The Buffalo Sabres will be a team to watch once the NHL's trade freeze ends. With the Sabres being right in the playoff race, there is an expectation that they will be looking to add to their roster. This is especially so when noting that the Sabres are aiming to avoid missing the playoffs for the 15th year in a row. 

In his latest 32 Thoughts column, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman wrote that he could see the Sabres acquiring a "beefier blueliner" ahead of the trade deadline. 

With the Sabres' defensive depth in need of a boost, it is understandable that Friedman sees the Sabres adding to their blueline. Bringing in a big, hard-nosed defenseman would certainly be beneficial for a Sabres club that is looking to take that next step and become a true playoff team. 

There are a good amount of defensemen with size who have been creating chatter as trade candidates, too. Among them are Logan Stanley (Winnipeg Jets), Connor Murphy (Chicago Blackhawks), Andrew Peeke (Boston Bruins), Braden Schneider (New York Rangers), Simon Benoit (Toronto Maple Leafs), and Zach Whitecloud (Calgary Flames).

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Sabres can land a big defenseman ahead of the deadline from here. 

Sticking with our informal theme today about surprises, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the biggest surprises in what has turned into a very surprising NHL season.

Olympic break is a good opportunity to check out where the standings projection race falls…

In case you haven't noticed, this season has been pretty unpredictable. The market O/U and fan survey avg (in other words, the "expected" outcomes) have been among the worst performers. pic.twitter.com/OfzZWwPx5S

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 6, 2026

The average margin of error for seven of the leading internet advanced stat models, plus betting over/unders and a large fan poll has added up to being off by 23 points for the Penguins. The only team that preseason prognosticators were more wrong about was Vancouver with a 31 point error — and in that case it was an over-statement where Vancouver was predicted to be a decent team with a 91-point total and instead has slumped away for the 60 point pace that they’re on for a path towards last place.

A lot of that shows just how quality the Penguins have been this season. They already have 70 points in the standings after 56 games — just 10 points fewer than 2024-25’s full season total of 80 (34-36-12 record). No one could have realistically expected a turnaround so dramatic and complete like that. There has always been the rote comments from inside the room about believing they could have a good season, though those comments were not much different from what had become a stubbornly proud team saying many of the same things in 2023 and 2024.

The reasons touched on in the earlier article are clear improvements across the board, in ways expected and those that have worked out to best case scenarios. The coaching inputs under Dan Muse has freed up the team. Management has added players like Egor Chinakhov, Brett Kulak and Stuart Skinner to help (and also didn’t make widescale subtractions of players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell in the offseason). The players have come through too, whether it’s been franchise staples like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin doing what they’ve done for the last 20 years or fresh-faced rookies like Ben Kindel and the technically-a-rookie Arturs Silovs coming in and adding where they could or under-the-radar free agents making the most of changes of scenery like Parker Wotherspoon, Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. The list of “what could have gone right” for the Penguins so far is virtually limitless compared to the list of previous seasons for “what went wrong” (goaltending, powerplay, depth support, coaching/management inputs) going quiet.

Add it all up and the results can be seen in the chart above to make the Penguins the biggest positive surprise of the NHL season so far. That’s been a frequent occurrence with other teams joining them in Minnesota, Boston, Detroit, Montreal, NY Islanders, Seattle and Anaheim taking big steps forward. Others like Buffalo and Columbus are working on it too. Some of those teams might not be primed to finish the story this year (cast a suspicious eye over to NYI, Seattle and Anaheim, in particular as potentially unsustainable Cinderella stories at risk of running out of gas before the finish line) but the theme of the season has been one of a wild variety or rises and falls that weren’t to be expected as recently as four or five months ago.

The NHL hasn’t always been the most unpredictable of sports within the regular season, though this year has seen enough conditions emerge to change that. Almost every franchise, even builders and recent uncompetitive teams, have clearly stated their intentions to improve and progress. There aren’t many patient teams in the stages of actively tearing down their clubs, though teams like Vancouver and the NY Rangers face uncomfortable and unwanted results forcing them to switch strategies, which has led to one of the more unpredictable and exciting seasons so far. That spirit has been on display in Pittsburgh just as much as anywhere, where for the first time in a while the Penguins are providing some excitement and positive surprises compared to the last few years mired in slumps and disappointments.

The New York Islanders and the rest of the NHL are on hiatus for the 2026 Olympic Break.

However, their AHL affiliate, Bridgeport Islanders are still in action, playing nine games before the Islanders resume their season against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 26.

During the Olympic break, there's a roster freeze, which means that players can't be traded. However, select waiver-exempt players are eligible to be loaned back to their AHL affiliate during this time. 

Things To Know About The NHL's Olympic Roster Freeze; How It Affects IslandersIslanders face roster restrictions during the Olympic freeze. Key players stay put, impacting playoff push and trade deadline strategy.

Many teams will return prospects so they can continue working on their game and keep playing during the break.

While the Islanders have two players -- Maxim Shabanov and Calum Ritchie -- who are waiver-exempt, they cannot be sent to Bridgeport. 

Although neither has played in 16 of the Islanders' final 20 games before the roster freeze, which was on Wednesday at 3 PM ET, both have been on an NHL roster for 80 league days, making them ineligible to head down. 

