The Chicago Blackhawks have been incredible at drafting in recent years. They've made a lot of early draft picks, but they've also made some wise decisions in the middle and late rounds. 

One league that has had a stamp put on it by Blackhawks prospects this season is the Ontario Hockey League. The OHL is one of the top developmental leagues in the world, and the Blackhawks have had some success there. 

For one, they had the league's leading goal scorer in 2025-26 for the second year in a row. After Nick Lardis led the OHL last year, Marek Vanacker finished on top this year with 47 goals.

Vanacker, a first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, is likely to turn pro next season after an incredibly strong year in 2025-26, after dealing with some injury trouble one year prior. 

The interesting thing is that Vanacker beat out his fellow Blackhawks draftee Jack Pridham to win the OHL goal-scoring title by one. Each of them has aspirations of translating this goal-scoring prowess to the next level, and this was a great developmental season. 

Vanacker and the Brantford Bulldogs earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference of the OHL. They will face the Sudbury Wolves in the first round. As for Pridham, his Kitchener Rangers are the top seed in the West and will face the Saginaw Spirit to open the postseason. Clearly, having a top-two goal scorer helped these clubs earn the top seeds. 

Another notable Blackhawks prospect, AJ Spellacy, is on the number two-seeded (West) Windsor Spitfires, looking to make a run to the Memorial Cup as well. Spellacy, a third-round pick (72nd overall) in 2024, is a high-motor, speedy player who can create chaos in all three zones. 

He isn't a monster offensively, as he scored 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points in 51 games, but he is a solid contributor who also adds a sense of grit to any team he plays on. Once Spellacy is done with major junior, he has the tools to be a great pro. He will certainly have his chance to be an NHL player down the line. 

Not every one of Chicago's prospects is going to suit up for the Blackhawks. Some of them won't make it, some of them will be traded away, but they all provide value to the team right now.

Whether it's these three in particular, or others, it is clear that the team has talent down the line continuing to develop while waiting for their chance to shine in the big leagues. 

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

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Who: Colorado Avalanche (46-13-10, 102 points, 1st place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (35-19-16, 86 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Altitude Sports, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins are hitting the road to play the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night before returning home for a matchup with the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Then comes a back-to-back set with major Eastern Conference playoff race implications as the Penguins take on the New York Islanders on the road Monday 3/30 and the Detroit Red Wings at home the following day.

Opponent Track: The Avalanche lost some ground to the Dallas Stars in the race for the top of the Western Conference with a recent three-game losing streak, but they’ve since bounced back on their ongoing road trip with back-to-back wins over the Chicago Blackhawks and a 3-2 overtime win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon.

Season Series: Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in his return from suspension to help lead the Pens to a 7-2 win over the Avs at Ball Arena in these two team’s first matchup last week.

Hidden Stat: The Avalanche were the first team both to record 100 points and clinch a playoff spot in the NHL this season. This marks the ninth straight time Colorado has made a trip to the postseason, a span which includes their run to the 2022 title.

Getting to know the Avalanche

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Valeri Nichushkin – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas

Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri

Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta

Zakhar Bardakov – Nicolas Roy – Gavin Brindley

DEFENSEMEN

Brett Kulak / Cale Makar

Devon Toews / Sam Malinski

Josh Manson / Brent Burns

Goalies: Scott Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood

Potential scratches: Artturi Lehkonen (upper body), Ross Colton (upper body), Nick Blankenburg

Injured Reserve: Logan O’Connor (offseason hip surgery)

• Former Penguin Brett Kulak has slotted in on the Avalanche’s top pairing alongside Cale Makar with the team experimenting with breaking up the famously successful Toews/Makar duo. Kulak played 20:31 against Washington on Sunday, his most since joining Colorado on Feb 24.
• Kulak was one of the Avs’ deadline additions alongside Nazem Kadri, a key part of the team’s run to the 2022 Cup. Kadri has now slotted in on the second line alongside Brock Nelson and has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games since the trade.
• Gabriel Landeskog, who had been sidelined with a lower-body injury since March 6, returned to the Avs’ lineup for Sunday’s matchup against the Washington Capitals in time to score a goal. Landeskog’s presence gives Colorado a different feel from the last PIT/COL game where the Avs used an 11 forward/7 defensemen lineup.
• Artturi Lehkonen (upper body injury), Ross Colton (upper body injury) and Logan O’Connor (who has yet to make his season debut after undergoing hip surgery last June, are traveling with the Avs on their current five-game road trip. Those three will be with the team in Pittsburgh, per NHL.com’s Tracey Myers, although it’s not clear yet if they’ll be available to play. Whether they return for Tuesday’s game or not, the Avs will be hoping to get them back alongside Landeskog ahead of the postseason.
• The Avs have been riding one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL this season in Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, although both got shelled in the Avs’ 7-2 loss to the visiting Pens last week. Blackwood has gotten the team’s last two starts, winning both Friday’s game over the Chicago Blackhawks and Sunday against the Washington Capitals in his most recent two outings.

