Category: Ice Hockey

Along with Sabres reporter Joe Yerdon, we remember Chad Johnson & Michal Neuvirth, back-up goalies who were traded for each other at the deadline but didn’t help the Islanders much at all.

On paper, Chad Johnson was the perfect addition to what looked to be a quality Islanders team in 2014. He was coming off a great season backing up Tuukka Rask in Boston and should have done the same for Isles starter Jaroslav Halak. But when called upon, Johnson was consistently inconsistent, and made giving Halak a break here and there a dangerous proposition.

Meanwhile in Buffalo, goalie Michal Neuvirth wasn’t having any fun playing on a team going nowhere but the draft lottery (again). His numbers were solid despite the roster around him, so a swap was made that everyone hoped would free one team of its biggest problem and solve another problem for a goalie who had shown skill in the recent past. On paper, the trade made a lot of sense.

Sadly, they don’t play the games on paper, and both Johnson and Neuvirth became bewildering footnotes in Islanders history. Joe helps us understand both goalies as people and the circumstances surrounding the trade from the Sabres’ side of things. We also ponder what makes a goalie good, how two proverbial “tidy pieces of business” could go so horribly awry and how to forgive a guy who was barely a villain to begin with.

Thanks again to Joe for coming on. We’ve wanted to get him for a long time and not only was he as great as expected but this ended up being the perfect time and the perfect subjects. Follow him everywhere you can on all the socials and at his website, NotedHockey.com.

We have a Weird Islanders Extra Patreon exclusive bonus episode with Joe as well so check that out, too.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

• Fun Fact: Chad Johnson was a Hobey Baker Trophy finalist as a standout goalie for the University of Alaska – Fairbanks.
• In 2014, the Islanders needed a backup for Jaro Halak. They found one in Johnson, who had put up good numbers backing up Tuukka Rask in Boston (after stints with a bunch of teams). This LHH article includes sage goaltending wisdom from a certain blogger-turned-actual-NHL-general-manager.
• Michal Neuvirth’s NHL career was a wild ride. After leading the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cups and winning an AHL playoff MVP along the way, he burst on to the scene with the Capitals with a few stellar early seasons. But with injuries and Braden Holtby grabbing the Caps’ crease, Neuvirth was traded to the Sabres for Jaro Halak.
• There weren’t a ton of highlights of Chad Johnson’s short Islanders tenure, but this 30-save 3-2 win in Boston against his former team stands out as maybe his best performance of the season.

• Johnson’s time with the Islanders never got on track and he was traded at the deadline to Buffalo for… Michael Neuvirth! That team was good, while Johnson was not.
• Neuvirth wasn’t happy in Buffalo but played well in the face of one of the most bald-faced tank jobs in NHL history. Eventually, he was traded to the Islanders to back up… Jaro Halak!
• Sadly, on the morning of his first start with the Sabres, Johnson hurt his ankle, causing him to miss the rest of the season. But he did play the next year as their No. 1 starter (backing him up was future Islander Robin Lehner).
• There is even less video of Michal Neuvirth playing for the Islanders, but here he is in a 4-3 OT win in Toronto. Not the best performance but he could look good, as on this PK

• Neuvirth didn’t last long on Long Island, either. Even before free agency began in 2015, he was already talking to a few teams. He found a home in Philly, where he would spend the next and final four seasons of his NHL career.
• In a rare turn of events, the Islanders lit up Neuvirth in his first game against them as a Flyer, winning 6-1
• In a 2017 game against the Devils, Neuvirth collapsed in the Flyers’ crease and he was removed from the ice. It was a scary scene that he talks about here.
• Neuvirth signed a PTO with the Leafs and played at their 2019 training camp. But injuries (and possibly some indifference) led to him getting cut. He then signed a two-year deal with Spartak of the Czech Extraliga, but never played for them due to more injuries.
• The Sabres were not Johnson’s last stop. All told, he played for eight teams, including Buffalo twice. There are even more teams that held his rights that he didn’t play for. He’s comfortable being called a “journeyman,” which is the best description of his career (this article doesn’t even include his last NHL stop in Anaheim).

