Usually, we say pencils down, but with the clock striking midnight, it’s time for all general managers to grab their pencils and start going to work, with the NHL’s Olympic Roster Freeze officially over.
Over the break, teams were unable to make any trades. Players could be waived, but they didn’t have to report immediately, while contract negotiations could also be officially signed and submitted.
There’s been some rumors — when have there not been? — that general managers may have some trades lined up, as teams were allowed to talk with other teams throughout the break.
Jordan Kyrou’s name has been swirling — the St. Louis Blues love to test the market on their players but not actually do anything with them, so we’ll see what the fate is for Kyrou and Robert Thomas.
As for the New York Islanders, they have $6.02 million in available cap space, and despite making two depth moves already, they have the assets — two first-round picks in 2026 and a strong prospect pool — to really do what they want at this deadline, as long as they find a suitable dance partner.
I’m sure that general manager Mathieu Darche has been hearing from other general managers about a few of his players. The guess is that pending unrestricted free agent Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been the No. 1 name he’s been asked about.
But with the Islanders in a playoff spot, even if No. 44 is without a contract extension, I doubt he’s moved unless Darche is blown out of the water.
Other pending UFAs: F Anders Lee, D Tony DeAngelo, D Carson Soucy, G David Rittich
Here are the pending RFAs: F Maxim Shabanov, F Marc Gatcomb, D Adam Boqvist
Could we see players like an Anthony Duclair, who has two more seasons left on his deal at $3.5 million and a full no-trade clause, being dealt, given that he's on the outside looking in of the starting lineup?
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline comes your way on March 6 at 3 PM ET.
The San Jose Sharks have assigned forward Filip Bystedt to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. This comes after Bystedt was called up to the Sharks' roster earlier this week.
Bystedt was selected by San Jose with the 27th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The first-round pick is having a strong 2025-26 season with the Barracuda, as he has recorded 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points, and a plus-3 rating in 40 games.
Bystedt has yet to make his NHL debut with the Sharks, but that very well could change before the end of the 2025-26 season. The young forward has a lot of potential and could be a nice part of the Sharks' roster in the near future.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Gold medalists, Team United States, pose for a team photo during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ll start with Sidney Crosby, unable to play today after picking up an injury in the quarterfinals. The picture sums it up, a gutting ending for his 2026 Olympics, and at 38-years old, stands at what very possibly ends up as his final moment on Olympic ice. That’s a tough ending to that chapter. He’ll always have the 2010 golden goal and captaining his country to another gold in 2014, though it’s not much consolation now.
Now the question becomes what will happen with the Penguins? Pittsburgh plays on Thursday, and Saturday and next Sunday and on and on. Crosby’s knee appeared at least OK enough to make an effort to see if he could play, but he wasn’t able to. That’s a troubling sign for the beginning of what will be a wicked stretch for the Pens and the big question will become how much longer Crosby will have to watch.
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Down in Wilkes, Avery Hayes was held out of the AHL lineup for a game today and is expected to be recalled to Pittsburgh officially when the NHL roster freeze ends tonight. That might make for a troubling sign if Crosby’s next stop is the IR, though he would be able to return from it as soon as his health returns. Speaking of the IR list, if Kris Letang is able to return for Thursday’s game as expected that could spell bad news for Ryan Graves’s roster spot until the trade deadline..There’s still a few weeks to get there, the Pens look like they have some roster juggling coming up for the period while they still have to fit under the 23-player roster limit.
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The gold is instant validation for general manager Bill Guerin and Mike Sullivan. No one can say they didn’t do it their way, and their way ended up working.
Team USA’s🇺🇸 head coach Mike Sullivan on the construction of this lineup: “The team was built with personality in mind… There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers, and we got a lot of whiskey drinkers.”
That quote has to sting for players like Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield and Adam Fox (who plays on Sullivan’s NHL team) that while they were certainly talented enough to be among the top American players, they ended up not getting a role on this club for very pointed reasons. The US was laser-focused on bringing a squad that could matchup against Canada and the concept was proved out on the medal color that hangs on their neck. Sullivan is now the second coach (along with Mike Babcock) to have won a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold.
