Category: NHL

Four post-Olympics Bruins storylines that fans should watch originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 Winter Olympics were a rousing success for United States hockey.

Both the men and women’s teams won the gold medal in Milan-Cortina by beating their Canadian rivals in overtime.

The men won 2-1 in OT on Sunday with a golden goal by Jack Hughes. It was the first time Team USA won Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the Miracle on Ice team in 1980.

The Bruins were well-represented at the Olympics and had two players — defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goalie Jeremy Swayman — win gold for the American squad.

It extends the streak of at least one Bruins player winning Olympic gold (when NHL players participate) to four Winter Games in a row.

• 2006: P.J. Axelsson, Sweden
• 2010: Patrice Bergeron, Canada
• 2014: Patrice Bergeron, Canada
• 2026: Charlie McAvoy/Jeremy Swayman, USA

Now that the Olympics are over, the NHL regular season will resume, and it will be a sprint to the finish in mid-April. The Bruins’ first game after the break is Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden.

Let’s look at four key storylines that Bruins fans should watch over the next six weeks.

Olympic boost for Charlie McAvoy?

McAvoy consistently ranked among the leaders in ice time among American players and was trusted to be on the ice in many important situations.

McAvoy didn’t tally a point at the Olympics, but he played excellent defensively and brought a physical presence to the ice on every shift. This style was a perfect compliment to Quinn Hughes. McAvoy allowed Hughes to jump into the attack offensively and the results were great.

The Bruins defenseman also made one of the most crucial plays in the gold medal game when he kept an airborne puck out of the U.S. net during a scramble in the crease.

After a successful Olympics, it’s fair to wonder if the Bruins will get a supercharged McAvoy for the rest of the season. McAvoy tallied 39 points (four goals, 35 assists) in 45 games for the Bruins before the Olympic break, and his 2.15 points per 60 minutes this season are a career high and well above his 1.17 last season.

The Bruins need McAvoy to continue being a force at both ends of the ice to give themselves the best possible chance of reaching the playoffs. And judging by his impact at the Olympics, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he delivers.

Trade deadline: Buy, sell, or both?

The Bruins are in an interesting spot as the March 6 trade deadline nears. They aren’t a real Stanley Cup contender but they’re also a playoff-caliber team.

It makes no sense to give up quality draft picks and prospects for short-term upgrades, especially veteran players who would be rentals. But if the Bruins could acquire a player — preferably a top-six forward or top-four defenseman — who can make an impact beyond this season and fit the age timeline of the cornerstone players (Pastrnak, McAvoy, Swayman, etc), then that would be a move worth considering.

They reportedly were interested in acquiring 29-year-old defenseman Rasmus Andersson but only if he signed an extension. Andersson was ultimately traded to the Vegas Golden Knights last month without an extension.

It also would make sense to gauge the market on players with expiring contracts, such as defenseman Andrew Peeke. If the Bruins can get a decent asset for that kind of player, it’s also worth considering.

The Bruins went into full seller mode at last season’s trade deadline, and it was a huge success as the franchise added valuable draft picks and prospects. We won’t see that kind of selling this season.

If the Bruins do decide to be buyers, what should they target? Another goal scorer, especially on the wing, would be ideal. The Bruins, per Natural Stat Trick, have been expected to score 175.45 goals this season. The B’s have actually scored 193, or about 18 more than expected. A 12.4 shooting percentage, which ranks fourth-best in the league, is greatly contributing to Boston’s better-than-anticipated offensive numbers.

What happens if the Bruins regress a bit scoring-wise? It wouldn’t be a surprising outcome when you consider several Bruins forwards, including Morgan Geekie, have a career-high shooting percentage this season.

Bolstering the team’s scoring depth would be a great upgrade for the B’s ahead of the trade deadline.

Back in the playoffs?

The Bruins saw their nine-year playoff appearance streak end last season when they finished with the league’s fifth-worst record. They have a very good chance of returning to the playoffs this season.

The B’s exit the Olympic break in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They have a four-point cushion over the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets. Boston also is just one point behind the Buffalo Sabres for the first wild card spot and three points behind the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens for third and second place, respectively, in the Atlantic Division.

The Bruins won’t have an easy path to the finish line, though. They have 25 games left and the second-toughest remaining schedule. Fourteen of those 25 games are on the road.

