Category: Ice Hockey

It might still be a bit early to deem the Florida Panthers' upcoming four-game road trip "a make-or-break trip," but there is no denying the importance and the challenge they'll face.

The Panthers picked up a pair of vital wins over the weekend. They pulled off a miraculous comeback against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, winning 7-6 and fought off Matthew Schaefer and the New York Islanders on Sunday for a 4-1 victory.  

The wins helped the Panthers move into sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but more importantly, they are now just four points back of third place in the division and five from the division lead. The Panthers have some things they need to tidy up, and they need to do so on this road trip.

The Panthers will take on the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, the Dallas Stars on Saturday and finish off the trip with a duel against their bitter rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Monday. 

Three of the four teams are in the playoffs, with the Mammoth sitting just outside a wild card spot due to points percentage. The Panthers are in tough on this trip, but finding results is a must. 

Sergei Bobrovsky, whose play has continued to trend in the wrong direction, will start against the Mammoth, according to Panthers coach Paul Maurice. His .881 save percentage ranks 60th in the NHL. The Panthers will continue to drop points if he can't find his game.

Daniil Tarasov will be in the crease on Thursday against the Avalanche, and despite his excellent play as of late, the Avalanche poses a threat that no team in the NHL does. The Avalanche lead the Presidents' Trophy race and leads the NHL in goals per game, averaging 3.97. They also rank first in shots on goal, averaging 34, and rank first in goals allowed, allowing just 2.17 goals per game. The Avalanche are a well-oiled machine led by Hart Trophy favorite and Art Ross Trophy leader Nathan MacKinnon, and Norris Trophy favorite Cale Makar.

MacKinnon Outshines Sickness, Evokes Boxing Legend’s Relentless DriveNathan MacKinnon is far from the first elite competitor to confront illness and nevertheless prevail.

The trip doesn't get much easier. Just two days later, they'll take on the Stars, who sit in second place in the NHL. Their metrics might not be as impressive as the Avalanche's, but they have top-end offensive producers who commit to the defensive side of the puck. They rank fourth in goals scored per game and first in shooting percentage. They also ranked fourth in goals allowed per game. 

The final game of the road trip is an opponent the Panthers know all too well. The Lightning are currently on a four-game losing streak, but prior to that, they had found their stride. Defensively, the Lightning have been consistent, ranking fifth in goals allowed per game, and their offense is beginning to come around. After slow starts, Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel are all around a point per game, and Brayden Point has returned from his injury. 

Andrei Vasilevskiy is out with an undisclosed injury, but the Lightning hope he can return soon. 

It's not to be understated how talented the teams they'll be facing are on this road trip. But the Panthers would be the first to tell you, to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Panthers don't want to fall any farther from the playoffs than they already are. 

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Panthers Remain Optmistic About Playoff Chances; ‘It’s About Just Getting In’The Florida Panthers completed an inspiring comeback against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but even prior to the win, their belief in themselves had never wavered.

Is LA Good Enough in the Western Conference?

The Western Conference this season is looking like a gauntlet that is no joke and is going to be very tough for Los Angeles to compete against in the postseason. 

Dallas, Vegas, Edmonton, Colorado, and even Anaheim have established themselves as the top contenders in the Western Conference, with elite scoring, a strong power play, and balanced defense. 

The Kings, meanwhile, even though they sit in third place in the Pacific Division, just two points back of Anaheim for the first seed, you get the feeling that doesn’t matter. Fans saw the Kings finish second in the division last season with home-ice advantage and still couldn’t get past the first round against the Oilers for the fourth consecutive season. 

With the season already in the second half, questions about general manager Ken Holland and coach Jim Hiller's plans for roster changes should leave fans curious and eager to see what's next for the team. 

Los Angeles’s window isn’t closed, but it’s not wide open either. 

The Weakness Holding the Kings Back

This is where the separation from the true West contenders becomes clear. 

1. A Poor Home Record (4-6-3)

Crypto.com Arena has been a frustration this season. After possessing the best home record last season, the Kings are now the third-worst team at home behind Vancouver and the Rangers. 

