For all of us wondering if Islanders GM Mathieu Darche was going to invest in his currently-playoff-position team or commence with a selloff, the last two days gave us a clear answer. The first-year GM is not going big-game hunting, but he is managing assets (and spending a little cap space) to bring in veteran reinforcements to fill holes that lingered at forward and defense.
The Islanders enter a very interesting home-and-home with the Rangers having completed two trades in two days, one with each of their immediate neighbors. After acquiring short-time Ranger Carson Soucy for the blueline on Monday, they followed that up with a deal for Ondrej Palat from the Devils on Tuesday, sending Max Tsyplakov out the other way.
If Palat has anything left, it will be a bonus. If he’s as washed up as Devils watchers have described the last two seasons — and admittedly, a $6 million cap hit can color that evaluation — then we’ll find out soon enough and we’ll be annoyed throughout next season.
Anyway, the experiments with the new guys starts at home tonight vs. the Rangers, for that rare Wednesday-Thursday home-and-home. First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
Seven facts about Palat, a Czech seventh-round pick in the same draft as Scott Mayfield who somehow has 13 NHL playoff game winners. [Isles]
The deal is one for one…plus some picks. If current standings hold, the Islanders actually upgraded their third-rounder this summer. [LHH | Isles | Newsday]
Previewing tonight, except without any updates, so check back after the morning skate. [Isles]
Gross: The post-Olympic schedule for the Isles is “severe.” [Newsday]
The Rangers would do well to just get a goal tonight. Let’s not though, okay? [Post]
After seeing this “the Isles aren’t done” clip, I didn’t figure the next move would be something like Palat. But I guess on a basic, “we’re not aiming high but we’d like to get to the postseason” level, it makes sense:
“They’re not done if they have there way. They want to make the playoffs, and the reason for that is they think it will be a great experience for a lot of the younger players. The playoffs matter.”
Isles picked a kid out of Russia at the cost of zero assets. Turned that into a third, a sixth, and 1.3 seasons of Palat, an experienced playoff pro who'll give you more than Tsyplakov in the short term. East is wide open man. Works for NJD too. Good stuff.
Lots of games last night, including Rasmus Dahlin getting a hat trick in Toronto and the loathsome Patrick Kane tying Mike Modano for American points collectors. Also the Devils lost at home to Winnipeg, and the Capitals lost in Seattle.
The Maple Leafs suck and should sell. (All I know is “it starts with me.”) [Sportsnet]
Bryan Rust’s first suspension is three games(!) and the Penguins are understandably miffed, especially when they’ve experienced Jacob Trouba, Chicken Wing Man of Innocence. [TSN]
According to a release from the team, the surgery was performed by Dr. John Fowler alongside Penguins team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas.
St. Ivany’s recovery time is expected to be eight weeks.
So far this season, St. Ivany has recorded a career-best 7 assists in 17 games for the Penguins.
The Penguins are back in action tomorrow night at PPG Paints Arena after sweeping a western Canadian road trip last week with wins against Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
Pittsburgh has won four straight games, have not lost in regulation in over two weeks, and currently sit six points behind Carolina for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Penguins have five games remaining before the NHL’s Olympic break for the Milano Cortina Winter games.
“I’m very happy that they’ve kind of seen the light about the location at the Aspiria Campus,” Kelly, an Overland Park resident, said. “I don’t think it really would have worked to put that stadium there. I think we presented a lot of reasons why not and I hope we were a part of their careful consideration.”
When Chourio reached Low A last July, he became the first pitcher under age 18 in full-season ball since Julio Urías debuted in Low A in 2013. Chourio signed last January for $247,500, began in the Dominican Summer League, then moved to the Arizona Complex League, and between those two stops he walked one batter in 28 2/3 innings for a 0.9 percent walk rate. He finished the year in the Carolina League, where his walk rate soared to 4.2 percent (that’s sarcasm) and he did have real issues with men on base, giving up a .340/.389/.740 line in a small sample of 54 PA. He doesn’t look like a 17-year-old on the mound, certainly, with exceptional command of a three-pitch mix that includes a 94-97 mph four-seamer with some ride and natural cut to it, an upper-70s curveball that seems to drop off the table, and an 84-88 mph changeup with good fade that he almost exclusively used against lefties. He’s already stronger than his listed weight of 160, with a good lower half to maintain that velocity and perhaps add a little more as he becomes an adult. There’s obvious risk with any pitcher his age throwing even moderately hard, and he does have to pitch better from the stretch, but this is everything you’d want to see in a young pitching prospect, including the potential upside of 80 command.
Jensen was a local high school player the Royals gave a little over $1 million to in the 2021 draft. He has steadily improved defensively and in his bat-to-ball ability since then to be either average or just a tick below.
He has always been a strong athlete for a catcher with a plus arm, a good eye at the plate and above-average to plus raw power projection. Because he could be a reliable every-day catcher who offers offense that’s above league average, there’s some real upside for seasons of 3-plus WAR, possibly as soon as 2026, though I think he’ll land more often with a WAR that starts with a 2.
Last season, American Family Field ranked 22nd in Park Factor for hitters at 97. Kauffman Stadium was tied for sixth at 101. Moving in the fences will impact that further, potentially making The K a top 5 hitter-friendly park in 2026. Where The K plays well is where American Family Field doesn’t: Doubles and Triples. While Collins will likely see some drop off in home runs, I don’t expect it to be a heavy drop. He’d have lost 4 last season based on Expected Home Runs by Park, and with the fences moving in, that number would almost certainly be lower. If home runs remain relatively flat, and Collins sees a notable uptick in doubles and triples, he stands to actually be a much better power bat with the Royals. Throughout his minor league career, Collins showcased plenty of speed, and that speed should suit him well in The K, further boosting his production.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has suggested a local stadium financial package can be assembled without a public vote (although, as we’ve pointed out, residents may have a different approach.) There are rumblings in Jefferson City about requiring a local election, too.