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We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

• Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
• Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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The Buffalo Sabres remained the hottest team in the National Hockey League, pulling into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with Tampa Bay with a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, and added three veterans for the stretch drive, acquiring defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets and center Sam Carrick from the New York Rangers. 

The Sabres broke a 1-1 tie in the second period and scored four unanswered goals to win their fifth straight coming out of the Olympic break and that coupled with the Lightning continuing to struggle with injuries have allowed Buffalo to pull even with the Lightning at 80 points, although Tampa Bay have two games in hand on the Sabres. 

After the victory, the Sabres announced a deal with the Winnipeg Jets, adding rental defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn for winger Isak Rosen, defenseman Jacob Bryson, Buffalo’s 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 conditional fourth-round pick. Stanley, 27, has a career-high 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in 59 games, while the much-travelled 36-year-old Schenn has played 46 games for Winnipeg this season after being acquired from Pittsburgh last March.

The deal was a pivot and backup plan by GM Jarmo Kekalainen after Blues defenseman Colton Parayko chose to not waive his no-trade clause to come to Buffalo Wednesday morning, but did not result in the quality of return from the negated deal with St. Louis. Stanley provides size and much-needed physicality to the Sabres, who tend to be pushed around by other clubs, and Schenn provides over 1100 games of NHL experience over his 18-year career, including a pair of Stanley Cup rings with the Lightning.  

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Bryson has been a dependable depth defenseman for the last six seasons for Buffalo and may get an opportunity to play regularly for the Jets for the remainder of the season, while Rosen is having another excellent year with AHL Rochester, but only this season has been given a chance to play higher in the lineup by the Sabres, posting seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 16 games. This season was the final year where the 22-year-old would be waiver exempt, so his inclusion in the trade was an admission that the organization did not see him as a fit in their current construct.  

On Wednesday morning, the club confirmed a deal with the New York Rangers, reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Sabres added center Sam Carrick in exchange for their 2026 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder. The 34-year-old can play center and wing, is known as an excellent penalty killing and face-off specialist, and for playing with some sandpaper. Carrick likely fits in as a fourth line center, allowing a more experienced option up the middle than Tyson Kozak.  

The trade of four draft picks so far by Kekalainen is not of particular concern, since the Sabres are well stocked with young prospects selected over the last few years, and is a nod to the current club that there is a belief that Buffalo could make a playoff run in a wide-open Eastern Conference. With that boatload of prospects, it is also possible that Buffalo could still make another more impact move before 3 pm today. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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The Montreal Canadiens continue their annual California road trip by visiting the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, March 6. This marks the first meeting between these two young, offensively-minded teams this season.

My Canadiens vs. Ducks predictions and NHL picks suggest that a recent promotion into the Habs' top-six for Alex Newhook will earn him ample opportunity to hit the scoresheet in this potential barnburner.

Canadiens vs Ducks prediction

Canadiens vs Ducks best bet: Alex Newhook Over 0.5 points (+135)

Alex Newhook has at least a point in all three games since returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for nearly four months. He has 16 points in 20 games this season and scored twice against San Jose a game ago.

His playing style matches up perfectly against a flawed Anaheim Ducksdefense that allows the third-most goals in the league.

He'll play up alongside Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen tonight. There's a massive disparity in this +135 pricing, and the Newfoundland native hasn't lost a step. Perhaps, he's even gained one.

Canadiens vs Ducks same-game parlay

Ivan Demidov and Newhook displayed promising chemistry before Newhook was injured in November. Now they're back together and appear poised to take advantage of a gunky and inexperienced defensive core in Orange County (hence this morning's sudden John Carlson trade).

As per usual, Mike Matheson continues to minute-munch on the Habs' blue line. His 24:45 of ice time per game ranks ninth in the NHL, and he's cleared two shots on goal in nine of his last 11. Anaheim ranks 22nd in shots allowed, so expect the Quebec native to take advantage.

Canadiens vs Ducks SGP

• Alex Newhook Over 0.5 points
• Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points
• Mike Matheson Over 1.5 shots

Canadiens vs Ducks odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens -110 | Ducks -110
• Puck Line: Canadiens -1.5 (+205) | Ducks +1.5 (-250)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-130) | Under 6.5 (+110)

Canadiens vs Ducks trend

Montreal has won three of the last four head-to-head meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Ducks.

