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NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest Canucks Trade Speculation

Recent reports claimed that the Vancouver Canucks are open to offers for some of their veteran players, especially those eligible to become UFAs next summer.

That has raised rumors about which players could be available and the cost of acquiring them.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that teams such as the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers could be interested in some of the Canucks' pending UFA players. However, the Canucks intend to take their time and evaluate the trade market.

Most of the early focus is on Kiefer Sherwood. The feisty 30-year-old left winger is UFA-eligible next July. He leads the Canucks with 12 goals, carries an affordable $1.5-million cap hit, and lacks no-trade protection. His physical style is well-suited for the grind of post-season hockey.

RG.Org's James Murphy cited an NHL source claiming the Bruins had contacted the Canucks about Sherwood and right winger Conor Garland. He said the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings also had an interest in Sherwood. Garland, however, might not be available as he has a six-year contract extension that begins next July.

TSN's Chris Johnston observed that Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, has a reputation for making moves well ahead of the annual trade deadline. However, he suggested it might be best if the Canucks wait on moving Sherwood until closer to the March 6 deadline, when he might fetch a first-round pick.

Sherwood could land a first-rounder if he maintains his current level of production. However, Rutherford might prefer a young NHL-ready player who would have a more immediate impact.

Three Potential Trade Fits For Canucks' Kiefer SherwoodThree Potential Trade Fits For Canucks' Kiefer SherwoodKiefer Sherwood is among the Canucks' top trade candidates, and these three teams should consider trying to acquire the hard-hitting forward.

Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News mused over whether Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek might be available. The 28-year-old blueliner has six seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million and a full no-movement clause.

Rosner felt Hronek would be a good fit on the Islanders' blueline alongside rookie star Matthew Schaefer. Given Hronek's contract, the Canucks aren't likely to move him unless he asks to be traded. So far, there's no indication that he wants out of Vancouver.

Meanwhile, some observers wonder what effect the Canucks' plans to become a seller will have on captain Quinn Hughes' future in Vancouver.

The 26-year-old superstar defenseman is signed through 2026-27, and questions have been raised in the rumor mill about whether he'll sign an extension next summer. Speculation has linked him to the New Jersey Devils and a reunion with his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli suggested the Flyers as a destination for Hughes, where he'd be reunited with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. Flyers beat writer Kevin Kurz of The Athletic claimed he hasn't heard any indication that the club would pursue the Canucks' star but doesn't rule out management trying to acquire a player that would accelerate their rebuilding process.

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Despite Home Struggles, Underlying Numbers Show Islanders Still Playing Winning Hockey

After winning six of seven games on their road trip, the New York Islanders have lost four of their first five games to start their seven-game homestand.

While the game outcomes tell one story, head coach Patrick Roy remains confident in his squad, which is still 13-10-3 and tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card spot.

“Sometimes after games there's nothing to be said,” said Roy.

“And I think today is an example. We did everything right. We had a lot of shots and we had a lot of chances. We just came up short. We could find excuses. I get it. I mean, the standard of our team is to win hockey games and do the right thing, but sometimes we just need to continue to play the way we are and believe that things will go our way.”

Stefen Rosner asked Roy if he's noticed anything different from the way they've played on their recent road trip to how they are playing right now.

"I feel like we played pretty much the same way," Roy said. "Actually, we might give more shots on the road than at home, but other than this, I feel like we've been playing the same kind of hockey. I really do. Did the puck bounce our way, maybe a little more on the road, maybe, yes -- obviously, we score more goals. But I mean, I felt like we played really well defensively. I thought on the trip where we won, what six out of the seven, I mean, the game that we lost was the game we played our best. And we've been playing some good hockey, and unfortunately, we don't win."

There is no doubt the Islanders' finishing has struggled in their recent stretch, shooting at just a 3.49% rate, but is the rest of their game there?

During the first five games of their home stand, the Islanders have had 69.1 shot attempts per 60 minutes, 12.39 of which from higher-danger areas. Both of these metrics are significantly higher than their road trip, where they had 50.23 and 9.57, respectively, according to Natural Stat Trick. 

At 5v5, the numbers are closer: 63.02 to 48.39 in shot attempts and 10.98 to 9.27 in high danger shot attempts.

Natural Stat Trick's expected goals model also has the Islanders generating 3.8 expected goals per 60 minutes at all strengths during the home stand, as opposed to 2.9 on the road trip. 

However, the Islanders have scored just 1.16 goals per 60 minutes amid this stretch, while they scored 3.38 on the road trip.

Roy said himself, following the Islanders' 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in their third game of the homestand on Nov 26, that the shot quality had to improve, and this is something expected goals models struggle to pick up as they track location on the ice but not the location on the net.

Fortunately for the Islanders, the chances are there, and at the very least, the defense has been much improved.

During the homestand, the Islanders have conceded just 18.19 shots per 60 minutes compared to 29.13 on the road trip -- an over 10 shot improvement. 

They have also conceded 5.81 fewer high danger shot attempts per 60 minutes, down to 9.1 from 14.91.

On the season, the Islanders are shooting 9.75% -- the sixth lowest in the NHL -- yet this is still over 6% higher than their stretch on the homestand.

Roy has said himself that there are no moral victories and the goal remains to win hockey games, but fans and the team should hold optimism that, at the very least, the data is promising.

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Columbus Blue Jackets (27 pts) vs. New Jersey Devils (33 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road at Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils at 7 pm. 

