If you’re the Colorado Avalanche, you’re probably exhaling.
If you’re the Pittsburgh Penguins, you might be staring at the trade paperwork wondering whether you just got fleeced.
A Trade That Turned Fast
Sam Girard — moved just two days ago from Colorado to Pittsburgh in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak and a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft — lasted exactly one game in black and gold before being sidelined with what the Penguins are calling a lower-body injury.
Girard speaks with DK Pittsburgh Sports upon his arrival in Pittsburgh.
It’s a brutal twist for a team that believed it had just solidified its blue line.
Defenseman Sam Girard will not practice today as he is undergoing evaluation for a lower-body injury. pic.twitter.com/2POc7nU9go
Girard did not practice with Pittsburgh on Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, as the team announced he is being evaluated. Head coach Dan Muse said Girard will travel with the club to New York ahead of Saturday afternoon’s matchup against the Rangers but did not provide additional details.
The uncertainty is what stings most. There’s no timeline. No clarity. Just another pause.
Girard skated on the left side alongside veteran defenseman Kris Letang in Thursday’s 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
In his Penguins debut, he logged 17:53 of ice time, finishing with one shot on goal and four blocked shots. It wasn’t flashy, but it was steady — the kind of transitional, puck-moving presence Pittsburgh hoped would complement Letang and stabilize the top four.
For as impactful as Girard has been over the years with the Avalanche, availability has consistently been the underlying concern.
He has played all 82 regular-season games just once in his career, during the 2018-19 season in Colorado. This season alone, this marks the third time he has been sidelined by injury.
That pattern isn’t lost on either organization.
Girard was a regular at Colorado’s optional offseason skates before suddenly disappearing from the ice. He later resurfaced at an injured skate with what was reported as a lower-body issue.
He recovered in time to start the regular season opener on Oct. 7 against the Los Angeles Kings, but lasted just two games before suffering an upper-body injury that landed him on injured reserve and forced him to miss 15 games.
Now, one game into his Penguins tenure, he finds himself in limbo once again.
For Colorado, the timing of the trade may feel increasingly fortunate. For Pittsburgh, the gamble is already being tested.
This appears to be yet another victory for the "Trust CMac" crew.
The NHL trade deadline is exactly one week away, and every team has its short list of players that they're either looking to move out or a trade target.
At this point, it seems more likely that Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland will position his team as a buyer at the deadline, based on previous comments, the acquisition of superstar Artemi Panarin, and the fact that this is captain Anze Kopitar's final season.
It shouldn't be a shock to see Foegele on the trade board, considering Holland did hint at moving the 29-year-old not long after his trade for Panarin.
"Warren Foegele had a great year last year," the Kings GM said earlier in the month. "He's been out of the lineup for the last couple of games… got to work the phones here."
Who knows if Kevin Fiala's leg injury from the Olympics, which ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season, will change Holland's thought process and where he stands with
Foegele has played 45 games out of the Kings' total of 58 contests. He missed a few games with injuries, but has also been a healthy scratch for several outings, too.
When he has been in the lineup, Foegele hasn't been nearly as effective this season as he was last year. He has seven goals, nine points and has a minus-five plus-minus rating while averaging 14:45 of ice time.
Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
In comparison, last season was the best of his NHL career. Foegele scored 24 goals, 46 points and averaged the most ice time in his career at 16:10 per game. In fact, he led the Kings' roster in the plus-minus department with a plus-36 rating.
In The Athletic's article, Johnston touched on the massive difference between these past two seasons for Foegele.
"The best season of Foegele’s career has been followed by one of the worst," his player description said.
Foegele was described as a player "with speed and is an effective forechecker who helps keep plays alive in the offensive zone," the article read. "He’s got a great shot and the percentages haven’t been in his favor — hinting at a bounce-back to come. The puck tends to be moving in the right direction when he’s on the ice."
The left winger carries a $3.5 million salary cap hit for one more season after this campaign. He was signed to a three-year contract ahead of 2024-25. Foegele is in the midst of his second year in Los Angeles.
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The Hockey News' main site released their NHL Trade Deadline Board on Friday. In it, they ranked the top 25 trade candidates with the deadline being one week away.