How to watch Canadiens vs Ducks

Canadiens vs Ducks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Buffalo Sabres are certainly buyers with trade deadline day here. They made their first moves of trade deadline week on Thursday night, bringing in Sam Carrick from the New York Rangers and Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley from the Winnipeg Jets. 

Yet, the Sabres may not be done yet, as they have now made one of their most promising youngsters available for trade.

According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the Sabres are shopping goaltender Devon Levi. 

Levi being available for trade is undoubtedly notable, as the 24-year-old goaltender has good upside. However, with the Sabres having Alex Lyon, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Colten Ellis all ahead of him on their depth chart, it makes sense that they are open to moving Levi if it means landing an NHL talent that would help them immediately. 

It will be interesting to see if the Sabres end up moving Levi from here. If they do, it would certainly be a bold move from a Sabres club on the rise. 

The Philadelphia Flyers have traded forward Bobby Brink to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman David Jiricek.

Brink had been the subject of trade rumors for several weeks leading up to the deadline, and the Wild were one of the teams that were linked to him. Now, he is officially heading to Minnesota with this move.

With the Flyers having a surplus of wingers, it is understandable that they have flipped Brink. He should now be a solid part of the Wild's roster as they look to go on a big playoff run this spring.

The Flyers have also landed a fascinating defenseman in Jiricek with this move. The 2022 sixth-overall pick is still looking to break out and become a full-time NHL defenseman. Now, he should get more consistent playing time at the NHL level after being traded to the Flyers. 

In 25 games this season with the Wild before the trade, Jiricek has recorded zero points and an even plus/minus rating. Down in the AHL this campaign, the 6-foot-4 defenseman has posted two goals and 10 points in 24 games. 

Most hockey fans were surprised when they woke up to see that the Washington Capitals had traded veteran blueliner John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks for a couple of picks during the night. There had been plenty of chatter around the league about the likes of Zach Whitecloud, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Connor Murphy, to name a few, but no one had been talking about Carlson, a lifelong Caps player who had played 1143 games with Washington.

As things stand, the Capitals are outside of the playoff picture, looking in with 69 points. Only four points behind the Boston Bruins, who are the second wild card team. However, Washington has already played 63 games, meaning everyone else involved in the playoff race has one of two games in hand on them, making catching up a very tall task.

Canadiens Taking On Ducks And Leading Scorer Amongst Rookies Beckett Sennecke
Former Canadiens’ Prospect Having A Good Stretch In St. Louis
Could The Canadiens Trade For Help In Net?

This is not Washington’s first trade in the final blitz to the deadline; they also moved Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights for 23-year-old goaltender Jesper Vikman and a couple of picks. The two trades show a clear desire for the Caps to get younger. Could it be that they are on the cusp of entering a rebuild? Alexander Ovechkin’s contract expires at the end of this season, and as of February 20th, the best goal scorer in NHL history didn’t know if he wanted to sign another contract with the Caps.

If this is what’s in the cards, could the Capitals be tempted to listen to offers on other players? The Montreal Canadiens could certainly use some help up front and some grit, especially if the rumours linking Arber Xhekaj to the Calgary Flames turn out to be true. With Juraj Slafkovsky playing on the second line along Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov, we’ve seen a revolving door on Nick Suzuki’s wing because the Habs had no one else who has the same profile as the big Slovak.

The Capitals do have someone who fits that bill, though; they have perhaps one of the best power forwards in the league in soon-to-be 32-year-old Tom Wilson. The winger has 49 points in 53 games this season, and at the Olympics, Wilson found himself riding shotgun with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini. The tough guy can definitely play hockey.

You know you really love Canada 🇨🇦 when you’re a Habs fan cheering for a Tom Wilson goal 😅

pic.twitter.com/u5NzLJ3kDQ

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 15, 2026

Could the Caps be open to moving him? Could he be a good fit for the Canadiens? It seems obvious that for now, the answer is yes, but Wilson is not getting any younger, and he’s under contract for another four seasons with a $6.5 million cap hit. The Habs’ brass saw firsthand last season the kind of impact that he can have in a playoff series, and by now, they’re very aware that there is a gaping hole in their top six. Slafkovsky is only one man, and he cannot play on two lines.

