Unfortunately for most hockey fans, but perhaps fortunately for the Anaheim Ducks and their supporters, Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (38) has probably played his last career game against the Ducks. Kopitar announced his retirement from the NHL on the first day of Kings’ training camp before the 2025-26 season.

The Kings drafted Kopitar with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, out of Södertälje SK of the then-Swedish Elite League. He made his NHL debut at Honda Center on Oct. 6, 2006, against the Ducks, to open the 2006-07 season, a 4-3 Ducks win that will be remembered as Kopitar’s introduction of himself to the NHL and the Ducks as a problem they were going to have to deal with for the duration of his career despite the Ducks going on to win the Stanley Cup in that very season.

Game #48: Ducks vs. Kings Gameday Preview (01/17/26)

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Kopitar scored two goals in that game, the first of which was a highlight reel goal where he burned Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger wide, pulled the puck around Conn Smythe-winning goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere, and buried from a tough angle. He went on to score a second goal in that game and finished with 22:16 TOI.

That’s how Kopitar’s career started against Anaheim, and he didn’t let up through his entire 20-year career. At the end, he rides off as the player to score the most points against the Anaheim Ducks/Mighty Ducks of Anaheim franchise, with 93 points (32-61=93) in 95 games. He went on to win two Stanley Cups with LA. He was the best player in the only playoff series between the Ducks and Kings franchises, a seven-game Western Conference semi-final matchup in 2014, where he scored nine points (1-8=9), playing his typical brand of detailed, two-way hockey and limiting the impact of the Ducks' top offensive producers.

To accompany his two cups (2012 and 2014), Kopitar’s trophy case includes three Lady Bing trophies, a Mark Messier Leadership Award, and two Selke trophies, an award he’d have won more had it not been for him playing in the same era as Patrice Bergeron and in a later time zone than most awards voters.

Kopitar has played the most games (1491) in a Kings uniform in franchise history and needs just nine more points to become their all-time leading scorer, when he’ll surpass Marcel Dionne (1307). He represented a quiet, lead-by-example brand of leadership that earned him the captaincy in 2016.

Despite the headaches he gave the Ducks franchise, Kopitar played with class, carried it off the ice, and was the catalyst to the “Freeway Faceoff” rivalry from the moment he stepped onto NHL ice that 2006 night in Anaheim and carried that into what was likely his last game against the Ducks, a three-point (all assists) performance that led his club to a 6-1 victory over Anaheim on Dec. 27, 2025.

The Kings and Ducks will face each other for a weekend home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles and Anaheim, respectively. Kopitar was placed on IR on Jan. 10 and will likely be unavailable for this set of games against the Ducks.

Both teams currently sit on the outside, looking in at the 2026 Western Conference playoff picture, leaving the odds of the two meeting in the playoffs at almost zero. If Kopitar has played his last game against the Ducks, his competitive drive will always be respected, and those headaches he gave his rival franchise, the Anaheim Ducks, will linger long after he’s hung ‘em up.

Before Friday’s game in Los Angeles, the Ducks organization presented Kopitar with a VIP tour of Disneyland for ten people. In his 20 years in LA, Kopitar did more for hockey and the growth of the sport in Southern California than all but a few, and it can be argued more than any.

Game #47: Ducks vs. Kings Gameday Preview (01/16/26)

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New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt is set to play his 600th NHL game tonight as the Devils take on the Hurricanes.

Bratt made his NHL debut against the Hurricanes in October 2017. Ahead of his milestone game, Bratt shared his thoughts with NJD.tv.

“It’s really special. Time goes fast,” Bratt said. “Super honored and happy to be doing it here in the same place and in front of the same fans I did my first game. It’s going to be a special time.”

In 599 NHL games, Bratt has scored 161 goals and 322 assists. Over his nine seasons with the Devils, Bratt has become a key contributor.

Reflecting on Bratt’s journey since being drafted in the sixth round (162nd pick), head coach Sheldon Keefe offered his perspective on the forward’s career.

"When I've been asked about him and reflect on him and what I observe is a guy that works extremely hard, is extremely focused and disciplined," Keefe said. "How he prepares, how he seeks to improve, how he accepts coaching and information. In that sense, he's an easy guy to coach because he's all about getting better and all about helping the team."

This season, Bratt has appeared in 47 games, earning 36 points (11 G, 25 A). Keefe continued to highlight the left winger’s accomplishments.

“From where he was drafted to how quickly he got into the league to how he found ways to be successful despite being an undersized guy to being a premier player in the league," Keefe said. "Quite a story, great accomplishment for him. I feel like he's just getting started."

The puck will drop at 7 PM tonight. 

ake sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Some nights your goalie stands on his head and stuns an offense led by the most dangerous forward in the world, some afternoons you’re down 4-0 before the other team has gotten its 12th shot.

The Islanders lost 4-2 in Calgary despite outshooting and outchancing the Flames, though still making enough mistakes to do themselves in. They outshot the Flames in the first period 10-4, then gave up a second goal early in the second right after Jonathan Drouin missed a golden chance to tie it. The Flames added two more by the midway point to basically put the game out of reach.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

After Yan Kuznetsov made it 4-0, J-G Pageau did answer with a sizzler just 32 seconds later to open a little daylight. The building was still announcing Kuznetsov’s goal, and few seemed to realize Pageau’s shot scored.

That’s just a wicked shot from Pageau. Fooled everybody. #Islespic.twitter.com/5ztVq0j3fZ

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 17, 2026

But overall, the Isles’ chances were rarely dangerous enough, even after pulling David Rittich (15 saves on 19 shots) for a sixth attacker with eight minutes left to go, a stretch that included a power play to skate 6-on-4.

On me for not expressing question correctly but I tried to ask Patrick Roy if he uses analytics or his gut more in determining when is the right time to pull a goalie for an extra skater. Don't think he got what I was asking: "I don't give a shit about analytics, to be honest."

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 17, 2026

Anders Lee added one consolation goal to reach the 300-goal milestone with three minutes left, while Dustin Wolf narrowly missed getting a goalie goal despite all that time and the fat lead to chase one.

Overall, it just wasn’t the Islanders’ day, and it felt like a bit of Albertan karmic payback after they stole the two points in Edmonton a day and a half prior (not that aggrieved Oilers nor pleased Flames fans would see it that way).

On this trip, the Islanders are stealing some games against better teams (Minnesota, Edmonton) and finding things difficult against weaker teams (Nashville, Winnipeg, Calgary), and that’s probably just and fitting for a team whose higher-risk approach often turns on whether they’re getting a great 60 minutes from their goalie.

Up Next

And the next weak team on the docket is Vancouver, where they’ll meet the Canucks late Monday night.

The Canucks are at the bottom of the league with just 37 points. Hell, they’re even worse than the Rangers…someone in British Columbia should write a strongly worded, poorly proofed letter.

The Philadelphia Flyers are continuing to struggle, as they lost to the New York Rangers by a 6-2 final score on Jan. 17. With this, the Flyers have now lost in each of their last six games.

Now, following their loss to the Rangers, the Flyers have announced some roster moves.

The Flyers have shared that they have placed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 14. In addition, the Flyers have called up blueliner Hunter McDonald from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

Ristolainen has not played for the Flyers since their Jan. 12 matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 13 games so far this season, the right-shot defenseman has recorded zero goals, three assists, 16 hits, 24 blocks, and a minus-3 rating. 

McDonald, on the other hand, has spent all of this season down in the AHL with the Phantoms. In 33 games so far this season with the AHL club, the 6-foot-4 blueliner has posted five assists, 61 penalty minutes, and a plus-5 rating.

McDonald has yet to make his NHL debut, but he is now one step closer to doing so after landing this call-up from the Flyers. 

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Adam Klapka had a goal and an assist for his first multi-point game of the season as the Calgary Flames beat the New York Islanders 4-2 on Saturday.

Yegor Sharangovich, Justin Kirkland and Yan Kuznetsov also scored for Calgary, which has won three of its last four. Kevin Bahl had his first multi-point game since Dec. 5, 2023, finishing with two assists. Dustin Wolf had 28 stops and snapped his five-game losing streak.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee scored for New York, which is 2-2-1 with two games left in its seven-game trip, it’s longest of the season. David Rittich made 15 saves in the loss and slipped to 11-6-3.

Up 2-0 midway through the second period, the Flames doubled their lead when Kirkland and Kuznetsov scored two minutes apart.

