Category: Ice Hockey

You could almost feel the rush start building up as soon as Sidney Crosby limped off the ice yesterday. Other players like Kevin Fiala (out for the season with a broken leg), Josh Morrissey (currently injured to an unknown degree) and Brad Marchand (who missed two Olympic games but has since returned) have picked up injuries in these Olympics, but a player on the level of Crosby raises the discourse to new levels.

It harkens back to the 2014 Olympics, when then-New York Islander star John Tavares was lost for the season with a torn MCL suffered in Sochi.

First, the latest updates on Crosby have been inconclusive at best. Crosby has not been ruled out by Canadian coach Jon Cooper for Friday’s semifinal game yet, however he obviously has picked up some level of injury that has his immediate future in doubt. Even if Crosby can return for the games, his status for a stretch of 12 games in 21 days for the Penguins, which begins in just a week, has to be at least partially in doubt.

It probably won’t be as severe as “Mario Lemieux only playing one NHL game after the 2002 Olympics” but then again the situations were drastically different with Lemieux back then clearly trying to hold onto as much of his health as possible to participate in the Olympics and then be forced to address his health in the aftermath. (Lemieux would go onto play only 10 games the following season). That was less the fault of an Olympic injury and more a different priority in a different time with a much different health situation.

Going back to 2014 and the endless debate, former NYI general manager Garth Snow didn’t take the news well on losing his best player, as one would expect. Snow called NHL participation in the Olympics a “joke” and said:

“This is probably the biggest reason why NHL players shouldn’t be in the Olympics, it should just be amateurs,” Snow told Newsday. “And it could have happened to anyone; it just happened to be us that lost our best player.”

“A lot of people pay to see John play,” he said. “It wouldn’t matter if we were 10 points clear of a playoff spot or 10 points out. We lost our best player and he wasn’t even [injured while] playing for us.”

Snow asked rhetorically if the IIHF and IOC would reimburse the Islander season-ticket holders who were out a lot of money. Ticket prices have risen significantly in the last 12 years, the same thought holds water for those Penguin fans who have invested hundreds or thousands of dollars in the 10 home games Pittsburgh will play through the end of March. That total investment will reach eight-figures with no small amount of the decision linked to the opportunity to see Crosby play.

On the flip side, Penguin coaches and teammates surely understand and accept the risk involved.

“It’s the Olympics,” coach Dan Muse said after a Penguins practice yesterday. “Anytime these guys get an opportunity to represent their countries, I’m just happy for them. To play in a tournament like that, to be playing in that setting, that is something I think everybody dreams of. The only thing for me is that I’m excited for those guys getting that opportunity that they’ve earned.”

Crosby’s teammate Bryan Rust encapsulated the overwhelming majority of player opinions by responding to the early news that Crosby got hurt and whether the risk justified the desire to still compete.

“You can get injured in practice, look at (Aleksander) Barkov, he (is missing) the year because he got injured in practice. (Kevin Hayes) got injured in practice. Things can happen all sorts of places. With the way these practices are now, with how intense they are, guys across the league, somebody might get injured.

“I don’t think guys in this league are too worried about that. The opportunity to represent your country at the highest level, the world stage, I think guys are more than willing to accept that risk.”

That rings true in a lot of senses. We can’t speak for injured players like Crosby, Fiala and Morrisey but it stands to reason all would get right back on the plane to Italy to represent their countries again, even knowing firsthand the price that could be attached in terms of pain that might entail.

The question becomes weighing player interest against what is best for the NHL season. Ancillary debates spawn from there about the impact of taking a three week pause and condensing a season into a reduced calendar is another element that impacts the league and the players who don’t get Olympic participation, held up against a notion about growing the appeal of the game (of which, results can be spotty for tangible impact of best-on-best drawing into increased NHL audience).

The debate draws down to competing opinions and viewpoints that will never align. Those with an NHL bent, be it for professional or monetary reasons, as Snow illustrated will justifiably be angry when the inevitable happens for star players getting hurt at the Olympics. Others, like the players themselves as Rust spoke to, are more than willing to risk it for the glory involved and opportunity to represent their country. There are decent enough reasons to be on either side of the fence, depending on where a perspective falls.

It’s a debate that will rage on for as long as the NHL and the Olympics both exist, neither of which are going away anytime soon. NHL players have been confirmed to compete in the 2030 Olympics, and the league is increasing their own involvement in staging best-on-best action in 2028. The questions about whether the cost is worth the benefit won’t change for people who run NHL teams compared to those that want to represent their countries, which will only lead to more instances of the topic coming back for further discussion as time goes on.

It’s that time of year to fantasize about all the veteran depth players who might be wearing burgundy and blue within a month’s time. Once the Olympic roster freeze lifts after February 22nd there could be a sudden flurry of activity. The Colorado Avalanche like to do their NHL trade deadline shopping early and certainly have a wish list, are any of the following players on their radar?