One Chicago Blackhawks player made THN's trade board, as Connor Murphy was given the No. 13 spot.
With Murphy being one of the top defenseman trade candidates in the NHL right now, it is not surprising in the slightest that he has made THN's trade board. He has the potential to generate plenty of interest leading up to the deadline, as contenders are always looking for steady right-shot defensemen with size.
With the Blackhawks having so many young defensemen in their system and Murphy being a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), now seems like the perfect time for the Blackhawks to move him. This is especially so when noting that he has the potential to land the Blackhawks a second-round pick or more in a move.
If the Blackhawks do end up moving Murphy, he is a player who deserves all the respect in the world from Chicago fans. The 32-year-old defenseman has been an important part of the Blackhawks' blueline for nine seasons now and has been a good veteran in their room.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Murphy leading up to the deadline. He is certainly a player to watch from here.
It is not a secret that one of the San Jose Sharks' biggest needs right now is another defenseman to bolster their blueline. This is especially so when noting that they have several pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) defensemen, like Mario Ferraro, John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, and Timothy Liljegren.
The Sharks' right side, in particular, could use a boost. With this, the Sharks are continuing to be connected to one of the NHL's top right-shot defenseman trade candidates.
According to The Fourth Period, the Sharks are one of the teams interested in acquiring New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider.
This is not the first time that the Sharks have been connected to Schneider, and it makes sense given their need for another right-shot defenseman. If they acquired him from the Rangers, he would instantly become one of their top defenseman and likely would play in their top four because of it.
Schneider's age also makes him stand out as a likely fit for the Sharks. This is because he is still only 24 years old and could have the potential to improve with a much-needed fresh start.
Yet, with Schneider being a former first-round pick who is still in his mid-20s, it is likely that the Sharks will not be the only team interested in him. It will be interesting to see if San Jose can end up landing him from here.
Kartye has been with the Kraken organization since 2022, when he signed as an undrafted free agent from the OHL.
Upon signing with the Kraken, Kartye would spend just one season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring 28 goals and 57 points in 72 games and earning AHL Rookie of the Year honors.
He was called up to the NHL for the playoffs, skating in 10 games and scoring three goals and five points.
After a stellar AHL rookie season and strong performance in the playoffs, the expectations were high for Kartye in his rookie NHL season, and he delivered. In 70 games, he scored 11 goals and 20 points, as he was also a physical force and a much-needed spark plug on the fourth line.
The seasons that followed haven’t been as kind to Kartye, as he’s struggled to make his physical presence felt and has failed to contribute offensively. Last season, he recorded just six goals and 13 points in 63 games, and this year, he’s managed just three goals and eight points in 40 games.
He’s been a healthy scratch 17 times this season, and his placement on waivers wasn’t surprising. However, the Kraken gambled by placing Kartye on waivers instead of sending Jacob Melanson to the AHL, who is waiver-exempt.
The Rangers are currently at the 23-man roster limit, so if they plan to keep Kartye in the NHL, they will have to send a player down to the AHL. If they want to send Kartye down to their AHL team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, they’ll need to send him through waivers, where the Kraken would have the opportunity to claim him back.
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Madison Square Garden has always demanded something extra from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Broad Street vs. Broadway rivalry is a storied one that requires players to be on their A game from puck drop.
And on a night when the Flyers needed a redemption game, they found it in Midtown Manhattan.
Behind two goals from Matvei Michkov—including the overtime winner—and a composed, resilient effort from Sam Ersson in net, the Flyers defeated the New York Rangers 3–2 in overtime, earning a critical two points in a game that often felt like a preview of the emotional and tactical demands awaiting them down the stretch.
The win brought the Flyers to 1-1-1 in their four-game season series against New York, but more importantly, it reinforced something deeper: this team’s ability to endure difficult starts, absorb pressure, and still dictate how games end.
1. Matvei Michkov Dictated the Outcome When It Mattered Most.
Matvei Michkov had one of his most impactful performances of the season, scoring twice—once on the power play and again in overtime.
His first goal came at a crucial point in the game. The Rangers had controlled much of the early pace, and the Flyers were still working to establish offensive rhythm. Michkov’s power-play finish cut into that at times overwhelming momentum and gave the Flyers a foothold.