LA plays tight at home with struggles to generate any offense, and can’t dictate tempo or rhythm the way top teams are supposed to do at home. Now, the flip side is they're very good on the road with a 10-2-4 record, proving they can compete with any team in the playoffs, but they also have to be consistent at home, not just on the road. 

2. Power-Play Problems

This has been the biggest weakness:

• Slow puck movement
• Predictable
• Struggles entering the zone
• Lacks a true scoring threat 

3. Slow Starts 

The Kings often take too long to be aggressive and get going offensively and defensively early in games. In almost all of their games this season, LA has gone down early, clawed its way back, then forced overtime just to lose in a shootout. 

It gets tiring, and the Kings go cold when overtime hits for trying so hard in the end, when they need to focus on playing that way early in regulation.

How the Kings Stack Up Against the West’s Best

1. Colorado Avalanche - Top-End Talent and should be the favorites to win the Stanley Cup right now with their strong start. The Avs will be too dominant on offense and defense, both areas where LA struggles. 

2. Dallas Stars - The Stars have won a great many of their games this season; they are second in the NHL standings behind the juggernaut Avs. This will be another team that the Kings won’t be able to beat in a seven-game series. 

3. Vegas Golden Knights - Vegas has been a strong contender in the Western Conference for years now, winning its first cup in 2023 and sweeping the Kings the last time they faced in the postseason back in 2018, but it is still considered a better team with its defense and strong center depth. 

4. Edmonton Oilers - Despite the slow start, the Oilers are always a team that can’t be judged for its results in the early part of the regular season. Especially against the Kings, the Oilers have dominated LA time and time again, serving as their biggest roadblock over the last few years. 

5. Anaheim Ducks - The Ducks might be a team that the Kings could beat because they’re a young team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018, but they’re big, fast, young, and have the hunger to go deep in the playoffs.

While probably the easiest team for the Kings to match up with in the postseason, it will still be a tough series for Los Angeles to win. 

So… Are the Kings Built to Beat the Western Elite? 

Right now? No, they’re not better than several of those teams mentioned above in the Western Conference. At Best, the Kings are the fifth- or sixth-best team in the West, which makes them a bottom wild-card team. 

They remain in the middle, but near the bottom against the top contenders in the west if they go head-to-head against them. If the Kings make changes to their roster during the trade deadline that fill their holes and weaknesses, then we can have a conversation about them being a true contender, but now they remain a good team, not a great team in the West. 

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The NHL's Hart Trophy front-runners display elite consistency just over one-third of the season.

Of the five players on The Hockey News' previous Hart Trophy rankings on Nov. 13, four remain on the list. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid finds his way back into the conversation after recording a hat trick against the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 4 and nine points in his last five games.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who fell off this month's ranking, still has a strong case of winning the Hart Trophy, with 35 points in 29 games as a defenseman. But his teammate his playing so well right now that it's tough to justify picking Makar as the most valuable player to his team.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association will have the final say after the regular season on who is "the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team," but this would be my ballot if voting happened now.

5. Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals

Logan Thompson is likely the best goaltender in the NHL today. In 21 games this season, the 28-year-old has a 1.96 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

Among all goalies who have made at least 10 appearances, only the Minnesota Wild's Jesper Wallstedt has a better save percentage and goals-against average, but he's played in 10 fewer contests than Thompson.

Thompson has been especially hot in his last six starts. He has five wins and one overtime loss and averaged a .955 SP and 1.32 GAA.

It's not like the Capitals' netminder hasn't faced plenty of shots either. On Friday, Dec. 5, he faced 38 shots, and in his last game on Sunday, Dec. 7, he recorded a 39-save shutout.

BetMGM Hart Trophy odds: 176.00/+17500

4. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

McDavid had a slow start to the season by his standards, but he's still third in league scoring with 42 points in 29 games.

At the end of October, McDavid was tied for 19th in league scoring. But since then, he's averaged 1.65 points per game, nearly half a point more than his scoring rate in October.

Not only does McDavid lead the Oilers in points with five more than Leon Draisaitl, but his 28 assists are tied for the most in the NHL as well.

Edmonton finds itself back in the playoff picture after being on the outside of the mix from Nov. 16 to Dec. 5. As they hold on to the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference and continue to lack consistent goaltending, McDavid will be a significant factor in his team making the post-season as usual.

BetMGM Hart Trophy odds: 3.80/+280

Oilers' Connor McDavid Responds To His Lack Of Shooting In A Big WayEdmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid called himself out for passing instead of shooting on scoring chances last week. The way he responded in the following two games made a significant difference.

3. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard has been a consistent performer for the Chicago Blackhawks, and he's pushed his team into a playoff spot at times this season.

Now, the Blackhawks are just one point out of a playoff spot, with a game in hand on the San Jose Sharks, which sit in the West's second wild-card spot.

Chicago's playoff hopes are in the hands of 20-year-old Bedard, who's carried the weight of the team's offense, recording 15 more points than second-place Tyler Bertuzzi.

Bedard leads the team in goals, assists, points, plus-minus, game-winning goals and more. He's truly been a valuable piece to the Blackhawks, recording 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points this year. He's factored into about 47 percent of the team's 86 goals.

BetMGM Hart Trophy odds: 21.00/+2000

2. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

Like Bedard, Macklin Celebrini has been able to maintain his excellent scoring pace from the start of the season. In 30 contests, the 19-year-old has 15 goals and 43 points, which has him second in league scoring.

Celebrini's factored into just over half of the San Jose Sharks' 85 goals. He leads his team in goals, assists, points, plus-minus, overtime goals, power-play goals and more.

The sophomore center has 15 more points than second-place Will Smith, who has 28. Celebrini equals Smith's point total in assists alone. He's tied with McDavid for the league lead in that category.

BetMGM Hart Trophy odds: 23.00/+2200

1. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Nathan MacKinnon sits at the top of this list. 

The Avalanche superstar center is the front-runner for the Rocket Richard Trophy as he leads the league in goals with 24. He also leads the way in the Art Ross Trophy race, sitting on top of the NHL with 49 points, six more than Celebrini.

While the Avalanche have several stars, such as defenseman Cale Makar and right winger Martin Necas, there's no doubt that MacKinnon is the driving force of the team's incredible 21-2-6 record.

MacKinnon also dominates the NHL in the plus-minus department with a plus-35 rating. The closest player to him outside of the Avalanche's roster is Capitals D-man Jakob Chychrun at plus-24.

He's proven to be an extremely valuable piece to the Avs, being on the right side of the puck almost all the time. He's a big reason why the Avalanche are undisputedly the best team in the NHL.

BetMGM Hart Trophy odds: 1.48/-210

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The Montreal Canadiens should be looking to improve at the center position this season. 

When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn stands out as an interesting potential option for the Canadiens. 

With the Blues struggling this season, Schenn has found himself right back into the rumor mill. It is understandable, as he would have the potential to be a very solid addition to a playoff team's roster. This is because he is a solid two-way center who chips in offensively when playing at his best, kills penalties, and is not afraid to throw the body. 

Schenn is also known for being a good leader, which is why he is currently the Blues' captain. With the Canadiens being a young team on the rise, adding a player like Schenn as a mentor would have the potential to benefit them. 

After a slow start to the season, Schenn is also starting to heat back up for the Blues. In 30 games so far this season with the Central Division club, he has recorded six goals, seven assists, 13 points, and 67 hits. He also recorded four points in his last three games alone, which included him scoring twice and recording an assist against the Canadiens on Dec. 7.

With all Schenn provides, he would have the potential to be a solid addition to the Canadiens' middle six and penalty kill if acquired.

However, there would also be some clear risk in a potential Schenn trade. For starters, he would not come cheap, as he has a $6.5 million cap hit. He would also be more than a rental for Montreal if acquired, as he is signed until the end of the 2027-28 season. The 34-year-old forward has also struggled at times this season. 

