Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach will miss the rest of the season following right knee surgery, the team announced Friday.

Dach, 24, is expected to be ready for the start of next season. He tallied 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 57 games this season.

It’s the second straight season-ending knee injury for Dach, who sustained a torn ACL and MCL in the same knee in the second game of the 2023-24 campaign.

Dach has recorded 121 points (43 goals, 78 assists) in career 269 games with the Chicago Blackhawks (2019-22) and the Canadiens. Chicago drafted him with the No. 3 overall pick in 2019.

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  Greg WyshynskiFeb 28, 2025, 09:00 AM ET

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  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

NHL referees won’t have to scan cavernous Ohio Stadium to find a clock during Saturday’s Stadium Series game between Detroit and Columbus. They’ll just have to feel the vibrations on their wrist.

The NHL, Apple and Presidio have created a system for real-time, in-game situational notifications with the NHL Watch Comms App, which runs on Apple Watches specifically configured for on-ice NHL officials. Officials are alerted by haptics to time ticking down at the end of a period and the end of power plays.

While referees and linespersons have been using the Apple Watch software throughout the 2024-25 season, this weekend marks the first time it will be used in an NHL outdoor game. The Red Wings and Blue Jackets face off at 6 p.m. ET Saturday at Ohio State’s football stadium.

Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations, was an on-ice official for three decades. He said this technology is an important innovation.

“You were always searching to find the clock, and every rink’s just a little bit different. While you were doing that, you were taking your eyes off the ice,” he said. “In the stadium games, it was even harder. You’re staring off into space looking for a clock and a guy gets hooked on a breakaway. For us, this is a dependable, durable and useful tool to keep us safe and focused on the game.”

The NHL’s relationship with Apple tracks back to 2017, when iPads were first placed on every bench so real-time video of plays could be available for viewing. Dave Lehanski, NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation, said that after coaches and players were given that technology, the league’s attention turned to how to make its officials’ jobs easier.

Andres de Corral, vice president of digital services and solutions at Presidio, said the software provides three main functions. It displays the game clock and jersey numbers of players in the penalty box. It has a running penalty timer, sending vibrations to the official’s wrist when a power play is about to end.

“They have a 200-pound person flying at them at 50 mph,” Corral said. “We want to make sure they’re out of the way and not necessarily get tripped up. That was really the key for official safety.”

Walkom remembers that from his days as an NHL referee.

“We had a number of near misses. You’re trying to avoid each other, trying to keep up with the pace of the play, and you’ve got to know that the guy’s coming out of the box,” he said. “But getting that little notice, that warning at 10 seconds, it makes you aware where you need to be to stay out of the way of the player.”

The watch also alerts officials to the clock ticking down for the end of a period, with haptic notifications for 10, 3, 2 and 1 seconds left “just so they could really ensure their eyes are on the ice and the players,” Corral said.

The penalty box and game clock haptics are different vibrations.

Rather than using the scoreboard clock as a reference, the watches pull 25 data points from the NHL’s OASIS feed, which is part of the league’s NHL Edge puck and player tracking system. Pulling the data, rather than using push notifications, dramatically decreased the lag between what’s happening on the ice and what’s delivered to the watch. Instead of relying on an arena or stadium Wi-Fi, the watches use cellular connectivity.

The NHL Watch Comms App was launched in September 2024. The league said 92.5% of on-ice NHL officials have adopted wearing the Apple Watch. Walkom said those who haven’t were waiting on customization of their watch bands.

The league is already considering other ways to use this technology to help its on-ice officials.

Part of the NHL Edge system tracks the “stick and limb” movements of players during the game. Lehanski said that data isn’t publicly available yet because “we’re still authenticating for accuracy and for consistency from arena to arena.”

Once the NHL is satisfied with its accuracy, the NHL Watch Comms App might be able to alert an official that a puck had been contacted by a high stick.

“You could have a time where you measure every player on normal heights of the shoulder and you get a notification when that particular player touches the puck with a stick above their normal height to the shoulder,” Walkom said. “You get it instantly. It’s not a judgment call.”

There has also been discussion about whether the watches could eventually alert officials to pucks getting shot into the netting behind the goals, which is something that occasionally misses detection on the ice. In time, as the NHL’s puck tracking continues to be refined, Lehanski hopes the watches could one day alert referees that the puck has crossed the goal line if their sightlines are blocked.

The watches could also create more connectivity for all the officials watching the game.

“All of this speaks to the future potential for how we leverage the watches potentially for communication. Thinking about the officials on the ice, the other officials in the arena, the officials that are in the video review room in Toronto and maybe leveraging that as a component down the road,” Lehanski said. “No doubt we’re just scratching the surface.”

The post New Apple Watch technology assists NHL refs appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

THE NHL INCLUDED Ohio Stadium on its list of potential venues for outdoor games for as long as anyone in the league office can remember. Not only is the stadium iconic, but also it’s massive — with up to 90,000-plus fans watching live hockey.

NHL executives made their first site visit to the Horseshoe five and a half years ago. But there was one problem holding the 103-year-old building back: plumbing.

“For a long time, we’d shut [the stadium] down in November and we wouldn’t really turn it back on until April,” said Colin Thompson, Ohio State’s senior associate athletic director for facilities and events. “In a big outdoor building like that, that’s exposed in the Midwest, you could freeze your water lines, you could freeze your sanitary lines, and we had to protect against that so we could offer services to all of the guests.”

No flushing toilets meant no NHL winter events. Then, the expanded College Football Playoff format changed everything. The Buckeyes had to prepare to play host to first-round games on campus. Two years ago, the athletic department began a phased multi-million dollar project of installing heat trays. That allowed the Buckeyes to host their first winter event this December, a home playoff game.

Once Ohio Stadium started winterizing, the NHL committed. Saturday’s Stadium Series game — featuring the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings in a crucial playoff bubble battle (6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+) — is expected to have the second-biggest crowd ever for an NHL outdoor game. The 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium between Detroit and Toronto ranks first, with 105,491 fans.

The NHL has announced its outdoor plans for next year: hosting a pair of games in Florida (Miami and Tampa Bay, respectively) which should be another spectacle, building a professional-grade ice surface amid humidity.

The Horseshoe will be the NHL’s 43rd regular-season outdoor game over the past two-plus decades. One thing is abundantly clear: the NHL isn’t stopping.

“I’ve heard some people claim outdoor games are a dying breed. No they’re not,” said Steve Mayer, president of NHL content and events. “We believe in outdoor games. We still think that they’re significant. They’re a big part of our season, definitely our highest rated games. And the buzz that’s in the local community leading up to the game is incredible.”

Now that the NHL has knocked off some items from its outdoor bucket list, what comes next?

CLAIMS ABOUT FATIGUE stem from repeats of teams and venues. The Chicago Blackhawks lead the pack with seven appearances, and the league has now made two trips to Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Cycling through again may be inevitable, but the league is constantly looking for ways to reimagine the experience.

“Many of the places now are about to go on repeat a bit,” Mayer said. “There are multiple stadiums in most of the cities that we play in, whether it’s a baseball stadium, a football stadium, even the soccer stadiums. Would we ever venture to go there? Most of them are a little bit too small.

“And then the interesting places, we’ve definitely looked at them in the past. Could that be part of our future? Whether it’s an auto racing track, a horse track, just a location where we either take advantage of an infrastructure that’s already there or we build our own infrastructure and we’re definitely open and really try to be creative.”

Once the Panthers play in next year’s Winter Classic, the only team that has yet to appear in an outdoor game is the Utah Hockey Club. The Smith Entertainment Group has told the NHL they are interested — and they’d be prepared if the NHL gave them a green light.

Mayer said his team has scouted Utah but hasn’t made any decisions yet.

“A lot of the issues we have as well are now the schedules are really crowded in terms of college football,” Mayer said. “In Utah, for example, their football stadium, you could never do a Winter Classic because of the possibility of doing a college football playoff game.”

