VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 25: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins is congratulated at the bench after scoring his second goal during the second period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on January 25, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins find themselves holding a playoff position at the Olympic break almost entirely because of a series of surprise contributions. They’re exceeding any and all realistic preseason expectations as a result. This break gives a good chance to circle back at the preseason to re-emphasize just how incredible many things have worked out on an individual level.
The reasons are as long as you care to keep looking.
Parker Wotherspoon (at $1.0 million this season and next) has to be the best value signing free agent in the NHL. Perhaps in quite some time. Wotherspoon has been a legitimate first-pair defender, is solid physically, can move the puck, skates well. Does everything right. What a revelation he’s been.
Ben Kindel’s stats are somewhat modest though still impressive with 27 points to rank seventh among rookies this season. His impact on the team and in the games sure isn’t. Despite his age and not even being a top-10 pick, Kindel has gone to almost unprecedented territory as a ready-made NHL player at age-18 and is quality enough to perform well as one of the more shocking developments that remains unimaginable.
Anthony Mantha, fresh off an ACL surgery, is setting up for a career-year at age 31 (25 goals and 48 points back in 2018-19), having already produced 20 goals and 42 points in 56 games with the Pens.
Evgeni Malkin is an all-time legend, so it’s odd to list him as a surprise but not many thought he would be 43 points in 44 games type of good at age-39 coming off his worst season in 2024-25 (50 points in 68 games).
Justin Brazeau has 15 goals and 27 points in 42 games this season. He only had 16 goals and 29 points in 94 career games prior to joining the Penguins.
Connor Dewar has 13 goals and 24 points, both career-highs and coming almost entirely from a low-minute, defensive-oriented fourth line role that makes his impact even greater than the impressive stat line.
Brett Kulak has steadied the defense and helped to unlock Kris Letang’s game in major ways.
Tommy Novak has proved he can perform without being in a sheltered role and keep his production going.
Egor Chinakhov has exploded into a modern day Alex Kovalev or James Neal, harnessing his shooting ability in a spot where he can succeed filling the net.
Ryan Shea is closing in on 20 assists and has been a viable player up and down, left and right within the lineup as needed.
Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner have had their ups and downs but the goaltending has improved from a bottom-five NHL unit last season to more than respectable this season.
Add it all up and the results are astounding, even before getting to the least surprising element of all that 38-year old Sidney Crosby remains one of the league’s top players and keeps leading the way.
Ironically enough, most of the players we tabbed in preseason (Hallander, Brunicke, Alexeyev, Silovs) have had no to minimal impact, except for Silovs who is on track to lead the team in games played by a goalie this year. Which goes to show how remarkable it’s been, it’s one thing if a player or two hits a best case scenario, it’s another when across the board everyone is playing to a high level.
When that’s the case, coaching and management impacts have to be considered as well. Dan Muse has done a great job in his first season as an NHL head coach, his whole staff including assistants Todd Nelson and Mike Strothers deserve a lot of praise and recognition as well. Kyle Dubas gets a lot of the spotlight pp a level from there, his staff with Jason Spezza, Wes Clark and Vukie Mpofu have pressed a whole lot of the right buttons to add no shortage of incoming talent large (Chinakhov, Skinner, Kulak) and even small (Solovyov) while the season has been ongoing.
Success has many fathers, as the old saying goes, and that certainly applies on the individual level when it comes to the impressive team results that the Penguins have received so far this season.
MILAN — NHL players are scheduled to land in Milan early in the morning Saturday and start practicing within hours.
It's the logistical aspect of getting around 150 players from the U.S. to the 2026 Winter Games, where for the next two weeks they'll try to reach the gold medal game Feb. 22. The players and other NHL personnel are traveling on chartered planes.
While NHL owners may grumble about the possibility of injuries, it's a win for the sport to have the game's best players back at the Olympics for the first time since 2014. (The 2018 Olympics in South Korea were a no-go for insurance and travel reasons, and the NHL pulled out of the 2022 Olympics in Beijing because of the pandemic.)
Here's what to know.
When and where does Olympic men's hockey get underway
The first practices run all day Sunday, with Latvia holding the first slot at 10 a.m. in Milan (4 a.m. ET). The U.S. has a slot from 6-7:30 p.m., and Canada from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. There are practices through Feb. 10. They're vital to getting everybody on the same page as quickly as possible, and to turbo-charge team bonding. As far as arenas, Santa Giulia Arena is the primary one, while Rho Ice Hockey Arena is a temporary venue.
When do the games begin
Games begin Feb. 11, with the marquee team in action that day being Sweden against Italy. In preliminaries, the U.S. plays Latvia Feb. 12, Denmark Feb. 14, and Germany Feb. 15.
How many teams are there
The participating national teams are Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.S. Host Italy is the only team without an NHL player on its roster. The teams are divided into fields of four. Group A has Canada, Czechia, France and Switzerland. Group B is Finland, Italy, Slovakia and Sweden. Group C has Denmark, Germany, Latvia and the U.S.
All 12 teams play three preliminary games in their respective groups, then move on to a single-elimination playoff that will conclude with the gold medal game Feb. 22.
Who is there from the NHL
All 32 NHL teams have a player going, but some teams have quite a few more than others. Take the Florida Panthers (10, representing five teams) and the Vegas Golden Knights (Nine, representing seven countries).The Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning each have eight players going.
Over the past several years, there has never seemed to be a shortage of fireworks when the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins get together.
Between multiple playoff series’, big hits, fines, suspensions and Brad Marchand switching sides, there has been plenty to fuel the fire between these two divisional rivals.
In that regard, the latest meeting between the Cats and Bruins did not disappoint.
During the first period of Florida’s 5-4 shootout win over Boston on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Panthers rookie Sandis Vilmanis caught Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy with what appeared to be a straight elbow to the head.
As McAvoy was carrying the puck out of Boston’s zone, Vilmanis came across the ice and then slowed down just before making contact. He then turned and braced his body, raising himself up and catching McAvoy in the side of his face with force.
Charlie McAvoy goes down the tunnel after a high & late hit from Sandis Vilmanis
Vilmanis was issued a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head while McAvoy was helped off the ice, though fortunately he was able to return to the game.
McAvoy will also represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics this month.
On Friday night, McAvoy decided to take to social media and make a little statement about the hit.
In a post on X, McAvoy sent out the video of the hit side-by-side with a photo of the swollen face he’s been left with as a result of said hit.
There was no comment to go along with the video and photo.
The perception is that McAvoy isn’t happy that the NHL Department of Player Safety did not decide to issue any supplemental discipline to Vilmanis for the hit.
No fine. No suspension. Just the initial two-minute minor, which actually didn’t even help the Bruins, as Boston was called for a pair of minors on the same play, one for roughing up Vilmanis and one bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.
While many fans are quick to take McAvoy’s side, others are calling out a player who has also handed out his share of controversial hits.
That includes several against the Panthers, like these two that occurred in the same game.
Charlie McAvoy is given a match penalty for this hit on Oliver Ekman-Larsson. pic.twitter.com/pZx16EXupZ
When asked about the hit by Charlie McAvoy on Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Paul Maurice said, "I thought it was exactly like the hit on Verhaeghe in the first."
These things, for better or worse, are part of the game.
Thankfully, McAvoy did not suffer anything major or long-term, and he will be able to live out a childhood dream and put on a United States jersey at an Olympic Games.
Sure, he might have to wear a fishbowl for part of it, but that’s hockey too.
Photo caption: Feb 4, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) is helped off the ice by right wing David Pastrnak (88) after an apparent injury against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
DENVER — As criticism swirled around Sam Girard for his recent mistakes, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar stepped up Wednesday night to defend his defenseman.
Girard faced intense backlash on social media after an offensive blueline turnover led to a breakaway goal for San Jose Sharks forward Phillip Kurashev, who buried a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood. The Avalanche, however, managed to overcome the error to win 4-2 at Ball Arena.
Not only did Bednar draw a clear line, but he also pushed back on the narrative that Girard hasn’t been performing well, insisting that his play has actually been improving in recent games.
Credit: DNVR. Jared Bednar defends Sam Girard, but didn't let him off the hook entirely for making a costly turnover.
"I actually think his game has been turning around recently," the coach stated regarding his puck-moving defenseman. "He's been playing pretty good. That (play with Kurashev) was just a bad decision.
"There's no way you're going to get back on that. The puck comes, it's sort of a broken play, it's trickling out to the point, the pressure's coming. A good decision would have been just punch it back down behind the net. You don't have to try to make something out of nothing, especially at the time and what just happened."
Colorado outshot San Jose 31-13 through the first two periods and entered the third with a 2-0 lead, but that advantage evaporated early in the final frame. Timothy Liljegren scored 43 seconds into the third period, ripping a slap shot from the point that Blackwood misjudged to make it a one-goal game. Less than three minutes later, Girard made the turnover that allowed San Jose to tie the game.
