Flyers fall to Leafs in OT, lose Konecny to upper-body injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers lost Travis Konecny for the third period Thursday night and then lost their lead as they fell to the Maple Leafs, 2-1, in overtime at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Old friend Scott Laughton was fired up after he tied the game for Toronto at 1-1 in the final stanza with a shorthanded goal.

The Flyers came up empty on back-to-back power play opportunities, a golden chance to cushion their advantage and pretty much put the Maple Leafs away.

“That’s the biggest thing right now, is just execution,” Travis Sanheim said. “I think we’ll start to get better if we can continue to get working on it.”

Easton Cowan won the game for Toronto in OT after Matvei Michkov hit the post at the other end.

“Who converts wins,” Rick Tocchet said. “We had, what, three or four chances, we didn’t convert. They had the one, they score. That’s it.”

Konecny provided the Flyers’ lone goal. The Flyers dropped to 7-4-8 in games decided by one goal.

“Could have gone either way,” Owen Tippett said. “I think we’ve just got to capitalize a bit more on our chances.”

The Flyers (22-12-8) missed out on a chance to win their third straight. But Tocchet’s club has earned at least a point in 23 of its last 30 games (16-7-7).

The Flyers are 0-1-1 against the Maple Leafs (21-15-7) this season with one more matchup to go March 2 in Toronto.

• Konecny missed the final 20 minutes because of an upper-body injury.

The 28-year-old alternate captain was on the ice when the second period ended and appeared to be fine.

“Something was bugging him, I guess, early on, I think he fell or something,” Tocchet said. “I don’t know the whole details.”

The Flyers really can’t afford to lose Konecny for any period of time. He’s too important for them.

• Dan Vladar dropped to 16-6-4. The 28-year-old made 21 saves on 23 shots.

The Flyers did a good job killing off back-to-back penalties in the second period to maintain their 1-0 lead.

But no Konecny hurt in the third period and Laughton jumped on the opportunity to tie it against his former club.

Maple Leafs netminder Dennis Hildeby stopped 22 of the Flyers’ 23 shots. He denied a Trevor Zegras breakaway in overtime.

• With an assist on Konecny’s 14th goal of the season, Christian Dvorak picked up his 27th point (nine goals, 18 assists).

The 29-year-old center came in on pace for 52 points, which would have him blow past his career high of 38.

“I’ve just loved my time being here,” Dvorak said this week after signing a five-year contract extension. “It’s a great group of guys, we have a lot of fun and it has been a good fit for me. I just like where the team’s headed, we’ve been playing some good hockey this year and I think we’re headed in a good direction here. That’s really important to me.”

• The Flyers were without Bobby Brink and Jamie Drysdale after they each took a big hit in the Flyers’ 5-2 win Tuesday night over the Ducks.

There hasn’t been an update on the timeline for their upper-body injuries.

Michkov was Brink’s replacement. The 21-year-old winger was back in the lineup after missing his first game of the season because of a foot injury.

Noah Juulsen entered the lineup for Drysdale and gave the Flyers solid third-pair minutes.

“T.K. going down, we had a short bench, Brinker out, Drysy out, I think you’ve got to give guys credit,” Tocchet said. “They hung in there. I will take the positive of that, for sure.”

• Laughton played his first game in Philadelphia as a visiting player. Not only did he score the game-tying goal with 5:56 minutes to go, but he also won 19 of his 20 faceoffs.

The 31-year-old was dealt to Toronto at last season’s trade deadline after spending 12 years with the Flyers. He was heavily involved in the community here and developed into one of the Flyers’ leaders.

“I’ve got some people coming to the game from some of the charities that I worked with, got some family here in town,” Laughton said after the Maple Leafs’ morning skate. “Just some relationships that I built throughout the years here, those people are coming down. It’ll be nice to see the crowd again and be a part of it.”

A video tribute and salute for Scott Laughton in his return to Philly with Maple Leafs. pic.twitter.com/ABURD4Ycrt

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) January 9, 2026

• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they host the Lightning (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Former Edmonton Oilers goalie Laurent Brossoit is on the move. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have traded Brossoit, Nolan Allan, and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jake Furlong, a 2028 fourth-round pick, and Ryan Ellis' contract. 

