After being held out of the Vancouver Canucks' lineup for three games due to roster management reasons, Tyler Myers has officially been traded to the Dallas Stars. As per Pierre LeBrun of TSN, heading back Vancouver's way are a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-round pick in 2029. As part of the deal, the Canucks will retain 50% of Myers' remaining contract.
Myers' trade saga first started when he was held out of Vancouver's lineup on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets due to roster management reasons. While he continued practicing with the team at times and skating during warm-ups, he did not play. His last game as a Canuck was played on February 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, while his last home game was on January 31 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With Myers now a member of the Stars, the defenceman finishes his current season with a goal and seven assists in 57 games for the Canucks in 2025-26. He spent the better-half of seven seasons with Vancouver after signing with the team in free agency in 2019 and signing an extension in 2024. His current contract includes a full no-movement clause, which factored into the process of the deal being completed.
Vancouver plays again tonight when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes on home-ice in their final game before the trade deadline. With Myers now dealt, the Canucks will likely turn their attention to other deals. Puck drop for tonight's game is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Feb 2, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers (57) looks for a play against the Utah Mammoth during the third period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
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There appears to be a few teams in the mix for the Massachusetts native who is on an expiring deal with a $4.95 million AAV. He does have an extension in place, a six-year deal worth $6 million annually.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche wants to add a big fish, a top-six forward, but he isn't going to jeopardize his future unless he feels that player is the right fit for now and going forward.
The Islanders are still in talks with the St. Louis Blues regarding Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou.
Sebastian Cossa, the top goaltending prospect in the organization, has been called up by the Detroit Red Wings on an emergency basis.
The move was made in the morning of Wednesday, March 4, two days after the team's starting goaltender, John Gibson, left Monday's game at the Nashville Predators with an upper-body injury after getting hit in the shoulder area with a puck. Gibson was to be looked at when he returned home. The Red Wings were off on Tuesday.
Gibson is feeling "much better" and took the ice Wednesday morning, coach Todd McLellan said. But he is out for Wednesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). Cam Talbot finished the Nashville game and is the Red Wings' top backup.
Cossa has appeared in one NHL game, coming in in relief on Dec. 9, 2024, in a game at the Buffalo Sabres, which he won in a shootout.
Selected at No. 15 in 2021 draft, Cossa has compiled a 68-29-17 record with a 2.38 goals-against average, a 0.914 save percentage and eight shutouts in 115 AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The NHL trade deadline is just a couple of days away, and the understanding is that the Los Angeles Kings' GM Ken Holland won't be a busy customer by the time the week's over.
He had his say, explaining that trading for Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4 was his "big deadline deal." Holland also said that he anticipates the team's first-round pick not being in play this week.
Nonetheless, here is a roundup of the players that have been linked to the Kings in some way, leading up to Friday's deadline.
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Throughout the season, there have been rumblings regarding Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson and Los Angeles.
It seemed to be an obvious fit, looking on the outside. Captain Anze Kopitar, who has been the Kings' first-line center for practically the length of his 20-year career, will be retiring at the end of this season.
Therefore, Los Angeles is going to have to replace the veteran in some way, shape or form.
Pettersson could fit the bill of what the Kings will be missing as he is a top-six center and was once a superstar, recording a 103-point campaign back in 2022-23. The Swede is also 27 years old, meaning the Kings would get some prime years from Pettersson.
The trickiest part of that potential marriage is Pettersson's contract. The Canucks center carries an $11.6 million salary cap hit for the next six years. He also has a full no-move clause activated throughout the entire deal that expires following the 2031-32 campaign.
To this point, it doesn't seem like Pettersson is in play - for any team - ahead of the trade deadline. If Vancouver ever decides to trade him away, it'll likely be an off-season move when teams have a little more flexibility with the cap and their rosters.
Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues
Robert Thomas has been one of the hottest topics in the NHL in terms of candidates to be moved before Friday's deadline. At his age, cap hit, and several years under term, what team wouldn't be interested in kicking tires at Thomas?
