Category: Ice Hockey

Despite a series of seasons in which the New York Islanders were very much in salary cap hell, that narrative is no more.

Not only that, but the Islanders have a new general manager in town in Mathieu Darche, who not only specializes in handling the salary cap but also comes from a team in the Tampa Bay Lightning that used every trick in the CBA book to make the money books work.

Yes, that is a reference to weaponizing Long-Term Injured Reserve cap space.

When someone is injured and placed on LTIR, their full salary-cap hit comes off the books, which allows a team to use that space. However, there is a caveat: before the injured player can be activated, there must be sufficient room on the books.

There's a new rule that took effect this season requiring playoff on-ice rosters to be cap-compliant, but we'll touch on that later this week.

It's About Time The NHL Closed Its LTIR LoopholeThe loophole that helped the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vegas Golden Knights earn a competitive advantage and win multiple Stanley Cups is finally closed.<br>

Unfortunately for the Islanders, they have a tremendous amount of LTIR cap relief because of how many players they have out long-term.

Forward Kyle Palmieri is out for the season with a torn ACL, meaning his $4.75 million cap hit comes off the books. Forward Pierre Engvall is out for the season due to an ankle injury, along with a hip injury, both of which required surgery, giving the Islanders an additional $3 million. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov and his $2.75 million are off the books due to a lower-body injury that required surgery.

And lastly is defenseman Alexander Romanov, who is out for the regular season after undergoing right shoulder surgery, clearing an additional $6.25 million.

That totals $16.75 million in cap relief. After the acquisitions of forward Ondrej Palat and his $6 million — Maxim Tsyplakov and his $2.25 million went to New Jersey — and defenseman Carson Soucy, who carries a cap hit of $3.25 million.

After those two deals, the Islanders have $6.021 million in available space ahead of March 6th’s NHL Trade Deadline.

Whether the Islanders look to add players to bolster their club or take on cap, whether that’s in a two-team or three-team trade, they have the ability to do so.

Colorado Avalanche News

• Colorado Avalanche own the Winter Olympics with eight proud players set to represent their countries. [Denver Gazette]

• Landeskog healthy enough to play at Olympics, named Sweden captain. [NHL]

• Crosby named Canadian captain for Olympics with McDavid, Makar tabbed as one of the as alternates. [The Score]

• MacKinnon still leading NHL scoring and Hart Trophy voting race for now. [Hockey Buzz]

• MacKinnon reaches 700 assists as Avalanche sink Sharks before the break. [TSN]

• For Brock Nelson, the Olympics are a family affair. [The Hockey News]

News Around the League

• Huberdeau set to have season-ending hip surgery for Flames. [NHL]
• Ten important questions about NHL teams and players as we head to the Olympic break. [Sportsnet]

• Kings acquire Panarin from Rangers just before NHL’s Olympic trade freeze. [CBC]

• Craig Fitzpatrick an Air Force veteran champions blind hockey and authors a new book. [Navy Federal]

• No fighting allowed at the Olympics [Mile High Hockey]

Montreal Canadiens’ first-round pick at the 2023 draft, David Reinbacher, hasn’t had a lot of luck since being selected fifth overall by the Canadiens. Whether he played in Switzerland or in Canada, the injury bug has chased him around like Will E. Coyote chased the Roadrunner, but unlike the cartoon, the defenseman never escapes.

#Rocket announced David Reinbacher will not return to the game due to injury. Reinbacher did not play after receiving this hit.#GoRocket#AHL#Hockey#GoHabsGo@RocketSportspic.twitter.com/bLMy9frFuI

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) January 24, 2026

On January 24, he received a brutal hit against the Calgary Wranglers, left the game and went on to miss the Laval Rocket’s next five games. Given how many games he has already missed in his young career, it was good to see him back in action on Saturday when Pascal Vincent’s men took on the Cleveland Monsters.

Canadiens’ GM Smart Not To Handcuff Himself
Canadiens Trade Deadline Strategy Is Not Shocking
Canadiens Feel Right At Home On The Road

In the Rockets’ 4-1 win, Reinbacher registered an assist, took one shot, and finished the game with a plus-two rating. The performance was reassuring, but one fact remains: the Austrian has played only 34 of the Rockets' 47 games this season, and the limited action is certainly not helping his development.

Jacob Fowler was in the net for Laval and stopped 22 of the 23 shots he received, which works out to a .957 save percentage. Since returning to Laval, the netminder has a 7-2-0 record, and it looks like the organization will have a big decision to make when it comes to goaltending this summer. The 21-year-old netminder showed in the 10 games he played with the Canadiens that he can handle himself in the NHL, and given how the season went between the pipes for the Habs, it’s likely that the youngster gets a chance to make the jump next season.

Meanwhile, Adam Engstrom has overtaken Reinbacher in the organizational depth chart, but luckily for the Austrian, the Swede is a left-shot defenseman and not a right-shot like him. However, with Bryce Pickford having an incredible season in the WHL, it looks like he’ll soon have a lot of competition.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Plenty happened in the past two weeks in the NHL, including the Columbus Blue Jackets surging under new coach Rick Bowness.

But the NHL is on the Olympic break, so let's look ahead instead of backward.

The league's players are going to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014. Every NHL team will send at least one representative and every country except Italy will have one NHL player.

This version of the NHL power rankings will rate teams based on their performance and it will have an Olympic theme with one Olympian to watch per team.

Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings:

NHL power rankings

(Number in parentheses indicates the change from the previous rankings of two weeks ago)

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

Forward Brock Nelson, USA: Nathan MacKinnon is a Hart Trophy candidate (plus MVP of the 4 Nations Face-Off) and Cale Makar is a Norris Trophy candidate. Two-way player Nelson, though, has 29 goals this season and on a U.S. team that chose not to bring Cole Caufield, Jason Robertson and Alex DeBrincat, he can provide some of that offense.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (0)

Defenseman Victor Hedman, Sweden: The skilled defenseman recently returned from his second injury of the season and was ramping up his ice time. The alternate captain will need to be on top of his game.

3. Minnesota Wild (+2)

Defenseman Quinn Hughes, USA: Hughes was injured before the 4 Nations Face-Off and wasn't able to play. His presence will help a U.S. team that fell one goal short of a championship in the 2025 tournament.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (-1)

Forward Nikolaj Ehlers, Denmark: He's a speedster and has 43 points this season. Denmark has only three regular NHL players among its skaters.

5. Dallas Stars (+1)

Defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Finland: He missed the 4 Nations Face-Off with an injury and Finland missed him. He has twice as many points as the No. 2 defenseman on Finland, his Stars defensive partner Esa Lindell.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (+3)

Forward Sidney Crosby, Canada: He scored the golden goal in 2010 and scored in the championship game in 2014. He's still putting up big points at 38 and was named Canada's captain.

7. Montreal Canadiens (+3)

Forward Juraj Slafkovsky, Slovakia: He was MVP of the 2022 Olympics, which did not feature NHL players. Slafkovsky finished with seven goals and a bronze medal. He was drafted No. 1 overall that year and is the top Slovakian NHL scorer with 45 points.

8. Detroit Red Wings (-4)

Defenseman Moritz Seider, Germany: He's the only NHL defenseman on Team Germany and is on pace for his best overall season.

9. Buffalo Sabres (-2)

Forward Tage Thompson, USA: Thompson was a potential injury replacement for the 4 Nations Face-Off but wasn't needed. His size, speed and stickhandling ability will make a difference for the USA at the Olympics. It did in the world championships when he scored the clinching goal as the Americans won a rare gold medal.

10. Boston Bruins (+1)

Forward David Pastrnak, Czechia: He's the most dynamic Czech scorer and he'll be counted on even more with Bruins teammate Pavel Zacha missing the tournament with an injury.

11. Vegas Golden Knights (-3)

Forward Mitch Marner, Canada: He set up Connor McDavid's clinching goal in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

12. New York Islanders (0)

Forward Bo Horvat, Canada: He was the Islanders' lone representative until the team traded for Ondrej Palat, and Horvat was injured soon after Canada's announcement. But he's back and heading to the Olympics on a high note. He was second star of the week with five points in three games, including a pair of game-winners.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (+9)

Defenseman Zach Werenski, USA: He brings a lot of offense from the back end, with 20 goals this season, second among NHL defensemen and first among those at the Olympics.

14. Utah Mammoth (0)

Goalie Karel Vejmelka, Czechia: Anaheim's Lukas Dostal is likely the No. 1 goalie, but Vejmelka has put together several long runs this season.

15. Seattle Kraken (+5)

Goalie Philipp Grubauer, Germany: Grubauer is having a bounce-back season and should be able to provide steady goaltending on a team that could get plenty of goals.

16. Anaheim Ducks (+1)

Forward Mikael Granlund, Finland: He's the captain of Team Finland, which is missing Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Barkov is irreplaceable, so all of Finland's forwards will need to step up.

17. Ottawa Senators (-8)

Forward Brady Tkachuk, USA: He had a two-goal game in the 4 Nations Face-Off and though he can't fight at the Olympics like he did in last year's tournament, he'll provide a disruptive presence.

18. Edmonton Oilers (-3)

Forward Connor McDavid, Canada: McDavid and Germany's Leon Draisaitl, the team's lone representatives, are equally important to their countries. McDavid's overtime winner at the 4 Nations gives him an edge.