Had the US come up a goal short, the discourse would have turned on Guerin and Sullivan on their decisions. They were flexible enough to move a player like Kyle Conner (great in the NHL, often lost on the national team) down and try Clayton Keller in that spot before finally finding the magic with Jack Hughes being the right fit for that line, it proved enough to work. Sullivan and especially Guerin now can relish in bringing back the gold medal for the first time in 46 years.
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Then again, a great goalie can cover up all sorts of things in front of him, and Connor Hellebuyck with his 41 saves today was absolutely amazing. The difference between the US and Canada (who won a 3-2 OT game last year at 4 Nations) is so fine right now. Doubtlessly the biggest turning point of today was the Americans getting superior goaltending over the course of a game where they were on their heels for most of the second and third periods. As Crosby said post-game (and Nathan MacKinnon matched with understandably even more raw emotion), Canada did just about everything in this game except find that one more goal to pull ahead. Hellebuyck was the clear reason why.
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What a moment it was for the Hughes brothers, who put their stamp on this event. Quinn Hughes is probably the best defender in the game right now, the amount of game control and impact he has on the ice is arguably the slightest notch better than Cale Makar. Jack Hughes is in his seventh NHL season and while he has a 99-point year under his belt he’s only been to the playoffs once and has been overshadowed by other recent No. 1 overall picks. Can’t say that any longer with his bloody mouth and toothless grin after the golden goal. Where both go from here as far as their status in the hockey world will be worth watching. The Pens will get a first-hand view of it with Jack, the Devils and Penguins meet on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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Connor McDavid has been unflinchingly loyal to the Edmonton Oilers, from the outside one has to wonder if he made the right choice to extend his contract two more seasons there. McDavid and Macklin Celebrini have something special, imagine a world where McDavid joins up with a rising San Jose team? That would be incredible. There’s something to be said about McDavid’s desire to not seek out a new situation and try to make it work where he’s at, but at this point of watching someone else celebrate yet again it’s hard not to wonder how he will respond to that feeling of coming up short again. Matthew Tkachuk famously taunted Leon Draisaitl as ‘always the bridesmaid’, that dig is even more fitting towards McDavid. Credit to McDavid for not turning full Hossa and shopping for teams that are contenders, though at this point it would be tough to blame him for a shift in mindset.
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With that thought still in mind, it was great for the NHL when Matthew Tkachuk got out of Calgary and into a better situation for Florida or when Jack Eichel moved from Buffalo to Vegas. That also might come to pass with Quinn Hughes getting to a better spot in Minnesota now. Selfishly, wouldn’t it be great if that could happen for “Brother Brady” and Zach Werenski? Both are contract tied to their teams for a while and also exceedingly loyal to their clubs -there’s no real reason to expect a change any time soon – it would just be nice for players like that to get in better positions. Fans of Ottawa and Columbus will rightfully be offended by the notion, just a passing thought.
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The lasting image of these games, for me anyways, will be the picture in the header at the top. It was really nice for the US players to keep Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey in the lockerroom and keep his spirit close. When Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski headed to the stands to get two of Gaudreau’s children and include them in a team picture, man, how can you not get emotional over that? One of the kids, Johnny Jr., celebrated his second birthday today on 2/22. For a family that went through so much losing Johnny and Matthew, seeing them be included in this moment was just the best and as perfect a moment as there could be to wrap up the competition for the Americans.
The hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped up on Sunday with a thrilling gold medal match between the United States and Canada.
Unsurprisingly, the game was decided in overtime, when Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils beat St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington between the legs to give Team USA their first gold medal in 46 years.
Not since the Miracle On Ice in 1980 had the United States claimed Olympic gold.
That also means Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk, along with GM Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, will be bringing home a shiny new gold medal to go along with his two Stanley Cup rings.
It’s been quite a run for Tkachuk over the past few years.
Since being acquired by the Panthers during the summer of 2022, Tkachuk has played in each of the past three Stanley Cup Finals, winning the most recent two, while also winning gold at the Olympics and, oh yeah, was named the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game that took place in South Florida during his first season with the team.
Apparently, it’s Chucky’s world and we’re all just living in it.
On the flip side of the coin (the silver side, apparently), the three Panthers players on Team Canada will be coming back to South Florida with silver medals.
Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett were all used somewhat sparingly during their time in Milan, a decision made by Canadian Head Coach Jon Cooper.
Up until the 1:41 mark of overtime on Sunday, it seemed like Cooper had been pushing all the right buttons.
Just as they had through much of the Olympics hockey tournament, Canada was rolling on Sunday, seeming to build more and more momentum as the game went on.
Ultimately, a Jim Craig-esque performance in goal by U.S. netminder Connor Hellebuyck kept the Americans in the fight long enough for Hughes to end things during the 3-on-3 overtime.
In total, seven Panthers players out of the 10 who participated at the Olympics finished on the podium.
Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola helped Finland defeat Slovakia 6-1 on Saturday in the bronze medal game.
Now unlike after winning the Stanley Cup, there won’t be much time for the players to reflect on their experiences in Milan.
The Panthers resume their season on Thursday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a matchup of two non-playoff teams desperate for every point they can earn. It’s the first of a back-to-back for Florida.
The following night, the Buffalo Sabres will be in town, and Buffalo is currently holding the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Florida will hold a pair of practices this week before the back-to-back set.
As Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said Saturday, the expectation is that all players, including those returning from the Olympics, are healthy and eligible for Thursday, outside of Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich, all of whom could play sometime during Florida’s upcoming road trip.
Photo caption: Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)
Recently, we here at The Hockey News Montreal Canadiens have been looking at potential trade targets for the Habs from clubs that are expected to be sellers.
In this latest edition of the series, let's discuss two potential trade targets from the Calgary Flames that could be strong fits on the Canadiens' roster.
Nazem Kadri, C
Nazem Kadri has been connected to the Canadiens often this season, and it makes sense given their need for another star center. If the Canadiens landed Kadri, he could fit very nicely as their second-line center and power play.
Kadri would also give the Canadiens a veteran forward who has a Stanley Cup on his resume. Furthermore, he would be more than a rental for Montreal if acquired, as he has a $7 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season.
Yet, with Kadri being one of the top centers in the trade market and having multiple years left on his deal, there is no question that the Flames would want a big return in a potential move.
Blake Coleman, LW/RW
Blake Coleman is another notable Flames trade candidate who has been linked to the Canadiens this season. If the Canadiens brought him in, he would be an excellent addition to their middle six.
Coleman is exactly the kind of forward that the Canadiens should be going after. This is because he not only contributes solid secondary offensive production, but also plays a heavy game. Furthermore, he is capable of playing multiple positions and is also well-known for his leadership qualities, which add to his appeal.
Like Kadri, Coleman would be more than a rental for the Canadiens, as he has a $4.9 million cap hit until the end of next season.
Five Golden Knights skated in the gold medal game on Sunday, none coming away with a point, but the entire quintet coming home with hardware.
The United States beat Canada 2-1 when New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes buried the golden goal in overtime, delivering the hockey gold on the final day of the Milan Cortina Olympics, exactly 46 years after the 1980 men's team authored the epic "Miracle on Ice" tale.
Hughes' winning goal came just 1 minute, 41 seconds into overtime.
Vegas was represented by Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin on Team USA, while Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore skated for Canada.
Eichel led all Golden Knights with six points (2 goals, 4 assists), while Marner turned in five points (1, 4).
Stone had four points (2, 2), Hanifin had three points (1, 2) and Theodore had two points (1, 1).
Also representing the Knights were Tomas Hertl, who had one assist for Czechia, and Rasmus Andersson, who didn't register a point for Sweden.
Vegas goaltender Akira Schmid played in one game for Switzerland and finished with 34 saves and five goals allowed.
In the gold medal game, Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy opened the scoring six minutes into the game. The Americans held the lead until Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tied the game late in the second period.
Long known for his postseason struggles with the Winnipeg Jets, U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding, stopping 41 shots. St. Louis Blues and Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington made 26 saves.
During the celebration, U.S. captain Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk skated around the ice with the jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed alongside his brother in 2024 when they were struck by a SUV while riding bicycles.
Later, after the medal ceremony, Gaudreau's children were brought onto the ice for the team picture, while Gaudreau's jersey was draped front and center.
