Ottawa Senators defenseman Ben Hutton controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Ottawa, Ontario.
Ben Hutton landed on Long Island on Monday night and was still catching up with the whirlwind at the end of practice Tuesday morning. Still meeting people, still getting adapted to his surroundings, still trying to catch his breath, not having had a real NHL practice yet this season.
The lefty defenseman, age 33 with a résumé that includes a Stanley Cup win with Vegas in 2023, was languishing with his personal trainer and skills coach in Ottawa at this time, oh, two days ago.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Ben Hutton controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Ottawa, Ontario. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Now he’s doing everything in his power to turn a 10-day tryout into a permanent contract with an Islanders club that badly needs some stability on its back end following an injury to Ryan Pulock.
“I never really experienced something like this,” Hutton said. “I’ve been in the league for a long time now. Thought I had a good year [last season], nothing came of it. I just kept my work boots on, staying ready. Waiting for an opportunity and here we are now. Gotta make the most of it.”
Hutton is not eligible to dress for the Islanders unless he signs an actual contract — while on a PTO, he can only practice and travel. Aside from the obvious organizational need, the reason to believe that might happen is that it was Pete DeBoer’s Golden Knights who signed Hutton in 2021.
“He made himself an important part of that group for four or five years on a really deep defense, on a really good team,” DeBoer said. “So I think he’s versatile, he’s experienced. He was playing deep into the playoffs last year. And again, I think the situation there was, he was behind a lot of really good defensemen the last five, six years at arguably the best defense in the league, or at least in that conversation.”
Hutton was scratched for most of the Knights playoff run last season, playing six games in the second round and once in the conference final. He profiles as a capable third-pair defenseman which, if you are the Islanders — who cobbled together a third pair of Matt Kessel and Scott Mayfield, with Kessel playing his off side, for a 4-0 shellacking at the hands of the Oilers over the weekend — sounds pretty good.
First, though, Hutton has to catch his breath, and earn a full-time contract. One thing at a time.
“Today was a good skate,” he said. “Trying to get my hockey lungs back there. As much as you skate one-on-one, you know the 5-on-5’s a different beast. It’s fun to be out here and get to learn the guys a little more.”
Matt Rempe #73 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Matt Rempe didn’t hesitate. It’s “definitely been different” seeing his name in a trade rumor, something that had never happened until last week, when Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli reported that Oilers head coach Mike Babcock is “believed to admire” the 6-foot-9 Rangers forward — and specifically linked Rempe as a potential option for a team looking to add size.
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It marked the first rumor to swirl about Rempe, who, after making the roster out of training camp, fell out of the fourth-line rotation and skated only in his third game of the season Tuesday when the Rangers hosted the Blues at the Garden. He said he’ll stay off social media to avoid the chatter and has instead focused on trying to carve out a role with the team he broke into the NHL with four years ago.
“I don’t pay attention to that stuff,” Rempe, a Calgary native, told The Post on Monday. “That type of stuff’s all out of my control. I’m just focused on here and trying to get better and get in the lineup and make the most of those opportunities.”
Tuesday marked a rare chance for Rempe to skate in a game this season, as head coach Mike Sullivan placed him on the fourth line alongside center Noah Laba and the recently recalled Jaroslav Chmelar. Rempe appeared in the season opener against the Bruins and then Oct. 13 against the Lightning, but he hasn’t played the past three weeks — watching instead as Sullivan searched for solutions to a fourth line that hardly played.
Matt Rempe #73 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning. NHLI via Getty Images
Rempe’s path since the start of last season has been rocky, too. He underwent two thumb procedures following an October 2025 fight with Ryan Reaves, and the injury — and subsequent recovery — limited what Rempe could contribute with his puck movement and stick-handling. Rempe, though, reiterated in training camp that he was fully recovered, and he fought Tampa Bay’s Jeffrey Viel on Oct. 13.
But now his future with the Blueshirts has started to become — at the very least — a bit murky with the Edmonton trade rumor, too.
