Category: Ice Hockey

One day after getting the call to the big club, yet another Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie is set to make his NHL debut. 

On Tuesday, Penguins' head coach Dan Muse confirmed that forward Tristan Broz - recalled Monday from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - will make his NHL debut Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. He will be the ninth rookie to play in a game for the Penguins this season, which is the highest mark in the league. 

And the 23-year-old from River Falls, Wisc. will have an entire cohort of family and friends supporting him.

"A bunch of family," Broz said. "My parents, my two sisters, all four of my grandparents, my mom's sister and her family... then I got, like, five buddies coming in, too.

"It's really cool. I think that will be the coolest moment is seeing those guys and sharing it with them."

Despite a strong training camp, the Penguins elected to have Broz start his season in the AHL, where he's registered eight goals and 13 points in 18 games. He was scoring at a 32-goal pace prior to his call-up, and the University of Denver product has seen his goal production increase year over year and as he has climbed levels of hockey from the NCAA to the professional game.

While an increase in goal-scoring doesn't happen for every player as they advance through rising levels of hockey, it has for Broz. And he credits a lot of that to his teammates. 

“I think I’ve gotten a lot more reps on my shot and just in game situations of knowing where to go," Broz said. "And then, you also play with better linemates and better teammates every level you go up to. So, it helps if guys make really good plays, and I think that’s a big part of it as well.”

'It's A Dream Come True': Penguins' Prospect Tristan Broz Grateful For Those Inolved In Journey To NHLWhen a media scrum formed around <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' forward prospect Tristan Broz - just <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-top-forward-prospect-recalled-from-ahl">recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Monday morning</a> - after practice, something a bit unusual happened.

And one of the guys who has helped with that finishing ability is Ville Koivunen, who was placed on IR Nov. 16 and appears to be primed for a return to the lineup. He was flanking Broz's left during line rushes Tuesday and was a full participant in practice, even if his status remains up-in-the-air for Wednesday's game. And they displayed a lot of chemistry in WBS last season as well as in a short sample this season. 

If he does get the chance to play alongside Koivunen and Novak - both guys he's had a fair amount of experience with - it could make things a bit easier in terms of his NHL adjustment.

"For sure, yeah. Ville’s always a guy, from the first time I played with him, that I’ve really enjoyed playing with just because he’s so skilled," Broz said. "And me and him, I think, can play off each other pretty well. Same with Tommy as well. I’ve [skated] with him in the summer for, like, the last four summers, and we’re always on the same team in the summer, too.

Pittsburgh's 2021 second-round pick (58th overall) Tristan Broz will make his NHL debut tomorrow against the Sabres.

Broz will be the ninth rookie to suit up for the @penguins this season, which is the most in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/HAyU2KOx8t

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) November 25, 2025

"So, it’s nice to have two guys that you already have some chemistry with, and I think that will make things a lot easier for me.”

Koivunen agrees that their established chemistry should bode well for them.

"It's a lot of fun to play with him, of course," Koivunen said. "We played a lot together last year. He's a great player, he's great with the puck, and he wins some battles, too. And he plays a lot as a skillful player. So, I've waited a lot to see him play [here]."

While Broz is obviously excited to share his NHL debut with his friends and family who will be in attendance, he also took a moment to appreciate how special it is that he gets to debut alongside guys like Koivunen, goaltender Sergei Murashov, and Joona Koppanen, as they've - in a way - grown together in their NHL journeys.

The Early Returns On Sergei Murashov Are Encouraging Sergei Murashov has only played in two NHL games, but he has looked really good.

The timing of youth arriving in Pittsburgh has largely coincided, and it speaks to not only how much talent the Penguins have on the brink of making an NHL impact, but also to how close growing into the NHL experience together has made this group of young players.

"It’s so cool," Broz said. "I mean, I took Sergei out to dinner last night. I owed him dinner from last year. We did a shootout competition, and he smoked me pretty good. So, I owed him dinner last night.

"And, yeah, we were just talking about [this]. Like, it’s so cool just almost going through all the levels, and he’s, obviously, so stoic and such a cool guy to talk to. But I was telling him how it was hard also to not look back at the journey that has been, and I think it’s so cool to share it with those guys. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Penguins' Injured Goaltender, Forward Full Participants In PracticeIt appears a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' netminder - and one of their young forwards - is one step closer to his return to game action.

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Nov 24, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

When losses start to mount over the course of a season, it becomes increasingly difficult for leadership to find different ways of explaining things away.

As the Nashville Predators continue to slide further into a stretch that has seen them drop eight of their last nine games, head coach Andrew Brunette is desperately seeking answers.

With each loss, those answers become more elusive.

Following the Preds’ 8-3 loss to the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers Monday night at Bridgestone Arena, Brunette addressed the team’s lack of consistency over the course of the season to reporters.

“I wish I had an answer,” Brunette said. “I think we’ve talked at length about it, we’re just not grabbing it or doing it on a nightly basis. Even from the little things, you claw yourself back and tie it, mental mistakes or lack of will in a couple different areas… we just did too many things that were not good hockey.”

The effort has been there in spurts. Nashville outshot the Panthers 39-26, including a 26-11 advantage over the last two periods. The Preds also won 57.1% of the faceoffs.

It’s the lapses and mental mistakes that have hurt as much as anything. In the last two games, the opponent’s first goal has come in the first few seconds. A.J. Greer scored the Panthers’ opening goal 11 seconds into Monday’s contest, while Brent Burns scored for Colorado 15 seconds in their game on Saturday, which the Avalanche won 3-0.

The frustration is palpable among fans and the Predators themselves. When asked where the breakdown occurred against Florida, Brunette’s answer was a terse, “11 seconds.”

In a Nov. 21 interview with the Nashville Tennesean, Preds general manager Barry Trotz expressed his frustration by stating, “I need more (expletive) from (the players)”, while defending Brunette.

“You look at the names on our roster, we should score more,” Trotz tolde Alex Daugherty of the Tennessean. “Because we have (Filip) Forsberg, (Steven) Stamkos, (Jonathan) Marchessault, we all think we’re going to score.”

Clearly, that thought process has not translated to goals. Nashville was ranked 30th in the NHL with a 2.59 goals-per-game average in 2024-25. Through 22 games this season, that average has dropped to 2.32.

