Avalanche Reassign Keaton Middleton
Jan. 31st: Shortly after their dominant win over the Detroit Red Wings this afternoon, the Avalanche announced that Middleton has been sent back to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
Jan. 27th: Earlier today the Colorado Avalanche shared that Keaton Middleton has been recalled from AHL Colorado. No corresponding transaction was made, as the team had an open roster spot, Middleton becoming the seventh defenseman on the roster.
The 27-year-old has been a member of the Colorado Eagles since the 2020-21 season, appearing in 270 games in that timeframe. Middleton earned his way into a real NHL showing last season, skating in half of the Avalanche’s 82 games, posting two points and 28 penalty minutes. Standing at 6’6”, the lefty is naturally a shot blocker, limited in mobility but imposing nonetheless.
Selected in the fourth round by Toronto in 2016, the Edmonton native and younger brother of the Minnesota Wild’s Jacob Middleton was not signed by the Leafs. Since then he has managed to stick around in North America, with a contract which runs through what will be his ninth pro season in 2026-27.
Colorado’s next matchup tells the story as to why the league’s top team is calling upon such a player at this time. The group will travel to Ottawa tomorrow night for a rematch from January 8, where the Avs defeated the Senators 8-2. The game featured 58 penalty minutes, 42 of which came from the Senators, as Nick Cousins and Ridly Greig received misconducts.
Although not yet confirmed, it seems likely the Avs will insert their hulking blueliner into the lineup on Wednesday in Ottawa, in what could be another chippy night.
Snapshots: Hughes, Zacha, Stanley
New Jersey Devils star and Team USA selection Jack Hughes left tonight’s game after the first period and did not return, shared by Amanda Stein, Team Reporter. He went down the tunnel early against Nashville, was able to return for another shift, only to leave again. After the overtime win, Stein followed up that it was a lower body injury, not believed to be serious, according to Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, however it will require further evaluation.
The night ended after just 2:27 on the ice. Hughes returned in late December after missing a month with an off-ice accident, requiring finger surgery. Since coming back, the 24-year-old has recorded 16 points in 18 games, including six in his last five contests. As New Jersey’s top center, Hughes leads all forwards in ice time and still ranks third in team scoring, despite missing 18 games.
Considering that Hughes was able to return momentarily, there was reason for optimism, and thankfully it appears he has avoided a serious injury. New Jersey returns to action on Saturday in Ottawa, with the Olympics two weeks away.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Boston Bruins forward and former Hughes teammate Pavel Zacha’s night ended early due to an upper-body injury, as confirmed by the team. The 28-year-old center has continued to be an effective producer, with 36 points in 53 games, ranking fourth on the team in that category. Zacha has missed just one contest so far in 2025-26. The Bruins’ depth down the middle is being tested, as Elias Lindholm is day-to-day, so the hope is that Zacha will be good to go by Sunday, as they travel to Tampa Bay.
- In an article published by Kyle Morton of The Fourth Period, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley was mentioned as a likely trade candidate as a “rental”, as was discussed on Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff Live, featuring Tyler Yaremchuk, Carter Hutton, and David Pagnotta. Winnipeg has started to get back into the win column, but their early 2026 struggles may have sunk their season for good. Stanley, a former first round pick who is now a pending unrestricted free agent holds a friendly cap hit of just $1.25MM. The 6’7″ lefty has become more noticeable this season, with eight goals in 51 games after a career high of just one in each of his first five NHL seasons. Besides the sudden offense, Stanley has leaned fully into an enforcing role, with 95 penalty minutes, a career-most with many games to spare. As is the case with comparable defenders, Stanley has his weaknesses, currently holding a 46.5% Corsi For at even strength, but still holds traits always favored by contenders. No teams have necessarily been listed as suitors at this point, but the Red Wings stand out as one option in need of a bottom pairing upgrade, in which Stanley could play in a lighter role built for his strengths.
Patrick Kane Becomes All-Time U.S. Born NHL Points Leader
History was made tonight in Detroit as Red Wings forward Patrick Kane broke Mike Modano’s record for most points by a United States born player, as he reached 1,375, seen in a clip shared by the NHL.
The milestone was reached on a secondary assist as Ben Chiarot teed off on a one-timer, beating Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren, and tying the game 1-1.
As it was naturally a focus for the team to get their future Hall of Famer the record tonight on home ice, Kane seemingly broke it in the first few minutes of the game. He fed Alex DeBrincat for a tally in a signature play, but it was called back for offside. Nonetheless, Kane found the scoresheet midway through the second period for good.
The Buffalo, New York native takes the crown after the legendary Modano held the record for over 18 years. It was last broken by Modano on November 7, 2007 in a Dallas Stars win over San Jose, as he surpassed legendary defenseman and former Sabres Head Coach Phil Housley.
Detroit shared a video of Modano, who also donned the Winged Wheel in the twilight of his career, congratulating Kane on the accomplishment.
Kane, 37, has naturally started to slow down with age and dealing with injuries, as his 31 points in 38 games so far seems to be the new norm. However, he and DeBrincat remain as dangerous together as always, and he is still an elite power play set up man, with an 89.1% Corsi For on the man advantage.
The icon is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but in all likelihood, Detroit will snap their nine year postseason drought, and Kane continues to be a big part of the Wings’ revival, certainly enjoying his tenure on his third Original Six franchise.
In terms of active United States born players who could challenge the record into the future, Auston Matthews stands as the second-highest active player with 772 points in 676 games. If able to stay healthy and play into his late 30s as Kane has, with his 1,341 games so far, Matthews is right on track to reach the record.
Perhaps one day the Arizona-born sniper could take the honors, but for now, it’s proudly in the hands of Kane, who sits fourth in points among active players, behind just Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin. Kane is expected to eclipse the 1,400 mark by the end of the season, as he’s hovering around 10 points behind the 39-year-old Malkin, who also continues to produce despite his age.
Although Team USA is set to take on the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics without Kane, indicative of a new era, the 2007 first overall pick has made an indelible impact on the game, not only for United States hockey, but the National Hockey League in its entirety. Tonight proves to be another unforgettable achievement in Kane’s remarkable career.
Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Injury Notes: Turcotte, Roy, Nylander
Los Angeles Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller told reporters, including Zach Dooley, Manager of Editorial Content, that Alex Turcotte is out for the remainder of the road trip due to an upper-body injury.
Having returned home, the forward is ruled out until at least next Wednesday, as the Kings will take on Seattle back in Los Angeles.
Set to turn 25 next month, the former fifth overall pick has just 12 points in 49 games, but he still brings versatility to the Kings’ middle six. Turcotte has won 55.7% of draws this season, a career best, to go with a standout 57.2% Corsi For at even strength. The Illinois native may not pan out as a high offensive producer as initially expected, but he is still a valuable third line center for now, who will be missed for the rest of the week.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Roy is absent tonight against Detroit, noted by Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. Both he and Rasmus Sandin were listed as questionable, the latter able to return to action. Meanwhile, Roy will miss his second game of the campaign, the first coming last Tuesday, due to an apparent lower-body injury. The 30-year-old has 14 points in 53 games on the season, serving as a steady shutdown righty averaging 20:46 a night, good for third on the team. Roy could return by Saturday, as his Capitals host Carolina. Until then, Declan Chisholm remains in the lineup.
- Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander practiced today but still won’t play in Seattle tonight, per Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, who did say that there is a “good chance” he returns Saturday in Vancouver. The forward is dealing with a lingering groin ailment which sidelined him for six games earlier in the year. Without their leading point-getter, who has 48 in just 37 games, the Leafs have gone 1-4-1 and lacking a regulation win, in a time they desperately need points to try and reach the postseason.