The good news for the Bruins is making the playoffs is a very attainable goal. They’ve put themselves in a good position coming out of the break. But there’s plenty more work to be done.

The next generation is thriving

The Bruins didn’t play over the last two weeks, but many of their top prospects did. And the results were fantastic.

The team’s last two first-round picks — forwards James Hagens (No. 7, 2025) and Dean Letourneau (No. 25, 2024) — are dominating for Boston College.

Hagens has tallied 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 28 games to lead the Eagles. He also leads all Hockey East players with 24 points in 20 conference games. Hagens scored a hat trick against UConn on Friday, and he did it in two periods.

Letourneau ranks second on BC with 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games. He scored zero goals last season, so his improvement offensively has been tremendous. Letourneau scored one goal with three assists in two games versus UConn over the weekend.

Hagens and Letourneau are among the nominees for the Hobey Baker Award.

Will Zellers had a three-point game, including the game-tying goal late in the third period, against St. Cloud State on Friday. Zellers has scored 16 goals with 10 assists in 31 games for North Dakota as a freshman. He’s playing a key role for the No. 3 ranked team in the nation.

The Bruins’ prospect pool is better and deeper than it’s been in a long time, and these three players are the top of the group.

Their progress through the remainder of the regular season and the NCAA Tournament is worth following for Bruins fans.

With the 2026 Winter Olympics officially in the books, the 2025-26 NHL season is set to resume this week. That means the playoff push is officially on for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The big question on everybody’s mind: What is going to be the status of captain Sidney Crosby following his injury in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament.

The fact he did not play in Friday’s semifinal game or Sunday’s gold medal game is not exactly an encouraging development for his short-term availability. You have to imagine if he were even anything remotely close to 100 percent he would have been out there going for his third gold medal. It seems quite likely that he is not going to be in the lineup when the Penguins return to action later this week.

An update on his status will be significant. They will eventually need him.

While we do not when Crosby will be on the ice for them, it does seem likely that Avery Hayes is getting a call back up to the big club, and it will be a well-earned promotion if/when it happens. Not only due to the fact he scored a pair of goals in his NHL debut, but also because he just continued to keep scoring goals when he was sent back down to the American Hockey League. It is an encouraging sign for his development and the forward depth the team has accumulated over the past two-plus seasons.

As for the week of games itself, every team in the NHL is probably going to have some rust to deal with after three weeks of no games. That does not even get into the players that are returning from international travel and having just played five-six highly competitive games over the past two weeks. Every team is going to be in the same situation.

The Penguins have three games on the schedule this week, and close out the month of February with a couple of favorable matchups before they get into the brutal March schedule. It begins on Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils (and Jack Hughes, fresh off of his golden goal). That is also a big schedule advantage right at the beginning because the Devils will be playing the second half of a back-to-back after playing the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.

The Devils had lost five of six games going into the Olympic break, with their only win over that stretch being an overtime win against the Nashville Predators.

While the Devils have some big talent on paper, things have simply not worked out for them this season and enter the week with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have split the season series so far with the Devils, losing a shootout in New Jersey in early November and then beating them 4-1 in Pittsburgh in early January.

The week continues for the Penguins on Saturday afternoon with a game against the literal worst team in the Eastern Conference so far this season, the New York Rangers. The Rangers are not only the worst team in the Eastern Conference standings, they have also already started selling players by trading defenseman Carson Soucy and star forward Artemi Panarin. There is also the chance somebody else could be moved before Saturday’s game with the trade deadline looming and the Olympic break trade freeze lifting.

Even before the Rangers started selling this was still a very flawed team that did not really do anything well other than have a great goalie in Igor Shesterkin. Without him, there is just not much here. The Penguins have won two of the first three games in the season series against the Rangers, including the first game at Madison Square Garden. That was the Penguins 3-0 season-opening win to open the schedule.

The Penguins then return home on Sunday afternoon for the second half of a back-to-back to kick off their difficult March schedule against the Vegas Golden Knights. While the Golden Knights have not really met their own expectations so far this season, they are still one of the top teams in the Pacific Division and have enough talent on paper that they will be a handful to deal with. Especially since the Penguins will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, with travel, while Vegas will be waiting for them and rested in Pittsburgh with the off day on Saturday.

On paper, this will be the most difficult game of the week. It is still winnable, especially given how questionable the Vegas goaltending situation has been this season.