Ultimately, Schenn would have the potential to be a nice addition to the Canadiens' roster, but his contract is where things could get complicated. Yet, if the Blues were open to retaining some of Schenn's salary, that could make the veteran center a more realistic target for Montreal. 

NHL players will not take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy if the quality of the ice is not good enough, says deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

But he remains "cautiously optimistic" issues will be resolved in time.

Stars from North America's National Hockey League, the biggest in the world, are set to compete at the Milan-Cortina Olympics next year - their first appearance at a Winter Games since 2014.

But there are doubts around the size and quality of the ice at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, where construction is still not finished, despite the Games starting on 6 February. Matches will also be held at Milano Rho Arena.

"If the ice is unplayable, the ice is unplayable," Daly said.

"I don't want to be flip about it. We probably will know that in advance of the official start of the Games. What you do at that point becomes a different issue.

"Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we're not going to play.

"It's as simple as that."

The rink in Milan, approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation, is shorter than the minimum requirement in the NHL, leading to suggestions there could be an increase in high-speed collisions.

The NHL players' association said on Saturday the concerns were more around the quality of the ice than the size.

Daly, though, said he did not think the issues were insurmountable.

"We have offered and they're utilising our ice experts and technicians and outside providers," he added.

"We're basically moving everybody there to try to help get this done in a way that's acceptable for NHL athletes. And I'm cautiously optimistic it will be fruitful."

• Ice hockey neck guards mandatory at 2026 Olympics

The Nashville Predators will once again have the opportunity to showcase their players in front of a European audience this season. This time, they won’t have to leave home to do it.

The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that the start time for the Predators’ home game against the Detroit Red Wings at Bridgestone Arena on Monday, March 2, presented by Regions Bank, has been changed to 1 Pm CT.

Originally scheduled as a 7 Pm CT start, the new start time will allow the NHL’s top stars to be showcased in primetime – 8 p.m. CET – to passionate hockey fans across Europe, continuing the excitement from the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden and NHL player participation in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

“We are thrilled that our March 2 game against Detroit is shifting to this unique weekday matinee setting,” Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena CEO Sean Henry said in a statement. “The Preds will take this opportunity to celebrate hockey over multiple days, recognizing local hockey groups, rewarding students and thanking our military members for their service to our country, all while the NHL and its broadcast partners showcase our team and our city internationally. We are confident that the fans of SMASHVILLE will shine one more time on this international stage!”

As part of their commitment to the armed forces community, the Predators will donate 1,000 game tickets to military members and their families from the U.S. Army Fort Campbell base, located near Clarksville, Tenn.

This will also be the fourth Smashville Sports Series game of the season – themed games that blend Predators hockey with other sports – with March 2 centered on baseball. The originally announced giveaway of 5,000 Nashville Predators baseball jerseys presented by Regions has been increased; now, the first 10,000 fans in the building will receive a jersey.

In addition to 50 percent off Michelob ULTRA that fans get at every Smashville Sports Series game, attendees can also enjoy $1 hot dogs throughout the game.

The weekday afternoon game gives fans, corporations and downtown businesses a unique opportunity to bring their companies to Bridgestone Arena for a workplace outing, long lunch break and fun afternoon in Smashville.

The Predators competed in last month’s NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal, where they played in two regular-season games versus the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of sold-out crowds at Avicii Arena in Stockholm.

The Preds feature some of the game’s biggest international talents, including Swedish star and franchise goals leader Filip Forsberg and fellow countryman Adam Wilsby, as well as captain Roman Josi (Switzerland), Juuse Saros and Erik Haula (Finland) and Steven Stamkos (Canada).

In addition to last month’s NHL Global Series, the Predators have played abroad on two other occasions: the 2022 NHL Global Series Czechia and GAME ONe Japan 2000.

