The Chicago Blackhawks signed Laurent Brossoit on July 1st, 2024. He was coming off an injury sustained in the previous playoff tournament, but he has not been able to return until now. 

On Tuesday, the Blackhawks made it official that he is getting a conditioning assignment with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. During his stint there, the Blackhawks are seeking a trade partner.

Blackhawks Expected To Trade Laurent Brossoit After Conditioning Stint With IceHogsThe Chicago Blackhawks will move on from Laurent Brossoit after his conditioning assignment with the Rockford IceHogs.

Chicago has Spencer Knight as their number one, Arvid Soderblom as a solid backup, Drew Commesso waiting in the wings, and Adam Gajan dominating college hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth. 

There is no need for Brossoit on the roster anymore. The idea was that he’d help them transition into a younger goalie alongside Petr Mrazek, but the injury, plus the Knight trade, changed everything. 

Now that Brossoit is healthy, it would benefit everyone for him to move to another team that can offer him NHL playing time. If they can make money work and get an asset back, there are a handful of teams that make sense. 

Winnipeg Jets

Brossoit's last NHL game came as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Maybe his next game should be with them as well. He would certainly be familiar and comfortable with the city, fanbase, and culture there. 

Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart Trophy winner and back-to-back Vezina Trophy recipient (three total), is out for an extended period of time. He will be back in time for the postseason, if the Jets make it, but Brossoit could be their guy in the meantime. 

When Hellebuyck gets back, Brossoit can go back to being his backup, which was when he was at his best in his entire career. Taking a chance on him could be an upgrade over Eric Comrie, or at worst, a solid duo. 

Edmonton Oilers

The Winnipeg Jets are not the only former team of Brossoit's that could use some help in the crease. The Edmonton Oilers might be the most desperate team in the league. 

Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have struggled, and it has cost the Oilers games this season. It's been an issue for them over the last handful of seasons, despite two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. 

If they brought in Laurent Brossoit, who was a young goalie trying to find his place in the league when he was last in Edmonton, they would be getting a veteran goalie who has his name on the Stanley Cup. He wasn't the starter all the way through for Vegas in 2023, but he played a role on that team that won it all. 

That kind of experience, especially in the net, could be what the Oilers need to bounce out of their early-season slump. They know they can't waste another year of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid's prime because of standing pat at the most important position on the ice. 

Utah Mammoth

Laurent Brossoit never played for the Utah Mammoth (or Arizona Coyotes) in the past, but they could use him now. They have been a bubble team in the Western Conference for the last two seasons, but a boost in net may be what they need to get over the hump. 

Right now, Karel Vejmelka has a 2.87 goals against average and a .885 save percentage, while Vitek Vanecek has a 3.11 goals against and a .869 save percentage.

Goaltending numbers are down in 2025-26, but taking a chance on an upgrade may be just what the doctor ordered for Utah. 

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

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

By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

If you're looking to back a long shot to advance to the 2026 Stanley Cup final, the following four teams represent my best predictions of the bunch.

Eastern Conference 

Pittsburgh Penguins (+10000)

Backing the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Eastern Conference is my best long-shot play, thanks to various factors.

First, no team is less likely to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final. That’s right, even the East's 15th-place Buffalo Sabres have shorter NHL odds (+8000) to win the conference. 

You might have to re-read that sentence a few times to let it sink in. 

Sidney Crosby is on a pace for a career-best 59 goals. Only once before in his illustrious career did he break the 50-goal threshold, when he netted 51 in 2009-10. 

And while most of the Pens' stats have regressed, they are still getting solid goaltending from the resurgent Tristan Jarry and have the best power play (33.3 percent) and fourth-best penalty kill (84.9 percent). 

If you ask me, those factors alone merit a better chance of making the Stanley Cup than the 0.99 percent oddsmakers have them pegged at.

Ottawa Senators (+1800)

Picking the Ottawa Senators to make it to their first Stanley Cup final since 2007 is more a reflection of how wide open the Eastern Conference is. 

The Sens are second in the Atlantic Division despite playing without captain Brady Tkachuk for most of the campaign, while receiving consistently subpar play from Linus Ullmark. 

Ullmark's numbers don’t instill much confidence, but he's 4-1-0 in his last five starts, and Tkachuk has returned to the lineup. 

Let’s see how the team’s trajectory changes once the captain recaptures peak game sharpness. Their +1800 NHL odds represent a 5.26 percent chance.

Western Conference 

Anaheim Ducks (+2200)

What neutral hockey fan doesn’t want to see the youthful Anaheim Ducks go on a fairy-tale run? 

I would have laughed hysterically had you told me before the season that Anaheim would be atop the Pacific Division after 26 games. The only ones laughing now are Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and the Ducks' band of effervescent upstarts, who, scoring 3.62 goals per game, boast the second-most prolific offense. 

They have the sixth-best points percentage (.635), tied with the New Jersey Devils, and Carlsson is tied with Connor McDavid for fourth in scoring. 

Lukas Dostal, meanwhile, has the 12th-best goals saved above expected (10.1).

The Ducks' +2200 odds of making it to their first final since winning it all in 2007 carry an implied probability of 4.35 percent.

Odds For The Five Most Likely Stanley Cup FinalistsWill the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet yet again in the Stanley Cup final? Will the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes break their conference final curses?

Minnesota Wild (+2500)

The Minnesota Wild have gotten their act together since a stretch of eight losses in nine games. Since Nov. 1, they have the second-best points percentage (.867), behind only the high-flying Colorado Avalanche (.929). 

Minnesota's recent seven-game win streak was thanks primarily to Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt's dominance. The tandem has secured five shutouts in their past 11 games, four of which were by Wallstedt. 

The 23-year-old netminder, who is 8-0-2, has five shutouts in his first 15 games in the NHL, quickly becoming one of the stories of the season.

