The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. This is the second half of a back-to-back for Chicago. In these situations (second half of back-to-backs), the Blackhawks have been beaten both times badly.
Now, the Blackhawks have a chance to make that issue right. They lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night, and now they need to find a way to play well one night later.
Scouting Detroit
The Detroit Red Wings employ Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane. He plays there with Alex DeBrincat, and the two are very solid together. Kane is not a superstar producer anymore, but he's still very good and a threat to create offense on every shift.
Finnie - Larkin - Raymond
DeBrincat - Copp - Kane
Rasmussen - Compher - Berggren
Soderblom - Kasper - Danielson
Edvinsson - Seider
Chiarot - Sandin Pellikka
Johansson - Hamonic
Gibson
The Detroit Red Wings have a lot of young talent in addition to Kane and DeBrincat, who are solid veterans who help them calm the waters.
Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are the youthful players on the team, while captain Dylan Larkin drives play. All-in-all, this is a solid group that can win any game.
Cam Talbot started in their last game, so you can expect to see John Gibson in the net for the Wings. As long as everyone plays their game in front of him, he should give his team a chance.
Patrick Kane is sitting on 497 career goals. A hat trick against his old team would put him in the exclusive 500 goals club. In the event that this doesn't happen, Kane will reach the milestone shortly after.
In his place, the Blackhawks are going to have Nick Lardis called up from the Rockford IceHogs. He will make his NHL debut against the Red Wings.
There was no morning skate for the Blackhawks, so there is no way of knowing exactly how things will line up. Warmups will indicate the lines, defense pairs, and goalie decision for Chicago. It is hard to even project the lineup because of Bedard's absence and Lardis' addition.
Arvid Soderblom is likely going to start in the net as Spencer Knight went against the Blues on Friday night. That will be confirmed or denied during the warmups as well.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game locally, it can be found on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM.
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The Winnipeg Jets could be on the verge of handing rookie goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis his NHL debut Saturday night when they host the Washington Capitals, a possibility that has sparked widespread speculation among fans and media alike.
Questions around the Jets’ starting goaltender emerged earlier Saturday after the team released its projected lineup on X, formerly known as Twitter, accompanied by the caption: “No indication has been made on tonight’s starting goalie.” The vague wording immediately fueled speculation that Winnipeg may be preparing to give DiVincentiis his first NHL start.
The uncertainty comes as veteran backup Eric Comrie continues to shoulder a heavy workload in the absence of regular starter Connor Hellebuyck, who remains sidelined. Comrie has started seven consecutive games for the Jets, a demanding stretch that could prompt the coaching staff to give him a much-needed night off.
While Comrie has battled through the stretch, results have been mixed. He has won just one of his last six starts, and with Winnipeg looking to stabilize its play and manage workloads, the idea of a fresh look in goal has gained traction.
DiVincentiis’ recall has been widely anticipated within the organization and among fans. The 20-year-old netminder impressed during training camp and the preseason, positioning himself as a legitimate option should the Jets need depth in goal.
With the AHL’s Manitoba Moose this season, DiVincentiis has been among the league’s more consistent goaltenders. Despite a 6-7-1 record that reflects the challenges faced by the Moose, he has posted a respectable 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, numbers that underscore his individual performance and poise beyond his years.
Head coach Scott Arniel has not confirmed a starter for Saturday’s matchup, leaving open the possibility that Winnipeg could turn to Comrie once again or the rookie against a flaming hot Capitals team led by Alex Ovechkin.
If DiVincentiis does get the nod, it would mark a significant milestone in his development and offer the Jets a glimpse of a potential future piece between the pipes. For now, the team remains noncommittal, but all signs point to a decision that could come right up until puck drop.
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When impossible odds were stacked agains them, the Sharks turned to the most powerful tool there is.
Love.
San Jose’s historic 6-5 comeback OT win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at PGG Paints Arena will be one Sharks fans talk about for generations to come. But when we reflect on the miracle that occurred on that ice, it must be remembered what propelled the inconceivable scenario that played out before us.
The power of friendship.
With San Jose facing a seemingly insurmountable 4-1 third-period deficit, Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon delivered what easily could’ve been a knockout blow to the Sharks’ morale by laying vicious hit on Will Smith.
Instead, it lit a burning fire under San Jose as William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini immediately came to their teammate’s defense, with the latter earning a 4:00 penalty for roughing in the process.
“You hate to see one of your teammates go down,” Celebrini told reporters after the game. “Anyone would have done that if it happened to any guy on our team. That’s the kind of group we have and how close we are … I don’t think any of us like to see our teammates go down and take a hit like that. I think [Eklund] did a good job kind of jumping in there and I felt like I had to have his back.”
"I think that's the kind of group we have and how close we are."
While the Penguins quickly added another power-play goal — their third of the afternoon — it would be the last time the home crowd had anything resembling something to cheer for on Saturday.