The Red Wings counter with a global roster of their own that includes defenseman Moritz Seider (Germany), captain Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane (United States), forward Marco Kasper (Austria), and six Swedish-born players: forwards Lucas Raymond, Jonatan Berggren, and Elmer Soderblom, and defensemen Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

Detroit has played in regular-season games abroad two times, both in Stockholm: the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal and NHL Premiere 2009.

In their last meeting with the Red Wings the day before Thanksgiving in Detroit, the Preds exploded for five goals in the third period for a come-from-behind 6-3 victory at Little Caesars Arena. Nick Blankenburg, Roman Josi, Ryan O’Reilly, Erik Haula and Steven Stamkos tallied goals for Nashville in the final frame.

Sportsnet’s Eric Engels has reported that the Colorado Avalanche have requested they wear the Quebec Nordiques jersey against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan 29, and that request has been accepted. With the Nordiques jerseys on, the Canadiens will wear their red jerseys in the matchup.

Sounds like the NHL might permit the Avs to wear the blue Quebec Nordiques jersey Jan 29 vs. Canadiens red. Geoff Molson said he hasn’t been asked yet by the NHL, but that he’d happily approve if they asked.

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 9, 2025

For the franchise's 30th anniversary, the Avalanche have returned to the organization's roots and are wearing the Quebec Nordiques jerseys in seven games this season. However, they can now include one more game this season against their “rival,” the Montreal Canadiens. They still face the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights in their retro jerseys.

Colorado Avalanche Officially Unveil 30th-Anniversary Quebec Nordiques JerseysThe Colorado Avalanche on X have officially announced/revealed that they will be honoring the Quebec Nordiques this season with a special third jersey for their 30th Anniversary.

So far this season, the Avalanche, or the Nordiques in this case, are 1-1 while wearing the jerseys. They lost their debut in the jerseys, 5-4 in a shootout against the Carolina Hurricanes, but bounced back with a 7-2 win against the Canadiens.

Engels also reported that the Canadiens' CEO, Geoff Molson, responded to the initial report that the Avalanche wanted to make this matchup happen, saying he would happily approve.

One of the biggest moments these two teams faced off was dubbed the “Good Friday Massacre,” in which, on Good Friday, April 20, in the second round of the 1984 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Quebec Nordiques lost game three to the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 and the series. Most notably, the game ended with an all-out brawl, one of, if not the biggest, fights in NHL/AHA history. 

There were multiple fights during the game, but the biggest moment took place at the end of the second period, including another one before the third period started. By the end of everything, there was a total of 11 ejections and 252 penalty minutes handed out.

While I doubt we'll see this happen again, it's encouraging to see the NHL approve the Avalanche’s request to wear the retro jerseys again, and I hope they continue to accommodate similar requests if other teams bring back their own retro jerseys.

Scott Wedgewood Could Start for Avalanche vs. Predators on TuesdayScott Wedgewood’s minor back injury appears to be just that—minor.

The Wraparound has a new batch of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Frank Zawrazky discussed in this episode:

0:00: What's been the most concerning part of the New Jersey Devils' recent slump?

4:13: Could Nashville Predators forwards Ryan O'Reilly or Steven Stamkos be a smart fit for the New Jersey Devils?

7:15: What teams would make sense as potential suitors for Phillip Danault?

10:55: Would Tristan Jarry help fix the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending woes?

15:12: Which Canadian with NHL experience will have the biggest impact at the world juniors this year?

18:25: Breaking down potential standouts from the NCAA at the upcoming world juniors

21:40: Which direction will the Seattle Kraken go in throughout the rest of the season?

25:04: Is this a redeemable season for the Buffalo Sabres?

Can The Buffalo Sabres Redeem Their Season? by The Wraparound

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Amazon

The Winnipeg Jets have announced that defenseman Elias Salomonsson has been loaned back to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. The move comes as depth defenseman Haydn Fleury returned to practice Tuesday and has been skating with the team, signaling a return to the minors for one of the Jets’ top defensive prospects.