The Kansas City Port Authority seems the most available option for a required local contribution to a stadium, if the Royals want Missouri’s help for the structure. Using Port KC for those subsidies would further inflame the public: Not only would there be no public vote, there might not even be a City Council vote on $500 million or more for the ballpark.
As has become common place in the past with free agents who are still available at the later stages of the offseason, the opportunity to secure shorter-term deals increases.
Given the Royals signing patterns when it comes to offensive free agents in recent years, while Arráez would certainly constitute a deviation from the norm skill wise, from a term perspective this would be right on brand.
Given Arráez’s limited contact-first offensive profile and his defensive shortcomings, despite some positional versatility, it’s reasonable to think that perhaps a one or two-year “prove-it” deal, like Ken Rosenthal described on Foul Territory on Tuesday, is what the market would dictate for him at this point in time.
When it comes to the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers and their payroll, Major League Baseball definitely has a problem. It’s been growing for years and, sure, the massive payroll is one component.
The main problem, though, is public perception. Perception is reality, as so many of us know all too well.
Major League Baseball is a business that is built solely on fan interest. If fan interest wanes, that’s a problem. The massive number of people complaining about how unfair baseball is and how it needs a salary cap and how the league is a joke because the Dodgers are automatically just going to win the World Series again in 2026 — because they bought it — is a problem.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden still believes Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte could be traded before Opening Day.
The San Francisco Giants agreed to a deal with outfielder Harrison Bader on Monday, and that means a few things. Most of those things are good — for instance, it means that the Giants will now have a watchable outfield defense, and also that they’ll probably be better this year than they would have otherwise been.
But not everything is good news. Notably, signing Bader to an already full 40-man roster, means that someone else in the organization is going to get the uncomfortable phone call that they’ve been designated for assignment, and, two weeks out from Spring Training, they’ll find their career in limbo. We haven’t yet learned who that player is, but there are a few candidates.
Which brings us to the continued roller-coaster of Marco Luciano’s offseason. The former top prospect in the Giants system was, in a manner emblematic of his final few years with the organization, waived in December. He was claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who eventually designated him for assignment. He was then claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, who also designated him for assignment. He stayed in the NL East though, after being claimed by the New York Yankees.
And on Tuesday, the Yankees became the fourth team this offseason to say goodby to Luciano, designating him — and pitcher Jayvien Sandridge — to make space for a waiver claim (pitcher Dom Hamel) and a free agent signing (star outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger).
It’s a sad merry-go-round, and hopefully one that comes to a stop soon. Presumably all of these teams are hoping to pass Luciano through waivers so that they can outright him to AAA and, who knows, perhaps the Yankees will be the team that succeeds at doing just that.
As the Colorado Rockies prepare for spring training in a few weeks, there are still plenty of questions across the board for most positions. When it comes to the starting catcher, however, we know Hunter Goodman is going to be geared up behind the dish come Opening Day and deservedly so. Goodman’s All-Star season, which resulted in a Silver Slugger, while also being slightly above average behind the dish, has brought some stability and optimism for the foreseeable future. However, I can’t help but wonder: what’s the depth plan beyond Goodman for 2026?
Entering the year, the Rockies seem primed to just roll with Braxton Fulford as the backup catcher. In 38 total games with the big league team last season, Fulford slashed .213/.267/.324 with a home run and 16 RBI. After a strong showing in Triple-A Albuquerque, Fulford struggled to find a consistent footing in the big leagues. Understandably, not playing every day makes it tough for any hitter to find a rhythm at the plate, especially a backup catcher playing behind the 30-home run output of a player like Goodman. Still, he has plenty of potential, so there is time he can settle into his role from the get-go in 2026 as an average defensive catcher with some offensive upside if he can get things going.
But what comes after that?
After dropping former top catching prospect Drew Romo from the 40-man roster earlier this offseason, who is now with the Chicago White Sox amid his waiver-wire journey, the Rockies have no other catchers on the roster. Thus far, the only big league-experienced depth piece that has been added to the organization is Brett Sullivan.
Signed to a minor league deal in December, Sullivan has played a total of 43 games at the big league level, with the majority coming in 2023 when he played 33 games with the San Diego Padres. The 31-year-old (32 in February) has hit .204 with a .250 on-base percentage and two home runs in 112 career plate appearances. Last season, he played three games with the Pittsburgh Pirates while spending the rest of the year in Triple-A. He’s been solid through his Triple-A career, slashing .261/.332/.432. As a left-handed bat, it gives the Rockies a much-needed alternative bat, and defensively, he’s been a generally average catcher behind the dish.
The Rockies don’t have an otherwise big league-ready catcher in the system, at least none that seemed primed to crack the Opening Day roster out of spring training. This leaves them to perhaps take a look at the free agent market and increase their depth and competition in camp, or afford them more time to develop their catchers.
Christian Vázquez
If the Rockies want a glove-first backup, then Christian Vázquez could be worth a look. Through his career, Vázquez has been a serviceable bat while rating as an above-average defensive catcher. His offensive numbers cratered during his three-year stint with Minnesota, but the glove remained elite behind the plate.
There could still be a way for his bat to pick up a little bit from the .189/.271/.274 slash in 214 plate appearances as he still has a keen eye at the plate, just not much oomph behind the bat, but the glove experience could be beneficial to help Goodman and the others progress. He wouldn’t have to play every day, since he is 35, and Spotrac projects his market value a little over $1 million, which is more than affordable for the Rockies for a cheap big league contract, or a split contract type deal.