Unfortunately, chances are that the price tag on Wilson would be way too high for the Canadiens to make that move. If Wilson were younger, the Habs could be all over him, but sacrificing young assets for a player who will help the Sainte-Flanelle for a couple of years is not the Hughes modus operandi. It’s a shame, as he could kill two birds with one stone, bringing him in, but the package he would have to sacrifice would likely be just too big.

TOM WILSON AND JOSH ANDERSON GET INTO IT AND TAKE THE FIGHT ONTO THE BENCH 😱🤯

ABSOLUTE CHAOS TO END THE PERIOD pic.twitter.com/fcOnHxwZW4

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2025

Furthermore, the Caps traded Carlson because he was on an expiring deal, and Dowd had only one more season left on his. Wilson is in a very different position, and he very well may be the kind of leader the Caps intend to guide their young players. Still, it was an interesting thought to entertain… Wilson skating with Suzuki and Cole Caufield could have been quite the combination.

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Bobby McMann is from Wainwright, Alberta. He grew up about two hours southeast of the Edmonton Oilers home rink, and right now there’s a reasonable case to be made that that’s where he should be playing hockey. 

McMann is having a good season for a Toronto team that is, despite what their fans will tell you at every available opportunity, not making the playoffs. He can hit, he can produce, he’ll do the dirty work without being asked twice, and he’ll do what his coach tells him to without having to be asked twice. Not every player on the current Oilers roster can say the same thing. Some of them can barely do one thing consistently, let alone several.

The situation in Toronto is pretty straightforward. McMann is on an expiring contract, he reportedly wants around $4.5 million on his next deal, and the Leafs don’t even want to give him $4 million. That gaps not going to close, which means Toronto has a decision to make. They can move him before the deadline and get something back, or watch him walk in the offseason for nothing while a fanbase that’s already running out of patience asks pointed questions about what kind of decisions their GM is making. 

The Leafs are sellers whether they want to admit it or not, and there’s at least some urgency on their end to get a return that isn’t just a handshake and a best of luck.

Edmonton, meanwhile, has some things to move. They already dealt Andrew Mangiapane. Albeit, along with a 2027 conditional first round pick, which, fine not great, but it happened. Now they have offload Trent m Frederic, who’s making $3.8 million and hasn’t been what the Oilers needed him to be. And frankly, Kris Knoblauch needs players who show up every night and do it again the next. Frederic hasn’t exactly carved out an indispensable role. 

If Edmonton retains $1 million of that contract and sends him to Toronto, that gets the conversation started. Maybe that’s enough. Maybe it isn’t and you need to attach an AHL player to get it across the finish line, which is fine, that’s how these things work.

Darnell Nurse Trade Rumors: Time For a Reality CheckDarnell Nurse's significant salary and no-movement clause create a complex trade scenario. Will Edmonton move their defenseman, or is the smoke just a false alarm?

The other option is Quinn Hutson, and this is where it gets more complicated. Hutson is a legitimate prospect, a fine hockey player, and everyone in the organization likes him. But he is not his brothers, and that’s not a knock so much as it is an honest assessment of where he projects. 

The Oilers need help next season, maybe the season after, because they’re running on McDavid’s contract timeline whether they like it or not. Hutson isn’t ready to push them that far yet, and trading him alongside something else to get McMann isn’t as painful a pill as it might sound on the surface.

Once you make that move with Hutson, you’re also looking at around $2.5 million that needs to go down to the AHL, and that’s probably Connor Murphy. The Oilers are carrying $2.2 million of his $4.4 million deal, and parking that in the minors opens up some cap flexibility. 

Oilers Trade Andrew Mangiapane to the Blackhawks for Dickinson and DachOilers send Mangiapane and a first-round pick to Chicago for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach, addressing roster needs ahead of the deadline.

You could try to work Anthony Stolarz back into this somehow — an Edmonton goaltending situation that includes him is a more comfortable one than what they have right now — but that’s probably a reach. Stolarz has value and Toronto knows it.

Then it’s pretty simple when all is said and done. McMann on a line with Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen, who can play center, is a good third line. Three players who forecheck hard, compete every shift, and don’t need the puck handed to them to be effective. On a team built around McDavid and Draisaitl, surrounded by the Matt Savoies and players still finding their footing, that line does something real against other teams’ third and fourth lines in a long playoff series.