Another venue the NHL has flirted with for years: the massive Beaver Stadium on the campus of Penn State. The NHL and Penn State have had conversations, but talks are on hold as Beaver Stadium undergoes a $700 million revitalization project.

Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft has been transparent about wanting to host events — such as concerts, hockey or soccer — once the renovations are complete. But university spokesperson said they are probably years away, with 2028 as the earliest date.

“We’d love to talk at some point about Penn State. We said, ‘make us aware of your timeline.’ By no means have we committed to them, though we always think it’s attractive,” Mayer said. “Remember the timing has also been interesting over the years too, because we did play back-to-back [2017 and 2019] Philadelphia versus Pittsburgh once in Pittsburgh, then in Philadelphia, which I think you almost have to do when you play at Penn State. It was too soon. And so we’ve definitely talked again.”

State College — in the center of Pennsylvania, 140 miles from Pittsburgh and 193 miles from Philadelphia — would be considered a neutral site, something the league isn’t opposed to doing. The league has done that with its Canadian Heritage Classic, which brought games to non-NHL cities like Regina, Saskatchewan and Hamilton, Ontario.

In 2021, the NHL went completely off the board by staging two games in Lake Tahoe, which boasted dazzling visuals. That piqued ideas about the NHL in iconic landmarks like New York’s Central Park or Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

“We did [Lake Tahoe] because we couldn’t play in front of fans [due to COVID restrictions], and it made a lot of sense and we loved putting that game on. It was unique. It came at a time where people were yearning for special events and we provided them with one,” Mayer said. “We did a lot of research during that particular period of time. We visited quite a significant amount of places and we do get numerous pitches from areas, landmarks, places that don’t have infrastructure to build infrastructure and to put on a successful event.”

Those venues may stay on the wish list — for now. While there’s interest on both sides, it’s not as turnkey as going to another stadium that already has the infrastructure in place.

“It’s very costly as well, so those are factors that come into play. But [NHL commissioner] Gary [Bettman] just really feels that we’re in a world where we should be in front of as many people as we can playing in front of fans,” Mayer said. “Could we build a stadium? Sure. Could we put a game where we knew that fans would come? Sure. But I think those games for right now are a bit on the back burner. Our main focus is trying to do the next bunch of years in stadiums or places that have the ability to house fans.”

THE NHL IS ENTERING a period of reimagining signature events — especially with the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off replacing typical All-Star festivities. The league announced the 2026 All-Star at UBS Arena on Long Island — which will be a sendoff to players ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan — but hasn’t committed further than that. They also haven’t lined up outdoor games past next season’s pair in Florida.

“When this stretch is done, we’re all going to sit down and we’re going to figure it out,” Mayer said. “But we haven’t made any decisions yet.”

The NHL has made a commitment to more international competition and will stage a World Cup of Hockey featuring at least eight teams beginning in 2028, every two years in off-Olympic cycles. In announcing the World Cup, Bettman invited European venues to make bids as host cities. The NHL has hosted 20 regular-season games in Europe since 2017. Could an outdoor one be next?

“We get inquiries from around the world. We haven’t really focused on one particular area, one particular stadium, but we have had conversations about a potential outdoor game overseas,” Mayer said. “Nothing is imminent at all, but I could see down the line years as something in the future that is a possibility for sure.”

That’s the one thing Mayer wanted to emphasize: everything is a possibility.

“These are evolving. That whole myth that these aren’t as popular? No way. They aren’t going away,” Mayer said. “We know our sponsors love them. The fans love them. I’m not just saying this, we really don’t have a specific pecking order yet.

“But right now we’re focused on next year, which is the Florida games, which are extremely unique. And believe me, we’re looking forward to those two because that’s going to be different and that’ll get people buzzing.”

The post Where will the NHL hold its next outdoor games? Penn State, Utah and Europe are options appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

• Sean Allen

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  Sean Allen

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  Sean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year.

• Victoria Matiash

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  Victoria Matiash

  Special to ESPN.com

  Victoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.

Feb 28, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

Now that the 4 Nations Face-Off is in the rearview mirror, the NHL has resumed the regular season — which means its time for another round of power rankings!

Along with the updated voting totals, it’s time for another fantasy hockey takeover. Sean Allen (Eastern Conference) and Victoria Matiash (Western Conference) have identified each team’s biggest surprise this season in fantasy hockey — for positive or negative reasons.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Feb. 7. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 72.50%

Mark Scheifele, F: Just weeks before he turns 32, the Jets center is threatening to hit the 45-goal mark for the first time in his career. Toss in another 40-something assists and Scheifele could wrap 2024-25 as a top-10 forward in ESPN fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. PHI (March 1), @ NYI (March 4), @ PHI (March 6)

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 71.19%

Logan Thompson, G: He has only a 55.8% crease share on the season, yet the surprising Thompson ranks a comfortable third in fantasy points among all goaltenders. Honorable mentions go to Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has finally found a productive home, and Alex Ovechkin, whose 0.71 goals per game ties the second-best rate of his career as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky’s goals scored record.

Next seven days: vs. TB (March 1), vs. OTT (March 3), @ NYR (March 5)

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 65.52%

Logan Stankoven, F: Remember when Stankoven exploded for four goals and 10 assists in his first 15 games, wedging himself well into the Calder Trophy conversation? No? That’s probably because he’s kicked in only 12 points in 40 contests since. A surprising drop-off, following an equally remarkable fantasy start to 2024-25.

Next seven days: vs. LA (Feb. 28), vs. STL (March 2), vs. NJ (March 4), vs. CGY (March 6)

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 63.79%

Anthony Stolarz, G: Dishonorable mention to the defense, which is producing fantasy value from physical play only — only the Sharks and Ducks have fewer power-play points from the blue line. Honorable mention to Stolarz’s goalie partner, Joseph Woll. The goaltending has been simply fantastic for the Leafs this season.

Next seven days: @ NYR (Feb. 28), @ PIT (March 2), vs. SJ (March 3), @ VGK (March 5)

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 64.41%

William Karlsson, F: Recently placed on IR, the center hadn’t exactly been lighting it up even before suffering this latest lower-body injury. Seven goals in 38 games? After potting 30, along with another 30 assists, in 70 contests this past season, that serves as a surprisingly disappointing dip in production and fantasy value.

Next seven days: vs. NJ (March 2), vs. TOR (March 5)

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 62.50%

Carter Verhaeghe, F: Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise, but after scoring 42 goals in 2022-23, the 34 scored by Verhaeghe this past season felt appropriate and repeatable. It’s an unpleasant shock, but he’ll be lucky to get 21 goals this season in what’s been a healthy campaign.

Next seven days: vs. CGY (March 1), vs. TB (March 3), vs. CBJ (March 6)

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 61.02%

Zach Hyman, F: For another player, 19 goals in 53 contests would serve as an impressive haul. Except Hyman scored 54 this past season. So his fantasy managers can feel excused — especially those who blew an early draft selection on the winger — for feeling less impressed with the surprise drop.

Next seven days: @ CAR (March 1), vs. ANA (March 4), vs. MTL (March 6)

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 62.07%

Anthony Cirelli, C: Sure, Cirelli flirted with fantasy value on and off this past season. This season, he is a roster mainstay, and he’s doing it with minimal power-play access and infrequent ice time with the superstars on the Lightning. Cirelli was a very worthy addition to Canada at the 4 Nations.

Next seven days: @ WSH (March 1), @ FLA (March 3), vs. CBJ (March 4), vs. BUF (March 6)

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 62.50%

Darcy Kuemper, G: While some of us (ahem) were a little more optimistic about how Kuemper would fare in this second tour in L.A., his current eighth ranking among goalies in total fantasy points still qualifies as a pleasant surprise. Between the experienced netminder’s solid play and the Kings’ stingy defense, his managers certainly aren’t complaining.