"They just got a quick one; they're starting to want to pour it on, and then we make that mistake and next thing you know the game's tied," Bednar said as he continued to analyze Girard's play. "I don't know if Cale (Makar) would have gotten back on that one.
"Once you turn it over and the guy's got a step on ya for the length of the ice, he's going to get a scoring chance. That's more decision than not being able to catch the guy."
Avalanche Attempts to Replace Girard Have Fallen Short
Acquired from the New York Rangers last season prior to the trade deadline, Ryan Lindgren was intended to serve as Girard’s replacement—a defense-first option who might sacrifice some offensive output in exchange for reliability on the back end, and at a more cost-effective contract. In the days leading up to July 1, the start of free agency, the Avalanche attempted to re-sign Lindgren before he became an unrestricted free agent, but Lindgren ultimately signed with the Seattle Kraken on a four-year, $18 million deal.
In the 18 games Lindgren appeared in for Colorado, he became the team's second-most-utilized left-shot defenseman behind Devon Toews. After Lindgren’s departure, the Avalanche added Brent Burns on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, Sam Malinski received a contract extension, and Girard has seen less ice time this season than at any point in his nine years with the team.
Girard, viewed as the centerpiece of the Matt Duchene trade, was acquired from the Nashville Predators in November 2017, with Duchene moving to the Ottawa Senators as part of the three-team deal.
The 27-year-old, who hails from Roberval, Quebec, has 37 career goals and 198 assists for 235 points in 588 NHL games. He is signed with Colorado through the 2026-27 season, but it will be interesting to see if the Avalanche commit through the end of the contract despite Bednar's recent comments about his improving game.
Winnipeg Jets Valuation - Jan. 2 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 6 - Jared Clinton
NHL VALUATIONS
$1.35B FORBES
$1.33B SPORTICO
$1.5B ROUSTAN
OWNERSHIP - MARK CHIPMAN
IT’S HARD TO believe it has already been 15 years since the Jets returned to Winnipeg. And as time passes, it’s equally hard to believe that Mark Chipman was able to make his dream – and the dream of many of his fellow Winnipeggers – a reality.
Consider that when the original Jets franchise left Winnipeg in 1996, it came at a time when relocations were coming in fairly quick succession. The Minnesota North Stars, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers had, in the several years prior, moved to Dallas, Colorado and North Carolina. Look back a couple of decades further, too, and the NHL had moved on from Atlanta, Kansas City and Cleveland. And more often than not, it’s been the case that the league has not returned to the markets from which it has departed. For a time, Minnesota and Atlanta were the lone exceptions.
But while other former NHL cities bided their time waiting for the big league’s return, Chipman’s gambit was a clever one. In the wake of the Jets flying south to Arizona, he snapped up the then-IHL’s Minnesota Moose, moved the club to the old Winnipeg Arena and, over the next decade-plus, offered what those in the C-suite refer to as proof of concept: Chipman’s True North Sports & Entertainment showed – through fan support and building a new downtown arena, among other things – that Winnipeg was ready for the NHL’s return.
At no point since the Jets’ return has True North rested on its laurels, however. On ice, the ownership group has backed the product financially, including ponying up big money in recent contracts for stars Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor. This, too, comes after the team captured the Presidents’ Trophy. Meanwhile, away from the rink, True North has put shovels in the ground and reshaped much of Winnipeg’s downtown core.
With the arena as the centerpiece, the real-estate arm of the business set to work creating True North Square. The four-tower site offers residential, office and retail spaces, with room set aside for an incoming hotel property. Last December, True North expanded its reach and influence in downtown with the acquisition of the former Portage Place mall. Plans are in place to develop the space – a sprawling 1.2 million square feet – with parks, retail and community spaces. The anchor tenant will be a 265,000-square-foot healthcare facility, while a partnership with Southern Chiefs’ Organization will also see True North develop a 15-storey residential tower, which will designate as many as 40 percent of its units as affordable housing.
FEATURED BUSINESS EXECUTIVE - JOHN OLFERT
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
IT WAS ONLY A decade into his professional life, 10 years after his graduation from the University of Winnipeg in 1991, that John Olfert began his tenure with True North. In his earliest days with the company, he served in various roles, eventually rising to chief financial officer in 2002, in the midst of True North working toward the construction and eventual opening of the now-Canada Life Centre in 2004.
In the 20-plus years since, Olfert has been integral to the business operations and expansion of True North Sports & Entertainment’s on- and off-ice ventures. To wit, he helped execute the purchase of the Jets, brought the AHL’s Manitoba Moose back to Winnipeg and was at the center of True North’s acquisition of the iconic Burton Cummings Theatre.