TSN's Darren Dreger said on the Barn Burner podcast that he could see Thomas being a fit for L.A. The fit here is built on the same philosophy as the Pettersson addition.
However, Thomas is younger than Pettersson at 26 years old and has a cheaper salary cap hit of $8.125 million until 2030-31.
The problem with this potential move is that the St. Louis Blues have a high asking price for Thomas, and given the position the Kings are in, Holland shouldn't unload his prospects and future assets. Making the playoffs isn't a certainty for Los Angeles this year.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers
While Vincent Trocheck has three more years on his contract, he wouldn't be the type of fit for the Kings that Pettersson or Thomas would bring. Trocheck is a 32-year-old veteran center that contending teams will be looking to add.
Not only would the Rangers center only bring the Kings a few years of great penalty killing and second-line contributions, but Trocheck is reportedly uninterested in moving to the Western Conference.
Trocheck's 12-team no-trade list allows him to exercise that request. Along with that clause in his contract, he earns $5.625 million until the end of the 2028-29 season
Even though the Olympic gold medallist would be a great help for Los Angeles in their quest to get into the playoffs, it doesn't seem like a likely transaction.
Steven Stamkos, C/LW, Nashville Predators
The Kings were linked to Nashville Predators center and left winger Steven Stamkos for a brief period of time. Those rumors came to fruition before the Panarin acquisition and, since then, have gone silent.
In addition, there's no guarantee that Stamkos gets moved anywhere, as he has a full no-move clause for the remainder of his contract. The deal that sees him earn $8 million per season expires following the 2027-28 campaign.
Furthermore, Stamkos has hinted at not being interested in waiving his clause, keeping him in Nashville.
Nonetheless, the 36-year-old veteran has had an excellent campaign to this point, scoring 30 goals and 47 points in 61 contests.
Patrik Laine, RW, Montreal Canadiens
There are two parts of the story when it comes to Los Angeles pursuing Montreal Canadiens right winger Patrik Laine.
Initially, Holland contacted the Habs to check in on the status of Laine, but quickly began looking elsewhere as there didn't seem to be a fit.
However, the latest reports from David Pagnotta say that the Kings are circling back on the Finnish sniper. This likely has to do with the injury to Andrei Kuzmenko, who received surgery and is out for the long term.
At any rate, Laine also hasn't been healthy. He's only featured in five games this season, with his last appearance coming on Oct. 16. The 27-year-old has been sidelined for several months following a core muscle surgery.
Last season, the second-overall pick of the 2016 draft featured in 52 contests, scoring 30 goals and 33 points. The pending UFA carries an $8.7 million cap hit and has a 10-team no-trade list.
Evander Kane, LW, Vancouver Canucks
The rumor linking Canucks left winger Evander Kane to the Kings hasn't been a hot headline for some time. However, the reality of a deal happening is very much alive.
One thing to consider is how Los Angeles' GM feels about the player. Holland has brought in Kane before, when he was with the Edmonton Oilers, and could easily do it again if he wished.
Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
Kane, 34, was acquired by Vancouver in the off-season for a fourth-round pick. If Holland wants to add experience, sandpaper, and depth to the bottom half of his forward group, trading for Kane may be the easiest transaction the GM has ever made in his career.
This season, Kane has played 59 games and has registered 11 goals and 27 points while averaging 16:48 of ice time for the Canucks.
Blake Coleman is very likely to be moved by the Calgary Flames ahead of this deadline. But Coleman's connection to Los Angeles has been a relatively new development.
Dreger reported on Barn Burner that among the laundry list of forwards that the Holland and the Kings are keeping an eye on, Coleman appears to be one of them.
The 34-year-old is a very versatile player who can do a job in all forward positions. He's in his fifth season with the Flames, but played a key role as a checking forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their back-to-back Stanley Cup runs.