The burden of responsibility isn’t just on the offense, however. The Preds have been outscored 15-3 over their last three games. The eight goals given up against Florida were the most since last April 1, when Nashville fell 8-4 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Juuse Saros allowed five goals on 16 shots before being pulled for the second time this season in favor of backup goalie Justus Annunen, who gave up three goals on 10 shots faced. Annunen is still looking for his first win of 2025-26.

Even the players are running out of ways to describe the Predators’ woes.

“Horrible game,” Preds captain Roman Josi said following Monday’s loss. “We just played poorly. I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”

Frustration among the players has been evident lately. After being scored on by Michael McCarron during a recent practice, center Ryan O’Reilly smashed his stick, and there were some extra shoves after play stoppages.

Following a Nov. 6 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers, O’Reilly was harsh in assessing his play, telling reporters, “I can’t make a six-foot pass to save my life. You’re not going to have much success if I’m playing pathetic like that. I’ve had one good year in my career,”

O'Reilly later admitted he overreacted, saying the comments made him sound like a crybaby.

Raw emotions and harsh self-criticism is understandable given the circumstances. Unfortunately, they don’t always lead to improvement. If the Preds’ slide continues, and Trotz is serious about sticking with Brunette to lead the team, only one other option remains: revamp the roster.

That is looking more likely,. Particularly after his comments to the Tennesean.

“I know who makes mistakes,” Trotz said. “When the puck is on someone’s stick and they pass it right to (an opponent), that’s not (Andrew Brunette’s) fault.”

The task of overhauling a roster laden with older veterans carrying expensive contracts won’t be easy. While Trotz has been reluctant to use the term “rebuild) in his effort to make the roster younger, that may be required if the Preds are going to turn things around. That means the losing may continue, and it could be a while before Preds fans start to budget for buying playoff tickets.

It is said that winning is contagious. Losing is, too. If it continues, excitement among fans will dim, and players will find it more difficult to put forth a spirited effort night after night.

Buckle up. The regular season has 60 games left.

The top 100 hockey players aged 21-and-under feature some current NHLers and top prospects ranked 61st to 80th.

The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue's annual ranking of hockey's youngest talent is compiled by Ryan Kennedy, and while he uses our Future Watch rankings as a resource, this is a completely independent compilation.

Future Watch is based on a survey of NHL scouts, while the PU Top 100 is cobbled together by Kennedy based on his projections of what the players will be once they hit their primes.

Since different positions have different prime years, take that to mean we are projecting how good these forwards will be when they are 23 or 24 years old, the defensemen when they are 24 or 25 and the goalies when they are 25 or 26.

The birth year cutoff for this year’s list is 2004. Ages noted are as of Oct. 1.

As we share the top 100 list on TheHockeyNews.com, you can see the full list with player bios and draft information for each of them right now by being a subscriber to The Hockey News and accessing the Archive or by opening the magazine if you've already received it in your mailbox.

Catch up on the players ranked 81st to 100th. Here's the next batch.

80. Matthew Wood, LW, 20 years old, Nashville Predators
Nashville (NHL)

79. Carter Bear, LW, 18, Detroit Red Wings
Everett (WHL)

78. Liam Greentree, RW, 19, Los Angeles Kings
Windsor (OHL)

77. Jani Nyman, RW, 21, Seattle Kraken
Seattle (NHL)

76. Carter Yakemchuk, D, 20, Ottawa Senators
Belleville (AHL)

75. Caleb Malhotra, C, 17, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
NHL Draft: 2026

74. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, 18, San Jose Sharks
Prince George (WHL)

73. Sacha Boisvert, C, 19, Chicago Blackhawks
Boston University (HE)

72. Joakim Kemell, RW, 21, Nashville Predators
Milwaukee (AHL)

71. Daxon Rudolph, D, 17, Prince Albert Raiders
NHL Draft: 2026

A student of the game on and off the ice, Daxon Rudolph is always eager to learn and hone his craft. With the trajectory he is on right now, it may not be long before he’s schooling NHL opponents. Go to the full feature on Rudolph by clicking here.

70. Bradly Nadeau, LW, 20, Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago (AHL)

69. Kashawn Aitcheson, D, 19, New York Islanders
Barrie (OHL)

68. Jaako Wycisk, C, 16, Guelph Storm (OHL)
NHL Draft: 2027

67. Matt Savoie, C, 21, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton (NHL)

66. Shane Wright, C, 21, Seattle Kraken
Seattle (NHL)

65. Tom Willander, D, 20, Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsford (AHL)

64. Braeden Cootes, C, 18, Vancouver Canucks
Seattle (WHL)

63. Michael Hage, C, 19, Montreal Canadiens
Michigan (Big Ten)

62. Cole Eiserman, LW, 19, New York Islanders
Boston Univ. (Big Ten)

61. Viggo Bjorck, C, 17, Djurgarden IF (Swe.)
NHL Draft: 2026

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Joseph Woll wasn't happy with Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube after being pulled on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens, after allowing four goals on 25 shots.

Despite the 27-year-old having a strong game and wanting to stay in the fight, Toronto wasn't playing well in front of him. Because of that, Berube yanked Woll from the game midway through the second period to give the Maple Leafs a jolt.

"He was so pissed off at me for pulling him," Berube said on Tuesday, "but I like that. He wanted to be in there and fight, and that's good."

Woll, with a smile, added: "I was having fun battling out there, and of course, any time you get out of the net, I'm not very happy. I thought we still had a chance to come back, and I thought we were kind of getting some momentum a bit."

Instead of sitting on the bench with his team (which occurs in most NHL buildings), Woll had to sit on the other side of the ice, just outside the team's tunnel. What was it like with Canadiens fans pretty much surrounding him?

"It's a little weird," Woll smiled. "Fans are giving it to you a little bit. I mean, it's always weird when you're right next to the fans because you go from being in the game to feel like you're a spectator. It's a bit of a weird transition."

'I Like To Hear That As A Coach': Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Impressed By Easton Cowan's Mentality Despite Not ScoringDespite having four shots and an assist in Thursday's game, Cowan was rather frustrated with his lack of scoring.