That's not a problem for the Islanders. Shabanov, who is taking part in his first NHL season after coming over from the KHL, could use a breather from the rigorous NHL game and schedule, which is vastly different from that of his former league. 

Ritchie just returned from a lower-body injury that kept him out for five games and will use this break to rest up, as he'll be relied upon heavily once the schedule resumes. 

A pause in the middle of the season is a great time to reflect on the latest news and happenings for the Colorado Avalanche but to also look ahead at the near future including the 2026 Winter Olympics, trade deadline and beyond.

What are your thoughts on the Winter Classic announcement and outdoor game in 2027 against the Utah Mammoth?

Jackie: I’m so glad the NHL listened to my suggestion! It’s been long overdue for the NHL to showcase the Avalanche in its marquee event plus the location and opponent in Utah are a great choice. It’s might even breathe new life into the event from an outsider’s perspective.

Jess: I’m so incredibly excited, my family and I are already talking about possibly making the trip out to Utah next year to watch the game in person, and I’m interested to see what each team comes up with for their jerseys for the game as well. I’m a sucker for a good outdoor hockey game, and I love the venue they picked in the University of Utah football stadium. I think it’s going to be super cool, and I’m really looking forward to it!

Adrian: It’s a great announcement and a great foe when you consider the possibility of the Utah Mammoth being a real rival to the Avalanche one day. The geographical proximity and seeds of a former flame in Avs vs. Coyotes have seemingly jump-started the tension. Add to that the setting of an outdoor game at a college football stadium that should actually be able to accommodate the guests, and you have a recipe for another classic outdoor game.

Matthew: As an Avalanche fan, I’m glad that they’re finally getting their chance to participate in the Winter Classic. For too long, we’ve had to sit on the sidelines waiting for our first chance to be in the premier outdoor game on the NHL schedule while other franchises which shall remain nameless—coughcoughChicagoDetroitPittsburghChicagoBoston—have been in multiple Winter Classic events. This will mark the fourth outdoor event for the Avs, but first appearance in the Winter Classic, which is long overdue. Stadium Series games are nice, don’t get me wrong, but they’ve always played the bridesmaid to the Winter Classic’s perennial bride in terms of prominence. Even though they’re going to be the visiting team in their first trip to the Winter Classic, it’ll definitely be a memorable experience for the players and for the fans, who will be hoping to witness their first victory in an outdoor setting (yes, they won the Lake Tahoe game against Vegas, but sadly, no fans were able to savor the moment in person). All of that said, as someone who was a fan of the Arizona Coyotes until the very end, this is a bittersweet feeling for that side of my fandom watching Utah get the spoils that Arizona was denied for their entire existence in the desert. An Avalanche/Coyotes Winter Classic would have been an absolute dream of mine, and that side of me that pines over the loss of the Coyotes can’t help but feel dejected.

Who are you rooting for in the men’s Olympic hockey tournament?

Jackie: It’s always exciting rooting for the Americans to add to their medal count during the Olympics but for all hockey tournaments it’s easy for me to pull for the underdogs. With so many Avalanche players on different teams this Olympics there’s no obvious choice of interest so I’m putting my support behind Finland and Czechia. Hopefully Joel Kiviranta, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Nečas find a lot of success.

Jess: I don’t know that I’m rooting for one specific men’s hockey team in the Olympics; it’s been over a decade since NHL players were last at the Olympics in the 2014 Sochi games, and I’m really looking forward to watching everyone play in the games again. That being said, similarly to Jackie, I think it would be incredibly fun for Czechia to find some major success and earn a medal.

Matthew: I would love to see Team USA finally snap its gold medal drought. While the Miracle on Ice certainly is the stuff of legend, adding a fresh, new chapter to Team USA’s Olympic portfolio would do more to help grow the sport stateside and also add a new layer of intrigue to the ongoing rivalry with our Canadian neighbors. The Four Nations tournament provided a nice spark to that rivalry; a gold medal would just add even more fuel to the fire. Locally, having a third generation Olympian in Brock Nelson is something that may not be getting the credit that it deserves. Not many people make it to a single Olympics, and for Nelson, being able to carry on what’s now a family legacy is a huge honor, no matter what awaits Team USA in Italy. That said, a gold medal would certainly silence Brock Nelson’s detractors, who can then find new things to “cough and wheeze” over.

How should the Avalanche approach the upcoming March 6th trade deadline?

Jackie: I really think every team should both buy and sell; everyone should be looking for an opportunity to improve and also rid themselves of underperforming contracts. Obviously, Colorado wants to fortify for a long Stanley Cup run, so they are going to add veteran depth, which shouldn’t break the bank. They already have such a strong team that minimal changes are needed, thankfully. I’d prefer to see the addition of some younger players with term, perhaps get back into the RFA game, and avoid pointless rentals.

Jess: I absolutely think they should buy, but also be reasonable. To Jackie’s point, there are such minimal changes needed because of how good your team is already, so you don’t have to swing big and break the bank in doing so. I can understand why a big name might be really interesting and why you’d at least check in on one of those players that have been made available, but they don’t really solve anything you need them to. Really, as it stands right now, I think you just need a 3C and a depth defenseman.