If he and Gustavsson maintain their otherworldly form, I believe the Wild pose a threat even to the most formidable Western Conference opponents. 

The one constant in a pretty unpredictable season is the Avalanche sitting at the top of the NHL standings and power rankings. 

With only one regulation loss and a league-best plus-50 goal differential, they're burying everyone.

The separation between the Avs and the rest of the league is huge, and it's not an exaggeration to say they might be the best team in the Salary Cap Era. The 2022-23 Bruins that finished with 135 points had a plus-128 goal differential, and the Avs might blow right past that mark. Imagine what the Avs can do if they improve their 25th-ranked power play.

The Wild are the newest entry into the top five of the NHL power rankings this week, largely due to the play of the 'Wall of St. Paul,' Jesper Wallstedt. Their big Swedish tandem of Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson have been brick walls akin to the ones in Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, and in six starts Wallstedt has vaulted to the top of the league with four shutouts. 

We're starting to see more separation in the West with the Preds, Flames, Blues and Canucks very unlikely to make the playoffs. Mathematically, they're certainly still in contention, but you look at their play so far, and the outlook is bleak. A string of losing streaks from teams such as the Kraken, Mammoth, Jets and Oilers has kept the door wide open – it just doesn't seem like anyone's been able to take advantage.

In the East, even the last-place Sabres are just five points out of a playoff spot, and they've picked it up with six wins in their past nine games.

1. Colorado Avalanche (19-1-6, +50. PR: 1)

Parity feels like it's at an all-time high, and the Avs are just speedrunning through the regular season. I have no other notes. Moving on…

2. Minnesota Wild (15-7-5, +6. PR: 7)

Unbelievable run by Jesper Wallstedt, who needed just six starts to take over as the league leader in shutouts. Filip Gustavsson has been good, too, and the Wild have not lost in regulation since Nov. 6.

3. Dallas Stars (17-5-5, +21. PR: 2)

The Stars aren't getting enough credit for how well they're playing despite missing several key players, and they lost Tyler Seguin for an extended period of time after he left the game against the Rangers with an ACL injury.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-8-2, +18. PR: 5)

Is this the year Jon Cooper finally wins the Jack Adams?! I bet you can't name four players on the Lightning blue line right now, and despite numerous injuries to numerous key players, the Lightning are somehow in the top five.

5. Anaheim Ducks (16-9-1, +12. PR: 3)

The Ducks are so good they helped Ville Husso win a game. They've cooled off a little bit following their seven-game winning streak, but with a third-string goalie in net, they're still finding ways to win. That's a sign they're legit.

NHL Jack Adams Award Rankings: Ducks' Quenneville, Penguins' Muse LeadDo the Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins have a rookie NHL coach who could win the Jack Adams Award? Will Jon Cooper finally earn the honor? Here's this month's top five.

6. Carolina Hurricanes (16-7-2, +16. PR: 4)

So… is Brandon Bussi their new No. 1? The Canes will return to action on Thursday after a three-day break, and it'll be interesting to see who starts in net going forward. The knock against Frederik Andersen is that he's really good but never healthy, but this season, he just hasn't been very good at all, losing five straight with a .878 SP on the season.

7. Washington Capitals (16-9-2, +21. PR: 19)

Pretty amazing what an 8-1-1 run will do in a league that has been so tight. The Caps were 8-8-2 just two weeks ago, 15th in points percentage this time last week and now enter Wednesday's games ranked sixth. Logan Thompson and Tom Wilson are making impeccable cases to be included on the Canadian Olympic team.

8. New Jersey Devils (16-9-1, +4. PR: 9)

After a hot start, the Devils just can’t seem to get into a rhythm, winning three games but then subsequently losing to the Flyers and Jackets on home ice with 10 goals allowed. 

9. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7, -4. PR: 6)

All of a sudden, winning games seems to have become very difficult. Both of their recent regulation wins came against the Sens in one-goal games, and they've lost three of their past four games in extra time. They've failed to score more than two goals in six of their past eight games.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (12-6-8, +1. PR: 14)

If Carter Hart can at least solve some of their goaltending woes, the Knights might go on a run. Last season, they went 19-5-4 following two separate four-game losing streaks. They went 0-2-2 to cap off a six-game homestand and 0-2-2 to finish November before winning against the Sharks and Hawks. The wins showed the Knights aren't going anywhere despite a clear changing of the guard with the West's upstart teams.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-11-2, -11. PR: 10)

A win against the Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak, but it was a close call with the Wings allowing two goals late in the third period. It doesn't seem like either John Gibson or Cam Talbot really wants the starting job. By the way, Sebastian Cossa just won goalie of the month honors in the AHL, so… 

12. Ottawa Senators (13-9-4, -2. PR: 11)

Getting Brady Tkachuk back is huge, and the Sens are somehow grinding their way up the standings without a top scorer and really mediocre goaltending. Coming out of a seven-game road trip with a 4-3-0 record, where they had to play the Pacific's best and then stop in Dallas and Montreal, was pretty impressive.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-5, +8. PR: 17)

I'm convinced that as long as Sidney Crosby is wearing the black and gold, the Pens will never be a bad team. Buoyed by the league's best power play – who saw that coming?! – the Pens are in a good position to make the playoffs. Aside from a lousy stretch from late October to mid-November, when there was a ton of travel, the Pens have been much better than expected on defense and in net, the two areas considered their weaknesses coming into the season.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (14-8-3, +2. PR: 20)

The Flyers are 6-3-0 with some impressive wins, and like the in-state rival, they've been much better than expected thanks to some above-average goaltending. The best part is that their rivalry with the Pens is so much more interesting when both teams are competitive, especially when you have Trevor Zegras – of all people – trying to goad the Pens into doing something stupid. 