Seeing Brossoit get traded is not surprising. With the Blackhawks having goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom on their NHL roster, it was known that the Original Six club was looking to find Brossoit a new home. Now, he has gotten just that and will give the Sharks another veteran goalie. 

The Sharks currently have Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic as their two NHL goaltenders. While this is the case, having a goalie with good experience like Brossoit for insurance is certainly not a bad thing for a Sharks club that is right in the playoff race. 

Brossoit played in six games for the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, this season, where he had a 3-3-0 record, a .901 save percentage, and a 3.38 goals-against average. This was his first action since the 2023-24 season, as he missed all of this past season due to injury. 

Brossoit played his first four NHL seasons with the Oilers from 2014-15 to 2017-18. In 28 games with the Oilers over that span, he had a 7-13-2 record, a .897 save percentage, and a 2.98 goals-against average. 

PHILADELPHIA --- Morgan Rielly has learned over the years to keep things in perspective. Following a difficult 4-3 overtime loss against the New York Islanders on Saturday, in which the Toronto Maple Leafs' longest-tenured player was a minus-4, the magnifying glass intensified on the defenseman's individual performance.

But head coach Craig Berube defended the veteran defenseman, saying he's been satisfied with the player's game as of late.

"Tonight was a tough one. I know that, but he's played some really good hockey for us this year. I'm not worried about it," Berube said. "I think he'll get back to the level he was at. I do believe that. So, you know, that's kind of where I'm at with it".

The very next game, the Leafs were able to get veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo back into the lineup. As the Maple Leafs wrapped up their morning skate ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, I had the chance to ask Rielly about where he feels his game is at.

"When I reflect on it, I feel good. I feel like there's been some instances where I could be better, but I think that there's been a lot of good things, and I feel like I try not to focus too much on any one game or one instance," Rielly told The Hockey News on Thursday. "But generally speaking, I feel like I'm in a good position with my game".

The Maple Leafs Are In A Difficult Spot When It Comes To Morgan Rielly’s Most Recent PerformanceAuston Matthews' historic milestone was overshadowed by Morgan Rielly's recent defensive struggles and a mounting injury crisis, leaving the Maple Leafs in a difficult spot.

What has allowed Rielly and the Maple Leafs to take a positive approach lately is the fact that they have picked up 12 out of a possible 14 points in their last seven games as they try to stay alive in the race for a playoff spot. Earlier in the season, when the Leafs weren't getting the results, Rielly was playing some of his best hockey. For example, Rielly's season-high six-game points streak, in which he accumulated eight points, came during a middling 3-3-0 stretch that saw the club suffer a pair of losses to the Boston Bruins.

Despite his personal struggles, the team's success has allowed the 31-year-old to focus on the big picture.

That's really all that matters," Rielly said. "I feel like earlier in the year I was playing really well and I felt really good about my game and we weren't getting results. Even when that's happening, all you care about is winning. You can't lose track of that when you're trying to get your game going and you're getting wins; you've got to take care of your own game and prepare. But ultimately, when the team turns the corner and starts playing well, that's all that matters".

'Just A Weird Situation': Maple Leafs' Brandon Carlo Opens Up About Injury That Forced Him To Miss Nearly Two MonthsCarlo revealed that, after blocking a shot, he got an infection in his ankle, where he's had a plate for eight years, which led to surgery.

The Leafs also feel that Brandon Carlo's return from an ankle injury has provided a boost. Both players' ratings were a plus-two in their 4-1 victory against the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers earlier in the week.

"He's a stabilizer," Berube said of Carlo. "He does such a good job of breaking plays up and defending in his own zone, and you know he's going to be back there. And it gives Morgan a little bit more freedom to be able to do his thing up the ice".

The Leafs also feel as though Brandon Carlo's return from an ankle injury on Wednesday helps both players rating a plus-two in their 4-1 victory against the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

"He's a stabilizer," Berube said of Carlo. "He does such a good job of breaking plays up and defending in his own zone, and you know he's going to be back there. And it gives Morgan a little bit more freedom to be able to do his thing up the ice."

