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
• Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
• Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

• Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
• Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
• Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

When does USA men’s hockey play at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA will play three games in the preliminary round:

• USA vs. Latvia: Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m. ET
• USA vs. Denmark: Feb. 14 at 3:10 p.m. ET
• USA vs. Germany: Feb. 15 at 3:10 p.m. ET

How many Olympic gold, total medals has USA men’s hockey won?

USA men’s hockey owns 11 Olympic medals: two gold, eight silver and one bronze. The Americans’ two Olympic titles were won at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games and 1980 Lake Placid Games.

The U.S. last reached the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, winning silver.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are underway in Milano Cortina, Italy, and one of the marquee events is the men’s ice hockey tournament, set to commence on Wednesday and will conclude with the gold medal game on Feb. 22.

This year’s tournament is attracting heightened attention and excitement, as active NHL players will participate in the Olympics for the first time in 12 years, at the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. NHL players have played in just two “best-on-best” tournaments since 2014: the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and last year’s 4 Nations Faceoff.

Alex Killorn’s Value Shows On and Off the Ice

Grading, Reviewing Pat Verbeek's Fourth Year as Ducks GM

Five members of the Anaheim Ducks organization will be representing their respective nations when the men’s tournament begins, including four of their NHL roster players. Let’s take a look at what to expect from each of them over the next week and a half:

Damian Clara (Italy)

Preliminary Schedule: 2-11-26 12:10 PM PST vs. Sweden, 2-13-26 3:10 AM PST vs. Slovakia, 2-14-26 7:40 AM PST vs. Finland

It’s unclear what role within Italy’s goaltending dynamic Clara (21) will hold. He’s played the 2025-26 season on loan as the starting goaltender for Brynas IF in the SHL. He’s posted a 16-13-0 record, an .888 SV%, and two shutouts.

Italy’s other two goaltenders are Davide Fadani (25), who is the starter for EHC Kloten in the Swiss National League, and Gianluca Vallini (32), who is a backup for HC Bolzano in Italy’s top professional league.

When the Ducks selected Clara (60th overall in 2023), he became the highest-drafted Italian player in NHL history. He has the pedigree advantage over the other two netminders, and he was announced as one of Italy’s first six players on their preliminary Olympic roster.

Italy got an automatic bid to the men’s hockey tournament, as they’re the host nation. They were given a difficult bracket. Sweden will ice an all-NHL roster, Finland is only bringing one player who doesn’t play in the NHL, and Slovakia’s roster includes ten NHL players.

They’ll be lucky to keep any of their first three games close, but this could prove a meaningful test for Clara and an opportunity to make a name for himself on a global scale.

Lukas Dostal (Czechia)

Preliminary Schedule: 2-12-26 7:40 AM PST vs. Canada, 2-13-26 7:40 AM PST vs. France, 2-15-26 3:10 AM PST vs. Switzerland

Dostal (25) comes into this tournament as Czechia’s projected starter and will likely get the call to face the mighty Canadian squad on Thursday. Dostal’s been the Ducks’ heartbeat in a rollercoaster 2025-26 season in Anaheim. He’s started 37 games and appeared in 38 while posting a 21-13-2 record, an .897 SV%, and has saved 3.7 goals above expected.

Dostal has emerged as one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders and is capable of stealing multiple games, which he’ll need to if Czechia has hopes of medaling in this tournament. While he has the ability to dazzle, he’s more reliant on his angles, body control, and puck tracking through and around traffic.

He’ll likely start two of Czechia’s three preliminary games and will share the goaltending room with Dan Vladar (Philadelphia Flyers) and Karel Vejmelka (Utah Mammoth). Dostal’s last endeavor in international play resulted in a gold medal for Czechia in the 2024 World Championships, where he started eight games, posted a 6-2-0 record, a .939 SV%, and three shutouts.

Mikael Granlund (Finland)

Preliminary Schedule: 2-11-26 7:40 AM PST vs. Slovakia, 2-13-26 3:10 AM PST vs. Sweden, 2-14-26 7:40 AM PST vs. Italy

Finland has a bigger uphill battle than they had expected, as their star center and projected captain, Sasha Barkov, sustained a torn MCL and ACL during the Florida Panthers first training camp practice. Anaheim Ducks versatile forward Mikael Granlund (33) will wear the “C” for Finland at his second Olympics this week.

For the Ducks, Granlund represents general manager Pat Verbeek’s biggest free agency signing to date, as on July 1, 2025, he signed a three-year contract that carries a $7 million AAV. Much like he will for Finland, Granlund has been a stabilizing veteran presence up front, especially of late when the Ducks had been without several talented forwards.

Granlund has tallied 27 points (12-15=27) in his first 38 games with the Ducks in 2025-26, finding ways to impact games with his clever corner work, crafty slip passes, and elite vision with the puck on his stick. He represented Finland at last year’s 4 Nations Faceoff, where he scored four points (3-1=4) in three games.

