OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, Artem Zub added two assists and the Ottawa Senators defeated the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa and James Reimer made 16 saves.
Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche, who have now lost three of their last four. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots.
Trailing for most of the game, Colorado pushed back hard in the third period but the Senators were able to hold on.
The Senators made it 3-1 early in the third with Giroux scoring his 10th of the season beating Blackwood high blocker.
Less than two minutes later, a Giroux giveaway proved costly. Jack Drury found Nichushkin out front and the latter went to his backhand and beat Reimer high glove.
Tkachuk and Stutzle each added empty-net goals.
Ottawa opened the scoring early in the second period when Zub made a stretch pass to Cousins, who beat Blackwood high short side.
Colorado tied the game when Keaton Middleton’s outlet pass was tipped by Brock Nelson and went right through Nick Jensen’s legs to Kelly, who beat Reimer high.
Ottawa wasted no time regaining the lead scoring 17 seconds later. Tyler Kleven threw a puck down the ice that banked off the back boards and Greig won a foot race against Middleton and beat Blackwood high blocker.
It was a fun one to start the home-and-home as the New York Islanders beat the New York Rangers 5-2 in a game they dominated from the start.
While the Islanders added two players in Palat and Soucy leading up to this Olympic break trade freeze, the Rangers have put Artemi Panarin on the trade block as they go all in on their official letter-based proclamation retool. Panarin was held out of the game, and will also be out of tomorrow’s if he isn’t traded by then.
But the Islanders took advantage of the struggling Rangers and put on a show for the home fans, with Ondrej Palat picking up first star honors in his debut (with his PP goal and a secondary assist, while Simon Holmstrom, Mat Barzal (also on the power play), JG Pageau, and Emil Heineman scored the other four goals.
This score could’ve been more lopsided, as the Isles hit a few posts throughout the night, but fans will be leaving UBS Arena happy with the big win tonight.
It was all Islanders tonight, though despite leading in shots and shot attempts the Isles couldn’t get anything past Spencer Martin early.
There was some typical Isles vs Rangers roughness, as Vincent Trocheck tripped into David Rittich and got an extra shove or two from former teammate and new Islander Carson Soucy, along with Matthew Schaefer crushing Brennan Othmann along the boards by the bench.
Alexis Lafreniere was called for slashing Mat Barzal and breaking his stick (although his stick kind of looked like it broke moments before the slash). The refs might have realized this, as they then called Bo Horvat for interference just nine seconds later, after he flipped Mika Zibanejad’s stick out of his hands and over the glass to send us to some 4 on 4 hockey.
But then Simon Holmstrom drew a slashing penalty on Trocheck, giving the Islanders a 4 on 3. Will Cuylle nearly set up JT Miller shorthanded, but Miller couldn’t handle the puck.
Newcomer Ondrej Palat then picked up the power play goal, with Holmstrom and Schaefer grabbing the assists.
Jonathan Drouin took a bad high sticking penalty, but fortunately didn’t draw anything more than just the two minute minor. David Rittich made a couple of great saves, but then Miller set up Zibanejad to make it 2-1.
Casey Cizikas went in to the boards hard early in the second, and while falling, took a knee from Matt Rempe to the back. A crowd came together after that, but no penalties were given, and Cizikas skated back to the bench and seemed to be okay.
Then, the Islanders drew three(!!) penalties in the same shift – two for Sam Carrick (tripping and crosschecking) and one for Rempe (boarding), giving them a full two minute 5 on 3 power play along with an extended 6 on 5.
Emil Heineman put a shot off the post, and the Islanders had some good chances, but not a lot of net front presence to really make it difficult for Martin and the Rangers.
But with 30 seconds left on the regular 5 on 4, Barzal scored to make it 3-1 off a great pass from Holmstrom, who picked up his second PP assist of the night.
Just 47 seconds later, JG Pageau scored his 11th of the season to make it 4-1, sticking with the loose puck after Marc Gatcomb’s shot was stopped by Martin.
A bit over a minute later, Taylor Raddysh got one back for the Rangers, but with 46.6 seconds left in the period, Heineman ripped the puck past Martin to make it 5-2, restoring the three goal lead for the Islanders.
In the third, Jonathan Drouin had a chance on goal, but it was deflected by Braden Schneider.
Horvat took a tripping penalty, and Pageau and Holmstrom couldn’t connect on a shorthanded chance, but the Isles killed the penalty.