Adrian: I am conflicted. On the one hand, it feels like a bottom-of-the-league power play won’t cut it in the postseason, but on the other hand, shouldn’t a PP unit with the likes of Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon on it succeed as is? Acquiring a forward to stimulate the man advantage would require a significant ask, likely a commitment that could make the Makar contract a little more complicated, and how do we even know that talent is the issue?

Sure, it seems clear that a left-shot forward on the endboards would potentially make this power play approach click, but you traded Mikko Rantanen, and someone with elite-level finishing from that spot isn’t just a readily available commodity.

Get you a true 3C and a left shot stay at home defender, and pray the power play comes to life at the perfect time, I guess?

Matthew: The sensible approach would be to follow a blueprint similar to the 2022 deadline: identify areas where there may be some deficiencies and upgrade if possible, and secure some depth additions that may help out in key situations. The Avs were able to convert prospects and picks to make those additions, but the prospect pool and draft stock has rapidly diminished since then. Frankly, the return of Gabe Landeskog and—fingers crossed—Logan O’Connor may blunt the need to make changes to the forward lines*. Adding another defenseman that can deploy the breakout pass similar to that of Sam Girard and play steady minutes to help spell some relief for both Cale Makar and Devon Toews would be ideal.

*(Having said this, there is one trade I want the Avs to make, simply to keep him away from Dallas and Minnesota, and because it would be a hero’s welcome to rival Landeskog’s return from injury last spring: get Nazem Kadri back from Calgary. Think about it: Artemi Panarin just went to Los Angeles for peanuts—and that includes the upcoming two year extension he signed—it certainly is possible that Calgary might(?) do the same to send Kadri back to Colorado. Wishful thinking? Maybe. We’ll see, just as long as he doesn’t land somewhere else in division.)

Which Avs goaltender would you start if the playoffs began tomorrow?

Jess: Unless something drastically changes, it’s Blackwood for me. He played really well last year and showed he could compete at that level of playoff hockey. I absolutely can understand the argument for Scott Wedgewood, and there’s a really solid case to start him instead because of how stellar his play has been this year, but I’d still start Blackwood. I don’t think I would split the time personally and play them both, unless there’s an extenuating circumstance that requires you to do so, solely based on the fact that we saw the record-setting Boston Bruins team try that with their goalies in the 2022-2023 season, and we all know how that went.

Jackie: I’ve been team Wedgewood so he’s the one I’d start if the Stanley Cup finals began tomorrow. He had the better statistics up until the last week when Blackwood earned the Detroit shutout and has 20 wins. But splitting time is got them to the position they are in so I don’t think it’s smart to change that, therefore I’d like to see both goaltenders in net in the playoffs. Wedgewood for me earned a greater trust level as he has played more and been more consistent of the two.

Adrian: It would be MacKenzie Blackwood for me. Scott Wedgewood did some legendary work early in the season while Blackwood was on the mend. Since then howerver, Scott has sustained a few injuries of his own and struggled to match his early-season consistency. Add to that Blackwood having the exact opposite road to right now. He has slowly worked out the kinks and appears to be all that the Avalanche hoped he’d be.

Matthew: The answer to this question depends largely on who the Avalanche draw in the first round. If the Avalanche wrap up the Central and are guaranteed one of the wild card draws of Utah, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Nashville, or San Jose, my preference would be to start Mackenzie Blackwood against whoever earns the wild card. Given how the Avs bowed out in the postseason last year, giving Blackwood an extra round of games and putting him in a position to secure his first playoff series win would be a huge confidence boost for him and the team as a whole. It’s one thing to make the postseason, but gaining confidence in winning in the postseason means everything, especially for a goaltender. Scott Wedgewood can—and has—stepped up admirably throughout the season, but when it comes to the postseason, it’s Blackwood’s net to lose.

Some interesting new details have emerged regarding a past Florida Panthers trade.

This newly revealed development puts an interesting spin on the injury-filled season the Panthers have been attempting to battle through.

According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, the 2026 first-round pick that Florida sent to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of the trade for defenseman Seth Jones is actually top-10 protected.

What that means is that if the first-round pick that would belong to the Panthers in the upcoming draft ends up being in the top 10, they would keep the pick, and instead, their 2027 first-round selection would go to Chicago.

That would also mean that Florida’s 2028 first-round pick, which they actually still own at current time, would then go to the Boston Bruins, because Boston would be losing out on the 2027 first-round pick that they acquired from the Panthers in the Brad Marchand deal.

Of course, that domino effect could topple to 2029 if Florida GM Bill Zito makes a move at this year’s Trade Deadline that includes the Panthers’ 2028 top pick, but such a move could also potentially impact Florida finishing in the bottom nine of the league as it would likely include a dynamic player, bolstering an increasingly formidable lineup.

That’s one way to guarantee a top-10 pick before the lottery: finish among the worst nine teams in the league, since a team outside the top 10 winning the lottery would bump the teams behind it back a spot. 

All 16 teams that fail to make the playoffs qualify for the NHL Draft Lottery, with the worst team having the best statistical chance of winning the lottery, the second-worst team having the second-best chance, and so on.