The goaltender's overall game has been strong ever since he returned from a personal leave of absence in October. Woll has appeared in four games with Toronto this season, putting up a .905 save percentage in that span.

He has has arguably been the team's best player through this recent stretch of games.

"He's been solid and it has been very good for our team, getting him back in," added Berube.

Defenseman Jake McCabe described Woll as "a very calming presence" when he's on the ice with the team. And even more so when Toronto is in the basement of the Eastern Conference.

"I think he's done a very, very good job and been good with the puck and talking to us defensemen. So, yeah, I have been talking about him quite a bit, and that all speaks true."

'We're A Veteran Team, It's Inexcusable': Craig Berube Has No Answers For Maple Leafs' Inability To Play Hard When Down In GamesA disastrous second-period in Montreal leaves Craig Berube searching for answers from a veteran roster that simply stops playing when the going gets tough.

With a five-game road trip coming up, Woll will likely start a large chunk of the games. Probably four of the five with Dennis Hildeby getting a start on the back-to-back this weekend. When you have a goalie like Woll feeling good about himself, he gives you a chance to win games.

The Maple Leafs need to take advantage of that right now.

"I'm just trying to continue doing what I do. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I'm just sticking to that, and I think I'm confident with where I'm at," Woll said. "I feel good physically, mentally, so I'm just going to keep trenching along."

Latest stories:

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Russian-Bulgarian goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, 29, has signed a two-year contract to play for Spartak Moscow, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

The news comes two days after Georgiev’s contract with the Buffalo Sabres was terminated by mutual agreement, and it was speculated at the time that it was done with the intention of returning to play in Russia.

Georgiev had only played two AHL games for the Rochester Americans this season, both losses, with a goals-against average of 3.57 and a save percentage of .896.

For Georgiev, who was born in Bulgaria but moved with his family to Russia at a young age, it will be his first time playing in the KHL and his first time playing in Russia since 2014, when he was 18.

From age 18 to 21, Georgiev played in Finland, mostly for TPS Turku, with whom he played 54 Liiga regular-season and playoff games and three Champions Hockey League games.

Chris Driedger Leaves KHL Team; Headed Back To Winnipeg?KHL contract terminated, Chris Driedger's Winnipeg rights loom large. A potential homecoming amid Jets' goalie concerns?

Never drafted by an NHL club, Georgiev signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2017. From then until 2025, he played 303 NHL regular-season games with the Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, compiling a record of 151-108-26 with 15 shutouts, a goals-against average of 2.99 and a save percentage of .903. He also played 20 playoff games, where his record was 9-10 with a 2.72 average and .904 save percentage.

Georgiev joins a Spartak team that sits seventh in the KHL’s 11-team Western Conference with a record of 14-12-3 through 29 games. Spartak’s roster includes Slovak ex-NHLers Adam Ružička and Christian Jaroš. He will likely share a crease with 30-year-old Artyom Zagidulin, who played one game for the Calgary Flames in 2021.

Ex-Blackhawks D-Man Finds Third KHL Team This SeasonMobile defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk joins his third KHL club this season, aiming to boost the Shanghai Dragons' blueline.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got off to an 8-2-2 start to the 2025-26 season and were the best team in the NHL after October. 

They were getting contributions throughout the lineup at both 5v5 and on the man-advantage, plus getting elite goaltending from Arturs Silovs and Tristan Jarry. The goaltending has remained good in November, even without Tristan Jarry for a bit, but the offense has really dried up, leading to them losing seven of nine games this month. Part of it is due to numerous forwards being out of the lineup, but another part of it is due to some players not being up to par. 

With that in mind, here's a look at a few forwards that need to be better for the Penguins.

Tommy Novak

I was really high on Novak heading into the year and liked the move to get him from the Nashville Predators during last season's trade deadline. He has a history of being a productive playmaker and has an underrated release, but has been really underwhelming to start the year, compiling only two goals and seven points in 21 games. He also doesn't have a point in the last four Penguins' games. 

We saw a glimpse of some early chemistry between him and Evgeni Malkin during the second game against the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 9, but since then, it's been a lot of nothing. Heck, even when he has gone back down to the third line with first-round pick Benjamin Kindel, the chemistry between the two hasn't been the same as it was earlier in the season. 

It feels like Novak is second-guessing everything he does when he's on the ice. If he can find his game, it would give the Penguins another good option for their middle six, especially due to how versatile he is. 

Bryan Rust

It may seem odd that someone with 15 points in 19 games needs to be better, but only five of those points are goals. Rust hasn't scored a goal in his last six games and only has one point during that time, too. 

He hasn't been forechecking as well as he normally does, and the puck is also being dislodged from his stick quite a bit. He's also not playing well in his own zone when his line is hemmed in. Per MoneyPuck, out of 17 forwards who have played at least 50 minutes at 5v5 for the Penguins, Rust ranks 16th in on-ice expected goals with 43.9%. The process simply hasn't been there. 

Rust has been a core leader on this team for the last several years and is coming off a career season, finishing with 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games. However, his game hasn't been up to par, and it needs to change. 

'It's A Dream Come True': Penguins' Prospect Tristan Broz Grateful For Those Inolved In Journey To NHLWhen a media scrum formed around <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' forward prospect Tristan Broz - just <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-top-forward-prospect-recalled-from-ahl">recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Monday morning</a> - after practice, something a bit unusual happened.

Kevin Hayes

Hayes has only played in six games since he missed the start of the season due to an injury he suffered during training camp, but has looked a couple of steps slow in the top six. 

He's a short-term replacement for Justin Brazeau on the second line, who was lighting it up for the Penguins before getting hurt at the end of October. Brazeau, Evgeni Malkin, and Anthony Mantha couldn't be stopped by teams when they were in the offensive zone. 

Hayes was fine in a depth role last year despite his lack of footspeed, racking up 13 goals and 23 points in 64 games, but has yet to produce a lot of offense this year, compiling only one assist.

I don't expect him to light the league on fire, but he needs to be a lot more noticeable. 

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The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy recently ranked the top 100 hockey players who are 21 years old or younger. 

The Hockey News has now revealed the players who were ranked from No. 81 to No. 100, and Montreal Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher made it. This is because Kennedy ranked Reinbacher at the No. 97 spot. 