Coleman is in the fifth year of a six-year contract that pays him $4.9 million per season and has a 10-team trade list. He has 13 goals and 22 points in 48 games for Calgary.
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The Detroit Red Wings return home with momentum after a statement 4–2 road win over the Nashville Predators, bouncing back from a tough trip that also included a stop against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Awaiting them are the Vegas Golden Knights, who enter Wednesday’s matchup struggling at 4-8-2 over their last 14 games and riding a three-game losing streak. While Detroit has dropped three of the last four meetings overall, Vegas has lost four of its last five games in the Motor City.
Vegas could again be without captain Mark Stone, paving the way for Pavel Dorofeyev to continue his hot stretch alongside Mitch Marner, with 15 points in his last 16 games. Detroit will counter with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin, who have combined for eight goals over the past 10 games.
The biggest question surrounds Detroit’s crease after John Gibson exited Monday’s game, prompting the recall of top prospect Sebastian Cossa. Cam Talbot is expected to start against Adin Hill, as both teams look for stability in net in what shapes up to be a pivotal matchup.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Vegas (Wednesday)
Rasmussen – Larkin – Kane
DeBrincat – Copp – Raymond
van Riemsdyk – Compher – Shine
Finnie – Kasper – Appleton
Edvinsson – Seider
Johansson - Sandin-Pellikka
Chiarot – Benard-Docker
Talbot
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Things aren’t looking particularly good for the Florida Panthers and their hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
Following Florida’s 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the third straight for the Panthers, they fell 10 points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
It wasn’t that long ago that Florida was in a much better position with solid prospects of making the playoffs.
After winning a third straight game on Jan. 25, the Panthers were just three points out of a playoff spot with 31 games remaining on their schedule.
They have played 10 games since then, losing eight of them and leaving any hopes at reaching the postseason into extremely critical condition.
With the NHL’s annual Trade Deadline looming on Friday, it seems the Panthers may have played themselves out of being buyers and instead may be looking toward the future.
According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, Florida may be taking a selling position at the deadline.
The Panthers lost again last night and my understanding is they've made the decision to be sellers as far as listening on pending UFAs, which most notably include the likes of AJ. Greer and Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky has a 16-team no-trade list. Doesn't mean he will be dealt…
That means pending unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and A.J. Greer could be prime targets for teams looking to bolster their rosters ahead of the playoffs.
Greer, 29, is having the best season of his nine spent in the NHL, racking up career highs in goals (11) and points (22), and he’ll likely set a new mark for shots on goal in a season as well (he needs nine shots to break last season’s total of 86).
Bobrovsky, on the other hand, is having a regular season to forget.
Following Tuesday’s defeat to the Devils, Bobrovsky’s record dropped to 22-19-1. Through 43 appearance, Bob has skated to a career-worst .873 save percentage, and the only season he had with a higher GAA (goals against average) than his current 3.13 was during his first year with the Panthers, when it was 3.23.
Not since his second season in the NHL has Bobrovsky, who is 37 years old, had a save percentage lower than .900.
But Bobrovsky’s recent play during the postseason, where he’s been excellent, will keep him in high regard among potential playoff teams looking for help in the goaltending department.
While helping lead the Panthers to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, Bobrovsky has been lights out between the pipes, cementing his place as one of the NHL’s all time great goaltenders and playoff performers.
He struggles this season could also be attributed to Florida playing with a roster missing several of their key pieces, as Sasha Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek all missed months upon months, with Tkahcuk only returning in January and Kulikov and Nosek in the past week, while Barkov remains on LTIR.
The thing about Bobrovsky is that he has a 16-team no-trade list attached to his contract, and he and his family are very happy in South Florida.
It’s where he and his wife Olya have started their family, with two daughters joining the Bobrovsky clan in recent years, and where Bobrovsky has reportedly said he wants to continue his career beyond his current contract.
How all of this plays out in the coming 48 hours will be very interesting to watch unfold.
