It was another high-spirited practice, during which head coach Dan Muse put his team through it. He wants everyone ready to go for Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils, which will come three weeks after their last game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Every healthy player was on the ice, except for Sidney Crosby, who was coming back from the Olympics. He's also still banged up, and the Penguins don't have an update on him yet. The Penguins are off on Tuesday, so an update on his status for this week may not come until Wednesday when they return to practice.
Crosby was injured during Team Canada's quarterfinal game against Czechia and missed the semifinal against Finland and the Gold Medal loss to the United States.
Erik Karlsson returned to practice on Monday and was paired with his usual defensive partner, Parker Wotherspoon. It was Karlsson's first practice back after representing Sweden at the Olympics.
Rickard Rakell and Arturs Silovs, who also went to the Olympics, were back at practice on Sunday.
Avery Hayes was a full participant at practice after being called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday morning. He was on the top line with Rakell and Bryan Rust.
Here is what the forward lines looked like:
Hayes-Rakell-Rust
Chinakhov-Malkin-Novak
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Kevin Hayes was the 13th forward.
Defensively, the Penguins showcased Wotherspoon-Karlsson, Kulak-Letang, and Shea-Clifton. Ryan Graves and Ilya Solovyov were listed as the fourth pair.
Muse had the Penguins go through several 5v5 drills. He also set aside time for a lot of special teams work and some 6-on-5 work.
The Penguins will have three games this week to jumpstart the stretch run of the 2025-26 season. After Thursday's game against the Devils, the Penguins will play the New York Rangers on Saturday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
The San Jose Sharks play their first game following the Olympics on Feb. 26 against the Calgary Flames. The Sharks will be looking to start their final stretch of the season on the right foot by picking up a victory against Calgary and ending their four-game losing streak.
With the Sharks getting back on the ice, let's look at three storylines that fans should be keeping an eye on.
What Will The Sharks Do At The Trade Deadline?
The Sharks will certainly be a team to watch leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. At this point of the season, they have a 27-24-4 record and are five points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference standings.
The Sharks have already shown that they are willing to add to their roster, as they acquired Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks last month. Their next addition should be a right-shot defenseman, but there are also questions about whether they will sell off some of their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs).
Macklin Celebrini's Chase to 100-Point Season
Macklin Celebrini is having a spectacular second season in the NHL with the Sharks. In 55 games so far, the 19-year-old forward has recorded 28 goals, 53 assists, and 81 points. The only three players with more points than Celebrini in the NHL are Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov.
With Celebrini having 81 points at this point in the season, he undoubtedly has a very good chance of hitting the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. The Sharks have 27 games remaining, so if Celebrini continues to dominate, he should not trouble reaching point No. 100 of the season.
Will The Sharks Make The Playoffs?
As noted above, the Sharks still have a chance of making the playoffs this season. While they need to climb up the standings and get ahead of the Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and Nashville Predators, the possibility of them doing so should not be ruled out. This is especially so when noting that the Sharks have played fewer games than all three of them at this point in the season.
Another NHL player will miss some regular season time because of an injury that he suffered at the Olympics.
The Dallas Stars placed forward Mikko Rantanen on the injured list with a lower body injury, retroactive to Feb. 20. That means the earliest he could return is Feb. 27 and he will miss at least one game and possibly more.
Rantanen, the eighth-leading scorer in the NHL, sat out the bronze medal game at the Olympics, in which Finland beat Slovakia, 6-1, for its fifth medal in Winter Games involving NHL players. He was on the ice after the game for the medal ceremony and team photo.
Mikko Rantanen injury update
Mikko Rantanen was placed on the injured list by the Dallas Stars because of a lower-body injury he suffered at the Olympics with Team Finland.
Mikko Rantanen stats
Mikko Rantanen leads the Stars and is eighth in the NHL with 69 points in 54 games.
Other Olympians injury updates
Five NHL players were hurt in Milan, the most serious being Switzerland's Kevin Fiala (broken leg), who will miss the rest of the regular season for the Los Angeles Kings.
Pittsburgh Penguins/Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby was hurt in the quarterfinals and missed the semifinals and gold-medal game. Coach Dan Muse said Monday that Crosby was traveling and they'd have to wait until doctors could see him before getting a clearer picture on whether he'll miss time.
Winnipeg Jets/Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey didn't play after being hurt in the opening game. Coach Scott Arniel said Morrissey would miss the team's Feb. 25 game and "we'll see where we go from there."
