Category: Ice Hockey

Heading into the holiday break, the Pittsburgh Penguins were 3-5-4 in the month of December and 1-5-4 in their last 10 games. In other words, they were long overdue for not only a win, but a comfortable one. 

And they got just what the doctor ordered on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Forward Justin Brazeau recorded his first career hat trick, and Bryan Rust scored twice, to lead the Penguins to a 7-3 victory over the Blackhawks. Pittsburgh tallied four goals in the first period and never surrendered their lead, which is something that the team has struggled mightily with during their tough stretch in December. 

Penguins' goaltender Arturs Silovs made several tough saves throughout the game and stopped 21 of 24 Chicago shots on goal. He did surrender a goal to Tyler Bertuzzi with 0.8 seconds left on the clock, but Pittsburgh still came away with the win quite comfortably. 

The scoring started early on for the Penguins - in fact, just a minute and a half in - when Anthony Mantha got his stick on a loose puck at the bottom of the right circle and steered it toward the net, where it got behind Blackhawks' goaltender Spencer Knight to put the Penguins up, 1-0. 

Then, when the midway point of the first was approaching, that's when the onslaught began. Rust registered his first of the game off the rush - and after a nice pass by Sidney Crosby to get the puck to him - from the left circle a little more than seven minutes in, and Brazeau also scored his first goal just a minute later. 

Penguins Place Veteran Forward On WaiversThe Penguins have placed one of their forwards on waivers.

And less than four minutes after that, Rust chased Knight from the game with a shot from the right circle, which was Pittsburgh's fourth goal on seven shots. The Penguins were rolling, and they looked much like the team that dominated the league in the month of October. 

However, the Blackhawks began to push back a bit in the second period, as they had controlled much of the momentum for the early part of the middle frame until Nick Foligno finally broke through midway through the period to cut the Penguins' lead to 4-1. They were starting to really put some pressure on the Penguins - who have blown a number of multi-goal leads this season - but they took a bench penalty for too many men not long after the goal. 

And the Penguins took advantage right away. The second power play unit went out first, and Ben Kindel made a nice play to get the puck to Brazeau at the net-front, and he buried it to put the Penguins back up by four. 

Brazeau wasted no time getting his hat trick, either, as he tipped a shot by Connor Dewar less than a minute later to secure the first hat trick of his NHL career and his 11th of the season. 

JUSTIN BRAZEAU, FOLKS 👏 pic.twitter.com/6fvJBSaG86

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 29, 2025

The Blackhawks responded with a quick goal of their own by Wyatt Kaiser just 13 seconds after Brazeau's third goal. But the Penguins got another insurance goal at the end of the period courtesy of Noel Acciari, who registered his third goal of the season to make it 7-2. 

And that's where the score remained until the end of the third, when Bertuzzi scored his last-second goal. 

The game certainly wasn't a perfect one, and the Penguins made their fair share of defensive mistakes. Still, they took advantage of an injury-depleted Blackhawks team and won a game they should have won - and in convincing fashion.

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Here are a few takeaways from this one:

- Man, it was noticeable having Blake Lizotte back in this lineup. 

Not only did Lizotte record two assists in the game, but the fourth line of Dewar, Lizotte, and Acciari picked up right where it left off prior to Lizotte's injury. They were counted on for defensive zone starts and did a good job with those, they were shifting momentum and sparking energy on the forecheck, and they were displaying the chemistry that they've had all season.

Having Lizotte back makes a big difference. He is a big part of the penalty kill, which was 3-for-3 against Chicago, and he is the Penguins' most reliable and effective defensive forward. He elevates both Dewar and Acciari, too.

The Penguins are a better team with him centering the fourth line. Period. 

Blake Lizotte's Impending Return Can't Be Understated Enough Blake Lizotte's return will go under the radar to some, but it shouldn't.

- What a revelation Brazeau has been for the Penguins this season. 