GOVERNOR & ALTERNATE GOVERNORS - MARK CHIPMAN
ALTERNATE GOVERNORS: Kevin Cheveldayoff, John Olfert, Patrick Phillips
FEATURED HOCKEY EXECUTIVE
KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF - GENERAL MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF DOESN’T ALWAYS get the credit he deserves. Whether it’s player polls or comments from the athletes themselves, Winnipeg tends to top the list of least-desirable destinations. That puts Cheveldayoff at a disadvantage in free agency and has played a part in key contributors asking out. Yet, in almost every instance, Cheveldayoff and the Jets have come out on the winning side of those deals, whether it was the Jacob Trouba swap, the Patrik Laine deal or even the subsequent Pierre-Luc Dubois trade.
Perhaps the ace up Cheveldayoff’s sleeve, though, is that Winnipeg has proven to have something of a Hotel California-esque trait of late: once talent checks in, they don’t want to leave. Scheifele, Hellebuyck and Connor are examples, but the Jets have also had little trouble negotiating long-term extensions for Gabe Vilardi, Neal Pionk and Adam Lowry. In no small part, that comes down to culture on and off the ice – and Cheveldayoff is key in the development of that culture.
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
THE JETS, DON’T view social media as a necessity but an opportunity – a chance to communicate with the community, engage with fans and take viewers, in the arena or at home, into the game in new ways. And that approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. At the NHL’s club business meetings last July, the Jets were presented with the Stanley Award as social media club of the year.
What has helped set the Jets’ social offerings apart is their dedication to creating social-first content. The strategy has been led, in part, by Adam Krueger, who joined True North in 2022 after several years with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. He leads the Jets’ social team as director of social and content. Meanwhile, Tyler Esquivel is one of the familiar faces to fans. As the Jets’ content manager, Esquivel often appears on camera interviewing fans and players alike.
One area of particular success for the Jets has been YouTube, where the team has grown its channel and found new ways to take fans behind the scenes. Among the offerings is a live pre-game show, hosted by former national broadcasters Sara Orlesky and Jamie Thomas, and live post-game interview footage that provides instant access to thoughts from players and the coaching staff. The game-day coverage is in addition to off-ice video content, including personality pieces such as Home Ice and the Ground Control podcast.
Perhaps the most significant piece of the Jets’ YouTube puzzle, though, is Runway, a behind-the-scenes documentary series that follows the team throughout the season. Following in the footsteps of several other clubs, such as the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, the series launched in 2022-23 and has gained increased traction not only online but through its use as intermission content during TSN broadcasts.
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As the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic break begins, the San Jose Sharks are enjoying a season that even their most optimistic fans might not have anticipated. Sitting just five points outside the Western Conference Wild Card playoff spots after 55 games, the Sharks are quietly positioning themselves for a potential return to the Stanley Cup postseason.
While the front office will turn its attention to cheering on Macklin Celebrini and the other Sharks representing their countries, the looming NHL Trade Deadline is also on the horizon. The question now is how GM Mike Grier will navigate it. Will he lean toward adding veteran depth to give the team a playoff boost, or will he hold back, conserving assets for the future?
This season has already been a massive success for the Sharks. Now that's not to say that they can't improve any further before the playoffs begin, but when you think back to the last handful of seasons and how the Sharks were literally in last place in just about all of those years, to come back this year and be considered a fringe playoff contender is a huge improvement.
The Sharks of today remind me a bit of the Colorado Avalanche in the early 2010s. That Avalanche team built its core through the draft, selecting players like Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and others. But beyond their young stars, they also focused on strengthening their defensive corps, acquiring Erik Johnson from the St. Louis Blues and drafting Bowen Byram, while adding key pieces like Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky. Over the years, they steadily worked to improve their goaltending and overall depth.
Credit: Walter Tychnowicz. Mikko Rantanen was a huge factor in the Avalanche Stanley Cup run in 2022, but he was drafted and developed, much like what the Sharks are attempting to duplicate.
It was a long, deliberate process—it didn’t happen overnight. After the 48-point season in 2016–17, the organization faced tough decisions and difficult conversations, and not everyone was willing to stick around. The bottom line, though, is that they persevered and stayed the course together.
