Category: NHL

For the first time in recent memory, the Vancouver Canucks have made it clear that they are in a rebuild. Overall, there has been some doubts within the fan base, as while the organization has said they are entering a rebuild, the only signifcant move Vancouver had made in January and February was trading Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks. Flash forward to March and the Canucks are finally showing that they are serious about the rebuild.

In the week leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, Vancouver made two signifcant trades that involved experienced players with term. The Canucks traded defenceman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on March 4 and followed that up by sending forward Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both trades involed acquiring draft picks, with two seconds, a third and a fourth round pick heading back to Vancouver. 

While both trades should be seen as a win from a rebuild perspective, they also need to signify the start of something much bigger. The Canucks, at least for now, look determined to do this rebuild correcelty, otherwise they would not have made these signifcant trades. Ultimately, Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin can not take their foot off the gas as they next seven months will be cruical for Vancouver's future success. 

The next step for the Canucks is doing everything they can to move the three unrestricted free agents before the deadline passes at noon PT. As a reminder, these players are Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger and David Kämpf. Even if the pick coming back is lower than originally desired, Vancouver needs to stock pile as much draft capital as possibe. 

After these three are dealt, the priority needs to switch to players with term. While having experienced players around is important, no oneshould be off limits for the right price. These deals may also take some time which is why the timeline for moving players with term should be before July 1. 

While it may sound obvious, rebuilding this team is not going to be easy, but needs to be done correctly. It is also going to take signifcant time to not only move off some of these long-term contracts, but build up a prospect pool that can lead the charge into the future. Based on the moves made this week, Rutherford and Allvin are off to a good start but need to stay on the path and not look for shortcuts that could derail the rebuild. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Canucks Trade Conor Garland To The Columbus Blue Jackets For Two Picks

Report: Multiple Teams Showing Interest In Vancouver Canucks Forward Conor Garland Ahead Of The 2026 Trade Deadline

Abbotsford Canucks Sign Defenceman Christian Felton To One-Year Contract

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On the NHL’s trade deadline day, the New York Islanders are in playoff position but far from contender position. They have a Vezina candidate (favorite?) goalie and a Calder favorite who have driven an exciting season above expectations. Their power play is abysmal, and their overall team defense often leaves us scratching our head. They have a couple of older UFAs who are very much contributing to where they are, including a longtime captain who is climbing the franchise’s games played and goal list.

There is value to a playoff appearance, both financially and culturally. And maybe they can get there without making any other changes. (They added Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy before the Olympic break, who fall into the “veterans settling rotating-cast positions” category.)

GM Mathieu Darche is surely balancing all of this as the marketplace hits its final hours. The Isles certainly shouldn’t be big-game hunting unless there are prime players with term, but then what is the cost of that?

Two names that keep coming up around the league and in fan debates Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, both in the first half of long-term deals with full no-trade protection. The Blues are reportedly asking exorbitant prices for each, and that seems to be the point: They don’t need to trade either — it’s not a firesale — so they are in “make me an offer I can’t refuse” mode. Sounds like they went down that road with the Sabres on multiple players, including Colton Parayko (for a first and last summer’s 9th overall pick), and the player blocked the trade anyway.

Unless the Blues shift their approach in fallout or re-evaluation of what’s happening there, I can’t see a package from the Islanders that makes sense for them and meets the Blues’ price. The Isles still need to think long term, not this spring, so there may be opportunities to revisit a bigger acquisition this summer.

Here's where it sits for #Isles/Darche
– Continues having talks on multiple possibilities
– He does not like acquiring rentals
– Dealing 2025 first-rounders Aitcheson, Eklund likely a no go
– Struck early on Soucy/Palat before prices skyrocketed and said to be fine if that's it

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) March 6, 2026

If they weren’t in playoff position — truly in position, not just chasing in the wild card bubble — it would be easy to conclude they should sell Anders Lee and J-G Pageau. But the team’s play (thanks, Ilya and Schaef!) has put them in a different position. Tere’s no indication either has been on the market this season, and it’s completely defensible for a team competing in playoff position with 19 games to go to keep two key players rather than deflate the roster.