Yes, he is shooting at 28.2 percent right now, which is not a sustainable mark. But the crazy thing about Brazeau's scoring is that it hasn't really been "lucky scoring," either. 

He's finding the net front and going to the right areas to make plays. He has silky-smooth hands and a talent for getting his stick on pucks for deflections. He can also rip it when presented with the right opportunity. 

Brazeau is scoring in all kinds of ways this season, but - for the most part - he's very much earning these tallies. He uses his size and reach to his advantage, and he - again - makes himself available around the net-front. 

So, no, 28.2 percent isn't sustainable. But I don't expect his scoring to just diminish somwhere down the line, either. His scoring touch this season is legitimate, and the Penguins may have found themselves a two-year steal of a deal who also happens to stand at 6-foot-6, 232 pounds. 

I really like this guy, and he has played a major role for the Penguins this season. 

THE BOYS ARE BUZZIN' pic.twitter.com/wvrO8p6zwJ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 29, 2025

- After a rough stretch of games over the past month, Silovs has looked much, much better in his last two outings. 

Yes, the stat line may not suggest that. Against Montreal, he had an .880 save percentage, and against Chicago, an .875. 

But those are also the only two games that the Penguins have won in their last 11. And it's actually, in large part, thanks to Silovs, who has made some big saves in key moments - including on breakaways and in the shootout win against Montreal on the 21st.

Of course, the raw stat line is going to have to improve in order for Silovs to make any kind of legitimate case to be the Penguins' starting goaltender over Stuart Skinner or one of the other two goaltending prospects tearing it up in the AHL. But he is trending in the right direction after a disastrous string of starts from late November into early December. 

Takeaways: In Storybook Fashion, Penguins Snap Eight-Game Skid On Crosby's Historic NightThe Pittsburgh Penguins earned a much-needed win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night - and Sidney Crosby made some history along the way.

- Even though the Penguins won this game, they still need to tighten up defensively. By a lot. 

Luckily, Pittsburgh caught the Blackhawks at the right time, since they are without Connor Bedard. But against a better team - a more stingy one - like the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday? They won't be so lucky. 

They still had costly lapses in this one, but they scored so much early on that the lapses weren't consquential. Foligno was left wide-open at the net-front on his goal, which was a blown assignment by Erik Karlsson. They gave away the puck with frequency in the neutral zone. Kaiser's goal resulted from another misplay at the net-front by Karlsson. Bertuzzi didn't face much pushback at all on his goal in the waning seconds of the game, even if he got a lucky bounce off a broken stick. 

If the Penguins are going to get back on track, they have to reduce these errors. Better teams will make them pay, and better teams won't surrender seven goals to them.

- I'll be the first to tell you that I've been a bit hard on Rust this season. While I do think his defensive game is still a problem, it's hard to deny the remarkably consistent production. 

Rust now has 15 goals and 32 points in 35 games on the season, and he's well on his way to not only his seventh consecutive 20-goal season, but also his second consecutive 30-goal season. At the end of the day, production - and goal-scoring - is paramount, and Rust is getting the job done in that department. 

But it will definitely be something to keep an eye on if Rust continues to produce and if the Penguins continue their free fall. 

I still think it will take a lot for Kyle Dubas to pull the trigger on a deal involving Rust. But at the end of the day, a team will pay up for him, and he should be available for the right price if the Penguins fall out of playoff contention. 

So, in other words, the next month will probably be critical in terms of Rust's future as a Penguin. If they can start winning hockey games again, it will take a lot for him to go anywhere since he is a critical part of their offensive attack. If not, things should get a bit interesting.

5 Things The Penguins Should Ask For This Holiday SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins could use a boost right now - and there are some things that they should add to their holiday wishlist to help them get back in the thick of the playoff race

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The Detroit Red Wings rebounded in a major way from their 5-2 setback on Saturday evening against the Carolina Hurricanes, taking down the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 3-2 final score in overtime thanks to some heroics from defenseman Simon Edvinsson. 