Salomonsson appeared in four games for the Jets this season, finishing without a point and registering a -4 plus-minus rating. His early struggles came against tough competition, including matchups against the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, each of which scored five goals against him. He recovered over his final two games with a +1 rating, averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time per contest and recording three shots on goal.

SALO TIME ✈️

Elias Salomonsson will make his @NHL debut tonight in Washington!@Wawanesa | #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/1KND89gfNh

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 26, 2025

The 21-year-old defenseman was called up following an injury to Neal Pionk, rotating in alongside Winnipeg’s other depth defenders. Drafted by the Jets in the second round, 55th overall, in 2022, Salomonsson has continued to impress in the AHL this season with six assists in 17 games for the Moose, though he has yet to record a goal. Across 70 career AHL games, the Skellefteå, Sweden native has totaled 33 points.

Salomonsson’s return comes at a key time for the Moose, who were red-hot with six consecutive wins but have stumbled recently with three losses in their last seven games. His offensive and defensive skills could help Manitoba regain momentum and get back on track.

His AHL resume includes representing the Moose at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic, becoming only the second rookie defenseman in franchise history to earn the honor. He was also named both Best Defenseman and Rookie of the Year for the 2024–25 season, highlighting his rapid development as one of Winnipeg’s top young blueliners.

With Fleury back in the lineup, Salomonsson will return to Manitoba to continue honing his game while providing a boost to a Moose team looking to rebound.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Rangers lost a point they could have won and all The Maven has heard since is the lame line, "The Ref made a bad call."

Everybody makes mistakes, refs included, but for Mike Sullivan yapping about a double-minor late in the third period in the Vegas' game is an example of the coach auditioning for the lead role in "Alibi Ike."

So, Rangers defenseman Will Borgen and Vegas' left wing went off for roughing. So, what's the problem, it's even-Steven my fine, feathered Mr. Sullivan. 

Using the alleged "bad call" as an excuse to blow a late third period lead and then blow the game because you put the wrong players out there late in the overtime, is theater of the absurd.

For crying out loud the face-off was deep in the Vegas' zone, what more could the Rangers ask for with 14 seconds left in overtime?

No, Pal Mike, your guys blew it. Harvey (Hutch) Cohen, who has been a hockey coach for decades, fingered the Rangers' culprits.

"Any good coach and high school defenseman would have been prepared for the long pass that successfully went to Jack Eichel," Hutch explains. "The three Rangers on the ice were terribly ill-prepared. That was the only play that could beat the Rangers, and it did.

"All the Rangers defenseman had to do was stay behind the closest Vegas' player, Eichel. But the D-man got a late start because he wasn't watching Eichel, who was the biggest threat."

Listen up Sir Sullivan; one more point from Hutch: "I told my players there's an 'In' box and an 'Out' box when playing hockey. The 'In" box contains things you can control such as behavior, wrist shot, slap shot, plus. 

Blueshirts Forecast: The Team Appears On The Rise: But is it Really?After the Rangers had lost in overtime to Vegas, the MSG Networks post-game interlocutor Steve Valiquette suggested that the club's solid play against some of the NHL's elite teams is cause for optimism.

"The 'Out' box has those things you can not control -- and that includes officiating, bad bounces and broken sticks. I told my players, 'Don't worry about 'Out' box things."

As for the overtime blunder that cost the Rangers a vital point, Jess Rubenstein adds: "What about the other two Rangers who were on the ice with Matthew Robertson?"

Blaming the refs is for Beer League games – and Hutch Cohen's "Out" Box!

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to return their home ice on Wednesday night. They will take on the New York Rangers in their first matchup of the season with this Original Six rival. 

Chicago is back home following a four game road trip out west. They played the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings twice on the trip. 

The Blackhawks went 1-2-1 for three points out of eight during this stretch, so they are looking for a nice rebound once they return home. The last two games, Los Angeles and Anaheim, were blowout losses so a bounce-back performance is much needed. 