15. San Jose Sharks (13-11-3, -7. PR: 13)

The wins following a 6-0 loss to the Avs and 4-3 to the Knights showed the Sharks can be a really resilient bunch. With the Macklin Celebrini-Will Smith combo thriving and Yaroslav Askarov playing up to his potential, the only thing missing now is a marquee defenseman. 

16. Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6, +6. PR: 12)

Connor Bedard is truly a human highlight reel and worth watching even though the Hawks are mired in a 1-4-2 slump. Other than a 9-3 drubbing by the Sabres, the silver lining is all of those losses were by just one goal. 

17. New York Islanders (14-10-3, even. PR: 15)

It's been a tough homestand so far, with only one regulation win. The Isles suddenly look like the Isles of old, once again having a lot of trouble scoring goals. 

18. Seattle Kraken (11-7-6, -7. PR: 16)

The Kraken may have 11 wins, but they rank third-last in regulation wins with seven. It's been difficult for them to get on a sustained run of any kind, and injuries certainly are not helping. Once they got Jared McCann back, Jaden Schwartz went out.

19. Winnipeg Jets (13-12-0, +2. PR: 8)

Did anyone think the Jets would be good without Connor Hellebuyck? Their scoring has certainly dried up, which doesn't help at all, and they've now lost five of their past six, sitting two points out of a playoff spot. 

20. Montreal Canadiens (13-9-3, -8. PR: 21)

Much better than previous weeks when they lost seven of eight, but a three-game winning streak was brought to an ugly halt with two straight losses and 12 goals allowed. There's a big gap between Nick Suzuki and whoever they deem to be their No. 2 center, and along with subpar goaltending, it's been killing them.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping AroundIt's speculated that the Montreal Canadiens could once again draw on their blueline depth to acquire a forward, while the Ottawa Senators continue to explore the trade market for roster depth.

21. New York Rangers (14-12-2, +2. PR: 26)

The Rangers played a good game at home… and won?! Things will be really tough without Adam Fox, but this may be the sort of thing that galvanizes an underperforming unit. Tough matchups loom against the Avs and Knights, and it'll be important to keep their momentum going, having won four of their past five.

22. Boston Bruins (15-13-0, -4. PR: 22)

It's a good thing they banked 14 points during their winning streak, because since then, they're 4-6-0 with only two regulation wins.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs (12-11-3, -1. PR: 28)

Just… maybe? Leafs Land feels hopeful again after a 7-2 win against the Pens and a 4-1 win against the Panthers, both on the road. 

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-9-5, -7. PR: 24)

All these games going into extra time just feels like a coin flip. The Jackets are 1-1-3 in their past five but could easily be 3-1-1 if the bounces went their way. The margins are tiny and the Jackets are still only two points out of a playoff spot. 

25. Florida Panthers (12-12-1, -5. PR: 18)

Last week, I mused whether the Oilers would miss the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup final again, becoming the only team to do so twice following 2006. The East is tighter, so it's harder to say, but could the Panthers join this ignominious club? It truly feels like 2006 again.

26. Buffalo Sabres (11-11-4, -6. PR: 25)

Slow and steady, right? Getting Josh Norris back was huge, and the Sabres have now won six of their past nine as they try and move out of the league basement. 

27. Edmonton Oilers (11-11-5, -15. PR: 27)

Sometimes they can't defend, sometimes they can't score. Sometimes they can't buy a save, and sometimes they shut out their opponents. The only thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the Oilers look spent, often making simple errors with the puck. An upcoming stretch where they face the Kraken, Jets, Sabres, Wings and Leafs is crucial because the West's general mediocrity is still leaving the door wide open.

28. St. Louis Blues (9-11-7, -26. PR: 30)

Are we sure Jordan Binnington should be starting for Team Canada? At what point does goodwill run out? After getting pulled against the Ducks, Binnington appeared to have strong words for Jim Montgomery, but it wasn't just that game. Binnington ranks 64th out of 79 goalies in total goals saved above average at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com.

29. Utah Mammoth (12-12-3, -3. PR: 23)

They have so much talent on paper, yet they have the league's worst-ranked power play. They started off hot, but they've struggled mightily since, losing four straight and 11 of their past 14. 

30. Nashville Predators (9-13-4, -24. PR: 32)

Barry Trotz's criticism might've sparked something because they've won three of their past four. I wouldn't be surprised if reports of 'toxic' environment help galvanize a veteran team that doesn't need reminding of how poorly they've been playing. There are captains, former captains and Stanley Cup champions in that dressing room.

31. Calgary Flames (9-15-4, -21. PR: 29)

The Flames were perking up, but then lost three of their next four, including an ugly 5-1 loss to the Preds, where they trailed 4-0 going into the third period. You can't embarrass yourself like that in a matchup to see who the league's worst team might be. Fortunately for them, neither of them is the worst team this week.

32. Vancouver Canucks (10-14-3, -18. PR: 31)

Quinn Hughes is playing so much, and the Canucks are leaning on him so heavily, you wonder if he has enough in the tank to last all season. The Canucks have lost nine of their past 11 and simply do not defend well enough to really give themselves – or their goalies – a real chance to win. 

---

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

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The Detroit Red Wings made sure they enjoyed a better result in their second consecutive meeting against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday evening.

Detroit managed to build a 5-2 lead by the midway point of the third period, and despite a late comeback attempt by the Bruins, they held on for a victory to snap what was a four-game winless skid. 

For Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, it was his first victory since Nov. 13 and he did so while making a season-high 34 saves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The scoreboard will show that Gibson did allow four goals for the fifth time in his last six outings, but he was completely dialed in for most of the game with several critical saves. 

Head coach Todd McLellan would say afterward that while it was more of a "roller coaster" style victory for the entire club, a win is still a win for Gibson and that he earned it. 

