The Kings are currently on a 3-game point streak after being defeated by Vegas in overtime and by the Ducks in both games, which went to a shootout and overtime. The Kings have not won a game since January 10th, and if they want to stay in the playoff race, they will need a big win tonight against a struggling New York Rangers team. The Rangers are coming into this game after losing to the Ducks 5-3 last night. The Kings need to take full advantage tonight and walk away with a win so they can still be in the playoff race. 

Kings Projected Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Kings tonight: 

Corey Perry - Alex Laferriere - Adrian Kempe

Warren Foegele - Quinton Byfield - Joel Armia

Kevin Fiala - Alex Turcotte - Andrei Kuzmenko

Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward

Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty

Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke

Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci

Darcy Kuemper

Anton Forsberg

Projected Rangers Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Rangers tonight: 

J.T. Miller - Mika Zibanejad - Gabe Perreault

Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere

Brennan Othmann - Noah Laba - Will Cuylle

Taylor Raddysh - Sam Carrick - Jonny Brodzinski

Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider

Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen

Carson Soucy - Scott Morrow

Jonathan Quick

Spencer Martin

Line Changes and Injuries 

The Kings get Corey Perry back after he missed 3 games to attend to a family matter. The Kings also sent Andre Lee to the Ontario Reign on Monday. The Rangers are getting back Carson Soucy after he missed the last 2 games due to the birth of his child. The Kings will be starting Darcy Kuemper tonight after Anton Forsberg started in the 2-1 overtime loss against the Ducks. The Rangers are starting former King Johnathan Quick, and this game could be his last game in Los Angeles. 

Key Factors

The last 2 games the Kings have played have shown some issues that have cost them games this season. In the first game against the Ducks, the Kings led 2-0 but lost 3-2. So if they find themselves with a lead tonight, they have to do a better job of protecting it while also maintaining their momentum throughout the game. 

In the 2nd game against the Ducks, the Kings scored 1 goal, all on the power play, which has not been very successful, ranking 29th in the NHL. While that power-play goal was good for the Kings, they went 1/6 on the power play throughout the game, which was more than enough chances to win. 

The Rangers' penalty kill ranks 15th in the NHL, and if the Kings get a power play, they need to score more often to not only win games but also get into the playoffs. The Kings are currently on a 3-game losing skid, during which all 3 games went into overtime. 

The Rangers have been struggling as of late, and Johnathan Quick is on a 4-game losing skid, where his best save percentage in those 4 games was .893. The Kings are desperate for a win, and tonight is the perfect opportunity for them to do so. If they can capitalize on the man advantage and protect a lead, they will walk away with a win tonight. 

My prediction for tonight's game is a 3-1 Kings victory. 

LOS ANGELES — The Rangers’ announcement of their plans to retool naturally coincided with Gabe Perreault’s return to the top line. 

Now that the Blueshirts have decided to take a step back, recalibrate and make some personnel changes, Perreault, who did not record a point in 16:24 of action in the Rangers’ 4-3 loss to the Kings on Tuesday night, is at the top of the list of players who can be managed more strategically going forward this season. Development has long been a critique of this organization, but circumstances are looking different than previously. 

Skating on the first unit with Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller for a third straight game Tuesday against the Kings, Perreault is starting to find his footing at the NHL level. 

“It’s obviously nice playing with guys like that,” Perreault told The Post before the Rangers set out on the current road trip. “They’ve been here for a long time and kind of make it easy on me. Sometimes, it’s not always easy playing top line, top D-pair. It makes it harder in that sense. But I think since my first time in the top six, now I’m definitely more comfortable and more used to it, in a way. I hope to just keep getting better and more comfortable.”

The 20-year-old sure looked confident in the final minutes of regulation Monday night, when he was streaking toward the Ducks net and flipped to his backhand before Jackson LaCombe got his stick in the way at the last second. 

It was a one-goal game at the time, and Perreault attacked the net like it was. 

He’s had the puck on his stick a lot more. And after failing to record a single shot in half of his first six games, Perreault has only had two such performances over his 11 games since. 

“Gabe had a hell of a game [against the Ducks],” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said Monday night. “I think maybe [he] did a lot of things that people watching don’t see. Obviously, he’s a really gifted player with the puck. It’s how he’s made a name for himself at this point. That being said, he was in such good spots all over the rink today. You can tell he’s learning a lot as he goes. He’s trying to be a sponge and it’s fun to play with. 

“He’s just going to get better as he gets going, but I think today, his play without the puck was better. He was good with the puck, but I’m saying his play without the puck really stood out to me.”

In an otherwise disappointing effort against the Senators last week, Perreault recorded the first multigoal effort of his young NHL career. His three goals and four assists through 17 games indicate his game could be coming. 

The more he plays with top six caliber talent the more opportunities he has to cement himself there. 

In 58:13 of 5-on-5 ice time with Zibanejad and Miller, the trio has been on the ice for seven Rangers goals and three against, per Natural Stat Trick. The two veterans have said they enjoy skating alongside one another for the versatility at center. 

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

If Perreault can seize the top-line wing role early, it would be one less thing for the Rangers to address in the retool. 

“I think he’s getting quicker with his decision-making,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of the rookie. “I think his foot speed picking up and the game is probably slowing down in his brain, also. I think that’s all happening at the same time. That’s just the process so. He makes a handful of plays every night. He almost scores in the third period there to tie it up [Monday night]. He plays the game with a lot of courage. I give him credit. He takes that puck to the far post. When you take it to the far post like that, usually you’re going to pay a price when that happens. 

“I think he plays the game with a lot of courage, his willingness to do those types of things. I think it just speaks to his competitiveness.”

Jonathan Quick is set to start against his former team as the New York Rangers take on the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. 

It will be just the third game he’ll play against the Kings and the second time starting in the confines of Crypto.com Arena. 

In 16 seasons with the Kings, Quick won two Stanley Cups and established himself as one of the great goaltenders of this generation. 

It’s been a long time since those days, but the memories of Quick’s dominance in Los Angeles are certainly still remembered.

“Elite, just an elite goaltender and a fierce competitor,” Mike Sullivan says of what he remembers of Quick during his tenure with the Kings. “I think he commands so much respect because he's earned it through his body of work. I've said this so many times, I think he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

“I mean, with what he did in his years here in LA to help those teams win Stanley Cups the way they did, he was such a huge part of it, he was a cornerstone of those teams… He’s an inspiration to me.”

Quick recently made his 800th career start, and on Wednesday, he’ll turn 40 years old, joining Brent Burns, Alex Ovechkin, and Corey Perry as the only players who are in their 40s. 

Mika Zibanejad Emphasizes That His First Olympic Nod Is A ‘Huge Honor’When it comes to the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> and their link to the 2026 Winter Olympics, there’s a lot of attention on Team USA, given that Mike Sullivan will serve as the head coach, while both J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck will also represent their country on the world stage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It’s an impressive milestone, but it’s no surprise to Sullivan that Quick is still in the NHL approaching his 40th birthday. 

“It's not by chance he's continuing to play at the level he's playing at the age he's at,” Sullivan said. “You have to love what you do to continue to keep your game at the level that he keeps it at his age. I just think he's a great example for all of us, just the passion that he brings to his job every day and how hard he works at it, to try to keep his game at the most elite level and the most competitive level that he can. I have so much respect for his overall body of work in this league, and now having the opportunity to work with him and watch what he does on a daily basis, it's not by accident.”

The first and only time Vancouver Canucks fans saw playoff-Kiefer Sherwood was when he was still playing for the Nashville Predators in 2024. While he only scored once, Sherwood was a force for Nashville in what became a hard-fought series. The forward left such a positive impression that, when he ultimately signed a two-year, $1.5M AAV contract that off-season, then-Canucks captain Quinn Hughes became one of his biggest advocates. 

“Just playing him in the playoffs against Nashville and seeing his competitiveness and what he brings, you need guys like that on a championship team,” Hughes had told Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet at the time. 

In Sherwood’s time with the Canucks, Vancouver wasn’t quite able to reach that playoff threshold, but there were definitely times in which the forward’s clutch ability made Rogers Arena feel as though it was smack-dab in the middle of a series. From puck drop on Sherwood’s first game with Vancouver, to his first-career NHL hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche, to scoring the game-winning goal against the Dallas Stars after clawing back from a 5–2 deficit, Sherwood’s tenure with the Canucks had no shortage of clutch moments. 

There’s something about four-syllable names that calls to Canucks fans and their chants. J.T. Miller, Thatcher Demko, and Conor Garland are three players who have had their name echo through the walls of Rogers Arena. Sherwood is no different — especially when it came to the sheer amount of times he did something worth chanting for. 

“Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my experience in Vancouver,” Sherwood said in a final media availability only a couple of hours after being traded. “To have the fans be as appreciative as they are, and even chant my name is crazy… it’s something I still sometimes process and look back on.”

While to him it may have felt like the fans gave Sherwood their all, the effort was reciprocated tenfold. Sherwood finishes his tenure with the Canucks with 36 goals, 27 assists, and 670 hits. His 460 hits with the Canucks in 2024–25 mark a new single-season record for the NHL, while his two 12-hit games (October 22 vs. the Chicago Blackhawks and March 22 vs. the New York Rangers) are tied with Luke Schenn for the franchise-high in one game. In total, he has made 10+ hits in a single game 13 different times as a Canuck. 

Ultimately, Vancouver and Sherwood were kind to one-another when it comes to the dynamic between player and fan. Sherwood found career-high after career-high while wearing Vancouver’s orca, and Canucks fans found a no-quit player they could support throughout even the roughest of games — one more than deserving of the Fred J. Hume “Unsung Hero” Award given to him at the end of last season. Even though Sherwood’s next stint in playoffs won’t be for the Canucks, he’ll undoubtedly have many people cheering him on from all across BC. 

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.

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The Los Angeles Kings are hosting the New York Rangers in a Tuesday night clash at Crypto.com Arena.

The Rangers are coming into Los Angeles following a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, meaning this is the second half of a back-to-back.

New York's head coach, Mike Sullivan, confirmed that former Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick will be getting the start in L.A.

It was made clear that Quick was scheduled to get the start in Los Angeles. Sullivan was asked by reporters if Quick's relationship with the Kings has anything to do with his start.

“It does,” he told reporters. “Without a doubt, it for sure does. I think Quickie deserves that.”

Given Quick's age and contract status - he was signed to a one-year deal in the off-season - this could be the very last appearance he makes in Los Angeles before he retires.

The netminder is 39 years old and in his 19th NHL season. Going into Tuesday's game, Quick has made 800 starts and 819 appearances.

Everyone knows about Quick's history in Los Angeles. The veteran goaltender played parts of 16 seasons with the Kings and 370 victories with the franchise.

Golden Knights And Sharks Put Pressure On Kings GM With Latest TradesWith Pacific Division counterparts Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks making big trades, the Los Angeles Kings are falling behind. What direction should GM Ken Holland take the Kings as the trade deadline gets closer?

With his long tenure, he holds nearly every goaltending franchise record, including most wins and most appearances in a season and in an entire career. The same records apply to the playoffs.

In addition to the records, he has several awards to his name, including three Stanley Cups, two with Los Angeles, two William M. Jennings Trophies and a Conn Smythe in 2011-12.

This season, Quick has made 15 appearances for the Rangers, posting a 3.13 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage, hoping to make one last memory in Los Angeles.

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 Buffalo Sabres continue to struggle without center Josh Norris in the lineup, as the club lost their second game in a row in Raleigh, NC on Monday, as Seth Jarvis’s third-period power-play goal held up for a 2-1 Carolina Hurricanes victory. Rasmus Dahlin scored the Sabres lone goal, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves in the loss. 

Buffalo will continue their five-game road swing on Tuesday in Nashville against the Predators, but it is unknown whether Colten Ellis or Alex Lyon will get the start in the second of back-to-back games. Lyon has been out of action since December 29th and was activated to back up Luukkonen against the Canes.   

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Defenseman Michael Kesselring was not in the lineup on Monday. According to head coach Lindy Ruff, the big righty is questionable to play against Nashville.  Kesselring was part of the deal, along with Josh Doan, for winger JJ Peterka last June. The 26-year-old missed the start of the season before returning in late October. In mid-November, he suffered a high-ankle sprain and returned to the lineup after a month, but has reaggravated the lower-body injury twice since. 

In other news, Sabres center Tage Thompson was named the NHL First Star of the Week on Monday. Thompson led the NHL with nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in four games last week, including a hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens on January 15th, and leads Buffalo with 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in 48 games. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Colorado Avalanche completed a depth swap with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier Tuesday, acquiring forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman Ilya Solovyov.

The 23-year-old Solovyov was claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames in October and went on to carve out a modest but dependable role along Colorado’s blue line.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound left-shot defenseman appeared in 16 games, scoring his first career NHL goal on January 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, while adding two assists.