Islanders News

• About last night: Ugly enough to make you doubt whether this team will, in the end, reach the postseason. Hopefully it was and remains their worst showing of the season. [LHH | Newsday | Post]
• Trade deadline? Yeah, there are jitters. [Newsday]
• The Devils put Max Tsyplakov (and two others) on waivers. He continued to get the same amount of ice time and same (lack of) production, with zero points in nine games, 7-9 minutes per night. [Devils]

Elsewhere

• In a bit of a shock and a handsome return, the Capitals send John Carlson to Anaheim. [NHL]
• Yet another Luke Schenn trade: He and Logan Stanley head from Winnipeg to Buffalo. [NHL]
• David Perron returns to the Red Wings…maybe: The Senators get a 4th if the injured winger plays a game, and it’s a 2nd if he appears in half their playoff games through two rounds. [Sportsnet]
• Ottawa, meanwhile, took Warren Foegele from the Kings. [CP]
• 38-year-old Jeff Petry goes from Florida to Minnesota for a 7th-round pick, the universal currency of “we just want you to leave.” [NHL]
• How many times have we seen this before: Evgeni Malkin losing his cool. This time he gets an ejection for slashing Rasmus Dahlin — playing the role of Travis Hamonic in Malkin’s nightmares — in the head. [Sportsnet]

An angry cat is never something you want to provoke, and the Detroit Red Wings will face a fired-up Florida Panthers squad on Friday night. Florida enters the matchup in the second game of a back-to-back after falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets in their previous outing. The Panthers have also struggled recently, dropping nine of their last 11 games, and will be desperate for a rebound victory on the road in Detroit.

The Red Wings claimed the first meeting between these teams earlier this season with a 4–1 win and will now try to accomplish the difficult task of beating Florida twice in a row in the second of four matchups this year.

Florida’s lineup could look somewhat different by puck drop Friday. With the trade deadline approaching, players such as Sergei Bobrovsky, AJ Greer, and Mackie Samoskevich have been mentioned in potential moves as the Panthers consider retooling for next season. 

Even so, the team still has plenty of firepower with Sam Bennett has begun to heat up with five points in his last five games, while veteran Brad Marchand appears due for a breakout after going scoreless in three straight. Florida will also continue to lean on key contributors from their recent Stanley Cup runs, including Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and Anton Lundell.

Detroit, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after letting a 3–1 lead slip away in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. The Wings have lost six of their last nine games and are eager to regain momentum as their grip on a playoff spot begins to loosen.

Offensively, however, Detroit has shown encouraging signs with rookie Emmitt Finnie has rediscovered his scoring touch with goals in back-to-back games after enduring a seven-game point drought. He’ll aim to keep that momentum going alongside fellow youngster Marco Kasper, who has collected nine points over his last 14 contests.

With both Atlantic Division rivals searching for momentum and valuable points, Friday’s meeting has all the ingredients for a fast-paced and high-stakes showdown.

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

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Vegas (Wednesday)

Rasmussen – Larkin – Kane

DeBrincat – Copp – Raymond

Finnie – Kasper – Appleton

van Riemsdyk – Compher – Shine

Edvinsson – Seider

Chiarot – Benard-Docker

Johansson - Sandin-Pellikka

Gibson

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Nathan MacKinnon is one of the league’s most productive players, and he always takes it up a notch against Dallas.

My Avalanche vs. Stars predictions expect the trigger-happy MacKinnon to find the net against his division rival for the sixth consecutive game.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Friday, March 6.

Avalanche vs Stars prediction

Avalanche vs Stars best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-110)

Nathan MacKinnon has piled up the shots since returning from the Olympics, generating 25 shots on goal and 36 attempts over four games.

The volume should remain strong against the Dallas Stars, a division rival he’s excelled against over the years. He's generated 50 shots on target over his past 10 meetings with Dallas and scored in seven of the last eight.

With consistently strong shot outputs and the highest conversion rate of his career (15.2%), MacKinnon is a big threat to score.

Avalanche vs Stars same-game parlay

Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas has picked up a point in eight of the last nine games in which MacKinnon scored.

Necas helps facilitate a lot of MacKinnon’s shot volume at 5-on-5 and on the power play, making the two players strongly correlated.

Mavrik Bourque has played six games without both Tyler Seguin and Mikko Rantanen in the lineup. He’s registered multiple shots on goal in each, averaging 3.7 shots on 5.0 attempts.

He’s an efficient, shoot-first player who has benefited greatly from an increase in usage.

Avalanche vs Stars SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
• Mavrik Bourque Over 1.5 shots on goal

Avalanche vs Stars odds

• Moneyline: Colorado -125 | Dallas +105
• Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+190) | Dallas -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Avalanche vs Stars trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored in five consecutive games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Stars.

How to watch Avalanche vs Stars

Avalanche vs Stars latest injuries

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For the first time this season, the Montreal Canadiens will be taking on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. The California-based outfit is currently second in the Pacific Division, and it looks like it will qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Keen to help their playoff push, GM Pat Verbeek acquired veteran offensive defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals for two draft picks early on Friday morning. The rearguard has 46 points in 55 games this season and will bring some veteran leadership to a young Ducks side.

This game will be the first duel between rookies Beckett Sennecke and Ivan Demidov. While the Habs’ rookie led the scoring race for most of the season, Sennecke recently overtook him and is now in pole position with 51 points in 61 games, while Demidov has 48 points in 60 games. The young Russian was outshone by the New York Islanders' rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer when they faced off last week, and he will no doubt want to win his duel with Sennecke.

Beckett Sennecke is the first rookie to hit 50 points this year! 🦆 pic.twitter.com/VpuEiKyptb

— NHL (@NHL) March 5, 2026

Former Canadiens’ Prospect Having A Good Stretch In St. Louis 
Former Canadiens D-Man Traded To Central Club
Could The Canadiens Trade For Help In Net?

The Canadiens had a new look at practice on Thursday, not because Kent Hughes went out to get some reinforcements, but because Martin St-Louis decided to change his lines. Since coming back from the Olympics break, his second line had been ineffective, and he decided it was time to put red-hot Alex Newhook back with Demidov and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen.

As a result, Juraj Slafkovsky went back to the first line, a welcome change for captain Nick Suzuki after having a revolving door on his wing since the big Slovak was moved to the rookie line. This also means that Kirby Dach is moving to Jake Evans’ wing alongside Zach Bolduc. Dach and Bolduc had shown some chemistry early in the season, and the reunion may be good for them. As for the Brendan Gallagher, Philip Danault and Josh Anderson line, it’s the only one that remains untouched.

After Thursday’s practice, St-Louis refused to confirm if there would be any lineup change on the blueline, simply saying “I don’t know” when he was asked if Arber Xhekaj would play. The gritty defenseman has been linked to the Calgary Flames in trade rumours, but he’s still a member of the Canadiens at the time of writing.

The Ducks have a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 games and have won their last game 5-1 against the Islanders, with Sennecke leading the charge with a goal and an assist and Ville Husso manning the net. Since he’s the backup, chances are the Canadiens will face Lukas Dostal on Friday night. The Czech netminder has a 2-1-1 record against the Habs with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Meanwhile, Husso has a 4-0-2 record against Montreal with a 1.95 GAA and a .929 SV.

As for the Habs, St-Louis has already confirmed that Samuel Montembeault would be in the net after Jakub Dobes lost his last game and gave up six goals against the San Jose Sharks. The Becancour native has a 2-5-0 record against the Ducks with a 2.89 GAA and a .894 SV. As for Dobes, he has never taken on Anaheim.

Up front, Gallagher is the Canadiens’ most productive player against the Ducks with 12 points in 15 games, followed by Patrik Laine, who has 11 points in 14 games but won’t play tonight. Suzuki comes in third place with seven points in nine games.