BREAKING NEWS: The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks have made a trade. The Blackhawks have sent goaltender Laurent Brossoit, defenseman Nolan Allan, and a 2028 7th-round pick to the Sharks in exchange for Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong, and a 2028 4th-round pick.

trade alert🔔

📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/1OUAm56khDpic.twitter.com/uFsoj6imUI

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 8, 2026

Like Brossoit with Chicago, Ryan Ellis hasn't played a game in the NHL with San Jose. His last appearance came in 2021-22, when he played four games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before that, he was a very productive defenseman with the Nashville Predators. 

At this point in time, Allan for Furlong is a swap of minor league defensemen. In the case of Furlong, he has yet to make his NHL debut, while Allan has 43 games under his belt. 

The 2028 picks being swapped give the Blackhawks a little bit of an upgrade. That is likely because Brossoit and Allan will play for the Sharks at some point or another, while Furlong and Ellis may never play in the NHL with Chicago. 

This trade is mostly Kyle Davidson giving Brossoit a chance to resume his NHL career following a hard injury. The original idea was for Brossoit to come in and stabilize the Blackhawks' goaltending alongside Petr Mrazek, but the injury and following moves turned the Blackhawks in a different direction. 

There are also the financial implications of the deal. Adding the heavy contract of Ellis, who is not likely to play in the NHL ever again, will help the Blackhawks reach the salary cap floor in the coming years. He also won't take ice away from any of the younger players. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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NASHVILLE -- Before the New York Islanders hit the ice for morning skate in Nashville, we spoke with general manager Mathieu Darche. He provided the latest on the Islanders' injured players, outside of Kyle Palmieri, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. 

No panic. No rush.#Isles GM Mathieu Darche addresses Anders Lee & Jean-Gabriel Pageau's contract situations.

Spoke to both players as well + my thoughts on both players going forward @TheElmontershttps://t.co/sXsZqu7jOu

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) January 8, 2026

Bo Horvat, who had missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury, was expected to join the team on their seven-game road trip, but those plans have changed. 

"We didn’t bring him with us right away. Initially, we thought we would, but we decided to keep him home," Darche said. "He might join us on the trip just for some treatment. It was just easier for everyone to do that in New York. I definitely expect him back way before the Olympic break. Ideally, at the end of this trip — but if it’s not, it’s not the end of the world. We just want to make sure we do it right so he doesn’t take a step back.”

Was the injury he sustained against the Utah Mammoth the same as the one he sustained against the Anaheim Ducks a few weeks prior?

"It’s a similar thing, without necessarily being linked,' Darche said. "If you saw the two injuries, they were completely different movements, but they irritated the same area. Our doctors think there’s a strong chance it still would have happened. It’s not that he came back too early. Even in the last few days, he wasn’t getting treatment on the previous injury. It’s just bad luck that it happened in the same part of the body.”

Islanders' Bo Horvat Leaves Game vs. Utah With Apparent Lower-Body InjuryBo Horvat's return is cut short after a collision, raising immediate concerns about his health and Olympic prospects.

When it comes to defenseman Alexander Romanov, who had right shoulder surgery after sustaining an injury back on Nov. 18 against the Dallas Stars, how is he doing?

“He’s actually progressing really, really well. His shoulder is coming along," Darche said. "I challenged him to a YMCA last time to show me the moves, but the ‘Y’ wouldn’t go up yet.  No, he’s progressing really, really well.”

BREAKING: Islanders' Alexander Romanov To Have Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months Devastating blow for the Islanders: Romanov's season ends abruptly due to shoulder surgery after a controversial hit. Recovery targets next season.

The original timeline for Romanov was 5-6 months. Darche said that if Romanov was to return this season, it would be during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Now to goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who hasn't played since Nov. 29 of 2024. The grizzled veteran underwent lower-body surgery to repair the injury and had told us before summer break that he expected he would be ready to go for this season. 

“You see him when you come to Northwell — he’s on the ice, he does everything. He’s doing a bit more on the ice right now," Darche said. "You can see more movements. There are no setbacks by any means, but it’s one of those injuries where you can’t predict the progress. It’s not a three-to-four-week injury. It’s step by step.” 