Next seven days: @ DAL (March 28), @ STL (March 1), @ CHI (March 3), vs. STL (March 5)

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 61.02%

Marco Rossi, F: The 23-year-old sophomore is already comfortably ahead of his points total from this past season. Barring injury, Rossi should break through with 70 in his second full campaign. Not too shabby for a player projected for 10-15 fewer than that. Centering the top line definitely doesn’t hurt.

Next seven days: @ COL (Feb. 28), vs. BOS (March 2), @ SEA (March 4)

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 61.02%

Seth Jarvis, F: He was fantastic this past season, but it’s still a bit of a surprise that he is repeating the results like clockwork. Not all 23-year-old wingers bring the kind of consistency we’re getting from Jarvis, as he’s on pace to finish with 33 goals for the second consecutive season — this time in seven fewer games.

Next seven days: vs. EDM (March 1), vs. CGY (March 2), @ DET (March 4), vs. BOS (March 6)

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 58.33%

Stefan Noesen, F: The production has been slowing down as teams got wise to the Devils’ strategy on the man advantage, but raise your hands if you had Noesen down to be in the top 10 league-wide for power-play goals at this stage of the season.

Next seven days: @ UTA (March 1), @ VGK (March 2), @ DAL (March 4)

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 58.33%

Mackenzie Blackwood, G: Forgive the considerable and obvious understatement, but the trade from San Jose helps big time. Blackwood is now competing often and well. Only three other goalies have logged a greater points total in standard leagues: Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Logan Thompson.

Next seven days: vs. MIN (Feb. 28), vs. PIT (March 4), vs. SJ (March 6)

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 55.93%

Lucas Raymond, F: With 31 goals and 72 points this past season, it looked like Raymond had finally broken out in his third NHL season. Surprise! He has another level. Raymond is on pace for a 90-point campaign as the Red Wings look to make their first playoff appearance since 2016.

Next seven days: @ CBJ (March 1), vs. CAR (March 4), vs. UTA (March 6)

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 55.17%

Yegor Sharangovich, F: Perhaps a second-straight 30-plus goal season in Calgary was too big an ask? Obviously, since he has all of 11 goals to show for 50 contests. Lately, Sharangovich is seeing limited minutes, and in the Flames’ bottom six.

Next seven days: @ FLA (March 1), @ CAR (March 2), @ PHI (March 4), @ DAL (March 6)

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 55.93%

Zach Werenski, D: It’s not a surprise that a healthy Werenski is having a great fantasy season, but it is pleasant that he’s keeping pace with none other than Cale Makar. They both round off to 2.9 fantasy points per game to lead the league for defensemen.

Next seven days: vs. DET (March 1), @ TB (March 4), @ FLA (March 6)

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 53.45%

Jake Sanderson, D: It usually plays out that the old guard slowly cedes the role to the new guy and there is some back-and-forth. Thomas Chabot had better per-game stats than Sanderson in 2023-24, so it wasn’t clear the torch had fully passed. This blue line is now all Sanderson all the time, and it’s not close.

Next seven days: vs. SJ (March 1), @ WSH (March 3), @ CHI (March 5)

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 55.08%

Elias Pettersson, F: He isn’t shooting. He certainly isn’t scoring. Seven other Vancouver skaters have more goals than the 102-point performer from two years ago. As far as fantasy surprises go, the Canucks center ranks right up there as one of this season’s most frustrating showings.

Next seven days: @ SEA (March 1), vs. ANA (March 5)

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 53.45%

Chris Kreider, F: Twenty-two games into the season, Kreider didn’t have a single assist when, surprise, he finally got one on Dec. 6. The next assist would come in January and he’s now up to four on the season. Kreider was always more of a goal scorer, but the overall lack of points really has been a shocker.

Next seven days: vs. TOR (Feb. 28), vs. NSH (March 2), vs. NYI (March 3), vs. WSH (March 5)

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 52.50%

Dylan Guenther, F: The 21-year-old is blossoming into a top skater and fantasy star in real time. Although projected to serve as a near point-per-game player at some point in his career, this feels a bit (pleasantly) premature. Through the fantasy lens, Guenther is now equal to fellow Utah forward Clayton Keller as a must-roster in fantasy leagues of any size.

Next seven days: vs. NJ (March 1), @ DET (March 6)

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 51.67%

Jeremy Swayman, G: As surprises go, we might have seen this coming. Contract negotiations that threaten training camps rarely have a positive impact on a player’s offseason regimen. We hoped Swayman would be a difference-maker in the crease as one of the top goalie picks, but, surprise: He’s allowed the most goals in the league this season.

Next seven days: @ PIT (March 1), @ MIN (March 2), vs. NSH (March 4), @ CAR (March 6)

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 51.67%

Pavel Buchnevich, F: The good news is that production appears to be improving for the Blues’ winger. After a mostly quiet January — and dry spell-littered season altogether — Buchnevich has a goal and four assists in three games since the break. This makes a lot more sense for someone who erupted for 76 points, including 30 goals, in his first season in St. Louis only three years ago.

Next seven days: vs. LA (March 1), @ DAL (March 2), @ LA (March 5)

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 51.69%

Lane Hutson, D: Before the season, there was the hope that one or more of the Habs’ young defenders would get some game action this season. It became quite the surprise when Hutson took over the depth chart early in the campaign. He’s not just excelling, he’s threatening to win the rookie scoring race.

Next seven days: @ BUF (March 1), vs. BUF (March 3), @ EDM (March 6)

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 50.00%

Travis Sanheim, D: Inside the top 20 for total fantasy points, Sanheim has asserted himself as a must-roster player in fantasy hockey. He was on our radar before the season but has been a pleasant surprise in lineups since the opening faceoff.

Next seven days: @ WPG (March 1), vs. CGY (March 4), vs. WPG (March 6)

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 50.86%

Bo Horvat, F: This surprise can be shared with other members of the Isles’ offense, which has failed to produce a single forward with a rate of at least 2.0 fantasy points per game. Even Mathew Barzal‘s per-game rates aren’t that close to the threshold.

Next seven days: vs. NSH (March 1), @ NYR (March 3), vs. WPG (March 4)

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 50.86%

Jackson LaCombe, D: One of several positive surprises to emerge out of Anaheim — goalie Lukas Dostal is another — the sophomore defenseman is comfortably on pace for his first 40-point campaign. In fact, LaCombe leads all Ducks’ skaters in averaging 2.0 fantasy points per game in 2024-25. He won’t be under the radar much longer.

Next seven days: vs. CHI (March 1), @ EDM (March 4), @ VAN (March 5)

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 46.49%

Dylan Cozens, F: Two seasons ago, Cozens finished with 31 goals and 68 points as a central pillar of the team’s power play. This past season, he dipped to 47 points but was still a big part of the man advantage. This season, he’ll be lucky to get 37 points and is off the top unit.

Next seven days: vs. MTL (March 1), @ MTL (March 3), vs. SJ (March 4), @ TB (March 6)

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 46.72%

Rickard Rakell, F: Easily outpacing all other Penguins in fantasy scoring and hot on the heels of players like David Pastrnak and Mikko Rantanen among all skaters in FPPG, Rakell has been the most pleasant of surprises in a season of troubled waters for the Pens.

Next seven days: vs. BOS (March 1), vs. TOR (March 2), @ COL (March 4)

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 45.00%

Matty Beniers, F: So much for rebounding off this past season’s sophomore slump. After rifling off 57 points in his Calder-winning rookie campaign, Beniers is putting up disappointingly pedestrian numbers, translating into equally mediocre fantasy points, ever since.

Next seven days: vs. VAN (March 1), vs. MIN (March 4), @ NSH (March 6)

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 42.24%

Steven Stamkos, F: What else is there to say? It’s been a sheer disaster in Nashville since the start. Stamkos earned fewer than 50 points in a full NHL campaign back in his 2008-09 rookie season (47), and it’s only growing more dire. Ahead of Thursday’s tilt with Winnipeg, the former Lightning captain hadn’t collected a single point since Jan. 23.