Primarily deployed in a bottom-pairing role, Solovyov provided physicality, steady positioning, and a willingness to block shots and play tough in his own end.

Although he was never projected to be an everyday fixture, he proved to be a reliable depth option when injuries tested the Avalanche’s defensive lineup.

With star defenseman Devon Toews expected to return in the near future and Jack Ahcan poised for a call-up as Toews continues his rehabilitation, the Avalanche found themselves with increased flexibility on the back end—prompting the organization to address a more pressing need elsewhere in the lineup.

Puustinen arrives as a versatile winger capable of playing both the left and right sides. The 5-foot-9, 183-pound forward has spent the entirety of the 2025–26 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 35 games. He also brings NHL experience, having appeared in 52 games with Pittsburgh during the 2023–24 season, where he totaled 20 points. The 26-year-old will report directly to Loveland and join the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate.

On the surface, the transaction appears to be a simple exchange of surplus for need. However, a closer look reveals a calculated move that aligns with the short-and long-term objectives of both organizations. Here’s why this trade makes sense for the Avalanche—and the Penguins.

Solovyov Will Get to Play More in Pittsburgh

The Penguins are navigating a multi-year rebuild under general manager Kyle Dubas, with an emphasis on stockpiling draft picks, developing prospects, and gradually infusing the roster with younger talent. That environment should allow a player like Solovyov to see more consistent ice time, giving him a valuable opportunity to continue sharpening his game at the NHL level.

It’s not that Solovyov failed to perform in Colorado—on the contrary, his play steadily improved. He became more composed with the puck, showed better decision-making under pressure, and flashed an underrated shot from the blue line. Unfortunately for him, the Avalanche are simply loaded with defensive talent, limiting his path to a regular role.

Solovyov had the chance to share the ice with one generational star in Nathan MacKinnon. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to learn from another—MacKinnon’s childhood hero and one of the game’s all-time greats, “The Kid” himself, Sidney Crosby.

Puustinen Fits the Avalanche Identity

Puustinen is a fast, efficient skater with strong short-area acceleration. His first few strides are particularly effective, allowing him to create just enough separation to open passing lanes or slip into soft ice, especially during controlled zone entries and in transition.

That speed is backed by data. According to NHL EDGE statistics, Puustinen has been clocked at a top speed of 23.02 miles per hour—just a fraction behind Nathan MacKinnon’s recorded top speed of 23.06 mph. While straight-line speed isn’t the defining element of his game, it underscores his ability to keep pace.

Look at this backcheck from Valtteri Puustinen on the powerplay. He's just faster than everyone else and stops a 2 on 1. He's been a breath of fresh air. pic.twitter.com/qvY4MxjEPX

— nhlpens (@nhlpens) December 22, 2023

Beyond his skating, Puustinen is well regarded for his work on special teams, particularly on the power play. He may not possess an elite shot, but he compensates with excellent puck awareness and a strong understanding of spacing and rotations. He processes plays quickly, keeps the puck moving, and consistently makes smart, connective decisions that help power-play units stay organized and dangerous.

With that said, Puustinen profiles as a legitimate call-up option heading into the postseason. If head coach Jared Bednar chooses to get creative, deploying him on the second power-play unit would be a low-risk move—one that could quietly pay dividends for a unit that has struggled for much of the season.

The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that forward Martin Pospisil has rejoined the club following a brief conditioning assignment with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

Pospisil joined the Wranglers on January 13 to continue his recovery after sustaining an injury during the preseason. The Slovak forward appeared in two games with Calgary’s AHL affiliate.

The injury had sidelined Pospisil since the preseason, when he was hurt in a matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. His return marks an important step forward for both the player and the Flames as the regular season continues.

Internationally, Pospisil is expected to represent Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, further underscoring his successful progression back to full health.

Pospisil could make his regular-season debut with the Flames as early as Wednesday, when Calgary hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

To make room on the roster, the Flames also announced that Dryden Hunt has been reassigned to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

Konecny gives Flyers a performance like he's ‘tired of losing' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Back in September, with the Flyers a week into training camp, Rick Tocchet was asked about Travis Konecny’s potential to drive the team’s rebuild forward.

The new head coach had noticed Konecny’s desire to start winning in Philadelphia.

“He’s a super kid, he has got a lot of leadership qualities, he knows there’s another level of that,” Tocchet said. “And he’s tired of losing, so he’s pissed.”