The Sharks might reach that level faster than the Avalanche did. They have a generational talent in Celebrini, a dynamic playmaker in Will Smith, and recently added Kiefer Sherwood to bolster the roster. With the team’s recent success, some have argued that GM Mike Grier should be serious buyers at the trade deadline in hopes of making a deep playoff run. However, there’s a significant risk-reward calculus involved in pursuing that approach.
Perhaps it was just the word usage, but when I hear serious buyers, I'm thinking the go for broke mentality, which I don't think is necessarily a good strategy. We're very early into the Sharks rebuild. You have a very solid foundation. Now you just need to add pieces that can steadily build this team into a Stanley Cup contender. I think the Sharks are already playoff contenders. Yes, they've lost their last four games; the Olympic break is upon us, and now the team can sit down and evaluate to see where they need the most help.
Defense
The Sharks have allowed 193 goals this season, the sixth-most in the Western Conference—and you can’t place all the blame on the goaltenders. Yaroslav Askarov has been brilliant at times, but he’s also had his share of forgettable moments. More often, though, the problem lies elsewhere: when a team consistently turns over the puck in its own zone, it inevitably leads to scoring chances against. At some point, goals are going to happen—that’s the law of averages in a nutshell.
The next step for the Sharks to improve their chances of becoming true playoff contenders isn't offense, it's adding a shutdown defenseman. For instance, Ryan Shea, a Pittsburgh Penguin, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He has emerged as a dependable, steady, and physical force on the Penguins’ blue line, frequently paired with Kris Letang in a shutdown role tasked with containing opposing top-six forwards.
Credit: Timothy J. Ludwig. Ryan Shea would be a great add for the Sharks if they're able to snag him.
Letang, who's won three Stanley Cups as a Penguin, is one of the best offensive defensemen of his era, is currently week-to-week with a fractured foot and has a significant injury history, but his accomplishments are written in stone. And Shea is having a career-best season right now. Through 56 games, he's posted three goals and 19 assists for 22 points with a plus/minus rating of +21. The Penguins are a rebuilding team. It wouldn't hurt to try to float a trade idea and offer a 2026 second round pick to sweeten the deal, but these are just ideas.
The bottom line is that the Sharks aren't going to make a deep playoff run one way or another this year, but the foundation to becoming a Stanley Cup champion down the line is here. It's just about adding the right pieces and getting the juicy flavors and the chemistry flowing. The Sharks are easily the most improved team in the NHL. What happens next is up to them. The puck is in their court.
The Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic trade freeze passes. With the Canadiens currently being second in the Atlantic Division standings, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they look to add to their roster ahead of the trade deadline.
Now, the Canadiens are being connected to one of the NHL's top trade candidates.
During his most recent 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman wrote that he believes the Canadiens "like" Nashville Predators star center Ryan O'Reilly.
The Canadiens being viewed as a possible suitor for O'Reilly is not surprising in the slightest. The 34-year-old would be a great addition to the Canadiens' top six if they acquired him, as he is a very good two-way center who produces well offensively, kills penalties, and is a well-respected leader. With this, he would be a big-time pickup for a Canadiens club on the rise.
O'Reilly would also be more than a rental for the Canadiens if acquired, as he has a bargain $4.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season. Thus, he would help the Canadiens beyond this season, which adds to his appeal.
In 57 games this season with the Predators, O'Reilly has recorded 20 goals, 36 assists, 56 points, and a plus-8 rating.
While the Detroit Red Wings were listed as a potential landing spot for Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, he was ultimately dealt within the Western Conference to the Vegas Golden Knights.
However, that doesn't mean that the door is closed for a potential deal with Andersson's former team.
As part of the package to acquire Andersson, the Golden Knights sent defenseman Zach Whitecloud (along with defenseman prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-round pick).
Not only does Whitecloud fit the bill of a right-shot defenseman with top-four potential, but he's also signed through 2028 with a reasonable $2.75 million cap hit.
While Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is known for keeping his cards close to the vest, NHL insider Darren Dreger recently suggested that Detroit, positioned as a buyer at the NHL Trade Deadline, is not interested in rentals and would prefer players with term.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Whitecloud, a native of Brandon, Manitoba, was named a 2017–18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete and earned WCHA All-Academic Team honors while playing for Bemidji State University.
He began his NHL career with the Golden Knights, who signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in 2018.
He gained his first extended taste of NHL action during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in 20 games for Vegas, and followed that by playing in 51 of 56 regular-season games of the COVID-shortened 2020–21 campaign.
In October 2021, he signed a six-year, $16.5 million extension with Vegas, whom he'd eventually help win the Stanley Cup in 2023. While appearing in 22 postseason games, Whitecloud scored two goals and added six assists.
