Category: Ice Hockey

The Buffalo Sabres are currently fourth in the Atlantic Division standings with a 27-17-5 record. With this, the Sabres have a real shot of finally breaking their 14-year playoff drought.

However, with the Eastern Conference playoff race being so tight, it would be wise for the Sabres to add to their roster to help their odds of making the post-season. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL who could be good fits, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner stands out in a big way. 

Jenner has been creating chatter in the rumor mill as a trade candidate, as he is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blue Jackets currently do not hold a playoff spot. If he is officially made available ahead of the deadline, the Sabres would be wise to make a big push for him. 

If the Sabres brought in Jenner, they would be adding an impactful forward who plays both down the middle and on the wing. Furthermore, he would give the Sabres another good leader in their room, which could be excellent for a Buffalo club that is looking to take the next step. 

Jenner is also in the middle of a strong season with the Blue Jackets. In 35 games on the year, the 2011 first-round pick has recorded eight goals, 17 assists, 25 points, and 79 hits. With numbers like these, he would be a solid addition to the Sabres' top nine if acquired.

Jenner would also give the Sabres another player who works on both the power play and penalty kill, as he plays a solid two-way game.

The 2021 NHL Draft is beginning to look like one of the stronger classes in recent memory, producing several impact players across the league. For the Detroit Red Wings, that success now includes towering defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a six-foot-six Swedish blueliner who has quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing young defensemen in the sport. His emergence raises a natural question in if the draft were held again today, would Edvinsson go higher, lower, or remain at sixth overall?

At the very top of a redraft, there appears to be little debate. Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston has developed into a legitimate top-six NHL scorer and is on pace to finish just shy of 90 points this season.

Johnston leads all players from the 2021 class in total points and holds a 53-point advantage over the next closest skater, Seattle’s Matty Beniers. Based on current production and trajectory, Johnston would almost certainly be the first overall pick in a redraft.

From there, the picture becomes more complicated as Beniers remains a cornerstone player in Seattle, while Utah’s Dylan Guenther, Toronto’s Matthew Knies, and Anaheim’s Mason McTavish have all emerged as impactful forwards.

Each brings a combination of scoring, physicality, and top-line upside that would likely push them ahead of Detroit’s original sixth selection. In a redraft scenario, it is reasonable to expect those five forwards to come off the board before the Red Wings are on the clock.

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That is where Edvinsson re-enters the conversation. While teams generally preach drafting best player available over positional need, a redraft inevitably accounts for organizational context and proven NHL performance. Detroit’s defensive depth is thinner than its forward group, and Edvinsson’s skill set would fill a clear need. Among remaining options, he stands out as one of the best all-around talents available.

New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes presents the closest competition as the fellow 22-year-old is more offensively inclined and has already posted multiple 40-point NHL seasons, but recent injury concerns and defensive inconsistencies could give teams pause.

Edvinsson, by contrast, offers size, reach, and defensive reliability while still contributing offensively, finishing with only 13 fewer points than Hughes last season despite a different role. His physical presence and durability make him an attractive long-term option for a team seeking stability on the back end.

SIMON SAYS TIE GAME pic.twitter.com/mYpHwErkrU

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 22, 2026

Other defensemen such as J.J. Moser have also carved out solid NHL careers, but Edvinsson’s five-inch height advantage and two-way impact give him the edge. There are also several forwards including William Eklund, Kent Johnson, Owen Power, Matt Coronato, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake who could reasonably climb in a redraft. Even so, most projections would place Edvinsson firmly in the same range, either remaining with Detroit at sixth overall or sliding only slightly later.

For Red Wings fans, the takeaway is reassuring. Detroit’s scouting staff identified a legitimate top talent, and Edvinsson’s continued development suggests the organization made the right call. In a draft that continues to age well, Detroit’s sixth overall pick looks every bit the part of a franchise cornerstone.

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It has been 5,171 days since a 21-year-old Roman Josi was called up from the Milwaukee Admirals to join the Nashville Predators. 

He remembers it vividly. On Nov. 26, 2011, Josi played his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings. 

"I remember going out there for warmups and thinking that it was the coolest thing," Josi said. "It was at Joe Louis Arena, which was historic and across from me, you had guys like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, which was pretty surreal. You never forget your first one." 

Thursday, in the Predators' home matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Josi will play his 1,000th career game and become the first player in franchise history to play all 1,000 games with the Predators. 

"It's a crazy number and a pretty special day," Josi said at Thursday morning's skate. "It's a good time to reflect a little bit and think about the time you've been here. It's pretty special to do it with this organization and the only team I've played for."

Roman Josi speaks to media ahead of his 1,000th career game #Predspic.twitter.com/8CSJP7M2i4

— Jack Williams (@jackgwilliams) January 22, 2026

Josi's list of accolades, not just in the Predators organization, but in the NHL and internationally, is a long one.

He's established himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation, a four-time NHL All-Star, 2020 Norris Trophy Winner, and just the second defenseman ever to lead an NHL franchise in points, the other being Hall of Famer Ray Bourque (1,506 points) with the Boston Bruins. 

Over 999 career games, Josi has tallied 198 goals and 554 assists for 752 points. 