DeAngelo hit the post, adding to the near-misses for the Isles tonight. But the Islanders would close out the game 5-2, picking up their third win against the Rangers this season.
Up Next
Next, the Islanders make the very long trek to Madison Square Garden to take on the Rangers tomorrow. That’ll likely be the big Sorokin vs Shesterkin showdown, and we’ll see if the Islanders can make it a perfect 4-0 against the Rangers this season.
If you wanted to sum up the state of the Battle of New York in one moment, you could do a lot worse than 14:59 of the first period Wednesday night.
There was Ondrej Palat, celebrating his first goal as an Islander one day after being traded across town from New Jersey.
There wasn’t Artemi Panarin, the highest-paid Rangers player, being held out of the match for roster management reasons as the Blueshirts seek to take the next step of their teardown by moving the Russian wing who chose Broadway over Long Island in 2019.
Emil Heineman (left), who scored later in the game, celebrates a goal by Ondrej Palat during the first period of the Islanders’ 5-2 win over the Rangers on Jan. 28, 2026 at UBS Arena. Robert Sabo for New York Post
There was the UBS scoreboard, showing the Rangers had just one shot on goal in nearly 15 minutes.
At least this time, they didn’t get shut out. The Islanders, though, took their third game of three against their rivals this season, tilting the ice all night long in cruising to a 5-2 win over the Rangers.
“I don’t judge my play on points,” Palat said after notching a goal and assist over 11:53 of ice time. “I’m happy I got a couple, but the team played well and that’s all that matters.”
“We’re used to having him score goals against us,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “To have him on our side, we’re extremely happy.”
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The injection of energy brought by the acquisitions of Palat and Carson Soucy — the latter of whom made his Islanders debut against the team he played for until Monday night — was evident all night long.
The Islanders played with the puck. They got below the hash marks and worked off the cycle, controlling proceedings all night long. Palat seemed to instantly click with Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman, the latter of whom had his most noticeable game in weeks, accounting for a number of dangerous looks before finally breaking through off Adam Pelech’s feed that made it 5-2 late in the third.
The third line of Anders Lee, Pageau and Simon Holmstrom was the Islanders’ best, though, with Holmstrom playing a starring role.
He fed Palat’s opening goal on the power play, scored just 1:11 later off Tony DeAngelo’s slick backdoor feed, then added a second power-play assist on a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing sequence on which the puck pinged from DeAngelo to Horvat to Holmstrom to Barzal before No. 13’s one-timer beat Spencer Martin across the crease.
Simon Holmstrom scored a goal on Spencer Martin during the first period of the Islanders’ win over the Rangers. Robert Sabo for New York Post
That made it 3-1 after the Islanders had failed to convert a two-minute 5-on-3 following the Rangers taking three penalties on one shift, with two of them going to Sam Carrick. Another emblematic moment for the Blueshirts.
“I thought the turning point was the three penalties on one shift,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “I’ve never seen that before.”
Of Holmstrom, and of DeAngelo, Islanders coach Patrick Roy used the same word: “Outstanding.”
DeAngelo, whose play has gone up a notch lately, was nothing short of terrific against his old club, his vision and passing at an elite level all night long.
Matt Rempe gets into a fight with Adam Pelech during the second period of the Rangers’ blowout loss to the Islanders. Robert Sabo for New York Post
Mika Zibanejad’s power-play one-timer briefly brought the Rangers within 2-1 at 13:12 of the second, but Barzal’s goal, followed 42 seconds later by Pageau jamming Marc Gatcomb’s rebound into the crease, quickly extended the Islanders lead back to 4-1.
David Rittich, who had quietly struggled for much of January, had a solid night in nets for the Islanders with 13 saves, though the Rangers scoring chances came few and far between.
“The last two games, I really feel like we played really well defensively, and I think that allows us to get the puck faster and get on the rush and create some offense because of it,” Roy said. “This is something we need to continue to do.”
Indeed, the second game in a row, this was more about the Islanders play in front of the goalie than it was about the goalie — an extremely positive sign.And for the third time in three games against the Rangers, this looked like a playoff team facing a last-place club.
NEW YORK (AP) — Ondrej Palat scored the opening goal and added an assist in his debut with the New York Islanders, who defeated their cross-town rival New York Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists, David Rittich made 14 saves, and the Islanders won their second straight game. Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored.
Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored for the Rangers. Spencer Martin stopped 31 shots, but the Rangers lost for the fourth time in their last five games and are 2-8-1 since they won the Winter Classic in Florida on Jan. 2. Star forward Artemi Panarin was held out of the lineup for roster management purposes and will not play again for the Rangers before the Olympic break.
Holmstrom made a slick pass from the half wall to set up Palat in the slot for a power-play goal with 5:01 remaining in the first period.
Tony DeAngelo found Holmstrom for a tap-in goal 1:11 later, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
Zibanejad buried a cross-ice feed from J.T. Miller late in the first period to pull the Rangers within one.
Barzal and Pageau scored 47 seconds apart midway through the second period to extend the Islanders’ lead to 4-1.
The Islanders acquired Palat from the New Jersey Devils, along with a third-round pick in 2026 and a sixth-round pick in 2027, in exchange for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Artemi Panarin was held out of the New York Rangers' lineup on Wednesday, Jan. 28 for roster management purposes.
The Athletic and other media organizations said Panarin isn't likely to play before the Olympic break. The Olympic roster freeze begins on Feb. 4.
He's the most valuable trade asset the Rangers have after general manager Chris Drury said in a letter to fans that they planned to "retool" the roster. Panarin has led the team in scoring each season since signing as a free agent in 2019. He leads again with 57 points in 52 games.
Panarin is in the final year of his contract but has a full no-movement clause, meaning he has the final say on where he goes if traded. TSN reported that Panarin, who averages $11.6 million in his current deal, would want an extension lined up before signing off on a trade.
Here are some possible places where it could make sense for Panarin to end up in a trade:
They have been aggressive the past two seasons, trading for Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen, though they weren't able to re-sign those players. The Hurricanes likely want to make a splash again as they try to get past the third round. They have cap space and a first-round pick.
The Red Wings are a legitimate threat to end their nine-year playoff drought. They made only minor moves at last year's deadline, which drew criticism. Acquiring Panarin would be a major addition and the Red Wings have tons of cap space. Panarin would be reunited with former Blackhawks and Rangers teammate Patrick Kane.
The Stars were also aggressive last season, trading for and signing Rantanen at the 2025 deadline. They could use forward help with Tyler Seguin out after ACL surgery. But they lack a first-round pick and their cap situation is tight.
If they could acquire and sign Panarin, it would help the team's future with Anze Kopitar going to retire after the season. They have a first-round pick and workable cap space.
Vegas Golden Knights
When are they not in the mix whenever a big name is available? They already traded for Rasmus Andersson this season. It doesn't matter what their cap situation is. They find a way.
Thursday night will feature a special moment in Jake DeBrusk's career. When the puck drops at Rogers Arena, the 29-year-old will skate in his 600th career regular-season game. Over the first 599 games, DeBrusk has recorded 341 points while also playing in 86 playoff games.
Hitting the 600-game mark is an impressive achievement for any player. The first 465 came with the Boston Bruins, while the remaining 134 so far featured DeBrusk in a Vancouver Canucks sweater. In an interview with The Hockey News, DeBrusk revealed that it was one of his younger teammates who reminded him that he was closing in on his 600th game.
"I haven't thought about that in a while, but yeah, I know it's lots," said DeBrusk. "You can go through the years, obviously, but a lot of good memories, a couple heartbreaks in there at the same time. Yeah, 600 games, a lot of games. I didn't even know about that till last game. Actually, Junior (defenceman Elias Petersson) told me about it. But, you know, we don't play the game to play games. We play the game to win. The 600 and I think 80-something playoff games as well. You know, I played a lot of hockey."
After recording 81 points in 72 games with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL, DeBrusk was selected by the Bruins 14th overall in 2015. He was a player who rose up the rankings as the season went on and entered the draft as the 19th-ranked North American Skater. When asked about any advice he would have given his 18-year-old self, DeBrusk spoke about how he probably wouldn't have believed that he would one day play 600 games at the NHL level.
"I was pretty raw. Honestly, I don't even know. I think I'd probably say, get ready for 2019, because we went to the finals that year in game seven. That's probably what I would tell myself at 18. But if I told myself this at 18, my draft year, I don't think I would have believed you, to be honest with you. At the start of that year, I think I was ranked either in the fifth round or the sixth round. Was like a C or D prospect at the start of that year. So I would be shocked if I was able to say, Hey, this is what you've been doing in the future. I don't know if I change a whole lot. I think everyone would change certain things, but I don't know if I'll give myself a single piece of advice."