Forwards

Jonathan Toews

After numerous reports that the Avalanche were finalists for his services over the summer, it’s curious why there hasn’t been much talk about acquiring veteran forward Jonathan Toews from the Winnipeg Jets, who are clearly in a selling position sitting at over ten point out of a playoff spot currently. He’s enjoyed a decent season with 19 points in 56 games in his comeback after sitting out two seasons.

The 37-year-old center has a very affordable contract of just $2 million for this season but he can earn up to $5 million more in performance bonuses. Most are for games played, which he’s already earned but there’s additional money for playoff performance including an extra $1 million for a Stanley Cup win. Colorado would have to sort out the financials and it’s unclear if Winnipeg would be on the hook for bonuses earned while he was a Jet if he gets traded. If not, at least any bonuses earned over the salary cap can be deferred until next year. But Toews is an intriguing option for veteran center depth which shouldn’t cost a lot to acquire with confirmed interest from the Avalanche in the past.

Boone Jenner

Word on the street is that Colorado has been keeping a close eye on the Columbus Blue Jackets lately. The Ohio team is still undecided about selling but currently sitting four points out of a playoff spot must mean they are considering it. No doubt GM Chris MacFarland would love to get his hands on Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner making an affordable $3.75M in the last year of his contract to fortify center depth. As a rental Jenner could even go back to Columbus in the offseason making a quick reunion with MacFarland even more appealing. Jenner has had a productive and healthy-ish season with 27 points in 42 games.

Bobby McMann

There probably is a long line of suitors for a hard-nosed player who is on pace for his second consecutive 20 goal season, who skates well with size at 6-foot-2 and has a very affordable $1.35M cap hit on an expiring contract. Therefore, it might cost a premium asset or two to nab the 29-year-old McMann, currently rumored to be two second round picks, but if the Avalanche expect to extend him it could be worth it. There’s also the fact of a big goal he scored in Toronto’s overtime win over Colorado just several weeks ago, which surely Chris MacFarland made a mental note of.

Defense

Luke Schenn

Another potential trade target from the Winnipeg Jets is defenseman Luke Schenn. He is on an expiring contract with a $2.75M cap hit. At 36-years-old he is just the veteran defensive depth a contender is looking for, though he is a right shot which Colorado already has a surplus of. There’s a rumor that Luke would ideally like to get moved to the same destination as his brother forward Brayden Schenn, who happens to be a good friend of Nathan MacKinnon. On a contract with more years of $6.50M, a move for Brayden from St. Louis Blues would need a lot more help to make this deal happen but Luke could be the much more affordable addition on his own.

Brett Kulak

The Pittsburgh to Colorado pipeline, and vice versa, has been strong over the past few years and the Ilya Solovyov move earlier in the year only greased the wheels on potential future deals. Defenseman Brett Kulak would give the Avalanche a depth left shot option on the back end at a reasonable $2.75M price tag for the rest of the season. His experience going to the Stanley Cup finals with the Edmonton Oilers multiple years only enhances his resume. The 32-year-old has already been moved once this year from the aforementioned Oilers, which could mean the Penguins wouldn’t mind flipping him despite currently still holding on to a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. Fun fact, Kulak also spent half a season with the ECHL Colorado Eagles in 2014-15 as a member of the Calgary Flames organization.

Old Friends

We can never discount familiar faces heading back to the Avalanche, especially those who would seamlessly fit back into the dressing room. There’s been continual speculation about a reunion with several former centers, who would all be a good fit and give the Avalanche needed depth down the middle. Former centers Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly ($4.5M for one more year) and Calgary’s Nazem Kadri ($7M for two more years) have term on their deals and wouldn’t be easy to acquire or afford but if the Avalanche are truly looking to make a splash at the trade deadline they could be options. There’s also the irony that if Columbus’ Charlie Coyle hadn’t been last year’s Avalanche center trade deadline acquisition he’d be the perfect fit on an expiring $5.25M contract enjoying a very productive season of 42 points in 56 games thus far.

Who would you like to see Colorado acquire? Let us know in the comments!

The NHL Olympic Break is coming to a close. The New York Islanders returned to practice, and now their first game back from break is just one week away.

The Islanders currently hold a four-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus holds two games in hand, while the Islanders have one in hand on the Capitals.

The Islanders are also just one point back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the division, with the Penguins holding two games in hand.

The standings are tight. The Islanders even play Columbus in New York's second game after the break in Columbus, on Saturday, February 28.

 The Islanders will play a total of five games in eight days after break, all of which comes before the ninth day, which is also the NHL Trade Deadline.

Once everything resets and the roster freeze melts away, time's going to fly. The Islanders have a ginormous opportunity in front of them.

Not only do they enter with a playoff spot, but on Wednesday, Sidney Crosby suffered an injury while playing for Team Canada. He's been labeled as day-to-day, but it makes the Penguins that much more vulnerable.

So far in his nine months running the franchise, Islanders' General Manager Mathieu Darche has shown a willingness to make deals, but he's also been extremely calculated.

He made the Noah Dobson trade and got back a haul for the defenseman. He signed Maxim Shabanov and Jonathan Drouin, though neither have scored the way the franchise maybe hoped.

