The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a spot they haven't been in quite some time.

With the playoffs looking unlikely at this point, the Maple Leafs could be sellers at the NHL trade deadline for the first time since 2016, the last time they missed the playoffs.

They've got several unrestricted free agents, as well as a few other players who could bring value back to Toronto, whose prospect and draft cupboard is pretty bare. This is a chance to re-tool so that next season, they're primed to get back into the playoff picture.

But who's most likely to go? Who's destined to be on another team in their quest for destiny later this spring?

1. Bobby McMann

Of the Maple Leafs' UFAs this summer, Bobby McMann's name seems to come up most often.

The 29-year-old is having a career season, approaching highs in goals, assists, and points. His speed, strength, and shot are also attributes that teams could value in the playoffs.

McMann burst onto the scene in the NHL with Toronto in 2023-24. His 15 goals through 56 games had him in sixth among Maple Leafs players that year. In every season since, McMann's game has grown more prominent, eventually landing him in an almost regular top-six role with Toronto this season.

But with how the Maple Leafs' year has gone, they could get considerable value for McMann if they were to move him.

There have been reports that the Maple Leafs would like a first-round pick for the forward, and it would be incredible if Toronto could recuperate something like that. At the same time, though, could there be value in keeping McMann?

Report: Maple Leafs Looking For First-Round Pick For Bobby McMannThe Maple Leafs don't have their first-rounder this year or next year, after trading them away.

He's in his prime. Toronto also doesn't have very many players behind McMann who play a similar game. It seems to be very much still in play.

At the end of it all, it depends on what McMann wants money-wise and what the Maple Leafs are willing to pay.

Nevertheless, the forward is at the top of our list for a reason: NHL teams will definitely value his services. And if you can get a first-round pick for him, who could say no to that?

2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson

At $3.5 million for two more seasons after this one, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is an attractive defenseman for teams that are pushing for the Stanley Cup.

The 34-year-old's eight goals and 35 points in 60 games are the most among Maple Leafs defensemen and the fifth-most on the team. Ekman-Larsson can also quarterback the power play, which he's done plenty this season with Toronto. He's also coming off an Olympics with Team Sweden.

Don't forget the defenseman also won it all with the Florida Panthers in 2025.

Teams value that.

While there'll likely be plenty of suitors inquiring about what it'll take to acquire Ekman-Larsson, the Maple Leafs may still want to keep him. He has a 16-team no-trade list, too, so the defenseman does have a bit of say in what occurs with his future.

Ekman-Larsson is arguably Toronto's best defenseman. They don't have to move him if they don't want to. But because of the lack of assets, maybe GM Treliving looks at trading him before the deadline.

3. Scott Laughton

One year ago, Scott Laughton was ready for the inevitable of being traded away from the Philadelphia Flyers, the only NHL team he's ever known.

Now, he's facing the same reality again.

Like McMann, the veteran forward is approaching July 1 without a contract. Since being acquired by the Maple Leafs last spring for Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first-round pick, Laughton has tallied 10 goals and 16 points through 62 games.

"I didn't think I'd probably be in this situation," Laughton said on Saturday, ahead of their game against the Ottawa Senators. "It’s tough to think about, but at the same time, you got to come in and do a job to the best of your ability. I want to be in the fight with these guys."

‘It’s Tough To Think About’: Scott Laughton Addresses Trade Speculation As Maple Leafs Near NHL Trade DeadlineAfter being acquired to help a playoff push just one year ago, Oakville native Scott Laughton now faces the reality of being traded away from his hometown team as the Maple Leafs shift from buyers to sellers.

What teams might value with Laughton is his leadership and faceoff abilities. His 56.7 percent faceoff win percentage is among the top 20 in the NHL. Toronto could also retain some of his $3 million salary, which could entice teams even further.

He and McMann are also candidates to be re-signed by the Maple Leafs. But what does general manager Brad Treliving value more? Getting assets, or bringing those two back on new contracts?

Toronto has three picks in this year's draft, none of which are in the first two rounds. At some point, you've got to recoup some assets. Those two guys could give you the best chance at doing so.

4. Brandon Carlo

There was chatter about trading Brandon Carlo last summer, and it appears it's picked up again ahead of this deadline.

The positives: he's a right-shot defenseman, big, strong, and only makes $3.485 million with the Maple Leafs. Carlo is still young, too, at 29.

It's clear things haven't worked out as much as everyone hoped when the Maple Leafs acquired Carlo for Fraser Minten and a conditional 2026 first-round pick last spring. But it's certain teams will still value the 6-foot-5 defenseman.

Maybe Toronto retains even more salary to heighten the price tag?

With how young Carlo still is, I'd bet the Maple Leafs keep him and hope for a better season next year. If that occurs, they're in a pretty good position with a big, strong, and mobile defender who can also play big minutes on the penalty kill.

5. Calle Jarnkrok

Among Toronto's forward group, Calle Jarnkrok is the only other UFA aside from Laughton and McMann.

Here's the thing: if the Maple Leafs aren't going to make the playoffs, which it seems like they won't, every UFA should be made available. Jarnkrok has six goals and one assist in 38 games this season, which isn't the most flattering when you look at his $2.1 million annual average value.

However, if Toronto tells teams they'd be open to retaining some of that salary, maybe a club goes for the Swede?

Jarnkrok is a strong penalty killer and can provide goals from time to time. On the other side, though, is: will he be an effective player for teams headed to the playoffs?