The Chicago Blackhawks will return to action on Thursday. This follows a couple of weeks away for the Olympic break. Teuvo Teravainen was the team’s only Olympian, and he captured a Bronze Medal with Team Finland.
Team USA defeated Team Canada in overtime of the Gold Medal Game for their first Olympic victory in men’s hockey since 1980. Now, following this wonderful tournament, the NHL will get back to business as they push toward the trade deadline and postseason.
The Chicago Blackhawks are coming back with a record of 22-26-9. They are far from the worst team in the league, or even their conference, but they currently sit 10 points below the playoff line.
So what is the goal for this team? What is their plan for the rest of the season? These are the four storylines that will mostly define the stretch run to the off-season.
1. Decisions Ahead Of Trade Deadline
The Chicago Blackhawks have a handful of veterans who are currently pending free agents. Guys like Nick Foligno, Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy are all in the trade rumors, but will Kyle Davidson move all four?
Will any of them get extended, and if so, when? The decisions that the Blackhawks make ahead of the deadline (March 6th) will shape how their roster looks for the rest of the season and possibly going into next year.
2. Prospects Joining NHL Lineup
If they trade multiple of those players, they will certainly call on a handful of prospects to take roster spots. Seeing what they have in a handful of these guys is important.
Kevin Korchinski is already up while Wyatt Kaiser works his way back, but could he spend the rest of the season in the NHL if Murphy is moved?
As far as the forwards, Nick Lardis, Anton Frondell, and multiple college prospects could be looking for spots when their seasons end.
In the case of Frondell, an addition like that to the lineup would add some juice to the hype around the team. As their 2025 third overall pick, there are expectations that he will be a great NHL player.
Nick Lardis already proved that he can fit into an NHL group when Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar were out, but a roster spot has to open up again for him to join full-time. That may be coming for him (and others) sooner than later.
3. Where Will Chicago Land In The 2026 NHL Draft?
If the season ended today, the Blackhawks would have the 6th-best odds of winning the NHL Draft Lottery. If everything stayed in place, they'd make the 6th overall pick. They are likely going to land within the top-ten, so a highly touted prospect will be coming to Chicago in June.
They also have the first round pick of the Florida Panthers, but it is top-ten protected. Down the stretch, we will see where they land.
Right now, they would have the 10th-best odds of winning the lottery, meaning if it all stayed the same, that 10th overall pick would transfer to 2027. With rumors swirling that a handful of their best players may be shut down following the Olympics, that pick very well could be held until 2027.
Both of Chicago's potential first-round draft picks are worth keeping an eye on as the season winds down. Who knows, maybe they'll even land another first ahead of the deadline. Then, the team that gave them that pick would be added to the "must-watch" list.
4. What will Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi's goal total look like?
Tyler Bertuzzi currently leads the Blackhawks with 25 goals. Connor Bedard is right behind him with 23. Bedard would probably be firmly in front if he never sustained his injury, but there is no doubting the overall individual success that both men have had this year.
So will they each reach the 30-goal plateau? It looks like it. Do either of them have the ability to push it to 40 with 25 games left? Bertuzzi needs 15, and Bedard needs 17. It's possible, but it may come down to the wire, and both would probably have to play every game.
For obvious reasons, the Blackhawks would like to see Connor Bedard close out the year with a massive goal-scoring streak. He must continue to drive the bus offensively for the team to have any kind of future. As for Bertuzzi, he is going to be happy with his output regardless, but he would like to finish strong, as would anyone.
As a side note, Connor Bedard currently has 53 points in 44 games played. He is on pace to finish the season with 83. Over the course of an 82-game season, it is a 98-point pace. In next year's 84-game season, it's a 101-point pace.
Bedard is, if healthy, sure to surpass his career high of 67 points, but by how many? That will also be a big talking point, along with his goals.
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When New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov went down with a right-shoulder injury on Nov. 18, the fear was that we wouldn't see him back on the ice for quite a while. The initial prognosis was that Romanov would miss five-to-six months after undergoing right-shoulder surgery. That would put Romanov on the shelf for the rest of the regular season, at least, which included his contract being placed on Long-Term Injured List.
With much time left in the schedule at that point, thinking about the playoffs wasn't really a realistic conversation, just yet.
Now it is.