Alexander Romanov suffered a regular-season-ending shoulder injury, and Darche didn't rush into a deal. He allowed his younger plays to receive turns at trying to fill the hole, but it became apparent the Islanders needed a proper fix.

Darche then went out and acquired Carson Soucy for a third-round pick, a more-than-fair price for what the defenseman brings.

Meanwhile, it had become clear that the Islanders needed improved forward depth, ideally someone who could be versatile throughout the lineup. Maxim Tsyplakov was also on the outs, and with another year at $2.25 million, clearing his salary would help.

24 hours after the Soucy deal, Darche acquired Ondrej Palat, along with the New Jersey Devils' third and sixth round picks in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

Now's the time for the bigger splash. The Eastern Conference remains wide open. Ilya Sorokin is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. Matthew Schaefer is the heavy favorite to win the Calder Trophy and has two more seasons on an entry-level deal.

The Islanders need to acquire a game-breaking top-six forward. The Islanders have the second-fewest goals allowed in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Yet, the Islanders have the third-fewest goals per game and fourth-fewest actual goals in the Eastern Conference.

There's a multitude of options available. The St. Louis Blues are open for business, with Jordan Kyrou being the clearest, potentially best option. Kyrou's on a contract worth $8.125 million per year on the books.

Kyrou's scored 30+ goals in three straight seasons, but the Blues are potentially looking at a total rebuild. Kyrou's name has floated around these parts before, and there are ways to make this trade work:

What An Islanders' Trade For Jordan Kyrou Could Look LikeWhat would it actually take for the Islanders to land Jordan Kyrou? We break down the fit, cap math, trade cost, and why it’s worth exploring.

Sticking in the Central Division, with Darche's ties to the Lightning already showing up in his acquisition of Palat, rumors of a deal for Steven Stamkos from the Nashville Predators sprang up, along with whispers about Michael Bunting:

Darche’s Next Move Could Be In Building TonightCould Steven Stamkos or Michael Bunting be in the cards?

Then, there's the dark-horse option. Returning to the negotiating table with the Canadiens, to look at acquiring Patrik Laine on the cheap.

Laine's biggest knocks are two-fold: he's been injury-prone, and his two-way game isn't the strongest. Laine's just now returning from an injury, too.

There's also the issue of his contract, with an $8.7 million AAV, but he's a pending UFA and the Canadiens have signalled a willingness to retain money.

The Islanders could likely acquire Laine for a mid-round draft pick, but it's a huge dice roll. Laine's only played five games this season, but what he'd bring would be undeniable.

The Islanders have craved someone who just shoots the puck religiously, and that's what Laine does.

What do all those players and options have in common?

They're scorers, and good ones at that. The Islanders can be smart. They've got just a hair over $6 million in cap space, and they're loaded with trade assets.

Whether Darche goes for a home-run swing at Kyrou, or a cheaper, but potentially perfect fit in Laine, he can't just stand pat, either.

There's a window open, one the Islanders can charge through and try to contend to win this year, right now. The Islanders know this, and surely have some internal plans ready to go.

In 15 days, we'll know exactly what plan it is and how it affects the Islanders now and later.

Lots has occurred while the Vancouver Canucks have been at the 2026 Winter Olympics, though back in BC, trade rumblings have begun to emerge. With the 2026 Trade Deadline on March 6 approaching faster than expected, trade chatter has once again resurfaced, this time with Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane towards the forefront. 

The first potential move to gain some traction was in regards to Kane, who has been publicly available since long before the Olympic break. The most recent reports regarding Kane have come from a variety of places. On Tuesday’s segment of Donnie & Dhali, CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal noted that “there’s interest in Evander Kane,” naming teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Los Angeles Kings as organizations that could be interested. Notably, the Kings were previously reported to have been in-on a potential Kane trade.  

With this being said, on Wednesday, Thomas Drance of The Athletic also noted that any market on Kane is “virtually non-existent,” which doesn’t come as a major surprise given the cost for his production. Kane is one of three Canucks forwards who are pending UFAs, the other two being Olympians Teddy Blueger and David Kämpf. 

Another name who has re-emerged in trade discussions has been Pettersson, who seemingly hasn’t been able to escape rumours regardless of what he does. The forward made a great impression in Sweden’s 5–3 win against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, so much so that he’s been connected to the Kings as well. According to Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times, with Los Angeles forward Kevin Fiala sustaining an injury that will keep him out of the remainder of the 2025–26 season, the Kings could be on the hunt for a player to help take on his role. This sentiment was echoed by Ben Kuzma of The Province, who reported that Pettersson’s performance during this particular game “increased” Los Angeles’ interest in the forward. 

Where things get dicey is with Pettersson’s limited play time in Sweden’s 2–1 overtime loss to the U.S. on Wednesday. The forward logged only nine minutes total throughout the game and did not play in a single shift after the second period. Pettersson was not the only player to not skate in the remainder of the game, however, as Elias Lindholm also did not play during the third period or overtime. If Pettersson is truly up for trade, which would mean he’ll need to waive his no-move-clause, an ice-time reduction that severe won’t help him prove his talents. 