HEY, HEY! #REDWINGS WIN!!! #LGRWpic.twitter.com/hA0bRc07ud

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025

Edvinsson intercepted a clearing attempt by Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby just inside the blue line, and proceeded to skate around Leafs forward Matias Maccelli before eventually dangling around a sprawled Hildeby and deposit a backhand shot into the open net for the winning tally. 

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! pic.twitter.com/Iu64tklF1I

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025

It was especially meaningful for Edvinsson, who was badly hobbled during the second period after blocking a shot from Maple Leafs team captain Auston Matthews and needed assistance getting off the ice. 

With the victory, the Red Wings improved their record to 23-14-3 and moved two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the division lead. 

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

It was the Maple Leafs who struck first in the second period following a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, as Matthew Knies beat goaltender Cam Talbot through the five hole. 

Moritz Seider knotted the score with just under a minute left in the period, as his shot from the point beat a screened Hildeby. 

The Maple Leafs restored the one-goal lead in the third period after Nic Robertson blasted a shot through Talbot, but their lead was short lived thanks to the first goal since Oct. 15 by Red Wings forward Mason Appleton. 

Appleton had tallied the game-winning goal against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Oct. 13, scoring with under a minute left in regulation to break a 2-2 tie. 

Talbot won his second consecutive start for the Red Wings, making 25 saves. Hildeby countered with 33 saves. 

The Red Wings will be off until New Year's Eve when they'll host the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks played through the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday night, as they hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center. 

After a big win on Saturday night over the Dallas Stars ended a six-game losing streak, the Blackhawks had to feel good about their chances to put forth a good effort against the Penguins. 

Before the game started, the Hawks announced that Nick Foligno would return from injury. To make room for him, Frank Nazar was put on injured reserve, retroactive to December 20th. Ilya Mikheyev remained out due to the birth of his child. 

Spencer Knight was given the nod after Arvid Soderblom's big win one night prior, but it didn't go well for him. He looked leaky from the start. After allowing four goals on seven shots to open the game, Jeff Blashill decided to pull him. Soderblom made his second appearance in as many nights. 

When down 4-0, Foligno scored his first of the season after missing all of that time with an injury. The good vibes created from that didn't last, however, as Justin Brazeau scored two goals in under a minute shortly after Foligno's marker. By the end of the second period, it was 7-2 Penguins. 

In the third period, Spencer Knight returned to the net for Chicago. After it failed to create a spark, there was no reason to continue letting Soderblom play for a second night in a row. Both goalies will be available in their next game, which is the best-case scenario after a weekend like this one. 

With less than one second remaining in the game, down 7-2, Tyler Bertuzzi shot one past Arturs Silovs before the buzzer. No matter what the score was, Bertuzzi was giving it his best effort until the very end. That kind of leadership and “never say die” attitude is just what this young group needs from their veterans right now. 

The score of 7-3 would be the final. This is the fourth back-to-back situation that the Hawks have had this season. They have lost by four or more goals in every one. It's an issue that the team is working to fix. 

Losses like this are going to happen for Chicago, especially with the injuries that they are dealing with. However, it is about the process of turning this franchise into a winner again. Moving on from this one quickly is incredibly important to bouncing back in their next match. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

welcome back, Captain‼️🫡 pic.twitter.com/Pf6XcmpIwa

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 29, 2025

we know #wkfc is going to love this👏 pic.twitter.com/OpcJzX3FMR

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 29, 2025

Tyler Bertuzzi scores with 0.7 seconds left in regulation for his 19th goal of the season, which ties Connor Bedard for the team lead. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/912I2tknbu

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 29, 2025

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are back in action on Tuesday night. They will remain in Chicago as they will host the New York Islanders at the United Center. This will be Chicago's first-ever look at the 2025 first-overall pick, Matthew Schaefer. 