With 12:27 remaining in the third period, John Klingberg continued his recent hot streak by launching a screamer of a wrist-shot past Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs.
While it might have seemed like too little, too late in the moment with San Jose still sitting in a 5-2 hole, Klingberg’s power-play goal did just enough to breathe life into a Sharks team that didn’t realize it just took the first step toward a generational victory.
Eklund, Alex Wennberg and Adam Gaudette;s gritty effort with 5:41 remaining pulled the Sharks even closer.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust appeared poised to eviscerate any hopes of an incredible comeback when he squared up to shoot on San Jose’s empty net after the Sharks pulled goalie Yaroslav Askarov in favor of throwing an extra attacker on the ice.
But as any true miracle entails, there would be some form of divine intervention as Rust’s shot narrowly missed the net and instead ricocheted off the post.
Just 22 seconds after Rust’s shocking miss, Celebrini did what franchise players do. He rose to the occasion and sent a rocket slap shot into the back of the net to pull San Jose within one goal of what seemed like an impossible lead to overcome just mere minutes before.
MACKLIN SCORES AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET OF A ONE-TIMER TO BRING THE SHARKS WITHIN ONE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0l3vqgrec0
Before anyone watching could register what was unfolding before them, Tyler Toffoli found the back of the net with 1:38 remaining in the game to bring the Sharks and Penguins level, leaving Pittsburgh fans in attendance frozen in a solemn silence of disbelief.
Entering overtime, the Sharks placed themselves in a position where it would seem like they committed a heist to come away with the bare-minimum point they would be entitled to after storming back in epic fashion.
Surely that would be an acceptable result given where they stood down 5-1 midway through the third period, right?
Not for these Sharks, who were determined to deliver the Hollywood ending that even the most talented scriptwriters would struggle to conjure up.
With just over two minutes remaining in overtime, Klingberg dangled one of the NHL’s all-time greats in Sidney Crosby to set up a two-on-one against Penguins defenseman Kris Letang as Celebrini him to his right.
Klingberg passed the puck to Celebrini, who quicky returned it to set up a finish that will be etched into the memories of Sharks fans forever.
Klingberg being the one to put the final exclamation mark on a mind-boggling comeback victory was poetic in more ways than one.
The veteran blueliner has dealt with his fair share of adversity as he struggled to begin his first season with the Sharks. But while the outside noise echoed, Klingberg’s teammates maintained their belief in him and the body of work he has put together during his 13-year NHL career.
Klingberg now has seven points in his last four games, including three goals that played a crucial role in back-to-back comeback wins on the road for the Sharks.
The Swedish defenseman has seen it all on the ice after playing in 668 regular-season NHL games, but Saturday’s win simply resonated on a different level even for the most seasoned of veterans.
“Unbelievable comeback,” Klingberg said on “Sharks Postgame Live.” “We didn’t like our game, obviously they out shot us bad for two periods, but we felt like we were kind of hanging in there even if the scoreboard didn’t show it. Resilient group, that’s one of the craziest comebacks I’ve been a part of for sure.”
San Jose will face more deficits this season. And not all of them will have the storybook ending that Saturday’s win in Pittsburgh did. But you can be assured this team will always fight until that final horn blares.
“We’re a team that’s grinding for sure. We’re right in it, we don’t give up,” Klingberg said. “Credit to all the guys, that’s a big thing to do stuff like that, it builds a lot of confidence.”
Who: Nashville Predators (12-14-4, 8th Central) at Colorado Avalanche (22-2-7, 1st in Central)
When: 8 p.m. CST
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
TV: WTVF Channel 5
Radio: 102.5 The Game
Line (via BetMGM): Predators +1.5, Avalanche -1.5. Over/under 6.5 (+100/-120).
First line flourishing
The Nashville Predators' first line has been massive to the team's success over the last eight games.
Steven Stamkos has 10 points in eight games, which included a four-goal game in Thursday's 7-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Luke Evangelista now has 13 points in nine games, which include four multi-point games. Ryan O'Reilly, who has been the Predators' top player all season, has five points in five games.
The trio has been the driving force behind the Predators' winning six of their last eight games, including a 4-3 shootout victory over the Avalanche on Tuesday. O'Reilly had the lone shootout goal in that game.
Saros locked in
Outside of the 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, where Saros was pulled for Justus Annunen, Saros has been playing some of his best hockey of the season.
In December, in five games started, he has a 4-1-0 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. It's a massive jump from the .873 save percentage and 3.35 goals against average from November.
In the win over the Avalanche, he had a season-best 39 saves on 42 shots. Two nights later, he made 24 saves on 26 shots in the win over the Blues. In the five games played in December, Saros had three 30+ save performances.
Preds playing short
With Cole Smith still out and the Predators trading Spencer Stastney to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Nashville will be playing with 11 forwards and six defensemen on this two-game road trip.
General manager Barry Trotz said that the roster should be filling up soon, with Justin Barron nearing a return and the Stastney trade allowing the team to work younger forwards into the system.