Currently, the Panthers hold the tenth-worst record, or the tenth-best chance of winning the lottery.

#NHLDraft Lottery odds, at the Olympic break:

1. #Canucks - 25.1% at No. 1 overall
2. #stlblues - 13.6%
3. #NYR - 11.6%
4. #Flames - 9.5%
5. #GoJetsGo - 8.5%
6. #Blackhawks - 7.5%
7. #njdevils - 6.5%
8. #Smashville - 6.0%
9. #TheFutureIsTeal - 5%
10. #TimeToHunt (T10 protected)…

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 6, 2026

Obviously there is a lot that can and possibly will change between now and the end of the regular season.

On one hand, Florida is standing at the foot of a steep mountain to climb.

They currently sit eight points behind the Boston Bruins, who hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, with five teams in-between them to also leapfrog and only 25 games to do so.

On the other hand, barring any setbacks in Italy, the Panthers are expected to come out of the NHL’s Olympic break with as deep of a roster as they’ve had all season.

If ever there was a team that could make that kind of run, it’s a healthy Panthers squad.

But…at least now we know that if the Cats can’t pull it off, there’s a potential silver lining.

Unless of course they pull a Miami Dolphins and finish outside of the playoffs AND the top ten draft order.

Fingers crossed Zito and Co. find a way to avoid that scenario.

We shall see.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Elbowgate: Charlie McAvoy Posts Photo Of Swollen Face Next To Video Of Hit By Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis

The Hockey Show: Panarin Wanted Florida, Stadium Series Fun, Latest Panthers-Bolts Brawl, Greg Wyshynski

Panthers' Daniil Tarasov Exits Early With An Injury; No Status Update Provided

Panthers Come Up Empty In Tampa, Lose 6-1 In Final Game Before Olympic Break

Panthers Recall Mikulas Hovorka; Place Tobias Bjornfot On The Injured Reserve

Photo caption: Dec 20, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) moves the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Team Slovakia won bronze at the 2022 Olympics when NHL players didn’t take part, and they’ll be looking to build on that strong showing in Milano. While competition will be better this time around, so will the Slovak roster, which will include seven NHL players: St. Louis Blues’ Dalibor Dvorsky, Calgary Flames' Martin Pospisil, San Jose Sharks’ Pavol Regenda, Tampa Bay Lightning’s Erik Cernak, Washington Capitals' Martin Fehervary, New Jersey Devils’ Simon Nemec, and Montreal Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovsky.

However, at the opening ceremony, it wasn’t one of those NHL players who acted as flag bearer for the country, but another hockey player, one who played 14 NHL seasons, including three with the Canadiens: Tomas Tatar.

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?

Drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft by the Detroit Red Wings, Tatar played for parts of seven seasons in Michigan before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the trade deadline in 2017-18. Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t develop any chemistry with his new teammates. By the time the Nevada side reached the Stanley Cup Final, he had played only eight postseason games and was a healthy scratch by the Conference Final.

With three years left on his contract, he had already overstayed his welcome in Vegas. When the team set its sights on Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty, Tatar was part of the offer made to the Habs alongside Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second-round pick. While Tatar was seen as a throw-in in the trade, he would turn out to be an excellent acquisition for the Canadiens. He would eventually become a first-line player for Montreal, skating with Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher.

In a game against his former team in November 2018, Tatar scored the game-winning goal for the Habs and became a popular meme amongst Habs fans when an overenthusiastic fan screamed his name on camera.

He recorded 58, 61, and 30 points (in 50 games in a shortened season) with the Canadiens, but fizzled out in the Canadiens Cup final run, only skating in five postseason games. With his contract expiring at the end of that season, he was allowed to walk as an unrestricted free agent. He went on to play for the New Jersey Devils (twice), the Colorado Avalanche, and the Seattle Kraken before calling time on his NHL career at the end of the 2024-25 season.

This year, he has been plying his trade in the Swiss A league and has put up 30 points in 36 games with Zug EV. At 35, these are his second Olympics and, more than likely, his last, and with the career he had in the NHL (496 points in 927 games), it’s not surprising that Slovakia chose to honour him by making him the flag bearer.

---

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 Penguins find themselves holding a playoff position at the Olympic break almost entirely because of a series of surprise contributions. They’re exceeding any and all realistic preseason expectations as a result. This break gives a good chance to circle back at the preseason to re-emphasize just how incredible many things have worked out on an individual level.

The reasons are as long as you care to keep looking.

