Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Sebastian Cossa has been named the AHL Player of the Week after a flawless three-start stretch that helped the team extend its record-setting season start to 16-1-0-1.
Cossa posted a 1.33 goals-against average, a .945 save percentage, and a shutout against the Iowa Wild last Sunday, cementing his impact between the pipes. The 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft has been sensational this season, boasting an 8-1-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.56 GAA, and a .942 save percentage in nine appearances.
He leads the AHL in both goals-against average and save percentage and ranks among the top in wins and shutouts. This marks the second time in his career he has earned Player of the Week honors, previously doing so in February 2024.
Cossa reached a major milestone earlier this season against the Texas Stars, notching his 50th career win as a Griffin and joining an elite group of eight goaltenders in franchise history to reach that mark. He also recorded a career-high five-game win streak from October 10 to November 19 and is currently on a three-game winning streak.
Over four AHL seasons, Cossa has posted a 52-26-14 record with five shutouts in 93 games, alongside a 2.43 GAA and .912 save percentage. Last season, he made his first AHL All-Star Classic and ranked among league leaders in minutes, games played, goals-against average, and save percentage, finishing with a 21-15-6 record.
Cossaās hot play has put him on the radar for an NHL call-up, especially as Red Wings veterans John Gibson (3.59 GAA, .865 save percentage) and Cam Talbot (2.88 GAA, .887 save percentage) struggle this season. He has already proven he can handle the NHL stage, making his debut last December in Buffalo with a 6-5 victory, stopping 12 shots and three in the shootout.
With Cossa in net, the Griffinsā historic start shows no signs of slowing, and the young goaltender continues to make a strong case for his future at the NHL level.
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Four of five players acquitted of sexual assault in this year's Hockey Canada trial have pro contracts as their NHL suspensions end.
A judge in London, Ont., found Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote not guilty of sexual assault in July. They were initially charged in connection with allegations stemming from the aftermath of a 2018 gala celebrating that year's Canadian world junior team.
All of them but Dube now have a contract after Foote signed with the AHL's Chicago Wolves on Monday.
The NHL announced in September the five players were suspended until Dec. 1, but they were eligible to sign contracts as of Oct. 15. The league's investigation concluded that while the players' conduct wasn't criminal, it did not meet the "highest level of moral integrity."
Here's the latest on each player.
Carter Hart, G, Vegas Golden Knights
Hart, 27, signed a two-year contract worth $2 million annually with the Vegas Golden Knights in late October.
In preparation for his return to NHL action, Hart played three games for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights. He went 1-2-0 in his three starts, posting a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage. He last played on Friday, stopping 12 of 16 shots.
Foote, 26, joined the Wolves on an AHL contract. The Wolves are the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, but Foote would have to sign an NHL contract to be eligible for a call-up.
Foote last played in 2024-25 for Liptovsky Mikulas in the top-tier league in Slovakia, finishing third on the team in scoring with 30 points in 38 games. He last played in the AHL in 2023-24 before taking a leave of absence. That season, he had nine points in 24 games for the Utica Comets.
In 20 games, Formenton has five goals, nine points and 36 penalty minutes.
Formenton remains an RFA whose NHL rights belong to the Ottawa Senators. If he doesn't sign a contract by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, he cannot play in the NHL this season.
The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch reported the Senators have tried to trade Formenton's rights elsewhere in exchange for a draft pick. Senators GM Steve Staios and Formenton's agent, Darren Ferris, agreed over the summer that the player's best bet was a change of scenery.
As of Monday morning in Ottawa, there is "virtually no chance" a trade will happen, Garrioch reported.
Michael McLeod, C, Omsk (Rus.)
McLeod, 27, returned to Avangard Omsk in the KHL this season after playing part of the 2024-25 campaign with them.
In 17 games, McLeod has five goals and seven assists for 12 points. He ranks eighth on the team in scoring.
Last season, McLeod had six points in 16 games for Barys Astana in the KHL before joining Omsk and posting 13 points in 19 games. He added eight points in nine playoff matches.
While he, Hart, Formenton, Dube and Foote faced one charge each of sexual assault, McLeod faced an additional charge of party to the offense. He was found not guilty of both counts.
Dillon Dube, C, Unsigned
Dube, 27, has not played for a pro hockey team this season so far.
He last played for the KHL's Dinamo Minsk in 2024-25, recording four goals and 11 points in 42 games. He went without a point in four post-season games as well.
Dube played six season for the Calgary Flames, recording 127 points in 325 NHL games.
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The Charlotte Checkers announced they have signed free agent forward Robby Fabrri to a professional tryout (PTO).
Fabbri attended Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on a PTO but was released after suffering an injury.
The 29-year-old recorded eight goals and 16 points in 44 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.
Originally a first round selection of the St. Louis Blues in 2014,Ā Fabbri has 106 goals and 216 points in 442 career NHL games with the Blues, Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.Ā
The Mississauga, Ont., native has six points in six career AHL games, he last played in the league with the San Antonio Rampage in Oct. 2018.
The Checkers have signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout (PTO).
A gold medal winner with Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship, Fabbri's offensive ability will be nice boost to an already strong Charlotte team as he looks to work his way back to the NHL.
The Florida Panthers AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, have signed veteran winger Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout.
The 29-year-old has played in 442 games in the NHL, scoring 106 goals and 216 points. His nine NHL seasons have been spent with the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. He was originally selected by the Blues in the first round (21st overall) in the 2014 NHL draft.
Fabbri has little AHL experience, skating in just six games, but the skilled winger has found it increasingly difficult to lock down spots on NHL lineups. Last season with the Ducks, Fabbri scored just eight goals and 16 points in 44 games.
He's played more than 60 games just twice in his NHL career. Although he hasn't had the individual success many thought he could achieve, he's won at multiple levels. He was part of the Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup win, won gold with Team Canada at the world juniors and won an OHL championship with the Guelph Storm.
He hasn't played any professional hockey games since pre-season, when he was on a PTO with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so it may take a little while for Fabbri to get his legs under him, but he should be a top-end contributor on the Checkers once he does get back into game shape.
The Checkers currently sit in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and are just three points back of third place despite playing three fewer games. The Checkers have struggled to score goals this season, and Fabbri should help the team improve offensively.
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The Winnipeg Jets have yet to confirm whether rookie goaltender Thomas Milic will start Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres as the situation mirrors last week when the team waited until the last moment to announce he would be making his NHL debut.
Milicās first appearance in the league delivered a mixed but encouraging performance for fans. The 22-year-old from New Westminster, British Columbia stopped 30 of 34 shots and played a significant role in keeping the Jets competitive during difficult stretches. He made eight saves in the first 11 minutes and helped shut down four Carolina power plays throughout the game, showing poise in high-pressure situations.
His debut also included a few rookie moments as one power play opportunity for the Hurricanes resulted from Milic misplaying the puck behind the net, although he recovered and made important stops during the penalty kill. Defensive breakdowns in front of him led to three of the goals against, beginning with the opener when Shayne Gostisbehere carried the puck deep and found Winnipeg-born forward Seth Jarvis uncovered in the high slot. Jarvis released a low wrist shot that slipped past Milic for the gameās first goal.
Traffic in front of the crease remained a problem for Milic and the Jets throughout as the second goal against came in the second period, when Logan Stanley and William Carrier battled for position and Jordan Martinook snapped a shot through a crowd. Minutes later, Jarvis struck again from the high slot, uncovered while Josh Morrissey slightly drifted into Milicās line of sight as the shot sailed over the rookieās glove.
All of the goals to that point beat Milic on the glove side, a concern as the Jets prepare for a Sabres team that features elite shooters in Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson. The most troubling moment for Milic came in the final seconds when defenseman Alexander Nikishin fired a point shot from the boards that beat Milic clean on the blocker side.
The Jets hope Milic can build on the experience and deliver a stronger performance if he gets the call against Buffalo. The matchup would typically be considered a step down in difficulty since Milicis coming off a game against the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres, however, have surged with five wins in their last eight outings while averaging 3.63 goals per game during that run, which ranks sixth in the NHL over the same span.