There is a lot we learned about the Hawks while they were on the road. These are the five biggest takeaways: 

Connor Bedard will show up and produce no matter what

Over the four game losing streak that mostly went bad for Chicago, Bedard had two goals and one assist. Despite a lousy effort from most of his teammates, Bedard brought his best at a high intensity level. 

Bedard is one of the best players in the NHL right now and he's only going to get better. There will be wins and there will be losses. There will be good road trips and bad homestands. Through it all, it is fair to expect the superstar on the team to always be producing offense, which will give them a chance to win on most nights. 

The Blackhawks have tremendous respect for Anze Kopitar

After Chicago's second game of the trip against the Los Angeles Kings, the entire team waited to shake hands with their captain Anze Kopitar. 

Although it didn't involve many active players on either team, Kopitar and the Kings had some intense battles with the Blackhawks over the years. The two teams won a combined five Stanley Cups in the 2010s. They also battled each other in a handful of Western Conference Finals through those runs. 

It is obvious that even the new players recognize that and made sure to honor one of Chicago's all time greatest playoff foes. 

The second half of back-to-backs are a problem

The Chicago Blackhawks have played in two sets of back-to-backs now. In each of them, they were blown out. They lost 9-3 to the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the year and this trip's bad loss to the Anaheim Ducks to end it. 

The one against the Sabres felt like an anomaly at the time, but it can't be ignored that it happened again when they faced the same situation against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Back-to-backs are a part of the NHL and teams must perform well in those games. Jeff Blashill and his staff must work on a way to fix this issue.

Sam Rinzel has a long way to go before he’s an NHL star

On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks sent Sam Rinzel (and Landon Slaggert) to the AHL for some work. For Rinzel, this is a good opportunity for him to gain his confidence back, impact games in a bigger way, and get more ice time. 

During the road trip, Rinzel had a couple of tough plays that led to goals for the opposition. These games forced the team to do something they didn't want to do, which was part ways with him to the AHL for now. 

Rinzel showed signs of being an NHL star late last year and early this year, but has hit a bit of a rookie wall. He has a long way to go before becoming an elite player, but the tools are there for him to be successful. This stint in the AHL will be great for him in the long-term. 

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

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The St. Louis Blues have reportedly signed Dillon Dube to an AHL contract, according to insider Frank Seravalli.

Dube was one of five Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault charges in July from a 2018 incident in London, Ont. Dube joins Carter Hart and Cal Foote as players from this case to sign contracts back in North America. Michael McLeod remains in Russia, and Alex Formenton remains in Switzerland. 

Dube hasn't played any hockey this season, but did skate with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL last season, scoring four goals and 11 points in 42 games. 

Prior to departing for Russia, Dube was a figure in the Calgary Flames' bottom six. He played in 325 games, notching 57 goals and 127 points. Dube also has AHL experience, skating in 56 games and recording 19 goals and 56 points. 

The former 2016 second-round pick (56th overall) is a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, but plays a hard-nose game and isn't afraid to be a physical presence. 

Due to several injuries the Blues are facing, the Springfield Thunderbirds' roster is thinning out. The Blues have recalled Dalibor Dvorsky, Matt Luff, Hugh McGing and Matthew Kessel from the AHL. Dube will provide additional depth to the Thunderbirds' roster. 

Dube's reported agreement is an AHL deal, so if the Blues did want to call him up, they would need to sign him to an NHL contract. 

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There were a few injury updates for the New York Rangers to come out of Tuesday’s practice. 

First off, Matt Rempe made an appearance for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Oct. 23 after a fight against Ryan Reaves. 

He was placed on long-term injured reserve and has been sidelined for the past 22 games. 

The 23-year-old forward practiced on Tuesday in a non-contact jersey, and Mike Sullivan confirmed he will travel with the team to Chicago, despite not being available for Wednesday’s game against the Blackhawks, indicating that he’s making significant progress. 

“He skated a fair amount on his own with our skills coaches,” Sullivan said of Rempe. “The next step is to get him around the group in a team setting in a non-contact jersey.”