His overtime winner sealed the deal on the fact that this was exactly the kind of game Michkov has been needing after a hailstorm of drama surrounding his fitness, ice time, and relationship with head coach Rick Tocchet. So much of his sophomore season has been mired in negative spectacle that it's truly a breath of fresh air for him to have an objectively positive night.
Michkov now has three multi-goal games this season and four career overtime winners. Beyond the numbers, his performance reflected a player capable of influencing outcomes directly after it seemed as though he lost his spark a bit.
“He had two big goals for us,” Travis Konecny said postgame. “Obviously the overtime one, but I thought the first one was a timely one. It kind of helped us calm down and get us back into it. He’s playing great. He looked fast. He looked confident with the puck.”
2. Sam Ersson Was a Big Reason the Flyers Stayed in This Game.
Sam Ersson played a central role in allowing the Flyers to recover from a slow start.
Ersson is another player that has been steeped in negative attention, with his 2025-26 season being a rollercoaster of impressive high points and disheartening low points that have left fans largely unsatisfied with his performance in net. But at MSG, when the Rangers came out firing, Ersson had answers.
This game was a good snapshot of that. After letting in an admittedly soft opening goal from Sam Carrick, Ersson locked in and kept the Rangers from really piling on. With how much offensive zone time New York was getting, the scoreline could have easily tilted much more in their favor. Whether you love him or hate him, Ersson was a big reason why the Flyers were able to force overtime.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Sam Ersson (33). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
“I thought Erss did a great job keeping us in that game,” Konecny said. “He gave us a chance to get our feet going and our legs and making some plays.”
"He was fantastic, fantastic," Trevor Zegras echoed. "The save he made on [Rangers defenseman Adam Fox] in the first four minutes, penalty kill, and overtime—he was amazing. [Dan Vladar] was amazing yesterday... [The goalies] give us a chance pretty much every night. When that first one goes in, he made so many ridiculous saves that it didn't even matter."
3. The Flyers Had Another Slower Start, but Knew How to Bounce Back.
Not unlike how they started against the Washington Capitals on Feb. 25, the Flyers did not execute cleanly in the opening period. Breakouts were inconsistent and largely unthreatening, puck management was uneven, and defensive-zone shifts extended longer than intended.
However, unlike their 3-1 loss against Washington, their structure improved as the game continued.
Even during emotionally charged moments—including a fight between Garnet Hathaway and Sam Carrick and a high-sticking penalty involving Trevor Zegras—the Flyers maintained discipline within their system.
"The first ten [minutes] wasn't great," Rick Tocchet admitted postgame. "I thought we got by the first ten and then started to relax a bit... We've been in a lot of these types of games—close games—and it's a big two points for us."
4. Trevor Zegras Continues to Produce in High-Leverage Situations.
Trevor Zegras scored the Flyers’ third-period goal, tying the game and forcing overtime.
It was his 21st goal of the season and continued a pattern of timely offensive contributions. According to NHL Stats, Zegras has now factored into a third-period game-tying goal eight times this season, tying Nathan MacKinnon, Tomas Hertl, and Evan Bouchard for the most in the league. Not bad company.
The Bedford, N.Y. native has also scored in all three games against the Rangers this season.
The Flyers understand the significance of each remaining game in this last quarter of the season.
“[The remaining games] are a bunch of must-wins,” Noah Cates said. “We’ve gotta make up some ground.”
That urgency was on full display in their ability to recover from an uneven start and remain competitive throughout the game, especially against a Metro Division rival (although the Rangers currently sit last in the table with 51 points).
They didn't control every phase of play, but they managed the critical moments effectively. Most importantly they were able to strike the balance that has eluded them more than once this season—their goaltender maintained stability under pressure, and their top offensive players gave the goal support and capitalized on their opportunities. Too often has it been one without the other, but they showed how good it can get when everybody is in sync.
THN.com released its first edition of its NHL Trade Deadline Board, which features four St. Louis Blues players.
The list comprises 25 players, ranked by speculation, likelihood of being traded, and effectiveness.
