Category: Ice Hockey

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL suspended injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones for 20 games on Wednesday for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Jones, 28, is in his first season with the Penguins. The club placed him on injured reserve in late October with a foot injury, then assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He played one game for Wilkes-Barre in January before sustaining an upper-body injury.

Jones said through a statement released by the NHL Players Association that he believes he was exposed to a contaminated substance while undergoing exosome therapy from an outside provider.

“While I did not use the prohibited substance intentionally or for performance enhancement, I understand that players are responsible for everything that enters their body and accept the discipline imposed by the program,” Jones said. "I’m sorry to have let down my teammates, the Penguins organization, and our fans.”

Jones, the younger brother of Panthers defenseman Seth Jones, had one point in seven games with the Penguins in October after signing a two-year deal with Pittsburgh last summer.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said the club “appreciates” Jones' transparency and that Jones will follow all NHL and NHLPA protocols during the suspension. Dubas added that Jones has the “full support” of the organization.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils acquired forward Nick Bjugstad in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday that was completed just before the Olympic roster freeze.

They sent a conditional fourth-round pick and minor-leaguer Thomas Bordeleau for Bjugstad. It will be the last of the three fourth-rounders New Jersey currently has among its own, Dallas’ and Winnipeg’s.

Bjugstad, 33, has seven points in 35 games this season after signing with St. Louis as a free agent. The Devils getting him is the start of them using the salary cap space cleared by sending winger Ondrej Palat to the New York Islanders.

Bjugstad is signed through next season at a bargain cap hit of $1.75 million annually. The Devils had gotten Bordeleau earlier this season in a deal with San Jose.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The New York Rangers beat the Olympic roster freeze deadline and traded the biggest player in their retool, with Artemi Panarin heading to the Los Angeles Kings.

In return, the Rangers receive forward Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick, according to multiple reports.

The struggling Rangers had sent a letter to fans that that they were going to retool their roster and that it might mean saying "goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years."

Panarin was told that the team would not be offering him a contract extension. He is in the final year of a seven-year contract averaging $11.6 million and has a full no-movement clause. Last week, they held him out of the lineup to prevent him from getting hurt as they worked out a trade.

Here are grades for the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers in the Artemi Panarin trade:

Los Angeles Kings: B+

The Kings need offense, ranking 28th in the league, and Panarin provides plenty, leading the Rangers every year in scoring since he arrived in 2019. Even in a down year, he has 57 points in 52 games. Los Angeles is third in goals-against average, so a little extra boost on the scoring side could translate to more wins. That's important with the Kings sitting one point out of a playoff spot and trying to go on a postseason run in captain Anze Kopitar's final year before he retires.

New York Rangers: C

Panarin was the Rangers' best trade asset and the return seems low. Greentree is 20, 6-foot-3, 216 pounds and was a 2024 first-round pick. He had 119 points last season with the Windsor (Ontario) Spitfires. But there was no first-round pick in the deal. The third-rounder can move higher if the Kings win a playoff round. Panarin had to choose where he went, so that limited the Rangers' options. Also hurting their return: New York made clear it was moving him and he was a pending unrestricted free agent. The Rangers retain half of Panarin's salary, per The Athletic.

Devils acquire Nick Bjugstad

The New Jersey Devils acquired bottom-six forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Artemi Panarin trade grades: Who won Rangers-Kings deal?

The NHL odds for the 2025-26 NHL MVP have been led by Nathan MacKinnon for much of the season, but his lead is starting to dwindle...

After being as short as -450, Nate is now just -170, with Macklin Celebrini at +215. We could be in for a wild MVP race following the Olympic break. Check out the rest of the NHL MVP odds below!

Odds to win 2025-26 NHL MVP award

Odds as of 2-4.

Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

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Covers NHL betting tools

• Daily NHL matchup info
• The latest NHL odds 
• Free NHL picks

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Understanding NHL MVP odds

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 McDavid -400

The (-) means that McDavid is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $400 to win $100. Other contenders in the MVP race might have plus (+) odds to win.

• Nathan MacKinnon +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.

NHL Hart Trophy trends

• The last player to win the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup in a single season was Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis (2004).
• Carey Price was the last goaltender (2015) to win the MVP award before Connor Hellebuyck did last season.
• Alexander Ovechkin was the last player to repeat as the Hart winner (2008 and 2009).
• Centers have won six of the last 10 MVP awards.
• The last time a defenseman won the Hart Trophy was Chris Pronger back in the 1999-00 season.