Photo caption: Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers Sergei Sergei Bobrovsky (72) sprays his face with water against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
For a team that values combativity, seeing Montreal Canadiens’ Kirby Dach’s nonchalant play in his own zone against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night should have set off a couple of alarms. In a recent interview on the Basu and Godin Notebook, Habs GM Kent Hughes explained that Montreal is after competitiveness from its players. He cited Brendan Gallagher, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson as examples of players who have what he’s looking for.
Seeing Dach be so easily dispossessed by Kiefer Sherwood last night was yet another example of a play where the 6-foot-4 and 221-pound winger didn’t look like he wanted the puck and was willing to do whatever it took to get it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a one-off. The Albertan might have been a third-overall pick for the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2019 draft, but he doesn’t always play like it.
Pretty inexcusable effort by Kirby Dach on this goal by the Sharks
There are nights when he looks really committed and plays well. In the 11 games he has played since his return from yet another injury, he has racked up six points, but he lacks consistency, and it’s hard to tell which version of Dach will turn up on any given night.
Given the key role Nick Suzuki’s line plays for the Canadiens, it needs to be firing on all cylinders for the Canadiens to be successful. Granted, Montreal has more secondary scoring than it once did, but the fact remains that life is much easier for the Habs when their top line is performing. On Tuesday night, Montreal scored five goals, but with Suzuki and Caufield finishing the night on a minus-three and Dach with a minus-two, the Canadiens still lost the game.
At 25 years old, and after 295 NHL games, Dach should know what it takes to play in the NHL, and he should be aware of the standard Martin St-Louis wants his men to meet. If it were up to me, Dach wouldn’t start the next game on Suzuki’s wing. I think it’s time to give Alex Newhook a look there. Granted, he doesn’t have the big frame that Dach or Juraj Slafkovsky have, he’s 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, but most of the time, he plays bigger than Dach and with a higher compete level.
Before returning from his fractured ankle, Newhook said he had trained to be able to hit the ground running on his return, and he wasn’t kidding. In three games, he has recorded four points, and his speed is right where it was before he was sidelined. When you watch him, you never ask yourself if he really wants that puck; it’s evident that he does.
If Martin St-Louis absolutely wants a big body on his first line, he could also put Slafkovsky back up there and have Newhook skate alongside Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov; that combination worked very well before the St. John’s native was injured. Newhook had 12 points in 16 games when he fractured his ankle. Furthermore, Slafkovsky has struggled since returning from the Olympics, and that move might help him as well.
Whichever way you look at it, Dach’s level of implication isn’t high enough to warrant playing on the first line with Suzuki and Caufield. The door might not be shut on that possibility forever, but as things stand, Newhook has put his foot right in there, and he deserves a look, much more than Dach.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Florida Panthers have decided to be sellers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline and are open to hearing trade offers for their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). This most notably includes former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
With the Panthers' playoff hopes continuing to decrease, it makes sense that they are being sellers. Out of all their trade targets, Bobrovsky has the potential to get them the best return if they decide to move him, as he led the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cups before this season.
Teams looking for help between the pipes could very well kick tires on Bobrovsky because of his excellent resume and past success. This is especially so if the Panthers are willing to retain a portion of the former Flyers goalie's $10 million cap hit.
Bobrovsky is in the middle of a rough season for the Panthers, though. In 43 games for Florida this campaign, he has a 22-19-1 record, an .873 save percentage, and a 3.13 goals-against average. While it has been a tough year for Bobrovsky, the possibility of a playoff team looking to add him is certainly still there.
Bobrovsky played the first two seasons of his NHL career with the Flyers from 2010-11 to 2011-12. In 83 games as a Flyer over that span, he had a 42-23-10 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.73 goals-against average.
The Detroit Red Wings responded in impressive fashion after a difficult road swing, earning a statement 4–2 victory over the Nashville Predators. The win came on the heels of a demanding trip to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes, widely regarded as one of the NHL’s strongest home teams.
Detroit now returns to the Motor City riding momentum, but another stern challenge awaits in the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas enters Wednesday’s matchup desperate to reverse its fortunes, having gone 4-8-2 over its past 14 games and carrying a three-game losing streak into the contest.
Historically, the Red Wings have had mixed results against Vegas. Detroit has won just one of the past four meetings overall, but the Golden Knights have struggled in Hockeytown, dropping four of their last five visits.
Lineup Storylines
Vegas may once again be without captain Mark Stone, who is listed day-to-day. Stone was among the team’s hottest players prior to the Olympic break, and his absence has been noticeable as the Golden Knights have lacked their usual sharpness and offensive rhythm.
In his place, Pavel Dorofeyev has stepped up in a major way as the 24-year-old winger has quietly become one of the league’s most productive goal scorers, tallying 12 goals and three assists for 15 points over his last 16 games. Skating alongside elite playmaker Mitch Marner, Dorofeyev has thrived and will be a focal point for Detroit’s defensive game plan.
To counter, Detroit will lean heavily on the dynamic pairing of Lucas Raymond and captain Dylan Larkin. The duo has combined for eight goals over the Red Wings’ past 10 games and continues to drive the team’s top line offensively.
The biggest storyline, however, could unfold in between the pipes. Goaltender John Gibson exited Monday’s win in Nashville, and while head coach Todd McLellan initially indicated the veteran was fine, Detroit’s decision to recall top prospect Sebastian Cossa suggests there may still be some concern.
Cossa, one of hockey’s premier goaltending prospects, has been dominant in the AHL this season. The 23-year-old Hamilton native owns a 24-4-3 record, along with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 31 games. He was even included in an early projection for Team Canada’s 2030 Olympic roster. Cossa could make just his second NHL appearance Wednesday or serve as backup to Cam Talbot, who has struggled recently with only three wins in his last 12 outings.
Vegas is expected to counter with Adin Hill. The Golden Knights’ regular starter has endured a challenging campaign, posting a 5-4-3 record, a 3.46 goals-against average, and an .858 save percentage.
With both teams seeking stability in goal and momentum in the standings, Wednesday’s clash presents a pivotal opportunity for Detroit to continue its surge and for Vegas to halt its slide.
Vegas: Adin Hill Expected (Season: 5-4-3 record, 3.46 GAA, .858 SV% | VS DET: 4-1-0 record, 2.64 GAA, .895 SV% in six games)
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The Vegas Golden Knights have consistently played in high-scoring games on the second leg of back-to-backs.
Given the struggles of Adin Hill in net, my Golden Knights vs. Red Wings predictions expect the goals to continue flowing in Detroit.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 4.
Golden Knights vs Red Wings prediction
Golden Knights vs Red Wings best bet: Over 5.5 (-130)
Adin Hill is projected to start for the Vegas Golden Knights, which is a recipe for goals. He's performed miserably, posting an .858 SV% through 14 appearances.
Things aren’t improving in the least. Hill has conceded at least three goals in seven of nine starts in 2026 and ranks 65th among 66 eligible netminders in Goals Saved Above Expected (-11.83) along the way.
Vegas will need to outscore its problems, and it's capable of doing so. The Knights have averaged 4.11 goals per game in the second leg of back-to-backs this season.
Golden Knights vs Red Wings same-game parlay
Jack Eichel has been a menace in back-to-backs this season, scoring eight goals over nine games. He generates a ton of his volume from the slot, and the Detroit Red Wings rank 30th in slot shots allowed.
Dylan Larkin has found the net in 44% of his games against Bottom 16 teams in goals against. He’s now skating on a line with the pass-happy Patrick Kane, which should lead to more shooting opportunities.
Golden Knights vs Red Wings SGP
Over 5.5
Jack Eichel anytime goal scorer
Dylan Larkin anytime goal scorer
Golden Knights vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Golden Knights +110 | Red Wings -130
Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-220) | Red Wings -1.5 (+180)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Golden Knights vs Red Wings trend
Six of the nine games Vegas has played in back-to-back situations featured at least seven goals. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
SCRIPPS, FDSN-DET
Golden Knights vs Red Wings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It is no secret that the Buffalo Sabres are looking to bolster their roster with the 2026 NHL trade deadline almost here. The Sabres are aiming to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, so it makes sense that they want to make some upgrades.
One of the Sabres' top needs is another impactful right-shot defenseman. Because of this, they have now been connected to two notable defenders from the St. Louis Blues.
According to NHL insider Darren Dreger, Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk are two potential trade targets for the Sabres as they look to strengthen their blueline.
"As @reporterchris reported last night, the Sabres and Blues have also been focused on a Dman. Buffalo wants a right shot, so Parayko or Faulk have been mentioned as possibilities," Dreger posted on X.
With Parayko and Faulk being among the top right-shot defenseman trade candidates, it would make sense if the Sabres had them on their radar. Acquiring either of them would give the Sabres' right side a major boost as they look to maintain their playoff spot during the final stretch of the season.
If the Sabres acquired Parayko, he would give them a 6-foot-6 blueliner who could slot very nicely in their top four and on their penalty kill. He would also be far more than a rental for Buffalo if acquired, as he has a $6.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2029-30 season.
Faulk could also be a nice pickup for the Sabres' top four, as he chips in well offensively from the point and plays a solid defensive game. Like Parayko, he has a $6.5 million cap hit, but is only signed until the end of next season.
Fans of the Detroit Red Wings could soon be getting a look at highly-touted prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa at the NHL level for the second time in his professional career.
On Wednesday morning, the Red Wings announced that Cossa had been called up to the club under "emergency conditions" from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Additionally, defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who cleared waivers, has been assigned to the Griffins.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Sebastian Cossa from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.
Goaltender John Gibson left Monday afternoon's victory over the Nashville Predators after the opening 20 minutes of play and was replaced by backup Cam Talbot.
While head coach Todd McLellan indicated that Gibson suffered a "stinger" on the arm, it appeared as though he wasn't seriously hurt.
However, because Cossa has been called up, the injury to Gibson could be more severe than initially thought.
Cossa, who has been one of the driving elements of the incredibly successful year for the Griffins, has gone 24-4-3 with an impressive 1.99 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and has also posted five shutouts.
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CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Cleveland Monsters goaltender Zach Sawchenko (36) traps the puck as Cleveland Monsters defenseman Will Butcher (39) defends Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins left wing Bokondji Imama (14) during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins took a split this past weekend in Cleveland, winning the first game and losing the second in overtime. WBSPenguins.com with the review:
Friday, Feb. 27 – PENGUINS 3 at Cleveland 2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took the lead with a pair of quick goals and never looked back to defeat Cleveland in a spirited bout to start the weekend. Atley Calvert and Ville Koivunen scored 45 seconds apart to put the Penguins up 2-0 in the first period. Aidan McDonough buried one 23.8 seconds before the second intermission, keeping the team ahead 3-1. The Monsters made it a one-goal game in the third, but Joel Blomqvist was a fortress late, ensuring Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got the win.
Saturday, Feb. 28 – PENGUINS 1 at Cleveland 2 (OT) Another nail-biter between the Penguins and Monsters went to overtime, where Cleveland picked up its league-leading 10th OT win of the year. The Monsters struck first, but a power-play goal in the second period by Matt Dumba equalized. Koivunen posted an assist on the goal, running his point streak to six games. Sergei Murashov made 27 stops, including a save-of-the-year candidate when the game was tied 1-1.
Sergei Murashov helped the Penguins get to overtime in the Saturday game by flashing the glove with this save of the year caliber stop.