"To play 1,000 games in one uniform is really hard these days," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "With the CBA and free agency, it's a heck of an accomplishment."  

Josi has been a pioneer in the growth of Switzerland's hockey presence, winning three silver medals at the IIHF World Championships, competing in the 2014 Olympics, and gearing up for another run at the 2026 games next month. 

While he's originally from Switzerland, Nashville has become home to Josi. It's where he met his wife, Ellie Ottaway-Josi, and where his two kids were born and are being raised. 

 Josi's family will be attending the game on Thursday. 

"My kids are at a good age now where they kind of understand what's happening a little bit," Josi said. "I met my wife here. My kids were born here. There are so many things that have happened in this town over the last 15 years. 

"My family is here from back home (Switzerland). They've been here so many times and they love it."

Reaching 1,000 games means even more, considering Josi's health and the possibility in the 2025 offseason that he may not reach the milestone. 

After missing the final two months of the 2024-25 season, it was revealed that Josi had been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a circulatory disorder that causes a rapid heart rate increase.

With his status in flux throughout the summer, days before training camp, General Manager Barry Trotz announced that Josi would be ready, "100 percent healthy." 

"We were all a little bit scared last year. I'm sure he was," Brunette said. "I think the clarification with what he was dealing with eased a lot of tension in all of us, especially him. To see him back, he's pointed at a really high level this year.

"We played better because Roman's healthy and in his groove, so I'm happy to see him. He's been scoring some goals lately. His game is at a really high level." 

Josi said a lot has to go right health-wise in order to get to 1,000 games, but he credited the people around him in the Predators organization who got him there. 

"There are a lot of people to be thankful for," Josi said. "Our staff does an amazing job to keep you healthy and a lot goes into it. I feel very lucky, health-wise, to make it to 1,000." 

The moment allowed Brunette to reflect on his 1,000th career game, which he eclipsed in 2011, with the Minnesota Wild. He said the moment can be emotionally "tough." 

"When you get to that game, sometimes it feels like an obituary at times," Brunette said. "You see everybody talk about it and you gotta kind of catch yourself that you're, you're not dead. The tributes and the things people say.

"As a hockey player, you're always moving forward. Next game, next shift, the next play. To take a second and reflect, for me, wasn't a great feeling." 

The celebration has already begun ahead of the game, as Josi has received gifts from his teammates, including a limited-edition Norqain watch and VIP tickets to the US Open. 

It'll be a special celebration Thursday night, but Josi is aware of the task at hand of beating the Senators and avoiding a third straight loss. 

"You obviously want to enjoy the moment, but once the game starts, we're trying to win," Josi said. "It's a special game for me, but once the game starts, you focus on that."

The Winnipeg Jets host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a tape-measuring matchup at Canada Life Centre on Thursday, January 22.

Winnipeg needs to start stringing together wins to climb the standings, and my top NHL picks and Panthers vs. Jets predictions are calling for back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to play a leading role in picking up the victory tonight.

Panthers vs Jets prediction

Panthers vs Jets best bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves (-135)

Winnipeg Jets No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has hit the Over in this market in six of his past seven games, and he’s been particularly sharp across his past three starts with a .926 SV% and a 2.23 GAA.

This is also a plus-matchup, with the Florida Panthers ranking eighth in shots per game (29.1) and seventh in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5.

With Winnipeg allowing 28.0 shots per game and ranking 21st in CF% at 5-on-5, I’m anticipating Hellebuyck seeing more than enough rubber to clear this saves total tonight. 

Panthers vs Jets same-game parlay

Winnipeg has won five of its past seven games while scoring 3.71 goals per and posting a plus-nine goal differential. On the opposite bench, Florida is hovering along a 4-5-1 stretch with 3.9 goals against per game and a minus-17 goal differential.

Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Jets winger Cole Perfetti has recorded two or more shots in nine of his past 14 games for 27 total on 58 attempts. Perfetti also sports a 52.5 CF% and 53.5% shot share at 5-on-5 during the stretch, and is cemented into a Top 6 role with secondary looks on the power play.

Panthers vs Jets SGP

• Jets moneyline
• Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves
• Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal

Panthers vs Jets odds

• Moneyline: Panthers -110 | Jets -110
• Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 | Jets -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5

Panthers vs Jets trend

The Winnipeg Jets have hit the Over in 14 of their last 20 games at home (+7.55 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Jets.

How to watch Panthers vs Jets

Panthers vs Jets latest injuries

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

Earlier this season, it was reported that the Seattle Krakenattempted to trade for St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. Ultimately, the deal never went through, but given the current state of the two teams, it may be time to revisit those discussions. 

The Blues are struggling with injuries and are having trouble winning games. They sit 31st overall in the NHL and haven’t given any reason to believe they can magically turn things around with 32 games remaining in the season.

The Kraken, on the other hand are outperforming expectations. They currently sit two points out of third place in the Pacific Division and tied for the second wild card spot. While the Blues will be sellers, the Kraken believe they should be buyers, looking to upgrade their team. 

A recent report shared by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggested that the Kraken could be “open to moving Shane Wright” in a package to acquire a top-six forward. The Kraken struggle score goals and create offense, ranking 25th in goals scored and 28th in shots on goal. Kyrou’s speed and offensive flair would be exactly what the Kraken are hoping to add to their top six. 

