The NHL is back in action after its damn-near-monthlong Olympic break with eight games tonight, though the Islanders don’t resume until tomorrow night in Montreal, one of 12 games Thursday.

That didn’t keep them from kicking off the looming trade frenzy, though, with a minor league swap of Julien Gauthier to the Blues/Springfield for Matt Luff for the Isles/Bridgeport. This continues what is becoming a tradition of late-season scrapyard swaps between these two franchises.

Both guys have NHL experience and can step in when needed, but they are primarily AHL resources at this point. The Blues are terrible this season and have dealt with a cascade of forward injuries but only afforded Luff five NHL games. He’s been a scorer in the A though. Gauthier looked like he might have a chance at a regular bottom-line role a couple of seasons ago before injuries derailed both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

• Both Isles Olympians are back in town (Bo Horvat did not skate though) and expected to play Thursday. [THN | Isles]
• The official announcement of Luff for Gauthier. [Isles]
• Patrick Roy knows how both Horvat and Ondrej Palat are feeling after falling short at the Olympics. Roy was on the 1998 Canada team that fell to the Czechs. [Newsday]
• Five important games among many for the Isles down the stretch. [Newsday]
• Islanders Anxiety podcast: Dan and Mike relive the Olympics and some hilarious hot takes. [LHH]

Elsewhere

• The Penguins continue to build flexibility and get younger, flipping Brett Kulak (part of the Jarry trade) to Colorado for Samuel Girard and a second-round pick. [NHL]
• The Kyper trade board is updated for the drama to follow over the next week. [Sportsnet]
• The Canucks are one of those teams that knows they’re about to lose some guys. [Sportsnet]
• Coming off IR just in time for the trade deadline, Blake Coleman is a Flame until he’s told he’s not. [NHL]
• Out since the first day of training camp, Aleksandar Barkov says he’s on track for a playoff return following knee surgery. [NHL]

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas made yet another intriguing trade on Tuesday, as the March 6 trading deadline draws nearer. The Penguins have traded defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 draft. [PensBurgh]

Ryder Fetterolf, a Sewickley, Pennsylvania, native playing goalie for the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, has been one of the league’s top netminders this season with an impressive record, strong metrics, and multiple shutouts, earning a spot in the Top Prospects Game as he prepares for the NHL Draft. [Trib Live]

Forward prospect Bill Zonnon is embracing his role as a visible Black hockey player and role model, using his platform to inspire youth and highlight the importance of representation in the sport. He credits seeing players like P.K. Subban as a child for shaping his passion and is proud to give back through community engagement and leadership. [Penguins]

Updates from around the NHL…

The International Ice Hockey Federation says it will continue using 3-on-3 overtime at international tournaments, including the Olympics, despite criticism that the format strays from traditional 5-on-5 hockey. Critics argue it isn’t true to the sport, but IIHF president Luc Tardif defended it as necessary to fit tight tournament schedules. [Sportsnet]

Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews said he will not waive his no-movement clause before the March 6 trade deadline. Toews, 37, said he wants to keep playing for his hometown club as they try to climb the standings. [Sportsnet]

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen will miss at least the next two weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during the Winter Olympics. The team expects him to return before the end of the regular season. [TSN]

Chicago Blackhawks (22-26-9, in the Central Division) vs. Nashville Predators (26-24-7, in the Central Division)

Nashville, Tennessee; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks travel to the Nashville Predators looking to stop a three-game road losing streak.

Nashville is 26-24-7 overall with an 8-9-3 record in Central Division games. The Predators have a 20-6-2 record in games they score at least three goals.

Chicago has gone 22-26-9 overall with a 7-4-2 record in Central Division play. The Blackhawks have committed 217 total penalties (3.8 per game) to rank 10th in league play.

The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Blackhawks won 3-0 in the previous meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Steven Stamkos has 28 goals and 16 assists for the Predators. Filip Forsberg has seven goals and five assists over the past 10 games.

Tyler Bertuzzi has 25 goals and 17 assists for the Blackhawks. Ilya Mikheyev has three goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Predators: 3-4-3, averaging 3.3 goals, six assists, 3.3 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up 4.2 goals per game.

Blackhawks: 3-5-2, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.7 assists, 2.7 penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

INJURIES: Predators: None listed.

Blackhawks: None listed.

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

New York Islanders (32-21-5, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8, in the Atlantic Division)

Montreal, Quebec; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens and the New York Islanders take the ice in Eastern Conference action.

Montreal is 16-11-1 in home games and 32-17-8 overall. The Canadiens have a 29-6-7 record when scoring at least three goals.

New York has a 32-21-5 record overall and a 16-11-3 record in road games. The Islanders have gone 23-3-3 when scoring at least three goals.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nicholas Suzuki has scored 18 goals with 47 assists for the Canadiens. Lane Hutson has two goals and 11 assists over the last 10 games.

Mathew Barzal has 17 goals and 34 assists for the Islanders. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has scored four goals with two assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 6-3-1, averaging four goals, 7.3 assists, four penalties and 8.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

Islanders: 6-4-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Canadiens: None listed.

Islanders: None listed.

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

Chris MacFarland may have quietly struck again.

The Colorado Avalanche general manager has built a reputation for uncovering value on the margins, and early signs suggest his latest move could be another savvy addition. The winger acquired in the trade that sent defenseman Ilya Solovyov out of the organization is already making an impression with the Colorado Eagles — 26-year-old Valtteri Puustinen.

We have acquired Valtteri Puustinen and Pittsburgh's own 7th Round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for Ilya Solovyov. pic.twitter.com/zegVaNPIgW

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 20, 2026

Before arriving in Loveland, Puustinen recorded seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 35 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since joining the Eagles, he hasn’t missed a beat.

In just 11 games with Colorado, Puustinen has tallied three goals and three assists for six points, quickly establishing himself as a reliable offensive contributor. At his current scoring rate with the Eagles, he is on pace to reach seven goals by his 26th game with the club. That would put him roughly nine games ahead of the pace it took to reach seven goals in his previous 35-game stint — a clear sign that his offensive touch is translating seamlessly with his new team.

Valtteri Puustinen with the one-timer👊@ColoradoEagles | #COLvsCHIpic.twitter.com/5VIw7Bx8Ty

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 15, 2026

Given the Avalanche made a headline-grabbing trade on Tuesday, sending their longest-tenured defenseman, Sam Girard, and a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for defenseman Brett Kulak, it’s clear Colorado is actively managing its roster. But come playoff time, Puustinen could emerge as a valuable, underrated depth piece for the organization.

Puustinen Fits the System

Puustinen is a naturally skilled winger with excellent puck control and sharp playmaking ability. He reads the ice intelligently, finds seams in the defense on the power play, and possesses a quick, deceptive release that keeps goaltenders guessing. His consistent production at the AHL level shows he can generate offense in multiple ways.

One of his most underrated strengths is his ability to move the puck seamlessly through the neutral zone. He supports breakouts with poise, makes smart passes, and is exceptionally difficult to dislodge from the puck. Calm and composed under pressure, Puustinen’s game meshes perfectly with Colorado’s up-tempo, possession-based style.

And dare I say, his ability to carry the puck and facilitate transition play could give the Avalanche the spark their power-play unit has lacked this season — an area that arguably cost them in last year’s playoffs.

With his vision, skill, and composure, Puustinen has the tools to make an immediate impact on both the Eagles and, eventually, the Avalanche.

By Corey Abbott, RotoWire.com

The pause of the 2025-26 NHL campaign for the Winter Olympics results in a condensed schedule across the league for the final stretch of the season. Fantasy hockey managers have a great deal to consider over that time, including the potential for difficult roster decisions. Beginning preparations based on warning signs could be a wise approach, and we will cover some players whom poolies should be wary of as the regular season reaches what could be a frenetic conclusion. 

Brad Marchand, LW/RW, Panthers (89% rostered) 

Marchand has been hampered by an undisclosed injury for most of the 2025-26 campaign. He missed 10 of Florida's final 15 games before the Olympic break while logging under 12 minutes of ice time in each of his last two appearances. He also sat out two of Canada's three preliminary round contests. When he returned during the medal round, he was noticeably slower than his peers, and it appears as though he is still dealing with a nagging issue. He had 23 goals on 115 shots before he missed seven straight games in January. His 20.0 shooting percentage over that span is comfortably above his career average of 15.3. The 37-year-old could have his playing time managed for the remainder of the season, and if Florida's playoff hopes grow dimmer, he might be a candidate to shut down completely if he can't shake his injury problem. 