Next seven days: @ NYI (March 1), @ NYR (March 2), @ BOS (March 4)

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 34.75%

Philipp Kurashev, F: It’s difficult to believe that Kurashev potted 54 points in 75 games with the Blackhawks only a year ago. Or that the 25-year-old was supposed to take another step forward within Chicago’s top six this season. But nine points in 41 games definitely serves as the stark opposite of forward.

Next seven days: @ ANA (March 1), vs. LA (March 3), vs. OTT (March 5)

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 32.50%

Jake Walman, D: It speaks volumes that Red Wings fans continue to bemoan the deal that sent the defender westward in exchange for future considerations. Settling in nicely with the Sharks, the surprising Walman leads San Jose’s blue line in scoring, power-play production, shots and blocked shots. If it wasn’t for losing several games to injury, the unanticipated fantasy gem might have totaled 50 points this season.

Next seven days: @ OTT (March 1), @ TOR (March 3), @ BUF (March 4), @ COL (March 6)

The post NHL Power Rankings: Each team’s fantasy hockey surprise of 2024-25 appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

• Associated Press

Feb 27, 2025, 08:59 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Brayden Schenn played his 1,000th regular-season NHL game when he and the St. Louis Blues beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday night.

Older brother Luke played his 1,000th game Oct. 17 with the Nashville Predators. The Schenns are the eighth set of brothers to each reach that milestone and the first to do so in the same season.

“I’ve always said you don’t get there without the help of tons of people,” Brayden said after his team’s morning skate. “Family being one and coaches and players and teammates and people in the organization. Obviously, you have to embrace the day-to-day grind of the ups and downs and just how hard this league is, but, yeah, pretty special that we have best buddies that push each other every day and get to do it in the same year.”

Blues players celebrated the occasion with Schenn shirts and hats with the captain’s No. 10 on them. Father Jeff gave a pregame speech in the locker room after coach Jim Montgomery said, “Schenner and his bro both getting 1,000 games in the same season is a tribute to the great family raised by Jeff and his wife.”

Jeff Schenn said Brayden was his favorite player on the Blues and tied for his favorite overall, of course, with Luke.

“Honored and privileged and very proud to be part of the big day and the big journey that goes along with it,” their dad said. “You see the hard work and the dedication and the bumps and the bruises and everything you guys put into it. … Just so excited and happy to be here and awful proud of him.”

Montgomery said after the win that Jeff Schenn looked very comfortable speaking in front of the group.

“Jeff and his wife, Brayden’s parents, they raised four great kids and two have played 1,000 games in the NHL,” Montgomery said. “His message was well-received, and you could tell by our start that we wanted to play for our captain.”

Dylan Holloway, who scored twice, said because it was Schenn’s 1,000th game, the Blues “wanted this one bad.”

The Capitals acknowledged the milestone with a message on arena videoboards and an announcement during the first period.

Brayden getting to 1,000 comes amid talk ahead of the March 7 trade deadline that teams are interested in acquiring both of them in separate moves. The Blues are on the fringe of the playoff race in the Western Conference, while the Predators are far out of contention.

“The times I’ve gotten traded, I didn’t expect to get traded, so you really never know,” Brayden said, adding he has loved his time with St. Louis. “It’s a business and that just comes with the flows of kind of where we’re positioned, five points out of the playoffs. But it’s the trade deadline, so some people make rumors. … You just take it a day at a time and just focus on your game and play.”

Brayden, 33, has three years left on his contract at an annual salary cap hit of $6.5 million. Luke, 35, has one more season left after this one at $2.75 million.

The Schenn brothers have played together in the NHL before, spending 3½ seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013 to 2015. Brayden won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, then Luke back to back with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

The post Brayden Schenn joins brother with 1,000th game appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Michael Bunting is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.

“He’ll be out here for the next little while,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Thursday. “I don’t know the time frame at this point, but that’s that.”

Bunting notched an assist in Pittsburgh’s 6-1 setback to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. He has 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) and a minus-18 rating in 58 games this season.

Bunting, 29, has totaled 210 points (90 goals, 120 assists) and a plus-10 rating in 326 career games with the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Penguins.

The post Pens’ Bunting out indefinitely after appendectomy appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

• 

  Greg WyshynskiFeb 27, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

The rise of the salary cap changes everything in the NHL.

On Jan. 31, the league and the NHLPA announced an agreement to create “increased predictability” about the salary cap over the next three seasons, provided there’s a new collective bargaining agreement beyond the 2025-26 season. The upper limits for the cap are projected as:

• 2025-26: $95.5 million

• 2026-27: $104 million

• 2027-28: $113.5 million

It’s a shrewd negotiating tactic, giving the players a sense of the league’s prosperity and their own future earning potential under a skyrocketing cap. But it also materially changed how teams could approach the March 7 NHL trade deadline.

“I think this is going to be an interesting deadline. Everybody’s like, ‘We’re going to have money next year.’ So I wonder if you might see some actual contracts move,” one NHL team executive said. “I think teams might be looking at free agency this summer and wondering what they’re actually going to get out of it. So maybe they’re willing to trade for Seth Jones or something at the deadline.”

With that salary cap bump on the horizon, here’s a look at the players who could move before the NHL trade deadline on March 7 at 3 p.m. ET, from the shocking possibilities to the pending free agents to the players with low-cost contracts who could be the difference in winning the Stanley Cup.

This list was compiled through conversations with league executives and other sources, as well as media reports. ESPN insiders Kevin Weekes and Emily Kaplan added their input in its creation. Salary figures are from Cap Wages and PuckPedia.

Let’s begin with the biggest names.

Shocking possibilities tier

Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
Seth Jones, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Erik Karlsson, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers
Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Mikko Rantanen, RW, Carolina Hurricanes

There’s probably no better compliment to the intelligence of Carolina GM Eric Tulsky than having half of hockey media assuming that he’ll trade Mikko Rantanen before March 7 if the Hurricanes can’t sign the pending free agent to an extension. Tulsky is playing multidimensional chess, contemplating a second blockbuster Rantanen trade within the span of two months rather that keeping the elite scoring winger, whose postseason production was a primary facet of his appeal.

Look, this might end up being a bad take, but I’m not buying the idea that the Hurricanes traded Martin Necas for a negotiating window with Rantanen. They’re trying to win the Stanley Cup this season — heck, they’d be happy just to play for one under coach Rod Brind’Amour. Their best chance to do so is with Rantanen, rather than with whatever they’d get back for him at the deadline.

They made a hard sell to him last weekend on a rich, long-term deal. If he signs before March 7, the conversation’s over. If he doesn’t, it still makes too much sense for Carolina to hang on to him for a Cup run. But so many in the NHL believe there’s a chance they’ll trade him again if there’s no contract, so he must be included here.

As mentioned earlier, the rise in the salary cap makes a Jones trade plausible. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that he has discussed being traded from the rebuilding Blackhawks, later elaborating that his timeline as a 30-year-old defenseman doesn’t sync with the franchise’s current trajectory. GM Kyle Davidson, meanwhile, is trying to satiate his young phenom Connor Bedard by surrounding him with NHL talent and pushing toward playoff contention — two aims that trading Jones would seem not to serve.

Jones has a full no-movement clause and a $9.5 million cap hit through 2029-30, a term that makes salary retention here a little hard to fathom for Chicago. Speculation has ranged from a trade to his native Texas with the Dallas Stars to a move to the Florida Panthers, reuniting him with GM Bill Zito from their days in Columbus. Jones and former teammate Zach Werenski also put a reunion with the Blue Jackets into the discourse.

Marchand, 36, is in the last year of a contract with a very thrifty AAV ($6.125 million) and has only an eight-team no-trade clause. Boston GM Don Sweeney has said contract talks are ongoing with Marchand’s camp. He had indicated the Bruins would take a “cautious approach” at the deadline, which many interpreted as “we will not be a buyer.” Does that mean trading Marchand as a pivot to the future?