• Parker Wotherspoon (at $1.0 million this season and next) has to be the best value signing free agent in the NHL. Perhaps in quite some time. Wotherspoon has been a legitimate first-pair defender, is solid physically, can move the puck, skates well. Does everything right. What a revelation he’s been.
• Ben Kindel’s stats are somewhat modest though still impressive with 27 points to rank seventh among rookies this season. His impact on the team and in the games sure isn’t. Despite his age and not even being a top-10 pick, Kindel has gone to almost unprecedented territory as a ready-made NHL player at age-18 and is quality enough to perform well as one of the more shocking developments that remains unimaginable.
• Anthony Mantha, fresh off an ACL surgery, is setting up for a career-year at age 31 (25 goals and 48 points back in 2018-19), having already produced 20 goals and 42 points in 56 games with the Pens.
• Evgeni Malkin is an all-time legend, so it’s odd to list him as a surprise but not many thought he would be 43 points in 44 games type of good at age-39 coming off his worst season in 2024-25 (50 points in 68 games).
• Justin Brazeau has 15 goals and 27 points in 42 games this season. He only had 16 goals and 29 points in 94 career games prior to joining the Penguins.
• Connor Dewar has 13 goals and 24 points, both career-highs and coming almost entirely from a low-minute, defensive-oriented fourth line role that makes his impact even greater than the impressive stat line.
• Brett Kulak has steadied the defense and helped to unlock Kris Letang’s game in major ways.
• Tommy Novak has proved he can perform without being in a sheltered role and keep his production going.
• Egor Chinakhov has exploded into a modern day Alex Kovalev or James Neal, harnessing his shooting ability in a spot where he can succeed filling the net.
• Ryan Shea is closing in on 20 assists and has been a viable player up and down, left and right within the lineup as needed.
• Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner have had their ups and downs but the goaltending has improved from a bottom-five NHL unit last season to more than respectable this season.

Add it all up and the results are astounding, even before getting to the least surprising element of all that 38-year old Sidney Crosby remains one of the league’s top players and keeps leading the way.

Ironically enough, most of the players we tabbed in preseason (Hallander, Brunicke, Alexeyev, Silovs) have had no to minimal impact, except for Silovs who is on track to lead the team in games played by a goalie this year. Which goes to show how remarkable it’s been, it’s one thing if a player or two hits a best case scenario, it’s another when across the board everyone is playing to a high level.

When that’s the case, coaching and management impacts have to be considered as well. Dan Muse has done a great job in his first season as an NHL head coach, his whole staff including assistants Todd Nelson and Mike Strothers deserve a lot of praise and recognition as well. Kyle Dubas gets a lot of the spotlight pp a level from there, his staff with Jason Spezza, Wes Clark and Vukie Mpofu have pressed a whole lot of the right buttons to add no shortage of incoming talent large (Chinakhov, Skinner, Kulak) and even small (Solovyov) while the season has been ongoing.

Success has many fathers, as the old saying goes, and that certainly applies on the individual level when it comes to the impressive team results that the Penguins have received so far this season.

Over the past several years, there has never seemed to be a shortage of fireworks when the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins get together.

Between multiple playoff series’, big hits, fines, suspensions and Brad Marchand switching sides, there has been plenty to fuel the fire between these two divisional rivals.

In that regard, the latest meeting between the Cats and Bruins did not disappoint.

During the first period of Florida’s 5-4 shootout win over Boston on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Panthers rookie Sandis Vilmanis caught Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy with what appeared to be a straight elbow to the head.

As McAvoy was carrying the puck out of Boston’s zone, Vilmanis came across the ice and then slowed down just before making contact. He then turned and braced his body, raising himself up and catching McAvoy in the side of his face with force.

Charlie McAvoy goes down the tunnel after a high & late hit from Sandis Vilmanis

(📹 @NHL_On_TNT) pic.twitter.com/PZXjVEFJdU

— NESN (@NESN) February 5, 2026

Vilmanis was issued a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head while McAvoy was helped off the ice, though fortunately he was able to return to the game.

McAvoy will also represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics this month.

On Friday night, McAvoy decided to take to social media and make a little statement about the hit.

In a post on X, McAvoy sent out the video of the hit side-by-side with a photo of the swollen face he’s been left with as a result of said hit.

pic.twitter.com/e4WUZ18YnE

— Charlie McAvoy (@CMcAvoy44) February 7, 2026

There was no comment to go along with the video and photo.

The perception is that McAvoy isn’t happy that the NHL Department of Player Safety did not decide to issue any supplemental discipline to Vilmanis for the hit.

No fine. No suspension. Just the initial two-minute minor, which actually didn’t even help the Bruins, as Boston was called for a pair of minors on the same play, one for roughing up Vilmanis and one bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.

While many fans are quick to take McAvoy’s side, others are calling out a player who has also handed out his share of controversial hits.

That includes several against the Panthers, like these two that occurred in the same game.

Charlie McAvoy is given a match penalty for this hit on Oliver Ekman-Larsson. pic.twitter.com/pZx16EXupZ

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 31, 2023

When asked about the hit by Charlie McAvoy on Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Paul Maurice said, "I thought it was exactly like the hit on Verhaeghe in the first."

Here's that hit. McAvoy had himself some night. pic.twitter.com/HhTKP7TAXk

— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) October 31, 2023

Look, this is hockey.

These things, for better or worse, are part of the game.

Thankfully, McAvoy did not suffer anything major or long-term, and he will be able to live out a childhood dream and put on a United States jersey at an Olympic Games.