The four Blues players who appear on this list are center Brayden Schenn at No. 4, defenseman Justin Faulk at No. 12, right winger Jordan Kyrou at No. 17, and goaltender Jordan Binnington at No. 21.
Schenn and Faulk seem the likeliest to be dealt, as both veterans come with at least an additional year on their contract with plenty of playoff experience.
Schenn is in the midst of his ninth season with the Blues and his third season as captain. At 34 years old, Schenn has shown signs of offensive decline, but he remains a potent defensive presence and a physical presence with leadership qualities.
While he might not slide into most teams’ top six, he could be an effective third-line center.
While talent-wise, Kyrou and Binnington should be higher on the list, they drop down because of the likelihood of being traded is far lower than many of the players ahead of them.
Kyrou and Binnington demand a hefty return, and while the Blues have mentioned that everyone is available, they aren’t rushing to get them out the door like they are with Schenn and Faulk. There is a better chance they are moved in the off-season rather than before the trade deadline, but insiders say there is still a possibility.
Including the four mentioned Blues players, Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist, and Pius Suter have garnered attention in the rumor mill. The NHL trade deadline is seven days away, and GM Doug Armstrong will have his hands full and could be the busiest GM.
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The New York Islanders will participate in the NHL’s first-ever “Hockey Day” when they host the Florida Panthers at UBS Arena on March 28.
The events will take place throughout Finland on March 27 and 28, with a focus on fan activities and a prime-time viewing party for an 8:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time) puck drop.
The Panthers’ roster consists of strong Finnish players, including Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola, as well as their injured captain, Aleksander Barkov.
The Islanders-Panthers matchup will be the fourth and final game in the NHL’s European “Hockey Day” initiative.
Prior games include the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers on February 27–28 in Sweden, the Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins on March 6–7 in Czechia, and the Anaheim Ducks vs. Ottawa Senators on March 13–14 in Germany.
Both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals came back from the Olympic break with a win, but only one will walk away with a 2-0 start to the season's unofficial second half when they meet at Capital One Arena tonight.
My Golden Knights vs. Capitals predictions and NHL picks are calling for Washington to tighten the screws on defense en route to victory on Friday, February 27.
Golden Knights vs Capitals prediction
Golden Knights vs Capitals best bet: Capitals moneyline (-118)
The Washington Capitals are 18-13 SU at home compared to 12-17 SU on the road, and the stats back up those records.
The Capitals play much stronger defense in their own building, allowing 2.77 GPG (vs. 3.07 on the road) on 27.1 shots per game (vs. 29.4). Their PK tightens up too, from 76.9% as a visitor vs. 82.1% at home.
The Caps will turn to Logan Thompson tonight, and he outranks Akira Schmid in SV% (.913 to .895). Thompson has won both his prior starts vs. the Vegas Golden Knights, posting a 2.01 GAA and .941 SV%.
Golden Knights vs Capitals same-game parlay
Sticking with the theme of home/road splits, I'm backing both Jakob Chychrun and Connor McMichael to score a point tonight.
Chychrun has a team-leading 31 points at home vs. 16 on the road in only two fewer games. McMichael has notched 22 points at home this season compared to just nine points as a visitor, and each is a 28-game sample size.
Golden Knights vs Capitals SGP
Capitals moneyline
Jakob Chychrun Over 0.5 points
Connor McMichael Over 0.5 points
Golden Knights vs Capitals odds
Moneyline: Golden Knights -104 | Capitals -118
Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 | Capitals -1.5
Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Golden Knights vs Capitals trend
The Capitals have won five of their last six games. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Capitals.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Capitals
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date
Friday, February 27, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Monumental SN, Scripps 66
Golden Knights vs Capitals latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
While the Detroit Red Wings had their top stars on display at the Olympics, with Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Moritz Seider representing their respective countries, another name quietly made a big impression.
Eduards Tralmaks, the 29-year-old Grand Rapids Griffins forward, was a standout for his home country of Latvia. He recorded three goals (all against NHL starting goaltenders) and an assist in four games, averaging a point-per-game.