Winnipeg will need to tighten its defensive structure regardless of who starts in goal, but additional support would be especially valuable for a rookie still adjusting to NHL speed. The Sabres and Jets will take center stage as the featured game on Amazonās Monday Night Hockey.
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Amidst the injury news, Kaskimaki is earning his first call-up to the NHL and is likely to skate in his first career NHL game. The 21-year-old is participating in his second AHL season with the Springfield Thunderbirds and has scored four goals and seven points in 16 games.
Kaskimaki is on pace for 17 goals and 30 points in 69 games, which would be in and around his rookie season totals of 11 goals and 34 points in 63 games.
The Espoo, FIN native skated in three pre-season games this season, scoring a goal in his final outing against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blues host the Anaheim Ducks tonight, and it has yet to be confirmed whether Kaskimaki will be in the lineup. Pius Suter was held out of the lineup with a lower-body injury on Saturday, but his current status is questionable. If he is unable to play, the Blues' third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft will make his NHL debut.
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After sending Danton Heinen and Tristan Broz to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins recalled two players from WBS on Monday.
They recalled Rutger McGroarty and Boko Imama ahead of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. McGroarty has been one of the best players in WBS, compiling four goals and seven points in five games since coming back from an undisclosed injury.Ā
Imama had a gorgeous goal on a penalty shot this past week and has forechecked really nicely throughout the season. He's also not afraid of being physical and can also bring some snarl to the lineup.Ā
It was only a few weeks ago when things felt like they were turning a corner for the Florida Panthers.
They were returning from another long road trip and showing some signs of real positivity, playing three straight solid games away from home, an area theyād struggled mightily to that point of the young season.
After dropping five of their first six road games, including an embarrassing 7-3 affair in Anaheim to kick off that most recent trip, the Cats played quite well in Los Angeles, San Jose and Vegas, only dropping the middle matchup thanks to an incredible effort in goal by the Sharksā top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov.
Returning to home ice, where the Panthers were set to play 10 of their next 11 and where theyād gotten off to a 5-1-1 start on the year, was only supposed to increase Floridaās growing momentum after their strong end on the road.
Unfortunately for the Cats, things havenāt followed on that projected path.
After starting the home stretch with three wins in four games, defeating Washington, Vancouver and New Jersey but losing to Tampa Bay, Florida has since dropped each of their past three games at Amerant Bank Arena.
āI think everyone wants to beat us, thatās always the caseā said Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling, referencing the teamās consecutive Stanley Cup wins. āThey get one goal, and they get some energy, and things like that happen in the games.ā
āWe want to get back to defending,ā he added.
Indeed, Forsling and the Panthers are surely frustrated with the defeats.
In each of the previous two ā a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia and a 5-3 loss to Calgary ā Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead both nights.
All three saw the Panthers surrender late goals, but in different, exasperating ways.
Edmonton scored a pair of empty-net goals that came almost immediately after Daniil Tarasov vacated his crease, never allowing the Cats a chance to try and push for a tying score with an extra attacker.
The Flyers gameā¦well, it was tied entering the final minute, they won the game by two and didnāt score an empty-net goal.
Two nights later against Calgary, Floridaās early two-goal lead was gone by the first intermission, and they entered the final frame down by a pair. Still, it took a Flamesā ENG to seal the win, but it was an exclamation point on an extremely unsatisfying week on home ice that was supposed to be the exact opposite.
āItās a game of inches,ā said Panthers forward A.J. Greer. āWhen we put ourselves in some bad positions, whether thatās defensively or just in general with certain mistakes that we know we shouldnāt make, the other teams have been capitalizing on them.ā
This homestead was when the injury-filled Panthers were going to piss off the rest of the league and reel off a bunch of wins, leapfrogging teams in the tightly-packed Eastern Conference playoff race and setting themselves up for another strong spring, when most of Floridaās injured players should be returning to the lineup, if not already back.
Alas, Floridaās āone step forward, two steps backā routine has come at a bad time.
The standings arenāt so constricted anymore.
Tampa Bay is now four points clear of second-place Boston for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, with Florida nine points back and only ahead of Toronto and Buffalo in the conference.