Kyrou is in the midst of a down year with just nine goals and 21 points in 40 games, but a change of scenery should help him find his game again. 

Wright could also be looking for a change of scenery. The 22-year-old was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft and hasn’t been given the opportunity to develop at the NHL level. In his rookie season, he averaged 14:04 of ice time, scoring an impressive 19 goals and 44 points. This season, he’s averaging 13:44 of ice time, notching seven goals and 17 points in 49 games. 

Wright has been stuck as the third-line center with limited opportunities both at even strength and on the power play. 

Kraken Reportedly Open To Trading Shane Wright; Looking To Acquire A Top-Six ForwardAccording to a report from David Pagnotta, the Seattle Kraken are open to moving Shane Wright in a package to land a top-six forward.

A move to St. Louis could change that. When healthy, the Blues’ centers are Robert Thomas, Pius Suter, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Nick Bjugstad/Oskar Sundqvist. There have been reports that the Blues could trade Thomas and Suter if the right deal comes along. 

If they are moved, it presents the perfect opportunity for Wright to slot into a top-six role. 

Wright projects as a second-line center, similar to Dvorsky, but with the right opportunity, he could become more than that. Wright has all the tools of a two-way center. Standing six-foot, 192 pounds, he has the frame to be physical, as well as the skating and shot to be an offensive threat. His playmaking is his biggest blemish, but he is still capable of making plays with the puck.

If Wright were acquired, he’d join the Blues’ young core that consists of Dvorsky, Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, Jimmy Snuggerud, Otto Stenberg, Justin Carbonneau, Philip Broberg, Logan Mailloux, Theo Lindstein, and Adam Jiricek, among others. If the Blues land a top-three-of-five pick in the 2026 draft, they could accelerate their rebuild while still providing their young players the opportunity to develop in the NHL. 

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.

Las Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone has piled up 30 assists through 32 games while serving as a driving force on one of the league’s highest-powered offenses.

Ahead of tonight's showdown in Boston, my Golden Knights vs. Bruins predictions expect a well-rested Stone to help facilitate another goal.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Thursday, January 22.

Golden Knights vs Bruins prediction

Golden Knights vs Bruins best bet:Mark Stone Over 0.5 assists (-130)

Mark Stone has recorded at least one assist in 59% of his appearances this season and in 72% of Vegas’ wins — noteworthy with the Vegas Golden Knights favored on the road against the Boston Bruins. 

He’s been especially effective against teams that bleed shots to forwards. Stone has played 14 games against Bottom-10 shot-prevention defenses versus forwards, averaging — yes, averaging — two points. He’s logged at least one assist in 11 of those games, including a three-assist outing against these same Bruins back in October.

That success isn’t surprising given Stone rides shotgun with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev on a loaded top line, while also skating with Pavel Dorofeyev and Tomas Hertl on the man advantage. He’s surrounded by elite finishers who can capitalize on the chances he creates.

As a bonus, Jeremy Swayman is expected to get the night off. He ranks 14th in Goals Saved Above Expected per start, well ahead of tandemmate Joonas Korpisalo (47th).

This sets up as a spot where the Golden Knights could put up a healthy number.

Golden Knights vs Bruins same-game parlay

Eichel is a Boston kid who always seems to shine against the Bruins. He’s posted four straight multi-point games and has found the scoresheet in three of the past five head-to-head meetings.

With Eichel centering Stone at both 5-on-5 and on the power play, there’s a strong chance a Stone assist comes via a goal from his superstar linemate.

Shea Theodore averages 2.3 shots on 5.1 attempts and has cleared this line at a 70% clip this season. With two days of rest, those numbers jump to 3.2 shots on 6.3 attempts.

Golden Knights vs Bruins SGP

• Mark Stone Over 0.5 assists
• Jack Eichel anytime goalscorer
• Shea Theodore Over 1.5 shots

Golden Knights vs Bruins odds

• Moneyline: Golden Knights -135 | Bruins +115
• Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+170) | Bruins +1.5 (-205)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)

Golden Knights vs Bruins trend

Mark Stone has racked up seven assists over his last five games. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Bruins.

How to watch Golden Knights vs Bruins

Golden Knights vs Bruins latest injuries

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

There is a lot to like about the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. It was not only another workman-like win where they outplayed another opponent, but they did it without their top-two defenseman in Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. Calgary might not be a particularly good team, but that is still two points you want to get. Not only given the fact it is two points in the standings, not only because of who you were playing without, but also because you know you are going to have a tough game on Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers in the second-half of the back-to-back. They did what they needed to do.

It also put them, for the time-being, in second place in the Metropolitan Division as they head into Game No. 50 of the 2025-26 regular season on Thursday night. We are not really talking about a small sample size of games for the season. They are more than halfway through the season and not only still collecting points like a playoff team, they are also playing like a playoff team.

They have a top-10 points percentage in the NHL and for the season are top-10 across the board in expected goal share, scoring chance share and high-danger scoring chance share. Over the past 25-30 games they have also started to defend at a really high level when it comes to suppressing shots, scoring chances and expected goals. They have the results and they have the process. It is all encouraging.