Since his acquisition by the Flames, Whitecloud has routinely seen time on Calgary's second defensive pairing and is a regular on their first penalty-killing unit.
At 29, Whitecloud is still in the prime of his career and would be a sensible option for the Red Wings to consider from the rebuilding Flames.
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The Buffalo Sabres finished out their pre-Olympic schedule with a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. While the Sabres have been a juggernaut since the beginning of December, the club has come down to earth just prior to the break, losing three of their last four games to Montreal, Tampa Bay, and the Penguins.
The Sabres hold the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, with 70 points (32-19-6), one point ahead of the Boston Bruins, and five points in front of the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to the media following the loss:
What were the reasons for the loss?
You look at the couple of goals that we gave them, We gave them a breakaway off of an offensive zone face off, we give them another goal off, an o-zone face off that we won, odd numbered rush. Our passing definitely wasn't crisp. I think you look at our power play entries, they struggled. I think we missed the net on five of our first six real good opportunities, another sign that you're not quite on your game.
This type of performance has been rare over the last two months.
We we're still knocking on the door. We came out, we got the power play goal at the start of the third, we had a couple of good looks. I think the opportunity was there to claw our way back in, and then we took a late penalty. hitting the goaltender, which penalty you don't really want to take. Giving up that fourth goal, we had possession in the corner, made an errant pass, and they made us pay. We didn't make them pay for some of their mistakes, but they made us pay on the big mistakes we made.
Are you thankful based on how the season started that you are in a playoff spot at the break?
I talked to the team after the game. This is how incredibly tight it's going to be played. You can't have games going like we had. We weren't sharp. There were plays there. When you pass to a wide-open Thompson in front of the net and the puck kind of rolls, it should be in the back of the net, but we missed on opportunities to make them pay, but where we're at, we've worked hard to get where we're at. It's tough going into break when you when you lose a game like that, it's a bad feeling.
Are you confident that the players will hit the ground running after the break?
I have no doubt. We've asked a lot to this point, and they've answered every call we've had. I have no doubt that they're going to do the work that they need to come back and we can be better when we come out of (the break)......It's just another test, really. How you use this time and realizing that the division we're in, the conference we're in, is incredibly tight, so you can't take one step away for granted. And I think they understand that. That's what we talk about all the time. A single point might make the difference at the very end, whether you would have crawled back and tied that game tonight, or if there's another game down the road.
The NHL is taking a break while the Winter Olympics are happening in Italy, but the Hockey Show isn’t going anywhere.
This week, co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski to chat about a plethora of topcs.
The boys got into the trade of Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings and the arrest of top prospect Gavin McKenna.
They also discussed Team USA’s chances in the Olympic hockey tournament and how the team’s roster was constructed, as well as the NHL Draft lottery and how the Pittsburgh Penguins will somehow win the lottery despite making the playoffs, just to piss off Roy.
Both with Greg and without, Roy and Dave discussed their weekend at the 2026 Stadium Series in Tampa, which included an unforgivable amount of penalties, according to Roy.
This week’s wins and fails included an incredible start by the US women’s hockey team at the Olympics, an upcoming inclusive matchup between the US and Canada, an NHL defenseman who doesn’t understand why goalies don’t serve their own penalties and another mistake by Tony DeAngelo that Roy couldn’t wait to shine the spotlight on.
You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:
The Chicago Blackhawks and the rest of the NHL are officially at the Olympic break. The rosters are frozen, vacations are planned, and the players representing their countries are on their way to Milano Cortina. For the Chicago Blackhawks, Teuvo Tervainen is their only NHL player headed to the games.
The trade deadline is not long after the games in Italy end (March 6th), so some big decisions have to be made about some of the pending free agents. Anyone moving out will create roster space not only for the rest of this season but also for next season.
The Blackhawks have a loaded prospect pool filled with players trying to make their way to the NHL as soon as possible. It will take some longer than others, and some may never. There are even a handful that may be used as trade bait to get NHL-ready guys in the lineup.
As we hit the big break, these are the top-ten prospects (non-full-time NHL players or under 50 games played) in Chicago’s system right now:
1. Anton Frondell
With guys like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore no longer appearing on lists like this, Anton Frondell is the top forward prospect in the organization.
After becoming the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, his season with Djurgårdens of the SHL is going very well. In a league that’s incredibly hard to score in, he has 15 goals and 6 assists for 21 points in 33 games played. That’s extra special coming from a teenager with up and down ice time.