He hasn't had much success with Toronto in recent years.

Either way, Toronto needs to get anything they can for the forward. If a team offers a late pick, Treliving has got to take it.

The Philadelphia Flyers may have a keeper on their hands when it comes to goalie Dan Vladar, but keeping the veteran beyond his two-year contract may prove to be costly.

Vladar, 28, is in the first year of the two-year, $6.7 million ($3.35 million AAV) contract he signed with the Flyers on the first day of free agency on July 1 and can sign an extension with Philadelphia as soon as this upcoming July 1.

The big question mark, of course, is that Vladar will be 30 years old when he plays his first game on an extension, and the Flyers have prospects Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin quickly climbing the ranks.

There's also no telling what the future holds for Aleksei Kolosov, who has undergone a career resurgence in the AHL this season.

So, while the Flyers do have to consider Vladar's age and his long-term future in Philadelphia, they also have to consider their options if they choose to move on at some point; his trade value will probably never be higher than it is now.

There are also no guarantees his repeated feats in goal are sustainable.

Ex-Flyers Goalie Having Strong Year With New TeamThis former Flyers goalie is impressing with his new team.

Sam Ersson's odds of having a future with the Flyers are all but nil after consecutive seasons riddled with injuries and maddeningly inconsistent performances.

And for the Flyers as an organization, the successful quest of finding a goaltender like Vladar was certainly more of a flash in the pan than a trend.

If Vladar is moved at peak value instead of staying put for several years at an increased cost, the Flyers' external options would include pending free agents Stuart Skinner, Matt Murray, David Rittich, and Daniil Tarasov.

Potential trade candidates would include Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Akira Schmid, Alex Lyon, and Jordan Binnington. All in all, not the most convincing group with the hassle of moving a well-liked player and bringing another in.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Explored 2 Western Conference GoaliesThe Philadelphia Flyers are one of many teams searching for a drastic improvement at the goalie position, but so far, their search of the NHL trade market hasn't yielded the results they'd hoped for.

As for the rotational goalie or 1B goalie market, it's worth noting that MacKenzie Blackwood, Logan Thompson, Adin Hill, and Filip Gustavsson are all making (or set to be making) north of $5 million on the cap annually.

The most apt reference for Vladar's next contract might be that of Kevin Lankinen, who was the recipient of a five-year, $22.5 million ($4.5 million AAV) contract after a similar breakout season last year.

Lankinen, 30, has a full no-move clause in each of his first two seasons of the contract, which converts to a 15-team no-trade list in the final three years of the pact.

Should Vladar successfully bargain for a similar contract, that could very well look like five years and $25 million. It's not too terrible a price to pay for the Flyers, but it would behoove them to identify their future piece(s) in net before the inevitable decline in performance hits them.

Between Bjarnason, Kolosov, and Zavragin, the Flyers have a fine base to work with, but they ought to draft at least one more goalie and further add to the NHL mix before next season, given their lack of workable intermediate options behind Vladar.

Latest NHL Trade Sets Flyers Up for Big Trade DeadlineThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are about to have a unique opportunity to take full advantage of a crazy trade market ahead of this year's March 6 NHL trade deadline.

After a dominant 26-save performance against his former team, the Boston Bruins, Vladar now sits at 18-9-6 on the season with a 2.42 GAA and a .907 save percentage while starting a career-high 34 games and counting.

The Czech Olympian has more than earned a big contract wherever he ends up next, and the Flyers will have to make a decision on his future sooner than later.

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The defensively stingy Carolina Hurricanes gave the Detroit Red Wings little room to operate Saturday night, and just when it appeared as though the Red Wings were gaining momentum, Carolina had the answer.

The Hurricanes had built up a 3-0 lead just 23 minutes into the contest, and, despite a pair of quick Red Wings goals late in the second period, it was former Detroit defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere who quickly snuffed out the comeback. 

Gostisbehere scored early in the third to restore Carolina’s two-goal lead, and Jackson Blake added another minutes later as the Hurricanes skated to a 5-2 victory at Lenovo Center.

The ones they got, the puck was on our stick, but we didn't exectute and it was in the back of our net," team captain Dylan Larkin said afterward. "They're a heck of a team, and this is a hard building to play in. 

"You have to come in here at some point and get points, and I didn't think we executed. We allowed them to be on top of us and come back in waves on Talbs (Cam Talbot)." 

Despite goals less than a minute apart from Simon Edvinsson and Patrick Kane, it would be the Hurricanes who once again assumed control of the game in the third period.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The Red Wings, who have struggled to score at even strength this season, know that it's an area of their game that they must shore up if they are to have a realistic chance at punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 10 years. 

“We’re searching for answers," Larkin said. "Five-on-five offense, we’re talking about it. This is a hard building. They pressure so much. It’s hard to create in here. But looking back, I thought we had breakaways, two-on-ones that we could’ve executed.”

Larkin and the Red Wings will conclude their three-game road trip on Monday afternoon against the Nashville Predators. 

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Who:Vegas Golden Knights (28-17-14, 70 points, 1st place Pacific Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-13, 73 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 1:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: National game on TNT, streaming on HBO Max

Pens’ Path Ahead: The march of the Penguins will be a staggering one, today’s game kicks off 17 games in the month of March. The Pens make a trip to Boston for a game Tuesday night, then return home for three games: Buffalo on Thursday then receive visits from Philadelphia and Boston next weekend. After that, a five-game road trip awaits.