Konecny on Monday night definitely looked like a player that was fed up with losing. He spearheaded a road win that snapped the Flyers’ season-worst six-game skid. The 28-year-old winger scored both goals in a 2-1 decision over the Golden Knights, a team that came in on a seven-game winning streak.

For a second straight game, Konecny put the Flyers ahead 1-0 in the first period. Falling behind has been a major issue for the Flyers. They’ve faced a 1-0 deficit 32 times in 48 games.

But Konecny has gotten them started recently.

Then, in the third period of a 1-1 game, with the Flyers trying to fend off another Vegas power play, Konecny struck on the penalty kill. It was his 11th shorthanded goal over the last four seasons. Only the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart has more in that span with 13.

Konecny has 11 multi-point efforts this season. The Flyers have gone 10-1-0 in those games. With 17 goals and 26 assists in 47 games, Konecny is on pace to finish with his second straight season of 70-plus points.

That probably won’t mean much to him, though, if the Flyers miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season. The alternate captain is in his 10th season with the Flyers. He has been to the playoffs twice.

“He knows there’s a process of getting there,” Tocchet said in September. “He has bought in, he has worked extremely hard in practice. You can tell that he’s setting a pace. … He’s a big part of this.”

The Flyers entered Tuesday three points back of the Penguins for third place in a tight Metropolitan Division race.

If Konecny keeps playing like he did Monday night, he might drive the Flyers into the playoffs. He sure looked like a guy that wants it, a guy that has seen too many seasons defined by losing streaks.

As of this moment, it appears unlikely that the Toronto Maple Leafs will get William Nylander back for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Nylander has missed the last two games after re-aggravating a groin issue on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto's second-last game of their latest road trip.

The forward was absent from practice on Tuesday afternoon, with head coach Craig Berube noting there's "nothing new" on Nylander's status.

"I mean, he's still doing his rehab and stuff off the ice, nothing on the ice yet," added Berube. "I don't have a timeline when he'll be on the ice."

The 29-year-old initially missed six straight games with the injury, which he picked up against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 27, before returning to the Maple Leafs' lineup on Jan. 10 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Nylander dressed for three more games after Vancouver, but left after playing just 2:17 against the Golden Knights. (He scored a goal and an assist before exiting the game.)

Despite missing 12 of Toronto's 49 games this season, Nylander still leads the Maple Leafs in points. His 17 goals and 38 points in 37 games are five more than John Tavares, who sits second in team scoring with 18 goals and 43 points in 49 games.

Toronto has eight more games until the Olympics, which Nylander will be playing in for Team Sweden.

Maple Leafs Reveal Groin Injury For William Nylander, Could He Miss The Olympics?With Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube revealing that William Nylander is sidelined by a recurring groin injury, the focus now shifts to whether the superstar can recover in time for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Other Practice Notes

Matthew Knies took another maintenance day on Tuesday after registering an assist and 19:11 of ice time in Toronto's 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He's been dealing with an undisclosed lower-body injury since before the Christmas break.

Despite missing Tuesday's practice, Berube expects Knies to play on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

"Talking to him today, he felt better, which is good news," said Berube.

'It's Been Honestly Sh**ty': Matthew Knies Continues to Play Through A Lower-Body Injury That Will Only Get Better With RestMatthew Knies sustained a lower-body injury in training camp, and the ailment has not gotten any better. The Leafs may be forced to make a hard decision to rest him at some point.

Troy Stecher also missed practice due to maintenance after playing 16:24 against the Wild, but "should be good to go tomorrow," Berube added.

As for who'll start against the Red Wings — after each goalie played on Monday against the Wild — that remains to be seen.

"I'll make that decision tomorrow," Berube stated. "I haven't made that decision yet, so I've got to talk to the goalie coach and the goalies yet."

Projected lineup against the Red Wings:

McMann - Matthews - Domi
Maccelli - Tavares - Knies
Cowan - Roy - Robertson
Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Stecher

The Colorado Avalanche have officially made their first trade of the season, sending defenseman Ilya Solovyov to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for 26-year-old right wing Valtteri Puustinen, and Pittsburgh’s 2026 7th round draft pick as well.

Solovyov has played 16 games for the Avs up until this point, with two assists and one goal. The one goal being his first career NHL goal, which came against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 10. With Solovyov now being traded, the Avs are suddenly short a defenseman on their roster, which means a call-up will likely be coming ahead of Colorado’s game tomorrow against the Anaheim Ducks as Devon Toews is skating but not yet ready to play.