Karel Vejmelka, G, Mammoth (87% rostered) 

Vejmelka entered the Olympic break with a share of the league lead with 27 wins. He has faced the second-most shots (1,130) this season while posting a solid 2.58 goals-against average and a serviceable .903 save percentage. He is also tied for the most games played this campaign at 44. Utah doesn't have a daunting strength of schedule, which could work in Vejmelka's favor, or it could open the door for additional Vitek Vanecek starts. However, with the Mammoth battling for a playoff spot, Vejmelka will probably be leaned on heavily. That could be a problem if his fourth quarter of the 2024-25 season is anything to go on, as he went 10-6-4 in 20 games down the stretch with a 2.83 GAA and .890 save percentage. 

Gabriel Landeskog, LW/RW, Avalanche (32% rostered) 

Landeskog missed 14 straight games before the Olympic break because of an upper-body injury. Despite a slow start offensively to the season, he suited up in 41 consecutive contests before getting hurt three games into January. He had been alleviating some of the worry about his health being a problem following a lengthy absence due to a knee issue. However, his extended absence before playing for Sweden raises some concerns. He is already averaging a career-low 15:51 of ice time per game this season and could see his role reduced further if Colorado pads its impressive lead for the No. 1 overall seed in the NHL. 

Mark Stone, RW, Golden Knights (88% rostered) 

Aside from the 16 games he missed early in the year because of a wrist injury, Stone has been all over the scoresheet in 2025-26. However, the pace he established will be challenging to maintain, especially if wear and tear strikes again for the oft-injured forward. His point-production rates at even strength and on the power play have been the highest of his career. Stone also has a personal-best shooting percentage of 22.8%, well above his 15.7% average, and has reached the 30-goal mark only once before. His 1.48 points per game have him on pace for 97 points, and he has just one season with more than 70 points on his resume. The 33-year-old forward will be at risk of injury with the schedule set for a taxing stretch, and his pace could slow as the season progresses. 

Jared McCann, C/LW, Kraken (53% rostered)

McCann was rolling along offensively before the Olympic break, but the time off might hinder his momentum. Additionally, Seattle's scoring difficulties could lead to inconsistent performances. While he has been the team's top producer in total points since the 2023-24 campaign, the 29-year-old forward has also missed significant chunks of this season due to injuries. A busy end to the schedule could aggravate existing issues or create new ones, especially since he will probably continue to log heavy minutes. 

Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Penguins (35% rostered) 

Mantha has been a resurgent success for Pittsburgh this season. He is on pace to surpass the 60-point plateau, even though he hasn't even reached the 50-point mark before at the NHL level. However, his reaching 60 points probably depends on his playing in all 82 games. Injuries have been a considerable stumbling block for Mantha in the past, which could become a problem again during a crowded stretch of games. Pittsburgh also has the toughest strength of schedule remaining, which may slow Mantha's scoring rates. 

Morgan Geekie, C/LW/RW, Bruins (91% rostered) 

Geekie has done an incredible job of proving his doubters wrong thus far. However, skepticism remains that he can maintain his current pace for the rest of the 2025-26 season. He has a league-best 24.8 shooting percentage, towering over his career average of 16.7%. He scored 33 times on 150 shots in 2024-25 and already has 32 goals on 129 shots this campaign. Boston has the second-toughest strength of schedule, which could make it more challenging for Geekie to continue his torrid goal-scoring success. 

Jordan Binnington, G, Blues (46% rostered) 

Binnington performed well for Canada at the Winter Olympics, but has struggled mightily this season with the Blues. He still has a long way to go to earn back the trust of fantasy managers, and isn't returning to a cozy situation. St. Louis has the second-worst record in the league, and Joel Hofer will probably continue to cut into Binnington's playing time. The 25-year-old Hofer has been the better option of the two this campaign. Binnington could get a boost with a change of scenery, but his 14-team no-trade list might be a hindrance, and his inconsistent efforts would still make him a risky bet to rebound. 