Opponent Track: Vegas won their Olympic return game on Wednesday against Los Angeles. Today is the second game of a four-game eastern swing for them, having lost 3-2 in regulation to the Capitals on Friday on the first leg. Up next from them are stops in Buffalo on Tuesday and Detroit on Wednesday.

Season Series: Pittsburgh heads out to Vegas on the upcoming road trip on Thursday March 12th to complete the two-game season series between the cross-conference teams.

Hidden Stat: The Penguins (No. 3 power play, No. 2 penalty kill) and Vegas (No. 5 power play and No. 10 PK) are the only two teams in the NHL that currently have both of their special team units in the top-10 this season.

Hidden Stat 2.0: These two teams are a combined 2-14 this season in shootouts, having the worst two shootout records in the league (1-8 for the Pens, 1-6 for Vegas). If this one goes the distance, who knows..

Getting to know the Golden Knights

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone

Pavel Dorofeyev – Mitch Marner – Reilly Smith

Braeden Bowman – Tomas Hertl – Keegan Kolesar

Brandon Saad – Colton Sissons – Alexander Holtz

DEFENSEMEN

Jeremy Lauzon / Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin / Rasmus Andersson

Brayden McNabb / Kaeden Korczak

Goalies: Adin Hill and Akira Schmidt

Potential scratches: Ben Hutton

Injured Reserve: Carter Hart, Alex Pietrangelo, William Karlsson, Brett Howden

• Vegas has resorted to moving Marner into center in large part due to a mysterious injury around Karlsson. Karlsson has been out since November 8, with no real update on what is going on or whether or not he’ll be back any time soon, or even for the playoffs.
• You know it’s a Gen Z world with names like a Braeden and a Kaeden in the lineup. And an Adin plus another Brayden for good measure.

Season stats
via hockeydb

• Maybe it’s fitting Vegas has six or seven very shiny and great pieces to work with, then the bottom six or seven in their lineup are not that impressive. Lines up well with that town.
• Goal has been a problem, signing Carter Hart didn’t do much to change their fortunes and Hill’s stats have incrementally been falling away since posting an 11-4 record and .932 save percentage in the 2023 playoffs.
• There’s been a little bit of an adjustment factor for Andersson coming over in a major trade. One goal in 10 games for a blueliner might not standout, for him it does. Andersson has 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games with Calgary at the start of this season. He’s averaged double-digits the past three full seasons, scoring 31 total goals from 2022/23 – 2024/25. They’ll definitely be looking for him to kick in more as he gets acclimated.

Key to the game: What can the Pens offense do against an uneven opponent?

Vegas has had a great process to keep shots and chances down, yet they allow a lot of 5v5 goals against due to shoddy goaltending. In the last two games coming out of the break without Sidney Crosby, the Penguins have only scored one 5v5 goal rom a forward (Egor Chinakhov’s goal against New Jersey to go with 5v5 goals from Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea).

Thus, the script for this game is pretty clear: can the Pens dig deep and find some offense from the players up front? Some have been close; Anthony Mantha scored on the power play yesterday, Bryan Rust has been getting some looks, Ben Kindel, Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak each registered six shots on goal yesterday against the Rangers. They’re probably going to need names in that last sentence to punch through at even strength in a game like this.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Egor Chinakhov  – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Avery Hayes – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kris Letang

Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Arturs Silovs (Stuart Skinner played yesterday)

Potential Scratches: Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Ilya Solovyov

IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany

• We’ll leave the lines as they have been, though Rakell at center might not be lasting much longer after losing all 10 of his faceoffs yesterday and the team chose to play Malkin and Kindel at center later on in the game yesterday between Rust/Rakell on the wings. If that full on change happens, the Pens might need a center and crack an opportunity for Kevin Hayes to play his first game since 2/5 and just his second since 1/12.
• Girard was dealing with a minor injury yesterday but able to play. With so many games coming up in the next few weeks that will be worth watching to see if that issue gets put behind him without issue.

Colorado Avalanche (39-10-9, in the Central Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (24-21-14, in the Pacific Division)

Los Angeles; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche visit the Los Angeles Kings after Cale Makar's two-goal game against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Avalanche's 3-1 win.

Los Angeles has a 24-21-14 record overall and a 9-13-7 record on its home ice. The Kings are 18-2-7 in games they score three or more goals.

Colorado is 39-10-9 overall and 17-6-5 on the road. The Avalanche have scored 220 total goals (3.8 per game) to rank first in the NHL.

The teams play Monday for the third time this season. The Avalanche won the previous meeting 5-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Artemi Panarin has scored 19 goals with 41 assists for the Kings. Adrian Kempe has five goals and six assists over the last 10 games.

Martin Necas has 25 goals and 42 assists for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has two goals and 10 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.9 assists, 4.2 penalties and 11.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.

Avalanche: 5-5-0, averaging three goals, 5.2 assists, 3.7 penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Kings: None listed.

Avalanche: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Vegas Golden Knights (28-17-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-13, in the Metropolitan Division)

Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -149, Penguins +125; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights square off in a non-conference matchup.

Pittsburgh has a 14-8-7 record at home and a 30-15-13 record overall. The Penguins have scored 197 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank 10th in NHL play.

Vegas is 28-17-14 overall and 14-9-7 in road games. The Golden Knights are 27-6-8 in games they score at least three goals.

Sunday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Mantha has 21 goals and 23 assists for the Penguins. Benjamin Kindel has six goals and one assist over the last 10 games.

Mark Stone has 21 goals and 38 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has seven goals and three assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 7-1-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 4-4-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Penguins: None listed.

Golden Knights: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The last time the Islanders made the playoffs, it was in large part due to all the times they got a point for losing in overtime.

This time, if they make it, it will be in some measure because they haven’t lost a game during 3-on-3 play all year.

After two overtime wins on the two-game trip that wrapped up Saturday with a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets, the Islanders are 8-0 in games decided by an overtime goal, though there have been five shootout losses.

It’s a world removed from two seasons ago when they had 16 overtime and shootout losses.

“I think it’s a lot of puck possession,” Bo Horvat told The Post before the Isles beat the Blue Jackets. “But I think our structure within our 3-on-3 game, we don’t give up much. I find everybody sticks to their man-on-man and does it the right way.

“I think possession time — besides last game, that first shift when [Montreal] had the puck the whole time — for the most part, I think we controlled the game a whole lot. I think that’s a big part of the 3-on-3 for sure.”

That was certainly the case Saturday.

The Islanders lost the opening draw — interestingly, they’re slightly below 50 percent at the dots this year at 3-on-3 — but gained possession within a few seconds, and the Blue Jackets never touched the puck again.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

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“I think you never know what’s gonna happen with overtime,” Simon Holmstrom said, having scored the winner off Tony DeAngelo’s outlet feed. “There’s always gonna be a lot of chances from both teams. It’s just a matter of possessing the puck and making the right plays at the right time. Getting the changes in, being able to keep them on the ice and get them tired. I think we’ve been doing a really good job of that this season.”

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Coach Patrick Roy said he would not have made the challenge that Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness did in alleging goaltender interference on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s goal at 11:59 of the second.

“The contact was not in the crease,” Roy said. “If it’s not in the crease, I don’t know if I would challenge anything right now in the league.”

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Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 of 30 shots in net for the Islanders while Jet Greaves saved just 22 of 26.

David Rittich is likely to start against the Panthers at home Sunday on the second end of a back-to-back.

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Kent Johnson was a surprise healthy scratch for the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

The most chaotic time of the NHL regular season has finally arrived, as the trade deadline is just one week away on Mar. 6.

And even though the Pittsburgh Penguins have already made several moves this season, they figure to have a bit more up their sleeve. 

After their 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Penguins remain in second in the Metropolitan Division, nine points behind the Carolina Hurricanes and tied points-wise with the New York Islanders at 73. Even if the team is in a good position now, they have the league's toughest strength of schedule remaining for the regular season, and they will be forced to make it through most of it without their best player in center Sidney Crosby, who is expected to miss three more weeks with a lower-body injury. 

So, given their predicament - and their apparent reluctance to shift Evgeni Malkin back to the center position - it may be in their best interest to either call up a center from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), such as Tristan Broz or Filip Hallander, or explore the trade market for some viable options.

Here are five possible center options for the Penguins to target via trade:

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Shane Wright

The young center for the Seattle Kraken has failed to establish consistency at the NHL level so far, and it seems that his value has decreased a bit.

Even though the Kraken may not be keen to sell lower on Wright, they do have some up-and-coming center depth in their organization - namely Jake O'Brien - and they may be able to get some value in return. As of January, the Kraken were, apparently, looking for a scorer in return, so this might be a situation where a an established NHL player could go the other way - someone like a Justin Brazeau or an Anthony Mantha, even a Rickard Rakell for the right return package.

Seattle is currently in the West's second wild card spot, so they, too, are fighting for a playoff position. It remains to be seen how the team approaches the deadline or if Wright is even on their trade board. 

NHL's Top Four Center Trade Candidates Ahead Of DeadlineThe 2026 NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching. These are the top centers in the rumor mill right now, for the March 6 deadline.

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Brayden Schenn

Schenn, 34, doesn't really fit the mold of "younger players with term" that Dubas and the Penguins would want to acquire. He is also 34, owed $6.5 million for two more seasons, and has seen a steep drop in production this season, registering just 12 goals and 24 points in 59 games so far this season. 

But, this could be a situation where the Penguins might be able to buy low on Schenn from the struggling St. Louis Blues, and, potentially, even add to their draft cupboard. Of course, they wouldn't be able to get Schenn for nothing, and there is some inherent risk attached.

However, his playoff experience, two-way prowess, and knack for not shying away from physicality could suit the Penguins well down the stretch, especially without Crosby. Plus, it provides an opportunity for rookie Ben Kindel to get elevated in the lineup without repercussion, as Schenn is a good, reliable  third-line center option.

Four Blues Players Feature On The Hockey News' NHL Trade Deadline BoardFour St. Louis Blues players appeared on The Hockey News' first edition of their NHL Trade Deadline Board.

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Dawson Mercer

Mercer could be an intriguing name to keep an eye on, as the New Jersey Devils are, unexpectedly, in legitimate contention for a lottery spot this season.

The 24-year-old center has 13 goals and 30 points in 60 games this season, and he, like Wright, is the exact kind of player the Penguins and Dubas would be interested in, if available. In fact, he probably would fit the mold of the player archetype Dubas tends to gravitate toward as well, as he is a high-IQ playmaker with excellent vision, a 200-ft game, positional versatility, and a potential higher ceiling in terms of production. 

The cost would likely be fairly high, and there's no guarantee that the Devils' 18th overall pick in 2020 is even on the market for sure - even if GM Tom Fitzegerald expressed that he is ready to shake things up with the roster. But, if he is, the Penguins should be calling on the forward who is signed at $4 million through the end of next season. 