The Islanders entered the 2026 Winter Olympic break sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a four-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. Romanov is still far away from a potential return, but is progressing well as he hit the ice before last Friday's skate, taking shots:
Romanov is back on the ice, firing shots as he continues a challenging recovery. His mid-playoff-round return date hasn't changed.
With Romanov, potentially, available in the mid-playoff rounds if the Islanders get there, there's something that general manager Mathieu Darche needs to keep in mind between now and the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline on March 6.
There's a new rule that went into place regarding playoffs and the salary cap.
Teams must have a cap-compliant 20-player roster for each playoff game. So, in theory, if the Islanders wanted Romanov to play, they'd need to make sure his $6.25 million cap hit fits.
With this current roster, here's a projection for the forward group, defense group, and goaltending, including Romanov's hit.
Forwards: $61.07 million
Defensemen: $24.375 million
Goaltending: $9.25 million
Total: $94.69 million
That hit allows the Islanders to be compliant with the salary cap for 2025-26 at $95.5 million.
However, where things get more complicated is if the Islanders add cap ahead of the deadline. They have $6.02 million in available cap space and could use that room to upgrade their team, whether that's adding a big name to the top six of depth options.
If Romanov is activated, Soucy's $3.25 million would likely come out of the playoff lineup.
The Islanders have the room for sure, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Romanov. But his potential return is something the Islanders should keep in mind when making deals, especially if they bring in a player with a $6 million or more cap hit.
William Stromgren is turning heads in the American Hockey League.
The 22-year-old Swedish forward was named AHL Player of the Week after a dominant three-game stretch with the Calgary Wranglers, piling up three goals and three assists for six points while posting an impressive plus-6 rating. Stromgren’s strong two-way play and offensive touch were on full display, driving the Wranglers’ attack and providing consistent production at even strength.
The recent surge adds to what has been a steady and productive campaign. Through 45 games this season, Stromgren has registered 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points, continuing to solidify himself as one of the organization’s most promising young forwards.
Originally selected 45th overall in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames, Stromgren is beginning to show why the club invested a high pick in the skilled winger. His development has been trending upward, combining size, skating ability, and offensive instincts into a reliable AHL presence.
While his time with the big club was brief, his recent AHL performance suggests it may not be long before Stromgren pushes for another look. For now, he continues to build confidence and momentum in Calgary’s system — and his Player of the Week honours are further proof that his development is right on track.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are over, which means the Buffalo Sabres will soon be returning to game action. The 2026 NHL trade deadline is also rapidly approaching, so trade activity around the NHL should certainly pick up.
Fans will naturally be keeping an eye on the Sabres. With star forward Alex Tuch being a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) and still without a contract extension at the time of this writing, he has been the subject of trade rumors.
Yet, when noting that the Sabres are currently in a playoff spot and Tuch is an incredibly important part of their roster, they should not trade him. Instead, their next move should be to find a way to sign him to a contract extension.
Tuch is exactly the kind of player that a team on the rise, like the Sabres, should be keeping around. He is not only a big part of their top six due to his strong offensive ability, but is also a well-respected leader in their room. Thus, moving on from him would undoubtedly be negative for the Sabres. This is especially so when noting that they have a real shot of finally snapping their 14-year playoff drought.
The Sabres would be wise to work hard on getting a new deal done with Tuch as the deadline gets closer. If they extend him, it would be great news for the Sabres.
In 56 games this season with the Sabres, Tuch has recorded 22 goals, 26 assists, 48 points, and a plus-14 rating.
On January 25, Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser received an elbow to the head that would ultimately keep him out until after the 2026 Winter Olympic Games concluded. While he’d previously returned to Vancouver’s practices in a regular jersey, at today’s practice, the forward wore a red non-contact jersey.
Why was this the case?
Throughout the past little while, the Canucks have had some sort of bug making its way through the dressing room. When Vancouver first returned to practice on February 17, Conor Garland was the lone player to not return to the ice. Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote later revealed this was due to illness.
That same day, Boeser had been requested for media availability but was unable to speak as he wasn’t feeling well. It was these illness symptoms that led to the Canucks putting Boeser in a non-contact jersey today. The main concern from the organization was that the symptoms had to do with the concussion he’d sustained back on January 25, though it was more done out of an abundance of caution rather than suspicion.
“He didn't feel good a couple days ago, and they had to make sure […] that it was actually viral and not his concussion, right? So they're just doing the right thing with the protocol.”