NHL Hart Trophy history

A quick look at recent NHL MVPs and the position they played.

NHL MVP award winners by position

Centers won the Hart Trophy 17 times over an 18-year period from 1979 to 1996. Wayne Gretzky personally skated away with the league's MVP award eight straight times during that era.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended for 20 games by the NHL

Caleb Jones of the @penguins has been suspended for 20 games. https://t.co/0wmbboradVpic.twitter.com/gSFLFsNb8G

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) February 4, 2026

From the league:

 Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended for 20 games, without pay, for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for evaluation and possible treatment.

The National Hockey League will have no further comment on this matter.

Jones issued a statement this afternoon:

Statement from Caleb Jones on his suspension. #LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/WLSR3ACBNw

— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) February 4, 2026

The Penguins also issued a statement on the matter.

https://t.co/2GBVfiHKX8pic.twitter.com/9wmlZfLMpk

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 4, 2026

Jones was injured in October with a foot injury. He was assigned to the AHL in January and suffered a different upper body injury in the AHL.

The Seattle Kraken have recalled center Oscar Fisker Molgaard from the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. Additionally, they have placed rookie Berkly Catton on the injured reserve.

Fisker Molgaard has been called up twice before but has played only two games in the NHL, both during his first call-up in November. He recorded an assist in his NHL debut.

Fisker Molgaard will likely be a healthy scratch tonight and is presumably called up as a precaution in case any Kraken forwards sustain an injury before tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

In the AHL, the 20-year-old has posted seven goals and 22 points in 35 games, ranking seventh in goals and fourth in points. Following tonight’s game, Fisker Molgaard will head to Milano Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Catton now joins Ben Meyers and Matt Murray on the injured reserve. Catton sustained his upper-body injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 29. He was announced to be out for the Kraken’s final three games before the break and that he would be able to return to the lineup when NHL play resumes.

The 20-year-old has scored five goals and 11 points in 40 games during his rookie season. 

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While the NHL will suspend operations for the Olympic break, business will continue as usual in the AHL, and it will hold its All-Star Classic on February 10 and 11. The Montreal Canadiens’ farm team, Laval Rocket, will be represented by three players. Forward Laurent Dauphin, defenseman Adam Engstrom, and goaltender Jacob Fowler.

Fowler, who made his NHL debut this season amid the Canadiens’ goaltending woes, has had a new mask made for the occasion. While it’s pretty similar to the one he usually wears, it includes one significant change that is sure to please the organization’s fans.

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Fowler turned to local artist JF Aumais to have the new mask made, and Aumais revealed the design yesterday on his Facebook page, stating that Fowler wanted to stick with his classic Iron Man design, but adding a few twists. The mask includes the AHL All-Star Classic logo and, on the back plate, where Fowler’s regular mask features a Florida license plate, it has a Quebec license plate instead, featuring the province’s motto Je me souviens.

Fowler is having a great season with the Rocket; he has a 14-7-0 record, three shutouts, a 2.25 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. While most believed he was going to spend the whole season with the Rocket, the goaltending trials and tribulations in Montreal led to a surprise recall for the 21-year-old. In 10 games with the Canadiens, he put up a 4-4-2 record with a 2.62 GAA and a .902 SV on top of recording a shutout against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fowler was ultimately sent back to the AHL, not because he wasn’t performing well, but rather because the organization wanted him to get plenty of action, which he wouldn’t have had in a three-goalie system with the Habs. The 10-game audition was sufficient to see that the Canadiens have a diamond in the rough in their hands with Fowler, who should be in Montreal full-time sooner rather than later.

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The New York Rangers have reportedly traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick. 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Kings and Panarin have agreed upon a two-year contract extension worth $11 million per year.

Pierre LeBrun of TSN indicates that the Rangers are retaining 50 percent of Panarin's salary on his contract set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic reports that the conditional third-round pick is the better of Los Angeles's two third-rounders in 2026, but if the Kings win one playoff round, it becomes a second. If they win two rounds, the Kings will add a 2028 fourth-round pick.

The Kings were the only team Panarin wanted to go to and the only team the Rangers could work with according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker. 

It was widely speculated that Panarin would be dealt ahead of the roster freeze that took effect today at 3 PM EST.