The Bruins’ captain hasn’t wavered about wanting to play his entire career in Boston. “They’re aware of that. I think everyone’s aware of that. It’s a gift to be playing for this team and I take a tremendous amount of pride in that,” he said recently. But as Ray Bourque will tell you, sometimes “Bruins for life” end up being the final piece in someone else’s championship puzzle.

Ekblad is also on an expiring contract. The 29-year-old defenseman has 26 points in 50 games this season. There was a report last summer that the Panthers were “shopping” Ekblad ahead of his contract year, but he’s on the record as wanting to remain in Florida. He also told the Miami Herald that he’s not worried about the timing of a contract extension given how Zito waited in the past to get deals done with players such as Sam Reinhart.

It’s hard to imagine Ekblad moving on before the offseason, as the Panthers’ blue line is thin offensively, and they have designs on a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. But that’s an aggressive front office.

Karlsson, 34, saw his stock rise during the 4 Nations Face-Off with a vintage performance, reminding everyone what he can do when motivated. He has 40 points in 60 games for the Penguins, whom Josh Yohe of The Athletic said are shopping the three-time Norris Trophy winner. They’d have to retain money on his $10 million annual cap hit through 2026-27. But Karlsson’s actual salary dips to $9 million next season and $7.5 million in 2026-27. This could end up being a summer move, if he moves at all.

Earlier this season, Rangers GM Chris Drury circulated a memo to his 31 peers that his team was looking to trade. It mentioned two players by name: Jacob Trouba, who was traded to Anaheim, and Kreider, 33, who has a $6.5 million cap hit through 2026-27 and a 15-team no-trade list. Was his inclusion a scare tactic to wake up the struggling team? Or a harbinger of another core-altering move by Drury? Kreider has only 21 points in 48 games during an injury-plagued, disappointing season.

When the Rangers acquired J.T. Miller from Vancouver, it was meant to unburden Pettersson of his locker room feud and allow the star center to find his game again. Since that trade, Pettersson has three assists and zero goals through eight games. Coach Rick Tocchet has called out his lack of confidence. He has only 11 goals in 51 games.

Pettersson is in the first season of an eight-year contract that carries an $11.6 million annual cap hit. Vancouver engaged in trade talks about Pettersson concurrent to those regarding Miller. His no-movement clause kicks in this summer. How much runway will the Canucks give him before making a call on his future? If they do trade him, it would be at the ebb of his value — his disappearing act in the 4 Nations Face-Off didn’t help.

Elite pending free agent tier

Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks
Yanni Gourde, C, Seattle Kraken
Brock Nelson, C, New York Islanders
Gustav Nyquist, RW, Nashville Predators
Kyle Palmieri, RW, New York Islanders
Ivan Provorov, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

Boeser, 28, has a $6.65 million cap hit. He has 18 goals and 17 assists in 50 games this season after topping 40 goals for the first time last season. He played in 81 games, which speaks to how he has shaken off questions about his durability. The Canucks are listening on him, but it makes more sense to them to hang onto Boeser.

That said, there’s not been much traction on a contract. “I love it in Vancouver. So, yeah, it’s actually frustrating that nothing’s got done,” he told Sportsnet this week. “Obviously, it’s not all out of my control.”

If GM Lou Lamoriello decides it’s time to break up the band, both Palmieri and Nelson will fetch a healthy return — especially Nelson, whose 200-foot game could benefit a variety of contenders. Even if half the NHL has already fantasy-cast the 33-year-old Warroad native to join the Minnesota Wild at the deadline.

Palmieri has 17 goals in 57 games. Nyquist, another veteran scoring winger, has only nine goals in 56 games, joining the rest of the Nashville roster in underachieving this season.

Gourde could return to the lineup right before the trade deadline after sports hernia surgery. He has 16 points in 35 games, but his greatest utility is as a bottom-six defensive forward, the role he played on two Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup winners.

Provorov could draw interest as a solid defender balanced with a mobile offensive game (27 points), one who averages 23:38 of ice time in Columbus. But with the Blue Jackets contending, and Provorov as an occasional partner of star defenseman Zach Werenski, Columbus might prefer to keep him.

Elite players with term tier

Brandon Carlo, D, Boston Bruins
Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose Sharks
Mike Matheson, D, Montreal Canadiens
Casey Mittelstadt, C, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, New York Islanders
Rickard Rakell, LW/RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Philadelphia Flyers
Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues
Carson Soucy, D, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo Sabres

There are a few names on this list for whom it would take a whale of an offer to pry them from their current teams. The Penguins would prefer to hang onto Rakell, 31, who has 49 points in 50 games. Ditto the Sabres and Tuch, who has 20 goals in 56 games and can also kill penalties. The 28-year-old is signed through next season ($4.75 million AAV) but wants to be part of the solution for that seemingly impossible riddle in Buffalo.

Matheson, 30, is signed through next season at $4.875 million AAV with a limited no-trade clause. He has 25 points in 56 games, a pace that is down from last season. But that’s a symptom of his power-play time dropping from 3:41 to 2:14, thanks in no small part to the emergence of rookie sensation Lane Hutson. That said, Matheson is the ice-time leader in Montreal (24:38). The Habs might need some convincing to move him.

Schenn, 33, has 34 points in 59 games this season and is signed through 2027-28 with a $6.5 million cap hit and a no-trade clause. He’s a core player with the Blues, but trading him would fit into a grand St. Louis tradition of players getting the captaincy and then playing elsewhere a few seasons later. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been heavily speculated as a potential landing spot.

One of those former Blues captains is O’Reilly, in his second season with the Predators (34 points in 54 games). Teams have inquired about him, but the 34-year-old has two more years at $4.5 million AAV left after this one. If Nashville is retooling this summer rather than tearing it down, O’Reilly could remain part of its core.

Schenn and O’Reilly might be sought after at the deadline because of how thin the market for centers is this season. The same could be said of Pageau’s availability ($5 million AAV through 2025-26), and his 16-team no-trade list. The 32-year-old has only 27 points in 54 games but can play on the power play and penalty kill. (Although the less said about the Islanders’ penalty kill this season, the better).

The Avalanche traded Bowen Byram to acquire Mittelstadt last season, but Mittelstadt has only 32 points in 59 games this season, skating to a minus-13. There’s increased speculation around the league that the Avs could move him again during the first year of a three-year deal they handed him ($5.75 million AAV). One assumes that’d happen if and when Colorado addresses its hole at No. 2 center.

There’s a lot to like about Ferraro, the 26-year-old blueliner for the Sharks. He’s not an offensive dynamo — his 21 points last season was his career high — but he blocks shots and kills penalties. He also makes just $3.25 million against the cap through next season, and has the kind of personality that’d make him an instant fan favorite wherever he goes. That said, it has been a down season for him on a terrible team. Could a change of scenery turn that around?

Teams that want a bigger defenseman can ponder Ristolainen (6-foot-4) and Soucy (6-5). The Flyers’ defenseman can throw the body but hasn’t been a viable point producer since 2019-20. He makes $5.1 million against the cap through 2026-27, and Kevin Kurz of The Athletic recently reported that the Flyers “haven’t gotten many calls” on him.

Soucy is in the second season of a three-year deal ($3.25 million AAV). Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman says he believes the Canucks have made him available after acquiring Marcus Pettersson from the Penguins earlier this season.

Carlo, 28, is another player with a big frame (6-5), and a cut above both Ristolainen and Soucey as a defensive defenseman — although like every Bruin, this season has been an up-and-down ride. He’s signed through 2026-27 ($4.1 million AAV). He’s a solid penalty killer, a top-pairing partner, a player with 72 games of playoff experience and one with whatever mystique the Bruins still conjure.

