The inevitable happened Monday afternoon when the Buffalo Sabres fired GM Kevyn Adams, replacing him after more than five years on the job with senior advisor and former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. There are legitimate questions as to whether it would be better to hire a permanent replacement for Adams in the next NHL off-season, but that’s another column for another day. 

In this file, we’re going to look at what areas Kekalainen needs to address to pull this Sabres team out of the basement of the Eastern Conference and back into the playoffs after what is almost assuredly going to be a 15-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. Here they are:

1. Settle The Goaltending Picture

If there’s one area the Sabres have depth in, it’s their netminding. With four NHL-caliber goaltenders – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, Colten Ellis and Devon Levi – Kekalainen has to pick a couple of them to build around, then deal at least one, if not two goalies.

As we saw with the Stuart Skinner/Tristan Jarry blockbuster trade, the netminding market is a seller’s market. And with few other teams ready, willing and able to peel off a goalie or two, Kekalainen needs to capitalize on his goaltending depth and convert the goalies he doesn’t want to build around into strengths in other areas. There’s no imminent rush to make a move, but if Buffalo finishes the year with all four goalies still in-house, that will represent a management failure.

2. Decide On A New Core Of Talent

Some may argue that the Sabres should still keep all of their core of talent together as the Kekalainen Era begins. But not this writer. For us, it’s well beyond time for Buffalo to make some material changes to their present and their future. And if that means trading a name-brand talent like, say, defenseman Owen Power or Tage Thompson, so be it.

If the definition of sports insanity is running it back year-in and year-out with the same group of talent that’s failed time and again and expecting different results, it’s easy to see what Kekalainen needs to do. He’s got to identify a new collection of players to build around, and chart a different course that Sabres fans can invest their time, money and emotions in. Kekalainen will have a honeymoon phase in the immediate weeks and months ahead, but he’ll squander that in short order if he doesn’t show why his way will work where Adams’ way continued to fail.

3. Make The Most Of The Future – One Way Or Another

The last thing most Sabres fans will want to hear from Kekalainen is a plea for patience. And it’s understandable why Buffalo fans will be looking for changes right away. Another drawn-out future is not going to cut it if there’s not a clear path forward. And considering that the Sabres have all three first-round draft picks in the next three seasons, they should easily be able to turn one of those picks into an NHL difference-maker.

Now, if Kekalainen says he’s not going to trade a first-rounder, Buffalo fans should be rightfully concerned about the team’s new management. In many ways, Adams had almost a trade paralysis late in his stint with the Sabres, and Kekalainen must show some courage in his direction for the team. He needs to take some calculated gambles that have a high upside. And believe us when we tell you that teams will be lining up to acquire a Sabres top pick. So long as they don’t continue to underwhelm for the foreseeable future, Buffalo should be prepared to do things differently as long as those different results will follow.

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One of the key points Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan has emphasized is the importance of mental fortitude and game management.

While it hasn't been 100 percent smooth sailing all season long, the results of Detroit's recently completed six-game road swing speak for themselves.

The Red Wings won four of their six straight games away from Little Caesars Arena, picking up nine of a possible 12 points and moving into a first-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division through 33 games played.

At 18-12-3, it's a contrast to where they were at this point last season with a 13-16-4 record. 

Dylan Larkin, who is third overall in team scoring with 33 points, said he believes the team is showing added mental fortitude this season compared to previous years. 

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"I think in the Calgary game, this is going back days now, but I thought we were able to hold down the fort," he said following Monday's practice. "They had momentum, and they pushed, but we won the game. In the past, I feel like it would have gotten away from us, and then who knows how the rest of the trip would have gone?" 

"We've seemed to be able to do it all year, and I think it speaks to the guys in the room in being through it, and adding veterans that help us through it," he said. "And then goaltending, being able to solve a lot of problems." 

McLellan made it clear in Training Camp that for the Red Wings to take the next step, the battle “between the ears” matters just as much as anything on the ice.

Red Wings' Patrick Kane On The Verge of NHL History Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is now two goals away from reaching 500, and nine points from passing Mike Modano for the most career points by an American-born NHL player.

"At Training Camp, we asked our group to get harder physically, mentally, and (in) game management," McLellan said. "Those are the three things we thought we needed to improve on. I'd say on our road trip, all three of those came into play. We weren't consistently good with all of them, but when it was all said and done, we did tap those areas. We got better in those areas."