Sure, he might have to wear a fishbowl for part of it, but that’s hockey too.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

The Hockey Show: Panarin Wanted Florida, Stadium Series Fun, Latest Panthers-Bolts Brawl, Greg Wyshynski

Panthers' Daniil Tarasov Exits Early With An Injury; No Status Update Provided

Panthers Come Up Empty In Tampa, Lose 6-1 In Final Game Before Olympic Break

Panthers Recall Mikulas Hovorka; Place Tobias Bjornfot On The Injured Reserve

Panthers Place Josh Davies On Waivers For Purpose Of Contract Termination

Photo caption: Feb 4, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) is helped off the ice by right wing David Pastrnak (88) after an apparent injury against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

DENVER — As criticism swirled around Sam Girard for his recent mistakes, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar stepped up Wednesday night to defend his defenseman.

Girard faced intense backlash on social media after an offensive blueline turnover led to a breakaway goal for San Jose Sharks forward Phillip Kurashev, who buried a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood. The Avalanche, however, managed to overcome the error to win 4-2 at Ball Arena.

Not only did Bednar draw a clear line, but he also pushed back on the narrative that Girard hasn’t been performing well, insisting that his play has actually been improving in recent games.

"I actually think his game has been turning around recently," the coach stated regarding his puck-moving defenseman. "He's been playing pretty good. That (play with Kurashev) was just a bad decision.

"There's no way you're going to get back on that. The puck comes, it's sort of a broken play, it's trickling out to the point, the pressure's coming. A good decision would have been just punch it back down behind the net. You don't have to try to make something out of nothing, especially at the time and what just happened."

Colorado outshot San Jose 31-13 through the first two periods and entered the third with a 2-0 lead, but that advantage evaporated early in the final frame. Timothy Liljegren scored 43 seconds into the third period, ripping a slap shot from the point that Blackwood misjudged to make it a one-goal game. Less than three minutes later, Girard made the turnover that allowed San Jose to tie the game.

"They just got a quick one; they're starting to want to pour it on, and then we make that mistake and next thing you know the game's tied," Bednar said as he continued to analyze Girard's play. "I don't know if Cale (Makar) would have gotten back on that one.

"Once you turn it over and the guy's got a step on ya for the length of the ice, he's going to get a scoring chance. That's more decision than not being able to catch the guy."

Avalanche Attempts to Replace Girard Have Fallen Short

Acquired from the New York Rangers last season prior to the trade deadline, Ryan Lindgren was intended to serve as Girard’s replacement—a defense-first option who might sacrifice some offensive output in exchange for reliability on the back end, and at a more cost-effective contract. In the days leading up to July 1, the start of free agency, the Avalanche attempted to re-sign Lindgren before he became an unrestricted free agent, but Lindgren ultimately signed with the Seattle Kraken on a four-year, $18 million deal.

In the 18 games Lindgren appeared in for Colorado, he became the team's second-most-utilized left-shot defenseman behind Devon Toews. After Lindgren’s departure, the Avalanche added Brent Burns on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, Sam Malinski received a contract extension, and Girard has seen less ice time this season than at any point in his nine years with the team.

Girard, viewed as the centerpiece of the Matt Duchene trade, was acquired from the Nashville Predators in November 2017, with Duchene moving to the Ottawa Senators as part of the three-team deal.

The 27-year-old, who hails from Roberval, Quebec, has 37 career goals and 198 assists for 235 points in 588 NHL games. He is signed with Colorado through the 2026-27 season, but it will be interesting to see if the Avalanche commit through the end of the contract despite Bednar's recent comments about his improving game.

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

Winnipeg Jets Valuation - Jan. 2 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 6 - Jared Clinton

NHL VALUATIONS

$1.35B FORBES

$1.33B SPORTICO

$1.5B ROUSTAN

OWNERSHIP - MARK CHIPMAN

IT’S HARD TO believe it has already been 15 years since the Jets returned to Winnipeg. And as time passes, it’s equally hard to believe that Mark Chipman was able to make his dream – and the dream of many of his fellow Winnipeggers – a reality.

Consider that when the original Jets franchise left Winnipeg in 1996, it came at a time when relocations were coming in fairly quick succession. The Minnesota North Stars, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers had, in the several years prior, moved to Dallas, Colorado and North Carolina. Look back a couple of decades further, too, and the NHL had moved on from Atlanta, Kansas City and Cleveland. And more often than not, it’s been the case that the league has not returned to the markets from which it has departed. For a time, Minnesota and Atlanta were the lone exceptions.

But while other former NHL cities bided their time waiting for the big league’s return, Chipman’s gambit was a clever one. In the wake of the Jets flying south to Arizona, he snapped up the then-IHL’s Minnesota Moose, moved the club to the old Winnipeg Arena and, over the next decade-plus, offered what those in the C-suite refer to as proof of concept: Chipman’s True North Sports & Entertainment showed – through fan support and building a new downtown arena, among other things – that Winnipeg was ready for the NHL’s return.

At no point since the Jets’ return has True North rested on its laurels, however. On ice, the ownership group has backed the product financially, including ponying up big money in recent contracts for stars Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor. This, too, comes after the team captured the Presidents’ Trophy. Meanwhile, away from the rink, True North has put shovels in the ground and reshaped much of Winnipeg’s downtown core.

With the arena as the centerpiece, the real-estate arm of the business set to work creating True North Square. The four-tower site offers residential, office and retail spaces, with room set aside for an incoming hotel property. Last December, True North expanded its reach and influence in downtown with the acquisition of the former Portage Place mall. Plans are in place to develop the space – a sprawling 1.2 million square feet – with parks, retail and community spaces. The anchor tenant will be a 265,000-square-foot healthcare facility, while a partnership with Southern Chiefs’ Organization will also see True North develop a 15-storey residential tower, which will designate as many as 40 percent of its units as affordable housing.