Elias Díaz
How about a reunion with the Rockies’ starting catcher from 2021-2024? After strong offensive campaigns in 2023 and 2024 for Colorado, Díaz was released in August 2024 after injuries had sapped his trade value, and the Rockies needed to make space for other players. He signed on with the Padres for the rest of that season and re-upped for 2025 but the bat continued to regress.
However, the more that Díaz played in Colorado, the better his work behind the plate got and he continued that with the Padres. He ranked above average in blocking, caught-stealing average, and framing while ranking in the 87th percentile in pop-time. Adding Díaz once more could bring back some veteran experience behind the dish that could help answer the questions the new front office has with pitching at altitude. He’s also projected for a $2 million contract with is plenty affordable.
Austin Barnes
Back in November 2014, current Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as the right-hand man of Andrew Friedman. One of the first trades the Dodgers made was sending a trio of players to Miami for four players, including a young catcher named Austin Barnes.
Over 11 years with the Dodgers, Barnes was a staple in the catching tandem, often serving as the personal catcher of future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. His bat has never been his calling card, aside from a handful of solid seasons. Still, his elite plate discipline with a career walk rate of 11% has been a useful tool. Perhaps with Byrnes in the Rockies front office, the team could lure Barnes to the organization on a minor league deal. A career of working with high-profile pitchers, with his great reputation as a teammate and game caller, Barnes could be a useful addition to boost the Rockies.
Conclusion
The team has made it clear they don’t want to hand out positions to younger players out of necessity. If something should happen to Goodman or Fulford, even during spring training, what is the contingency plan? Perhaps Fulford could be better served playing every day in Triple-A while a veteran backstop helps at the big league level. They tried to do this with Austin Nola last season, but aside from a decent offensive showing in Triple-A, didn’t do much on either side of the ball to warrant an extended look.
The free agent market has plenty of players who could join as depth pieces in big league camp on minor league deals or cheap major league contracts, or perhaps the Rockies could look to trade for more catching. The point of talking about this is to bring up the fact that the Rockies need to strengthen their depth behind the plate.
Warren Schaeffer hopes to be more flexible with his lineup usage in 2026, giving him the ability to mix and match more. Despite new additions like Willi Castro and Jake McCarthy being repeats of players, Schaeffer doesn’t want to be confined to playing strictly by depth chart, even if there are players who are worthy of playing every day. It’s an interesting read and gives plenty of insight. Additionally, the Rockies want a left-handed hitter at first base.
If you weren’t aware, former Rockies GM Bill Schmidt landed with the Athletics in a scouting role. The writer believes the two sides could come together for a deal thanks to Schmidt’s knowledge of the Rockies’ system. Zach Agnos and Jaden Hill are mentioned as the two targets the A’s could look at with Schmidt’s influence.
If you arrived from the future to tell Yankees fans after the team’s embarrassing elimination in the ALDS last October that the only major external acquisition the team made was Ryan Weathers, you’d probably be burned at the stake.
It seemed inconceivable after the team regressed from a more competitive-than-it-appeared World Series defeat to getting decimated in the ALDS by the rival Blue Jays that they would have a quiet offseason. But aside from retaining several free agents, there has been almost nothing during this slow offseason that, frankly, revolved around the free agency of Cody Bellinger, who didn’t re-sign until after Scott Boras ran out of potential suitors to continue asking for seven years.
There is still time remaining for moves on the margins, but barring a surprising blockbuster trade, this is most of the roster we will have going forward. It’s disappointing and frustrating that a team that will yield a near-$400 million total payroll and luxury tax will have sat on its hands in this way, but how bad is it?
How bad is running it back? The 2025 Yankees were an inherently flawed bunch, but they weren’t lacking in talent. Aaron Boone said he believed this was the best team he had managed, and frankly, he might’ve had a point.
The total of 94 wins was less than the 2018, 2019, and 2022 teams achieved. However, those teams got to feast on dreadful teams in the basement of the AL East, or—in the case of 2022—rode a red-hot start and limped into the playoffs. The first two teams lacked a bona fide ace, although Luis Severino and James Paxton tried to masquerade as one at their best.
The 2025 Yankees had Max Fried, who finished fourth in Cy Young voting in an excellent, consistent season. They had a second All-Star hurler in Carlos Rodón and, by playoff time, unveiled a highly promising flamethrowing rookie.
When you compare the 2025 team to the 2024 team that won the pennant, you may find that the 2025 club was superior and just faced a tougher path. Juan Soto was irreplaceable for the Yankees, but the 2025 Bombers had Cam Schlittler pitching their Game 3s compared to Clarke Schmidt, who had not fully rounded into form after a midseason lat injury.
The 2024 bullpen was probably better thanks to the likes of Tommy Kahnle and Jake Cousins, but when you look at the lineup depth, it’s night and day. Alex Verdugo and Anthony Rizzo were so bad that they were out of a job on Opening Day of the following year, while their spots in the lineup were filled by Trent Grisham and Ben Rice.
Regardless of all of this, the results don’t lie. The Blue Jays embarrassed the Yankees in the ALDS, made some additions (although left fans wanting more), and the Yankees stood pat. How can that be acceptable?
Well, in re-signing Bellinger, Grisham, and steady platoon bat Amed Rosario, the Yankees will completely return the best offense in baseball in 2025. While the Dodgers’ addition of Kyle Tucker probably makes them the top lineup in baseball, the Yankees have the depth and high-end talent to replicate what they did last season.
