Kings Fall To The Jets In A Blowout

The Los Angeles Kings (18-15-10) continued their three-game road trip into Manitoba in a Western Conference clash with the Winnipeg Jets (16-22-5). No matchup is easy in the National Hockey League but the Kings were given a chance to bounce back with a victory over the Jets who entered Friday night having lost their last 11 games, which has them sitting at 32nd place in the league. After falling behind early, the Kings never had enough to juice to make a game out of this one. 

The dog days of the season seem to be hitting the Kings in full force this year as they have now lost 10 of their last 14 contests.

Kings Fall Behind Early

It didn't take long for this game to turn ugly as the Jets came out flying while it looked like the Kings were still taking their pre-game nap. Before the broadcast could even finish showing the starting lineups Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov scored his 7th goal of the season by redirecting a Logan Stanley shot from the point past Darcy Kuemper.

After falling behind just a minute and a half into the contest, the Kings weathered the storm but that was it. The time of possession battle was fairly even but it was clearly the Jets game to lose.

To add insult to injury, Cole Koepke doubled the Winnipeg lead with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame. Kopeke blistered his third of the year past Kuemper off of a nice feed by Dylan Samberg.

Another Early Period Blunder

Just like the first period, the Kings were caught lacking and it cost them. Just over two minutes into the second period the Jets stretched their early game lead to 3-0. After a 26-game goaless drought, Jets forward Jonathan Toews found the back of the net for his fourth of the season after finding the loose puck in the crease where was then able to jam it into the L.A. net.

Byfield Gets On The Board

After a very lifeless first half of the game, the Kings found themselves a sliver of life as they shrank the Winnipeg lead to 3-1. Quinton Byfield tipped-in Warren Foegele's shot from the point for his seventh goal of the season, Taylor Award picks up the other assist fo this second career NHL point.

Byfield now has four points in his last four games after having just four points 19 games prior to this stretch.

Midseason Truth About the Los Angeles KingsMidseason Truth About the Los Angeles KingsAt the midpoint of the NHL season, the numbers show that the Los Angeles Kings are an average team. Sitting in fifth place in the Pacific division, tied with the Seattle Kraken and Anaheim Ducks with 45 points, the stats show familiar flaws that ended their season last spring too early.

Scheifele Ices The Game With A Pair

Byfield's goal to make it 3-1 seemingly gave the Kings an outside chance of coming back in this one. That was until notable Team Canada snub Mark Scheifele scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season to officially turn this game into a blowout. 

Darcy Kuemper was pulled and Anton Forsberg was given the net for the third period. Forsberg didn't see a ton of action but he did stop all three shots he faced. 

The Kings played a little better in the third period as they did generate a handful of quality chances but to no avail. 

WInnipeg's dreadful streak was bound to come to an end eventually, it's just a shame that the Kings made it so easy for them.

The Los Angeles Kings are back in action on Saturday as they finish off their three game road trip in a battle with Connor McDavid and the dreaded Edmonton Oilers.

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Capitals End Blackhawks Winning Streak As Team Deals With "Stomach Bug"

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Washington Capitals on Friday night at the United Center. Looking for their fifth straight win, the Blackhawks were dealt a tough hand. 

Connor Bedard returned to the lineup, which is always going to be a boost, but the team around him was hit hard by a flu bug. That caused Ilya Mikheyev, Louis Crevier, Spencer Knight, and Arvid Soderblom to miss the game. Even head coach Jeff Blashill, who missed the morning skate himself, battled through it behind the bench. 

Ahead of the game, the Blackhawks called up Drew Commesso and Kevin Korchinski from the Rockford IceHogs so they could play. Both of them woke up this morning thinking they were going to take on the Chicago Wolves, but instead played for the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Before the first period was complete, however, the Capitals had a three-goal lead thanks to goals scored by Anthony Beauvillier, Connor McMichael, and Ethan Frank. 

In the second period, the Blackhawks got themselves on the board with a goal scored by Oliver Moore. This was close to being a power-play goal, but the penalty had just expired. Moore sniped it past Washington/Team Canada goalie Logan Thompson for his fifth of the year. 

This was as beautiful a long-distance shot as Moore is going to score. His speed is his most important skill, but his ability to shoot and make plays has been evident since moving to the center of the ice. 

