The Ottawa Senators are currently in a tough spot. At the time of this writing, they trail the Boston Bruins by seven points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Senators are also behind the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets, so they have a lot of work to do to try to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Yet, with the Senators' playoff hopes not looking the best, a former Philadelphia Flyers star has now entered the rumor mill.
In a recent article for The Athletic, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun wrote that the Senators could make former Flyers captain Claude Giroux available if they struggle in their games leading up to the deadline.
"Giroux has a full no-move clause, and Ottawa is his home. But he’s also never won a Cup. My sense is Giroux would rather stay put because he thinks they can still make the playoffs. But if the Sens struggle over the next week and dig a hole, that could make him think about things," LeBrun wrote.
If the Senators make Giroux available and the longtime Flyer is open to a trade, there is no question that he should generate a lot of interest. Even at 38 years old, the former Flyer is still an impactful forward in the NHL. His stats this season demonstrate this, as he has 11 goals, 28 assists, 39 points, and a plus-15 rating in 58 games with Ottawa.
With the Flyers being below the Senators in the standings, a reunion with Giroux at the deadline won't be happening. However, there should be plenty of playoff teams interested in him, as he is exactly the kind of veteran forward that contenders love to add.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Senators end up moving Giroux from here.
After losing to the New York Islanders in overtime on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens will get one last chance for revenge against the Washington Capitals this season. Spencer Carbery’s men eliminated the Habs last spring and beat them twice already this season: 8-4 in the first duel in November with Jakub Dobes in net and 3-2 in January with Samuel Montembeault in net.
The Caps were in action at home on Friday night, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, and will therefore be playing the second game of a back-to-back against the Habs. Washington is currently on the outside looking in of the playoff picture, sitting in ninth place of the Eastern Conference with 69 points, two points behind the Boston Bruins. However, Boston has three games in hand because the Caps have already played 61 games, leaving them with very little room for error. They’re on a three-game winning streak and have a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games.
As for the Canadiens, they were overtaken in the standings by both the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres in the last two days. Both teams have 74 points, one point ahead of the Habs, but the Sainte-Flanelle has a game in hand. With Thursday night’s loss, Montreal has a 6-2-2 record in its last 10 games and needs to start winning in regulation in a hurry. Every point given to the opponents in a tight playoff race matters.
Since Montembeault got the start on Thursday, and Martin St-Louis has already said that both goaltenders would get a game this week, Dobes will be in the net tonight. The Czech netminder has a 1-1-0 record against the visitors with a 3.71 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage. As for Montembeault, he’s 2-3-1 with a 3.63 GAA and a .891 SV.
Meanwhile, Charlie Lindgren will get the start against his former team since Logan Thompson was in the net on Friday. Lindgren has a 4-1-0 record against the Canadiens with a 2.83 GAA and a .889 SV. As for Thompson, he’s 2-0-1 against the Habs with a 2.58 GAA and a .900 SV.
Up front, it will be interesting to see whether St-Louis sticks with the same lineup or if Zachary Bolduc returns. Nick Suzuki is Montreal’s most productive forward against the Caps with 20 points in just 17 games, followed by Brendan Gallagher with 16 points in 32 games and Mike Matheson with 15 points in 29 games. It’s also worth noting that Cole Caufield has 14 points in just 13 games against Washington. As for Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson, they’ve been on fire since they were put on the same pairing. Hutson has a five-game point streak with six points over that span, while Dobson has a six-game point streak with nine points, including three goals.
The Canadiens will need to keep a close eye on Alexander Ovechkin, who is the Caps’ top point producer against the Tricolore with 74 points in 62 games. The Great Eight has not found the back of the net in his last seven games, and a meeting with Montreal might be just what the doctor ordered for the sharpshooter who has four points in two duels so far this season.
John Carlsson is Washington’s second most productive skater with 28 points in 46 games, followed by Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has 23 points in 27 games. The Quebecer has five points in three games since returning from an abdominal surgery that sidelined him for four months. Surprisingly, fourth-liner Ethan Frank has seven points in three duels with the Habs, including six points in the two games played so far this season.