"We Don't Have Huge Smiles On Our Faces:" Oilers Positive, Yet Realistic About What Win Over Sens MeanFive goals to win a hockey game is where the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> are at right now.

Toronto gets Frederic or Hutson, clears McMann’s contract situation out of the room, and ships him to the Western Conference if they only want to see him twice a year. Edmonton gets a power forward with local ties who wants to win and costs them a player that wasn’t solving any of their problems anyway.

Seems pretty straightforward.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a handful of hours to go until the NHL Trade Deadline kicks at 2:00 PM CT. After that, they will have to wait until the postseason to make any moves ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. 

Chicago already traded Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach, and Connor Murphy. All three of them ended up with the Edmonton Oilers in two separate trades. 

In exchange, the Blackhawks received a collective payment of a conditional first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and forward Andrew Mangiapane. 

The Blackhawks retained 50 percent of the cap hit on both Dickinson and Murphy, meaning that they have used up all three of their allowed retention slots (Seth Jones). 

Could the Blackhawks make more moves? Well, there are certainly more moves that could be made. The two biggest targets left on their roster are captain Nick Foligno and Ilya Mikheyev. 

Both of them are bottom-six forwards who can kill penalties, play a strong game in their own end, and provide veteran presence in a locker room.

Foligno, being a captain in two NHL markets throughout his career, is more of a leader, but Mikheyev will provide a tick more offense and an all-around better game at this stage of their careers. 

Is either one of these guys going to be a needle-mover for a contender? No. However, you need depth pieces to win in the playoffs, and each of them has strengths that could be helpful down the stretch once the games get harder and more physical.

Both Mikheyev and Foligno are unrestricted free agents at season's end. In theory, they are both rentals. 

Matt Grzelcyk is also a UFA at the end of the year, but a team would have to be willing to part with an asset for a bottom-pair offensive defenseman that could contribute on the power play if needed. He may move, but at a lower percentage than Mikheyev or Foligno. 

Colton Dach is not a pending unrestricted free agent, so Kyle Davidson has shown that he is willing to move a young player who may not necessarily be a part of the future core. Kevin Korchinski and Landon Slaggert come to mind as potential sweeteners in a deal, as Dach was. 

Davidson loves adding first and second-round picks. How far will he take it before 2 PM CT on Friday? We will soon find out.

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For the first time in recent memory, the Vancouver Canucks have made it clear that they are in a rebuild. Overall, there has been some doubts within the fan base, as while the organization has said they are entering a rebuild, the only signifcant move Vancouver had made in January and February was trading Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks. Flash forward to March and the Canucks are finally showing that they are serious about the rebuild.

In the week leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, Vancouver made two signifcant trades that involved experienced players with term. The Canucks traded defenceman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on March 4 and followed that up by sending forward Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both trades involed acquiring draft picks, with two seconds, a third and a fourth round pick heading back to Vancouver. 

While both trades should be seen as a win from a rebuild perspective, they also need to signify the start of something much bigger. The Canucks, at least for now, look determined to do this rebuild correcelty, otherwise they would not have made these signifcant trades. Ultimately, Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin can not take their foot off the gas as they next seven months will be cruical for Vancouver's future success. 

The next step for the Canucks is doing everything they can to move the three unrestricted free agents before the deadline passes at noon PT. As a reminder, these players are Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger and David Kämpf. Even if the pick coming back is lower than originally desired, Vancouver needs to stock pile as much draft capital as possibe. 

After these three are dealt, the priority needs to switch to players with term. While having experienced players around is important, no oneshould be off limits for the right price. These deals may also take some time which is why the timeline for moving players with term should be before July 1. 

While it may sound obvious, rebuilding this team is not going to be easy, but needs to be done correctly. It is also going to take signifcant time to not only move off some of these long-term contracts, but build up a prospect pool that can lead the charge into the future. Based on the moves made this week, Rutherford and Allvin are off to a good start but need to stay on the path and not look for shortcuts that could derail the rebuild. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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On the NHL’s trade deadline day, the New York Islanders are in playoff position but far from contender position. They have a Vezina candidate (favorite?) goalie and a Calder favorite who have driven an exciting season above expectations. Their power play is abysmal, and their overall team defense often leaves us scratching our head. They have a couple of older UFAs who are very much contributing to where they are, including a longtime captain who is climbing the franchise’s games played and goal list.