At the other end of the ice, veteran Alex Killord has 21 points in 42 duels against the Canadiens, followed by Ryan Strome with 17 points in 24 games and Frank Vatrano with 13 points in 21 games. Newly acquired Carlson has 28 points in 46 duels against the Tricolore, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be dressed on Friday after the trade went down during the night from Thursday to Friday.

The Canadiens have a 4-6-0 record in their last 10 games against the Ducks, and they lost their last meeting, 3-2 in Anaheim in February 2025. The game is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET, and you can catch it on Victory+, KCOP-13, TSN2, and RDS.

---

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The New York Islanders seem reluctant to move either of their 2025 first-round picks in a potential trade for St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou, per industry sources. 

Forward Victor Eklund, whom the Islanders selected 16th overall, is untouchable or as close as you can get to it.

The 19-year-old, who has 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 39 games with Djugardens in the Swedish Elite League, is planning to join the organization for the 2026-27 season, whether that's at the NHL or AHL level.

Don't be shocked if he cracks the Islanders' roster out of camp.

Defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, whom the Islanders selected 17th overall, is crushing it -- figuratively and literally -- in the OHL with the Barrie Colts. He has 64 points (27 goals, 37 assists) in 50 games and was named February's OHL Defenseman Of The Month for a second straight month, setting the franchise record for points by a blue-liner. 

Blueline boss. 👑@NYIslanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson is your February #OHL Defenceman of the Month for the second straight month, setting a new @OHLBarrieColts franchise record for points by a defenceman.

DETAILS 🗞️: https://t.co/OGKuGxn8Ujpic.twitter.com/1My6POqq74

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 1, 2026

Eklund signed his three-year entry-level deal on July 14. 

We're told that Aitcheson will be signing his entry-level deal come the conclusion of the OHL season. 

Flyers make another trade, move Deslauriers to Hurricanes originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers traded Nicolas Deslauriers to the Hurricanes on Friday in exchange for a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick.

Deslauriers, a 35-year-old veteran winger, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He had served mostly as the Flyers’ extra forward over the last two seasons.

Earlier in the day, the Flyers traded Bobby Brink to the Wild.

The Flyers signed Deslauriers in July 2022 to a four-year, $7 million contract. As one of the NHL’s toughest players, Deslauriers took pride in protecting his teammates and never shied away from dropping the gloves.

But as Deslauriers had gotten older and the Flyers turned younger, he had lost his everyday role on the fourth line. Over the last two seasons, he played a combined 55 games and only 7:50 minutes per game.

With Carolina, Deslauriers will get a chance at a playoff run. He’ll very likely be an extra forward on a deep Hurricanes team, but when called upon, he’ll know his role.

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Patrick Kane’s best days are behind him, but he’s still a strong offensive player, having produced 33 points through 47 games.

My Panthers vs. Red Wings predictions expect Kane to find the scoresheet while facing one of the league’s worst teams at keeping the puck out.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Friday, March 6.

Panthers vs Red Wings prediction

Panthers vs Red Wings best bet: Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-120)

Patrick Kane has consistently produced in favorable matchups — particularly in Detroit. He has picked up at least one point in nine of 14 home dates against Bottom-16 teams in goals against. That’s a solid 64% clip.

That hit rate soars to 78% when isolating home games vs. Bottom-10 goal suppression teams. Kane has points in seven of nine, tallying 11 along the way.

The Florida Panthers rank 26th in goals against and 31st in high-danger SV%. They’ve also conceded a power play marker in six of their last eight, and Kane skates on the No. 1 unit.

Panthers vs Red Wings same-game parlay

Dylan Larkin has averaged more than four shots on goal per game since returning from the Olympics. His shot totals have also seen a boost playing with Kane, whom he shares the ice with at 5-on-5 and on the power play.

Matthew Tkachuk has averaged 3.2 shots on 7.4 attempts over five games following the Olympic break. He generates a ton of his volume from the slot, and the Detroit Red Wings rank 30th in preventing shots from that area over their last 10.