The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVAS, CITY, SNE, and MNMT. Jake Brenk and Cody Beach, a former St. Louis Blues draft pick who never made the NHL as a player, are set to officiate, while Devin Berg and Travis Toomey will be the linemen.
Adam Fox is one of the best offensive defensemen in the sport. Despite the down year for New York, he is once again producing at a 70+ point pace over a full schedule.
My Penguins vs. Rangers predictions see Fox playing a key role offensively in this Metro Division battle.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, February 28.
Penguins vs Rangers prediction
Penguins vs Rangers best bet: Adam Fox Over 0.5 points (-115)
Injuries and the New York Rangers’ underwhelming play have obscured the fact Adam Fox has produced 28 points through 31 games.
Fox started slow but has hit the scoresheet in 10 of his last 15, including against high-end opponents like Tampa (x2), Carolina, and Colorado.
It's par for the course with Fox, who has nine points over his past nine against Top-10 teams in goals allowed. That bodes well for his chances against the Pittsburgh Penguins (seventh-most goals against)
He also QBs the No. 1 power play, and New York is 3-for-7 on the man advantage against Pittsburgh this season.
Penguins vs Rangers same-game parlay
Fox has a strong shooting history against the Penguins, generating multiple shots in seven of the last nine head-to-head meetings.
Fox has averaged 5.1 attempts over his past 10 home games, taking 4+ in nine of them. He has 2+ shots on target in 69% of games this season when attempting four shots or more.
J.T. Miller is skating on the top line and shares the ice with Fox on the No. 1 power play unit, making him a strong correlation play.
Penguins vs Rangers SGP
Adam Fox Over 0.5 points
Adam Fox 1.5 shots on goal
J.T. Miller Over 0.5 points
Penguins vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -115 | New York -105
Puck line: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+215) | New York +1.5 (-270)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Penguins vs Rangers trend
Adam Fox has points in seven of his past 10 games against Pittsburgh. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Rangers.
How to watch Penguins vs Rangers
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Puck drop
12:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Penguins vs Rangers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
New York Islanders - 33-21-5 - 71 Points - 6-4-0 in the last 10 - Won 3 - 3rd in the Metro.
Columbus Blue Jackets - 29-21-7 - 65 Points - 8-2-0 in the last 10 - Lost 1 - 4th in the Metro.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped in the first game following the Olympic Break with a 4-2 loss at Boston on Thursday.
The Blue Jackets, who open a stretch of five-of-six games played at home on Saturday, have won four consecutive home games since Jan. 22 and earned points in eight-of-nine contests at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (7-1-1).
Since Dec. 22, the Blue Jackets have gone 15-6-1 (31 pts, .705 points pct.) and are among NHL leaders in team save percentage (.910/3rd-T), points (5th-T), goals-against per game (2.59, 5th), penalty kill pct. (83.3 pct./5th-T), points pct (6th-T) and goals-for per game (3.41/12th).
The club has scored the opening goal in 11 of the past 13 games and has scored the first goal in 35 contests (24-7-4), tied for third-most in the NHL in 2025-26.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle ranks sixth-T in the NHL in scoring since Jan. 24 with 5-7-12 and four multi-point efforts in seven games.
Adam Fantilli posted his eighth multi-point effort of the season with 1-1-2 on Thursday and has totaled 2-6-8 in the past seven contests. He has set a single-season career high in assists with 14-24-38 in 57 games in 2025-26.
Boone Jenner (207-203-410, 784 GP), who is the club's all-time leader in games played and ranks third in goals and points, is one assist from tying David Vyborny (204) for third-most in CBJ history.
Mason Marchment collected his third multi-point outing as a Blue Jacket with two assists on Thursday. He has totaled 9-6-15 in 15 games since making his debut with the club on Dec. 20.
Zach Werenski helped Team USA capture a Gold Medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics (1-5-6, 6 GP). He collected an assist on Thursday to tie his career-high points streak at eight games (2-9-11) originally set from Nov. 15-Dec. 1, 2024 (5-11-16). He also has points in 21 of his past 23 games played since Dec. 11 (11-22-33, 10 multi-point efforts).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.6% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.2% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 176 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 180 - 17th in the NHL
IslandersStats
Power Play - 16.1% - 28th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 81.5% - 9th in the NHL
Goals For - 169 - 22nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 160 - 4th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheIslanders
Columbus is 28-23-1-7 all-time, and 19-7-1-4 at home vs. New York.
