The Colorado Avalanche have acquired defenseman Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick.

We have acquired Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2nd round pick in 2028 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/tZrCRBm3LB

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 24, 2026

This is a shocking move for the Avalanche, not in what they acquire but in what they gave up, especially with how Samuel Girard has been in numerous insiders' trade lists and the Avalanche’s willingness to get bigger on the defensive end.

Is Samuel Girard On the Brink of a Trade?Ilya Solovyov was recently recalled from his AHL conditioning assignment, raising questions about the Avalanche’s long-term plans.

Initially, when Elliotte Friedman first announced the Avalanche were going to acquire Kulak, it was going to be for a middle-bottom pairing move, see how he fits with maybe Girard, Malinski or so forth but seeing Girard get moved, this is no longer a “depth” move, it highlights a pretty big change to this defense core the rest of the season.

Kulak is in the final year of his contract, which carries a $2.8 million cap hit. At 31 years of age, he skates pretty well for his age and will help play a role on the already impressive penalty kill unit. He was playing with Kris Letang and doing well despite a rough start to the season with the Edmonton Oilers. Offensively, he might not be hitting the ceiling of what Girard can bring, but when he is at his best, he doesn’t make many mistakes and makes smart plays when he's under pressure.

In 56 games played between the Oilers and the Penguins, Kulak has one goal and eight assists for nine points. He averaged just over 17 minutes of ice time with the Oilers but over 20 with the Penguins.

Nathan MacKinnon and the Myth of the Sore LoserA clipped quote was all it took for the hockey world to turn on Nathan MacKinnon for no reason.

In a news update first broken by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, Pittsburgh is getting Sam Girard and a second-round pick.

The Avs confirmed the deal minutes later on their own social media accounts and official website. 

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We have acquired Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2nd round pick in 2028 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/tZrCRBm3LB

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 24, 2026

The pending unrestricted free agent, who carries a $2.75 million cap hit through 2025-26, was acquired earlier by Pittsburgh in the Tristan Jarry deal with Edmonton. As Oilers fans know well, Kulak, 32, brings playoff experience and steady depth, making him a strong fit for a Colorado team viewed as a Cup contender and active buyer ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.

Edmonton wasn't in love with the idea of moving Kulak in the Jarry trade, but to make the money work, GM Stan Bowman wasn't left with much choice. The Oilers have relied on Kulak as a depth guy who can step into a bigger role in meaningful games. He elevates his play during the postseason, which is something the Avs are likely counting on. 

The move signals that the post-Olympic trade market is beginning to heat up.

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The Philadelphia Flyers will be a team to keep an eye on leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. With the Flyers not holding a playoff spot, there is a chance that we will see them shake up their roster a bit.

One Flyers player who has created chatter as a trade candidate this campaign is Emil Andrae. If the Flyers end up shopping the 24-year-old defenseman, these two teams could make sense for him as landing spots. 

San Jose Sharks 

The Sharks have several defensemen who are pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), so it would not be surprising if they looked to add to their blueline ahead of the deadline. With Andrae being a young blueliner with decent upside, he could make a lot of sense as a trade target for a Sharks club that is on the rise. 

Winnipeg Jets 

It has been a hard year for the Winnipeg Jets. After winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team just last season, they are currently among the worst teams in the NHL this campaign. With this, they should be focused on getting younger, and a player like Andrae could grab their attention because of it. He could be a strong fit on their bottom pairing and power play if acquired. 

The Buffalo Sabres are traveling to snowy Newark and will resume their pursuit of a playoff spot against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, but they may have to begin that pursuit without leading scorer Tage Thompson. Thompson and his gold medal-winning Team USA teammates were diverted from New York City to Miami because of the snowstorm that is hitting the East Coast on Monday, and celebrated their victory in Florida.

The Sabres forward is traveling with Team USA to Washington DC to attend tonight’s State of the Union address at the invitation of President Donald Trump, and will be attending a White House ceremony on Wednesday. The possibility of him making it to Newark in time and being inserted into the lineup without practicing is unlikely.  

“We don't have anything mapped out right now. I think it just depends on how things go,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said on Monday. “(Tage has) had an unbelievable experience, and it's going to be a tough two or three days for all those guys. Really busy and to be expected."

It is likely that Thompson will travel to Florida to join the Sabres prior to their important back-to-back matches with the Panthers on Friday and Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. With the availability of Thompson in question, the Sabres have called up reinforcements in the form of forward Anton Wahlberg. 

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This is the 20-year-old's first NHL call-up after playing 119 games over three seasons with the AHL Rochester Americans. Wahlberg has 25 points (6 goals, 19 assists) in 47 games this season, but based on Ruff's usual modus operandi with call-ups, the big Swede will only be inserted as a last resort. 

Ruff indicated on Monday that some players injured prior to the Olympic break will be available, including center Josh Norris and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Norris skated at practice between Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan, and has not played since January 14th against Philadelphia. Luukkonen was injured just before the break in Toronto on January 27, which prevented him for playing for Finland in Milano Cortina, but he has participated in three practices.     The Sabres are still awaiting test results on winger Zach Benson’s upper-body injury. Ruff indicated that it was unlikely that the 20-year-old would play during their three-game road trip. Benson and forward Jiri Kulich were seen skating on another rink at Harborcenter before practice on Monday. Kulich has been out since early November with a blood clot issue, and last week, Ruff indicated that the youngster is still in protocol for the issue, but that there is still hope of getting him back before the end of the regular season. 

Buffalo begins the final stretch in the top Eastern Conference wildcard spot, one point ahead of Boston, five points ahead of the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets, and seven points ahead of the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Penguins find themselves in an interesting and surprising position coming out of the Olympic break. They’ve banked 70 points in the standings after 56 games and are firmly in the hunt for a playoff position, currently sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference in points percentage. Perhaps more importantly, the Pens are second in the Metropolitan Division. To the world, it looks like a four-team race between Pittsburgh, the Islanders, Columbus and Washington for the two guaranteed playoff spots in the Metropolitan, with perhaps a chance for the third team to earn a Wild Card playoff spot if the Atlantic Division teams in the mix like Buffalo or Boston slow down a bit.

As such, the Penguins are in a solid spot, yet not one where they’re likely to steer away from their overall plan to prioritize the future. The team has already made some moves to improve the team, bringing in Egor Chinakhov and Brett Kulak (plus Stuart Skinner) has worked out well. Amazingly, the overall net of those transactions amounts to one third round pick plus Tristan Jarry leaving the organization. That’s probably the type of moves that will be considered in the future, GM Kyle Dubas has a glut of future draft picks to work with but won’t be in a hurry to bring in older players on expiring deals that will only have a short-term impact on the team.

That desire has to also be weighed against the areas for opportunity to improve. Chinakhov’s addition has really solidified the depth and talent level of the forward group to the point where the cost of improvements might not be worth disrupting the chemistry or pushing out players who have put Pittsburgh in the current position in the first place. Same thought applies in net, where changes have been addressed by swapping Skinner for Jarry.

This leaves the blueline as a key area to monitor, where the Pens could dip their toes in the trade waters to seek an upgrade and add more quality depth to their group. The Athletic paired together some teams and likely tradeable players, while Pittsburgh wasn’t highlighted there was some utility in seeing what some proposed prices could be and where the Pens might try to insert themselves in negotiations.

NEW with @harmandayal2, we matched 5 NHL playoff hopefuls with their perfect fit this trade deadline, plus what it could take to land them:https://t.co/UeBlLUB8CM

— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) February 24, 2026

Detroit Red Wings

The perfect fit: Justin Faulk, RHD, St. Louis Blues

The trade: Faulk for Detroit’s 2026 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, LHD prospect William Wallinder and G prospect Landon Miller

We start out with a doozy. Justin Faulk is an impending free agent and projects to have a huge price based on this. The Pittsburgh equivalent might mean including Owen Pickering and Joel Blomqvist as the prospects involved, to go along with a first and second round draft pick. If something like that ends up being the price, it’s extremely difficult to see the Pens as being terrible interested in shopping down this aisle. Faulk is a quality player, but he plays the right side and has played big minutes on the power play. That’s not a great fit for a team that already has Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang for that role.

Buffalo Sabres

The perfect fit: Connor Murphy, RHD, Chicago Blackhawks

The trade: Murphy for the Sabres’ 2027 second-round pick

A player like Murphy could be more in tune for Pittsburgh’s needs. The 32-year old has great size (6’4”, 212 pounds) and plays more of a stay-at-home defensive type of game from the right side, adding excellent defensive impacts, though it may be concerning his even strength ice time and role with Chicago has been limited this season.

The price is one where the Pens could get into as well. Pittsburgh owns two picks in the second rounds in all of the 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 drafts. They have two third round picks in 2026, 2027 and 2028, positioning them exceptionally strongly for a potential trade like this. Murphy is also an impending free agent, Pittsburgh would have to think about if burning some of their excess was worth it, or even if they wanted to keep Murphy in the fold for the future with a contract extension.

Murphy isn’t a complete necessity but adding him to the group would make a lot of sense if that was the direction they wanted to go to attempt to shore things up defensively and add a veteran to the penalty kill.

Dallas Stars

The perfect fit: Zach Whitecloud, RHD, Calgary Flames

The trade: Whitecloud for the Stars’ 2026 second-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick

Whitecloud has been a popular name on the ol’ wishlist for potential adds for the Pens and for very good reason. There’s a lot to like, at 29-years old he’s younger than many of the names in the rumor mill. Whitecloud also carries a reasonable $2.75 million cap hit for two seasons after this year. He’s got 78 career games of playoff experience and had a role in Vegas’s 2023 Stanley Cup win. That fits nicely in the mold of what the Penguins would want to do about acquiring players who would be more than a short-term add.

