Following Kevin Fiala's scary injury that forced him to be stretchered off the ice against Team Canada on Friday, Switzerland announced that their left winger and alternate captain will not be returning for the rest of the 2026 men's Olympic hockey tournament.
"Kevin Fiala had to leave the ice due to injury three minutes before the end of the game. Medical examinations revealed a lower leg injury that rules him out of the 2026 Olympic Games," the Swiss national team revealed in a statement.
Fiala's injury is a massive blow to Switzerland and their hopes of medaling at this competition. In addition, this could play a factor with the Los Angeles Kings and their playoff hopes in the NHL.
The 29-year-old is a driver of the Los Angeles offense and is the third-highest scorer on the team in points and goals. He was second on the team in both categories before Artemi Panarin was acquired ahead of the Olympic break.
Fiala has played 56 games in the NHL this season and has recorded 18 goals and 40 points for the Kings. He's also averaging a career-high 19:09 of ice time per game, proving how crucial he is to Los Angeles' forward group.
That happened in Game 1 in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the St. Louis Blues, and he was out for the rest of the post-season. Nashville advanced to the Cup final that year and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As for Fiala in this NHL regular season, his availability following the Olympics is unclear. The Kings' first game back is against the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 25 at Crypto.com Arena.
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Alexandre Texier may be the only member of the French national team to play in the NHL, but he’s not the only one who’s ever played there or for the Montreal Canadiens, for that matter. In Milano-Cortina, Cristobal Huet is France’s goaltending coach, but not so long ago, he was manning the net for the Habs.
Huet spent seven years in the NHL and played 272 games, posting a 129-90-32 record. He finished his career with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He spent three seasons in Montreal, playing 117 games and posting a 58-39-13 record with a 2.53 GAA and a .920 SV%. He was traded out of town towards the end of the 2007-08 season when the organization felt it was time to give the reins to a very young Carey Price.
I’ve watched the Canadiens’ games remotely and through Tex, I thought back to my great years in Montreal, but I’m mostly just so happy for him. I told him to come into his own with the Canadiens. I feel he’ll get the opportunity to show how talented he is in the NHL. We spoke about how much pleasure one gets from playing in Montreal. The fans are generous, and there is such a rich hockey culture. When things are going well, Montreal is an extraordinary hockey town. Tex has wide eyes when he describes the Bell Centre. I think that’s so nice for him.
- Huet on Texier
The Frenchman has had a great start to his career in Montreal. In 38 games so far, he has picked up 18 points and has even found himself playing on the first line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. His timing to join the Habs was perfect. With so many injuries plaguing the team and Juraj Slafkovsky developing interesting chemistry with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov, there was an opening on the first line, and he grabbed his opportunity with both hands.
Granted, had the team been healthy, he likely wouldn’t have had the opportunity to step into that role, but he showed what he can do and was able to earn a two-year contract extension from the Canadiens. Kent Hughes signed him to a deal that will give him $5 million over the next two seasons, on top of the million he got for this year in Montreal. Of course, that’s not first-line winger money because in an ideal world, Texier wouldn’t be so high in the lineup, and he’s aware of that.
Texier bet on himself when he agreed to a contract termination with the St. Louis Blues, and he’s now reaping the benefits. He put his career back on the rails, and he now has the honour of representing his country at the Olympics. The consensus is that not much is expected from France in Milano, but Texier has the right attitude, saying he’ll give his all for the jersey he wears and that you never know what can happen in a 60-minute hockey game.
The French lost their first game of the Olympic tournament 4-0 against Switzerland, but they still put up a good fight. Texier spent 23 minutes on the ice, more than any other forward and second only to one defenseman, who got 23:45 of ice time. He took three shots and finished the game with a minus-1 rating.
They gave Czechia a bit of a scare in their second game, but they also lost it, 6-3. Texier was held off the score sheet, but he did spend 20:45 on the ice, more than any of his teammates. The forward took one shot on net and finished the game with a minus-two rating.
Hello Devils friends and family, I hope you’re all enjoying your reprieve from *gestures at Newark*. It’s no secret that this current version of the Devils has flamed out spectacularly. If it is a secret… umm, surprise! They have 25 games left, and would need to go 20-4-1 to get to 99 points and be in a comfortable playoff spot. Your mileage may vary on what you see as the problem, and the blame game is in full force, from the owners to the 4th line to the medical team and most recently, Jack seems to be the target du jour. And quite frankly it’s all correct – there is blame to go around to everyone in that pile. Some pretty serious changes need to be made top to bottom.
The first step starts at the top. Tom Fitzgerald leads this organization, and leads my list of changes that need to be made and this seems to be a widely shared opinion. However, if Tom is replaced, it cannot be an interim GM from inside the organization. We need fresh eyes to dispassionately examine the roster, scouting, drafting, and operations. Jared wrote a longer blog about this and I agree: Our two AGMs are not people I would have faith in making the necessary changes for the Devils. Dan MacKinnon oversees a bad Utica team and ineffective player development, while Kate Madigan is behind the scenes and more of an operational role and has a large say in contracts. If Tom goes, both of them should as well so there is no connection between regimes. The third internal option scares me more than these two, advisor Chuck Fletcher. He is only an advisor because no one would touch him for a GM role – and guess what? He and Fitz are buddies and that’s why he is here and to advise on contracts, scouting, and operations.
This entire front office tenure can be summed up in the phrase “too little, too late.” Goalie changes, coaching changes, roster additions – all too little too late. The most recent acquisition, Nick Bjugstad, as Chris wrote was three months too late. The only big swing this group took was for Timo Meier, a deadline move that was about as obvious as can be, meanwhile we have gone 3 consecutive years with glaring season-long holes that went unaddressed. Colorado fixed their goalie issues a month into the 24-25 season, Carolina managed to swing a trade for Rantanen and later flip him when they realized he wasn’t going to sign long term. Don’t get me started on Quinn. Meanwhile Fitz builds his roster in the offseason and dabbles at the deadline, and even then he only comes in second, or “owes it to the team” to bring in Andrew Hammond.
One place I think we should probably retain is our amateur scouting mechanism. For as poor as the 1st round drafting has been, the team’s later rounds picking has been fine to good and the verdict is still out on some of the last two years. Daniil Orlov, Roszival, Moe, Cheslock, Yegorov, and Malek all show potential from our most recent crop and I encourage you to check in on James’ prospect updates.
We Know Tim, Get to the Point
Sorry, I get a little carried away talking about Fitz. Anyway, I wanted to look through a variety of GM/Front Office options, and truly hope the ownership group takes a broad sweeping look at different ways to approach the role(s). Whether that is finding a more “traditional” experienced Manager, whether they are going to split the President of Hockey Operations and GM roles, and whether they are going to look outside the box. So I decided to scour the marketplace for options that are very much traditional to options that are very much not – and people in between. We need to find the next Bill Zito, Breisbois, or Jim Nil – all three of which came from different worlds.
Luckily for me, I got some help from people that know more than me. As you probably are aware, Barry Trotz is stepping down as the Predators GM, and Elliott Friedman rattled off a variety of potential options on 32 Thoughts. Frank Seravelli mentioned on his show that there may be expectations that the Devils will be making a GM change this summer while also discussing the Preds job, implying the Devils job may be more desirable. So, let’s take a look at those options for the big chair.
Traditional “Hockey Guys” With GM Experience
Rob Blake: Blake is most notably known for stepping into he Kings GM where he pivoted the team into a significant roster rebuild and away form an aging core, bringing in Fiala, drafting Byfield and Clarke, and taking a swing on Dubois. I do like that he recognized that didn’t work and pivoted to a solution… how refreshing to have a GM realize his mistake and move off it getting value in return. His downfall was the Edmonton Oilers.
Brendan Shanahan: Hired to transform a struggling franchise, Shanahan initiated a comprehensive rebuild that resulted in drafting cornerstone players Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. He oversaw consistent regular-season success, including nine straight playoff appearances, however I think we are all aware of their failure to get past their playoff ghosts. He would probably be more of a POHO role, similar to what he held in Toronto, so if the Devils keep the role the same (POHO/GM) or split them into two separate roles – he could be a consideration.
Marc Bergevin: He is best known for his role as GM of the Montreal Canadiens (2012–2021), leading them to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final during the lockout year. Two of his key acquisitions were Nick Suzuki and Shea Weber (for PK). As GM of the Canadiens, he oversaw six playoff appearances and previously won a Stanley Cup as Director of Player Personnel with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
Peter Chiarelli: No.
Traditional “Hockey Guys” That Are AGMs
Jamie Langenbrunner: You many not know that he is the AGM of the Bruins where he manages player personnel decisions, evaluates pro and amateur talent, and oversees prospect progression. He is well thought of for his work in scouting, identifying player improvements, and assisting with draft preparations and is on the “next” list according to people that know things. Worth an interview.
Jason Spezza: Currently serves as an AGM under Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh. Moved with Dubas from Toronto to continue his work in hockey operations, scouting, and player development, particularly in Wilkes Barre, where he took over the role to manage the organization’s top prospects and minor league operations. He also served under Dubas as a special assistant with the Leafs from 22-23, so since his entry into management he has had a pretty impressive apprenticeship with one of the league’s best young GMs. It’s no coincidence that Toronto is a on dumpster fire watch after both he and Dubas left. Dubas (and by extension Spezza) gets a lot of flak for no real reason, he was really hurt by the Covid-induced flat cap more than anything. Also worth an interview.
“Hockey Guys” you May Not Know (Mostly AGMs)
Ryan Bowness: Ryan Bowness is a prominent NHL executive currently serving as the AGM and Director of Player Personnel of the Islanders. He has moved up the ranks on the player personnel and pro scouting side of the house through Atlanta/Winnipeg, Ottawa and Pittsburgh. I have long felt our pro scouting is severely lacking, and instead of unearthing undervalued assets, we have given known commodities term on the back half of their deals in UFA.
Ryan Johnson: Ryan Johnson is currently the AGM of the Canucks and GM of Abbotsford. You may balk at the Vancouver part of that, but he has overseen a very successful Abbotsford team that won the Calder Cup in 2025. He also comes from the player development side of the house which also needs some work (see comment under Bowness). He is credited with the AHL -> NHL transition of guys like Silovs and Hoglander, while also working on the cap and pro scouting.
Brad Pascal: Brad Pascal is currently the Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames, a role he has held since 2014. He also serves as the General Manager of the Flames’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. He also serves as co-general manager for international events for Hockey Canada such as the Spengler Cup, working alongside Joe Thornton. One thing the Devils lack is any high end Candians which (in my opinion) may be a contributing factor to the currents Tate of the team and he has been very successful in his tenure with Hockey Canada: 3x Olympic Gold, 5 consecutive World Junior Golds, 2004 World Cup and IIHF gold in 03 and 04. My only issue with all of that? it’s been a while, but he would be worth a conversation.
“Non-Traditional” AGMs From Winning Cultures
Some would point to a roadmap for finding the next great GM: an impressive apprenticeship for well run, winning organizations. If you are of the mind that avoiding the old boys club of recycled options is the best path, the below group of guys is for you.
Sunny Mehta is one of the primary architects of the current Florida regime, comes from an analytics background and was a professional poker player. He is largely considered the godfather of hockey analytics, getting his original start int he Devils organization. I like his skill set and he was a major part in finding hidden gems in a variety of distressed assets in Reinhardt, Forsling, and Verhaege. He also had a front row seat for the cultural impact of the Tkachuk trade and recognized his skill set vs Huberdeau’s, and Zito has said multiple times Mehta was instrumental in that trade. Also, a Jersey boy.
Kevin McDonald is the AGM in Colorado, and would certainly deserve a look considering their current success. He also spent 20 years with Blues where he has a cup ring from 2019 and as an AGM with Colorado, he works closely with General Manager Chris MacFarland on hockey-related matters. His main focus remains overseeing the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate and comes from a pro scouting and professional development background.
Capitals AGM Ross Mahoney interviewed in 2020 when they picked Fitz. Washington found a way to go from being a capped out group of aging veterans with no future to finding several gems in the draft, bought low on Canada’s starting goalie Logan Thompson and managed to set the Caps on a path to a retooled transition. As assistant general manager, Mahoney is responsible for the NHL Entry Draft, the club’s developmental programs, evaluations of opposing teams’ prospects, and oversees the organization’s amateur scouting staff. In Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, 12 players who were drafted during Mahoney’s tenure were in the lineup. (source)
Golden Knights AGM Andrew Lugerner is the guy who has managed their salary cap. Considering the magic tricks they have pulled off (see what I did there) with their cap and the downright ruthless nature of the Vegas front office, he would certainly be worth an interview.
