MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 09: Players of Team United States pose for photographs during training on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hockey will get underway this week at the Milan Olympics featuring NHL players for the first time in more than a decade.
Here’s a reminder and refresher that the rules at the Olympics will be a bit different than when you watch your typical NHL game.
During the preliminary rounds of the Olympic hockey tournament, if games are tied after regulation, there will be a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime, followed by a five-player shootout if the tie isn’t broken.
In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the overtime period will be extended to ten minutes.
In the gold medal game, there will be no shootout, but the overtime period will be played as 3-on-3.
During the Olympics, fighting is not allowed and the penalty for doing so is ejection. Playing without a helmet subjects players to a minor penalty.
Roster sizes allow teams to have a maximum of 23 players, consisting of 20 skaters and 3 goalies.
Teams are allowed to dress two more players than allowed during NHL play, meaning that a game lineup can feature 13 forwards and 7 defensemen.
Rink sizes at the Palaltalia Santa Giulia and the Fiera Milano arenas will be NHL-sized, smaller than traditionally used for the Olympics.
The Philadelphia Flyers can get a big piece of their 2026 draft scouting done just by watching the Winter Olympics this year.
Of course, the Flyers will be tuned in to see how the likes of Travis Sanheim, Dan Vladar, and Rasmus Ristolainen fare, but it's not just their own guys - veterans - who they want to keep an eye on.
Latvia, an underdog nation that always poses a tough fight regardless of their talent deficiencies, will be boasting a teenaged NHL draft prospect expected to be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in June.
Defenseman Alberts Smits, a 6-foot-3 rearguard who is already playing in his second pro season in Finland's Liiga with Jukurit, is primed to feature on a Latvia squad that has only Florida's Uvis Balinskis ahead of him in terms of NHL-level talent.
Rodrigo Abols probably would have been able to give the Flyers the inside scoop if it wasn't for his injury, but the Flyers will just have to watch Smits play for themselves instead.
Smits, 18, has played 37 games for Jukurit this season, scoring six goals, seven assists, and 13 points. The two-way defender plays north of 20 minutes a night fairly often for his club, too, which is an encouraging sign of trust and maturity in a pro league for a player of his age.
It's worth noting, too, that Jukurit was 12-41-6-1 last season, and with Smits now playing for them as a regular, have already improved to 14-23-3-6.
Still not great, yes, but the 2026 NHL Draft prospect has had an undeniable impact on the club.
Smits is big and rangy with his 6-foot-3 frame, is an aggressive risk-taker offensively and in transition, and uses his size and details to execute defensively.
The Latvian defender is neither Cale Makar nor Radko Gudas, but Smits has everything he needs to be a successful top-4 NHL defenseman, which should be attractive to the Flyers at this stage in the rebuild.
Perhaps a player like Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm would be a fair comparison.
And, considering the massive investments the Flyers have made to the right side of their defense in recent years--Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill, and Carter Amico all come to mind--they can't continue to neglect the left side or other positions of need.
Time will tell if they are in a more favorable position to land someone like Tynan Lawrence, but Smits should be right up there in this conversation.
The 18-year-old will be the only 2026 draft prospect playing in this year's Winter Olympics, so Smits is a unique situation worthy of the Flyers' undivided attention for the next few weeks.
The Olympics break gives us plenty of time to observe, analyze, and reflect on what we’ve seen so far this season in the NHL. One topic that has been of interest to me on the NHL media site is the coach’s challenges statistics. Last week, I took a look at the offside challenges to see if Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis was right when he said he felt his team had lost a lot of goals to offside challenges. This week, I thought it could be interesting to look into goaltender interference challenges.
Of the 163 coaches’ challenges that have been initiated this season, 67 were for goaltender interference, and they led to 24 goals being disallowed. For a 36% success rate, given the fact that an unsuccessful challenge leads to a minor penalty, one has to be careful when using that from the coach’s toolbox.
How many times has Martin St-Louis tried to use it? Twice. How many times was he successful? Once, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was unsuccessful when he pulled that card against the Colorado Avalanche, but there was no harm done since they managed to kill the penalty.
Which team has used that card the most? The Washington Capitals made six challenges, two of which were successful. Their four unsuccessful challenges led to two power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks.
Four teams have made 5 coaches’ challenges: the Calgary Flames, the Blackhawks, the Senators, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Calgary was successful twice and didn’t give up any power-play goals when the challenge failed. Chicago also saw two goals being disallowed, and didn’t give up any power-play goals either. As for Ottawa, goals were disallowed twice, and there was no harm done on the power play conceded. Meanwhile, none of the Penguins’ challenges were successful, but they only gave up one power-play goal.
Just one team made four coaches’ challenges: the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Ontario outfit was successful three times but allowed a power-play goal when its challenge failed.
Which team has suffered the most from interference calls? Chicago. Conor Bedard and Co. are the only team with three goals disallowed, while eight teams had two, and five teams (including the Canadiens) had one.
It’s interesting to see that the Hawks, who are one of the teams that have used the challenge more often, are also its biggest victims. As for the Canadiens, it appears that they are much more disciplined around the net than they once were, back when Brendan Gallagher was younger, for instance.