The Panthers are only four points back of the second Wild Card spot, but there are five teams between Florida and Pittsburgh, the current final playoff position holder.
The good news?
Well first off, it hasnāt been all gloom and doom for the Panthers lately.
In addition to the continued scoring surplus from the likes of Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand, several of Floridaās long-slumbering offensive weapons are starting to show serious signs of life.
The recently-created line of Sam Bennett centering Greer and Carter Verhaeghe has ignited all three players, but if Bennett and Verhaeghe can get back to producing at the levels theyāve come to expect of themselves in recent years, it will go a long way toward the Cats getting back on a successful track.
Additionally, Florida still has decent amount of meat on the bone in terms of their homestand, and two of their upcoming four games in Sunrise are against teams in that five-team mix between the Panthers and the playoffs.
Starting Tuesday, the Cats will host Toronto, Nashville, Columbus and the Islanders this week. Four games in six nights.
Toronto and Nashville are two of the few teams below Florida in the standings, and the Blue Jackets and Islanders are teams that, like the Panthers, are chasing that final playoff spot.
Itās a great opportunity for the Cats to put a rough week behind them and turn things back in a very positive direction before getting back on the road.
Photo caption:Ā Oct 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice looks on during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
Recent reports claimed that the
Vancouver Canucks are open to offers for some of their veteran
players, especially those eligible to become UFAs next summer.
That has raised rumors about which players could be
available and the cost of acquiring them.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported
Saturday that teams such as the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins and
Philadelphia Flyers could be interested in some of the Canucks'
pending UFA players. However, the Canucks intend to take their time
and evaluate the trade market.
Most of the early focus is on Kiefer
Sherwood. The feisty 30-year-old left winger is UFA-eligible next July. He
leads the Canucks with 12 goals, carries an affordable $1.5-million
cap hit, and lacks no-trade protection. His physical style is
well-suited for the grind of post-season hockey.
RG.Org's James Murphy cited an NHL
source claiming the Bruins had contacted the Canucks about Sherwood
and right winger Conor Garland. He said the New York Islanders,
Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings also had an interest in
Sherwood. Garland, however, might not be available as he has a
six-year contract extension that begins next July.
TSN's Chris Johnston observed that Jim
Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, has a
reputation for making moves well ahead of the annual trade deadline.
However, he suggested it might be best if the Canucks wait on moving
Sherwood until closer to the March 6 deadline, when he might fetch a
first-round pick.
Sherwood could land a first-rounder if
he maintains his current level of production. However, Rutherford
might prefer a young NHL-ready player who would have a more immediate
impact.
Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News
mused over whether Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek might be
available. The 28-year-old blueliner has six seasons left on his
contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million and a full no-movement clause.
Rosner felt Hronek would be a good fit
on the Islanders' blueline alongside rookie star Matthew
Schaefer. Given Hronek's contract, the Canucks aren't likely to move
him unless he asks to be traded. So far, there's no indication that
he wants out of Vancouver.
Meanwhile, some observers wonder what
effect the Canucks' plans to become a seller will have on captain Quinn Hughes' future in Vancouver.
The 26-year-old superstar defenseman is
signed through 2026-27, and questions have been raised in the rumor
mill about whether he'll sign an extension next summer. Speculation
has linked him to the New Jersey Devils and a reunion with his
brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli suggested
the Flyers as a destination for Hughes, where he'd be
reunited with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. Flyers beat writer
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic claimed he hasn't heard any indication
that the club would pursue the Canucks' star but doesn't rule out
management trying to acquire a player that would accelerate their
rebuilding process.
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After winning six of seven games on their road trip, the New York Islanders have lost four of their first five games to start their seven-game homestand.
While the game outcomes tell one story, head coach Patrick Roy remains confident in his squad, which is still 13-10-3 and tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card spot.
āSometimes after games there's nothing to be said,ā said Roy.
āAnd I think today is an example. We did everything right. We had a lot of shots and we had a lot of chances. We just came up short. We could find excuses. I get it. I mean, the standard of our team is to win hockey games and do the right thing, but sometimes we just need to continue to play the way we are and believe that things will go our way.ā
Stefen Rosner asked Roy if he's noticed anything different from the way they've played on their recent road trip to how they are playing right now.
"I feel like we played pretty much the same way," Roy said. "Actually, we might give more shots on the road than at home, but other than this, I feel like we've been playing the same kind of hockey. I really do. Did the puck bounce our way, maybe a little more on the road, maybe, yes -- obviously, we score more goals. But I mean, I felt like we played really well defensively. I thought on the trip where we won, what six out of the seven, I mean, the game that we lost was the game we played our best. And we've been playing some good hockey, and unfortunately, we don't win."
There is no doubt the Islanders' finishing has struggled in their recent stretch, shooting at just a 3.49% rate, but is the rest of their game there?
During the first five games of their home stand, the Islanders have had 69.1 shot attempts per 60 minutes, 12.39 of which from higher-danger areas. Both of these metrics are significantly higher than their road trip, where they had 50.23 and 9.57, respectively, according to Natural Stat Trick.Ā
At 5v5, the numbers are closer: 63.02 toĀ 48.39 in shot attempts andĀ 10.98 to 9.27 in high danger shot attempts.
Natural Stat Trick's expected goals model also has the Islanders generating 3.8 expected goals per 60 minutes at all strengths during the home stand, as opposed to 2.9 on the road trip.Ā
However, the Islanders have scored just 1.16 goals per 60 minutes amid this stretch, while they scored 3.38 on the road trip.
Roy said himself, following the Islanders' 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in their third game of the homestand on Nov 26, that the shot quality had to improve, and this is something expected goals models struggle to pick up as they track location on the ice but not the location on the net.
"We were the better team on the ice, but the quality of our shots is onna have to improve, find ways to bear down on our chances [...] we're going to win more games than we're going to lose if we play that way."
Fortunately for the Islanders, the chances are there, and at the very least, the defense has been much improved.
During the homestand, the Islanders have conceded just 18.19 shots per 60 minutes compared to 29.13 on the road trip -- an over 10 shot improvement.Ā
They have also conceded 5.81 fewer high danger shot attempts per 60 minutes, down to 9.1 from 14.91.
On the season, the Islanders are shooting 9.75% -- the sixth lowest in the NHL -- yet this is still over 6% higher than their stretch on the homestand.
Roy has said himself that there are no moral victories and the goal remains to win hockey games, but fans and the team should hold optimism that, at the very least, the data is promising.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road at Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils at 7 pm.
The New Jersey Devils come into this game with the CBJ 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and have won 3 of their last 4. They have a 16-8-1 record and sit atop the Metro with 33 points.
The Blue Jackets must find a way to get points in every game. They had a not-so-great November by going 5-5-5. Somehow, though, they're only six points back of Jersey, and could make up ground tonight. In fact, had they not blown so many leads, they could actually be sitting up top with New Jersey in the Metro.
Of the 15 games they played in November, they lost third-period leads in seven of them, yes, seven. They went 2-1-4 in those seven games, with the two wins coming by way of a shootout. Columbus only managed two regulation wins in November, and yet they're somehow not completely out of the race.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 15.5% - 27th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 75.4% - 27th in the NHL
Goals For - 70 - 26th in the NHL
Goals Against - 81 - 22nd in the NHL
DevilsStats
Power Play - 23.8% - 7th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 83.3% - 8th in the NHL
Goals For - 78 - 11th in the NHL
Goals Against - 74 - 14th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheDevils
Columbus is 29-22-1-3 all-time, and 12-10-1-3 at home vs. New Jersey.
The Jackets are 2-8-1 in the last 11 against the Devils overall.
The CBJ are 0-1 against the Devils this season.
Who To Watch For TheDevils
Dawson Mercer leads the Devils with 10 goals.
Jesper Bratt leads New Jersey with 19 assists and 24 points.
Goalie Jake Allen is 8-4-0 with a SV% of .919.
Jacob Markstrom is 7-4-1 with a SV% of .874.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Devils
Zach Werenski has a stat line of 4-5-9 in 25 games vs. the Devils.