In four games since sliding into Blake Coleman’s spot on a line with Mikael Backlund and Matt Coronato, Sharangovich has five points (two goals, three assists) for the Flames. Coleman (upper body) remains on injured reserve. While Backlund had his three-game point streak (2-3-5) snapped, Connor Zary extended his to a career-high five games.

Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson had an assist and became the seventh defenseman in Flames history to record five straight 20-assist seasons. He joins Al MacInnis, Gary Suter, Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, Derek Morris, and Randy Manery.

Rittich, who broke into the NHL and played four seasons in Calgary, has yet to defeat his former team. In six games, he fell to 0-4-2. The 33-year-old Czech was playing his 250th NHL game and came in on a roll, going 8-3-3 with a .920 save percentage over his last 14 starts.

Up next

Islanders: At Vancouver on Monday in the sixth game of a seven-game trip.

Flames: Host the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

CALGARY, Alberta — Go figure: after squeezing out a win in which they were badly outchanced in Edmonton, the Islanders went to Calgary, won the advanced stats competition and lost the game.

It might be overstating it, though, and more than a little, to say they were hard done by a 4-2 loss to the Flames. The Islanders were loose with the puck, got more sloppy as the game went on and far worse in their own zone than two days prior.

Despite the fact that they created chances, it told you something as well that by the end of the second period, Roy was experimenting with his top six, seemingly looking for some kind of spark.

By that point, the Islanders already trailed 4-1, having allowed a trio of goals in the second for the Flames to break the game open.


Adam Klapka boxed out Cal Ritchie at the net front to tip in Kevin Bahl’s shot 3:04 into the second, prompting Roy to start getting cautious with Ritchie’s minutes.

Justin Kirkland and Yan Kuznetsov then struck just 1:59 apart at 9:50 and 11:49 of the period, respectively. Kirkland’s goal followed a two-on-one rush off Mat Barzal’s turnover where the Islanders were uniformly late getting back; Kuznetsov was the trailer of the rush, scoring from the point with traffic in front.


Jean-Gabriel Pageau got one back for the Islanders quickly after Kuznetsov made it 4-0, but the visitors’ best chance to get two points from this one had already come and gone in the first period, when the Islanders failed to capitalize with the ice tilting their way throughout.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

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Yegor Sharangovich’s first-period opener came against that tide, and after what might have been the only time in the first 20 minutes that the Islanders struggled to break the puck out. Calgary duly took advantage with Andersson feeding Sharangovich for a one-timer in the slot.

There wasn’t much of a push to speak of in the third period. Roy was reduced to emptying his net with eight minutes left in regulation, which resulted in a too-little, too-late goal from Anders Lee, who broke a nine-game scoring drought to score his 300th career goal.


The Islanders got a power play after that, perhaps raising the blood pressure on Calgary’s bench, but could do nothing with it.

Roy was unsure going into Saturday whether to keep his top six from the Edmonton game intact, ultimately deciding in favor. That didn’t last long, and though Ritchie is still showing timely flashes of skill — his assist on the game-winner in Edmonton for example — the young center is starting to show signs of hitting the rookie wall.

No one would blame Rittich for this one, but the Czech didn’t do much in his first start in three games, stopping just six of the first 10 shots he saw as the game grew out of hand.

The standings ramifications of losing a winnable game will be hard to swallow. With the Hurricanes set to play later on Saturday, the Islanders were in danger of falling seven points behind Carolina for first in the Metropolitan Division with a win.

They can see the light at the end of the tunnel of this trip now, with last-place Vancouver and Seattle the last two stops before a merciful flight home. To get back to Long Island — where the hope is that a healthy Bo Horvat will be waiting — better than .500 on the trip, they’ll have to win both.

After losing top defenseman Erik Karlsson to injury earlier in the week, the Pittsburgh Penguins have at least a little bit of good news coming on the injury front. 

Injured young forward Rutger McGroarty - out since Jan. 7 with a concussion - was a full participant at the team's morning skate on Saturday. The 21-year-old winger was injured while colliding with a teammate at practice on Jan. 6, and his timetable to return was designated at "indefinite."

But, obviously, it's a good sign that McGroarty - one of the team's top forward prospects - was cleared for contact and is taking the next steps in his recovery a little more than a week after the incident. 