However, ahead of their game against the Avalanche, the Predators' only roster transaction was sending an injured Zach L'Heureux down to Milwaukee. The Predators have been playing short over the last few games and have seemed to thrive with lower numbers.
Facing top-ranked Avs
Despite handing the Avalanche a loss on Tuesday, that has not dethroned them from the top spot in the NHL. Following the loss in Nashville, the Avalanche ripped off a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday, seeing six different Colorado players score.
Nathan Mackinnon leads the league in points (53 points) and goals (25 goals). Martin Necas is third in the league in assists with 29 and Avalanche players own four of the top five best plus/minuses in the NHL (MacKinnon 37, Necas 30, Cale Makar 29, Lehkonen 37).
In net, Scott Wedgewood, a former Predators player, has the second most wins in the league with 13, the fourth best goals-against average (2.11) and sixth best save percentage (.919).
Backup Mackenzie Blackwood is also ranked as one of the top goaltenders in the league with a 2.19 goals against average (sixth) and a .920 save percentage (tied-fourth).
As a team, the Avalanche have only lost at home twice this season, once in regulation to the New Jersey Devils, 8-4, on Oct. 26 and the other to the Dallas Stars, 5-4, in a shootout on Oct. 11.
After snapping a three-game losing slide on Thursday night in Columbus, the Ottawa Senators hope they’ve entered the start of better days. Prior to their 6–3 victory over the Blue Jackets, the Senators had lost five of their previous six games and, as a result, slipped badly in the Eastern Conference standings.
On Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.), the Senators will face the Minnesota Wild, who will surely be forgiven if their heads are still spinning from the blockbuster news of the past 24 hours.
On Friday, the Wild acquired star defenceman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenceman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft.
The timing is perfect for the Senators, because not only is this probably a major shock to the Minnesota dressing room, pulling well-liked teammates away from the team, but Hughes – the crown jewel in the deal – won't be ready to make his debut with the Wild until Sunday against the Boston Bruins.
The Senators should come into this game feeling good about themselves offensively. Tim Stützle had two goals against Columbus, Drake Batherson had a goal and two assists, Dylan Cozens had three helpers, and Claude Giroux, Michael Amadio, and David Perron each had a goal and an assist.
But at 17-9-5, the Wild will be a much tougher out than the Blue Jackets.
The Senators will make at least one change to their lineup. With the injury to Lars Eller in Columbus, he won’t be available for at least the next two games and probably longer, so it’s a good bet that Stephen Halliday will take his spot as the fourth-line centre. Olle Lycksell was called up from Belleville on Saturday morning, but Kurtis MacDermid is expected to dress as a 12th forward.
And why not? He doesn't play much, but the Sens are 7-1-2 when MacDermid suits up.
The official line combinations won’t be known until closer to game time, but here are the projections from NHL.com.
Senators projected lineup
Brady Tkachuk — Tim Stützle — Fabian Zetterlund
David Perron — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson
Michael Amadio — Ridly Greig — Claude Giroux
Kurtis MacDermid — Stephen Halliday — Nick Cousins
Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence
Nikolas Matinpalo — Nick Jensen
Leevi Merilainen Linus Ullmark
Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Olle Lycksell Injured: Thomas Chabot (upper body), Shane Pinto (lower body), Lars Eller (lower body)
Along with Hughes, the Wild have some key players out of the lineup right now, including Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno and former 67s defenseman Jacob Middleton. Former Senator Vladimir Tarasenko is on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Danila Yurov, a rare all-Russian line.
Wild projected lineup
Kirill Kaprizov — Danila Yurov — Vladimir Tarasenko
Marcus Johansson — Joel Eriksson Ek — Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin — Ryan Hartman — Nicolas Aubé-Kubel
Ben Jones — Nico Sturm — Tyler Pitlick
Jonas Brodin — Brock Faber
Daemon Hunt — Jared Spurgeon
Zach Bogosian — David Jiříček
Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt
Scratched: Quinn Hughes, Matt Kiersted Injured: Marcus Foligno (lower body), Vinnie Hinostroza (lower body), Mats Zuccarello (upper body), Jacob Middleton (upper body)
The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their third-straight game at home on Saturday.
They lost the previous two games against the Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens and are trying to redeem themselves against a young, exciting San Jose Sharks team. The Penguins beat the Sharks 3-0 back on Oct. 18 when the Penguins were on their annual California trip.
The Sharks were 0-3-2 at the time, but are now 15-14-3 and in the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Macklin Celebrini has been on an absolute tear this season, compiling 15 goals and 44 points in 32 games. He's doing everything he can to try to make the Team Canada Olympic roster.
Will Smith has also been fantastic, racking up 12 goals and 29 points in 32 games. Smith and Celebrini play together on the top line and are one of the top young duos in the NHL. The Penguins will need to be on high alert each time they're on the ice.