And again, the draft pick excess portions from the Murphy paragraph all dovetail in nicely here as well. The Pens are in a position to easily afford dropping a couple of mid-round picks for an NHL caliber defenseman if they are so inclined to do it, and this proposed price looks very reasonable.

You never know what teams are thinking (including Calgary, who needs some NHL caliber players of their own and might not feel urgency to move Whitecloud at this juncture) but this fit, price and situation all sounds like a very good match. That doesn’t guarantee a transaction will get made, but you’d have to think a lot of the variables align in this case.

Edmonton Oilers

The perfect fit: Bobby McMann, LW/RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The trade: McMann for the Oilers’ 2026 second-round pick and RW prospect Tommy Lafrenière

We’ve been focusing on defensemen, yet one thing to remember about Dubas is that he often tends to zig when you might expect a zag. He also has a penchant for bringing in players that he is familiar with, to which Bobby McMann certainly fits as a Dubas/Wes Clark project they took on with Toronto in 2020 and watched grow into a very nice player.

Perhaps the Pens like someone like Justin Brazeau too much to acquire another player for a similar mid-line role. Perhaps McMann (who has scored 15 and 20 goals in the last two seasons, plus 19 in 56 games this year so far) has too high of a profile to justify burning futures on for what could be a short-term reunion. It would be easier to hold tight and do nothing.

But doing nothing hasn’t been Dubas’s M.O. He’s swapped players (even ones he likes like Conor Timmins) in and out of the team with frequency. Would it be shocking to see the Pens go so far as to send out Brazeau in a deal and use that return to partially or completely offset what it would take to acquire McMann? Or just grab McMann and make an already stocked forward group that much more loaded? It couldn’t or perhaps shouldn’t be too surprising, those are the types of moves Dubas has been making non-stop in the past couple of years to shuffle pieces of the board around in rapid succession while looking for incremental improvements.

The best bet for a realistic scenario might be to hold on or spend the time looking in other areas, but the one thing that Dubas has shown so far is a willingness to make unexpected moves out of the blue. His approach to the 2026 deadline will be instrumental in positioning the team down the stretch as they look to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

The Montreal Canadiens are expected to be buyers leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Due to this, we here at The Hockey News Canadiens have been looking at a few players on selling clubs that could make sense for the Habs to target. 

In this latest edition of the series, let's take a look at the Vancouver Canucks. 

Conor Garland, RW

The Canadiens could use another skilled forward in their top nine, and Conor Garland would provide them with just that if acquired. The 29-year-old is also exactly the kind of heart-and-soul forward that a team on the rise like the Canadiens would benefit from having. He is also known for his two-way play, so he could work on Montreal's power play and penalty kill if acquired. 

Garland would be more than a rental for the Canadiens if brought in. The Massachusetts native's six-year, $36 million contract extension kicks in next season, so he would be a long-term part of the Habs' plans if acquired. 

Garland has appeared in 46 games this season with the Canucks, where he has recorded seven goals, 18 assists, and 25 points. This is after he had 50 points in 81 games for Vancouver this past season. 

David Kampf, C

David Kampf would not provide the Canadiens with another top-six center, but he would improve their depth. If the Canadiens brought him, he could work nicely on their fourth line and on their penalty kill because of his solid defensive play. Furthermore, he would give the Canadiens another center who thrives at the dot, as he has won 52.8% of his faceoffs this season. He has also only had one season where he was under 50% at the faceoff dot during his nine-year NHL career. 

Kampf would also be an easily affordable target for the Canadiens, as he has a $1.1 million cap hit for the remainder of this season. With this, he could be a decent rental for the Habs to bring in for their bottom six. 

The Athletic's Chris Johnston and Michael Russo also reported that the Canadiens had interest in Kampf when he was a free agent back in November. Perhaps they could kick tires on him again. 

With the 27th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected forward Marek Vanacker. The Blackhawks are hoping that the 19-year-old forward will be a big part of their roster later down the road, and his play this season should create optimism about his future with the Original Six club.

Vanacker is currently having an excellent season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Brantford Bulldogs. In 50 games so far this campaign with the OHL club, the 6-foot-1 forward has recorded 40 goals, 28 assists, 68 points, and a plus-29 rating. With numbers like these, there is no question that he is showing off his offensive upside with the Bulldogs this season. 

If Vanacker can continue to produce strong offense like this at the OHL level, it should only create more excitement about his future with the Blackhawks. The young forward has all the tools to become an impactful NHL forward in the future and is just one of several exciting prospects in the Blackhawks' system. 