Season stats
via hockeydb

• The Avs’ power play has been inconsistent this season despite having the advantage of rolling out Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The unit went 0-for-2 on Sunday against the Washington Capitals and ranks 28th in the NHL with a 16.7 percent success rate so far this season.
• Colorado has made up for that, of course, at even strength. The Avalanche lead the NHL with 183 goals for at 5v5 heading into Tuesday. (For what it’s worth, the Pens rank fourth with 141 goals at even strength).
• MacKinnon scored a goal against the Pens last week and added three assists in a game against Chicago but was held without a point against the Capitals. He now sits five points behind Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (119) in the scoring race. Connor McDavid (116) is just ahead of MacKinnon as well.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kris Letang

Ryan Graves / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Stuart Skinner, Arturs Silovs

Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes, Ryan Shea (day-to-day upper body injury)

IR: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones

• Ville Koivunen was re-assigned to the WBS Penguins on Sunday.
• Ryan Shea, who exited Saturday’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets after taking a hard hit from Adam Lowry, missed Sunday’s game with what the Penguins described as a day-to-day upper-body injury. The Penguins had a scheduled off day yesterday, we’ll have to see this morning during the gameday skate if Shea is able to take the ice or if an update will be provided about his status.
• Ryan Graves drew into the lineup for the first time in two months in Shea’s place. He immediately had an impact, although it wasn’t a positive one, by taking a penalty less than 30 seconds into Sunday’s matchup and getting the Carolina Hurricanes’ dangerous power play on the ice.
• Bryan Rust is riding a seven-game point streak (5G+6A).

Erik Karlsson’s next assist will push him past his former teammate Daniel Alfredsson for career helpers.

Eight days ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins went into Denver and routed the NHL leading Colorado Avalanche by a score of 7-2 at Ball Arena. Now the Avalanche come to Pittsburgh looking for a measure of revenge with a lot on the line for both sides when the puck drops as PPG Paints Arena later this evening. For the Avalanche, a playoff spot has already been locked up, but they will be looking to keep space between themselves and the charging Dallas Stars for the top seed in the west.

As for the Penguins, the objective is clear, keep winning hockey games and racking up points in the standings and you will be playing playoff hockey once again. The stakes could not be more clear for either side this evening.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00PM EST and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

Pens Points…

It’s yet another loaded week for the Penguins with both the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars coming to town on Tuesday and Saturday. Sandwiched in between those two contests is a quick trip to Ottawa for a meeting with the Senators who are fighting for their playoff lives at the moment. [Pensburgh]

The Penguins 2025 draft class has already made a big impact with the emergence of Ben Kindel this season and the next wave of talent is on its way with the signings of first rounder Bill Zonnon and third round selection Gabriel D’Aigle to entry level contracts over the weekend. [Pensburgh]

Harrison Brunicke made the Penguins roster out of training camp and he got his first taste of NHL action before ultimately being sent back to juniors for the remainder of the season. Back in Kamloops, Brunicke continued his development and has been averaging over a point per game in the WHL. [Trib Live]

Just a dozen games remain in the 2025-26 NHL season and the Eastern Conference playoff picture is still incredibly tight. Right in the mix of things stand the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have put themselves in good position for a return to the postseason despite a heavy stretch ahead. [PPG]

NHL News and Notes…

There’s not a hockey player alive who is hotter than Nikita Kucherov at the moment. He’s putting together another historic season, but his play last week was especially white hot, posting 13 points over just four games and taking home First Star of the Week honors as he makes his case for MVP. [NHL]

The Rangers hit the mark with their on-ice ceremony honoring Mika Zibanejad ahead of his 1,000th NHL game Monday night. 