The 2015 class is considered one of the deepest drafts in recent memory as it included Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Kirill Kaprizov, Zach Werenski, Mathew Barzal and Brock Boeser. For Boston, though, it is seen as a missed opportunity as the organization had the 13th, 14th and 15th picks, yet only hit on DeBrusk. Even though DeBrusk turned into a successful player, he was used as a scapegoat to hide the fact that the Bruins' 2015 draft did not go as planned.
"I got asked about it a lot when I was a Boston, and obviously, I was the only one that really played. And I took the brunt of those questions from my rookie year on. So first and as a player, I was just happy to get selected by a team. It didn't really matter to me. I just was happy that the team wanted me. And coming into a situation in Boston, obviously, it was a great setup for me, but, yeah, I got asked about that a lot my first couple of years. Felt like I was kind of getting blamed for it, and you know, pushed me to become a better pro. And that's why I'm here, sitting at 600 right now. I think that's easy to say from the outset. But yeah, I took a lot of that heat, that's for sure."
Shifting back to the present, DeBrusk has experienced plenty of memorable moments in his career. He has played for an original-six franchise and been to the Stanley Cup Final. Overall, DeBrusk has packed a lot into the last decade, which is why it is hard to pick a favourite memory from his career so far.
"Yeah, probably my first playoffs. I think probably the first time playing in the post-season. You dreamed about as a kid. My rookie year, playing seven-game series, Winter Classics, first 20-goal season. Just little things. First goal is probably what I remember the most, how that felt. And, yeah, I would say probably those are the good memories, obviously, lots of different playoff goals. Usually, what I think about my career is my playoffs and just different little challenges that have come through that."
Jan 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk (74) during a stop in play against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
To wrap up the interview, DeBrusk was asked about any advice he has for the younger players on the team. Vancouver has one of the youngest rosters in the league, and is projected to get even younger as the organization enters a rebuild. For DeBrusk, he discussed the increased speed of the game and ensuring that, as a player, you don't lose confidence when the team is struggling.
"The NHL changes, it's a faster league. It's more skilled. You need speed. If you don't have speed, you die. We just played against a pretty young team in San Jose. And what's everyone talking about, how fast they were. Look at Chicago, look at the best team in the league in Colorado. Why are they so good, speed? So I look at that, and I think that's just how the game is changing. But in terms of these younger guys, just getting to know them. Obviously, it's a tough go. We're really struggling. So just try to be there for them if they need anything. Confidence is the biggest thing in the NHL. It's not something that is given to you at this level. You have to earn it, and you have to kind of keep it and learn how to stay with it. And when you lose, when you get scored on, it's human not to have any confidence. So for me, I just kind of look around and see how guys are doing in those terms. When you're young, you're trying to fight, to stay the next day. You're trying to fight, no matter what the score is or what's going on. So they got a pretty good read. But you know, they know I'm there for them if they need, and I try to crack a couple of jokes."
DeBrusk has had an impressive career to this point. As mentioned, he is closing in on 350 points and is on pace for his second-straight 20-goal season. Overall, DeBrusk provides value to the organization not just on the ice, but off it as well.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The Buffalo Sabres should be looking to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. When looking at their current group, it would not hurt for them to add an impactful center to their top nine.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle stands out as an interesting potential option to consider.
If the Sabres landed Coyle, they would be adding a veteran two-way forward who chips in offensively, is solid defensively, kills penalties, and provides physicality. He is also capable of playing both center and right wing, which adds to his appeal as a possible target.
In 51 games so far this season with the Blue Jackets, Coyle has recorded 11 goals, 22 assists, 33 points, and 69 hits. With numbers like these, he would be a nice addition to the Sabres' top nine if successfully acquired.
Coyle would also give the Sabres another veteran with plenty of playoff experience and who is known for being a good leader. With this, he could be a good pickup for a Sabres club looking to take that next step and cement themselves as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.
The pending Rangers sell-off is really about to take off now.
Two days after making their first retooling trade of the regular season, the Rangers held leading scorer Artemi Panarin out of Wednesday’s road game against the Islanders for “roster management,” The Post’s Mollie Walker reported about an hour before puck drop. The star winger will not play in the team’s final four games before the NHL’s upcoming break next week.
