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Big Update By Dan Milstein: Demidov Back In A Few More Weeks Or So

On Wednesday night, Dan Milstein, Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov’s agent, appeared on the DFO Insider Podcast. While he mainly spoke about the hot topic of the week in the NHL, Nikita Kucherov’s relationship with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he also shed some light on the Demidov injury.

The agent confirmed that Demidov suffered a fractured ankle during the preseason and that he kept playing through the pain. Milstein explained:

He walked up to me after the first game of the season in Toronto. After the game, he walked up to me and said, “Hey, something is bothering [me]; something is not right.” And then he went out and played the second game, and so we did the MRI. As a matter of fact, a year ago I had the same issue with Artyom Levshunov of Chicago. Those young kids, they play through pain, and then we realized two weeks later that he had an issue that needed medical attention too. So hopefully Ivan will be back on the ice in a very short while, and he’ll help the Montreal Canadiens start winning some games.
- Milstein on Demidov's injury

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Still, according to Milstein, his client is getting ready, and it will probably be a few more weeks or so before he’s back in the lineup. While this isn't the best news, we’ve seen Demidov progress over the last week. On Saturday morning at the Bell Centre, we spotted him walking in sneakers to the Canadiens’ dressing room after what looked like a session of ball hockey. Then, early this week, he was filmed skating carefully at the Bell Centre. The way he skated made it clear he wasn’t on the verge of returning.

His injury wasn’t an upper-body injury; he had to stay off the ice for four weeks, so it makes sense that he needs time to rehabilitate his ankle and won’t go full steam ahead right away. There’s no sense in rushing back and making matters worse. As things stand, the Canadiens are second in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the NHL; they can get by without the young Russian until he’s fully healthy. As for when that will be, we’ll have to wait for another update from the Canadiens to know for sure, but Milstein’s declaration that it will be a few more weeks makes perfect sense. Patience, Habs fans; you know Demidov is well worth the wait.

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Pens Points: Bear Down

One last contest at PPG Paints Arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins before hopping on a plane and heading back out west for their annual California swing that begins on Saturday. Tonight the Boston Bruins come to town as leaders of the Atlantic division and owners of the fourth best record in the NHL at the moment. It will be another difficult test for the Penguins team who continues to drop in the standings as the losses begin to pile up.

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

Pens Points…

A little over a month into the season and the direction of the 2026-27 Penguins is becoming a little more clear each passing game. While no one wants to suffer through a bad season with losses piling up, big picture wise it might be the best route they could take. [Pensburgh]

Down on the farm, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continue their up and down start to the season by splitting a weekend pair of games with Utica and Hershey. It should have been a clean sweep, but a blown 3-1 cost them in their matchup with the Comets. [Pensburgh]

You can’t qualify or eliminate yourself from playoff contention this early in the season, but you can dig a hole too difficult to escape from down the line. As the Penguins continue to slide down the standings, that hole gets a bit bigger after every game they drop. [PPG]

Tuesday’s loss to the Golden Knights put the spotlight on the power play struggles in a major way, especially after coming up empty on a late 5-on-3 advantage. Despite constant tweaks to the power play units, there is still much work to be done to get it where it needs to be. [Trib Live]

Another glaring issue for the Penguins as of late has been the play of defenseman Declan Carlile. While fans lobby for him to get replaced in the lineup, head coach Dan Muse offered support to his beleaguered blue liner. [Trib Live]

NHL News and Notes…

After a contentious standoff ended with Connor Hellebyuck being dealt away from the Winnipeg Jets as he requested, the goaltender posted a lengthy goodbye to the city he called home his entire NHL career and thanked the Jets fans for all their support over the years. [NHL]

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Goalie Hellebuyck cites ‘challenging circumstances’ involving family among reasons for trade request

NHL: NOV 03 Oilers vs Devils

NEWARK, NJ - NOVEMBER 03: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the New Jersey Devils looks on during a game between the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on November 3, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says “very challenging circumstances” involving his family were among the reasons he requested a trade out of Winnipeg.