“Just don’t read into anything like that,” Rempe said. “Whatever happens happens. That’s out of your control, so you just try to focus on what you can do each day. When I’m out at the rink, I’m doing things I like to do and not paying attention to that type of stuff.”
It was a first period to forget for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.
After 20 minutes, Detroit found itself trailing 2-0 while being thoroughly outplayed, getting outshot 13-2 in the opening period.
And now, injury has been added to the insult. The Red Wings announced that goaltender John Gibson suffered a lower-body injury and would not return to the game.
UPDATE: John Gibson (lower body) will not return to tonight's game.
Gibson surrendered two goals to Lightning forward Brayden Point (both of which were assisted by Nikita Kucherov, who shocked fans with a trade request last week) on 13 shots.
If he's unavailable for Detroit's next game, which is Thursday evening at home against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights, expect Michal Postava to be called up once again from the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
Postava recently picked up his first NHL victory after having been called up under emergency conditions due to an injury to Tarasov, stopping 25 of 28 shots as part of a 4-3 shootout victory on Oct. 26.
So far this season, Gibson, who is playing in the final season of his contract, is 4-5-1 with a 3.37 goals-against average and a .860 save percentage.
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An intriguing name has hit the NHL waiver wire. On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets placed former 2022 first-round pick Brad Lambert on waivers. The 22-year-old forward has played 11 games this season and recorded one assist.
Lambert has had an interesting career up until this point. At the start of the 2021-22 campaign, he was thought of as a top-five prospect for the 2022 NHL Draft. In the end, he struggled during his draft year, where he dropped to 30th overall before being selected by the Jets.
After being drafted, Lambert made his way to North America, where he started his career in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. He would play 14 games before being assigned to the WHL, where he helped the Seattle Thunderbirds make it to the 2023 Memorial Cup Final. Lambert was a point-producing machine in the WHL as he recorded 38 points in 26 games before finishing the playoffs with 26 points in 17 games.
Since his time in the WHL, Lambert has spent the last four seasons bouncing between the NHL and AHL. His best year came in 2023-24, where he recorded 55 points in 64 games with the Manitoba Moose. So far in his career, Lambert has 106 points in 173 AHL games, along with nine points in 42 games.
This year, Lambert hasn't had many opportunities in Winnipeg. While he has played 11 games, he is averaging 9:10 of ice time with close to zero time on the power play. According to Natural Stat Trick, Lambert has created two individual high-danger scoring chances at even strength and has an xGF% of 23.59.
Lambert is the type of low-risk bet that Ryan Johnson and his staff should be making on the waiver wire. He is a fast, offensively gifted player and is young enough to fit with the rebuild timeline. Lambert is also right-handed and has shown he can play center, which is a current need for the Vancouver Canucks.
The good news for the Canucks is that the team currently sits at the top of the waiver wire list. This means that if Johnson and his staff feel that Lambert is worth claiming, they don't need to hope that another team claims him first. Waivers are determined by the NHL standings, which is why Vancouver currently has top priority in the order.
With players like Lambert, a change of scenery may be exactly what they need to get back on track. It clearly hasn't worked with the Jets, which could be the Canucks' gain. If Johnson decides to claim Lambert, it could lead to another win for the organization on the waiver wire.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Winnipeg Jets center Brad Lambert (93) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 01: Shea Theodore #27 of the Vegas Golden Knights carries the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 1, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The injury situation for the Pittsburgh Penguins isn't exactly ideal right now. With Elmer Soderblom being downgraded to week-to-week and a couple of players now day-to-day - in addition to already having forward Bryan Rust on injured reserve - there is seemingly no end in sight.
However, one bright spot is that a door of opportunity has been opened for one of the Penguins' young defensive prospects.
Ahead of their home tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday, the Penguins recalled defenseman Jake Livanavage from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). The 22-year-old left blueliner was signed to a two-year entry-level contract late last season out of the University of North Dakota.