There are a lot of factors at play in this.

Obviously Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are still playing great, and that changes the math on things and the overall expectations.

Head coach Dan Muse has brought a new voice and injected a new energy into the team.

Kyle Dubas has also been on a roll in terms of his roster moves and piecing together the roster and the future. That is the thing I want to focus on today.

When Dubas took over the Penguins job he was not exactly inheriting the best situation. The prospect pool was among the worst in the NHL, they had spent significant draft assets for years and had a relatively empty cupboard of picks, and had just seen their playoff streak end with a very flawed NHL roster. In his first offseason he took some pretty significant swings and tried to go all in on winning right away. It did not work. There were mistakes. There were bad moves. Things did not work.

From the start of the 2024-25 season, however, Dubas has been on an absolute roll in terms of his moves. It has produced a pretty good hockey team right now, some real long-term roster and salary cap flexibility, a rapidly improved farm system and a cupboard full of draft pick capital.

Let’s recap some of it.

Buying draft picks by taking on bad contracts created more trade opportunities

Going into the 2024-25 season the Penguins had real salary cap flexibility for the first time in years, and they put a lot of that to use by taking on some bad contracts to stockpile draft picks.

• They received a second-round pick from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for taking on the remainder of Kevin Hayes’ contract.
• They built off of that move by flipping that pick back to the Blues so they could use it for an offer-sheet, with the Penguins receiving St. Louis’ second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2025. They basically got two draft picks for nothing other than taking on some salary and hiding Hayes in the lineup.
• Along with the Hayes move in 2024, they also acquired third-and sixth-round picks from Nashville in exchange for Jordan Frasca and taking on Cody Glass’ contract.
• That resulted in trading Glass at the deadline, along with minor league forward Jonathan Gruden, for Chase Stillman, Max Graham and a 2027 third-round pick. The third-round pick was the key piece of that deal, meaning the Penguins essentially added two third-round picks and a sixth-round pick for Jordan Frasca and Jonathan Gruden. That is a win in terms of asset management.
• Before this season the Penguins acquired a 2028 second-round pick from Dallas in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok and taking on Matt Dumba’s remaining contract.
• Those additional picks proved to be significant, with the Penguins trading that 2026 Blues pick, as well as one of their additional 2027 third-round picks, for forward Egor Chinakhov a few weeks ago. Chinakhov is still young, still extremely talented, and is off to a great start with the Penguins. It is a good gamble, even if it does not not pan out long-term.
• Even with that move the Penguins still have multiple picks in the second-and third-rounds in each of the next three classes.

None of these moves on their own are cornerstone moves or the type of thing that are going to move the needle much in a rebuild, or re-tool, or whatever you want to call it. They are, however, small little wins. Like I said on Tuesday, a bunch of small little wins add up into big wins.

The 2025 Trade Deadline looks like huge win

With realistic playoff expectations slipping away mid-way through the 2024-25 season, and with some pending unrestricted free agents they were probably were not going to re-sign, the Penguins went into another sell mode in advance of the 2025 trade deadline.

• They traded defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor, both pending UFAs, to the Vancouver Canucks for the New York Rangers 2025 first-round pick, Vincent Desharnais, Danton Heinen and Melvin Fernstrom.
• Desharnais and Heinen were nothing more than roster-filler, and both have already been traded. Heinen as part of the Chinakhov deal, and Desharnais for the San Jose Sharks fifth-round pick in 2028. Fernstrom is at least an intriguing prospect.
• The first-round pick was the key piece of that deal, and it ended up being the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Penguins then flipped that pick on draft day for picks No. 22 and 31. After selecting Bill Zonnon with the No. 22 overall pick, the Penguins traded pick No. 31 and pick No. 59 (which was acquired at the deadline from the Washington Capitals for rental forward Anthony Beauvillier) to the Los Angeles Kings for pick No. 24 which was used to select forward Will Horcoff. Zonnon and Horcoff are both now among the Penguins top prospects, and very intriguing prospects.
• Along with that, they added another branch to the Jake Guentzel trade tree by sending forward Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators for forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn. Novak has been a very solid middle-six player for the Penguins this season that has played a variety of roles. Not a star, but a talented player that is going to score 15-20 goals with 45-50 points on an affordable contract. There is value in that. They then turned around and immediately dealt Schenn to the Winnipeg Jets for their second-round pick in 2026 and their fourth-round pick in 2027. With Winnipeg sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings, that second-round pick is looking way more valuable than it did at the time of the trade.
• The trade that received almost no headlines at the time was the acquisition of forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Conor Timmins from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Dewar has become a key part of the Penguins strong fourth line, while Timmins was flipped on draft day for the No. 39 overall pick in the draft (defenseman Peyton Kettles) and defenseman Connor Clifton.

Again, a lot of little small wins adding up into one big advantage.

The current result of those in-season trade deadline moves has been:

Penguins traded: Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor, Michael Bunting, Cody Glass, Jonathan Gruden, Anthony Beauvillier

Penguins acquired/currently have: Tommy Novak, No. 22 overall pick (Bill Zonnon), No. 24 overall pick (Will Horcoff), No. 37 overall pick (Peyton Kettles), Conor Dewar, Connor Clifton, Winnipeg’s 2025 second-round pick and San Jose’s 2028 fifth-round pick.

That is three of the top-39 picks in a draft class (Zonnon, Horcoff and Kettles), two productive NHL players (Novak and Dewar), a depth defenseman (Clifton), another potential top-40 pick in this year’s draft (Winnipeg’s second-round pick), Winnipeg’s 2027 fourth-round pick and San Jose’s 2028 fifth-round pick.

That is a lot of value, both current and potential, for three pending non-elite free agents and two organizational depth guys.

Ben Kindel looks like a player

The Penguins did not have any sort of NHL Draft Lottery luck, falling two spots when the numbers were actually drawn. They still ended up coming away with what looks to be a really good player in center Ben Kindel. Kindel is Dubas’ highest draft pick with the Penguins, and the early returns on it look outstanding.

Even though Kindel is in an extended goal drought, the fact he is more than holding his own as an 18-year-old center in the NHL, as a non-top-five pick, is largely unprecedented in the modern NHL. He is still on pace for more than 40 points this season while also playing an extremely advanced two-way game. He may not be a superstar, but he looks like a player that has an outstanding 15-year career ahead of him as a top-of-the-lineup player.

When you add in the aforementioned moves to get Zonnon, Horcoff and Kettles and that draft class significantly altered the Penguins prospect pool in a very positive way. While the farm system is still lacking a truly elite cornerstone player, there are at least future NHL players here. That is a complete 180 difference from what it was when Dubas was hired.

Bargain free agent signings are paying off

The expectation for the free agent signing of Anthony Mantha was that he would probably be this year’s version of Anthony Beauvillier. A cheap, low-risk veteran that would get plugged into a top-six role, score some goals and then get flipped at the trade deadline for a second-round pick.

Even with the Penguins in playoff contention, that very well still could happen. But going into play on Thursday he is already up to 14 goals and 32 points in 49 games, and has been a great bargain signing. Keep in mind, Beauvillier had just 13 goals and 20 points in 63 games before he was traded for that second-round pick.

Then there is Justin Brazeau, who was signed to a two-year contract worth just $1.5 million per season. He has already set a career high in goals (14) in just 35 games, while also showcasing surprisingly smooth hands for a big, power forward. He has been a late-bloomer, and eventually a productive player, at every level he has played at. Even if there is some shooting percentage regression in the second half or next season, he at least looks like a solid depth player at a cheap rate.

Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon’s two-year, $1 million per year deal has also produced more than reasonably expected. He has taken advantage of his biggest opportunity in the NHL yet and showed he can at least be a capable depth player.

None of this even gets into the addition of Rutger McGroarty or the Tristan Jarry trade, which were two other significant trades over the past two seasons.

The jury is ultimately still out on a lot of this. We have no idea how those draft picks are going to develop, what the Penguins are going to do over the next few months this season and what sort of form this rebuild is going to take on in the coming seasons. The fact remains that Dubas has built what looks to at least be a playoff contending team this season, while the Penguins still have one of the best long-term salary cap situations in the NHL, a rapidly improved farm system and more draft pick capital than any other team in the NHL.

He had some huge — and bad — misses in his first year. He has been on a roll ever since. The Penguins are better for it this season and arguably much better for it in the future.

After the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild, former Canadiens’ star defenseman P.K. Subban took to social media to talk about current Hab blueliner Lane Hutson. While the 21-year-old has been snubbed by Team USA for the Milano-Cortina twice now, the ESPN hockey analyst believes he should be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy this season.

Subban believes that Hutson impacts the game at both ends of the ice, offensively and defensively, thanks to his competitiveness and drive. He sees him as a leader who galvanizes the young Canadiens, and a player who craves the big moments, who wants to be THE guy in those big moments.

Canadiens’ Defence Corps Having Big Impact
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According to Subban, not only should Hutson be in the conversation, but he has a legitimate chance of winning the Trophy, before adding that anyone who doesn’t believe he should be in the conversation is “absolutely nuts”. Unsurprisingly, he also believes that Team USA is making a mistake by not taking the youngster to the Olympics.

Subban was a Canadiens’ second-round pick (just like Hutson) at the 2007 draft and spent the first seven seasons of his 13-season NHL career in Montreal. He played 434 games with the Canadiens, putting up 278 points, including 63 goals. He’s the last Canadiens’ defenseman to have won the Norris trophy back in 2012-12, when he put up 38 points in a lockout-shortened 48-game season in which he played 42 matches.

IS LANE ON YOUR NORRIS BALLOT?! pic.twitter.com/iwbURfvoY5

— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) January 21, 2026

A reportedly polarizing figure in the Canadiens’ dressing room, Subban was traded to the Nashville Predators on June 29, 2016, for Shea Weber, who would go on to become the Canadiens’ 21st captain. As for Subban, he spent three years in Nashville, reaching the Stanley Cup Final once but falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, before being traded to the New Jersey Devils during the 2019 offseason. He played the last three years of his career with the Devils, who then decided not to offer him a new contract, which led to his retirement from the game.

