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2025 is about to come to an end. The calendar year was up and down for the Chicago Blackhawks, but the organization has done a lot of good things that will help them down the road.

It may take a little while longer before they are a contender, but 2026 is going to be a much better calendar year, and the work they put in during 2025 will be a large reason for that. 

A lot of players suited up for the Blackhawks during this past year. Some of them were short-term tenures, others are expected to be with the club for a long time. Some of them stood out more than others along the way.

Of every player who put on a Chicago sweater this year, these five stick out the most: 

Connor Bedard

Connor Bedard has been sensational for the Chicago Blackhawks this year. He ended 2024-25 playing very well with a new cast of young players around him, and he turned into a superstar at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. 

Over the summer, Bedard put in the work. He made sure to improve his skating, which he felt would help him become an overall better player. That has come true. 

In the calendar year of 2025, Bedard had 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points in 75 games played. There was a large jump in production, which paves the way for an even better 2026. In the year 2025, it became clear that Bedard is the star that the Blackhawks hoped he'd become when they selected him first overall. 

Spencer Knight

Early in 2025, Spencer Knight was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal that sent Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers. This was a huge trade for the Blackhawks, as their trajectory as a franchise took a large leap forward. 

Knight has turned into one of the best goalies in the NHL. He is unlikely to be an Olympian for Team USA because they are going to go with the three that they brought to the 4-Nations Face-Off, but Knight may be one of the first players called if they need an injury replacement. 

You can't win in the NHL without goaltending, and they get that consistently with Knight. Going into 2026, a starting goalie is nothing for management to worry about, and it won't be an issue for a long time. 

Ryan Donato

2025 was big for Ryan Donato. At the end of last season, Donato finished off a 31-goal season, which nearly doubled his career high. That earned him a long contract extension with the Blackhawks, something he never expected to get when he first came over. 

Now, playing up and down the lineup, Donato plays a very important role on the team. He is a solid veteran player who brings his A-game in all three zones every night. He can score goals, come to the defense of his teammates, and defend. 

Donato may never eclipse 30 goals again, but it will never be his role to do so. Helping the young kids by continuing to play the game the right way will provide a service that few others in the organization can do. 

Frank Nazar 

Besides Connor Bedard, no player in the Blackhawks' organization has risen to the top of the lineup more than Frank Nazar. He still has a long way to go in his development, especially in his finishing touch, but there is clearly a toolbox there that will help him produce for a long time. 

To be a second line center, and not because of necessity, because he's earned it, speaks volumes about his compete level and overall skill. Right now, Nazar is the runaway second-best forward on the team. 

It will be great for Nazar to continue learning how to score more, but that isn't his entire game. The kid can skate, make passes, and kill penalties with the best of them. He is the only player on the team who is above average on the power play, penalty kill, and at even strength. 

Tyler Bertuzzi

Tyler Bertuzzi has had an up-and-down tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks, but his calendar year of 2025 has been solid. He is one of the best goal scorers on the team, and few players in the NHL score on the road more than he does. 

Bertuzzi does something special that not every offensive player can do. He goes to the front of the net with regularity and succeeds. He can tip pucks in, bang in rebounds, or have crafty hands in tight. With great playmakers around him to set up plays like that, he takes full advantage. 

Expect more of the same from Bertuzzi in 2026. The team is only going to get better around him. His competitive level on every shift will help these young players continue to grow their games. 

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This was not the blockbuster trade for a center everyone was hoping for, but the Philadelphia Flyers again managed to get the best of their trade partners, this time fleecing the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Wednesday, the Flyers finally parted ways with the struggling Egor Zamula, swapping the defenseman for Penguins forward Phil Tomasino, who had been buried in the AHL himself this season.

Zamula, 25, had worn out his welcome in Philadelphia, and there wasn't much more to it than that.

The formerly undrafted Russian defender hadn't progressed as the team had hoped over the last few seasons and, having to impress a new coaching staff with Rick Tocchet and Todd Reirden, ultimately played his way off the NHL roster entirely.

