Category: Ice Hockey

One of the San Jose Sharks' top objectives ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline should be to improve their blueline. Adding a right-shot defenseman, in particular, would be beneficial for a Sharks club that is looking to stay in the playoff race.

Now, they are continuing to be connected to one of the NHL's top defenseman trade candidates because of it.

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson named the Sharks as a potential landing spot for New York Rangers blueliner Braden Schneider. 

"Adding Schneider would give the Sharks a young, physical shutdown defenseman who can log over 20 minutes per game and could fit in well with this rising young roster. Schneider's restricted free agent status would give them a chance to ink him to a long-term deal at a reasonable average annual value," Richardson wrote. 

The Sharks being named as a potential trade fit for Schneider is very easy to understand. As Richardson noted, the Sharks have already been linked to Schneider this season. Furthermore, with Schneider being 24 years old, he would be a strong addition to a Sharks club that is focused on both the present and the future. 

If the Sharks acquired Schneider, he could slot very nicely in their top four. Furthermore, due to his defense-first style of play, he would be a clear option for the Sharks' penalty kill if acquired. 

Ultimately, with Schneider still being young and having good upside, it would make a lot of sense if the Sharks worked hard to acquire him leading up to the deadline. It will be interesting to see if they end up winning the sweepstakes from here. 

As the 2026 Winter Olympics resume, NHL teams have slowly begun to return to practice, with the resumption of play beginning on February 25. When the Vancouver Canucks return to play, some members of the team will be on the hunt for some career milestones. 

The player closest to his next career milestone is David Kämpf, who has been in Italy representing Team Czechia at the Olympics during the NHL’s break. The centre is one assist away from reaching 100 throughout his career, with his last helper coming during a two-assist game against the Washington Capitals on January 21. 

A fellow Olympian this year, Elias Pettersson also has a couple of milestones to be on the lookout for in the coming games. The forward is currently sitting on 198 NHL goals, putting him only two away from the 200 mark. Once he hits 200, he’ll only need to score two more goals to take sole possession of ninth-most goals scored in franchise history. When he does so, he’ll pass Bo Horvat, who recorded 201 in his time with the Canucks. Pettersson can also enter the top-10 in franchise power play points once he records four more, passing Todd Bertuzzi (163). 

Representing Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Kevin Lankinen can also hit a milestone with his next two wins. The goaltender currently sits at 32 regular-season wins as a member of the Canucks, putting him at 16th in franchise history. Once he registers two more, he’ll pass Garth Snow (33) and claim sole possession of 15th. 

Drew O’Connor is another player who is nearing a career milestone as the forward currently has 96 career NHL points. Four more will put him at 100 throughout his career. With 13 goals and eight assists through 57 games so far this season, O’Connor looks to be on-pace to hit that milestone in the coming games. 

This particular record could be set as soon as tonight. Arshdeep Bains tied Linus Karlsson’s record for most career points in franchise history for the Abbotsford Canucks (148) on Monday after recording two assists. One more point will make Bains the sole leader in this stat, with every point he registers after setting a new record. Abbotsford plays the Ontario Reign tonight at 7:00 pm PT. 

The Canucks will resume play at home against the Winnipeg Jets on February 25 at 7:00 pm PT. Before that, their Olympic representatives will continue their quests for medals. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have multiple trade candidates to watch ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. One of them is Jason Dickinson, as the veteran forward is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) and certainly has the potential to generate interest from contenders looking for a bottom-six center who can kill penalties.

Now, a few potential suitors have been named for Dickinson.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Powers, Mark Lazerus, and Chris Johnston named the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights as two potential trade fits for Dickinson.

"The Minnesota Wild are looking for a top-six center, but any help down the middle would be welcome. The Vegas Golden Knights could be an interesting destination, as well," Powers, Lazerus, and Johnston wrote. 

The Wild being named a potential landing spot for Dickinson is understandable. When looking at their roster, he could fit perfectly as their fourth-line center. That would not be a bad thing for a Minnesota club that is looking to go on a run this spring. 

As for the Golden Knights, it is clear that their bottom six could use a boost as well, and Dickinson would have the potential to give them just that. In addition, he would give them another clear option for their penalty kill if acquired. 