Valtteri Puustinen was a former seventh round pick in 2019 has not played a game in the NHL this season but has 66 career games with Pittsburgh. This season he has played 35 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL so far. In that time, he’s picked up seven goals and 19 assists, which is some perfectly fine production. He’s been a good producer in the AHL over his career so if nothing else this is a move to fortify the Colorado Eagles. It remains to be seen if Puustinen will stay in the AHL after this move as the Avalanche do not have the services of depth forward Joel Kiviranta yet either.

Obviously, this is a pretty small trade on the whole, but still the first one that the Avs have made this season, nonetheless. There is no salary cap impact even if the Avs recall their new forward. With the Olympics coming up in just over two weeks, we might see more trades happen before then, now that Colorado’s started making some moves.

While Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson has emerged as one of the NHL’s top young defensemen, you sometimes forget how young he is. Sanderson is still just 23 years old and remains somewhat reserved, bordering on shy, when dealing with the media.

That’s why his comments on Saturday night in Montreal were especially surprising coming from him. Instead of leaning on the usual clichés NHL players often use, a visibly irritated Sanderson took a hard run at the performance of rookie goaltender Leevi Meriläinen.

“Leevi made some good saves, but at the end of the day you need more than 10 saves to win a game,” Sanderson said.

The remarks followed an emotional night in Montreal, where the Canadiens rallied from a late 5–3 deficit to beat the Senators 6–5 in overtime. Sanderson was outstanding in the game, recording one of the best performances of his career with a goal and three assists.

When asked about his comments by The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie on Tuesday morning following the Senators’ game-day skate in Columbus, Sanderson clearly expressed regret over what he had said.

"Yeah, I mean, first off, I'm pretty embarrassed," Sanderson said. "I think, you know, that's a situation where after a game, (you should) take a few more minutes, take a few deep breaths.

"And I talked to Levy after it played and apologized, and, you know, I still feel really bad. Leevi's a great guy, and I think, you know, that's not what good teammates do. You don't tear each other down. You build each other up, especially after a game like that.

"So, yeah, I'm pretty embarrassed."

Sanderson's original comments sparked debate this week over players publicly calling out teammates. Some called it refreshing and appreciated the honesty; others called it unproductive and inappropriate.

Some have even suggested that it was less of a shot at Merilainen and more of a not-so-subtle message to management that this good young team needs a goalie who can play at this level.

When McKenzie asked again about goaltending, Sanderson admitted that there have been nights when it's been frustrating at times, but that's been true of every position on the team, his included.

"It's a team sport. There are times when the D core isn't playing well, there are times when the forwards aren't doing their job. So, I think there's just those ebbs and flows of the season.

"But at the same time, obviously seeing Linus come back, with him bringing his positivity to our team. We're very excited to have him back soon."

Sanderson then had a chance to say something nice about a recent goaltending performance, this one from veteran James Reimer in his Senators debut on Sunday.

"I thought he played awesome," Sanderson said. "For his first game, he was very sharp. "He grabbed a few guys in the D-core and talked to us about what he likes to do on the ice with communication and whatnot. But, yeah, he made some big saves."

All in all, it's been a good lesson for the Senators' most valuable player. Everyone makes mistakes, especially at 23, but now it's onward and upward; no harm, no foul.

And in making things right today, just as he does with a puck on the power play, Sanderson handled it perfectly.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

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On July 1, 2025, the St. Louis Blues sent winger Zachary Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux.

The trade came as a shock, as neither player was seemingly on the trade block for either team, and Bolduc was coming off an impressive second NHL season in which he scored 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games. 

Mailloux, on the other hand, had played just seven NHL games in 2024-25, but did notch two goals and four points. 

While it was a trade that came out of nowhere, it’s one where logic was evident on both sides. The Canadiens needed to add young scoring wingers to their lineup, and did so with Bolduc. For the Blues, they wanted to add youth and offense to their blueline, doing so with Mailloux.

In the Blues case, the trade was always going to involve patience. Defensemen take longer to develop than forwards, especially wingers, and in Mailloux’s case, his most significant need for improvement was on the defensive side of the puck. This season, his struggles defensively have been on display. 

The 22-year-old has recorded just one goal and one assist in 34 NHL games this season. He’s averaging 13:47 of ice time and owns a minus-22 rating. Though Mailloux’s game has steadied since his dreadful start to the season. Mailloux was sent to the Springfield Thunderbirds for a five-game stint before returning to the NHL.