Including the World Junior Championships, World Championships, 4 Nations, Olympics, and World Cup, this will be Granlund’s 14th time representing Finland on the international stage. Granlund is projected to start on the wing of Roope Hintz and opposite Mikko Rantanen, a line that played over 147 minutes together during the Dallas Stars’ 2025 playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.

Radko Gudas (Czechia)

Preliminary Schedule: 2-12-26 7:40 AM PST vs. Canada, 2-13-26 7:40 AM PST vs. France, 2-15-26 3:10 AM PST vs. Switzerland

Ducks captain Radko Gudas (35) will wear an “A” for the 2026 Czech squad, hopeful to lead them to a medal in what will likely be his final opportunity to play on the Olympic stage. Gudas is in the final year of a three-year contract he signed with the Ducks in 2023 and was awarded the captaincy before the 2024-25 season.

He’ll look to translate his physical nature to the biggest international stage and ensure that his Anaheim teammate Dostal can see most pucks heading his way when Gudas is on the ice and clear any loose rebounds. He’s had a bounce-back year for the Ducks and is one of their more reliable blueliners with his no-frills brand.

He’s tallied ten points (1-9=10) in 43 games for the Ducks this season. Gudas projects to play second-pair minutes alongside Michal Kempny (35), who played 247 games in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, but now plays in the SHL with Damian Clara for Brynas IF.

Gudas last represented Czechia at the 2024 World Championships, where he notched an assist in ten games and won the gold medal playing in front of Dostal.

Jackson LaCombe (United States)

Preliminary Schedule: 2-12-26 12:10 PM PST vs. Latvia, 2-14-26 12:10 PM PST vs. Denmark, 2-15-26 12:10 PM PST vs. Germany

LaCombe was a late addition to the US roster after Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones sustained a broken collarbone during the Jan. 2 NHL Winter Classic. LaCombe was seen as a surprise add, as he was selected to replace a right-shot Jones and selected ahead of a talented offensive blueliner in Lane Hutson.

LaCombe burst on the scene during his breakout 2024-25 campaign, where he solidified himself as the Ducks’ #1 defenseman, the team’s first defenseman over the boards in all situations (even strength, power play, penalty kill). After a relatively slow start to the 2025-26 season, LaCombe has further elevated his game and has tallied 37 points (6-31-37) in 56 games for the Ducks while playing 19:00 TOI at even strength per game, 2:16 shorthanded, and 3:14 on the power play.

He’s been tiptoeing the line of casual vs poised this season, but has erred mostly on the side of “poise” in the last few months for Anaheim. He’s an elite rush defender and breakout specialist with a high success rate on his activations in all three zones. He’s improved his defensive zone coverage habits as the year has progressed.

LaCombe represented the US along with Ducks teammate Cutter Gauthier at the 2025 World Championships, where he scored five points (2-3=5) in ten games en route to the US’s first gold medal at the event in 92 years.

If practice lines and pairs are to hold, LaCombe is the clear eighth defenseman on the American roster. The US has a relatively light schedule, as they will avoid the major hockey powerhouses in the preliminary round, so he may get ice time against Latvia and/or Denmark in their first two games, with further ice time for him up in the air and likely determined by potential injury or insufficient play from others on the blueline.

Note:

Ducks center Leo Carlsson was initially selected to represent Sweden for the Olympic tournament, but underwent a procedure to treat a rare lesion in his thigh. He was given a 3-5 week recovery timetable on Jan. 16, but the seemingly future face of Swedish hockey will be unable to participate in Milan in what would have been his first Olympics. He was replaced on Sweden’s roster by Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson.

Grading, Reviewing Pat Verbeek's Third Year as Ducks GM

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Win over the Kraken

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Win over the Golden Knights

With the NHL now firmly in the Olympic trade freeze period through February 22nd, it’s time to look at what roster holes the Colorado Avalanche might try to address before the March 6th NHL trade deadline.

Candidates

Third Line Center

The center market isn’t shaping up to be fantastic this season but it’s the area of a most obvious upgrade for the Avalanche. There’s been some pushback to this idea citing that Jack Drury can do the job just fine but what makes an even stronger Stanley Cup contender is the depth to withstand the two-month long war of attrition. Drury starting the postseason at fourth line center makes Colorado just that much stronger.

Seventh Defenseman

In the grand scheme of things, an extra roster player isn’t all that important, which is true until he’s in the lineup every night when even one injury strikes. This is what the Avalanche have just experienced with the Devon Toews injury. Acting seventh defenseman Ilya Solovyov was shipped out on January 20th, which opened a revolving door of AHL recalls. It’s pretty obvious this hole is going to be addressed before the trade deadline because fortifying depth on defense is always an objective for Stanley Cup contenders.