According to FanGraphs’ Depth Chart projections, the Yankees are second in projected offensive WAR, slightly ahead of Toronto and behind the Dodgers. Here’s how the individual projections stack up:
Note that projections are inherently pessimistic due to all the things that can go wrong for a player. Ever since Judge ascended into another realm of hitting dominance, he’s easily cleared 200 on an annual basis. If he falls that far down, it would be a sign of Father Time catching up to the 34-year-old. There’s also reason to believe Rice will play more, Chisholm will produce more, and Grisham will produce similar to his 2025 levels due to his promising peripherals.
The holes in the lineup are on the left side of the infield, but neither is catastrophically bad on offense. There’s considerable upside in this lineup and a decent floor, even if some players regress.
At least offensively, running it back isn’t a bad thing. Sure, the team could’ve attempted to fill the remaining holes by pursuing the likes of Bo Bichette or Alex Bregman, but the two have awkward fits, whether it’s their hitting profile (Bregman) or declining athleticism and defense (Bichette).
One big feature that the offense will have on Opening Day that hasn’t been as much of a feature in the past, however, is a deep bench. While the last few seasons have seen the team give way too many at-bats to the likes of Oswald Peraza and DJ LeMahieu, everyone on the Yankees’ bench will have a true purpose in 2026. Rosario is a lefty killer, Domínguez brings speed as a pinch-runner and can reliably hit righties, the speedy, versatile José Caballero will already be in there to fill in for the injured Volpe, Oswaldo Cabrera should be back from injury and can play everywhere on the diamond, and J.C. Escarra is a superb defensive catcher.
The pitching side is where we can be more squeamish. Still, there’s upside in the rotation if the team can get better injury luck on that front. Rodón will miss Opening Day, but he’s stated that he plans on being ready to start building up in March, and that should put his timeline around May 1. Gerrit Cole may not be far behind.
With Cole and Rodón on the mend, the team will lean heavily on Fried and Schlittler while requiring decent length and reliability from Luis Gil, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and, in case of injury, Ryan Yarbrough. By the time summer roles around, the team could have the best problem imaginable in sports: too many quality starters.
Now, the biggest risk remaining is the bullpen, and there’s no sugarcoating that. David Bednar and Tim Hill will be reliable, but the team will be hoping for more consistent performance from the likes of Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval and will be depending on Matt Blake’s annual “diamond in the rough” sweepstakes in spring. Could Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest be a candidate? Or will a non-roster invitee emerge like Lucas Luetge in 2021 and Ian Hamilton in 2023?
The Yankees will be entering 2026 with a higher luxury tax payroll than they did in 2025, despite not meaningfully improving the roster. As an old skipper often said, it’s not what you want, but the team the Yanks are running back has a real chance to perform better than they did last year.
Happy Wednesday, everyone! We’re inching ever closer to Truck Day, which means we’re closer than ever to pitchers and catchers reporting. Baseball is almost back! We’re turning our attention to the World Baseball Classic today, as reports are out that Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve will both miss the WBC due to insurance issues. Bo Bichette has pulled out of Team Brazil, while Nolan Arenado joins Team Puerto Rico.
We’ve also got some offseason report cards, and some free agent speculation.
mini scoop: After MLB's seized control of the player tracking tech biz, the league missed its Jan 15 deadline for approving vendors. Teams don't know long they can use their tech to scout players. Some firms don't know if they'll have a baseball business once contracts expire.
Philadelphia Flyers - 24-18-9 - 57 Points - 2-6-2 in the last 10 - Lost 1 - 4th in the Metro.
Columbus Blue Jackets - 24-20-7 - 55 Points - 6-4-0 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 7th in the Metro.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
CBJ set a season high in goals scored in an 8-5 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. The club has won six of its last seven games overall since Jan. 11 (5-1-0) and collected points in six of its past seven home contests since Jan. 3 (5-1-1).
The club concludes a four-game homestand on Wednesday after Monday's contest vs. the Kings was postponed due to weather. The team also closes a stretch of six-of-seven games played at Nationwide Arena from Jan. 13-28 (4-1-0).
The Jackets scored the first two goals on Saturday and have scored the first goal in 15 of the last 20 contests, 18 of the past 25 and rank fifth-T in the NHL in games scoring first in 2025-26 (30).
Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fifth in points with 38-90-128 in 51 contests.
The Blue Jackets (10-5-1) are tied for the NHL lead in scoring first (12) and rank fifth-T in the NHL in wins, seventh in team save percentage (.907), eighth in points pct. (.656) and 10th in goals-against per game (2.81) since Dec. 22.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle, posted his fifth game of three or more points this season, including notching his 200th career goal on Saturday (1-2-3). The club will honor the forward's 1,000th game played in a pre-game ceremony on Wednesday.
Jet Greaves leads the NHL in saves and ranks fourth-T in wins and seventh in SV% since Dec. 22 (min. 8 GP) with an 8-3-1 record, 2.54 GAA, .915 SV% and 345 saves in 13 games.
Kirill Marchenko collected his eighth multi-point outing of the campaign with two assists vs. Tampa Bay and has notched points in 12 of the last 16 contests dating back to Dec. 22 (8-9-17).
Mason Marchment notched his third career hat trick vs. Tampa Bay on Jan. 24 (3-1-4) and has posted points in seven of his nine contests with CBJ (8-3-11).
Mathieu Olivier ranks second in the NHL with 71 hits since returning from injury on Dec. 28.
Zach Werenski notched two assists in the win over the Lightning and leads NHL blueliners in goals (19), multi-point efforts (18), points-per-game (1.17), and shots on goal (170) this season. He has points in 26 of his past 31 contests overall to lead league defensemen in goals, points (tied), and points-per-game since Nov. 13 (15-29-44, 1.42).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.8% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 75.4% - 28th in the NHL
Goals For - 153 - 20th in the NHL
Goals Against - 168 - 23rd in the NHL
FlyersStats
Power Play - 15.6% - 30th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 78.0% - 20th in the NHL
Goals For - 149 - 21st in the NHL
Goals Against - 159 - 18th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheFlyers
Columbus is 29-19-3-4 all-time, and 17-6-2-2 at home vs. Philly.