Now that the Red Wings are back home, they can't afford to take their successful trip for granted, as there is still plenty of work ahead beginning with a matchup on Tuesday evening against the New York Islanders. 

"The trip is over, and it starts all over again," McLellan said. "We can't fall into that trap." 

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Over the offseason, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman acquired goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.

While Gibson's numbers during his first several games with Detroit weren't the best, he's now won five consecutive contests and posted a shutout twice in his last three starts, helping the Red Wings pick up multiple victories on their season-high six-game road swing.

After his second shutout in three games, Gibson has earned recognition from the NHL by being named one of their three stars of the week. 

LET'S GO, GIBBY ⭐️

He's the @NHL’s 2nd star of the week! pic.twitter.com/gsqMYPC6db

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 15, 2025

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“He’s confident," head coach Todd McLellan said of Gibson following the shutout win on Saturday evening over the Chicago Blackhawks. "The guys feel really good about playing around him. Less pucks coming off him, more whistles and very efficient. Just looks like Gibby.”

His shutout on Dec. 8 against the Vancouver Canucks was his first shutout since January 2023 while he was still a member of the Ducks; he turned aside all 39 shots he faced, including an opening period barrage. 

He followed that up with a 26-save shutout against the Blackhawks on Dec. 13, his 26th career shutout. Sandwiched in between those two was helping the Red Wings to a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Dec. 10. 

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ST. LOUIS -- In the latest of recalls from Springfield of the American Hockey League, the St. Louis Blues are dipping into their 2023 draft class once again.

In light of the injury to Dylan Holloway, who has a right high ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in six weeks, Otto Stenberg has been called up by the Blues late Monday afternoon.

Stenberg, 20, is one of three first round picks in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Blues, going at No. 25 behind Dalibor Dvorsky (No. 10) and Theo Lindstein (No. 29); he has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 21 games for the Thunderbirds this season after putting up 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 38 games there last season.

The Blues, who hosted the Nashville Predators on Monday night, have been hit by the injury bug in December, starting with Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist surgery), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns), who returned to the lineup Monday, and Nathan Walker (upper body), Nick Bjugstad (upper body) and Jordan Kyrou (lower body).

The Blues will be in need of an extra forward and are currently employing Hugh McGing and Matt Luff as recent call-ups, plus signing Robby Fabbri, a 2014 first-round pick by the Blues, to a one-year, two-way contract last Wednesday.

With Stenberg's recall, it will give the Blues 13 healthy forwards with four more games before the Christmas break, including home games Wednesday and Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers, respectively, followed by a two-game trip to play the Florida Panthers on Saturday and Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 22.

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With the Quinn Hughes trade complete, all eyes have turned to the assets the Vancouver Canucks acquired in the deal. The three players who came back in the deal are center Marco Rossi, defenceman Zeev Buium and winger Liam Öhgren. Vancouver also received a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. 

From a value standpoint, the Canucks did a good job adding key pieces to their future. Buium and Öhgren are both under 22 years old, while Rossi is a former top-10 pick who just turned 24. As for the draft pick, it is projected to be a late first-round pick as the Minnesota Wild are now one of the favourites in the Western Conference. 

When it comes to the three players acquired, the big question is, what are reasonable expectations for the rest of the season? While the playoffs are a long shot, the focus turns to development and seeing how impactful these three players may be in the future. Here are some reasonable expectations for Rossi, Buium and Öhgren during the 2025-26 season. 

Marco Rossi

The key question Rossi needs to answer is whether he can be Vancouver's long-term second-line center. His last two seasons have been impressive as he has 100 points in 164 games. As for this year, while he has missed time with an injury, he still has 13 points in 18 games, which equals out to a points percentage of 0.72. 

Rossi has also shown that he can be responsible in his own zone. This is key as the Canucks need to find a center who can take on some matchup roles without spending the entire time in the defensive zone. If Rossi can start winning matchups against the opposition frequently, it will go a long way in helping Vancouver establish a stronger top six. 

For Rossi, a reasonable expectation would be for him to show that he can be a second-line center who can win his matchup. He also needs to get his wingers going offensively while contributing on the power play. If Rossi can provide solid two-way play while contributing 30 points over the final 49 games, the Austrian center will have shown that he has the potential to be the Canucks second-line center moving forward. 