The 25-and-under tier

Bowen Byram, D, Buffalo Sabres
Dylan Cozens, C, Buffalo Sabres
Noah Dobson, D, New York Islanders
Mason Lohrei, D, Boston Bruins
Matias Maccelli, LW, Utah Hockey Club
Mason McTavish, C, Anaheim Ducks
K’Andre Miller, D, New York Rangers
Josh Norris, C, Ottawa Senators
Nicholas Robertson, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks

Not many NHL players have seen their stars fade as quickly as Zegras, who went from the trick-shot creating video game cover athlete to a struggling Duck (13 goals in his past 65 games) who can’t stay in the lineup. But he’s only 23, and there are plenty of people around the NHL who feel that extracting him from Anaheim and putting him in the right formative environment will unlock his talent.

“You need to put him on a team with a star player who will outwork him. That’s the only way you fix him,” one NHL executive said.

McTavish, 22, is another Duck with diminishing returns. His points per 60 minutes have tumbled year over year. He’s another player where a change of scenery could unlock new levels of his game. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes heard McTavish trade buzz in December.

McTavish is a pending restricted free agent. So is Miller, another player whose name has been “out there” in trade chatter, according to Weekes. The 25-year-old defenseman has 14 points in 52 games, skating 21:44 per game.

The Senators are in a tight playoff race in the East, which doesn’t usually lead to a team being a deadline dealer. But Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported last month that “league executives say the Senators would like to get Norris and his $7.95 million salary cap hit off the books, but not many teams can take on that contract without giving Ottawa something back.” Norris, a 25-year-old center who has 31 points in 50 games, is signed through 2029-30.

Dobson’s availability might be a surprise to some, considering he was a 70-point defenseman last season who flirted with Norris Trophy contention. But he’s a pending RFA who recently changed agents to the Wasserman Group, which also represents players such as Werenski. That’s probably a move made with a new contract with the Islanders in mind, but there has been trade buzz about Dobson for months.

Lohrei’s name is out there, but that could be wishful thinking from teams hoping to get a 23-year-old defenseman with offensive upside (27 points in 54 games) at the deadline in a Bruins’ retool. He’s a pending RFA this summer.

The same could be said of Cozens, the Sabres’ 24-year-old center. His seven-year contract extension started in 2023-24, but his production since then has been inconsistent: After scoring 31 goals in 81 games to earn that contract, he has scored 29 goals in his next 135 games. His size (6-3), age and contract term ($7.1 million AAV through 2029-30) make him an obvious target for other teams.

Byram is also a player the Sabres get calls on as a pending RFA on a blue line that already has three players signed through 2029-30. He has 29 points in 56 games, playing the most ice time per game (23:10) of his five-year NHL career. If Buffalo has a chance to acquire a game-changer, Byram could be a player going the other way.

Robertson is another “means to an end” player. The 23-year-old has a ton of potential as a goal-scoring winger but hasn’t broken through in the Leafs’ lineup. He’s a restricted free agent after the season. It’s easy to see Toronto including him in a deal for an area of need.

Maccelli, 24, has had a bumpy transition from Tempe to Salt Lake City. The playmaking forward had 57 points in 82 games last season as an Arizona Coyote, and only 18 points in 52 games so far for Utah. His average ice time is under 14 minutes and he has been a healthy scratch on occasion.

The goalie tier

Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Alexandar Georgiev, San Jose Sharks
John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
Alex Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh Penguins
Vitek Vanecek, San Jose Sharks
Karel Vejmelka, Utah Hockey Club
Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames

The 4 Nations Face-Off was the full Binnington experience. He gave up a few goals that made one wonder if he should remain Team Canada’s starter and then, when it mattered most, he turned into Dominik Hasek. There’s a reason coach Jon Cooper stuck with him: His best moments can be game-saving.

If the Blues were ever going to move Binnington, now’s the time. He has two more seasons at $6 million AAV with limited (but still substantial) trade protection (18 teams on the no-go list). He turns 32 in July. It would take an offer that convinces the Blues to destabilize their goaltending battery and trade away a player who backstopped them to a Stanley Cup. It would also depend on whether the Blues are retooling or rebuilding in the short term.

The Edmonton Oilers have been mentioned as a potential landing spot, although that would require some salary cap gymnastics and, more importantly, Doug Armstrong and Stan Bowman doing business after last summer’s RFA offer sheets by the Blues.

The Oilers have also been linked to Gibson, another goalie that would require some cap flexibility. The Ducks netminder’s $6.4 million AAV through 2026-27 is certainly more palatable under the increased cap. The 31-year-old is also having his best season in years, with a .916 save percentage and 9.4 goals saved above expected. Don’t sleep on the Hurricanes as a potential landing spot for Gibson.

Vejmelka doesn’t have the name recognition of Binnington or Gibson, but he has been the better goalie this season based on the metrics: 10.8 goals saved above expected for Utah. At $2.725 million AAV and an expiring contact, he’s an ideal short-term solution for contending teams looking to bolster a tandem — now paging the Edmonton Oilers. Utah is in the wild-card race (21.1% chance of making the cut). Playing games with playoff implications in a burgeoning market might be more important than getting more future assets for Vejmelka.

Vanecek ($3.4 million AAV) and Vladar ($2.2 million AAV) are both complementary goalies on expiring contracts. It’s hard to imagine the Flames would break up their tandem with a wild-card spot in their sights. Nedeljkovic is signed through next season at $2.5 million AAV. Of the Penguins three goalies this season, he has been the least terrible.

Georgiev is also an unrestricted free agent this summer, playing through an atrocious season (.876 combined save percentage between Colorado and San Jose). He makes $2.924 million against the cap, and was a playoff starter the past two seasons.

Help up front tier

Josh Anderson, RW, Montreal Canadiens
Joel Armia, RW, Montreal Canadiens
Nick Bjugstad, C, Utah Hockey Club
Lawson Crouse, LW, Utah Hockey Club
Ryan Donato, LW, Chicago Blackhawks
Christian Dvorak, C, Montreal Canadiens
Radek Faksa, C, St. Louis Blues
Jordan Greenway, RW, Buffalo Sabres
Alex Kerfoot, C, Utah Hockey Club
Andrei Kuzmenko, LW, Philadelphia Flyers
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW, Buffalo Sabres
Luke Kunin, C, San Jose Sharks
Pat Maroon, RW, Chicago Blackhawks
Reilly Smith, LW, New York Rangers
Nico Sturm, C, San Jose Sharks
Brandon Tanev, LW, Seattle Kraken

A few names of particular interest here:

• Tanev is the type of tenacious forechecker teams love to add at the deadline. His $3.5 million AAV is a little rich for the role, but the Kraken should find any number of contenders interested.

• Donato ($2 million AAV) is having himself a contract year, setting a career high of 19 goals in 56 games for the Blackhawks. This should be a win for GM Kyle Davidson, who signed him as a free agent and should get a decent pick for him at the deadline.

• Faksa ($3.25 million AAV) would seem to be an ideal trade target for a contending team: He has a big body, a great work ethic and playoff experience. But the Blues reportedly really like him.

• The trio of Utah players are here, but again the Hockey Club might want to stand pat in the middle of a playoff race. Bjugstad and Kerfoot are on expiring contracts. Crouse is signed for two more seasons beyond this one ($4.3 million AAV) but has really struggled in his first season in SLC (13 points in 58 games). The 4 Nations break might have done him good, as Crouse has looked more engaged and scored a goal against Chicago on Tuesday.

• Kuzmenko was acquired from the Flames in the deal that saw Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee go to Calgary. The 29-year-old winger is a UFA, has a $5.5 million AAV and a limited no-trade clause. Philly could get some calls on him, but they also could decide the need the rest of the season to see what they have in the goal-scoring Russian. (Which, in the end, might be someone to help their much younger goal-scoring Russian, Matvei Michkov).