There is value to a playoff appearance, both financially and culturally. And maybe they can get there without making any other changes. (They added Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy before the Olympic break, who fall into the “veterans settling rotating-cast positions” category.)

GM Mathieu Darche is surely balancing all of this as the marketplace hits its final hours. The Isles certainly shouldn’t be big-game hunting unless there are prime players with term, but then what is the cost of that?

Two names that keep coming up around the league and in fan debates Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, both in the first half of long-term deals with full no-trade protection. The Blues are reportedly asking exorbitant prices for each, and that seems to be the point: They don’t need to trade either — it’s not a firesale — so they are in “make me an offer I can’t refuse” mode. Sounds like they went down that road with the Sabres on multiple players, including Colton Parayko (for a first and last summer’s 9th overall pick), and the player blocked the trade anyway.

Unless the Blues shift their approach in fallout or re-evaluation of what’s happening there, I can’t see a package from the Islanders that makes sense for them and meets the Blues’ price. The Isles still need to think long term, not this spring, so there may be opportunities to revisit a bigger acquisition this summer.

Here's where it sits for #Isles/Darche
– Continues having talks on multiple possibilities
– He does not like acquiring rentals
– Dealing 2025 first-rounders Aitcheson, Eklund likely a no go
– Struck early on Soucy/Palat before prices skyrocketed and said to be fine if that's it

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) March 6, 2026

If they weren’t in playoff position — truly in position, not just chasing in the wild card bubble — it would be easy to conclude they should sell Anders Lee and J-G Pageau. But the team’s play (thanks, Ilya and Schaef!) has put them in a different position. Tere’s no indication either has been on the market this season, and it’s completely defensible for a team competing in playoff position with 19 games to go to keep two key players rather than deflate the roster.

Islanders News

• About last night: Ugly enough to make you doubt whether this team will, in the end, reach the postseason. Hopefully it was and remains their worst showing of the season. [LHH | Newsday | Post]
• Trade deadline? Yeah, there are jitters. [Newsday]
• The Devils put Max Tsyplakov (and two others) on waivers. He continued to get the same amount of ice time and same (lack of) production, with zero points in nine games, 7-9 minutes per night. [Devils]

Elsewhere

• In a bit of a shock and a handsome return, the Capitals send John Carlson to Anaheim. [NHL]
• Yet another Luke Schenn trade: He and Logan Stanley head from Winnipeg to Buffalo. [NHL]
• David Perron returns to the Red Wings…maybe: The Senators get a 4th if the injured winger plays a game, and it’s a 2nd if he appears in half their playoff games through two rounds. [Sportsnet]
• Ottawa, meanwhile, took Warren Foegele from the Kings. [CP]
• 38-year-old Jeff Petry goes from Florida to Minnesota for a 7th-round pick, the universal currency of “we just want you to leave.” [NHL]
• How many times have we seen this before: Evgeni Malkin losing his cool. This time he gets an ejection for slashing Rasmus Dahlin — playing the role of Travis Hamonic in Malkin’s nightmares — in the head. [Sportsnet]

An angry cat is never something you want to provoke, and the Detroit Red Wings will face a fired-up Florida Panthers squad on Friday night. Florida enters the matchup in the second game of a back-to-back after falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets in their previous outing. The Panthers have also struggled recently, dropping nine of their last 11 games, and will be desperate for a rebound victory on the road in Detroit.

The Red Wings claimed the first meeting between these teams earlier this season with a 4–1 win and will now try to accomplish the difficult task of beating Florida twice in a row in the second of four matchups this year.

Florida’s lineup could look somewhat different by puck drop Friday. With the trade deadline approaching, players such as Sergei Bobrovsky, AJ Greer, and Mackie Samoskevich have been mentioned in potential moves as the Panthers consider retooling for next season. 