Middle-Six Scoring Winger

This is an area where there might be the greatest number of options on the trade market and an extra winger could be the backup plan if the third line center upgrade doesn’t materialize. It also means replacing the player, or at least their role, on the Avalanche. Victor Olofsson has gone cold with just five points in his last 23 games and Gavin Brindley still doesn’t have a defined role on this team. In 2022 both Andre Burakovsky and Alex Newhook began the postseason as healthy scratches, something both Olofsson and Brindley could be if the Avalanche find enough forward depth prior to this year’s playoff run.

Top Line Left Wing

It is a wish list item and would come at a price but if the Avalanche are truly fortifying for a long playoff run, they need to make an addition that moves the needle. Recently there’s been tantalizing glimpses of the impact Artturi Lehkonen makes on the second line but at the cost of the failed experiment of Olofsson on the top line in his place. Jared Bednar hasn’t made a secret that he likes the look of that second line but a solution for the top line is still needed. Bringing in a top player could also help the hapless power play giving them a true trigger man on the right side again.

TORONTO – With Artturi Lehkonen dropping down, the Avs think they’ve found a second line that they can use in any situation.

On Sunday, they posted a 75% xGF%.

“I'd love to be able to keep it together for a while.”https://t.co/5hOSj8ccJh

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) January 25, 2026

Objectives

The idea of making four roster moves might threaten the chemistry, consistency and continuity of this team, so GM Chris MacFarland should tread lightly. Ideally the goal would be to just add extra depth but as previously discussed, the Avalanche are light on trade chips and assets so to make upgrades might mean moving a few more players out and making additions with term on their contract.

A return to a previously successful strategy, which helped shape the 2022 Stanley Cup championship team, of targeting Restricted Free Agents or at least players with term beyond this summer would help to add talent greater than the usual trade deadline rental fodder and hopefully find someone that can contribute for multiple playoff runs such as the aforementioned Lehkonen addition in 2022 was. Again, this takes assets and is tougher to pull off in-season but is much more impactful than a bunch of temporary rentals.

MILAN — Sidney Crosby doesn’t need the Olympic Winter Games to define his legacy.

Three Stanley Cups, multiple Hart Trophies, international gold already tucked away — his résumé is secure. And yet, the way he talks about the Olympics still sounds like someone chasing a childhood dream rather than a player who has spent two decades on the world’s biggest stages.

Sidney Crosby has all the feels looking back at the 2016 @penguins team that won the #StanleyCup 🏆

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/5yxrRLf64p

— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2026

A Childhood Dream That Never Faded

“I have always wanted to play in the NHL, but watching the Olympians was always a special moment as someone who grew up playing a lot of sports,” Crosby said. “I know how important it is. There is so much to love about it, so anytime you can put on that Canadian jersey, there is so much pride.”

That feeling hasn’t dulled with age. If anything, it has sharpened. Pulling on the Canadian jersey still carries weight, still demands something extra. Crosby doesn’t speak about it lightly. There is pride in the crest, but also responsibility—an understanding of what it represents to players who grew up the same way he did, staring at their televisions and dreaming of just having the chance to compete on that stage, let alone win a gold medal. Today, the screens may be smaller in some cases and the platforms more varied, but the dream flickering behind them remains exactly the same.

The Uncertainty of Missed Olympics

The past two Olympic cycles only reinforced that appreciation. With NHL players prohibited from competing in the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022., the uncertainty took a toll. Crosby admitted it was difficult not knowing whether he would ever get another opportunity.

“It was difficult. You try not to get your hopes up too much, but you also had to be ready in case we did go,” he explained. “It was a bit of a rollercoaster. I am really happy we have the opportunity to come back here. It is an amazing experience.”

Now that the opportunity is real again, Crosby — along with a host of his fellow Olympians — feels a sense of relief. There is gratitude in his voice for another chance to lead his country on the Olympic stage. The memory of the game-winning overtime goal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics still lingers, not because of the goal alone, but because of the weight attached to it. The country was watching. The world was watching. The moment demanded something extraordinary.

Those are the games Crosby still craves at 38 years old. The competitiveness that defined him as a teenager hasn’t faded. He still yearns for another trip to the podium — or at the very least, a chance at one. These are the games where the noise is deafening, the stakes unmistakable, and the outcome remembered long after the final horn. That has been the essence of Crosby’s career, whether it was a Stanley Cup victory, the golden goal in Vancouver, or scoring the game-winner in a shootout at the inaugural NHL Winter Classic.

Crosby Thrives Under Pressure

Pressure comes with the territory. It always has. Crosby has lived his entire career under it. Asked to compare a Stanley Cup playoff Game 7 to an Olympic gold medal final, he didn’t hesitate. To him, they are cut from the same cloth — one game, everything on the line, no margin for error.

“They are pretty similar. Think about game seven (in the Stanley Cup) versus going for a gold medal – it is one game, especially playing in Canada (at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games). There were a lot of expectations.

“Both are pressure-packed for different reasons, but those are the games you want to be in.”

When asked whether that golden goal in overtime remains the highlight of his career, he didn’t deflect.

“It is up there, and it would be hard to beat. It was an amazing game and an amazing Olympics.”