Panthers vs Red Wings SGP

• Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points
• Dylan Larkin anytime goal
• Matthew Tkachuk Over 2.5 shots on goal

Panthers vs Red Wings odds

• Moneyline: Florida +125 | Detroit -145
• Puck line: Florida +1.5 (-200) | Detroit -1.5 (+165)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Panthers vs Red Wings trend

Patrick Kane has points in six of his last eight games against Florida. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Red Wings.

How to watch Panthers vs Red Wings

Panthers vs Red Wings latest injuries

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It's NHL trade deadline day.

NHL teams have until 3 p.m. ET today on Friday, March 6, to get a deal done. Contenders will be looking to add the final piece or pieces to get them over the top for a Stanley Cup title. Non-playoff teams will be looking for prospects or draft picks to help them with their rebuild or retool.

The past two days have been busy. Defensemen moved on March 4, including MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth, Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars and Nick Blankenburg to the Colorado Avalanche.

Forwards changed hands on March 5, including Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights, Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche, Michael Bunting to the Stars and David Perron returning to the Detroit Red Wings. Defensemen John Carlson (Anaheim Ducks) and Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn (Buffalo Sabres) were moved after midnight.

Follow along as USA TODAY Sports provides news and analysis on the moves of the day (previous trades can be found here):

Will Vincent Trocheck be traded?

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the Rangers "have indicated they are prepared to keep Vincent Trocheck if they don't get what they feel they need. Told teams, they are not trading him just for the sake of making a trade." Trocheck is signed through 2029. He was held out of the Rangers' last game.

Sabres acquire Sam Carrick from Rangers

The trade: The Buffalo Sabres acquire forward Sam Carrick from the New York Rangers for 2026 third- and sixth-round picks.

Analysis: Carrick has won 53.9 percent of his faceoffs this season, and the Sabres are last in the league at only 45 percent. He also has playoff experience with the 2024 Edmonton Oilers, playing 10 games in their run to the Stanley Cup Final, including four in the conference final. He also had 86 hits while averaging 10:25 a game. He's under contract for another year.

When is the NHL trade deadline?

The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6. Trades usually are announced after that hour, too, because of a backup in the NHL approving the deals submitted beforehand.

Players who could be moved today

The following players were held out of the lineup on Thursday night for roster management purposes: New York Rangers forwards Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann, plus Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer.

Late-night trades

Several trades were announced after midnight ET.

The Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals, the Buffalo Sabres acquired defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forward Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. Trade details can be found here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade deadline live updates, deals, team, player analysis

Happy Trade Deadline day, Vancouver Canucks fans. After the deadline passes at 12:00 pm PT later today, the Canucks (18–36–7) will take on the Chicago Blackhawks (23–28–10) in what will be the first of a road back-to-back. Vancouver’s last matchup saw the team show a little spirit, attempting a comeback but ultimately falling 6–4 to the Carolina Hurricanes at home. Chicago’s last game also ended in a loss, with the Blackhawks falling to the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3–2 in overtime.

Today’s game will be an interesting one to watch, as the moves made ahead of the deadline today could cause both teams to look different from how they appeared at the start of the day. Already, both teams have gotten moves in ahead of the deadline, with the Canucks trading Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday and Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, and the Blackhawks dealing Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Edmonton Oilers for Andrew Mangiapane and a first-round pick. It’s currently unclear whether either team will make another move before 12:00 pm PT or not. 

Vancouver is coming off what many view as the perfect tank game on Wednesday, as they managed to put up a decent comeback effort against the Hurricanes but ultimately fell short. Key players in Vancouver’s lineup — Filip Hronek, Elias Pettersson, and Marco Rossi — all recorded multi-point games, while Nils Höglander scored his first goal of the season. While the decisions made leading into the deadline could impact how the team looks come puck drop, Wednesday’s effort should be something the team looks to build on when they face the Blackhawks later today. 

Players To Watch: 

Marco Rossi

Rossi had what’s been considered his best game in a Canucks uniform on Wednesday, putting up a goal and an assist in Vancouver’s loss to the Hurricanes. Prior to that, the forward’s last point came on December 27 against the San Jose Sharks, though he missed the entire month of January and parts of February due to injury. If Rossi remains paired with Brock Boeser and Liam Öhgren tonight, the two wingers he played with on Wednesday, it’ll be interesting to see if they can replicate their success from the prior game.  