The home team is 11-3-1 in the last 15, and 5-0-1 in the last 6.
The CBJ have killed off 9 of 10 NYI power plays.
The winning team has won by multiple goals in seven of the last nine meetings overall, including five-straight at Nationwide Arena.
Each team has recorded a 2-0 shutout victory over the past five contests played at Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets have killed off 9-of-10 Islanders power play attempts over the last five contests played in Ohio (90 pct.).
CBJ have recorded five shutouts in the all-time series (MR: Merzlikins, 26 saves in 2-0 W at CBJ on Oct. 30, 2024).
The teams have averaged a combined 58.5 shots on goal in the past six meetings of the series.
Who To Watch For TheIslanders
Bo Horvat leads the team with 24 goals
Mathew Barzal leads NYI with 35 assists and 52 points.
Ilya Sorokin is 21-13-2 with a SV% of .915.
David Rittich is 12-8-3 with a SV% of .900
CBJ Player Notes vs.Islanders
Zach Werenski has 15 points in 25 career games vs. the Islanders.
Boone Jenner has 16 points in 34 games.
Mason Marchment has 5 points in 10 games against New York.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 19 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 156
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The San Jose Sharks may have acquired forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks just last month, but the gritty forward is right back in the rumor mill.
If the Sharks end up shopping Sherwood, let's look at three teams that could make sense as landing spots for the 30-year-old winger.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are having a great year, as they are at the top of the Atlantic Division standings. With this, they will be buyers at the deadline, and one of their needs is another impactful winger in their middle six. Due to this, it would not be surprising at all if they made a serious push for Sherwood. He would not only give them a skilled forward with an edge but also would come at an affordable price for the Bolts.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche were often connected to Sherwood before the Sharks acquired him from the Canucks. Due to this, it would make sense if the Avalanche pursued him again leading up to the deadline. Sherwood would give the Avalanche's forward group a nice boost and would provide them with another player who is built for the playoffs.
In the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman discussed the Montreal Canadiens and mentioned that they have been exploring options on defence. The insider said:
“You know the Canadiens, I do think they’ve looked at some of those Ds guys like Ristolainen or guys like that.”
Friedman failed to mention who else would fit into the “guys like that” category, but looking at Ristolainen, I struggle to see how the Philadelphia Flyers would be a viable option for the Canadiens. Of course, he’s a right-shot defenseman, and he’s big at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, but he doesn’t play big. In just 21 games this season with the Philadelphia Flyers, he has landed a total of 21 hits. That’s hardly the kind of contribution they’d need in the playoffs.
Furthermore, the last time he played a full 82-game season was back in 2015-16 with the Buffalo Sabres. He’s suffered multiple right triceps tendon ruptures, which have led to multiple surgeries over the years, and this season, he didn’t start playing until mid-December.
The Canadiens already have a couple of defensemen on their books who are very good on paper but have sustained more than their fair share of injuries on the ice: Kaiden Guhle and David Reinbacher. Do they need a 31-year-old who has another season to go with a $5.1M cap hit? Unless they have concerns about Reinbacher and think he needs more time in the AHL, it would be a puzzling move for the Canadiens’ brass.
I believe if the Canadiens move before the deadline, it will once again be a Kent Hughes surprise move, one that seems to come out of left field and that wasn’t in any of the rumours. The Habs have always been a tight-lip organization, and I’d be surprised if that changed anytime soon.
Ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline, one Eastern Conference team has been blowing up the Philadelphia Flyers' phones more than others.
As it turns out, Flyers forward Owen Tippett, who will have minor trade protection kick in on his contract this summer, has a group of admirers in the northeast.
On Friday, Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco reported that the Boston Bruins are a team that has called about Tippett "several times this season."
"One name the Bruins have checked in on several times this season is winger Owen Tippett, who is under contract for six seasons beyond this one at an AAV of $6.2 million," Di Marco wrote.