19. Washington Capitals (+5)

Forward Tom Wilson, Canada: He earned a spot with his 23 goals, his penalty killing and his physical play. But he might have to temper his big hits because the International Ice Hockey Federation uses different standards.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs (+1)

Forward Auston Matthews, USA: The Americans named him captain. If the pure goal scorer can produce at the Olympics, it would help his reputation after playoff disappointments and the lack of a goal at the 4 Nations.

21. Philadelphia Flyers (-5)

Goaltender Dan Vladar, Czechia: No guarantee he sees action, but he did have a 1.09 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in the 2025 world championships.

22. Los Angeles Kings (-3)

Defenseman Drew Doughty, Canada: He doesn't put up the big numbers anymore, but he did win gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

23. Florida Panthers (-10)

Forward Matthew Tkachuk, USA: Look at the description of brother Brady Tkachuk, then add back-to-back Stanley Cup titles to his resume. He wasn't able to finish the championship game in the 4 Nations, scored 23 points with a torn adductor muscle in the playoffs and recently returned from offseason surgery.

24. San Jose Sharks (-6)

Forward Macklin Celebrini, Canada: Celebrini is having a spectacular sophomore season, has been mentioned as an MVP candidate and skated on a line with McDavid during the first Olympic practice.

25. Nashville Predators (+1)

Goalie Juuse Saros, Finland: He will be the Finns' go-to goalie. He didn't have a good 4 Nations but followed that up with a strong world championships.

26. New Jersey Devils (-3)

Forward Nico Hischier, Switzerland: The Devils captain is also the Swiss captain and a solid two-way player.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (0)

Forward Teuvo Teravainen, Finland:Connor Bedard didn't make Team Canada and Teravainen is the Blackhawks' lone Olympian. His numbers are off this season.

28. Calgary Flames (+2)

Forward Martin Pospisil, Czechia: He's the Flames' lone representative after the trade of Rasmus Andersson. He has no points in seven games with the Flames.

29. Winnipeg Jets (-1)

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck, USA: He was the No. 1 American goalie at the 4 Nations. But which goalie is the USA getting? The one who won the last two Vezina trophies and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy? Or the one who was pulled on the road in the playoffs and whose numbers are off this season?

30. New York Rangers (-1)

Forward Mika Zibanejad, Sweden: The Rangers have been a mess this season and already have been sellers. Zibanejad has been one of their better players and recently performed on a big stage with a record five points in the Winter Classic.

31. St. Louis Blues (0)

Goalie Jordan Binnington, Canada: He led Canada to a 4 Nations championship and won a Stanley Cup in 2019. But he has struggled this season as have the Blues. Does he rebound behind a better team?

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

Forward Elias Pettersson, Sweden: His star has faded the past couple seasons and he was held without a point in the 4 Nations. A rebound in the Olympics could help restore his reputation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL power rankings: Each team's Olympian to watch

Ever since a couple of friends who most often hosted Super Bowl parties each relocated out of town, I’ve…discovered the sheer joy and found time that comes with not following the NFL. An intense, grueling season of Sundays to myself and my family culminates in Super Bowl Sunday, when I can go wherever I want and not another soul is around.

Yesterday I went hiking and continued reading The Wayfinder; last night I remembered I’ll have very little idea what people are talking about as they run through their small talk this morning. I used to feel obliged to pay attention to maintain that sort of pop culture literacy, but it was very freeing once I got over that.

This is not a self-help column nor a “you should do X” thing, just a transition as the NHL turns toward the Olympics this month and most humans get past the hoopla of the NFL trademarked championship game. I understand there were field goals and AI commercials.

As for us, the other global sports hype machine is now underway. For the men, Olympic hockey starts Wednesday with two games (Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy). On the women’s side, things began last week already and there are four preliminary round games today, with both the U.S. and Canada in action.

Olympic Hockey News

• The teams did their captaincy reveals, with little surprises. Sidney Crosby for Canada, Leafs captain Auston Matthews for the U.S., Gabriel Landeskog is good to go and will wear the C for Sweden. [NHL]
• Bill Daly also skipped the Super Bowl, but for a better reason: He’s headed to Milan. He discusses excitement for Olympic hockey, the talent on display, and how the NHL gets to provide more officials and George Parros as discipline czar. Gulp. [NHL]
• Jack Hughes couldn’t be there for his team as they were swept by the Islanders, but he’s good to go for Team America. [NHL]
• Mike Sullivan isn’t publicly naming his starting goalie yet. [Sportsnet]
• Pavel Zacha is still out, so he’ll miss the Olympics where he was going to play for the Czechs. [ESPN]
• 32 Thoughts: How Artemi Panarin decided on the Kings, plus random Olympic thoughts. [Sportsnet]
• Curtis Douglas was fined, and that’s all the supplementary discipline that came from the latest Panthers-Lightning brawl. [Sportsnet]