From Foote’s perspective, things are trending positively in the direction of Boeser being A-Ok to get back in a regular jersey for tomorrow’s practice.
“[He had] a couple things going on, not being on the ice as much with the injury, and having the break, and then getting through the concussion, and then you have a viral on top of it, and tried to condition. And he went out there. He didn't want to leave, but I think the therapists wanted to do the right thing, just because the concussion was in play. And then once you get caught up in that you’ve got to make sure it is the viral, and you still have to go through the protocol of the NHL coming back your first skate in a red jersey.”
Time will tell whether Boeser's symptoms of sickness have to do with his concussion or the locker room's illness, but for now, it appears to be trending in the direction of the latter.
Jan 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The Florida Panthers are gearing up for a late-season playoff push as the NHL gets set to resume its season following a nice, long break for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Many of the Panthers players who have been battling injuries are either now healthy enough to return or nearing that level.
The only guys who are not expected to play in a game in the next couple weeks are Florida captain Sasha Barkov and defenseman Seth Jones.
Barring any setbacks, every else who has either been out long-term or missed time recently with a minor injury – Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, Evan Rodrigues, Tony Bjornfot, Dmitry Kulikov, Jonah Gadjovich, Tomas Nosek and Daniil Tarasov – should be back in the Panthers’ lineup in or around a fortnight.
As for Barkov and Jones, it’s going to be a little longer for them.
Jones is around a week away from being cleared to re-join regular team practices, though he’ll likely start off wearing a non-contact jersey.
With Barkov, he’s still got quite a few hours to log in regard to rehabbing his surgically repaired knee.
Both Barkov and Jones have been skating on their own, getting in work with Panthers Skills Coach Max Ivanov.
Over the weekend, Ivanov posted some very cool footage of one of those sessions on social media.
Photo caption: Mar 30, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) celebrates with center Aleksander Barkov (16) after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
With the conclusion of the 2026 Olympics, the focus now turns back to the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
For the St. Louis Blues, the break was needed, as the season has been a total mess from the get-go. They’ve dealt with numerous injuries, plenty of their star players have massively underperformed, and they sit in 31st place in the NHL.
Although mathematically they haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention, they sit 14 points back of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference and have shown no signs of turning things around.
The Blues will be sellers at the deadline, and that’s okay.
Despite their low place in the standings, when looking at their roster when completely healthy, it’s difficult to find spots to place their young forwards. That’s especially true for 20-year-old Swedish winger Otto Stenberg.
Stenberg hasn’t lit up the AHL offensively as some may have expected. With just four goals and 12 points in 28 games, Stenberg’s numbers aren’t much to rave about, but he plays a balanced game with the mindset to win pucks back at all costs. Stenberg has performed better at the NHL level rather than the AHL level, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the NHL is the best spot for him.
Otto Stenberg has scored one goal and eight points in 18 NHL games. (Terrence Lee-Imagn Images)
The AHL remains a developmental league, and if the Blues envision Stenberg as a top-six forward for their future, they need him to hone his offensive skills and play meaningful minutes, rather than playing in a fourth-line role on the Blues, which is what he would currently play with a healthy Blues lineup.
But Stenberg could be back up with the Blues again this season. The March 6 trade deadline is just 11 days away, and the Blues are expected to move on from several key players. That’s when Stenberg could find his opportunity to rejoin the Blues’ NHL roster.
At just 20 years old, the results and the production aren’t the most important things for Stenberg; it’s the process. They believe Stenberg has the intangibles and compete level of an NHL player, but his next step is to improve his offensive skill set and slowly turn it into production.
The Blues aren’t making the playoffs, and they aren’t in a total rebuild, so patience is a tool the Blues can utilize to their benefit with Stenberg.
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With the Olympic break now over, the NHL trade market is about to heat up — and for the Calgary Flames, the timing couldn’t be more critical. Sitting 29th in the league with a 23-27-6 record and 52 points, the Flames are officially in rebuild mode, signaling a willingness to move veteran assets as the March 6 trade deadline approaches.
The team’s recent trade of pending UFA Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights made it clear: Calgary is looking ahead, and more roster changes are likely. With their next game scheduled for February 26 against the San Jose Sharks, Flames fans are already asking which familiar faces might be on the move.