Islanders Provide Update On Engvall & Varlamov<b>EAST MEADOW, NY -- </b>The <a href="http://thn.com/isles">New York Islanders</a> shared with us that forward <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/pierre-engvall-new-york-islanders-patrick-roy-flames-kraken-canucks-lou-lamoriello">Pierre Engvall </a>and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/update-on-islanders-semyon-varlamov-s-status">Semyon Varlamov</a> are not yet ready to participate in training activities.&nbsp;

Ultimately, that wasn't the case, which led to the Islanders going out and signing backup netmidner David Rittich to a one-year, $1 million deal. And Rittich has been fantastic, especially when starting netminder Ilya Sorokin had to miss time. 

“That’s the reason we signed David Rittich, because we didn’t know what to expect," Darche said. 
 His situation won’t affect what I do with David right now, because we don’t have an end game with Varly.” 

The only injured player not discussed was forward Pierre Engvall, who had ankle surgery after trying to work his way back from hip surgery. He is out for the season. 

The Islanders battle the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at 8 PM ET. This game is an ESPN+/Hulu exclusive. 

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The injury to Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane midway through last month necessitated the call-up of a player from the Grand Rapids Griffins, and they decided that it would be forward John Leonard.

Leonard, who signed a one-year contract with the organization during the offseason, had been leading all American Hockey League goal scorers with 19 tallies in 20 games at the time of his call-up to the Red Wings.

He performed well in Detroit, scoring twice while adding two assists in eight games before being sent back down. But now that rookie Nate Danielson has been sent to the Griffins, Leonard once again got the call.

Leonard, who was in Detroit's lineup for their 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday evening, said that he considers it an honor to be whom the Red Wings summoned once again. 

"It's an honor, I want to be a guy that they can go to for different situations and whatever the case may be," Leonard said. "Just trying to make a positive impact on the game in any way I can, whether it's a good defensive play or blocking a shot, or trying to chip in offensively where I can. Obviously, you're in different situations in each game, but I just try and come in with that mindset every day." 

Leonard, who was selected in the sixth round (182nd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in 2018, had 70 games of experience in the NHL with the Sharks, Nashville Predators, and Arizona Coyotes coming into this season. 

While the majority of his professional experience has been in the AHL, he said that with each passing NHL contest, he gets more comfortable.

"I think every game you play at this level, you'll naturally be a little more comfortable," he said. "I think they've done a great job in helping me settle in." 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.  

Head coach Todd McLellan believes Leonard’s latest call-up is a good indicator of not only his own growth, but of the confidence the organization has in its AHL pipeline, which has been built up into one of the most highly regarded in the NHL since the return of Steve Yzerman as the club's GM in 2019. 

"It's rewarding for the individual; he wants to be in the NHL, and it's rewarding for the team in Grand Rapids," McLellan said. "They're playing well enough that the players have confidence, and they're ready to go. The staff down there has done a tremendous job, and it's like leaving a classroom and moving down the hallway to a more difficult classroom.

"When he went (back to Grand Rapids), I said that we believe in him and think he's an NHL player, and it will be his job to do that night in and night out, over and over and over again," McLellan continued. "He's had opportunities with other teams, and it didn't quite work out, but we're giving him that chance now, and would love nothing more than to see him make good on it." 

Despite his recent absence from the AHL, Leonard is still in the top three of goal scoring with 20 tallies in 23 games. Quinn Hutson and Arthur Kaliyev have 22 and 21 goals, respectively, but have done so in 28 and 33 games played.

While there's no telling how long Leonard's most recent call-up to the Red Wings will last, he's grateful to be part of a welcoming group and intends to make the most of it. 

"Different guys are talking to me, and that goes a long way," Leonard said. "It's a fun group to be a part of, and I'm just taking it day by day." 

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What amounted to appear as just another goal for the Chicago Blackhawks in a rather forgetful 7-3 loss by the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night turned into actual theatre.

Some may or may have thought it was a hilarious moment, some may not. But when Louis Crevier scored with 7:04 remaining in the third period that made it a 7-2 game, that's when the shenanigans happened.