"It's another step," head coach Dan Muse said. "His status hasn't changed, but that is another good step in the right direction."

McGroarty, 21, would be returning to an NHL roster that is performing pretty well. The Penguins are 7-2-1 in the 10 games since the holiday break, and pretty much everyone in their lineup has been contributing to their success.

The Penguins do, however, have an open roster spot, as they are only carrying 22 players. Defenseman Caleb Jones is also currently on an AHL conditioning stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins. 

A Sitdown With 'Stu': Skinner Talks Hockey, Transition To PittsburghNew Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Stuart Skinner is adjusting to life in Pittsburgh after spending his first five-plus NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

During the 2025 NHL off-season, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Josh Doan as part of the deal that sent winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth. The Sabres also brought in defenseman Michael Kesselring in the trade. 

When the Sabres acquired Doan, they were hoping that the change of scenery would help the 23-year-old forward tap into his potential more. So far, it is certainly fair to say that he is thriving in Buffalo.

In 47 games with the Sabres so far this season, Doan has recorded new career highs with 15 goals, 19 assists, and 34 points. This was after he had seven goals and 19 points in 51 games for Utah during this past season. 

Yet, what's more encouraging about Doan is that he is only getting better as the season rolls on. The young forward is continuing to show the Sabres that they made the right call bringing him, as he has five goals and 10 points over his last nine games alone. This included him putting together back-to-back two-point games on Jan. 14 against the Philadelphia Flyers and Jan. 15 against the Montreal Canadiens. 

Doan is continuing to impress in a big way with the Sabres, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on his breakout year from here. 

On January 17, 1996, the Ottawa Senators played their first game at their newly constructed arena. It was a long-awaited moment of celebration for both the team and the city, because getting the building completed in the early 1990s proved to be nearly as difficult as winning hockey games.

In both cases, it felt like one battle after another.

With the Montreal Canadiens in town for a mid-week game to help christen the new building, Sens fans hoped for a repeat of the magic they’d experienced three seasons earlier, when the Senators somehow stunned the Habs 5–3 in the very first game in franchise history.

There was no such magic this time. Canadiens goaltender Jocelyn Thibault made 26 saves in a 3–0 shutout victory, outduelling Ottawa's Don Beaupre.

It was loss number eight in the Sens' 11-game losing slide and the second-to-last game of Dave Allison’s NHL coaching career. The Senators fired him a week later after a 2-22-1 record that season, and that closed out his NHL career with a 2-22-1 record. 

Hockey-wise, those were dark days.

But in the years since, the building has hosted countless unforgettable moments: Steve Duchesne’s goal just one year later that sent the Senators to the playoffs; the runs to the 2003 and 2007 Conference Finals; the 2007 Stanley Cup Final; the World Cup of Hockey; World Juniors and Women’s Worlds; burglar masks and post-game hamburgers; Daniel Alfredsson returning home to retire as a Senator; Wayne Gretzky’s final game in Canada; Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s four-goal night; and the infamous playoff line brawl with the Canadiens, just to name a few.

Now, the Senators host the Canadiens once again at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night, exactly 30 years after they first met to open the Arena Formerly Known As The Palladium... and the Corel Centre. And, to borrow a line from 30 Rock, we’ll never forget making “a hockey-loving face at Scotiabank Place.”

With discussions underway about a potential new arena closer to downtown Ottawa, this feels like the perfect moment to celebrate the memories of the old one. Because the next time the building is honoured, it may be in the shadow of a wrecking ball; but only time will tell.

The Senators will mark the anniversary on Saturday with memorabilia displays and a ceremonial puck drop featuring Sens alumni. Earlier this week, the team even broke out a concrete saw, cutting a three-by-three-foot square out of the lobby floor to retrieve the time capsule buried beneath the building 30 years ago.

Sens founder Bruce Firestone joined team CEO Cyril Leeder for a sneak peek this week at what’s inside the time capsule, and the first item he saw must have been a video cassette.

“Anyone got a VHS?” Firestone joked in a team social media post.

Well, at least it wasn't Beta.