Islanders News

• Breaking out of his slump, Bo Horvat receives a parting gift as NHL 2nd Star of the Week. [Isles]
• Victor Eklund discusses winning WJC gold with Sweden, “playing with men” and such. [Isles]
• Speaking of Swedes, Dick “no seriously, I’m Swedish” Tarnstrom is the latest Weird Islanders subject. He was waived and claimed by the Penguins, during one of their many dark, bottom-feeder eras that most of their fans pretend never happened. [LHH]
• Cal Ritchie made a surprise return just before the break and looked pretty good. [Post]
• They may end up gassed, but at least Bo Horvat and Ondrej Palat will stay in game shape by playing at the Olympics. [Newsday]
• Also: Three takeaways for the Isles at the break. [Newsday]

Good luck as you discuss that one commercial or that one play today.

Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was officially named captain of Team Canada’s men’s ice hockey team on Sunday. Crosby previously served as the Olympic captain in 2014 when Canada won gold. [Trib Live]

After a 12-year absence on the Olympic stage, the Penguins’ Olympians are treasuring the moment to represent their home countries once more. [Trib Live]

As the NHL freezes play for the 2026 Olympics, the American Hockey League will trudge on. The Penguins assigned rookie forwards Avery Hayes and Rutger McGroarty to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday. [Trib Live]

Updates from around the NHL…

Prosecutors have dropped the most serious assault charge against Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna, considered a likely top pick in this year’s NHL draft. Still, he remains accused of less serious offenses. [CBS News/Associated Press]

Veteran NHL defenseman Travis Dermott has joined the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on a player try-out contract, the team announced on Saturday. [TSN]

Auston Matthews was named the captain of the United States men’s hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. [Sportsnet]

We're now beyond the halfway point of the 2025-26 season, and it's been a good one for a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects so far.

GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has managed to infuse the Penguins' organization with a lot of promising talent in the last two-plus years by acquiring prospects and accruing draft capital, and the Penguins' enhanced development staff has also helped young players already in the organization begin to find potential paths to the NHL.

And the Penguins' goaltending depth only continues to impress - and continues to get deeper and deeper. In fact - in addition to Sergei Murashov, who has already turned heads at various points this season - they may just have another goaltender to keep a keen eye on in their system.

Here is our February Penguins' prospects update for goaltenders:

---

Sergei Murashov

It's hard to believe that a guy boasting a .924 save percentage at the AHL level this season actually saw a stretch of struggle this season. 

Well, Murashov has struggled for a few very small stretches this season - enough to dethrone him of the AHL's top save percentage and goals-against average. In late October and late November - sandwiching a brief NHL stint - there was a four-game stretch where, in three of those four games, he had a sub-.895 save percentage. At the turn of the New Year, Murashov had two consecutive appearances where he was pulled and allowed five goals in each game.

But, other than that, he's been lights-out. Murashov is still third in the AHL in both goals-against average (2.11) and save percentage, and he is also 7-1 with a .925 save percentage in his last eight appearances. He is still - more than likely - the first guy the Penguins will call on if needed, and he is still the best goaltending prospect in the Penguins' system. 

Avery Hayes Nets Hat Trick In First Game Back With Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonAvery Hayes continued his excellent week with a hat trick on Saturday.

---

Joel Blomqvist

After missing the first month of the season due to a lower-body injury sustained during training camp, Blomqvist, 24, got off to a good start this season. In his first nine appearances, he put together a .929 save percentage to go along with a 5-2-2 record to close out the calendar year of 2025.

However, he's struggled a bit since then. In his last six appearances, he's put up an .878 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average, which puts his season save percentage at .916 and his record at 8-4-3-1.

Of course, the overall numbers are still good, and he is playing in a bit of a backup role behind Murashov, who has seen the majority of the starts. The Penguins are still high on Blomqvist, and his performance against Murashov's for the rest of the season could help determine who has the inside track to a potential NHL roster spot for 2026-27.

'I'm Not Bad. At All': Penguins' Players Weigh In On Summer Olympic ChancesPittsburgh Penguins' players talk about which Summer Olympic sports they think they can compete in.

---

Taylor Gauthier

Gauthier didn't appear in a game this season until Dec. 6, as the injury bug plagued him again to begin the season - just like his start to 2024-25. 

But - just like last season - that did not deter him at all. In fact, the 25-year-old netminder is putting together the best season of his career up to this point for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

Across 15 appearances this season, Gauthier boasts an 8-4-3 record with a .937 save percentage and a 1.81 goals-against average. This includes a remarkable performance on Feb. 4 against the Fort Wayne Comets in which he stopped 53 of 55 Comets' shots en route to a 3-2 overtime victory for the Nailers. 