Gaudreau would have been a candidate to make the US team, which hung his jersey in its locker room before each game.
Canada defeated Team USA 3-2 in overtime in last year's Four Nations tournament, staged by the NHL during what would have been the All-Star break. PHOTO CAPTION: Jack Eichel (9) of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period against Slovakia in a men's ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Up until the bronze medal game, Montreal Canadiens’ rookie Oliver Kapanen had not seen a second of action in the Olympic tournament. He was dressed for two games, but he had the best seat in the house as the Finns’ 13th forward, but then Mikko Rantanen was injured in the semifinal. Since the Dallas Stars forward couldn’t play, Kapanen was promoted straight to Finland’s top line alongside Sebastian Aho and former Hab Artturi Lehkonen.
Meanwhile, Juraj Slafkovsky was once again on the Slovaks’ top line with Adam Ruzika and another Hab, Tomas Tatar. With eight points ahead of the final dual, Slafkovsky once again carried the hopes of a country on his young shoulders. The winger had said the Slovaks would be ready and smiling for the bronze medal game and would go out and do it, but the Finns didn’t get the memo.
After being beaten 4-1 in the preliminary round by the Slovaks, the Finns had revenge on their mind, and Juuse Saros played his best game of the tournament in net, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he received. Unfortunately for the Slovaks, Finland took the lead early and never let up. Sebastian Aho scored less than five minutes in, and Erik Haula doubled their lead just before 30 minutes had been played. They learned from their defeat against Canada and kept pushing.
Tatar scored one for Slovakia before the end of the second frame, but Finland came right back with a couple of goals early in the third frame and added another two in an empty net to take the bronze with a 6-1 win.
While Slafkovsky didn’t get on the scoresheet, he gave his all in this ultimate game, spending almost 24 minutes on the ice, taking five shots on net, and being his usual imposing presence physically. Whenever he had the puck, though, the Finns wasted no time getting on him and not allowing him the time to pick his spot on shots.
While the big Slovak will no doubt be disappointed to go home empty-handed after winning Bronze four years ago, this tournament showed just how much Slovakia improved in the last four years. Finishing fourth in a tournament with NHL players should be seen as a success. Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Pavol Regenda had a great tournament, and there’s plenty to be proud of.
On an individual standpoint, Slafkovsky is now the second-highest Olympic goal scorer in his country’s history with 11 lamplighters, only three behind Slovakian icon Marian Hossa. With the NHL having committed to participating in the next two Olympic tournaments as well, he should have at least two more tournaments to catch up to him. Furthermore, it doesn’t feel like he’s hit his ceiling yet, and this tournament has allowed him to improve even more. He’ll come back to Montreal better than he ever was.
As for Kapanen, he spent 16:23 on the ice and showed no sign of rust whatsoever despite not having played since the Canadiens’ last game before the break on February 4th against the Winnipeg Jets. He was credited with a single shot, but he hit the post twice, and while those don’t count as shots, he was so very close to finding the back of the net. He was on the ice for Finland’s first goal, right there at the front of the net, creating havoc. He also played on the Finns’ second power play and created a scoring chance. There’s no denying that he made the most of the opportunity he was given in this game, and he showed his country what they missed out on when he stayed on the bench in the other games.
After the game, in the handshake line, Kapanen and Slafkovsky hugged, and there’s no doubt that they’ll be asked what they said to each other in that moment in the days to come, when they return to Montreal and become teammates again.
Habs linemates Oliver Kapanen 🇫🇮 and Juraj Slafkovsky 🇸🇰 in the handshake line pic.twitter.com/OsaU4zlDii
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It’s been 16 years since the men’s hockey teams from the United States and Canada faced off in an Olympic gold medal game, but it’s barely been a year since Team USA and Canada last met with a title on the line at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.
Both teams are facing off in today’s Olympics gold medal match with rosters that are largely unchanged from that pre-Olympics tournament last February. In the end, it was Canada that bested the United States in an instant classic 3-2 overtime thriller to win the first 4 Nations Face-Off.