"There were some really tough saves and there were periods of nothing, and the game was under control, and then it wasn’t,” McLellan said. “So, it was a very much a roller coaster-type game for a goaltender to play in. At the end of the night, he got the win, so it can’t do anything but help his confidence, the team’s confidence. I'm happy for him."

"It's been a while since he got one (a win), and I'm happy for him." 

Red Wings Snap Winless Skid By Holding On For 5-4 Win Over Bruins The Detroit Red Wings built up a 5-2 lead over the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday evening and hung on for a 5-4 victory, ending their four-game losing streak.

Gibson's numbers since being acquired by the Red Wings during the offseason from the Anaheim Ducks aren't what he'd like them to be, as he currently sports a goals-against average of 3.62 along with an .868 save percentage. 

But with a critical six-game road swing ahead of them, during which Gibson will get playing time, the victory on Tuesday evening should go a good way toward building his confidence. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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

The Vancouver Canucks have made two roster moves. Vancouver has assigned goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman Elias Pettersson to the Abbotsford Canucks. As per NHL rules, both will need to play at least one AHL game before being called back up. 

Tolopilo has played five games for Abbotsford this season. The 25-year-old has a 1-3-1 record while recording a save percentage of .901. Tolopilo started two games for the Canucks on their recent road trip, but flew back to Vancouver early after his wife went into labour. 

As for Pettersson, he has spent the entire season up to this point in the NHL. The 21-year-old has two points in 24 games, but was a healthy scratch in each of the Canucks last two outings. In 46 career AHL games, Pettersson has 15 points and 44 penalty minutes. 

Abbotsford's next game is scheduled for Wednesday when they take on the Calgary Wranglers. The season has not gone as the AHL Canucks planned, as they sit 31st in the league with a 4-14-1-2 record. Game time for Wednesday is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from the newly named Rogers Forum. 

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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Evander Kane Injured In Canucks Loss To The Avalanche

New Interview Gives Reminder That Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes Could Have Played For Team Canada

Keeping Up With The Abbotsford Canucks: November 2025

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

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind heads back to Dec. 3 on three different years in Boston Bruins history.

Dec. 3, 1924, was the Bruins' first humbling on-ice moment in their first-ever road game. Dec. 3, 1929, was the beginning of something historic. And Dec. 3, 1987, featured a moment that left a Bruins legend speechless.

Watch the NHL Nugget video for all the information.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.

Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt has been unbelievable this season.

In 10 games, the Swedish netminder has eight wins and four shutouts, with his latest coming on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

With an 8-0-2 record, he became the sixth rookie in NHL history with a 10-game season-opening point streak and first since Los Angeles Kings netminder Robb Stauber in 1992.

Wallstedt also became the first goaltender in more than 61 years with five shutouts at the time of his 10th career win.

With all these incredible records and a red-hot start to this campaign, fans and media around the league are taking notice of the 'Great Wall of St. Paul.'

"Wallstedt is Rookie of the year and it is not even becoming close," @JohnTravis16325 posted on X.

"He's gotta be on team Sweden in Milan, right????  Right????" @HeH8Me_ wrote.

"How long do we wait before the word 'Vezina' is mentioned?" @BruceBurniece posted.

The fans of Minnesota, and hockey fans in general, are well aware that the Oilers, the squad Wallstedt just blanked, passed on him in the 2021 draft. They traded their 20th overall pick to Minnesota in exchange for the 22nd and 90th selections.

"The Oilers passing on Jesper Wallstedt Is the most baffling thing I've ever seen an NHL team do on draft day. It was meant to be and instead they traded down. I was at an Oiler watch party and people went nuts. Sometimes the fans know what's right. Oilers fans aren't dumb," @Pete___Hughes wrote.

"Wild never felt in any danger of losing a game against McDavid and the oil. While only having a 1 goal lead almost all night. That's how unreal Wallstedt is playing. Thank for the trade EDM," @cdwild27 posted.

"THE GREAT WALL OF ST. PAUL SHUTS OUT THE TEAM THAT TRADED AWAY THE PICK THEY COULD’VE USED TO DRAFT HIM! DIDN’T WANT HIM AND NOW THEY WISH THEY HAD HIM," @B_Marsh92 posted on X.

A Historic Start: Wild's Jesper Wallstedt Joins Nearly Century-Old Company With Record Rookie SurgeRookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt shatters NHL records with a historic shutout surge, dominating rookie leaderboards and rewriting goaltending history.

On the other hand, the entire hockey community was drooling over Wallstedt’s performance against Edmonton and in awe of his numbers so far this season.

"Four shutouts in last 6 starts? You s----in’ me, Wallstedt?!?" @RearAdBsBlog said on X.

"Wallstedt really is that dude isn’t he," @alexismirjana posted.

"You know how after one season, we already declared Kirill Kaprizov the best player in (Wild) history? I think by the end of this season, we will consider Jesper Wallstedt to already be the best goalie in (Wild) history," @BrandonMileski posted on X.

"Jesper Wallstedt's last 6 starts have resulted in 10.5 percent of the total shutouts in the NHL so far this season lol," @DimFilipovic wrote.

Wallstedt received rookie of the month honors for November, beating out Anaheim Ducks right winger Beckett Sennecke, who had 14 points in 15 games during the month, and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who had 11 points.

If he keeps up this strong performance, he could be a household name in the NHL in no time.

---

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

It's no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are believed to be in the market for a top-six forward, preferably a second-line center.

Some observers suggest they could draw on their blueline depth for trade bait to address that issue.

The Canadiens have gone that route recently. Last year, they sent Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets for right winger Patrik Laine. In July, they shipped Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for right winger Zack Bolduc.

On Tuesday, RG. Org's Marco D'Amico reported the Canadiens could draw on their blueline depth if a high-end top-six forward became available. He also claimed that teams had inquired into the availability of Kaiden Guhle, who is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. He's expected to return to the lineup in early January.

Injuries have dogged Guhle during his short NHL career. Nevertheless, D'Amico said the 23-year-old rearguard has drawn interest from some Western Conference teams over the past two off-seasons.

Despite Guhle's injury history, D'Amico claimed the Canadiens have no interest in trading the young defenseman. He's in the first season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million, and they value his mobility and physical defensive game.

If the Canadiens move a defenseman for a top-six forward, D'Amico speculated that it could be Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble or Adam Engstrom as their blueline depth improves. He didn't rule out Alexandre Carrier becoming a trade candidate once promising David Reinbacher is ready to join the Canadiens' lineup.

Given the Canadiens' recent trade history, it wouldn't be surprising if they peddle another blueliner to add a forward. However, a dire dearth of available talent in the trade market suggests the March 6 trade deadline might be their best opportunity to do so.

Montreal isn't the only Canadian team that's looking to add via trade at this early stage of the season.

The Ottawa Senators have reportedly been shopping around since mid-November. On Nov. 28, Senators beat writer Julian McKenzie of The Athletic took note of a report by TSN's Darren Dreger saying GM Steve Staios sought a defenseman and a forward.

Dreger felt that Staios didn't intend to go "big-game hunting" in the trade market. He also dismissed rumors suggesting that top prospect Carter Yakemchuk could become a trade chip.

"Not going to happen," according to Dreger.

Meanwhile, Postmedia reported the Senators attempted to move unsigned left winger Alex Formenton before the Dec. 1 signing deadline for RFAs but couldn't find any takers. The 26-year-old is now ineligible to play in the NHL this season.

---

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

After a successful road trip despite the humiliating loss suffered in Denver, the Montreal Canadiens were back at home to take on the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre. Just like Montreal, Ottawa had been obliterated in its last game and was also looking to bounce back.

Given how heated a rivalry this one has become, everyone was expecting a spirited tilt with plenty of rough stuff. Still, the visitors were clearly instructed to focus on playing hockey rather than spending too much time and energy on extracurricular activities. As a result, the Habs dominated in the hits column, but that was their only victory on the night.

Canadiens: On The Eve Of Celebrating Andre Markov…
Canadiens: Caufield Wins Second Consecutive Molson Cup
Canadiens Spend Family Time On Day Off

There’s Something about “Monty”

While it’s nothing new, it’s impossible to report on this game without mentioning Samuel Montembeault. After having a good game against the Vegas Golden Knights last week, the hope was that the Becancour native was on his way back up, but tonight’s game crushed those hopes.

After 40 minutes, he had given four goals on 21 shots for a .810 save percentage, but beyond the stats, it’s his behaviour in net that was the most worrying. Without Mike Matheson and the post’s help, he would have given another two goals.

It’s hard to say why, but the puck appears to be a hot potato to him these days. His glove is either too slow to catch the shots, or he feels like they are burning him, for whatever reason, he drops an incredible number of shots. Worse, once he has dropped them, he’s not quick enough to recover the puck and freeze it.

Of course, the rest of the team could help by clearing the pucks he stopped, but on a few occasions on Tuesday night, he had more than the time needed to recover the puck, and he couldn’t do it.

(Related) Lowest Save % in a #Habs goalie's first 14 games of a season:
.839- Steve Penney (1985-86)
.850- Brian Hayward (1988-89)
.851- Doug Soetaert ('84-85)
.855- Richard Sevigny ('83-84)
.856- J-C Bergeron ('90-91)
.861- Sam Montembeault (2025-26)
.864- Andre Racicot ('92-93) https://t.co/2HiRMHDNk4

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) December 3, 2025

Life Is A Highway

Tom Cochrane once sang that Life Is A Highway, and tonight, that’s precisely what the Canadiens’ slot was. Somehow, in a game where Montreal threw 33 hits and applied good forecheck, Ottawa was able to get into the slot easily and take shots from dangerous areas. After the match, Martin St-Louis was clear about what the problem was:

The other team defended way harder than we did; we lost a lot of battles, and defensively, we weren’t there. The other team just defended itself better than us.

-

However, the bench boss refused to put it down to the system he has his men playing:

I won’t talk about the system. You can play any system, but you have to be alert; the system has nothing to do with this.

-

Asked why that performance happened tonight, the coach said he had no idea why they could be so good at doing something one night, and then so bad at the same thing another night. He added:

If I show clips, they can all see, they could teach it themselves, they know the rules, they know everything you know. So, it’s an attitude.

-

It was clear tonight that St-Louis was irritated by his men’s performance and that he didn’t have an answer for how to fix what appears to be the problem. He said that issues like that start with the individuals. As for Nick Suzuki, he talked about mental errors, and in the end, that’s what it comes down to. You can understand the system perfectly, but if you make a bad read because of a lack of concentration, you’re going to find yourself in trouble and land your team in it as well.

Tkachuk True To Himself

There’s no denying that the Senators' captain has got his pest number down to a T. He gets under the Canadiens’ skin, and most of the time, he does it without getting sent to the box for it. Furthermore, he consistently contributes offensively.

In the first frame, he set up the Senators’ second goal as he was battling hard by the boards and even though he was more or less carrying Jayden Struble on his back, he managed to dish a perfect no-look pass to Artem Zub in the slot, who only had to push the puck past an unsuspecting Montembeault. Then, in the final frame, he scored Ottawa’s fifth goal, the one that sucked out what little air was left in the Bell Center and sent a lot of fans to the exit.

All through the night, he mixed it up with Habs players and escaped unscathed. In the second frame, as he was trying to get off the ice, Struble had him tied up. He flipped the situation on him when he hung tight to the defenseman’s stick and forced him to go back to play with no twig, hardly suitable for a defenseman Then, at the start of the third, when the Canadiens desperately needed a goal, he let himself fall on Suzuki who was already on the ice and stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, taking the Habs’ captain out of the play.