FEATURED BUSINESS EXECUTIVE - JOHN OLFERT

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

IT WAS ONLY A decade into his professional life, 10 years after his graduation from the University of Winnipeg in 1991, that John Olfert began his tenure with True North. In his earliest days with the company, he served in various roles, eventually rising to chief financial officer in 2002, in the midst of True North working toward the construction and eventual opening of the now-Canada Life Centre in 2004.

In the 20-plus years since, Olfert has been integral to the business operations and expansion of True North Sports & Entertainment’s on- and off-ice ventures. To wit, he helped execute the purchase of the Jets, brought the AHL’s Manitoba Moose back to Winnipeg and was at the center of True North’s acquisition of the iconic Burton Cummings Theatre.

GOVERNOR & ALTERNATE GOVERNORS - MARK CHIPMAN

ALTERNATE GOVERNORS: Kevin Cheveldayoff, John Olfert, Patrick Phillips

FEATURED HOCKEY EXECUTIVE

KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF - GENERAL MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF DOESN’T ALWAYS get the credit he deserves. Whether it’s player polls or comments from the athletes themselves, Winnipeg tends to top the list of least-desirable destinations. That puts Cheveldayoff at a disadvantage in free agency and has played a part in key contributors asking out. Yet, in almost every instance, Cheveldayoff and the Jets have come out on the winning side of those deals, whether it was the Jacob Trouba swap, the Patrik Laine deal or even the subsequent Pierre-Luc Dubois trade.

Perhaps the ace up Cheveldayoff’s sleeve, though, is that Winnipeg has proven to have something of a Hotel California-esque trait of late: once talent checks in, they don’t want to leave. Scheifele, Hellebuyck and Connor are examples, but the Jets have also had little trouble negotiating long-term extensions for Gabe Vilardi, Neal Pionk and Adam Lowry. In no small part, that comes down to culture on and off the ice – and Cheveldayoff is key in the development of that culture.

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY

THE JETS, DON’T view social media as a necessity but an opportunity – a chance to communicate with the community, engage with fans and take viewers, in the arena or at home, into the game in new ways. And that approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. At the NHL’s club business meetings last July, the Jets were presented with the Stanley Award as social media club of the year.

What has helped set the Jets’ social offerings apart is their dedication to creating social-first content. The strategy has been led, in part, by Adam Krueger, who joined True North in 2022 after several years with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. He leads the Jets’ social team as director of social and content. Meanwhile, Tyler Esquivel is one of the familiar faces to fans. As the Jets’ content manager, Esquivel often appears on camera interviewing fans and players alike.

One area of particular success for the Jets has been YouTube, where the team has grown its channel and found new ways to take fans behind the scenes. Among the offerings is a live pre-game show, hosted by former national broadcasters Sara Orlesky and Jamie Thomas, and live post-game interview footage that provides instant access to thoughts from players and the coaching staff. The game-day coverage is in addition to off-ice video content, including personality pieces such as Home Ice and the Ground Control podcast.

Perhaps the most significant piece of the Jets’ YouTube puzzle, though, is Runway, a behind-the-scenes documentary series that follows the team throughout the season. Following in the footsteps of several other clubs, such as the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, the series launched in 2022-23 and has gained increased traction not only online but through its use as intermission content during TSN broadcasts.

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.

As the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic break begins, the San Jose Sharks are enjoying a season that even their most optimistic fans might not have anticipated. Sitting just five points outside the Western Conference Wild Card playoff spots after 55 games, the Sharks are quietly positioning themselves for a potential return to the Stanley Cup postseason.

While the front office will turn its attention to cheering on Macklin Celebrini and the other Sharks representing their countries, the looming NHL Trade Deadline is also on the horizon. The question now is how GM Mike Grier will navigate it. Will he lean toward adding veteran depth to give the team a playoff boost, or will he hold back, conserving assets for the future?

Just an amazing display of sportsmanship by Macklin Celebrini! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6Oiw8TqU5b

— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2026

Sharks Will Buy at the Deadline, But...

This season has already been a massive success for the Sharks. Now that's not to say that they can't improve any further before the playoffs begin, but when you think back to the last handful of seasons and how the Sharks were literally in last place in just about all of those years, to come back this year and be considered a fringe playoff contender is a huge improvement.

The Sharks of today remind me a bit of the Colorado Avalanche in the early 2010s. That Avalanche team built its core through the draft, selecting players like Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and others. But beyond their young stars, they also focused on strengthening their defensive corps, acquiring Erik Johnson from the St. Louis Blues and drafting Bowen Byram, while adding key pieces like Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky. Over the years, they steadily worked to improve their goaltending and overall depth.

It was a long, deliberate process—it didn’t happen overnight. After the 48-point season in 2016–17, the organization faced tough decisions and difficult conversations, and not everyone was willing to stick around. The bottom line, though, is that they persevered and stayed the course together.