With Reinbacher being a young defenseman with good potential, it makes sense that he has made this list. Injury trouble has kept him off the ice a lot early on his career, but he has still shown promise when healthy. 

In 31 games over three seasons with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, Reinbacher has posted seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points, and a plus-12 rating. He has also been off to a solid start this season with Laval, recording three goals, four assists, seven points, and a plus-1 rating in 10 games thus far. 

Reinbacher was selected by the Canadiens with the fifth-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and they have high hopes that he will be a big part of their blueline in the future. The 21-year-old blueliner has good upside, and it will be fascinating to see how he continues to develop his game. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered this week sitting last in the Eastern Conference standings.

Before reaching that lowly position, they were already the subject of speculation about whether a trade could reverse their fortunes.

Several players, including defenseman Brandon Carlo and forwards Max Domi, Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann and Dakota Joshua, were floated as potential trade candidates.

Jonas Siegel of The Athletic recently examined those candidates. He felt that Carlo and Domi could deliver the type of return management would seek to impact the roster.

Of the pair, Siegel felt Carlo the easiest to move. He acknowledged the 28-year-old blueliner was off to a slow start before being sidelined by a lower-body injury. However, Carlo is a right-shot defenseman, and those blueliners are currently coveted around the league.

Carlo is in the fifth season of a six-year contract. The Leafs carry $3.485 million of his $4.1-million cap hit, which could make him enticing for cap-strapped teams seeking an affordable top-four defenseman.

Siegel also pointed out the downside of trading Carlo for the Leafs. They gave up a first-round pick and prospect Fraser Minten to get him from the Boston Bruins, meaning they'd have to get something comparable in return. Moving him now would also leave a big hole on the right side of their defense corps.

Carlo might draw more interest closer to the March 6 NHL trade deadline. Given the Leafs' current position, that move would come too late to save their season. By that point, they would be sellers instead of buyers.

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Penguins could soon have a crowded crease once Tristan Jarry returns from injury, joining Arturs Silovs and promising Sergei Murashov.

Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now believes the Penguins could use more scoring. He wondered if they would move one of their goalies for a return that would help them address their offensive needs.

Jarry's recent injury, inconsistent play and $5.375-million cap hit through 2027-28 (with a 12-team no-trade list) make him difficult to move in the trade market. Murashov has shown potential as a future starter, so he's not going anywhere. That could leave Silovs as the odd man out.

The Penguins gave up a fourth-round pick to acquire Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in July. Kingerski wondered if his solid play this season might fetch a second-rounder, which could be used to add a scoring forward.

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On Sunday, the New York Islanders announced that they'd be without defenseman Alexander Romanov and forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau for a while. 

Romanov will be out five to six months due to a right shoulder injury, which will require surgery. His regular season is likely over, with the potential for him to return for the playoffs still up in the air. 

BREAKING: Islanders' Alexander Romanov To Have Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months Devastating blow for the Islanders: Romanov's season ends abruptly due to shoulder surgery after a controversial hit. Recovery targets next season.

He is on Injured Reserve. 

Pageau is out week-to-week after sustaining an upper-body injury late in their 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.  

BREAKING: Islanders Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau Out Week-To-Week with Upper-Body InjuryPageau's upper-body injury sidelines the Islanders' reliable center, leaving a significant void just as the team faces mounting player absences.

However, despite their upcoming longer-term absences, the Islanders have yet to place either on Long-Term Injured Reserve. 

Per the NHL CBA, a player who is placed on LTIR must miss 10 games and 24 days. We know Romanov fits that bill, but maybe, maybe Pageau doesn't. 

Pageau, if placed on LTIR, would be eligible to return on Dec. 19 against the Vancouver Canucks. 

And because a team can place a player LTIR retroactively, there's no rush. 

The biggest reason why is because it's like a credit card. 

Do you need a $100 million credit card limit? No. It’s useless to add more money to LTIR if you don’t even need LTIR. They placed Engvall on LTIR because they may need to use it. They already di,d but never came close to using it, outside of the Marshall Warren recall. 

As of this moment, with prospect Marshall Warren back in Bridgeport, the Islanders are accruing cap space since they are no longer dipping into Pierre Engvall's LTIR relief -- $3 million. 

Islanders Loan Defenseman Marshall Warren Back To BridgeportMarshall Warren returns to Bridgeport. Defenseman Adam Boqvist steps up for the Islanders as Alexander Romanov faces a long-term injury.

The Islanders cannot recall Warren until he plays one AHL game, per the new rule eliminating paper transactions. 

The great debate for the Philadelphia Flyers so far this season has been whether or not star sophomore forward Matvei Michkov is getting a fair shake under new head coach Rick Tocchet and being put into positions to truly succeed.

Virtually every young draft pick, like Michkov, has to spend time learning the ropes during their rookie season. That is why it wasn't a real surprise to see the 20-year-old Russian finish the 2024-25 season averaging 16:41 a game.

This season, though, under Tocchet, that number has plummeted nearly two full minutes down to 14:53, and, as a result, Michkov's offensive production has suffered.

With five goals, five assists, and 10 points in 21 games, Michkov is on pace for a measly 20-goal, 40-point season.

That said, though, despite a 33% regression from Michkov, Tocchet still has his supporters who believe the Flyers' franchise player hasn't earned further opportunities.

For example, former NHLer Colby Cohen argued for Daily Faceoff that, because Michkov doesn't kill penalties, "he's never going a 20-minutes-a-night guy."

The argument is inherently flawed, as Michkov has already been and succeeded as a 20-minute player for the Flyers this same calendar year.

In the nine games that remained after John Tortorella was fired by the Flyers, Michkov played 20 or more minutes five times, excluding a game that he finished at 19:59.

The Russian phenom had two goals and an assist in two of those games, and recorded a point in three of the five. Overall, over the final stretch of the ill-fated 2024-25 season, Michkov finished with six goals, six assists, and 12 points in nine games.

Now, he has 10 in 21. How does that happen?

Simply put, Michkov just needs to play, and the Flyers need to put in as much effort into finding a line combination that works for him as they do with Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster; the latter has been pigeonholed into a checking role despite his own offensive talents.

Ex-Flyers Coach Turning Devils Defenseman Into a MonsterThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> benefitted from some strong coaching from Brad Shaw in the past, but now, predictably, his departure is working directly against them.