Even so, the team still has plenty of firepower with Sam Bennett has begun to heat up with five points in his last five games, while veteran Brad Marchand appears due for a breakout after going scoreless in three straight. Florida will also continue to lean on key contributors from their recent Stanley Cup runs, including Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and Anton Lundell.

Detroit, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after letting a 3–1 lead slip away in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. The Wings have lost six of their last nine games and are eager to regain momentum as their grip on a playoff spot begins to loosen.

Offensively, however, Detroit has shown encouraging signs with rookie Emmitt Finnie has rediscovered his scoring touch with goals in back-to-back games after enduring a seven-game point drought. He’ll aim to keep that momentum going alongside fellow youngster Marco Kasper, who has collected nine points over his last 14 contests.

With both Atlantic Division rivals searching for momentum and valuable points, Friday’s meeting has all the ingredients for a fast-paced and high-stakes showdown.

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

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Vegas (Wednesday)

Rasmussen – Larkin – Kane

DeBrincat – Copp – Raymond

Finnie – Kasper – Appleton

van Riemsdyk – Compher – Shine

Edvinsson – Seider

Chiarot – Benard-Docker

Johansson - Sandin-Pellikka

Gibson

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Nathan MacKinnon is one of the league’s most productive players, and he always takes it up a notch against Dallas.

My Avalanche vs. Stars predictions expect the trigger-happy MacKinnon to find the net against his division rival for the sixth consecutive game.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Friday, March 6.

Avalanche vs Stars prediction

Avalanche vs Stars best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-110)

Nathan MacKinnon has piled up the shots since returning from the Olympics, generating 25 shots on goal and 36 attempts over four games.

The volume should remain strong against the Dallas Stars, a division rival he’s excelled against over the years. He's generated 50 shots on target over his past 10 meetings with Dallas and scored in seven of the last eight.

With consistently strong shot outputs and the highest conversion rate of his career (15.2%), MacKinnon is a big threat to score.

Avalanche vs Stars same-game parlay

Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas has picked up a point in eight of the last nine games in which MacKinnon scored.

Necas helps facilitate a lot of MacKinnon’s shot volume at 5-on-5 and on the power play, making the two players strongly correlated.

Mavrik Bourque has played six games without both Tyler Seguin and Mikko Rantanen in the lineup. He’s registered multiple shots on goal in each, averaging 3.7 shots on 5.0 attempts.

He’s an efficient, shoot-first player who has benefited greatly from an increase in usage.

Avalanche vs Stars SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
• Mavrik Bourque Over 1.5 shots on goal

Avalanche vs Stars odds

• Moneyline: Colorado -125 | Dallas +105
• Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+190) | Dallas -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Avalanche vs Stars trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored in five consecutive games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Stars.

How to watch Avalanche vs Stars

Avalanche vs Stars latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

For the first time this season, the Montreal Canadiens will be taking on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. The California-based outfit is currently second in the Pacific Division, and it looks like it will qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Keen to help their playoff push, GM Pat Verbeek acquired veteran offensive defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals for two draft picks early on Friday morning. The rearguard has 46 points in 55 games this season and will bring some veteran leadership to a young Ducks side.

This game will be the first duel between rookies Beckett Sennecke and Ivan Demidov. While the Habs’ rookie led the scoring race for most of the season, Sennecke recently overtook him and is now in pole position with 51 points in 61 games, while Demidov has 48 points in 60 games. The young Russian was outshone by the New York Islanders' rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer when they faced off last week, and he will no doubt want to win his duel with Sennecke.

Beckett Sennecke is the first rookie to hit 50 points this year! 🦆 pic.twitter.com/VpuEiKyptb

— NHL (@NHL) March 5, 2026

Former Canadiens’ Prospect Having A Good Stretch In St. Louis 
Former Canadiens D-Man Traded To Central Club
Could The Canadiens Trade For Help In Net?

The Canadiens had a new look at practice on Thursday, not because Kent Hughes went out to get some reinforcements, but because Martin St-Louis decided to change his lines. Since coming back from the Olympics break, his second line had been ineffective, and he decided it was time to put red-hot Alex Newhook back with Demidov and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen.

