BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his second NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres with teammates Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of an NHL game on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Fueled by a 14-3-3 run since Christmas break that ranked second in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture when the NHL took its pause for the Olympics.
Pittsburgh’s season so far can be neatly broken into three segments; there was the hot 8-2-2 start that got them off to a strong footing followed by a period from Halloween to Christmas where they struggled to a 7-10-7 record that put them around the bottom of the league in that stretch, followed by the return to the top up to the Olympics from the period of Christmas onward.
That does leave one to wonder what will come next in the upcoming unofficial fourth segment of the season when games resume. Unfortunately for the Pens, it’s going to be a tough path to travel. They have the NHL’s toughest remaining strength of schedule based on quality of opponent. From Tankathon:
The Pens still have a lot of obstacles in their path in what looks like a brutal slate in March. The Pens will play 17 games in the month, tough enough as that may be it’s even more daunting seeing 14 of those 17 opponents currently in a playoff position. Seven of those games come against teams that are currently first in their division. That will be highlighted with three March games against Carolina, the team the Penguins find themselves eight points behind for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Despite the upcoming brutal path, most models are bullish on the Pens’ chances to make the playoffs due to the strong work they’ve put together to this point. The Athletic is projecting a season finish of 95.8 points, Hockeystats.com is at 98. The Pens’ current statistical pace is 103 points based off how they’ve done so far. The team already has 70 points with 26 games to go, meaning both models are expecting close to a .500 finish in the games that remain. That could be something to keep in mind, if the Pens can over-perform that figure then their projections will shift up, and the opposite will hold true if the losses and regulation losses start stacking up again.
Even though it can be seen as a tough development to take a pause while the team has been among the NHL’s best in the last six weeks, the Olympic break likely still comes at a good time for the Pens overall. The break gives Kris Letang a chance to heal his broken foot without missing as many games. Evgeni Malkin was gutting through a shoulder problem that gets the benefit of added time off. Stuart Skinner was going into a slide and gets an opportunity for a reset. Pittsburgh will need all three veterans to play well down the stretch, the break provides them all a better chance compared to if the NHL season kept rolling on like it would in a non-Olympic year.
The NHL season is nearing 70% done, the Penguins have an impressive body of work through that time. It’s set them up for a very realistic chance at doing what many thought couldn’t be done to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2022. There’s still a way to go and a short time to get there, which their fate will ultimately be determined by playing a very tough schedule when the games pick back up. That’s what meaningful hockey this time of year is all about.
He made his NHL debut for the Penguins on Thursday and notched two goals in the Penguins' 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. His first goal was his first shot on net in the first period after he beat two Sabres defenders to the puck and fired it past Alex Lyon.
His second goal came later in the first period when he took a brilliant feed from Anthony Mantha and went top-shelf to make it a 2-1 game heading into the first intermission. Hayes was called up earlier that afternoon since Noel Acciari was battling an illness.
Hayes is the 12th undrafted player to score multiple goals in his NHL debut in NHL history. He's also only the seventh player in NHL history to score multiple goals in the first period of his debut.
He was re-assigned to WBS on Friday before returning to the lineup against the Hershey Bears on Saturday. He had another game to remember, scoring a hat trick in Wilkes-Barre's 4-3 overtime win over Hershey.
Hayes opened the scoring on the power play after a really pretty feed from Rutger McGroarty. Hayes was at the side of the net and tucked the puck past Hershey goaltender Garin Bjorklund. He then made it 2-0 just a few minutes later, showcasing his wicked release while WBS was shorthanded.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 8, 2026
The game eventually went to overtime, and Hayes was the hero, scoring the game-winning goal on a one-timer on the power play. His stick broke as he fired the puck, but he scored anyway.
Fans Want NHLers at the Olympics - March 19, 1999 - Volume 52, Issue 27 - Jason Kay
The ayes have it, even if the IOC doesn’t.