That was an all-time goaltending performance by Taylor Gauthier! Wow! pic.twitter.com/CSAyeT1HPc

— DJ Abisalih (@Deej_HockeyPXP) February 5, 2026

Dubas has talked about how he wants the Penguins' ECHL affiliate to be a legitimate developmental step for players with an NHL future, and the foundation seems to have been laid there. Gauthier has put together three very impressive seasons in a row for Wheeling, and he has gotten it done in his AHL minutes so far as well. 

As good as Murashov and Blomqvist have been, don't discount Gauthier as a legitimate option for the Penguins somewhere down the line. The biggest thing working against him right now is the fact that the two guys in front of him have been outstanding, too, leaving little opportunity for him to see starting minutes at the AHL level. That could change as soon as next season, should one of the other two make the NHL roster.

---

Maxim Pavlenko

Pavlenko, 23, signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins on a one-year contract this season, and the netminder from Kazakhstan hasn't seen as much playing time since Gauthier came back into the fold. 

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound goaltender still has a save percentage north of .900 at .901, and his season started off well enough. But it has been a bit of a mixed bag since the start of the calendar year, as he had shutouts on Jan. 10 and Feb. 7 but struggled in the three starts in between, posting a .759 save percentage in those three appearances. 

It's also worth noting that Pavlenko appeared in four games at the AHL level earlier this season, going 3-1 with a .912 save percentage - including a shutout. 

If he can find a bit more consistency, he could be a legitimate depth option for the Penguins in their system. He moves well for a goaltender his size and occupies a lot of space in net, and his play at the international level gives some reason for optimism.

Penguins Defenseman Erik Karlsson Named Alternate Captain For SwedenErik Karlsson has been named an alternate captain for Team Sweden.

---

Gabriel D'Aigle

You may have heard at this point that the numbers don't tell the story for D'Aigle, whose Victoriaville Tigres have allowed a QMJHL-high 1,245 shots against, a similar story to last season. 

Well, he's also made the most saves in the QMJHL with 1,129, and his .907 save percentage is still ninth in the league, even though he's ninth in the league in terms of minutes for goaltenders. This stuff alone kind of show that there may be more to D'Aigle than what appears to be through a mere stat line.

But it goes beyond that. Jesse Marshall of Faceoff Factor did a fantastic breakdown of the season D'Aigle is having, showing how the Penguins' 84th overall pick in 2025 is under constant siege in every appearance and still manages to make 10-bell save after 10-bell save.

NEW: Gabriel D'Aigle (3rd rd 2025) is thriving in goal despite being under constant siege. A closer look at the best work of the 3rd round pick in 2025 and how his rare combination of size and athleticism is keeping him afloat. https://t.co/L0sLZjp36ypic.twitter.com/GmdPywLCAD

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) January 19, 2026

D'Aigle is not only big at 6-foot-4, 213 pounds, he's also very quick and very athletic. Marshall's breakdown covers all of that, so be sure to check it out here.

This guy may be one to keep an eye on. Once he is in a more stable environment - and not in one where most goaltenders would probably look a whole lot worse - those numbers could look much, much better if he can put everything together. 

---

Notable: G Filip Larsson cleared waivers for the purpose of contract termination and is now a free agent

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

The men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy gets underway next week, with preliminary games opening Wednesday in a 12-team field that features a strong Ottawa Senators flavour.

Between current and former Senators, the Ottawa connections will be scattered all across this event. Here’s a country-by-country look at the current and former Senators set to take part in the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Italy.

---

Canada

Canada’s roster includes a familiar and popular former Senator in Mark Stone, who now captains the Vegas Golden Knights. Stone spent several seasons in Ottawa and remains one of the most respected two-way forwards to ever wear a Senators jersey.

Now in the seventh year of his eight-year contract in Vegas, the former Senators regime gravely miscalculated how much good hockey Stone still had left in the tank and then made a horrible trade.

---

Czechia

Czechia’s roster features two former Senators forwards in Filip Chlapik and Dominik Kubalik. Chlapik came through Ottawa’s system and saw 57 NHL games with the club before returning to Europe, while Kubalik spent the entire 2023-24 season here, arriving in the Alex DeBrincat deal. 

---

Denmark

Veteran centre Lars Eller, a current Senator, brings extensive experience. He's the first Danish player to win the Stanley Cup (2018) and the first to play 1,000 NHL games.

He’s joined by Mads Søgaard, the towering goaltender from the Belleville Senators. With the Danes likely to be outmatched in most games, NHL veteran Freddy Andersen is expected to handle most of the work for the Danes.

---

Finland

Finland’s roster also includes a blend of current and former Senators. Defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo can't get in Ottawa's lineup these days, but he earned his place with the Finns through steady play.

Former Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was named to Finland's team as an injury replacement. It's hard to fully describe him as a former Senator since the Sens are still paying him $1 million a year.

---

France

France will feature former Ottawa forward Stéphane Da Costa, who spent time in the Senators organization earlier in his career. After taking his NHL shot, playing 47 games in Ottawa spread over four seasons, the 37-year-old Da Costa has been a KHL star for most of the past decade, and the French will once again lean on him for scoring and leadership. 

---

Germany

Germany’s Olympic hopes will heavily involve current Ottawa star Tim Stützle. One of the NHL's most dynamic offensive players, Stützle is expected to be a focal point for the Germans and one of the most exciting players to watch throughout the tournament. Germany has enough star power at the top of their lineup to be troublesome by going to a short bench in this short tournament. 

---

Latvia

Forwards Rūdolfs Balcers and Kaspars Daugaviņš, along with defenseman Kristiāns Rubīns, all have Ottawa Senators ties. Rubins was drafted by Ottawa but never played, though he did get into three NHL games with Toronto. Latvia has built a reputation for its loud, partying fan base and being a difficult opponent in short tournaments, and its Ottawa contingent will play major roles.

---

Sweden

As former first-rounders, centre Mika Zibanejad and defenceman Erik Karlsson both spent their formative years in Ottawa before continuing their careers elsewhere. In goal, Filip Gustavsson could see significant action as the Swedes aim for a medal.

---

Switzerland

Former Senators training camp attendee Pius Suter will skate for Switzerland. Now an established NHL pro in St. Louis, Suter should be a top player on a Swiss team that always impresses and continues to close the gap on the traditional hockey powers.

---

United States

Team USA will feature two cornerstone pieces from the current Sens roster. Captain Brady Tkachuk brings his trademark physicality and leadership, while defenceman Jake Sanderson has quickly emerged as one of the NHL’s premier young blueliners. Both were expected to play major roles as the Americans pursue Olympic gold.

*** As an update, Sanderson may be a healthy scratch for the Americans' opener next week.

With current and former Senators at the Olympics totalling 16, their impact on the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament will be impossible to miss.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

Read more great Sens features at The Hockey News:

Top Ottawa Senators Prospect Out Long Term With Lower Body Injury
Senators Can Further Boost Playoff Hopes By Upgrading One Position
Head Coach Travis Green Has Changed The Conversation In Ottawa
Senators Trade Deadline History: Key Deals of the Last Decade
NHL Insider Says The Senators Aren't Happy With Him

It's inarguable that young Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov has massive potential, but two years into his NHL career, the talented forward is not yet on the radar for a potential Team Russia Olympic squad.

Russia, of course, is banned from international competitions at all levels, which means no NHL players will be representing their nation at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Tampa Bay's superstar winger Nikita Kucherov said it best: it's not a best-on-best competition without Russia, but the reality is the reality.

The hockey powerhouse's exclusion has long raised questions of what their squad would look like if they were competing in the Olympics, and two Russian legends recently weighed in on the topic for themselves.

In a recent interview with The Athletic, iconic forward-turned-SKA St. Petersburg head coach Igor Larionov chose his roster, which came with a few surprises.

Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin, Alex Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin were among the obvious choices at forward, and Montreal Canadiens starlet Ivan Demidov managed to sneak in on the third line as well.

Why Matvei Michkov's Prove-It Game Was So ImportantMichkov's key assist in the spotlight was exactly what Tocchet wanted.

As for the fourth line, though? Players like Vasily Podkolzin, Ivan Barbashev, and Vasily Podkolzin all got in ahead of the Flyers' Michkov.

Larionov also opted for a "PK guy" in Ilya Mikheyev for roster depth, so Michkov wasn't particularly close to being considered.

But, Larionov isn't the only coach to omit Michkov from their hypothetical Olympic roster.

Former Russian national team head coach Ilya Vorobyov, a two-time Gagarin Cup-winning coach with an Olympic Gold Medal to his resume, didn't include Michkov, either.

Vorobyov, in his interview with MatchTV, had a number of roster overlaps with Larionov's team, though youngsters like Danila Yurov, Dmitri Voronkov, and Pavel Dorofeyev made his cut in addition to Demidov.

Vorobyov's explanation for Demidov likely tells us why Michkov wasn't on his team.

"He is a young boy, and just starting his career. The level of wingers in the Russian national team is very high," the sage bench boss said of Demidov.

Ex-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Recounts Golden Matvei Michkov StoryTortorella dished on Michkov's surprising but enthusiastic penalty box strategy, which goes to show how well the two understood each other while they were together on the Flyers.

"We need to look at who would have been eliminated due to injury, and what line Vanya would have ended up in. What would he have brought to those three? I really like Demidov as a player. He is the future young star of the national team. But the Olympics are a fleeting tournament, and there is no time for experiments. And we need not only those guys who score."

So, with Demidov in, and the likes of Ovechkin, Panarin, Kucherov, Kaprizov, Kirill Marchenko, and others occupying the wings, there was no room for Michkov.

Michkov, of course, was the captain of the Russia U20 and Russia 25 teams back in 2022-23 and dominated representing his country in the 2021 U18 World Junior Championships.

In that tournament, the now-21-year-old led all players in scoring with 16 points and broke the Russian single-tournament goals record with his 12 tallies.

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Compares First NHL Game to 'PlayStation'Even for players like <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> star Matvei Michkov, making your first NHL appearance can be a little frazzling.

Oh, and Michkov was named MVP and Best Forward.

Kucherov and Ilya Kovalchuk previously held Russia's goals record with 11 apiece.

Michkov has proven he can handle and produce in the international spotlight, but a frustrating sophomore season in the NHL under new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has seemingly left him with his fair share of doubters.

New York Islanders' forward Ondrej Palat skated on Team Czechia's second line at their first Olympic practice in Milan. 

Palat, who traded from the New Jersey Devils along with a 2026 third-round pick and a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick for Maxim Tsyplakov, skated alongside Vancouver Canucks forward David Kampf and former NHLer Ondrej Kase.

Here's how Team Czechia looked at their first practice.https://t.co/Mep0l1pQub

— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) February 8, 2026

Palat represented Team Czechia at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the last time NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games.

The 34-year-old and Czechia will battle Bo Horvat and Team Canada on Thursday at 10:40 AM ET for their first game. 

While the league’s activities are on a hiatus for the duration of the Olympics, the Men’s hockey tournament is the talk of the town in just about any city. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a real best-on-best tournament. We did whet our collective appetite on the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, but as the name suggests, only four nations were playing. When the tournament kicks off on February 11, 12 countries will be vying for gold. Unfortunately for Ivan Demidov and his countrymen, Russia won’t be one of them since the country is still banned from international competition because of its war on Ukraine.

Still, it’s interesting to wonder who would have made Team Russia if war had been over and the country had been reinstated. The Athletic asked Ivan Larionov, former NHL player (644 points in 921 games) and current coach of SKA St. Petersburg, who would have been on his Olympic roster, and one Montreal Canadiens’ player made the cut: Ivan Demidov.

Canadiens First-Rounder Starting To Heat Up
Canadiens Trade Deadline Strategy Is Not Shocking
Canadiens Feel Right At Home On The Road

In net, the former center man would have gone with Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Igor Shesterkin, leaving off Ilya Sorokin. It’s hard to argue with any of those selections. The first two have backstopped the Stanley Cup Champions for four of the last six years, while Shesterkin is the only reason the New York Rangers are not the worst team in the NHL right now. Bobrovsky would be his third-string goalie; talk about an embarrassment of riches.

On defence, Larionov would have selected former Canadiens’ defenseman Alexander Romanov if he weren’t out of action because of a shoulder surgery. However, the group he selected remains impressive and includes a former Hab: Mikhail Sergachev, Alexander Nikishin, Vladislav Gavrikov, Artem Zub, Nikita Zadorov, and Dmitri Orlov.

Commenting on his picks, the NHL legend explained that while physicality is a big part of the game, in a best-on-best tournament, you must take players that have the skill set to compete with the best – that might be a message to Team USA GM Bill Guerin, who knows.

Up front, Larionov would have Demidov skate on a line with all-time NHL leading goal scorer Alexander Ovechkin and Vladislav Namestnikov. It’s hard not to wonder what magic the youngster could create playing alongside such a fantastic goal scorer. Believe it or not, that would be his third line; that’s a scary thought.

His first line would feature Evgeny Malkin, Nikita Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov, and his second line would put Artemi Panarin, Pavel Buchnevich and Kirill Marchenko. A wonderful top six which would have been tough for any team to face. As for his fourth line, it would have been formed by Vasily Podolkin, Fedor Svechkov and Ivan Barbashev.

His extras would have been Andrei Svechnikov, Ilya Mekheyev, Ivan Provorov, and Ilya Lubushkin. Needless to say, Russia would have been one of the favourites entering the tournament.

While I understand the ban and the need to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, I can’t help but feel for older players like Ovechkin and Malkin, who probably won’t ever have the chance to compete at the Olympics since time waits for no man. At least, Demidov is only 20, which means that he should have another opportunity somewhere down the line to live that incredible experience. The NHL has agreed to its players taking part for 12 years, which brings us to 2038. If things aren’t resolved by then, though, it could spell trouble for the Canadiens’ rookie, since there’s no guarantee that there will be another between the NHL and the International Olympic Committee.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Montreal Canadiens’ forward Ivan Demidov took a flight to Florida last week to join his better half at Magic Kingdom in Florida. Still, he didn’t stay for very long since he’ll be back in town this coming week to inaugurate the GoPlex e-karting center on February 11, 8505 Boulevard Taschereau, in Brossard.