Overall, the Penguins are in a very good position in the Eastern Conference playoff race to open the week. They need roughly 14 more wins (or probably at least 28 more points) to secure a playoff spot. Whether Sidney Crosby plays or not this week they should be able to get at least four points in the standings. That should be the reasonable expectation.

In 1980, it was Jim Craig. In 1996, it was Mike Richter. In 2026, it was Connor Hellebuyck playing the role of goaltender spoiler keying a U.S. victory over a favored opponent. Deciding the gold medal via 3-on-3 overtime feels silly, but it’s at least an improvement over the shootout (Peter Forsberg, 1994, and Czechs over Canada, 1998) and it provided the platform for Jack Hughes and Zach Werenski to take their heroic turn against the three top players in the world.

Like the Americans of Squaw Valley 1960 and Lake Placid 1980, they’ll always have a tale to tell their descendants about 2026. Compared to all the other athletes toiling away in obscure sports most of us only hear about every four years, Olympic hockey with NHLers is kind of a sideshow, a co-opted forum for what should basically be just a World Cup. But when the players get that into it, it’s fun to see them get their reward (or in Nathan MacKinnon’s case, heartbreak…those long faces, reminiscent of Gretzky, Lindros, Yzerman & Co. in 1996 when Canada was supposed to prove once and for all who owned the sport).

I do feel bad for Bo Horvat though; all he did was everything asked of him, winning faceoffs so the superstars could get on the ice, even drawing a penalty late in regulation to erase Sam Bennett’s mistake and give Canada’s goldenboy power play a chance to win it all. They let him down though. I hope someday Bo will be proud of his medal and this experience, ‘cause the whole “gold or bust” entitlement approach is no way to go through life.

• But back to U.S. legends…I’m happiest for Brock Nelson and his family Olympic lineage. Remember when he was drafted and we heard bits and pieces about the Dave and Bill Christian connection? Remember how it wasn’t clear if he would make the NHL as a winger or a center, but then he just kept getting better and better? The stars aligned for him to become an Olympian and win gold, and share a special moment (and rare status) with his 88-year-old grandpa. [NHL]
• But remember, this Olympics wasn’t about Connor Hellebucyk standing on his head and the U.S. winning gold, it was about how Sidney Crosby selflessly sat out the final due to injury. He’s the real hero here. [NHL]
• The Americans had the spirit of Johnny Gaudreau (and his wife and kids) with them every step of the way. [NHL]
• Luke Hughes and other Devils back home were pretty jacked for Jack. [NHL]
• Viewing the pain from an entertaining (vs. pompous) Canadian perspective. [Pass it to Bulis]

This is an Islanders blog, though:

• Matthew Schaefer’s dad is happy for him to get a break and return home instead of heading to the Olympics at age 18. [Newsday]
• With the Olympic roster freeze over and the trade deadline around the corner, what should be next for the Islanders? [THN]

By Michael Finewax, RotoWire.com

It's the final fantasy hockey trade tips of the season, as most Yahoo pools have their trade deadline this week. While I highlight six players below, don't be afraid to deal for Russian stars (i.e., Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin and Nikita Kucherov) as the Russians were not eligible to play in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Additionally, any star who was injured (Brayden Point) or failed to make their respective Olympic team (Mark Scheifele, Connor Bedard and Cole Caufield).  

Best of luck with your final trades this week.

TRADE FOR

Thomas Harley, D, Stars (80% rostered)

Usually, we say pencils down, but with the clock striking midnight, it’s time for all general managers to grab their pencils and start going to work, with the NHL’s Olympic Roster Freeze officially over.

Over the break, teams were unable to make any trades. Players could be waived, but they didn’t have to report immediately, while contract negotiations could also be officially signed and submitted.

There’s been some rumors — when have there not been? — that general managers may have some trades lined up, as teams were allowed to talk with other teams throughout the break.

Jordan Kyrou’s name has been swirling — the St. Louis Blues love to test the market on their players but not actually do anything with them, so we’ll see what the fate is for Kyrou and Robert Thomas.

What An Islanders' Trade For Jordan Kyrou Could Look LikeWhat would it actually take for the Islanders to land Jordan Kyrou? We break down the fit, cap math, trade cost, and why it’s worth exploring.