Instead, journeyman Noah Juulsen carved out a role for himself as the No. 7 defenseman; Emil Andrae, who didn't even make the Flyers out of training camp, has established himself as one of Tocchet and Reirden's go-to defenders, and Ty Murchison, who earned a brief two-game cameo in the wake of a Cam York injury, proved himself as a better option and kept the vastly more experienced Zamula in the press box.

Flyers Prospects Prevail Undefeated on Day 1 of World Junior ChampionshipsAll of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> prospects participating in the 2026 World Junior Championships prevailed with a win on Day 1, but it was the unheralded players who stood out most.

In short: there was no further reason to keep Zamula around, even at the AHL level, and the Flyers agreed.

As for the new guy, Tomasino, 24, is a 2019 first-round pick who now finds himself on his third team in less than two full seasons.

The 6-foot, right-shot forward is a strong skater with a solid offensive toolbox, but, given his age, is unlikely to be an impact player at the NHL level.

That said, the Flyers have long coveted speed at the center position, and the versatile Tomasino can slot in at that position if needed and proceed from there.

Astute fans may recall that the 24-year-old, who was traded to the Penguins by the Nashville Predators early last season, was quietly very productive for Pittsburgh, scoring 11 goals, 12 assists, and 23 points in 50 games.

That scoring luck obviously ran out this season, with an assist in nine NHL games earning him another stint in the AHL.

Overall, though, with 23 goals and 95 points in 218 games across five seasons (nearly a 41-point pace per 82 games), it's hard to imagine the Flyers not giving the former 24th overall pick a chance at the NHL level at some point; the Flyers stated Tomasino will start in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

During the aforementioned productive stint with the Penguins last season, Tomasino's underlying numbers, per Evolving-Hockey, showed that he actually deserved a bit better in terms of bounces at both ends of the ice. If the Flyers can unlock that player, even without the deserved bounces, that's a legitimate middle-six piece worth keeping around.

After Jett Luchanko had been sent back to the OHL early in the season, the Flyers had recalled Jacob Gaucher, citing a need for a right-shot center.

The Gaucher experiment didn't last long, but the Flyers now have another one in their ranks who is far more talented offensively.

With time, and a positive first impression in the organization, Tomasino is someone who can push a player like Rodrigo Abols for a spot in the lineup.

And all those potential opportunities came at the cost of Zamula, who could have just left the organization and walked away via a mutual contract termination, as was reported to have been offered to the Flyers.

Tomasino has one year remaining on his contract at a $1.75 million cap hit and will not be an unrestricted free agent until 2029.

In what was their last game of 2025, the New York Rangers suffered a 6-3 loss at the hands of the Washington Capitals. 

To start with the good news for the Rangers, Adam Fox returned after missing the past 14 games due to a shoulder injury. 

The 27-year-old defenseman made an immediate impact, recording one goal, one assist, and two points, while posting a total of 21:13 minutes. 

Fox’s presence was specifically felt from an offensive standpoint, as he helped elevate the power play, with the Rangers’ moving the puck well, which eventually led to a goal from Fox. He was crisp in his return, and he did not seem to miss a beat or shake off any rust.

“I thought he had a strong game,” Mike Sullivan said of Fox. “I thought he played real well. I think you can see the impact that he has on our team.”

With the score tied 1-1 in the second period, Tom Wilson delivered a big-time body check to Noah Laba, and seconds later, Wilson scored with Laba riving in pain on the ice, taking him out of the play. 

Laba made his way to the locker room after taking the hit from Wilson, and he ultimately did not return due to an apparent upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Conor Sheary suffered a lower-body injury later in the period. He also left the game and ultimately did not return.

After Laba and Sheary left the game, the Rangers were forced to play with 10 forwards instead of 12, putting Sullivan in a position where he had to shuffle the lines. 

“It just taxes guys when you lose two guys early like that to injury,” Sullivan said. “You're down to short numbers, so that's just the reality of the way the game played out.”

Sullivan confirmed that both Laba and Sheary are being evaluated, but he did not provide any further details on their current status.