This 5-2 defeat, following the collapse in Colorado, has to hurt. Alexandre Carrier said after the game that the important thing was how they would respond on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. Still, the fact is that they didn’t respond after their bad game in Colorado, and that should be worrying.

St-Louis can say until he’s blue in the face that he’s not worried about how few shots his team takes, but when your goaltenders are regularly giving four or five goals, you need to score more, and in the NHL, that won’t happen with minimal shooting. The league’s netminders are professionals, and if you don’t overload them with shots, odds are they won’t make many mistakes.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The Philadelphia Flyers are set to be without top forward Tyson Foerster for at least two months, and with the injury confirmed, Foerster's two injury replacements have already been selected.

Making their first move since the Foerster injury took place, the Flyers brought up forward Carl Grundstrom, who was with the team at the NHL level earlier in the season for a brief period, for depth at the position.

Grundstrom, 28, can play all three forward positions and has 293 career NHL games to his name, including one appearance with the Flyers - Nov. 8 against the Ottawa Senators.

He's not a player to get excited about and is certainly not a prospect, to be clear, but Grundstrom is someone who can be at least somewhat reliable and offer a slightly different profile from a Nick Deslauriers, for example, if the Flyers and head coach Rick Tocchet decide to go that route.

Speaking of Tocchet, the first-year Flyers coach had remarked previously about wanting to find ways to get more ice time for rookie forward Nikita Grebenkin, who has been in and out of the lineup for the last month.

Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'While it's still early, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

Grebenkin, 22, has a goal and two assists in 16 games this season and has regularly flashed his playmaking chops in significantly limited minutes.

He, more than anyone else in the Flyers' pro system, is suited to take over for Foerster in a top-nine checking role that entails a bit of scoring, a bit of forechecking, and a bit of cycling.

Grebenkin doesn't have Foerster's shooting ability, no, but the gulf in overall offensive talent is not as significant as some would think.

In more practical terms, aside from Grebenkin's vision, creativity, and hands, the affable Russian is also arguably the best puck protector on the team, particularly down low and in close areas.

Watch: Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Wins First NHL FightEleven games into his nascent NHL career, fan-favorite <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> rookie Nikita Grebenkin has reached two milestones. First came his first assist and point, and now comes his first fight.

There's little doubt that Grebenkin has earned and has the skillset for an expanded role with the Flyers when they need it the most, and that was evidenced by the team's decision to call up Grundstrom rather than Alex Bump or Denver Barkey.

If Bump or Barkey had traveled over from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, it would only be because they are definitely going to play.

And for Grebenkin, that opportunity likely would have come at his expense, given Deslauriers's return to at least a rotational role, infrequent ice time, and some healthy scratches along the way.

Fortunately, though, Grebenkin doesn't have to worry about that, as he is instead about to receive the biggest opportunity of his NHL career with the Flyers now that Foerster is out with an upper-body injury for the foreseeable future.

DENVER — When Zakhar Bardakov first arrived in Denver for optional skates ahead of Colorado Avalanche training camp, his difficulties in defensive drills were hard to miss. But over the past few months, the Russian forward has transformed that former liability into one of his emerging strengths — progress significant enough to draw the notice of his captain, Gabe Landeskog.

After Colorado’s 3–1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, a game that opened at a sluggish pace, Bardakov spent the evening flying around the ice, forechecking as if everything were at stake. Afterward, The Hockey News asked captain Gabe Landeskog to evaluate how far the forward has come since first arriving in North America from Russia.

"He's a really good skater, a powerful guy, and he continues to adapt to this game here," Landeskog said. "I thought he's done a great job. Training camp, he (earned) that spot, continues to work well and work hard and it's not easy for anybody."

Why Bardakov’s Value Goes Far Beyond The Box Score

People often place too much emphasis on numbers. Statistics are undeniably important and an integral part of the game, but that focus can sometimes obscure the contributions of players who are not putting up MacKinnon-level totals every night. Bardakov is the kind of skater who is constantly working to get to the play, committed to checking on both sides of the puck, and relentless in pressuring opponents into mistakes that create opportunities for his teammates. Landeskog was particularly impressed with how he performed against the Canucks.

"Tonight, he was really strong," he continued. "It was one of his stronger games in a while, and he continues to bring a lot of energy. He's a physical guy, a strong guy. He continues to put himself in good spots to put pucks at the net and create offense."

🗣️ Zakhar Bardakov

We caught up with Bardakov in his native-language today to get a quick update on how he's feeling now more than 20 games into his Rookie Season!#GoAvsGo | Powered By: https://t.co/O7RJKwUgbNpic.twitter.com/xVPyFQIRGZ

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) November 25, 2025

Bardakov has been on Colorado’s radar for an NHL contract ever since he arrived as the return for Kurtis MacDermid in the 2024 trade-deadline deal with the New Jersey Devils. The former 2021 seventh-round pick then delivered the strongest season of his career with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, recording 17 goals and 35 points over 53 games. That performance earned him a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2025–26 season, which he signed in April.

FIRST NHL GOAL FOR ZAKHAR BARDAKOV 🚨

📺: Frozen Frenzy Whiparound coverage on @ESPNPluspic.twitter.com/hOl2auLlDO

— NHL (@NHL) October 29, 2025

Bardakov scored his first NHL goal on October 28 in an 8–4 Avalanche win over the New Jersey Devils at Ball Arena, on a night when Victor Olofsson recorded his first career hat trick and a career-high five points.

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

LAS VEGAS -- In his first start in nearly two years, it was a game full of FIRSTS for Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, as he returned to the net Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hart, one of five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players acquitted of sexual assault in July, made 27 saves in the 4-3 shootout win over the Blackhawks.