Agents
One would only have to look at the success of Bill Zito in Florida and Kent Hughes in Montreal to consider agents as options and it’s not crazy to suggest that someone moving from one side of the negotiation table to the other would be in the consideration set. Agents have a unique perspective on the nuances behind player choices and motivations, particularly when it comes to contracts. They also scout and recruit players from a young age, and likely have very good eyes for the type of attitude that will translate to success in hockey. And maybe, just maybe, an agent can come in and understand NMC/NTC clauses a little better and how to leave yourself some outs if a contract doesn’t work out.
Agents are very difficult to find information on aside from client lists, and leaving and agency is complicated. However, Can one of them be lured to the other side of the table? Here are some of the biggest (and fun names) in that group with the amount of money they manage and some of their prominent clients (from puckpedia):
Pat Brisson (CAA) – $1.4BN in contracts. MacKinnon, Crosby, Larkin, Jack, Luke, Quinn, Mercer
Dan Millstein (Gold Star) – $643MM in contracts. THE Russian Agent basically:. Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Marchenko
Claude Lemieux (4Sports) – Yes, I snuck Pepe in here. $353MM in contracts. Timo, Seider, Eriksson Ek, Rasmus Anderson, Olofsson
Darren Ferris (Quartexx) – $333MM in contracts. Marner, Bennet, Kadri, Hall, Rodrigues, Byram
My Dream Team
So, after all that, My dream team for the top two chairs are…. Shanahan as POHO and Mehta as GM. I think bringing in someone like Shanny as a POHO to have a broader view of everything as well as a newly minted GM is the ideal scenario. One of the failures in the Fitz regime is having noone overseeing him as a new GM. This set-up allows Mehta to focus on building the team and overall structure, while Shanny can focus on the larger organizational issues. I know Sunny Mehta isn’t a unique thought, but there is a reason why several people think he should be next, his background and experience checks so many boxes for me.
But it doesn’t stop there. As I mentioned we need to clean house, so that would leave two AGM spots open and if we can’t lure someone from one of the above mentioned AGM chairs to make the lateral move, I think it would be wise to go try and lure the Tampa Bay Director of Player Development, JP Cole out of Tampa. The work he has done finding and developing players has been nothing short of astonishing, considering the injury woes Tampa has had the past few year, and the plug and play guys that have stepped into roles and thrived there.
As an AGM, I would also be interested in Judd Brackett, who is the head of Amateur Scouting for the Wild. Prior to the wild he spent 12 years in Vancouver, and his list of draftees is impressive: Rossi, Buium, Ohgren (basically the Quinn trade), and while in Vancouver he was front and center drafting Quinn, Boeser and Petterson. His main focus is prioritizing hockey IQ and skating, which have become two of the most valuable commodities in the current NHL.
Your Thoughts
Who do you like, anyone on this list strike you or anyone I didn’t mention that would be of interest? What’s your level of confidence a change at the top happens?
There is no right or wrong solution here, but this front office needs new eyes on it, and those eyes need to come from the outside since the organizational rot comes from the top.
Vezina Trophy odds for the 2025-26 season have a new leader, with Ilya Sorokin claiming the top spot. This award is still very much up for grabs, though, with Andrei Vasilevskiy still close behind.
Here are the latest NHL odds to win the top netminding honor.
Ilya Sorokin has seen his odds go from +160 to -125 over the past four weeks. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy has also been on the upswing, going from +790 to +120 during the same span and leapfrogging Logan Thompson and Scott Wedgewood on the odds board in the process.
Vezina Trophy prediction
Ilya Sorokin is the current betting favorite to win the 2026 Vezina Trophy due to his league-leading six shutouts and a dominant 2.44 GAA. Despite the Islanders ranking near the bottom in defensive zone time, Sorokin leads the NHL with over 24.8 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx), effectively stealing games against elite offenses.
Following a historic January where he posted a .935 save percentage, Sorokin has cemented his case by carrying a heavy workload. His ability to maintain a .916 save percentage while facing high shot volumes makes him the undeniable frontrunner heading into the stretch run.
Pick: Ilya Sorokin (-125) Stake: 2 units
Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When the regular season is nearly finished and a consensus has emerged, you might see a player with a minus sign (-) ahead of his odds, like this:
Connor Hellebuyck -400
The (-) means that Hellebuyck is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $400 to win $100. Other contenders in the Vezina race might have plus (+) odds to win.