Nikita Kucherov, in his second full NHL season, was averaging 18:13 a night. Jack Hughes, 19:04. Trevor Zegras, 18:50. Lucas Raymond, 17:23.

And, while Raymond's ice time did actually decrease from Year 1 to Year 2, he still played more on average than Michkov ever has in his NHL career.

Directly counter to Cohen's argument, the best way to learn is sometimes by doing and not by watching. 

Stifling Michkov's offensive creativity by making him forecheck as an F1 on a 6-on-5, or by putting him with grinders on 6-on-5, isn't going to help, either.

This is the Flyers' franchise player we're talking about, after all, and to dismiss the concerns and observations of desperate fans is to be disingenuous at best.

For the first time during the 2025-26 season, the Chicago Blackhawks are in the middle of a 0-3-0 stretch. Losing three regulation games in a row is never a good thing in the NHL, but now the focus has to become finding a way out of the slump. 

A lot has happened during that three-game sample. The first game was a loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. Chicago had a 2-0 lead but allowed the Kraken to win it in regulation, 3-2. 

The middle game on Friday, the second half of a back-to-back, was a 9-3 clobbering at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. This, the one road game during this losing streak, was Chicago's worst game of the year. 

The third of three straight losses came on Sunday night against the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center. This was a 1-0 win for the Avalanche. Despite being shut out, the team and head coach believed that they bounced back nicely following the bad game against the Sabres two nights prior. 

"Even with the second, I think if we repeat that performance, we win lots of games," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "The other team is going to push back. That's just the reality of life. I thought we did an excellent job in our structure [and] an excellent job with some of the things we talked about that we didn't do in Buffalo."

Now, at 10-8-4, they are below the playoff line, but they are mixed in with all of the other bubble teams trying to find a way into the top-8. 

These are 5 thoughts following this 0-3-0 stretch ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night: 

1. Connor Bedard is incredibly important to the Chicago Blackhawks organization both on and off the ice. Every other fan in the crowd is wearing a #98 jersey, and he is their best player in between the whistles by far. 

They gave him an "A" when Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson were out of the lineup at the same time, and didn't take it away when Dickinson came back. 

Jeff Blashill also publicly disagreed with the referees after the game on Thursday against the Kraken. Although Bedard doesn't want to be showing up referees during the play, Blashill made it clear he was on his player's side. 

With this new leadership role and his newfound elite scoring touch, the pressure is on Team Canada to select Bedard for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Blackhawks are doing everything they can to help him on that journey. 

2. Ilya Mikheyev is one of the top penalty killers in the league. He helps them score a handful of goals at even strength, along with his work in the defensive zone, but his work on the PK is second to none. 

There are a few players on the team who have skillsets made for killing penalties, but everything is led by the play of Mikheyev in this situation. The Blackhawks have an 83.3 kill percentage, which is a unit that has been consistently in the top-10 all season long. 

3. Nick Lardis is a high-end prospect. While playing with the Rockford IceHogs this weekend, Lardis scored four goals in two games played. 

This isn't something that directly impacted results for Chicago, as he is still working up to his NHL debut, but he is proving over and over again that he deserves his chance soon.

The Blackhawks have not been without injuries to forwards this season, and Lardis has the pedigree to make him a "next man up" candidate. 

If Lardis continues to make plays and score goals, he may force Kyle Davidson's hand regardless of whether there is an injury or not. 

4. Ryan Greene has had a good stretch of play. With the injuries that the Blackhawks have had this year, Greene has been given opportunities up and down the lineup. 

So far this season, Greene has just two goals and four assists, but his play with and without the puck is helping everyone around him be better. Once he starts finishing a tad bit more, he will be a valuable depth piece on a winning team. 

Against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, Greene had a handful of high-quality chances to score in the first period alone. Eventually, those will start going in more. Throughout his development, he has never sacrificed playing the right way for offense. If he keeps that mentality, he will carve out a great career. 

5. Early in the season, it seemed like the Blackhawks would eventually have to stop going with the 11/7 strategy. There have been multiple times where a forward gets hurt, and the Blackhawks are down to 10, but the benefit this has on the defense can't be overstated. 

Outside of Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Murphy, all of the Blackhawks' defensemen are young. Having more options allows Jeff Blashill to be easier on them with their ice time. If someone is having a tough stretch, they can play in a smaller role. If someone is playing well, they can earn minutes. 

There is still an outside chance that they move to 12/6 full-time this year, but Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski are all down in Rockford as well. The 11/7 strategy may be beneficial to them if they get called up at any point down the stretch. As long as whoever is playing continues trending up, Blashill will keep it going. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Another game there for the taking for the St. Louis Blues, another game that frustratingly slips away.

This time, another 3-2 setback to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday.

The Blues (7-10-6) got goals from Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn, and Joel Hofer made 17 saves on the fourth game of a season-high five-game road trip where the Blues are now 1-1-2 with one final game Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

"I didn't think we played with the requisite of intensity and connected and puck support that we've been playing with the three previous games," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said.

Let's look at Monday's game observations:

* First 10 minutes of third where game was lost -- In a 1-1 game on the road, the Blues were in a good spot to grab at least perhaps a point, maybe two with a strong final period.

But they got pinned into their zone to begin the third, had a chance to get a puck out that caromed away eventually and a redirection in front by Alexis Lafreniere of Vladislav Gavrikov's left point wrister just 40 seconds in gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead and getting that all-important go-ahead goal:

GAVI WITH THE SHOT FROM FAR OUT + LAF DEFLECTS IT IN. pic.twitter.com/eIR2o6Hrbj

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 25, 2025

And when Adam Edstrom made it 3-1 at 8:56 of the period on a shot from in tight surrounded by three Blues on the play, it would be a tall task for a team struggling to score more than two goals to make a comeback:

GAVI ➡️ EDDY pic.twitter.com/s5z0trqtXM

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 25, 2025

It would wind up being the 20th and final shot on goal for the Rangers in the game.

"Obviously not the way we wanted to start it for sure," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "Tough to go down two in the third."