Charlie Coyle has 9 points in 35 career games.
Sean Monahan has 25 points in 21 games against New Jersey.
Injuries
Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 17 games - IR - No timeline for a return
Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 9 Games - IR - Could return this week
Kirill Marchenko - Lower Body - Missed 3 Game - Day to day.
Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 2 Game - No timeline for a return
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 43
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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According to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart will make his return to the NHL and start for the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, marking his first dose of NHL action since January 2024.
NHL insider and longtime goalie Kevin Weekes reported Sunday night that Hart is "likely to make his debut start and return to NHL action" with the Golden Knights, who host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10 p.m. EST.
Hart, 27, made three AHL starts while on a conditioning loan with the Henderson Silver Knights, posting a 1-2-0 record, a 3.07 GAA, and a .839 save percentage.
Hart's most recent AHL action saw him surrender four goals on 16 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Ontario Reign on Friday; former Flyers forward Tanner Laczynski scored two goals in the defeat.
Hart was recalled by the Golden Knights from the AHL on Saturday, and his suspension stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial will officially expire on Monday, making him eligible to play NHL games for Vegas.
If and when the former Flyers goalie returns to the ice, he will make his first NHL start since Jan. 20, 2024, when Hart ceded five goals on 15 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Sharks believe Sam Dickinson can handle the rigors of the NHL. Thatās why the 2024 No. 11 pick still is on the roster.
So what do they like about Dickinson in the NHL now? And how can the teenage blueliner get better and better this year?
The Sharks had the option, about a month ago, of sending the 19-year-old back to his junior club, which would have been advantageous for them, contractually. The beginning of Dickinsonās three-year entry-level contract would āslideā to next season, meaning Year 1 of three would not kick off until 2026-27. That, consequently, would keep the top defensive prospect at a bargain ELC rate for longer.
Instead, the Sharks started the clock on Dickinsonās contract this season.
Physically, thereās already a lot to like about Dickinson. Heās 6-foot-4, NHL-strong, skilled, and can skate like the wind.
Per Stathletes, heās actually a top-20 defenseman in the league in these four key 5-on-5 per 60 rate stats, as of Nov. 30: High-danger chances, inner slot carries, offensive turnovers created, and puck recoveries.
Dickinson is fifth in high-danger chances and fourth in 5-on-5 inner slot carries, speaking to how confident that he is with his skating and skill to carry the puck into the best scoring areas.
Top defensemen Matthew Schaefer, Cale Makar, and Dougie Hamilton are among the leaders in these categories.
Hereās an example:
Smith (2) intercepts the pass, Celebrini (71) off to the races, Dickinson (6) joins the rush (11.26.25) pic.twitter.com/WhsGZi3XZJ
ā San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) December 1, 2025
Will Smith (2) picks off the Sam Malinski (70) pass. Dickinson (6) recognizes that this is the time to attack, and simply beats Joel Kiviranta (94) up the ice. Macklin Celebrini (71) sees Dickinson, and draws Malinski to him, before laying a perfect backhand pass for Dickinson to skate into.
Dickinson has just a goal and an assist in 19 NHL games, but the production is coming.
Heās 16th in OZ turnovers created, in part because his size and quickness make him effective pinching along the wall, preventing his opposition from exiting the zone.
Zach Werenski, Lane Hutson, and Rasmus Dahlin are among the leaders in this category.
Heās 16th in puck recoveries, a tribute to his skating and instincts, to know where the puck is going and get to it first.
Mackenzie Weegar, Jake Sanderson, and Shea Theodore are among the leaders in this category.
But perhaps more important than his physical attributes coming to the forefront in the best league in the world?
āHe definitely gets rattled around a little bit, and it doesnāt seem like it bothers him, which is a real positive for a young man,ā head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, after the Sharksā decision to keep Dickinson.
To be a rookie defenseman in the NHL, youāve got to be mentally tough. Your fault or not, itās often the back of your jersey that fans see when a goal is allowed. It can be overwhelming for some youngsters.
Dickinson, to his credit, has bounced back from his worst games and plays this season.
Case in point, in October against the New York Islanders, when his turnover led to a Casey Cizikas goal:
Two shifts later though, an aggressive Dickinson read, which showcased his size and athleticism, led to an Adam Gaudette goal:
Air Dickinson!
Great keep in, Misa gets his first NHL point with a primary apple dunked home by Gaudette. ššØ Graf is having a hell of a game. #SJSharkspic.twitter.com/7L1CyrKeA7
But Dickinson, for all his prodigious talents, still has plenty to learn, especially on the defensive side of the puck.
Thereās a reason why the Sharks have limited his ice time, 14:30 a night, which is last among San Jose blueliners.
Two things stand out to Warsofsky right now.
āStarting the game on time is important. I think he sometimes feels his way through the game, which I understand as a young 19-year-old defenseman,ā Warsofsky said.
āItās tough. You get a lot coming at you right away. Thereās the energy in the building. Itās loud. Thereās a lot of things that go on mentally to get ready for the game,ā he noted. āYour routine and everything, the schedule, the travel, where weāre at, did we skate? Did we not skate? So getting your body to feel right and mentally to feel right.ā
Ex-AHL assistant coach Jack Han added, āAs a big-minutes player in juniors, itās understandable that someone like Dickinson would ease into a game at maybe 60-70 percent intensity and then ramp up as he gets warmed up and into the flow of things. However, at the NHL level, as a rookie, on a team thatās not very good at carrying play, he needs to hit the ground running.ā
āIāve been getting better [at] first shift, just being right on the gas, just trying to get into the game right away, not take time to get into it, or anything like that,ā Dickinson said. āSo whether thatās changing things up pre-game, Iāve definitely tried things and I think [Iām going in the] right.ā
The second observation from Warsofsky?
āReading rushes at this level happens in a millisecond and being able to meet the right read with the right habit of where your stick should be,ā he said, āwhere your body position should be, and then [being] ready to make the next play in a blink of an eye, which happens really fast, and getting more comfortable doing that.ā
Han found an example that addresses both of Warsofskyās criticisms, from Dickinsonās second shift of the game on Nov. 13 at the Calgary Flames.
ā San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) December 1, 2025
āHe overcommits to his partnerās side of the ice and gives up a shot off the rush,ā Han noted. āShortly thereafter, he makes a somewhat careless pass on a back wall retrieval that almost leads to a Calgary scoring chance.ā
āThose are the two big areas that we kind of narrowed in on,ā Warsofsky said. āThe offensive stuff and the stuff he can do on the blueline and join the rush, he has that, weāre not worried about that.ā
Dickinson (6) shakes forecheckers Landeskog (92) and Kelly (17), breaks out Sharks pic.twitter.com/NGmViO1AMI
ā San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) December 1, 2025
Dickinson also turns the puck over too much.
According to Stathletes, Dickinson is NHL-worst among all blueliners in neutral zone giveaways at 5-on-5 per 60, and ninth-worst in DZ giveaways.
On a better team, Dickinson, frankly, probably isnāt ready for full-time NHL duty. Heās been a bundle of highs and lows, still working on becoming that reliable two-way blueliner that playoff-caliber teams depend on.
Thatās not a shot at the 19-year-old: Teen defensemen who are ready to play regular minutes on a contender are few and far between.
That said, the Sharks didnāt necessarily keep Dickinson in the NHL for the player that he is now: Theyāre keeping him for the player that he will be by the end of this season, and in the coming years.
The NHL is a better place for Dickinson to develop than the OHL, and the Sharks believe he has the mental toughness to handle the best league in the world.
āCan we make this guy a guy we play 25, 26 minutes a night?ā Warsofsky said. āThatās what weāre trying to do.ā
It's a new season, and Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects are off to a pretty good start this season.
GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has managed to infuse the Penguins' organization with a lot of promising talent in the last two-plus years by acquiring prospects and accruing draft capital, and the Penguins' enhanced development staff has also helped young players already in the organization begin to find potential paths to the NHL.
And the Penguins have a good amount of depth at the goaltending position. So much, in fact, that they are popping up in some trade rumors regarding the Edmonton Oilers. For the most part, Penguins' goaltending prospects have continued to show why one of the veterans at the NHL level might be expendable.