Blues coach Jim Montgomery had seen enough, not by goalie Jordan Binnington, but by the mundane play of the players in front of his goalie again, Montgomery had summoned for goalie Joel Hofer to go and finish the rest of the game.

But here was the problem: Hofer was simply not ready to go in.

So I've been and have paid attention to enough of the road buildings to know that the backup goalie for a particular building does not have the luxury to sit on the visiting bench. United Center is one of those buildings.

Buildings (and I may not be naming them all) that come to mind are San Jose, Montreal, Winnipeg, Dallas, where the visiting goalie either sits in the corner entrance to the ice and/or on the opposite side of the benches due to the lack of space for the backup goalie.

In Chicago, there is no such spot for the backup goalie to sit, so in that building, they're in the back in the locker room watching with the trainers or whomever with the team staff.

All I can say in this instance is that at the time of game, Hofer had to feel like there was no reason to keep his gear on any longer, so he had probably taken it off, but when Montgomery made the call, he likely had no idea that to be the case, and when he was calling for Binnington to come out, he was not budging until he saw Hofer come over the boards or through the bench door, which is customary. Of course it made for all sorts of conspiracy theorists claiming Binnington refused to come out of the game, which is ridiculous, and those with their strong -- and as usual, wrong -- opinions, look foolish in the end.

Montgomery seemed confused at the time as to why no goalie was coming. Well, the Blues only get so much time to make the change or risk getting a delay of game minor. So once Hofer got word he was being called to come in, he is likely scurrying to get whatever gear he needed to get on and be ready to go.

The memes with this one are already going bonkers, with Hofer behind the bench area, peeking to his right and wondering if he's still needed (great job by Henrik Lundqvist making light of the situation and explaining it):

In light of the Binnington/Hofer situation, Hank told a story about his backup experiences 😂 pic.twitter.com/Pevpua6wDy

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) January 8, 2026

Binnington would finish out the game and it's a great reminder to find out what actually happened first and a great example to all goalies that no matter how much or how little time is left in a game, always be prepared:

After the Blackhawks scored their 7th of the game, Jim Montgomery tried to pull Jordan Binnington for Joel Hofer...

But Binnington appeared to refuse to come off the ice, and Hofer was hiding down the tunnel to the Blues' locker room? 😭😅 pic.twitter.com/j2V7q5bze4

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 8, 2026

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According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Montreal Canadiens have interest in Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman. 

"It is my understanding that Blake Coleman is high on their list," LeBrun said about the Canadiens. "Blake Coleman is a player of interest. He's a guy that brings some elements that the Habs are not as high on. His physicality, his versatility. He's a two-time Stanley Cup champion. He is of interest of the Montreal Canadiens, but, of course, as I mentioned before, Gino, he is of interest to a lot of teams and is a player that Calgary gets the most calls on and have since the start of the season."

The Canadiens having interest in Coleman is not surprising in the slightest. With the Canadiens being a young team on the rise, it would be massive if they brought in a gritty veteran forward with playoff success like Coleman. It is exactly why we here at The Hockey News recently discussed him as a potential fit for the Canadiens. 

If the Canadiens landed Coleman, he could slot nicely on their third line, but also move up the lineup if needed. Furthermore, due to his strong two-way play, he would also give the Canadiens another option to work with for their penalty kill if acquired. 

Coleman would be more than a rental for the Canadiens if acquired, too. This is because he has a $4.9 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season. This undoubtedly adds to his appeal.

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens' interest in Coleman can lead to them landing him from here. 

The Los Angeles Kings have made another roster move as they've placed left winger Trevor Moore on injured reserve.

With Moore being moved to IR, the Kings have called up center Cole Guttman on an emergency basis from the AHL's Ontario Reign.

Moore hasn't featured for Los Angeles since Dec. 29 against the Colorado Avalanche. He's been sidelined with an upper-body injury, which was originally considered "day-to-day," but seems to be a longer timeline than that.

The 30-year-old has scored five goals and 13 points in 37 contests for the Kings this season.