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The Colorado Avalanche lost a game in a shootout yet again last night, but long before that, it was clear that the Avalanche weren’t exactly locked into a highly intense contest. Lukas Dostal had a great game and nearly secured the shutout if not for a one-timed beauty from Artturi Lehkonen late in the contest. Even with that, last night’s game watched like a late-night infomercial, and I’m not in the market for any non-stick pans. I had this article queued up before the Avs and Ducks put us to sleep, but the game solidified my opinion. The Colorado Avalanche are bored.

Battled for the point. pic.twitter.com/oDOvtTop3r

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 22, 2026

Hot start meets Olympic season meets cup-or-bust

I don’t want this article to be perceived as a slight to the Avalanche organization or players. I am simply pointing out what we all know. It’s human nature not be all that interested in inconsequential contests. The same season in which Colorado has a 10-point lead on the rest of their division, 77 points in 48 games played, all of the NHL will come to a pause to make way for the grandaddy of them all. International high-stakes hockey. It would only be human nature for the likes of Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon to feel like they are just biding their time before things get going in Milan, Italy.

Moreover, this team as a whole has already proven it’s a dominant regular season team, but the true proving grounds and arena of opportunity come in the postseason. This is yet another cup-or-bust year, smack dab in the middle of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar’s prime. The remaining 34 games of the regular season are gonna be slow going.

Dallas downgrading

The only saving grace for high-stakes hockey on a nightly basis early on in the season was that the Dallas Stars were just about keeping up all along the way, that is, until recently. Dallas being hot on the Avalanche heels gave Colorado plenty to play for, as winning the division should mean avoiding the Stars and the Minnesota Wild, who should still take two and three in the Central.

The Avalanche experienced some injuries lately, finally dropped a game in regulation at home, lost consecutive games again, and are 5-3-2 in their last ten. Guess what Dallas is up to? They are 3-5-2 in their last ten, including a three-game losing streak.

Dallas Stars need to stop making excuses. Losing to weaker teams is unacceptable for this team. Time to step up! #DallasStars#NHL#Hockey#NoExcuses#TimeToWinpic.twitter.com/LXTeY5m7o9

— Starcastic Remarks-THPN Stars Podcast (@StarcasticR) January 2, 2026

Colorado has faced more adversity than ever as of late, and what has it cost them in terms of the standings and their big lead? Absolutely nothing.

Now I’ll never root for the Dallas Stars, but I would actually be pretty annoyed if they lost to the tune of being a wildcard team and a potential first-round matchup. So I guess Dallas needs to win some more games.

Reason for concern

I’m not writing this as some hard-hitting analysis or take, but mostly pointing to something that could rear it’s ugly head in the future. A wise man once told me that we are only as good as our habits, and it’s super hard to maintain great/elite-level habits when the stakes aren’t that tangible. That’s what makes these guys pros, and that will be the challenge for the rest of the regular season.

We saw Nathan MacKinnon appearing plenty passionate in Colorado’s bounce-back win over the Capitals earlier in the week, which is a good sign. He will have to fabricate and convince himself more than ever this regular season that it’s about the details and habits.

I think they are in good hands with Bednar at the helm, as he seems to be fine with keeping his big-name guys out when the opposition shortens their bench. Even when they have a stranglehold on the division.

I suppose it’s better to ease up now and save the best for last. I just hope that switch flips with ease, because sometimes that’s not the case. Would hate for that to pop up at the worst possible time. That’s exactly what has happened to other clubs in the past, namely the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning and the 2022-23 Boston Bruins.

Do you think the Avalanche are bored?

The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres meet for the second time in the span of a week on Thursday, January 22.

Both of these Atlantic Division teams find themselves firmly in playoff spots, and the Sabres are looking to end an egregious 14-season playoff drought.

My Sabres vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest another high-scoring thriller between these two offense-centric teams, with Lane Hutson continuing to cement himself as one of the league's best defensemen.

Sabres vs Canadiens prediction

Sabres vs Canadiens best bet: Lane Hutson 1+ assists (-150)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has taken his seemingly nonsensical omission from the American Olympic team personally.

The sophomore leads all defensemen in assists this season (43) and is only two points behind Cale Makar for the lead among blueliners. Over his last 21 games, Hutson has 26 helpers — four more than any other defenseman has points over that span.

Bill Guerin's least favorite defenseman has six apples in his last three games, including two against the Buffalo Sabres a week ago.

Sabres vs Canadiens same-game parlay

On a related note, Alexandre Carrier is another Habs defender who has been on fire lately. Not only does he have four goals in his last five games, but the Quebec City native leads the entire NHL with 26 blocked shots in his last eight games.

His 113 blocked shots are good for fifth in the league this season, and for good measure, the 29-year-old now has more points than Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault.

Montreal, despite being the league's youngest team, trails only the Colorado Avalanche in scoring and has tallied 4+ goals in five of its last six against Buffalo.

Sabres vs Canadiens SGP

• Lane Hutson 1+ assists
• Alexandre Carrier Over 1.5 blocked shots
• Canadiens team total Over 3.5

Sabres vs Canadiens odds

• Moneyline: Sabres +105 | Canadiens -125
• Puck Line: Sabres +1.5 (-225) | Canadiens -1.5 (+185)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-120) | Under 6.5 (+100)

Sabres vs Canadiens trend

Montreal has won five of the last six and seven of the last 10 games against Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Canadiens.