Connor Bedard

Regardless of who he’s playing against, Connor Bedard is always a treat to watch. In his last game against the Canucks on November 5, the forward scored his first goal against his hometown team in a 5–2 win for Chicago. Since returning from the Olympic break, Bedard has put up a point-per-game pace all against Central Division teams. Chicago’s lines still have yet to be altered to fit Mangiapane in, though Bedard will likely contribute lots offensively no matter who he ends up playing with. 

Vancouver Canucks (18–36–7): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 13–24–37

Filip Hronek: 6–29–35

Jake DeBrusk: 13–17–30

Brock Boeser: 13–14–27

Evander Kane: 11–16–27

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 7–20–4

Nikita Tolopilo: 3–5–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Chicago Blackhawks (23–28–10): 

Points: 

Connor Bedard: 25–32–57 

Tyler Bertuzzi: 26–19–45

Andre Burakovsky: 10–20–30

Teuvo Teräväinen: 13–15–28

Ryan Donato: 13–12–25 

Goaltenders: 

Spencer Knight: 16–18–8

Arvid Söderblom: 6–9–2

Drew Commesso: 1–1–0

Game Information: 

Start time: 5:30 pm PT 

Venue: United Center 

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Canucks Trade Conor Garland To The Columbus Blue Jackets For Two Picks

Abbotsford Canucks Sign Defenceman Christian Felton To One-Year Contract

Canucks Trade Longtime Defenceman Jett Woo To The San Jose Sharks

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The Vancouver Canucks hit the road this evening to take on the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, with puck drop scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Jake DeBrusk has created tons of chances against Chicago this season, and I’m eyeing him to do so again in my Canucks vs. Blackhawks predictions.

Read more in my NHL picks for Friday, February 6.

Canucks vs Blackhawks prediction

Canucks vs Blackhawks best bet:Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots (+105)

Jake DeBrusk is averaging 2.68 SOG this season for the Vancouver Canucks, and while that number dips to 2.33 in road games, there’s a serious reason to believe he’ll be busy offensively tonight.

Across two meetings with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2025-26, DeBrusk has put an absurd amount of pucks on net. We’re talking 14 shots on target. The Blackhawks are also poor defensively, allowing 29.4 SOG per game. 

Canucks vs Blackhawks same-game parlay

Drew O’Connor is averaging just 1.45 SOG per contest this season, but he’s hit the Over in two of his last three contests.

O’Connor has also cashed the Over on his shots prop in one of the two meetings with Chicago this season.

Despite trading Conor Garland on Thursday, I’m eyeing them to end their seven-game losing skid tonight. Vancouver is 1-1 against the Hawks in ‘25-26, and that lone win came on the road.

In fact, the Canucks are 9-1-0 across their last 10 meetings with Chicago.

Canucks vs Blackhawks SGP

• Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots
• Drew O’Connor Over 1.5 shots
• Canucks moneyline

Canucks vs Blackhawks odds

• Moneyline: Canucks +123 | Blackhawks -140
• Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (-210) | Blackhawks -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (-120) | Under 6 (+104)

Canucks vs Blackhawks trend

The Vancouver Canucks have hit the game total Over in eight of their last 13 games (+3.10 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Blackhawks.

How to watch Canucks vs Blackhawks

Canucks vs Blackhawks latest injuries

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Seven games are scheduled across the National Hockey League tonight, with no shortage of stars in action. My NHL player props will highlight Nathan MacKinnon, Wyatt Johnston, and Matt Boldy. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Friday, March 6. 

Best NHL player prop bets today

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Our best NHL player props for Friday, March 6

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots on goal 

-170 at BET99

Nathan MacKinnon is an unstoppable force offensively, and that’s clear by the -170 odds here. After all, he is averaging 4.55 shots on goal per game. While the Colorado Avalanche are taking on the red-hot Dallas Stars tonight, MacKinnon has already had success against them this season. 