The NHL Trade Deadline occurs on March 6 at 12:00 pm PT. The league’s Olympic trade-freeze, which started on February 4 at 12:00 pm PT, ends on February 22 at 8:59 pm PT. 

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

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The Anaheim Ducks have announced that former Chicago Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek has undergone hip surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season. 

Mrazek has not played for the Ducks since their Jan. 5 contest against the Washington Capitals. Now, with this update, the former Blackhawks netminder will not be getting back into game action this campaign. 

Mrazek appeared in 10 games this season with the Ducks, where he posted a 3-5-0 record, a 4.07 goals-against average, and a .858 save percentage. This is after he had a 12-21-2 record, an .891 save percentage, and a 3.46 goals-against average in 38 games last season split between the Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. 

Mrazek spent three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2022-23 to 2024-25. In 128 games with the Central Division club over that span, he posted a 38-72-9 record, an .899 save percentage, a 3.34 goals-against average, and one shutout. 

MILAN — Artturi Lehkonen’s timing has become a storyline of its own.

When the stakes rise and the clock tightens, the puck seems to find his stick — and more often than not, history follows.

That script played out again Tuesday at Rho Arena, where Lehkonen delivered another signature moment, scoring 3:32 into overtime to lift Finland to a stunning 3–2 comeback victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The breakaway winner propelled Finland into the semifinals of an Olympics featuring NHL players for the fifth time in six appearances.

One more time for the bar down SNIPE to keep Finland alive in the Olympic tournament… Artturi Lehkonen man 😮‍💨

(via @NBCOlympics) pic.twitter.com/jyaImvKPYC

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 18, 2026

Lehkonen’s flair for decisive goals is hardly new. He scored four game-winners during the Stanley Cup run with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, including the goal that clinched the Cup and another that sent Colorado to the Final. The year before, he buried the overtime winner that carried the Montreal Canadiens into the Stanley Cup Final. His résumé of pivotal strikes has quietly grown into one of hockey’s most reliable trends.

Against Switzerland, Finland needed every ounce of that pedigree.

Trailing 2–0 with just over six minutes remaining in regulation, Finland’s tournament appeared to be slipping away. Switzerland had dictated the pace early and defended with composure, frustrating a Finnish roster composed entirely of NHL talent.

FINLAND COMES BACK FROM 0-2 DOWN TO WIN IT IN OVERTIME 🇫🇮

They're on to the semifinals! pic.twitter.com/hXhgMgQGjF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2026

Switzerland seized control in the first period with two goals in 72 seconds. Damien Riat opened the scoring at 14:14 after Ken Jäger intercepted a pass behind Finland’s net and fed him for an easy finish into an open cage. Moments later, Nino Niederreiter doubled the advantage, stepping into a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Pius Suter that sailed over Juuse Saros’ glove, with Niko Mikkola screening his own goaltender.

From there, the Swiss leaned into structure and discipline, protecting the lead with poise and forcing Finland to chase.

Finland finally broke through at 13:54 of the third period when Sebastian Aho snapped a wrist shot past Leonardo Genoni to cut the deficit to one. With Saros pulled for an extra attacker late, Miro Heiskanen tied the game at 18:48, firing a shot from the point that deflected off Swiss defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler and into the net. The equalizer, scored with 1:12 remaining, marked Finland’s latest game-tying goal in Olympic play during the NHL era.

The momentum shift was unmistakable.

Overtime required only one mistake — and one moment of instinct.

Anton Lundell carried the puck cleanly out of Finland’s zone and threaded a pass ahead to Lehkonen, who slipped behind defenseman Dean Kukan. Alone on a breakaway, Lehkonen glided in and snapped a wrist shot past Genoni, sealing yet another chapter in his growing catalogue of clutch performances.

Saros, who surrendered two early goals, steadied thereafter and finished with 21 saves. Genoni turned aside 28 shots in defeat as Switzerland — which dressed eight NHL players — came within six minutes of reaching its first Olympic semifinal.

Finland now advances to face Canada in Friday’s semifinal (10:40 a.m. ET; Peacock, USA [JIP], ICI Télé, CBC Gem, CBC [JIP], SN [JIP], RDS2), turning its attention toward another medal opportunity.

THE MEN'S SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS ARE SET 🍿 #MilanoCortina2026

CANADA 🇨🇦 VS. FINLAND 🇫🇮
USA 🇺🇸 VS. SLOVAKIA 🇸🇰 pic.twitter.com/UUhGrUwqCR

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 18, 2026

The Finns enter the next round seeking to defend the gold medal they captured at the 2022 Beijing Games, an Olympics held without NHL participation. In previous Olympic tournaments featuring NHL players, Finland has claimed three bronze medals (1998, 2010, 2014) and one silver (2006). Now, with another Lehkonen dagger etched into memory, the pursuit of a second straight Olympic title remains alive.