Help on the blue line tier

Robert Bortuzzo, Utah Hockey Club
Ian Cole, Utah Hockey Club
Brian Dumoulin, Anaheim Ducks
Jeremy Lauzon, Nashville Predators
Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers
Olli Maatta, Utah Hockey Club
Connor Murphy, Chicago Blackhawks
Alec Martinez, Chicago Blackhawks
Jamie Oleksiak, Seattle Kraken
David Savard, Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Suter, St. Louis Blues

From this list, the notable names include:

• Lindgren, 27, has been in the rumor mill for most of the season. He makes $4.5 million against the cap and is a UFA this summer. The consensus around the Rangers is that this is a player who could bring value back at the deadline and plays a position New York should look to upgrade.

• For the Blackhawks, keeping Murphy around might make more sense than dealing him now, especially because his $4.4 million cap hit and expiring contract status make him more attractive to other teams in 2025-26. As for Martinez, he’s a three-time Stanley Cup champion who would be ideal for a contender. But The Athletic reports that both he and forward Pat Maroon probably will be traded only if they sign off on a move.

• It wouldn’t be a trade deadline without Savard’s name out there. He can play both sides and makes $3.5 million against the cap. Stu Cowen of the Montreal Gazette said Savard “will almost certainly get traded.”

• Is this a Penguins alumni meeting? Bortuzzo, Cole, Dumoulin, Maatta and Oleksiak all spent significant time with Pittsburgh.

Players with bargain contracts tier

Anthony Beauvillier, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Justin Brazeau, RW, Boston Bruins
Jake Evans, C/RW, Montreal Canadiens
Trent Frederic, C, Boston Bruins
Scott Laughton, C, Philadelphia Flyers
Jeremy Lauzon, D, Nashville Predators
Michael McCarron, C, Nashville Predators
Mathieu Olivier, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets

Evans, Frederic and Laughton are the three players with the most trade buzz here. Evans would be a cost-effective ($1.7 million AAV) energy player in a contender’s bottom six. Canadiens beat writer Arpon Basu has floated the idea of a team acquiring Evans and forward Joel Armia ($3.4 million AAV) as a package deal, as they form an effective penalty killing duo for Montreal.

Laughton’s name was prominently featured at last season’s trade deadline for the same reason it is this year: He’s a tenacious glue guy who can also contribute offensively (27 points in 56 games) down the lineup. He makes $3 million annually against the cap over the next two seasons.

Frederic has eight goals and seven assists in 57 games this season but had an 18-goal campaign last season. He’s big (6-3, 220 pounds) and tough to play against as a checking center. He makes $2.3 million against the cap on an expiring contract. Also interesting from the Bruins: Brazeau, 27, who has 10 goals and 10 assists in 54 games, and makes just $775,000.

Olivier is coveted by some teams for his energy and willingness to mix it up, to the tune of 99 penalty minutes. This season, he added a little offense, with 11 goals. Add in his $1.1 million cap hit and expiring contract, and he’s a classic trade deadline dandy if the Jackets want to move him. McCarron, a 6-6 Predators forward, also fits that role. He had 12 goals and 100 penalty minutes last season. He’s signed through next season at a $900,000 cap hit.

These aren’t the biggest names available at the trade deadline, but sometimes it’s the little moves that matter most for a championship run.

Of course, another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes NHL trade deadline moves set up success beyond this postseason. Recall 2021, when the Florida Panthers acquired defenseman Brandon Montour and center Sam Bennett at the deadline. Three years later, they lifted the Stanley Cup.

The post Wyshynski’s NHL trade deadline Big Board: From superstar shocks to pending free agents to glue guys appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

• Associated Press

Feb 26, 2025, 10:38 PM ET

LOS ANGELES — Drew Doughty is day to day because of a lower-body injury that kept the defenseman out of the Los Angeles Kings‘ game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

Doughty missed the first 47 games after breaking his left ankle in a preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 25. He made his season debut on Jan. 29, returning in time to be a late addition to join Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Doughty, 35, has one goal and three assists in eight games this season. He is averaging 25:55 of ice time and had played at least 21 minutes in every game.

While Doughty sat out of the nationally televised contest, the Canucks got star defenseman Quinn Hughes back after missing six games because of an undisclosed injury.

Hughes went through a strenuous morning skate to see if he was ready to play for the first time since Jan. 31. He was back on the ice for pregame warmups but did not take line rushes and stayed on the ice after the horn. After initially being listed on the roster report as out, Hughes was the last player to take the ice, with the Canucks dressing seven defensemen.

Hughes has the most assists among NHL defensemen with 45 this season, and his 59 points leads the Canucks.

The post Hughes returns, Doughty sits in Canucks-Kings appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

• Associated Press

Feb 26, 2025, 02:25 PM ET

DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin returns to the Colorado Avalanche lineup Wednesday night for the first time in nearly two months after recovering from a lower-body injury.

The Russian forward will try to spark a sputtering Avalanche offense that’s scored two goals in back-to-back losses since coming back from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

The game against the New Jersey Devils will be Nichushkin’s first since Dec. 31.

“You can’t underestimate how much he means to this team,” defenseman Cale Makar said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “It will be a huge addition for us. Hopefully he’s back to Valeri form. He looks pretty good out there.”

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said there will be no restrictions with Nichushkin. He also will help out on special teams.

The 29-year-old Nichushkin had 11 goals and six assists in 21 games before getting hurt. He missed the opening 17 games of the season after being suspended last May and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Colorado is 209-74-27 with Nichushkin in the lineup.

“In regard to the power forwards, you can say he’s the best in the world,” forward Logan O’Connor said. “Just a big-body forward out there for us. … It’s going to be massive to have back in the lineup.”

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Nichushkin can help out trying to score gritty goals in front of the net — an area where the Avalanche have struggled at times. It was the forte of captain Gabriel Landeskog, but he hasn’t played since the Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2022 due to a lingering knee injury.

“There are so many things he does with that frame of his,” forward Jonathan Drouin said of Nichushkin. “He’s a beast and we’re going to need him.”

The post Avs’ Nichushkin, out since Dec. 31, returns Wed. appeared first on The Sports Affiliate.

• 

  Rachel DoerrieFeb 26, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  Rachel Doerrie is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She’s worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.

The NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away on March 7, and there is plenty of adding to be done for the contenders. As is always the case, not every playoff team is a Stanley Cup “contender.” We focus here on nine of the top teams based on the standings, with sustainable underlying numbers and key strengths heading into the playoffs.

A few principles that many GMs abide by when building a contender for the playoffs: you can never have enough defensemen, confidence in goaltending, and forwards with tough skill — the kind of skill that allows players to be difference-makers when games get tighter. Management and coaches want players they can trust, and often those players are the physical, defensively responsible types. Shoring up those areas often becomes a more pressing priority than acquiring depth scoring, or a high-end player.

With those parameters in mind, here’s a look at the current weaknesses of top five teams in the Western Conference and four from the Eastern Conference — and what they might do ahead of the deadline to alleviate them.

Current record: 33-20-4, second in Metro
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in second round

Carolina is certainly in a conundrum after pulling off one of the most high-profile trades in recent memory. Mikko Rantanen has not fit like a glove in Carolina. To be fair, he played a few games and went off to the 4 Nations Face-Off, so he hasn’t had enough time to settle into his new surroundings. During that stretch, Carolina has played two home games, meaning Rantanen has spent five days at most in Carolina. That isn’t enough time to decide whether he wants to sign an extension for $100 million-plus.

Of course, the Hurricanes need to decide if they want to keep him. They have historically struggled to score at critical times in the playoffs, and Rantanen is a proven playoff scorer. They need him for that exact reason. Should the Canes move Rantanen before the deadline, bringing in Brock Nelson (a pending unrestricted free agent), Brad Marchand (UFA) or Rickard Rakell — who has three years remaining at $5 million AAV — might help bridge the gap.

Current record: 33-24-2, fourth in Central
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in second round

After acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood, trading Rantanen to Carolina and having Martin Necas fit perfectly alongside Nathan MacKinnon, the Avs are in good shape. The biggest area of need was addressed with the acquisition of Blackwood in goal, but Colorado has a few questions that need answers.