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

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After getting back into the Stanley Cup playoff picture with their current eight-game win streak, the Buffalo Sabres still have to navigate their way through the rest of the season, and if you look ahead at the teams they’ll be facing in the next month or so, you’ll find that the Sabres’ entire year could come down to the way they play in a two-week schedule.

Here’s what we mean: the Sabres’ schedule includes three of its next four games coming against soft-touches in the St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks. But after that – from Jan. 8-through Jan. 19 – Buffalo is going to get serious tests against some of the best teams in the NHL. 

Starting on the 8th, the Sabres will take on, in order, the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes are all going to give Buffalo a run for their money. And unless the Sabres can keep their head above water, they’re going to see this solid stretch of games ostensibly wasted.

Now, winning eight games in a row is quite the feat. Eight games is 10 percent of the season. So to get the maximum 16 standings points is something Buffalo can take pride in. But the NHL game is a constant grind, and who knows – maybe the Sabres lose eight games in a row. And really, any considerable stretch of time where Buffalo is not making the most of their opportunities, is going to erase any gains they make prior to their losing skid.

Patience, Sabres Fans – World Junior Success Doesn't Guarantee Buffalo's Prospects A Successful NHL FutureThe Buffalo Sabres will have four players at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. But success at the World Junior tournament offers little guarantee prospects of NHL success. While World Junior glory would be great, the Sabres' youngsters need more time and patience to develop.

Certainly, the Sabres’ strong play has saved the job of coach Lindy Ruff – for now, at least. But by finding ways to eke out victories in games they would previously have found ways to eke out losses. Buffalo’s players are confident, and why wouldn’t they be – in their eight-game winning streak, the Sabres have beaten high-end teams including the Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers. And Buffalo has taken care of business in beating teams that aren’t so strong. 

Consequently, the Sabres are back in the thick of the playoff race. But think of how they had to beat the odds just to be on the fringe of the playoff picture. This is why Buffalo has to put its nose to the grindstone, and survive these upcoming games while keeping pace in the Atlantic Division.

For A Christmas Present, Sabres Fans Need This More Than Anything ElseFans of the Buffalo Sabres could use more than a few presents this holiday season. But there's one thing Sabres fans crave more than run-of-the-mill holiday cheer – they're seeking genuine hope.

If the opposite happens and the Sabres lose for most, if not all of their games, you can point to this stretch as the place where their season began to swirl down the drain.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets scored a pair of third-period goals in just over a minute and rallied to beat the New York Islanders 4-2 on Sunday for their second straight win.

Kirill Marchenko scored his second goal of the night with 3:19 left in the game, just over a minute after Ivan Provorov knotted the score at 2-2. Cole Sillinger added an empty-netter, and Denton Mateychuk and Sean Monahan both had two assists. Jet Greaves stopped 24 shots.

Max Shabanov and Bo Horvat scored for New York, and David Rittich made 31 saves for the Islanders, who seemed to have the win in hand but instead dropped the first game of their two-stop road trip to end 2025.

Marchenko buried a breakaway at 8:09 of the first period to open the scoring, and Shabanov pulled the Islanders even with 2:44 left in the period when a puck deflected off his knee and slid past Greaves.

The second period started in chaos when Mat Barzal reacted to a Mason Marchment tripping penalty by taking a two-handed chop to Marchment’s right foot, resulting in a major penalty and a game misconduct ejection. Columbus then failed to score on a 3-on-4 power play following Adam Pelech’s tripping penalty on Miles Wood.

Horvat gave New York the lead with 6:36 left in the second period on a wrist shot that marked his first goal since missing five games with a lower-body injury.

Columbus fought back to tie the score on Provorov’s goal with 4:33 left in the third period before Marchenko put the Blue Jackets ahead and Sillinger sealed the win.

Up next

Islanders visit Chicago on Tuesday.

Blue Jackets visit Ottawa on Monday.

