Category: Sports News

The St. Louis Blues put Alexandre Texier on unconditional waivers with purpose to terminate his contract.

The #StLBlues put Alexandre Texier on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) November 22, 2025

The 26-year-old was placed on waivers Thursday and went unclaimed, thus assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League on Friday, but to no one's surprise, the forward would not report to the AHL and would look to terminate his contract and sign with a team of his own choosing.

The Blues went through a similar situation with Brandon Saad last season, and he signed a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Texier, who had one assist in eight games with the Blues this season and played 39 games, including 31 last season (six goals, five assists), will thus earn a fresh start elsewhere.

“For ‘Tex,’ he's an outstanding young man and just didn't find any kind of path this year to consistently stay in the lineup,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on Thursday.

Texier will forfeit the remainder of his two-year, $4.2 million contract he signed ($2.1 million average annual value) after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2025 fourth-round pick on June 28, 2024.

* In a separate move announced earlier on Saturday, the Blues recalled defenseman Logan Mailloux from Springfield after assigning Hunter Skinner on Friday.

Mailloux scored two goals in five games with the Thunderbirds.

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Canadian defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk, 28, has signed a contract to play the remainder of the current season with the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Saturday.

Shanghai will be Kalynuk’s third KHL team already this season. He spent the 2024-25 season playing for the Lahti Pelicans in Finland following four seasons of pro hockey in North America.

“A mobile defenseman who can play on the power play, moves the puck well, and supports the attack,” is how Dragons GM Igor Varitsky described Kalynuk. “He showed solid performance both in the AHL and in Finland, where he collected 36 points, including 10 goals. Wyatt is already familiar with the KHL after stints in Kazan and Ufa, and he’ll fit into a system he knows well. He’ll bring speed and offensive potential to our blue line.”

Kalynuk was a seventh-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017 and then spent the next three seasons playing for the University of Wisconsin Badgers, serving as team captain his last season.

Vitali Kravtsov Signs Multi-Year KHL DealKravtsov returns to his KHL roots for a multi-year deal, aiming to recapture his prolific scoring touch with a powerhouse Traktor squad.

Over the next two seasons, Kalynuk played 26 NHL games for the Chicago Blackhawks, recording nine points and six penalty minutes. He’s also spent time in the minor-league systems of the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues, and went to the training camp of the Arizona Coyotes in 2023.

Kalynuk started this season playing for Ak Bars Kazan, but was traded after just two games to Salavat Yulayev Ufa for another ex-NHLer, Alexander Chmelevski.

“We wish Wyatt Kalynuk the best of luck,” Kazan GM Marat Valiullin said about Kalynuk at the time of the trade. “He’s a good player that we were interested in, but the market dictates its own terms.”

Brendan Leipsic Finds New KHL TeamLeipsic returns to SKA St. Petersburg, rejoining former NHLers and Hall-of-Fame coach Larionov for the KHL playoff push.

In 20 KHL games this season combined, Kalynuk as one goal, four assists, two penalty minutes and is a minus-9.

Through 27 games this season, Shanghai sits seventh in the KHL’s 11-team Western Conference. That marks a significant improvement for the franchise that has missed the playoffs eight straight seasons, when it was known as Kunlun Red Star.

In addition to the rebranding, the team has made significant personnel changes this season, including the hiring of head coach Gerard Gallant and the acquisition of ng Slovak Olympic bronze-medal-winning goaltender Patrik Rybar and ex-NHLers Ryan Spooner. Nick Merkley, Kevin Labanc, Borna Rendulić and Alexander Burmistrov.

Gerard Gallant Takes Over KHL’s Shanghai Dragons Gerard Gallant is the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Nov 16, 2025; Stockholm, SWEDEN; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) is presented with a watch after defeating the Nashville Predators in a Global Series ice hockey game at Avicii Arena. Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

After nearly a week off following their trip to Stockholm, Sweden, for the 2025 NHL Global Series, the Nashville Predators return to action Saturday night as they host the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena.

The Preds earned a split with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the two-game Global Series. Nashville scored a comeback 2-1 overtime victory Nov. 14 but suffered a disappointing 4-0 shutout loss to the Penguins two days later.

Filip Forsberg scored the game-tying goal in his home country in the Nov. 14 contest, then skated in his 800th career NHL game in the Nov. 16 loss.

With their 6-10-4 record, speculation and rumors that a coaching change might be made during the Preds’ six-day rest period were quashed by general manager Barry Trotz, who said in an interview on 102.5 The Game he has no intention of replacing head coach Andrew Brunette.

The Preds must put their problems and the outside noise behind them as they get back to work. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday night’s game with the Avalanche.

Game Day

Who: Colorado Avalanche (14-1-5) at Nashville Predators (6-10-4)

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

When: 7 Pm CST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Betting line (via BetMGM):

Avalanche

-1.5 (+110)

O 6 (-115)

-220

Predators

+1.5 (-135)

U 6 (-105)

+180

Roman Returns

The Preds got some good news following Saturday morning skate. Head coach Andrew Brunette announced that captain Roman Josi would be back in the lineup for the Avs game.