The New Jersey Devils come into this game with the CBJ 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and have won 3 of their last 4. They have a 16-8-1 record and sit atop the Metro with 33 points. 

The Blue Jackets must find a way to get points in every game. They had a not-so-great November by going 5-5-5. Somehow, though, they're only six points back of Jersey, and could make up ground tonight. In fact, had they not blown so many leads, they could actually be sitting up top with New Jersey in the Metro.

Of the 15 games they played in November, they lost third-period leads in seven of them, yes, seven. They went 2-1-4 in those seven games, with the two wins coming by way of a shootout. Columbus only managed two regulation wins in November, and yet they're somehow not completely out of the race. 

Blue Jackets Stats

  • Power Play - 15.5% - 27th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 75.4% - 27th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 70 - 26th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 81 - 22nd in the NHL

Devils Stats

  • Power Play - 23.8% - 7th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 83.3% - 8th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 78 - 11th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 74 - 14th in the NHL

Series History vs. TheDevils

  • Columbus is 29-22-1-3 all-time, and 12-10-1-3 at home vs. New Jersey.
  • The Jackets are 2-8-1 in the last 11 against the Devils overall.
  • The CBJ are 0-1 against the Devils this season.

Who To Watch For The Devils

  • Dawson Mercer leads the Devils with 10 goals.
  • Jesper Bratt leads New Jersey with 19 assists and 24 points.
  • Goalie Jake Allen is 8-4-0 with a SV% of .919.
  • Jacob Markstrom is 7-4-1 with a SV% of .874.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Devils

  • Zach Werenski has a stat line of 4-5-9 in 25 games vs. the Devils.
  • Charlie Coyle has 9 points in 35 career games.
  • Sean Monahan has 25 points in 21 games against New Jersey.

Injuries 

  • Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 17 games - IR - No timeline for a return
  • Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 9 Games - IR - Could return this week
  • Kirill Marchenko - Lower Body - Missed 3 Game - Day to day.
  • Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 2 Game - No timeline for a return

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 43

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Ex-Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Expected to Make NHL Return This Week

According to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart will make his return to the NHL and start for the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, marking his first dose of NHL action since January 2024.

NHL insider and longtime goalie Kevin Weekes reported Sunday night that Hart is "likely to make his debut start and return to NHL action" with the Golden Knights, who host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10 p.m. EST.

Hart, 27, made three AHL starts while on a conditioning loan with the Henderson Silver Knights, posting a 1-2-0 record, a 3.07 GAA, and a .839 save percentage.

Hart's most recent AHL action saw him surrender four goals on 16 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Ontario Reign on Friday; former Flyers forward Tanner Laczynski scored two goals in the defeat.

Ex-Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Acquitted in Hockey Canada TrialEx-Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Acquitted in Hockey Canada TrialFormer <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> goalie Carter Hart has been found not guilty of sexual assault after being acquitted by Justice Maria Carroccia on Thursday afternoon.

Hart was recalled by the Golden Knights from the AHL on Saturday, and his suspension stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial will officially expire on Monday, making him eligible to play NHL games for Vegas.

If and when the former Flyers goalie returns to the ice, he will make his first NHL start since Jan. 20, 2024, when Hart ceded five goals on 15 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

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Why did Sharks keep Sam Dickinson in the NHL? What does he have to prove?

Why did Sharks keep Sam Dickinson in the NHL? What does he have to prove? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks believe Sam Dickinson can handle the rigors of the NHL. That’s why the 2024 No. 11 pick still is on the roster.

So what do they like about Dickinson in the NHL now? And how can the teenage blueliner get better and better this year?

The Sharks had the option, about a month ago, of sending the 19-year-old back to his junior club, which would have been advantageous for them, contractually. The beginning of Dickinson’s three-year entry-level contract would “slide” to next season, meaning Year 1 of three would not kick off until 2026-27. That, consequently, would keep the top defensive prospect at a bargain ELC rate for longer.

Instead, the Sharks started the clock on Dickinson’s contract this season.

Physically, there’s already a lot to like about Dickinson. He’s 6-foot-4, NHL-strong, skilled, and can skate like the wind.

Per Stathletes, he’s actually a top-20 defenseman in the league in these four key 5-on-5 per 60 rate stats, as of Nov. 30: High-danger chances, inner slot carries, offensive turnovers created, and puck recoveries.

Dickinson is fifth in high-danger chances and fourth in 5-on-5 inner slot carries, speaking to how confident that he is with his skating and skill to carry the puck into the best scoring areas.

Top defensemen Matthew Schaefer, Cale Makar, and Dougie Hamilton are among the leaders in these categories.

Here’s an example:

Will Smith (2) picks off the Sam Malinski (70) pass. Dickinson (6) recognizes that this is the time to attack, and simply beats Joel Kiviranta (94) up the ice. Macklin Celebrini (71) sees Dickinson, and draws Malinski to him, before laying a perfect backhand pass for Dickinson to skate into.

Dickinson has just a goal and an assist in 19 NHL games, but the production is coming.

He’s 16th in OZ turnovers created, in part because his size and quickness make him effective pinching along the wall, preventing his opposition from exiting the zone.

Zach Werenski, Lane Hutson, and Rasmus Dahlin are among the leaders in this category.

He’s 16th in puck recoveries, a tribute to his skating and instincts, to know where the puck is going and get to it first.