The Blue Jackets are 4-1-1 in the last 6 against the Flyers.
Columbus has killed 14 of the last 16 Flyer power plays at NWA, and 16 of the 17 overall.
Who To Watch For TheFlyers
Trevor Zegras leads the Flyers with 19 goals and 46 points.
Travis Konecny leads the team with 28 assists.
Goalie Samuel Ersson is 8-9-5 with a SV% of .860.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Flyers
Zach Werenski has 19 points in 25 career games vs. the Flyers.
Boone Jenner has 20 points in 33 games.
Charlie Coyle has 20 points in 33 games against Philadelphia.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 13 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 145
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on TNT, truTV, and HBO MAX. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
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.
We’re hitting the really slow portion of the offseason with most of the big name free agents having signed already. I’m not even sure who is left other than Framber Valdez other than a billion pitchers looking for a team.
The Florida Panthers haven’t played many games on home ice lately.
Tuesday’s frustrating 4-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth was just the second game the Panthers have played in Sunrise over the past three weeks.
Florida never led against the Mammoth, battling back to tie the game on three separate occasions before ultimately falling thanks to a goal about midway through the third period and some questionable penalties that hindered the Cats’ ability to mount a comeback late in the game.
It was a night where the Panthers probably deserved a better fate, logging only 28 shots while managing 61 shot attempts and holding the Mammoth to just 20 shots on 38 attempts.
Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways:
LUNDELL AND EKBLAD OKAY
If there is one thing that has been consistent for the Panthers this season it has been the injuries.
That’s why the fear was even more heightened on Tuesday when a pair of Cats appeared to go down with injuries.
Late in the second period, Anton Lundell took a high, hard hit from Utah’s Jack McBain, one that Lundell responded to with a hit, and then a punch, of his own.
When the third period began about 20 minutes later, Lundell was nowhere to be found.
Then later in the game, Aaron Ekblad blocked a shot with his left leg and appeared unable to put much weight on it as he struggled to get to the bench.
After the game, Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards reported that he spoke to Ekblad and that the defenseman said he was okay, explaining that the shot had broken his shin pad.
Aaron Ekblad is fine after blocking shot in third - said it broke his shin pad
As for Lundell, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice didn’t seem overly concerned when asked for a postgame update on his young Finnish center.
“I think he’s going to be fine,” said Maurice. “It’s upper-body, we’ll know more tomorrow.”
VILMANIS LIGHTS LAMP
Rookie Sandis Vilmanis has been looking like he belongs during his first stint in the NHL.
He’s now played nine National League games and has seen time on several line combinations.
On Tuesday, Vilmanis was moved to a line with Cole Schwindt and A.J. Greer during the second period, and there appeared to be some chemistry among the trio.
Vilmanis and Schwindt scored goals just over seven minutes apart, each one caused by gritty shifts and solid play in the offensive zone.
“There's a freedom that (comes when he) plays with Schwindt and Greer,” Maurice said. “Greer is a real positive for those guys, those young guys he plays with, and they were good. Basically that line has got four goals in two games, so good for them and good for us.”
EMBELLISHMENT CALLS
The final six minutes and 12 seconds of Tuesday’s game saw five minor penalties called.
Moments after Matthew Tkahcuk was called for a questionable roughing penalty, right off the ensuing draw in Florida’s zone, Evan Rodrigues was taken down Barrett Hayton while trying to get across the zone and cover the PK.
For his extra effort, Rodrigues apparently make it look like he was trying to sell the penalty, not get away from Hayton, so both players went to the box; Hayton for interference, Rodrigues for embellishment.
Almost exactly four minutes later, this time with Florida’s net empty as the Panthers were attempting to tie the game in its final moments, Tkachuk was tripped in the neutral zone by Nick Schmaltz.
Once again, Tkachuk, like Rodrigues, was moving quickly during a high-intensity sequence and wanted to get to where he was going as soon as possible with the game potentially on the line.
Well, Tkachuk’s extra effort apparently masqueraded as him trying to sell another penalty, so once again it was both players who went to the box; Schmaltz for the trip, Tkachuk for embellishing it.
You can be the judge, but when Maurice was asked the officials gave any kind of rationalization for either the calls, it wasn’t surprising to hear the fiery coach bite his tongue, which is how he’s generally handled these situations in the media since joining the Panthers.
“We’re not going to get an explanation on that,” he said, and when pressed for his thoughts on the calls, Maurice responded, “I’m not giving you anything on that.”
Photo caption: Jan 27, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) moves the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
After losing their last two games to divisional rivals, the Montreal Canadiens desperately needed a win on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights to stay ahead in the playoff race. However, the Knights are a tough opponent at the best of times, but coming off a 7-1 blowout loss to the Ottawa Senators, they went out of the gate even stronger.
Since Adin Hill was in the net for the seven-goal debacle, Vegas opted to give the game to Akira Schmid meanwhile, after two subpar performances from Samuel Montembeault, Jakub Dobes got the start for the home team and put on quite a show in the 3-2 win.
Martin St-Louis has been talking a lot about the small details of the game of late, things his men need to stop doing to give themselves a better chance of winning. One such details is to be defensively responsible. If one of the defensemen is pinching to support the attack, a forward must come back to cover his spot. More often than not, it doesn’t happen, and that’s what led to the first goal of the game.
Alex Carrier pinched to help keep the pressure in the offensive zone, and Oliver Kapanen just stayed there in the high slot, watching the play. When Pavel Doroyev came out of the corner with the puck, Lane Hutson moved towards the middle of the ice and tried to take away the passing lane, leaving Dobes to face a shot with no screen. The Russian’s shot was precise and beat the Czech netminder high on his glove side.
Given how many offensive defensemen are on the Canadiens’ roster, it’s high time the forwards realize that they have a role to play when a blueliner pinches.
Time For a Statute Of Limitations
I believe there is room in the game for the offside challenge, but the rule needs to be amended. In law, certain offences cannot be prosecuted after a specified period, as provided by the Statute of Limitations. It should be the same for the offside challenge.
In the second frame, Cole Caufield scored on a slap shot with 17:56 left in the period, but the goal was eventually waived off because a coach’s challenge showed the Canadiens were offside on their zone entry at 18:47, nearly a minute earlier. The illegal entry didn't affect the play, and the Canadiens didn’t gain any unfair advantage from it.
Amending the rule would lead to fewer contestations, speed up the game, and ultimately provide fairer results. The wording should be crystal clear, however, and the application shouldn’t be left to the referee’s discretion, as that would lead to more chaos.
In his post-game presser, Martin St-Louis was asked if perhaps it would make sense to have a time limit on the contestation, and he replied:
I think we have the technology now to put things where they should be; it was offside. I’m curious to know how many goals we are losing on offside compared to other teams. Perhaps someone can get back to me on that at the following presser to see if I’m right or not. It’s a shame; it would have been good to be able to separate ourselves and get another goal, but you know.
- St-Louis on the goal they had disallowed
While it’s a fair point that there is the technology now to make those calls, one fact remains: if the play had gone the other way and the Knights had gone on to score, the Habs couldn’t have challenged the goal because of the offside they had committed over a minute earlier. As the coach pointed out, once the puck comes out of the zone, you can’t contest that offside anymore. He did concede that it would have been annoying if that scenario had come to be. My point remains, however, it would be fairer to put a time limit on the contestation.
Dobes’ Top Form
The 24-year-old Czech goaltender was in top form tonight. While he has won most of his games this season, at times, it’s been an adventure to watch him play. His technique on most nights can be hit or miss, and he ends up making saves more spectacular than they should be, but on Tuesday night, he was in complete control. He wasn’t overcommitting when moving from side to side; he had great rebound control and puck tracking, and he played a very complete game.
Furthermore, with 32 saves on 34 shots, he ended his night with a .941 save percentage. Of those 32 saves, many should have been goals, and no one can argue that Dobes wasn’t his team’s best penalty killer tonight. On two occasions, the Knights managed to slice the Canadiens’ defence wide open with cross-zone passes to an open man on the doorstep, and Dobes stood tall on both opportunities. In the first instance, he actually made three stops, the initial save and two rebounds, bailing out his defence.
Asked if his men owed that win to their goalie, who was very combative in net, the coach said:
I don’t think you owe a performance like that to one player. We owe it to the team, and each player has a role and actions on the ice that influence the result. Dobes influenced the result tonight.
-
Dobes has not lost in regulation in his last seven starts. When asked if such a hot streak was something that could help him make decisions, the coach replied that it’s always part of the equation. When asked to elaborate, he said:
We make our decisions for the good of the team and the player, and everything is taken into account.
-
It will be interesting to see if Dobes gets a second start in a row on Thursday night; his performance against the Knights certainly warrants it. In the end, the Canadiens fully deserved to skate away with the two points tonight, and the coach must have let out a sigh of relief when Jake Evans scored the game-winning goal in overtime after the Habs were unable to take advantage of the power play they were given. Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault were the other two scorers for the Canadiens, meaning that the sniper has now scored in his last six games.
The Habs will be back at work in Brossard tomorrow morning at 11:30 as they’ll aim to get ready for their next big task: a rematch with the Colorado Avalanche, who beat them 7-2 at the end of November.
It’s a two-fer with two weeks since our last check in on the AHL affiliate out in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Nick Hart’s recap of the early games from WBSPenguins.com and most recent. WBS posted a 4-2-1 record over the past two weeks worth of games.
Wednesday, Jan. 14 – PENGUINS 4 at Providence 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton usurped first place from Providence with a clinical performance and an AHL career-high 36 saves from Sergei Murashov. Tristan Broz scored twice, and other tallies came courtesy of Joona Koppanen and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard.
Friday, Jan. 16 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Hartford 4 Time ran out on a fiery comeback attempt, as the Penguins fell in their first of back-to-back games against the Wolf Pack. Gabe Klassen scored twice, but a three-goal second period by Hartford spelled doom for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Saturday, Jan. 17 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Hartford 1 The Penguins bounced back in a big way, scoring thrice in the first period and never looking back. Harvey-Pinard notched three points (1G-2A) in that explosive opening frame. As insurance, Finn Harding scored his first AHL goal in the second period.
Monday, Jan. 19 – PENGUINS 3 at Springfield 2 Rutger McGroarty returned from the NHL and Avery Hayes returned from injury as offense from Valtteri Puustinen, Chase Pietila and Klassen led the Pens to their second-straight victory.
Wednesday, Jan. 21 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Belleville 3 (OT) A goalie duel between two old friends took place, as Joel Blomqvist and Leevi Meriläinen went save-for-save in a starry display. However, Meriläinen’s 25 saves in the first two periods kept his team in it, leading to an OT win for the B-Sens. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Atley Calvert both scored for WBS.
Friday, Jan. 23 – PENGUINS 4 at Hershey 3 (SO) A back-and-forth thriller at Giant Center ended with the Penguins surviving in a shootout. Owen Pickering and Ville Koivunen lit the lamp in the first period, and Avery Hayes forced OT with his late, tying goal. Rutger McGroarty posted an assist on all three goals. Koivunen scored again in the shootout, while Sergei Murashov thwarted all three of Hershey’s attempts.