As for the New York Islanders, they have $6.02 million in available cap space, and despite making two depth moves already, they have the assets — two first-round picks in 2026 and a strong prospect pool — to really do what they want at this deadline, as long as they find a suitable dance partner.

I’m sure that general manager Mathieu Darche has been hearing from other general managers about a few of his players. The guess is that pending unrestricted free agent Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been the No. 1 name he’s been asked about.

The Type Of Player The Islanders Should Be Looking To AcquireThe NHL Olympic Break is coming to a close. The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> returned to practice, and now their first game back from break is just one week away.

But with the Islanders in a playoff spot, even if No. 44 is without a contract extension, I doubt he’s moved unless Darche is blown out of the water.

Other pending UFAs: F Anders Lee, D Tony DeAngelo, D Carson Soucy, G David Rittich

Here are the pending RFAs: F Maxim Shabanov, F Marc Gatcomb, D Adam Boqvist

Could we see players like an Anthony Duclair, who has two more seasons left on his deal at $3.5 million and a full no-trade clause, being dealt, given that he's on the outside looking in of the starting lineup? 

The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline comes your way on March 6 at 3 PM ET. 

The San Jose Sharks have assigned forward Filip Bystedt to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. This comes after Bystedt was called up to the Sharks' roster earlier this week. 

Bystedt was selected by San Jose with the 27th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The first-round pick is having a strong 2025-26 season with the Barracuda, as he has recorded 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points, and a plus-3 rating in 40 games. 

Bystedt has yet to make his NHL debut with the Sharks, but that very well could change before the end of the 2025-26 season. The young forward has a lot of potential and could be a nice part of the Sharks' roster in the near future. 

We’ll start with Sidney Crosby, unable to play today after picking up an injury in the quarterfinals. The picture sums it up, a gutting ending for his 2026 Olympics, and at 38-years old, stands at what very possibly ends up as his final moment on Olympic ice. That’s a tough ending to that chapter. He’ll always have the 2010 golden goal and captaining his country to another gold in 2014, though it’s not much consolation now.

Now the question becomes what will happen with the Penguins? Pittsburgh plays on Thursday, and Saturday and next Sunday and on and on. Crosby’s knee appeared at least OK enough to make an effort to see if he could play, but he wasn’t able to. That’s a troubling sign for the beginning of what will be a wicked stretch for the Pens and the big question will become how much longer Crosby will have to watch.

—

Down in Wilkes, Avery Hayes was held out of the AHL lineup for a game today and is expected to be recalled to Pittsburgh officially when the NHL roster freeze ends tonight. That might make for a troubling sign if Crosby’s next stop is the IR, though he would be able to return from it as soon as his health returns. Speaking of the IR list, if Kris Letang is able to return for Thursday’s game as expected that could spell bad news for Ryan Graves’s roster spot until the trade deadline..There’s still a few weeks to get there, the Pens look like they have some roster juggling coming up for the period while they still have to fit under the 23-player roster limit.

—

The gold is instant validation for general manager Bill Guerin and Mike Sullivan. No one can say they didn’t do it their way, and their way ended up working.

That quote has to sting for players like Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield and Adam Fox (who plays on Sullivan’s NHL team) that while they were certainly talented enough to be among the top American players, they ended up not getting a role on this club for very pointed reasons. The US was laser-focused on bringing a squad that could matchup against Canada and the concept was proved out on the medal color that hangs on their neck. Sullivan is now the second coach (along with Mike Babcock) to have won a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold.

Had the US come up a goal short, the discourse would have turned on Guerin and Sullivan on their decisions. They were flexible enough to move a player like Kyle Conner (great in the NHL, often lost on the national team) down and try Clayton Keller in that spot before finally finding the magic with Jack Hughes being the right fit for that line, it proved enough to work. Sullivan and especially Guerin now can relish in bringing back the gold medal for the first time in 46 years.

—

Then again, a great goalie can cover up all sorts of things in front of him, and Connor Hellebuyck with his 41 saves today was absolutely amazing. The difference between the US and Canada (who won a 3-2 OT game last year at 4 Nations) is so fine right now. Doubtlessly the biggest turning point of today was the Americans getting superior goaltending over the course of a game where they were on their heels for most of the second and third periods. As Crosby said post-game (and Nathan MacKinnon matched with understandably even more raw emotion), Canada did just about everything in this game except find that one more goal to pull ahead. Hellebuyck was the clear reason why.