NHL Trade Deadline Board: 25 Players To Keep An Eye OnHere are 25 NHL players to watch as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline. Each of them has been mentioned in trade speculation and rumors, and we rank them based on a combination of impact and likelihood of being moved.

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Vincent Trocheck

Ah, the Pittsburgh kid. It's no secret that the New York Rangers are shifting to a rebuild, and they will surely be looking to shed some of their veteran players, making Trocheck one of the top options on the trade market.

Trocheck, 32, is signed through the end of the 2028-29 season at $5.625 million average annual value, which makes his contract a bit hefty to take on. Still, the veteran center is just about as good a third-line center option out there, and his 12 goals and 38 points in 45 games would certainly help with the Penguins' offensive attack.

However, even if he could help the Penguins this season, his lengthy contract and age don't really fit into the Penguins' future plans, and his is likely to come at a premium. There are probably options that make better sense on the market, but if - for whatever reason - he can be had at a low cost, it may be worth it. 

Where Do The Rangers Go From Here?The two Gold-Bearing Rangers – captain J.T. Miller and Vin Trocheck – are home but how long they will remain Blueshirts only MSG owner James Dolan and his hockey orchestrator Chris Drury really know.

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Elias Pettersson

Yep, Pettersson's name is here yet again, and - at this point - it should come as no surprise. But with the Vancouver Canucks in the basement of the league by a longshot, it's likely that GM Patrick Allvin will be in a position to sell. 

The 27-year-old center - not long ago, one of the league's very best - has fallen off a bit the last two seasons, with only 13 goals and 35 points in 51 games so far in 2025-26. His $11.6 million cap hit through 2029-30 seems daunting, but the Penguins certainly have the cap space, and he might be the perfect example of an underperforming elite player who is long overdue for a change of scenery. 

Because of his cap hit and his decline in production for two consecutive seasons, the Penguins may be able to buy low here. If the price is right, Pettersson should absolutely be considered - especially since when, at his best, the fifth overall pick in 2017 is one of the elite playmaking centers in the NHL and has a pretty nasty weapon in his shot, too, as a three-time 30-goal scorer.

Could Egor Chinakhov Help Extend Malkin's Career?There has been a whole lot going right for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> during the 2025-26 season, and much of it can be credited to the work of general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas.&nbsp;

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

The Ottawa Senators got back on the winning track in Toronto on Saturday night, crushing the Maple Leafs 5–2 in a game that was not as close as the score would appear.

Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each scored twice for the Senators, who moved to within five points of the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Leafs, meanwhile, were dominated for most of the night and remain nine points off the pace. Ottawa set the tone early, outshooting Toronto 16–2 in the first period and never let up.

Linus Ullmark made 21 saves for the Senators, who outshot Toronto 40–23 overall. Joseph Woll was chased from the game after allowing five goals on 28 shots, while Anthony Stolarz made 12 saves after replacing him late in the second period.

Morgan Rielly opened the scoring for the Leafs, beating Ullmark between the legs with a wrist shot on the power play less than three minutes into the game.

Ottawa answered midway through the first when Thomas Chabot took a nice pass from Brady Tkachuk in the high slot and beat Woll with a wrist shot that may have deflected off a stick in front.

Early in the second period, Cozens gave Ottawa a 2–1 lead, tapping in a room-service rebound that landed right on his stick blade.

Ten minutes later, Batherson buried a snapshot off the post and in to make it 3–1, but William Nylander quickly responded to cut the deficit to 3–2.

That was as close as the Leafs would get.

After a neutral-zone turnover by Matthew Knies, Batherson scored his second of the night to give the Senators a 4–2 advantage. It appeared Knies had knocked the puck into his own zone, but Toronto challenged the play for offside. The challenge was unsuccessful, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty.

Cozens made them pay, scoring on a wrist shot on the power play to complete the scoring and send Woll to the showers. The third period was uneventful, save for a weird little line brawl that started when Anthony Stolarz and Ridly Greig got into it as they did last season.

The Senators will continue their road trip in Edmonton on Tuesday, then in Calgary on Thursday. After that comes the NHL trade deadline on Friday, when decisions will have to be made about whether to bolster the roster for the stretch run or stand pat.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published by The Hockey News. More headlines here:

Senators At Leafs: NHL's Battle Of Ontario Takes An Unexpected Step Back
After Clearing Waivers, Former Ottawa Senator Mathieu Joseph Sent To AHL
Tkachuk Fields Questions on USA Celebrations and Desire To Remain In Ottawa
20 Years Later: The Rise And Fall Of One Of The Greatest Teams In Senators History
Senators Goalie Prospect Thriving After Trade To QMJHL's Top-Ranked Club

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Shayne Gostisbehere had a goal and two assists to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to their fifth straight win, 5-2 over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

Jackson Blake, Taylor Hall, Sebastian Aho and Eric Robinson also scored for the Hurricanes, who have used a 12-game point streak (10-0-2) to surge to the top of the Eastern Conference with 82 points.

Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen made 27 saves to improve to 14-1-2 in his career against the Red Wings.

Simon Edvinsson and Patrick Kane scored and Cam Talbot stopped 31 shots for the Red Wings, who lost for the fifth time in seven games (2-4-1).

The Hurricanes built a 3-0 lead to continue their recent hot play at home. They lost their first two home games in January but have gone 10-0-1 at home since a 5-3 loss to Colorado on Jan. 3.