After Moore scored, however, the Capitals regained their three-goal advantage when Justin Sourdif put one past Commesso. That 4-1 score would hold through the second intermission. 

In the third period, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin, made it 5-1 with his 916th career goal. He slipped it through the five-hole of Drew Commesso, who is the 187th goalie that Ovechkin has ever scored against. That 5-1 score stood as the final in favor of the Capitals. 

This loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Blackhawks. It also puts an end to their undefeated 2026. The future will dictate if it is the end of their run of solid play following the holiday break, now 5-2-1. 

After the game, there was a lot of emphasis on the illness that is going through the Blackhawks' locker room right now. Jeff Blashill called it a "stomach bug". He made it clear that a lot of the lineup is battling right now, even those who played. 

Mikheyev is expected to travel for their next game. According to Blashill, he was close to playing, but they decided to keep him out. He is also unsure what the situation will be for the starting goalie, as it is unclear who will be available. 

Now and again, NHL teams or pro sports teams in general deal with these types of things. This is a game played by humans. It is also not the only reason that they lost. Those who played didn't have the same jump that the team is used to having when they are playing well. A quick turnaround on Saturday night may help them get back on track. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are back in action on Saturday night. The second half of a back-to-back situation will take place on the road against the Nashville Predators. 

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Jets Earn First Win in Twelve Games, Beat Kings Handily

The Winnipeg Jets have won a hockey game for the first time in 27 days. 

Mark Scheifele scored twice, while Vlad Namestnikov, Nino Niederreiter and Jonathan Toews snapped lengthy scoring droughts as the Jets picked up a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. 

Photo by James Carey Lauder

The home win was the Jets' first win in 12 games, and nearly a full calendar month. 

Namestnikov scored his first goal in 30 games, Toews put home his first goal in 27 games, while Niederreiter picked up his first point in 18 games.

“It was fun, the building was going too," goaltender Eric Comrie said post-game. 

"They had the wave going, they had everything going tonight. It was great. We played like kids again tonight. We had a lot of fun. We got back to just enjoying the game we love to play.”

For the second-straight evening, the Jets got off to another hot start. After coming out guns a blazing to the tune of a three-goal first period on Thursday vs. Edmonton, Winnipeg put another two pucks in the net in the opening frame on Friday night. 

Despite the strong start, Thursday's first period tallies were all the Jets could muster, ultimately falling 4-3 to the Oilers on a third period collapse. 

Winnipeg managed to flip the script on Friday.

The Jets put up a two-spot in the opening game vs. the Kings, before scoring another three in the middle stanza. 

Comrie got the start in goal for the second test of the back-to-back and turned aside 23 of the 24 pucks sent his way. Darcy Kuemper allowed five goals before taking a seat for the third period.

“Obviously a big one," head coach Scott Arniel said of Comrie's showing. "Coming off a tough game the last game played, just looking at the workload he’s had to face, it’s been a grind for him. He had to make some big stops, that breakaway stop was large. He looked big and did a great job with his rebound control.”

Namestnikov opened the story 1:31 into the game, as he redirected a Logan Stanley point shot for the early 1-0 lead.

"Yeah, it's a long time coming," Namestnikov laughed. "It's just relief. And you want to score so bad, and it doesn't go in for however long it was. It's hard and kind of drains you mentally, but you got to keep going. I'm just glad it went in."

Cole Koepke made it 2-0 on a nifty passing play from Tanner Pearson and Dylan Samberg before the period came to a close.

The Jets also maintained a four-shot lead through 20 minutes of play.

Toews got his fourth of the season in the second period, tapping home a Colin Miller point shot just over two minutes into the frame. 

Two goals then made their way into the nets off the skates of Quinton Byfield. He found his seventh of the season by directing the puck past Comrie off his foot midway through the frame. 

But then with Winnipeg on a power play, Scheifele banked a pass attempt off Byfield's skate into the Kings' net for his first of the game. 

Scheifele put home his second with just 43 seconds remaining in the frame, firing home a one-timer off a setup from linemates Cole Perfetti and Gabe Vilardi. The goal ultimately was Kuemper's final shot faced, as Anton Forsberg led the Kings out of the tunnel for the third period.

The Jets killed off each of their three penalties, including a Logan Stanley cross check in the third period, as they shut down the Kings for their first win of 2026. 