Blake Coleman is perhaps the most obvious candidate. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Coleman brings versatility, defensive responsibility, leadership, and offensive upside — the kind of player that fits seamlessly into almost any contending lineup.
Through 44 games this season, Coleman leads Calgary in goals with 13 and has contributed 21 points overall. He has been key in all situations, including special teams, and has consistently set a standard with his work ethic and competitiveness.
Nazem Kadri has reportedly expressed openness to waiving his no-trade clause to join a contender. Despite a dip in production this season, Kadri remains Calgary’s leading scorer with 39 points in 56 games. He also brings leadership and a Stanley Cup pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche.
However, at age 35, his minus-24 rating and a $7 million annual cap hit with three years remaining on his contract could make some teams hesitant. Salary retention by Calgary could make a deal more feasible, especially for teams looking to add depth and veteran experience.
Potential destinations: Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild
Mackenzie Weegar: Experience and Minutes on the Move
Defenceman Mackenzie Weegar has had a challenging season, posting 20 points and a -32 rating — the worst in the NHL. Still, he brings experience, plays big minutes, blocks shots, kills penalties, and could provide defensive depth for teams in the playoff hunt.
Weegar would need to waive his no-movement clause to be traded, and a hometown landing spot with the Ottawa Senators could be the incentive. Other teams in need of a steady, veteran blueliner, such as the Detroit Red Wings, might also be interested.
Potential destinations: Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings
In a recent article for Daily Faceoff, Anthony Di Marco reported that "five or six" clubs have expressed interest in Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
Di Marco also mentioned the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers as two specific clubs that have kicked tires on Ristolainen as of late.
It isn't exactly a secret that the Bruins want to improve the right side of their defense. They have not found a proper replacement for Brandon Carlo in their top four since they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs this past season, and bringing in a player like Ristolainen could changes thing on that front.
The Bruins have also been connected to multiple other right-shot defenseman this season. As Di Marco noted, the Bruins were among the clubs that pursued Rasmus Andersson before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Calgary Flames. The Bruins have also been linked to St. Louis Blues right-shot defenseman Justin Faulk this season, so having Ristolainen on their radar as well is understandable.
The Oilers also make sense as a suitor for Ristolainen. One of their top needs at this point of the season is another defenseman for their right side, and Ristolainen is easily one of the best potential options available. If Edmonton acquired him, he could replace Ty Emberson on their bottom pairing. Yet, he could also move up to the Oilers' second pairing if Jake Walman moved to the left side.
Ristolainen would also make sense for a true contender like the Oilers to bring in. His hard-nosed style of play would make him a valuable player for Edmonton to have around during the playoffs when the games get tougher.
Yet, the Flyers are in a position where they can take their time with a Ristolainen trade. This is because he has another year on his contract after this season, where he has a $5.1 million cap hit.
Nevertheless, it will be fascinating to see if the Flyers end up trading Ristolainen this season.
The NHL resumes play on Wednesday, February 25, following the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and I’ve got five NHL futures bets to place out of the break.
My top futures NHL picks before the teams return to action on Wednesday are headlined by the Minnesota Wild winning the Stanley Cup and Macklin Celebrini taking home some hardware.
5 NHL futures bets to make right now
Stanley Cup winner
NHL Futures
Stanley Cup Winner
Futures Market
Minnesota Wild
Bet: Stanley Cup Winner
Odds
+1800
Edge snapshot: Elite goaltending stability, cap flexibility, and deadline upside.
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I don’t think the Minnesota Wild are done tweaking their roster ahead of the trade deadline on Friday, March 6, and I also expect them to add at least one more key piece to solidify their top-six forward group.
The addition of Quinn Hughes has led the Wild to a 16-5-5 heater that’s good for the third-highest point percentage during the run, and the one-two punch of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt gives them a rare stability in goal.
Don’t forget, the Wild have over $10 million of current salary-cap space, in addition to promising young talents in defensemen David Jiricek and David Spacek, and goalie Samuel Hlavaj.
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Narrative is critical to winning NHL Awards, and San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini gained plenty of momentum by leading the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with five goals and adding another five assists playing in a top-line role with Team Canada.
Celebrini is also second in individual points percentage among NHL regulars, and his 81 points across 55 games are more than double the 39 Will Smith has put up to rank second on San Jose.
If Celebrini leads the Sharks to a postseason berth, he’ll be on the ballot to win the Heart Trophy, and this +315 price will look like a gift.