As a result, Juraj Slafkovsky went back to the first line, a welcome change for captain Nick Suzuki after having a revolving door on his wing since the big Slovak was moved to the rookie line. This also means that Kirby Dach is moving to Jake Evans’ wing alongside Zach Bolduc. Dach and Bolduc had shown some chemistry early in the season, and the reunion may be good for them. As for the Brendan Gallagher, Philip Danault and Josh Anderson line, it’s the only one that remains untouched.

After Thursday’s practice, St-Louis refused to confirm if there would be any lineup change on the blueline, simply saying “I don’t know” when he was asked if Arber Xhekaj would play. The gritty defenseman has been linked to the Calgary Flames in trade rumours, but he’s still a member of the Canadiens at the time of writing.

The Ducks have a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 games and have won their last game 5-1 against the Islanders, with Sennecke leading the charge with a goal and an assist and Ville Husso manning the net. Since he’s the backup, chances are the Canadiens will face Lukas Dostal on Friday night. The Czech netminder has a 2-1-1 record against the Habs with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Meanwhile, Husso has a 4-0-2 record against Montreal with a 1.95 GAA and a .929 SV.

As for the Habs, St-Louis has already confirmed that Samuel Montembeault would be in the net after Jakub Dobes lost his last game and gave up six goals against the San Jose Sharks. The Becancour native has a 2-5-0 record against the Ducks with a 2.89 GAA and a .894 SV. As for Dobes, he has never taken on Anaheim.

Up front, Gallagher is the Canadiens’ most productive player against the Ducks with 12 points in 15 games, followed by Patrik Laine, who has 11 points in 14 games but won’t play tonight. Suzuki comes in third place with seven points in nine games.

At the other end of the ice, veteran Alex Killord has 21 points in 42 duels against the Canadiens, followed by Ryan Strome with 17 points in 24 games and Frank Vatrano with 13 points in 21 games. Newly acquired Carlson has 28 points in 46 duels against the Tricolore, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be dressed on Friday after the trade went down during the night from Thursday to Friday.

The Canadiens have a 4-6-0 record in their last 10 games against the Ducks, and they lost their last meeting, 3-2 in Anaheim in February 2025. The game is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET, and you can catch it on Victory+, KCOP-13, TSN2, and RDS.

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The New York Islanders seem reluctant to move either of their 2025 first-round picks in a potential trade for St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou, per industry sources. 

Forward Victor Eklund, whom the Islanders selected 16th overall, is untouchable or as close as you can get to it.

The 19-year-old, who has 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 39 games with Djugardens in the Swedish Elite League, is planning to join the organization for the 2026-27 season, whether that's at the NHL or AHL level.

Don't be shocked if he cracks the Islanders' roster out of camp.

Defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, whom the Islanders selected 17th overall, is crushing it -- figuratively and literally -- in the OHL with the Barrie Colts. He has 64 points (27 goals, 37 assists) in 50 games and was named February's OHL Defenseman Of The Month for a second straight month, setting the franchise record for points by a blue-liner. 

Blueline boss. 👑@NYIslanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson is your February #OHL Defenceman of the Month for the second straight month, setting a new @OHLBarrieColts franchise record for points by a defenceman.

DETAILS 🗞️: https://t.co/OGKuGxn8Ujpic.twitter.com/1My6POqq74

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 1, 2026

Eklund signed his three-year entry-level deal on July 14. 

We're told that Aitcheson will be signing his entry-level deal come the conclusion of the OHL season. 

Flyers make another trade, move Deslauriers to Hurricanes originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers traded Nicolas Deslauriers to the Hurricanes on Friday in exchange for a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick.

Deslauriers, a 35-year-old veteran winger, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He had served mostly as the Flyers’ extra forward over the last two seasons.

Earlier in the day, the Flyers traded Bobby Brink to the Wild.

The Flyers signed Deslauriers in July 2022 to a four-year, $7 million contract. As one of the NHL’s toughest players, Deslauriers took pride in protecting his teammates and never shied away from dropping the gloves.

But as Deslauriers had gotten older and the Flyers turned younger, he had lost his everyday role on the fourth line. Over the last two seasons, he played a combined 55 games and only 7:50 minutes per game.

With Carolina, Deslauriers will get a chance at a playoff run. He’ll very likely be an extra forward on a deep Hurricanes team, but when called upon, he’ll know his role.