Despite the International Olympic Committee corruption scandal and the mixed reviews to which the hockey event at the 1998 Nagano Games played, readers of THN largely support NHL participation at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.
THN asked readers whether the league should again interrupt a season and send players to the Olympics. The ’Yes’ vote (67.5 per cent) outpolled the ’No’ (32.5 per cent) vote by a 2-1 margin.
Many of those who favor an Olympic sequel say the event would lose luster if the game’s greatest stars don’t participate.
“The Olympics are supposed to showcase the best athletes,” writes Chris Schultz of Green Bay, Wise., “and I think the best talent in the world should be there, regardless of what happened in the 1998 Games.”
“Each sport brings the best,” writes Fernand Welschbillig of Mersch, Luxembourg. “Why should hockey be the exception?”
Among those who cast ’No’ ballots, some felt Nagano didn’t Eve up to its hype. Others were turned off by Team USA’s room trashing. Others are appalled by the IOC bribery scandal. And there are many who believe the Olympics should be for amateurs.
“I don’t support NHL participation,” writes Dan Black of Regina, Sask., “especially for an American team after the disgrace they brought upon the NHL and the USA in the last Olympics.”
“Keep the Olympics for amateurs,” writes Thomas V. Papaccio of Cherry Hill, N.J. “Remember 1980? That was exciting.”
“My reason (for voting ’no’) has been in the news for the past few months,” writes Bob McConnell of Kamloops, B.C., in reference to IOC problems. “That says it all.”
For the record, the NHL is expected to halt its season in 2002 and send players to Salt Lake, but no official announcement has been made.
PUCK POLL
In light of the NHL’s experience at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and the recent corruption scandal involving members of the International Olympic Committee, do you support NHL participation, such as Czech Republic gold-medal goalie Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres, at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City?
Yes, I support participation 67.5%
No, I don’t support participation 32.5%
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The Philadelphia Flyers are slumping midway through the season yet again, and one of the 2026 NHL Draft's top prospects following a similar trajectory might fall right into their laps as a result.
Heading into the Olympic break, the 25-20-11 Flyers sit eight points out of a playoff spot, trailing both the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins for the second wildcard and Metropolitan Division 3 playoff spots.
As a result, they've got some of the worst odds to reach the postseason; Moneypuck currently gives the Flyers a 10.7% chance of making the playoffs, which is the ninth-worst in the NHL and fourth-worst in the Eastern Conference.
So, once again, the focus for the Flyers and Flyers fans may as well rest on the 2026 NHL Draft, which is shaping up to have an interesting draft class for a few reasons.
For starters, wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are the clear leaders of the pack at the forward position, and a deep defensive group is headlined by the likes of Keaton Verhoeff, Chase Reid, Alberts Smits, and Carson Carels.
Of course, as is the Flyers' luck, the center position is a bit weaker and more volatile, though Canadian pivot Tynan Lawrence stands alone at the top... for now.
Lawrence, 17, is currently ranked fourth overall by EliteProspects' consolidated rankings and 11th overall by EliteProspects themselves, but there is a pretty good chance he ends up closer to 11 than four, which bodes well for the Flyers.
The 6-foot center started the season as the captain of the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks, with whom he scored 10 goals, seven assists, and 17 points in 13 games before making the jump to the NCAA with Boston University.
The grass hasn't been greener on that side, though, and the top 2026 draft prospect has just one goal and one point in 10 games at the collegiate level.
Lawrence's speed and puck skills still make him a top-tier offensive threat (and prospect), but the NCAA, at least so far, has been too great an adjustment too quick.
Fortunately for him and the Flyers, though, Philadelphia has had no issues with players coming in and out of college and taking time to adjust.
After all, defenseman Carter Amico, who was at Boston himself, just went the other way to Muskegon and took a step back.
Porter Martone had a slower start to his career at Michigan State, and his teammate, Shane Vansaghi, hasn't produced as much as his skillset would typically allow for.
