Sitting in 28th place in the NHL with major injuries to several key players, the St. Louis Blues look like they'll continue to head in the wrong direction.

Not many things, if any, have gone right for the Blues. Nearly every player is on pace to put up lower goal and point totals than they did last season, and their goaltending has really struggled. The off-season moves haven't made the Blues any better, and now, 33 games into the season, the Blues are at risk of having to write it off. 

Almost every report made about the Blues highlights how they'll be sellers at the deadline, and the trading could come before that. 

Several players have been named by a plethora of reporters. Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Kyrou are the players garnering the most interest, but there can be calls about the availability of Jordan Binnington, Pavel Buchnevich and Colton Parayko. How eager the Blues are to make deals will determine whether they are dealt or not. 

If the Blues do become sellers, they would be committing to a bit of a mini rebuild. 

They've witnessed some of their latest first-round picks and top prospects graduate to the NHL, and although they aren't stars yet, they are on the right path. Jake Neighbours has continued to improve yearly, Jimmy Snuggerud was looking like an everyday NHLer before his injury, and Dalibor Dvorsky has taken advantage of injuries to solidify his spot in the NHL. 

Snuggerud and Dvorsky would love to see their production increase, but playing in the NHL is a great start. 

Additionally, the Blues front office likes what they have in Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Adam Jiricek and Justin Carbonneau. They might be a year or two away from playing in the NHL, but they are developing into possible important pieces of their future.

On the NHL roster, Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg and Robert Thomas are key contributors who the Blues see as present and future parts of their team.

That leaves several other players who could be expendable. The Blues project to land a top-five pick in a loaded draft. It's been quite a while since the Blues drafted a possible franchise player, and committing to a rebuild this season could put them in position to land players like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff or Tynan Lawrence. 

No team wants to tank, but if injuries and losses continue to pile up, it might be their best option.

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Montreal Canadiens forward Joe Veleno has had a tough start to the 2025-26 season. In his first 25 games of the campaign with the Habs, he recorded just one goal. This included him starting the season with zero points in his first 14 games.

With this, there is no question that Veleno has had trouble producing offensively this season. While this is the case, the 25-year-old forward is now starting to break the ice for the Canadiens. 

During the Canadiens' Dec. 13 matchup against the New York Rangers, Veleno snapped a 10-game point drought by recording an assist on Jake Evans' goal. He then followed this up by scoring the Canadiens' eventual game-winning goal in their 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 14. 

Veleno's goal against the Oilers was a nice one, too, as he intercepted a pass from Oilers superstar Connor McDavid before beating Edmonton goaltender Calvin Pickard with a great snap shot. 

Veleno starting to produce offensively for the Canadiens is undoubtedly good to see. It will now be interesting to see if the 2018 first-round pick can build on his momentum and continue to contribute offensively for Montreal. 

The Ottawa Senators have had more than their share of key injury concerns so far this season, so why would their American Hockey League club in Belleville be any different? The organization continues to wait for an injury update on B-Sens defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, who was hurt in a game against the Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday.

Late in the first period, Yakemchuk had the puck in the right corner in Belleville’s end, and just after he made a pass up ice, Bridgeport winger Hunter Drew finished his forecheck with a shoulder-on-shoulder hit. 

Yakemchuk saw it coming and braced hard for the hit, but it appeared to be a harder one than he was expecting. Yakemchuk lost his balance, falling backward onto one leg like he'd been slew-footed (he wasn't) before taking an awkward spill.

There’s been no word yet on the severity of the injury, but the 20-year-old had to be helped off the ice and did not return to the game, which Belleville lost 4-3 in overtime. In four words: it didn't look good.

It’s news that may delay one of the club's two obvious strategies for the player in the second half of the season. As the organization’s top prospect, Yakemchuk might continue his development in the AHL, trying to elevate his skating and the defensive part of his game.

Or perhaps he might be ready to come to Ottawa to help the club make a push. While he's certainly not a finished product, a case could be made that he might upgrade the right side of Ottawa’s blue line, currently manned by Nick Jensen, Artem Zub, and Jordan Spence.