Panarin has been scratched out of the Rangers' lineup over the past three games due to roster management.

Greentree was selected by the Kings in the first round with the 26th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. 

In 52 games for the Rangers this season, Panarin has recorded 19 goals, 38 assists, and 57 points, while averaging 20:55 minutes.

Former San Jose Sharks forward Thomas Bordeleau has a new home.

The St. Louis Blues have acquired Bordeleau and a 2026 fourth-round pick from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for veteran forward Nick Bjugstad. 

The Sharks traded Bordeleau to the Devils during this past off-season in exchange for forward Shane Bowers. Now, he is heading to the Blues organization with this latest move. 

Bordeleau spent the entirety of his tenure with the Devils organization down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets. In 35 games with Utica this season before being traded to the Blues, the 24-year-old forward recorded two goals, six assists, and eight points.

Bordeleau was selected by the Sharks with the 38th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 44 games over four seasons with the Sharks, he recorded six goals, 12 assists, and 18 points.

TRADE ALERT! We’ve acquired Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 4th-round pick from New Jersey in exchange for Nick Bjugstad. #stlblues

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 4, 2026

The Winnipeg Jets were not in the running to acquire New York Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin, but his trade to the Los Angeles Kings could make life even more difficult for Winnipeg as the playoff race tightens.

The Kings acquired Panarin in exchange for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick, immediately bolstering a Western Conference contender. If the Kings win a playoff round this year, the third-round pick becomes a second-round and if they win two playoff rounds, they will also receive a fourth-round pick in 2028.

New York will be retaining 50 per cent of Panarin's contract for the remainder of this season and the Kings have also agreed on a two-year extension with Panarin, that is believed to carry a cap hit of $11 million per season.

The deal sends Panarin, 34, to a team that will now be a major threat in the West, adding elite scoring and veteran leadership to a roster already built to compete. Panarin has 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 52 games this season, putting him on pace for 86 points over 78 games.

This marks the ninth consecutive season he has averaged over a point per game. Since 2019–20, he ranks among the league’s top six scorers with 205 goals and 402 assists for 607 points in 482 games.

The Rangers are adding an exciting young talent in 20-year-old forward Liam Greentree, a first-round pick at 26th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, who is expected to develop further in the juniors before making his NHL debut.

The Oshawa, Ontario native likely won't join the New York till next season or possibly even later. Currently captaining the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL for the past three seasons, Greentree has been a standout performer this year, recording 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points in just 34 games.

For the Jets, who are fighting to climb the Western Conference standings, the trade presents another obstacle. The addition of Panarin to a Western team creates a potential matchup nightmare in the playoffs, as Winnipeg would now have to navigate a matchup in what would be the conference finals with one of the league’s most dynamic forwards.

The move increases the Jets’ margin for error and reduces their already slim odds of a deep playoff run as the Kings are also fighting for a playoff spot as they currently sit one point out of a wild card spot.

Winnipeg’s current roster features talent and potential, but acquiring a superstar like Panarin was always unrealistic given the team’s position and cap space. Still, seeing Panarin land in the Western Conference underscores the level of competition the Jets face in their quest for a playoff spot, let alone the Stanley Cup.

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The Detroit Red Wings will not be adding New York Rangers star winger Artemi Panarin after he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in a blockbuster deal.

The Kings acquired Panarin in exchange for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick, leaving Detroit out of the running despite reportedly being in the mix. If the Kings win a playoff round this year, the third-round pick becomes a second-round and if they win two playoff rounds, they will also receive a fourth-round pick in 2028. 

New York will be retaining 50 per cent of Panarin's contract for the remainder of this season and the Kings have also agreed on a two-year extension with Panarin, that is believed to carry a cap hit of $11 million per season.

Detroit has an opening on the top line alongside captain Dylan Larkin and rising star Lucas Raymond. Panarin, 34, would have been a natural fit, providing elite scoring, playmaking, and veteran leadership to complement the young core. 

Panarin is having another standout season with 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 52 games, putting him on pace for 86 points over 78 games. This marks the ninth consecutive season he has averaged more than a point per game.

Since 2019–20, Panarin ranks among the league’s top six scorers with 205 goals and 402 assists for 607 points in 482 games, making him one of the most productive forwards in the NHL over the past four seasons.