He is off to a hot start to his AHL career this season, registering two goals and eight points in nine games. The 6-foot, 186-pound defenseman from Gilbert, Ariz. has been quarterbacking the WBS power play and making things happen with his speed, mobility, offensive instincts, and booming shot.
Livanavage's services were deemed potentially necessary in the first place because Penguins' defenseman Kaedan Korczak, an ex-Golden Knight, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, along with forward Evgeni Malkin. After the Penguins' morning skate Tuesday, Korczak - a right-shot blueliner - said he should be good to go for Tuesday's tilt, so it is unclear whether or not Livanavage will make his season debut against Vegas.
Given the team's defensive woes this season, there is still a possibility that Livanavage could sub in for someone on the left side.
He appeared in one NHL game last season, which was on Apr. 14 against the St. Louis Blues. Livanavage played more than 25 minutes and was a minus-2 in the affair.
On Monday evening, the Detroit Red Wings took care of business against the divisional rival Florida Panthers, earning a 5-3 victory at Amerant Bank Arena in the first of a two-game road swing in the Sunshine State.
Not only did the Red Wings get goals from veterans Alex DeBrincat and Justin Faulk, but young forwards Carter Mazur (first NHL goal), Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and Emmitt Finnie (empty net) all tallied in what was Detroit's seventh win of 2026-27.
The Red Wings are getting contributions from throughout the lineup, and in doing so, they've accomplished something they haven't done since the 2010-11 season, the penultimate campaign of Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom's career.
For the first time in 16 years, the Red Wings have three players (Alex DeBrincat, Viktor Arvidsson and Lucas Raymond) with at least 15 points through the team's first 15 games of the season for the first time since the early goings of 2010-11, when Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk each reached the same mark.
𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭: We have three players with 15+ points through the first 15 games of a season for the first time since 2010-11 (Henrik Zetterberg, Nick Lidstrom & Pavel Datsyuk)
DeBrincat and Raymond are two of Detroit's top offensive producers, and Arvidsson, who was signed to a two-year contract during the offseason and has effectively replaced Patrick Kane, has been a tremendous fit for the Red Wings.
As part of the win over the Panthers, DeBrincat scored his seventh goal of the season, while Arvidsson and Raymond added an assist each.
Afterward, head coach Todd McLellan noted the resiliency of the group, which rebounded from what was a tough 5-4 setback against the St. Louis Blues on home ice on Saturday afternoon.
"You've got to stay in battles and try to win as many as you possibly can, and I liked our effort and our commitment to that," McLellan said. "I thought that we got better as the night went on. I thought goalies on both sides played really well, and we won the special-teams battle.
So, at the end of the night, to win in this building, you have to have all of that - and maybe sometimes more.”
The Red Wings will now face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday evening; like the Red Wings, the Lightning are now suddenly faced with the awkward situation of their top forward requesting a trade, as Nikita Kucherov recently informed the club he wouldn't be re-signing.
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Jarome Iginla revealed an ongoing health battle the Hockey Hall of Famer believes might be due to complications from hip surgery.
The 49-year-old former NHL great, a 600-goal scorer and two-time Olympic gold medalist, told Sportsnet he’s still trying to figure everything out.
“Unfortunately I have been battling some health issues,” he said. “Some neurological issues. I’m not entirely sure what it is, it may be from metal toxins from reaction to the cobalt hip.”
Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Atlanta Thrashers during a 2008 game. NHLI via Getty Images
The hard-nosed forward, who twice led the NHL in goals during a 20-year career spent with the Flames, Penguins, Bruins, Kings and Avalanche, had his hip replaced a few years after his final season in 2016-17, with cobalt-chromium components. The breakdown of the material can see debris and ions enter the bloodstream, causing various health issues.
There are no concrete answers yet, however.
“I need more time to figure it all out, but I’m still hopeful that I will recover fully,” he said. “Things are slowly getting under control, thanks be to God.”