Yaroslav Askarov will start in goal against the Penguins and has been solid this season, compiling a .903 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average.
The Penguins won't have goaltender Stuart Skinner or defenseman Brett Kulak available for this game since they're still dealing with immigration issues. The Penguins acquired both players in the Tristan Jarry trade on Friday.
With that in mind, the Penguins recalled young goaltender Sergei Murashov from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an emergency basis for Saturday's game. The goalie tandem for Saturday will be Arturs Silovs and Murashov, with Silovs starting.
Rickard Rakell will also be back in the lineup for the first time since Oct. 25. He will be a big boost to the lineup since he's one of the Penguins' best scorers.
Puck drop for this contest will be at 3 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
The Chicago Blackhawks are starting to slide a bit, but their record of 13-12-6, with 32 points through 31 games played, is better than anyone would have thought coming into the year. They are only 1 point shy of a playoff spot in December, which would have sounded even crazier in September.
The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are established contenders in the Central Division. Recent play has put the Blackhawks in 5th place, as those two teams are ahead of Chicago, along with the Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth.
Only the Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, & Nashville Predators trail. Winnipeg and St. Louis were both highly competitive playoff teams last season, so they are likely to improve as the season progresses. That alone will make the climb in the division that much tougher.
A transaction took place that will make the climb even worse, as a team ahead of the Blackhawks went from being a playoff contender to a Stanley Cup contender. The Minnesota Wild acquired superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver received forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick. It’s a large haul for the Canucks, but the Wild are getting the second-best defenseman in the world.
Now, the Wild are one of the top NHL teams, making it three super-elite teams in the Central Division. That makes it even harder for the Chicago Blackhawks to become one.
Although the Blackhawks are getting better, so is the division. The Wild is adding a defender who is a point-per-game, dynamic superstar. With Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, and two elite goalies, the core of this team is as good as it gets.
Chicago's next matchup with Minnesota will come on January 27th, with two more that follow that. It's going to be an extra tough matchup as long as Quinn Hughes is there.
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The Detroit Red Wings will conclude their long road trip on Saturday in Chicago against the Blackhawks, who will be without star Connor Bedard due to a shoulder injury. Bedard, the 2023 first overall pick, has been sensational this season with 44 points in 31 games, ranking third in the NHL in scoring. His absence comes at a time when the Blackhawks have struggled offensively, winning just three of their last 12 games.
Detroit, meanwhile, is regaining momentum after a brief setback, and recent contributions from veterans Andrew Copp and James van Riemsdyk have bolstered their scoring depth. Copp has thrived alongside Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, while van Riemsdyk has scored six goals in his last eight games, however he's expected to get a day off Saturday. Detroit’s defense has still been an issue, conceding an average of three goals per game, highlighting the importance of strong goaltending from John Gibson, who has recently posted back-to-back standout performances.
Chicago’s offense has cooled without Bedard, placing more pressure on veteran winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who has 19 points over his last 16 games. The Blackhawks’ defensive struggles persist, allowing 3.67 goals per game over the recent slump. Historically, these teams’ matchups have been high-scoring, with seven of the last nine meetings totaling six or more goals.
Detroit’s DeBrincat-Kane duo will be central to the offensive battle, while Bertuzzi remains Chicago’s primary threat. Goaltending could play a pivotal role, with Gibson aiming to maintain his hot streak and Arvid Soderblom having previously delivered a standout 45-save performance against Detroit. The game promises to be a compelling clash of Detroit’s surging offense and Chicago’s efforts to overcome the loss of their breakout star.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs. Chicago (Saturday):
Finnie – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
Soderblom – Danielson – Kasper
Rasmussen – Compher – Berggren
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka
Johansson – Benard-Docker
Gibson
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The Ottawa Senators moved quickly to address their growing injury concerns at forward.
Sens head coach Travis Green announced on Friday that Lars Eller will "be out for a little while" with a lower-body injury. So on Saturday morning, the club bolstered their roster for games in Minnesota (Saturday) and Winnipeg (Monday) by calling up winger Olle Lycksell from their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators.
Eller was apparently hurt while blocking a shot in Columbus on Thursday night during a 6–3 victory over the Blue Jackets.
“Yeah, Lars is going to unfortunately be out for a little while,” Green told Senators host Jackson Starr. “Blocked a shot. Not sure quite exactly how long, but we won’t see him the rest of this road trip for sure.”
The 26-year-old Lycksell has been a man in motion this season. This is his third call-up to Ottawa from the B-Sens. As a point-per-game player with Lehigh Valley last season, the guy is a proven AHL scorer, but he has yet to find traction at the NHL level.
With Drake Batherson injured in the preseason, Lycksell won a spot in Ottawa's opening night lineup. In all, he's played in six games and scored his first goal with the club on October 23rd, a game-winner against his old team, the Philadelphia Flyers.