The Athletic recently published an article that discussed one player that each NHL team should target after the holiday freeze. 

When it came to the Montreal Canadiens, Arpon Basu urged the Canadiens to target Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman. 

"The Canadiens nabbed No. 9 on the list when they acquired center Phillip Danault from the Kings one hour before the holiday trade freeze, but they still have trade capital and Coleman plays a hard game, kills penalties, can pitch in on the power play and has Stanley Cup pedigree. But the real beauty is he has one year left on his contract after this one, same as Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson," Basu wrote. 

With the Canadiens being a team on the rise, it is easy to understand why Basu views Coleman as a potential fit for the Original Six club. When looking at the Canadiens' current roster, Coleman could be an excellent fit in their middle six. This is especially so when noting that he can play multiple forward positions, which adds to his appeal. 

Coleman would also serve as a nice mentor for the Canadiens' younger players if acquired due to his high amount of experience. 

In 38 games so far this season with the Flames, Coleman has recorded 11 goals, seven assists, 18 points, 94 hits, and a plus-11 rating With numbers like these, the 34-year-old forward provides a bit of everything and would have the potential to be a strong pickup for a Canadiens club looking to continue to head in the right direction. 

Yet, with Coleman being signed until the end of next season and being exactly the kind of play contenders love to have, the Canadiens would likely need to give up a good amount to land him. 

A positive story surrounding the Vancouver Canucks his season has been the play of Max Sasson. After helping the Abbotsford Canucks capture a Calder Cup Championship last year, the 25-year-old has become a key member of Vancouver's lineup. With eight goals and 10 points in 34 games, Sasson continues to deliver in a bottom-six role. 

While Sasson played 29 games in the NHL last season, his game has taken a step forward in 2025-26. He has already set new career highs in goals and points, while his 10:56 of average ice time is 36 seconds more than in 2024-25. Sasson's strong play has already earned him an extension, as he signed a two-year contract worth $2 million in mid-December. 

"It means a ton, said Sasson. "It's a big vote of confidence and belief in what the organization see in me. I feel really excited about it, and really happy to be in Vancouver. It means the world to me to get another contract."

As mentioned, Sasson is already up to eight goals on the year. As of writing, that is tied for fifth on the current roster. When asked if he had a goal total in his mind before the season started, Sasson mentioned that playing the game the right way was more of a focus in the off-season. 

"I try not to think about that stuff. I always hear Nick Saban talking about process, and you have no clue what the results gonna be, but I feel like if you stick to the process long enough, good things will happen, and you got to continue to stick to the process."

One of the players Sasson is tied with in goals is Linus Karlsson. The two were key parts of Abbotsford's run in the playoffs last year and have developed a strong friendship. Sasson was asked about what he has seen from Karlsson this year and the goal-scoring ability both have shown in the NHL. 

"Hopefully we both have a bunch, and we keep trying to help the team win, no, but obviously it's fun seeing Linus having success. You know, one of my best friends over the last couple of years in the organization. So it's really fun playing with him and excited to see his success."

When it comes to Sasson, one of the most noticeable parts of his game is speed. According to NHL EDGE, he has hit a maximum speed of 23.15 MPH, which is the second-highest recorded speed on the team. When asked about developing that part of his game, Sasson mentioned that it has been something he has focused on in past off-seasons. 

"Honestly, when I got to pro, I kind of thought of the things I'm good at and I want to be elite at them. I don't think you can ever be fast enough. So, the last couple of summers, I've been working on that part of my game. I want to continue to get faster. I want to really be great at my strengths and obviously continue to work on my weaknesses. I think if I can be elite at a few things, it'll really help me."

Recently, Sasson also crossed a significant milestone in his career as he is no longer waiver eligible. This means that he would need to pass through waivers if Vancouver wanted to send him to the AHL. While this milestone may not seem significant, it is a sign that the Canucks have been happy with his play and see him as a consistent part of their lineup for the rest of the season. 

"I still always even have the mindset of every day in the NHL is a blessing. I'm never gonna take it for granted. But no doubt, when I was well aware of when I hit 60 games, I'm not gonna lie. I'm happy about it, but at the end of the day, it's day by day still, and I'm looking forward to the next game."

Sasson is the perfect example of hard work paying off. He went from signing as an undrafted free agent to becoming a key part of Vancouver's lineup. If Sasson can keep developing his game, he could be in store for a bigger role later this season. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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The Chicago Blackhawks currently have a 14-17-6 record and are at the bottom of the Central Division. They have also been struggling big time as of late, losing eight out of their last 10 games. 

If the Blackhawks do not turn things around quickly and are out of the playoff race near the 2026 NHL trade deadline, they will likely be sellers again. If the Blackhawks do decide to sell, pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) defenseman Matt Grzelcyk could be a popular target. 

Due to this, let's look at two teams that could target Grzelcyk if the Blackhawks make him available. 

Colorado Avalanche 

The Avalanche are simply fantastic this season, as evidenced by their 28-2-7 record. With this, they should be buyers this season, and one area they could look to improve is their blueline depth. If they acquired Grzelcyk, he would give them another option to consider for their bottom pairing. Grzelcyk has also been connected to the Avalanche in the past. 

Detroit Red Wings 

The Red Wings could very well look to add another experienced left-shot defenseman to their roster by the deadline, and Grzelcyk could make sense for them because of it. Grzelcyk would have the potential to provide the Red Wings' defensive group with a nice boost and could be a nice mentor for their younger players.

Missed opportunities cost Flyers in loss to Kraken out of the holiday break originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers didn’t have a good return from the holiday break as they fell to the Kraken, 4-1, Sunday night at Climate Pledge Arena.

They failed to take advantage of their chances and couldn’t capitalize on Seattle’s leaky penalty kill.

Carl Grundstrom scored the Flyers’ lone goal with 1:57 minutes left when the club was down 3-0 and had already given up one of two empty-netters.

The Flyers (19-11-7) lost in regulation for just the sixth time over their last 25 games (13-6-6).

Rick Tocchet’s club split its two-game regular-season series with the Kraken (16-14-6).

The Flyers haven’t won in Seattle since Dec. 29, 2021, when James van Riemsdyk had two goals, Ivan Provorov had one and Martin Jones was between the pipes. They’re 0-3-1 in their last four visits.

• Dan Vladar converted 16 saves on 18 shots.

The Kraken’s second goal came 5:49 minutes into the third period. Chandler Stephenson scored on the Flyers’ top line and defensive pair. Vladar initially had a chance to play the puck to a less dangerous area than behind the net, which is where Eeli Tolvanen won a battle with Travis Sanheim.

Just 3:48 minutes into the second period, the Flyers fell behind 1-0 for the 25th time this season. Jordan Eberle was left alone in the slot for the game-opening marker.

Seattle netminder Philipp Grubauer stopped 31 of the Flyers’ 32 shots.

The Flyers had some opportunities to strike early, but they went 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period. They finished 0 for 3 on the night against the Kraken’s league-worst penalty kill.

• A couple of health matters:

Sanheim played 19:25 minutes after missing the final 12 and a half minutes of the Flyers’ 3-1 win Tuesday night over the Blackhawks prior to the break.

Denver Barkey was also in the lineup after missing the third period of that victory. The 20-year-old rookie drew a penalty and was noticeable offensively.

• Trevor Zegras had his career-best point streak halted at nine games.

The 24-year-old trade acquisition was held scoreless for the first time since Dec. 7.

• The Flyers are back in action Tuesday when they visit the Canucks (10 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

It’ll be Tocchet’s return to Vancouver, where he spent parts of the previous three seasons as head coach.

The Los Angeles Kings have been linked to Calgary Flames defenseman and primary trade candidate Rasmus Andersson.