The Rangers are adding an exciting young talent in 20-year-old forward Liam Greentree, a first-round pick at 26th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, who is expected to develop further in the juniors before making his NHL debut.

The Oshawa, Ontario native likely won't join the New York till next season or possibly even later. Currently captaining the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL for the past three seasons, Greentree has been a standout performer this year, recording 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points in just 34 games.

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

The Red Wings’ pursuit of Panarin showed GM Steve Yzerman potentially eyeing a move to accelerate the rebuild, but in the end, they could not convince the star winger to join the Motor City.

Detroit will now continue its season without the veteran star and while missing out on Panarin is a setback, it also leaves the Red Wings with flexibility to explore other options before the trade deadline or in future seasons.

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The first of what could be multiple deals by the St. Louis Blues happened before the Olympic freeze.

The Blues are sending forward Nick Bjugstad to the New Jersey Devils for a mid-round pick and a prospect, with former Blue Jordan Schmaltz first to announce the trade and Sportset's Elliotte Friedman with the details.

The Blues announced the trade that they acquired forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Bjugstad, 33, was signed by the Blues as a free agent last July when he signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract that carries a $1.75 million average annual value. He played in 35 games this season and had seven points (six goals, one assist). Bjugstad has played in 795 NHL games and the Devils will be eighth club; he has 337 points (163 goals, 174 assists).

Bordeleau, 24, was playing at Utica of the American Hockey League and will join Springfield; he has played in 35 games for the Comets this season and had eight points (two goals, six assists).

Bordeleau has experience in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks; he has played in 196 AHL games (115 points; 49 goals, 66 assists) but has also made 44 NHL with the Sharks and had 18 points (six goals, 12 assists). Bordeleau was drafted by the Sharks in the second round (38th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.

The NHL Olympic roster trade freeze was set for 2 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday and runs through 10:59 (CT) on Feb. 22. 

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The Philadelphia Flyers’ 4–2 win over the Washington Capitals wasn’t loud, or flashy, or emotionally overwrought, and that was precisely the point.

After a stretch where Philadelphia too often looked disconnected from its own identity, Tuesday night felt like the course correction they needed. It was the first of four meetings between the teams this season, and a notable one considering the Flyers were swept in all four matchups by Washington last year. This time, however, the game unfolded on Philadelphia’s terms.

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1. The Flyers Fixed Their Start, and Everything Flowed From There.

For weeks, the Flyers’ biggest problem has been pacing and timing. Poor starts have forced them into reactive hockey that see them chasing games more than shaping them. Against Washington, that pattern was broken.

Owen Tippett’s opening goal—his 19th of the season—gave the Flyers an early boost, and their direct, fearless waves of attack on the Capitals reflected that early confidence. Philadelphia played straightforward hockey early, won races, and established inside positioning before Washington could settle.

Tipper starts us off hot. 🔥#WSHvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/gjPUlMxLmZ

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 4, 2026

Tippett, who now has six points (4G, 2A) in his last six games and 10 points (5G, 5A) in 15 career games against the Capitals, continues to thrive when the Flyers play decisively rather than desperately.

“We knew we needed to have a good start,” Tippett said postgame. “I think that’s what hurt us a little bit in the past… getting the first [goal], doesn’t matter who it is. It goes a long way and gets everyone going and then builds confidence, for sure.”

The key factor is that the Flyers didn’t overextend for offense after scoring. They didn’t abandon structure when Washington pushed back. Instead, they smartly layered their game—forecheck pressure supported by responsible tracking, offensive zone time paired with smart changes. It was professional hockey, and it set the tone for everything that followed.

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2. Dan Vladar’s Night Was About Leadership As Much As Goaltending.

Dan Vladar was insanely sharp against Washington. But more importantly, he was commanding.

He gave the Flyers crucial stability in moments where Washington threatened to tilt the ice, and he did so with elite instincts, puck tracking, and athleticism. Rebounds were controlled, and there was an unmistakable calm to his game.

Rick Tocchet made it clear afterward that Vladar’s value goes well beyond the crease.

“He doesn’t have a letter on his jersey, but he could,” Tocchet said. “He does have one for me, in my head.”

Rick Tocchet on Dan Vladar: “He doesn’t have a letter on his jersey, but he has one to me, in my head.”