The NHL Olympic trade freeze was lifted on Monday at 12:00 a.m. ET, and - with only 10 days until the trade deadline on Mar. 6 - it was only a matter of time before NHL general managers kickstarted the activity. 

And who else to kickstart it other than the man who has been the most active GM so far this season?

On Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas knocked down the first domino when he sent pending-unrestricted free agent defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick. It was the first trade post-break, and it certainly doesn't figure to be the last.

And who knows: Dubas might not be done yet. In fact, there is a good chance he probably won't be done, as the Penguins are both in the midst of a strong playoff push and of continuing to collect as many assets as possible to help move their rebuild along. The move to get Girard also netted them a second-round pick, giving the Penguins 20 picks in the first three rounds of the next four NHL Drafts - which is the highest mark in the NHL.

It's unclear how Dubas will approach this trade deadline. It appears likely that it may have something to do with the health of captain Sidney Crosby, who sustained a lower-body injury during the Olympics and is out four weeks, but there are a lot of different ways it could go. 

But one thing is for certain: Dubas sure knows how to get maximum value out of his trades, and that's exactly what happened when he traded for Girard on Tuesday.

TRADE: Penguins & Avalanche Swap DefensemenThe Penguins have made a change to their blueline.

Looking at this trade tree, it started on Dec. 12 when Dubas sent goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick. With the Kulak trade, the Penguins essentially dealt Jarry, Poulin, and Kulak for Skinner, Girard, and two second-round picks. 

Considering that Jarry and Skinner are essentially equals, minus the fact that Skinner is on an expiring contract and Jarry has three more years at $5.125 million, and that Kulak and Girard are essentially equals - minus the fact that Girard is five years younger, has a higher offensive ceiling, and has term with one more year at $5 million - it seems as though Dubas, essentially, conjured those second-round picks out of mid-air. It's not as if you can argue that Poulin is even worth one second-round pick on his own.

This trade is just the latest example of Dubas being able to turn nothing - or, at least, much lower value - into something on the trade market combined with free agency. When he traded Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to the Vancouver Canucks last January, he netted a first-round pick that turned into two in Will Horcoff and Bill Zonnon - two higher-ceiling forward prospects - and effectively replaced Pettersson with Parker Wotherspoon and O'Connor with Justin Brazeau in free agency, both of whom have, arguably, been upgrades.

Every Trade And Signing By The Pittsburgh Penguins In 20252025 was a busy year for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and we take a look back at every move the Penguins made in the calendar year.

He also turned Michael Bunting - a product of the Jake Guentzel trade that is still playing out - and Luke Schenn plus a fourth-round pick into Tommy Novak, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. And a fifth-round pick for Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins, who was flipped along with a middling defensive prospect in Isaac Belliveau for Connor Clifton and a second. 

And another one that is still playing out? Egor Chinakhov, who the Penguins got from the Columbus Blue Jackets just before the turn of the new year for a second- and third-round pick. Since then, Chinakhov has eight goals and 12 points in 18 games. 

Revisiting The Jake Guentzel Trade TreeOn Thursday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> will take on the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> in Florida, as Pittsburgh looks to hold onto its playoff positioning and Tampa looks to extend its Atlantic Division lead.&nbsp;

Somehow, some way, Dubas always seems to maximize return, especially in his business dealings since the Guentzel trade. The full scale of that trade, as mentioned before, has yet to play out, as prospects Harrison Brunicke, Ville Koivunen, Cruz Lucius, and Vasily Ponomarev - in addition to the Bunting piece of it - are still developing and trying to push their way into the NHL.

Dubas is a smart businessman, and he's shown that he is one of the best in the business. His dealings have not only added to an already-overflowing draft cupboard, but they have also helped propel his team to second in the Metropolitan Division in a season that was - by many accounts - supposed to be another lost one. 

Things are looking up for the Pittsburgh Penguins. And it starts with the man in the big chair.

Is Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas The Clear Frontrunner For GM Of The Year?Pittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has had quite the year - and, if things continue to go well for them, he deserves some recognition.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins made a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, sending defenseman Brett Kulak to the Avalanche in exchange for fellow defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick.

Kulak was with the Penguins for a little over two months before being traded to the Avalanche. He was originally acquired by the Penguins in the Tristan Jarry trade back in December. 

Now that the dust has settled, this is a nice piece of business from Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas. He got a younger defenseman who is signed for one more year, along with a second-round pick, for a defenseman who was going to walk into free agency this summer. Dubas has been on an absolute heater for the last year and a half and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

That 2028 second-rounder is one of seven second-round picks that the Penguins have in the next three drafts. They also have three first-round picks and six third-round picks in the next three drafts. There's still plenty of time for those numbers to grow, too. 

Dubas continues to prioritize his plan to get the Penguins back to being a long-term contender as urgently as possible, while also rewarding his team for the season they're having. He knows this is a team capable of making the playoffs and potentially earning home ice in the first round. 

Girard brings a different skill set than Kulak. He may not be as steady in his own zone or in front of the net, but he's a good puck-mover, something the Penguins need more of on the backend. Outside of Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, the Penguins don't have another true puck-mover. Girard is also someone who plays well in transition and exits his own zone cleanly.

He brings more of an offensive presence, and if the Penguins really want to, they can have an offensive-first defenseman on all three of their defensive pairs.

They're going to keep the Wotherspoon-Karlsson pairing together since it's been their best pairing all year. After that, they could look to reunite the Shea-Letang pair since it was successful at times earlier this season. That would leave Girard to play on the third pair with one of Connor Clifton or Ilya Solovyov. Either way, you'd have a pure offensive-first and a defense-first player on each defensive pair. 

However, the Penguins could also look to try Girard with Letang and at least see how it goes. It might turn into a full chaos pairing, but head coach Dan Muse hasn't been afraid to try new lines/pairs at times this year. 

Girard's underlying numbers have been really strong this year. He has played 653 minutes at 5v5 and has been on the ice for 56.4% of the shot attempts, 54.9% of the expected goals, 58.1% of the scoring chances, and 53.4% of the high-danger chances. Yes, the Avalanche are a juggernaut this season, but those numbers speak to his ability to drive possession and work the puck into the offensive zone for some good chances.

TRADE: Penguins & Avalanche Swap DefensemenThe Penguins have made a change to their blueline.

All in all, Girard is a nice fit for the blue line and will have the chance to help this team in a multitude of ways on a nightly basis. 

We'll see if he's in the lineup on Thursday when the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. It will be their first game in three weeks since the NHL has been on its Olympic break.

(Data via Natural Stat Trick).

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One of the Buffalo Sabres' top objectives ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline should be to add a right-shot defenseman. It is clear that the right side of their blueline could use more depth.

When looking at potential trade candidates around the NHL, one blueliner who could make sense for the Sabres to pursue is Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Perbix. 

If the Sabres landed Perbix, he would have the potential to be a solid addition to their bottom pairing. He would also give the Sabres another option for their penalty kill. 

Perbix's contract also adds to his appeal. This is because he has a reasonable $2.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season. With this, he would be more than a rental for the Sabres if acquired. 

Perbix has appeared in 54 games this season with the Predators, where he has recorded three goals, six assists, nine points, and 56 blocks. This is after the right-shot defenseman had six goals, 13 assists, 19 points, and a plus-8 rating in 74 games this past season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

With the lengthy injury to Kevin Fiala and the acquisition of superstar Artemi Panarin, the Los Angeles Kings are not backing down with the NHL's trade deadline approaching.

The latest reports from The Fourth Period and Dennis Bernstein reveal that Kings GM Ken Holland has contacted the Montreal Canadiens regarding the status of right winger Patrik Laine.

"As the Kings explore the market for a top-six forward, I can confirm they spoke with Montreal about Patrik Laine," Bernstein said on X.

It's no surprise that Holland is dabbling in the trade market to look for more scoring help. Kings left winger Fiala has been ruled out for the remainder of the NHL's regular season following a serious leg injury he suffered during the Olympics. His absence will be a massive blow to the Kings offensively.

With that, Los Angeles continues to look to find someone who can fill in the hole on the flanks.

While it seems clear that Holland is looking for even more help in the scoring department, it appears that he won't further pursue Laine after the initial inquiry.

"There doesn’t seem to be a fit right now and Kings are now looking elsewhere," Bernstein reported.

Former Los Angeles Kings Defenseman In Spotlight Of NHL Trade RumorsFormer Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov has appeared in the NHL trade rumor mill less than one year after signing with the New York Rangers.

Laine, the second-overall pick in the 2016 draft, is known for his scoring touch and heavy shot. However, the 27-year-old has been on the wrong side of luck in terms of health and injuries.

He's only made five appearances this season for the Canadiens and hasn't played a game since Oct. 16. Laine has been sidelined for the past four months after receiving core muscle surgery.

Canadiens: Laine Back On The IceIt was business as usual in Brossard for the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday as the team held its second practice since the start of the Olympic break.

In addition to Laine's health and inconsistencies over the past few years, there are other aspects that have driven the Kings' brass into another direction.

Bernstein said that Los Angeles may be looking for more of a play driver or facilitator rather than a finisher like Laine is. He also pointed out that finding a center is likely the main focus for the organization going into the March 6 trade deadline.

The Kings have over $12.41 million to work with in current salary cap space, according to puckpedia.com. They also have several respectable prospects, as well as three first-round picks and four second-rounders in the next three drafts.

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Now that the NHL Olympic Break is officially over and the regular season resumes tomorrow, the Colorado Avalanche have made a trade before the trade deadline officially comes up just over a week from now, on March 6. The Avs have traded Samuel Girard and a 2028 second round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak.

Kulak was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to Pittsburgh earlier this season as part of the Stuart Skinner trade. The 32-year-old defenseman has played 25 games for the Penguins so far, logging seven points in those games so far. At this point in his career, he’s widely considered a depth defenseman, and it’s likely that he’ll slot in either on Colorado’s third pairing or be a 7th defenseman that can enter the lineup here and there when needed.

The fit of Kulak in Colorado made sense, we even included him in our Avalanche trade targets last week especially as Colorado and Pittsburgh have been frequent trade partners recently. The thought of acquiring him for a second round pick would have been steep, to throw in Girard on top of it makes this very much a lopsided trade. With Girard now headed to Pittsburgh, Sam Malinski will likely play more minutes as Girard is not the fail-safe any longer. The last piece of this is that Colorado cleared up some more cap space with this deal.

Kulak is currently on the last year of a four-year deal, with an AAV of $2,750,000. Girard’s AAV on his contract is $5,000,000, with one year remaining so the Avs now have $8,741,926 in cap space with this move, which is obviously the goal moving Girard as a cap dump. That’s a pretty decent amount of cap space to make another move or two before the trade deadline next week, so we’ll see if the Avs have any other moves in the pipeline in the meantime. Given that contenders generally load up on defense the idea is to add to the defensive core, not take from it, therefore another move has to be in the works.

The Philadelphia Flyers 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.

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded veteran defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Sam Girard and a 2028 second-round pick, with the latter gearing up for a deep playoff push with clear aspirations of winning another Stanley Cup.

On the surface, though, this isn't a very impressive trade by Colorado. They've already won with Girard on their roster, and Kulak, 32, finds himself on his third team in as many months after originally getting jettisoned by Edmonton in December.

Kulak, at 6-foot-2, is much larger than the 5-foot-10 Girard, and he's played 22 or more playoff games with Edmonton in each of the last two years.

The price of that size and experience, though, was a smaller but more accomplished puck-moving defenseman in Girard, plus a premium draft pick.

NHL Rumors: 2 Suitors Named For Flyers' Rasmus RistolainenThese two teams are reportedly interested in Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

As for the Flyers, they've long had interest in moving burly right-hander Rasmus Ristolainen for the right package, though nothing matching their trade taste buds has come to fruition just yet.

Ristolainen, 32, has two years remaining on his contract at a $5.1 million cap hit, and the Flyers have the requisite retention slots available to cut that down to as low as $2.55 million to sweeten the pot for a prospective buyer.