Here is our November Penguins' prospects update for goaltenders:
During his NHL stint, he appeared in four games and posted a 1.90 goals-against average to go along with a .913 save percentage. There were a few blips along the way in that sample, but for the most part, he looked calm, cool, collected, and confident, which is impressive for a 21-year-old.
And he picked up right where he left off in his first start at the AHL level since his re-assignment. Against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday, Murashov stopped 31 of 32 shots and posted a .969 save percentage for the game. Through nine appearances at the AHL level collectively this season, he has a 6-2-0 record with one shutout, a 1.70 goals-against average, and a .934 save percentage.
This guy has dominated every professional level he's played at, and he flashed some of that dominance in NHL action, too. He goes post-to-post effortlessly, consistently challenges shooters, loves to play the puck, and is rarely out of position.
It won't be long before he's in Pittsburgh for good, and he has the tools to be a core piece of the Penguins' future for many years to come.
Joel Blomqvist
Blomqvist missed the first month-plus of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury in training camp. He had a bit of a rough outing against the Hershey Bears on Saturday, as he was pulled after surrendering four goals on 16 shots.
But, aside from that game, he's been good so far. In four appearances this season, he is 3-1-1 with a shutout, a 2.19 goals-against average, and a .920 save percentage.
Joel Blomqvist just looks so calm, cool & collected in net.
Making it look effortless out there again tonight.
Pittsburgh's going to have a hell of a decision to make with all these goalies playing well right now.@InsideAHLHockey
The young netminder from Uusikaarlepyy, Finland kind of does have a lot to prove this season, as he now has Murashov to compete with for an NHL spot. In addition, his mixed-bag NHL sample last season - he excelled in his first stint and struggled in his second - left a bit more to be desired in terms of looking ahead to the future.
At 23 years old, this is a big season for Blomqvist. He will compete for the net at the AHL level with Murashov, too, and ideally, they would become a future 1A and 1B situation for the NHL club. If he continues to build on the work he's put in so far this season, it will make it a lot easier for the Penguins to be comfortable parting with one of their netminders at the NHL level.
Filip Larsson
Larsson, 27, started out the season strong for WBS when he was the backup to Murashov prior to the Russian goaltender's NHL stint.
However, his numbers have dipped a bit in recent games.
After posting a .941 save percentage through three appearances in the month of October, Larsson had a lowly .755 save percentage through the same amount of games in November. It was tough timing for him, too, because both Blomqvist and Murashov are now active at the AHL level, and it's going to be hard for Larsson to see much playing time with both of them in the picture.
Perhaps a stint for the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) wouldn't be the worst thing for Larsson right now, where he'd get more playing time and have a chance to find his game again. But, if he does remain on the AHL roster - and the WBS Penguins decide to have a three-goaltender rotation - he has to make the most of his opportunities, as they will probably be few and far between.
As has been the case with D'Aigle, looking at his raw stat line doesn't tell the whole story about the season he's having for the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL.
So, given all of that, his .895 save percentage and 557 saves in 17 appearances doesn't look so bad. D'Aigle is a work in progress and a bit of a project, but the tools are there. And the Penguins believe they might have something in the 6-foot-4, 19-year-old workhorse.
Of course, it would take quite a lot of bad injury luck for Smith to get anywhere near the NHL. But the Oakville, Ontario native has been outstanding so far, and he might make things interesting in terms of the goaltending split when Taylor Gauthier returns from injury.
After a shaky start to the season, the 23-year-old goaltender from Kazakhstan has settled in a bit.
Through eight games, Pavlenko is 5-3-0 with a .906 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. His play for the Kazakhstan at the World Championship this year - he went 1-4 with an .881 save percentage and a 3.75 goals-against average against some very tough competition and behind a lackluster defense - earned him an AHL contract for the 2025-26 season.
Pavlenko may be a bit of an NHL longshot given the organization's goaltending depth, but don't count him out. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound goaltender has the size and the tools to continue refining his game and to make a case for himself as a potential option for the AHL club moving forward.