It will now be interesting to see how Vanacker finishes off the season with the Bulldogs from here. It is clear that he has been having a strong campaign, and this is especially so when it comes to the goal-scoring department. 

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Ville Koivunen is a young player who the Metropolitan Division club is hoping will become a key part of their roster in the future. The 22-year-old forward struggled a bit when given the chance to play on Pittsburgh's roster this season, as he has two goals and five points in 27 games this campaign at the NHL level.

While Koivunen has not broken out with Pittsburgh this season, his play at the American Hockey League (AHL) level is very encouraging. The young forward is continuing to shine with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and it could open the door for him to get another chance on Pittsburgh's roster soon if he keeps this up. 

In 25 games this campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has posted 10 goals, 21 assists, 31 points, and a plus-11 rating. He has also been staying hot as the season carries on, too.

In his last nine games with the AHL club, Koivunen has recorded five goals and 14 points. With numbers like these, there is no question that the Penguins prospect is thriving right now.

It will be interesting to see how Koivunen builds on his strong play with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from here. 

With the Olympics completed and the NHL roster freeze lifted, the Islanders have swung a minor trade.

Isles general manager Mathieu Darche on Tuesday shipped veteran forward Julien Gauthier to the Blues for forward Matt Luff.

The 28-year-old Luff has registered 14 goals and a team-leading 39 points in 42 games this season for Springfield of the AHL.

The 6-3 winger has netted 16 goals in 111 career games in the NHL with four teams, including one goal in five appearances this season for St. Louis.

The 28-year-old Gauthier, who played for the Rangers from 2020-23, only has appeared in one game for the Isles and 23 for AHL Bridgeport the past two seasons due to injuries.

The Isles are in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points entering their first game after the Olympic break Thursday in Montreal.

More to come on this developing story…

The New York Islanders announced this morning that they've acquired forward Matt Luff from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Julien Gauthier.

Luff, 28, played five NHL games this season scoring one goal. In 42 AHL games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Luff has 14 goals and 39 points in 42 games.

In his career, Luff has played 111 NHL games and 321 AHL games, a well-seasoned veteran. 

While he will be reporting to the Bridgeport Islanders, Luff will immediately become a top recall candidate in the event of any injuries. Luff will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Excluding his rookie season, Luff has an impressive 221 points in 252 AHL games, giving Bridgeport a great veteran to lean on as they continue to chase down a playoff spot.

It's the third straight season the Islanders and Blues connected on a trade. Last season, the Islanders acquired Scott Perunovich in exchange for a conditional draft pick (conditions not met). 

In 2023-24, the Islanders acquired Robert Bortuzzo from the Blues in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

As for Gauthier, this is about giving the former first-round pick a new home and potential chance at the NHL.

#Isles announce that they have acquired F Matt Luff from the #stlblues in exchange for F Julien Gauthier.

Believe finding a home for Gauthier has been in the works for a bit.

Was hurt for a little.

Luff will be a big boost for Bridgeport.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) February 24, 2026

Gauthier, 28, has played just 14 AHL games this season as he's dealt with injuries after missing almost the entirety of last season with an injury.

He played in 28 games for the NHL Islanders, 27 coming in 2023-24 and one coming in 2024-25. 

St. Louis will give the speedy forward a chance at a potential NHL comeback, something that would not likely be coming again with the Islanders.

Now that the Olympics are over, trade talk around the NHL should be picking up. The 2026 NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the San Jose Sharks will certainly be a team to keep an eye on.

With the Sharks currently in the playoff race, it would be understandable if they looked to add to their roster. However, some of their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have also come up as trade candidates. The most notable is defenseman Mario Ferraro.

Ferraro would have the potential to get the Sharks a nice return in a move. This is because he is a hard-nosed top-four defenseman who plays a steady game. 

Now, Ferraro is continuing to be linked to one of the NHL's best teams.

In The Fourth Period's most recent trade board, Ferraro was linked to the Colorado Avalanche. 

It would make a lot of sense for the Avalanche to make a major push for a defenseman like Ferraro. When looking at their current blueline, it is fair to argue that they could use another impactful left-shot defenseman. Acquiring Ferraro would provide them with just that. 

If the Avalanche landed Ferraro, he could slot nicely on their second pairing with former Sharks blueliner Brent Burns. Yet, even if Ferraro played on the Avalanche's bottom pairing, there is no question that he would give their blueline a nice boost. 

With the Olympic Tournament and the break in the books, the trade freeze on the NHL has been lifted, and there should be plenty of talk and speculation about trades in the run-up to the March 6th trade deadline. The Montreal Canadiens only have three games left until then, and given the team’s results this season, nobody expects the Habs to be sellers; their rebuild his over.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Kent Hugues will stay put, though. There has been a lot of chatter about forward Patrik Laine being on the market, and the Habs do have an interesting situation developing on the blueline. For the third season in a row, Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj have been fighting for the role of sixth defenseman, and neither of them has been able to hang on to the role. Furthermore, we’ve seen that Adam Engstrom is knocking on the NHL door (although he was injured this weekend in the Laval Rocket game), and David Reinbacher should be ready to move up soon as well.

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When these kids are ready, someone will have to make way, and whichever way you look at it, Xhekaj and Struble, who have been on the bubble, are two candidates to go. The latter is in the first year of a two-year contract with a $1,412,500 cap hit, while the former is playing in the last year of a two-year pact with a $1,300,000 cap hit. Neither is near UFA status. Xhekaj will get there in 2028, while Struble will be free as a bird in 2029. Since both will remain under team control, there is no rush to move either.

Kent Hughes has always said that he’s not in the business of buying high and selling low, which leads me to believe that, at least for now, Xhekaj is not going anywhere. The 6-foot-4 and 240-pound defenseman has a special blend of skills and toughness that most teams would love to have. While it’s true that he makes some mistakes on the ice, be it in defensive coverage or by getting himself out of the play to make a big hit, the Canadiens will need to decide whether they are ready to live with those mistakes to benefit from what he brings on the physicality side.

Arber Xhekaj établit une nouvelle marque personnelle et remporte l’épreuve du tir le plus puissant pour une troisième année consécutive avec un boulet de 107,3 mi/h!

Arber Xhekaj sets a new personal best and wins the hardest shot event for a third year in a row with a 107.3… pic.twitter.com/ygPNlLQfEo

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 22, 2026

Martin St-Louis doesn’t seem particularly fond of the gritty style Xhekaj can bring, but there’s no denying that the Canadiens need to have some players who can play that kind of game. It was evident in the playoffs last season when the Washington Capitals roughed them up, and it likely won’t be different in the upcoming playoffs. Despite his occasional shortcomings, it would be a mistake for the Canadiens to move on from Xhekaj. 

Asked about his future last Wednesday after practice, Xhekaj said that there had been no talk about a contract extension and that he’d see what happens in the future. Even though he’s only averaging 11:20 of ice time this season, he still leads the Canadiens in hits with 135, miles ahead of the next defenseman, Struble, who only has 73, followed by Noah Dobson, who has 39. Up front, Joe Veleno leads the pack with 119 hits, and Zachary Bolduc is next with 115. As things stand, Montreal cannot afford to trade Xhekaj, at least on paper.

The question is, though, will St-Louis ever be comfortable enough with his downsides to give him a regular shift? It appears that Hughes and St-Louis will need to discuss that topic to decide how to move forward. Could playing him up front in an energy role be an option? It sure seems like an idea worth exploring; the younger Xhekaj, Florian, is doing very well in that role with the Laval Rocket.

Whether or not they decide to move on from the hulking defenseman, it would make sense for the team to sign him to a new contract before trading him. That’s the only way to maximize his value. He’s got a special blend of attributes, but other teams are more likely to give better compensation if an asset is already signed to a cost-efficient contract.

Something will have to give soon on the blueline, but it doesn’t have to be before the end of the season. This seems to be a matter Hughes should take his time with; he could use another playoff experience to see how much of an impact these two blueliners can have when the stakes are as high as they can be.

great fight and respect here. arber wins but immediately calls for help for sabourin pic.twitter.com/UGIEJqh6Zp

— ava (@teapottoffoIi) December 28, 2025

---

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It’s still not clear if Sidney Crosby will miss any time with the lower-body injury that sidelined him for the last two games of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Penguins coach Dan Muse told reporters that Monday was a travel day for Crosby, who received his silver medal after Canada’s loss to Team USA on Sunday in Milan.

“There’s still more information that we need to get… there’s a couple more days here, before we play a game,” Muse said Monday.

The Penguins are seemingly preparing for the possibility of Crosby missing time. The team called up Avery Hayes on Monday as part of what Muse described as a “contingency plan.”

“It’s also just, see something different. See what the options might be. And I think that’s all we’re doing right now is just looking at, if we do get to the point where we need to explore different options coming off the break, then we’ve got the practice days to do it,” Muse said.

Hayes spent Monday skating on the Penguins’ top line, with Rickard Rakell sliding over to take Crosby’s usual spot at center.

Muse said he would be “very comfortable” with playing Rakell at center should Crosby miss time after seeing him in the position this preseason.

#LetsGoPens lines and D-pairs without Sidney Crosby, who has yet to rejoin the team.

A. Hayes-Rakell-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
(K. Hayes)

Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Kulak-Letang
Shea-Clifton
(Graves-Solovyov)

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 23, 2026

Hayes, who scored twice in his Penguins debut during the last game before the Olympic break, has since gone back to the AHL to record two hat tricks in a span of five games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Even if Crosby is able to play Thursday, the Penguins could potentially consider keeping him up for another shot at NHL play depending on how practice looks later this week.

