Chinakhov had requested a trade from the Blue Jackets last summer, and his wish was granted at the end of December. He only compiled three goals and six points with the Blue Jackets this year before he was traded to the Penguins.
A couple of weeks after the Penguins acquired him, I wrote about how the early returns for Chinakhov were really strong. He racked up two goals and three points in his first six games with the Penguins, showcasing his blistering release and his speed.
Since then, he's been even better, with 11 goals and 19 points in 26 games with the Penguins. His play over the last week is what I really want to focus on for this article.
He's been without Evgeni Malkin for the last three games since his linemate is serving a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head last Thursday. During that time, he has seen his role increase, playing on the top line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, as well as on the top power-play unit.
He is flourishing in both roles and has been a big reason why the Penguins have earned four out of a possible six points during this stretch. Going back to Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, he finished with two assists and was everywhere on the ice. He was creating chances for himself and for his teammates and was responsible defensively.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) handles the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) in overtime at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
That play carried over to Sunday's game against the Boston Bruins when he willed the rest of the team back into it. The Penguins were down 3-0 late in the second period and desperately needed a spark on a 5-on-3 power play. He took a pass from Rakell and made no mistake, making it a 3-1 game with 5:16 left in the period.
After that, he was all over the ice in the third period before making the play of the game in overtime. The Bruins won the opening draw, but Chinakhov pestered Charlie McAvoy until he stole the puck and eventually took it to the front of the net for a chance. He didn't bury the puck, but it set the stage for Tommy Novak's game-winner just a couple of seconds later.
He wasn't officially credited with an assist for the goal, but he made all of it happen.
On Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Penguins ran their top power-play unit through him during regulation, and it delivered with a beautiful pass to Bryan Rust, who made it 2-1 in the second period. Chinakhov then earned an assist on Noel Acciari's goal that made it a 4-3 game late in the third period before Rust scored again with less than a minute to go, helping the Penguins steal a much-needed point.
Chinakhov almost won the game early in overtime, but Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen made a really nice save. He then had Andersen beaten in the shootout, but sailed the shot wide.
Despite missing that shootout attempt, Chinakhov is playing at a ridiculously high level right now and has really stepped up in place of Crosby and Malkin. He's trying to help this team keep this special season going and make the playoffs.
He's also shaping up to earn a nice pay raise from the Penguins this summer since he's been such a perfect fit. It's Chinakhov's world, and we're just living in it.
If the Philadelphia Flyers have one defenseman on their roster that they absolutely must hold onto for the future, it is unequivocally Jamie Drysdale, who never fails to continue improving his game.
Drysdale, 23, was as dominant and assertive as ever Wednesday night in a physical contest against the Washington Capitals, and despite his relatively slight stature, held his own defensively all game long.
The Flyers' 2024 trade acquisition consistently disrupted plays using his skating and stick, avoided unnecessary physical contact, and was constantly starting his team in transition the other way.
For his efforts, Drysdale was rewarded with a goal, his seventh of the season that matches his career-high from last year in nine fewer games.
The 5-foot-11 rearguard found himself on the other end of a failed Noah Cates wraparound attempt, controlled the loose puck, and deftly waited out Dylan Strome in the shooting lane before beating Capitals goalie Logan Thompson blocker side to give the Flyers an important 3-1 lead early in the third period.
"I think it's more just not being gun-shy. Good things happen when you shoot the puck," Drysdale said of his newlyfound assertiveness shooting the puck.
"Guys are real good at getting into shooting lanes in this league, and it's not fun hitting shin pads all the time, so, gotta figure out a way to get it through."
Get the shot through Drysdale did, and it's the stuff of champs. All the elite offensive defensemen in the NHL are experts at exploiting passing and shooting lanes, and while Drysdale isn't there yet, he's certainly on his way.
The Flyers never dominated shot attempts or scoring chances in a game that they were outmatched in physically, but they were opportunistic when it mattered. Drysdale played his part.
The former No. 6 overall pick played 21:59 against the Caps, trailing only Travis Sanheim and Cam York, who are penalty kill staples for Rick Tocchet's group.
On Wednesday night, it was Drysdale's show on defense, and he proved why he deserves another contract with the Flyers when he becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.
It's a remarkable story for a player who has gone from zero to hero in Philadelphia after plenty of early struggles, and the Flyers are now hoping they can repeat their success with Drysdale when they begin developing David Jiricek.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) â Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras scored in the second period and the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Washington has lost four of its last five games and is tied with Philadelphia at 71 points. Both teams are seven points behind Boston in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Flyers fell behind early when Washingtonâs Ryan Leonard took a pass from 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin and shot it through a screen past goalie Sam Ersson 9:21 into the game.
Through 64 games this season, it was the 44th time the Flyers had allowed the first goal. And, Philadelphia was 6-15-5 this season when trailing after the first period.
Konecny, celebrating his 29th birthday, took a pass from Travis Sanheim in the right circle and scored past Washingtonâs Logan Thompson at 4:23 of the second for a 1-all tie.
Owen Tippett then picked off a pass, stepped around Washingtonâs Tom Wilson and broke, 2-on-none, with Zegras. The two passed back and forth before Zegras lifted the puck in for a 2-1 lead.
Philadelphia added to its lead in the third period on a terrific play by Noah Cates. Tied up behind the Capitalsâ net during a 4-on-4 situation, he one-handed a pass into the slot, where defenseman Jamie Drysdale shot it past Thompson for a 3-1 lead.
Tippett finished up the scoring with an empty-net goal with 1:03 left. Ersson stopped 21 shots for the Flyers.
CANADIENS 3, SENATORS 2
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) â Ivan Demidov broke a tie with 7:20 left, Jacob Fowler made 32 saves and Montreal beat Ottawa for their third straight victory.
Demidov scored off Alex Newhookâs rebound and Montreal held on a night after beating Toronto 3-1 at home.
Juraj Slafkovsky and Alexandre Texier also scored for Montreal, with Demidov assisting on Slafkovskyâs power-play goal in the first period.
Texier tied it at 2 on a wraparound with 2:31 left in the second.
As the 2025-26 season wraps up, one storyline that has emerged is Evander Kane's quest for his 1,000th regular-season game. The 34-year-old is nine games away from the milestone, meaning he will have to play in half of the remaining 18 games to hit 1,000 for his NHL career. Kane was originally drafted in 2009 and is in his 16th NHL season.
The topic of Kane hitting the milestone has come up recently as he is currently battling an upper-body injury. After missing Monday's game, Kane was back on the ice on Wednesday, where he was skating alongside Elias Pettersson and Drew O'Connor. After practice, Head Coach Adam Foote was asked about Kane closing in on 1,000th games and if it was already on his radar.
"I want to see him get that," said Foote. "You know, I mean, that's something. Who knows what Kanner is going to do moving forward? I'm talking about what he wants to do. If he wants to continue to play after this. I'm sure he does. But he just, you always want a player to reach those goals, for sure. So that's a great, you know, it's a great thing to hang your hat."
Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane (91) skates in warm up prior to a game against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
If Kane stays in the lineup, he is scheduled to play game 1,000 on March 30 in Vegas. Players who hit the 1,000-game mark are rewarded with a silver stick to commemorate reaching the milestone. Other players who have played their 1,000th game this season include Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Brenden Dillon and Roman Josi.
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.
DENVER â Letâs start with the obvious: Tuesday nightâs matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche was a tightly contested hockey game. The Oilers capitalized on their chances, executed when it mattered most, and ultimately earned the victory.
That much is straightforward.
What is far less straightforward, however, is the officiating that unfolded throughout the night.
Regardless of which team you support â whether itâs the Oilers, the Avalanche, the Dallas Stars, the Detroit Red Wings, or anyone else â every rational fan ultimately wants the same thing: a sport where the rules are enforced competently and consistently. Tuesdayâs game unfortunately provided another example of how far the NHL still has to go in that department.
Credit: DNVR. Jared Bednar was furious about MacKinnon's ejection.
Nathan MacKinnon has received a five-minute major following a scary collision with Connor Ingram.
The first moment that raised eyebrows came with a hooking penalty assessed to Brett Kulak. The call was extremely ticky-tack and, in my view, didnât truly meet the standard for hooking.
The Oilers did what good teams do â they took advantage. They converted on the ensuing power play and made the Avalanche pay.
And to be fair, bad call or not, you still have to play the game and keep the puck out of your net. The Avalanche have been one of the leagueâs better penalty-killing units all season, so that is one situation where Colorado still needed to be better regardless of the circumstances.
But consistency matters.
Later in the game, Evan Bouchard appeared to clearly hold Valeri Nichushkinâs stick against the boards. The play developed seemingly right in front of the officials, yet no penalty was called.
From a consistency standpoint, that sequence looked far more like a textbook penalty than the one Kulak had been assessed earlier in the night.
That observation alone shouldnât be controversial.
The MacKinnon Ejection
The real controversy came late in the second period, when Nathan MacKinnon was ejected from the game after being assessed a major penalty for goaltender interference â resulting in the first game misconduct of his NHL career.
The play occurred while Colorado trailed 2â1 and was on the power play.
MacKinnon entered the offensive zone with speed before receiving an east-to-west pass from Martin Necas. His shot sailed wide of the net, and as he pursued the rebound along the goal line, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse closed in from behind.
Nurse made contact with MacKinnonâs left hip, subtly but significantly altering the Avalanche starâs path just as he attempted to avoid the crease.
With his skates angled left in an effort to steer clear of goaltender Connor Ingram, MacKinnon instead lost his lane and collided with the goaltender along the goal line. The impact forced Ingram from the game.
First and foremost, everyone hopes Ingram is okay. No one wants to see a player get injured in that fashion â regardless of team allegiance.
But even a basic understanding of physics makes the situation easier to interpret. When a 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman like Nurse makes contact with a player moving at high speed just inches from the crease, the margin for avoiding a collision becomes extremely small. Add in the fact that Ingram was leaning forward to play the puck, and the window for MacKinnon to escape the situation essentially disappears.
If that interpretation sounds reasonable, itâs because itâs not just fans saying it.
John Wroblewski â head coach of the U.S. womenâs Olympic gold medal-winning team â joined the PuckAroundPod and offered his perspective on the play:
"Mack was going to the net as hard as he could legally," he explained. "I thought his route was going to take him above the paint and I thought he got nudged, hit by an extremely sturdy D, Darnell Nurse, who's one of the biggest frames in the league. That doesn't take much to, you know, to knock a train slightly off the rails.
"It was completely out of character for MacKinnon to run a goalie and isn't in his brand. I'm chalking the whole thing up to inadvertent contact. The whistle gets blown. The (concussion) spotters did a great job getting Connor the help that he needed. And the faceoff should have been outside the zone with no penalty assessed."
Retired goaltender Tuukka Rask, who played for 15 years in the NHL, all with the Boston Bruins, stated on TNT that he didn't agree with the five-minute major assessed to MacKinnon.
"I don't think so," he stated. "I'm all about protecting the goalies; this is just the perfect storm. Ingram's in a tough spot, stretching, Nurse is cutting the pass off on one knee basically.
"MacKinnon, I feel like he wants to get out of the way, but then he runs into Nurse, and then it's just a perfect storm. Sucks for Ingram getting hurt like that."
A League-Wide Consistency Problem
Beyond the specific ruling Tuesday night, the play highlighted a much larger issue that has quietly grown into one of the NHLâs most frustrating officiating problems: goaltender interference has become wildly inconsistent.
Night after night, similar plays are judged completely differently.
To see how confusing the standard has become, itâs worth revisiting a moment from last season.
On January 2, the Avalanche defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6â5 at Ball Arena in one of the most chaotic games of the year. During that contest, Parker Kelly made contact with Zach Benson near the crease. The bump caused Benson to tumble directly into the right leg of Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, knocking him violently to the ice.
Wedgewood immediately went down in visible pain and remained sprawled in the crease.
Despite the fact that the goaltender was clearly injured and unable to defend the net, play continued. No whistle was blown. Moments later, Benson circled behind the net and scored on a wraparound while Wedgewood was still incapacitated.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar pressed the officials for an explanation. The reasoning he received was that the whistle was not blown because the collision had been caused by an Avalanche player.
That explanation is exactly why Tuesday nightâs ruling raises so many questions.
Using that same logic, the play involving MacKinnon and Ingram should have resulted in a whistle and a faceoff â not a major penalty and an ejection. MacKinnonâs path into the crease had clearly been altered by contact from Nurse of the Oilers.
Instead, the result was the first game misconduct of MacKinnonâs career.
When Inconsistency Becomes the Story
Hockey is a fast sport. Officials are human, and mistakes are inevitable over the course of an 82-game season.
But thereâs a difference between the occasional missed call and a pattern of inconsistency that leaves players, coaches, and fans genuinely unsure about how the rules are being interpreted.
When blatant slashes â like the one delivered by Zach Hyman on Brock Nelson â go uncalled, or when goaltenders like Tristan Jarry can slash players such as Parker Kelly skating to the net without consequence, it becomes increasingly difficult to defend the standard being applied on the ice.
And to be clear, this isnât about blaming the Oilers. Any team in the league would take advantage of lenient officiating if itâs clear certain plays are going to be ignored.
The responsibility lies with the league.
The NHL Canât Afford to Ignore This
From the standpoint of the NHL and the sport as a whole, the expectation should be simple: the rules need to be enforced with as much consistency as possible.
No one is asking for perfection.
But when major penalties, game misconducts, and injury-related plays are involved, the margin for error becomes extremely small â especially with the postseason approaching.
The last thing the NHL wants is a blown call, an inconsistent interpretation, or an avoidable officiating mistake deciding an entire playoff series.
Or worse, the Stanley Cup Final.
Because in todayâs era of instant replay, viral clips, and nonstop social media discussion, moments like that donât just disappear. They linger. They get dissected from every angle. And over time, repeated controversies like these begin to chip away at something far more important than a single game result: fan trust.
And thatâs something the league simply cannot afford to lose.
Next up is Islanders head coach Patrick Roy with 66.
âIt was something we were talking about on the bench the whole third period, it was competing hard for Quickie, to help him there,â Mike Sullivan said. âI was told at the end of the game that he just passed Hank. Thatâs a remarkable accomplishment in this game.
âIt just speaks volumes for how good of a goaltender heâs been for so long. His competitive spirit I think is inspiring, the way he goes about his business every day, watching his work ethic. I just think he has such a great influence on our group. So when he has the ability to get a shutout like this, I know his teammates were thrilled for him, and we were every bit as thrilled for him.â
Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick deflects the puck during the second period on March 10, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The 40-year-old Quick has the most shutouts ever for any American-born goalie, 20 more than Connor Hellebuyck of the Jets.
The two-time Stanley Cup winner also ranks 12th all-time with 409 wins. But only five of those victories have come in 22 appearances (5-15-2) this season.
âAny time youâre mentioned with Hankâs name with anything, itâs special,â Quick said about passing Lundqvist. âI know what he means to this city and this organization, what heâs done for goaltenders everywhere, with a lot of young guys looking up to him.
âSo just being in the same conversation with him with anything, with any stat or anything like that, itâs humbling.â
Jonathan Quick makes a save on Tuesday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Mika Zibanejad recorded his 800th career point Tuesday night, and he is closing in on another milestone â his 1,000th NHL game â at 993 entering Thursdayâs visit to Winnipeg.
âIt feels surreal,â the 32-year-old Zibanejad said. âI think when I was starting to play hockey, I donât know if thatâs what I was dreaming about.
âComing into the NHL, I donât know if itâs been a number or a milestone Iâve allowed myself to dream of or even thought about, honestly ⌠Itâs obviously fun, but Iâm hoping I have a lot of good hockey left to play.â
Vancouverâs Chaos Giraffe era ended when the Vancouver Canucks traded Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars last week. But, according to reports, the moniker for the Canucksâ former veteran defenceman will stay in Vancouver. Myers does not wish to keep it going as he starts a new journey in Dallas.
âLetâs not bring that to Texas. Thatâs my worst nickname. It doesnât even flow,â he said on 96.7 The Ticket after Dallas took a 2â1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights last night.
Myers first appeared to have gotten the nickname from Wyatt Arndt of CanucksArmy, though it has stuck with the fanbase since then, developing into a term of endearment rather than critique after a few strong seasons.
Now that Myers has found himself on the path to a Stanley Cup with the Stars, heâs hoping that heâll be able to find another nickname. So far, it appears Dallas captain Jamie Benn, who played junior hockey with Myers as part of the WHLâs Kelowna Rockets, is pulling out some old tricks in order to do so.
âWe had a weird thing in Kelowna â what is that, 17 years ago now â everybody called each other by their dads name. So heâs bringing that back a little bit.â
The Myers era in Vancouver appears to have ended. With his departure comes the end of the âChaos Giraffeâ nickname.
Mar 10, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Tyler Myers (57) looks on during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-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.
When captain Anze Kopitar retires at the end of this season, the Los Angeles Kings will have a hole down the middle of their lineup. Kopitar has been the team's top-line center for well over a decade, and the organization will have to pivot to another middleman to fill the gap.
One of those candidates for the upcoming off-season has been crossed off Los Angeles' list of potential targets on Wednesday. That's because Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz signed a contract extension with the club, removing his UFA status for this summer.
Schmaltz inked an eight-year, $64-million deal with the Mammoth. He will be the third-highest-paid player on the roster next season, earning $8 million per season through the 2033-34 campaign. The 30-year-old will be 38 when this contract expires.
This year, Schmaltz has scored 24 goals and 59 points in 65 appearances for Utah. Last season, he recorded a career-high 63 points, but is on track to blow that personal best out of the water by the end of this regular season.
For Los Angeles, that's another UFA off the free-agent market for this summer. The options for the Kings to find an outside candidate to help with their lack of depth down the middle next season are dying out.
Potential targets remain, but only on the trade market. In terms of centers who are pending UFAs, none would be suitable candidates to play in the Kings' top six for many years.
On the trade market, there are a handful of players that could work and are available to pursue.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson could be a potential player to chase. Not long ago, he was a 89- and 103-point scorer for the Canucks. What's tricky there is that Pettersson earns $11.6 million for the next six years, and hasn't been playing up to that standard lately. Not to mention, it sounds like Vancouver won't retain some of his contract.
Nonetheless, barriers are blocking each of those potential marriages. If Holland can't make a notable addition at the center position this summer, Quinton Byfield will need to step up in a big way if the Kings want to remain in playoff contention.
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.
Not only did the Detroit Red Wings suffer a frustrating defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday evening for the second time within a week, but they also lost another key forward to injury.
Andrew Copp, who had taken the injured Dylan Larkin's place on the top line, was hurt after getting tangled up with Panthers forward Tomas Nosek after a face-off; Nosek fell onto his left leg, and Copp wasn't able to put any weight on it as he was assisted off the ice.
Following the game, McLellan announced that Copp was "doubtful" to play on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and that Larkin is also doubtful for the remainder of the trip.
Now, the Red Wings are calling up multiple reinforcements from the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins.
Detroit announced that John Leonard, Sheldon Dries, and Eduards Tralmaks have all been recalled under emergency conditions.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Sheldon Dries, John Leonard and Eduards Tralmaks from the AHLâs Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/SFLihKjvVr
Leonard is playing in his first season with the Red Wings organization after signing as a free agent during the offseason. He's already played in nine games with Detroit in the NHL, scoring twice while adding two assists.
He's tallied 27 goals in 34 games for the Griffins, who clinched a postseason spot last month.
Dries, a Metro-Detroit native, has yet to appear in a game with the Red Wings but has scored 20 goals with 17 assists in 48 games in Grand Rapids this season.
Tralmaks, who signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings last March, has scored 18 goals with 10 assists in 48 games in Grand Rapids.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The St. Louis Blues have been playing much better hockey as of late, posting a 4-1-1 record in their last six games.
While most of their success can be attributed to Robert Thomas and Dylan Hollowayâs return to both the lineup and their form, rookie Jimmy Snuggerud deserves his flowers for his play as of late.
On the season, Snuggerud has scored 13 goals and 32 points in 52 games. His 82-game pace would see him score 21 goals and 51 points. The 21-year-old is back to playing his game, firing pucks on goal at will and getting to high-danger areas of the ice.
Following the trades of Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk, the Blues are entering a new era, led by their youth. Currently, the Bluesâ roster features eight players under 25. Those players are Snuggerud, Holloway, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, Jake Neighbours, Philip Broberg, Logan Mailloux, and Theo Lindstein. At this point next season, the Bluesâ lineup could also feature first-round picks Adam Jiricek and Justin Carbonneau.
Jimmy Snuggerud (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
While the positional value of Broberg and Dvorsky may make them more valuable, there may not be a more important piece to their young core than Snuggerud.
Snuggerud possesses a shot rivalled by few players around the NHL, and at 21, heâs already piecing together how to utilize it to the best of his abilities.
With 18 games remaining, coach Jim Montgomery will keep Snuggerud on the top line with Holloway and Thomas, and Snuggerud will continue to improve.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
As the Winnipeg Jets push to keep their playoff hopes alive, the organization may already have another reason for optimism brewing in the pipeline.
Winnipeg sits just five points behind the Western Conferenceâs second wild-card spot, leaving the door open for what could become one of the NHLâs more surprising late-season turnarounds. But even if the club ultimately falls short of a postseason berth, Jets fans have a promising prospect to watch in the coming years with 19-year-old forward Kevin He.
The young winger has enjoyed a breakout season in the Ontario Hockey League, emerging as one of junior hockeyâs most productive players. He began the campaign with the Niagara IceDogs before being traded to the Flint Firebirds, continuing his offensive surge after the move.
Through 55 games this season, He has recorded 35 goals and 35 assists for 70 points, firmly establishing himself among the OHLâs elite scorers. The Chinese-Canadian forward has been particularly dominant down the stretch. Over his last 24 games, He has tallied 20 goals and 16 assists for 36 points, putting him on pace for what could become a career-best season with a projected 76 points.
Two primary assists for Jets prospect Kevin He (2024 4th) who was named 1st Star of the Game in Flintâs win.
Beyond his scoring totals, heâs also making history in the sport. Born in Beijing, He first discovered hockey by skating and rollerblading with his father before eventually relocating to North America. He developed his game in minor hockey programs in North York, where his skill set steadily evolved into that of a top junior prospect.
When the Jets selected He in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, he became just the second Chinese-born player ever drafted into the NHL, following Andong Song, who was selected by the New York Islanders in 2015. He later made history again by becoming the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract.
The list of Chinese-born NHL draftees has since grown. Defenseman Haoxi Wang became the third when he was selected 33rd overall by the San Jose Sharks at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
While Winnipegâs immediate focus remains on chasing a playoff spot, the organizationâs future appears bright as well. If the Jetsâ postseason push falls short, the emergence of a rising prospect like He could still give the fanbase plenty of reason for excitement in the years ahead.
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.
Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Devon Levi is currently blocked from the NHL roster. This is because the Sabres have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis all ahead of him on their depth chart.Â
Now, there is a chance that Levi could be made expendable because of it.
"The Buffalo Sabres were shopping goalie Devon Levi and are expected to keep those talks going this summer," Pagnotta wrote.
With the Sabres having multiple goalies ahead of Levi on their depth chart, he could be a good trade chip for Buffalo to dangle this off-season to try to upgrade their roster elsewhere. It is likely that teams out there would be interested in adding Levi to their system, as he has the potential to become a good NHL goalie in the future.Â
Levi has spent all of this season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, where he has a 17-14-8 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.75 goals-against average. In 39 career NHL games with the Sabres, he has a 17-17-2 record and a .894 save percentage.Â
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins left wing Rutger McGroarty (2) plays the puck as Cleveland Monsters left wing Zach Aston-Reese (21) defends during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was a mostly forgettable week for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, going 0-1-1 in a pair of games where they mostly trailed. From WBSPenguins.com:
Wednesday, Mar. 4 â PENGUINS 4 vs. Springfield 5 A spirited third-period comeback fell short in a razor-thin, month-opening loss for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Aidan McDonough scored twice on the power play and set up Tanner Howe for a four-on-four goal in between. McDonoughâs three points helped tie the game, 3-3, but a man-advantage marker and subsequent empty netter gave Springfield enough insurance to survive another late surge by RafaĂŤl Harvey-Pinard.
Friday, Mar. 6 â PENGUINS 2 at Syracuse 3 (OT) The Penguins came back from down 2-0 to force overtime, but lost on a power-play goal in extra time. Wilkes-Barre/Scrantonâs rally started with Rutger McGroarty tallying 90 seconds into the second period. Melvin FernstrĂśm notched the tying goal with 23.6 seconds left in regulation.
Slow starts and playing from behind was the theme of the week, Springfield was up 3-1 on WBS after two periods and Syracuse was up 2-0 after the first period. That put WBS on the chase for much of those games and while they made some spirited comebacks within, they werenât able to dig all the way out of the early holes that were dug in either contest.
That didnât make much of a dent in the standings, the Penguins remain solidly in second place in the Atlantic Division. They figure to formally clinch a playoff spot (top six teams in each division qualify) as soon as this week. As always, the more important race will be to secure second place and receive a bye from the first round of the playoffs. The AHL season is only 72 games long, Charlotte is running out of time to catch WBS, though a 3-0-1 record in their last four has them back in the picture, overall Charlotte has only gained one point in the standings over the last 10 games each team has played.
Here was the lineup used in the last game. WBS is in a tough spot lately with Ville Koivunen and Avery Hayes up in the NHL and Tristan Broz is back on the shelf with an undisclosed week-to-week injury, with Matt Dumba also in and out of the lineup recently. Brozâs injury at center might be the biggest hole of all considering it leaves just one forward under NHL contract (Joona Koppanen) in the lineup. Theyâll get some temporary help on the blueline now that Jack St. Ivany has been assigned to the AHL on a conditioning loan.
â Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 6, 2026
The lineup has become a strange brew of NHL developmental prospects, AHL veteran hands and other younger players on AHL contracts chasing the dream of getting on the radar. Overall the first group has performed well, Tanner Howe has eight points (3G+5A) in 12 games to start his pro career coming off an AHL rehab. Rutger McGroarty has produced three points (1G+2A) in his last two games, Melvin Fernstrom has made the most of a mid-season move to the AHL with six points (2G+4A) in eight games when heâs been in the lineup.
The third group is perhaps becoming the backbone of the team with players like 23-year old Atley Calvert, 26-year old Aiden McDonaugh (4G+2A in the last five games) and 22-year old Gabe Klassen (10G+7A in his last 23 games) all showcasing well in increasing roles as the season has gone along.
Itâs a big weekend ahead for the AHL Pens, who play all weekend on Friday (Hershey), Saturday (Lehigh Valley and Sunday (@Lehigh Valley).
The weather may be nasty in the nationâs capital, but the mood on the ice figures to be just as foul on Wednesday night when the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens renew hostilities at Canadian Tire Centre with a crucial two points on the line.
Weathering the Weather
After a day that was expected to be filled with freezing rain with significant ice buildup in Ottawa, it's possible it may affect Wednesday's game being played at all, but as of mid-afternoon, it looks like business as usual.Â
Due to weather conditions, they will be opening the doors at 4 p.m. to fans with tickets.
The State of Things
With a win, the Senators would move to within three points of Boston for the final wild-card spot and they'd also move five points behind the Canadiens, who currently occupy third place in the Atlantic Division.
By contrast, a Montreal victory would not only strengthen the Canadiensâ playoff chances, but it would also open up a nine-point advantage on the Sens, which would all but eliminate Ottawaâs hopes of catching them.
When the Senators began their just-completed five-game road trip, they were seven points out of a playoff spot. They went 4-0-1, but that impressive run only moved them two points closer to Boston. The Bruins, Canadiens and Blue Jackets all won Tuesday night. Detroit did not, so they stay just six points up on Ottawa. The Sens need one of the Eastern playoff teams to falter. Perhaps it will be the Red Wings.
Season Series
Montreal leads Ottawa in the season series, winning two of the three matchups, though that doesnât mean much in Gary Bettmanâs three-point world. The Canadiens won both of their games in overtime, while Ottawaâs lone victory came in regulation. As a result, the two teams have each collected four points from their first three meetings.
In a surprising twist, in part two of a back to back, the Canadiens recalled goaltender Jacob Fowler from AHL Laval Rocket and named him the starter for Wednesday. Before his recall, it was assumed that Sam Montembeault would start, but he has struggled of late.
After James Reimer pitched a shutout in Vancouver on Monday night, Linus Ullmark will start for the Senators. While he still runs hot and cold, Ullmark hasnât lost in regulation (5-0-2) since December 27. That was the night he was pulled from a game in Toronto and ultimately stepped away from the team for about a month to focus on his mental health.
We're Going Streaking
Tim StĂźtzle enters the night riding a 13-game point streak. Most players will never have a streak that long. StĂźtzle had one just back in January. Itâs the fourth-longest streak in Senators history, a mark he also shares with Drake Batherson and Marian Hossa. With a point tonight, he would reach 14 games, matching the 14-gamer he produced last season.
No MacDermid Versus Habs
Itâs interesting to see Kurtis MacDermid back in healthy-scratch mode. He was acquired in October shortly after the Canadiens beat Ottawa 5-0 in a preseason game in which the Senators were literally beaten up as badly as they were on the scoreboard.
Last Thursday, on the eve of the NHL trade deadline, in a crucial game against Calgary, MacDermid suddenly made his first start of 2026. That led to speculation that Stephen Halliday was sitting out because he might be part of a trade the team was working on. Halliday didnât go anywhere, as it turned out, and the Senators said they simply wanted MacDermid in the lineup as a deterrent because Calgary is a tough team.
Now, facing an even more important game against their heated rival, the same brawl-ready Canadiens who prompted MacDermidâs acquisition in the first place, the big guy is going to sit.
Arber Xhekaj doesnât mind that. With Brady Tkachuk unable to fight because of his thumb brace, only the referees can hold Xhekaj accountable.
If MacDermid isnât suited for a game like this, then why was he acquired? And why did he suddenly show up in the lineup against Calgary?
It strongly suggests Halliday may indeed have been part of trade discussions that ultimately fell through. In fairness, thereâs little upside to the Senators publicly acknowledging that. A young player doesnât need to hear that his team considered moving him, and broadcasting that youâre willing to part with someone rarely helps the value of the asset.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are punching well above the weight class that most of the league assigned them before the season began. Like the Senators, theyâre a fast, skilled team that can roll four lines and generally plays the right way. Montreal has 10 players in double digits in goals, while the Senators have 11.
Former Kings Anchor Fourth Lines
Both teams have some expensive fourth lines. Except for Lars Eller, everyone makes north of $3.5 million. The Sens round out their bottom line with newcomer Warren Foegele ($3.5 million) and Fabian Zetterlund ($4.27 million), which is a little pricey for a fourth line. But it's nothing compared to Montrealâs, with Josh Anderson ($5.5 million), Phillip Danault ($5.5 million) and Brendan Gallagher ($6.5 million).Â
Last season, Danault and Foegele finished fifth and sixth in scoring for the Los Angeles Kings, both topping 40 points. This year, both have really struggled offensively, and it was hoped that their shift to the East might help. Danault has been somewhat better, with 11 points in 27 games, a 33-point pace.
After scoring in his debut in Seattle, Foegele will play his third game as a Senator and make his home debut in Ottawa on Wednesday night.
With a virus making its way through the Canadiens' locker room, the Habs might have some last minute changes before game time. Cole Caufield, for one, is a game time decision.
Take another potential free agent off this summer's list.
Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz signed an eight-year contract extension on Wednesday, March 11 with a cap hit of $8 million. That will make him the team's third-highest player behind Logan Cooley ($10 million cap hit next season) and Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million).
Schmaltz, 30, ranks second on the team in goals (24), assists (35), and points (59) in 62 games. He already has passed his career best in goals and is on pace to shatter his top season in points (63 last season).
He had been No. 2 on USA TODAY Sports' most recent list of top potential free agents and is the latest player to come off what had been an impressive class.
Here are some of the top remaining pending unrestricted free agents:
Top remaining free agents
10. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He has rebounded in his first year in Pittsburgh with 24 goals and 48 points. Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
9. Charlie Coyle, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets held onto their free agents at the deadline because the team has turned things around since Rick Bowness was named coach. With 51 points, he's on pace to set a personal best. Current cap hit: $5.25 million.
8. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals. He had 29 last season. Current cap hit: $7 million.
7. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is 40. He'll either re-sign with Washington or retire. He hasn't indicated his plans. Current cap hit: $9 million.
6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
The 39-year-old has expressed an interest in playing more and he recently said the Penguins would wait until after the season to negotiate. He's averaging a point a game but has dealt with an injury and had an ill-timed five-game suspension. Current cap hit: $6.1 million.
4. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He ha 46 points in 55 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with a 50- and a 49-point season. He's at 36 points this season. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
2. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
The defenseman is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 58 points and filled in well while Victor Hedman was out twice with injuries. Current cap hit: $975,000.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He's at 28 goals this season for the surging Sabres. He wants to stay in Buffalo and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to keep him. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Which 2026 free agents have signed extensions recently?
Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, eight years, $136 million, a record for its total amount and $17 million cap hit
Edmonton's Connor McDavid, two years, $25 million. The $12.5 million cap hit equals his current one and places him second on the team behind Leon Draisaitl.
Edmonton's Jake Walman, seven years, $49 million
Winnipeg's Kyle Connor, eight years, $96 million, richest contract in team history
Edmonton's Mattias Ekholm, three years, $12 million
Vegas' Jack Eichel, eight years, $108 million
Colorado's Martin Necas, eight years, $92 million
New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom, two years, $12 million
Colorado's Scott Wedgewood, one year, $2.5 million
Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe, eight years, $85 million
Montreal's Mike Matheson, five years, $30 million
Tampa Bay's Ryan McDonagh, three years, $12.1 million
Los Angeles' Artemi Panarin, two years, $22 million
San Jose's Kiefer Sherwood, five years, $28.75 million
Seattle's Jordan Eberle, two years, $11 million
Utah's Nick Schmaltz, eight years, $64 million
What is the NHL salary cap for 2025-26 and beyond?
The 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons could have minor adjustments up or down based on revenues:
Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas Hits Big Career MilestonePittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas hit a career milestone during Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. 