Mackenzie Weegar, Jake Sanderson, and Shea Theodore are among the leaders in this category.

But perhaps more important than his physical attributes coming to the forefront in the best league in the world?

“He definitely gets rattled around a little bit, and it doesn’t seem like it bothers him, which is a real positive for a young man,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, after the Sharks’ decision to keep Dickinson.

To be a rookie defenseman in the NHL, you’ve got to be mentally tough. Your fault or not, it’s often the back of your jersey that fans see when a goal is allowed. It can be overwhelming for some youngsters.

Dickinson, to his credit, has bounced back from his worst games and plays this season.

Case in point, in October against the New York Islanders, when his turnover led to a Casey Cizikas goal:

Two shifts later though, an aggressive Dickinson read, which showcased his size and athleticism, led to an Adam Gaudette goal:

But Dickinson, for all his prodigious talents, still has plenty to learn, especially on the defensive side of the puck.

There’s a reason why the Sharks have limited his ice time, 14:30 a night, which is last among San Jose blueliners.

Two things stand out to Warsofsky right now.

“Starting the game on time is important. I think he sometimes feels his way through the game, which I understand as a young 19-year-old defenseman,” Warsofsky said.

“It’s tough. You get a lot coming at you right away. There’s the energy in the building. It’s loud. There’s a lot of things that go on mentally to get ready for the game,” he noted. “Your routine and everything, the schedule, the travel, where we’re at, did we skate? Did we not skate? So getting your body to feel right and mentally to feel right.”

Ex-AHL assistant coach Jack Han added, “As a big-minutes player in juniors, it’s understandable that someone like Dickinson would ease into a game at maybe 60-70 percent intensity and then ramp up as he gets warmed up and into the flow of things. However, at the NHL level, as a rookie, on a team that’s not very good at carrying play, he needs to hit the ground running.”

“I’ve been getting better [at] first shift, just being right on the gas, just trying to get into the game right away, not take time to get into it, or anything like that,” Dickinson said. “So whether that’s changing things up pre-game, I’ve definitely tried things and I think [I’m going in the] right.”

The second observation from Warsofsky?

“Reading rushes at this level happens in a millisecond and being able to meet the right read with the right habit of where your stick should be,” he said, “where your body position should be, and then [being] ready to make the next play in a blink of an eye, which happens really fast, and getting more comfortable doing that.”

Han found an example that addresses both of Warsofsky’s criticisms, from Dickinson’s second shift of the game on Nov. 13 at the Calgary Flames.

“He overcommits to his partner’s side of the ice and gives up a shot off the rush,” Han noted. “Shortly thereafter, he makes a somewhat careless pass on a back wall retrieval that almost leads to a Calgary scoring chance.”

“Those are the two big areas that we kind of narrowed in on,” Warsofsky said. “The offensive stuff and the stuff he can do on the blueline and join the rush, he has that, we’re not worried about that.”

Dickinson also turns the puck over too much.

According to Stathletes, Dickinson is NHL-worst among all blueliners in neutral zone giveaways at 5-on-5 per 60, and ninth-worst in DZ giveaways.

On a better team, Dickinson, frankly, probably isn’t ready for full-time NHL duty. He’s been a bundle of highs and lows, still working on becoming that reliable two-way blueliner that playoff-caliber teams depend on.

That’s not a shot at the 19-year-old: Teen defensemen who are ready to play regular minutes on a contender are few and far between.

That said, the Sharks didn’t necessarily keep Dickinson in the NHL for the player that he is now: They’re keeping him for the player that he will be by the end of this season, and in the coming years.

The NHL is a better place for Dickinson to develop than the OHL, and the Sharks believe he has the mental toughness to handle the best league in the world.

“Can we make this guy a guy we play 25, 26 minutes a night?” Warsofsky said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

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November Penguins' Prospects Update: Goaltenders

It's a new season, and Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects are off to a pretty good start this season.

GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has managed to infuse the Penguins' organization with a lot of promising talent in the last two-plus years by acquiring prospects and accruing draft capital, and the Penguins' enhanced development staff has also helped young players already in the organization begin to find potential paths to the NHL.

And the Penguins have a good amount of depth at the goaltending position. So much, in fact, that they are popping up in some trade rumors regarding the Edmonton Oilers. For the most part, Penguins' goaltending prospects have continued to show why one of the veterans at the NHL level might be expendable.

Here is our November Penguins' prospects update for goaltenders:

Sergei Murashov

In an unexpected twist early in the season - and after a stellar training camp - Murashov got the chance to make his NHL debut much sooner than anticipated and have a small run of games at the NHL level before being re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) once Tristan Jarry was activated from injured reserve. 

During his NHL stint, he appeared in four games and posted a 1.90 goals-against average to go along with a .913 save percentage. There were a few blips along the way in that sample, but for the most part, he looked calm, cool, collected, and confident, which is impressive for a 21-year-old.

And he picked up right where he left off in his first start at the AHL level since his re-assignment. Against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday, Murashov stopped 31 of 32 shots and posted a .969 save percentage for the game. Through nine appearances at the AHL level collectively this season, he has a 6-2-0 record with one shutout, a 1.70 goals-against average, and a .934 save percentage. 

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

This guy has dominated every professional level he's played at, and he flashed some of that dominance in NHL action, too. He goes post-to-post effortlessly, consistently challenges shooters, loves to play the puck, and is rarely out of position.