In Belleville, Lycksell has four points in four games in December and six points in nine games overall. He's spent a good chunk of his season as a reserve player
Eller's spot as a fourth-line centre is likely to be taken by Stephen Halliday for now, but they could also use Nick Cousins in that spot as well. So that leaves either Lycksell or Kurtis MacDermid as the 12th forward option for the next couple of games.
As Ottawa continues its three-game road trip with a stop in Minnesota on Saturday, Belleville remains home this weekend to face the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday night and the Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Warne The Hockey News - Ottawa
This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:
The 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.
Vancouver Trades Quinn Hughes to Minnesota
The biggest move was Vancouver sending captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick.
This wasn't Vancouver giving up and rebuilding. This was Vancouver accepting reality. Hughes becomes a UFA after the 2026-27 season. The writing was on the wall—he wasn't staying. So instead of watching him walk for nothing in two years, they moved him now for a package of assets while they could still get something significant back.
Hughes is one of the NHL's best defensemen. He's 26 years old, a Norris Trophy winner who had 23 points in 26 games this season before the trade. He's been Vancouver's offensive engine from the blue line for years.
The Wild, in essence, gave up three first-round picks to get him. Buium was a 2024 first-rounder who has 14 points in 31 NHL games this season. Ohgren was a 2022 first-rounder who has zero points in 18 games this season after spending time in the AHL. Rossi was a 2020 first-rounder with 13 points in 17 games this season, having just signed a new deal after being a trade target all offseason.
Here's the risk: Minnesota has received no assurances that Hughes will re-sign. They could be getting a two-year rental of an elite defenseman, which explains why Vancouver's return wasn't even more substantial. If Hughes had eight years of term, this package would look light. For a player who might walk in 2027 and has expressed interest in playing with his brothers Jack and Luke on the New Jersey Devils? It's probably fair value.
Minnesota built one of the NHL's best farm systems in recent years. Now they've cashed in those assets for a proven star who can quarterback their power play and log major minutes. Hughes led the NHL in average ice time this season at 27:26 per game. Whether he stays past 2027 is a problem for later. Right now, they're all-in on their current window.
For Vancouver, this is damage control. President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford admitted the franchise couldn't afford to lose Hughes, but ultimately it would be his decision. They read the room, understood Hughes wasn't committing long-term, and got out before the situation deteriorated further. Trading your captain mid-season stings, but it's better than losing him for nothing in two years.
The Oilers sent Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry and Samuel Poulin.
"I think it's not so much a comment on Stuart Skinner, it's just really maybe time for something different here," Oilers GM Stan Bowman said.
Skinner is 11-8-4 with a 2.83 GAA, .891 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 games this season. He helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final the past two years, but they lost to Florida both times. He's a pending unrestricted free agent, and Bowman confirmed they hadn't held extension talks. The relationship had run its course.
Jarry is 9-3-1 with a .909 save percentage in 14 games this season. The 30-year-old cleared waivers last January after struggling, then spent time in the AHL before rebounding this year. He's been a big part of Pittsburgh's surprising start, but the Penguins are selling high on a goalie who was in the minors nine months ago.
The cost of doing business? Brett Kulak, a reliable defenseman whom Edmonton didn't want to move but had to include to make the cap math work. That's the price of swapping goaltenders mid-season when both carry significant cap hits.
"We certainly weren't trying to trade Brett Kulak," Bowman said. "He's a great person and a great player on our team. We're going to miss him. But in order to make the transaction work and the money going back and forth, that had to be part of it."
In a separate move, Edmonton also acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from Nashville for a 2027 third-round pick. Stastney has nine points in 30 games this season and helps replace Kulak's departure on the blue line.
This is a straightforward depth move. Kulak left a hole, Stastney fills it. He's not flashy, he's not even as good as Kulak, but he keeps the defence corps functional while Edmonton figures out if Jarry is the answer in net. The 25-year-old has been a steady presence for Nashville over four seasons, and the Oilers needed a body to slot in after losing Kulak in the goalie swap.
Back during the 2024 NHL off-season, the San Jose Sharks acquired goaltender Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators in a big deal. With the young netminder having a high amount of potential, there was naturally plenty of excitement about his arrival in San Jose.
Askarov played in 13 games this past season for the Sharks, where he posted a 4-6-2 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 3.10 goals-against average. Overall, he experienced some growing pains in his first season with the Sharks but also showed promise.
Down in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda in 2024-25, Askarov thrived, posting an 11-9-1 record, a 2.45 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage.
Now, Askarov has earned a full-time spot on the Sharks' roster this season, and there is no question that the young netminder is showing signs of improvement. In 19 games so far this season with the Pacific Division club, he has posted a 10-8-1 record and a .903 save percentage.
Askarov also recently put together a strong performance against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 28, as he stopped 34 out of 36 shots. With this, he had a .941 save percentage on the night.
Overall, while Askarov has had some tough games this season, it is clear that the 23-year-old is getting better as he continues to gain more NHL experience. He is a big part of the Sharks' future, and it will be fascinating to see how he builds on his 2025-26 season from here.
On Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings close out their lengthy road trip by traveling to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Blackhawks without breakout star Connor Bedard, who was sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury in Friday's contest versus the St. Louis Blues. This original six clash will be one to remember as the Red Wings have played the Blackhawks more than any other team in the league with Saturday being their 757th all-time meeting.
The 2023 first overall pick has lived up to expectations, recording a stunning 44 points in 31 games this season and ranking third in the NHL in scoring, tied with San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini. Bedard is one of two Blackhawks near or over a point-per-game over their recent 12-game dry spill and will really miss him versus a surging Detroit team.
The Red Wings seem to be rounding back into form, even after Thursday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers ended a six-game point streak. That result sets the stage for an intriguing matchup, particularly after the Blackhawks handed Detroit a lopsided 5–1 loss in their last meeting at Little Caesars Arena, with the Red Wings now aiming for payback in Chicago.
Lineup Storylines
The Red Wings have faced a two-headed monster all season within their lineup with depth scoring issues, clashing with problems on the backend all season long. One issue has appeared to resolve itself as of late while the backend issues continue to persist as the Red Wings have gotten timely scoring from throughout their lineup.
Veterans Andrew Copp and James van Riemsdyk have both found their games as of late with Copp recording two goals and four assists for six points over his last five games since joining the second line with red hot forwards in Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, who Copp has picked up some momentum off.
The Michigan native has made some great plays in the last few games like making great passes for primary assists as well as working as a solid netfront presence for the two lethal shooters in DeBrincat and Kane. The former Blue Jackets winger in van Riemsdyk has also been sensational as of late with six goals over his last eight games.
At the same time, Detroit has still averaged three goals against per game since the start of their recent surge with 21 goals allowed over their last seven games. The hope is that they can continue to ride the hot hand of starting goaltender John Gibson, who has picked up his play as of late with four straight wins and back-to-back stellar starts entering Saturday with a 39-save shutout over the Vancouver Canucks this past Monday, followed by a 34-save effort on the road versus the Calgary Flames. If he can keep his current pace and finally tap into that level of play that the Red Wings traded for this past off-season, they may finally have the answer to their debate between who the routine starter should be.
The Blackhawks, on the other hand, are starting to see their early-season momentum, fueled by Bedard’s efforts, slow down, as they have managed just three wins over their last 12 games. Their offense has quietly averaged 2.25 goals per game during that span, while the defense has also struggled, allowing 3.67 goals against per game, which ranks fifth worst in the NHL.
Without Bedard, the focus will shift to veteran winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who is in the midst of a recent surge with 19 points over his last 16 games. The rest of the lineup, however, has struggled to produce, with only three players besides Bedard and Bertuzzi recording multiple goals during the 12-game dry spell. The Red Wings’ surging backend will look to further slow a sputtering Blackhawks offense and secure a much-needed bounce-back win in this matchup.
Earlier this season, the Blackhawks ended Detroit’s five-game winning streak in this matchup with a decisive victory. Despite that, the Red Wings will enter this contest having won four of their last six road trips to the Windy City, with most of these games being high-scoring affairs. In fact, seven of the last nine meetings between these two clubs have seen six or more total goals, though that streak could be challenged in this matchup.
Both goaltenders could play pivotal roles. John Gibson will be looking to recapture his recent All-Star form, while Chicago’s Arvid Soderblom has previously faced Detroit just once, delivering a standout performance with 45 saves and only one goal allowed.
Offensively, the spotlight will likely fall on former Blackhawks second-round pick Alex DeBrincat. Reuniting with Chicago legend Patrick Kane in Detroit, the pair has quickly become one of the NHL’s most dangerous duos. DeBrincat has been red-hot lately, recording four goals and four assists for eight points over his last six games. He has also thrived against his former team, tallying three goals and five assists in seven career games versus Chicago, including three multi-point games in his last four meetings with the Blackhawks.
Chicago has a similar storyline with former Red Wings second-round pick Tyler Bertuzzi. Alongside Bedard, Bertuzzi has been a key contributor for the Blackhawks and has also excelled against his former team, recording two goals and four assists for six points in his last six games versus Detroit.
Goalie Matchup
Detroit: John Gibson (Season: 8-7-1 record, 3.32 GAA, .884 | VS CHI: 6-10-1 record, 3.48 GAA, .891 SV% in 18 games)
Chicago: Arvid Soderblom (Season: 3-5-1 record, 3.92 GAA, .876 SV% | VS DET: Win, 45 Saves on 46 Shots in only game)
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On July 13, 2022 (the first day of free agency that summer), the Anaheim Ducks signed center Ryan Strome to a five-year contract that carries an AAV of $5 million. Strome was the second unrestricted free agent signed by then-new Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, with the first being Frank Vatrano a few hours earlier.