—

What a moment it was for the Hughes brothers, who put their stamp on this event. Quinn Hughes is probably the best defender in the game right now, the amount of game control and impact he has on the ice is arguably the slightest notch better than Cale Makar. Jack Hughes is in his seventh NHL season and while he has a 99-point year under his belt he’s only been to the playoffs once and has been overshadowed by other recent No. 1 overall picks. Can’t say that any longer with his bloody mouth and toothless grin after the golden goal. Where both go from here as far as their status in the hockey world will be worth watching. The Pens will get a first-hand view of it with Jack, the Devils and Penguins meet on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

—

Connor McDavid has been unflinchingly loyal to the Edmonton Oilers, from the outside one has to wonder if he made the right choice to extend his contract two more seasons there. McDavid and Macklin Celebrini have something special, imagine a world where McDavid joins up with a rising San Jose team? That would be incredible. There’s something to be said about McDavid’s desire to not seek out a new situation and try to make it work where he’s at, but at this point of watching someone else celebrate yet again it’s hard not to wonder how he will respond to that feeling of coming up short again. Matthew Tkachuk famously taunted Leon Draisaitl as ‘always the bridesmaid’, that dig is even more fitting towards McDavid. Credit to McDavid for not turning full Hossa and shopping for teams that are contenders, though at this point it would be tough to blame him for a shift in mindset.

—

With that thought still in mind, it was great for the NHL when Matthew Tkachuk got out of Calgary and into a better situation for Florida or when Jack Eichel moved from Buffalo to Vegas. That also might come to pass with Quinn Hughes getting to a better spot in Minnesota now. Selfishly, wouldn’t it be great if that could happen for “Brother Brady” and Zach Werenski? Both are contract tied to their teams for a while and also exceedingly loyal to their clubs -there’s no real reason to expect a change any time soon – it would just be nice for players like that to get in better positions. Fans of Ottawa and Columbus will rightfully be offended by the notion, just a passing thought.

—

The lasting image of these games, for me anyways, will be the picture in the header at the top. It was really nice for the US players to keep Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey in the lockerroom and keep his spirit close. When Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski headed to the stands to get two of Gaudreau’s children and include them in a team picture, man, how can you not get emotional over that? One of the kids, Johnny Jr., celebrated his second birthday today on 2/22. For a family that went through so much losing Johnny and Matthew, seeing them be included in this moment was just the best and as perfect a moment as there could be to wrap up the competition for the Americans.

The hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped up on Sunday with a thrilling gold medal match between the United States and Canada.

Unsurprisingly, the game was decided in overtime, when Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils beat St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington between the legs to give Team USA their first gold medal in 46 years.

Not since the Miracle On Ice in 1980 had the United States claimed Olympic gold.

That also means Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk, along with GM Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, will be bringing home a shiny new gold medal to go along with his two Stanley Cup rings.

World Champs 🥇 pic.twitter.com/ugx4w0M0Xj

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) February 22, 2026

It’s been quite a run for Tkachuk over the past few years.

Since being acquired by the Panthers during the summer of 2022, Tkachuk has played in each of the past three Stanley Cup Finals, winning the most recent two, while also winning gold at the Olympics and, oh yeah, was named the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game that took place in South Florida during his first season with the team.

Apparently, it’s Chucky’s world and we’re all just living in it.

On the flip side of the coin (the silver side, apparently), the three Panthers players on Team Canada will be coming back to South Florida with silver medals.

Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett were all used somewhat sparingly during their time in Milan, a decision made by Canadian Head Coach Jon Cooper.

Up until the 1:41 mark of overtime on Sunday, it seemed like Cooper had been pushing all the right buttons.

Just as they had through much of the Olympics hockey tournament, Canada was rolling on Sunday, seeming to build more and more momentum as the game went on.

Ultimately, a Jim Craig-esque performance in goal by U.S. netminder Connor Hellebuyck kept the Americans in the fight long enough for Hughes to end things during the 3-on-3 overtime.

In total, seven Panthers players out of the 10 who participated at the Olympics finished on the podium. 

Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola helped Finland defeat Slovakia 6-1 on Saturday in the bronze medal game. 

Now unlike after winning the Stanley Cup, there won’t be much time for the players to reflect on their experiences in Milan.