Said Vladar skated to the bench during a break and said to his teammates to not hang their heads and get it going, presumably after the Capitals tied the game up.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) February 4, 2026

Tocchet pointed to Vladar’s offseason as evidence of why his voice carries weight, recounting a story where Vladar identified a weakness in his game, hired a coach to address it, and arrived at camp in top shape.

"That's being a leader," Tocchet said. 

But it was an in-game moment that best captured his leadership.

“When he came on our bench [during a break in play], he said, ‘Guys, why are you holding your head down? Let’s go here,’” Tocchet said. “And I love that. It’s good to hear that. He’s been like that all year.”

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3. The Offense Was Not Just Effective, But Balanced.

Philadelphia scored four goals, and none of them required the Flyers to break character.

Carl Grundstrom’s eighth of the season came from effort and positioning. Jamie Drysdale’s fourth, a power-play goal, showcased his growing confidence and leaves him tied for second among Flyers defensemen with 22 points. Rasmus Ristolainen capped the night with an empty-net goal, his first of the season and first multi-point game, extending his point streak to two games.

Jamie in the clutch ‼️#WSHvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/9jRLTCUcax

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 4, 2026

Travis Konecny, playing in his 700th NHL game and becoming just the 13th player in franchise history to reach that milestone with the Flyers, didn’t score, but he controlled pace and extended his point streak to four games with two assists. He now leads the team with 15 multi-point games and has 15 points (8G, 7A) in his last nine outings.

Trevor Zegras recorded his 28th assist and has points in back-to-back games. Travis Sanheim picked up his 18th assist and continues to lead Flyers defensemen with 24 points. Matvei Michkov added his 16th assist and now has six points (3G, 3A) in five career games against Washington. Even Nic Deslauriers found the scoresheet with his first assist of the season. 

This wasn’t a top-heavy night. It was a functional lineup, with contributions arriving organically throughout all four of the Flyers' lines.

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4. The Flyers Carried Belief Through the Entire Game.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the night wasn’t any single goal or milestone, but the absence of panic.

The Flyers have had wins this season where confidence appeared suddenly and vanished just as quickly. Against Washington, it held. When the Capitals pushed, Philadelphia didn’t retreat into survival mode. When they had a lead, they didn’t stop playing. Fundamentals—puck support, gap control, disciplined changes—stayed intact from the opening minutes through the final horn.

That’s what made this win different. It didn’t feel like a temporary spike. It felt repeatable.

“It’s a long year,” Vladar said afterwards. “It’s not easy, especially with the Olympics and you’re taking those days off, but I think everybody’s doing the best we can to just be ready.”

The Flyers obviously didn’t solve their season in one night. But they re-established a baseline built on structure, leadership, and collective responsibility. As they head toward the Olympic break, that's a valuable outcome, and one they can absolutely build on after their time off.

The Maven admits it; Last Fall I picked the Rangers to make the playoffs. (Fool that I was.)

Then again, so did The Hockey News' experts who tabbed the Blueshirts to wind up fourth in the NHL's Metropolitan Division.

ERROR!

So did virtually every friend and seer I quizzed because in October picking the Blueshirts to make the postseason made sense, for these reasons:

1. A new coach, Mike Sullivan, who once helped the Penguins to a pair of Stanley Cups, would be the Miracle Worker.

2. A couple of fresh defensemen – Vlad Gavrikov and Will  Borgen – looked very promising at Training Camp.

3. Promising AHL (Hartford) grads – Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann as well as collegian

Noah Laba – added rookie enthusiasm.

4. The best one-two goalie combination in Igor Shesterkin and Jon Quick figured to guarantee success.

And there were plenty more so-called goodies.

But there remained a precious few who saw through the Rangers fog.

One was the Blue Collar Blue Shirt Bulletin's Sean McCaffrey who maintained even before training camp that the then new model (2025-26) Ranger sedan would break down out of the show room. That it would not make the postseason, 2026. 

"The Rangers appear to be a giant jigsaw puzzle with the pieces spread all over the floor," wrote McCaffrey last August. "Drury has tried to re-shape this team to show more grit and muscle.

"And Sullivan's biggest challenge will be to get this team to play faster, meaner and more consistent."

Devils radio play by play ace Chico Resch said the Rangers "didn't have enough difference-makers." Vic Morren, author and co-host of the podcast NHL Wraparound, pointed out other flaws. 

A half year later the Rangers are slower, softer and even less consistent than they were under the inconsistent Peter Laviolette!

The Maven overrated the Blueshirts.