One More Opportunity

Now, with the possibility that this could be his final appearance on the Olympic stage, Crosby comes across as more reflective than ever. He speaks with appreciation — not only for the opportunity to still be here, but for the fact that he is still regarded as one of the world’s elite players. He is quick to praise his younger teammates, seeing flashes of his younger self in them: hungry, driven, and eager to test themselves in front of the entire world. He has been in their skates before, and he knows exactly how much a gold medal would mean to them and their families.

"Hopefully (we capture gold)," Crosby added. "I'll see how long I can go. I definitely appreciate the opportunity.

"Just knowing how competitive it is – I see so many guys that want to be part of this team. It means a lot to them."

For Sidney Crosby, the Olympics are not a detour from his NHL legacy. They are a return to its starting point — a reminder of why he fell in love with the game in the first place.

Hockey will get underway this week at the Milan Olympics featuring NHL players for the first time in more than a decade.

Here’s a reminder and refresher that the rules at the Olympics will be a bit different than when you watch your typical NHL game.

3-3 sudden death OT for gold is diabolical pic.twitter.com/Xdbc0MUzMb

— Paulie (@pauliebignuts99) February 10, 2026

During the preliminary rounds of the Olympic hockey tournament, if games are tied after regulation, there will be a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime, followed by a five-player shootout if the tie isn’t broken.

In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the overtime period will be extended to ten minutes.

In the gold medal game, there will be no shootout, but the overtime period will be played as 3-on-3.

During the Olympics, fighting is not allowed and the penalty for doing so is ejection. Playing without a helmet subjects players to a minor penalty.

Roster sizes allow teams to have a maximum of 23 players, consisting of 20 skaters and 3 goalies.

Teams are allowed to dress two more players than allowed during NHL play, meaning that a game lineup can feature 13 forwards and 7 defensemen.

Rink sizes at the Palaltalia Santa Giulia and the Fiera Milano arenas will be NHL-sized, smaller than traditionally used for the Olympics.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will also be captaining Team Canada for this year’s Olympics, the same role he served for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

The Olympics break gives us plenty of time to observe, analyze, and reflect on what we’ve seen so far this season in the NHL. One topic that has been of interest to me on the NHL media site is the coach’s challenges statistics. Last week, I took a look at the offside challenges to see if Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis was right when he said he felt his team had lost a lot of goals to offside challenges. This week, I thought it could be interesting to look into goaltender interference challenges.

Of the 163 coaches’ challenges that have been initiated this season, 67 were for goaltender interference, and they led to 24 goals being disallowed. For a 36% success rate, given the fact that an unsuccessful challenge leads to a minor penalty, one has to be careful when using that from the coach’s toolbox.

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How many times has Martin St-Louis tried to use it? Twice. How many times was he successful? Once, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was unsuccessful when he pulled that card against the Colorado Avalanche, but there was no harm done since they managed to kill the penalty.

Which team has used that card the most? The Washington Capitals made six challenges, two of which were successful. Their four unsuccessful challenges led to two power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks.

Four teams have made 5 coaches’ challenges: the Calgary Flames, the Blackhawks, the Senators, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Calgary was successful twice and didn’t give up any power-play goals when the challenge failed. Chicago also saw two goals being disallowed, and didn’t give up any power-play goals either. As for Ottawa, goals were disallowed twice, and there was no harm done on the power play conceded. Meanwhile, none of the Penguins’ challenges were successful, but they only gave up one power-play goal.

Just one team made four coaches’ challenges: the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Ontario outfit was successful three times but allowed a power-play goal when its challenge failed.

Which team has suffered the most from interference calls? Chicago. Conor Bedard and Co. are the only team with three goals disallowed, while eight teams had two, and five teams (including the Canadiens) had one.

It’s interesting to see that the Hawks, who are one of the teams that have used the challenge more often, are also its biggest victims. As for the Canadiens, it appears that they are much more disciplined around the net than they once were, back when Brendan Gallagher was younger, for instance.

Only twice this season has a team challenged a Canadiens’ goal for goalie interference. In contrast, in 2015-16, the first year those stats are available, a Habs’ goal was challenged for goaltender interference nine times, leading to four disallowed goals. There’s definitely been some progress there.

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The Philadelphia Flyers can get a big piece of their 2026 draft scouting done just by watching the Winter Olympics this year.

Of course, the Flyers will be tuned in to see how the likes of Travis Sanheim, Dan Vladar, and Rasmus Ristolainen fare, but it's not just their own guys - veterans - who they want to keep an eye on.

Latvia, an underdog nation that always poses a tough fight regardless of their talent deficiencies, will be boasting a teenaged NHL draft prospect expected to be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in June.

Defenseman Alberts Smits, a 6-foot-3 rearguard who is already playing in his second pro season in Finland's Liiga with Jukurit, is primed to feature on a Latvia squad that has only Florida's Uvis Balinskis ahead of him in terms of NHL-level talent.