Per Sportsnet, he has been dealing with high mercury levels in his body, while also working through energy, weight and speech issues due to medications. He’s been going through testing and medical consults for over a year.
Iginla currently serves as a special advisor to Flames general manager Craig Conroy, a teammate from his days in Calgary where he rose to NHL stardom on his the strength of his scoring ability — he was one of the few sources of constant offense during the league’s “Dead Puck” era — and legendary toughness as a willing fighter when the occasion came.
Henry Mews shakes the hand of Jarome Iginla after being selected 74th overall by the Calgary Flames during the 2024 NHL Draft. NHLI via Getty Images
He broke the 30-goal plateau 12 times in his career — twice hitting the 50-goal mark en route to 625 career tallies and 1,300 points in 1,554 games to go with 1,040 penalty minutes. He is Calgary’s all-time leader in goals (525), points (1,095), games played (1,219) and game-winning goals (83), and further cemented his status as a Flames legend during a run to the Stanley Cup Final, in which he collected 13 goals and 22 points in 23 games as the franchise came one goal short of a Game 7 comeback to the Lightning.
Since retiring in 2018, the Edmonton, Alberta native has seen his three kids all turn pro. His oldest son, Tij, was the No. 6 overall pick by the Mammoth in the 2024, while his middle child Joe was drafted by the Flames in the third round earlier this year. Daughter Jade was the second-round pick by the PWHL’s Hamilton franchise at this year’s draft as well.
The Flyers couldn’t overcome a three-goal deficit Tuesday night as they lost to the Wild, 4-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Tyson Foerster and Denver Barkey found the back of the net for the Flyers. Barkey’s goal came on the power play 1:48 minutes into the third period, cutting the Flyers’ deficit to 3-2.
But the Flyers couldn’t convert on a power play shortly after that. Minnesota ultimately restored order and iced the game with an empty-netter.
“I feel like we’ve always competed and never quit, but we just can’t be chasing the game,” Barkey said. “Against a top team like that, it’s a lot harder to come out on top.”
Rick Tocchet’s club found itself in a 3-0 hole not even a minute into the second period. From tough breaks to tough calls, the Flyers didn’t have a whole lot go their way (more on that below).
“It’s one game,” Sean Couturier said Tuesday after morning skate. “We’ve got to build on that, do that consistently. It almost has to just become automatic in our minds, in the way we play.”
Consistency has totally escaped the Flyers in the opening month-plus of the season. The Flyers have just 12 points in 17 games. Last season, they had 21 points through 17 games (9-5-3).
The Wild (11-3-3) are a Western Conference contender. The Flyers face them again Dec. 5 when they visit Grand Casino Arena.
The Flyers had a frustrating and costly start to the middle stanza. Minnesota cushioned its lead to 3-0 just 42 seconds into the period. The Flyers were hurt by a bad bounce and then apparently some bad actions.
As Jamie Drysdale tried to play the puck up the boards, it hit one of the officials. The Wild quickly turned the favorable bounce into a goal by Joel Eriksson Ek.
Right after the play, Trevor Zegras was hit with a 10-minute misconduct penalty, forcing him to sit for half of the period. The Flyers’ forward must’ve done something to upset referee Kyle Rehman about the unfortunate bounce. He appeared to tap his stick as he skated by Rehman.
“Just a little frustrated and I can’t be doing that,” Zegras said. “I’ve known Kyle for a long time. Just a stupid decision by me.”
Tocchet didn’t excuse it, either.
“You’re showing the ref up,” Tocchet said. “Whether you’re pissed, you can’t tap the ice. You shouldn’t do that.”
In the first period, the Flyers fell into an early 2-0 hole. Matt Boldy and Michael McCarron scored for Minnesota. The goals came just 4:37 minutes into the action and just 31 seconds apart.
Boldy made it 1-0 on a great blast. McCarron added to the lead when he had a puck go off Porter Martone’s skate and right to him in the slot.