Frondell was Sweden’s best player en route to a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships this year, which is another achievement on his resume. Frondell will likely either draw into Chicago’s lineup at the end of this season or the start of next.
2. Sam Rinzel
Sam Rinzel is very close to graduating from this list. He is one of Chicago’s most talented defensemen in the organization, but he’s needed some time to develop in the AHL this season as well. For being a rookie playing the hardest position in the game, he’s handled it so well.
Rinzel has been working on his defensive game, which is always the last thing to truly click at the NHL level. Since coming back up before the break, he’s played much better. His puck-moving skills are at another level, which has allowed him to be a power-play quarterback quickly. It won’t be long before he’s considered a true top-pair guy.
3. Roman Kantserov
Few players have raised their stock in the last 12 months more than Roman Kantserov. He has dominated the KHL offensively this season. He is 21 years old and has declared that he’d like to come to North America at some point. His KHL contract is up at the end of this season.
4. Nick Lardis
Speaking of reasoning their stock, Nick Lardis has been on a tear since the beginning of 2024-25. Scoring 71 goals in the OHL will do that for anyone.
Lardis didn't stop there, though. Up to this point, he is a point-per-game player in the AHL and had a good stint in the NHL while the Blackhawks dealt with injuries.
Next time Lardis suits up in the NHL, it may be for good. His ability to shoot the puck is up there with any young player in the organization, but he never looks out of place in other areas of the game, either. For being a former 3rd round pick in the draft, the Blackhawks found great value in Lardis.
5. Marek Vanacker
The Chicago Blackhawks traded up to get Marek Vanacker in the 2024 NHL Draft at the end of the first round. He dealt with some injuries and inconsistencies during 2024-25, but has bounced back nicely this year.
Canada snubbed him from their World Junior Championships roster, despite him being one of the best players in the OHL. That is fuel to his fire, and it has helped him stay dominant playing for his club in Brantford.
Will we see Vanacker make his NHL debut this year? How about in the AHL? It is possible, but with him being signed, he is sure to be a pro hockey player by the start of 2026-27.
6. Kevin Korchinski
Kevin Korchinski is still an incredible skater. He has a full season of NHL experience (his rookie year pro) under his belt, but he has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player. He has mostly played for the Rockford IceHogs since that year in the NHL.
While in the AHL, Korchinski has been an All-Star twice. The first time, he won MVP of the event after showing off his incredible skills as a former first-round pick. Now, he's trying to work his way back to the NHL.
Will there be room for him after the trade deadline? His biggest problem is that the one thing he does best, offense, is not much better than Sam Rinzel's or Artyom Levshunov, so he must round out his game a lot more.
7. Vaclav Nestrasil
The Chicago Blackhawks somewhat shocked the world when they took Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil 25th overall in 2025. He wasn't on the radar, but his play since being drafted proved why their scouts were so high on him.
In addition to playing a key role on Czechia's Silver Medal-winning team, he's been a high-end producing freshman at UMass. It is unclear when he'll turn pro, but there is little doubt that the organization believes in his talents.
8. Nathan Behm
Nathan Behm is a high-end offensive player in the WHL, currently playing for the Kamloops Blazers. Size, skill, and speed have been a theme for the Blackhawks in recent drafts, and Behm provides all of that to their system. Arizona State is where he will play college hockey next season before attempting to turn pro at some point.
9. Jack Pridham
Jack Pridham decided to stay with the Kitchener Rangers in 2025-26 in favor of going to Boston University, where he committed to play college hockey. Now, he could still go back there after another dominant year in the OHL, or he could become a pro hockey player in Chicago's organization. Either way, Kyle Davidson has to like what he's seeing from their 2024 third-round pick.
10. Sacha Boisvert
Sacha Boisvert had an incredible year at North Dakota last year as a freshman. After transferring to Boston University ahead of 2025-26, things haven’t gone quite as well. He is still having a productive year, but injuries have kept him from taking the step that many thought he would. Will this keep him at BU for one extra season? It may. He may also still turn pro. Even with his slightly lowered stock, he still projected to be a solid NHL contributor.
Honorable Mentions:
Mason West
Mason West is a football quarterback and a hockey player. After leading Edina High School to a State Championship, he is skating with Fargo of the USHL. He will play for Michigan State in 2026-27 as he continues to develop.
AJ Spellacy
AJ Spellacy is a strong, speedy, energetic guy. He showed some of what he can do playing for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. Winning teams need depth forwards with Spellacy's potential in their prospect pool.