“I think they deserved it more than we deserved it," Comrie said of the team's fan support.

"We’ve been putting them through some tough times and they’ve been sticking with us. It’s unbelievable to see their support tonight. There’s not a lot of fan bases that would do that. A lot of fan bases would turn on their team after what we’ve gone through lately, but they’ve stayed right with us the whole time. It’s been special to see that. They are the best fans in the NHL for a reason.”

Next up for Winnipeg is game No. 4 of the five-game homestand. The Jets get a day off on Saturday before hosting the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon. The New York Islanders will then roll into town to close out the stretch with a 7:00 PM central showdown on Tuesday. 

Sidney Crosby Passed Wayne Gretzky For Most Assists With One Team On Thursday

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby passed Wayne Gretzky for the most point-per-game seasons in NHL history last year.

It was a record he had been chasing all year, and he finally broke it at the end of the season when he secured his 20th point-per-game season. He's trying to extend his record to 21 point-per-game seasons this year and has a great chance of doing it as long as he stays healthy and keeps producing. 

Speaking of his production, he recorded two assists against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, helping the Penguins win their sixth-straight game. His two assists got him to 1,087 all-time with the Penguins, moving him ahead of Gretzky for the second-most assists with one team in NHL history. Gretzky recorded 1,086 assists as a member of the Edmonton Oilers

Crosby only trails Ray Bourque, who racked up 1,111 assists with the Boston Bruins. He's going to pass Bourque very soon. 

Crosby now has 24 goals and 49 points in 42 games this season and will try to help the Penguins win their seventh in a row on Saturday against the Calgary Flames


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The Hockey Show: Struggling Panthers have hope on horizon, NHL latest with insider David Pagnotta

It’s 2026 and the first Hockey Show episode of the New Year has arrived!

First off, THS co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork had a lot of Florida Panthers topics to get to.

They got into the entire spectacle of the 2026 Winter Classic, which was held last week at loanDepot park in Miami and featured the Florida Panthers hosting the New York Rangers.

While the game itself was a bit of a stinker, especially from a Panthers perspective, the event, the venue, the sights, the vibes, the ambiance…it was all excellent.

Outside of the Winter Classic, the Panthers have followed up a strong finish to 2025 with a rough patch to start the year.

An extremely solid victory over the league-best Colorado Avalanche has been surrounded by the loss to the Rangers and a pair of road defeats to Toronto and Montreal in which Florida has been outscored 10-3.

Matthew Tkachuk is one of several injured who has been practicing and is nearing a return to the lineup, and in Tkachuk’s case, he’s expected back sometime on the trip.

This week’s guest on The Hockey Show was NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

He discussed the latest in Carolina with Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who the Hurricanes are looking to trade, what the Panthers may be up ahead of the Trade Deadline, which is less than two months away, and the status of the new Italian arena being built for next month’s Winter Olympics in Milan.

That led to a discussion about ideal foods that should be available at the Italian arena and the boys’ overall excitement for the Olympics.

This week’s episode of The Hockey Show and the full interview with Pagnotta can be seen below:

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Sabres Send Defenseman Down To AHL

The Buffalo Sabres have made a roster move, as they have announced that defenseman Zac Jones has been assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Jones was called up to the Sabres' roster earlier this week, but did not get into any game action for the NHL club. Now, with this latest transaction, he is returning to the Amerks' roster. 

Jones has yet to make his Sabres debut since signing with the club during this off-season. This will continue to be the case for the time being now that he has been reassigned to Rochester's roster. 

The Amerks will undoubtedly be happy to have Jones back, though, as he has been fantastic for the AHL club this season. In 28 games for Rochester this season, Jones has scored three goals and has an AHL-leading 28 assists. With this, there is no question that he has been a strong addition to Rochester's roster. 

In 115 career NHL games, Jones has posted four goals, 24 assists, 28 points, and a minus-10 rating. 

Flyers Call Up Big Defenseman From AHL

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have recalled defenseman Adam Ginning from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

The Flyers calling up Ginning comes with defenseman Jamie Drysdale being placed on injured reserve by the Metropolitan Division club. Now, Ginning will get another shot on the NHL roster with Drysdale sidelined and will be aiming to impress. 

By calling up Ginning, the Flyers will have another defenseman to work with on their NHL roster. 