The Panthers resume their season on Thursday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a matchup of two non-playoff teams desperate for every point they can earn. It’s the first of a back-to-back for Florida.

The following night, the Buffalo Sabres will be in town, and Buffalo is currently holding the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Florida will hold a pair of practices this week before the back-to-back set.

As Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said Saturday, the expectation is that all players, including those returning from the Olympics, are healthy and eligible for Thursday, outside of Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich, all of whom could play sometime during Florida’s upcoming road trip.

Maurice said Sunday that defenseman Seth Jones, who skated with Sasha Barkov before Florida’s practice on Saturday, could join group practices sometime next week.

Barkov remains a ways away from returning, as he continues building the strength back up in his surgically repaired knee.

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Photo caption: Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

Recently, we here at The Hockey News Montreal Canadiens have been looking at potential trade targets for the Habs from clubs that are expected to be sellers.

In this latest edition of the series, let's discuss two potential trade targets from the Calgary Flames that could be strong fits on the Canadiens' roster. 

Nazem Kadri, C 

Nazem Kadri has been connected to the Canadiens often this season, and it makes sense given their need for another star center. If the Canadiens landed Kadri, he could fit very nicely as their second-line center and power play. 

Kadri would also give the Canadiens a veteran forward who has a Stanley Cup on his resume. Furthermore, he would be more than a rental for Montreal if acquired, as he has a $7 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season. 

Yet, with Kadri being one of the top centers in the trade market and having multiple years left on his deal, there is no question that the Flames would want a big return in a potential move. 

Blake Coleman, LW/RW

Blake Coleman is another notable Flames trade candidate who has been linked to the Canadiens this season. If the Canadiens brought him in, he would be an excellent addition to their middle six. 

Coleman is exactly the kind of forward that the Canadiens should be going after. This is because he not only contributes solid secondary offensive production, but also plays a heavy game. Furthermore, he is capable of playing multiple positions and is also well-known for his leadership qualities, which add to his appeal. 

Like Kadri, Coleman would be more than a rental for the Canadiens, as he has a $4.9 million cap hit until the end of next season. 

Five Golden Knights skated in the gold medal game on Sunday, none coming away with a point, but the entire quintet coming home with hardware.

The United States beat Canada 2-1 when New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes buried the golden goal in overtime, delivering the hockey gold on the final day of the Milan Cortina Olympics, exactly 46 years after the 1980 men's team authored the epic "Miracle on Ice" tale.

Hughes' winning goal came just 1 minute, 41 seconds into overtime.

Vegas was represented by Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin on Team USA, while Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore skated for Canada.

Eichel led all Golden Knights with six points (2 goals, 4 assists), while Marner turned in five points (1, 4).

Stone had four points (2, 2), Hanifin had three points (1, 2) and Theodore had two points (1, 1).

Also representing the Knights were Tomas Hertl, who had one assist for Czechia, and Rasmus Andersson, who didn't register a point for Sweden.

Vegas goaltender Akira Schmid played in one game for Switzerland and finished with 34 saves and five goals allowed.

In the gold medal game, Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy opened the scoring six minutes into the game. The Americans held the lead until Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tied the game late in the second period.

Long known for his postseason struggles with the Winnipeg Jets, U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding, stopping 41 shots. St. Louis Blues and Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington made 26 saves.

During the celebration, U.S. captain Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk skated around the ice with the jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed alongside his brother in 2024 when they were struck by a SUV while riding bicycles.

Later, after the medal ceremony, Gaudreau's children were brought onto the ice for the team picture, while Gaudreau's jersey was draped front and center.

Gaudreau would have been a candidate to make the US team, which hung his jersey in its locker room before each game.

Canada defeated Team USA 3-2 in overtime in last year's Four Nations tournament, staged by the NHL during what would have been the All-Star break.
PHOTO CAPTION: Jack Eichel (9) of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period against Slovakia in a men's ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Up until the bronze medal game, Montreal Canadiens’ rookie Oliver Kapanen had not seen a second of action in the Olympic tournament. He was dressed for two games, but he had the best seat in the house as the Finns’ 13th forward, but then Mikko Rantanen was injured in the semifinal. Since the Dallas Stars forward couldn’t play, Kapanen was promoted straight to Finland’s top line alongside Sebastian Aho and former Hab Artturi Lehkonen.

Meanwhile, Juraj Slafkovsky was once again on the Slovaks’ top line with Adam Ruzika and another Hab, Tomas Tatar. With eight points ahead of the final dual, Slafkovsky once again carried the hopes of a country on his young shoulders. The winger had said the Slovaks would be ready and smiling for the bronze medal game and would go out and do it, but the Finns didn’t get the memo.

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After being beaten 4-1 in the preliminary round by the Slovaks, the Finns had revenge on their mind, and Juuse Saros played his best game of the tournament in net, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he received. Unfortunately for the Slovaks, Finland took the lead early and never let up. Sebastian Aho scored less than five minutes in, and Erik Haula doubled their lead just before 30 minutes had been played. They learned from their defeat against Canada and kept pushing.

Tatar scored one for Slovakia before the end of the second frame, but Finland came right back with a couple of goals early in the third frame and added another two in an empty net to take the bronze with a 6-1 win.

While Slafkovsky didn’t get on the scoresheet, he gave his all in this ultimate game, spending almost 24 minutes on the ice, taking five shots on net, and being his usual imposing presence physically. Whenever he had the puck, though, the Finns wasted no time getting on him and not allowing him the time to pick his spot on shots.

While the big Slovak will no doubt be disappointed to go home empty-handed after winning Bronze four years ago, this tournament showed just how much Slovakia improved in the last four years. Finishing fourth in a tournament with NHL players should be seen as a success. Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Pavol Regenda had a great tournament, and there’s plenty to be proud of.

On an individual standpoint, Slafkovsky is now the second-highest Olympic goal scorer in his country’s history with 11 lamplighters, only three behind Slovakian icon Marian Hossa. With the NHL having committed to participating in the next two Olympic tournaments as well, he should have at least two more tournaments to catch up to him. Furthermore, it doesn’t feel like he’s hit his ceiling yet, and this tournament has allowed him to improve even more. He’ll come back to Montreal better than he ever was.

As for Kapanen, he spent 16:23 on the ice and showed no sign of rust whatsoever despite not having played since the Canadiens’ last game before the break on February 4th against the Winnipeg Jets. He was credited with a single shot, but he hit the post twice, and while those don’t count as shots, he was so very close to finding the back of the net. He was on the ice for Finland’s first goal, right there at the front of the net, creating havoc. He also played on the Finns’ second power play and created a scoring chance. There’s no denying that he made the most of the opportunity he was given in this game, and he showed his country what they missed out on when he stayed on the bench in the other games.

After the game, in the handshake line, Kapanen and Slafkovsky hugged, and there’s no doubt that they’ll be asked what they said to each other in that moment in the days to come, when they return to Montreal and become teammates again.

Habs linemates Oliver Kapanen 🇫🇮 and Juraj Slafkovsky 🇸🇰 in the handshake line pic.twitter.com/OsaU4zlDii

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 21, 2026

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Lenni Hameenaho was recalled to the New Jersey Devils from the American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets on Tuesday, February 17.​

The forward was recalled by the Devils on February 17, just before the end of the Olympic break. Earlier this season, he made his NHL debut on January 19. ​The 2023 second-round selection for the Devils played in nine games with the team this season. ​Hameenaho earned four points in nine games, two goals and two assists. ​

At just 21 years old, Hameenaho has transitioned to the NHL well. Head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke about his adjustment to the big leagues on NJD.tv on Thursday.  

"​It's been obvious that he belongs here,” Keefe said. “He’s a young player who has the ability to go up and down without requiring waivers. You don’t really know what it’s going to be like day-to-day, but his play before the break showed that he can help our team and play in the NHL."

Despite his easy adaptation to the NHL, there is still just under half the season to play. Keefe acknowledged that it will be a long road for Hameenaho.

“We’ve got to keep working with him as a coaching staff to keep adapting to the league as the sort of honeymoon phase wears off, there’s a long list of guys that come up to the NHL for a short period of time and have success, but can’t really sustain it. It’s a reason why you want to keep guys in the American League longer, especially prospects, so that when they come up, they show that they’re ready and they don’t have to go back,” Keefe said. “That’s what we hope to be the case, and from what we saw before the break, there’s no reason to believe otherwise.”​

Hammehao will re-join the Devils after logging one game with the Comets. 

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The 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 Philadelphia Flyers are going to have to make some important decisions with long-term implications.

Sitting at a mediocre 25-20-11, the Flyers are eight points out of the second wildcard playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and eight points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division.

MoneyPuck gives the Flyers a measly 10.7% chance of reaching the postseason, which are the ninth-worst odds in the NHL by their metrics.

So, with that all being said, all signs point to the Flyers being forced to sell at the trade deadline once again.

Having already re-signed Christian Dvorak to a five-year pact, the Flyers are down one less trade chip, but they do have a few pieces that could at least make the deadline interesting.

Rasmus Ristolainen, now an Olympic Bronze medalist, is the biggest fish in the Flyers' pond, and he's at a point in his contract that could be the sweet spot for contending teams.

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 31-year-old has two years left on his contract at a $5.1 million cap hit, and the Flyers, who will have the retention in the Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton trades come off their books this summer, should feel free to use their last remaining retention slot to maximize Ristolainen's value with minimal long-term consequences.

Of course, the Flyers really like the player, and Ristolainen has experienced a career resurgence over his last few seasons in Philadelphia. At the same time, does it really make sense for the Flyers to hold onto a veteran who's suffered a season-ending injury two years in a row?

Of note, in regards to pending RFA Christian Kyrou, Flyers GM Danny Briere told The Hockey News that the team will evaluate the prospect's future with the club "after the trade deadline."

Ristolainen, alongside Emil Andrae (RFA) and Noah Juulsen (UFA) are among the defensemen who could get moved to clear a roster spot for Kyrou so that the Flyers can get a better look at the surging prospect in an NHL environment.

Plus, the Flyers recently had prospects Hunter McDonald and Oliver Bonk up to practice with the NHL squad, filling in for Ristolainen and Travis Sanheim, who are, of course, at the Olympics.

If the Flyers fall any further out of playoff contention, it would behoove them to get extended looks at the young players they feel will have a future with the organization.

It's worth mentioning that McDonald himself is a pending RFA, and Adam Ginning and Maxence Guenette, who each have a handful of games of NHL experience, are on expiring deals, too.

Flyers Defender Could Be Trade Candidate To WatchIf the Flyers end up being sellers, this defenseman could be a trade candidate to watch.

In short, the Flyers have a lot of defensemen to evaluate and not a lot of time to do it.

It would come as a major surprise if the Flyers did not move on from at least one defender on the current NHL roster by the deadline on the 6th.

As for the forwards, veteran grinders Nick Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway will have close to no value. Carl Grundstrom, who's been something of a pleasant surprise for the Flyers, might have been a more attractive piece to contenders if not for his $1.8 million cap hit.

Bobby Brink, though, at age 24 and a slightly more modest $1.5 million cap hit, would be a smart buy for a playoff team that intends to keep him beyond this season.

The diminutive winger has a respectable 13 goals, 11 assists, and 24 points in 50 games for the Flyers in a checking role, but it's only a matter of time before the imminent arrival of Porter Martone forces Brink or another winger off the Flyers.

As for potential Flyers trade targets, star St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas should be at the very top of the list, though that deal might be one best saved for the offseason rather than an in-season deal.

Would Flyers, Jett Luchanko Benefit from a Position Change?The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> may not have the center prospect they thought they did in Jett Luchanko, but that isn't a bad thing.

As a writer, given the Flyers' lack of projectable centers, I'm always looking for ways the Flyers can find depth and quality down the middle. 

Buy-low options like Marco Kasper, Cole Sillinger, Adam Fantilli, Shane Wright, and Hendrix Lapierre all make sense to varying degrees, though the Flyers may not be interested in some, and others (namely Fantilli) may not be available.

Centers are always more expensive on the trade market, though, and the Flyers may find it easier to capitalize on their glut of wingers by moving to address their weak defensive depth instead.

Assuming Andrae and Juulsen don't have futures with the team, the Flyers would ideally like to find a left-shot defender to take some responsibility off the aging Nick Seeler while contributing to the penalty kill.

Pavel Mintyukov from Anaheim would be a dream long-term contributor, but the Flyers are much more likely to target someone with the profile of a Mario Ferraro or Mattias Samuelsson. Middle-aged, inexpensive, defense-oriented players that might benefit from a change of scenery.

And, to that end, if the Flyers haven't decided to move on from backup goalie Sam Ersson by now, there won't be any changes until the offseason. Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov are each pending RFAs and should be pitted against each other to battle for a future with the club.