Since that date, and in the three seasons that followed, Strome (32) has been an automatic 41-point center for the organization, reaching that exact total in each of his three seasons in a Ducks sweater. Only Troy Terry, who scored 61 points (23-38=61) in 2022-23, 54 points (20-34=54) in 2023-24, and 55 points (21-34=55) in 2024-25, could challenge Strome and make an argument as the team’s most-consistent player.
Until this preseason, Strome had been among the healthiest Ducks, playing in 243 regular season games of a possible 246.
Strome missed the Ducks' first 16 games of the 2025-26 season due to an upper-body injury sustained in a preseason practice, which was later revealed to be an oblique injury. Without him in the lineup to start the season, the Ducks got off to their best start to a season in over a decade, with an 11-4-1 record.
“I think it was good for me to challenge myself and try to be a good teammate to support the boys,” Strome said after his return from injury. “I try to act the same every day, no matter how it’s going. It’s a little harder when you’re hurt, but I was really proud of how the guys played. It’s been a great start to the season, just excited to contribute in any role I’m given and try to help the team here.”
Since he’s been a member of the Ducks’ organization, Strome has been a stabilizing veteran presence in the locker room and a vocal leader to a young, talented group.
With those combined factors in mind, it was strange and eyebrow-raising to see Strome’s name pop up in a column from premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Thursday evening.
Friedman wrote, “Those looking for a middleman are keeping a closer watch on Anaheim’s Ryan Strome. Delayed start to the season, in-and-out of the lineup. Ducks surging, is there a spot for him? If not, there will be interest.”
Strome managed three points (1-2=3) in his first nine games upon his return to the lineup and to start his 2025-26 season, playing relatively well despite the lack of production in a third-line center role.
To kick off December, Strome served as a surprise healthy scratch for the Ducks’ 4-1 road win over the St. Louis Blues and 7-0 home loss to the Utah Mammoth on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, respectively.
Strome returned to the lineup when the Ducks hosted the Washington Capitals on Dec. 5, a 4-3 shootout win. He met the adversity with a positive, team-first attitude when discussing his situation with the media after morning skate on the day of their game against Washington.
“Anyone that’s competitive wants to play. I think you’ll never find a guy that gets a healthy scratch that’s happy about it,” Strome said. “So, you know, luckily, I have a wealth of experience to draw on, some highs and lows in my career. So, you know, you just roll with the punches and work hard (over) the last couple days and get back at it.
“At the end of the day, it’s a team game, and our team’s had a really good year, and I think the attention should be on that, not any individual. I also think the opportunity for myself to, you know, lead by example in the situation, because obviously it sucks, but I can’t bring the team down, right? It’s all about the team. I think we’ve had a really good mindset with that this year. Unfortunately, I was kind of the example of that.”
In the modern NHL, strong center depth is needed to win Stanley Cups. Strome can play both center and wing, but the trade market indicates several teams are in need of a reliable middle-six center. On Friday, Friedman reiterated his written note on Strome when he took to his “32 Thoughts” podcast to expand.
“Strome, I think that one’s obvious. He was hurt, he was late to play. Anaheim got off to a really good start. Players took roles,” Friedman said. “I don’t think this is so much an indictment of Strome as it is that the team got hot when he was still hurt and everybody kind of lined up their spot, right? So when he came back, it was harder to find his way back into it. So I don’t think anybody would look at this, with the healthy scratches and things like that, and say they’d be hugely surprised.
Los Angeles Kings center Philip Danault’s name popped up earlier this month in potential trade reports, but Friedman relayed that a source of his somewhat dismissed that notion, highlighting the Kings’ potential lack of center depth without him.
The Ducks, however, are deep at the center position. On their current roster, they have Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Strome, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Jansen Harkins, who can all play naturally down the middle, along with Tim Washe, who’s having an excellent rookie year for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, with 18 points (10-8=18) in 22 games.
“So I had someone who said to me, ‘Unless there's a team out there that makes it worth the Kings while, they're not going to do it because they've had trouble with their fourth line,” Friedman said of Danault’s situation. “But the same people said to me, ‘He’s not the same player as Danault, but if you’re looking for a center, (Ryan) Strome could be out there.’ We’ll see what happens. That’s a guy they’re watching.”
The Ducks overhauled their coaching staff in the 2025 offseason, adding Joel Quenneville as the team’s new head coach, Jay Woodcroft as the power play and forwards coach, and Ryan McGill as the penalty kill and defensive coach. By missing the first 16 games of the season and the team’s record being so impressive without him, Strome has struggled to carve out a role under the new staff and in their new system.
Interestingly and surprisingly, considering the NHL player contract landscape, Ryan Strome’s contract does not carry any trade protection, a rarity among eligible unrestricted free agency signings. In theory, the Ducks could move him to any team without requiring approval from Strome.