Saturday, Jan. 24 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Charlotte 5 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wrapped its eight-game season series with Charlotte with a loss. Gabe Klassen and Aidan McDonough found twine for the Penguins, but Blomqvist’s season-high 35 saves weren’t enough. Charlotte won each of its for visits to Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza this season.
It’s been a test lately for WBS, seeing prior stalwarts like Sam Poulin and Valtteri Puustinen leave the organization via trade, and some bonus AHL participants in Danton Heinen and Philip Tomasino moving on to their next teams as well. That’s opened the doors for players on AHL contracts like Gabe Klassen, Aaron Huglen, Aidan McDonough and Atley Calvert to step into bigger roles. Those aren’t the sexiest names when it comes to surefire NHL prospects or big picture items for the organization at a whole but will be critical to the WBS season.
Klassen is especially standing out with his 10 points (8G+2A) in the last 11 games. The 22-year old is in his second season with the Pens organization, having spent most of 2024-25 in Wheeling. Klassen is a guy who has popped a little in events like the September prospect challenge, it’s been nice to see him go from a bit player at the AHL level and turn into a key contributor for WBS over the last month, often playing these days centering a line with the NHL top prospects.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 24, 2026
AHL games are lower scoring, the Pens benefit from having a strong defense corps and two of the finest goalies currently in the league these days. That can go a long way, and has been so far.
Another boost has been the return from the AHL for Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. McGroarty has compiled five assists in the four games he has been back. That’s very encouraging considering he’s returning from a concussion suffered in a NHL practice a few weeks ago. Koivunen has recorded six points (1G+5A) in the nine games since his re-assignment to the AHL in early January.
Missing from the above lines, one might note, is WBS’s leading scorer Tristan Broz. It looks like Broz will be out for at least a few weeks with an undisclosed injury. Joona Koppanen has also missed time after blocking a shot.
ICYMI: I had a pretty in-depth 1-on-1 with #WBSPens HC Kirk MacDonald following last night's OT loss to Belleville.
Talked on a variety of topics, and players – including an unfortunate update on Tristan Broz's injury timeline.
#NEWS: We've acquired forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the New York Islanders for forward Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round draft pick, and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick.
The Jets scored three second-period goals, and the Devils made a push to get things tied but couldn’t find the equalizer and dropped Tuesday’s game, 4-3. [Devils NHL]
A look at how the addition of Leeni Hameenaho to the lineup has given the Devils a much-needed boost: [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
Carson Soucy heads to the Islanders:
The #NYR have received a 2026 3rd-Round Draft pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Carson Soucy.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that goaltender Thatcher Demko will undergo hip surgery and will not play for the remainder of the 2025.26 season.
With Thatcher Demko out for the rest of the season, here is a harrowing stat:
He will have played just 95 of 258 possible games over the past three seasons. Just 36.8% of Vancouver's games over that span. pic.twitter.com/HxA9MteLUj
“The NHL Department of Player Safety will now determine supplemental discipline for players who violate all league rules rather than just those who commit physical infractions, the league told ESPN on Tuesday. It’s a significant change in protocol for the NHL on fines and suspensions. Since the Department of Player Safety was formed prior to the 2011-12 season, it had been responsible for supplemental discipline for in-game physical fouls that violated NHL rules and/or caused injuries.” [ESPN]
“It’s not a career-ending experience when you go to the program. It’s actually a life-changing experience. We’ve got to do a better job of getting the word out. As a whole society, we’ve got to work on the stigma.” A look at how the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program works: [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Lakers guard Dalton Knecht has been the subject of trade talk for a second season in a row, according to executives and scouts around the NBA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The NBA trade deadline is next week, at noon PDT on Feb. 5, and there are dozens of teams in the league fighting for playoff and play-in position, including the Lakers and Clippers.
Will the Lakers look to trade either LeBron James, who for the first time in his career has an expiring contract after making $50 million this season, or Austin Reaves, who has a player option on a $15-million contract or could become a free agent seeking a big payday after his breakout to the start of the season? Not likely.
Are the Clippers in position to make a big move? After a woeful 6-21 start to the season, they went on a tear to join the Western Conference contenders.
Times staff writers Broderick Turner and Thuc Nhi Nguyen will tackle these topics and others in an NBA roundtable.
Q: Do you envision the Lakers making a big move?
BT: Let’s start with this: The Lakers will not be acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, and he’s the biggest name out there when it comes to the trade chatter. The Bucks don’t sound inclined to want to move Antetokounmpo and he hasn’t requested a trade. He’s dealing with a right calf injury that will sideline him past the trade deadline.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo attemps a shot between Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) and center Deandre Ayton (5). (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
So, Laker fans, forget about that happening and that therefore means L.A. will not be making a big splash.
And don’t forget, the Lakers made a very big move last year when they got Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis, a first-round pick and other players in a three-team deal.
TN: The Lakers broke the NBA with that trade a year ago; a repeat event would be pretty outrageous, even for this franchise. After the trade that brought Doncic to L.A. completely reset the organization’s timetable, it makes more sense for this trade deadline — and the ensuing offseason — to be about recalibrating the finer points of the roster and salary sheet to set up for the true Doncic era.
Q: What is the most likely scenario for the Lakers?
BT: From talking to NBA executives and scouts who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, the most likely scenario for the Lakers is to make moves along the margins. NBA people say the Lakers are looking for big wing players, but they said so is most of the league.
According to some of those NBA folks, the names that have been attached to the Lakers as potential trade targets are Dallas’ Naji Marshall, a former Doncic teammate, Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo and Sacramento’s Keon Ellis. New Orleans’ Troy Murphy III and Herbert Jones are two players the Lakers have shown some interest in — as have many other teams — but NBA people say the asking price is so high that teams are waiting to see if that comes down by the deadline next week.