"The Flyers aren’t looking to move the 27-year-old winger by any means but are open to discussions, though the price to get him out of Philadelphia would have to be significant. The Bruins feel like Tippett brings a different style of game and a versatility that they are lacking."
On the other side of the equation, Di Marco mentioned Bruins center prospects Matt Poitras and Dean Letourneau as players of interest to the Flyers, as well as left-shot defenseman Mason Lohrei.
Given the Flyers' logjam at the winger position, it would appear, on the surface, to be a no-brainer to move someone with Tippett's value to acquire players at other positions of need.
Letourneau, a 6-foot-7 center and 2024 first-round pick, was absolutely awful for Boston College last season, scoring just three assists in 26 games.
This year, however, has been a completely different story, and the 20-year-old has exploded for 19 goals, 15 assists, and 34 points in only 31 games.
It's been well-documented how the Flyers have loved to draft for size over the last two drafts, and Letourneau would certainly fit right in. Size aside, he's also a decent skater and has real puck skills to boot.
As for Poitras, the 22-year-old former second-round pick already has 69 games of NHL experience with the Bruins, scoring seven goals, 20 assists, and 27 points.
He's the least attractive option of the two centers, but Poitras does have the skill the Flyers need down the middle.
Lohrei, 25, was notably selected by the Bruins (58th) after the Flyers had selected Emil Andrae (54th) in the 2020 NHL Draft, and now the American blueliner could very well find himself tapped to replace his Swedish draft classmate.
Andrae's 5-foot-9 size does not appear to jive with what the Flyers are trying to do with their defense corps in the long-term, while Lohrei, who is 6-foot-5 and has 69 points in 171 games, can move the puck equally well while being capable of doing more physically.
As Di Marco noted, Lohrei carries a $3.2 million cap hit and could be jettisoned in an effort to create further cap space for the Bruins.
From the Flyers' perspective, Lohrei is an RFA again in the 2027 offseason, so there aren't going to be any significant financial or long-term commitments they're bound by if things don't work out in Philadelphia.
If the Flyers can swap Tippett for any combination of these players, especially given that Porter Martone will arrive soon and Tyson Foerster will eventually return from injury, the organization will be setting themselves up nicely to ice a much more well-rounded and competitive roster in the near future.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 06: Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins checks Vincent Trocheck #16 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on December 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-12, 72 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ New York Rangers (22-29-7, 51 points, 8th place Metropolitan Division)
When: 12:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: National broadcast on ABC
Pens’ Path Ahead: Things are about to get busy for the Pens, who are back home for a 1 p.m. ET matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow and then go on to play five games over the next nine days.
Opponent Track: The Rangers are still looking for their first win since the Olympic break after blowing a 2-0 lead in what became a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Season Series: The Pens and Rangers split this series early in October (the Penguins won 3-0 in New York before losing 6-1 at home five days later) before the Pens just barely held off the Rangers from a comeback in a 6-5 win at home on Jan. 31.
Hidden Stat: The Rangers are tied for the fewest home points (17) and fewest home wins (six) of any team in the NHL after going 6-15-5 at Madison Square Garden so far this season. (The Pens rank sixth for road wins after compiling a 16-7-5 record in away games).
Getting to know the Rangers
Projected lines
FORWARDS
J.T. Miller – Mika Zibanejad – Gabriel Perreault
Will Cuylle – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafrenière
Conor Sheary – Noah Laba – Brendan Brisson
Tye Karate – Sam Carrick – Taylor Raddysh
DEFENSEMEN
Vladislav Gavrikov / Adam Fox
Braden Schneider / Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson / Vinent Iorio
Goalies: Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Squick
Potential scratches: Urho Vaakanainen, Jonny Brodzinski, Scott Morrow
Injured Reserve: Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe
The Rangers sent Brennan Othmann back to the AHL yesterday after claiming Tye Kartye off waivers from the Seattle Kraken. Kartye was a regular healthy scratch in Seattle, but he’ll see if he can get back to the form that saw him post 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 77 games of his 2023-24 rookie campaign with the Kraken. He could be making his Rangers debut today against the Pens.