Ultimately, the Blackhawks have a decision to make with Dickinson. It is fair to wonder if they could look to extend him, as he has been a good veteran mentor for the club's younger players. However, at the same time, the Blackhawks have several promising youngsters in their system, so they could very well move him if they do not see him as a long-term part of their plans. 

Once the NHL Olympic trade freeze lifts, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be a team to keep an eye on. With the Penguins exceeding expectations in a big way and currently being second in the Metropolitan Division standings, it would not be surprising if they looked to add to their roster ahead of the deadline. 

One area that the Penguins could look to improve is their forward group. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann stands out as a very interesting trade target to consider. 

There is no question that the Penguins could use another middle-six forward who provides a bit of everything, and McMann is just that. This is because he is not only a solid goal-scorer, but also provides plenty of physicality. This could make him a good pickup for a Penguins club that looks ready to get back into the playoffs. 

McMann is currently impressing this season with the Maple Leafs, as he has recorded 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points, and 126 hits in 56 games. This is after he had 20 goals, 34 points, and 134 hits in 73 games this past season with Toronto. With numbers like these, he would be a great addition to a Penguins club that could use a bit more secondary scoring. 

McMann is also a player whom Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas knows well, as he signed the 29-year-old forward back when he was GM of the Maple Leafs. Dubas has shown that he is not afraid to reunite with his former players. 

Overall, with the Penguins needing another forward, McMann is an option worth considering. This is especially so if acquiring him came with a contract extension

On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens resumed practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, but not all players were present and accounted for. Of course, the team’s four Olympians, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen, and Alexandre Texier, were absent, but there was another player missing: Patrik Laine.

Shortly after practice began, the Canadiens reported that the player was dealing with a lower-body injury that would be evaluated daily. That raised more than a few eyebrows for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because the big Finn took part in an impromptu practice with his teammates the day before and looked just fine, and secondly, because the injury which forced him to miss months of action and from which he hadn’t been cleared before the Olympics was not a lower-body injury, but a core muscle one.

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When the Canadiens’ communications department was asked whether Laine was injured during yesterday's training, they said they did not know. The sniper has been talked about at length recently as trade rumours swirl around, and finding a place for him in the lineup if and when he is cleared to play will be a challenging endeavour for Martin St-Louis. There’s a trade freeze in the NHL right now, but it expires on February 22 at 11:59 PM ET. Some are wondering whether his absence isn’t just a sign that a trade is in place, which will be officialised when the calendar turns to February 23. It looks like we’re in for a bit of a waiting game.

Meanwhile, Alex Newhook joined his teammates at practice for the first time in three months after fracturing his ankle. Although he wore a non-contact jersey, it indicates he has made significant progress in his recovery. When he is ready to return, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact he will have on the Canadiens’ lineup. Could he go back to the second line with Slafkovsky going back to the first line after his great performance at the Olympics? Where does Kirby Dach land if that’s the case? And Texier? Who comes out of the lineup? Joe Veleno? Brendan Gallagher?

While there are still eight days left until the Canadiens play their next game against the New York Islanders, it doesn’t look like we’ll be short of discussion topics.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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It's uncommon for swaps of minor-league prospects to amount to anything meaningful in the NHL, but the Philadelphia Flyers and Christian Kyrou have turned out to be perfect fits for one another.

The Flyers traded for Kyrou, 22, in an Oct. 30 deal that sent winger Samu Tuomaala the other way to the Dallas Stars, and since then, it's been clear who the winner of that trade was.

In 37 AHL games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Kyrou has erupted for seven goals, 18 assists, and 25 points from the blueline, easily surpassing his previous career-high of 23 points in 57 games with the Texas Stars in 2023-24 with plenty of hockey left to spare.

With an AHL All-Star appearance now under Kyrou's belt in place of Denver Barkey, who made his leap to the NHL official, the rest, as they say, is history.

"Once I got traded, I just stopped worrying so much about what the coach thinks or what anybody thinks. Just trust playing my game," Kyrou told The Hockey News's Frank Zawrazky at the AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois. "No stress, just trust my teammates."

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.

The 5-foot-11 rearguard has taken full advantage of the fresh start given to him, leapfrogging the likes of Ethan Samson (later traded for Roman Schmidt) and Helge Grans and assuming the role of No. 1 power play quarterback on the Phantoms.

Schmidt and Maxence Guenette, who were both in-season trade acquisitions themselves, have not been enough to slow Kyrou's offensive production down and reduce his role on the team.

For the Flyers, that's a good problem to have going forward.

"He's been really good and better than expected. We didn't have a power play QB after [Emil Andrae] left and he came in, took charge of it," Flyers GM Danny Briere told The Hockey News of Kyrou.

"Like any young defender, he has to learn when and where to take chances with the puck and learn how to physically defend versus bigger and stronger forwards. Overall, a great addition to our group."

The coming months have a lot riding them, as the undersized Kyrou is a pending RFA for a Flyers organization that already has quite a few established defenders on the smaller side, including Andrae, Cam York, and Jamie Drysdale.

Andrae and Drysdale, of course, are pending RFAs themselves.

Flyers Will Get Good Look at Top NHL Draft Prospect in OlympicsThe Flyers should be paying close attention to the only NHL draft prospect featuring in the Winter Olympics this year.

"Just gotta trust God, wherever my path takes me. I'm glad to be here. I love it, I love playing in Lehigh," Kyrou said. "Shit happens."

The buccaneering defender is understandably more concerned with finishing the 2025-26 campaign on a high note, as his NHL future may depend on it.

The Flyers' front office, too, has not invested all that much time into thinking about that themselves.

"No decision on his future yet has been made," Briere said. "We will start to look at it after the trade deadline."

For those not keeping score at home, the 2026 NHL trade deadline, which falls on March 6 this year, is fast approaching.

By then, the Flyers will decide if they're in or out on the playoff race, and what players they want to invest further developmental time into.

So long as Kyrou continues to play the way he's been, he'll have earned every opportunity afforded to him down the road.

When it rains, it pours. For Frank Vatrano, it might as well have been hailing. Entering the first season of a three-year extension that he signed just over a year ago with the Ducks, Vatrano was set to play for Joel Quenneville again. Quenneville was someone Vatrano knew previously from playing under him with the Florida Panthers. Vatrano was also coming off his third consecutive 40-point season, with his tenure as a Duck being the most productive of his career.

However, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Vatrano in 2025-26. He’s having his worst statistical season by far since becoming a full-time NHLer, relegated to the fourth line and barely accumulating any special teams minutes. His average time on ice (12:21) is the lowest it’s been since the 2021-22 season, when he was playing for the Panthers.

To further exacerbate things, Vatrano suffered a shoulder injury on Dec. 27 against the Los Angeles Kings after his skate got caught in the ice and he slammed into the boards. He did not return to the game and the Ducks announced on Dec. 31 that Vatrano would be out for approximately six weeks due to a shoulder fracture.

“My immediate reaction was, ‘Am I paralyzed?’ I went in pretty (dangerously) there. I went in neck-first, and you’re always taught as a kid when you're going into the boards neck-first that you don't go in (with your head bent down), you kind of just bail, and that's what I did. I bailed and I let my shoulder take the blunt of it. I'm lucky I was taught that at a young age, because I don't know where I would have been if I didn't know how to protect myself from the injury that I had. It could have been a lot worse.”

The Ducks have gone 9-8-1 in the 18 games that Vatrano has missed, equalizing their seven-game losing streak with a subsequent seven-game winning streak. They finished out the pre-Olympic break portion of the season with two consecutive wins.

“I think the whole league has gone through it this year, with losing streaks and whatnot,” Vatrano said. “We crawled our way out of it, it was a team effort to crawl out of it. 
We didn't like the way that we were playing. I think we were playing too high-risk. I think we sharpened some things up defensively. We know we could score goals, but we want to keep the puck out of the net, so I think we've been doing a good job at that. 
We've been playing very hard defensively and just overall being a tough team to play against.”

“No one ever wants to watch from up top (in the press box), but I think when you watch from up top, you can kind of see the game in a whole different perspective. Things are kind of slowed down up there. You see the plays develop and you put that in your mind when you're out there on the ice. You have extra plays to make and you have extra time, so you definitely benefit from that side of things.”