So far this season, Yakemchuk has three goals and 18 points in 27 games, so he continues to live up to his billing as an offensive defenseman, but his skating isn't elite, and he still needs more polish on the defensive side. That said, he's still only played 27 career games as a pro and is already playing heavy minutes down in Belleville and not being sheltered at all.

Only time will tell if the 20-year-old ever emerges as an impact player in the NHL. But for now, as we wait for a diagnosis, it looks like Yakemchuk’s developmental timer has been paused until further notice.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

30 Games Into The Season, What Is The Ottawa Senators' Identity?
Senators Comeback Effort Wasted In 3-2 Regulation Loss In Minnesota
After A Hot Start, Senators' Veteran Goes Ice Cold And Now Joins Injury List
Popular Former Ottawa Senator Forward Attempting Comeback At Age 38
Four Ottawa Senators Make Annual List Of Most Punchable NHL Players

The injury fallout from Saturday’s comeback win over Pittsburgh proved far less forgiving for the San Jose Sharks, who received discouraging updates on forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev.

Bad News

Both players are dealing with upper-body injuries sustained against the Penguins and have been placed on injured reserve, sidelining them for a minimum of the Sharks’ next three games.

The Sharks were originally scheduled to practice on Monday, but head coach Ryan Warsofsky opted to give his players an additional day of rest. In response to the injury news, San Jose recalled Ethan Cardwell and Igor Chernyshov from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

The Silver Lining

While it’s unfortunate that injuries created the opportunity, the 20-year-old Chernyshov is set to make his NHL debut Tuesday when the Sharks face Nazem Kadri and the Calgary Flames. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound left winger is producing nearly a point per game with the 'Cuda this season, posting 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 25 games. Selected 33rd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Chernyshov was prized for his versatility and elite skating ability and was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Month in November.

As for Cardwell, the call-up is familiar territory. This marks his second recall of the season after previously appearing in 10 NHL games, during which he scored two goals, including one against the Seattle Kraken on November 5.

As for Smith and Kurashev, the Sharks and their fans will hope for a more positive update from Warsofsky at Tuesday’s morning skate.

Next Game

San Jose enters the matchup looking to extend its winning streak to three games, coming off the largest comeback in regular-season franchise history. The Sharks erased a four-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation before handing Sidney Crosby’s Penguins a dramatic 6–5 overtime loss.

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A former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is available for the taking.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Dallas Stars have placed former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok on waivers.

The Penguins traded Kolyachonok to the Stars during the off-season in exchange for blueliner Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick. Interestingly, Dumba was placed on waivers by the Penguins last week, and Kolyachonok has now hit the wire himself with today's news. 

Kolyachonok has recorded one goal, two assists, three points, five hits, and a plus-3 rating in 11 games this season with the Stars. His most recent appearance for the Stars was on Dec. 11, where he recorded one block in 11:55 of ice time. 

Kolyachonok played in 12 games for the Penguins this past season after they claimed him off waivers from Utah, where he recorded zero goals, two assists, eight penalty minutes, and a minus-5 rating. 

In addition to Kolyachonok being placed on waivers, Chicago Blackhawks goalie Laurent Brossoit and Detroit Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren have also hit the wire. 

The Detroit Red Wings have placed forward Jonatan Berggren on waivers Monday afternoon, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Selected 33rd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, Berggren has yet to establish himself as an everyday player in the NHL, spending the majority of his 169 career games in depth roles. Over parts of four seasons with the Red Wings, the 25-year-old Swedish winger has recorded 31 goals and 33 assists for 64 points. 

Berggren now faces the possibility of being claimed by another club or being reassigned to the team’s AHL affiliate if he clears waivers.

Last season, Berggren had what was arguably his most stable NHL campaign, tallying 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 75 games while playing primarily in a bottom-six role. This season, scoring chances have been harder to come by, as he has collected six points in 15 games, continuing in a bottom-six forward capacity with modest ice time.

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Detroit’s decision to place Berggren on waivers comes shortly after the team called up John Leonard, the 27-year-old New Jersey native who has been dominant to start the AHL season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Leonard has helped lead the Griffins to a remarkable 22-1-0-1 record and currently ranks among the AHL’s top scorers with 19 goals and 10 assists for 29 points in just 20 games, finding the back of the net in 15 of those contests. His hot start has likely influenced Detroit’s move, as Leonard is expected to take over Patrick Kane’s spot on the second line and potentially move into Berggren’s former role in the bottom six.

Berggren signed a one-year contract worth roughly $1.8 million for the 2025-26 season, a “prove-it” deal aimed at solidifying his full-time NHL role. With limited success in that regard, he is now on waivers. There is uncertainty about whether another team will claim him, but his youth and pedigree as a near first-round pick make him an intriguing option. Teams such as the Vancouver Canucks, currently dealing with multiple injuries, could see Berggren as a worthwhile gamble.

Berggren now awaits the 24-hour claiming period. If unclaimed, the Red Wings could send him to Grand Rapids or retain him as organizational depth. A claim by another NHL team would provide Berggren a fresh opportunity to establish a more consistent role at the highest level.

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Few prospects blend vision, speed, and creativity like Mikhail Gulyayev.

He has been the undisputed top defensive prospect in the Colorado Avalanche system since the team selected him 31st overall in the 2023 NHL Draft—and it’s easy to see why. Gulyayev is an offensively gifted defenseman whose style perfectly complements Colorado’s identity: fast-paced, aggressive in transition, and unafraid to push play up the ice. His skating forms the foundation of his game—he covers ground effortlessly, closes gaps with speed, and handles the puck with confidence and relentless persistence.

That offensive skill set was showcased in an unusual way during Avangard Omsk’s preseason run at the Blinov Cup, when Gulyayev was briefly deployed as a forward. The move was a deliberate developmental decision, aimed at sharpening his offensive instincts and improving his comfort in high-traffic areas. Skating up front, the 20-year-old scored twice, which opened a lot of eyes. Although Avangard ultimately fell to Severstal in a 4–3 shootout, Gulyayev was the most impactful players on the ice. The experiment has sparked some early curiosity about whether his offensive ceiling could resemble a reverse Brent Burns trajectory, even if defense is where his heart truly lies.

Why Gulyayev Could Switch Positions

As it stands, the Avalanche have a surplus of defensemen, and Gulyayev is not yet ready for the NHL. By the time he is prepared to step into a lineup, Colorado’s blue line will likely look very different. Despite a relatively modest frame by KHL standards—5-foot-10 and roughly 172 pounds—the Avalanche selected Gulyayev for his versatile skill set, most notably his skating, edgework, and ability to seamlessly turn defense into offense. This profile is no accident; it reflects the organizational identity that Colorado has cultivated and maintained for nearly a decade.

Another defining pillar of the Avalanche over that stretch has been their offensive depth, and it’s worth noting that elite production doesn’t always follow conventional paths. Take Brent Burns, for example—now 11th all-time in points among NHL defensemen—who didn’t start his career on the blue line. Selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Burns was originally drafted as a right winger after leading the OHL’s Brampton Battalion in playoff scoring during the 2002–03 season. It wasn’t until he turned pro that then–Wild head coach Jacques Lemaire converted him to defense—a move that ultimately reshaped his career and left a lasting mark on NHL history. Watching what Jared Bednar has been doing in recent games, it’s intriguing to imagine what adjustments he might unveil once Gulyayev is ready for the big stage.

Per request I am coming to you with a Minnesota Wild legend Brent Burns headshot thread starting with draft day🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/XHxaqd9euX

— dont worry about it (@soleildabs) April 3, 2023

Bednar: The Coaching Scientist

Last Thursday, when the Avalanche defeated the Florida Panthers 4–2 at Ball Arena, Bednar experimented by giving Gavin Brindley shifts on the top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen. He liked what he saw so much that, when Colorado faced the Nashville Predators on Saturday, Brindley started the game on the top line, with both him and Martin Necas rotating between lines at various points during the contest.

🗣️ Jared Bednar

"Prepared and ready to go. Focused... It's guys getting prepared"#GoAvsGo | Powered By: https://t.co/YajEjwD3Ibpic.twitter.com/DJZywWennN

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) December 14, 2025

Some Avalanche fans even criticized the move on social media, though they may have overlooked that these types of experiments are nothing new.