Kartye could be poised to get more opportunities given the number of trade rumors surrounding the selling Rangers. Players including Braden Schneider, Vladislav Gavrikov and Vincent Trocheck have been popping up in the rumor mill lately.
Both Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, who had each been sidelined since early January, returned to the Rangers’ lineup Thursday. So was Sheary, who had missed 15 games with a lower-body injury.
Despite his team’s overall struggles this season, Shesterkin ranks top-10 in both save percentage (.912) and goals against average (2.47) among goalies who have made at least 20 appearances this season.
The Rangers are without their leading producer this season after trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings earlier this month.
Even with 34-year-old Panarin playing on the West Coast, the Rangers are being led by their veterans. Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, all 32, lead the Rangers in points without Panarin.
Alexis Lafrenière ranks fourth on the active roster with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 58 games. His 0.52 career points-per-game rate is the fourth-lowest among former No. 1 picks with at least 400 NHL games played, per ESPN.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Avery Hayes – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard (?) / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Ilya Solovyov
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
Sam Girard, who missed Friday’s practice while being evaluated for a lower-body injury, is traveling to New York with the team.
Stuart Skinner has a career 5-1-1 record against the Rangers, although he was in net as the Pens narrowly avoided blowing a late lead against the Blueshirts back on Jan. 31.
The Penguins are 13-3-3 since acquiring Egor Chinakhov in December, a 19-game stretch over which Chinakhov has recorded 13 points (nine goals, four assists).
Kris Letang is heading into today’s game just two points shy of 800. He could be the 21st defenseman and fourth active blueliner after Brent Burns, teammate Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman to reach the milestone.
Ole, ole ole ole, silence, in Montreal. | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders remain on the road in Columbus before coming back home tomorrow for a meeting with the Panthers. Both opponent are chasing to get back in the wild card spots, though it’s looking bleak for the two-time defending Cup champs. The Blue Jackets have two games in hand on the Isles but trail by three games, and those extra games mean their post-Olympic schedule is all the more compressed.
Trade deadline talk: Bill Guerin still has more to do, while the tanking teams are fully prepared for the tank. [NHL]
Trade rumors: apparently Sergei Bobrovsky, who’s old, having a terrible season and finishing a mammoth contract, feels like he deserves more. [Sportsnet]
But Steven Stamkos and his NMC have no intention of leaving Nashville. [TSN]
Whether he admits it or not, Connor Ingram may have to be the answer in Edmonton after the Oilers’ strange bet on Tristan Jarry. [Sportsnet]
Chris Drury was booed by Smurfs fans during a moment honoring the U.S. gold medalists. [Post]
Tyler Seguin is believed out for the season and playoffs. [TSN]
There has been a whole lot going right for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2025-26 season, and much of it can be credited to the work of general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas.
He brought in the right free agents during the offseason, including defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and forwards Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha. He has also managed to get maximum value from the trades he has made.
And one of those trades - and, inarguably, the best so far - was the one in late December that landed winger Egor Chinakhov for a second- and a third-round pick.
The 24-year-old forward - selected 21st overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020 - requested a trade from Columbus over the summer, and his season didn’t start off the way he or the Jackets would have wanted it to. Before heading over to Pittsburgh this season, he had just three goals and six points in 29 games to go along with a minus-6.
Since then? Nine goals and 13 points in 20 games, and the vast majority of those have come playing on the same line as Evgeni Malkin. In fact, Malkin has six assists on Chinakhov’s nine goals, and five of them are primary assists.
A 39-goal pace for Chinakhov isn’t too shabby, but neither is an 87-point pace for the 39-year-old Malkin, who is on an expiring contract. Chinakhov is the kind of scoring winger that Malkin has lacked since the days of Phil Kessel from 2015-19, and their chemistry has, undeniably, been a huge asset to the Penguins winning hockey games, as they are 13-3-4 since acquiring Chinakhov.
And, if the Penguins have been paying any attention to the magic of the Malkin-Chinakhov combination, it should be a no-brainer to bring Malkin back for another season or two.
The striking thing about Chinakhov is that his goal-scoring doesn’t appear to be a fluke. Yes, it’s highly unlikely that he will continue at his current pace for the rest of the season, but it’s also worth considering that he’ll be playing a more elevated role without Sidney Crosby in the lineup for a few more weeks.