Here are some notable FIRSTS for the 27-year-old after his Golden Knights debut:

FIRST Warmups - Hart led the Golden Knights onto the ice for warmups, and for the fans who made their way to the glass, he was greeted by cheers from Vegas' adoring fans. Several female fans were seen holding signs supportive of Hart. A few others emitted disdain.

FIRST Entrance and Introduction - With fans settled into the seats, and the massive golden helmet the Knights skate through resting on the ice, Hart once again led the Knights onto the ice, this time for real, with the lights out, the John Wick theme blaring and the crowd buzzing. As the starting lineup was announced, the anticipation grew for the final name, and as public address announcer Bruce Cusick announced Hart, the fans offered a vibrant roar - not the most electric - but certainly 99% in favor of the newest Knight.

FIRST Lead - Hart got his first lead to work when forward Ivan Barbashev scored 27 seconds into the game, a shot that looked as if he was passing into the slot, but instead deflected off Chicago defenseman Wyatt Kaiser's skate.

FIRST Goal Allowed - Hart's lead wouldn't last, as Oliver Moore tied the game for the Blackhawks 56 seconds later when he gathered a pass from across the ice and fired a dart of a wrist shot from the top of the right circle to tie the game, 1-1.

FIRST Breakaway Save - Hart came up big in the first period when he faced his first breakaway and stymied Chicago's veteran center Ryan Donato.

FIRST Penalty Kill - It only took six minutes, but the Golden Knights found themselves on the penalty kill with a little more than 14 minutes left in the first period. Though Hart didn't face any shots during the kill, it was successful for his first time defending the net while his team skated shorthanded.

FIRST Period - Hart made seven saves on the eight shots in the opening period. Hart said afterward that he settled in after allowing Moore's wicked shot into the net. After all, he hadn't been in an NHL game since Jan. 20, 2024.

FIRST Penalty - With 13:17 left in the second period, and the Golden Knights on a power play, Hart tripped Ilya Mikheyev, who was breaking in looking for a short-hander. Anyone with Hart catching a 2-minute minor in his debut on a prop bet was a big winner.

FIRST Big Mistake - As athletic as Hart might be, and while he may think his quick reflexes allow him to do things other goalies cannot, it wasn't wise in the least bit to leave his net with hopes of poking the puck away with Tyler Bertuzzi storming in. Hart swiped at the puck and nailed Bertuzzi, who then floated it over Hart and into the net.

FIRST Overtime - Hart was at his best during these five minutes, as he stopped all six shots he faced, including a shift in which teammate Shea Theodore's broke the blade of his stick, which theoretically gave the Blackhawks a 3-on-2 until the Golden Knights were able to get fresh life on the ice.

FIRST Shootout - Chicago started, and Hart's save on Teuvo Teravainen was rewarded at the other end with a Pavel Dorofeyev goal. Next up for Chicago was Connor Bedard, and there aren't many past or present goalie greats who were stopping the shot Hart faced. At the other end, Jack Eichel was stuffed by Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight, keeping it 1-1 in the shootout. For a third time in the game, Hart made a huge save on Donato, but Knight stopped Marner. Hart then stopped Frank Nazar and seconds later, it was Theodore giving Hart his ...

FIRST Win - After 682 days, Hart is victorious and mobbed by his teammates as he celebrates a victory in his first game back and first as a Knight.

PHOTO CAPTION: Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) shoots wide of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during a shootout at T-Mobile Arena.

LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights' locker room had a bit more zest after Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Moments after Shea Theodore used his trademark forehand-to-backhand move for the game-winner in the shootout, a sudden roar could be heard from behind closed doors in the hallway outside Vegas' locker room, and it was quite apparent why.

After a brilliant six-save overtime, goaltender Carter Hart stopped two of the three shots he faced in the shootout and picked up his first win as a Golden Knight, in his first game back in the NHL.

"I think for him, obviously, this was a unique situation, we can all agree with that," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "And a new member of our team, it was like (goaltender) Carl's (Lindbom). It was a big celebration the other night when Carl got his first win, right? So, different thing, but it's more than one, let's put it that way."

The Golden Knights snapped a seven-game losing skid in overtime, grabbing a much-needed win before their longest road trip to date, an upcoming five-game jaunt to New Jersey, Manhattan, Long Island, Philadelphia and Columbus.

Ivan Barbashev, Ben Hutton and Braeden Bowman scored for the Golden Knights in regulation, while Hart made 27 saves.

Oliver Moore, Tyler Bertuzzi and Connor Bedard notched Chicago's regulation goals and netminder Spencer Knight stopped 25 shots.

KEY MOMENT: Bowman's goal with 2:28 left in the game tied the game and breathed new life into the Knights and an always energetic crowd inside T-Mobile. After Theodore's shot went off Knight's right pad, Bowman's initial backhand was also stuffed. But his quick reaction to follow with another backhand to ricochet the puck off the top of Knight's pad and into the net, sending the announced crowd of 17,944 into a frenzy.

KEY STAT: 5-for-5 ... Vegas' penalty kill was outstanding, stopping Chicago on all five power-play attempts. Whether it was limiting the Blackhawks' top options - Bedard to Bertuzzi backdoor was off the table - or Hart making several big saves, the Golden Knights' perfect night on the penalty kill was a difference maker.

WHAT A KNIGHT: It has to be Hart. After stopping 21 of the 24 shots he faced in regulation, the 27-year-old was brilliant in overtime, seemingly catching his second win in the nick of time to keep the Blackhawks out of his net. Hart stopped all six shots he faced in overtime, and then two of the three in the shootout (not even Martin Brodeur was stopping Bedard's shootout attempt). Though the first goal he allowed in regulation was Chicago's second shot, Hart settled in nicely to keep the Knights in the game.

"I think, first one maybe just, was a little bit excited and maybe over committed on the first guy coming into the zone," Hart said. "But, I mean, it happens, and it's just good to be back playing. It's a process. It's gonna get better and better each time.