Injury Notes: Luukkonen, Lindholm, Svechkov
The Buffalo Sabres announced mid-game that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would not return against Toronto due to a lower-body injury. The goaltender’s night ended after 12:14, surrendering two goals in five shots. He looked to be bothered after Auston Matthews found the back of the net, subsequently pulling himself, leaving Colten Ellis to take over. Buffalo ended up coming away with a 7-4 win.
Luukkonen missed the start of the season with a lower-body issue, but has been healthy since then. He has been catching up with Alex Lyon, now having backstopped the Sabres in 20 games, with a respectable .905 save percentage and 2.66 goals-against-average. The 26-year-old has formed an impressive duo with Lyon, not to mention Ellis, who has led Buffalo to keep three goaltenders on their active roster.
Naturally, the club is well stocked between the pipes for now, but given their strong play of late, the hope is that Luukkonen won’t need to miss an extended period.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Boston Bruins shared that Elias Lindholm would not return against Nashville due to an upper-body injury. The top line center appeared bothered after a face-off. Lindholm had a stint on IR in November, but no issues since. Prior to tonight, the 31-year-old had six points in his last five games, on pace to exceed his 47-point output in 2024-25 by a wide margin. Sitting third in team scoring, it has been a needed return to form this year. An update should come by Thursday, as the team hosts Philadelphia.
- Boston’s opponents also lost a center tonight, as the Nashville Predators announced Fedor Svechkov would not return due to an upper-body injury which came from a hard hit in the first period. One Nashville’s more noteworthy prospects, the 22-year-old has just nine points in 49 games, a noticeable drop off from his rookie campaign where he notched 17. Despite the lack of production, he’s been a consistent presence besides a scratch over the weekend. The Predators are back in action Thursday in New Jersey, and if Svechkov will miss any time, Tyson Jost figures to slot back into the lineup.
Lightning Reassign Simon Lundmark, Jakob Pelletier To AHL
This afternoon the Tampa Bay Lightning shared that defenseman Simon Lundmark and forward Jakob Pelletier have been reassigned to AHL Syracuse. The pair, both former notable prospects from the 2019 draft, each appeared in Saturday’s loss to Columbus.
No corresponding transaction was made, but today’s news suggests that Ryan McDonagh could be due to return this week. The 36-year-old has not played since late December due to a lower-body injury.
Pelletier was recalled three days ago, bringing a bit of intrigue as a former first-round pick (Calgary) who has lit up the AHL, leading the Crunch with 41 points in 35 games. Pelletier recorded no stats in 11:53 of ice time against the Blue Jackets. He was then scratched in last night’s win over Utah.
Once thought to be a safe choice due to his versatile two-way traits and enough skill for top-six upside, things have not materialized for Pelletier, who also made a stop in Philadelphia as part of the Andrei Kuzmenko trade. With 29 points across 88 total NHL games to this point, he was brought in by Tampa Bay with an opportunity to compete for a bottom six role. Still signed for two more seasons, the Quebec native will return to Syracuse as a top scorer and vie for another shot. Given the Lightning’s ability to get the most out of under-the-radar players, it’s not too late for the 24-year-old to carve out a role at some point.
Meanwhile, Lundmark, a second round selection of Winnipeg in 2019, notably made his NHL debut after spending the last 4 ½ seasons in the AHL. Unable to break through in the Jets organization, the Swede caught on with Tampa Bay on a two-year deal. With just five points in 27 games, the 6’2” righty has developed into a more stay-at-home blue liner after initial two-way upside.
The 25-year-old returns to the AHL after a memorable night in Columbus where he played 16:45, finishing a +1 despite the team surrendering eight goals.
Even with the two out of the fold, Tampa Bay still offers 13 forwards and six defensemen. An update on McDonagh could come as soon as Thursday, when the team hosts Winnipeg, the team continuing to roll in 2026, winning eight of their last ten contests.