But his shot is legitimate. So are his hockey smarts and his ability to somehow always expose the soft areas of the ice and be in position to create scoring chances. So is his defensive ability. So is his speed. This is a player who is not only a scoring threat, but a complete package.
Malkin’s playmaking is still legitimate, too. He is on pace for 68 assists, which would be the second-highest total of his career behind his 2008-09 campaign in which he registered 35 goals and 78 assists for 113 points. He is probably beyond the point in his career where he will be putting the puck in the back of the net with much regularity, but that’s almost a non-issue if he can consistently set up a player who is capable of putting the puck in the back of the net with regularity.
The fact is that Chinakhov is a revelation for Malkin and the Penguins, and he’s the exact kind of player who has the potential to extend Malkin’s career. With no Chinakhov in the picture, it’s very possible that Malkin would not be producing at the rate that he is, and even if he was, there’s no guarantee he would have the talent around him beyond this season to sustain this level of production.
Chinakhov is also a restricted free agent this offseason, and he has already expressed his desire to return to Pittsburgh. At this point, why not make Malkin and Chinakhov a package deal?
The Buffalo Sabres were one of multiple teams linked to forward Kiefer Sherwood before the Vancouver Canucks traded him to the San Jose Sharks. It was easy to understand, as the Sabres could use a hard-nosed forward who also contributes offensively in their top nine.
While the Sabres missed out on Sherwood earlier this season, they should consider making another push for him with the deadline rapidly approaching.
If the Sharks end up making Sherwood officially available, the Sabres should consider making a major push for him. With the Sabres currently in a good spot in the standings, they are in a position to boost their forward group. Landing Sherwood would give them just that.
If the Sabres acquired Sherwood, he would have the potential to be a strong fit in their top nine. Furthermore, due to his solid two-way play, he would also be a clear fit on the Sabres' power play and penalty kill if acquired.
In 46 games this season split between the Canucks and Sharks, Sherwood has recorded 17 goals, 23 points, and 222 hits.
Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov did not hold back when asked about a controversial goal that was scored Friday night.
The Panthers were hosting the Buffalo Sabres, one of several teams Florida is chasing in a late-season push for a playoff spot.
With the game tied at one during the third period, a long shot by Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn went past Tarasov’s waiving glove and into the top of the net.
There was just 8:22 on the clock.
The goal gave Buffalo a lead they would not relinquish, eventually skating to a 3-2 victory for the despondent Panthers.
Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice called for an official review on the goal, as replay showed Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson hitting Tarasov’s glove with the blade of his stick while trying to position himself for a redirection.
It seemed like a simple enough review.
Samuelsson’s stick hit Tarasov’s glove as the goaltender was trying to catch the puck.
The NHL’s Situation Room did not feel the same way, ultimately allowing the goal and giving the explanation of the contact between the stick and the glove being incidental.
After the game, Tarasov did not hold back when asked what he thought about the play.
“Oh absolutely, it was contact before the shot,” he said. “They called Toronto, and I don’t know what these guys are smoking there, or they were disappointed about yesterday’s loss, I don’t know.”
From the goaltender’s perspective, he was in his crease and he was trying to reach for the puck, and that ability was hindered by an opponent’s stick.
For Tarasov, a 26-year-old who has been tending goal long enough to have a good idea what is and isn’t goalie interference, he was left flabbergasted by the call.
“I go to catch the puck and this guy is driving into me, and they said it was kind of slightly contact that’s allowed because he tried to tip the puck,” said Tarasov. “But I can’t even move a different way, and he stopped me from reaching for the puck.”
It was a sentiment that was also felt by Maurice.
His reaction on the bench was a combination of shock and anger.
“I thought he was riding the glove, and made contact with it twice, so for me that one was pretty quick and pretty easy, I didn’t really spend much time thinking about it,” Maurice said. “They felt it was more incidental.”
Paul Maurice was in DISBELIEF after his challenge for goalie interference didn't overturn the Sabres' go-ahead goal 😳🫣 pic.twitter.com/3UcdxQgUjr
Photo caption: Feb 27, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) defends hit net against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Kings’ mascot gave up his jersey number for Artemi Panarin, and in return, the ex-Rangers star decided to ice him out.
Panarin, who was traded to the Kings shortly before the Olympic break earlier this month, was looking to adopt the jersey No. 72 upon arriving in Los Angeles. But the number was already taken by the team’s mascot, Bailey.
A number trade then commenced between the two parties, with Panarin giving the mascot a Rolex watch in return for the No. 72 jersey, with the Kings posting the exchange on social media Friday.
Since the two will never be on the ice at the same time, Bailey will continue to wear the number in the stands, which seems to be a clear win-win for the mascot.
The reason behind Bailey wearing No. 72 is “because it’s always 72 degrees in Los Angeles,” according to NHL.com.
Bailey got a Rolex in exchange for allowing Artemi Paranin to wear the No. 72 jersey. LA Kings on X
After agreeing to waive his no-movement clause with the Rangers, the 34-year-old Panarin said he “tried to find a team for myself that was where I wanted to be” while facilitating the trade to Los Angeles.
The Rangers shipped Panarin off to the Kings on Feb. 4, getting prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional draft pick in return.
Upon acquiring Panarin, the Kings signed him to a two-year, $22 million contract extension.
The Kings signed Panarin to a two-year $22 million contract extension. LA Kings on X
Despite his breakup with the Blueshirts, Panarin said that he was “pretty proud” to don the Rangers jersey and made some good memories while on the team.
“Six-and-a-half seasons is a pretty long time [to be in New York]. … A lot of good memories, a couple [Eastern] Conference finals. It was a great group of guys,” Panarin told reporters on Feb. 6. “I was pretty proud to wear [the Rangers’] jersey.
“And thank you to the fans. I have to make a video, actually.”
For the second straight year, the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens will play a preseason game in a non-NHL arena. But the setting will be anything but neutral. The teams will meet Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, in Trois-Rivières, Que., at Colisée Vidéotron.
Last fall, the Senators agreed to play two preseason games in Quebec City in hopes of winning over Nordiques fans who've now been without their NHL team for about 30 years.
This year's Sens visit to La Belle Province is because Saint-Boniface, a municipality about 30 km away from Trois-Rivières, was the winner of last year's Kraft Hockeyville contest. Saint-Boniface, which has just over 5,000 people, received $250,000 for upgrades to Aréna de Saint-Boniface and $10,000 worth of youth hockey equipment from NHLPA Goals & Dreams.
However, the local rink wouldn't be able to accommodate an NHL game. So instead, it will be played at Colisée Vidéotron, which seats over 4000 people and is home to the Trois-Rivières Lions, the Montreal Canadiens ECHL affiliate.
So just like last year's matchup in Quebec City, where Montreal beat the Senators 5-0, the stands will again be jammed with Canadiens fans, although snarky NHL fans might also point out that's also true for the games in Ottawa.
“In Quebec, hockey is part of everyday life—from local arenas to the pride fans have in their favourite team,” said Simon Laroche, President of Kraft Heinz Canada om. [ress release."
"This pre-season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators for the community of Saint-Boniface provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate hockey culture in Quebec as we mark the program’s 20th anniversary.”
According to the press release, Aréna de Saint-Boniface's future was uncertain, but thanks to the upgrades, the community has a happy home for the next wave of hockey players.
GM Steve Staios says the Senators are always committed to grassroots initiatives, both in the Ottawa-Gatineau region and elsewhere in the country.
"We are proud to once again participate in Kraft Hockeyville," Staios said in the release. "Over the years, we have witnessed that hockey is part of the fabric of the communities that we visit. We look forward to the opportunity to bring Ottawa Senators hockey to these areas as a celebration of our sport and the Canadian communities that continue to grow the game."
The matchup is just four days away from the 20th anniversary of the first Kraft Hockeyville game in Salmon River, NS, which also featured these same two teams. This will be the tenth time the Senators have taken part.
![Malkin: Contract Extension Talks Will 'Wait [Until] End Of Season'](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_hockey_news_pittsburgh_penguins_articles_513/d9f125e686e66169ad44ccb7deb17371)