Gostisbehere scored at 2:18 in the third period to give the Hurricanes some breathing room after Detroit cut the margin to 3-2 at the end of the second period.

Blake, with assists from Gostisbehere and Hall, extended the Hurricanes’ margin to 5-2 with a goal at 5:30 in the third.

RANGERS 3, PENGUINS 2, SO

NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Trocheck scored the shootout winner and Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves and the New York Rangers rallied to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After an overtime in which each team had several good scoring chances, Trocheck beat Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner with the only goal of the shootout as the Rangers snapped a five-game losing streak. Shesterkin made five saves in overtime.

Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh also scored for the Rangers. The last-place Rangers are 7-15-5 at home this season.

Anthony Mantha and defenseman Ryan Shea scored for the Penguins, who had their two-game winning streak stopped. Pittsburgh is 8-1-2 since Jan. 17.

FLYERS 3, BRUINS 1

PHIALDELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny opened the scoring in the third period and set up Jaime Drysdale’s goal, Dan Vladar made 26 saves and Philadelphia beat Boston.

Konecny scored his team-leading 23rd goal of the season, sliding the puck past Jeremy Swayman off a drop pass from Christian Dvorak at 3:41 of the third. Konency then set up Drysdale for a wrister that made it 2-0 with 8:05 left.

Charlie McAvoy scored for Boston on a deflection with 6:57 to go. Flyers captain Sean Couturier had an empty-netter to snap a 31-game goal drought.

Philadelphia won back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 3-6 to move within six points of Boston for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins are 5-1-3 in their last nine.

Swayman made 14 saves.

SHARKS 5, OILERS 4

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Shakir Mukhamadullin broke a tie midway through the third period and San Jose snapped a five-game winless streak by beating Edmonton.

Mukhamadullin beat Connor Ingram with a slap shot from the point with 10:39 to play to give the Sharks their first victory since Jan. 27 at Vancouver. San Jose had been 0-4-1 since then, starting when the Sharks blew a 3-0 lead in the third period to Edmonton before losing in overtime.

Olympic star Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring for San Jose as he got the best of his matchup against his linemate from Canada in the Olympics, Connor McDavid.

Michael Misa, Barclay Goodrow and Alexander Wennberg also scored for San Jose. Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves.

Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Trent Frederic and Jake Walman scored for Edmonton, while McDavid chipped in with three assists to give him an NHL-leading 103 points on the season.

Ingram made 28 saves.

DEVILS 3, BLUES 1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves, Timo Meier and Dougie Hamilton had second-period goals and New Jersey beat St. Louis to end a five-game losing streak.

Markstrom lost his shutout bid with 1:18 left when Pavel Buchnevich scored with goalie Jordan Binnington off for an extra attacker.

Nico Hischier scored into an empty net in the final seconds.

Binnington made 30 saves in his first game since backstopping Canada to the Olympic final.

Meier scored his 16th goal of the season at 5:37 of the second, firing in a wrist shot from the right circle. He has three goals in his last six NHL games. For Switzerland in the Olympics, Meier had three goals and four assists in five games.

AVALANCHE 3, BLACKHAWKS 1

DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar scored two goals, Gavin Brindley had the go-ahead score early in the third period and Colorado beat Chicago.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 14 saves for Colorado, which killed off two penalties early in the third period to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Minnesota on Thursday night.

Colorado has an NHL-best 87 points and leads Dallas in the Western Conference by six points and Minnesota by seven. The Stars have played one more game than the Avalanche and the Wild have played two more.

Connor Bedard scored for Chicago, which has lost eight of nine and continues to struggle to score. The Blackhawks have just 12 goals in their eight losses.

Spencer Knight made 32 saves for Chicago, which had just nine shots through the first two periods.

ISLANDERS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3, OT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Simon Holmstrom scored 1:50 into overtime as New York beat Columbus for its fourth straight win.

Holmstrom got the feed from Tony DeAngelo and had a clear path up the right side of the ice before cutting toward the net with a wrist shot to beat Columbus’ Jet Greaves.

It was Holmstrom’s 14th goal of the season and his second in overtime. The Islanders are 8-0 in overtime games this season, the only team in the league that hasn’t lost in the extra period.

Scott Mayfield had a goal and assist for the Islanders. Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 22 seconds apart in the second period to erase a two-goal deficit. Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 shots.

Columbus’ Zach Wereneki, who had the assist on Jack Hughes’ goal in the United States’ gold-medal victory over Canada at the Olympics, had a pair of assists and extended his points streak to a nine games, the longest run by a defenseman in franchise history.

Werenski, second among NHL defensemen with 65 points, has 13 in his last nine games (two goals, 11 assists). It was Werenski’s 21st multipoint game this season and the 100th of his 10-year career. With 621 games played, he’s the fifth-fastest active defenseman to reach the mark.

Isac Lundeström, Mason Marchment, Adam Fantilli had Columbus’ goals. Greaves made 22 saves.

KINGS 2, FLAMES 0

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anton Forsberg made 29 saves, Alex Laferriere scored in the second period and Los Angeles beat Calgary to end a five-game losing streak.

Forsberg had his second shutout of the season and 10th of his NHL career, two nights after coming on in relief of Darcy Kuemper in the second period of an 8-1 home loss to Edmonton.