Once the puck was dropped on the Madison Square Garden ice, however, the Blueshirts struggled to hit the mark on anything. 

A 2-1 loss to the team that traded Zibanejad to New York on July 18, 2016, the Senators, was the result. 

The Rangers’ measly nine shots on goal matched a franchise low that dates back over 70 years. 

The Senators, already without two of their top four defensemen (Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen), lost two blueliners to injury during the game and still had little difficulty containing the Rangers’ lowly offense. 

“It’s not that we didn’t have a good night, we just got outcompeted,” said captain J.T. Miller, who was held to zero shots on goal in the Rangers’ 25th loss in 34 games at home. “That’s the part that’s hard to live with that stuff. Like I mentioned, looking inward at yourself, you’re just not doing enough. We don’t do enough. Today you should have a fire lit under your ass to go play for your teammate. A guy that feels like a cornerstone of the organization. 

“We go out and have four [shots] through two [periods]. At home, a place where we haven’t been desperate enough this season. That doesn’t sit well.”

After a moving tribute video narrated by Zibanejad’s wife, Irma, fellow members of the leadership group showered the longest-tenured Ranger and his family with hugs and forms of appreciation from the organization. 

Gifts included a trip to Greece for the whole family, a mini silver stick for his daughter, Ella, and a custom-engraved silver hockey stick for Zibanejad to commemorate the 1,000-game milestone. 

The heartwarming ceremony bled into a stiff opening 20 minutes for the Rangers, who have soiled themselves in front of their home crowd on an egregious number of occasions this season. 

The Senators got a power-play goal from Shane Pinto and hit two posts before the home team even put one puck on net. 

It was Juuso Pärssinen, playing in his first game since March 12 in Winnipeg, who finally recorded the Rangers’ first shot on goal with 6:11 left in the first period. 

The Rangers didn’t get another until they earned a power play later in the frame.

Pärssinen then flipped the puck over the glass — the first of two such bench minors committed by the Rangers — to ensure his team finished the first shorthanded. 

The Rangers could only funnel two more pucks at Ottawa goalie James Reimer over the next 20 minutes, finishing with a mere nine on the night. 

Four shots through two periods represented the fewest for a Rangers team since 1965-66, when the NHL started tracking shots per period. The last time the Rangers posted that few shots on goal in a game was on Dec. 11, 1955 against the Red Wings. 

While Conor Sheary got the Rangers on the board just over seven minutes into the final frame, the equalizer never came. 

“It’s disappointing because I feel like we’re not controlling what we can to set our team up for success,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I just think we lacked anticipation, on both sides of the puck…We didn’t win pucks. So we ended up spending a lot of time in our end zone for the first period, for sure. I thought the second period, the first seven minutes of the second period, we had a good push. And then for the next, I think, seven of the next 13 minutes, we were in the penalty box… I don’t think we’re playing the game with enough pace.” 

NEW YORK (AP) — Shane Pinto scored on the power play, Warren Foegele added his fifth goal in nine games since being traded and the Ottawa Senators made up more ground in their chase to make the playoffs by beating the New York Rangers 2-1 on Monday night.

The Rangers had just nine shots on goal, matching a franchise worst set on Dec. 11, 1955, in a defeat at Detroit. They lost for a 25th time in 34 home games this season.

Ottawa won its third in a row, improving to 14-3-2 since Jan. 25 and moving two points back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to play.

The latest victory came at a cost of two more injuries to an already depleted defense. Thomas Chabot took a stick to the right arm from J.T. Miller in the final seconds of the first period and Lassi Thomson left his first NHL game since Nov. 25, 2022, during the second because of a lower-body injury. Neither returned.

The Senators, missing Jake Sanderson because of an upper-body injury and Nick Jensen following knee surgery, finished the game with four defensemen.

New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 31 shots and was the only reason the deficit wasn’t worse. Conor Sheary scored on the Rangers’ seventh shot to end James Reimer’s shutout bid with 13 minutes left.

Mika Zibanejad skated in his 1,000th regular-season game, his 719th with the Rangers after playing his first 281 with Ottawa. Zibanejad was honored in a pregame ceremony with a video narrated by his wife, Irma, and presented a silver stick along with a mini version for their young daughter, Ella.

Up next

Senators: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams fighting to make the playoffs.

Rangers: Visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

All Times EDT

Tuesday, March 24

MLB - Spring Training

Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta, at North Port, Fla., 12:05 p.m.

