Worldwide Sports News

The New Jersey Devils announced on Friday that they have recalled forward Angus Crookshank from the Utica Comets.

The 26-year-old center has played 17 games so far this season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. In those games, Crookshank has scored five goals and tallied two assists for a total of seven points.

In the past two seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Crookshank has played 21 NHL games, recording 2 goals and 4 assists.

The 2018 fifth-round draft pick signed his current contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 1, 2025, securing his place on the roster through the 2026-27 season.

He is on a two-year, $1,550,000 contract with a $775,000 cap hit per season.

Crookshank joined the Devils at their morning skate ahead of the team's matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Detroit Red Wings have become the center of NHL trade speculation as reports continue to link the team to superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks.

Credible sources suggest the Red Wings are highly interested in acquiring Hughes. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added fuel to the rumors, saying Detroit is "very high on my list" when it comes to teams capable of pulling off a deal.

Friedman also discussed what a potential trade package could include if Vancouver were to strike a deal. According to him, the Canucks are reportedly looking for a center, saying, "I'm looking at teams that have like a #2 center that can play with Elias Pettersson, and Detroit has one of those guys," and later expanding, "Detroit does have centers that I think could interest Vancouver." 

Friedman clarified that he was not referring to Dylan Larkin, implying that rookie Nate Danielson is the likely candidate. Danielson, a former top-ten draft pick, has already demonstrated his potential, notably in a recent breakout game against the Seattle Kraken where he scored his first NHL goal, had a second goal called off, and recorded the game-winning assist. Danielson could serve as a cornerstone for Vancouver’s potential retool while Hughes would provide Detroit with a key piece to strengthen their defense.

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

Although such a trade could benefit both teams, there are risks involved as many believe Hughes may not re-sign with Detroit and could join the New Jersey Devils in free agency to play with his brothers Jack and Luke. However, the Red Wings have several connections that could make a transition smoother.

Hughes played at the University of Michigan with current Red Wings players, including Dylan Larkin, and previously competed for the Plymouth-based U.S. National Development Program. Detroit also had the opportunity to select Hughes in the 2018 NHL Draft but instead chose Filip Zadina, who is now playing overseas.

At just 26 years old, Hughes is already labeled the greatest defenseman in Canucks history. In 455 regular-season games with the Vancouver Canucks, he has recorded 61 goals and 370 assists for a total of 431 points, while posting a plus-minus rating of plus 25.

Hughes holds the franchise records for career points and assists by a defenseman, surpassing previous marks set by Alex Edler. He reached a career-high 92 points in the 2023–24 season, which won him the James Norris trophy as the league's best defenseman and the lable of the highest-scoring defenseman in Canucks history. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.

There are a number of former Buffalo Sabres players scattered throughout the NHL, having a varied level of success this season. Periodically, we will check in to see how their players are faring. Today, we start with ex-Sabres playing for the eight teams in the Central Division. The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues do not have any former Buffalo players currently on their roster, but here are those on the other six clubs.

Colorado

Victor Olofsson - F: After one season in Vegas, the three-time 20-goal scorer signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche and has been providing a solid amount of secondary scoring (6 goals, 11 assists in 27 games).  

Dallas

Ilya Lyubushkin - D: The righty blueliner started his career in Arizona, was traded to Toronto, played 68 games for Buffalo in 2022-23, and is now on their fifth NHL club, after stops in Anaheim and a return to the Leafs, before signing with the Stars.  In 20 games, Lyubushkin has five assists.   

Minnesota 

Marcus Johansson, Marcus Foligno - F, Zach Bogosian - D:  Johansson has played for seven NHL clubs and is with the Wild for the second time, but at age 35 is on pace to have his best season (8 goals, 12 assists in 27 games) since 2017. Foligno, a Sabres 2009 draft pick, has only two assists in 23 games, while Bogosian, who terminated his contract after six seasons in Buffalo, has one assist in 12 games.

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Guerin Gathering Info On Possible Olympic Options 

Nashville

Ryan O’Reilly, Tyson Jost - F: The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner signed with the Predators after being a deadline acquisition by Toronto in 2023, and is currently leading a bad Nashville club in scoring with 21 points ( 9 goals, 12 assists) in 27 games. Jost played two seasons with Buffalo and made a stop in Carolina before joining the Preds this season, where he has four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 20 games.  

Utah

JJ Peterka - F: The Sabres second-leading scorer last season, Peterka is second only to Logan Cooley in goals with 12 and has 21 points for the Mammoth this season. The trade with Buffalo has been salvaged by the success of Josh Doan, but the injured Michael Kesselring was supposed to be the centerpiece of the deal.  

Winnipeg

Colin Miller - F, Eric Comrie - G: Miller is in his third season with Winnipeg and is a depth defenseman with no points in 10 games. Comrie has been pressed into a starting role with the Jets due to Connor Hellebuyck’s knee surgery, and he is 5-5-1 with a 2.99 GAA and .897 save %.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

After getting back from a seven-game road trip, Thursday night’s game against the New York Rangers wasn’t exactly the homecoming the Ottawa Senators had in mind. J.T. Miller had three assists as the Rangers defeated the Senators 4–2 at Canadian Tire Centre.

But the bigger loss for Ottawa might be centre Shane Pinto, who suffered a lower-body injury, joining the club’s expanding list of walking wounded. Pinto, Ottawa's top goal scorer (12), was injured in the first period on what appeared to be an innocuous body check from former Senator Mika Zibanejad.

Down near the end boards in Ottawa's end, Pinto tried to jump on a loose puck, but as he looked up ice, he took his eye off the puck and missed it, and it slipped off his stick blade. As he opened up to regroup and try to get his stick back on the puck, that’s when Zibanejad made contact. That left Pinto briefly off balance, and his skate appeared to get jammed into the base of the boards.

Before leaving, Pinto went for a brief skate, trying to test out his lower body injury during a stoppage before deciding he couldn't continue.

Senators head coach Travis Green, as is customary, said he hoped to know more about Pinto's prognosis on Friday. When Friday came, all Green would say was that Pinto wouldn't be available for the next game, scheduled for Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.

“He’s a big loss,” Green told TSN during their Thursday broadcast.

After getting Brady Tkachuk back in the lineup last week, after he had missed 20 games with a thumb injury, the Senators were hoping for a run of good luck in the injury department. Instead, Thomas Chabot was re-injured, and Artem Zub and Lars Eller also missed Thursday’s game. All are now listed as day-to-day, though Zub is expected back on Saturday night.

And now Pinto is banged up as well.

As for Thursday's game, the 4-2 loss to the Blueshirts, Artemi Panarin hit the 900-point mark for his career with a goal and an assist. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens had the Senators’ goals, and Leevi Meriläinen stopped 23 of 27 shots. Igor Shesterkin was excellent and always seems to have the Senators' number.

Brady Tkachuk had an assist in the game and moved past Wade Redden on the Senators’ all-time scoring list. He is now in fifth place with 411 points.

The Senators are back at it on Saturday at home against the St. Louis Blues at 7:00 p.m.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa