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Over the past several days, there has been a lot of talk about Pittsburgh Penguins' future Hall-of-Fame center Evgeni Malkin playing in a pretty unfamiliar spot positionally upon his return from injury.

Malkin, 39 - the longstanding second-line center for the Penguins behind only Sidney Crosby on the depth chart - played a little bit on the wing early on in his career, and he has seen some limited minutes there alongside Crosby over the past year. He missed a month of game action and returned to the lineup on Jan. 8 against the New Jersey Devils, and in that return, he found himself on the wing again. 

But, this time, it wasn't Crosby centering him. Instead, it was 18-year-old rookie Ben Kindel, who manages to just keep climbing the ladder on this Penguins' team. 

It has been a whirlwind season for Kindel, who earned his way onto the NHL squad out of training camp and has been a mainstay on the roster ever since. He himself had the opportunity to play on Crosby's wing earlier this season, but - for the most part - he's been positioned as the team's third-line center this season. 

Now, he has an opportunity not only to slot in as the team's second-line center, but also to center an all-time great that he looked up to as a kid - and who has manned that position for so long.

"Obviously, he's such a special player," Kindel said. "So, I'm lucky to be able to play with him and have him on my wing. He's a great player, so just going to try to do what I can to help that line be successful and help the team win."

Of course, Kindel has picked up a thing or two during his tenure in Pittsburgh this season, especially in a room full of veterans that hosts the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson. But it's a bit of a different experience getting to play alongside those players in game action, and - in particular - be the anchor on a line with one of those players, especially when those players are so accustomed to being in that spot. 

The Penguins Have Found Something With Novak Centering Brazeau And ManthaTommy Novak found instant chemistry with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau once he started centering them.

Even through just one game and a few practices - and some time on the power play together earlier this season - Kindel has learned a lot about Malkin as a player and how to tandem with him on a line.

"I think just his overall hockey sense and competitiveness drives his game," Kindel said. "And, obviously, he's very skilled. But I think his hockey sense really complements our line well, and I think we have three players - [Egor Chinakhov] as well - that think the game and are all skilled players. So, we'll see how it goes."

Kindel had high praise for his other linemate in Chinakhov, too. The 24-year-old scoring winger was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, and he has a goal and two points in his four games since joining the Penguins. 

"Very, very skilled. High-skilled, great shot, great skating," Kindel said. "Good hockey sense, all that stuff. And, obviously, he's a good person as well, so it's nice to have him on the line. And I think we've been connecting well so far."

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

Although Kindel is simply elevating his role as a center in the lineup, it's obviously a bit of an adjustment for Malkin to re-enter the lineup after a month and play in a relatively unfamiliar position. But, despite the adjustment, Malkin was happy with how he, Kindel, and Chinakhov were able to play in a 4-1 win against the Devils, which was the team's sixth-straight victory. 

"First period, I play left wing, but third period, I play right wing," Malkin said after Thursday's win. "I don't know why. But, yeah, any little bit of time, it's not easy changing positions, but long time ago, I play wing. But, after first, I think I take a couple pucks, use my stickhandling. You know, it feels a little better, for sure. Huge [second-period] goal for me, and I hope [our line] plays same next game, too.

"I like playing wing. Like, I don't care."

And that line of reassurance from Malkin is probably a sigh of relief to Kindel, whose rookie season has provided him with a wide range of experiences, from playing with all-time great players to spending a week in Stockholm for the NHL's Global Series in November. He was initially set to be on a team-sanctioned development plan with rest days sprinkled in, but the Penguins' injury situation has thrown a bit of a wrench in those plans. Kindel has also - simply put - been too important for the Penguins to put him in the press box, as his eight goals and 18 points, the beyond-his-years two-way play, and his value to both special teams units has helped the team win games. 

As a result, Kindel is taking things day by day, taking care of his body, and trying to learn as much as he can from the grind of a full NHL season. So far, he is happy with his progression, with his bump up in the lineup simply being the latest example of that. 