In an article by The Athletic, NHL insiders Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston played "NHL Trade Matchmaker" with multiple trade candidates. One of those was Andersson, and while LeBrun picked his destination to be Pacific Division opponents, the Vegas Golden Knights, Johnston's pick was the Kings.

Los Angeles explored the potential fit for Calgary's No. 1 D-man over the summer, according to Johnston. During that off-season, Andersson reportedly wasn't ready to sign an extension for the team looking to acquire him in a trade.

A large part of the happenings of this hypothetical trade is whether Andersson, who is a pending UFA, would sign an extension in a sign-and-trade. The Swede is in the final year of a six-year contract that sees him earn $4.55 million against the salary cap.

Nonetheless, with a reluctance over the off-season, Johnston believes that the "Kings remain a sensible destination with a blue line that could use a jolt."

This year, Andersson is on track to have one of the best seasons of his 10-year career. In 38 appearances, the 29-year-old has seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points. He's also averaging a career-high 24:10 of ice time per game, leading the team in that category.

With his production this season, he's on pace to beat his personal bests. In 2021-22, Andersson registered 46 assists and 50 points. In the following campaign, he put up 11 goals and matched that total last season.

The Flames blueliner is on track to finish the year with 15 goals and 54 points. That suggests he'll set new highs in goals and points, and will just be shy in the helpers department. However, all that can change as the midway point of the season approaches.

With Andersson having an exceptional season, it's not going to be a cheap cost for the Kings if they are interested in acquiring the Flames defenseman.

Report: Three Kings Scouts Take In Maple Leafs and Blackhawks, Looking For Scoring WingerThe Fourth Period has reported that the Los Angeles Kings had three scouts watching the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Who could the Kings be looking at in terms of a scoring winger?

Nonetheless, as Johnston wrote, Kings GM Ken Holland "has never shied away from taking a big swing during his Hall of Fame career."

Not long ago, he made a notable deal sending Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick. Maybe Holland has another move up his sleeve to help push Los Angeles to another level.

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DETROIT — William Nylander will miss his fifth game this season when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed that his star forward will not play, despite the player accompanying the club for the one-game trip to Detroit.

Nylander departed in the second period of the club’s 7-5 win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Although Berube didn’t specify the specifics of the lower-body injury, Nylander departed shortly after getting tangled with Senators defenseman Artem Zub.

Nylander scored the game-opening goal on the power play on Saturday. Easton Cowan, who has been a health scratch for the club’s last three games, will draw into his place.

The Leafs are 2-2-0 without Nylander in the lineup this season. He missed three games in late October due to a lower-body injury sustained at the hands of Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker on Oct. 24.

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Cowan has four goals and seven assists in 26 games this season. Berube insisted there was no message sending to the 20-year-old rookie.

“I've communicated with him very well,” Berube said. “A young guy like that you got to have real good communication and let him know what's going on and why and he's in a good spot."

Maple Leafs Await William Nylander's Status For Game Against Red Wings After Lower-Body InjuryWhile William Nylander’s inclusion on the trip to Detroit offers a glimmer of hope, his potential absence looms large for a Maple Leafs team facing the division-leading Red Wings without their star winger.

Cowan for Nylander will be the only change as far as skaters on the ice are considered. Dennis Hildeby is expected to get the start in goal after Joseph Woll started on Saturday. It’s typical for the team to split goaltending duties when playing games on consecutive nights.

The Leafs have won back-to-back games, but face quite a challenge against the Atlantic Division-leading Red Wings. Although satisfied with the club pulling out two points against Ottawa on Saturday, Berube wasn’t pleased with a mistake-filled third period that allowed Ottawa to pull within a goal after Toronto enjoyed a three-goal lead.