It won't be long before he's in Pittsburgh for good, and he has the tools to be a core piece of the Penguins' future for many years to come. 

Joel Blomqvist

Blomqvist missed the first month-plus of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury in training camp. He had a bit of a rough outing against the Hershey Bears on Saturday, as he was pulled after surrendering four goals on 16 shots.

But, aside from that game, he's been good so far. In four appearances this season, he is 3-1-1 with a shutout, a 2.19 goals-against average, and a .920 save percentage. 

The young netminder from Uusikaarlepyy, Finland kind of does have a lot to prove this season, as he now has Murashov to compete with for an NHL spot. In addition, his mixed-bag NHL sample last season - he excelled in his first stint and struggled in his second - left a bit more to be desired in terms of looking ahead to the future. 

At 23 years old, this is a big season for Blomqvist. He will compete for the net at the AHL level with Murashov, too, and ideally, they would become a future 1A and 1B situation for the NHL club. If he continues to build on the work he's put in so far this season, it will make it a lot easier for the Penguins to be comfortable parting with one of their netminders at the NHL level. 

Filip Larsson

Larsson, 27, started out the season strong for WBS when he was the backup to Murashov prior to the Russian goaltender's NHL stint. 

However, his numbers have dipped a bit in recent games. 

After posting a .941 save percentage through three appearances in the month of October, Larsson had a lowly .755 save percentage through the same amount of games in November. It was tough timing for him, too, because both Blomqvist and Murashov are now active at the AHL level, and it's going to be hard for Larsson to see much playing time with both of them in the picture. 

Perhaps a stint for the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) wouldn't be the worst thing for Larsson right now, where he'd get more playing time and have a chance to find his game again. But, if he does remain on the AHL roster - and the WBS Penguins decide to have a three-goaltender rotation - he has to make the most of his opportunities, as they will probably be few and far between. 

'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In Camp'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In CampGoaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' training camp this season, and understandably so.&nbsp;

Gabriel D'Aigle

As has been the case with D'Aigle, looking at his raw stat line doesn't tell the whole story about the season he's having for the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL.

D'Aigle was selected by the Penguins in the third round (84th overall) of the 2025 Draft, and - once again - Victoriaville isn't exactly lighting up the 'Q.' He is getting peppered night-in and night-out, and he has logged more minutes than any other goaltender in the QMJHL.

So, given all of that, his .895 save percentage and 557 saves in 17 appearances doesn't look so bad. D'Aigle is a work in progress and a bit of a project, but the tools are there. And the Penguins believe they might have something in the 6-foot-4, 19-year-old workhorse. 

NHL News: Penguins Take Interesting Goalie With Pick No. 84NHL News: Penguins Take Interesting Goalie With Pick No. 84The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> have selected goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle with the 84th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Jake Smith

At 30 years old, Smith can't really be considered a prospect. He spent nine seasons in Europe before joining Wheeling this season.

However, we will highlight him here because he's putting up some pretty impressive numbers for the Nailers so far.

In eight appearances, Smith is 7-0-1 with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. Earlier this month, he earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors for the week of Nov. 10-16.

Of course, it would take quite a lot of bad injury luck for Smith to get anywhere near the NHL. But the Oakville, Ontario native has been outstanding so far, and he might make things interesting in terms of the goaltending split when Taylor Gauthier returns from injury.

Nailers' Netminder Earns Goaltender Of The Week HonorsNailers' Netminder Earns Goaltender Of The Week HonorsJake Smith becomes the 33rd Wheeling Nailer to win the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award.

Maxim Pavlenko

After a shaky start to the season, the 23-year-old goaltender from Kazakhstan has settled in a bit. 

Through eight games, Pavlenko is 5-3-0 with a .906 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. His play for the Kazakhstan at the World Championship this year - he went 1-4 with an .881 save percentage and a 3.75 goals-against average against some very tough competition and behind a lackluster defense - earned him an AHL contract for the 2025-26 season.

Pavlenko may be a bit of an NHL longshot given the organization's goaltending depth, but don't count him out. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound goaltender has the size and the tools to continue refining his game and to make a case for himself as a potential option for the AHL club moving forward.

Notable injuries: Taylor Gauthier

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November Penguins' Prospects Update: Forwards

It's a new season, and Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects are off to a pretty good start this season.

GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has managed to infuse the Penguins' organization with a lot of promising talent in the last two-plus years by acquiring prospects and accruing draft capital, and the Penguins' enhanced development staff has also helped young players already in the organization begin to find potential paths to the NHL.

In particular, the Penguins' prospect pool at forward has drastically improved. And quite a few of them are off to scorching starts this season. 

Here is our November Penguins' prospects update for forwards:

Rutger McGroarty

Given how McGroarty has played for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) since his return to action, it shouldn't be long before he sees action in Pittsburgh.

After missing all of training camp plus the first month and a half of the regular season, McGroarty has appeared in five games for WBS and registered four goals and seven points. He scored in four consecutive games upon his return. 

The NHL club is ailing, and McGroarty is putting the puck in the back of the net like clockwork. The Penguins have a return-to-play plan for him, and it makes sense that they don't want to rush him back to the NHL for the sake of doing it.

But there comes a point when production, results, and need may outweigh whatever preconceived plan was in place. If McGroarty keeps this up for much longer - and the Penguins don't get healthy very soon - he should be in Pittsburgh. 