“Bad bounces happen every night,” Drysdale said. “It’s unfortunate that they directly resulted in goals against. That sucks, it’s never fun. But I felt like we had a chance, I felt like we played some good hockey, some good stretches.”
Tocchet knew the Wild’s top line of Eriksson Ek, Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov would be a handful. That trio has not been scored on at 5-on-5. It was as advertised Tuesday night.
Minnesota netminder Jesper Wallstedt stopped 23 of the Flyers’ 25 shots.
“I think we had nine or 10 scoring chances where we miss the net,” Tocchet said.
After Foerster’s second-period goal drew the Flyers to within 3-1, Travis Konecny nearly made it a one-goal deficit. He took a pass from Barkey on a 2-on-1 rush, but the Flyers’ alternate captain misfired.
“I have an open net, 2-on-1,” Konecny said. “There were a couple of looks I had in the slot. For me, I’m mad at myself. I had a lot of good looks tonight, I had zero shots. So it’s unacceptable.”
During the second period, Nick Seeler was whistled for back-to-back penalties — one for crosschecking and the other for holding. He and the fans weren’t happy with either of the penalties.
The Flyers had a chance to strike on the opening shift of the game. Zegras had a good look, but his shot went wide. Later in the first period, with the Flyers down 2-0, Martone rung the post on the power play.
A lot of missed opportunities for the Flyers.
“A game like this kills you because we had opportunities and we missed them,” Tocchet said. “Against this team, you can’t miss your opportunities.”
• Matvei Michkov recorded a secondary assist on Foerster’s goal.
Michkov has put up 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in his last 24 regular-season games, a stretch that dates back to April 3 of last season.
Drysdale also assisted the goal, giving him four helpers over the last two games.
The Flyers sent Brink to the Wild in exchange for David Jiricek. In 17 games this season, Brink has a goal and eight assists. The 25-year-old winger picked up a secondary helper on McCarron’s goal.
Brink spent parts of four seasons with the Flyers.
A youngster had a sign that read, “Bobby, please give me a puck.”
“To see his development as a young guy coming in to where he’s at today, a lot of credit goes to him and the way he has become a regular NHL player,” Couturier said. “I’m happy for him.”
Jiricek, a 22-year-old defenseman, was a healthy scratch Tuesday night. He hasn’t played in two weeks.
Bobby Brink makes his return to Philadelphia with the Wild.
Flyers traded him at last season’s deadline.
Brink spent parts of four seasons with the Flyers.
• Next up for the Flyers is a five-game road trip, which starts Thursday when they visit the Rangers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
“We’ve got a big road trip coming up that if we play well, it could bring a lot of energy to the group for this next little stretch here,” Zegras said. “Our game’s coming, it’s coming.”
For years, Jarome Iginla was the kind of player who seemed impossible to wear down. Night after night, he took the hits, battled through traffic and found ways to make an impact. Across 1,554 NHL regular-season games, he built a career defined by toughness, consistency and an unwillingness to back down.
Now, the hockey world is getting a much different look at the former Colorado Avalanche forward.
Iginla recently opened up to Sportsnet's Eric Francis about some health issues he's been navigating in retirement, including neurological complications that doctors are still working to understand.
"Unfortunately, I have been battling some health issues," Iginla told Francis. "Some neurological issues. I'm not entirely sure what it is, it may be from metal toxins from reaction to the cobalt hip."
The 49-year-old's health became a topic of conversation last week after a clip from Hometown Giants, Amazon Prime's new series following the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, showed Iginla speaking with a noticeably weaker voice than fans may remember.
According to Sportsnet, complications following a hip replacement surgery have led to medications that have affected his energy, weight and speech. There are also concerns about potential metal toxicity from his implant, as certain hip replacements can release metals into the bloodstream over time.
Iginla has reportedly dealt with elevated mercury levels as well. He told Francis that he and his doctors are working to bring those levels down while trying to determine whether they are connected to the suspected cobalt-related complications.
It's a lot for someone who spent so much of his life being the picture of durability. Still, Iginla hasn't lost hope.
"I need more time to figure it all out, but I'm still hopeful that I will recover fully," he said. "Things are slowly getting under control, thanks be to God."
That optimism is something hockey fans can certainly appreciate. Iginla has never been someone who shied away from a challenge, and while this fight looks nothing like the ones he faced on the ice, it's clear he's determined to keep moving forward.
Iginla's Colorado Connection
Avalanche fans have their own memories of Iginla, who joined Colorado ahead of the 2014-15 season after spending the majority of his career with the Calgary Flames.
He may not have spent as long in Denver as he did in Calgary, but he gave the Avalanche plenty to remember. One moment in particular came on January 4, 2016, against the Los Angeles Kings.
Iginla's teammates mob him following his historic goal.
Iginla scored a power-play goal that night in a 4-1 Colorado victory, and it was no ordinary tally. After taking a pass from Tyson Barrie along the far side, Iginla drove toward the net and sent the puck across the ice. It took an unexpected bounce off Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin before finding its way into the net.
Just like that, Iginla had reached another milestone.
Gabriel Landeskog, then in his fifth season as Colorado's captain, was on the ice to witness it. It's a fitting connection between two generations of Avalanche leadership, with Landeskog still wearing the captain's C today.
Iginla's time in Colorado was just one chapter in a remarkable career. Drafted 11th overall by the Dallas Stars in 1995, he went on to become one of the most accomplished players of his generation. He scored 625 career NHL goals and recorded 1,300 points, while becoming Calgary's all-time leader in games played, goals and points.
He also represented Canada at three Olympic Games, bringing home two gold medals along the way. After stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, Iginla officially retired following the 2017-18 season.
His playing career was built on an ability to endure just about anything the game threw at him. Now, fans across the hockey world are hoping he can find that same strength away from the rink.
For Avalanche fans who remember what he brought to Colorado, the hope is simple: that Iginla gets the time, answers and treatment he needs to feel like himself again.
The Buffalo Sabres practiced at KeyBank Center on Tuesday for the second straight day, in advance of the beginning of their four-game homestand against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. After sitting out for some maintenance on Monday, winger Zach Benson skating by himself and joined the club for the 45-minute long workout, taking the spot of Jiri Kulich.
Head coach Lindy Ruff provided updates on Benson and the status of other Sabres players:
"(Things)went well for Benson. (He) stayed out for practice. Had a good day. He'll be available to play."
On Conor Timmins, who Ruff said may have had a little setback during his weekly appearance on WGR 550 Tuesday morning:
“A little bit of a false alarm, he felt better this morning. It wasn’t good when he left yesterday, but when he got back, it felt good and he participated in practice.”
He said that the timetable for his return is “fairly soon.”
After a solid start in Los Angeles, Colten Ellis appears to be getting the start on Wednesday over Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
On managing three goalies when Alex Lyon is available:
"I'm going to wait to manage it once I get there. W e're probably days away from when he gets there,. It 's really been our strength. If you look back last year, it seemed like as soon as somebody was getting healthy, somebody else got a little bit banged up, and towards the end of the year, we ended up at three. But we know that all three guys can help us win hockey games, and I think we've seen around the league, where you lose a goaltender and you start searching for one. Having that extra guy is really valuable.”
Ruff indicated that Jiri Kulich is close to being available after getting out of concussion protocol.
"(We're) going to just see how he handled today, yesterday. I thought yesterday was an okay day for him. I think he's still got a little catching up to do, but we'll make that decision. He could be an option, though, for sure.”
Colten Ellis was in the starter’s net for practice, which could mean that he will get the starts against the Sens, who are two points ahead of Buffalo in the Atlantic Division standings.
If there's a combination of traits the Philadelphia Flyers could absolutely take for free at the center position, it's speed, skill, and a strong draft pedigree. By combing the NHL waiver wire, the Flyers can find all three.
Although the depth at the center position was already thin coming into the 2026-27 season, things have gotten a bit worse for the Flyers, given that Trevor Zegras has been affixed to the left wing position.
That's been a productive change, which has worked in the favor of Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, but the team has been platooning Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, Sean Couturier, Noel Acciari, Denver Barkey, and Jacob Gaucher down the middle at various points in the last few weeks.
Down in the AHL, the Flyers are committed to allowing top center prospect Jett Luchanko the time he needs to develop into a high-quality NHL player, so he's off the table barring some dire circumstances.
But, that's where the NHL waiver wire comes in handy.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Winnipeg Jets placed forward prospect Brad Lambert on waivers, making him available to the Flyers and the other 30 NHL teams for free if they choose.
Lambert, still just 22 years old, was drafted 30th overall in the first round of the 2022 draft, and he brings to the table an elite package of skating ability and playmaking.
The end product hasn't come for the Finn, though, as he has just nine points in 43 career NHL games across four seasons.
In the AHL, Lambert has 36 goals, 70 assists, and 106 points in 173 games, though it's worth noting that after scoring 55 points in 64 AHL games in 2023-24, Lambert regressed to just 35 points in 61 games in 2024-25, and 13 points in 34 games in 2025-26.
The former first-round pick is now a player who is clearly trending in the wrong direction and in need of a change of scenery, something that the Jets have apparently recognized.
With just one assist in 11 NHL games with Winnipeg this season, it's understandable that none of the other NHL teams, including the Flyers, have offered up any assets for Lambert to jump the waiver wire.
But, given that Lambert is on waivers and can be claimed for free, he's an obvious fit for the Flyers, especially as a potential right-shot center.
After assigning Alex Bump to the AHL on Tuesday, the Flyers have one roster spot available, which can be filled by Lambert.
Active contracts (47/50) are not an issue for the Flyers, either, and this is a low-stakes move. Lambert has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, meaning he's a cheap, no-strings-attached dart-throw who is under team control as a pending RFA.
The Flyers badly need speed and skill at the center position, and Lambert, who has primarily featured as a wing, would benefit greatly from a new opportunity under a fresh set of eyes and coaches.
If things don't work out with Lambert, the Flyers can simply put him back on waivers and move on as if nothing happened.
Because Nov. 1 has come and passed, the waiver wire order is now dictated by the current season's standings, rather than last season's standings.
As a result, the Flyers have been propelled towards the top of the waiver wire order, with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks, in that order, the only teams higher. The Jets, who are one spot ahead of the Flyers, obviously cannot claim their own player.
So, again, if the Flyers can get value out of Lambert's speed and talent down the middle, it's a slam-dunk waiver claim.
If they see Lambert as a winger, then players like Bump and Gaucher are clearly ahead if for no reason other than familiarity.
Having won just four of 16 games this season, the Flyers are in the perfect situation to take chances on reclamation projects, and Lambert checks all the boxes for Philadelphia.
On Monday, Fanatics revealed the new Hometown Remix jerseys, and, unsurprisingly, the Montreal Canadiens’ jersey was pretty close to last week's leaked design. The one difference is that the numbers are solid red rather than white with a red outline, which is a positive since it will make them easier to see on TV, in the nosebleed seats of the Bell Centre, and in the press gallery.
The jersey drew mixed reactions, splitting the fan base into two camps: those who think there’s too much white and that the Habs logo not being red is infamous, and those who think it has a crisp look. We’ll reserve judgment until we see them in action on the ice.
The Canadiens will wear them for the first time on Tuesday night as they host the Winnipeg Jets. As always, new jerseys mean new gear, including new masks for the goaltenders. Jacob Fowler will once again be in net and show off his new bucket, another Sylabrush creation the duo shared on its Instagram account Monday night.
It goes back to the American netminder’s Iron Man design but also features the Montreal skyline on one side and the Olympic Stadium on the other, with his “Gator” nickname written on both sides. The backplate features the Quebec license plate and the “Lights will guide you home” lyrics, and it also adds the symbols found on the Montreal City flag, which also appear on the jersey. Overall, it’s a crisp, classic look.
