Category: Ice Hockey

The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled goaltender Akira Schmid from the Henderson Silver Knights as they deal with a possible injury concern with Ilya Samsonov.

Samsonov was scheduled to start on Saturday against the Nashville Predators but was replaced by Adin Hill due to something "tightening up."

"Sammy just wasn't able to go," he said. "Something tightened up. So that was that. It was not going to be Hilly. We tend not to play a guy back-to-back, especially this time of year. But that was the choice we were left with, and good on him." HC Bruce Cassidy added he had "no idea ... because it's something we expected to play right up until 5:10, or something. So hopefully not. Once we get back, it'll be re-evaluated."

Hill stepped into the crease and was phenomenal, turning away 23 of the 24 shots he faced en route to a 3-1 win. 

Samsonov has played in 28 games during his first season with the Golden Knights, posting a 16-9-3 record, as well as a .892 SV% and a 2.78 GAA. Following Monday's practice, Cassidy stated that the 28-year-old is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 

Schmid has played in one NHL game this season, coming in relief of Adin Hill against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 11, where he turned away all 12 shots he faced. In 30 AHL games with the Silver Knights, the 24-year-old has recorded a 9-18-4 record, including a .886 SV% and a 3.58 GAA. 

The Golden Knights return home from a three-game road trip to take on the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday before a highly anticipated matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Golden Knights play a back-to-back against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, and the Calgary Flames on Sunday, and that could be when Schmid gets into NHL action if Samsonov remains out. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Winnipeg Jets have recalled forward Jarret Anderson-Dolan and goaltender Chris Driedger from the Manitoba Moose.

Anderson-Dolan will provide the Jets with insurance on their upcoming three-game road trip. Rasmus Kupari suffered a setback in his recovery from a concussion and without him and Gabriel Vilardi, the Jets only have 12 healthy forwards. If they suffer another injury on the road trip, Anderson-Dolan can step into the lineup.

In 51 AHL games, the 25-year-old has scored seven goals and 19 points. He was selected in the second round of the 2017 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings but has never been able to cement his place on an NHL roster. 

Driedger was acquired by the Jets at the NHL trade deadline in a swap for Kaapo Kahkonen. Since joining the Moose, the 30-year-old has posted a 1-3-0 record in five games, including a .872SV% and a 3.30 GAA. 

According to Mike McIntrye, Eric Comrie's wife went into labour over the weekend. If Comrie is forced to miss time, Driedger will serve as the backup goaltender to Connor Hellebuyck. Driedger has accumulated 67 games of NHL experience throughout his career. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

NHL Player Safety handed the Florida Panthers’ Niko Mikkola a $5,000 fine after the brouhaha that ended Sunday’s matinee against the Montreal Canadiens.

With two seconds left in the Panthers’ 4-2 loss to the Canadiens, and with the Montreal players turning around to skate toward their goaltender, Mikkola unloaded a slapshot from the defensive zone.

The puck rose high, prompting Canadiens defenseman David Savard to duck to avoid it.

Niko Mikkola has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct during the Panthers' loss to the Canadienspic.twitter.com/b3X7OinWRC

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 31, 2025

The Habs players skated over to confront Mikkola, leading to a skirmish after time expired. Jayden Struble, Christian Dvorak, Brendan Gallagher and Savard all tried to get at Mikkola as Panthers players and officials tried to separate them.

After linesman Julien Fournier brought Mikkola to the Panthers bench, the defenseman and Struble continued to shout at each other before heading to the dressing room.

Mikkola received a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minute misconduct. The $5,000 fine, which is the highest the collective bargaining allows without a hearing, goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Are The Florida Panthers In Danger Of A Playoff Upset?The Florida Panthers have earned their reputation as one of the NHL’s best teams, getting to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past three seasons, making it to the Cup final in each of the past two seasons, and of course, winning their first Cup in franchise history last season. And for much of this year, the Panthers have been at or near the top of the Atlantic Division. Obviously, there’s a whole lot to like about this Florida team.

Both teams face each other again in Montreal on Tuesday. They’ve played each other three times already this season, with the lower-ranked Canadiens winning in regulation every time and outscoring Florida by a combined total of 11-3.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been named the NHL's third star of the week.

The 31-year-old posted a 3-0-0 record this week, including a .961 SV%, a 1.00GAA and a shutout. Hellebuyck has been dominant all season, earning praise and consideration in the Hart Trophy raise.