Ginning has played in five games this season with the Flyers, where he has recorded zero points, four hits, five blocks, and an even plus/minus rating. He has primarily played in the AHL with the Phantoms this season, however, where he has one goal, three points, and a minus-2 rating in 17 contests. 

The Flyers placed Ginning on waivers back in late November, but the 6-foot-4 defenseman passed through them unclaimed before being sent down to Lehigh Valley. 

In 16 career NHL games over four seasons with the Flyers, Ginning has posted one goal, 17 blocks, 25 hits, and a minus-1 rating. 

"It's A Privilege": Kane, DeBrincat and McLellan on What the Red Wings Represent

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The National Hockey League's newest 500-goal scorer is Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who achieved what only 49 other players before him had achieved during Thursday's 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. 

Following Kane's historic tally in the third period, not only was he mobbed by his teammates on the ice, but he also received an extended standing ovation from the crowd at Little Caesars Arena.

Kane has only played for Original Six franchises, spending the bulk of his career with the Blackhawks and briefly with the New York Rangers before signing with the Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent in December 2023 following hip resurfacing surgery.

One of the key factors in Kane's decision to choose Detroit over other destinations was Alex DeBrincat, whom he had previously played with in Chicago.

DeBrincat was instrumental in recruiting Kane to Detroit, and the aura and magnitude of not only playing for an Original Six franchise but also pursuing another historic milestone as part of it have not been lost on him.

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"It's definitely special to be a part of Original Six teams, he's been on three, and when you get those milestones, you just are joined in with a special group of people," DeBrincat said of Kane. "You look up there and see how many guys have scored their 500th in a Red Wings uniform, the list is pretty cool. For him to be added to that list, I feel like I'm using the word cool a lot, but it's such a cool thing. 

"We take a lot for granted in this life we live and playing in the NHL, but these are moments you can take back and know that you're gonna remember for the rest of your life." 

Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, who coached against Kane multiple times, not only as an assistant with the Red Wings but also as the head coach of the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings, considers it a privilege in his NHL career to have won the Stanley Cup with and currently coach an Original Six team. 

"My first time through, I don't know if I appreciated it," he said. "I'd have gone anywhere to have the opportunity, but when you sit back and think about it, the people that I was fortunate enough to be around, being on an Original Six team, is a privilege." 

McLellan played five NHL games during his playing career with the New York Islanders, and would work his way up through the ranks of coaching in various minor leagues to eventually become an assistant with the Red Wings in 2005 under Mike Babcock, eventually culminating in the club's 2008 Stanley Cup victory. 

"To be in the League is a privilege, but (to be on) an Original Six Team, to talk through the locker room and the history of it, it's incredible," McLellan explained. "We're 100 years old, and now Kaner is a part of it. His picture will go up in the rink, and generations of Wings fans will go, 'I heard about that guy', and go look the goal up on the computer or whatever we use in the future, and they'll see it." 

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Why Now Is Not The Time For The Canucks To Trade For Jesperi Kotkaniemi

The latest player to hit the rumour mill in the NHL is Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The 25-year-old has struggled over the past few seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, with the relationship hitting a point where a fresh start for both parties may be best. As expected, his name has been connected to the Vancouver Canucks, as he has been a player the organization has discussed acquiring in the past. 

In a recent article on Sportsnet.ca, Elliotte Friedman wrote that Kotkaniemi was one of the players offered to Vancouver in the Hurricanes trade proposal for Quinn Hughes. His name was also tied to the Canucks in regards to center Elias Pettersson, who Carolina has had interest in for the past few years. In the end, neither trade ended up working out for the Hurricanes, as Kotkaniemi remains in the organization.

Kotkaniemi's name continually being linked to Vancouver is a sign that Canucks management has at least discussed the idea of bringing in the former third overall pick. If Vancouver hinted that they had no interest in acquiring him, it is hard to imagine that the Finnish center would still be linked to the Canucks. As for the potential interest, Kotkaniemi does make sense based on Vancouver's needs, as he is a center under the age of 26 who can win faceoffs. 

The problem is that the Canucks are not in a position where they should be targeting a player like Kotkaniemi in-season. Vancouver is currently ranked 31st in the league, and unless they go on a historic run, they are projected to finish at the bottom of the standings. The Canucks also can not afford to part with draft picks and prospects as they need those assets to build for the future, rather than stay in the mushy middle of the NHL. 