Avery Hayes

Hayes, 22, missed a few games due to injury this month, but he's picked up right where he left off prior to his injury.

In 15 games this season, Hayes has five goals and nine points - and three of his five goals have been game-winning goals. He seems to have that clutch gene, and it's a great quality to have alongside the defensive awareness, versatility, and special teams ability he brings. 

Hayes has already begun the first year of his two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins. He impressed in training camp and can play up and down a lineup.

Along with McGroarty, he's another guy that should see NHL ice sooner rather than later this season.

Penguins Send Two Forwards Back To Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonPenguins Send Two Forwards Back To Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonThe Pittsburgh Penguins sent two forwards back to their AHL farm team on Sunday.

Tristan Broz

Broz, 22, made his NHL debut Nov. 26 against the Buffalo Sabres, and it was a debut well-earned because of his play at the AHL level this season.

Prior to his call-up, Broz had eight goals and 13 points in 18 games, and his strong play on both sides of the puck stood out. Broz's positional versatility - he can play center and wing effectively - as well as his high impact on both the power play and penalty kill are qualities that made the decision on a call-up easy for the Penguins. 

Well, in addition to his production and ability to score goals, of course. 

Broz was a healthy scratch for the back-to-back against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday and Saturday. With a rough 7-2 loss against the Leafs, the Penguins next play the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, and they sent Broz back to WBS with some assumed roster movement otherwise on the way.

But if he continues what he's been doing at the AHL level this season, it won't be long before Broz is back in Pittsburgh again.

'He's A Great Player': Tristan Broz Confirmed To Make NHL Debut Wednesday Against Buffalo Sabres'He's A Great Player': Tristan Broz Confirmed To Make NHL Debut Wednesday Against Buffalo SabresPittsburgh Penguins' forward prospect Tristan Broz will make his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres On Wednesday

Atley Calvert

Calvert, 22, has cooled off considerably since his scorching start to the season. He has no points in the last six games and , unfortunately, does not make a huge degree of impact when he is not showing up on the scoresheet.

Still, the undrafted forward is still one to watch this season, as he has been a pleasant surprises during his organizational tenure so far.  He has six goals and 10 points in 20 AHL games, and he does tend to score in streaks and bunches. He's simply going through a cold stretch at the moment. 

In 2024-25, he had 13 goals and 36 points in 38 ECHL games and nine goals and 14 points in 26 AHL games.

Will Horcoff

In all honesty, we are running out of words to describe what Horcoff is doing for the University of Michigan Wolverines this season. 

After two wins against Harvard this weekend - in which he registered four goals, including the overtime game-winner on Nov. 29 - Horcoff is up to 18 goals and 26 points in 18 games on the NCAA season, which means he now leads the NCAA in both goals and points. 

The main knock on Horcoff coming out of the 2025 NHL Draft - when he was selected 24th overall - was that he needed to find the back of the net more often. Well, he's done that and more, and it's quite impressive for an 18-year-old who was the youngest player in the NCAA last season. 

The Penguins look like they could be getting a pretty special player here in Horcoff, and that 2025 first round is looking better and better, even with Bill Zonnon injured again and barely having played this season. 

Penguins' Top Prospect Tied For First In NCAA In Points After Another Stellar GamePenguins' Top Prospect Tied For First In NCAA In Points After Another Stellar GamePittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff had another outstanding weekend for Michigan.

Cruz Lucius

Lucius - drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft and dealt to the Penguins in the Jake Guentzel trade - has put together a nice season for the Arizona State University Sun Devils so far.

He has 10 goals and 20 points in 16 games on the season, including a goal and seven points in the last five games. 

Lucius still has to refine some of the defensive details in his game, which has been a point of emphasis for him in his development. But his scoring touch gets better and better with each passing season, and he is on pace to surpass career-highs in both goals and points this season.

Takeaways: Penguins' 7-2 Loss To Leafs Calls For Some ChangesTakeaways: Penguins' 7-2 Loss To Leafs Calls For Some ChangesHeading into Saturday's matchup against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> had won two consecutive games and appeared to be crawling out of the November slump they found themselves in.&nbsp;

Zam Plante

While Horcoff leads the NCAA in goals and points, Plante leads the league in assists with 17.

The Penguins' 2022 fifth-round (150th overall) pick has seven goals and 24 points for the University of Minnesota - Duluth this season, and a lot of those assists have come on goals by his younger brother, Max, who has found the back of the net 13 times and is tied with Horcoff for the league lead in points. 

The 21-year-old center from Mannheim, Germany continues to climb his way up the prospects rankings for the Penguins, and after his junior breakout season with the Fargo Force of the USHL in 2023-24 - he had 26 goals and 71 points in 57 games - he has continued to follow through on his development as a playmaker at the NCAA level. 

Ryan Miller

Miller, 18, is on an absolute tear right now in the WHL. And it's beginning to look like he was one of several steals in the later rounds of the 2025 draft class.

One of three fifth-round draft picks (130th overall) by the Penguins this year, Miller has a WHL-best 19-game active point streak, which was extended Saturday with a two-goal, three-point effort for the Portland Winterhawks in a 7-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos. Overall, he has nine goals and 33 points in 26 games on the season.

The tenacious, net-driving forward has impressed early on this season, and he will be one to watch as the season progresses. If he can develop his offensive game even further, there is a chance that the Penguins could be getting yet another pretty decent two-way centerman in their system. 

Jordan Charron

Charron - one of the other fifth-round picks (154th overall) by the Penguins this year - has cooled off considerably since his scorching start to the season that featured seven goals and 11 points in six OHL games for the Soo Greyhounds. 

Since then, Charron has just 11 goals and 15 points in 21 games, which - although still formidable on the goal-scoring front - isn't quite the clip he was producing at before. Still, Charron's scoring ability, size, and speed have allowed him to become more productive this season, as he's following up on a 2024-25 campaign that included just 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games. 

If the 6-foot-2, 198-pound Charron keeps playing to his strengths and learns to use his speed and size even more to his advantage, he could unlock an even higher level of production.

Mikhail Ilyin

The 20-year-old Ilyin - who is playing out the first year of his three-year entry-level contract in the KHL for the Severstal Cherepovets - just seems to be getting better and better.

Playing on Severstal's top line this season, the youngster has increased his production quite a bit in comparison to last season, as his eight goals and 24 points in 32 games are far outpacing his previous career-high of 12 goals in 65 games during the 2023-24 season and 30 points in 64 games in 2024-25. He is also a plus-16 this season. 

A smart, skilled playmaker, Ilyin continues to show off his craftiness and vision with Severstal, and at 27th overall in KHL scoring, there is only one player younger than him - 19-year-old Yegor Surin, who was drafted 22nd overall by the Nashville Predators in 2024 - within the top-75 in league scoring.

That should say something about Ilyin doing what he's doing at his age in the KHL.

Melvin Fernstrom

It's probably safe to say that Fernstrom - a 19-year-old right wing acquired in the Marcus Pettersson trade last spring - has not had the start that him or the Penguins were hoping for.

The 6-foot, 187-pound forward has just two goals and two points in 24 games for Orebro HK of the SHL this season. The third-round pick (93rd overall) of the Vancouver Canucks in 2024 earned SHL Rookie of the Year honors last season with eight goals and 17 points in 48 games - and he is pacing just four goals and four points in as many games this season. 

The Penguins want Fernstrom to work on his skating, and the offense hasn't been shining this season, either. The youngster still has some growth to accomplish if he hopes to see NHL ice at some point, but the good news is that he's only 19 - and it's hard for teenagers to score in the SHL.

Notable injuries: Bill Zonnon, Tanner Howe

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New York Islanders Recall Forward Marc Gatcomb

The New York Islanders announced they have recalled forward Marc Gatcomb from the Bridgeport Islanders. 

He did not appear in the Islanders' game against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 30 after playing in a back-to-back with Bridgeport but with Kyle Palmieri out for the season he will likely earn some NHL minutes in the coming games.

Gatcomb has four goals and eight points in 15 games in the AHL this season and is pointless in one NHL game.

The 26-year-old has 25 goals and 62 points in 165 career AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks and Islanders. He has eight goals and nine points in 40 career NHL games, all with the Islanders. 

The Woburn, Mass., native originally turned pro in 2022 with the Canucks after four years with the University of Connecticut where he racked up 46 points in 124 games. 

The Hockey News' New York Islanders site also covered this move here.

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Dallas 6 Ottawa 1: Senators Put Up Another Rough Third Period Performance

Wyatt Johnston continues to make a compelling case to be on our Olympic team.

Johnston recorded his fourth career NHL hat trick, including two power-play goals, as the Dallas Stars dismantled the Senators 6-1 on Sunday night at American Airlines Center. Johnston now has an NHL-leading 12 power-play goals and finished the night with his second four-point game in less than a week.

Jason Robertson was also rolling for Dallas, scoring the game-winning goal and adding two assists in his 400th career NHL game. Mavrik Bourque and Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, who are an outrageous 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.

For Ottawa, Jake Sanderson's goal provided the only run support for Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, who wasn't their savior, nor did he get much help. Ullmark's shaky early-season numbers have been improving in the past couple of weeks, but allowing six goals on 26 shots will undo some of those statistical repairs.

But Sens defenders had several instances where they left Dallas forwards open in dangerous spots, serving up high-danger opportunities for one of the hottest teams in hockey. Down 3-1 after 40 minutes, it marked the second consecutive third period where the Sens weren't very good.

Johnston and Robertson now share the Stars’ team lead with 16 goals each, tied for fourth in the NHL. Robertson has points in 10 of his last 11 games, with 13 goals and nine assists, while Johnston’s power-play performance keeps him in the discussion for Canadian international duty this February. Only six Canadian skaters have more points (30) than him.

“It would be amazing to go,” Johnston told NHL.com after his four-point performance on Wednesday in Edmonton. “For me, it’s just trying to do the best I can to help the Stars win, and that will also help my chances of trying to make that team as well. That would be awesome and a huge honour.”

Dallas backup Casey DeSmith stopped all 15 Sens shots he faced. The result drops Ottawa to 12-9-4, and 3-3 on this road trip, leaving them outside of the Eastern playoff picture and setting up a big game in Montreal on Tuesday.

For the record, the Sens now finish the month at 6-4-3. It's their first time above .500 for the month since 2016-17, but these past couple of November outings, including Friday's shaky finish in St. Louis, haven't exactly set the table for a promising December.

That being said, it is the end of a busy, difficult road trip, which, for all intents and purposes, is now over. The Senators have one more road game, but it's just up the road in Montreal on Tuesday.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

Ullmark Trades In Game Day Naps For Computer Games
Assessing Life Without The Tkaptain: What Do We Know Now About The Senators?
Senators Prospect Watch: Seven Future Sens Who Are Getting Noticed
Former Senators Prospect Finally Finds NHL Home With Rival Boston Bruins
NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)

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Former Ottawa Senator Unleashes Beatdown On Red Wings Star Defenseman

Former Ottawa Senator Mark Kastelic reminded fans on Saturday night why he’s a player most NHL players don't look forward to tangling with. Now with the Boston Bruins, Kastelic got into a brawl on Saturday night with Detroit Red Wings star defenseman Moritz Seider, and the results were predictable.

This was only Seider's second NHL fight, and it represented a huge jump in skill and weight class compared to his first career scrap. According to HockeyFights.com, that one was against Nashville Predators' star forward Filip Forsberg two years ago.

The incident came in the final seconds of the first period. Kastelic collided hard with Seider in the Detroit corner. The two began with some squawking and shoving, but them things quickly escalated from there.

Moritz Seider vs Mark Kastelic Nov 29, 2025Moritz Seider vs Mark Kastelic Nov 29, 2025Moritz Seider vs Mark Kastelic from the Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins game on Nov 29, 2025. via https://www.hockeyfights.com

It was a little surprising to see the Wings' prized defenseman being allowed to freely square off against one of the league’s tougher hombres with zero intervention from teammates.

Kastelic, a veteran of 38 pro fights, stands 6’4” and 234 pounds. Seider, while physically imposing at 6’2” and 210 pounds, is the smaller man and certainly not known for dropping the gloves. The mismatch was apparent almost immediately. Kastelic landed several powerful right-hand haymakers, leaving Seider on the defensive and ultimately overwhelmed.

Seider is a summer training partner and close friend of Senators' star Tim Stützle. Kastelic was drafted by the Senators 125th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four seasons in the Sens' organization, two of them in Ottawa. He was dealt two summers ago as part of the deal that saw Linus Ullmark traded by Boston to Ottawa.

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

Ullmark Trades In Game Day Naps For Computer Games
Assessing Life Without The Tkaptain: What Do We Know Now About The Senators?
Senators Prospect Watch: Seven Future Sens Who Are Getting Noticed
Former Senators Prospect Finally Finds NHL Home With Rival Boston Bruins
NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market|Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)

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Todd McLellan Calls Out &quot;Disconnect&quot; Between Red Wings' Position Groups

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While the Detroit Red Wings were able to salvage a point in the standings during Saturday evening's 3-2 shootout setback against the Boston Bruins, it was the fourth straight game in which they were unable to pick up a win. 

During their losing skid, the Red Wings have allowed a total of 19 goals, including a worrying six goals against on Nov. 26 against the NHL-worst Nashville Predators, who hadn't scored more than five goals in a single game all season long. 

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

It continues a concerning trend for the Red Wings which has seen them dip to a -13 goal differential, which is ranked 28th overall in the NHL. For a team that wants to be better defensively, that kind of statistic needs fixing. 

After surrendering six goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday afternoon, many of which were the result of defensive miscues, head coach Todd McLellan acknowledged that while the team has shown they can play well, there's a disconnect between the forwards and defensemen. 

"We don't get 13 wins 25 games in without having a team that can play well enough," McLellan said. "Are we playing well enough? No, we're not. Why aren't we? There's a little bit of disconnect between forwards and (defensemen) right now.

"Then in a team game, you sometimes get punished as a team, score-wise, momentum-wise, win-loss wise, for individual mistakes," he continued. "That happens. Team breakdowns are much more repairable than just an individual faux pas." 

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The losses against the Lightning and Predators were the reverse kind of performance the Red Wings showed in victories over the New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken, during both of which they were defensively responsible. 

McLellan laid out the facts plainly - until the Red Wings decide to improve their game management, these kinds of issues will continue to persist at an uncomfortable rate. 

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Blackhawks Score 5 Unanswered, End Losing Streak With Comeback WIn

The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Anaheim Ducks at the United Center on Sunday afternoon. After losing five in a row, the Blackhawks were looking for a big performance to get out of their funk. 

This plan did not get off to a good start, however, as the Ducks had a 3-0 lead about halfway through the first period. It was as sloppy a start as the Blackhawks have had this season. 

At 17:57 of the opening period, on the power play, Connor Bedard hit Frank Nazar for a shot that was deflected in by Tyler Bertuzzi to get the Blackhawks on the board. That 3-1 Ducks lead bled into the first intermission. 

In the second period, which has been the bad period for Chicago this year, they were magnificent. It could be their best middle frame of the season. While outplaying Anaheim, they scored two goals compliments of Ryan Greene and Colton Dach to tie the game. At the second break, the game was tied 3-3.

Early in the third period, the Blackhawks were awarded a power play thanks to some good work by Artyom Levshunov, but Alex Killorn scored a short-handed goal for the Ducks. Jeff Blashill then successfully challenged the play for offside, so the goal did not count, and the game remained tied. 

Ducks goalie and former Blackhawks Petr Mrazek left the game with an injury midway through the third, which forced them to put in Ville Husso. 

Quickly after that, Connor Bedard made a magical play to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 lead. He found the puck all alone in front of Husso and put a brilliant move on him to score. It’s a tough break for Husso, fresh in the game, but Bedard alone with the puck is difficult for any goalie. 