In a letter to Jets fans posted Wednesday on Instagram, Hellebuyck acknowledged his trade request disappointed those who had supported him throughout his career in Winnipeg.

“I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision,” he said. “After a lot of thought and discussion, we ultimately felt that making a change was the best thing for our family.

“We’ve chosen to keep those personal circumstances private, and I hope people can respect that.”

Hellebuyck was traded Oct. 23 to the New Jersey Devils for forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

The trade came a month after Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender and the 2024-25 MVP, publicly demanded a move. The Jets later suspended him for failing to report to training camp.

While the relationship between the Jets and the one-time face of their franchise ended on a sour note, Hellebuyck stuck a conciliatory tone in his letter.

“I’m sincerely grateful to (co-owner) Mark Chipman, (GM) Kevin Cheveldayoff and the entire Jets organization for the opportunity they gave me and the trust they showed in me over the years,” he said.

“To my teammates, coaches, trainers, equipment staff and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for your friendships, support and memories that I will always carry with me.”

He saved some of his kindest words for Winnipeg’s fans, noting how he felt a connection to the city through his love of the outdoors.

“To the great Jets fans who supported me and my family, thank you,” he said. “I’ll never forget the pride I felt representing Winnipeg, and I wish the Jets and the entire community nothing but the best.”

It remains to be seen if Jets fans will reciprocate his feelings when the Devils visit Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Hellebuyck is among several prominent American NHL players who have pushed for moves from Canadian teams to clubs south of the border.

Two of Hellebuyck’s U.S. Olympic gold-medal teammates have faced hostile receptions in their former NHL cities. Brady Tkachuk, the longtime Senators captain, was heavily jeered when his Florida Panthers recently visited Ottawa. Former Canucks captain and current Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes also heard boos upon his return to Vancouver.

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Adrian Kempe scores a hat trick as the Kings beat the Sharks 7-2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe had a hat trick and an assist, Quinton Byfield scored two goals, and the Los Angeles Kings routed the San Jose Sharks 7-2 on Wednesday night.

Erik Haula and Joel Armia also scored for the Kings and Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves. Artemi Panarin had four assists.

It was the 37th multigoal game Kempe has had with the Kings, moving him past Dustin Brown for sole possession of ninth place in the history of the franchise. Kempe returned to the lineup after missing a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday because of an undisclosed injury.

Macklin Celebrini and Ivar Stenberg scored power-play goals and Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves for the Sharks, who have now lost three games in a row. Erik Gustafsson assisted on both goals.

Kempe scored his first goal just 1:23 into the game and added a second later in the first period as the Kings jumped to a 3-0 lead after one. Kempe completed the hat trick with a power-play goal with 4:09 left in the second period. The Kings were 3 for 5 on the power play in the game.

The game marked the NHL debut for San Jose defenseman Eric Pohlkamp, called up from the AHL before the game.

Up next

Sharks: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Friday night.

Kings: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Evander Kane Leaves Behind Questionable NHL Career, Signs With Russia

Evander Kane is taking his talents to Russia, and if this is the end of his NHL career, well, it's been quite a ride around the National Hockey League.

The 35-year-old forward is expected to sign with a KHL team in the coming days, according to his agent, Dan Milstein, after spending the offseason without an NHL contract.

“We had a couple of things here in North America, but in the end, Evander decided to take his talents to Russia,” Milstein said. “We're very close to signing a deal with a KHL team. So, over the next couple of days or so, we'll make an announcement.”

Kane played 1,001 NHL games that included 339 goals and 648 points with Atlanta, Winnipeg, Buffalo, San Jose, Edmonton, and Vancouver. He scored 30 goals twice, reached two Stanley Cup Finals with the Oilers, and was one of the league's more physical forwards there for a time.

Kane was selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009 and made his NHL debut at 18. He scored 30 goals with Winnipeg in 2011-12, although his time with the Jets ended in 2015 after a series of disagreements, including a widely reported incident involving Dustin Byfuglien throwing Kane's tracksuit into a shower.

He was traded to Buffalo shortly afterward, spending parts of four seasons with the Sabres before joining the San Jose Sharks in 2018.

Kane was a productive player during those years, although his disciplinary record and problems away from hockey were becoming an increasingly significant part of his reputation.

Nugent-Hopkins Career After Most Games As An OilerNugent-Hopkins Career After Most Games As An OilerThere aren't many people who would have stuck around for all of it.

In 2021, he filed for personal bankruptcy, listing millions of dollars in debts. He was also suspended 21 games by the NHL for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols by submitting a falsified vaccination card.

The Sharks eventually terminated his contract in January of 2022, citing a breach of his standard player contract. The NHLPA filed a grievance challenging that decision, and the matter was subsequently settled.

Kane also faced serious allegations concerning his personal life, some of which he denied. Those allegations shouldn't be treated as established facts, although the public disputes and investigations contributed to the attention surrounding his career.

By the time Edmonton signed him in January of 2022, Kane was one of the most controversial players in the NHL.

Oilers Goaltending Holds Strong Despite Injuries To Andersen And LeviOilers Goaltending Holds Strong Despite Injuries To Andersen And LeviIn their last three games, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> have allowed one goal with Tristan Jarry and Matt Tomkins in net during the team's road trip through New York.

Kane scored 22 goals in 43 regular-season games during his first year with the Oilers, then led the NHL playoffs with 13 goals in just 15 games.

Edmonton signed him to a four-year, $20.5-million contract that summer, and Kane became an important part of the team's attempts to win a Stanley Cup.

Kane suffered a serious wrist injury in November of 2022 and later dealt with several other health issues, missing the entire 2024-25 regular season before returning for the playoffs.

He was part of Edmonton's consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final, although his production had declined considerably by the time the Oilers traded him to Vancouver in June of 2025.

Odds of Kucherov to the Oilers: If You Can't Be Them, Join ThemOdds of Kucherov to the Oilers: If You Can't Be Them, Join ThemFrustrated by a lack of respect in Tampa Bay, Nikita Kucherov might be open to a move to Canada. Could a partnership with Connor McDavid propel him further into hockey’s elite?

Kane finished his final NHL season with 13 goals and 31 points in 71 games for the Canucks, who didn't bring him back when his contract expired.

By 35, his offensive production had been declining, and he'd accumulated a lengthy injury history, on top of a deeply questionable personal life. Though, Kane also helped establish the Hockey Diversity Alliance in 2020 to address racism and discrimination in hockey.

Kane will likely never return to the NHL, and his legacy across the league is one of considerable debate for his performance on and off the ice.

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Amadio's goal with just over 3 minutes remaining gives Senators a win over the Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Amadio scored on a wrist shot with 3:09 left to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.

Fabian Zetterlund and Tim Stutzle assisted on the go-ahead goal as Ottawa and Amadio capitalized on a 3-on-2 break.

Shane Pinto also scored for the Senators, tying the game at 1 at 11:33 of the second period.

Peyton Krebs scored at the 14-minute mark of the first to give the Sabres the lead. Tage Thompson and Zach Benson assisted on Krebs’ first goal of the season.

Samuel Ersson made 24 saves in the win for the Senators, who entered the game having lost three of their last four games, including a 6-3 setback against Anaheim on Sunday.

Colten Ellis had 28 saves for the Sabres, who had their three-game win streak halted.

PANTHERS 5, BLACKHAWKS 3

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sandis Vilmanis had the first two-goal game of his career, Sam Reinhart provided a goal and two assists, and Florida beat Chicago to wrap up a three-game homestand.

Seth Jones scored against his former team and Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who are 4-1-0 in their last five games and 7-3-0 in their past 10. Vilmanis added two assists to finish with four points.

Florida improved to 9-0-1 when allowing three goals or fewer this season. Reinhart’s goal was an empty-netter to seal the win with 1:27 left.

Frank Nazar had two third-period goals and Roman Kantserov also scored for Chicago. Ethan Del Mastro got two assists — his first points of the season, and the first multi-point game of his career. Connor Bedard had two assists.

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Amadio's goal with just over 3 minutes remaining gives Senators a 2-1 win over the Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Amadio scored on a wrist shot with 3:09 left to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.

Fabian Zetterlund and Tim Stutzle assisted on the go-ahead goal as Ottawa and Amadio capitalized on a 3-on-2 break.

Shane Pinto also scored for the Senators, tying the game at 1 at 11:33 of the second period.

Peyton Krebs scored at the 14-minute mark of the first to give the Sabres the lead. Tage Thompson and Zach Benson assisted on Krebs' first goal of the season.

Samuel Ersson made 24 saves in the win for the Senators, who entered the game having lost three of their last four games, including a 6-3 setback against Anaheim on Sunday.

Colten Ellis had 28 saves for the Sabres, who had their three-game win streak halted.

Up next

Senators: Host the Utah Mammoth on Saturday in the opener of a three-game homestand.

Sabres: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday in the second game of a four-game homestand.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Panthers Complete Season Sweep Of Blackhawks With 5-3 Win In Sunrise

The Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Florida, on Wednesday night. This was their fourth straight loss, and they are now 4-11-1 through 16 games this season. They are also still winless on the road following this loss. 

Like every other game this season, the Blackhawks were thoroughly outplayed in almost every area of the game. Before the opening period was 5 minutes old, the Panthers had a 1-0 lead, and they took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. 

In the second period, the Hawks started to find their legs a little more, and the shot counter started to even out. They weren't all quality shots compared to those of the Panthers, but it was an undoubted improvement over the first period. 

Despite their better play, it was Florida that scored the first goal of the period. Seth Jones threw one on Spencer Knight, and it beat him to make it 3-0. It's a tough goal for Knight, who was traded for Jones, to give up.

The Blackhawks did respond before the period was over, however. Roman Kantserov scored his 7th goal of the season to get the Blackhawks on the board. This ended a stretch of 8 unanswered goals given up by the Blackhawks, going back to their previous game against the Colorado Avalanche. 

Kantserov, who leads the Blackhawks in goals, also leads all NHL rookies. This marker passed James Hagens of the Boston Bruins and Trevor Connelly of the Vegas Golden Knights for sole possession of the lead. 

Entering the 3rd period down 3-1, the Blackhawks had a near-impossible hill to climb. They had a hard time scoring as it was, and they needed two just to have a chance at winning the game. 

Shockingly, the Blackhawks did briefly get within one thanks to a short-handed goal by Frank Nazar. Cole Smith sprung him for a breakaway, and a nifty move allowed him to beat Jacob Markstrom on the backhand. 

That didn't last for as long as Chicago would have liked, however, as Sandis Vilmanis scored his second goal of the game to make it 4-2 for Florida. His line with Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe was magnificent in this game, as they scored all of their even-strength goals on a goalie. 

Frank Nazar didn't hear a bell, however, as he scored his second of the period to get the Blackhawks within one for the second time. While the Blackhawks were trying to complete the comeback with Spencer Knight on the bench, Sam Reinhart threw one into the empty net and sealed the 5-3 victory for Florida. 

Some of the younger players on the Blackhawks were clearly giving it their all until the very end, but it was not enough to overcome what was a mostly sloppy game for Chicago. This win completes a season sweep of the Blackhawks for the Panthers. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will continue their road trip with a Thursday night game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Florida. This is the first time that the Blackhawks will be playing in a back-to-back situation. 

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Ex-Oiler Evander Kane Taking His Talents to the KHL, Likely Done In The NHL

Evander Kane is taking the his talents to the KHL. Agent Dan Milstein has confirmed that Kane received a couple of offers to play in the North America, but has ultimately decided to head to Russia where he will play the 2026-27 season. 

An unrestricted free agent, Kane was unable to secure a contract with an NHL teams. He spent last season with the Vancouver Canucks after being acquired in a trade from the Edmonton Oilers. 

His last five seasons have mixed solid production with injury trouble. He scored 22 goals in 43 games after joining Edmonton midseason in 2021-22, then managed 16 goals in 41 games in 2022-23. He bounced back with 24 goals and 44 points in 77 games in 2023-24. A long layoff limited him to 21 games and 12 points in 2024-25, and he was dealt to Vancouver that summer. In 2025-26 he finished with 13 goals and 31 points in 70 games for the Canucks.

This will likely signal the end of Kane's playing career in the NHL. A solid winger, he was one of the premier power forwards in the NHL for several seasons. Off-ice drama played a significant role in his career and in many ways, it will unfortunately be what he's most remembered for. 

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Goalie Hellebuyck cites 'challenging circumstances' involving family among reasons for trade request

Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says “very challenging circumstances” involving his family were among the reasons he requested a trade out of Winnipeg.

In a letter to Jets fans posted Wednesday on Instagram, Hellebuyck acknowledged his trade request disappointed those who had supported him throughout his career in Winnipeg.

“I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision,” he said. “After a lot of thought and discussion, we ultimately felt that making a change was the best thing for our family.

“We’ve chosen to keep those personal circumstances private, and I hope people can respect that.”

Hellebuyck was traded Oct. 23 to the New Jersey Devils for forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

The trade came a month after Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender and the 2024-25 MVP, publicly demanded a move. The Jets later suspended him for failing to report to training camp.

While the relationship between the Jets and the one-time face of their franchise ended on a sour note, Hellebuyck stuck a conciliatory tone in his letter.

“I’m sincerely grateful to (co-owner) Mark Chipman, (GM) Kevin Cheveldayoff and the entire Jets organization for the opportunity they gave me and the trust they showed in me over the years,” he said.

“To my teammates, coaches, trainers, equipment staff and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for your friendships, support and memories that I will always carry with me.”

He saved some of his kindest words for Winnipeg’s fans, noting how he felt a connection to the city through his love of the outdoors.

“To the great Jets fans who supported me and my family, thank you,” he said. “I’ll never forget the pride I felt representing Winnipeg, and I wish the Jets and the entire community nothing but the best.”

It remains to be seen if Jets fans will reciprocate his feelings when the Devils visit Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Hellebuyck is among several prominent American NHL players who have pushed for moves from Canadian teams to clubs south of the border.

Two of Hellebuyck’s U.S. Olympic gold-medal teammates have faced hostile receptions in their former NHL cities. Brady Tkachuk, the longtime Senators captain, was heavily jeered when his Florida Panthers recently visited Ottawa. Former Canucks captain and current Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes also heard boos upon his return to Vancouver.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Flyers, Emil Andrae Would Benefit Massively from Potential NHL Waiver Wire Reunion

In the 2026 offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers sought to upgrade their defense, but the one transaction they completed just left things worse for wear. Fortunately, the NHL waiver wire has again presented management with an opportunity to fix things.

In the only real move the Flyers made this summer, goalie Sam Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round pick were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit.

Benoit, 28, has struggled to establish himself for the Flyers as a rotational veteran, temporarily falling behind Hunter McDonald on the depth chart while also ceding reps to prospect David Jiricek early in the season.

A historically limited player offensively, Benoit has no points in 12 games for the Flyers this season, and has just six goals and 30 assists in 364 career regular season games.

The Flyers, who already produced little offense as it is, are going to need much more from their blue line in order to make something of this season.

Fortunately for them, the good news is that Andrae, still just 24 years old, is available for free on the NHL waiver wire.

Flyers Heavy Contingent Watches Canadiens Game as NHL Trade Season ApproachesFlyers Heavy Contingent Watches Canadiens Game as NHL Trade Season ApproachesAt an important crossroads, the Philadelphia Flyers continue their scouting around the NHL, with an apparent focus on the Montreal Canadiens as NHL trade season approaches.

The 5-foot-9 Swede has struggled to find his footing this season, having featured as a depth piece for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who picked him up as an auxiliary asset in the Kirill Marchenko trade that sent the star Russian winger to Toronto.

Despite that, though, Andrae has produced two points in five games, assisting on Matthew Knies's first Blue Jackets goal on Oct. 1, and picking up another helper against the Maple Leafs in his most recent appearance for Columbus on Oct. 20.

The unfortunate reality for Andrae is that he's not going to surpass Ivan Provorov, Zach Werenski, or Denton Mateychuk on the depth chart to earn playing time on the left side of the defense, leaving him to play a seventh or eighth defenseman role as a 24-year-old.

If the Flyers were to claim Andrae from waivers for a reunion, though, the undersized defenseman could presumably slide right back into his bottom-four role on defense, and it undoubtedly helps that Andrae already knows Rick Tocchet's system and the majority of the players on the team.

While things weren't perfect at times under Tocchet, Andrae still enjoyed a breakout campaign last year with the Flyers, playing in a career-high 61 games and scoring two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points with a +15 rating, which was the second-best mark on the team.

He doesn't contribute much on special teams, but Andrae is undeniably an upgrade over Benoit and Jiricek, and probably an aging Nick Seeler, too.

Emil Andrae was quietly a very strong two-way defenseman for the Flyers in his depth role. (HockeyStats.com)
Emil Andrae was quietly a very strong two-way defenseman for the Flyers in his depth role. (HockeyStats.com)

His puck-moving skills would help ease the Flyers' overreliance on players like Travis Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, and Oliver Bonk, who have been working overtime in offensive situations with the Flyers frequently in need of a goal or two... or three.

As things stand, the Flyers are the fourth-worst team in the NHL with their 4-9-4 record and 12 points, which makes them, by extension, the fourth team in the waiver order.

If they want to reunite with Andrae and upgrade the defense for free, only the Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks have higher waiver priority.

Originally trading Andrae to the Maple Leafs in the Woll deal was the cost of doing business for the Flyers, who had been counting on having the defenseman in their plans until that deal came along.

In fact, they even had Hometown Remix gear made for Andrae that went unused!

But again, now that Andrae is on waivers, the Flyers have a golden opportunity to reunite with a player they never necessarily wanted to lose to begin with, and it couldn't come at a better time in the season than now.

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Michal Postava Called Back Up To Red Wings Following John Gibson Injury

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The Detroit Red Wings already caught a glimpse of what goaltender Michal Postava can do at the NHL level.

Now, he could soon get another crack at it. 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Red Wings announced that Postava had been called back up from the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins following an injury to John Gibson during Tuesday's 4-2 setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In a corresponding move, defenseman Albert Johansson was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to Oct. 24. 

Gibson, who made 11 saves on the 13 shots he faced in the first period, did not return for the final 40 minutes of play; he was replaced by Daniil Tarasov. 

Postava is just over a week removed from having picked up his first career NHL victory, a 4-3 shootout triumph over the high-powered offensive attack of the Edmonton Oilers. 

Not only did he stop 25 of 28 shots during regulation and overtime, but he denied two of the NHL's most dangerous players in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the subsequent shootout, before capping the night with a save on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to secure the victory. 

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Postava was called up late last month to the Red Wings under emergency conditions after Tarasov was injured during practice; he was then returned to the Griffins after Tarasov's return. 

So far this season in Grand Rapids, Postava is a perfect 5-0 with a sparkling 1.20 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage. 

The Red Wings signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2025 to a two-year pact with a salary cap hit of $975,000. 

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Macklin Celebrini ends scoring drought, but Kings hat trick sinks Sharks in loss

Macklin Celebrini ends scoring drought, but Kings hat trick sinks Sharks in loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks dug themselves an early hole against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena, and they weren’t able to climb out as their offensive struggles continued in an eventual 7-2 loss.

San Jose’s third consecutive defeat featured two power-play goals — one from Macklin Celebrini in the second period that ended a six-game goal drought for the Sharks captain, and another by Ivar Stenberg in the third. But in both cases, the damage already had been done.

Celebrini made it 3-1 after the Kings scored on a trio of first-period goals. En route to his fifth career hat trick, Adrian Kempe scored two straight to put Los Angeles up 2-0, and Quinton Byfield gave the Kings a 3-0 advantage with a power-play goal as just over one minute remained in the first period.

In the second period, the Kings tacked onto their lead after Celebrini scored when Erik Haula found the back of the net on a backhand shot.

Kempe, who entered the game with just three goals on the 2026-27 NHL season, completed his hat trick with just over four minutes left in the second period, scoring on the power play to make it 5-1 Los Angeles. In the third period, Joel Armia and Byfield extended their lead with the Kings’ sixth and seventh goals of the night.

One bright spot despite the loss was defenseman Eric Pohlkamp making his NHL debut after being recalled from the Barracuda on Tuesday afternoon.

“Just a lot of excitement,” Pohlkamp told reporters on Wednesday morning (h/t The Mercury News). “Obviously looking forward to this as a kid for a while, and there’s so many people to thank. Just growing up, the Cedar Rapids (USHL) organization, Denver University, Bemidji State, so I just can’t thank enough people. My family, of course. I’m just gonna enjoy this moment.”

Pohlkamp finished the game with three shots on goal in 17:37 of ice time. Michael Misa finished with a team-high two points after assisting on both Sharks goals, while goalie Yaroslav Askarov finished with a .741 save percentage in the loss.

Despite taking 32 shots on goal compared to the Kings’ 27, the Sharks weren’t able to take advantage of their opportunities. San Jose also went 2-for-6 on power-play opportunities, while Los Angeles was 3-for-5.

The Sharks now have scored just seven goals in their last five games, leading to a 1-4-0 record.

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Florida Panthers' Lars Eller Will Hit Impressive Games Played Milestone Against The Chicago Blackhawks

When the Florida Panthers take the ice tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, Lars Eller will skate in his 1,200th regular-season game. 

Eller was originally the 13th overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft, selected by the St. Louis Blues. Eller played just seven games for the Blues before moving on to the Montreal Canadiens.

He had some strong seasons with the Canadiens, but Eller shone brightest with the Washington Capitals. With the Capitals, Eller posted his career-high in goals and points and won the Stanley Cup in 2017-18. Eller was outstanding in that run, scoring seven goals and 18 points in 24 games. 

Following his successful tenure with the Capitals, Eller had stops with the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and now the Panthers.

Eller has been solid for the Panthers, even if the offense isn't great. In 15 games, he's notched one goal and eight points while averaging 15:39 of ice time. Surprisingly, Eller hasn't been very successful in the faceoff dot, winning just 40.8 percent of his draws. 

Florida Panthers Make Lineup Change Ahead Of Home Matchup Against Chicago Blackhawks Florida Panthers Make Lineup Change Ahead Of Home Matchup Against Chicago Blackhawks Uvis Balinskis returns to the blue line as the Panthers sport fresh threads and aim to neutralize Connor Bedard following a streak-snapping loss to Detroit.

Although Eller is approaching a major milestone that just 141 other players in the NHL have achieved, Eller is still focused on earning the two points and not underestimating a weaker opponent.

“You underestimate that team, and they can beat us if we're not on top of our game,” said Eller. “We barely got by them in Chicago. I think they're going to be competitive. If we think it's going to be easy, we'll probably lose.”

The 37-year-old is slated to skate on the right wing of the third line with Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell. In the eight games they've spent time together, the Panthers’ third line has posted an expected goals percentage of 72.2 percent, according to moneypuck.com.

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Blackhawks Vs Panthers: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 16

The Chicago Blackhawks (4-9-1) are 0-5-1 on the road, so they begin this road swing looking for their first victory away from the United Center. So far this season, the Blackhawks have been one of the worst teams in the NHL, but they have full belief that they can come out of this funk. 

It won't be easy on this trip, as they are playing three of the Eastern Conference's best teams. It starts with the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night, followed by visits to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Scouting Florida

The Florida Panthers (8-5-2) were just at the United Center last week. Florida mostly controlled play in that game, but the Blackhawks kept it close on the scoreboard. The game entered the 3rd period tied at 2, but Lars Eller's late goal gave the Panthers a regulation win. 

Florida has a belief that they will lose if they don't play hard, regardless of who is on the other side. They are absolutely right, which is part of the reason they have been so successful during the 2020s. It's not easy to be the "Team of the Decade", and Florida may very well be that, depending on how it finishes for them. 

Tkachuk – Bennett – Tkachuk

Verhaeghe – Reinhart – Vilmanis

Luostarinen – Lundell – Eller

Imama – Schwindt – Hathaway

Forsling – Ekblad

Mikkola – Jones

Kulikov – Balinskis

Markstrom

This is one of the best defensive teams in the league in terms of personnel on the back end. Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, and Aaron Ekblad are all-star players because of what they do at such a high level, but Niko Mikkola and Dmitry Kulikov are also very good depth pieces for them who would have much larger roles on different teams. 

Jacob Markstrom has been up and down over the last couple of years, but this team in front of him gives him a chance to win, which is improving his confidence. 

At forward, they are without their captain and best player, Aleksander Barkov, due to injury, but he will be back this season. Without him, they still have plenty of other players who have been stars in the league for a long time. 

Their top line, Sam Bennett centering the Tkachuk brothers, is no fun to play against. They are all high-end scorers who are mean and play on the edge. There is no post-whistle moment when they aren't mixing it up and looking for trouble. 

Sam Reinhart is centering the second line, and he has incredible chemistry with Carter Verhaeghe, who has been a top goal scorer in the NHL. Their third line, centered by Anton Lundell, is definitely their checking line, but all three of these players can and will put the puck in the net. With the game being in Florida, Connor Bedard figures to see them a whole lot with the defensive pair of Aaron Ekblad and Gus Forsling out there. 

When Barkov comes back, everyone shifts down a spot, which makes the team even deeper. The Blackhawks won't have to deal with him, but it's still incredibly hard to create a forecheck against them, and they can score as well as the best teams in the league. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks were very similar to the modern-day Panthers in the 2010s. Everyone on the team could score, and they defended extremely well in front of an above-average goaltender. 

These days, not so much. The 2026-27 Blackhawks allow a lot of goals, mostly never control play, and can't score. It's been a struggle, but all they can do is keep working on their game as the schedule continues to come at them in waves. 

Kantserov - Bedard - Bertuzzi

Moore - Nazar - Donato

Smith - Frondell - Teravainen

Boucher - Greene - Greenway

Vlasic - Cole

Kaiser - Levshunov

Del Mastro - Rinzel

Knight

With Patrick Kane out due to an upper-body injury, things had to be switched up again. Both Jordan Greenway and Teuvo Teravainen are in, while Andrew Mangiapane is out. 

The Blackhawks are also going to allow Dillon Boucher to play. At 29 years old, he will make his NHL debut against the Panthers. Boucher is not going to help the Blackhawks' scoring woes, but he is going to bring some physicality and toughness to the group. Against the Panthers, that may be needed. 

The top line is loaded with Tyler Bertuzzi, Connor Bedard, and Roman Kantserov. This is a line that has the potential to do some damage. 

On defense, there is still no Bowen Byram, who was placed on IR to make room for Boucher. Kevin Korchinski will remain the scratch, as Ethan Del Mastro will play on the third pair with Sam Rinzel. In goal, Spencer Knight will make his 2nd straight start, and 13th out of 16 games. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. On television, it's a national broadcast on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max. The puck will drop shortly after 6:30 PM CT. 

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