Finland trailed 2-0 with seven minutes left in the game. https://t.co/653x6KBVYt

— George Blankenship (@Blank_Takes) February 18, 2026

When the margins disappear and the pressure peaks, Finland has learned a simple truth: if the puck finds Artturi Lehkonen, the ending rarely stays uncertain for long.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Paul Coffey is returning to the Edmonton Oilers' coaching staff after a previous two-year stint leading the club’s defensive unit.

The former Oilers defenseman and Hall of Famer had returned to his role as a special adviser to ownership and hockey operations in July.

From the time of his first hire on Nov. 13, 2023, through the end of the 2024-25 season, the Oilers allowed 2.78 goals per game, which was the fifth-best mark in the league over that span.

Edmonton is currently 25th in the NHL with 3.29 goals against per game.

The Oilers are second in the Pacific Division, four points back of Vegas, and one point ahead of Seattle and Los Angeles.

___

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

When thinking about who will be a part of the New York Rangers’ core in the future, Noah Laba is one of the first players to come to mind. 

Laba’s emergence with the Rangers came as a surprise. He entered training camp having just played in 11 American Hockey League games after two years at Colorado College, and given his fourth-round draft status, he wasn't highly touted or necessarily on anyone’s radar heading into September.

From the start of training camp and into the preseason, Laba stole the show, standing out amongst the rest of the pack, which made it impossible for Mike Sullivan to deny him an NHL roster spot. 

Not only did the 22-year-old forward secure an opening-night spot in the lineup, but he’s carved out a permanent role with the Rangers as the team’s third-line center, playing in all sorts of situations, including on both the power play and penalty kill. 

In 54 games this season, Laba has recorded six goals, 10 assists, and 16 points, while averaging 13:18 minutes. Laba’s stats don’t tell the full story of his impact.. 

He provides the team with a combination of speed, physicality and reliability that is rare for a rookie. 

Making a quick jump from the NCAA to the NHL, Laba has been forced to adapt to the professional game on the fly. 

“I think just learning each and every day more and more, and trying to become a better player, and become more of an impact for this team,” Laba said. “It's my focus, it's been my focus, and it'll continue to be…

“I think it takes a certain level of discipline and maturity to play at this level, so I definitely grew there, and as well as how to be a pro, and just learning from the guys here who've done it a long time.”

Of course, the Rangers are not in an ideal spot as a team despite the emergence of Laba. 

The Blueshirts are currently sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference and are heading in the direction of a “retool”, which was outlined in Chris Drury’s letter to fans issued on Jan. 16. 

Brendan Brisson Feels ‘Ready For An Opportunity’ With The Rangers With multiple New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>&nbsp;players competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, including J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and Mika Zibanejad, the week of practice leading up to the Rangers’ first game back to action on Feb. 26 presents an opportunity for some prospects.&nbsp;

On top of learning about the pace of NHL play, Laba has also learned a lot about the business side of hockey, watching the Blueshirts trade veteran players the likes of Artemi Panarin and Carson Soucy. 

“I think I've always kind of known, and when you're kind of experiencing it, it’s a little different, it becomes more of a reality,”  Laba said of the business side of the NHL “It’s something that everybody's fully aware of, and you just kind of continue to focus on what you can control.”

With Drury emphasizing the Rangers’ desire to get younger in his letter moving forward, it presents an opportunity for Laba to truly establish himself as one of the franchise's cornerstone pieces.

Laba wants to be part of what the Rangers are attempting to build for the future, with the intention of staying in New York for years to come. 

“I think anytime you’re given an opportunity, you try to do the best you can with it, and that’s my goal,” Laba said. “I want to be here for a long time and continue to be a key player here. It takes a lot of work on my end, and I’m going to continue to try to work towards that.”

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- No matter what comes of Slovakia at these 2026 Winter Olympic men's hockey league games, St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery knows he has a player there that could be galvanized by his play.

Dalibor Dvorsky, a first-round pick (No. 10) in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a goal and an assist for the Slovaks, who continue to defy the odds and reached Friday's semifinal with a 6-2 thumping of Germany in quarterfinal play at Santagiulia IHO Arena in Milan, Italy on Wednesday.

The center now is up to six points (three goals, three assists) in four games for Slovakia, which awaits its opponent pending the result of USA-Sweden's game on Wednesday.

Dvorsky would score Sloivakia's fourth goal:

Slovakia could NOT stop scoring in the #WinterOlympics men's hockey quarterfinal. 👀 pic.twitter.com/7QEyHcn2p0

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026

His tournament has been quite impressive.

Dalibor Dvorsky has two points so far, which boosted his totals to 3-3—6 to establish the most points ever by an NHL rookie – and by any @StLouisBlues player – in a single #WinterOlympics tournament. #MilanoCortina2026
#NHLStats: https://t.co/3iP4wpdz7Gpic.twitter.com/66Vf79eERw

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) February 18, 2026

"It can catapult his confidence," Montgomery said of Dvorsky. "To do this on the world stage in the Olympics, it's one of the biggest events you can ever do it. It's like seeing a player do it not only in the NHL playoffs but also the American (Hockey) League. It gives you the confidence that you know how to stay in the moment, how to execute in the moment, and how to come through in big moments. And when you're a gifted player like Dvorsky is, this gives you the confidence that you can do it. That's a big mental hurdle to achieve."