Laferriere scored with 4:24 left in second, putting his own rebound past goalie Dustin Wolf for his 14th goal of the season. Adrian Kempe added his 22nd into an empty net in the final minute.

Wolf made 35 saves. He spent seven years in the Los Angeles Junior Kings youth program before playing major junior for Everett in the Western Hockey League.

SABRES 6, LIGHTNING 2

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Josh Norris scored twice, Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and two assists and Buffalo beat Tampa Bay for its third straight victory.

Zach Metsa had a goal and an assist, Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson also scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 36 saves to help Buffalo move within four points of the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning.

The Sabres improved to 16-2-1 in their past 19 on the road, ending Tampa Bay’s 10-game home winning streak.

Dominic James and Victor Hedman scored for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have lost consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 15-18.

Andrei Vasilevksiy, who was 17-0-1 in his previous starts, was pulled after allowing five goals on 14 shots in his first regulation loss since Dec. 18. Jonas Johansson came on in relief and stopped 20 shots.

SENATORS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each scored twice and Ottawa beat Toronto.

Thomas Chabot also scored, Cozens added an assist and Linus Ullmark made 21 saves.

Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for Toronto in its third straight loss.

Rielly got the scoring started less than three minutes into the first period, but it was all Senators from there. Ottawa had the next 19 shots on goal and scored three straight to take a two-goal lead midway through the second period.

Nylander cut it to 3-2, but Batherson struck back with his second of the period less than two minutes later on a play Toronto unsuccessfully challenged for offside.

Cozens scored his second goal on the ensuing penalty, chasing goalie Joseph Woll after 23 saves on 28 shots. Anthony Stolarz stopped all 12 shots he faced.

CANADIENS 6, CAPITALS 2

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored two first-period goals to help propel Montreal to a win over Washington.

Mike Matheson and Kirby Dach scored goals in the second period for Montreal, which has recorded at least a point in seven consecutive games (5-0-2).

Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans added empty-net goals in the third and Suzuki had two assists. Jakub Dobes made 27 saves as he improved his record to 9-0-2 over his last 11 games.

Caufield now has a team-high 35 goals this season. It took all of 30 seconds for the Canadiens to find the back of the net, marking the fastest game-opening goal scored by Montreal this season. Jakob Chychrun’s point shot was blocked by Caufield, resulting in a breakaway for the forward. His snap shot beat Charlie Lindgren to the glove side.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice for the Capitals, who had their three-game win streak snapped. The Capitals captain has scored 44 goals and recorded 76 points in just 63 career matchups against the Canadiens.

Lindgren stopped 19 shots in his first start since Jan. 29.

STARS 3, PREDATORS 2

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored 1:47 into overtime, lifting Dallas to a comeback victory over Nashville for its eighth straight win.

Nathan Bastian and Wyatt Johnston scored in regulation for the Stars, who trailed 2-0 after one period. Dallas has rallied from deficits to win each of its three games against Nashville this season — two after trailing 2-0.

Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots in his first start since returning from the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where he was the backup for the gold medal-winning U.S. team. He’s 7-0 in his last seven starts.

Dallas tied the team’s longest winning streak, set March 16 to April 3, 2024. The Stars have won their last six home games and improved to 20-4-9 in one-goal games this season. They have the second-most wins in the NHL in one-goal games, behind only the New York Islanders (22-5-5).

Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos each scored for the Predators in the opening period. Juuse Saros made 22 saves.

KRAKEN 5, CANUCKS 1

SEATTLE (AP) — Jordan Eberle scored twice and added an assist as Seattle beat Vancouver.

Vince Dunn, Chandler Stephenson and Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken, who snapped a two-game skid during which they were outscored 9-2 following the Olympic break. Joey Daccord made 27 saves.

The Canucks, who dropped their fifth straight, got a goal from Liam Ohgren. Kevin Lankinen made 20 stops but has now allowed 15 goals over his last three starts.

Dunn — playing in his 600th career game — scored at 7:36 of the first period from the top of the left circle to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.

Stephenson scored on a rebound with 9:40 remaining in the first period to make it 2-0. Adam Larsson recorded his 200th career assist on the goal.

Ohgren’s slap shot beat Daccord at 8:28 of the second period to cut the lead 2-1.

Eberle made it 3-1 with 6:13 left in the second, scoring his team-leading 21st goal of the season. He outskated his defender and finished the breakaway with a backhand.

_____

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored 1:47 into overtime, lifting the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night for their eighth straight win.

Nathan Bastian and Wyatt Johnston scored in regulation for the Stars, who trailed 2-0 after one period. Dallas has rallied from deficits to win each of its three games against Nashville this season — two after trailing 2-0.

Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots in his first start since returning from the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where he was the backup for the gold medal-winning U.S. team. He's 7-0 in his last seven starts.

Dallas tied the team's longest winning streak, set March 16 to April 3, 2024. The Stars have won their last six home games and improved to 20-4-9 in one-goal games this season. They have the second-most wins in the NHL in one-goal games, behind only the New York Islanders (22-5-5).

Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos each scored for the Predators in the opening period. Juuse Saros made 22 saves.

With the Predators leading 2-1, Bastian scored on a wrist shot 5:31 into the third period to tie it.

In overtime, Brady Skjei nearly gave Nashville the win but hit the post. Seconds later, Johnston circled the net and missed, but Miro Heiskanen got the loose puck in the left circle. He sent a pass through the crease to an open Robertson, who got enough of the puck to direct it in for the win.