"Obviously, there's going to be ups and downs throughout the year," Kindel said. "Just trying to get more comfortable and gain more confidence every day. And, obviously, I'm still young and still developing. So, gotta find the balance of trying to help your team win and still also finding ways to develop your game. I think it's just a fine line."

Takeaways: In Malkin's Return, Penguins Oust Devils To Earn Sixth Straight WinThe Pittsburgh Penguins took advantage of a struggling New Jersey Devils team to earn their sixth consecutive win and catapult them to the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

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For once, the Pittsburgh Penguins are getting close to full health. And one of their long-injured players is nearing a return to the lineup. 

Defenseman Caleb Jones - who was placed on injured reserve (IR) with a lower-body ailment on Oct. 25 after getting hit by Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand and going awkwardly into the boards - skated with the team for the first time in his rehab process Friday. He had been skating on his own prior to Friday's practice, and he wore a white no-contact jersey during the Penguins' optional practice.

"It's been a process," Jones said. "I think that was my ninth or tenth time on the ice, so it's just fun to be back. Kind of feeling a little better every day, but just take it a day at a time and try to make sure you're doing the right things to get back quickly."

Jones said that the rehab process has been both difficult and long. He has never missed such a significant chunk of time before, especially time not spent on the ice.

But he made the most of what he could during his recovery. 

"It's been tough," Jones said. "A couple of dark days for sure, but you kind of try to focus on other things mentally, reflect on things you were doing in your game, and try to find ways to improve. Obviously, you can't do anything physically, but try to work on the mental side and see, when you get back, if you can make improvements that way. So, I tried to focus on that and just stay positive and try to attack the rehab process."

Jones, 28, was signed to a two-year, $1.8 million contract during the offseason, and he had one assist in seven games this season. The younger brother of Team USA Olympic defenseman Seth Jones - also of the Panthers - felt he had an opportunity to re-establish himself in the NHL with the Penguins, and he felt he was using his speed and mobility to do just that prior to his injury. 

New Defenseman Ready To Bring 'Good Habits' To PittsburghNew <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' defenseman Caleb Jones may have suited up for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings">Los Angeles Kings</a>' organization last season prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent. But, oddly enough, he found himself training with some players from a different organization this summer.

In fact, Jones didn't think he was the only one establishing himself at the NHL level before he was placed on IR. He also thought his partner in 19-year-old rookie blueliner Harrison Brunicke - optioned back to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL Wednesday - was playing quite well at that point. 

"I actually thought 'Bruno' was coming along really well, and I was working well with him," Jones said. "And he started out really well, too, so I thought we were building some chemistry. It was unfortunate when I went down, and [he went] back to Kamloops. But he had a little bit of a rough go, and it was just unfortunate.

"It happens. And, hopefully - if he ever gets back up - we can get some chemistry going again. Or, whoever I end up in the lineup with, I can get some chemistry with. That'd be nice."

Penguins Re-assign Top Defensive Prospect To WHLThe Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Harrison Brunicke back to Kamloops.

Jones also mentioned that there are no hard feelings toward Marchand, who he trained with a little bit this past summer in Florida.

"I'll make sure Marchand gets me a bottle of wine or something," he smiled. 

Although there is no set timetable for his return at this point, Jones hopes to be back in the lineup as soon as possible, and he circled next weekend against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a potential target date. 

Of note, the Penguins have an open roster spot after re-assigning forward Ville Koivunen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). They are currently carrying 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders, so Jones can be activated from injured reserve without the Penguins making a corresponding move.

Penguins Re-assign Young Forward To Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonThe Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned Ville Koivunen to WBS.

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Former San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer is looking to continue his playing career.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Ottawa Senators have signed Reimer to an AHL professional tryout (PTO). In addition, Dreger shared that Reimer is expected to join Ottawa in the next few days with an NHL contract.

Reimer landing this AHL PTO with the Senators comes with Linus Ullmark being on a leave of absence. In addition, Leevi Merilainen has had trouble handling the starting role during Ullmark's absence, so taking a look at an experienced goalie like Reimer makes plenty of sense for the Senators. 