"After that (first goal), just kind of settled in a little bit, and just got back to playing my game, and the guys did a really good job of battling around the net front, tying up sticks, and got some huge blocks in the game. And it's a big two points."

UP NEXT: The Golden Knights open a five-game road trip at New Jersey on Friday

PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at T-Mobile Arena.

Looking back on it, the Edmonton Oilers were so close.

That it is, until they traded it away.

Jesper Wallstedt made 33 saves Tuesday night. He stopped every shot the Oilers threw at him. He earned his fourth shutout in 10 games. He improved to 8-0-2 with a .938 save percentage and 1.93 goals-against average. He beat Edmonton 1-0 in their own building.

And of course, everyone in Oil Country is thinking the same thing: he could have been ours.

Should fans and media fixate on this? Probably not. It was a different general manager—Ken Holland, not Stan Bowman—who made the call in 2021 to trade the 20th pick to Minnesota for the 22nd and 90th picks. It’s not fair to hang current management for decisions made by the previous regime.

But this is Edmonton. One of the best markets in the NHL with ongoing goaltending issues that have defined the better part of two decades. Of course it’s going to come up. Of course watching Wallstedt dominate is going to sting.

“I’ve heard about it way too much. I’m drafted by Minnesota. I play here. I love it here,” Wallstedt said, addressing the noise around the draft decision.

"Just Wasn't Our Night": Frustrated Oilers Try To Take Positives From Loss To WildOilers dominated play and chances but couldn't solve a hot goalie, leaving them with a frustrating, narrow defeat at home to the Minnesota Wild.

He’s right to brush it off. He’s a Minnesota Wild. He’s thriving there. The what-ifs aren’t his problem—they’re Edmonton’s.

But what a reminder Tuesday night was of what the Oilers passed on. Wallstedt was named NHL rookie of the month for November earlier in the day, posting a 6-0-0 record with a 1.14 GAA, .967 save percentage, and three shutouts in six games. Then he went out and shut down McDavid, Draisaitl, and company.

But way back when, Wallstedt was drafted 20th overall in 2021 after Edmonton traded the selection to Minnesota and dropped two spots for Xavier Bourgault, who was later traded to Ottawa and is now playing in the AHL for the Belleville Senators. With the 90th pick, Edmonton drafted defenseman Luca Munzenberger, who they declined to sign and has since returned to Germany.

Oilers vs. Wild: Pre-Game Stats11-10-5 | 27 PTS

Neither player is in the organization anymore. Wallstedt is leading the NHL in save percentage and shutouts.

Still, in 2021, the Oilers had goaltending prospects—Stuart Skinner, Olivier Rodrigue, and Ilya Konovalov. The thinking was that forwards develop faster than goalies, and Wallstedt would take years to arrive. Why wait when you could add offence now?

Konovalov played just 17 games in North America before returning to Russia. Rodrigue joined him in the KHL this offseason. That leaves Skinner and his .885 save percentage this season.

Meanwhile, Wallstedt is 23 years old, on an entry-level contract, and looks like a franchise goaltender.

Ex-Oilers Forward Heating Up With New Team Former Oilers forward Connor Brown is continuing to make an impact with the Devils.

“I have mixed memories about Edmonton,” Wallstedt said. “Our first World Juniors was the bubble, and I didn’t play much. And second, we were in Red Deer, and that got canceled, and then we had a pretty good last one and got a bronze medal. So, mixed feelings, but this definitely helped a little bit.”

Beating the Oilers probably did help, even if he's since long forgotten about the draft.

“He’s played in different situations and against different teams, first time going through it,” began Minnesota head coach John Hynes. “(He’s got) the demeanour that you want, even though he’s young.

"He’s confident in his abilities and his preparation. And I think he believes in how he’s playing, and that’s what you need. Both guys want the net, which is good for us. But him being a young guy, that (brings) a little bit of that personality, swagger and mindset that you need to be a good goalie in this league.”

Digging Deep On Jordan BinningtonJordan Binnington to Edmonton isn’t just a rumor anymore—it’s gaining traction. Nick Kypreos reported the Oilers are showing real interest in the Blues goaltender, with Stuart Skinner potentially heading the other way. After watching their goalies surrender eight goals to Dallas, you can understand why Stan Bowman is making calls.

Wallstedt stopped Zach Hyman on a backhand in the second period. He denied Draisaitl on a 3-on-2. McDavid didn’t register his first shot until 6:43 left in the game, and Wallstedt stopped that, too. Every chance, every shot, every opportunity—Wallstedt was there.

The Wild have won 12 of their last 16 games against the Oilers, and Wallstedt is a big reason why Minnesota looks like they’ll continue this trend for years to come.

The frustrating part for Edmonton isn’t just that Wallstedt is good. It’s that he’s exactly what they need. Young, cost-controlled, confident, and capable of stealing games. The kind of goaltender great teams are built around. The kind of player you don’t pass on when he falls into your lap.

Former Oiler At Contract Standstill With St. Louis BluesPhilip Broberg is a top player for St. Louis, but contract talks haven't begun. The Blues are betting big on the former Oiler, who's proving them right.

But they did. And now he’s beating them in their own building while their goaltending situation remains the biggest question mark.

Should this decision in 2021 define the Oilers now? No. Should fans spend every day lamenting a decision made by the previous GM? Probably not. But when your goaltending is .860 through 25 games—the lowest since the team’s first NHL season in 1979-80—and the guy you passed on is shutting you out at home, it’s hard not to think about what could have been.

Wallstedt is a Minnesota Wild. He loves it there. He’s building something special. Good for him. Good for Minnesota for recognizing the opportunity and seizing it.

But for Edmonton, Tuesday night was a painful reminder that sometimes the player you don’t draft haunts you more than the ones you do. And in a city desperate for goaltending, that’s going to sting for a long time.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.