Rodrigo Abols probably would have been able to give the Flyers the inside scoop if it wasn't for his injury, but the Flyers will just have to watch Smits play for themselves instead.

Smits, 18, has played 37 games for Jukurit this season, scoring six goals, seven assists, and 13 points. The two-way defender plays north of 20 minutes a night fairly often for his club, too, which is an encouraging sign of trust and maturity in a pro league for a player of his age.

It's worth noting, too, that Jukurit was 12-41-6-1 last season, and with Smits now playing for them as a regular, have already improved to 14-23-3-6.

Would Matvei Michkov Make Russia's Olympic Team? Top Coaches Omit Flyers StarTwo legendary coaches leave Flyers' Matvei Michkov out of their Russia Olympic teams.

Still not great, yes, but the 2026 NHL Draft prospect has had an undeniable impact on the club.

Smits is big and rangy with his 6-foot-3 frame, is an aggressive risk-taker offensively and in transition, and uses his size and details to execute defensively.

The Latvian defender is neither Cale Makar nor Radko Gudas, but Smits has everything he needs to be a successful top-4 NHL defenseman, which should be attractive to the Flyers at this stage in the rebuild.

Perhaps a player like Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm would be a fair comparison.

And, considering the massive investments the Flyers have made to the right side of their defense in recent years--Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill, and Carter Amico all come to mind--they can't continue to neglect the left side or other positions of need.

Time will tell if they are in a more favorable position to land someone like Tynan Lawrence, but Smits should be right up there in this conversation.

The 18-year-old will be the only 2026 draft prospect playing in this year's Winter Olympics, so Smits is a unique situation worthy of the Flyers' undivided attention for the next few weeks.

Avery Hayes isn’t the only Penguins prospect who is coming out of a big week.

Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen forward and seventh-round 2025 draft pick, was named the WHL’s Rookie of the Week after racking up six points (four goals, two assists) in four games.

What's up, Dach?

For the second time this season, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and @WHLHitmen forward Kale Dach has been named the @SandmanHotels WHL Rookie of the Week 🥬

📰 | https://t.co/tn1d6BsCDepic.twitter.com/BhFI0f6nE2

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 9, 2026

This is the second time Dach has won the weekly honor. He was also named the WHL’s December Rookie of the Month after scoring 14 points (eight goals, six assists) with three game-winning tallies in nine games.

Shooters shoot!

Kale Dach scores his 27th of the year! pic.twitter.com/TEHD2SwKRI

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) February 8, 2026

Dach’s former teammate Ben Kindel was racking up his own WHL weekly rookie honors during his first season in the league in 2023-24.

Penguins VP of Player Personnel Wes Clark said last June that the original plan for Dach, who was selected with the Pens’ final pick of the 2025 draft, was to have him play alongside Kindel for a season with the Hitmen.

Kindel ended up making the jump to the NHL earlier than expected, but that hasn’t stopped Dach from finding success. He has 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 45 games this WHL season.

Dach, who turned 18 in February, is heading to the NCAA next year after committing to join Penn State.

Up in the AHL, Hayes was named the AHL’s Player of Week five days after scoring two goals in his NHL debut.

Hollywood script-writers could never dream up a week like the one Avery Hayes just had. But the reality is, he's the Howie's Hockey Tape AHL Player of the Week.

Congrats, Avery!!!https://t.co/VLuMK1tdVnpic.twitter.com/zTGY9GN7Vg

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 9, 2026

Hayes earned the honor after following up his historic NHL debut by completing an AHL hat trick in overtime.

AVERY HAYES CAPS OFF THE HAT TRICK IN OVERTIME🎩@WBSPenguins | #WBSvsHERpic.twitter.com/R1i5GBoBZZ

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 8, 2026

The 23-year-old forward was one of the first players the Penguins signed after Kyle Dubas took over in June 2023. He has 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) in 32 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.

The NHL isn’t the only league currently on break. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens action is also paused until Feb. 14 for the AHL All-Star Game. Sergei Murashov and Tristan Broz are representing the Penguins at the event in Rockford, Illinois on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In roughly 24 hours, the Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament at the 2028 Winter Olympics will begin, and for the first time since 2014, NHL players are taking part. Participating nations have been practicing in earnest since arriving late last week, and after months of worry regarding the status of the hockey arena in Milan, the games are about to be begin.

There has been months, if not years of anticipation surrounding this tournament since it was announced NHL players were heading back to the Olympics, and the wait is almost over with the first puck drop scheduled for Wednesday morning between Slovakia and Finland.

Pens Points…

Four Penguins players are in Milan preparing for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics with play beginning for all four later this week. Sidney Crosby will captain Canada, Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell will suit up for Sweden, and Arturs Silovs will backstop the Latvian side. [Pensburgh]

With four players in Milan, the Penguins will be well represented and give Penguins fans something to keep an eye on outside of cheering for their host nations. Crosby is the name who most will pay attention to for obvious reasons but Sweden and Latvia are attractions themselves. [The Hockey Writers]

Once the NHL resumes following the Olympic break must of the focus will be on the trade deadline which will be less than two weeks away. Right now, the Penguins are in position to buy as a playoff contender, but Kyle Dubas will be specific in what he’s looking for in any additions. [Pensburgh]

When he signed with the Penguins as a free agent over the summer, no one knew who Parker Wotherspoon was or what type of game he played. Now well into his first season with the team, Wotherspoon is well known among the Penguins faithful for his consistent play on the blue line. [Trib Live]

After his break out NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres, Avery Hayes returned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the Olympic break and continued right where he left off, scoring a hat trick, including the overtime winner, on Saturday against the Hershey Bears. [WBS Penguins]

One of the first players to embrace Sidney Crosby after he scored the Golden Goal to defeat the United States at the 2010 Olympics was defenseman Scott Niedermayer. Sixteen years on from that historic moment, Niedermayer still remembers the moment with great clarity from his view on the ice. [Penguins]

NHL News and Notes…

Group A at the Olympics is headlined by Canada who enter group play as clear favorites to come out on top, but opponents Czechia and Switzerland will be looking to play spoiler while France is hoping to make the most of its first Olympics appearance in over two decades. [NHL]

France may only have qualified for Milan because Russia and Belarus have been banned from participating, but the 2030 host nation is not apologizing. They will be lead by captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who has announced that he will retire from hockey following The Games. [NHL]

Going into the 2025-26 season, there were many conversations folks thought the Pittsburgh Penguins would be having by the time the 2026 Olympic break came around. 

There was the anticipated discussion over which of their big players - namely Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust - would be on the roster by the end of the season. There was discourse about how big GM/POHO Kyle Dubas was going to sell at the trade deadline, as selling more probably meant a higher likelihood of a lottery pick. And there was the also going to be talk around the career of Evgeni Malkin, which - although that is still set to happen between Malkin and Penguins' management over the break - has basically evolved into a more sure thing. 

But something that not many thought would be discussed much in relation to the Penguins was Stanley Cup contention. And there is a lot of season left, even if things are looking much better than expected so far. 

However, it may be time to start discussing the Penguins as not just playoff contenders, but as a team that is capable of greater heights this season. 

For starters, the East is pretty wide open, and that's not just in reference to the wild card race. The Penguins currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division, and they are eight points back of the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes with a game in hand. They also have three games against Carolina in March, which will be critical for them.

And so far, the Penguins have excelled against all four East teams above them in the overall standings. Pittsburgh is a combined 5-2-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Detroit Red Wings, and both of their regulation losses have come against the Canadiens. They are also 10-1-5 against the Metropolitan Division this season, which is a drastic improvement over last season.

Not only that, but they are clicking on all cylinders. Their defensive metrics are now floating around league-average, which is a drastic improvement on their start to the season. Their penalty kill is up to third in the NHL (84 percent) and has allowed only six power play goals in 57 opportunities since the holiday break - including just three in their last 42. Despite recent struggles, their power play is still fourth in the league at 25.9 percent, and they're controlling a lot of five-on-five play against legitimately good hockey teams.

'I'm Not Bad. At All': Penguins' Players Weigh In On Summer Olympic ChancesPittsburgh Penguins' players talk about which Summer Olympic sports they think they can compete in.

In other words, this Penguins' team isn't the same team that has missed the playoffs the last three seasons. Moneypuck.com now has Pittsburgh at an 85.5 percent chance of making the playoffs, which is higher than all but six teams in the NHL - three of which are in the West's Central Division. The only East teams with higher odds are the Hurricanes and Lightning. 

And their Cup odds? 4.8 percent, and aside from the aforementioned teams, the Edmonton Oilers are the only other team with higher Cup odds than the Penguins at 5 percent. 

Those are just some of the raw league-wide numbers, too. They don't take into account the four-line offensive depth that the Penguins boast - depth that has contributed to the third-highest goal differential in the East and seventh-highest in the league at plus-23. They are also 10th in team goaltending - which shows they're not entirely reliant on it - and they have the 16th-ranked PDO (shooting percentage plus save percentage) in the league at 100.54, indicating that they're not good because of luck.

The big guys are getting the job done as usual, but so are the young guys like forwards Ben Kindel and Rutger McGroarty and goaltender Arturs Silovs. And so are all of the guys that Dubas took a chance on, including defensemen Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea as well as forwards Justin Brazeau, Egor Chinakhov, and Connor Dewar. 

'Every Line's Able To Bring Some Offense': Penguins' Quick-Strike Offense Key To Success This SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winning a lot of hockey games this season - and it starts with the team's ability to keep piling on offense

The Penguins are on track to end the regular season with 103 points. They're also on track to have seven players score 20 or more goals and 10 players register 40 or more points.

They have all the makings of a legitimate playoff contender, and they also have the makings of a contender for the Eastern Conference. It's probably about time that folks shift the conversation from whether or not the Penguins are playoff contenders to whether or not this team could legitimately win the East. 

Getting the to the playoffs is the first step, of course. Their March schedule will not be easy, and they are playing a lot of top teams. But if these Penguins manage to pick up right where they left off before the Olympic break - and if they add another piece at the trade deadline to help them down the stretch run, however small a move - they could be a team to pay attention to in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

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Alex Killorn goes by many names. Alex, of course. Killer, Foghorn, War Dog. Alexander is most likely reserved for his parents.

Killorn has earned the right to go by so many names, with over 120 NCAA games, over 50 AHL games and now over 1,000 NHL games under his belt.

He joined the Ducks in the summer of 2023 after spending the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While his four-year, $25 million contract at age 34 initially raised eyebrows, he’s proven that his value goes beyond his on-ice impact.

When Leo Carlsson was drafted second overall in 2023 and began navigating life as an NHLer at 18, it was Killorn who was placed on Carlsson’s wing by then-head coach Greg Cronin. Despite his lack of foot speed, Killorn’s knack for winning board battles and recovering pucks made him the ideal linemate for a creative playmaker in Carlsson.

“I just turned 34 and I'm skating with him, and he's 18,” Killorn said at the time. “I kind of have to check myself just to realize how young (he is) and put myself in his position at times, but really impressed with him in the way he plays. Being a center at 18 playing in the NHL is very difficult, and I think he's more than capable of doing so.”

When Cutter Gauthier made his NHL debut at the end of the 2023-24 season, he played on a line with Carlsson and, you guessed it, Killorn. 

The trio began the 2024-25 season as a line before Gauthier began experiencing a rollercoaster of line assignments, but Killorn remained a constant on Carlsson’s line. Gauthier’s improvement in his wall play can be attributed in part to Killorn, who at times would give Gauthier tips during or after practice on how to be stronger around the boards.

“(The wall work) has been coming good,” Gauthier said at the time. “Not playing winger for the last couple years, it’s still an adjustment period. Yeah, it’s only 11 games into the season, but still. You’re playing against the best players in the world and the best defensemen in the world. They know tendencies—they’ve played in the league for the very long time—that wingers are going to do, so it’s just getting used to the type of rim (around the boards), whether it’s hard, soft or where the pressure’s coming from. Killer’s helped a lot with a couple of pickup tips coming off the wall.”

As someone who played center while at Harvard before shifting to the wing once he turned pro, Killorn is familiar with the transition that Gauthier had to make.

“I just want him to work on protecting the puck,” Killorn said. “College is a lot different from the NHL in terms of defensemen, how hard they play. If he can hold onto it for even a couple more seconds and just maintain possession, it’s going to help out our line big time.”

“I (liked) playing with Killer because he’s very smart,” former Ducks forward Trevor Zegras said. “He's very good at playing in between guys and knows when to give you the puck, give you space, where to go, where to help and support.”

Gauthier, Zegras and Killorn as a line during the 2024-25 season totaled one goal and one goal against in 48 5v5 minutes. Their expected goals numbers were quite favorable, but Cronin split them up after just five games.

Killorn is always quick to note the strengths of his teammates, whether it was pointing out how much Zegras’ absence due to injury last season impacted the power play, describing how patient rookie defenseman Ian Moore is with the puck or pointing out the big step Jackson LaCombe took—before his monster 2024-25 season occurred.

Above all, Killorn wants himself and his teammates to be proud of the way they play every night, regardless of the result.

“I think if you compete and play the right way, you may not win every night, but you'll build and you'll start playing the right way in things, no matter how long it takes. You’re building in the right direction.”

“Being that I've been on a lot of winning teams in the past, I'm definitely hoping to bring veteran leadership to this group,” Killorn said during his introductory conference call in 2023. “I know it's probably a younger team than I've been on before, but I look forward to that. There’s so much talent when you look at the guys that are on this team and guys that are about to be on this team, whether it's this year or the next year.  These are things that I thought about when I made this decision. So I'm hoping to bring kind of a veteran leadership, a guy who can help out offensively and defensively. That’s kind of what I did with Tampa, so I'm hoping to do the same here.”

While Killorn has been able to impart the wisdom gained from his 14 years of NHL experience to his teammates who are still early in their careers, that knowledge isn’t just limited to them. His peers closer in age have also learned from him.

“We’ve become really close off the ice,” Ryan Strome said. “One of my better friends. One of the better guys I met in hockey. We get along really well and mesh really well, our personalities. I know how hard it gets when you get a little older and you go through a different, separate phase. He’s done a great job of just staying consistent with his effort and his determination and what he brings to the table. He's really consistent on a day-to-day basis, whether it's practices or games, and that's something that everyone's going through. There’s always lessons you can learn. Even I can learn from a guy like him, just how he's been consistent and just puts his head down and works. He’s always been that type of guy and it's great to see.”