* Blues inability to win when scoring first -- Monday marked the 13th time the Blues scored first in a game, and it was a beauty of a goal when Holloway tied for the team lead with his sixth, and the line did a great job of forechecking pucks back after Parayko's initial keep-in from the right point:

Big goal in the Big Apple pic.twitter.com/0shOXGmUaS

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 25, 2025

It marked the eighth time in the past nine games the Blues have scored first, but they fell to 5-3-5 in those games when the league on average, teams that score first win roughly 67 percent of the time.

In just seven of those games, they've continued to forge forward and increase the lead, and it's impossible to gain each and every point when scoring first, but the Blues, who have 20 points on the season, have left 11 points on the table in this instance.

"That's the difference in winning games, burying those chances," Holloway said. "It's good to get those chances, but we've got to bear down and score."

And considering the Rangers came in a woeful 1-7-1 on home ice, scoring just 13 goals and shut out in a franchise-most five of those games, this was a chance to not only extend a lead against a team that has had trouble scoring and lost four in a row.

* Rangers tying goal opened door for struggling home team -- Up 1-0, the Blues were in a good spot until Vincent Trocheck tied it 1-1 at 10:06 of the second period.

The Blues had multiple forward lines on the ice that needed to get a puck in deep, but it never made it past the opposing side's blue line, and therefore, defensemen Cam Fowler and Logan Mailloux's shift was extended way too long at 2:19 each. Oskar Sundqvist, who was one who had a chance to get a puck deep but it got knocked down in the neutral zone, keeping the Blues' D on the ice, was on for over two minutes himself until he could finally get a change right before the goal, and on the goal, the Blues left an opening on an up pass through the middle creating a 2-on-1 that Trocheck wristed into the top right corner:

Some slick passing + Troch puts it away. pic.twitter.com/ZPxAIGdKzG

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 25, 2025

"Yeah it is an extended shift and that's why in the second period there tends to be more goals scored in the league because it's hard to get your changes in the second and the five guys got to help each other get their changes," Montgomery said. "Forwards always get off the ice, D-men don't because they've got to stay. Then the next guys that come out, they've got to make sure they're protecting good and that they're helping out the D, so they can get off the ice."

* Hofer made key saves early to give Blues chance to go ahead -- The numbers on the night don't look great for Hofer (.850 save percentage), but his saves on Braden Schneider at 8:24 of the first period and Mika Zibanejad at 15:45 of the first period allowed the Blues to stay in a 0-0 game.

* Goal scoring has dried up -- Monday marked the fifth straight game that the Blues scored two or fewer goals, and it coincides with their goaltending being better of late.

And this comes with Brayden Schenn, who scored his first goal in 12 games on Saturday in a 2-1 win at the New York Islanders, now has goals in back-to-back games when Pavel Buchnevich's shot caromed off the Blues captain and past Igor Shesterkin with 1:15 remaining to make it 3-2, but that's as close as the Blues would get:

Hockey players will score goals any way they've gotta score 'em. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/tej600UCbr

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 25, 2025

But Schenn missed a breakaway in the first period at 8:24 of the first period, even though it was at the end of a shift. Jake Neighbours had a great chance to give the Blues a 2-1 lead at 16:42 of the second period off a shot from the slot after a Robert Thomas pass. Schenn also fanned on an open look in the bumper with 3:16 remaining in the game while the Blues were on a four-minute power play, and Holloway whiffed on a hard pass by Thomas in tight with 19.3 remaining that would have tied the game.

All the lack of goal scoring has coincided with the top guys not getting it done. 

Jordan Kyrou hasn't scored in five games; Thomas has one goal in 10 and no points the past three games; Jimmy Snuggerud has no points the past four games and one goal in 12; Buchnevich now hasn't scored in 15 games; and from the defense, Fowler and Parayko each hasn't scored yet this season. 

This team needs its top players to produce, or these results will look all too familiar.

* Power play had chance to be difference -- Yes, the Blues' power play has been good, and it's 12th in the league at 22.4 percent. But going 0-for-4 (the last one was only three seconds at the end of the game) did them no favors and they produced only three shots on them.

The one that had to be frustrating was a double-minor given to Brett Berard for high-sticking Neighbours, who was also high-sticked by Schneider in the second period, with 5:51 left. It was there where Schenn fanned on his attempt, and the Blues passed on a couple open looks with 2:41 remaining.

"Yeah there were a couple of shots that were passed up," Montgomery said. "We whiffed on a great chance to tie the game up, right at the net front (Holloway's chance late), in a pulled goalie situation. We need to start making some of those plays in those areas so that we can have wins where we come from behind and get on a streak."

* Mailloux looked better -- Mailloux, who was called back up from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Saturday after playing five games with the Thunderbirds (two goals), was a minus-2 in the game and played 13:59 but I thought he was more assertive in this game that any of the previous ones he played in prior to being sent down.

He attacked more confidently, played a physical role, and he rung a shot off the post when Montgomery put him on the ice during the third-period power play. There was nothing he could have done differently on the goals that were scored while he was on the ice.

"I thought Mailloux was very assertive," Montgomery said. "I liked him on the PP there at the end when we gave him an opportunity. I thought he was very aggressive and had a good shot-first mindset, but made some passes. The minus-2, I know the second goal, he had nothing to do with it."

Mailloux, who was playing alongside Cam Fowler, had one hit and one blocked shot with one shot on goal.

"I kind of felt more like myself out there," Mailloux said. "I was moving pucks, getting in the play, getting some shots off. So unfortunate kind of ending, but I felt better for sure."

Blues Forward Cleared Unconditional Waivers, Signs With CanadiensAfter walking away from final year of two-year contract that paid AAV of $2.1 million, Alexandre Texier signs reported one, year, $1 million contract with MontrealSt. Louis Blues Weekly Prospect Report (Nov. 23)Another Russian in KHL opening eyes in Fyodorov; Carbonneau keeps pace with QMJHL scoring lead; Jiricek extends point streak to 11; Harenstam continues to sizzle in Sweden

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

2025 CNBC NHL franchise valuations: See how all 32 teams rank originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The highest-valued NHL team still reigns in Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs remain No. 1 on CNBC’s list of NHL valuations for 2025 at $4.3 billion, a lead of $500 million over the second-highest team. It also is $2.1 billion above league average. Toronto in 2024 had a valuation of $3.8 billion and sat $1.89 billion above league average.