Since returning from his healthy scratches, Strome has played three of four games firmly in a fourth-line role, registering 8:00, 11:44, 8:31, and 8:06 TOI in those games. He’s tallied five points (1-4=5) through 13 games this season despite excellent underlying numbers. At 5v5, the Ducks hold 57.34 % of the shot attempts share, 58.78% of the shots on goal share, and 59.55% of the expected goals share when Strome is on the ice, but in those minutes, they’ve been outscored 7-4.
Strome’s production dipped when he signed in Anaheim, as he’s now on his third head coach in four years, and the roster has been in a significant period of transition for his entire tenure with the Ducks. However, in the four seasons leading up to his signing with Anaheim in 2022, Strome had his best statistical years of his career as a member of the New York Rangers, where he scored 195 points (71-124=195) in 263 games, averaging 0.74 points per game.
With less than a second remaining on the clock and the St. Louis Blues desperately attempting to hold onto a one-goal lead, Brayden Schenn and Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard met at the faceoff dot.
Schenn was attempting to do whatever he could to prevent Bedard from getting the puck to his net. Bedard, on the other hand, was doing whatever he could to guide the puck to the net and generate a quick chance. When the puck was dropped, it played out as such. Bedard attempted to shoot the puck off the draw, and Schenn attempted to tie up his stick and prevent the puck from advancing.
Unfortunately, it appeared that the pair's sticks and arms were tangled, and Bedard injured what looks to be his shoulder. The 20-year-old superstar immediately skated off the ice in plenty of discomfort, grabbing at his shoulder the entire way off.
It's awful news for Bedard and the Blackhawks. The Hawks are a far more competitive team this season, largely due to Bedard's emergence as a true superstar. He finished the game with two assists, adding to his impressive tally this season. He ranks tied for fourth in goals with 19 and tied for third in points with 44.
Additionally, Bedard is feverishly battling for a spot on Team Canada's Olympic squad. A long-term injury could spoil his chances of making the team.
While Blashill described it as a freak accident, Blackhawk fans and NHL fans in general weren't as kind to Schenn.
On social media, fans are calling for the Blackhawks to call up enforcers to target Schenn in their next matchup, asking for the Blues captain to be arrested and referring to the hit as a "scumbag move."
Every person is entitled to their own opinion, and no one wants to see another player get hurt, which makes it hard to imagine that Schenn intended to injure Bedard, rather than protect their one-goal lead.
The Blues and Blackhawks will meet again on Jan. 7, and in all likelihood, the Blackhawks will want Schenn to respond for injuring their franchise player. Whether it was intentional or not, or if Bedard is out long-term or not, Schenn will be expected to answer the bell.
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ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild shocked the NHL when a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Quinn Hughes happened on Friday night.
The cost was steep for Minnesota but it had to be to acquire a player of that magnitude.
Minnesota gave up Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick for Hughes.
Hughes, 26, is widely known as the second best defenseman in the NHL behind Colorado Avalanche defender Cale Makar.
Since making his NHL debut on March 28, 2019 vs. Los Angeles, Hughes leads all NHL defensemen in assists and power-play points and ranks second among blueliners in points.
Since the start of the 2021 season, Hughes ranks first in assists (285), second in points (335) and power-play points (144). Makar ranks first in points (371). That is 335 points in 330 games for Hughes.
The craziest thing about this trade is some of the top defenders in the league are now all in the Central Division.
Hughes on the Wild, Makar on the Avalanche, Miro Heiskanen on the Dallas Stars and Josh Morrissey on the Winnipeg Jets. Morrissey ranks sixth in assists (213) and seventh in points (270) in 348 games.
Heiskanen ranks 11th in assists (180), 14th in points (217) and fifth in ice time (25:08). Morrissey is 13th (24:10), Makar is second (25:34) and Hughes is third (25:29). Brock Faber is actually seventh (25:02).
Not to mention Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators. He is fifth in assists (215) and fourth in points (290) since the 2021 season.
The Central Division is already the best Division in the NHL. The Avalanche are first in the NHL, the Stars are second and the Wild are fifth in terms of points. Minnesota has beaten both teams this season.
Hughes is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, there is no question about that. Players like Hughes almost never become available, and when they do, the cost reflects it. Minnesota paid that price because this version of the Wild believes its window is open right now.
The ripple effect stretches beyond St. Paul. The Central Division was already the NHL’s most demanding grind, and now it features four of the league’s elite defensemen logging massive minutes every night.
Minnesota has already proven it can go toe-to-toe with Colorado and Dallas this season. With Hughes in the fold, the Wild didn’t just keep up with the division’s arms race, they stepped directly into it, prepared for whatever comes next.
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Patrick Kane on Verge of Major Milestone as He Faces BlackhawksPatrick Kane was one of the core pieces and superstars for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> during their dynasty that hoisted three Stanley Cups, but the team went into a rebuild and he was traded in 2022-23.
Jeff Blashill Provides Tough Update On Connor Bedard's Injury StatusAfter their loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill provided a tough update on Connor Bedard. 