Zeev Buium

Buium is an exciting prospect who already has a multi-point game with Vancouver. The 20-year-old has a realistic shot of being a Calder finalist this year, as, based on Sunday, he could see extended time on the first power play unit this year. Adam Foote also has some experience working with him, which could help build the trust level between coach and player faster than most prospects. 

As the season continues, the focus for Buium needs to be on the defensive side of the game. This is not a criticism of his defensive work, but a fact about young defensemen, as it takes time to learn how to defend at the NHL level. This also includes his ability to defend against the rush, as Buium should be able to use his skating to at least slow down his opponent. 

While Buium is a high-end prospect, it is also important to remember that he is a rookie. Just like all rookies, he is going to make mistakes, but that is all part of the learning process. As for reasonable expectations, if Buium can continue to develop his defensive game while being able to facilitate offence on the power play, it will go a long way in showing that he can be a top-pair defender at the NHL level. 

Liam Öhgren

Öhgren is arguably the most intriguing piece in this deal. While Rossi and Buium will get the most attention, the 21-year-old winger could end up being a good surprise for Canucks fans. A solid combination of speed and strength, Öhgren already has built-in chemistry with Jonathan Lekkerimäki, as the two grew up together playing in Sweden. 

For Öhgren, the next step of his development is putting all his tools together at the NHL level. He has shown he can produce in the AHL, but that same scoring hasn't yet translated to the NHL. The good news is that he is trending upwards and, in recent games, has shown a willingness to get as many pucks towards the net as possible. 

How Vancouver manages Öhgren the rest of the season will be interesting. He may spend some time with the Abbotsford Canucks as he is waiver-exempt, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. When it comes to reasonable expectations, Öhgren needs to show that he can not only play in the system but also be difficult to play against on a nightly basis. 

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The Detroit Red Wings placed forward Jonatan Berggren on waivers Monday, a move that further underscored the lasting damage caused by the organization’s 2018 NHL Draft class and reinforced the growing belief that it stands as one of the worst drafts in franchise history.

Berggren, who was selected 33rd overall early in the second round, now appears likely to be claimed by another organization, which would make him the latest high draft pick from that class to leave Detroit without ever establishing himself as a meaningful long term contributor during a period when the Red Wings were in desperate need of young talent to anchor their rebuild.

Detroit entered the 2018 draft holding the sixth overall selection and used it on forward Filip Zadina, who had fallen out of the top five amid concerns regarding his overall projection that the Red Wings chose to overlook, a decision that became immediately controversial when defenseman Quinn Hughes was selected with the very next pick and went on to develop into one of the NHL’s premier blueliners.

The opportunity cost of that decision only deepened as other players available shortly after Detroit’s selection, including Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, and K’Andre Miller, each progressed into reliable and impactful NHL defensemen, while Zadina’s tenure in Detroit ultimately ended without him fulfilling the role of a top line scorer and eventually saw him return to Europe, where he now plays in the Swiss National League.

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Despite already missing on a franchise altering opportunity at the top of the draft, the Red Wings still possessed three more picks within the first 36 selections and used the 30th overall pick at the end of the first round to select center Joe Veleno before turning to Berggren at 33rd overall and defenseman Jared McIsaac three picks later at 36th overall.

None of those selections produced lasting value for the organization, as Berggren has now been placed on waivers, Veleno is currently with the Montreal Canadiens and on pace for just nine points this season, and McIsaac never appeared in an NHL game before continuing his professional career overseas in Slovakia.

The extent of Detroit’s missteps becomes even more glaring when examining the players selected shortly after those picks, as the second round alone featured future NHL regulars and impact contributors such as Kirill Marchenko, Alexander Romanov, Ryan McLeod, Kevin Bahl, Sean Durzi, Jack McBain, and Martin Fehérváry, all of whom were available when the Red Wings were making their selections.

Detroit’s difficulties continued into the third round, where the organization selected defenseman Alec Regula, who is currently working into the lineup as a seventh defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers, while players chosen later in the same round, including star goaltender Lukas Dostal and forward Jakub Lauko, have gone on to carve out more stable NHL roles.

In the fourth round, the Red Wings selected Ryan O’Reilly, a player not to be confused with the longtime NHL star of the same name, and while that selection failed to yield NHL results and currently sees O’Reilly playing in the ECHL, several players taken later in the round such as Martin Pospisil, Paul Cotter, and Philipp Kurashev have since become contributors at the NHL level.