Game 3️⃣2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/vENwvshkyI

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 14, 2025

In fact, similar adjustments have occurred over the last couple of games. On the road against Nashville, Gabe Landeskog was lifted from the third line to the second line, Valeri Nichushkin joined Jack Drury and Olofsson on the third line, and Ross Colton shifted from the third line to the second line as a left winger.

Game 3️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/17ZDl91OZu

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 10, 2025

If Bednar weren’t an elite-level coach, he would probably make a great scientist. He is constantly exploring new ways to improve the product, and his calm, level-headed approach has consistently benefited those around him.

Now consider the perspective of Gulyayev, who is eyeing an NHL debut as early as next season. Injuries are an inevitable part of the game, and flexibility can be invaluable. Suppose Gulyayev officially joins the roster as a defenseman—hypothetically, of course—and Joel Kiviranta suffers a lower-body injury. In that case, Gulyayev could seamlessly shift up to forward and maintain his dynamic impact.

Alternatively, imagine Bednar channeling a Jacques Lemaire–style approach by starting Gulyayev at forward. If Devon Toews then sustains an upper-body injury, the solution is simple: move Gulyayev back to defense and reconfigure the lines.

Bednar clearly possesses a vast strategic repertoire, and when Gulyayev eventually arrives in the NHL, don’t be surprised to witness a Shohei Ohtani–esque versatility from this young prospect. He appears capable of excelling at virtually any position—goalie excluded, of course.

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As a whole, Quinn Hughes will be regarded as the best defenceman in Vancouver Canucks franchise history thus far. While he’s surpassed Alex Edler in most of the team’s major records for defencemen, there are still quite a few that are held by players other than Hughes. Here are five Canucks defenceman records that are not currently held by Hughes. 

Goals By A Defenceman (Career, Season, Game) 

One of the major defenceman records that Hughes did not end up surpassing Edler in was all-time scoring. Throughout his 925-game career as a Canuck, Edler scored a total of 99 goals — the last of which he scored on February 25, 2020 against the Montréal Canadiens. Hughes compiled a total of 61 throughout his 459 games played with Vancouver. 

In terms of goals scored by a defenceman in a single season, Adrian Aucoin currently holds the franchise record with 23 scored during the 1998–99 season. Hughes’ career-high 17 goals in one season are tied for fourth-highest in franchise history alongside Paul Reinhart (1989–90), Dale Tallon (1971–72), Jyrki Lumme (1995–96), and Ed Jovanovski (2001–02). 

The sole leader in goals scored by a defenceman during a single game is Dave Babych, who scored three on November 22, 1991, against the Calgary Flames. Hughes is tied with many others for the next spot on this list with two goals scored in six different games. Active defencemen who have scored two goals in a game as a member of the Canucks are current Canuck Tyler Myers and former Canuck Nikita Zadorov. 

Longest Assist Streak By A Defenceman (Season) 

Surprisingly enough, Hughes did not record an assist streak longer than seven games throughout his time with the Canucks. However, there is one current Canuck who has recorded one longer than Hughes’ — that being Filip Hronek, who put together a 10-game streak from October 24, 2023, to November 12, 2023. With that being said, Hronek’s streak is not the longest in franchise history, as Dennis Kearns put up assists in 11 straight games from February 27, 1977 to March 20, 1977. 

Longest Point Streak From The Start Of Career By A Defenceman 

This record is a bit specific, as only three defencemen in Canucks history have managed to put up point streaks to start their career. Rick Lanz was the first player to seize this record, scoring two goals and an assist in his first two career games back in the 1980–81 season. After him was Don Gibson, who only played in 14 NHL games with the Canucks but had an assist in each of his first two games in 1990–91. Finally, former Canuck and current member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Ben Hutton, began his NHL career with two assists in two games. 

Game-Winning Goals By A Defenceman, Career 

No Canucks defenceman has scored more game-winning goals as a member of the franchise than Sami Salo, who put up 20 throughout his 566 games with Vancouver. The list continues after that with Mattias Öhlund scoring 19 in 770 games, Lumme and Kevin Bieksa each putting up 12, Jovanovski scoring 10, and Edler potting nine for the sixth-most in franchise history. Hughes’ eight game-winning goals as a member of the Canucks is tied with Brent Sopel, who scored the same amount in 322 games. 

Youngest Defenceman To Score A First NHL Goal 

Hughes was the fourth-youngest defenceman to score their first NHL goal as a member of the Canucks, doing so at 19 years and 360 days old. He did so during Vancouver’s 8–2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on October 9, 2019 in what was Hughes’ first full season with the Canucks. 

Three defencemen scored their first NHL goals at a younger age than Hughes’. The youngest was Lanz, who scored his first NHL goal in his first career game — a 5–3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on October 10, 1980. Lanz was only 19 years and 24 days old at the time. The second-youngest to score his first NHL goal was J.J. Daigneault, who was 19 years and 29 days old when he scored Vancouver’s opening goal against the Minnesota North Stars in 1984. Michel Petit rounds out the top-three in this list, scoring his first goal at 19 years and 309 days in a 3–2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on December 18, 1983. 

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Detroit Red Wings star Patrick Kane will miss the next two games with an upper-body injury, head coach Todd McLellan confirmed Sunday. McLellan said Kane is considered day-to-day after tweaking something in his upper body during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The injury comes at an inopportune time for Kane, who continues to climb the NHL record books. The 37-year-old moved to within two goals of becoming the 50th player in league history to score 500 career goals after finding the back of the net in Detroit’s 4-0 shutout win over his former team on Saturday night. Kane is also just nine points shy of passing Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born player in NHL history.

With Kane sidelined, recently recalled forward John Leonard is expected to step into a sizeable role. According to The Athletic’s Max Bultman, Leonard is slated to take Kane’s spot on the second line alongside Andrew Copp and Alex DeBrincat, making his Red Wings debut during the upcoming homestand.

Detroit recalled Leonard late Sunday night from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, rewarding one of the hottest scorers in the minors. The 27-year-old New Jersey native has been dominant this season, helping lead the Griffins to a remarkable 22-1-0-1 record. Leonard currently sits as one of the AHL’s top scorers with 19 goals and 10 assists for 29 points in just 20 games, finding the back of the net in 15 of those 20 contests.

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THAT'S PLAYER OF THE MONTH JOHN LEONARD TO YOU 🫵 pic.twitter.com/Rx7GYXdMyj

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 4, 2025

Leonard was named the AHL’s Player of the Month for November after posting 24 points in 15 games. Despite playing fewer games than many of his peers, he trails the league’s scoring lead by just two points behind two forwards tied atop the leaderboard.

Kane’s absence is expected to be brief as the Red Wings begin a four-game homestand with a quick home-and-home detour that includes a visit to the White House and a matchup in Washington. The coaching staff appears to be giving Kane rest to recover from the nagging issue, with a potential return penciled in for the third game of the homestand next Sunday against the Capitals.

Despite being one of the oldest players in the NHL, Kane has remained a difference-maker this season, recording 23 points in 24 games. His recent surge has helped unlock Detroit’s depth scoring, particularly alongside longtime teammate DeBrincat. Kane has produced 14 points over his last 12 games, a stretch that has coincided with the Red Wings heating up offensively as a group.

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Tristan Jarry is a fine NHL goaltender, having a good year. He went 9-3-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .909 save percentage through 14 games with the Panguins. Those numbers matter, and they're a big reason why the Edmonton Oilers traded for him.

But here's what makes this different: Jarry genuinely wants to be here. He wants to play in Edmonton.

In a league where seven-team no-trade lists are common—and we all know what those lists usually mean—it's refreshing to hear a player express excitement about coming to Canada. About coming to Edmonton specifically.

Jarry won the Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014. He stopped 32 of 35 shots in the championship game against Guelph, helping bring the Canadian junior hockey title back to Edmonton after 48 years. He was a WHL champion that same year. He grew up in this city during his time with the Oil Kings, and when he had the opportunity to buy a home as a professional, he chose a place about 15 minutes outside Edmonton.

"Just my time playing there with the Oil Kings. I enjoyed it so much," Jarry said. "I had a lot of friends there, and I kind of grew up there a little bit, so when I had the opportunity to buy a home, that was kind of where I decided to set roots."

His wife, Hannah, and their son, Bennett, spend summers in Alberta. Jarry has skated regularly with Connor McDavid during the offseason. The connections were already there before Friday's trade made them teammates.

Power Play The Difference In Oilers Loss To CanadiensThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> lost 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night, and it wasn't just the back-to-back schedule or tired legs that did them in.

Kyle Dubas acknowledged those ties when explaining the trade from Pittsburgh's perspective. "It'll be a great opportunity for him in Edmonton, where he's had success in junior with the Oil Kings and they made their homes there," Dubas said.

This isn't a player grudgingly accepting a trade to a Canadian market. This is a player who chose to live here, who built a life here, who wanted to come back.

It's no secret that Edmonton is a pretty solid team. They've got two of the best forwards in the NHL in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Their rookies—Matt Savoie, among others—aren't half bad. The defence could use some work, but fans aren't losing too much sleep over it. And they went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, losing to Florida both times.

Oilers at Canadians: Pre-game Stats15-11-6 | 36 PTS

But still, as a fan, you can appreciate Jarry's desire not just to play for the Oilers, but to want to be in Edmonton. That distinction matters more than people realize.

Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas mentioned that Jarry had repeatedly said he wanted to stay with the Penguins. But when the trade became inevitable, Edmonton was where he wanted to go. The connections here, the memories here, the life he'd built here during his junior career—all of that made this more than just another NHL destination.

His first game went pretty well too. Twenty-five saves in a 6-3 win over Toronto on Saturday night. He looked comfortable, composed, and ready for the opportunity ahead of him.

Brett Kulaks Loss Wont Make Headlines, But It ShouldStan Bowman said it himself. "We certainly weren't trying to trade Brett Kulak. He's a great person and a great player on our team. We're going to miss him."

"It's cool," Jarry said before that debut. "It's an opportunity and I'm fully embracing it. I think it's going to be a fun challenge. I think being able to have a chance to reach the pinnacle of sports, you always want that opportunity, to be on this team, to be able to do that."

There's something to be said for a player who views coming to Edmonton as an opportunity rather than an obligation. Who sees Rogers Place as a place to chase a Stanley Cup rather than a market to avoid. Who spent his summer skating with McDavid and now gets to line up beside him.

Jarry is signed through the 2027-28 season at $5.375 million per year. The Oilers have their goalie for the next three playoff runs. Whether he becomes the answer to their goaltending questions remains to be seen. But at least he wants to be here while finding out.

Unpacking Yesterday's Jarring TradesThe NHL had a wild Friday night with three significant trades that reshaped multiple franchises. One involved a Norris Trophy winner who Vancouver couldn't keep. Another saw two goalies swap teams in a change-of-scenery deal. The third was a depth move to patch a hole. All three tell different stories about where teams see themselves right now.

In a league where Edmonton often appears on no-trade lists, where Canadian markets struggle to attract free agents, where players sometimes view northern cities as career detours rather than destinations, Jarry's genuine enthusiasm stands out.

He won a Memorial Cup here. He built a home here. He chose to spend his summers here. And when the opportunity came to play here professionally, he embraced it.

That's worth appreciating, regardless of what happens on the ice.

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Game info 

Who: Nashville Predators (12-15-4, 8th Central) at St. Louis Blues (12-14-7, 7th Central) 

When: 7 p.m. CST 

Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo. 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South 

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Line (via BetMGM): Predators (+1.5) Blues (-1.5). Over/under 6 (+100/-120). 

Bouncing back 

The Nashville Predators saw a two-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, falling to the top-ranked Avalanche, 4-2, in Denver. Jonathan Marchessault scored on the power play and Tyson Jost added a goal in the late third period. 

Despite the loss, both Andrew Brunette and Marchessault said it's a loss the team isn't losing much from. Marchessault said it was more about playing against a high-caliber opponent rather than the Predators not playing well. Brunette was happy with his team's effort on the road. 

It came down to the Predators giving the Avalanche too many scoring chances as they had 42 shots on net, the second time this season that Colorado has gotten 40+ on the Predators' goalie.

Dominating bottom of league

Despite their standing in the standings, the Predators have been highly successful against the league's worst teams. 

Nashville is 7-2-1 against the nine lowest-ranked teams in the league, with losses to the Winnipeg Jets, 5-2 and 4-1, and the Vancouver Canucks, 5-4, in overtime. In four of those wins, the Predators scored four goals or more. 

In their last two games, where they've faced teams in a similar position in the standings, Calgary (Dec. 2) and St. Louis (Dec. 11), the Predators outscored their opposition 12-3. 

In that St. Louis result at home, Steven Stamkos scored four goals and Luke Evangelista had three assists. 

Opening a busy, challenging week 

From Monday to Monday, the Predators will play four games, including their final home games of the 2025 calendar year. After traveling to St. Louis, they host Carolina (Wednesday), Toronto (Saturday) and the New York Rangers (Sunday). 

Following Sunday's game, the Predators kicked off a seven-game road trip, and won't return to Bridgestone Arena until Jan. 8. 

The stretch this week only gets more difficult as Nashville has gone 1-3-0 against those four opponents, and in all three of those losses, the Predators lost by three goals. 

This week is a massive opportunity to not only avenge earlier-season losses and feel good going into the Christmas pause, but also ramp up momentum before a long road trip. 

Scouting St. Louis 

The Predators have seen and will see more of the Blues this month. In addition to Nashville playing them last week and Monday, they will travel to St. Louis again on Dec. 27, meaning they'll face the same opponent three times in a little over two weeks. 

After last week's thumping, the Blues responded with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at home. Backup Joel Hofer picked up the win, making 27 saves on 29 shots.

Against the Predators, Hofer came in relief of Jordan Binnington at the start of the third period after Binnington allowed six goals on 19 shots. Hofer made six saves on seven shots. The Blues could look to start him on Monday. 

The Blues are also looking to get out of the basement of the NHL, sitting in 28th place and seventh in the Central Division. 

 

Jacob Melanson was recalled by the Seattle Kraken on Saturday when Jared McCann was placed on the injured reserve, and on Sunday, he made his season debut.

The expectation was that Melanson would serve as the extra forward for Sunday's game, but when the Kraken announced that Mason Marchment would be a late scratch due to an illness, the Kraken had no choice but to turn to Melanson.

The 22-year-old made his NHL debut late last season, recording four hits in 9:53 of ice time. This time around, Melanson skated on the fourth line alongside Ben Meyers and Tye Kartye, throwing seven hits in just 7:47 of ice time. 

“I thought tonight I brought my energy, brought my physicality, and I’ll keep bringing that when the team needs it,” said Melanson.

Standing 6-foot, 205 pounds, Melanson isn't the biggest player on the ice, but he plays with speed and aggressiveness, which makes him a physical threat. He's notched seven goals and 14 points this season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, well on pace to break his previous career highs of eight goals and 18 points. 

Despite limited minutes, Melanson was an effective physical presence, but that alone wasn't able to help the Kraken overcome the Sabres. It's been real tough sledding for the Kraken of late, as they have lost eight of their last nine games. 

Their 5-on-5 scoring has disappeared, and they aren't keeping the puck out of their net as well as they were previously. On Sunday, they found themselves down 2-0 in the second period before Chandler Stephenson cut the deficit in half with a power play goal. Zach Benson scored an empty net goal late in the third to ensure the victory for the Buffalo Sabres. 

The Kraken are plummeting down the NHL standings and find themselves sitting in 29th place in the NHL. They have games in hand, and they could find themselves higher in the standings, but if their recent performances are any indication, it looks like more losses are on the horizon. 

“Right now, we have to play the perfect game to give ourselves a chance to win. There’s mistakes here and there that are reaching up and biting us,” said coach Lane Lambert. 

The Kraken are back in action on Tuesday when they take on the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks have called up defenseman Ethan Del Mastro and goaltender Laurent Brossoit from the Rockford IceHogs.

Del Mastro has spent most of this season fine-tuning his game in the AHL, where he has 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 27 games. Del Mastro has one NHL game played in 2025-26 coming into this next stint. 

Brossoit hasn’t started an NHL game since signing with the Chicago Blackhawks due to injury. He is ready to resume his career after a three-game conditioning stint with Rockford. In those three games, Brossoit went 2-1-0 with a .900 save percentage and 3.39 goals against average. He also scored his first career pro goal when he threw one into an empty net against the Milwaukee Admirals on 12/12. 

Connor Bedard, who sustained an upper-body injury against the St. Louis Blues last week, was placed on injured reserve. This transaction is retroactive to December 12, so he is eligible to return on December 19. Head coach Jeff Blashill said that Bedard isn’t likely to take the road trip, which ends with a game in Ottawa on 12/20. The Blackhawks return home to play the Philadelphia Flyers on 12/23. 

Bedard is having a season to remember, with 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 31 games played. While he’s out, the Blackhawks will be desperate for offense from other players. 

Further updates on Bedard will come shortly, once Jeff Blashill speaks again. Chicago’s next game will come on Tuesday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Jakub Dobes wasn’t the only player who shone in the Montreal Canadiens’ win over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night. Jake Evans and Mike Matheson caught my eye because of the way they countered Connor McDavid, but Juraj Slafkovsky also had an impressive game, something that’s been happening more and more often these days.

Not only did the power forward put up two points with assists on each of the Canadiens’ power play goals, but he did a lot of the little things right last night. For instance, on the first goal, after giving Demidov the puck, he went straight to the net, used his big body to screen goaltender Calvin Pickard, and was instrumental in the rookie’s goal.

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On the second goal, after receiving the puck from Lane Hutson, he had his head up to scan the ice and saw that Nick Suzuki was in the clear right by the goal. He recognized the opportunity and sent him a picture-perfect pass.

Furthermore, even though he didn’t throw his weight around much in the game, he only had one hit, but he took part in several battles by the boards. That’s where you can see how much he has improved over the years; he’s now very good at using his frame to dominate opponents physically, and he’s really hard to move off the puck. Twice on the same play, he couldn’t use his stick to move the puck as it was tied up, so while battling two players by the boards, he managed to do a couple of nice passes, kicking the puck while keeping his balance.

His weight has varied over the years. At one stage, he was 238 pounds, but now he’s at an optimal 225 pounds, which is heavy enough to stand his ground but svelte enough to move quickly. He’s come a really long way since his rookie season, when he would regularly be caught with his head down while skating and end up flat on the ice often. There were times when he looked like Bambi trying to learn to walk in that rookie year, but those days are long gone.

He's come a very long way. His 20 points in 32 games put him on pace for a 51-point season, which would match his total from last year. Some will lament the fact that he’s not putting up more points, but at the end of the day, he wasn’t drafted to become a huge points producer; he was drafted to be a power forward, and that’s what he’s developing into.

Since being moved to a new line with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen, he looks more confident on the ice. It seems he feels his role is no longer that of a complementary piece to the Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield duo, but rather a driver for his line. He’s not afraid to carry the puck and claim his space.

This newfound confidence is also evident when he moves back to the top line with the captain and the sniper. When all is said and done, it looks like the big Slovak will be one of the most improved players on the Habs this season, and he’s still only 21 years old despite playing in his fourth season. The future is bright for the youngster.

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The Buffalo Sabres have too many goaltenders right now. Due to this, goalie Alex Lyon has been creating some chatter as a potential trade candidate. 

Lyon signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Sabres this off-season and has had a solid start to his Buffalo tenure. In 17 games so far this season, he has posted a 6-6-1 record, a .905 save percentage, a 2.99 goals-against average, and one shutout.

Yet, with the Sabres also having Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis, and prospect Devon Levi, it could make sense for them to listen to offers on Lyon. 

Due to this, let's take a look at two clubs that could be solid landing spots for Lyon if the Sabres elect to shop him this season. 

Edmonton Oilers 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers were interested in Lyon before they acquired goalie Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins. While the Oilers went with Jarry, it is certainly fair to wonder if they could still make a push for Lyon near the deadline.

If the Oilers acquired Lyon, he would be a big upgrade for their backup spot over Calvin Pickard, who has a .851 save percentage in 11 games this season. With this, perhaps the Oilers could be interested in having Jarry and Lyon as their one-two punch between the pipes. 

Philadelphia Flyers

A reunion between the Flyers and Lyon could be interesting to see. While free-agent signing Dan Vladar has been performing well for Philly, Sam Ersson has struggled big time, as evidenced by his .870 save percentage in 11 games this season.

If Ersson continues to struggle like this, perhaps that could spark the Flyers to look to add another goalie like Lyon to their depth. This is especially so if the Flyers remain in the playoff hunt as the season rolls on.