Bringing in a player like Kotkaniemi also carries risk. As mentioned, he has struggled over the past few seasons and currently only has six points in 25 games. Kotkaniemi also carries a cap hit of $4.82 million until 2030, which, based on his production, would cause issues to Vancouver's cap situation. 

Nov 14, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Max Sasson (63) and Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) watch the puck during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

For the sake of argument, let's say this management group really wants to add Kotkaniemi to the roster. If that is the case, there is no need to rush the situation. There is a good chance that he will still be available in the summer, which means the Canucks could negotiate the deal then rather than risk losing draft position now. 

In short, trading for Kotkaniemi in-season is not something Vancouver should consider. The only way an in-season trade makes sense is if the Canucks are given assets to take on his contract, like how in 2019, Carolina acquired Patrick Marleau, a conditional 2020 first-round pick and a 2020 seventh-round pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2020 sixth-round pick. Ultimately, Vancouver should be acquiring picks and prospects as they head towards the 2026 trade deadline rather than using assets to get another first-round drafted player who hasn't worked out as expected in the NHL. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Hockey News

Sharks Send Big Forward Back Down To AHL

The San Jose Sharks have made a roster move ahead of their Jan. 10 matchup against the Dallas Stars.

The Sharks have announced that forward Patrick Giles has been assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. 

Giles was called up to the Sharks earlier this week but did not get into any game action during his latest brief stay on their NHL roster. Now, with today's transaction, Giles is set to return to the Barracuda's roster. 

While Giles did not play for the Sharks during his latest call-up, he has made a few appearances for them this season. In three games this campaign with the Sharks, he has recorded zero goals, one assist, three hits, and a plus-1 rating. 

Giles has spent the majority of this season in the AHL with the Barracuda. In 28 games with the Barracuda so dar this campaign, the 6-foot-5 forward has posted five goals, four assists, nine points, eight penalty minutes, and a minus-10 rating. 

In 20 career NHL games over two seasons split between the Florida Panthers and Sharks, Giles has recorded one goal, one assist, two penalty minutes, 24 hits, and a minus-2 rating. 

Blackhawks center Connor Bedard set to return from shoulder injury

CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard is back after missing 12 games with a right shoulder injury.

Bedard has been cleared to play on Friday night against Washington. The 20-year-old center participated in the team’s morning skate ahead of the matchup with the Capitals.

“It’s obviously a huge boost,” assistant coach Mike Vellucci said. “He’s a big part of our team and he was playing really well before he got injured. We’re excited to have him back.”

While Bedard is set to return, the Blackhawks could be missing a couple key players against the Capitals because of an illness going around the team. Captain Nick Foligno, forward Ilya Mikheyev, backup goaltender Arvid Soderblom and coach Jeff Blashill missed the morning skate.

Bedard got hurt on a draw with 0.8 seconds left in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on Dec. 12. He ranked among the NHL leaders with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games at the time of the injury.

“I feel good,” Bedard said. “Obviously it’s no fun kind of waiting and not being able to play. So it’s exciting.”

Bedard and fellow center Frank Nazar were shelved during a stretch of 10 losses in 12 games for Chicago. But the Blackhawks have flourished of late, winning a season-high four in a row going into the Washington game.

“It’s an exciting time and for us just to keep that rolling and obviously keep stacking wins because every game’s so important,” Bedard said.

Nazar, who turns 22 on Wednesday, is skating again, but there has been no word on when he might return to the lineup. He was hit in the face by a puck during a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Dec. 20.

Bedard was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. He missed part of his rookie season with a broken jaw, but he played in all 82 games last year.

“No one wants to have anything happen, but it’s part of the game,” Bedard said. “You just got to try to take that time to get better.”

Bedard’s fast start moved him into contention for a spot on Team Canada for the Winter Olympics. But he was left off the roster when it was announced last week.

Bedard still could make the trip to Italy if he is needed as an injury replacement.

This Canadiens Smart Move Is Paying Off Big Time

The Montreal Canadiens picked up a big 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Jan. 8. With this victory, the Canadiens improved to a 25-13-6 record and are currently in first place in the Atlantic Division standings. 