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall pulls up for a jump shot against Lakers forward Jake LaRavia on Saturday. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)
To make any of these deals, the NBA executives and scouts said, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and his expiring $18-million contract is a name that comes up often as a tradeable player. Hachimura’s recent outstanding play has increased his trade value around the league, but it also has made the forward a very valuable player for the Lakers.
Lakers seldom-used guard Dalton Knecht has been a player that NBA people say L.A. is willing to move in a trade, along with a second-round pick attached to him to make it work.
TN: Knecht was playing with a lot of confidence through a brief stretch of this season, exhibited most by him taking charges in consecutive games against the Pelicans and the Spurs. But the Lakers have already shown they are comfortable parting with the former 17th overall pick. He was sent to Charlotte last year before the Mark Williams trade fell through.
Q: Can the Clippers make a big move?
BT: When the Clippers were 6-21, teams inquired about Ivica Zubac and were told the Clippers wanted multiple first-round picks for the 7-foot center, something no team was willing to do back then. Now that the Clippers are in the midst of a 15-3 run, the NBA executives and scouts said the Clippers are not looking to move Zubac, Kawhi Leonard or James Harden.
Those same NBA people said that the Clippers are looking for a pick-and-roll oriented point guard and that John Collins' name has been mentioned as a trade candidate. Also, the Clippers are looking to convert the two-way contracts to standard NBA contracts for Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller and that could play a role in any deal they attempt to make.
Q: Who are the biggest names available on the trade market?
BT: Antetokounmpo, Memphis’ Ja Morant and Dallas’ Anthony Davis.
TN: And all of the big-name players are injured, complicating the trade market. Antetokounmpo is out with a calf injury he suffered on Jan. 23 and the team didn't give a timetable for his return, although the star forward estimated for himself that he would be out for four to six weeks.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant may be one of the big-name players traded by next week. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Morant is sidelined for about three weeks because of an elbow injury. There’s been tension between the dynamic guard and head coach Tuomas Iisalo and some of that started after the Grizzlies lost to the Lakers in October in which Morant scored only eight points and was later suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team for postgame comments.
And Davis' status has been up in the air since GM Nico Harrison was fired, but he's now out because of an hand injury, the latest setback for the former Lakers big man.
Q: If the Lakers and Clippers do make upgrades to their rosters, what are their chances of making the playoffs?
BT: For the Lakers, as long as they have Doncic and James and with Reaves (calf injury) set to return perhaps as soon as Wednesday at Cleveland, they will probably finish in the top six, which are guaranteed positions in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Clippers have gone 10-3 in January, the best record in the NBA during that span, and are now the 10th seed in the West. They are most likely positioning themselves for a play-in spot, perhaps even home-court advantage if they climb to seventh.
TN: The Lakers, even with their defensive flaws, are already firmly in the playoff picture, although Phoenix could complicate matters by trying to butt into the top six. The Rockets, Lakers, Timberwolves and Suns are all separated by two games in the fourth to seventh positions. The feisty Suns have already given the Lakers fits this season.
Suddenly the hottest team in the league, the Clippers might simply back into the play-in tournament by default: Dallas, Memphis, Utah, Sacramento and New Orleans are the only teams behind them in the standings. Are any of those teams really going to make a late-season push?
At first blush, a former first overall pick receiving an assignment to the G League isn’t an update you want to hear. But this wasn’t a demotion at all — just an indication to say he’s almost back to NBA game-readiness.
Zaccharie Risacher and Asa Newell were both assigned to the College Park Skyhawks on Sunday, per this update from Hawks PR:
The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forwards Asa Newell and Zaccharie Risacher have been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks.
The Skyhawks didn’t have a game until Tuesday, whereas the Hawks had a game on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. The duo practiced with the Skyhawks in the hopes of being ready for today’s game back with the big franchise.
Monday morning, the two were recalled to the big team and sat on the bench as the Hawks defeated the Pacers in a Monday afternoon affair:
The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forward Zaccharie Risacher has been recalled to the Hawks from the College Park Skyhawks.
Unfortunately, Risacher was ruled out of Wednesday’s contest in Boston despite these steps forward:
For tomorrow’s Hawks game at Boston: N’Faly Dante (right knee, torn ACL) is out. Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) is out. Zaccharie Risacher (left knee, bone contusion) is out.
The Atlanta Hawks sent out this update just under a week ago (January 19) about the status of Risacher:
Forward Zaccharie Risacher, who has missed the last five games due to a left knee bone contusion, is progressing in his recovery and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.
Sophomore Risacher last played on January 7 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Since then, the left knee bone contusion has kept him out of the last nine contests.
The Hawks have used Vit Krejci and newly acquired Corey Kispert at the starting small forward spot, but Risacher is the best defender of the trio. So, while we still await a signature breakout on offense this season, Krejci’s and Kispert’s recent struggles alone have paved the way for excitement over the Frenchman’s return.
That brings us to an unfortunate update. As of now, Zaccharie Risacher has not been selected for the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend happening next month.
The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars ⬇️
Tune in to @peacock tomorrow at 7 PM ET to watch honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter draft their teams from the pool of 21 NBA sophomores and rookies.
Risacher could be named as a replacement for a sophomore if someone has to pull out due to injury, but it’s still a tough look for the former number one overall pick.
His stat line for the season has been somewhat underwhelming: 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 58% true shooting — a stat line that is almost identical to his rookie campaign that earned him a second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. But with the above players all taking a step forward, that crowded out the 20-year-old Hawk for a spot on the team(s).
Here’s to hope that he uses the exclusion as motivation for improved play going forward.