The Penguins have a scheduled day off Tuesday, per Trib Live’s Seth Rorabaugh. That could mean Penguins fans won’t find out more about Crosby’s status until practice Wednesday.

The Penguins have a busy stretch coming up. After Thursday’s home game against Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils, the Pens are taking on a back-to-back set at Madison Square Garden on Saturday and against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina are over, and the United States is returning with two gold medal hockey teams. The women's side was able to outlast Canada in overtime and won on a phenomenal stick rip into backhand goal from Megan Keller, whereas the men also won in overtime courtesy of a snipe from Jack Hughes.

The USA was abuzz after the wins, but while hockey is over internationally, NHL fans are now eagerly awaiting the recommencement of a season that is entering its final stretch. There are divisional races like the brutally tight Atlantic and the similarly close Pacific, dominant teams like the Colorado Avalanche (although their shine wore off a bit going into the break), and teams that are just plain fun like the Wild, where Quinn Hughes was traded from Vancouver earlier in the season.

REQUIRED READING: When does the NHL season resume after the 2026 Winter Olympics?

There's a little something for everyone, and with most teams having about 25 games left to play this year, there's a lot of on-ramp ahead of the always-exciting Stanley Cup playoffs. Not to mention, there were some amazing players who didn't compete in the athletes due to the international ban on Russia, including all-time NHL goals leader Alex Ovechkin, plus Andrei Vasilevsky and Ilya Sorokin, arguably the best two goalies in the sport.

Of course, those looking to support some of the key players who won Team USA gold may be disappointed. Connor Hellebuyck's Winnipeg Jets and Jack Hughes' New Jersey Devils are all but out of the playoff race. With that being said, other key players like Quinn Hughes and Dylan Larkin are firmly in the thick of things.

Here's what to know about the NHL season as it stands, and who fans can root for depending on their proclivities.

The obvious: Geography

If you're in a city with a team, the easiest move to root for that team. This probably doesn't need exposition.

USA! USA!

If you just can't get away from the high of that Team USA win, there are a few players to look out for. Quinn Hughes, who notched the game-winner for the United States against Sweden, plays defense for the Minnesota Wild. He was traded from the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the season, and is tied for fourth among NHL defensemen in points with Avalanche blueliner and Canadian Cale Makar. In addition, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber play for Minnesota.

Then there's center Dylan Larkin, who plays center and is captain for the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings are entrenched in the most brutal divisional chase in the league, with the Atlantic Division having four teams within three points of each other. An Original Six team, the Wings have one of the most storied histories in the NHL, and are trying to break a nine-year playoff drought, the longest in team history.

Jack Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck play for the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets, respectively. Both are effectively out of the playoff picture, so if new fans are willing to wait, these could be teams to follow. Hughes plays with his brother, Luke, who is rehabbing a shoulder injury and is expected to return in early March. He is the youngest of the Hughes brothers.

Give me an underdog

The underdog to end all underdogs? The Buffalo Sabresare also entrenched in the bloodbath that is the Atlantic, and looking to snap a league-high 14-season playoff drought.

Led by USA forward Tage Thompson and captain Rasmus Dahlin, a star for Sweden, the Sabres were hockey's hottest team in December heading into January, winning 10 consecutive games in December and 15 of 17 after the span. NFL fans will know Buffalo has some of sports' most dedicated fans, and the Sabres reflect that. Plus, they semi-regularly don the goat's head jerseys of the 1990s. Huge bonus.

Sandwiched between Detroit and Toronto are the Ottawa Senators. Canada's capital has a team that is riding the line between playoff team and rebuild, with Brady Tkachuk at the forefront. The Senators have the worst goalie play in hockey by a wide margin, but with a solid defense and a year removed from a playoff berth, not to mention at least a fighting chance in the Atlantic, Ottawa is a fun team to get in on early.

Perhaps, however, you'd like to look to the West. The Seattle Kraken have made the playoffs just once in their first four years in the NHL, but are on the razor's edge to do the same this year. They're currently third in the Pacific, meaning if the season ended today, they'd be in. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle are the top scorers for the team, while backup goalie Philipp Grubauer just turned in a nice performance for Germany in Italy.

If there's a bandwagon, I'll take it

Normally the answer to this would be the Florida Panthers, but some bad injury luck has the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champs at the bottom of the Atlantic. If you want instant bragging rights and Matthew Tkachuk, look no further than Miami, but it might not last long.

With that in mind, the Colorado Avalanche are the clearest answer. Though they sputtered a bit heading into the Olympic break, they still lead the Wild by five games in the West. Canadians Nathan MacKinnon and Cole Makar lead the way for Colorado, while their goalie tandem of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood, affectionately dubbed "The Woods," continue to turn in impressive seasons.