Igor Shesterkin +650
Here, a bettor stood to profit $650 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
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The Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament continues this afternoon with a matchup between two teams who won their opening matches yesterday: Canada and Switzerland.
Team Canada kicked off their quest for a gold medal with a 5-0 victory against the Czech Republic. First-time Olympian and 19-year-old San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first period and Connor McDavid had three assists in the win.
olympics 2026 men's hockey: what to know
What: Canada vs. Switzerland
When: Feb. 13, 3:10 p.m. ET
Where: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan, Italy)
Channel: streaming exclusive
Streaming: Peacock
Switzerland also won in a high-scoring affair, a 4-0 win over France. New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier scored the final two goals of the game six minutes apart.
Canada vs. Switzerland start time
Canada vs. Switzerland is scheduled to start at 3:10 p.m. ET today, Feb. 13.
How to watch Canada vs. Switzerland for free
Today’s game is exclusive to the Peacock streaming service and is not airing on cable.
Peacock currently offers two subscription types: Premium with ads and Premium Plus ad-free. Peacock Premium costs $10.99/month, while Premium Plus costs $16.99/month.
You can also save a bit by subscribing to one of Peacock’s annual plans, which give you 12 months for the price of 10. These cost either $109.99 with ads or $169.99 without ads.
SUBSCRIBE TO PEACOCK FOR $10.99/MONTH
Canada and Switzerland team rosters
Below, check out the rosters for Team Canada and Czech Republic, along with each player’s NHL team.
Canada
Travis Sanheim (D) – Flyers
Devon Toews (D) – Avalanche
Cale Makar (D) – Avalanche
Thomas Harley (D) – Stars
Shea Theodore (D) – Golden Knights
Josh Morrissey (D) – Jets
Colton Parayko (D) – Blues
Drew Doughty (D) – Kings
Sam Bennett (F) – Panthers
Nick Suzuki (F) – Canadiens
Sam Reinhart (F) – Panthers
Bo Horvat (F) – Islanders
Macklin Celebrini (F) – Sharks
Seth Jarvis (F) – Hurricanes
Nathan MacKinnon (F) – Avalanche
Brandon Hagel (F) – Lightning
Tom Wilson (F) – Capitals
Mark Stone (F) – Golden Knights
Brad Marchand (F) – Panthers
Sidney Crosby (F) – Penguins
Mitch Marner (F) – Golden Knights
Connor McDavid (F) – Oilers
Darcy Kuemper (G) – Kings
Logan Thompson (G) – Capitals
Jordan Binnington (G) – Blues
Switzerland
Dean Kukan (D)
Andrea Glauser (D)
Michael Fora (D)
Christian Marti (D)
Tim Berni (D)
Jonas Siegenthaler (D) – Devils
Janis Moser (D) – Lightning
Roman Josi (D) – Predators
Simon Knak (F)
Damien Riat (F)
Nico Hischier (F) – Devils
Ken Jäger (F)
Kevin Fiala (F) – Kings
Nino Niederreiter (F) – Jets
Phillipp Kurashev (F) – Sharks
Timo Meier (F) – Devils
Pius Suter (F) – Blues
Denis Malgin (F)
Sandro Schmid (F)
Calvin Thürkauf (F)
Sven Andrighetto (F)
Christoph Bertschy (F)
Reto Berra (G)
Akira Schmid (G) – Golden Knights
Leonardo Genoni (G)
Canada Olympic hockey schedule
Feb. 13, 3:10 p.m. ET – vs. Switzerland
Feb. 15, 10:40 a.m. ET – vs. France
When do the Winter Olympics end?
The 2026 Winter Olympics end with the closing ceremony on Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
The Edmonton Oilers will certainly be a buyer to watch once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts. They should be aiming to bolster their roste ahead of the playoffs.
Now, the Oilers are being predicted to land one of the NHL's most interesting trade candidates.
"The Oilers are all-in to chase a championship, but they’re operating with limited cap flexibility while sizing up new pieces. Enter McMann," Johnston wrote.
This is not the first time that the Oilers have been viewed as a potential landing spot for McMann. It is no secret that they could use another top-nine forward, and McMann undoubtedly would give them a boost if they landed him.
McMann is currently in the middle of a strong year for the Maple Leafs as well. In 56 games, the 29-year-old forward has recorded 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points, and 126 hits. With numbers like these, he would certainly give the Oilers' top nine more secondary scoring and grit if they acquired him
Johnston also brought up how McMann's affordable cap hit makes him a realistic target for a team with limited cap space like the Oilers.
"There won’t be another 20-plus goal man available at this deadline who commands a cap hit below the league’s minimum salary. But the Leafs can get him there with full retention. There’s going to be a premium charged for doing that, but part of being all-in is doing whatever it takes to increase your odds of winning," Johnston wrote.
While McMann would be an excellent addition to the Oilers' roster, the same can be said for just about every other contender. Because of this, there is no question that the Oilers will have competition for his services if the Maple Leafs officially make him available. For example, in the same article for The Athletic, James Mirtle predicted that the Colorado Avalanche will land McMann.
Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if the Oilers can end up landing McMann from the Maple Leafs.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been the NHL's biggest surprise this season. Many expected the Penguins to be among the worst teams in the NHL, but they instead have a 29-15-12 record and are second in the Metropolitan Division at the Olympic break.
With the Penguins currently holding a playoff spot, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they looked to add to their group once the NHL roster freeze lifts later this month.
When looking at the Penguins' current roster, one of their biggest needs is another defenseman. Boosting their right side, in particular, should be one of the Penguins' top objectives. One trade candidate who could make a lot of sense for the Penguins because of this is Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud.
While Whitecloud was recently moved by the Vegas Golden Knights to the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson deal, he has already been creating chatter as a trade candidate in Calgary. With the Penguins needing another solid blueliner, he is a player who Pittsburgh should strongly consider targeting.
If the Penguins added Whitecloud, he could slot nicely on their bottom pairing but also move up the lineup if needed. Furthermore, due to his steady defensive play, he would be an obvious choice for the Penguins' penalty kill if acquired.
Another very appealing factor about Whitecloud is that he would be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired. This is because he has a $2.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Ultimately, with the Penguins' blueline needing a boost, it would make sense for them to pursue Whitecloud. The fit looks strong on paper.
In 55 games this season split between the Golden Knights and Flames, Whitecloud has recorded two goals, eight assists, 10 points, 76 blocks, and 86 hits.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren has been talked about often as a trade candidate. He will be a player to watch once the NHL trade freeze ends because of it.
Due to this, let's take a look at three teams that could make sense as landing spots for Liljegren.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins may not have had many believers heading into the season, but they have been proving their doubters wrong. They currently are second in the Metropolitan Division standings and could end up being buyers because of it. With the Penguins needing more depth on their right side, perhaps they could take a chance on Liljegren. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and Liljegren also have history due to their Toronto Maple Leafs days.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings should be on the hunt for a right-shot defenseman, and Liljegren could make sense as a target for them. If they acquired him, he would have the potential to give them a bit of an upgrade on their bottom pairing as they look to break their nine-year playoff drought.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres also stand out as a possible landing spot for Liljegren. It is no secret that the Sabres should be looking to improve their depth on the right side of their blueline, and bringing in Liljegren would provide them with just that.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 12: Sidney Crosby of Team Canada in action during the Men's Preliminary Group A match between Czechia and Canada on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 12, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
If the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to make a trade before the NHL’s March 6 trading deadline, upgrading the defense seems like the most logical route general manager Kyle Dubas will follow. Well, who are some potential players Dubas could target to improve the roster? [PensBurgh]
Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs said he’s embracing the “incredible opportunity” of representing Team Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete against the world’s best and make his country proud. [Penguins]
Defenseman Ryan Shea has emerged as a reliable NHL regular this season, posting career-high offensive numbers while cementing his role on Pittsburgh’s blueline after a couple of up-and-down years early in his career. Shea has taken advantage of the increased trust and opportunity afforded by a new coaching staff, showing he belongs at the NHL level. [Trib Live]
Updates from around the NHL…
Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring, and Jordan Binnington made 26 saves for the shutout as Team Canada rolled to a 5-0 victory over Czechia on Thursday. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also recorded two assists. [TSN]
American-born NHLers would not be outdone, however. Brock Nelson scored twice, and four teammates had two assists apiece, as Team USA beat Latvia 5-1. [Associated Press]
Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the league has secured greater access to Olympic content and flexibility around how games and player content are shared compared with past Olympics. He also expressed hope that this cooperation with the IOC and IIHF will continue to improve for future events. [Associated Press]
Bettman also said the league will defer to the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decisions on Russia and Belarus’ eligibility for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. [Sportsnet]
Top NHL draft prospect and Penn State forward Gavin McKenna will continue to participate in athletic activities as he faces a misdemeanor simple assault charge. [Sportsnet]
While many players scattered for rest and relaxation over the Olympic break, Matvei Gridin had a different itinerary.