Other Flyers prospects currently playing in the NCAA include Cole Knuble, Owen McLaughlin, Heikki Ruohonen, Jack Murtagh, Ryan MacPherson, and Noah Powell.
It should also be noted that Ty Murchison, Alex Bump, and Karsen Dorwart all just turned pro from the college level, too.
This is all to say, though, that the Flyers have no problems being patient with college players and young players learning to be pros and adjusting to new environments.
No two journeys are the same, obviously, and Lawrence's case is not exempt.
The Flyers are finding out, perhaps the hard way, that rushing the rebuild along isn't going to work out well for them without acquiring the talent first.
That makes Tynan Lawrence the perfect project for them to take on at the 2026 NHL Draft.
In his latest 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sharks are "active" and looking to add to their roster. In addition, Friedman also noted that the Sharks will be looking to free up some contract space in the process.
"San Jose is active. Two signed defencemen after this year: Sam Dickinson and Dmitri Orlov. Eying more, while also trying to alleviate their contract logjam, at 49 out of a maximum 50," Friedman wrote.
Hearing that the Sharks are open to adding to their group is not surprising. They already made a notable move last month when they acquired Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. Furthermore, they are still in the playoff race, so it would make sense for them to upgrade their group.
As Friedman noted, the Sharks have several pending free agent defensemen. With this, it would make sense if they tried to add another blueliner to their roster, but especially if they have term. However, adding another forward could also be worthwhile for the Sharks.
Yet, if the Sharks hope to upgrade their roster, they will need to create more room when it comes to their contracts.
Nevertheless, the Sharks will be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic roster freeze ends on February 23 until the March 6 trade deadline. It will be interesting to see what kind of moves they make from here.
The Vancouver Canucks have officially reached the 2026 Winter Olympic break with 57 games of the 2025–26 season under their belt. Throughout that span of time, the Canucks have played themselves comfortably into 32nd in the NHL with a record of 18–33–6 and 42 points. Here’s how the Canucks stack up to the rest of the NHL at the 2026 Winter Olympic break.
Team Stats
Vancouver Canucks team stats at the 2026 Winter Olympic break.
Aside from in goals-for (145, 29th in the NHL), Vancouver ranks either 32nd or 23rd in their listed team stats. Along with their record and points-percentage (.368%), Vancouver also ranks 32nd in the NHL in goals-against (208) and penalty-killing (70.6%). When it comes to their shots per game (26.9), faceoff win rate (48.5%), and power play (18.2%), the Canucks actually rank 23rd in the NHL.
Individual Skater Stats
Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats at the 2026 Winter Olympic break.
Vancouver’s three goal-scoring leaders — Elias Pettersson, Jake DeBrusk, and Drew O’Connor — are all tied with players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evgeni Malkin, and Matvei Michkov for 125th in the NHL when it comes to total goals scored throughout 2025–26. This is one of the four categories that DeBrusk leads the Canucks in at this point in the season, as he also leads Vancouver in shots (156, tied for 25th in NHL), power play points (14, tied for 70th in NHL), and power play minutes (192:07, 28th in NHL). Marcus Pettersson has also taken the lead in an extra category, now leading the Canucks in blocks (95, 37th in NHL) in addition to minutes played on the penalty kill (160:19, 23rd in NHL).
Goaltending Stats
Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats at the 2026 Winter Olympic break.
The Canucks’ goaltending department has not been what many expected of them this season. Vancouver’s highest-ranked goaltending stat compared to the rest of the NHL is Kevin Lankinen’s high-danger shots faced (261), in which Vancouver places 15th in the league. In comparison, however, Thatcher Demko holds the team’s lead in high-danger save-percentage with .803% (T-37th in NHL). Their lowest-ranked stat on this list is their win count (T-48 in NHL), which Demko has held since the 35-game mark with eight.