Only twice this season has a team challenged a Canadiens’ goal for goalie interference. In contrast, in 2015-16, the first year those stats are available, a Habs’ goal was challenged for goaltender interference nine times, leading to four disallowed goals. There’s definitely been some progress there.
Avery Hayes isn’t the only Penguins prospect who is coming out of a big week.
Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen forward and seventh-round 2025 draft pick, was named the WHL’s Rookie of the Week after racking up six points (four goals, two assists) in four games.
What's up, Dach?
For the second time this season, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and @WHLHitmen forward Kale Dach has been named the @SandmanHotels WHL Rookie of the Week 🥬
This is the second time Dach has won the weekly honor. He was also named the WHL’s December Rookie of the Month after scoring 14 points (eight goals, six assists) with three game-winning tallies in nine games.
Dach’s former teammate Ben Kindel was racking up his own WHL weekly rookie honors during his first season in the league in 2023-24.
Penguins VP of Player Personnel Wes Clark said last June that the original plan for Dach, who was selected with the Pens’ final pick of the 2025 draft, was to have him play alongside Kindel for a season with the Hitmen.
Kindel ended up making the jump to the NHL earlier than expected, but that hasn’t stopped Dach from finding success. He has 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 45 games this WHL season.
Dach, who turned 18 in February, is heading to the NCAA next year after committing to join Penn State.
Up in the AHL, Hayes was named the AHL’s Player of Week five days after scoring two goals in his NHL debut.
Hollywood script-writers could never dream up a week like the one Avery Hayes just had. But the reality is, he's the Howie's Hockey Tape AHL Player of the Week.
The 23-year-old forward was one of the first players the Penguins signed after Kyle Dubas took over in June 2023. He has 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) in 32 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.
The NHL isn’t the only league currently on break. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens action is also paused until Feb. 14 for the AHL All-Star Game. Sergei Murashov and Tristan Broz are representing the Penguins at the event in Rockford, Illinois on Tuesday and Wednesday.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 08: Sidney Crosby #87 of Team Canada takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In roughly 24 hours, the Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament at the 2028 Winter Olympics will begin, and for the first time since 2014, NHL players are taking part. Participating nations have been practicing in earnest since arriving late last week, and after months of worry regarding the status of the hockey arena in Milan, the games are about to be begin.
There has been months, if not years of anticipation surrounding this tournament since it was announced NHL players were heading back to the Olympics, and the wait is almost over with the first puck drop scheduled for Wednesday morning between Slovakia and Finland.
Pens Points…
Four Penguins players are in Milan preparing for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics with play beginning for all four later this week. Sidney Crosby will captain Canada, Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell will suit up for Sweden, and Arturs Silovs will backstop the Latvian side. [Pensburgh]
With four players in Milan, the Penguins will be well represented and give Penguins fans something to keep an eye on outside of cheering for their host nations. Crosby is the name who most will pay attention to for obvious reasons but Sweden and Latvia are attractions themselves. [The Hockey Writers]
Once the NHL resumes following the Olympic break must of the focus will be on the trade deadline which will be less than two weeks away. Right now, the Penguins are in position to buy as a playoff contender, but Kyle Dubas will be specific in what he’s looking for in any additions. [Pensburgh]
When he signed with the Penguins as a free agent over the summer, no one knew who Parker Wotherspoon was or what type of game he played. Now well into his first season with the team, Wotherspoon is well known among the Penguins faithful for his consistent play on the blue line. [Trib Live]
After his break out NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres, Avery Hayes returned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the Olympic break and continued right where he left off, scoring a hat trick, including the overtime winner, on Saturday against the Hershey Bears. [WBS Penguins]
One of the first players to embrace Sidney Crosby after he scored the Golden Goal to defeat the United States at the 2010 Olympics was defenseman Scott Niedermayer. Sixteen years on from that historic moment, Niedermayer still remembers the moment with great clarity from his view on the ice. [Penguins]
NHL News and Notes…
Group A at the Olympics is headlined by Canada who enter group play as clear favorites to come out on top, but opponents Czechia and Switzerland will be looking to play spoiler while France is hoping to make the most of its first Olympics appearance in over two decades. [NHL]
France may only have qualified for Milan because Russia and Belarus have been banned from participating, but the 2030 host nation is not apologizing. They will be lead by captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who has announced that he will retire from hockey following The Games. [NHL]
Alex Killorn goes by many names. Alex, of course. Killer, Foghorn, War Dog. Alexander is most likely reserved for his parents.
Killorn has earned the right to go by so many names, with over 120 NCAA games, over 50 AHL games and now over 1,000 NHL games under his belt.
He joined the Ducks in the summer of 2023 after spending the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While his four-year, $25 million contract at age 34 initially raised eyebrows, he’s proven that his value goes beyond his on-ice impact.
Feb 29, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) and left wing Alex Killorn (17) celebrate after scoring a goal during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
When Leo Carlsson was drafted second overall in 2023 and began navigating life as an NHLer at 18, it was Killorn who was placed on Carlsson’s wing by then-head coach Greg Cronin. Despite his lack of foot speed, Killorn’s knack for winning board battles and recovering pucks made him the ideal linemate for a creative playmaker in Carlsson.