Drew Commesso
Spencer Knight is the starting goalie of the future in Chicago. However, with the way Drew Commesso has developed at Boston University and with the Rockford IceHogs, Commesso will eventually get a chance to be the backup.
He could also get an opportunity to start somewhere else if the Blackhawks ever trade him to help acquire players at different positions. The talent is there for Commesso to do great things in the NHL.
John Mustard
Providance College is a great team, and John Mustard plays a big role in that success as one of their top offensive players. He can score goals, create chaos with his speed, and knows what to do with the puck when it's on his stick. Will his speed and skill translate to pro hockey? We will find out shortly.
Adam Gajan
Playing for Minnesota Duluth, Adam Gajan has been one of the best goalies in college hockey. This level of play has earned him the opportunity to represent Slovakia at the 2026 Olympic Games. For a college goalie to get that type of honor, you know he's great. As far as his future with Chicago, it will depend on how his development continues, along with those around him who play the same position.
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New York Islanders radio broadcaster Alan Fuehring will be behind the mic for the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois, for the Skills Competition on Tuesday at 8 ET and the All-Star Challenge on Wednesday at 8 PM ET.
I was really hoping my phone would ring for this one. @TheAHL means a lot to me and I’m excited to work with this incredible crew to showcase its talent. @CHSN__https://t.co/Tr0z2Ifcep
Fuerhing, who spent eight seasons as the Bridgeport Islanders' Director of Broadcasting, was promoted to the Islanders' radio broadcaster ahead of this season.
He also continues to fill in for Brendan Burke on MSGSN broadcasts.
You can catch Fuehring and the AHL events on TSN, NHL Network, AHL.TV and CHSN.
With a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sabres would have overtaken the Canadiens in second place in the Atlantic Division. Still, Lindy Ruff’s men were unable to pull it off against Sidney Crosby and company. The Pens won 5-2, which meant Buffalo stayed at 70 points in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens have a two-point lead on them and must manage to maintain a lead over the Buffalo outfit, since the Sabres would, in all likelihood, have the first tie-breaker at the end of the year; they have 26 regulation wins, while the Habs only have 21.
As for the Senators, they currently trail the Bruins, who hold the second wildcard spot, by six points, thanks to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. While the Senators are not mathematically out of the playoff picture, a six-point deficit will be hard to make up with 25 games to go, given how strong the Atlantic Division has been this season.
Meanwhile, the two-time champions Panthers are trailing Boston by eight points after taking a 6-1 beating at the hands of the Lightning on Thursday night. The Cats’ frustration was evident as 147 penalty minutes were handed out to the Florida rivals. Matthew Tkachuk got a two-minute minor for abuse of officials and was looking for trouble all night, especially when he interfered with Nikita Kucherov, which led to a full-blown brawl in the third frame, when the Bolts were already up 4-0.
With the win, the Lightning now have a six-point lead over the Canadiens and have two games in hand. The Detroit Red Wings also have 72 points, like the Canadiens, but they have played one more game, which is why they find themselves in third place in the Atlantic.
If the Canadiens can keep the same pace, making the playoffs shouldn’t be a worry, but they’ll likely be jockeying for position right up till the end, and the first-round matchups won’t be clear until everyone has played 82 games. For now, though, the Habs can enjoy the break sitting in second place in the division and won’t have to worry about scoreboard watching until the end of February.
In the third period of the game, McCarron whacked van Riemsdyk on the forearm way after the play. There was no penalty on the play but the NHL's Player Safety program has fined McCarron for the slash.
Nashville is four points outside of a Wild Card spot and will head into the break 3-4-3 in its last ten games.
The Predators first game after the break will be against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 26 at Bridgestone Arena.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned rookie forwards Avery Hayes and Rutger McGroarty to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Both players will get to play in AHL games during the next few weeks since the NHL is on its Olympic break.
Hayes made his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, and it was one to remember. He scored two goals, one of which came on his first shot in the first period. He utilized his speed to blow right past two Sabres defenders before blowing the puck past goaltender Alex Lyon.
His second goal came off a great feed from Anthony Mantha, and he roofed it past Lyon. He's the 12th undrafted player to score multiple goals in his NHL debut in NHL history. He's also only the seventh player in NHL history to score multiple goals in the first period of his debut.
McGroarty finished Thursday's game with an assist and played really well during this recent stint in the NHL. His skating continues to look even better, and he's constantly in position to make plays.
Both players will be full-time NHLers pretty soon.
The WBS Penguins are currently in second place behind the Providence Bruins in the Atlantic Division and will try to make a run at first to end the season.