Boston vs. Minnesota, at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Kansas City vs. Texas, at Arlington, Texas, 2:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs, at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Detroit vs. Colorado, at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

Cleveland vs. Arizona, at Phoenix, 3:40 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Milwaukee, at Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels at L.A. Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

NBA

Sacramento at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Denver at Phoenix, 11 p.m.

NHL

Carolina at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Chicago at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Columbus at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Florida, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

New Jersey at Dallas, 8 p.m.

San Jose at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Vegas at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Washington at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Edmonton at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

PWHL

Vancouver at Boston, 7 p.m.

_____

Bruins sign top prospect James Hagens to AHL amateur tryout agreement originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have signed their top prospect James Hagens to an AHL amateur tryout agreement and he will report to the Providence Bruins, the team announced Monday night.

“We’re very excited to have James join the Bruins organization and take this next step,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a press release.

“James is an important part of our future, and this is a great opportunity for him to get immediate experience at the professional level in Providence and continue his development, while keeping all options open.”

Hagens will practice with Providence on Tuesday, per the team. The P-Bruins have the best record in the AHL’s Eastern Conference and their next three games are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hagens cannot join the Bruins and play in the NHL until he signs his entry-level contract.

While some fans might be disappointed that Hagens is not immediately joining the NHL roster, getting some reps in Providence against AHL competition is a good next step in his development after Boston College’s season ended this past weekend. If Hagens thrives in Providence, maybe the Bruins will bring him to the NHL at some point this season.

This scenario is also not new for the B’s. Charlie McAvoy signed an AHL amateur tryout agreement and reported to Providence in late March of 2017 after his Boston University season ended. McAvoy eventually signed his ELC and played in all six playoff games for the B’s that spring.

Hagens is coming off a fantastic sophomore season at BC in which he tallied a career-high 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games.

The Bruins selected Hagens with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

The Pittsburgh Penguins brought in several new players during the 2025 NHL offseason. Among them was defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, as the Penguins signed him to a two-year, $2 million contract.

This signing did not get a ton of attention when it was announced, as Wotherspoon was primarily a depth defenseman during his time with the Boston Bruins. However, since joining the Penguins, the left-shot blueliner has taken his game to a new level in a major way. 

Wotherspoon has been fantastic for the Penguins this season, and the truth is in his stats. In 70 games this season with Pittsburgh, he has set new career highs with three goals, 23 assists, 26 points, 103 blocks, and 147 hits. He also has a plus-12 rating. 

Wotherspoon is not slowing down as the season carries on, either. In his last five games alone, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded six assists. With this, Wotherspoon has been playing some strong hockey for the Penguins down the stretch. 

Wotherspoon's excellent play this season has also helped him find a home on the Penguins' top pairing and penalty kill. With this, he has certainly become a big part of the Penguins' blueline, and it is clear that they made the right decision signing him. 

The Nashville Predators have locked down one of their key pieces for the future. 

Monday, the team announced that center Fedor Svechkov had been signed to a two-year, $2.5 million contract. His entry-level contract was set to expire at the end of this season. 

Drafted by the Predators 19th overall in the 2021 draft, the 22-year-old center has played in 110 NHL games, recording 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points.

Svechkov has also played 80 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points. 

That's so Svech 🙌

We've signed forward Fedor Svechkov to a two-year contract starting in 2026-27.

Full details » https://t.co/HN8KJ1rtcipic.twitter.com/EdoJgKUuxY

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 23, 2026

He got off to a slow start to this season, tallying just nine points in 49 games before being sent down to the Milwaukee Admirals in late January. He'd return to Nashville after the Olympics, recording four points in nine games. 

Svehckov is the fifth player to sign an extension this season, joining Luke Evangelista, Justus Annunen, Jake Lucchini and Zach L'Heureux. 

The Nashville Predators face the San Jose Sharks next on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena. 

Tyson Gross made his NHL debut on Sunday night, March 22, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, stepping onto the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome for the first time as a member of the Calgary Flames.

The Calgary native logged 11 shifts for 8:07 of ice time and won his first career faceoff. Head coach Ryan Huska liked what he saw from the 23-year-old in his first outing.

“I thought he did a good job, you can tell he thinks the game well,” said Huska postgame when asked about Gross’ debut. “I thought he had a good first night … he did some good things.”