“I just turned 34 and I'm skating with him, and he's 18,” Killorn said at the time. “I kind of have to check myself just to realize how young (he is) and put myself in his position at times, but really impressed with him in the way he plays. Being a center at 18 playing in the NHL is very difficult, and I think he's more than capable of doing so.”
When Cutter Gauthier made his NHL debut at the end of the 2023-24 season, he played on a line with Carlsson and, you guessed it, Killorn.
The trio began the 2024-25 season as a line before Gauthier began experiencing a rollercoaster of line assignments, but Killorn remained a constant on Carlsson’s line. Gauthier’s improvement in his wall play can be attributed in part to Killorn, who at times would give Gauthier tips during or after practice on how to be stronger around the boards.
“(The wall work) has been coming good,” Gauthier said at the time. “Not playing winger for the last couple years, it’s still an adjustment period. Yeah, it’s only 11 games into the season, but still. You’re playing against the best players in the world and the best defensemen in the world. They know tendencies—they’ve played in the league for the very long time—that wingers are going to do, so it’s just getting used to the type of rim (around the boards), whether it’s hard, soft or where the pressure’s coming from. Killer’s helped a lot with a couple of pickup tips coming off the wall.”
Apr 18, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) takes a rookie lap before the start of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
As someone who played center while at Harvard before shifting to the wing once he turned pro, Killorn is familiar with the transition that Gauthier had to make.
“I just want him to work on protecting the puck,” Killorn said. “College is a lot different from the NHL in terms of defensemen, how hard they play. If he can hold onto it for even a couple more seconds and just maintain possession, it’s going to help out our line big time.”
“I (liked) playing with Killer because he’s very smart,” former Ducks forward Trevor Zegras said. “He's very good at playing in between guys and knows when to give you the puck, give you space, where to go, where to help and support.”
Gauthier, Zegras and Killorn as a line during the 2024-25 season totaled one goal and one goal against in 48 5v5 minutes. Their expected goals numbers were quite favorable, but Cronin split them up after just five games.
Killorn is always quick to note the strengths of his teammates, whether it was pointing out how much Zegras’ absence due to injury last season impacted the power play, describing how patient rookie defenseman Ian Moore is with the puck or pointing out the big step Jackson LaCombe took—before his monster 2024-25 season occurred.
Oct 11, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (center) celebrates with left wing Alex Killorn (17) and center Leo Carlsson (91) and defenseman Jackson LaCombe (right) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Above all, Killorn wants himself and his teammates to be proud of the way they play every night, regardless of the result.
“I think if you compete and play the right way, you may not win every night, but you'll build and you'll start playing the right way in things, no matter how long it takes. You’re building in the right direction.”
“Being that I've been on a lot of winning teams in the past, I'm definitely hoping to bring veteran leadership to this group,” Killorn said during his introductory conference call in 2023. “I know it's probably a younger team than I've been on before, but I look forward to that. There’s so much talent when you look at the guys that are on this team and guys that are about to be on this team, whether it's this year or the next year. These are things that I thought about when I made this decision. So I'm hoping to bring kind of a veteran leadership, a guy who can help out offensively and defensively. That’s kind of what I did with Tampa, so I'm hoping to do the same here.”
While Killorn has been able to impart the wisdom gained from his 14 years of NHL experience to his teammates who are still early in their careers, that knowledge isn’t just limited to them. His peers closer in age have also learned from him.
“We’ve become really close off the ice,” Ryan Strome said. “One of my better friends. One of the better guys I met in hockey. We get along really well and mesh really well, our personalities. I know how hard it gets when you get a little older and you go through a different, separate phase. He’s done a great job of just staying consistent with his effort and his determination and what he brings to the table. He's really consistent on a day-to-day basis, whether it's practices or games, and that's something that everyone's going through. There’s always lessons you can learn. Even I can learn from a guy like him, just how he's been consistent and just puts his head down and works. He’s always been that type of guy and it's great to see.”
Feb 17, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) scores a goal and celebrates with left wing Alex Killorn (17) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
One area that’s become new for Killorn this past calendar year is becoming a father. His daughter, Camilla, was born in May 2025, which gave him several months to play full-time dad before getting geared up for the 2025-26 season.
“It was great,” Killorn said. “A lot of guys have kids (during) the season. I couldn't imagine that. It's very difficult being on the road. I got to spend four solid months with her every day, so that was really special.”
“When you become close to somebody, you just talk a lot,” Strome said. “We sit beside each other on the plane and (are) always just (talking about) whatever it may be, whether it's life, hockey, kids, post-career stuff. It’s been so great to get to know him (with) the way that we seem to bond and have similar interests and stuff. It’s been really fun for me. Playing against a guy for so long and getting to know him and becoming this close to him has been amazing. He deserves it, and he's had a hell of a career and it's been a pleasure to be a part of it.
On Feb. 3, the Ducks honored Killorn with a pregame ceremony, gifting him a pair of silver sticks: a player-sized one for him and a baby-sized one for Camilla. Killorn’s parents were also in attendance alongside Killorn’s wife, Tiffany.
Tiffany also threw a party to commemorate Killorn’s 1000 NHL games the weekend prior, with many family and friends attending, including all of Killorn’s Ducks teammates.
“It was really cool, Killorn said. “Just special. I had a lot of friends and family (at the game) and this morning, just waking up puts everything in perspective. Your whole career, how many people have supported me throughout the way. Seeing my family pretty emotional on the ice and seeing my daughter, it was a really special moment for me.”