Vancouver will resume the season on February 25 with a home game against the Winnipeg Jets at 7:00 pm PT. They’ll head to Washington for a quick match against the Seattle Kraken on the 28th, before taking part in two more home games against the Dallas Stars (March 2) and Carolina Hurricanes (March 4) ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Feb 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Since returning to the Detroit Red Wings as general manager in 2019, Steve Yzerman has assembled one of the top prospect pools in the National Hockey League.
His first-round selections in the 2019 (Moritz Seider) and 2020 (Lucas Raymond) NHL Drafts have emerged as two of the best players in their respective draft classes and have become foundational building blocks for the organization.
Selecting with the 13th overall pick in 2025, Yzerman selected forward Carter Bear of the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips. Bear, who led the Silvertips with 40 goals and 82 points last season, continues to display the scoring touch that fans in Hockeytown hope that he'll eventually have in the Winged Wheel.
Bear recorded a hat trick in Everett’s recent 6–3 victory over the Kamloops Blazers, boosting his season totals to 23 goals and 48 points in 35 games.
Bear was signed by Yzerman to a three-year, entry-level contract shortly after being drafted, and he participated in Detroit's Development Camp in late June.
"A very intelligent hockey player, extremely competitive," Yzerman said of Bear in June. "At the junior level, he really can score. We think all of his game translates to the NHL as well."
Yzerman also expressed optimism that it wouldn't take long for Bear to endear himself to Red Wings fans when his NHL career eventually begins.
"I think our fan base will really take to him when the time comes that he is playing for the Red Wings, because he competes hard, and he’s a really good person. We are very excited about this pick. "
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In a lengthy interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, Montreal Canadiens’ president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton discussed a lot of topics. Still, one was particularly interesting: the organization’s approach to the trade deadline.
While on the ice, the team has shown plenty of signs of progress despite being the youngest outfit in the league and overcoming subpar goaltending and numerous injuries, the Habs’ brass remains realistic. As Engels writes, Gorton and his partner in crime, Kent Hughes, are not under the illusion that adding a player or two at the trade deadline would launch their window of opportunities; they are not there yet.
This realistic, prudent approach is exactly why Geoff Molson made the right move by hiring the duo, and it stands in stark contrast to Marc Bergevin's past approach. Year after year, we heard the former GM say that once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen, and year after year, he went out to get some complementary pieces at the deadline.
It doesn’t mean they won’t be active at all. Gorton acknowledges that Hughes has his finger on the pulse and checks reported availabilities, adding that the duo spends a lot of time analyzing its next move. If they do make moves, they won’t be just for the now; the duo always has its objective of making the Canadiens a perennial contender at the forefront of their minds, as it should be.
Like the coach they’ve hired, Gorton and Hughes are very much of the “what’s next?” approach, and they’re not leaving anything to chance. Their recent moves have shown how they are thinking. They signed Alexandre Texier to a one-year contract initially, but extended his contract by two more years after he demonstrated his potential. They identified an issue with their penalty kill and a need for a left-shot center, so they went out and got Phillip Danault, without sacrificing too many assets, and it’s a good stop-gap option with another year on the contract of the soon-to-be 33-year-old.
The trade deadline may not be very exciting for Canadiens’ fans, but as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, and Montreal is already seeing some of those good things, but the best is yet to come.
In a season filled with disappointment, it’s the ideal set of players who have provided the most positivity for the Vancouver Canucks; their rookies. Given the fact that this franchise’s future will likely be driven by a big chunk of these players, this can mean nothing but good things. If positive things keep going the way they have been for these Vancouver rookies, then the Canucks will be in good hands throughout the long-term future.
Linus Karlsson Has Been One Of The Biggest Surprises For The Canucks This Season
No Canuck has more 5-on-5 points than Linus Karlsson, who has scored nine goals and 11 assists in those situations. Despite bouncing around throughout Vancouver’s lineup this season, the forward has been one of the Canucks’ most consistent point producers, tallying a total of 11 goals and 13 assists. Karlsson’s play this season earned him a two-year contract extension, which he signed in January, as well as some looks on Vancouver’s first-unit power play. The forward is one who works his hardest and does what he needs to in order to find success at the NHL level.