Reimer split this past season between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres. In 24 games during the 2024-25 campaign, he posted a 10-10-2 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 3.04 goals-against average. 

In 99 games over three seasons and two stints with the Sharks, Reimer had a 37-40-18 record, a .903 save percentage, a 3.05 goals-against average, and seven shutouts. His most recent season with the Sharks was during the 2022-23 campaign. 

The Winnipeg Jets dropped their 11th straight game on Thursday, with tensions around the team reaching a season-high. Players, management, and most importantly fans are frustrated with the direction of the team, which has struggled to hold leads, generate depth scoring, and find consistency.

Following the loss, it was revealed that the Jets have set the NHL record for most consecutive losses in one-goal games at 13, sparking renewed conversation about what the team can do to salvage the season.

Reports have emerged that the Jets are exploring trade options, with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi increasingly mentioned in connection with Winnipeg. The former top-three pick in the 2018 NHL Draft has struggled to find a consistent role in Carolina, which currently sits atop the Metropolitan Division with a 27-14-3 record. Kotkaniemi has often been shuffled in and out of the bottom six and has yet to play a meaningful role in the team’s success.

At 25 years old, Kotkaniemi still has room to reach his potential, but continuing to rotate through Carolina’s bottom lines is unlikely to benefit him or the Hurricanes. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman highlighted the rumors on Friday’s episode of his podcast 32 Thoughts, noting that Carolina is open to a deal that would give Kotkaniemi a fresh start elsewhere.

“There’s interest in him, one of the teams that makes a lot of sense to me,” Friedman said. “If Winnipeg liked the player, and they need a center to play behind Scheifele, he’s signed for four more years. That’s the kind of player the Jets would look at.”

Friedman explained that the fit hinges on how Winnipeg evaluates Kotkaniemi but said the Hurricanes have the flexibility to make a trade happen, potentially requesting an asset that could help them push for a Stanley Cup or a draft pick for future moves. Kotkaniemi carries a $4.82 million cap hit for the next four seasons, but as the salary cap grows, that number becomes increasingly manageable.

Though Kotkaniemi has played primarily on the wing recently, he has extensive experience at center and could slot into Winnipeg’s second line behind Cole Perfetti and Gabe Vilardi or play alongside top-line stars Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. A former 43-point player, he has the potential to reach 50-plus points in the right role, offering the Jets a chance to add a high-end forward without a major cost.

As the losing streak continues and frustration mounts, all eyes will be on management to see if moves like Kotkaniemi could provide the spark the Jets desperately need.

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Former Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer has signed an AHL professional tryout (PTO) with the Ottawa Senators, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.

Dreger also shared that Reimer is expected to join Ottawa's roster "in a few days" with an NHL contract. 

The Senators taking a chance on Reimer is not too difficult to understand. Linus Ullmark is currently on personal leave, while their other goalies have been struggling. As a result of this, it makes sense that they are bringing in Reimer for more depth between the pipes. 

Reimer had signed a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2025-26 season, but it did not result in him landing a contract for the season. Yet, based on Dreger's report, Reimer appears to be getting another opportunity in the NHL with the Senators. 

Reimer appeared in 22 games last season with the Sabres, where he posted a 10-8-2 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage, and one shutout. Overall, the 37-year-old had his solid moments with the Sabres.

It will now be interesting to see how much of an impact Reimer can make for the Senators, assuming he gets into game action with the NHL club. 

The Winnipeg Jets’ season hit a historic low Thursday night as they lost 4-3 at home to the Edmonton Oilers after blowing a 3-1 lead. The defeat marked Winnipeg’s 11th straight loss and set a dubious NHL record with 13 consecutive losses in one-goal games.

Just two seasons ago, the Jets were celebrated for their league-leading defense and consistently kept games close. That defensive strength helped them win tight matchups and turn low-scoring battles into momentum for their offense.

This season, that trend has completely reversed. Winnipeg has struggled to protect leads, find scoring depth, and maintain consistent offensive play. One-goal games that were once opportunities have turned into heartbreaks, resulting in a streak that no team wants and a record that highlights the team’s struggles.