The three wins Hellebuyck picked up this week were against the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks, all of which are desperately looking for wins.

He currently leads all goaltenders in wins (43), save percentage (.925), goals against average (2.01) and shutouts (7). This feat has been achieved twice in NHL history, by Jaques Plante in the 1958-59 season and Bernie Parent in the 1973-74 season. 

Here's what the NHL's press release had to say about Hellebuyck's week:

"Hellebuyck went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .961 save percentage and one shutout to help the Jets (51-19-4, 106 points) reclaim first place first place in the overall NHL standings as they clinched their third straight playoff berth. He denied 27 of 29 shots to lead Winnipeg to a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals March 25 in a battle of the League’s top two teams. Hellebuyck then made 24 saves to set a franchise record with his seventh shutout of the campaign in a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils March 28. The reigning Vezina and William M. Jennings Trophy winner closed the week by stopping 23 shots, including all 18 he faced over the final two periods, in a 3-1 triumph versus the Vancouver Canucks March 30. The 31-year-old Hellebucyk has played in 57 total contests this season (43-10-3), topping the NHL (minimum: 25 GP) in wins (43), goals-against average (2.01), save percentage (.925) and shutouts (7)."

Nikita Kucherov, Roope Hintz and Connor Hellebuyck have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO for the week ending March 30.#NHLStats: https://t.co/pTkB7APFWopic.twitter.com/9F3CXC8cl9

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 31, 2025

The Jets begin a three-game road trip which will feature another two difficult tests against the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights. With the Dallas Stars breathing down the Jets' neck, they'll need every bit of Hellebuyck's dominance to continue. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that defenseman Jack Rathbone has been loaned back to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres just recalled Rathbone from Rochester on March 30 ahead of their matchup against the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old blueliner did not dress for the Sabres' contest and is now returning to Rochester. 

Rathbone has yet to appear in a regular-season game for the Sabres this season. In 56 games this season with Rochester, he has five goals, 15 assists, 20 points, and a plus-6 rating. This is after he posted nine goals and 25 points in 69 AHL games last season split between the Abbotsford Canucks and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

In 28 career games over three NHL seasons, Rathbone has posted two goals, three assists, five points, and a minus-5 rating. 

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The Vegas Golden Knights can clinch a playoff spot if the Calgary Flames lose to the Colorado Avalanche in regulation tonight.

If the Flames lose to the Avalanche in regulation tonight, the Golden Knights will clinch a playoff spot for the seventh time in eight seasons. The Golden Knights currently sit atop the Pacific Division with 98 points, leading the Los Angeles Kings by seven points. 

The Golden Knights have nine games remaining on the schedule and are back in action on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, who they hold a nine-point lead over. Six of the Golden Knights' last nine games are against Pacific Division teams, and all but two are against teams fighting for a playoff spot. 

If the playoffs started today, the Golden Knights would battle the Minnesota Wild in the first round. Due to their point percentage, they currently hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, tied with the St. Louis Blues with 87 points.

The postseason in the Western Conference is shaping up to be a gauntlet, with several teams capable of going on a long run.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The NHL has levied a fine against Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola.

On Monday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Mikkola had been fined $5,000 for what it calls “unsportsmanlike conduct” during Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal defeated Florida 4-2 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

In the game’s final seconds, Mikkola had the puck on his stick in the Panthers defensive zone.

As time expired, Mikkola wound up and fired a blistering slapshot down the ice that nearly hit David Savard about 150 feet away.

Niko Mikkola ripped an absolute CLAPPER at the Habs at the buzzer and the Habs weren't having that 😳 pic.twitter.com/E2dHyzd7BM

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 30, 2025

The Canadiens players responded, understandably so, by going after Mikkola as officials attempted to usher the players to their respective locker rooms.

Mikkola was given a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and a ten minute misconduct, according to the game’s official scoresheet.

It took less than 24 hours after the game had ended for the NHL to respond with the $5,000 fine, which is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.

We’ll see how Montreal responds when they host the Panthers Tuesday night at Bell Center.

Between the aforementioned animosity and how both teams are fighting for every point they can get in the standings, it should be a doozie.

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Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is five goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL goal record with odds increasing for it to happen versus the New York Islanders

The biggest storyline of the NHL season has by far been the GR8 Chase with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin on the precipice of passing hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record. There is nine games left in the Capitals season and Ovechkin is within five goals from breaking the record after scoring versus the Sabres this past Sunday.

The Russian winger now has 37 goals, and betting odds for the record to be broken this season have dropped drastically to -170 which means if you haven't taken it already like we suggest, you may have missed your last opportunity to take the bet at a bargain. However, today we look to outline a couple other options that you still can take to get in on the chase. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More Hockey: March Madness on Ice: Predictions, Betting Strategies, Best Values on 2025 NCAA Frozen Four

In our last post about the GR8 Chase, we said to take the odds while you could at -136 and like we predicted the odds have continued to drop due to Ovechkin staying hot as the Capitals were heading into favourable matchups. Washington is still dominating with the league's best offence and seventh-best defence plus have the third-easiest remaining strength of schedule, according to Tankathon.

The case is starting to look more and more likely as they will play against bottom eight defences in their remaining games like the Blackhawks, Penguins and Bruins as well as two bouts with the Blue Jackets.

They will also face off twice against the Hurricanes, who is one of the top teams in the East but Ovechkin has his second-most career goals against. We don't see a ton of value in betting the record to be broken now but we can take a guess as to who it'll be against.

More Betting: Simple Strategies to Score NHL Betting Slips with Huge, Favourable Odds

The Capitals will have a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday with games versus the Bruins and Hurricanes, which should give us the ability to pencil in a goal or two there. We will need just four more goals after that and Washington will return home on Friday to take on one of the league's worst defences in the Blackhawks. A home matchup versus a Chicago team that has allowed a league-worst 83 goals over their last 20 games should spell for at least one goal for Ovi. 

That takes us into next week with three goals to go and after a Sunday matchup versus the Islanders, Washington will get a lengthy four-day break before facing off against Hurricanes for a second time on Thursday. This game could be the most crucial as a much-needed goal here would leave him with two left and four games left to do it.

A pair of matchups versus the Blue Jackets should provide at least one goal and will leave us with one more to go with two matchups left versus the Islanders and Penguins.

Everyone is speaking into existence that Ovechkin will break the record in front of his longtime rival Sidney Crosby when taking on the Penguins and as much as the sports world would love to see it, I expect he gets the job done versus New York.

More NHL: Maple Leafs Close Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race

A random Tuesday night on the road in the Big Apple wouldn't be the most romantic setting for the record to be broken but could provide a massive spectacle with many flocking to the city, hoping to see Gretzky's record broken.

Ovechkin to break the record versus the Islanders or Penguins is listed at +490 and +600 odds respectively and both could be taken at not a high number and should provide a decent return if either hit.

The Blue Jackets have the highest odds at +280 but with how Ovechkin has slowed down with four goals over his last nine games, I don't expect him to break the record earlier then the final two games. The record being broken in New York should give us the best case scenario to cash in on some attendance bets for notable people attending the game.

Wayne Gretzky to be in attendance for the record-breaking goal isn't available on FanDuel but a longshot bet for someone who could be is former teammate Jaromír Jágr. The Hockey legend is still playing actively at 53 years old for the Czechia-based team he owns, Rytíři Kladno, but has been known to miss time and could again to see what will be a one-of-one legendary hockey moment.

A very special congratulations from Jaromir Jagr to Alex Ovechkin (plus a little surprise at the end). 😉 pic.twitter.com/HGgSlqRTaQ

— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2022

Jagr and Ovechkin have been known to have a very close relationship with Jagr even sending a video to Ovechkin after he became the all-time leading goal scorer for European-born players and congratulating him on the achievement. 

More NHL: Kings Shut Down Red Hot Leafs Offence in Low-Scoring Affair

Welcome to The Weekly Rewind, a column published every Monday that recaps the past week of Vancouver Canucks hockey, including the team’s record, players with the highest stats, and more. This week, we’ll be looking at what the Canucks got up to from March 24 to 30, 2025.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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Vancouver started the week with a Prime Monday Night Hockey matchup against the New Jersey Devils. Two of the three Hughes brothers skated in this game, with Quinn Hughes registering his highest number of minutes played in one game this season with 31:38. The Canucks made comeback after comeback, tying the game up with 36 seconds left in the third period and taking the match to a shootout. Vancouver ultimately won the game 4–3 off a confident shot by rookie Jonathan Lekkerimäki. 

On Wednesday, Vancouver took on former Canuck Bo Horvat and the New York Islanders, scoring four-straight to take a 5–2 win. The bulk of this win came from a stellar performance by Thatcher Demko, particularly during the first period, as he stopped all 10 shots faced in the first frame. During the second period, Vancouver and New York combined to score five goals, with the Canucks escaping the second frame with the 3–2 lead. Kiefer Sherwood had two goals and an assist in the effort. 