To reach the playoffs
NHL Futures
To Reach Playoffs
Futures Market
Pittsburgh Penguins
Bet: To Reach Playoffs — NO
Odds
+255
Edge snapshot: Brutal schedule, shaky goaltending, and a Crosby injury cloud.
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There’s a strong case that the Pittsburgh Penguins have the hardest remaining schedule in the NHL, and I think captain Sidney Crosby is set to miss some time. Additionally, No. 1 goalie Stuart Skinner hasn’t been sharp with an .887 save percentage.
Returning to Crosby, he leads Pittsburgh forwards in five-on-five ice time per game and is second in overall points per 60 minutes and individual point percentage on the team.
To reach the playoffs
NHL Futures
To Reach Playoffs
Futures Market
San Jose Sharks
Bet: To Reach Playoffs — YES
Odds
+230
Edge snapshot: Easy remaining schedule and a real runway to the wild card.
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The San Jose Sharks have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league, and they’re just five points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. San Jose has also played three more road games than home, and superstar Macklin Celebrini should be shot out of a cannon following a dominant performance in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Additionally, the Sharks have 27 games remaining on the schedule, which is tied for the most in the NHL.
Stage of elimination
NHL Futures
Stage of Elimination
Futures Market
Utah Mammoth
Bet: Eliminated in First Round
Odds
-135
Edge snapshot: Great five-on-five profile, but likely draws a heavyweight Round 1.
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I expect the Utah Mammoth to earn a wild-card berth in the Western Conference, which will position them to face either the No. 1 seed out of the Central or Pacific Divisions.
Utah has a solid young core and plays an elite five-on-five style with a fourth-ranked Corsi For percentage and league-leading expected goals percentage across its past 24 games.
It’s just that a star-studded team will be waiting in the opening round of the playoffs, and I don’t envision the Mammoth to be able to beat the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, or Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With the resumption of the 2025-26 NHL season on the horizon, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled goaltender Nikita Tolopilo from the AHL in preparation for Wednesday’s game. In a corresponding move, Aku Koskenvuo, who had been practicing with Vancouver through the past week, has been re-assigned to the ECHL.
Tolopilo has played in nine games with the Canucks this season, putting together a record of 3–3–1. He has a 3.04 GAA and team-high SV% of .910%. Since being recalled to the AHL during the 2026 Winter Olympic break, Tolopilo has played in six games and posted three wins.
Koskenvuo was initially re-assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks in place of Tolopilo, but was assigned to the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL soon after. With Kevin Lankinen expected back soon after winning a bronze medal with Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Jiří Patera will likely end up joining Abbotsford soon, meaning that room needed to be made as Ty Young is currently also with the AHL Canucks. Both Tolopilo and Patera practiced with the Canucks at UBC today.
Vancouver will return to play on February 25 against the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Recent speculation and trade rumors have circled around the New York Rangers and former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
Although he is in his first season with the Rangers, the word around the Russian blueliner is that he doesn't want to be a part of the step-back transition the team is going through.
On July 1, the off-season's first day of NHL free agency, he signed a seven-year, $49-million contract that pays him $7 million per year. However, with the new deal, and only featuring in 57 contests as a Ranger, Gavrikov appears to be open to moving on to a more preferable situation.
NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp claimed that he heard some rumblings involving Gavrikov and how the current state of the Rangers "isn't necessarily what he signed up for."
In 2023-24, a couple of seasons before Gavrikov joined the Blueshirts, the Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference final and were a strong team. Since then, that has changed, and Gavrikov's perspective with this team may have been reset.
Panarin is a fellow countryman of Gavrikov, and they were teammates before the Rangers when they were both members of the Columbus Blue Jackets at one point. So, Panarin's departure to Los Angeles in tandem with the team's poor performances is a strong recipe for Gavrikov's willingness to move.
However, it must be noted that there hasn't been any official trade request or reports of conversations regarding Gavrikov's situation in New York City.
Nonetheless, the 30-year-old defenseman was a solid blueliner during his parts of three seasons with the Kings. In his final campaign in Hollywood, Gavrikov posted a plus-26 plus-minus rating, the most among the team's D-corps.
Even in this season with the Rangers, he's having a respectable year while averaging 24:04 of ice time, the most of his NHL career. And while it's not what he's paid to do, he has nine goals this season, beating his previous best of six goals with the Kings in 2023-24.
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