Red Wings List Patrick Kane Day-to-Day, John Leonard Set For Major RoleThe Detroit Red Wings have listed veteran winger Patrick Kane as day-to-day while the recently called up John Leonard is expected to fill his spot in the second line.

The trend persisted throughout the remainder of the draft, which ultimately produced numerous star players and dependable role players across the league, yet Detroit emerged without a single piece or even a reliable long term contributor from a class in which they held four of the first 36 selections.

The cumulative result was a complete failure at one of the most critical moments of the organization’s rebuild, as the draft conducted under then general manager Ken Holland and director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright squandered premium assets and left the franchise with virtually no return on investment. That failure reverberated through the following seasons and contributed heavily to Detroit’s prolonged playoff drought, as the absence of impact talent from the 2018 class created a developmental void that stalled progress and forced the organization to rely on future drafts to compensate for lost time.

When Steve Yzerman took over as general manager the following season, he inherited a system that lacked meaningful contributions from the previous draft, yet in his first opportunity at the podium in 2019 he managed to reverse course by selecting Moritz Seider, Albert Johansson, and Elmer Söderblom, all of whom are currently playing in the Red Wings lineup.

Had Detroit managed to secure even one or two impact players from the 2018 draft, the trajectory of the rebuild could have been dramatically different by the time Yzerman arrived, but instead the franchise was left navigating the consequences of a draft class that provided no lasting benefit and now stands as a stark reminder of how costly missed evaluations can be at the highest level.

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Sitting in 28th place in the NHL with major injuries to several key players, the St. Louis Blues look like they'll continue to head in the wrong direction.

Not many things, if any, have gone right for the Blues. Nearly every player is on pace to put up lower goal and point totals than they did last season, and their goaltending has really struggled. The off-season moves haven't made the Blues any better, and now, 33 games into the season, the Blues are at risk of having to write it off. 

Almost every report made about the Blues highlights how they'll be sellers at the deadline, and the trading could come before that. 

Several players have been named by a plethora of reporters. Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Kyrou are the players garnering the most interest, but there can be calls about the availability of Jordan Binnington, Pavel Buchnevich and Colton Parayko. How eager the Blues are to make deals will determine whether they are dealt or not. 

If the Blues do become sellers, they would be committing to a bit of a mini rebuild. 

They've witnessed some of their latest first-round picks and top prospects graduate to the NHL, and although they aren't stars yet, they are on the right path. Jake Neighbours has continued to improve yearly, Jimmy Snuggerud was looking like an everyday NHLer before his injury, and Dalibor Dvorsky has taken advantage of injuries to solidify his spot in the NHL. 

Snuggerud and Dvorsky would love to see their production increase, but playing in the NHL is a great start. 

Additionally, the Blues front office likes what they have in Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Adam Jiricek and Justin Carbonneau. They might be a year or two away from playing in the NHL, but they are developing into possible important pieces of their future.

On the NHL roster, Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg and Robert Thomas are key contributors who the Blues see as present and future parts of their team.

That leaves several other players who could be expendable. The Blues project to land a top-five pick in a loaded draft. It's been quite a while since the Blues drafted a possible franchise player, and committing to a rebuild this season could put them in position to land players like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff or Tynan Lawrence. 

No team wants to tank, but if injuries and losses continue to pile up, it might be their best option.

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Montreal Canadiens forward Joe Veleno has had a tough start to the 2025-26 season. In his first 25 games of the campaign with the Habs, he recorded just one goal. This included him starting the season with zero points in his first 14 games.

With this, there is no question that Veleno has had trouble producing offensively this season. While this is the case, the 25-year-old forward is now starting to break the ice for the Canadiens. 

During the Canadiens' Dec. 13 matchup against the New York Rangers, Veleno snapped a 10-game point drought by recording an assist on Jake Evans' goal. He then followed this up by scoring the Canadiens' eventual game-winning goal in their 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 14. 

Veleno's goal against the Oilers was a nice one, too, as he intercepted a pass from Oilers superstar Connor McDavid before beating Edmonton goaltender Calvin Pickard with a great snap shot. 

Veleno starting to produce offensively for the Canadiens is undoubtedly good to see. It will now be interesting to see if the 2018 first-round pick can build on his momentum and continue to contribute offensively for Montreal.