Tralmaks’ most memorable moment came in Latvia’s surprising 4-3 group stage victory over Germany, where he scored one of the key goals. His performance drew attention from NHL observers. On his 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman highlighted Tralmaks as one of the non-NHL players who impressed him at the Olympics.
"Another Latvia guy who I thought was good is the guy who was playing for Grand Rapids right now....Tralmaks, yeah, I thought he was good," Friedman said.
Tralmaks’ professional journey has been unusual, after a strong college career at the University of Maine, where he nearly averaged a point per game, he played in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. He would then move to the Czech league with Rytíři Kladno. In 100 games there, he recorded 83 points. His success earned him a contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins this season.
Currently on a one-year, $775,000 deal, Tralmaks could become a trade candidate for the Red Wings. Detroit may look to move him to give him an NHL opportunity. Alternatively, he could explore a free agent deal in the offseason to try to earn a spot on an NHL roster.
Tralmaks’ Olympic performance has put him on the hockey world’s radar. After years of steady development in the AHL and Europe, the Latvian forward is now a name to watch and his standout play has opened doors for potential NHL opportunities in the near future.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the premier sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline this year. That is because they have a handful of players who can be traded off to contenders looking for something different.
They don't have a high-volume scorer looking to be moved, but a couple of depth forwards and defensemen are on the block. Before March 6th, decisions must be made for the betterment of the franchise.
Most believe that Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Matt Grzelcyk, and Nick Foligno are candidates to be moved. There is also Ilya Mikheyev, who makes sense for either a trade or a contract extension.
More than every other trade candidate on the team, Mikheyev has skills that can help the Blackhawks take steps in the coming years. He is good for 15-20 goals, all at even strength because he gets no power play time, and he is one of the three best pure penalty killers in the National Hockey League.
Because Mikheyev is 31 years old, he is not a candidate for a long-term (more than two years) extension with a young team. However, he has been good enough in his two seasons with the Blackhawks to ask for a decent contract, whether it's in Chicago or somewhere else.
A report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet suggests that Mikheyev is out there on the trade market, despite the two sides trying to come to terms earlier in the season.
"I think they tried to sign [Mikheyev] at one point, but I think Mikheyev is out there," Friedman said on "32 Thoughts: The Podcast".
Keeping him and trading him both make sense for Chicago. It will likely depend on Mikheyev's opinion of his situation with the Blackhawks and what the team is offered for him in a trade.
Friday morning 32 Thoughts news, information & analysis podcast.
Friedman also mentioned Connor Murphy's name, while also saying that there is a challenge in trading him due to all of the defensemen that are available.
He also brought up Kevin Korchinski, who is still a young prospect at this point. It's not an expiring UFA situation with him, but moving him would free up space for Chicago and give the player room to develop with another organization.
The things that Korchinski does well, skate, possess the puck, run a power play, are all things that Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov can do, if not better, while having a cleaner game on the defensive side of the game.
The good news that would come from trading any one of these players, besides the assets they'd be receiving in return, is the roster spots for younger players to come in and show what they've got. Nick Lardis, Anton Frondell, Ethan del Mastro, and Sacha Boisvert are all candidates to play for this team post-trade deadline at some point.
It may come as a surprise to some that Mikheyev's name is out there, but as a pending free agent, they have to see what they can get if they don't have him extended.
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With the 44th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected forward Roman Kantserov. When looking at how well Kantserov is playing this season in the KHL, it is clear that the Blackhawks must be ecstatic about picking him up.
Kantserov took a nice step in the right direction this past season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, as he recorded 13 goals, 25 assists, and 38 points in 47 games with the KHL club. However, he has taken his game to a much higher level this season, and the truth is in his stats.
In 55 games this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Kantserov has recorded 32 goals, 26 assists, 58 points, and a plus-21 rating. With numbers like these, the Blackhawks' skilled prospect has undoubtedly been having a big year in the KHL. This is especially so when noting that his 32 goals are the most in the entire KHL.
With how well Kantserov is playing in the KHL this season, there is no question that he is a prospect who Blackhawks fans should be excited about. The potential for him to be a very impactful NHL player is there, and it will be fascinating to see how he builds on his big season in the KHL from here.