One area that’s become new for Killorn this past calendar year is becoming a father. His daughter, Camilla, was born in May 2025, which gave him several months to play full-time dad before getting geared up for the 2025-26 season.

“It was great,” Killorn said. “A lot of guys have kids (during) the season. I couldn't imagine that. It's very difficult being on the road. 
I got to spend four solid months with her every day, so that was really special.”

“When you become close to somebody, you just talk a lot,” Strome said. “We sit beside each other on the plane and (are) always just (talking about) whatever it may be, whether it's life, hockey, kids, post-career stuff. It’s been so great to get to know him (with) the way that we seem to bond and have similar interests and stuff. It’s been really fun for me. Playing against a guy for so long and getting to know him and becoming this close to him has been amazing. He deserves it, and he's had a hell of a career and it's been a pleasure to be a part of it.

On Feb. 3, the Ducks honored Killorn with a pregame ceremony, gifting him a pair of silver sticks: a player-sized one for him and a baby-sized one for Camilla. Killorn’s parents were also in attendance alongside Killorn’s wife, Tiffany.

Alex Killorn Honored for 1,000th NHL Game by Ducks and NHLThe Anaheim Ducks celebrated Alex Killorn's 1,000th NHL game with a ceremony at Honda Center with video tributes from his teammates and coaches past and pres...

Tiffany also threw a party to commemorate Killorn’s 1000 NHL games the weekend prior, with many family and friends attending, including all of Killorn’s Ducks teammates.

“It was really cool, Killorn said. “Just special. I had a lot of friends and family (at the game) and this morning, just waking up puts everything in perspective. Your whole career, how many people have supported me throughout the way. Seeing my family pretty emotional on the ice and seeing my daughter, it was a really special moment for me.”

Something that sticks out to Killorn after all of these years is just the fact that he’s still playing. He noted how he wasn’t a top draft pick and had a head coach in Jon Cooper who believed in him and gave him plenty of ice time to become successful.

“He's a great guy,” Ducks captain Radko Gudas said shortly after becoming a Duck in 2023. “He's a great person (with a) great personality. He's a leader with the way he plays and the way he carries himself. I won the Calder Cup with him before we made it to the NHL, so I had great memories with him before and I always knew he was a great player. I just want to see him doing this well and now we’ve got to work together as a team again and build something here for the guys here. We’re looking forward to that and I'm really thrilled for the opportunity for both of us to help these guys grow.”

Since joining the Ducks, Killorn has learned that you have to keep getting better. Sure, that may be a bit obvious, but it’s a reminder not to remain complacent, even after winning two Stanley Cups, as Killorn did.

“I watched a video back when we were in the Cup Final in 2015 and the game’s changed so much in those 10 years,” Killorn said. “You just have to continue to keep getting better because if you don't and you don't reinvent yourself, you'll be out of the league.”

With one year remaining on his contract after this season, it’s unclear how much longer Killorn intends to play. Strome said that Killorn has a good grasp of his post-playing career plans.

“I think he's got a really good grasp on his future and business and his finances and like all those types of things. I think he's really well-rounded. Some guys, you may think when they're done playing, they might kind of struggle a little bit (with) their identity (outside of being a hockey player) or what they're going to do. But I think a guy like him, he's just so dialed in and he's smart and he's educated and calculated. He’s a lot of fun. When you have that total package, you'll be more than just fine in your life and your career and whatever's next. 

“And for me, it's cool because it's made me kind of think about those things a little bit more than I have. I think he's a great guy to learn from. And the other thing is, too, I think he's been really good on our team for being able to hang out with all the guys, whether it's old guys, young guys. I know he hangs out with the young guys a lot. I think when you have guys who are able to kind of bounce between those different age groups and stuff, it means a lot to the dressing room. I know I'm kind of one of those guys, but I think he's taken a lot of load off me for doing some of that stuff and it's been great to have him around.”

It was a big challenge for Killorn to come to Anaheim in 2023, leaving the only organization he’d ever known—an extremely successful one—to come to an organization that was still taking its lumps. But thanks to the leadership of players like Killorn, the tide is beginning to turn as they find themselves in a playoff spot in February, a sight that has rarely been seen in the past decade.

“It’s been a challenge, one that I've accepted to come to a team that's got a lot of young talent and help develop some of these guys,” Killorn said in 2024. “Gonna be something special here in the future, so I look forward to it. It's been a different process than before, just because I was on a team that was maybe a little bit more veteran and was winning a little bit. But now, at least you can see the light here and you understand what they're trying to build. It’s pretty impressive.”

“It was a huge adjustment (coming in Anaheim), just in the sense that I came to a different place, all new teammates. I was kind of used to one thing. I knew going into training camp what the coaching staff was going to be, what my teammates were going to be, how I was going to fit in. So in terms of that, there was a lot of unknown. But I feel like by the end of the year, I really found a place for myself in this team and was really happy with the way that the end of the season went.”