Adam Fox has not practiced with the team, but he resumed on-ice activity according to Sullivan, skating twice on his own. 

He was placed on LTIR after suffering a shoulder injury on Nov. 29 in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mike Sullivan Is ‘Disappointed For The Players’ After Rangers' Overtime Loss To Golden Knights It was another overtime heartbreaker for the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> on Sunday night in their 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.&nbsp;

According to Vince Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic, the Rangers are expecting him to miss multiple weeks due to a left-shoulder injury and he’ll be reevaluated around Christmas.

Meanwhile, Adam Edström has been notably absent since suffering a mysterious lower-body injury during practice last week. 

Edström hasn’t practiced or played in a game with his long-term status still unclear. 

Sullivan confirmed that Edström will not travel with the team to Chicago, but is still skating on his own.

The Dallas Stars suffered a blow to their forward lines last week when Tyler Seguin suffered an ACL injury against the New York Rangers. On Saturday, they placed the 33-year-old forward on long-term injury reserve.

According to Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News, that move provides the cap-strapped Stars with some salary-cap relief, but not the full $9.85 million of his average annual value. Due to recent changes in LTIR rules, the benefit is limited to last season's average annual salary of $3.8 million.

That's because the Stars don't know yet how long Seguin will be sidelined. If he can return later in the regular season or during the playoffs, then they only get the $3.8 million in LTIR relief.

However, if it's determined that Seguin's recovery period will stretch beyond the post-season, they can move him to season-ending LTIR (SELTIR) status, which would then enable them to receive cap relief up to his $9.85 million cap hit.

If Seguin goes on SELTIR, TSN's Chris Johnston believes they will aggressively search the trade market for a replacement. He indicated that the Stars were among the clubs linked to Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood.

The feisty 30-year-old Sherwood plays a different style than Seguin, but his physical game is suited for the grind of post-season hockey. He also carries an affordable $1.5-million cap hit for this season.

RG.org's James Murphy stated the Stars were among the clubs interested in Calgary Flames winger Blake Coleman. The 34-year-old is signed through next season with an average annual value of $4.9 million and a 10-team no-trade list.

Turning to the Los Angeles Kings, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Saturday that Phillip Danault has been the subject of growing trade chatter.

Danault, 32, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.5 million. He also has a 10-team no-trade list.

Seravalli said the thin market for centers this season has multiple teams inquiring into Danault's availability. He's seen third-line duty this season with the Kings.

Danault has a well-deserved reputation as a solid two-way center, especially when he helped the Montreal Canadiens reach the 2021 Stanley Cup final. He had a career-high 54 points with the Kings in 2022-23, but his production has declined, with just five points in 29 games this season.

The Kings have struggled recently, which could explain the interest in Danault. However, they're still jockeying for a playoff spot and aren't likely to become sellers unless they tumble out of contention by the March trade deadline.

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The Chicago Blackhawks on Monday announced that they sent Sam Rinzel and Landon Slaggert to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

Landon Slaggert has been a healthy scratch a lot in recent games, so sending him down, where he will play big minutes every game, is great for him and his confidence. 

Blackhawks Assign First-Rounder & Forward To AHLThe Blackhawks have sent two players down to the AHL.

As for Rinzel, this is a move that the Blackhawks desperately didn’t want to do. They made him a healthy scratch for a game in mid-November, but he didn’t respond the way that they were hoping. 

With the Blackhawks, Slaggert has 1 goal in 10 games played, while Rinzel has 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points in 28 games played. Now, they can take their talents to the AHL,  where they can work on things that will make them successful when they return to the NHL. 

On Tuesday, the Blackhawks announced that Dominic Toninato would be called up to the NHL. 31-year-old Toninato has 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 24 games played for the IceHogs this year. His two game-winning goals led the team. 

hi Dominic👋

📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/duXmTFFicBpic.twitter.com/biVepaBjUQ

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 9, 2025

Toninato’s first chance to get in the lineup will come on Wednesday when the Blackhawks take on the New York Rangers. 

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

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