The Tampa Bay Lightningalso belong here. They lead the Atlantic by six points with 78, although they've had their recent woes. After three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances, they've been bounced in the first round of the playoffs for three years in a row. Coached by Team Canada coach Jon Cooper, their best two players are Russians Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevsky. The latter is one of the NHL's best goalies, second in the league in saves above expected only to Ilya Sorokin. Kucherov is third in the NHL behind Connor McDavid and MacKinnon in points with 91 and has won the last two scoring titles.

The Dallas Starsbandwagon is another fun one, and it isn't insufferable ... yet. The Stars are trying to get over the conference finals hump and are third in the Central behind the Avalanche and Wild. While Mikko Rantanen is one of the top setup wings in the sport, it's the non-Olympian fans may love: Jason Robertson, who was considered a somewhat egregious snub off Team USA. He leads the Stars in goals at 32, and has said himself: "Every one is for my cat."

There are also the Vegas Golden Knights, who currently lead the Pacific. The addition of Mitch Marner has been a boon for Vegas, and the team has been relevant since its inception in 2017. Vegas, of course, went to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season and then won it all in 2022-23. The Golden Knights have made hockey a performance as much as any team in the league, and it has translated to results on the ice.

Give me speed, give me youth

If you want youth, the Montreal Canadiens are the way to go. They're the youngest team in hockey, and their top five point scorers are 26 or younger (three are 21 or younger). Similar to Robertson, Cole Caufield was a snub from Team USA, and is tied for the league-lead in overtime goals with the Wild's Kirill Kaprizov at four. Nick Suzuki played well for Canada, notching a clutch game-tying goal against Czechia in the quarterfinals. The Canadiens (with an E) are mixed up with the Red Wings, Sabres and Bruins in the Atlantic.

Then there's the San Jose Sharks, where wunderkind Macklin Celebrini is leaving his mark. The Sharks have work to do to slot into playoff position this year, as they're five games out of a wild card spot, but it's a far cry from where they were before drafting Celebrini in 2024. After going 20-50-12 in 2024-25, they've taken bounds this year, largely thanks to Celebrini. Now the Sharks are trying to build on the momentum of adding the face of their franchise.

Another team that's part of the youth movement is the Chicago Blackhawks, led by Connor Bedard. They aren't in the thick of things yet, but it's a team with a lot of history that new fans would be buying low on. The Blackhawks look to be on the upswing, and with recent Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015, they aren't far removed from their most recent era of relevance (and dominance).

Show me the best player in hockey

It's Connor McDavid.

While naysayers will cite the lack of a Cup or Canada getting silver in these Games, McDavid is at or near the top of nearly every conceivable metric. He leads the NHL in points at 96, goals at 34, expected goals at 32.5, he's tied for the lead in assists with 62, second in primary assists with 36 and fourth in shots on goal per game. He also leads the league in high danger shots on goal, max skate speed, and he has 70 more bursts above 22 mph over No. 2 Owen Tippett with 106. If you want to watch the best player hockey has to offer, watch the Edmonton Oilers, who are looking for their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance and are currently second in the Pacific.

I'll stick out a rebuild

Not everyone needs to get in and win right away. There are a few teams who are either entering into or transitioning toward rebuilding.

The St. Louis Bluesare poising themselves for a full on sale at the trade deadline, and while Jordan Binnington played some great goalie for Team Canada, he has been the worst goalie in hockey by a wide margin in goals saved above expected. They're likely looking at a roster teardown as they try to get back to the playoffs.

The Vancouver Canucks are a team new fans might struggle with. Ownership has had difficulty accepting a rebuild is needed, but the trade of Quinn Hughes was a start. Vancouver has never had a No. 1 overall pick, and this might be the year. But while things look bleak now, Vancouver is one of the most fun fanbases in hockey when it's winning. Even when it's losing, the fans find ways to make the best of it, like chanting "we want the Cup" ahead of a shutout win of the Anaheim Ducks despite clamoring for a rebuild.

Anyone shiny and new?

The Utah Mammoth aren't a new team per se, they're a relocated continuation of the Arizona Coyotes, but they're currently in a wild card spot in the West. Goalie Karel Vejmelka has been extremely strong this year, while Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz have turned in 50-plus point years to this point. Their logo also evokes the Wasatch Mountains over the head of the animal mascot, a cool localized touch.

I want a team with history

For teams with history, among the Original Six teams not mentioned are the Bruins and the Maple Leafs, both of the Atlantic.

The Boston Bruinsare a team that never really goes away. They had an eight-year playoff streak snapped last year, but this year are in the thick of the playoff hunt at 69 points, giving them a wild card spot for now. David Pastrnak has 71 points for the team lead, while Morgan Geekie and Team USA's Charlie McAvoy are other key contributors.