Instead of a beach getaway, the Calgary Flames rookie headed to Rockford, Illinois to take part in the 2026 AHL All-Star Challenge — a reward for a strong first half with the Calgary Wranglers and another step forward in his development.
It may not have been a traditional vacation, but it was an opportunity Gridin embraced. Named an AHL All-Star for his performance this season, the 19-year-old has been a key contributor for the Wranglers, collecting 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games.
Gridin picked up two assists in his first game, with his All-Star nod capping off what has been a steady upward climb in his first full professional campaign. His progress hasn’t been limited to the AHL, either.
With confidence building at both the AHL and NHL levels, Gridin’s All-Star appearance is less about a midseason showcase and more about a player trending in the right direction as the Flames prepare for the season’s final push.
When Mark Stone was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, some Ottawa Senators fans consoled themselves with the thought that, had the Senators signed Stone to a long-term extension, the last few years of the contract might not look that good.
After all, he wasn't the game's finest skater to start with, so when age or injuries kicked in, he might lose a step that he didn't have to give.
Nearly seven years later, that theory isn’t holding up very well.
Steve Warne suggested on The Sens Nation Podcast that expensive trade deadline deals shouldn't be made unless a team has a realistic chance to win it all.
With 60 points in 41 games, Stone remains a top-20 NHL scorer. And on Thursday in Milan, skating for one of the most stacked Canadian rosters ever assembled, he was one of their better players. Stone was noticeable on almost every shift and scored in Canada’s 5-0 Olympic-opening win over Czechia.
He even broke out the classic goal-scoring face that Ottawa fans used to love.
Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Mark Stone of Canada celebrates scoring their second goal against Czechia in a men's ice hockey group A match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
When it comes to how Ottawa management handled a star like Stone, combined with getting next to nothing for him in a trade, his story has to be near the top of the list of biggest blunders in team history.
Former Sens GM Pierre Dorion said the organization only realized days before the deadline that Stone likely wouldn’t re-sign.
But on that very same day, across town, owner Eugene Melnyk told CBC Ottawa something entirely different: this trade had been planned for some time as part of the rebuild.
Those two explanations never quite lined up then, and they don’t now.
Had Stone been given a long-term extension in his previous negotiation instead of a one-year deal, he would have offered an excellent veteran presence in the young Sens locker room.
Instead, they traded him, and Ottawa then spent years searching for exactly the kind of culture-setting, two-way star they had already developed and let go, one who might still be their best player today.
It's easy to imagine a parallel universe where Stone was Erik Karlsson's successor as captain, showing the ropes to young forwards like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, and others. Tkachuk's father, Keith, publicly pleaded with the Senators to re-sign Stone.
“I want that Mark Stone signed so badly," Keith Tkachuk told TSN 1200 radio. "He’s been so instrumental to Brady’s development both on and off the ice. The Senators have to figure out a way and get this done.”
But Keith, who'll be in the Hall of Fame someday, wasn't calling the shots. Dorion and Melnyk were, and then they compounded things by making an atrocious trade.
Stone was traded to Vegas with forward Tobias Lindberg for forward Oscar Lindberg, prospect Erik Brannstrom and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (Egor Sokolov).
Because he was excited about Brannstrom, who didn't work out as a prospect at all, Dorion called it his proudest day as GM. But only one GM in the deal had the right to strut.
"You don't get players like (Mark Stone) very often," Vegas GM George McPhee told the media. "Players this good aren't available through trade very often. Usually, you draft a player like this, and you hang on to him, and he plays his whole career with you. So we knew that he was out there, that he was going to be available, and the issue was, what's it going to cost? And the price was right for us."
Ya think?
No one Vegas gave up panned out for the Senators, or even in the NHL, and all they have to show for the deal is Belleville's Jan Jenik, who doesn't really appear to be in the team's plans. Jenik was acquired from Arizona in a minor league swap for Sokolov.
Tkachuk, a rookie at the time, didn't hide his fondness for Stone on the day of the trade.
"He was a huge impact for me this year, both on and off the ice," Tkachuk told NHL.com. "I was lucky enough to play with him all year. He welcomed me into his home when he didn't have to, and he kind of took me under his wing, and it means so much to me. He didn't have to; it's just the type of guy he is."
Tkachuk and the young core were soon left to raise themselves, playing for a new rookie head coach in D.J. Smith, who, like the kids, was also trying to learn on the job.
Stone, who says he still spends his summers in Ottawa, remains tight with Tkachuk. Long after the trade, they were even in each other's wedding parties, so just imagine the bromance if they'd been on the same team for the past seven years.
What's frustrating for Sens fans is that Stone didn’t go on to become a great player in Vegas. He remained exactly what he'd already become in Ottawa: an elite two-way star and a leader most NHL management teams would happily build around.
At least with Stone starring for Canada in Milan for the next two weeks, Sens fans can enjoy a rare opportunity to cheer loudly once more for the one that got away.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa. Read more Senators features and articles from THN Ottawa here:
One day after Team Sweden's opening 5-2 win against the hosts, Italy, at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, William Nylander was absent from practice once again.
The 29-year-old, who's playing in his first Olympic Games, scored the game-winner and played 16:27 in Sweden's victory on Wednesday.
Also scoring in the game were Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche, Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers, Mika Zibanejad of the New York Islanders, and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was Sweden's seventh defenseman against Italy, didn't skate a single shift.
There were question marks surrounding Nylander's status entering the game after the forward missed their final practice due to maintenance. But, to no surprise, he ended up playing after getting into a skate on Wednesday morning.
"Just taking care of my body, making sure I'm good for the remainder of the season," Nylander continued.
The forward had played just three games with the Maple Leafs before the Olympics. He was dealing with a reaggravated groin injury, which he picked up against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15.
The game against Vegas was just his fourth back in the Maple Leafs lineup after missing the previous six games (from Dec. 28 to Jan. 10) because of the initial groin ailment.
Had Nylander been dealing with any groin injuries in the opening days at the Olympics?
"No, not today," Nylander smiled, after Sweden's win.
In the final two games before heading to Italy, Nylander scored a goal and four points against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. He leads the Maple Leafs with 18 goals and 52 points in 40 games this season.
Along with his goal against Italy on Wednesday, Nylander registered five shots on goal. The team-high belonged to Joel Eriksson Ek, who tallied nine shots in the game.
"I think just playing Italy in Italy was pretty special," added Nylander, "and getting the W."
Sweden's next game is against Finland on Friday at 6:10 a.m. ET (12:10 local).
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat made the most of his Olympic debut in Milano Cortina. In Canada's first game against Czechia, he scored a breakaway goal to give his nation a 3-0 lead.
The play began as Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley gave Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand an outlet pass. Marchand then threaded the puck to Horvat, who split the Czechia defense before going five-hole on Anaheim Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal:
The Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic roster freeze passes. With the Canadiens being among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, there is an expectation that they will look to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
Now, the Canadiens are being connected to one of the NHL's top trade candidates.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Chris Johnston predicted that the Canadiens will be the team that acquires New York Rangers star center Vincent Trocheck.
"The Canadiens’ biggest hole all season has been down the middle, and it’s going to be a battle at the deadline for the limited options who can fill the 2C role on a contender. Even at 32, Trocheck certainly fits that description, and the fact he comes with some term at a reasonable cap hit will help the Habs bridge the gap as their youth movement progresses," Johnston wrote.
Seeing the Canadiens being viewed as a potential landing spot for Trocheck is not difficult to understand. There is no question that he would give the Canadiens' top six a nice boost if they acquired him. His stats this season show this, as he has recorded 12 goals, 24 assists, and 36 points in 43 games.
Yet, with Trocheck being a legitimate top-six center who has a $5.625 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season, it is clear that the Rangers would want a significant return for him in a potential move. Yet, with the Canadiens needing another impactful center, he could be worth the price.
It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens end up being the team that lands Trocheck ahead of the deadline. There is no question that the skilled center is going to have several suitors.
Switzerland and Kings' Kevin Fiala Stretchered Off With Leg Injury Against CanadaKevin Fiala suffered a scary leg injury during Switzerland's second game of the men's Olympic tournament against Team Canada. The Los Angeles Kings left winger was stretchered off the ice late in the game.
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