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General manager Chris Drury informed Panarin before his Jan. 16 letter to fans that the 34-year-old — a pending unrestricted free agent after his seven-year, $81 million deal signed as a free agent in 2019 expires this summer — would not be re-signed by the organization after extension talks went nowhere and they had “extremely candid” conversations.
“It’s hard to say how I feel. I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that,” while promising “to give 100 percent in every game,” Panarin said earlier this month after the news became public.
Panarin must approve any trade because of a full no-movement clause.
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller also are among those with no-movement clauses, but more deals are sure to follow ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, with the Rangers entering Wednesday’s game with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. But NHL rosters will be frozen from Feb. 4 through the Olympic break.
Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin waits for the puck to drop against the Bruins. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We are not going to stand pat — a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This is not a rebuild,” Drury wrote in his letter. “This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects. We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks and cap space to allow us flexibility moving forward.”
Drury already has made one trade this week, sending veteran defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders for a 2026 third-round pick, meaning his first two games with his new team will come against the team that just traded him. The teams also will meet in the second half of back-to-back games Thursday night at the Garden.
Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates against the Boston Bruins. Getty Images
Panarin leads the Rangers with 57 points in 57 games this season, and his 19 goals rank second on the team behind Zibanejad’s 21. He also recently had a 10-game point streak with five goals and 18 points but the Rangers entered with just three wins over their previous 14 games (3-9-2) under first-year coach Mike Sullivan to fall out of playoff contention. They also missed the playoffs one year ago under since-fired coach Peter Laviolette.
Soucy said Wednesday morning that he and his former teammates knew trades likely were on the way, but that Drury did him “a favor” allowing his young family to remain in the New York area with Monday’s deal to the Islanders.
“Obviously with the Rangers I kind of knew some trades were coming,” said Soucy, who was acquired by the Rangers from Vancouver before last year’s deadline. “This one just kind of made sense with obviously my family and stuff, we don’t have to uproot. We can stick [in Westchester] where we are now, so it kind of made sense there.
“I guess it just showed where both teams are, really. And I think it’s just that Drury kind of did me a favor of not wanting to shift my family, like last year, where I was kind of across the country, with my wife and kids. We have a newborn right now, so it’s nice to not have to move houses right now. So I appreciate Chris kind of making that work for me.”
Now, Drury must also work with Panarin and perhaps others on a preferred destination.
Braden Schneider finds himself in an awfully similar spot to the one K’Andre Miller did last year.
Entering the 2024-25 campaign, Miller and the Rangers had still not agreed to a long-term contract extension, with his future still in flux.
Selected in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Miller quickly rose up the ranks of Rangers prospects and given his skillsets, playing a physically-minded game, while also having the capabilities of a strong puck-moving defensemen, expectations were high for Miller.
Those expectations grew even further when Miller recorded 43 points during the 2023-24 season, as it seemed he would only continue to ascend.
However, it didn’t quite work out that way. Over his final two years with the Blueshirts, Miller’s point totals decreased and his inconsistent defensive game also brought up concerns.
Entering the 2025 offseason, Miller was still without a contract extension, and the red flags shown in Miller’s game made Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury reluctant to give the young defenseman a long-term commitment.
Ultimately, the Rangers sent Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes in a sign-and-trade deal, and he signed an 8-year $60 million contract with the Hurricanes.
Now, Schneider could find himself in the same boat, if history were to repeat itself.
Schneider was also a highly touted prospect, with the Rangers selecting him with the 19th overall pick in the 2020 Draft.
It didn’t take long for Schneider to make waves in the NHL, playing 43 games for the Rangers during the 2021-22 campaign.
Through his first three NHL seasons, Schneider showed flashes of potential in a third-pairing role.
In 2024, Schneider signed a two-year, $4.4 million bridge deal with the Rangers. The hope was that he would eventually blossom into a reliable top-four defenseman for the Blueshirts.
Similar to Miller, Schneider hasn’t taken that next leap that the organization had anticipated, specifically this year where he’s struggled in a top-four role when the opportunity has been presented, while his defensive woes are becoming more and more prevalent, indicative of his -15 plus/minus rating (the worst of his NHL career).
In Drury’s recent letter issued outlining the team’s plan to retool the roster, he states that fans may have to say “goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years” and you have to wonder if that includes Schneider.