Since his return, he’s skated alongside Cam Fowler, and the chatter about his game has diminished. He’s seen his ice time increase and was rewarded with a one-year contract extension.

Bolduc, on the other hand, has been the opposite. He stormed out of the gates, scoring in his first three games with the Habs, and saw ice time on the top line as well as the top power play unit. His production tailed off, and his role with the Canadiens slowly decreased. He’s been skating on the fourth line recently and sees time on the second power play unit.

He hasn’t scored in any of his last 12 games, and now posts 10 goals and 18 points in 49 games, on pace for 17 goals and 30 points in 82 games, fewer goals and points in more games than he had last season with the Blues.

He, too, is just 22 years old and is still developing, but the early narrative that the Canadiens fleeced the Blues in a trade that saw two former 2021 first-round picks swap has evaporated. 

Much is still left to change, but at the moment, the trade has had its ups and downs for both teams.

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The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have traded defenseman Ilya Solovyov in exchange for forward Valtteri Puustinen from the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with their seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

We have acquired Valtteri Puustinen and Pittsburgh's own 7th Round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for Ilya Solovyov. pic.twitter.com/zegVaNPIgW

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 20, 2026

The Avalanche claimed the Belarusian defenseman off waivers from the Calgary Flames in October. He wasn’t going to be an every-game type of player, but at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds and shoots left, he is a strong defenseman that can play in a bottom-pairing role and be confident enough to move the puck while throwing his body in front of it as well. He got into 16 games with the Avalanche and scored his first career NHL goal, alongside two assists for three points in his tenure.

Ilya Solovyov Scores First Career NHL Goal Against Blue JacketsIlya Solovyov has had an up-and-down experience with the Colorado Avalanche so far, but none of that matters now, he's officially scored in the toughest league in sports.

Considering the injuries the Avalanche have to their forward group, this is a trade that made sense in a pinch, considering other options they have to call up from the Eagles if they need another bottom-pairing player.

Puustinen has spent the entire 2025-26 season so far with the Pittsburgh Penguins AHL team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 35 games, he has seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points. He played 52 games with the Penguins during the 2023-24 season and finished with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points.

At 26 years old, and 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, he can play both left and right wing, giving more wing depth that the Avalanche sorely need with Gabriel Landeskog, Joel Kiviranta, and Logan O’Connor out right now. Alongside Puustinen, they also receive Pittsburgh's own seventh-round pick, which is now the fourth seventh-round pick they will have in the upcoming 2026 Draft.

The Penguins announced a trade on Tuesday, sending forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh round pick to Colorado in exchange for defenseman Ilya Solovyov.

Puustinen, as mentioned in the last Wilkes Weekly, was climbing the ranks of the all-time WBS scoring list but will see his progress stopped with 101 career AHL points with the Penguins. The 26-year old former seventh round pick in 2019 has been a part of the Pens’ organization professionally since the start of the 2021-22 season, scoring 24 points in 66 career NHL games with Pittsburgh. His place in the organization peaked with 20 points in 52 games during the 2023-24 season before sliding into a role more of organizational depth over the last two seasons.

Pittsburgh picks up 6’3”, 208 pound left handed defenseman Solovyov. Similar to Puustinen, Solovyov has been playing mostly in the AHL since the start of the 2021-22 season, though he has played 16 NHL games with the Avalanche this season scoring three points (1G+2A) in a limited role that saw him average 11:13 of ice-time per game. Solovyov had been something of a regular for the Avs, playing seven games since January 4th and even stringing together a three-game point streak from 1/6 – 1/10. Solovyov played for the Avs just last night in their win over the Capitals, although for only 8:34.

The Penguins, who have dressed 12 different defensemen through 48 games, are still seeking answers on their bottom part of their blueline in what’s been a season-long search. Jack St. Ivany was made a healthy scratch yesterday, Ryan Graves has bounced between the NHL and AHL on another erstwhile season, Harrison Brunicke has been assigned back to junior and Caleb Jones recently suffered an injury in his AHL rehab stint coming back from a lengthy injury.

It remains unclear where Solovyov fits into that mix, especially since the team has some decent LHD options in Brett Kulak, Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea. Pittsburgh has never been shy about shuttling bodies in and out to see what may happen, Solovyov could be the next short-term opportunity to see what ability he has coming off his recent time in Colorado.