Trailing the Maple Leafs in the top three are the same two teams from 2024. The New York Rangers are second with a valuation of $3.8 billion, a $300 million increase. In third are the Montreal Canadiens, which also rose by $300 million to hold a $3.4 billion valuation.

There has been a slight shakeup in the top five, though. While the Los Angeles Kings remain No. 4 at $3.15 billion, the Edmonton Oilers ($3.1 billion) have bumped down the Boston Bruins ($3.05 billion) to seize the No. 5 spot.

Rounding out the top 10, in order, are the Chicago Blackhawks ($2.75 billion), Philadelphia Flyers ($2.6 billion), Washington Capitals ($2.5 billion) and Detroit Red Wings ($2.47 billion)

With the average NHL team now worth $2.2 billion, 15% more than last year, what’s behind the increase? CNBC senior sports reporter Michael Ozanian broke it down with the most important factor.

“The increase in values for NHL teams largely stems from their national media rights deal,” Ozanian said. “So, earlier this year, Rogers Communications, which has the national rights for National Hockey League games in Canada, they signed a new deal with the NHL that’s more than a 100% increase over their existing deal. And what analysts are telling me in the media space that sort of advise and consult for teams and leagues and networks, is that the next deal for the United States? The next national deal is likely also see a doubling in value.”

The national media deals are significant in hockey because the money involved are split evenly among the 32 teams. Whether a team is in Winnipeg or in New York, winning or losing, the revenue share is equal.

So, why do the Maple Leafs have a sizeable lead over the Rangers, who are located in the biggest U.S. market? Ozanian explained that it stems from the difference between national media revenue versus local TV rights.

“The local TV rights, particularly those rights on regional sports networks in the U.S., are under a lot of pressure,” Ozanian started. “They’re … being reduced. So, for example, in the case of the New York Rangers MSG Networks, which sort of went under some reorganization because it didn’t have the cash to pay its debt, the Rangers are taking an 18% haircut to their local TV rights. Other teams in the U.S. have taken similar cuts to their local TV rights …

“… These teams, with a combination of free TV rights and streaming, which is where a lot of these distribution is headed, may eventually make up the difference for what they’ve lost. There are some rights, but for now the Canadian teams have a big advantage because they’ve been getting actually huge increases in their local TV rights.”

For some teams, controlling the arena they play in can also be a key contributing factor to a high valuation. For example, the Bruins, who routinely collects healthy net ticket revenue, also benefit from non-NHL events at TD Garden.

“The Celtics, the NBA team that shares that arena, they’re just tenants,” Ozanian said. “They sort of have a lease agreement with the Bruins, so it’s the Bruins that get money from concerts and things like that at the building.”

A similar process could unfold for the Flyers, who will move into a new arena in 2030 alongside the Philadelphia 76ers. So, along with the Flyers recently pushing across price increases for the first time in a while, the stadium value and control will help boost the team’s valuation further.

But an extra caveat to the new arena is the sponsor name. Previously named Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers had limited themselves to other financial companies being sponsors in the building due to the name. Now named Xfinity Mobile Arena, there’s more potential for growth.

“… It’s opened up a huge space in financial services, which are a big category in terms of sponsoring an arena, either naming rights or various ads and sponsors on the inside of the building,” Ozanian said. “And those sponsorship revenues and advertising revenues at the arena are kept by the team…So having that new naming rights partner is another big advantage to the Flyers and a big reason why they’re in the top third of our list.”

On the flip side, the bottom five NHL teams in terms of valuations fare differently for multiple reasons. The San Jose Sharks are ranked No. 28 with a valuation of $1.55 billion. Lurking behind the Sharks are the No. 29 Winnipeg Jets ($1.46 billion), No. 30 Ottawa Senators ($1.44 billion), No. 31 Buffalo Sabres ($1.42 billion) and last-place Columbus Blue Jackets ($1.4 billion).

The Blue Jackets remained in last place but grew from their previous $1 billion valuation, while the Jets rose from No. 31 to 29. The biggest shakeup involved San Jose dropping from No. 25 last season ($1.4 billion) to the bottom five, as the new-look Utah Mammoth climbed to No. 27.

Why has that been the case for a franchise located in the Bay Area? For one, San Jose ranked second to last in the league last season in regular-season ticket revenue.

“The Sharks have just had a lot of trouble generating a consistent interest of fans last season,” Ozanian started. “… They only brought in $44 million for the whole season and regular season ticket row. The typical NHL team brings in somewhere around $80 million, so they’re doing about half of what the typical team does.”

But the Sharks have plenty of potential to bite its way up the list, including looking for a new owner, as Ozanian explained.

“I would have to say that the Sharks … are a, for lack of a better term, an underperforming team in the sense that they’re not in a huge market, but it’s a fairly high net worth market and they should be doing better,” Ozanian said. “They’re a team that I wouldn’t be shocked if somebody was eyeing a potential buyer and said, if I bought this team, I could increase the revenue significantly.

“They control the building. So there’s an opportunity there. Hence revenue not just from NHL games, but also from non-NHL events. They also recently extended their lease there, so they’ll have a buyer that would look at that and say, you know, I have controlled this arena for a while. So I have to say it’s an interesting situation that I think an investor would have to consider.”

2025 CNBC NHL franchise valuations: See how all 32 teams rank originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The highest-valued NHL team still reigns in Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs remain No. 1 on CNBC’s list of NHL valuations for 2025 at $4.3 billion, a lead of $500 million over the second-highest team. It also is $2.1 billion above league average. Toronto in 2024 had a valuation of $3.8 billion and sat $1.89 billion above league average.

Trailing the Maple Leafs in the top three are the same two teams from 2024. The New York Rangers are second with a valuation of $3.8 billion, a $300 million increase. In third are the Montreal Canadiens, which also rose by $300 million to hold a $3.4 billion valuation.

There has been a slight shakeup in the top five, though. While the Los Angeles Kings remain No. 4 at $3.15 billion, the Edmonton Oilers ($3.1 billion) have bumped down the Boston Bruins ($3.05 billion) to seize the No. 5 spot.

Rounding out the top 10, in order, are the Chicago Blackhawks ($2.75 billion), Philadelphia Flyers ($2.6 billion), Washington Capitals ($2.5 billion) and Detroit Red Wings ($2.47 billion)

With the average NHL team now worth $2.2 billion, 15% more than last year, what’s behind the increase? CNBC senior sports reporter Michael Ozanian broke it down with the most important factor.

“The increase in values for NHL teams largely stems from their national media rights deal,” Ozanian said. “So, earlier this year, Rogers Communications, which has the national rights for National Hockey League games in Canada, they signed a new deal with the NHL that’s more than a 100% increase over their existing deal. And what analysts are telling me in the media space that sort of advise and consult for teams and leagues and networks, is that the next deal for the United States? The next national deal is likely also see a doubling in value.”

The national media deals are significant in hockey because the money involved are split evenly among the 32 teams. Whether a team is in Winnipeg or in New York, winning or losing, the revenue share is equal.

So, why do the Maple Leafs have a sizeable lead over the Rangers, who are located in the biggest U.S. market? Ozanian explained that it stems from the difference between national media revenue versus local TV rights.

“The local TV rights, particularly those rights on regional sports networks in the U.S., are under a lot of pressure,” Ozanian started. “They’re … being reduced. So, for example, in the case of the New York Rangers MSG Networks, which sort of went under some reorganization because it didn’t have the cash to pay its debt, the Rangers are taking an 18% haircut to their local TV rights. Other teams in the U.S. have taken similar cuts to their local TV rights …

“… These teams, with a combination of free TV rights and streaming, which is where a lot of these distribution is headed, may eventually make up the difference for what they’ve lost. There are some rights, but for now the Canadian teams have a big advantage because they’ve been getting actually huge increases in their local TV rights.”

For some teams, controlling the arena they play in can also be a key contributing factor to a high valuation. For example, the Bruins, who routinely collects healthy net ticket revenue, also benefit from non-NHL events at TD Garden.

“The Celtics, the NBA team that shares that arena, they’re just tenants,” Ozanian said. “They sort of have a lease agreement with the Bruins, so it’s the Bruins that get money from concerts and things like that at the building.”

A similar process could unfold for the Flyers, who will move into a new arena in 2030 alongside the Philadelphia 76ers. So, along with the Flyers recently pushing across price increases for the first time in a while, the stadium value and control will help boost the team’s valuation further.

But an extra caveat to the new arena is the sponsor name. Previously named Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers had limited themselves to other financial companies being sponsors in the building due to the name. Now named Xfinity Mobile Arena, there’s more potential for growth.

“… It’s opened up a huge space in financial services, which are a big category in terms of sponsoring an arena, either naming rights or various ads and sponsors on the inside of the building,” Ozanian said. “And those sponsorship revenues and advertising revenues at the arena are kept by the team…So having that new naming rights partner is another big advantage to the Flyers and a big reason why they’re in the top third of our list.”

On the flip side, the bottom five NHL teams in terms of valuations fare differently for multiple reasons. The San Jose Sharks are ranked No. 28 with a valuation of $1.55 billion. Lurking behind the Sharks are the No. 29 Winnipeg Jets ($1.46 billion), No. 30 Ottawa Senators ($1.44 billion), No. 31 Buffalo Sabres ($1.42 billion) and last-place Columbus Blue Jackets ($1.4 billion).

The Blue Jackets remained in last place but grew from their previous $1 billion valuation, while the Jets rose from No. 31 to 29. The biggest shakeup involved San Jose dropping from No. 25 last season ($1.4 billion) to the bottom five, as the new-look Utah Mammoth climbed to No. 27.

Why has that been the case for a franchise located in the Bay Area? For one, San Jose ranked second to last in the league last season in regular-season ticket revenue.

“The Sharks have just had a lot of trouble generating a consistent interest of fans last season,” Ozanian started. “… They only brought in $44 million for the whole season and regular season ticket row. The typical NHL team brings in somewhere around $80 million, so they’re doing about half of what the typical team does.”

But the Sharks have plenty of potential to bite its way up the list, including looking for a new owner, as Ozanian explained.

“I would have to say that the Sharks … are a, for lack of a better term, an underperforming team in the sense that they’re not in a huge market, but it’s a fairly high net worth market and they should be doing better,” Ozanian said. “They’re a team that I wouldn’t be shocked if somebody was eyeing a potential buyer and said, if I bought this team, I could increase the revenue significantly.

“They control the building. So there’s an opportunity there. Hence revenue not just from NHL games, but also from non-NHL events. They also recently extended their lease there, so they’ll have a buyer that would look at that and say, you know, I have controlled this arena for a while. So I have to say it’s an interesting situation that I think an investor would have to consider.”

It appears a Pittsburgh Penguins' netminder - and one of their young forwards - is one step closer to his return to game action.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry - out since Nov. 4 with a lower-body injury - was a full participant in Penguins' practice on Monday, as was 22-year-old forward Ville Koivunen. Jarry took reps with the main squad - along with tandem partner Arturs Silovs - while Koivunen skated with the defensive group. 

Rookie Sergei Murashov - who is 1-1-1 with a .913 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average - still participated in practice but was the third goaltender in the rotation. 

Jarry, 30, was off to a good start this season before his injury, as he is 5-2 with a shutout and a .911 save percentage. He has worked hard to rebound from a tough season in 2024-25, which included waivers, an AHL stint, and an .893 save percentage.

Koivunen got off to a slow start production-wise this season, and he ended up in the AHL for a short stint, where he produced four goals and 11 points in six games before getting the call back to the big club. He has just two points in 11 games with the Penguins so far, but he had started to build some momentum in his game prior to his injury.

With the Penguins severely injury-depleted right now - and with a 2-4-3 record in November - they'd welcome back any of their injured players as soon as possible.

Forwards Justin Brazeau, Rickard Rakell, and Noel Acciari also skated before practice, and previously injured defenseman Jack St. Ivany - along with rookie Harrison Brunicke, who was a healthy scratch for seven straight games - was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) for a conditioning stint.

'It's A Dream Come True': Penguins' Prospect Tristan Broz Grateful For Those Inolved In Journey To NHLWhen a media scrum formed around <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' forward prospect Tristan Broz - just <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-top-forward-prospect-recalled-from-ahl">recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Monday morning</a> - after practice, something a bit unusual happened.

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