Tom Willander Is Playing Himself Into A Future Top-4 Role
When Tom Willander made his NHL debut on October 28, many believed it’d be a one-off, and that he’d be back with the Abbotsford Canucks soon after. This isn’t a slight to Willander, but rather in consideration to his young professional career that only started this season. However, Willander has impressed so much that he’s played himself into a solid spot in Vancouver’s D-core, even serving as the quarterback on their first-unit power play for an extended period of time. While it was never a question in the first place, if anything, Willander’s play this season has only solidified the fact that he needs to be part of Vancouver’s future moving forward.
Liam Öhgren Sets The Canucks’ Pace
The Canucks received a valuable package of prospects and future potential when they traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild back in December. While Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium may have initially been the most noted names returning in the deal, Liam Öhgren has since proven himself as a big piece in this blockbuster deal. The forward’s no-quit motor and high-energy style of play has made him a mainstay in the lineup. The fact he’s been solid defensively doesn’t hurt, either. With connections throughout the organization and a positive first-impression, Öhgren’s first 26 games as a Canuck have gone excellently.
Jan 23, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Linus Karlsson (94) and defenseman Tom Willander (5) celebrate Karlsson’s goal against the New Jersey Devils in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Zeev Buium Has Shown The Potential To Become Vancouver’s Next Star On The Blueline
Buium’s time with the Canucks has been filled with promise. Offensively, the defenceman has shown great potential and has even been given a good chunk of power play minutes to try and elevate that. While the defensive side of his game could still use some work, this isn’t a bad thing. After all, Buium only just turned 20 at the start of December and is still in the midst of his first NHL season. If there’s any time for him to be making mistakes, it’s now. With more NHL playing time, Buium will be able to apply his experience towards fixing past mistakes — something that will ultimately impact his play for the better in the long run.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki Is Flashing His Goal-Scoring Skill
Jonathan Lekkerimäki got his first taste of NHL action last season, playing in 24 games and scoring three goals and three assists. Since then, it’s clear he took his experiences in the NHL and AHL and applied them to his game. A 10-goal run in 16 games with the Abbotsford Canucks brought Lekkerimäki back up to the NHL this season, where he’s played with the confidence and shot of a top-six sniper in the making. While it’s unclear how long he could be with the Canucks for this season, Lekkerimäki’s goal-scoring efforts have shown lots of promise for the future.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The 23-year-old, son of former Blues defenseman Jeff Finley (1998-2004), played in 22 games for the Lightning this season with three points (two goals, one assist). Jack was born in St. Louis in 2002.
Finley, a 6-foot-6, 227-pound forward, also had three points (one goal, two assists) in three games with Syracuse of the American Hockey League this season and has 84 points (40 goals, 44 assists) in 164 career AHL regular-season games.
Finley was drafted by the Lightning in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft and is in the first year of a three-year, $2.33 million ($775,000 average annual value) contract with this season being a two-way contract and the final two years a one-way.
Finley does not have to report to the Blues until on-ice activities resume following the Olympic break on Feb. 17.
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Two weeks ago, it would have been easy to write off the Senators.
After blowing multi-goal leads to the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators within a few days, the prospect of reaching the postseason seemed far gone.
Now, after the Senators won five of their last six games, beating Vegas, Colorado, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, their postseason hopes do not feel as fleeting, even after the Senators’ disappointing loss to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this week.
GM Steve Staios was asked at his January 4th mid-season media availability about the possibility of being active again at this year's trade deadline.
By beating the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, the Senators now sit six points back of the Boston Bruins and the Eastern Conference’s second wild card seed.
Moneypuck currently lists the Senators’ postseason odds at 40.4 percent, but what is really encouraging is that, for all of the talk about the strength of schedule and the Senators’ difficult slate of games to conclude the season, the Bruins have it worse.