Alexandre Texier was undoubtedly a massive reason for the Canadiens' win, as he put together a monster game. The 26-year-old forward recorded a hat trick for the Habs in their win. With this, there is no question that he stepped up in a major way for the Canadiens against the reigning two-time Stanley Cup champs. 

This hat trick performance against the Panthers came after Texier recorded one goal and two assists in the Canadiens' Jan. 7 contest against the Calgary Flames. With this, Texier now has six points over his last two games alone. 

With the way Texier is playing right now, it is absolutely clear that the Canadiens made the right move signing him. Texier has also found a great fit with the Canadiens after mutually terminating his previous contract with the St. Louis Blues earlier this season. With this, both the Habs and Texier are benefiting big time since Montreal signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal back in November. 

With his big hot streak, Texier now has seven goals, seven assists, 14 points, and a plus-6 rating in 22 games since joining the Canadiens. This is after he had one assist in eight games for the Blues before having his contract terminated. 

It will now be intriguing to see how Texier builds on his strong play with the Canadiens from here. 

Red Wings Recall Forward Sheldon Dries From AHL Grand Rapids

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled forward Sheldon Dries from their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, giving the Macomb, Michigan, native an opportunity to skate for his home-state team for the first time in his NHL career.

Dries, 31, has been exceptional for the Griffins this season, recording 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 26 games while posting a career-high plus-16 rating. His strong play earned him AHL Player of the Week honors in the third week of December after he notched two goals and four assists for six points, along with a plus-eight rating, in three games.

Dries will take the roster spot of John Leonard, who was recently sent down from Detroit after filling a depth forward role. The Red Wings plan to rotate Dries in and out of the lineup alongside depth forward Elmer Soderblom moving forward.

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Dries brings NHL experience, having played 122 games across five seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche, totaling 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points. His most recent NHL season was 2022-23 with Vancouver, when he recorded 17 points in a career-high 63 games.

In addition to his NHL experience, Dries has built a strong nine-year AHL career, compiling 269 points (149 goals, 120 assists), 259 penalty minutes, and a plus-43 rating in 365 games.

Dries’ recall not only provides Detroit with additional depth but also gives fans a local player making his long-awaited NHL debut for the team he grew up watching.

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Canucks’ ECHL-Affiliate Announce Specialty Jerseys In Celebration Of NHL Team

The Vancouver Canucks’ ECHL-affiliate, the Kalamazoo Wings, will be hosting a specialty ‘Canucks Night’ on Saturday, January 10, in celebration of their NHL team. In this particular matchup, the K-Wings will take on the Iowa Heartlanders, the ECHL-affiliate of the Minnesota Wild. 

Kalamazoo’s history as the Canucks’ ECHL-affiliate first began in 1985, lasting two seasons before Vancouver moved on to the Flint Spirits, Columbus Chill, and a variety of other teams. They returned to Kalamazoo from 2012 to 2015, but took a brief break to partner with the Alaska Aces from 2016–17. Since then, the K-Wings have been the Canucks’ sole ECHL-affiliate. 

A special part of Kalamazoo’s Canucks Night will be the introduction of specially-designed jerseys. Aligning with the Canucks theme, the jerseys follow the pattern of Vancouver’s black skate jerseys, featuring the word “Wings” beneath the skate blade instead of “Canucks.” Additionally, Vancouver’s regular orca logo, coloured yellow and red, has been added to players’ right-hand shoulder. These jerseys will then be auctioned off to help raise funds for the South County Firefighters Association.  

Two Canucks prospects currently play for the K-Wings — goaltenders Ty Young and Aku Koskenvuo. Both goaltenders have been called-up to play in AHL games for the Abbotsford Canucks this season, resulting in the two netminders only playing in a total of 10 ECHL games combined. Young currently sports a record of 3–1–0 and a GAA of 2.76, while Koskenvuo has won two and dropped four while putting up 3.56 GAA. 

Other Canucks-affiliated players on Kalamazoo’s roster include defencemen Robby Drazner, Derek Daschke, and Jayden Lee, all of whom have played games for the Abbotsford Canucks this season. 

Vancouver and Kalamazoo’s next games take place on the same day — Saturday, January 10. The Canucks will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs while the K-Wings face Iowa for Canucks Night. Vancouver’s puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT. 

Credit: @KalamazooWings on X

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