Unfortunately, Murashov would pickup the OT loss, his season stats are up to a 20-6-2 record with a .924 save% and 2.12 GAA and three shutouts. Joel Blomqvist picked up the win on Friday to move his season record to 10-4-3, as usual this year netminding has been a major positive factor in WBS.
There was more good news from the league office, forward Ville Koivunen was named AHL player of the month in February for his 16 point effort.
The picture in the standings remains positive, WBS is chugging along towards where they’ve been heading for a while: second place in the division and a bye for the first round of the playoffs with now only 17 games still to play in their 72-game regular season.
All eyes will now focus on the upcoming NHL trade deadline and what that might mean for the roster in Wilkes for the rest of the season. There can still be AHL level trades made after the NHL deadline, but all pro players must be on an AHL roster on Friday to maintain eligibility.
The biggest lingering question for Wilkes figures to be whether or not the NHL Penguins decide to make a transaction to send Avery Hayes back to the minor leagues this week, or come to a decision that Hayes will remain with the NHL team for the balance of the season. At this point it might look like the Ryan Graves AHL experience has come to an end, for this season at least as well. Other prospects and players within the team might be awaiting a call that has seen them included in a trade to send them out of the Pittsburgh organization.
Up ahead is a light two-game schedule this week, Wilkes plays at home tonight against Springfield and then travels for a Friday game against Syracuse. Both opponents are in good form, Springfield is in seventh place but is 3-0-1 in their last four games, Syracuse ranks second in the AHL’s North Division and is carrying a 9-1-0 record in their previous 10 games.
With barely 55 hours left until Friday’s 3:00 PM trade deadline, TSN Insider Darren Dreger reports that the Buffalo Sabres have gone the distance in trade talks with the St. Louis Blues on center Robert Thomas and that Jarmo Kekäläinen is ultimately not willing to meet the high price tag set by Doug Armonstrong.
Update: It’s believed St Louis/Buffalo went the distance on Thomas trade talks. Sounds like the Sabres aren’t willing to part with the necessary pieces. (Prospects, Player, 1st). Still teams nibbling, but the Blues are firm in what the return needs to be for the young center.
Meanwhile, after their defeat against the San Jose Sharks, the Montreal Canadiens woke up in the first wild card spot, one point behind the Detroit Red Wings and three points behind the aforementioned Sabres, with a game in hand on both. The 7-5 defeat was the Habs’ last game before the trade deadline, and Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, who are on the West Coast trip with the team, looked deflated taking in the game last night.
If Armstrong refused to lower the price tag on his prized centerman with the Sabres, it’s unlikely he’ll be willing to do it with the Canadiens. The Blues’ GM reportedly wants the equivalent of four first-round picks in assets, and it is believed that any conversation with the Habs starts with the inclusion of Michael Hage.
While the Blues are willing to move Thomas, they don’t absolutely have to move him, and they are probably more than willing to wait until the offseason to do it if they do not get an offer to their satisfaction. If the Sabres truly are out of the running, the pressure to overpay might be off for the Canadiens.
Seeing the Sabres land Robert Thomas a year after landing Josh Norris could have been a disaster for the Canadiens; seeing a direct divisional rival improve its center line twice while the Habs swung and missed would not have pleased Geoff Molson.
Even though Hughes is a shrewd negotiator, when GMs are moving major pieces like Thomas or Noah Dobson last summer, they tend to stick to their demands when they’ve identified their main trade target. Back in June, New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche was adamant that, on top of the first two round picks, he needed Emil Heineman to pull the trigger. Hughes wasn’t keen on letting the winger go, but he eventually had to. It’s hard to imagine what the Canadiens could offer to make Armstrong forget about a player with so much hype as Hage right now.
Just like the Blues, the Canadiens don’t have to make a move right now; they have the luxury of waiting, and judging by what we’ve seen from Hughes in the past, he doesn’t lack patience. It may just be that the Habs have a quiet deadline and settle on just moving Patrik Laine and shoring up their blueline.