The Senators promise to unveil the contents soon, because just like all the old NHL barns of yesteryear, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

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The Calgary Flames delivered a timely performance on Hockey Day in Canada, earning a 4–2 win over the New York Islanders Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Calgary entered the game with a few storylines swirling. Forward Matvei Gridin was recalled from the AHL earlier in the day and slotted into the lineup alongside Connor Zary and Nazem Kadri, while Dustin Wolf got the start between the pipes. Despite ongoing trade speculation, defenceman Rasmus Andersson was also in the lineup—and made his presence felt.

The Flames opened the scoring midway through the first period as Yegor Sharangovich continued his hot stretch. Andersson found him in the high slot, and Sharangovich snapped a glove-side shot past David Rittich for his fifth point in three games, giving Calgary a 1–0 lead.

The game tilted decisively in Calgary’s favour early in the second period with a flurry of goals. After weathering a couple of Islanders chances, the Flames doubled their lead when Adam Klapka redirected a Kevin Bahl point shot past Rittich. Bahl picked up his second assist of the night on the play.

Just over a minute later, Ryan Lomberg set up Justin Kirkland on a 2-on-1, and Kirkland roofed the puck to make it 3–0—his first goal since last November. Klapka added the secondary assist.

The Flames weren’t done. Yan Kuznetsov jumped into the rush moments later, walked in off the blue line, and wired a shot off the crossbar and in to cap a four-goal burst on just 10 shots.

New York responded quickly, with Jean-Gabriel Pageau scoring his eighth of the season less than a minute later to cut the deficit to 4–1.

In the third period, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy pulled his goalie with more than eight minutes remaining, sparking an unusual sequence that nearly saw Wolf score a goalie goal as his long attempt slid just wide of the empty net.

The Islanders finally capitalized late when Anders Lee scored his 300th NHL goal on a sharp-angle shot that squeaked through Wolf, but Calgary held on the rest of the way to secure the 4–2 victory.

Three Takeaways:

1. Making the Most of Their Looks

Calgary was opportunistic all night. The Flames had just eight shots halfway through the game but scored three times on those chances, turning efficiency into a decisive advantage.

2. Fourth Line Delivers

The Flames’ depth made a difference. Adam Klapka finished with a goal and an assist, Ryan Lomberg added a helper, and Justin Kirkland chipped in with a much-needed goal, providing strong energy and timely scoring.

3. Zary Keeps Rolling

Connor Zary’s strong stretch continued, extending his point streak to five games. He now has two goals and four assists for six points over that span, providing consistent offensive momentum for Calgary.

CALGARY, AB -- After shutting out Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Thursday, the New York Islanders fell 4-2 to the Calgary Flames. 

The Islanders are now 2-2-1 with two games left on their seven-game road trip. 

David Rittich made 15 saves. Dustin Wolf made 28 saves. 

Here's how it happened. 

The Islanders got off to a tough start, taking back-to-back penalties at the 1:00 mark and the 3:31 mark of the first, but a strong penalty kill kept the game scoreless. 

However, Calgary was able to break the ice at 11:31 of the first after Yegor Sharagovich roofed one past Rittich's left ear from the slot. 

The Islanders didn't allow a shot on goal for the rest of the period, finishing the opening 20 with 10 shots on goal, but couldn't beat Wolf. They missed the net 12 times.

The Flames scored three more unanswered goals early in the third period to take a commanding 4-0 lead.  

At 3:04 of the second period, after Adam Klapka deflected a Kevin Bahl point shot to make it 2-0. 

At 9:50 of the second, Justin Kirkland scored his first of the season after he roofed a Ryan Lomberg 2-on-1 pass over a sprawled out Rittich to make it 3-0. 

Through a screen, Yan Kuzentsov went bar-down from the left point over Rittich's glove at 11:49 of the middle frame to make it 4-0. 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau stopped the bleeding at 12:21 of the second. He peeled around the left circle before he roofed one short side under the cross-bar for his ninth of the season to cut their deficit to 4-1 at 12:21 of the second period:

Pageau pages the toy department @91Butch#Islespic.twitter.com/BhZNM33jzA

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) January 17, 2026

Matthew Schaefer collected the primary assist on the goal, earning his 18th assist and 31st point of the season. Simon Holmstrom, who earned the secondary assist, snapped a two-game point streak and now has six points over his last six games. 

The Islanders missed the net another eight times in that period, bringing their total through 40 minutes to an even 20. 

Roy's squad couldn't muster much in the third period. He decided to pull Rittich with 8:04 to go in the third period, with the Islanders not allowing a goal. 