Then, and this is a little awkward, there are the Toronto Maple Leafs. USA captain Auston Matthews is the Leafs captain, and is second on the team with 48 points while leading it with 26 goals. The Leafs are at 63 points, six points out of a wild card spot, and haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1967. The Leafs have also suffered some ... unique heartbreak in recent seasons. They have lost seven Game 7s since 2013, including two in the past two seasons. The 2025 collapse against the Panthers ultimately ran Mitch Marner out of town (among other reasons), and this year looks like it may well end in disappointment up north.

Finally, there the New York Rangers to round out the Original Six. The Rangers are trying to retool their roster, having already traded Artemi Panarin to the Kings and being on the cusp of moving Vincent Trocheck, another Team USA member. The Rangers made the conference finals in 2023-24, but have lacked an identity in the past two seasons. They're hoping for a lottery pick this year, and easily could have gone into the rebuild category as well.

Obviously anyone can follow any team for any number of reasons, this is just a jumping off point. Come the NHL trade deadline on March 6 or the NHL entry draft June 26-27, things could end up looking very different. But as we enter the homestretch of the NHL season, these teams have something for everyone. So do the Blue Jackets and Flames, where Johnny Gaudreau — the player honored by Team USA after him and his brother Matthew were tragically killed by a suspected drunk driver in 2024 — played, the Capitals, led by the legendary Ovechkin, or the Penguins, led by the similarly legendary Sidney Crosby.

There's also the Hurricanes, who have made seven straight playoffs and are cued up for their eighth, the Islanders, who boast arguably the best goalie in the league in Ilya Sorokin, and the Predators, another team in an unorthodox location that has found sporadic success (and Nick Saban has stock in, for Alabama fans). The Ducks and Kings scratch the West Coast itch and play completely disparate games despite being so close regionally, and the Flyers, well, the Flyers have Gritty, one of sports' best mascots.

With the NHL entering its homestretch, all anyone has to do is turn it on and follow the rules. The Olympics provided a good blueprint of what to expect. An important caveat, however: It isn't best on best every night. Not every game is going to bring the excitement of the Winter Olympics. But the Stanley Cup playoffs are as high-stress as any postseason in sports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A casual fan's guide to the NHL: What to know after Winter Olympics

Tuesday will be the final day of the NHL’s Olympic break, with the 2025-26 season starting back up on Wednesday with eight games on the schedule. It will be a slightly longer wait for the Pittsburgh Penguins who return to action on Thursday against gold medal hero Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.

If you were hoping for some big update on Sidney Crosby on Monday then you will have been disappointed since all we got from the team was that Crosby was on his way back to North America like his fellow Canadian teammates and will be evaluated once he rejoins the team this week.

Pens Points…

Back like he never left, Avery Hayes was recalled to the NHL on Monday, hoping to pick up where he left when he made his NHL debut in the final game before the Olympic break. Hayes was back in the AHL while the Penguins were off where he recorded a pair of hat tricks for the Baby Pens. [Pensburgh]

There was always an expectation that Hayes was going to be in Pittsburgh at some point this season, but the way he announced his arrival was perhaps not expected. He’s been on fire ever since and his first call-up along with the second has been well earned on the ice. [Trib Live]

There are 26 games remaining on the Penguins 2025-26 schedule, with each and everyone being important as the team battles for a playoff spot. They put themselves in great position through the first 56 games, but their fate will be determined by how they perform in what’s left. [Pensburgh]

Sunday was a defining moment for hockey in the United States and will have a profound impact for generations to come. In Pittsburgh, the sport is already a mainstay and will remain so, but it too will receive a boost from what transpired in Milan on both the men’s and women’s side. [Trib Live]

If that was in fact the last time we see Sidney Crosby on the Olympic stage, then it’s sure to leave a sour taste in his mouth given the way it played out. Let’s just hope for however long he continues his NHL career, he doesn’t face the same ending he just went through in Milan. [The Athletic $$]

NHL News and Notes…

Teams across the league are preparing for their return to action this week while Olympic players are still traveling back from Milan. With game resuming on Wednesday night, it remains to be seen if all Olympic players will jump right back into action or will be given a few extra days off to recover from the long travel.

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff joked during his media session today that he did not think any of the United States players were going to be fit to play to his week when asked about the availability of Tage Thompson. Whether or not Ruff turns out to be prophetic in his analysis remains to be seen, but no one could blame those guys for taking some time to let the hangovers wear off.

As someone who grew up going to ECHL games in Johnstown when the league was still strictly on the East Coast, it’s crazy to see how the league has expanded since. Next season, the league will welcome its 30th franchise, the New Mexico Goatheads, a part of the Colorado Avalanche affiliate system. [Avalanche]

A lot can happen in four years time, but assuming the NHL sends players to the 2030 Olympic Games in France, the United States will be in good position to defend its men’s hockey gold. While nothing it set in stone, there should be quite a few familiar faces donning the red, white, and blue next time around. [ESPN]