The Olympic break has given Vatrano ample time to rehab his injury without missing more games than he would have during a normal NHL season. While coming out of the break could feel like a mental reset on his season, he prefers to think of ways he can positively impact the team, even if his individual performance hasn’t been up to his standard.

“When things aren't going well, sometimes other things happen. That seems like that's what happened to me. When things aren't going well on the ice, then you either get hurt or something happens. You never really want to take a reset. You always want to be able to help the team, regardless of how the season's going for you. 
You want to feel (like you’re) a part of the group and help them go forward. To take the positive out of it, it's kind of time for me to sit back and work on my game a little bit and try to get back a little bit.”

“Frankie gives us hard work, gives us an honest effort,” Quenneville said. “One of the guys (who is) well-liked (and gives us) enthusiasm. Whether it was his shot or his production, it's been off a little bit, and I think that he needs to get himself feeling good and getting that some confidence in his game and with the puck on his stick, go from there.”

With Vatrano and Leo Carlsson (Morel-Lavallée lesion) back in the fold, this is the closest the Ducks have been to full health since training camp. Quenneville will have plenty of options to choose from when crafting his lineups moving forward.

Related articles:

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The Winnipeg Jets are beginning to filter back into the city following vacations and the Olympic break, turning their attention toward a return to regular season action midway through next week.

With several key players still away or sidelined, the organization made a series of roster moves to help facilitate full practices. Winnipeg is currently without starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, top forward Kyle Connor and star defenseman Josh Morrissey.

To stabilize the roster during workouts, the Jets recalled goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis, defencemen Ville Heinola and Elias Salomonsson, and forward Walker Duehr from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

The decision to bring up two defencemen has sparked some speculation about what could be ahead for Winnipeg’s blue line. One possibility is that the team does not expect one of its injured defenders to be ready when play resumes. Haydn Fleury, Colin Miller and Neal Pionk have all dealt with injuries in recent weeks.

Another potential scenario is that the Jets are preparing for a move once the NHL trade freeze lifts next week. Defenseman Logan Stanley has been mentioned in trade speculation, and the Olympic break may have provided an opportunity for discussions to progress behind the scenes.

For now, head coach Scott Arniel offered measured updates. Miller skated Monday and is scheduled for an injured reserve skate Wednesday. Pionk is considered a possibility for the team’s upcoming road trip. Fleury is progressing but will need additional time to rebuild conditioning, potentially opening the door for Heinola or Salomonsson to remain on the roster when games resume.

pic.twitter.com/VdkeNli4V3 Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey appears to suffer lower-body injury after his leg kicks out after colliding with Czechia player. Tried to come back in the second period but was unable to go. #GoJetsGo

— Jake Tye (@JakeTye10) February 14, 2026

There was also encouraging news on Morrissey, who was injured while representing Canada men's national ice hockey team at the Winter Olympics. He is expected to return to the lineup before the end of the tournament and could rejoin Canada as early as Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup against Czechia men's national ice hockey team.

The Jets’ roster picture should become clearer in the coming days as the Olympics wind down and Winnipeg ramps up full practices in preparation for its return to NHL play.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Philadelphia Flyers will be an interesting team to watch ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. They are currently eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, so there is a chance that they will be sellers.

However, at the same time, the possibility of them adding to their roster should not be ruled out. One of the Flyers' biggest needs is another goaltender, so let's look at three netminders who could be good fits for Philadelphia. 

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild 

Jesper Wallstedt is the most notable goaltender in the rumor mill right now. At just 23 years old, he would have the potential to be a perfect long-term fit for the Flyers if they acquired him. The 2021 first-round pick has a 14-5-4 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.72 goals-against average. 

However, the Minnesota Wild's asking price for Wallstedt is undoubtedly very high, so coming up with a trade package to land him could be too tough for the Flyers. Yet, on paper, the fit looks perfect between Wallstedt and Philly. 

Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs 

Could the Flyers consider a reunion with Anthony Stolarz? The 32-year-old kicked off his NHL career in Philadelphia and has come up in the rumor mill this season. 