Anders Lee scored his 300th career goal at 17:04 of the third to cut the Islanders' deficit to 4-2. 

Mr. 300. #Islespic.twitter.com/1yh4ymr4Gv

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) January 17, 2026

Up Next: The Islanders battle the Vancouver Canucks on Monday nightat 10 PM ET. 

Defenseman Tobias Bjornfot will make his 2025-26 season debut tonight against the Washington Capitals as he checks into the Florida Panthers lineup for Donovan Sebrango.

Bjornfot has played 15 NHL games with the Panthers over three seasons, recording no points. The 24-year-old has played 134 games in the NHL with the Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, and the Vegas Golden Knights, scoring one goal and 15 points while averaging 16:03 of ice time. 

Bjornfot was originally selected by the Kings in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2019 NHL draft. 

The Swedish defender was recently named to the 2026 AHL All-Star game, representing the Charlotte Checkers alongside winger Jack Devine. 

Exiting the lineup will be Sebrango. The 24-year-old was a minus-2 and took seven penalty minutes in 12:31 of ice time. He's played 16 games with the Panthers since he was claimed off waivers from the Ottawa Senators.

Bjornfot will be paired alongside Jeff Petry on the third pairing. 

Tonight's contest against the Capitals is the final game of the Panthers' current six-game road trip. The Panthers are 2-3-0 and hoping to end the road trip with a win. 

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 Los Angeles Kings were represented by two of their youngest players on Corey Pronman's latest U-23 rankings. Defenseman Brandt Clarke and prospect winger Liam Greentree both fell into the bottom-tier 7 projection, reserved for players who have incredible potential but have a lot of room to climb up in the rankings. 

Today, we will analyze why Clarke and Greentree rank at the bottom of this list, their stats for this season, future projections, and why they sit very far behind names like Dalibor Dvorsky and Conor Geekie, who sit at the top of tier 7. 

Brandt Clarke Ranked 89th, Tier 7: Middle of the Lineup Player 

Brandt Clarke, drafted 8th overall in the 2021 NHL draft, has already found his role on this team, playing the most minutes of his career this season for the Kings. The 22-year-old defenseman has been a key part of the Kings' blue line this season, already having the most goals he's had in his career, and is on pace to end the year with his best numbers. 

This season, we've seen Clarke step up in big moments for the Kings when games have come close. Clarke, right now, is averaging 17 assists, 23 points with six goals on 18 minutes of ice played for the Kings, in which, if he stays healthy, he will end the season with his best play. 

However, despite Clarke's improvement this season and bright future, Pronmam's evolution reflects the same concerns that scouts have long had. The biggest concern is Clarke's skating, which is rated poor and is well below average, limiting his ceiling despite his above-average puck skills, shot, and hockey sense. 

Right now, we know Clarke is a solid offensive defenseman who can get his own shot up and score when called upon, but what is lacking is the other side of the ice, being a true two-way player. While Clarke has definitely shown some great defensive reads this season with more playing time, he will do so with the right development. It's still too soon to put him ahead of other players who have more opportunities right now.

Motitz Seider is in the TOP

TOP Defensemen by Defense Contribution | 5v5 | Jan 1

1. Moritz Seider #LGRW
2. Brandt Clarke #GoKingsGo
3. Esa Lindell #TexasHockey
4. Vladislav Gavrikov #NYR
5. Sam Malinski #GoAvsGo
6. Mikey Anderson #GoKingsGo
7. J.J. Moser #GoBolts
8. Jake… pic.twitter.com/0rUH0nwXOR

— Benchrates (@benchrates) January 1, 2026

Liam Greentree Ranked 134th, Tier 7: Middle of the Lineup Player

Liam Greentree, selected 26th overall in 2024, remains firmly in the prospect phase but continues to trend upward in the Ontario Hockey League. The 20-year-old winger has yet to play for the Kings, but has posted a great start playing for the Windsor Spitfires. 

His game leans heavily on above-average puck skills and his shot, making him a legitimate scoring threat at the next level. This season, Greentree is averaging 17 goals, 17 assists, and 34 points in 27 games. Those are great numbers that will continue to go up when the season ends if he continues to play well and stays healthy. 

But, as with Clarke, the skating is the issue; sitting below average suggests a longer development curve for Greentree. The Canadian right-winger profiles as a power winger with offensive upside, but is not yet a complete NHL-ready player, placing him squarely at the very bottom ranking of tier 7.  

My Top 5 Prospects in the LA Kings system:
⁰1️⃣ Liam Greentree⁰2️⃣ Carter George⁰3️⃣ Henry Brzustewicz⁰4️⃣ Hampton Slukynsky⁰5️⃣ Erik Portillo

Who’s your No. 1? 👑 pic.twitter.com/BJf6f5wl2g

— Tristan Baker (@TristanBaker_18) August 19, 2025

How Clarke and Greentree Compare to Other Tier 7 Players

Dalibor Dvorsky and Conor Geekie remain at the top of tier 7, with Dvorsky sitting at 64 and Geekie at 65, respectively.  Both Dvorsky and Geekie remain below average at skating, similar to Greentree and Clarke, but have stronger projections due to their offensive ceiling and longer tenure in the NHL. 

Geekie, despite a bad start to this season with zero goals and just one assist and point, has a similar development arc to Greentree but is a bigger body forward with above-average puck skills, a shot, and average hockey sense. 

Dvorsky, meanwhile, is off to a great start after playing just two games last season. The 20-year-old already has seven goals, 10 points, and 3 assists in 38 games. His profile is built on a high-end shot and above-average puck skills and is already making his way as a top-six NHL scorer. 

Final Note

• Clarke offers the most immediate impact in the NHL due to his current role with the Kings. 

• Dvorsky carries the bigger offensive load and upside. 

• Geekie brings size and scoring tools, but remains limited by skating. 

• Greentree is the longest-term project but has similar skillsets to Clarke and Dvorsky, particularly as a scorer. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. This Original Six matchup is a special one for the Blackhawks, as they will honor “The Banner Years” to close out the third chapter of their centennial celebration. 

There will be over 20 Blackhawks alumni in attendance, all of whom won the Cup with Chicago in 2010, 2013, and/or 2015. A pregame ceremony hosted by Pat Foley will take place after warmups. 

Scouting Boston

The Boston Bruins came into 2025-26 with mixed expectations. As an organization, the playoffs are a goal every single year, no matter what. However, a tough 2024-25 had many thinking it might be a couple of years before they returned to the postseason. So far, they’ve been a surprise.

The Bruins currently hold the final Wild Card spot in a crowded Eastern Conference with a record of 27-19-2 (56 points). They come into this matchup with Chicago on a five-game winning streak. 

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Everything on this Bruins team runs through David Pastrnak. He is one of the three best wingers in the NHL, and he drives offense like a center. His line with Elias Lindholm and Murat Khusnutdinov has been on fire in recent weeks. 

Morgan Geekie has a lot of goals this season, but Khusnutdinov took his spot on the top line. Still, that’s a sniper playing a depth position to keep an eye on if you're the Blackhawks in a pre-scout meeting. 

On defense, forecheckers must avoid former Blackhawk Nikita Zadorov, as he is known to hit them hard. Their number one defenseman, and Team USA star, Charlie McAvoy, is the one who can burn in all three zones. 

Jeremy Swayman, Boston’s number one goalie, will be with McAvoy on Team USA in Milan. He is a big reason the Bruins are having a bounce-back season. Joonas Korpisalo, his backup, will get the start, though. Korpisalo is a competent goalie as well, meaning the Blackhawks must be on their game if they want to break out of their offensive slump.

This isn’t the Bruins team loaded with Hall of Famers as the Blackhawks faced in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, but it’s a feisty bunch led by a handful of superstars at each position. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off two tough losses at home to the Alberta teams, but they are still 5-4-1 in their last 10. A win over the Bruins would be a strong bounce-back victory, based on how well Boston has played in recent weeks. 

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Soderblom

Teuvo Teravainen’s injury is starting to linger. He will not play against the Bruins and is still day-to-day. Jason Dickinson left practice with an injury, but Jeff Blashill said that he will play. 

These lines are well-balanced based on the tools that they have. Each line has a shooter, a playmaker, and a player capable of playing hard in all three zones. 

Arvid Soderblom will get the start in goal. Spencer Knight has been playing incredibly lately, but he gets the night off. He will likely start on Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found locally on CHSN. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

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

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.