Despite a strong push from the Rangers in the third period down 3-2, two goals from Aliaksei Protas and Wilson late in the final frame put this game to rest. 

Mike Sullivan Credits Gabe Perreault For Improved Play Upon Return To Rangers We are beginning to see flashes of Gabe Perreault’s offensive potential at the NHL level with the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a>.&nbsp;

The Rangers have now lost three consecutive games, but the team now heads to the Sunshine State to play in the Winter Classic on Friday night against the Florida Panthers. 

A game of this magnitude, flat in the middle of the season, can serve as a bit of a refresher and a turning point for a Blueshirts team that is sitting just above a .500 record, while finding itself outside the playoffs. 

“We need a game where we play well and we win,” Mika Zibanejad said. “Winning solves a lot of it. We just have to find a way. We have to be better.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins are staying busy, as they acquired defenseman Egor Zamula from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Philip Tomasino on Dec. 31. This comes after both players were recently placed on waivers and cleared them. 

Although the Penguins and Flyers do not make trades with each other often due to their intense rivalry, this deal makes sense for both sides. There was no question that both Zamula and Tomasino were in need of fresh starts, and now they have gotten just that. 

While this is not the biggest move in the NHL this season, it has the potential to be a solid one for the Penguins. 

Zamula has shown in the past that he has the potential to provide decent offense from the point. During the 2023-24 season, the 6-foot-3 puck-moving defenseman set career highs with five goals, 16 assists, and 21 points in 66 games. Furthermore, with Zamula still only 25 years old, the possibility of him bouncing back with the Penguins should not be ruled out. 

It is also no secret that the Penguins need help on the left side of their defense. While Zamula is starting his tenure with the organization in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he certainly has a good chance of getting called up if he impresses. 

If Zamula regains his 2023-24 form or even hits a new level for Pittsburgh, it would be huge for a Penguins team in the middle of a retool. Ultimately, there is no harm in the Penguins taking a chance on him, and it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make from here. 

In 168 career NHL games over six seasons, Zamula has recorded eight goals, 33 assists, and 41 points. In 13 games this season with the Flyers before being traded to Pittsburgh, he had one assist and a plus-4 rating. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have made a roster move, as they have announced that they have recalled forward Dominic Toninato from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. 

Toninato being called up comes after he was just sent down to the AHL by the Blackhawks earlier week. Now, he is heading right back up to Chicago's roster with this latest roster move. 

Toninato has played in five games this season with the Blackhawks, where he has recorded one assist, 10 hits, and a plus-1 rating. Down in the AHL with the IceHogs this season, the 2012 fifth-round pick has posted five goals, 12 assists, and 17 points in 25 games. 

Toninato will now be looking to make an impact after landing this latest call-up to the Blackhawks' roster. 

In 194 career NHL games split over nine seasons between the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Winnipeg Jets, and Blackhawks, Toninato has recorded 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points, 226 hits, and a plus-13 rating. 

During the off-season, former Montreal Canadiens goalie Jake Allen signed a five-year, $9 million contract to stay with the New Jersey Devils. This was after the Fredericton, New Brunswick native had a 13-16-1 record, a 2.66 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and four shutouts in 31 games with the Devils in 2024-25. 

Now, as we enter the new year, the Devils' decision to keep Allen around is looking like a very good one. 

Allen is currently in the middle of a very solid season with the Devils in 2025-26. In 20 games so far this campaign with the Metropolitan Division club, he has a 10-8-1 record, a 2.54 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage, and one shutout. With numbers like these, there is no question that the former Canadiens goalie has been providing the Devils with strong goaltending. 

Allen is continuing to play well as the season rolls on, too. The 35-year-old goaltender has had a .917 save percentage or better in three out of his last four appearances with the Devils. This included him stopping 36 out of 37 shots against the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 17.

In 127 games over four seasons with the Canadiens from 2020-21 to 2023-24, Allen recorded a 41-68-15 record, a .899 save percentage, and a 3.30 goals-against average. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist to lead the Washington Capitals past the New York Rangers 6-3 on Wednesday.