Friday night was a shootout for Vancouver in more than one sense — one, because they actually pushed the game to a shootout, and two, because both themselves and the Columbus Blue Jackets combined for 13 goals scored. The Canucks took an early 3–0 lead in the first period, but ultimately squandered this chance by the halfway point of the game. A Kent Johnson shootout goal gave Columbus the 7–6 win. 

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, the Canucks needed to add to their season point totals in order to contest the efforts of the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames. A lone goal scored by Pius Suter was not enough for Vancouver to win, as they lost 3–1 to the Winnipeg Jets. 

Playoff Odds From MoneyPuck.com 

9.7%

Stats 

Team record: 2–1–1

Highest points-getter: Pius Suter (8)

Most goals: Aatu Räty (3)

Most assists: Pius Suter (6)

Most hits: Kiefer Sherwod (29)

Most faceoffs taken: Pius Suter (80)

Most blocks: Quinn Hughes and Marcus Pettersson (7) 

Facts 

• Kiefer Sherwood hits 400 hits in one season, becomes first NHL player to do so   
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki scores first career shootout goal
• Pius Suter records an ongoing four-game point streak 

The Canucks return to Vancouver for a three-game homestand that starts with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, with puck drop expected for 7:30 pm PT. They don’t play again until April 5, when they take on the Anaheim Ducks at 1:00 pm PT. The next day, they’ll play against the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News intern

Home ice isn’t just an advantage in the NHL – it’s a weapon. 

Some arenas become electric when their team powers past the visitors.

Five NHL teams have the most dominant home-ice advantage, with elite winning percentages and a passionate home crowd.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are the NHL’s most dominant team on home ice this season. With a franchise-best home record of 27-4-4, L.A. has been a virtual lock at Crypto.com Arena.

The Kings boast a league-leading points percentage of .829 at home. The Kings' 83-percent penalty-kill rate and 1.94 goals against per game at home are huge factors in their success. If the Kings remain second in the Pacific Division, they can carry their home momentum into the first round of the playoffs, likely against the Edmonton Oilers.

Winnipeg Jets

As the top team in the Western Conference, much of the Jets' success this season is due to their play at home. Through 38 home games, the Jets hold a record of 28-6-4, which translates to an impressive .789 points percentage. The Jets boast the best home-ice power-play percentage, at 32.7 percent, and their 1.95 goals-against average is right up there with the Kings. It's safe to say you do not want to walk into Winnipeg's barn, as it's one of the toughest places to play.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes have the most home-ice wins this season, with a record of 29-8-1. That’s good for a points percentage of .776, which ranks fourth in the NHL. Key factors in Carolina’s home success is the 85.2-percent penalty-kill rate and 3.74 goals-for per game, which ranks second in the league.

Dallas Stars

With a home record of 27-7-2, the Stars’ .778 points percentage trails only Los Angeles and Winnipeg. The Stars also have the best home-ice penalty kill, at 88.4 percent. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the team's ability to win on home ice. They’re trending toward holding home-ice advantage in the first round, leading the Colorado Avalanche by seven points.

Vegas Golden Knights

T-Mobile Arena has become one of the hardest places to play in the NHL. The Golden Knights have been stellar in their building over the past few seasons, and this one is no different. With a record of 27-7-3, the Golden Knights’ .770 points percentage ranks fifth in the NHL. Their 3.73 goals-for per game at home ranks third, while their 2.38 goals-against average ranks fifth.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

It's one thing for Islanders fans, Devils fans – any NHL fans for that matter -- to put down the Rangers. In a sense, that's what rootring is all about. Root for your team but not the Blueshirts. It's the norm.

But something rare has happened this season. It began during the horrendous autumn slump suffered by the Blueshirts and grew from there.

Egad! What a cad! We have Rangers fans putting the rap on the team in unprecedented numbers and with the utmost intensity. 

Insults such as "Fat Cats," "Quitters," ":Lazy" and – well, you get the point – have gone over the internet and under the table.

One of the most interesting examples of despair came by way of an email to The Maven from a lifetime Blueshirt supporter, author and – while he's at it – Ranger fan.

Having known Patrick Hoffman for years, I can vouch for his integrity and insights, not to mention his passion for the men skating in Blue.

That's why The Maven was taken aback when Hoffman wrote that his favorite team "does not deserve to make the postseason."

That utterance alone caused me to do a double-take but Pal Patrick was not kidding around. He supported his blasphemous remark this way.

"For starters, the effort has not been there on a nightly basis. Secondly, not enough players have stepped up for the team this season. Alexis Lafrenière's play this year has been particularly  worrisome."

Then, he gave Mika Zibanejad a third-degree burn:  "No one is quite sure what to make of him."

Nor did mistake-prone K'Andre Miller escape Hoffman's scythe. "He often looks lost in his own zone and no longer looks like an NHL-calibre defenseman."

Hoffman details the negatives  as easy as he inhales and – no surprise – the blame for "poor defensive play" has to stop at coach Peter Laviolette's desk.

"Lastly," Hoffman concludes, "the team does not seem to want to make the playoffs."

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware that The Maven is not disputing Patrick's point. What I do challenge is his statement that the Rangers DO NOT DESERVE TO MAKE THE POSTSEASON.

How dare he utter a seditious statement such as that?

Checking through the NHL's Constitution, I find no clause devoted to whether or not a team "deserves" to get into the postseason

The Rangers either will get in or not get in based on their won-lost record from here to April 17th. "Deserving" is not the issue here. No way!

Here's my clincher. As a passionate Maple Leafs fan during the 1948-49 season, I was sad that the defending Champs barely squeezed into the playoffs with an UNDER.500 RECORD.

But they made it to the postseason and nobody – certainly not I was running around saying, "The Leafs don't deserve getting into the playoffs. The point is that Toronto got in and the city was glad.

Like others,  I hoped for the best when the playoffs – the brand, new season – began.

Well, guess what? My Leafs knocked off the Bruins in a five-game semi-final and then humiliated the first-place Red Wings with  a four-game sweep. 

Just like today's Rangers, those Leafs were assailed by doubters. After sipping champagne following the clincher, Leafs right wing explained:

"Anybody who knew us knew the Leafs were much better than we showed in the regular season. We weren't a below .500 club really. Anybody who considered us that way was way out of their minds"

Yeah, Patrick, Meeker and his fellow Leafs deserved to make the postseason and win their third straight Stanley Cup as well.

Give it a little thought, Pal,  and after your Beloved Blueshirts beat Minnesota on Wednesday night, lemme know if you change your mind.

That is, about this "deserving" business!

The Nashville Predators announced Monday morning that they will be without two key members of their veteran forward group for that evening's road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Per the team, Colton Sissons is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Jonathan Marchessault is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The update on Sissons is not surprising, considering the 31-year-old exited during the first period of Saturday's loss to the Vegas Golden Knights after sustaining what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury.

The cause and severity of Marchessault's injury remain unknown, and it is unclear whether he will play for the Predators in Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marchessault has struggled offensively of late, recording just one assist in his last 10 outings. He has 19 goals, 49 points and 76 hits in 73 games this season.

With Marchessault Sissons unavailable Monday in Philadelphia, it's likely we could see Jakub Vrana and Matthew Wood draw into the lineup for Nashville. Vrana has one goal in five games for the Predators since being claimed off waivers from the Washington Capitals on March 6 and hasn't appeared in a game since Nashville's March 20 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Wood, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators over the weekend after his junior collegiate season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers came to an end with a loss to UMass Amherst in the NCAA Tournament. The injuries to Sissons and Marchessault could cause Wood to make his NHL debut sooner than anticipated, unless the Predators decide to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen Monday in Philadelphia.

Sam Rinzel and Oliver Moore might have been part of a losing effort in their debuts for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Utah Hockey Club, but they impressed, especially Rinzel.

Right away, Rinzel looks like a defenseman that is fully capable of stepping right into the NHL and not playing a single game in the AHL, and that is likely what will happen. He was arguably the most impactful defenseman for the Blackhawks in his first NHL game and head coach Anders Sorensen said, "I think Rinzel had a real attack mindset. I think he had four grade A chances offensively. Did a lot of good things."

He looked smart, shifty, and creative, all what is going to make him a strong top pairing d-man for a long time in the NHL. While it may seem like this is jumping the gun, the 20-year-old was drafted in the first round and has only gotten better at a great rate since joining the Blackhawks' organization.

Frank Seravalli also shares the same sentiment towards Rinzel, mentioning that, "Sam Rinzel will not play a single game in the AHL... he projects to be a top pair NHL defenseman."

This is a different situation than with past high drafted defensemen such as Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov. The Blackhawks had to make a choice on Korchinski and he wouldn't have gotten the right development in the CHL again, so after playing out his first season in the NHL, he took a step back for better development in the AHL for a chunk of this season. Levshunov played a year in the NCAA and dominated, but he is still two draft years later than Rinzel and along with an early injury and a roster a bit too full of veterans, there wasn't the space.

Rinzel got a couple of years playing against men in college and excelled. The Blackhawks' youth movement is also in full effect as the veterans have been pushed out.

Rinzel has the capability of being the most impactful defenseman for the Blackhawks, but will have competition, which is great for the team long-term. He has a handful of games left this season to showcase himself for next season, and I don't anticipate anything keeping him from earning the spot in the NHL in training camp next season and sticking.

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

It's been an up-and-down season for Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.

The 29-year-old played in the AHL after struggling through the first half of the schedule. Recalled in early March, he rattled off four straight wins. On Sunday, he got his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Reviewrecently wondered if Jarry had done enough to save his career with the Penguins. He doubted his recent performance would improve his value in this summer's trade market.

Madden believes the Penguins can't afford to keep Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, who has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $2.5 million. Jarry is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.375 million.

Buying out Jarry would only count as $1.747 million against the Penguins' salary cap for next season. However, that cap hit rises to just over $5 million in 2026-27 and $4.5 million in 2027-28, dropping to just $797,000 annually for the remaining three years of the buyout.

Turning to the New York Islanders, RG.Org's Marco D'Amico cited sources claiming the Edmonton Oilers looked into acquiring Jean-Gabriel Pageau before the March 7 trade deadline.

D'Amico indicated Oilers GM Stan Bowman sought to bolster his depth at center with someone who'd be more than a playoff rental. Pageau, 32, is signed through next season with a cap hit of $5 million. He also has a 16-team no-trade list.

The Islanders reportedly spurned the offers because they didn't want to retain salary and weren't interested in a return of draft picks. That could remain their position with Pageau if the Oilers or other clubs make trade inquiries this summer.

Speaking of the trade deadline, Scott Powers of The Athletic thinks some teams might be kicking themselves for not offering the Chicago Blackhawks a first-round pick for Ryan Donato.

The 28-year-old center is enjoying a career-best performance with 29 goals and 59 points in 72 games. He's reportedly sitting on a three-year contract offer worth $4 million annually.

Powers believes Donato could be interested in returning to the Boston Bruins if he goes to market. He's a Boston native who began his career with the Bruins. The Blackhawks hope he'll recognize that the top-six minutes and power-play time he's getting in Chicago won't be available to him on better clubs.

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During Sunday's TSN broadcast between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators, announcer Gord Miller pointed out that Sidney Crosby, who ranks 10th all-time in assists, has set up a player's first NHL goal on 14 occasions. 

The Penguins captain ranks second all-time behind Wayne Gretzky, who had assists on 18 first-career goals during his 20 seasons in the league. Although the NHL doesn't officially recognize this record, Crosby is just four helpers away from tying the Great One.

'When He Speaks, Everyone Listens': How Sidney Crosby's Mentorship Has Passed On To Multiple Generations Of TeammatesFollowing the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

Considering the influx of talent in the Penguins system, including recent call-ups Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, Crosby may have plenty of opportunities to set up one of the young guns for their first NHL goal. 

If that moment occurs, that player or players will join a list that includes the following players:

- Noah Welch (Mar. 26, 2006)

- Kris Letang (Oct. 12, 2006)

- Chris Thorburn (Nov. 6, 2006)

- Alain Nasreddine (Dec. 16, 2006)

- Alex Goligoski (Oct. 5, 2008)

- Deryk Engelland (Nov. 12, 2010)

- Robert Bortuzzo (Feb. 2, 2013)

- Beau Bennett (Feb. 24, 2013)

- Olli Määttä (Oct. 19, 2013)

- Jayson Megna (Oct. 28, 2013)

- Conor Sheary (Dec. 18, 2015)

- Dominik Simon (Jan. 14, 2018)

- Zach Aston-Reese (Feb. 13, 2018)

- Mark Friedman (Mar. 4, 2021)

Given his history, Crosby tends to set up first career goals in bunches. It's been over four years since he registered his last assist on a first goal, which means the captain is due.

Will we see one before the end of this season, or can he collect a couple during the 2025-26 season? 

Even though the league would not officially recognize his achievement, it would still be a fun fact on his already Hall of Fame-worthy resume.