Before puck drop, Gross took part in the traditional rookie solo lap during warmups, circling the Saddledome ice alone in a moment years in the making. Having grown up watching games in the building, he was now in the lineup himself.

“It’s obviously extremely special,” Gross told the Flames media on Sunday. “I’ve watched a million games here, so to be able to be out there and actually play in one is a pretty crazy thing.”

Rookie lap for #Flames Tyson Gross! 🔥@TheHockeyNewspic.twitter.com/bvW2L8qIQC

— Bryan Wilson (@BryanWilsonHKY) March 22, 2026

Gross skated on a line with Adam Klapka and Martin Pospisil. He took a penalty in the first period, but the Flames’ penalty kill came through for the rookie.

Back on the bench afterward, Gross found himself seated between captain Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. With more than 1,000 NHL games for Backlund and two Stanley Cups for Coleman, the two veterans offered guidance and encouragement for the rookie throughout the night.

It’s a snapshot of what the Flames are trying to build, with experienced players helping ease younger ones into the league.

“The young guys don’t get an opportunity to get better without the older players around them, because the older players have to take on the heavy minutes of playing against a Kucherov. That’s their job, when a younger player isn’t quite ready for that yet,” Huska explained. “So, those players are so valuable to help bring younger players along and that’s why we as a coaching staff are thrilled that Coleman’s with us and Backlund is with us.”

Gross signed with the Flames on March 12 as one of the most sought-after college free agents, agreeing to a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $975,000.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound centre served as captain at St. Cloud State University this season, recording 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 36 games.

For a few minutes on Monday night, the New York Rangers will suspend their season of heartache to celebrate former Ottawa Senator Mika Zibanejad.

Zibanejad, Ottawa's sixth overall selection in the 2011 NHL Draft, will play in his 1000th career NHL game. Of the 999 games he's played so far, it's hard to believe that 718 of them have been played in enemy colours. He's the second player (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) from his draft year to play in 1000 games, with fellow Swede Adam Larsson to join them when he gets his silver stick in Seattle on Tuesday.

The Rangers are the worst team in the Eastern Conference and just about mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for a second straight season, so the celebration of Zibanejad's career will be a nice respite for the Blueshirts.

For Senators fans, who are far more concerned about the two points and their team's playoff chase, they'll probably spend a few moments thinking about the parallel NHL universe where Zibanejad didn't get traded from Ottawa ten years ago.

In July 2016, in one of his first acts as the club's new general manager, Pierre Dorion opted to send Zibanejad to the Rangers for a 2018 second-round pick in exchange for Derick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round pick. Even Sens fans who were okay with the deal wondered why the Sens would also have to give up a second rounder in the deal.

The following season, the Senators went to the Conference Final and Brassard posted 11 points in 18 playoff games, while Zibanejad took a couple more seasons to get going in New York.

So all seemed right with the world in Ottawa.

But within two years, it was clear that Brassard was beginning to fade, while Zibanejad was taking flight. Brassard is three years into retirement now, save for a one-game stint in Switzerland this season, while Zibanejad is still hovering near a point per game. He leads the Rangers this season with 30 goals and 67 points in 69 games.

For a time, Dorion was credited with salvaging the trade by flipping Brassard to Pittsburgh for goalie Filip Gustavsson. But that was unravelled when he sent Gustavsson to Minnesota for one season of veteran goalie Cam Talbot, who wasn't re-signed.

Meanwhile, here are some of the things Zibanejad has been up to in New York (as per NHL.com)

- Holds franchise record for most career power play goals (122), the only active player to lead an original six franchise in power play goals.

- On Jan. 17, he tied Bill Cook for the franchise record for most hat tricks (9)

- He became the 14th player in franchise history to appear in 700 games with the Rangers.

- Recorded a five-goal game, tied for the franchise record, on Mar. 5, 2020

- Recorded a six-point period on Mar. 17, 2022, tying the NHL record

- Recorded the first-ever hat trick in the Winter Classic two months ago

But that's a deal that's ancient history now, nearly a full decade in the past. Sens fans are focused on Monday's game and getting the two points for the club's late, furious playoff chase.

But not before a quick tip of the cap to former Senator Mika Zibanejad.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.

More at The Hockey News:
Tim Stützle Still Puzzled By Senators' Decision To Let Michael Amadio Get Away
Former Senators Prospect Makes Edmonton Oilers Debut Saturday Night
The Buying and Selling Of Jakob Chychrun Never Quite Worked Out In Ottawa
One Year Later, The Fabian Zetterlund Trade Is Still Taking Shape
With Injuries To Sanderson And Jensen, the Sens Top Up Depth At AHL Trade Deadline

The Colorado Avalanche's special teams have been a two-sided coin this season, and it's been a topic of discussion about why it affects the team heading into the playoffs and their dreams of another Stanley Cup. 

On one side, it's the penalty kill, which has been a staple of this team this entire season. Despite a little “skid” you could say recently, the penalty kill still sits third in the NHL at 82.8% while allowing the sixth-lowest shots on goal per game at 26.1. Though they have the lowest amount of short-handed goals (1) this season.

On the other side is the power play, a staple topic this entire season, with the team struggling to generate any chances, including the new bodies acquired at the trade deadline, to try to improve results. The team currently has the third-lowest power play in the league at 16.5%, only higher than the Philadelphia Flyers and the Calgary Flames. It also doesn't help that the Avalanche currently leads the league in most shorthanded goals allowed (12). 

Avalanche Cannot Hide Flaws Against League’s BestThe Colorado Avalanche’s season-long defensive cracks and top-heavy scoring have left them exposed, and with the playoffs looming, systemic failures—not injuries—threaten their once insurmountable lead.

Though despite some outliers coming out of the 2026 Milan Olympic break, the special teams have seen a change and for the better, and if this trend continues, which it must if the team wants to succeed, this current showing could be a sign of things to come as the regular season comes down to the final stretch.

Power Play On The Rise?

Excluding injuries and the previous trade deadline additions, there was never any reason this power play should be in the bottom five of the league, especially when this team has finished with a power play percentage over 20% in the past five seasons. Since the 2021-22 season, each team has finished with a power-play percentage over 24%.

With 13 games left in the regular season, it's gonna take a miracle and stats I can't even comprehend to get their percentage chance to jump by eight percent, but they can still show signs of improving it, which they have been doing.

From the start of the season to the last day before the Olympic break, the Avalanche had 179 power-play opportunities and scored 27 of them. From their first game back from the Olympics to their last game against the Washington Capitals, they have had 48 power-play opportunities and scored 10. In 28 games, the Avalanche could end up scoring more than half, or even reach the 27-goal mark they achieved in 55 games.

Penalty Kill Needs To Stay On Top

A crucial factor of this season has been the penalty kill. Yes, the 5-on-5 scoring has made up for much of the power-play production, but defense wins championships. Even though the 2021-22 Stanley Cup team had a 79.66% penalty kill heading into the playoffs, it finished with an 80.4%, which led to a championship. 

The Avalanche has something here, and despite missing one of their best weapons on the penatly kill, that being Logan O’Connor, which should be making his debut any day as he hs been ramping up on the practices, skating, and traveling with the team, he on top of the addition to Nicolas Roy help make a diverse collection of players Head Coach Jared Bednar can deploy in his two units.

Avalanche Could Get Logan O’Connor Back Sooner Than You ThinkLogan O'Connor participated in morning skate on Tuesday.

The month of March has been a bit shaky for the penalty kill, 32 opportunities given and seven capitalized on, but that also comes with the discipline of taking that many penalties.

Five against the Capitals, four against the Edmonton Oilers, four against the Stars, four against the Minnesota Wild. You can blame the officiating all you want, and I agree there were some bad calls, but the team is both lucky to know they have a really good system set up to kill those, and needs to keep their discipline high going forward.

Special Teams Importance In Playoffs.

The playoffs are a different breed when it comes to making the most of opportunities, such as a penalty kill or a power play. Last season in the playoffs against the Stars, 22 power-play opportunities were given, and only 3 goals were scored. The Stars saw 23 power-play opportunities and scored on seven of them. Penalties, good and bad, will be called on both teams; it's up to the Avalanche to capitalize on those calls by either scoring on the power play or killing the penalty.

The Avalanche, if they want to go far, are going to face teams that don't have a good penalty kill, like if they secure first and face a wild card team like the Seattle Kraken or the Los Angeles Kings, who sit in the bottom five in the penalty kill. In the same breath, they most likely are going to face one or more of the Stars, Wild, and Oilers, who sit in the top-10 in power play.

The Avalanche will need this stretch of hockey to confirm if their special teams are up for another deep Stanley Cup run, or more questions and concerns will be raised this summer if they aren't.

Nelson Heats Up as Avalanche Strengthen Central Division GripWith key goals in back-to-back games, Nelson’s renewed scoring touch is helping Colorado widen its division lead.

When July 1st rolls around, Doug Armstrong will no longer be the general manager of the St. Louis Blues, as he’ll become the full-time president of hockey operations while Alexander Steen steps in as GM.

Although Armstrong will still be an important part of the Blues organization, it’s a major change for the 61-year-old. Armstrong was named the Blues’ GM in 2010 and has held that role since. 

In addition to serving as GM, Armstrong held the roles of director of player personnel before being named GM, then executive VP of hockey operations in 2010, and finally president of hockey operations in 2013. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more influential person within the Blues organization in the past 20 years.

But it was time for a change, and it’s a business plan that has been in the works for two years, something agreed upon by Armstrong and Blues owner Tom Stillman.

“I told the ownership group at the time that I love to manage, I enjoy the process, but I think there’s a shelf life for everything,” Armstrong said in an interview with The Athletic. “Having the same voice leading the franchise, for me, it had run its course. It wasn’t just the players, but it’s the trainers, the coaches, the marketing department, the finance department. The rhythms needed to change.

“I’ve been in St. Louis 18 years, 16 as a manager. It just felt the time was right to have a new voice come in. When I told Mr. Stillman my feelings, he then talked about what’s next. And I was a big Alex Steen fan.”

'It’s Time For A Change,' Blues' Doug Armstrong Steps Down As Canada's Olympic Men's Hockey GMDoug Armstrong has announced that he will step down as general manager of Team Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team.

Following the trade deadline, Armstrong has finally been able to really sit and think about what he needs to do in his new role. He plans to reach out to Brendan Shanahan and Cam Neely, as well as Jeff Gorton, Jim Rutherford, and George McPhee, who were GMs and have transitioned to president of hockey ops.

Although Armstrong is loyal to the Blues and appreciative of their support, his answers to questions from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun suggest that the spark and enjoyment of being an NHL GM still exist within him.

When asked about his role as a senior member of the GMs’ executive committee and even just the day-to-day camaraderie with GMs across the NHL, Armstrong said he would miss it dearly and that it will be a difficult adjustment. 

While he wouldn’t explicitly say that if a team came knocking, he would leave, there was a sense that he could be intrigued by an offer. He’s not reaching out to teams or making himself available, but LeBrun says he feels he may not be done as an NHL GM. 

Nevertheless, Armstrong is excited to work with Steen and believes that working in hockey ops will still allow him to be an influential part of the Blues organization. 

“I’m excited about working with Alex,” Armstrong said. “I think there’s a job there for me. It’s not going to be an honorary job. There’s work I can do to help him. But I do love a lot of the things that managers do — the building of a staff, the crossing with different parts of an organization to behold something that’s sustainable, to working with the athletes, to working with the coaches. But it did run its course (in St. Louis).”

It might not happen this off-season, but it’s something to monitor as NHL teams undergo changes throughout their front offices. With the Toronto Maple Leafs struggling and Armstrong a native of Ontario, the Maple Leafs are a team to keep an eye on.

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Get ready to use your frequent flyer miles!  The NHL has announced the Kraken will face the Caroline Hurricanes in Helsinki, Finland next season as part of the NHL’s Global Series.  Started in 2017, the Global Series’ goal is to grow the game of hockey internationally.  Since 2017, the Global Series has brought NHL hockey to five countries and several different cities.

The Kraken and Hurricanes will play at Veikkaus Arena on November 12th and 14th.  The venue normally hosts Helsinki’s professional hockey team the Jokerit.  Maximum capacity for a hockey crowd is 13,349 people.

Speaking of the opportunity to play at home, Kaapo Kakko said he is “real excited” about the chance to play in front of his family and friends, “I was always thinking that it would be fun to play there in Finland…” He went on to add that hockey is the most popular sport and Finland and he is excited for the Finnish audience to have a chance to see a game in person.

Besides Kakko, the Kraken have several other Finnish players and prospects including: Eeli Tolvanen, Jani Nyman,Julius Miettinen, Ville Ottovainen, Nikki Kokko, and Kim Saarinen.  Tolvanen and Kakko most recently represented Finland at the Olympics, while Miettinen and Saarinen competed for Team Finland at the 2026 World Juniors Championship.

Thinking of planning a trip? Information about an all-inclusive tour and tickets can be found here.

BOSTON — Fraser Minten didn’t know what to expect when he was moved by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Boston Bruins last season.

Just over a year removed from a deadline-day deal that saw him go from one of Toronto’s top prospects to an everyday NHLer with the Bruins, the 21-year-old Vancouver native has quickly emerged as one of Boston’s most trusted assets. Most recently, he has found himself slotted as the team’s top-line center, skating alongside superstar David Pastrnak.

With the Bruins battling for playoff positioning and the Maple Leafs mired in an unexpected race to the bottom of the NHL standings, to say the change of scenery has worked out for Minten would be a massive understatement.

“You want to be on the ice and having a first-hand impact on the game,” Minten told The Hockey News following Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “I’m happy to be getting the opportunity I am. I'm just trying to continue to work hard and make the most of it.”

On March 7, 2025, the Maple Leafs sent Minten and a top-five protected 2026 first-round pick to Boston in exchange for veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo. At the time, Minten was struggling to find his footing with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, stuck behind a veteran-heavy depth chart at center. While the haul for Carlo was significant, few expected the Bruins to see such immediate returns on the youngster.

What Could The Maple Leafs Do To Justify Trading Away Fraser Minten?Boston Bruins rookie Fraser Minten is shining this season, while the player he was traded for – veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo – hasn't found his stride in Toronto. How can Leafs GM Brad Treliving salvage this lopsided trade?

The Leafs are currently on track to miss the postseason for the first time in a decade, snapping the longest active streak in the NHL. Meanwhile, Minten has defied every internal expectation in Boston.

How did the transition happen so fast? Simply put: Hockey IQ.

“There are a lot of things you can’t teach. That’s what he has, and that’s why he’s ahead of some other guys,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said of his center. “Even the teaching part, he gets it right away. He just has it. He’s lucky enough to be born with it.”

Sturm compares Minten’s development to Quinton Byfield, whom he coached in the Los Angeles Kings organization. That trust has allowed Sturm to deploy Minten in high-leverage minutes with Pastrnak. Minten’s cerebral approach has allowed the former Leafs’ second-round pick to thrive in a top-six role. 

‘He Was A Steal For Us’: Maple Leafs Trading Of Prospect Fraser Minten To Boston Not Aging WellAs the Maple Leafs risk missing the postseason for the first time in a decade, the immediate success of Fraser Minten in Boston is turning the Brandon Carlo trade into the latest chapter in a long history of lopsided deals between the two rivals.

“It’s a lot of intentional placing of where he goes on the ice and how he’s able to find soft spots. His offense is very intellectual,” Minten explained of his linemate. “Obviously, he has tremendous skill, but he sees the ice so well. Playing on a line with him, you learn so much about the little details that make those guys elite.”

Although Minten’s ice time has averaged 15:16 this season, the usage has increased as the stakes get higher. He’s averaged well north of 17 minutes over the last 10 games and logged a career-high 21:09 in Boston’s most recent game, a much-needed 4-2 victory against a Detroit Red Wings team that, for the time being, has knocked them out of a playoff position.

While Minten hasn't kept a close eye on the wreckage in Toronto since his departure, he is aware of the standings. However, his focus remains on a dogged hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Through games played on March 23, 2026, the Bruins sit at 39-23-8, occupying the first Wild Card spot with 86 points, just two points clear of the cutline.

Bruins Trade Brandon Carlo To Maple Leafs In Surprising Deal The Boston Bruins have traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Bruins are also retaining 15% of Carlo's salary.

“It looks like every time you win, other teams win, and every time you lose, everyone gets a little closer,” Minten said. “It’s super tight. Every game is high stakes and fun, and that’s what makes it rewarding right now.”

Despite the rivalry, Minten maintains a connection to his former club through teammate and Easton Cowan

“I hear from him pretty much every other day. We check in through the highs and lows of being a first-year pro,” Minten said. 

With Cowan currently struggling to find consistency in his rookie campaign, Minten acts more as a sounding board than a mentor.

“We’re just friends. I’m there to listen, but it’s not like we’re going too deep on that stuff.”

Cowan is also renting Minten’s place in Toronto this season. We’re told he’s a good tenant and has paid his bills on time.

In 70 games this season, Minten has 16 goals and 15 assists.