Bedard wasn't done there. He made it a four-point game with his empty net goal. Now, Bedard has 37 points in 25 games played. 

That 5-3 score stood as the final. They scored five unanswered goals to earn the comeback win and end their five-game losing streak. 

Teuvo Teravainen Update

Ahead of the game, the Blackhawks had Teuvo Teravainen listed as a game-time decision. He needed to take warmups to decide if he was good to go. It turned out that he was fine, and he had an assist in the win. 

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

What's Next For Chicago? 

Up next for the Blackhawks is a long road trip. That will begin on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

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

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Total Recall: What Defenseman Dennis Gilbert Can Bring To The Ottawa Senators

When the Ottawa Senators re-acquired Dennis Gilbert from Philadelphia straight up for Max Guenette earlier this month, it satisfied several needs.

It ended the team's RFA contract stalemate with Guenette, who has since signed in Philly's organization. And by adding Gilbert, it also beefed up the left side of Ottawa's blue line. With Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Tyler Kleven, the Senators are in good shape, but the drop-off after those three is steep. So much so that they've been using a right-shot defenseman to fill in on the left side.

With Chabot's comeback from injury lasting less than one game, he's now been placed on injured reserve. The Sens' solution for that has mainly been right-shot defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo, who was expected to skate on the left side again on Sunday in Dallas, just as he did on Friday in St. Louis.

But the Sens have called up Gilbert from AHL Belleville on Saturday, suggesting one of two things:

  • Head coach Travis Green wants to get back to having guys play on their natural side, so maybe Gilbert takes Matinpalo's spot in the bottom pairing.
  • Or perhaps Kleven isn't right after blocking a shot with his hand on Friday. He left the game but quickly returned. As is sometimes the case, perhaps the injury felt worse a day later. So it's possible Gilbert is up to replace Kleven outright or just act as a seventh-man insurance policy.

Gilbert is coming off a knee injury suffered in a game between Lehigh Valley and Laval on October 29. He left that game after a hit by Xavier Simoneau, who was called for kneeing. When Gilbert was traded to Ottawa, he finally returned to action with Belleville on Nov. 22 and had three assists over the next three games before Saturday's recall.

In parts of six NHL seasons, Gilbert has appeared in 111 games, scoring three goals and 20 points. Gilbert was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks, 90th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres.

The 29-year-old fits nicely with the club's general desire for size on the blue line, checking in at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds. And he doesn't mind the odd fight, which satisfies another need in Ottawa – an extra option to take some pressure off Brady Tkachuk. The last thing the Senators want is to see Tkachuk ramming his surgically repaired right fist into someone's face anytime soon.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

Ullmark Trades In Game Day Naps For Computer Games
Assessing Life Without The Tkaptain: What Do We Know Now About The Senators?
Senators Prospect Watch: Seven Future Sens Who Are Getting Noticed
Former Senators Prospect Finally Finds NHL Home With Rival Boston Bruins
NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)

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Red Wings' Moritz Seider Sends A Message By Dropping The Gloves Against The Bruins

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Detroit Red Wings top defenseman Moritz Seider isn't known as a fighter, as he had dropped the gloves only one time in his NHL career entering Saturday evening's tilt against the Boston Bruins. 

But in the waning seconds of the opening 20 minutes of play, Seider got into a scrum with Boston's Mark Kastelic that eventually turned into a full-fledged bout. 

Both players traded multiple punches, and it was Kastelic who ultimately got the takedown with a vicious right hook.  

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Seider and the Red Wings would ultimately fall by a 3-2 final score in the shootout to the Bruins, whom they will face once again on Tuesday evening at Little Caesars Arena. 

Afterward, Seider said part of the reason why he felt the need to drop the gloves was as a response to the physicality showed by the Bruins and to answer when the club gets, as he put it, "pushed around".

“A very tough guy, but I think we just needed a little bit of a spark," he said of his fight with Kastelic. "I think we sometimes get pushed around a little bit, and sometimes we just need to answer. It doesn’t matter the outcome, just got to show face and be ready for it.”

There were some tense moments for Red Wings fans at the beginning of the second period, as Seider wasn't on the bench. However, Seider would eventually return to the contest and ultimately finished with a team-high 28:18 of ice time. 

Dylan Larkin, who extended his point streak with an assist on Lucas Raymond's third period tally, gave Seider props for taking on Kastelic. 

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"That’s important that we stuck together," he said. "Great for Mo to stick up for himself. That’s a tough customer he took on. He did really well.”

“It was good for Mo," head coach Todd McLellan said. "Good for our team to stand our ground. He did a real good job.”

Like most NHL teams, the Red Wings no longer carry a traditional enforcer - a player who sees limited ice time, contributes little offensively, and is used primarily as an on-ice sheriff. The role of an enforcer has fallen by the wayside in NHL competition in recent years. 

But there are multiple Red Wings who have more than one fighting major on their resume, including both Larkin and Alex DeBrincat along with J.T. Compher and Travis Hamonic. 

Depth forward Austin Watson, who had one fighting major during his brief NHL stint with Detroit last season, amassed seven fighting majors with the Grand Rapids Griffins that same year and has added two more so far this season.

There could be more fireworks on Tuesday evening when the Red Wings and Bruins reconvene at Little Caesars Arena for the conclusion of their short home-and-home series. 

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