The Buffalo Sabres were expected to be a team in the seller category after starting the season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but the Sabres surge since December has them in position to end their 14-year playoff drought, which has made GM Jarmo Kekalainen re-evaluate the club’s options.
Based on the Sabres positioning themselves to be in the top three of the Atlantic Division, it seems highly unlikely that they will deal pending unrestricted free agent winger Alex Tuch, but in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 6, there are a number of potential trade options on the table for Kekalainen that make sense.
Speculation has seemed to focus on the Sabres investing in defensive depth on the right side with Michael Kesselring sidelined numerous times this season, and Conor Timmins recovering from a broken leg. One report in The Athletic earlier this week pondered the possibility of Buffalo trading for veteran Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy. Another possibility that fits the job description of what GM Jarmo Kekalainen may be looking for is Winnipeg Jets blueliner Luke Schenn.
Schenn is a two-time Cup winner with Tampa Bay who has played for 10 NHL clubs since being selected fifth overall by Toronto in 2008. The 36-year-old is still an effective physical defenseman and has played part-time for Winnipeg this season, after being acquired from Pittsburgh at last year’s trade deadline for a 2026 second-round and 2027 fourth-round pick.
The Jets are well out of the playoff picture and are expected to try to recoup some of that draft capital by trading Schenn before 3 pm next Friday. The veteran defenseman is in the final year of a two-year deal making $2.75 million, making his salary easier to fit under the salary cap than Murphy’s $4.4 million AAV with Chicago. The likely cost for a rental defenseman, even a righty, is a third-round pick, which is a cost the Sabres are more willing to accept since they are without their second-round pick from the Dylan Cozens - Josh Norris deal.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The injury to Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is obviously not ideal. The time of the year, the playoff race, the fact he is going to miss a couple of weeks and just the simple fact he is Sidney Crosby and there is not really an easy way to replace him all add up into an unfortunate situation the Penguins are going to have to navigate for a bit.
While all of that is true, it is also a big opportunity for rookie center Ben Kindel to keep establishing himself as a big-time player.
He is doing exactly that.
He did not appear on the stat sheet in the Penguins 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night from a goals or assists or points perspective, but it does not matter. He was still one of their best players. In fact, other than starting goalie Arturs Silovs (who was sensational), I thought he was their best overall player. That has also been a recurring theme over the past few weeks of games.
Over the course of the game he had a couple of those “wow” moments where you watched him play and had to say to yourself, “okay, this guy has it.”
There was the play in the first period where he overpowered Nico Hischier, threw him to the ice, stole the puck, and then went back for an odd-man rush to set up Justin Brazeau for a grade-A scoring chance. It did not result in a goal, but it was an incredible play.
There was the one zone exit in the second period where he confidently spun around one New Jersey forechecker and smoothly went up the ice to help establish possession in the offensive zone.
He was everywhere. He has been everywhere.
In the middle of the season he seemed to hit a little bit of a slump offensively, which was always going to be expected given the fact he is an 18-year-old playing in the NHL, but has quickly played his way through it. Over the past 10 games he has six goals, seven total points and is a plus-11 overall. When he is on the ice during 5-on-5 play during this stretch of games, the Penguins have a 13-2 goals advantage (best on the team among players that have played at least 100 minutes during that stretch) and own 58.9 percent expected goal share (fourth-best on the team among players that have played at least 100 minutes during that stretch). He has only had three individual games during that stretch with an expected goal share of under 59 percent, and only two under 50 percent. He has been over 60 percent five times, including one game against the New York Rangers where he posted a 98.9 percent expected goals share.
Just incredible stuff for an 18-year-old center.
Players that age, at that position, do not just step right into the NHL and do this in their draft year unless than are a top-two or-three pick. Even then they do not always drive possession and have this good of a defensive game so quickly.
His presence, as well as his overall development as this season has progressed, and especially his play over the past 10-or-so games, is a big reason why I think the Penguins have a really good chance to maintain something close to their current level of play with Crosby sidelined. He is also a big reason why the long-term math with the Penguins has changed so much. He might not be a Crosby or Connor McDavid level star at his peak, but his potential looks to be even higher than anybody could have reasonably hoped for or anticipated when the Penguins called his name.