Something that sticks out to Killorn after all of these years is just the fact that he’s still playing. He noted how he wasn’t a top draft pick and had a head coach in Jon Cooper who believed in him and gave him plenty of ice time to become successful.
“He's a great guy,” Ducks captain Radko Gudas said shortly after becoming a Duck in 2023. “He's a great person (with a) great personality. He's a leader with the way he plays and the way he carries himself. I won the Calder Cup with him before we made it to the NHL, so I had great memories with him before and I always knew he was a great player. I just want to see him doing this well and now we’ve got to work together as a team again and build something here for the guys here. We’re looking forward to that and I'm really thrilled for the opportunity for both of us to help these guys grow.”
Nov 14, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) and left wing Alex Killorn (17) celebrate after a goal against Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Since joining the Ducks, Killorn has learned that you have to keep getting better. Sure, that may be a bit obvious, but it’s a reminder not to remain complacent, even after winning two Stanley Cups, as Killorn did.
“I watched a video back when we were in the Cup Final in 2015 and the game’s changed so much in those 10 years,” Killorn said. “You just have to continue to keep getting better because if you don't and you don't reinvent yourself, you'll be out of the league.”
With one year remaining on his contract after this season, it’s unclear how much longer Killorn intends to play. Strome said that Killorn has a good grasp of his post-playing career plans.
“I think he's got a really good grasp on his future and business and his finances and like all those types of things. I think he's really well-rounded. Some guys, you may think when they're done playing, they might kind of struggle a little bit (with) their identity (outside of being a hockey player) or what they're going to do. But I think a guy like him, he's just so dialed in and he's smart and he's educated and calculated. He’s a lot of fun. When you have that total package, you'll be more than just fine in your life and your career and whatever's next.
“And for me, it's cool because it's made me kind of think about those things a little bit more than I have. I think he's a great guy to learn from. And the other thing is, too, I think he's been really good on our team for being able to hang out with all the guys, whether it's old guys, young guys. I know he hangs out with the young guys a lot. I think when you have guys who are able to kind of bounce between those different age groups and stuff, it means a lot to the dressing room. I know I'm kind of one of those guys, but I think he's taken a lot of load off me for doing some of that stuff and it's been great to have him around.”
Jan 26, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal scored by forward Alex Killorn (17) during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
It was a big challenge for Killorn to come to Anaheim in 2023, leaving the only organization he’d ever known—an extremely successful one—to come to an organization that was still taking its lumps. But thanks to the leadership of players like Killorn, the tide is beginning to turn as they find themselves in a playoff spot in February, a sight that has rarely been seen in the past decade.
“It’s been a challenge, one that I've accepted to come to a team that's got a lot of young talent and help develop some of these guys,” Killorn said in 2024. “Gonna be something special here in the future, so I look forward to it. It's been a different process than before, just because I was on a team that was maybe a little bit more veteran and was winning a little bit. But now, at least you can see the light here and you understand what they're trying to build. It’s pretty impressive.”
“It was a huge adjustment (coming in Anaheim), just in the sense that I came to a different place, all new teammates. I was kind of used to one thing. I knew going into training camp what the coaching staff was going to be, what my teammates were going to be, how I was going to fit in. So in terms of that, there was a lot of unknown. But I feel like by the end of the year, I really found a place for myself in this team and was really happy with the way that the end of the season went.”
The New York Rangers signed defenseman Travis Dermott to a professional tryout with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
Could we actually see Dermott in a Rangers uniform?
With the NHL Olympic break running up until Feb. 26, Dermott will get an opportunity to get into some game action in the AHL.
Dermott’s PTO will last 25 games and can be terminated at any point.
Given the fact that the Rangers are in the midst of “retooling” the roster, they’ll likely need depth reinforcements, with more trades likely to be made by the Blueshirts before the March 6th NHL Trade Deadline.
Carson Soucy was already dealt to the New York Islanders, and we’ve seen the Rangers attempt to fill the vacant spot with recent waiver pick-up Vincent Iorio.
Because of Dermott’s NHL experience, he may have a leg up over some of the other defensemen in Hartford to be called up if need be.
The 29-year-old defenseman has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and most recently, the Minnesota Wild through the course of his eight seasons in the NHL.
In 348 career games, Dermott has recorded 16 goals, 46 assists, and 62 points while averaging 15:50 minutes per game.
The Florida Panthers are sending an NHL-leading 10 players to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Although there won’t be much time for those players to rest, a handful of Panthers players remaining at home will benefit from a break to rest and reset.
Whether these are players are dealing with lingering injury issues, showing signs of fatigue after three long Stanley Cup runs, or simply benefitting from the opportunity to reset and change parts of their game.
Here are three Panthers players who will benefit from the Olympic break:
Sergei Bobrovsky, G
It’s hard to be overly critical of Sergei Bobrovsky’s play this season. His numbers are sight for sore eyes with a career low .871 save percentage and a 3.13 goals-against average in 40 games, but looking at the number of games he’s played in the last three seasons and his age, it’s understandable for his play to fall off.
In the last three seasons, Bobrovsky has played 162 regular-season games out of a possible 246 and 66 playoff games. In total, he’s played 228 NHL games in a three-year span. To wit, he’s now 37 years old and on pace to play 57 games this season.
Daniil Tarasov appeared to sustain a lower-body injury in the final game before the Olympic break, and the extent of the injury is currently unknown. If he’s out long-term, Bobrovsky could be tasked with an even heavier workload. If any player needs a three-week rest, it’s Bobrovsky.
Mackie Samoskevich’s season has been odd. He started the season strongly, posting a flurry of assists, and he remains on pace to eclipse his assist total from last year, but his goal scoring is down in a major way, and it was supposed to be his calling card in the NHL.
His shot remains potent, and he’s continued to fire pucks from high-danger areas of the ice, but the puck is just not finding the back of the net. His shooting percentage is astonishingly low at 4.9 percent.
But patience is key with the 23-year-old American winger. He has the offensive tools, the defensive awareness, and the speed to be a solid middle-six winger in the NHL. A chance to reset and work on some things could benefit his game, and he can begin to work his way back up the Panthers lineup.
With all the time Aaron Ekblad has missed over the past few seasons due to injuries or suspensions, it’s hard to really narrow down exactly what Ekblad is at this stage of his career. His offensive numbers have continued to decline, but he has become a bit more potent on the defensive end, although there are still some limitations.
He and Gustav Forsling have remained the Panthers’ top defense pairing, but the duo hasn’t dominated as we’ve seen before. Whether teams have figured out how to play against them or fatigue has become a factor is unclear, but this three-week break should bode well for Ekblad.
The 30-year-old plays a physical game, so rest is a valuable part of his recovery. The Panthers need to prevent pucks from ending up in the back of their net, and although goaltending has let them down, improved play from Ekblad and the rest of the defense core would go a long way in fighting back into the playoff race.
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We are now just two days away from the start of the 2026 Men’s Winter Olympics Ice Hockey tournament, and with four Seattle Kraken representatives, a clear picture of their linemates has emerged.
Starting in Finland, Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko are poised to be contributing factors for a Finnish team with aspirations of bringing home a medal.
After the first practices, Kakko is slated to start alongside a pair of Florida Panthers. Centering the third line will be Anton Lundell, with Eetu Luostarinen on his left and Kakko on his right.
Kakko and Lundell played on the Finnish U-18 team in 2018, giving them some familiarity with one another. Lundell has plenty of experience playing alongside Luostarinen, as they have been constant linemates in Florida. This third line will likely be tasked with shutting down their opponents’ top line.
Tolvanen projects to start the tournament on the fourth line with Los Angeles Kings’ Joel Armia and Nashville Predators’ Erik Haula. It will be interesting to see if Tolvanen can play his way higher into the lineup. The 26-year-old is enjoying a strong season, on pace to score a career-high 45 points.
Finland begins their tournament on Wednesday when they play in the opener against Slovakia.
Eeli Tolvanen scored three goals and nine points in five games during the 2018 Olympics. (Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images)
Kraken and Coachella Valley Firebirds rookie Oscar Fisker Molgaard appears to be starting the tournament on the second line, according to PuckPedia. The 20-year-old will center 32-year-old Niklas Jensen, who currently plays in Switzerland and has accumulated 31 games of NHL experience, and Joachim Blichfeld, a 27-year-old playing in Finland with eight games of NHL experience.
PuckPedia also projects Fisker Molgaard to skate on the top power play unit for Denmark.
The Danes begin their tournament on Thursday against Germany.
Fisker Molgaard will attempt to score his first goal against his Kraken teammate, Philipp Grubauer, who is the anticipated No.1 goaltender for Germany.
Germany poses a serious threat to many of the top teams. Their top nine consists of seven current NHL players. The other two who aren’t in the NHL have accumulated NHL experience. On the backend, they are led by 24-year-old Detroit Red Wings defender Moritz Seider, who has become one of the premier two-way defenders in the NHL this season.
With Grubauer enjoying a season of resurgence, the Germans will be a tough out.
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As the NHL trade deadline approaches, league-wide chatter continues to intensify, and that means trade proposals galore.
According to Colorado Hockey Now's Aarif Deen, the Avalanche should be looking squarely at the Toronto Maple Leafs to address a glaring need down the middle—specifically by targeting center Nicolas Roy.
Nicolas Roy receives a 5 minute major and a game misconduct after cross-checking Trent Frederic in the face 😬🤕 pic.twitter.com/YNvNLlwykU
For the record, Deen’s assessment is difficult to dispute. At 29 years old, Roy has established himself as a dependable, defensively responsible center well-suited to anchoring a bottom-six role. His $3 million cap hit, which extends through next season, makes him far more than a short-term rental; he is a cost-controlled asset who fits seamlessly within Colorado’s current championship window.
Beyond the contract value, Roy brings tangible on-ice strengths that directly address the Avalanche’s needs. He is consistently reliable in defensive situations, effective on the penalty kill, and strong in the faceoff circle—areas where Colorado has searched for greater stability throughout the season.
Additionally, Roy provides a physical edge that the Avalanche have lacked at critical moments. He is willing and able to play a hard, confrontational game when necessary, something Colorado sorely missed during last year’s playoff series against the Dallas Stars. That combination of defensive reliability and physical presence makes him the type of player who can influence postseason games when the intensity rises and space disappears.
Collectively, those attributes make Roy an ideal addition for an Avalanche team seeking a meaningful boost as it prepares for the intensity and brutality of the postseason.
Roy, who was drafted ninth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015, has recorded 73 goals and 113 assists for 186 points across 423 career NHL games. He spent six seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning a Stanley Cup during the 2022–23 campaign, before being traded to the Maple Leafs this offseason as part of the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade deal.
The Problem with a Roy Trade
From an analytical standpoint, this is the type of move that checks nearly every box for the Avalanche. But Colorado doesn't have a lot of leverage here. The best they can offer the Leafs is a third-round pick and it's no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have a vested interest in Roy. And if Edmonton gets involved, they'll likely win a bidding war.
Moving Roy at this stage would be a silly decision for a Toronto team that remains firmly in the playoff picture. He is precisely the type of player teams rely on when the postseason demands structure, physicality, and defensive detail. Should the Maple Leafs fail to correct course in the near term, exploring a trade would become far more logical. At present, however, Toronto is under no obligation to move him.
That said, if the organization ultimately opts to retool on the fly, the presence of multiple Western Conference contenders bidding for Roy’s services would place the Maple Leafs in a position of significant leverage.
From this vantage point, retaining Roy remains the preferred course of action. His value to a playoff-bound roster outweighs the short-term benefit of draft capital, particularly for a team with championship aspirations.
On February 9, 1966, the NHL did something it had resisted for a generation: it admitted the world was changing, and that hockey needed to change with it.
After 24 seasons as a closed, six-team club, the league announced it would double in size for the 1967–68 season. Six new franchises were coming to a more expanded geographical audience. The playing field (or, rather, rink) would have a little more competition. And, most importantly, of course, Philadelphia would have a hockey team again.
A City That Never Quite Let Hockey Go
Philadelphia hadn’t had an NHL team since the Depression-era Quakers folded after one miserable season in 1931. But hockey never fully left the city’s bloodstream. Minor-league teams survived and rinks stayed busy. Fans kept watching, even if the highest level of the sport felt like something happening elsewhere.
By the mid-1960s, though, Philadelphia was different. Bigger. Louder. Growing into a full-fledged major-league sports city. The Spectrum was rising in South Philadelphia—a bold, modern arena designed not just for hockey, but for spectacle.
To the NHL, all of that mattered. Television, geography, and markets that could sell tickets and draw viewers mattered most of all.
The league was also looking over its shoulder. The Western Hockey League was making noise about becoming a major league. American TV networks wanted more teams, more cities, more games. The NHL had two choices: expand or risk being boxed in by its own conservatism.
So on this February day all those decades ago, the league named its six new homes: Los Angeles, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and St. Louis.
And thus, the “Second Six” were born.
60 years ago today ON THIS DAY in hockey history (February 9, 1966):
The NHL announces 6 expansion franchises aka the "Second Six" set to join the league for the 1967/68 season: Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and St. Louis pic.twitter.com/gAhvarwpj7
Philadelphia was a bet the NHL felt comfortable making. This was a city that lived and breathed sports, one that had already embraced the Eagles, Phillies and most recently the 76ers. Add a state-of-the-art arena and a population hungry for relevance, and the Flyers made sense before they even had a name.
Ownership mattered, too. Ed Snider, the driving force behind the franchise, wasn’t interested in polite hockey or slow burns. He wanted a team that would matter immediately, and that mindset would define the Flyers long before they played their first game.
When the name “Flyers” was chosen, courtesy of Snider's sister Phyllis, it was modern, fast, and unapologetically forward-looking. Even the color choice—orange and black—was a departure from the league’s muted traditions. This wasn’t an Old World franchise. It was something unabashedly and unapologetically new. In every sense, the league was put on notice.
The Bullies Are Born
When the Flyers entered the league in 1967–68, there were no illusions about how difficult it would be. Expansion drafts were thin by design. The Original Six teams certainly weren’t giving away stars. The early Flyers were pieced together from overlooked players, role guys, and hopeful bets.
But that was the point. The Flyers established their "Broad Street Bullies" reputation from the jump, leaving no room for questions about who they intended to be. From the get go—to put it kindly—no one liked them, and they did not care.
Within a decade, the Flyers would become one of the league’s defining franchises—polarizing, feared, impossible to ignore. (e.g., becoming the first expansion team to win a Stanley Cup in the 1973-74 season, winning it again in 1974-1975, temporarily running the Soviet Red Army team off the ice in 1976 before beating them 4-1 during the height of Soviet hockey dominance, etc.)
“We will walk together forever.”
- Bobby Clarke on Flyers’ Stanley Cup-winning teams, which were backstopped by the late Bernie Parent pic.twitter.com/nGXZYqAm34
But on February 9, 1966, none of that was guaranteed. All that existed was a league trying to stay relevant, a city ready for a team, and the belief that hockey could belong in places it hadn’t before.
Despite a series of seasons in which the New York Islanders were very much in salary cap hell, that narrative is no more.
Not only that, but the Islanders have a new general manager in town in Mathieu Darche, who not only specializes in handling the salary cap but also comes from a team in the Tampa Bay Lightning that used every trick in the CBA book to make the money books work.
Yes, that is a reference to weaponizing Long-Term Injured Reserve cap space.
When someone is injured and placed on LTIR, their full salary-cap hit comes off the books, which allows a team to use that space. However, there is a caveat: before the injured player can be activated, there must be sufficient room on the books.
There's a new rule that took effect this season requiring playoff on-ice rosters to be cap-compliant, but we'll touch on that later this week.
Unfortunately for the Islanders, they have a tremendous amount of LTIR cap relief because of how many players they have out long-term.
Forward Kyle Palmieri is out for the season with a torn ACL, meaning his $4.75 million cap hit comes off the books. Forward Pierre Engvall is out for the season due to an ankle injury, along with a hip injury, both of which required surgery, giving the Islanders an additional $3 million. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov and his $2.75 million are off the books due to a lower-body injury that required surgery.
And lastly is defenseman Alexander Romanov, who is out for the regular season after undergoing right shoulder surgery, clearing an additional $6.25 million.
That totals $16.75 million in cap relief. After the acquisitions of forward Ondrej Palat and his $6 million — Maxim Tsyplakov and his $2.25 million went to New Jersey — and defenseman Carson Soucy, who carries a cap hit of $3.25 million.
After those two deals, the Islanders have $6.021 million in available space ahead of March 6th’s NHL Trade Deadline.
Whether the Islanders look to add players to bolster their club or take on cap, whether that’s in a two-team or three-team trade, they have the ability to do so.
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 08: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of Team Sweden takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Colorado Avalanche own the Winter Olympics with eight proud players set to represent their countries. [Denver Gazette]
Landeskog healthy enough to play at Olympics, named Sweden captain. [NHL]
Crosby named Canadian captain for Olympics with McDavid, Makar tabbed as one of the as alternates. [The Score]
MacKinnon still leading NHL scoring and Hart Trophy voting race for now. [Hockey Buzz]
MacKinnon reaches 700 assists as Avalanche sink Sharks before the break. [TSN]
For Brock Nelson, the Olympics are a family affair. [The Hockey News]
News Around the League
Huberdeau set to have season-ending hip surgery for Flames. [NHL]
Ten important questions about NHL teams and players as we head to the Olympic break. [Sportsnet]
Kings acquire Panarin from Rangers just before NHL’s Olympic trade freeze. [CBC]
Craig Fitzpatrick an Air Force veteran champions blind hockey and authors a new book. [Navy Federal]
Montreal Canadiens’ first-round pick at the 2023 draft, David Reinbacher, hasn’t had a lot of luck since being selected fifth overall by the Canadiens. Whether he played in Switzerland or in Canada, the injury bug has chased him around like Will E. Coyote chased the Roadrunner, but unlike the cartoon, the defenseman never escapes.
On January 24, he received a brutal hit against the Calgary Wranglers, left the game and went on to miss the Laval Rocket’s next five games. Given how many games he has already missed in his young career, it was good to see him back in action on Saturday when Pascal Vincent’s men took on the Cleveland Monsters.
In the Rockets’ 4-1 win, Reinbacher registered an assist, took one shot, and finished the game with a plus-two rating. The performance was reassuring, but one fact remains: the Austrian has played only 34 of the Rockets' 47 games this season, and the limited action is certainly not helping his development.
Jacob Fowler was in the net for Laval and stopped 22 of the 23 shots he received, which works out to a .957 save percentage. Since returning to Laval, the netminder has a 7-2-0 record, and it looks like the organization will have a big decision to make when it comes to goaltending this summer. The 21-year-old netminder showed in the 10 games he played with the Canadiens that he can handle himself in the NHL, and given how the season went between the pipes for the Habs, it’s likely that the youngster gets a chance to make the jump next season.
Meanwhile, Adam Engstrom has overtaken Reinbacher in the organizational depth chart, but luckily for the Austrian, the Swede is a left-shot defenseman and not a right-shot like him. However, with Bryce Pickford having an incredible season in the WHL, it looks like he’ll soon have a lot of competition.
This version of the NHL power rankings will rate teams based on their performance and it will have an Olympic theme with one Olympian to watch per team.
Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings:
NHL power rankings
(Number in parentheses indicates the change from the previous rankings of two weeks ago)
Forward Brock Nelson, USA: Nathan MacKinnon is a Hart Trophy candidate (plus MVP of the 4 Nations Face-Off) and Cale Makar is a Norris Trophy candidate. Two-way player Nelson, though, has 29 goals this season and on a U.S. team that chose not to bring Cole Caufield, Jason Robertson and Alex DeBrincat, he can provide some of that offense.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (0)
Defenseman Victor Hedman, Sweden: The skilled defenseman recently returned from his second injury of the season and was ramping up his ice time. The alternate captain will need to be on top of his game.
3. Minnesota Wild (+2)
Defenseman Quinn Hughes, USA: Hughes was injured before the 4 Nations Face-Off and wasn't able to play. His presence will help a U.S. team that fell one goal short of a championship in the 2025 tournament.
4. Carolina Hurricanes (-1)
Forward Nikolaj Ehlers, Denmark: He's a speedster and has 43 points this season. Denmark has only three regular NHL players among its skaters.
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Finland: He missed the 4 Nations Face-Off with an injury and Finland missed him. He has twice as many points as the No. 2 defenseman on Finland, his Stars defensive partner Esa Lindell.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins (+3)
Forward Sidney Crosby, Canada: He scored the golden goal in 2010 and scored in the championship game in 2014. He's still putting up big points at 38 and was named Canada's captain.
7. Montreal Canadiens (+3)
Forward Juraj Slafkovsky, Slovakia: He was MVP of the 2022 Olympics, which did not feature NHL players. Slafkovsky finished with seven goals and a bronze medal. He was drafted No. 1 overall that year and is the top Slovakian NHL scorer with 45 points.
8. Detroit Red Wings (-4)
Defenseman Moritz Seider, Germany: He's the only NHL defenseman on Team Germany and is on pace for his best overall season.
9. Buffalo Sabres (-2)
Forward Tage Thompson, USA: Thompson was a potential injury replacement for the 4 Nations Face-Off but wasn't needed. His size, speed and stickhandling ability will make a difference for the USA at the Olympics. It did in the world championships when he scored the clinching goal as the Americans won a rare gold medal.
10. Boston Bruins (+1)
Forward David Pastrnak, Czechia: He's the most dynamic Czech scorer and he'll be counted on even more with Bruins teammate Pavel Zacha missing the tournament with an injury.
11. Vegas Golden Knights (-3)
Forward Mitch Marner, Canada: He set up Connor McDavid's clinching goal in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
12. New York Islanders (0)
Forward Bo Horvat, Canada: He was the Islanders' lone representative until the team traded for Ondrej Palat, and Horvat was injured soon after Canada's announcement. But he's back and heading to the Olympics on a high note. He was second star of the week with five points in three games, including a pair of game-winners.
13. Columbus Blue Jackets (+9)
Defenseman Zach Werenski, USA: He brings a lot of offense from the back end, with 20 goals this season, second among NHL defensemen and first among those at the Olympics.
14. Utah Mammoth (0)
Goalie Karel Vejmelka, Czechia: Anaheim's Lukas Dostal is likely the No. 1 goalie, but Vejmelka has put together several long runs this season.
15. Seattle Kraken (+5)
Goalie Philipp Grubauer, Germany: Grubauer is having a bounce-back season and should be able to provide steady goaltending on a team that could get plenty of goals.
16. Anaheim Ducks (+1)
Forward Mikael Granlund, Finland: He's the captain of Team Finland, which is missing Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Barkov is irreplaceable, so all of Finland's forwards will need to step up.
Forward Connor McDavid, Canada: McDavid and Germany's Leon Draisaitl, the team's lone representatives, are equally important to their countries. McDavid's overtime winner at the 4 Nations gives him an edge.
19. Washington Capitals (+5)
Forward Tom Wilson, Canada: He earned a spot with his 23 goals, his penalty killing and his physical play. But he might have to temper his big hits because the International Ice Hockey Federation uses different standards.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs (+1)
Forward Auston Matthews, USA: The Americans named him captain. If the pure goal scorer can produce at the Olympics, it would help his reputation after playoff disappointments and the lack of a goal at the 4 Nations.
21. Philadelphia Flyers (-5)
Goaltender Dan Vladar, Czechia: No guarantee he sees action, but he did have a 1.09 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in the 2025 world championships.
22. Los Angeles Kings (-3)
Defenseman Drew Doughty, Canada: He doesn't put up the big numbers anymore, but he did win gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
23. Florida Panthers (-10)
Forward Matthew Tkachuk, USA: Look at the description of brother Brady Tkachuk, then add back-to-back Stanley Cup titles to his resume. He wasn't able to finish the championship game in the 4 Nations, scored 23 points with a torn adductor muscle in the playoffs and recently returned from offseason surgery.
24. San Jose Sharks (-6)
Forward Macklin Celebrini, Canada: Celebrini is having a spectacular sophomore season, has been mentioned as an MVP candidate and skated on a line with McDavid during the first Olympic practice.
25. Nashville Predators (+1)
Goalie Juuse Saros, Finland: He will be the Finns' go-to goalie. He didn't have a good 4 Nations but followed that up with a strong world championships.
26. New Jersey Devils (-3)
Forward Nico Hischier, Switzerland: The Devils captain is also the Swiss captain and a solid two-way player.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (0)
Forward Teuvo Teravainen, Finland:Connor Bedard didn't make Team Canada and Teravainen is the Blackhawks' lone Olympian. His numbers are off this season.
28. Calgary Flames (+2)
Forward Martin Pospisil, Czechia: He's the Flames' lone representative after the trade of Rasmus Andersson. He has no points in seven games with the Flames.
29. Winnipeg Jets (-1)
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck, USA: He was the No. 1 American goalie at the 4 Nations. But which goalie is the USA getting? The one who won the last two Vezina trophies and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy? Or the one who was pulled on the road in the playoffs and whose numbers are off this season?
Goalie Jordan Binnington, Canada: He led Canada to a 4 Nations championship and won a Stanley Cup in 2019. But he has struggled this season as have the Blues. Does he rebound behind a better team?
32. Vancouver Canucks (0)
Forward Elias Pettersson, Sweden: His star has faded the past couple seasons and he was held without a point in the 4 Nations. A rebound in the Olympics could help restore his reputation.