There is a Valeri Nichushkin-sized hole in its lineup as a player who was critical to their Stanley Cup victory and might be on the way back. Josh Manson is out of the lineup, leaving the Avs very thin below the top defense pairing. They could use an upgrade on their bottom pair, regardless of Manson’s health.

The main hole in their roster for which there is no internal fix is second-line center. Casey Mittelstadt has not worked out, and the Avalanche need a lot more from their 2C if they are going to get out of gauntlet that is the Central Division. The Avs are getting consistently outmatched in that spot, and while Nichushkin’s return will help, they need a significant upgrade at the center position. Adding the Schenn brothers address both the 2C (Brayden) and defensive depth (Luke) needs. Brock Nelson and Ryan O’Reilly (if he’d be willing to return to Colorado) would be excellent fits for what the Avalanche need on the second line.

Current record: 37-18-2, second in Central
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in conference finals

Miro Heiskanen‘s status for the rest of the regular season is the biggest piece of the puzzle. He is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and when he and Thomas Harley are playing, Dallas might have two of the most underrated defenseman in the league.

The Stars need help on the right side of the D because Matt Dumba, Ilya Lyubushkin and Cody Ceci do not inspire confidence. The need for a 4/5 defenseman is obvious, and the Stars have money to make it happen. Given the significant need on the right side, Rasmus Ristolainen seems like a fair fit. The right-handed defenseman has performed admirably in Philadelphia, and brings a physical element. A top four with Heiskanen, Harley, Esa Lindell and Ristolainen would be formidable in the postseason.

There is the Seth Jones conversation as well. Jones, a Texas native, has indicated he’d like to be moved to a contender. Dallas is just that, and with its deep pool of prospects, could put together a good deal to get Chicago to retain money on Jones’ contract. He plays the right side, kills penalties and can provide strong minutes when he isn’t the top shutdown option. There is reason to believe Jones would welcome a move to Dallas, the question is whether Dallas has the appetite to pull it off.

Current record: 34-19-4, second in Pacific
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Stanley Cup Final

The Oilers are in an interesting position because it’s the last year of Leon Draisaitl‘s bargain contract, and only two playoff runs remain with Connor McDavid in his current deal. The Oilers are a roller coaster, with their top performances looking like future Cup winners and their bad performances looking like a 12th-place team.

Their “B” game needs to come a long way before April, and part of having a good B game is consistent goaltending. Can you get the saves when you don’t have your A game? Right now, the answer is no. The Oilers also need some scoring depth because predictably, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are not repeating their production from last season.

John Gibson is the most obvious name in the goaltending conversation, and it makes sense. When Stuart Skinner is on his game, he’s a guy with whom you can win a Cup. When he’s not, he’s unplayable. Gibson is a better stopgap than Calvin Pickard, and he’s used to being under siege on any given night in Anaheim. He has stolen wins for the Ducks and acquiring him might allow the Oilers to platoon their goaltenders in the playoffs. But Gibson’s injury might complicate things.

Up front, if Carolina decides to move Rantanen and are willing to bring his cap number down even further via salary retention, the Oilers should explore it. Beyond that possibility, Ryan Donato and Brock Boeser make sense as pending UFAs, and Rickard Rakell presents a longer-term fit if they can make the money work.

Current record: 34-21-3, second in Atlantic
Last year’s playoffs: Won the Stanley Cup

Matthew Tkachuk is the biggest wild card, because there is no filling that kind of hole at the deadline. If the Panthers do have his cap hit to work with at the deadline (if he goes on LTIR), they might go after a big-name player. The Panthers need to strengthen their left side, regardless of Tkachuk’s health, because it’s thin after Carter Verhaeghe. Ryan Donato, Trent Frederic and Brandon Tanev all make sense for Florida, as does Scott Laughton, who can play a depth center role.

Florida also needs to add depth on its blue line, which drops off after the top three. A physical penalty killer to take the weight off the top pair would really strengthen Florida’s defense. Luke Schenn, Rasmus Ristolainen, Connor Murphy and David Savard could be candidates for that role.

Current record: 35-20-2, first in Atlantic
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in first round

Yes, we’re all aware the Leafs shouldn’t necessarily be here until they prove their worth in the playoffs. But their standings position, underlying numbers, goaltending and play style have people believing this season could be different.

The priority is no secret: They must add a third-line center. The Leafs have been rumored to be interested in reuniting Brayden and Luke Schenn — Brayden for 3C and Luke for defensive depth. Scott Laughton and Nick Bjugstad are centers in whom the Leafs are known to have interest, especially given their physical play, two-way ability and general ornery presence. Yanni Gourde has been linked to the Leafs, but an injury has complicated the situation.

A few wingers of note for the Leafs: Brandon Tanev, Luke Kunin and Ryan Donato fill the role of bottom-six winger in the eyes of coach Craig Berube. Each of them has a few key traits: two-way player, physical, tough to play against and penalty killer. All of them are capable of chipping in offensively, which gives the Leafs an added dimension to the third line.

There is a strong belief that Toronto is very interested in uniting the Tanev brothers or the Schenn brothers. The top end of the Leafs’ lineup is set in stone for this playoff run, so adding depth and value to the bottom end could be critical to their success.

Current record: 34-18-6, first in Pacific
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in first round

Vegas doesn’t have a glaring need to fill externally. But the Knights have William Karlsson– and Shea Theodore-sized holes in their lineup. Both of those players, particularly Theodore, are vital to success for Vegas. Both are expected to play again this season, but Theodore might not be back until the playoffs. If the Golden Knights have assurances that he won’t be healthy until the playoffs, they are expected to use the LTIR space to acquire some other players.

If that is the case, finding someone to slot in the top six on the wing would be a major boost. Brandon Saad and Mark Stone flank Brett Howden on one of the best third lines in the NHL. Karlsson will replace Raphael Lavoie on the second line, but an upgrade of Victor Olofsson for Jack Eichel‘s right side is something the Knights might consider.

Outside of that, depth defensemen to manage injuries throughout the stretch run and playoffs makes sense. Vegas has a Cup-contending lineup when its roster is healthy. They need to ensure the stop gaps aren’t as big a drop-off if they’re to get through the West.

Current record: 38-11-8, first in Metro
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in first round

The Capitals have been the surprise of the season, and they should be engraving coach Spencer Carbery’s name on the Jack Adams Award now, if they haven’t already.

There is one glaring hole in the Capitals’ lineup that needs to be addressed: third-line center. Washington loses matchups in that role, and having a player who is reliable in a shutdown role, can kill penalties and provide some offense would be a major addition. If Washington has the appetite for a longer-term solution, Dylan Cozens fits the timeline of its younger players, and the Caps have the prospects to acquire him in trade from Buffalo.

Washington is expected to add NCAA star Ryan Leonard to the lineup at the conclusion of his college season, but he’s a winger who probably will slot in on the third line. Jake Evans and Nick Bjugstad are natural fits for the 3C role, and would bring a size and scoring flair to the third line while capably driving play.

Current record: 41-14-3, first in Central
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in first round

This might be the best Jets team since the return to Winnipeg. On the back of excellent seasons for Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey, the Jets are poised to go on a run.

That is, if Hellebuyck doesn’t start seeing April ghosts as has happened in past playoffs. Then again, that’s not an issue for which the Jets can prepare; he’s their guy and deserves to be their guy for a long time.

Winnipeg does need a 4/5 defenseman, and if they could get Brock Nelson from the Islanders, he would be an upgrade over Vladislav Namestnikov for the playoff run.

The pairing of Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk has worked for the Jets this season, but Pionk has struggled in the playoffs. Acquiring a physical presence — who moves pucks well under pressure and can kill penalties — would be a difference maker. Pionk and Dylan DeMelo have negative penalty kill value, which isn’t good if you’re a contender. Ristolainen and Ivan Provorov are capable second-pairing defensemen with positive penalty kill value that would bolster Winnipeg’s chances.

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