How to watch Sabres vs Canadiens

Sabres vs Canadiens latest injuries

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

A pair of superstars will hit the ice at Rogers Place tonight with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby visiting the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid.

This is a tough schedule spot for Pittsburgh, and Edmonton is without go-to scorer Leon Draisaitl, so my Penguins vs. Oilers predictions and top NHL picks are calling for this game to stay Under the number.

Penguins vs Oilers prediction

Penguins vs Oilers best bet: Under 6.5 (-110)

The Edmonton Oilers have allowed two goals through three games since star center Leon Draisaitl took leave from the team, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set.

Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid obviously can’t play the entire game, and the Oilers have only scored 1.36 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 without No. 29 or No. 97 on the ice this season.

No Draisaitl is a huge hit to the Edmonton attack, and the Penguins could also be without No. 1 defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body), so there’s potential that both teams will be missing key drivers of their offenses. 

I also value the Pens ranking fifth in penalty-kill percentage, and the Oilers checking in above average at 11th.

Penguins vs Oilers same-game parlay

This is a tough schedule spot for Pittsburgh, and Edmonton has won 14 of its past 16 games by 2+ goals while also allowing the fifth-fewest goals per game during the 16-9-3 stretch. 

Turning to Oil winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, he’s marked the scoresheet in seven of his past 10 games and has long-standing chemistry with McDavid. The duo has clicked for a dominant 6.34 goals and 6.18 expected goals per 60 minutes over the past three seasons.

Penguins vs Oilers SGP

• Oilers -1.5
• Under 6.5
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Over 0.5 points

Penguins vs Oilers odds

• Moneyline: Penguins +150 | Oilers -180
• Puck Line: Penguins +1.5 (-165) | Oilers -1.5 (+140)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Penguins vs Oilers trend

The Penguins have only cashed the Over in 10 of their last 25 away games for -4.15 units and a -15% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Oilers.

How to watch Penguins vs Oilers

Penguins vs Oilers latest injuries

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

The New York Islanders fell flat to conclude their seven-game road trip on Wednesday night in Seattle. 

The Seattle Kraken dominated portions of the games, ultimately winning 4-1. The Islanders received seven power plays and scored on just one of them. The special teams futility became the main story.

There was a clear opportunity to grab at least one, if not two, points outright. Ilya Sorokin sparkled, but it didn't matter.

The offense was quiet, with Head Coach Patrick Roy noting they passed up too many shots, especially on the power play.

Defensively, Roy singled out their poor tracking in their own zone, letting Seattle dominant possession.

The entire team was not happy.

"I think tonight we gave up a few turnovers and odd-man rushes, and they capitalized,” Ryan Pulock said. “That’s kind of the difference. In the second period, we kind of gave it to them. They scored, and then we were chasing."

Islanders Road Trip Leaves Club Looking For MoreThe Islanders finished a grueling seven-game road trip 3-3-1 after a sloppy loss in Seattle. What went wrong and what must improve.

If you look at the road trip as a whole, it's not a disaster by any stretch. Yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins did catch the Islanders in the standings for second place, but the Islanders maintain a two-point gap above the Philadelphia Flyers (who collapsed and lost from 3-0 and 4-2 leads against Utah on Wednesday).

Now, the Islanders return home, and they'll have a chance to rattle off wins and give themselves a big cushion.

How they play over the next 14 days, in a stretch of eight games in 13 days, will decide whether General Manager Mathieu Darche buys, sells, or stands pat at the trade deadline.

So, who do the Islanders face? First, the red-hot Buffalo Sabres in a Saturday matinée inside UBS Arena. Buffalo is 6-2- 1 in January, and the Sabres occupy the top wild-card spot in the playoff race.

After that, the Islanders head to Philadelphia for what becomes a seismic, potentially season-shifting game with the Flyers. A regulation win could see the Islanders move six points clear of Philadelphia, a ginormous gap.

A regulation loss could shrink the gap to two points or fewer, depending on Saturday.

Then comes a home-and-home with the New York Rangers on consecutive days, two games the Islanders simply have to have. The Rangers are utterly lifeless, last in the Eastern Conference and flailing.

January ends with the Nashville Predators visiting UBS Arena on Saturday, the 31st.

February begins in Washington, D.C., and a road trip to see the Capitals on Monday, February 2nd. The very next day, the Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins in UBS Arena for another huge game, potentially for second in the Metropolitan Division.

Finally, the mad dash to the Olympics ends in New Jersey, where the Devils host the Islanders to conclude the pre-Olympic portion of the season.

Eight games in 13 days. Six games against divisional foes, with four against teams positioned between second and sixth in the division. 

Of the eight games, six come against non-playoff teams. Only the Penguins and Sabres occupy a seat at the table.

If, even with a returning Bo Horvat, the Islanders fall flat, do not be surprised if talk turns to selling at the deadline. It'll be very hard to justifying keeping Jean-Gabriel Pageau, despite his excellence, if the Islanders are outside the cut line and on a run of poor form.

The value they could receive for him would be gigantic. 

If the Islanders excel, it's quite likely they'll make a purchase or two. There'll be plenty of options to hunt for, big or small.