The 24-year-old defenseman is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and will likely seek a long-term contract, which the Rangers may be reluctant to succumb to a long-term commitment, given Schneider’s underwhelming year thus far.
Schneider’s age, on top of the heavy style of play that he brings to the table, makes him a valuable trade committee, should opposing teams be enticed to pursue him.
Unlike most of the Rangers’ premier players, Schneider does not hold a no-move or no-trade clause in his current contract, which makes him easier to move.
Since what many are calling the Letter 2.0 was released, Schneider’s name has been the subject of trade rumors, and that speculation only continues to pick up steam.
“One name I did hear a little bit about today, knowing I was coming on here and calling around, aside from the obvious ones, was Schneider,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said. “I think that for a defenseman who's a bit heavier, there's always interest in that kind of a player, and I think there is some in him, and the Rangers may have a decision to make."
The Rangers do indeed have a decision on their hands regarding Schneider’s future, and that decision could very well be made before the March 6th NHL Trade Deadline.
Zayne Parekh’s conditioning stint with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers has looked every bit like a confidence reset.
In three games with the Wranglers, the 19-year-old defenceman has produced four points — two goals and two assists — while logging heavier minutes and showcasing the offensive instincts that made him a top-ten draft pick. His shot has been noticeable, his puck touches frequent, and the overall body of work suggests a player beginning to settle into the pro game.
With the stint expected to conclude this weekend, Parekh is slated to rejoin the Flames, though questions remain about how — and when — he fits back into the NHL lineup.
While the offensive upside has never been in doubt, concerns surrounding Parekh’s strength, size, and defensive consistency persist. Those questions aren’t rooted in long-term projection — he has plenty of time to develop physically — but rather in durability. Multiple injuries this season stemming from physical contact have limited his ability to find rhythm at the NHL level.
Like most young defencemen, his defensive game remains a work in progress. The offensive flashes, however, have been undeniable during his time with the Wranglers.
The adjustment back to pro hockey following the World Junior Championships has been a key part of that progress.
“Just getting used to the speed, obviously it’s not NHL speed but it’s a lot faster than junior hockey so it’s a good jump for me,” he said. “It’s a step in the right direction and I’m really enjoying it.”
That comfort level appears to be translating into confidence — something Parekh lacked earlier in the season with the Flames. The conditioning stint has offered him a chance to reset mentally, play through mistakes, and focus on incremental improvement rather than immediate results.
“Just keep getting better, I think that’s been the change in mindset for me over the last couple weeks,” Parekh said. “It’s going to take a little bit for me to get my game in the NHL but as long as I continue to get a little bit better each day…I think I’m going to get there eventually. It’s going to take some time but I’ve just got to trust in the process and have a little belief in myself and that’s starting to come.”
What happens next remains unclear. Do the Flames keep him out of the lineup until after the Olympic break? Does he get a handful of games beforehand? Calgary’s blue line is crowded, meaning roster movement would be required to create space. Still, it’s clear where Parekh’s long-term development needs to continue — at the NHL level.
The Nobleton, ON native was selected ninth overall by the Flames in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, following a record-shattering junior career with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Parekh posted back-to-back 30-goal seasons, a feat previously achieved only by Hall of Famer Bobby Orr among OHL/OHA defencemen. His 2024 season saw him record 33 goals and 74 assists for 107 points in 61 games, earning both the Max Kaminsky Trophy as OHL Defenceman of the Year and CHL Defenceman of the Year honours.
For now, the focus is simple: continued growth, steady confidence, and trusting that the process will carry him where he ultimately belongs.
Edmonton Oilers forward Andrew Mangiapane is undoubtedly a trade candidate to watch between now and the deadline. It is no secret that the 29-year-old forward has struggled with the Oilers and could benefit from a fresh start.
In a recent article for The Athletic, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun named the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues as potential trade fits for Mangiapane.
"I wonder about teams such as the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators or St. Louis Blues as fits. The fact that Mangiapane has another year on his deal might actually be more appealing to those teams, none of whom are sitting in a playoff spot," LeBrun wrote.
The Jets stand out as an interesting potential option for the Oilers. When looking at their roster, it is clear that they could use another skilled winger in their top nine. If Mangiapane bounced back in Winnipeg, he would give their forward group a nice and much-needed boost.