Josi has been on injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury. He practiced with the team earlier in the week and was paired with defenseman Nicolas Hague. The two will be paired together for the game.

Cole Smith (upper body) is currently on injured reserve.

Hockey Fights Cancer Night

Saturday’s game is the first of two Hockey Fights Cancer nights the Predators will host this season. Last year, the Nashville Predators Foundation raised $229,365.25 for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.

This game will feature six patient ambassadors from Monroe Carell who will take part in various in-game activities. Preds goalie Juuse Saros will be wearing a specially-designed goalie mask to mark the occasion, which fans can bid on in an auction during the game.

Preds Leaders

Forsberg leads the team with eight goals and 15 points, followed by Ryan O’Reilly with six goals and 13 points. Rookie Matthew Wood also has six goals, and he, along with Michael Bunting (4g-6a), Erik Haula (3g-7a) and Luke Evangelista (2g-8a) all have 10 points each.

Goalie Juuse Saros is 6-7-3 for the season with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. He has recorded the fifth-most saves in the NHL this season (389); of those, 101 have been classified as high-danger, tied for the fifth-most of any goalie in the League.

Justus Annunen is 0-3-1 with a 3.98 GAA and .849 SP.

Nashville’s power play is 10-for-62 (16.1%), ranking them 25th in the NHL. The penalty kill is 14th at 81.4% (11-of-59).

Scouting The Avalanche

Colorado is atop the NHL standings coming into Saturday with a 14-1-5 mark. The Avs began this season 5-0-3 in their first eight games, tied for the second-longest point streak to begin a season in franchise history.

The 2000-01 team started 9-0-2 in their first 11 contests and the 2019-20 squad also recorded points in its first eight outings (7-0-1).

Nathan MacKinnon leads the team with 36 points (16-20-36). Cale Makar is second with 28 points (8-20-28), followed by Martin Necas (13-15-28).

Former Preds goaltender Scott Wedgewood is 12-1-2 with a 2.23 GAA and .913 SP. Wedgewood led the NHL with seven wins (7-1-2) in the month of October, which matched the second most October victories in franchise history behind only Craig Anderson’s 10 in 2009.

Mackenzie Blackwood is 2-0-1, 3.28 and .870.

On the power play, the Avs rank 23rd in the NHL at 16.7% (13-for-78). The PK is 9-of-64 (85.9), good for fourth overall.

On Thursday, Oscar Fisker Molgaard was recalled to the NHL after playing just 14 games in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Not only would he be joining the big club, but he would be making his NHL debut that night when the Seattle Kraken took on the Chicago Blackhawks.

“When I got the call yesterday, yeah, pure excitement and joy and looking forward to today,” said Fisker Molgaard after Thursday’s morning skate. “Ron told me I’ve been doing a good job and had to get on the plane in a couple hours. It’s been a bit hectic ... just excited to get going. I’m really happy to be here.”

The 20-year-old didn't play a whole lot in his NHL debut, but like he's done at every level, he found a way to make an impact. He skated in just 6:50 of ice time, but he notched his first career NHL point with an assist on the Kraken's first goal of the game. 

The play started with Fisker Molgaard supporting a board battle and being first to the loose puck. Following the scrum, the young center worked to the front of the net where he deflected a puck before it hit off of Tye Kartye, picking up a primary assist. 

it's partye time in chicago! 🥳

and with the primary assist on Tye Kartye's tally, that's @NHL point no. ☝️ for Oscar Fisker Molgaard! pic.twitter.com/agAxMoxdTE

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 21, 2025

There wouldn't be many people who would have agreed that Molgaard would be the first player from their 2023 draft class to make his NHL debut, but since arriving in North America this summer, all he's done is impress the Kraken organization.

It began when he was a standout performer in rookie camp and in the rookie showcase. He constantly demonstrated a strong two-way ability and then carried the momentum. The 52nd overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft was one of the final cuts in training camp after playing in five pre-season games. 

The momentum continued as he started his AHL career in top form, showing no issues translating his game. In 14 games, he's recorded three goals and 10 points, tied for fourth in points. 

The Kraken spoke openly about wanting to trust their youth and allow them to shine. So far, they've done that. Berkly Catton remains in the NHL, Jani Nyman and Ryan Winterton are also up with the big club, and now Fisker Molgaard has seemingly skipped several steps in his development. 

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.

Kraken Prospect Oscar Fisker Molgaard Is Looking To Bring Previous Experience Into AHL Rookie SeasonOscar Fisker Molgaard is gearing up for his first Seattle Kraken training camp and season in the <a href="http://thn.com/ahl">AHL</a>, and he'll be looking to use past experiences to help him.