According to Tankathon, only the Pittsburgh Penguins have a more difficult schedule than the Bruins. Their remaining opponents have a combined points percentage of .586, while the Senators have the ninth hardest schedule (.573).
There is still ground to cover, and the team will obviously need to win the majority of the games, regardless of opponent quality, but all that matters is that the Senators are within striking distance.
With just four games left before the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday, March 6th, general manager Steve Staios is in an intriguing predicament.
So, what will he do?
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had a “theory.”
“I have a theory about what they've been trying to do, but it's something I have to check because they were mad at me a couple of weeks ago,” Friedman explained. “I'll just let them calm down before I make them mad at me again.
“I don't want to make any wild guesses, but I have a theory about what they're looking at. We have talked about this. Remember Alex Anthopoulos going out to get David Price because their run differential was good, even if their record wasn't.
"(The Senators’ goal differential is) plus seven. You look at the teams that are out of the playoffs right now, as we wake up on Tuesday morning in the Eastern Conference, the third-best team, Columbus, has made a great run of it under (Rick) Bowness. They're minus five. Washington's plus 12, and they're right there. Ottawa's plus seven. Everybody else, Florida, Toronto, Philly devils, Rangers, they're in the double digits. Minuses, I think they are trying to do something there in Ottawa and a couple of other things.”
The Blue Jays analogy is interesting because of the commonality. The Senators’ record is not indicative of their greater play.
Staios has assembled a competitive team that has posted some incredibly strong underlying numbers.
Heading into Thursday night’s game in Philadelphia, only the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes have posted a higher five-on-five expected goals percentage (xGF%) than the Senators’ 54.41 xGF%. And, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Senators are one of the best teams in the league when it comes to suppressing the shots and chances the opposition creates.
51.37 shots allowed per 60 (CA/60), 2nd
23.55 shots on goal allowed per 60 (SA/60), 3rd
2.25 expected goals allowed per 60 (xGA/60), 1st
Unfortunately, Ottawa’s shortcomings have undone what has been a collectively strong defensive effort. Recognizing that and wanting to give his players an opportunity, if the Senators can address their shortcomings and get some saves, they could push for a playoff berth and be an undesirable opponent if they get in.
The difficulty for Staios is that the Senators’ farm system is not exactly laden with safely projectable blue-chip prospects beyond Carter Yakemchuk. It is a problem compounded by the lack of a 2026 first-round pick.
This lack of surplus prospect capital puts Staios in a delicate position. There is absolutely something to be said about the quality of the Senators’ young core and the complications that stem from the fact that Drake Batherson (UFA in 2027), Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot (UFAs in 2028) are eligible to test unrestricted free agency within the next two years.
This is not intended to instill fear in the fan base that any of these players will leave. They could, but they could just as easily sign extensions in belief of what the organization is building here. The problem is that their next contracts will likely be more expensive, and despite the cap ceiling going up, the more money spent on players already in the fold, the more challenging it becomes to insulate them with higher-quality, and often more expensive, talent.
As loath as Steve Staios may be to move considerable draft capital to push this group forward while some of his better players are on relatively cheap deals, he may look at this window and decide to push his chips in as Anthopoulos did with the Blue Jays at the 2015 trade deadline.
If Friedman’s “theory” holds true, Staios will look to address this team’s weaknesses.
The Senators’ goaltending has put their season in jeopardy.
Through 57 games played, the Senators’ all situations .868 save percentage is the worst in the NHL. Leevi Merilainen has the second-worst goals saved above expected metric (-14.22 GSAx) in the league behind Jordan Binnington, while Linus Ullmark has the fourth-lowest (-7.50 GSAx).
The Minnesota Wild have spurred rumours by reportedly dangling the highly regarded Jesper Wallstedt as a trade chip. With former Senator Filip Gustavsson inked to an inexpensive long-term deal, it makes sense for the Wild to use this young asset to address a position of weakness on their roster: the centre position.
The presence of Dylan Cozens, Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto as depth options behind Tim Stützle certainly gives the organization the flexibility to consider making a move, but admittedly, making a trade of that magnitude feels like something the Senators would be better served to do in the offseason. Similarly, if the Senators were to acquire a future number one in Wallstedt while Ullmark is signed for another three seasons, it would inevitably raise questions about the veteran’s long-term future in Ottawa.
What would make more sense for the Senators right now is to address the right defence position.
After undergoing a hip resurfacing procedure during the offseason, the hope was that Nick Jensen could eventually resemble the player he was for the first three months of the 2024-25 season.
Even though he returned faster than anyone anticipated, it may have been naive to believe that the 35-year-old defenceman could get back to that level.
The 2025-26 season has been a struggle for the defenceman.
In 54 games, Jensen has compiled four goals and 15 points. In the 844 minutes that Jensen has played at five-on-five, the Senators have generated 47.52 percent of the shots (CF%), 49.32 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 44.09 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 49.39 percent of the expected goals (xGF%) per Natural Stat Trick.
HockeyViz’s isolated impacts for Jensen are not particularly flattering either.
Hockeyviz.com
Evolving-Hockey’s data shows that of all the defensive pairings in the league that have logged more than 400 minutes together at five-on-five, Chabot and Jensen have the fifth-highest goals allowed per 60 rate.
Ottawa’s goaltending certainly impacts those numbers, but in smaller sample sizes, the metrics when Jensen has played with Tyler Kleven and Jake Sanderson have not been strong either.
Of the 404 defensive combinations around the league that have two defencemen log 50 or more minutes of ice time together, no pairing has allowed a higher rate of goals allowed per 60 than Sanderson and Jensen. Kleven and Jensen? They have the eighth-highest rate.
Considering the strength of the Senators’ underlying metrics and their staunch structural play, Jensen’s metrics reflect a significant departure from the rest of the defencemen. And, with 25 games left in the season, the organization may simply have to come to terms with the likelihood that this is the post-surgery version of the player.
If the Senators are serious about improving the roster, the easiest way to do it would be to find an upgrade on right defence.
A pipe dream target would be a staunch defensive defenceman like Colton Parayko, but the Senators have been linked to MacKenzie Weegar. The return of Dylan DeMelo would also make sense on several levels, but if the Senators are looking for an inexpensive option, impending unrestricted free agent defenceman Connor Murphy might be a strong fit.
There will be no shortage of names on Staios’ wish list before March 6th, but the list of NHL sellers is short, and the price for a right-shot defenceman may be steep. So finding a sensible deal that meaningfully improves the Senators’ playoff chances is far easier said than done.
With the Detroit Red Wings idle until Feb. 26, when they return to action against the Ottawa Senators, fans still have reason to keep a close eye on the organization during the break. Attention now shifts to the Grand Rapids Griffins, who have dominated the American Hockey League this season and will provide the next stretch of meaningful hockey within the Red Wings system.
The Griffins will play their final game before the AHL pauses for its All-Star festivities, which run Tuesday through Wednesday. Grand Rapids will then return to action the following weekend, giving fans two opportunities to check in on Red Wings prospects before the NHL club resumes play.
The timing creates a natural midseason checkpoint for the organization’s top developmental pieces, including Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Sebastian Cossa, as well as a chance to assess where the Griffins stand as a team.
Grand Rapids opened the season with a historic 34-7-2-1 start, shattering multiple league records and establishing itself as the class of the AHL. While the Griffins have been nearly unbeatable for much of the season, some cracks appeared heading into the All-Star break. They have dropped seven of their last 12 games and appear poised to benefit from a much-needed reset.