Add Moore to the list of Kings who aren't available. 

Right winger Corey Perry has been designated non-roster status as he steps away from the team to handle a personal family matter at home. 

In addition, Los Angeles has to continue without forwards Anze Kopitar and Joel Armia in the meantime. They both exited the Kings' battle against the Minnesota Wild on Monday and are both listed as day-to-day.

Kings Receive Great News With Kopitar And Armia Injury UpdatesThe Los Angeles Kings provided updates for the injuries to Anze Kopitar and Joel Armia following their exits in Monday's game against the Minnesota Wild.

Nonetheless, the Kings are certainly shorthanded in terms of forward depth. While the team has already called up forwards Andre Lee and Taylor Ward from the Reign, Guttman is the latest to get an opportunity in the NHL. 

Guttman has 41 career NHL games, all with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23 and 2023-24. The Northridge, Calif., native hasn't made an NHL appearance since Jan. 19, 2024.

He signed as a free agent with the Kings this past off-season, inking a two-year deal and earning $775,00 per season.

This season with Ontario, he's made 31 appearances, scoring nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points. Furthermore, he faced a two-game suspension in late December for landing an illegal check to the head.

The 26-year-old center has played five games since the end of his suspension. In that span, Guttman has registered four goals and seven points.

In total, he's played 31 games in the American League and has recorded nine goals and 23 points for Ontario.

---

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The Pittsburgh Penguins made a roster move before Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

They sent forward Ville Koivunen back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton so that he can get some playing time. He was set to be a healthy scratch on Thursday due to Evgeni Malkin's impending return. 

Koivunen scored his second NHL goal of his career on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

The Penguins have re-assigned forward Ville Koivunen to the @WBSPenguins (AHL). pic.twitter.com/LvbtZoBZhs

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 8, 2026

Koivunen has played in 27 games this season, scoring two goals and recording five points. He scored his first NHL goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 4. 

His underlying numbers have been very strong this season, but he's been a bit too inconsistent. Hopefully, a stint in WBS will help that, because when he's on, he's a effective player. 

Koivunen has four goals and 11 points in six AHL games this season. 

---

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William Nylander, who's dealing with a lower-body injury, could return to the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup as soon as Saturday when they host the Vancouver Canucks inside Scotiabank Arena.

Nylander has been out of Toronto's lineup with the ailment since Dec. 27 against the Ottawa Senators. It's unknown how the 29-year-old picked up the injury, but he left midway through the second period and didn't return.

He's set to miss his sixth consecutive game on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently listed as day-to-day.

"Willy's doing good," head coach Craig Berube said after Toronto's morning skate on Thursday in Philadelphia. "Possible for Saturday."

Nylander has skated all by himself, most recently (as of what we know) on Saturday morning, before the Maple Leafs' morning skate. He also skated on his own before Toronto's practice on Friday, the day he was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 27.

The Maple Leafs confirmed that day that there was no setback in Nylander's injury and that it was simply a roster management move to recall Marshall Rifai from the Toronto Marlies.

Toronto hasn't lost in regulation since Nylander exited the lineup. They've gone 3-0-2 in their last five games, with wins against the New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets, and most recently, the Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs have outscored their opposition 20-13 in that span.

Despite being out for the last five games, Nylander still leads the Maple Leafs in scoring this season. The forward has 14 goals and 41 points through 33 games, three ahead of John Tavares who has 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 42 games.

Report: Maple Leafs Almost Traded Easton Cowan, Ben Danford For Blues' Brayden Schenn At Last Year's Trade DeadlineKypreos reports that Toronto had two of its top prospects up for Brayden Schenn, but Blues GM Doug Armstrong was "reluctant to pull the trigger."

Berube bumped Matthew Knies up to Nylander's spot on the second line after the forward went down with the injury. Knies has been in Toronto's top six ever since, tallying three goals and two assists in the last five games.

This the longest stretch of games that Nylander has ever missed due to injury.

The Florida Panthers could really use a win on Thursday night in Montreal.

Unfortunately for the Cats, they’ll have to do it without their leading scorer.

Panthers forward Brad Marchand will not play against the Canadiens on Thursday at Bell Center due to an undisclosed injury.

Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice announced the news to the media following Florida’s morning skate and said his star forward is considered day-to-day.

He did not rule out Marchand for Saturday’s game in Ottawa, though.

Maurice also held Marchand out of the third period of Tuesday’s loss in Toronto, saying afterwards that he did it as a precaution because Marchand has been battling an injury and didn’t want it to get worse.

The injury-plagued Panthers will field a forward group on Thursday without Marchand, Matthew Takchuk, Sasha Barkov, Tomas Nosek, Jonah Gadjovich and Cole Schwindt.

#FlaPanthers lines this AM

Luostarinen - Lundell - Reinhart
Verhaeghe - Bennett - Greer
Boqvist - Rodrigues - Samoskevich
Gregor - Kunin - Studnicka

Forsling - Ekblad
Mikkola - Balinskis
Sebrango - Petry

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 8, 2026

Florida is also playing without injured defensemen Seth Jones and Dmitry Kulikov.

Many of the aforementioned players are expected back in the coming weeks and months, meaning the Cats could be very close to full strength when the playoffs arrive.

Of course, that’s assuming Florida makes the playoffs and that no other players suffer significant injuries.

For now, the Panthers will have to make do with what they’ve got.

After Saturday’s game in Ottawa, Florida closes out their season-long road trip with visits to Buffalo, Carolina and Washington.

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Photo caption: Dec 30, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) looks on against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly almost moved Easton Cowan and defensive prospect Ben Danford to the St. Louis Blues last March in a trade for Brayden Schenn.

According to Nick Kypreos, who wrote about this in columns for Sportsnet and the Toronto Star, the Maple Leafs had nearly traded the two prospects to the Blues before St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong decided against it.

"Last year, Easton Cowan was pushed as a trade chip in an effort to try and obtain Brayden Schenn, but Cowan’s going to be hard to put into play again this season. However, depending on what the return is, we can’t rule out the possibility," Kypreos wrote on Sportsnet.ca.

In his column with the Toronto Star, Kypreos added: "Cowan was close to being sent to the Blues last season in a package with defence prospect Ben Danford to bring back Brayden Schenn, who the Leafs desperately wanted to go head to head with Panthers bruiser Sam Bennett in the playoffs. But word is it was St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong who was reluctant to pull the trigger.

"Maybe Cowan could be used as trade bait this season. Danford, one of their goalies and spare scraps in the AHL could be, too. But even then, it’s hard to see the Leafs being able to add a scoring winger or puck-moving defenceman who can significantly help them."

Ahead of last year's trade deadline, Toronto was looking to bolster its center depth. They were looking for a bottom-six player who could play down the middle. Eventually, they acquired Scott Laughton (plus two later round picks) from the Philadelphia Flyers for prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional first-round pick.

In another move, the Maple Leafs moved then-prospect Fraser Minten and a first-round pick to the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Had Schenn joined Toronto, he would've been a Craig Berube favorite after the two won a Stanley Cup together with St. Louis in 2019. Schenn is in the sixth season of an eight-year, $52 million contract, which carries an annual average value of $6.5 million.

The 34-year-old has nine goals and 18 points in 44 games with the Blues this season.

'It Was Between Florida And Toronto': Panthers' Brad Marchand Reveals Signing With Maple Leafs Was Possibility If He Hit Free AgencyMarchand added on Tuesday that, despite Toronto's strong play as of late, it was unfortunate to see that the fans "ran" Mitch Marner out of town.

It would've been fascinating to see how the Maple Leafs would've looked had they made this trade.

Cowan is well-liked by Berube, who currently has him on a third line with Nicolas Roy and Nick Robertson. The trio has developed quite a chemistry since coming together, and have combined for nine points in their four games as a line.

The 20-year-old has five goals and 12 points in 31 games this season.

Danford, who was the other prospect reportedly thrown into the possible trade, just finished up the World Juniors with Team Canada, where he won a bronze medal and was primarily a third-pairing defenseman. He tallied one assist in seven games.