If they simply tread water with another run similar to this recent run of 3-3-1, say 3-3-2, standing pat perhaps makes the most sense.

Make no mistake, it's a favorable schedule, despite the heaviness. Four games at home, four on the road (with two in Madison Square Garden and the Prudential Center, so not exactly road trips either). It's a more-than manageable stretch, on where if the Islanders play their best, you can easily envision a 6-2-0 run. 

If the wheels come off, they could just as easily find themselves outside a playoff spot heading into the Olympic break.

Any way you slice it, it's time for the New York Islanders to make a big statement.

The Ottawa Senators hit Music City to wrap up their three-game road trip and take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena tonight.

My Senators vs. Predators predictions and top NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to head north with a win, and winger Drake Batherson to pick up his 45th point of the season.

Senators vs Predators prediction

Senators vs Predators best bet: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points (-135)

Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson is second in points per 60 minutes on the club, and the Nashville Predators have surrendered 12 goals across their past two games and the fourth-most goals per game on the season.

Additionally, Batherson has sneaking statistical correction coming. He’s been on the ice for a monster 5.59 expected goals per 60 minutes across the past eight games, but Ottawa has only scored 3.69, and Batherson has missed the scoresheet in four of eight.

Considering the matchup and the fact Bthat atherson was on the ice for 4.37 goals per 60 minutes with just 3.95 xGF/60 through the first 39 games of the season, I expect No. 19 to return to the scoresheet tonight.

He picked up a point in 25 of those first 38 games, too.

Senators vs Predators same-game parlay

While I don’t put oodles of faith in James Reimer bailing the Sens out night in, night out, the veteran goalie sports a .911 SV% with 2.93 goals saved above expected, and Ottawa can win most nights with league-average play in nets.

The Sens are fifth in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 while allowing the fewest per 60 minutes and rank seventh in power-play percentage, after all.

Nashville will have trouble scoring tonight, and the Preds are also likely to receive better goaltending after Justus Annunen and Juuse Saros combined for an unsustainably low .826 SV% the past two games.

Senators vs Predators SGP

• Senators moneyline
• Under 6.5
• Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points

Senators vs Predators odds

• Moneyline: Senators -115 | Predators -105
• Puck Line: Senators -1.5 (+225) | Predators +1.5 (-275)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Senators vs Predators trend

The Senators have covered the puck line in eight of their last 11 away games for +8.35 units and a 50% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Predators.

How to watch Senators vs Predators

Senators vs Predators latest injuries

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

The Montreal Canadiens will host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at the Bell Centre and will be hoping for a much better performance than the one they delivered in Buffalo one week ago. In what was Jacob Fowler’s 10th and last game before being sent back down to the Laval Rocket in the AHL, Tage Thompson was dominant, scoring a hat trick and adding a pair of assists.

Since that win, the Buffalo outfit has cooled down somewhat, losing its next two games to the Minnesota Wild (5-4 in overtime) and to the Carolina Hurricanes (2-1) before bouncing back with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. They now have a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games, exactly like the Canadiens. While Buffalo won the last duel between the two sides, Montreal has won seven of the previous 10 contests.

Canadiens’ Defence Corps Having Big Impact
Canadiens’ St-Louis Knows There’s A Big Price To Pay
Canadiens’ Hutson Shines In Big Duel With Rival Hughes

Neither coach has confirmed who will be manning their net yet, but the Canadiens should go back to Samuel Montembeault after Jakub Dobes’ performance against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. The former has a 5-5-0 record against the Sabres, with a 3.04 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage, while the latter has a 2-0-0 record with a 2.00 GAA and a .930 SV.

At the other end of the ice, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has a 1-2-0 record with a 4.54 GAA and a .847 SV, Colten Ellis is 1-0-0 with a 3.01 GAA and a .870 SV and Alex Lyon is 4-3-0 with a 3.14 GAA and a 3.01 SV. Lyon played the Sabres' last game, but he has had the lion’s share of the work this season, featuring in 22 games while Luukkonen has played in 19 and Ellis in 11.

Up front, Brendan Gallagher remains the Canadiens’ most productive player against the Sabres with 24 points in 45 games, but captain Nick Suzuki is slowly catching up; he now has 22 points in just 19 games, while Phillip Danault completes the top-three with 15 points in 26 games. The Habs have four players on a three-game point streak: Suzuki (1-4-5), Cole Caufield (2-4-6), Ivan Demidov (1-3-4), and Lane Hutson (1-6-7).

Meanwhile, Thompson has unsurprisingly become the Sabres’ most productive forward after his five-point night last week. He now has 21 points in 18 games, while Rasmus Dahlin has 20 points in 22 games. The defenseman is also on a six-game point streak (3-4-7). Alex Tuch completes the top three with 19 points in 20 games.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch the game on RDS, TSN2 and MSG-B. Jon McIsaac and Kelly Sutherland will be the referees, and Scott Cherrey and Ryan Daisy will be the linemen. After that game, the Canadiens will next play on the road Saturday night against the Boston Bruins before coming back home for their last homestand before the Olympic break, taking on the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche, who will be wearing their Quebec Nordiques jersey for the game.

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