Waivers today:#LetsGoOilers Philp#LetsGoPens Heinen#LeafsForever Rifai#TusksUp Valimaki#Isles Bear

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“I think you look at the mistakes we made in the third period,  they're correctable,” Berube said. “It's things we did well throughout the game that we didn't do well in the third period. But at the same time, we show a lot of going over the good stuff and the puck play and the offensive things that we did well in the game. But you always have to make corrections.”

Earlier in the day, the Leafs sent Henry Thrun to the Marlies. Toronto was allowed to temporarily exceed the 23-player roster limit when they activated Chris Tanev from long-term injured reserve on Dec. 23. Now that the holiday freeze has lifted, the club sent Thrun down to get back to 23 players. The Leafs also placed defenseman Marshall Rifai on waivers. The step was necessary because Rifai sustained a wrist injury in training camp. Although he played in one game with the Marlies on a conditioning stint, waivers were required for him to be sent back down, provided none of the other 31 NHL clubs put in a claim.

D Henry Thrun has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

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Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Boris Katchouk is officially on the move.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have traded Katchouk to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Michael Milne. 

Katchouk signed a two-way contract with the Lightning this off-season, officially beginning his second tenure with the club. However, his second stint as a Bolt has now come to an early end, as he is heading to Minnesota with this minor trade. 

Katchouk played in three games this season with the Lightning before this trade, where he recorded zero points, two blocks, and five hits. He also recorded four goals, six assists, and 10 points in 21 games with the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. 

The Blackhawks acquired Katchouk during the 2021-22 season as a part of the trade that sent forward Brandon Hagel to the Lightning. From there, Katchouk appeared in 117 games with the Blackhawks from 2021-22 to 2023-24, where he posted 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points, and 176 hits. His time with the Blackhawks ended when he was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators on March 7, 2024. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have placed forward Danton Heinen on waivers.

Heinen being placed on waivers comes with forward Blake Lizotte being activated off of injured reserve. 

This is the second time that Heinen has been placed on waivers this season, as he also hit the wire in early October. Now, the 30-year-old winger is back on waivers again, and the rest of the NHL has the opportunity to claim him if they wish to. 

Heinen has played in 13 games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded one goal, one assist, and a plus-1 rating. This is after he had nine goals, 20 assists, and 29 points in 79 games split between the Vancouver Canucks and Penguins this past season.

If Heinen clears waivers, Pittsburgh will be able to assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Heinen has had plenty of success with the AHL club earlier this season, as he has recorded six goals and 17 points in 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2025-26.

In 579 career NHL games over 10 seasons, Heinen has posted 97 goals, 146 assists, and 243 points. 

The Montreal Canadiens currently have a 20-12-5 record and are third place in the Atlantic Division standings. Due to this, there is an expectation that they will continue to try to improve their roster after acquiring Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings. 

One of the Canadiens' needs right now is another impactful and skilled winger. Due to this, they are now being viewed as a potential fit for one of the NHL's best trade candidates. 

In The Athletic's latest NHL trade matchmaker column, insider Chris Johnston named the Canadiens as a potential trade fit for Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault. 

"This is a move that would certainly sit well with Marchessault, which is important given the fact he’s got that NMC in his contract. The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner would bring some experience to the NHL’s youngest roster and should be able to add offensive pop to the Habs’ top-six forward group," Johnston wrote. 

Johnston also mentioned that the Canadiens could move Patrik Laine, who has an $8.7 million cap hit, to the Predators in a hypothetical Marchessault deal to make things work out financially. 

It is worth noting that Marchessault is having a down season by his standards with the Predators, as he has recorded seven goals and 10 points in 28 games. Yet, when looking at his resume, there is a clear reason to believe that he should bounce back. Just last season with Nashville, he posted 21 goals and 56 points in 78 games. This was after he had 42 goals and 69 points in 82 games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24. 

Marchessault would be more than a rental for the Canadiens if acquired, too. This is because he has a $5.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season. Thus, he would have the potential to be a nice part of the Canadiens' forward group for multiple seasons if brought in.