Lightning Recall Curtis Douglas From AHL Conditioning Loan
1/26: Tampa Bay has recalled Douglas from his conditioning loan. He recorded no points, no penalties, and a zero plus-minus in six games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
1/12: Earlier this evening the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Curtis Douglas has been assigned to AHL Syracuse for conditioning purposes. The forward has been a healthy scratch for each of Tampa’s last six games. Even when dressed, he has played very sparingly this season, averaging 5:58 a night.
Claimed off waivers from Utah in October, the 25-year-old may not make his mark in the stat sheet, but his road to the show has been impressive. Selected in the fourth round back in 2018 by Dallas, Douglas spent each of his past five seasons in the AHL across three different organizations, never getting a look at the highest level, and regularly recording over 100 penalty minutes each season. The 6’9″ center then caught the attention of Tampa Bay, who inherited the final year of his contract worth $775k at the NHL level, ending in unrestricted free agent status this summer.
In 27 games, Douglas has two assists and 75 penalty minutes. 25 years ago or so, this may be business as usual, but such output in today’s game is a testament to the Ontario native’s work ethic. He has managed to make an impact, on one of the league’s top teams, no less.
Although Douglas is back to the AHL for now, he will retain his full NHL salary, and the loan can last no longer than two weeks. Syracuse, currently 10th in the AHL, will enjoy having the hulking forward in their lineup for the time being. Tampa Bay won their 10th straight game tonight, as they won’t exactly miss a beat without their enforcer, but Douglas will get some game action and be ready to return when needed.
Injury Notes: Letang, Huberdeau, McTavish
Pittsburgh Penguins fixture Kris Letang is absent tonight in Calgary as reported by Josh Yohe, Penguins Beat Writer.
The 38-year-old was listed as questionable yesterday, due to an upper-body injury. It’s not immediately clear what caused the ailment, as Letang continues to play heavy minutes, his 22:01 average standing as second-most on the team, behind Erik Karlsson, who is also injured and out tonight. With 25 points in 48 games, it will be the first contest of 2025-26 the Pens will not have Letang in the lineup.
Winners of six out of their last 10, firmly in the playoff hunt, Pittsburgh must turn to Jack St. Ivany, who has served as a depth defenseman this year. Ryan Graves will also remain on the third pairing, the 30-year-old eager to get on track after his struggles resulted in demotion to the AHL. Still on the outside looking in with an unmovable contract, Graves has been called upon due to the numerous injuries on the back end.
Both Letang and Karlsson figure to be back by Sunday as the group travels to Vancouver.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Shortly before tonight’s game against the shorthanded Penguins, the Calgary Flames shared that Jonathan Huberdeau is day-to-day with a lower body injury, and will not play. Missing in warm-ups, it was briefly speculated that the $10.5MM man could have been scratched, not entirely out of the realm of possibility, but instead he will miss his sixth of the campaign due to an injury. After a step forward last season where he recorded 62 points, good for second best on the team, this year has not been kind to the 32-year-old. He has just 21 points in 44 games, but as the Flames rank second-to-last in offense, Huberdeau still ranks sixth on team scoring totals. Martin Pospisil, recalled yesterday, will make his season debut, coming back from an upper-body injury sustained in the preseason. Huberdeau will look to be healthy by Friday, as the Flames host the Capitals.
- Ahead of tonight’s game at Colorado, the Anaheim Ducks updated that Mason McTavish won’t play due to an upper-body injury, while Jansen Harkins enters the lineup. The news was unexpected, as McTavish has not yet missed a game all year, finding the back of the net in each of his last two games. The 22-year-old has 30 points in 49 games, somewhat surpassed in a group of dynamic young forwards, but still a key contributor. Having won four in a row, Anaheim’s center depth has taken a major hit as star Leo Carlsson is out three to five weeks. The group will hope to have McTavish back by Friday in Seattle, but tonight is a tough test against the top team in the league.
Evening Notes: Ekman-Larsson, Abols, Whitecloud
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced mid-game that Oliver Ekman-Larsson won’t return due to a lower-body injury.