The Nova Scotia native had a goal, two helpers, and four shots on target earlier in the campaign versus Dallas. Yes, the Stars are seventh in the league in fewest shots allowed, but MacKinnon is a superstar who can compete with the best of them.

He’s also cashed the Over in shots on goal in six of his last seven, and MacKinnon even had eight shots on net against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, a team who is 13th in fewest shots conceded. 

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ALT, Victory+

Prop #2: Wyatt Johnston anytime goal

+150 at BET99

The Stars have won 10 straight, and Wyatt Johnston has certainly played his part. The youngster, who has 33 goals on the year, has scored in three of four games since the Olympic break. 

Johnston found the back of the net on Tuesday against the Flames, and he also scored twice in the Stars’ first game back from the Winter Olympics. The Ontario native already scored this season against the Avs as well. 

Johnston has 18 goals in 28 home games, and Dallas welcomes Colorado to town this evening. 

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ALT, Victory+

Prop #3: Matt Boldy Over 0.5 assists

-115 at BET99

Matt Boldy was one of the heroes for Team USA in Milan, and he’s carried that form right back to the National Hockey League. The Minnesota Wild star has notched 37 assists in 2025-26, and he’s already grabbed seven helpers since the league resumed play. 

Boldy handed out three assists in a win over the Lightning earlier this week, and he set up another in Sunday’s loss to the Blues. The Wild hit the road tonight to face the Golden Knights, and that’s a welcoming sight for Boldy. 

He’s compiled two helpers in two meetings with Vegas this season, and the 24-year-old has 18 assists in 27 road games. 

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN NO, SCRIPPS

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

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Hours after acquiring left winger Warren Foegele for a combination of draft picks, the Senators alleviated their logjam of depth forwards.

With news that Stephen Halliday was an extra forward and that Kurtis MacDermid was drawing into the lineup against the Calgary Flames, there was speculation that his future could be clouded ahead of tomorrow’s trade deadline.

Instead, it is veteran forward David Perron who is headed out the door.

The organization announced that they had moved the impending unrestricted free agent to the division rival Detroit Red Wings for a conditional fourth-round pick. The conditions of the pick are outlined as follows: provided Perron plays in a regular season game for the Wings before the end of the year, Ottawa will receive a 2026 fourth-round pick. If the Red Wings advance to the second round of the postseason and Perron plays in more than 50 percent of the games, that fourth-round pick will become a 2026 third.

Perron has not played since the Senators’ January 20th game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The winger has missed the past 12 games after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

When healthy, the 37-year-old proved he still was an effective player. In 49 games with the Senators this season, he scored 10 goals and had 25 points while providing the strong underlying metrics that have traditionally followed the veteran across his 19-year career.

Unfortunately, injuries and a 2024 family issue limited Perron to 92 games across two seasons for the Senators, contributing 19 goals and 41 points.

Interestingly, general managers Steve Staios and Steve Yzerman were engaged in a lengthy conversation in the press box at the Canadian Tire Centre during an intermission of their teams’ matchup on Thursday, February 26th. And now, we know what they were likely discussing.

This trade affords Perron the opportunity to return to Detroit, where he spent two seasons before joining the Senators as a free agent during the 2024 offseason.

The trade leaves the Senators with $12,779,484 in accrued cap space, per PuckPedia. It leaves the organization with considerable room if it intends to make another deal (or two) to improve its roster at tomorrow’s trade deadline.

And, following tonight’s 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames that left the Senators four points back of the Boston Bruins and the Eastern Conference’s second wild card seed, there is the potential for things to get very interesting.

The addition of Warren Foegele earlier in the day certainly made Perron expendable. His acquisition allows the organization to return Nick Cousins to a fourth line role, which better suits him.

It does, however, raise questions about Stephen Halliday’s future. The young 23-year-old has played and produced well in his limited minutes this season, but Foegele's presence could push him to the outside, provided the organization does not move another veteran like Lars Eller or Fabian Zetterlund.

Given his age and production, there should be considerable interest in Halliday as a prospective trade chip.

Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News

Are The Senators About To Trade Stephen Halliday?Kurtis MacDermid being in Stephen Halliday's spot at practice on the eve of the NHL trade deadline signals potential roster moves.

Last summer, there were rumours about the Montreal Canadiens being in trade talks with the St. Louis Blues to acquire winger Jordan Kyrou. However, when the two organizations announced a trade, it didn’t involve him, but rather two young players: Zachary Bolduc and right-shot 22-year-old defenseman Logan Mailloux.

Since the trade, the 23-year-old Bolduc has played 59 games with the Habs, been a healthy scratch once last week, and has 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He’s also gotten 24 penalty minutes and has a minus-nine rating.

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Meanwhile, Mailloux has played five games with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL and 46 games with the Blues. He picked up two points in Springfield (both goals) and three goals and two assists for five points in the NHL.

In his last five games, though, Mailloux has scored two goals, taken 13 shots, landed eight hits, blocked five shots and has a plus-five differential while playing on the Blues’ second pairing. Meanwhile, Bolduc has recorded two points, both assists, in his last five game put together a minus-one record, took two shots, blocked one and landed 13 hits while playing in the bottom six alongside Jake Evans and Alex Newhook.

Should the Canadiens have buyer’s remorse? It’s much too early to tell. Both players are still very young and are nowhere near done developing. When he joined the Canadiens, Bolduc was parachuted into a whole new system, playing under Martin St-Louis meant learning to read the plays and making the right decisions at the right time, rather than just using a standard system, which takes time. This is Bolduc’s first full season in the NHL, and he still has plenty of time to learn and improve.

Granted, the Canadiens could do with a right-shot defenseman right now, but they do have David Reinbacher and Bryce Pickford in the pipeline, and if Bolduc becomes the player the Habs’ brass felt he could become under St-Louis’ tutelage, the trade will have paid off for both sides.

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The Philadelphia Flyers still haven't managed to fix their center depth, and one of the key cogs they just traded has already found a permanent new home in the NHL.

So far, with one month to go in the 2025-26 season, Trevor Zegras has not taken over as a full-time center as many of us expected in the offseason.

Instead, that role belongs to fellow newcomer Christian Dvorak, with Noah Cates, a declining Sean Couturier, and Carl Grundstrom filling in behind.

Top prospect Jett Luchanko lasted only four games with the Flyers, and Rodrigo Abols is done for the season with a lower-body injury.

With all that in perspective, it's fair to say the Flyers are missing old friend Ryan Poehling, whom they traded to the Anaheim Ducks in the Zegras trade.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Should Be All-In On Simon NemecAhead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the market is flush with right-shot defenseman, which works for and against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>. If they want to add, though, now might be a good time.

And, while the Flyers still appear to have gotten the better end of that trade, they did create a gap in the lineup that's been plaguing them all season. Both things can be true.

On Thursday, Poehling, 27, cashed in on a solid first season in California, signing a four-year, $15 million ($3.75 million AAV) contract to remain with the Ducks.

The ex-Flyers forward has slotted in nicely behind the likes of Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish in Anaheim, and, importantly, does not have any trade protection in his new deal.

Given the state of the NHL trade market over the last few years, that very well could work out in the Ducks' favor in the future.

Poehling has seven goals, 17 assists, and 24 points in 54 games this season in his depth role.

Flyers' Latest Signing Creates New Trade PossibilitiesAhead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have yet to strike any deals of substance, though their latest signing indicates that one could be coming soon.

Comparatively, Dvorak, who signed a much more lucrative five-year, $25.75 million extension with the Flyers in January, has trade protection in all but the last season of his deal, sitting at 13 goals, 24 assists, and 37 points in 60 games playing almost top-line minutes almost exclusively with Zegras.

Poehling, with an expanded role and a bit of finishing luck, could be matching or surpassing Dvorak's offensive production, but the Ducks were happy to keep him in a role that matches his skillset and pay him accordingly.

As for the Flyers, the position they're in is very similar to when they had Poehling, looking for what they lost.