Jets have now lost 13 straight games decided by 1 goal, establishing an NHL record

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 9, 2026

The Jets’ difficulties have fueled speculation about potential roster moves. Forward trade rumors have circulated around Carolina’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Edmonton’s Andrew Mangiapane as the team searches for ways to spark its offense and stop the losing streak. Until changes are made or a major turnaround occurs, the Jets risk extending their hold on this unwanted record.

For a team that once thrived in close games, the current reality is stark. The Jets are no longer just losing they are making NHL history for all the wrong reasons.

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Following a 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell was fined $5,000 by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for high-sticking Alexandre Texier. 

This is the second time Lundell has been fined this season; the first was for an incident against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 27. 

Lundell was handed a four-minute double minor in the second period, but the Canadiens did not score on the man advantage.

Lundell finished the game with no goals or points, with a minus-1 and five shots on goal in 19:55 of ice time. Texier finished the game with a hat trick and a plus-2 rating with six shots on goal in 17:15 of ice time. 

Lundell has gone cold as of late, failing to score or record a point in his last four games. In that time, the Panthers have won just one game. 

The Panthers have dropped in the standings, sitting three points back of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, with three teams ahead of them. They are also eight points back of the third spot in the Atlantic Division. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals are going to face off for the second time in under a week. Last Saturday, the Blackhawks took down the Capitals in a long shootout, Nick Foligno scored the winner for Chicago. 

Since then, the Blackhawks haven't lost and are undefeated in 2026 still. Since the holiday break ended, they are 5-1-1. A win on Friday over Washington would be their fifth straight. 

The Blackhawks are going to be getting a boost in this game. Connor Bedard is going to return to the lineup from injury. He has been out since December 12th. 

Connor Bedard Returns To Blackhawks Lineup On Verge Of Five Straight WinsFor Friday's game against the Washington Capitals, the Chicago Blackhawks will be getting Connor Bedard back in the lineup.

Scouting Washington

The Washington Capitals are tied for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but they are below the playoff line due to tiebreakers. A win on Friday night would put them above once again. It's a fight for every team in that conference right now. 

Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier

McMichael-Sourdif-Leonard

Duhaime-Dowd-Frank

Milano-Lapierre-Leason

Fehervary-Carlson

Chychrun-Roy

Sandin-McIlrath

Thompson

Lindgren

For over two decades, Alex Ovechkin has been one of the faces of the NHL. Now, he will make his first appearance at the United Center as the all-time leading goal-scorer in NHL history. He passed Wayne Gretzky's mark last spring. 

Ovechkin is still scoring goals at a high rate, despite being 40 years old. When he has open space, the Blackhawks better close it quickly, or he will find the back of the net. Ovechkin scored Washington's only goal in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

John Carlson is an older player now, too, but he is still an incredibly productive defenseman at 35 years old. Whether it's on the power play as the quarterback or at even strength, the forwards have an easier time creating when he's on the ice. 

A young Capital to watch out for is Ryan Leonard. The former Boston College and Team USA World Juniors star is blossoming into a good NHL player. He scored in last Saturday's game against the Blackhawks, and he'll be looking to score again in this one. 

If Logan Thompson does in fact go for the Capitals in the net, it will be the Blackhawks' second straight game against a Team Canada Olympic goalie. They shocked Jordan Binnington for seven last time out, but beating Thompson will be much more of a challenge. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks didn't have the most traditional morning skate on Friday. Ilya Mikheyev, Arvid Soderblom, and Nick Foligno were all missing due to illness. A flu bug is circulating in the locker room, and it has even caused Jeff Blashill to miss the skate. 

They won't know who is available to play until the afternoon, meaning we won't see the active lines until warmups. With Soderblom being one of the sick players, and a game in Nashville on Saturday night, Spencer Knight will be the Chicago goalie in this one. 

Connor Bedard, as mentioned before, will make his return. You can expect him to resume his role as the top line center and one of the drivers of offense at both even strength and on the power play. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found locally on CHSN. Nationally, it can be seen on NHL Network. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

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

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