Ekman-Larsson did not come out to start the second period against Detroit. He was seen battling with Lucas Raymond for a loose puck, where the defenseman seemed to catch an edge awkwardly.
Dealing with health issues over the last few years, the 34-year-old has been durable this year, not yet missing a game, a distinction shared only with teammate John Tavares. With 31 points in 50 games, Ekman-Larsson has had his best output since 2018-19, although seasons since then were shortened from injury. He has averaged 20:54 a night, leaned on in all situations, as a top pairing defender on both the power play and penalty kill.
He had another lower-body injury scare in December, but avoided missing any time.
The veteran of 1,108 games is expected to help lead Team Sweden in the upcoming Olympic Games, but such could be in jeopardy with tonight’s news. The Swedes are already dealing with a shake up, as just yesterday, it became apparent that Jonas Brodin, another left-handed defender, would likely miss the Olympics along with forward Leo Carlsson.
Options such as Mattias Ekholm, Hampus Lindholm, and Simon Edvisson are thought to be replacements for Brodin if needed, and possibly, another of the trio could come along to Milan if Ekman-Larsson will miss time. Both Sweden and the Maple Leafs will hope such is not the case. Toronto is back in action on Friday, hosting Vegas.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Kevin Kurz of The Athletic shared additional details on Philadelphia Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols’ injury. The 30-year-old suffered a fractured right ankle, and according to Kurz, there is a chance he could make a return by the “final month or so of the regular season”. Abols landed on injured reserve on Sunday, with what was considered a lower-body injury, but the incident against the Rangers last Saturday appeared to be a gruesome leg injury, immediately serious. With the Flyers still in the Wild Card hunt, losing their steady fourth line center was a tough blow. 28-year-old Lane Pederson was recalled in a corresponding transaction, and figures to fill in for now. Also with Olympics implications, Abols unfortunately will not get to appear for Team Latvia next month.
- New Calgary Flames blueliner Zach Whitecloud could have a short stay in Calgary, as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period wrote that “several teams” reached out. Acquired from Vegas in Sunday’s Rasmus Andersson deal, Pagnotta emphasized Whitecloud’s very manageable $2.75MM cap hit, which runs through 2027-28. The longtime Golden Knight played 22:33 in his Calgary debut in a top pairing role, evident that he is valuable to the retooling club as a solid stop-gap capable of eating minutes. GM Craig Conroy has no reason to rush into such a move, but strong offers later in the spring may bring intrigue, especially with top prospect righty Zayne Parekh in waiting.
Canucks Activate Teddy Blueger, Reassign Arshdeep Bains
Set to host Washington tonight, the Vancouver Canucks announced that Arshdeep Bains has been reassigned to AHL Abbotsford. The transaction aligns with word that Teddy Blueger is set to return from injured reserve, as Head Coach Adam Foote told reporters today, including Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet650.
Blueger is expected to return as third line center tonight not having played since October. Listed at the time with an undisclosed injury, it was not necessarily expected back then for the 31-year-old to miss half the campaign.
A pending unrestricted free agent, Blueger has been listed as a possible trade candidate, especially considering such a thin center market. Currently last in the league by a considerable margin, things have obviously soured since the last time Blueger was in action, where his Canucks were 4-2-0 out of the gate. Now finally healthy, he may make his case for a deal to a contender.
Meanwhile, it has been an eventful last two months for Bains, as the 25-year-old cleared waivers and was sent down in December, only to be recalled on January 2 after netting six points in five AHL games. The call up corresponded with Marco Rossi’s placement on injured reserve.
Bains managed to skate in two games last week, hovering around the 10:00 mark between each, and finishing a -3 combined. Across his 28 total games on the year, the winger has five points. Undrafted, the British Columbia native figures to be organizational depth, currently in his fourth year with the Canucks, and signed through 2026-27. At the AHL level, Bains is considerably more productive, nearly reaching the point-per-game mark in the last two seasons, and helping lead Abbotsford to a Calder Cup title last year.