The 19-year-old impressed many Maple Leafs at the NHL camp last fall and is arguably Toronto's number-one prospect now that Cowan has moved on to the NHL. Danford is in his final year of the OHL, currently on a strong Brantford Bulldogs team with Memorial Cup hopes.

Maple Leafs reportedly want to add on defense

Speaking of trades, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is reportedly seeing what's out there when it comes to the defenseman market.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Toronto's "primary focus" at the moment is on its blue line.

Two games after Chris Tanev returned from an upper-body injury — which forced him to miss almost two months — he picked up a lower-body ailment that could require surgery.

Maple Leafs Lose Chris Tanev And Dakota Joshua For 'Significant Time', Other Injury UpdatesTanev picked up a groin injury, and Joshua suffered a kidney injury in Sunday's game against the Red Wings.

The Maple Leafs did get Brandon Carlo back on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, and that's a big boost given how much he can play. (He finished with a plus-two, playing 17:41 of ice time alongside Morgan Rielly on Toronto's top pair.)

"The problem Treliving has right now," Dreger reports, "is that the market is thin. We're talking about older defense, perhaps the end of their run, and third-pairing guys. So there hasn't been a fit that's surfaced just yet."

NHL insider Chris Johnston released his latest trade board for The Athletic, and two Pittsburgh Penguins made the cut: defenseman Brett Kulak and forward Bryan Rust. 

Kulak was given the No. 21 spot on Johnston's list. The 32-year-old defenseman certainly has the potential to generate interest from contenders, as he is a solid bottom-pairing defenseman with plenty of playoff experience. 

In 10 games with the Penguins since being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers earlier this season, Kulak has recorded two assists, 20 blocks, and an even plus/minus rating. This is after he had two assists and a minus-7 rating in 31 games for the Oilers before being acquired by Pittsburgh. 

Rust, on the other hand, landed the No. 32 spot on Johnston's new trade board. The star winger has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time, but the Penguins also do not need to rush a move centering around him. This is because he is signed until the end of the 2027-28 season. 

Any potential Rust trade would be a big deal, as he is an incredibly important part of the Penguins' roster. However, with the Penguins also focused on the future, he has the potential to be an excellent trade chip for them if they are open to moving him. 

Winnipeg Jets rookie forward Danny Zhilkin is expected to make his long-awaited NHL debut Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers, marking a major milestone in his young professional career.

The Jets recalled the 22-year-old from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose ahead of the matchup, finally giving Zhilkin his first opportunity at the NHL level after three seasons of development within the organization. To create roster space, Winnipeg placed defenseman Haydn Fleury on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 6.

Fleury was injured during Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights after taking a hard fall into the boards following a hit. The defenseman was stretchered off the ice in a scary scene and has since been diagnosed with a broken nose and a bruised back.

Set for a memorable day ✈️

Danny Zhilkin will make his @NHL debut tonight!@Wawanesa | #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/oB55RIGN3L

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 8, 2026

For Zhilkin, the recall is the result of patience and steady progress. Selected by the Jets in the third round, 102nd overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft, he entered the professional ranks with high expectations and has gradually rounded out his game with the Moose. Each season has shown measurable growth, both offensively and defensively.

This year, Zhilkin has recorded 14 points in 30 games, already nearing the combined 17 points he produced across his first two AHL seasons. His increased production has come alongside improved consistency away from the puck, an area the Jets have prioritized in his development. His responsible two-way play has helped him earn trust from coaches and management alike.

Zhilkin was on the cusp of making the Jets earlier this season, surviving until the final roster cuts of training camp after an impressive preseason. At the time, his performance left the impression that an NHL debut was inevitable and Wednesday’s recall confirms that belief.

In his 100th @TheAHL game, Danny Zhilkin finds the back of the net!#GoMooseGopic.twitter.com/dgv6q6hC17

— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) October 18, 2025

The timing of Zhilkin’s opportunity may also reflect a broader shift for Winnipeg. With losses piling up and postseason aspirations growing slimer, the Jets appear poised to take a longer look at their younger players to evaluate future roles. Zhilkin now gets the first chance to prove he belongs, with Thursday’s game against Edmonton serving as the opening chapter of his NHL journey.

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