Now, one year later: the NHL is back at the Olympics and we’re once again being treated to that classic matchup. USA vs. Canada. One of the biggest rivalries in hockey.
men's olympic hockey: what to know
What: United States vs. Canada (Gold Medal Game)
When: Feb. 22, 8:10 a.m. ET
Where: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan, Italy)
Channel: NBC
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
With a squad that Miracle on Ice icon Mike Eruzione calls “the best team we’ve ever had,” Team USA has gone undefeated across its five Olympic games so far. Most victories have been by a large margin, too, where Team USA scored 5+ goals. The most recent win in the semifinals was a 6-2 rout of Slovakia.
Canada is also undefeated in Milano, but there is still concern that captain Sidney Crosby, who was injured in the quarterfinals, may not suit up for the game. Crobsy missed the semifinals (Canada won 3-2 over eventual Bronze medalists Finland), but skated on Saturday in a positive sign that he could play in today’s gold medal matchup.
Crosby, famously, scored the overtime winner at the 2010 games, the last time USA and Canada faced off in an Olympic gold medal game.
USA vs. Canada hockey start time
The United States vs. Canada gold medal game is scheduled to start today, Feb. 22, at 8:10 a.m. ET.
How to watch USA vs. Canada gold meal game for free
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching TV live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the Winter Olympics). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month for your choice of streaming plan and gain access to over 90 live channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
Sling TV is another affordable way to stream the Winter Olympics; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Slovakia's Adam Liska (23) battles with United States' Brock Faber, center, for the puck in front of United States goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of a men's ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
MILAN — Having played between the pipes for the Winnipeg Jets in seven of the past eight NHL postseasons, goalie Connor Hellebuyck has seen his fair share of big moments.
Not the kind with a Stanley Cup on the line, but the ones that are a byproduct of circumstances.
The Jets have failed to make it out of the first round — or qualifier — in four of those aforementioned playoff runs, and Hellebuyck has assumed a significant portion of the blame as the franchise’s longtime No. 1 netminder.
Hellebuyck has a shocking 1-9 record in his past 10 road playoff games dating back to 2021. His .917 save percentage from 2022 through this current NHL regular season leads the NHL, but it dropped to .872 in the postseason over that span.
Connor Hellebuyck saves the puck during the men’s play-off semi-final ice hockey match between USA and Slovakia at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 20, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
One of the more recent lasting images of Hellebuyck is from Game 6 of the Jets’ first-round playoff series against the Blues last year.
He had already been pulled in Game 4, and after giving up five goals on 23 shots across 40 minutes of play — including four goals in 5:23 — Hellebuyck was on the bench at the start of the third.
In the NHL, Hellebuyck hasn’t been able to rise to the occasion.
Since rejoining international play, however, the Michigan native has left little doubt as to who the top American goaltender is. Team USA will need that to continue if it is going to top Canada for a gold medal Sunday.
Asked about his confidence level five games into his first Olympic tournament — during which he stopped 90 of the 95 shots he faced — Hellebuyck’s usual stoic demeanor completely changed.
“Oh, all-time high,” he said, cracking a smile for the first time in the scrum with reporters after his 22-save performance against Slovakia on Friday night. “You know, I’m really enjoying this. This is fun. You don’t get to be part of this so much. I’m going to enjoy every second out here.”
The 32-year-old is leading the Olympic tournament with a .947 save percentage and a 1.23 goals-against average. Up until this point, Hellebuyck has been sharp, steady and stingy.
After allowing a couple third-period goals to Slovakia in a blowout quarterfinal victory, Hellebuyck poked fun at himself, saying he “got a little bored in there, and it cost me a goal.” It was indicative of just how light Hellebuyck looks and presumably feels going into this gold medal clash with Canada.
Slovakia’s Adam Liska (23) battles with United States’ Brock Faber, center, for the puck in front of United States goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of a men’s ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. AP
His USA teammates have lauded the calmness that exudes from Hellebuyck behind them.
That kind of presence is exactly what the U.S. men’s hockey team will need to win this whole thing.
“He’s incredible,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “He’s been incredible year after year. And it seems like in this short tournament, even going back to last year at 4 Nations, he’s been a brick wall. He’s been awesome. He plays the puck very well. Seems like everything that’s hitting him, sticks. He’s so good. He’s so steady. Probably the greatest asset is just the confidence he gives us. We are very excited to have him behind us for the gold medal game.”
Hellebuyck is one of just 13 goalies in NHL history with three Vezina trophies — tying him with the likes of Patrick Roy, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito. Just eight goalies have won the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, and he is one of just three in this century.
It is Hellebuyck’s playoff failures, however, that have dominated his story through his 11-year NHL career. This game has the magnitude to change the narrative.
It’s been 46 years since the Miracle on Ice, the last time the Americans won gold in men’s hockey.
Canada holds a 4-1 record against the United States in Olympic tournaments featuring NHL players. Team USA has never beaten the Canadians when it mattered.
Hellebuyck, as the last line of defense, has an opportunity to become an American hero.
Suddenly, the NHL playoff stage wouldn’t look so big.
Lenni Hameenaho was recalled to the New Jersey Devils from the American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets on Tuesday, February 17.
The forward was recalled by the Devils on February 17, just before the end of the Olympic break. Earlier this season, he made his NHL debut on January 19. The 2023 second-round selection for the Devils played in nine games with the team this season. Hameenaho earned four points in nine games, two goals and two assists.
At just 21 years old, Hameenaho has transitioned to the NHL well. Head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke about his adjustment to the big leagues on NJD.tv on Thursday.
"It's been obvious that he belongs here,” Keefe said. “He’s a young player who has the ability to go up and down without requiring waivers. You don’t really know what it’s going to be like day-to-day, but his play before the break showed that he can help our team and play in the NHL."
Despite his easy adaptation to the NHL, there is still just under half the season to play. Keefe acknowledged that it will be a long road for Hameenaho.
“We’ve got to keep working with him as a coaching staff to keep adapting to the league as the sort of honeymoon phase wears off, there’s a long list of guys that come up to the NHL for a short period of time and have success, but can’t really sustain it. It’s a reason why you want to keep guys in the American League longer, especially prospects, so that when they come up, they show that they’re ready and they don’t have to go back,” Keefe said. “That’s what we hope to be the case, and from what we saw before the break, there’s no reason to believe otherwise.”
Hammehao will re-join the Devils after logging one game with the Comets.
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The 2026 NHL trade deadline, which falls on March 6 this year, is officially less than two weeks away. In that short period of time, the Philadelphia Flyers are going to have to make some important decisions with long-term implications.
Sitting at a mediocre 25-20-11, the Flyers are eight points out of the second wildcard playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and eight points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division.
MoneyPuck gives the Flyers a measly 10.7% chance of reaching the postseason, which are the ninth-worst odds in the NHL by their metrics.
So, with that all being said, all signs point to the Flyers being forced to sell at the trade deadline once again.
Having already re-signed Christian Dvorak to a five-year pact, the Flyers are down one less trade chip, but they do have a few pieces that could at least make the deadline interesting.
Rasmus Ristolainen, now an Olympic Bronze medalist, is the biggest fish in the Flyers' pond, and he's at a point in his contract that could be the sweet spot for contending teams.
The 31-year-old has two years left on his contract at a $5.1 million cap hit, and the Flyers, who will have the retention in the Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton trades come off their books this summer, should feel free to use their last remaining retention slot to maximize Ristolainen's value with minimal long-term consequences.
Of course, the Flyers really like the player, and Ristolainen has experienced a career resurgence over his last few seasons in Philadelphia. At the same time, does it really make sense for the Flyers to hold onto a veteran who's suffered a season-ending injury two years in a row?
Of note, in regards to pending RFA Christian Kyrou, Flyers GM Danny Briere told The Hockey News that the team will evaluate the prospect's future with the club "after the trade deadline."
Ristolainen, alongside Emil Andrae (RFA) and Noah Juulsen (UFA) are among the defensemen who could get moved to clear a roster spot for Kyrou so that the Flyers can get a better look at the surging prospect in an NHL environment.
Plus, the Flyers recently had prospects Hunter McDonald and Oliver Bonk up to practice with the NHL squad, filling in for Ristolainen and Travis Sanheim, who are, of course, at the Olympics.
If the Flyers fall any further out of playoff contention, it would behoove them to get extended looks at the young players they feel will have a future with the organization.
It's worth mentioning that McDonald himself is a pending RFA, and Adam Ginning and Maxence Guenette, who each have a handful of games of NHL experience, are on expiring deals, too.
In short, the Flyers have a lot of defensemen to evaluate and not a lot of time to do it.
It would come as a major surprise if the Flyers did not move on from at least one defender on the current NHL roster by the deadline on the 6th.
As for the forwards, veteran grinders Nick Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway will have close to no value. Carl Grundstrom, who's been something of a pleasant surprise for the Flyers, might have been a more attractive piece to contenders if not for his $1.8 million cap hit.
Bobby Brink, though, at age 24 and a slightly more modest $1.5 million cap hit, would be a smart buy for a playoff team that intends to keep him beyond this season.
The diminutive winger has a respectable 13 goals, 11 assists, and 24 points in 50 games for the Flyers in a checking role, but it's only a matter of time before the imminent arrival of Porter Martone forces Brink or another winger off the Flyers.
As for potential Flyers trade targets, star St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas should be at the very top of the list, though that deal might be one best saved for the offseason rather than an in-season deal.
As a writer, given the Flyers' lack of projectable centers, I'm always looking for ways the Flyers can find depth and quality down the middle.
Buy-low options like Marco Kasper, Cole Sillinger, Adam Fantilli, Shane Wright, and Hendrix Lapierre all make sense to varying degrees, though the Flyers may not be interested in some, and others (namely Fantilli) may not be available.
Centers are always more expensive on the trade market, though, and the Flyers may find it easier to capitalize on their glut of wingers by moving to address their weak defensive depth instead.
Assuming Andrae and Juulsen don't have futures with the team, the Flyers would ideally like to find a left-shot defender to take some responsibility off the aging Nick Seeler while contributing to the penalty kill.
Pavel Mintyukov from Anaheim would be a dream long-term contributor, but the Flyers are much more likely to target someone with the profile of a Mario Ferraro or Mattias Samuelsson. Middle-aged, inexpensive, defense-oriented players that might benefit from a change of scenery.
And, to that end, if the Flyers haven't decided to move on from backup goalie Sam Ersson by now, there won't be any changes until the offseason. Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov are each pending RFAs and should be pitted against each other to battle for a future with the club.
PRAGUE — The storied hockey career of Jaromir Jagr might be coming to an end.
Currently in his 38th professional season, with his hometown Kladno Knights in the Czech league, the former NHL great strongly suggested that fans might not get to see him on the ice any more.
“Probably not,” Jagr said in an interview published late Friday on his Instagram account. “It would have to be a miracle. God would have to come, enter me and make me 15 years younger.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if Jagr will play again this season. The winger, who turned 54 on Feb. 15, has played just six games in the league for Kladno this season. His last game so far was on Dec. 21.
Jagr, who represented his country at five Olympics and led the Czechs to gold in Nagano in 1998, said he spent the last 10 days watching the Milan Cortina Games on television.
“I do nothing else but eat and watch TV,” he said. This is the first Olympics with NHL players in a dozen years and Jagr appreciated that.
“It’s the best tournament in the last 10-15 years, certainly because of the presence of NHL players,” he said. “The games are great.”
But besides following hockey, short-track speed skating and figure skating, Jagr said he is trying to keep fit after recently gaining some 4-5 kilograms (9-11 pounds).
“It’s really about discipline,” Jagr said. “The worst thing is when you don’t have to. Sometimes, it’s better when you have to. When you don’t have to, forcing yourself is the hardest thing,” he said.
“I keep myself going. I try, I don’t train to be ready to play, but I try to go skating every day if I have time.”
Jagr made his debut for Kladno at age 16 and returned to the club in 2018 when the Calgary Flames released him. Jagr remains second on the NHL’s all-time points list behind Wayne Gretzky. Jagr won the Stanley Cup twice with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two NHL seasons.
Until early last year, Jagr served in dual roles as Kladno player and owner, splitting his time between chasing sponsors and dealing with administrative duties and ice time.
He sold a majority stake in Kladno last January in a season he had previously suggested would be his last but wasn’t.
This season, if still playing, he has a chance to make the playoffs with Kladno for the first time.
The Montreal Canadiens had played 57 games before the NHL entered its Olympic break, leaving them with 25 games left in the regular season. 13 of the remaining 25 games will be played at home, where the Habs have a 16-11-1 record, a plus-three goal differential, an 18.9 % success rate on the power play and an 81% success rate on the penalty kill. Meanwhile, they have a 16-6-7 record away from the Bell Centre with a plus-11 goal differential, and their power-play efficiency is 28.1%, while their penalty kill is only 73.5%.
Of course, with so little time left before the end of the season, it will be a hectic schedule, including three four-game weeks, with four back-to-backs. 11 of the 25 games will be against teams that are currently in playoff position, and 14 games will be against teams that are currently on the outside looking in. That’s not necessarily good news, as some of these teams will be fighting with desperation to get in, but on the flip side, there may be a few that have already given up.
The Canadiens are currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, six points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have been on fire of late, winning their last five games and posting an 8-1-1 record in their last 10. Jon Cooper’s men seem to be on their way to a Division Championship, and Martin St-Louis and co. will face them twice before the end of the season, that’s no easy task.
Montreal will also have to lock horns with the Carolina Hurricanes twice before the end of the season. Rod Brind’Amour’s team is currently first in the Metropolitan Division, has won its last three games, and has an 8-0-2 record in its last 10 games, and it hasn’t lost in regulation since January 13.
Just like last season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are fighting for their survival, and they were on a big roll before the break. They’ve won their last seven games and are 9-0-1 in their last 10. They sit four points out of the playoffs as we speak, but they do have a game in hand on the Boston Bruins. Will they remain hot long enough? In any case, that’s another team Montreal will have to face twice before the end of the regular season.
There’s one team that they’ll need to face three times, though: Patrick Roy’s New York Islanders. The Isles are currently in third place in the Metropolitan Division and have won their last two games. They’ll visit the Canadiens on February 26th when Montreal returns to action, and it will be crucial for the Habs to pick up where they left off.
The Habs have done very well so far this season, but the road ahead is a challenging one, and they’ll need to be even better if they want to book their playoff spot well in advance of the end of the season.
In a surprising turn of events, the Vancouver Canucks have been faced with yet another case of bad injury news. As per Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV, Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki will reportedly undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.
Lekkerimäki had been off to a fantastic season in the AHL despite bouncing up and down from Vancouver to Abbotsford. The forward had 13 goals and seven assists in 21 games played with the Abbotsford Canucks while also tallying two goals and one assist in 13 games at the NHL level.
Injury-wise, the Canucks prospect’s season did not get off to the most ideal start, as the forward left Vancouver’s game on October 19 against the Washington Capitals due to injury and did not end up returning to play until around a month after. He missed some more time near the end of December leading into the start of January as well.
Vancouver returns to action on February 25 with a home-matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) during a stop in play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Former Edmonton Oilers goalie prospect Olivier Rodrigue has found a new home.
The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have signed Rodrigue for the rest of the 2025-26 season.
Rodrigue's time with the Oilers came to an end this past off-season after the Pacific Division club elected not to send him a qualifying offer. From there, he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and ended up signing with Barys Astana of the KHL.
Yet, Rodrigue never made an appearance for Barys Astana, as he got injured and had his contract terminated. Now, after signing this deal with the Blackhawks, he should get into some game action with their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
The Oilers selected Rodrigue with the 62nd overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old goaltender then went on to play 131 games over five seasons with the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, where he had a 61-52-15 record, a 2.92 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and two shutouts.
While Rodrigue spent plenty of time in the Oilers' system, he only played in his first two NHL regular-season games for Edmonton this past season. During them, the former Oilers prospect had a 0-1-0 record, a .862 save percentage, and a 3.10 goals-against average.
What An Islanders' Trade For Jordan Kyrou Could Look LikeWhat would it actually take for the Islanders to land Jordan Kyrou? We break down the fit, cap math, trade cost, and why it’s worth exploring.
The Type Of Player The Islanders Should Be Looking To AcquireThe NHL Olympic Break is coming to a close. The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> returned to practice, and now their first game back from break is just one week away.