The event is being promoted on Instagram and advertised as an opportunity to meet an NHL rookie-of-the-year contender. Still, it also states that fans will only be able to take photos with him, not get an autograph. The meet-and-greet is scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 PM and is on a first-come, first-served basis, so not everyone will be able to meet him.

Insider: Canadiens 'Like' Predators Star Trade Target
Canadiens Will Spend Break In Second Place In Atlantic Division
Could The Canadiens Meet The Blues’ Reported Asking Price For Thomas?

Ever since he joined the Canadiens last April, he has become a fan favourite thanks to his spectacular play and charismatic personality. From his very first game in Montreal against the Chicago Blackhawks, numerous Demidov jerseys could be spotted all around the Bell Centre.

With the Canadiens only set to resume practice on February 17, it will be interesting to see if the youngster repeats his Christmas holiday experience when he went skating on a Bleu, Blanc, Bouge rink with Lane Hutson. If he does, there’s no doubt that he’ll be making the day of those in attendance.

With 25 games left in his rookie season, Demidov is leading the rookie scoring race with 46 points, a two-point lead over Anaheim Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke and a seven-point lead on New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer. While he’s definitely in the Calder Trophy conversation, Demidov is not the favourite right now; that title belongs to Schaefer, the 18-year-old who was picked first overall at the last draft. The two rookies will play one another for the first time on February 26, the Canadiens’ first post-Olympic break game.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The Buffalo Sabres will be a team to watch very closely once the NHL roster freeze lifts later this month. With the Sabres holding a playoff spot right now, it would be understandable if they looked to add to their roster ahead of the deadline.

One area the Sabres should look to improve is their defensive depth. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman recently wrote that he could see the Sabres looking to add a "beefier blueliner," specifically.

When looking at the NHL's current trade candidates, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley certainly fits that description. 

The 6-foot-7, 231-pound Stanley would undoubtedly give the Sabres more size and toughness on their blueline if acquired. The 2016 first-round pick currently has 91 hits and 97 penalty minutes in 55 games this season, so there is no question that he would provide the Sabres with more of an edge if brought in.

Yet, Stanley has also been making an impact offensively this season with the Jets, which adds to his appeal. He has already set new career highs with nine goals, nine assists, and 18 points this season, so he would have the potential to provide the Sabres' blueline with a bit more offense if brought in.

The Sabres have plenty of left-shot defenseman and would likely like to add a right-shot blueliner at the deadline. However, if Stanley and his $1.25 million cap hit could be had, he may be worth taking a flier on. He would give the Sabres another solid option for their bottom pairing if brought in. 

The Chicago Blackhawks conversation took a spin on Friday, thanks to some new information revealed regarding the first-round pick they received from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade.

It was initially believed that the pick was top-ten protected, but Friday’s news confirmed it to be a pick that would stick with Florida if they earned a selection in the top ten.

If Florida were to keep the pick, the 2026 first would then slide to 2027. The 2027 pick that Florida gave to the Boston Bruins in the Brad Marchand trade would also slide one year later in 2028. 

News Circles That Blackhawks' First Round Pick From Panthers Is Top-Ten ProtectedOn Friday, it came out that the Chicago Blackhawks' first-round pick that they received from the Florida Panthers is top-ten protected.

When the trade was first made, nobody actually thought the Panthers would be in the mix for a finish that low in the 2025-26 standings, but injuries have derailed their season. Entering the Olympic break, they are sitting with the 10th-worst record in the NHL. 

Can the Panthers get healthy during the time away and go on a run once club play resumes? Of course they can. In the last four seasons, they have gone President’s Trophy, been Stanley Cup runners-up, and won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. It’s a super-elite organization right now, dealing with the consequences of lots of deep runs. 

The news of the draft pick being top-ten protected does not diminish the trade that the Blackhawks made as a whole. For one, Seth Jones didn’t want to be there anymore. He very publicly asked to be moved out before the 2025 trade deadline. 

For a player who was checked out, the Blackhawks got a first-round pick and Spencer Knight. With Knight, the team landed a young goalie who can be a number one in the NHL for a decade. With his talent and being a former first-round pick himself, Knight’s prime may see him as a top-ten goalie in contention for the Vezina Trophy every year. 

With Spencer Knight alone for a player who wanted out, the Blackhawks won. A first-round pick, whether it’s in 2026 or 2027, is just a bonus. The pick in 2027 is unprotected, but Florida may be back to full strength by then. As far as that goes, rooting for them to finish 11th in a deep 2026 draft is likely the best-case scenario for Chicago. 

If the Blackhawks do eventually return to NHL prominence, turning a disgruntled player into the goalie of the future will always be remembered as a win. Now, it’s on Kyle Davidson and his scouting team to turn whatever the draft pick becomes into a contributor. 

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

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.