Because Ristolainen is 6-foot-4 and a right-shot, he is inherently more valuable on the NHL trade market, and especially to those who still harbor the old-school hockey views.

Teams like Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Dallas have been said to have interest in adding a right-shot defenseman, and Ristolainen fits the bill.

Report: Flyers Rejected Big Maple Leafs Trade for Rasmus RistolainenAccording to a new report, the Philadelphia Flyers received a massive trade offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs for veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. GM Danny Briere and Co. didn't budge.

The value a smaller, left-shot defender in Kulak fetched should set the Flyers up to have a massive trade deadline day if they play all their cards right.

After re-signing Christian Dvorak for five years earlier in the season, Ristolainen is now by far their most attractive trade chip.

Forwards Owen Tippett and Bobby Brink will have value, too, to be clear, but Tippett's size and fairly reasonable $6.2 million cap hit work favorably for the Flyers. Any inquiring team will have to take on the full seven years remaining on his deal, with trade protection set to kick in this summer, lasting until 2030.

As for Brink, he's an inexpensive pending RFA and has excelled in a checking role for the Flyers, but contenders may be turned off by his combination of (5-foot-8) lack of size and lack of playoff experience.

NHL Trade Rumors: Predicting Flyers Trade Deadline Plans, TargetsThe 2026 NHL trade deadline, which falls on March 6 this year, is officially less than two weeks away. In that short period of time, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are going to have to make some important decisions with long-term implications.

So, with that all said, now is as good a time as any for the Flyers to maximize the return they can get for Ristolainen. The market clearly favors them, but the final choice will be theirs to make.

The Detroit Red Wings are expected to be active ahead of the NHL trade deadline next Friday, March 6, as the club evaluates both potential additions and expendable assets in an effort to reshape parts of its roster.

Detroit is exploring ways to strengthen key areas of its lineup while also shopping some of their own players on expiring contracts with the most notable name being pending unrestricted free agent Erik Gustafsson.

The 33-year-old blueliner, who once recorded a 60-point season earlier in his NHL career, has not be given a consistent role yet this year. Gustafsson has appeared in just two games with Detroit this season and has spent significant time in the press box.

While at the AHL level, he's also played just 22 games this season as the team has been moving pieces around as they have too many veterans and need to remove some from the lineup each game to fall under the AHL's cap for veteran players and has led to less games for Gustafsson. As a result, the NHL veteran has seen very limited action and has not played in a game since late January. 

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The lack of playing time raises questions about whether Gustafsson’s trade value has been affected. Earlier in the season, league sources indicated there was interest in the veteran defenseman, with the New York Rangers frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot.

Gustafsson enjoyed one of his more productive recent stretches in New York, tallying 31 points during the 2023-24 campaign and playing some of his strongest hockey in the Big Apple. However, trade chatter has cooled in recent weeks, and it remains unclear how aggressive teams will be in pursuing a defenseman who has seen limited game action.

With Gustafsson set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, GM Steve Yzerman would love to recoup any possible assets rather than risk losing him for nothing. 

There is also the possibility the Red Wings could insert Gustafsson into the lineup before the deadline to showcase that he remains game ready and capable of contributing to a contender’s blue line. A short audition could help reassure interested teams that the veteran still has something to offer.

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The Montreal Canadiens play their first game following the Olympic break on Feb. 26 against the New York Islanders. The Habs are undoubtedly in a good spot at this point of the season, as they have a 32-17-8 record and are second in the Atlantic Division standings with 72 points.

There are several reasons why the Canadiens are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and forward Oliver Kapanen is undoubtedly one of them. After posting two assists in his first 18 career NHL games last season, Kapanen has broken out in a big way this campaign for the Canadiens and has cemented himself as a key part of their forward group in the process. 

In 57 games so far this season with the Canadiens, Kapanen has recorded 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 points, and a plus-5 rating. Kapanen is currently tied with Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke for the most goals among all NHL rookies. He is also fourth in points out of all NHL rookies, so he has undoubtedly been one of the top rookies in the NHL this season.

With all of this, there is no question that Kapanen has been having an impressive breakout year for the Canadiens. The young forward should only get better as he continues to gain experience, and it will be fascinating to see how he finishes off the season from here.