Offensively, Grand Rapids began the season overwhelming opponents, with several players producing at a point-per-game pace. That output has slowed, leaving forward John Leonard as the lone active Griffin averaging at least a point per game. The 27-year-old is enjoying another standout campaign and earned his second consecutive AHL All-Star selection after posting 26 goals and 14 assists for 40 points in 32 games.
Leonard’s performance earned him a nine-game stint with the Red Wings, where he recorded four points and provided a steady presence. He was ultimately returned to Grand Rapids, where he continues to anchor the Griffins offense.
Another player who saw NHL time this season is Red Wings first-round pick Nate Danielson. The rookie center showed flashes of his potential during his time in Detroit, recording two goals and five assists for seven points in 28 games. Since returning to the AHL, Danielson has reminded the organization why he is viewed as a cornerstone prospect, producing 12 points in 14 games with the Griffins.
Detroit hopes Danielson can eventually translate that success to the NHL, a challenge also facing fellow first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. The Norwegian winger surprised even himself by making the Red Wings roster out of training camp and played the first nine games of the season in Detroit.
While his physicality stood out as he led the team in hits, his offensive impact was limited to one assist. After being sent back to Grand Rapids, Brandsegg-Nygard has focused on adjusting to the pro game by speeding up his decision-making and refining his overall play. He has recorded 24 points in 39 games this season.
The Griffins’ biggest strength, however, has been their goaltending. Sebastian Cossa has been sensational, posting a 19-4-2 record with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 25 games. His performance has placed him firmly on the doorstep of an NHL call-up. With current Red Wings backup Cam Talbot set to become a free agent after the season, Cossa is widely viewed as a likely successor and could see NHL action if the opportunity arises.
The trio of Danielson, Brandsegg-Nygard and Cossa has helped make this season a memorable one in Grand Rapids and provides Red Wings fans with compelling hockey while the NHL club remains on pause. The Griffins close out play before the All-Star break Saturday against the Charlotte Checkers and return to action next Friday when they host the Texas Stars.
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The Montreal Canadiens are having a great season on the road, where they have a 16-6-7 record, and it may partly be because they are getting an incredible amount of support everywhere they go.
On Wednesday, however, that was made particularly obvious when the Canadiens visited the Winnipeg Jets. When Brendan Gallagher scored the Habs’ fourth goal nearly 11 minutes into the final frame, the Canada Life Centre came alive, but not in the way the home team would have liked. The bulk of the fans who were supporting the visitor broke into a “Ole, Ole, Ole” chant worthy of a Bell Centre crowd.
Speaking after the game, Jets’ coach Scott Arniel was asked if it was weird to play in an environment at home when there are so many (Habs fans celebrating when MTL scores?), and he replied:
That’s pretty disappointing. That’s probably the worst I’ve seen in my 4 years here. That was really disappointing.
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If the overwhelming support the Canadiens receive in other buildings is getting to coaches, it may very well be getting to opposing players as well. It’s not surprising to hear Arniel say it’s the worst it has been in his four years in Manitoba, as the Habs are turning the corner out of a rebuild and have once again become a competitive team.
#NHLJets head coach Scott Arniel was asked what it's like to play in front of that many fans of the opposing team while at home:
"Yeah, that's pretty disappointing. That's probably the worst that I've seen it in my 4 years back here tonight. That was really disappointing." pic.twitter.com/K9dHefau3e
Arniel joins Rasmus Dahlin and Jake Sanderson, who have also commented on the support the Habs are getting as visitors. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman said he didn't want to see that much red in the future, while the Ottawa Senators blueliner stated that his team is used to playing an away game at home.
They are currently sixth in the league standings and are the third-highest scoring team with 197 goals, just one behind the Edmonton Oilers, who have 198, and 14 behind the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who have 211.
The days when the Canadiens were relying on spectacular goaltending and hope and a prayer are long gone. The young Habs are playing an exciting brand of hockey, making it easy for them to acquire new fans across the league. It’s no longer just about the franchise’s glorious past; it’s finally about the now and the future.