When looking at Ottawa's group, Mangiapane could be a solid replacement for Nick Cousins on their third line. It would also be understandable if the Senators tried to add to their roster ahead of the deadline, as their playoff hopes are not fully gone yet.
The Blues could be a good landing spot for Mangiapane as well. The Central Division club has struggled to produce offense this season and should be open to adding to its forward group because of it. With this, they are in a position to buy low on a former 55-point forward.
After six long games, injured Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar is expected to make his return to the ice and reclaim his place as the club's starter.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Flyers announced that Vladar, 28, was activated from injured reserve, signaling his official return.
In a corresponding transaction, top goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov was returned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Vladar hasn't played for the Flyers since a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 14; the Czech netminder saved four of the six shots he faced before departing with a lower-body injury at the end of the first period.
Kolosov started only one game for the Flyers in Vladar's absence, ceding three goals on three shots in a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
The Belarusian's other appearance with Vladar on the shelf came in relief of Ersson, when Kolosov made 13 saves on 16 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ersson, who retains his hold on the Flyers' backup goalie job with Kolosov failing to impress in limited action, went 2-2-1 over the last six games, allowing 19 goals, making 130 saves on 149 shots, and posting a 3.61 GAA and .872 save percentage.
Those numbers are far from ideal, regardless of how the Flyers performed in front of him, and now Vladar, who is now fully healthy and ready to go, will jump back into the driver's seat with Philadelphia's season on the line.
It's also worth mentioning that Kane missed the entirety of the 2024-25 season as he underwent two surgeries. That includes treating a sports hernia in September 2024 and his knee in January 2025.
In Vancouver, he played 52 games, scoring nine goals and 24 points this year. With that, he's been averaging 16:47 of ice time per game and has recorded a minus-18 rating on a struggling Canucks team that is last in the NHL.
There shouldn't be much shock that Holland would be interested in Kane. After all, they were together in Edmonton between 2022 and 2024. In fact, Holland signed Kane as a free agent in January 2022.
In the past off-season, the Canucks acquired Kane in a trade that would likely be a blueprint as to what Vancouver will be looking for in an effort to move off the veteran. The Oilers shipped him to the Canucks for a 2025 fourth-round pick.
Evander Kane (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
If the Kings were to acquire Kane, it certainly wouldn't cost much in terms of departing assets. However, the aging left winger comes with a $5.125-million price tag.
Los Angeles has $12.875 in current cap space, according to puckpedia.com. How they use that space in the coming weeks is to be seen.
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The Winnipeg Jets are expected to make roster moves ahead of the NHL trade deadline, with a pair of pending free agents drawing league-wide interest. Defensemen Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley have emerged as the primary candidates to be dealt, though the exact timing of any moves remains uncertain.
Of the two, Stanley is the player most likely to be shipped out or not return to the team next season. The 27-year-old towering six-foot-seven defenseman has reportedly not yet discussed a contract extension with the Jets, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
Drafted 18th overall in 2016, Winnipeg traded up to select Stanley and he has struggled to live up to expectations early in his career, often serving as a depth defenseman. However, this season has marked a breakout, with Stanley recording eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 51 games. He is on pace to surpass his previous career highs, making him an attractive option for playoff-bound teams seeking a second- or third-pairing defenseman.
The Jets appear to be focused on retooling for next season, meaning Stanley’s trade value could be modest. While exact returns are uncertain, a fourth- or fifth-round pick could be expected. By comparison, defenseman Carson Soucy was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Islanders this season for a third-round pick. Even a mid-round selection for Stanley would exceed the value Winnipeg might have expected at the start of the season.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers activated goaltender Dan Vladar off injured reserve Wednesday, clearing him to return at night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Vladar missed the past two weeks after leaving a game at Buffalo with what the team called a lower-body injury. The Flyers have lost four of six games since.
At 28 now after being mostly a backup since reaching the NHL, Vladar was in the middle of arguably the best season of his career when he got hurt. He is 16-7-4 with a 2.46 goals-against average that ranks ninth in the league and a .905 save percentage that is good for 18th among netminders with at least 20 appearances.
Vladar was one of three goalies chosen to play for the Czech Republic at the upcoming Olympics in Milan. Anaheim's Lukas Dostal is expected to be the Czech starter, with Vladar and Utah's Karel Vejmelka competing to back up.