Stolarz has struggled and also has had some injury trouble this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, though. In 16 games this campaign with Toronto, he has a 7-7-1 record, a .882 save percentage, and a 3.55 goals-against average. However, he also led the NHL with a .925 save percentage in 2023-24 and a .926 save percentage last season. With this, he could be a bounce-back candidate for the Flyers to consider pursuing if the Maple Leafs end up being open to moving him. 

Colten Ellis, Buffalo Sabres 

Colten Ellis could be an interesting under-the-radar goalie for the Flyers to take a chance on. The Buffalo Sabres currently have three goalies on their NHL roster, and Ellis is behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon on their depth chart. With this, some questions have come up about Ellis' long-term future in Buffalo. 

If the Flyers acquired Ellis, he would give them another young option to work with for their backup role. The 25-year-old has had a decent rookie season with the Sabres, as he has a 7-4-1 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 3.11 goals-against in 13 games. This is after he had a 22-14-3 record and a .922 save percentage in 42 AHL games last season with the Springfield Thunderbirds. 

Relax. Matt Savoie heading back to Bakersfield is not what it looks like.

The news broke Tuesday that the 22-year-old Edmonton Oilers forward was being sent down to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors during the Olympic break, and if you spent any time on social media in the aftermath, you’d think the sky was falling. It isn’t. Not even close. What this actually is — and bear with me here, because it’s surprisingly simple — is the Oilers giving a young player some meaningful game time while NHL action is on pause. That’s it. That’s the whole story.

There's some context people seem to be skipping over; the NHL is in the middle of its Olympic break. Games don’t resume until February 25th. Established veterans? They get most of February off — they’ve earned it. But rookies don’t get the same extended vacation. They get a couple of weeks, maybe, and then they’re expected to say “thank you, coach” and get to work. Sending Savoie to Bakersfield isn’t a punishment or a message, but a maintenance plan. The Oilers want him sharp, in game shape, and playing real hockey when the lights come back on — not rusty and stiff from sitting idle for three weeks.

Savoie was loaned to the AHL Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday. With NHL action at a standstill for the Olympic break, the Oilers will give the young Savoie some extra game reps.  That’s straight from the team’s logic, and it makes complete sense. He has held his own in the NHL this season with nine goals, nine assists, 79 shots on net and 28 blocked shots across 58 games.  That’s the stat line of a player who has legitimately stuck at the NHL level in his first real crack at it, not one who's being burried.

Let’s not forget where this kid came from, either. He had 19 goals, 35 assists and 54 points across 66 games a season ago in the AHL — numbers that made him one of the better young players in the entire league. He was the Condors’ leading scorer. He earned his callup. And then he went out and made the Oilers’ opening night roster. Savoie was ninth overall in the 2022 draft. He wasn’t supposed to be an afterthought — and he isn’t one.

The geography of all this makes the “demotion” narrative even sillier. When the Oilers kick off their post-Olympic schedule with a California road trip, Savoie will likely return to the Oilers before the team resumes regular-season play Feb. 25 in Anaheim.  Against the Ducks. Bakersfield is about two hours north of Anaheim on the I-5. The man could practically drive himself to the rink, lace up his skates, and be good to go. This isn’t a long-term separation from the big club.

Don't Look Now, Former Oiler Back On The UFA MarketWith Jeff Skinner's contract terminated and his clearing waivers, could the Oilers bring back their former winger for a playoff run?

And if you need a reminder of how the Oilers actually view Savoie, think back to earlier this season. When the coaches wanted to experiment with a trio of dynamic young forwards, it was Savoie they put in the middle, centering a line alongside Isaac Howard and Quinn Hutson. That kid line buzzed with potential. Savoie spent time in the top six earlier in the year alongside Leon Draisaitl, and by one underlying metric — five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes — he ranked first on the entire team during that stretch. Not just among rookies. On the whole team.

Is he getting the ice time that maybe his underlying numbers suggest he deserves? Probably not. Kris Knoblauch has historically been conservative with young players, and Savoie has bounced between lineup spots more than some fans would like. That’s a fair criticism of how he’s been deployed. But being deployed inconsistently by a veteran-heavy coaching staff is a very different problem than being written off entirely. One is a usage issue. The other is a death sentence. Savoie has the former, not the latter.