Wilson, who earlier in the day was named a member of Canada’s Olympic roster, got into a fight with Sam Carrick in the second period for at least his second Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist and a fight — since March 3, 2025.

Justin Sourdif also had two goals and Anthony Beauvillier and Aliaksei Protas each scored for the Capitals, who have won two of the last three games.

Adam Fox, making his return from long-term injured reserve, had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who have lost three straight. Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider also scored.

With the Capitals tied 1-1 and needing a spark in the second, Wilson rose to the occasion. The 28-year-old came streaking up ice and leveled Noah Laba before getting to the front of the net and roofing a feed from Connor McMichael to restore Washington’s lead as he became the first Capital to hit the 20-goal mark this season. Minutes later, he answered for Laba’s hit, fighting Carrick.

The fight, initiated by Carrick, put the Capitals on the power play. Sourdif snuck a loose puck past Jonathan Quick, who had 21 saves, to end a 16-game goal drought to make it 3-1.

Fox responded with a power-play goal of his own soon after to pull things to 3-2 going into the third.

Protas and Wilson, netting his 200th career goal, added insurance tallies late to cushion the lead.

Schneider brought New York back within two late.

Wilson assisted Sourdif on an empty-netter.

Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves for Washington.

Up next

Rangers: Visit Florida in the Winter Classic on Friday.

Capitals: Visit Ottawa on Thursday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers made a rare trade with each other on Wednesday.

The Penguins sent forward Philip Tomasino to the Flyers in exchange for defenseman Egor Zamula. Tomasino had fallen out of favor with the Penguins and had been in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a good chunk of the 2025-26 season before getting sent to the Flyers.

The Penguins have acquired defenseman Egor Zamula from the @NHLFlyers in exchange for forward Philip Tomasino.

Details: https://t.co/oxKHyv1NJvpic.twitter.com/2anGBLtk8L

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 31, 2025

Tomasino will report to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (the Flyers' AHL affiliate). 

Zamula had also fallen out of favor with the Flyers and is set to report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (the Penguins' AHL affiliate). 

Per a team spokesperson, Egor Zamula will be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Per the AHL's Web site, Ryan Graves was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) December 31, 2025

Tomasino was initially acquired by the Penguins from the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round pick during last season. He compiled 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with the Penguins before notching one assist in nine games this year.

Zamula has played in 13 games this season and has only one assist. He has played in 168 NHL games, scoring eight goals and recording 41 points. 

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1. By far the Rangers biggest flop – in terms of expectations this season – has been former top pick Brennan Othmann. Either the Blueshirts mis-coached him, or he simply doesn't have it.

2. "Othmann is like an appendix or tonsils," says Blue Collar Blue Shirts columnist Sean McCaffrey. "He serves no function at all for the Rangers and should be removed."

3. Now for the Good News: The Blueshirts are 19-18-5 for 43 points. A year ago they were 16-19-1 for 33 points.

4. Now for the Bad News, courtesy of superscout Jess Rubenstein: "The Rangers are 1-2-1 on the road trip and have earned three points out of a possible eight. If not for goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, their season would be over right now!`'

5. Now for more Good News: The return of Adam Fox will strengthen the defense, fortify the failing power play and provide missing leadership to a team without a playing captain now.

6. Friday's Rangers-Panthers outdoor "Winter Classic" at loan Depot Park in Miami once again proves how innovative – and daring –   he NHL has been under Gary Bettman's commissionership. Another outstanding, dynamic move.

Are The Rangers Any Better Than They Were Last Year?During the Rangers last game – at Carolina – a devoted fan who I happen to know and respect – did a double-take when he viewed Vin Trocheck on the New York bench.

7. Three decades ago plus – when the Bettman Era began – nobody in his right, or wrong, mind would have dreamed that a regular NHL outdoor game would be played under Florida's sheltering palms.

8. I know a few fans who dare not dream that the Rangers can win in the great outdoors.

9. The Maven believes the Blueshirts will fool everyone and the Panthers will skate off the ice at the end singing "Am I Blue!"