As for Jakub Dobes, he will no doubt get a chance to wear his in a game later this season, as Montreal is set to wear the new threads 10 times. The Czech netminder has decided to stick with the Game of Thrones font on the front of the mask for the “Doby” nickname, and it still features Ghost, Jon Snow’ wolf, from the series. On the sides, it features icicles and the Canadiens’ logo as it appears on the Hometown Remix jersey, plus symbols from the town’s flag. Of course, there are Fleur-de-lis on one side and on the backplate with the usual “Ole Ole Ole”. On the other side, there’s a fir tree. Overall, it’s another great mask for Dobes.
It will be interesting to see what the fans think of the jersey tonight and how many wear it in the stands. We’ve seen numerous Heritage Classic jerseys over the last few weeks, but it remains to be seen if this new design will be as popular.
Brian Burke pulled off some franchise-altering trades as GM of the Vancouver Canucks. Notable moves included trading for the picks to draft Daniel and Henrik Sedin and acquiring key players like Ed Jovanovski, Sami Salo, Dan Cloutier, Brendan Morrison, and Trevor Linden. One name not on the list is Miikka Kiprusoff, who, according to a new podcast appearance, almost became the Canucks' starting goaltender.
On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas interviewed both Brian and his son Patrick Burke. At around the 25-minute mark, Friedman asked Patrick if there were any trades his father regretted. Burke chose a trade that didn't happen, which would have landed Vancouver a future Vezina winner.
"I remember him and Dave Nonis negotiating aggressively on Miikka Kiprusoff when they were in Vancouver and not quite getting the deal across the line," said Burke. "And if I remember right, because I was sitting next to them at the table, (Nonis) was trying to pull together a conditional pick. Which, at the time, it's very common now, but teams didn't do it much. You know, if the guy plays X number of games, or his goals against is this or we make the playoffs, it goes from a third to a second or whatever it was. I think it was just getting too convoluted, but I remember Kiprusoff being on the table in Vancouver and years of goaltending problems in Vancouver that that may have solved. At the time, he was an unknown. It was a big swing, but I remember sitting there, listening to the negotiations and then, two years later, kind of gone, 'Oh, that would have been nice.'"
While Burke did not reveal exactly when this deal would have happened, it would have occurred before the start of the 2003-04 campaign. This is because Kiprusoff was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Calgary Flames on November 16, 2023. At the time of the trade, Kiprusoff had played three seasons with the Sharks and posted a 14-21-3 record.
Kiprusoff would develop into one of the best Finnish goaltenders in NHL history. He recorded 319 wins and won the Vezina Trophy in 2006. The Canucks would have to wait a few more years before getting their franchise-altering goalie, as in 2006, Dave Nonis acquired Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers.
Apr 6, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff (34) during the third period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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 Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Brad Lambert on waivers Tuesday, marking a pretty sizeable development for the organization's former first-round draft pick.
Lambert, 22, was selected 30th overall by Winnipeg in the 2022 NHL Draft and was once considered among the team's most promising young offensive prospects.
Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today
The Finnish-born forward has struggled to establish himself as a full-time NHL player despite showing considerable offensive upside during his time with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
Lambert enjoyed a breakout 2023-24 campaign with Manitoba, recording 21 goals and 55 points in 64 games. However, that success has yet to translate into a permanent role with the Jets.
Lambert has appeared in 11 games with Winnipeg this season, registering one assist while averaging 9:10 of ice time. Through 42 career NHL games, he has three goals and nine points.
The move comes after Lambert was involved in trade speculation last season, with reports indicating the Jets had given him permission to seek a trade.
Lambert will now be available to the NHL's other 31 teams through the waiver process. Should he go unclaimed, Winnipeg would have the option of assigning him to Manitoba.
The Jets are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak and have not won a game since starting the year 4-1-1. They take on the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night in Quebec.