McDavid's Got His International Winger For The Next 10 YearsLife's pretty good right now if you're a Team Canada fan. Or an <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Oilers</a> fan. Or even a Sharks fan, believe it or not.

He’s 22 years old. He’s on a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He’s on an entry-level contract through next season, with plenty of time left in his window to grow into a bigger role. The Oilers didn’t trade Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio to Buffalo to watch Savoie disappear into the minor leagues. They traded for him because they believe in him.

So let him go get a few games in Bakersfield, stay sharp, and come back ready to roll when Anaheim rolls around on the 25th. The future is still bright. It just needed a brief pit stop.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a position to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. They are currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division standings and should be open to upgrading their group because of it. 

One area that the Penguins could aim to improve is the right side of their blueline. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider stands out as an intriguing potential target for the Penguins. 

With Schneider being just 24 years old, he would be a strong fit on a team that is focused on the future, like the Penguins. Furthermore, he is still young enough that the possibility of him improving should not be ruled out. Perhaps getting a fresh start with the Penguins could help him do just that. 

If the Penguins acquired Schneider, he could work on either their second pairing or third pairing. Furthermore, due to his shutdown ability, the 6-foot-4 blueliner would also give Pittsburgh another clear option for their penalty kill to consider. 

Schneider is in the final season of his two-year, $4.4 million contract, but is a pending restricted free agent (RFA). Thus, he would have the potential to be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired, which adds to his appeal. 

In 57 games this season with the Rangers, Schneider has recorded two goals, nine assists, 11 points, and 123 hits. 

With multiple New York Rangers players competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, including J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and Mika Zibanejad, the week of practice leading up to the Rangers’ first game back to action on Feb. 26 presents an opportunity for some prospects. 

Ahead of Tuesday’s practice, the Rangers called up forward Brendan Brisson, who hasn't suited up for the Blueshirts since being traded from the Golden Knights on March 6, 2025, in a deal that was headlined by Reilly Smith.

“I mean, you never really know what's gonna happen until it happens. I found out I was traded and I didn't really know where until like a couple minutes after, so when I found out it was New York, I was pretty excited,” Brisson said of being traded to the Rangers. “Obviously great organization, the history here and the fans and MSG and everything, so definitely I was excited.”

Since being traded to New York, Brisson has exclusively played for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. 

In 46 games in the AHL this season, the 24-year-old forward has recorded 13 goals, 10 assists, and 23 points. 

“I feel good all around, not just offensively,” Brisson said. “Down in Hartford, I’ve been relied on in close games, on the defensive side too. I feel like I've gotten my offensive touch back… I have a little bit more confidence than I did in the past. It’s been a good season for me so far.”

Being called up for these handful of practices, Brisson is not guaranteed to play in any games for the Rangers. 

However, any set call-up from the AHL presents the chance for a player to showcase his skills with the goal of eventually earning an NHL spot, which is the mindset Brisson is trying to carry. 

“It's a chance to come up here and practice and see what happens,” said Brisson. “It's exciting. It's cool to be back. It was fun day today on the ice, so just kind of taking it day-by-day. I don't really know what to expect. Just kind of (trying to) work hard in practice and see what happens.”

Brisson was selected by the Golden Knights in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and the Rangers are clinging to hope that his first-round potential translates to the NHL.

Why The Rangers Decided Not To Send Gabe Perreault Down To AHL During Olympic Break One of the only bright spots for the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> through a tumultuous 2025-26 season has been the emergence of Gabe Perreault.&nbsp;

During the 2025 offseason, the Rangers signed Brisson to a one-year, two-way contract extension. 

That opportunity to play in the NHL in a Rangers uniform hasn’t come for Brisson. He does have NHL experience though, playing in 24 games over a two-season span with the Golden Knights, where he tallied eight points. 

With the one-year anniversary of his arrival to the Rangers organization quickly approaching, Brisson feels prepared to take the leap from the AHL to the NHL.

“The ultimate goal is to come up, leave an impression and stay,” Brisson said. “Whenever I get my next opportunity, I'm definitely looking forward to it, and I’m ready for an opportunity.”