Dvorsky was a plus-1 with three shots on goal in 14:03 of ice time in the game Wednesday.

* Finland 3, Switzerland 2, OT -- It was a tough ending for Pius Suter and the Swiss players in their quarterfinal matchup when they led 2-0 late in the third period before succumbing late, ultimately losing when Artturi Lehkonen (Colorado Avalanche) won it in overtime for the Finns.

Suter had an assist on a Nino Niederreiter (Winnipeg Jets) goal that gave Switzerland a 2-0 lead in the first period but couldn't hold it. 

Suter, who finished the tournament with two goals and an assist in four games, played 15:31 and was a minus-2 in the game.

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As the Detroit Red Wings return to practice with the NHL schedule set to resume in just over a week, they’re expecting to welcome back one of their most important pieces on the blue line.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who hasn’t played since Jan. 21 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, is expected to return when Detroit faces the Ottawa Senators on the road on Feb. 26.

Detroit’s top defensive pairing of Edvinsson and Moritz Seider has been among the NHL’s best, and the Detroit Red Wings clearly missed the towering Swede during their stretch of games leading into the Olympic break, when they earned just six of a possible 14 points.

Simon Edvinsson couldn't even STAND after taking a 86MPH one-timer off the knee and he STILL managed to block another shot with his stick 🤯💪 pic.twitter.com/KatDe4o51b

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 29, 2025

Edvinsson, who revealed he underwent surgery during his absence, admitted it was difficult being unable to play.

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

"It sucked, it was probably the worst feeling that you have to sit there and feel like you can make a difference, but can't do anything when you're sitting," he said.

"It sucked, for sure." 

While Edvinsson was able to play the remainder of the game against the Maple Leafs after aggravating his lingering injury during the first period, he knew the next day that something would need to be done to fix the problem. 

“It was lingering for a while, and in the last game, I felt something even more, and that was like the last drop that I needed to really do the surgery,” Edvinsson continued. “I thought I could go the whole season without doing it, but when I felt that and couldn't really put weight on my knee, it happened in the first period in the Toronto game, and it was the adrenaline that made me play the whole game.

"The next day, it was just a no-go," he said. "I’m glad that we got the surgery timed so quick, the recovery and everything have been great.”

Playing in his second full NHL season, Edvinsson has tallied six goals with 11 assists while averaging 22:34 of ice time per game. 

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FISH CAMP, CA — The National Hockey League sent its players to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, and the risk seemed varied. For teams and individual players, it presents an opportunity to represent your country and play at a very high level against elite competition. On the flip side, it also means a nice, cut block, two-week-plus break from the grind of the regular season. For the Los Angeles Kings and Kevin Fiala, it spiraled into a worst-case scenario situation.

An injury that put things into perspective. 

A hit from Tom Wilson, and the season is officially over for Fiala. That is woeful timing for a team that just made its most significant in-season trade since its championship glory days. The Kings' third-leading scorer (second before the Artemi Panarin deal) hasn't been ruled out for the playoffs, but is shut down for the critical stretch run to qualify for the playoffs. Ironically, the NHL's first involvement in the Olympics since 2014 coincides with the last playoff round the Kings won.

See, since 2014, the organization has won 9 playoff games across 5 appearances. That's right around winning less than two games per playoff appearance. With a Stanley Cup-winning core nearing a single thread in the pending retirement of Anze Kopitar, the team's actual cup contention is trending towards delusion and refinement of previous rhetoric. 

Panarin is a big deal, and I do say that with gusto. The loss of Fiala doesn't necessarily bring the Kings back to square one, as Panarin certainly ranks among the top 5-10 wingers in the league, but it does feel like three steps forward, two steps back.

getting acquainted 🇷🇺 #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/ZZ2jqaqGKN

— alexandra (@9kempe) February 18, 2026

Panarin, even with Fiala healthy in the lineup, wasn't going to elevate this marginal team to the heights of contender legitimacy. The Kings, even before the trade in the aftermath of the Phillip Danault departure, had been involved in numerous discussions about acquiring a center to bolster this lineup, despite a backend that hampers this team. Their defensive core slows their transition game and strains the entire forward group through increased defensive labor due to a lack of overall outlet ability/footspeed in their own zone. 

The team is stuck with that; they have to eat this situation on the backend, as fixing it would likely require serious retention and assets going back, which they are already thinning out. That being said, a center is still needed.

That raises questions about their heir apparent, but Quinton Byfield is not out of the equation just yet, as I've covered before. He's undoubtedly under the spotlight now with a legitimate star winger that should be attached to his flank. It's now or never for the young forward, who is getting a better winger than Kopitar ever had, albeit in decline. There is the struggling Byfield, and then there's a massive drop-off in the ability to drive play and handle top six matchups in the stark decline of Kopitar. 

Samuel Helenius and Alex Turcotte aren't elevating this team to contention status. The reinforcements from Ontario are more detrimental than helpful. It has to be external.

The hockey world has been brimming with rumors of a potential trade that involves Vancouver's eleven-million-dollar centerman, Elias Pettersson. There's also a growing desire for Robert Thomas from St. Louis. Other names that have been tossed around are centers like Charlie Coyle and Nazem Kadri. The Kings are likely to look at all available options, even though most NHL teams are competitive this season, save for a few souring teams. There's no 2024 White Sox team in the NHL.

Re: Pettersson and Kadri—No movement clauses and modified trade lists come into play, so hoping for a Panarin-type situation asks that lightning strike twice. Panarin held all the cards in his deal, essentially handcuffing Chris Drury to a maddening effect for Ranger fans. Furthermore, I have a hard time putting stock in tagging the Kings to Pettersson solely because of his wife's long-time connection in Los Angeles. I also have a heck of a time thinking a player of this caliber gets swapped in a divisional trade.

That goes for Kadri, too, as the Flames won't be so inclined to do in-division deals, and Kadri has a modified no-movement clause. The aging veteran doesn't exactly thread the needle when considering the seasons in the wake of Kopitar's retirement (Kadri's contract runs through 2028-29). In one season, the team trades away Greentree, then gives up a first-round pick and more for a 35-year-old center with term? That doesn't bode well for the club.

Interestingly, Thomas has a no-trade clause and is locked up with the Blues until 2029-30, with an AAV of 8.125 million. That's gem-worthy on price; he's 26, a righty with 1C capacity. Thomas does sit in that rarified category with Pettersson, but would be extremely pricey if the player were to waive his clause. Should Thomas waive, and unless he demands a trade in the near future, St. Louis can wait out bidders with aplomb, picking apart what would likely be 15+ suitors. Doug Armstrong and Alexander Steen can deal with bids into next season if need be.

Unless there is some wizardry from Ken Holland, I don't see him dipping into the honey pot twice with New York to chase Vincent Trocheck. As mentioned, the Rangers got worked by Panarin's NMC. Trocheck has a 12-team no-trade clause. 

There are those clauses again, and the three highest upside names at center (Pettersson, Thomas, Trocheck) all have some clause. Kadri has a clause too.

On the lower end, there's Coyle, who plays for a competitive Columbus team in a similar situation to the Kings (four points out of the Eastern Conference wildcard playoff spot). These situational trades between aspiring playoff teams typically mean assets leaving matches, with the return, if only marginally better, from each team's perspective. Columbus, like the Kings, is looking to upgrade now. 

That leaves a more realistic vision for the Kings' trade strategy, but much less on the table regarding the higher-tiered ceiling in the return.

Untested goalie prospects, draft picks, and marginal middle-six pivot prospects to bargain with? Their legitimate blue-chip prospect pantry took a practical knockout blow in the deal to acquire Panarin without shedding a roster player: Liam Greentree. That asset pool has gone from bleak to barren. Solely relying on their plethora of picks might get a conversation with St. Louis or Vancouver going, or entice a fall-from-grace team such as New Jersey or Winnipeg, but it doesn't close the deal.

There is also the absurdity that Byfield would have to go the other way. Swapping him out for another center, even a much better one like Thomas or Pettersson (on the rare, off chance it happens), doesn't fix the center depth weakness. That feeds into a retool, not a rebuild.

Bottom line, moving Byfield for a center is nonsensical for LA, unless the center is a clear cut upgrade in every way. Kings need a center to add to Byfield, not one to replace him.

— The Bannermen (@TheBannermenPod) February 18, 2026

There just aren't proper assets to get something substantial in return for the Kings in the wake of the Panarin deal. There aren't a plethora of clear-cut sellers as suitors in the league right now, forcing a perilous waiting game towards the trade deadline. It makes me believe the team needs to retain Warren Foegele, despite a back-down-to-Earth-level of production this season. 

Ears are certainly ringing if Foegele, a first-round pick and more, is the mock trade out there for the player who could actually redefine the team's current trajectory down the middle. Those extremely limited players (Pettersson or Thomas) who can actually put the Kings' categorization up a level or two are leaning towards the 'pipe dream'/'fleece' trade categorization. This isn't an Xbox game.

Holland has stated he has no interest in a rebuild. This suggests the Kings are putting all their chips in, especially given Kopitar's final season. 

The situation, however, is getting derailed and exposed by an ill-timed injury. Even before that, Holland was working with peanuts to make lemonade, as the former GM, Rob Blake, hamstrung the team across many areas. For Holland, credit where credit is due: the Panarin move was a stroke of beauty, given the assets sent over for the player, largely influenced by Panarin himself. But has Holland played his full hand?

An overpay for a center not expected, or one expected, is assumed to be looming. However, many doors must open for the right moves to be unlocked, leading to better short and long-term outcomes for the club. Landing a player who has to waive some form of trade clause twice in one season seems like a pretense for a not-so-well-thought-out plan. The reality is that the season was always going to be a stretch, and the organization might have just pulled a muscle. 

Waiting and hoping for a game-breaking 1C or high-end 2C to be available in free agency is foolhardy roster planning, given their last five years of franchise navigation. It directly ties into the notion of rebuilding this team. That long-term rebuild Holland is publicly deferring away from the organization will resurface in the offseason in a bad way should the Kings falter, yet again.

Four Bruins players still in mix for gold medal at Winter Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Only four teams — USA, Canada, Finland and Slovakia — remain in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, and several Boston Bruins players still have a chance to win their first ever gold medal.

The United States defeated Sweden in men’s ice hockey at the Olympics for the first time in 60 years Wednesday afternoon to punch its ticket to the semifinal. The Americans earned a 2-1 overtime victory in the quarterfinals with Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes scoring the winning tally 3:27 into the extra period.

Team USA will play Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday. Slovakia beat Germany 6-2 in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy played very well against Sweden. He dished out a few big hits and excelled defensively.

Alexander NEMENOV / AFP via Getty Images

Jeremy Swayman is also on the American roster, but likely will be the third-string goalie vs. Slovakia.

Sweden’s loss means Bruins center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Hampus Lindholm will leave Milan without a medal.

The U.S. has not reached the gold medal game in men’s hockey at the Olympics since 2010 when it lost in overtime to Canada in Vancouver. We could get a rematch of that epic clash this year because Canada also advanced to the semifinals Wednesday, although it needed a third-period comeback and an overtime winner to eliminate Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and Czechia.

Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki scored the tying goal with 3:27 left in regulation and then Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner scored the winning tally 1:22 into overtime to give Canada a 4-3 win. The Canadians, who have won the last two Olympics that featured NHL players (2010 and 2014), will play Finland in the semis on Friday.

There are no Bruins players on Team Canada, but ex-B’s captain Brad Marchand is on the roster. He is seeking his first goal medal.

Finland earned a semifinal berth with a 3-2 comeback win over Switzerland in overtime Wednesday. Bruins defenseman Henri Jokiharju played 6:49 and tallied one shot in Finland’s win. Bruins backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo also has been in the backup netminder role for Finland behind starter Juuse Saros.

Four Bruins players — McAvoy, Swayman, Jokiharju and Korpisalo — still have a chance to win gold at the Olympics. But to accomplish that goal, they will likely have to defeat the heavily favored Canadians.

All eyes remain on the Olympics in Milan, where the men’s hockey tournament shifts into high gear Wednesday with the quarterfinals set to begin. For Ottawa Senators' stars Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, Tim Stützle and Nikolas Matinpalo, the pursuit of Olympic gold is still very much alive.

But back home in Ottawa, their well-tanned, well-rested Senators teammates are getting back to work.

After scattering during the midseason break, most of them escaping Ottawa’s February chill for a few days in the sun, the Senators returned to the ice Tuesday at Canadian Tire Centre, beginning preparations for the final 25 games of the season.

Ottawa’s last game was on Feb. 5, a 2–1 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. That was the Senators' fifth win in six games, moving them to within six points of the final Wild Card with three teams to jump past.

Except for their Olympians in Milan, the Senators had almost everyone on the ice. David Perron remains out following sports hernia surgery, but head coach Travis Green had some positive news on that front.

Green says the veteran winger has been skating on his own and could be an option for the club’s upcoming western road trip, which begins in Edmonton on March 3. With Perron about to turn 38 in May and in the final year of his contract, it will be interesting to see what the Sens plans are on the March 6 trade deadline.

The Sens are in a stretch of the schedule that sees them play 8 of 9 games on the road. They already have the first three out of the way, winning two. They'll return to action next Thursday (Feb 26) at home against the Detroit Red Wings. Then it's on the road to Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Seattle, and finally, Vancouver.

Senators winger Drake Batherson, probably the best golfer on the team, opted to spend much of his February break back home in Nova Scotia, seeing family, watching the Olympics, and staying sharp by skating with Acadia University's men's hockey team.

Batherson is a player who's also a bigger NHL fan than most and watches a ton of hockey. So naturally, he's been closely monitoring the action in Milan. He says the morning start times work out nicely for him.               

"I'm having a few coffees, kicking the feet up and watching some hockey," Batherson said. "So it's been awesome, all the boys have been playing great, so I'm excited for the quarterfinals and see what happens."

As the spotlight continues to shine brightly on Olympic hockey in Milan, the work toward getting back in the playoff race has officially resumed in Ottawa.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa. Read more Senators features and articles from THN Ottawa here:

Tim Stutzle And Team Germany March On To Face Slovakia in Olympic Quarterfinals
20 Years Later: The Rise And Fall Of One Of The Greatest Teams In Senators History
Former Senator Mark Stone Still Has Plenty Left... Just Ask Canada
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