The Sharks might reach that level faster than the Avalanche did. They have a generational talent in Celebrini, a dynamic playmaker in Will Smith, and recently added Kiefer Sherwood to bolster the roster. With the team’s recent success, some have argued that GM Mike Grier should be serious buyers at the trade deadline in hopes of making a deep playoff run. However, there’s a significant risk-reward calculus involved in pursuing that approach.

Perhaps it was just the word usage, but when I hear serious buyers, I'm thinking the go for broke mentality, which I don't think is necessarily a good strategy. We're very early into the Sharks rebuild. You have a very solid foundation. Now you just need to add pieces that can steadily build this team into a Stanley Cup contender. I think the Sharks are already playoff contenders. Yes, they've lost their last four games; the Olympic break is upon us, and now the team can sit down and evaluate to see where they need the most help.

Defense

The Sharks have allowed 193 goals this season, the sixth-most in the Western Conference—and you can’t place all the blame on the goaltenders. Yaroslav Askarov has been brilliant at times, but he’s also had his share of forgettable moments. More often, though, the problem lies elsewhere: when a team consistently turns over the puck in its own zone, it inevitably leads to scoring chances against. At some point, goals are going to happen—that’s the law of averages in a nutshell.

The next step for the Sharks to improve their chances of becoming true playoff contenders isn't offense, it's adding a shutdown defenseman. For instance, Ryan Shea, a Pittsburgh Penguin, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He has emerged as a dependable, steady, and physical force on the Penguins’ blue line, frequently paired with Kris Letang in a shutdown role tasked with containing opposing top-six forwards.

Letang, who's won three Stanley Cups as a Penguin, is one of the best offensive defensemen of his era, is currently week-to-week with a fractured foot and has a significant injury history, but his accomplishments are written in stone. And Shea is having a career-best season right now. Through 56 games, he's posted three goals and 19 assists for 22 points with a plus/minus rating of +21. The Penguins are a rebuilding team. It wouldn't hurt to try to float a trade idea and offer a 2026 second round pick to sweeten the deal, but these are just ideas.

The bottom line is that the Sharks aren't going to make a deep playoff run one way or another this year, but the foundation to becoming a Stanley Cup champion down the line is here. It's just about adding the right pieces and getting the juicy flavors and the chemistry flowing. The Sharks are easily the most improved team in the NHL. What happens next is up to them. The puck is in their court.  

The Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic trade freeze passes. With the Canadiens currently being second in the Atlantic Division standings, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they look to add to their roster ahead of the trade deadline. 

Now, the Canadiens are being connected to one of the NHL's top trade candidates. 

During his most recent 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman wrote that he believes the Canadiens "like" Nashville Predators star center Ryan O'Reilly. 

"Eric Engels dropped a really good interview with Jeff Gorton. My theory is they like Ryan O’Reilly," Friedman wrote. 

The Canadiens being viewed as a possible suitor for O'Reilly is not surprising in the slightest. The 34-year-old would be a great addition to the Canadiens' top six if they acquired him, as he is a very good two-way center who produces well offensively, kills penalties, and is a well-respected leader. With this, he would be a big-time pickup for a Canadiens club on the rise. 

O'Reilly would also be more than a rental for the Canadiens if acquired, as he has a bargain $4.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season. Thus, he would help the Canadiens beyond this season, which adds to his appeal. 

In 57 games this season with the Predators, O'Reilly has recorded 20 goals, 36 assists, 56 points, and a plus-8 rating. 

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

While the Detroit Red Wings were listed as a potential landing spot for Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, he was ultimately dealt within the Western Conference to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

However, that doesn't mean that the door is closed for a potential deal with Andersson's former team. 

As part of the package to acquire Andersson, the Golden Knights sent defenseman Zach Whitecloud (along with defenseman prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-round pick).

Not only does Whitecloud fit the bill of a right-shot defenseman with top-four potential, but he's also signed through 2028 with a reasonable $2.75 million cap hit. 

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

While Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is known for keeping his cards close to the vest, NHL insider Darren Dreger recently suggested that Detroit, positioned as a buyer at the NHL Trade Deadline, is not interested in rentals and would prefer players with term.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Whitecloud, a native of Brandon, Manitoba, was named a 2017–18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete and earned WCHA All-Academic Team honors while playing for Bemidji State University.

He began his NHL career with the Golden Knights, who signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in 2018.

He gained his first extended taste of NHL action during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in 20 games for Vegas, and followed that by playing in 51 of 56 regular-season games of the COVID-shortened 2020–21 campaign.

Former Red Wings GM Ken Holland Pulls Off Major Artemi Panarin TradeArtemi Panarin is now with the Los Angeles Kings, where former Red Wings GM Ken Holland signed him to a two-year extension.

In October 2021, he signed a six-year, $16.5 million extension with Vegas, whom he'd eventually help win the Stanley Cup in  2023. While appearing in 22 postseason games, Whitecloud scored two goals and added six assists. 

Since his acquisition by the Flames, Whitecloud has routinely seen time on Calgary's second defensive pairing and is a regular on their first penalty-killing unit. 

At 29, Whitecloud is still in the prime of his career and would be a sensible option for the Red Wings to consider from the rebuilding Flames. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.