Johnston got the Predators on the scoreboard in the second period with his 32nd goal and 20th on the power play — extending his single-season record since the franchise relocated to Dallas in 1993-94. He’s also two power-play goals shy of tying the overall franchise record set by Dino Ciccarelli in 1986-87.

Up next

Predators: Host Detroit on Monday.

Stars: Play at Vancouver on Monday night.

—

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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The Detroit Red Wings dug themselves into a three-goal hole against the Carolina Hurricanes, and despite showing signs of life with a brief comeback effort, a familiar face ultimately delivered the decisive blow.

Former Detroit defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who skated one season with the club in 2023–24 and recorded 56 points, struck early in the third period to restore Carolina’s multi-goal lead en route to a 5–2 victory for the Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.

Final from Carolina pic.twitter.com/ucljbUME0i

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 1, 2026

The loss dropped the Red Wings back into a Wild Card position in the tightly-packed Eastern Conference standings due to wins by the Buffalo Sabres, who have been one of the NHL's hottest clubs since mid-December, and the Montreal Canadiens. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Detroit trailed by two goals at the end of the opening 20 minutes of play thanks to goals from Carolina forwards Taylor Hall and Sebastian Aho. 

Hall broke in alone on and beat goaltender Cam Talbot, making his first start since late January, after he blocked defenseman Simon Edvinsson's shot at the opposite blue line. Aho scored on the power-play in the waning seconds of the period.

Carolina then bolstered their lead to 3-0 thanks to a tally from Eric Robinson at the 2:52 mark, but the Red Wings gave their fans hope of a comeback effort thanks to a pair of goals in quick fashion from Edvinsson and Patrick Kane. 

However, those hopes were dashed by Gostisbehere, who scored at 2:18 of the third period. Jackson Blake then put Carolina back up by three goals just over three minutes later. 

Talbot finished with 31 saves, while his Carolina counterpart Frederik Andersen made 27 saves. 

The Red Wings faltered on their only power-play chance of the game, while the Hurricanes finished at 25 percent efficiency by going 1-for-4 with the man advantage. 

Red Wings Announce Dominik Shine Has Been Recalled From Griffins Grand Rapids Griffins team captain Dominik Shine has been called back up to the Red Wings ahead of Saturday evening's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Detroit's three-game road swing will conclude on Monday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena with a matchup against the Nashville Predators. 

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A two-goal Nashville Predators lead in the first period wasn't enough to hold off the Dallas Stars on Saturday as they scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Predators, 3-2, in overtime at American Airlines Arena. 

It's the Stars' eighth straight win and the Predators' fourth straight overtime loss. 

On the play that led to the game-winning goal, Wyatt Johnston wrapped around to the middle of the slot and fired a shot that went wide. Brady Skjei went to block the shot, but was indirectly tripped up by Miro Heiskanen's stick. 

At the same time, Heiskanen was battling for positioning with Steven Stamkos when his stick was knocked out of his hands, taking him out of the play. 

Heiskanen picked up the rebound and passed the puck over to Jason Robertson at the left side of the net. Prior to the pass, Erik Haula got tied up with Robertson, but Robertson was able to break free. 

Robertson tapped the puck in for an easy, game-winning score. 

Nashville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. On the power play, Matthew Wood faked a shot and passed it over Michael Bunting on the right side for the score and to put the Predators up 1-0. 

A little over a minute later, Stamkos scored his 30th goal of the season off a steal at the blue line and passed it to Luke Evangelista for a break into the Stars zone. Evangelista gave it back to Stamkos and he beat Jake Oettinger blocker side to make it 2-0.

The goal also saw Evangelista record his second assist of the game. 

Nashville's offense went into a lull in the second period, getting just four shots on net and seeing Wyatt Johnston snap Juuse Saros' shutout bid on the power play to make it 2-1. 

In the third period, a no-icing call caught the Predators off guard, allowing Thomas  Harley to get a shot on net and Nathan Bastian to put the rebound away to tie the game, 2-2. 

Of note, defenseman Adam Wilsby left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return. Nashville played with five defensemen for the majority of the night. 

Saros made 22 saves on 25 shots, dropping his fifth overtime game of the season. 

Nashville is sitting at 62 points, just a point outside of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. That gap may lengthen by the end of Saturday night, pending the result of the Seattle (63 points) and Vancouver game. 

The Predators are back at home on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings at 1 p.m. CST. 

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored two first-period goals to help propel the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

Mike Matheson and Kirby Dach scored goals in the second period for Montreal, which has recorded at least a point in seven consecutive games (5-0-2).

Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans added empty-net goals in the third and Suzuki had two assists. Jakub Dobes made 27 saves as he improved his record to 9-0-2 over his last 11 games.

Caufield now has a team-high 35 goals this season. It took all of 30 seconds for the Canadiens to find the back of the net, marking the fastest game-opening goal scored by Montreal this season. Jakob Chychrun’s point shot was blocked by Caufield, resulting in a breakaway for the forward. His snap shot beat Charlie Lindgren to the glove side.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice for the Capitals, who had their three-game win streak snapped. The Capitals captain has scored 44 goals and recorded 76 points in just 63 career matchups against the Canadiens.

Lindgren stopped 19 shots in his first start since Jan. 29.

Washington failed to capitalize four power-play opportunities.

The Bell Centre remains a tough stop for visiting teams as Montreal improved to 10-3-1 in its last 14 home games.

Up next

Capitals: Host the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday night.

Canadiens: Visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl