Evening Notes: Kempe, Stenlund, Girgensons
Just before the puck dropped on tonight’s game between the Kings and Rangers, Los Angeles shared that Adrian Kempe would be out due to a lower-body injury. Tonight marks the first time the forward has missed a contest all year.
In 66 games so far, the 29-year-old has put up 58 points. It’s performance right on track with his past few seasons after breaking out as a star. Kempe is averaging the highest ice time of his career, 19:16, and making the most of his first line role alongside center Anže Kopitar in the future Hall of Famer’s final season.
Sadly in the final chapter with Kopitar, the Kings will hope Kempe maintains his production for many more years afterward, as the Swede earned an eight-year extension back in November. Unless you count the recently acquired Artemi Panarin, Kempe leads Los Angeles in points; the duo will need to do some heavy lifting if they can manage to sneak into the playoffs. Kempe could return as soon as Thursday against the Flyers, but he’s had to miss a big one tonight in Panarin’s return to Madison Square Garden.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Ahead of their game tonight in Dallas, the Utah Mammoth announced that Kevin Stenlund won’t play, as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body ailment. The fourth line center has missed just his second game of 2025-26, otherwise posting 15 points in 66 games. It’s a step back from the 29-year-old’s strong first season in Utah where he set a career high with 28 points, but he’s a typical shutdown presence hardly counted on in that aspect. Stenlund has started just shy of 65% of his shifts in the defensive zone, and he brings value in face-off wins. The former Columbus second round pick could come back as soon as Thursday in Vegas.
- Tampa Bay forward Zemgus Girgensons returned to practice today, as noted by Benjamin Pierce, Beat Writer for the team. The veteran skated on Yanni Gourde‘s wing. Girgensons departed Saturday’s game against Carolina early with an apparent injury. The Latvia native plays a bottom six shutdown role, starting 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone yet still managing 15 points in 58 games. In today’s speed oriented game, it’s not always so kind for the 32-year-old 6’3″ lefty, but he still offers a solid 50.7% corsi for at five-on-five, bringing value to the team at a cap hit of just $850k.
Maple Leafs Discussed Trading Matthew Knies
The Toronto Maple Leafs considered dealing Matthew Knies at the trade deadline, mentioned by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period in his post-deadline recap article. Chris Johnston of The Athletic said on TSN’s March 12 episode of OverDrive that Toronto 100% discussed it, but he did pump the brakes a bit, saying it didn’t seem to get to final stages.
Either way, for GM Brad Treliving to give it any thought leaves a fascinating “what if”. It’s unclear what a return could have looked like, but Toronto would need a tremendous haul for their second leading scorer (18 goals, 39 assists, 65 games) who is just 23 years old. Even then, it could send shudders down the spines of the Toronto faithful based on who is pulling the strings.
Trading Knies seems to be exactly what the Maple Leafs should not be doing, as years of neglecting their future has left them with the mess they’re in now. Set to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade, the club cannot even benefit from the lost season, as barring a lottery miracle jump into the top five, their first round pick will go to Boston.
If that’s the case, Toronto will cross their fingers as the Bruins make their selection that it won’t be a repeat of 2020, when the Carolina Hurricanes netted star Seth Jarvis at 13th overall from a previously more modest trade.
Back to the present, adding insult to injury the Leafs also relinquished 21-year-old Fraser Minten, whose strong play has become a constant talking point this season. It can be argued that this trade was the final nail in the coffin from an era which will be defined by its disappointment.
Needless to say, Treliving’s guard should be up from past mistakes. In a period where they seldom kept first round selections, the Leafs were fortunate enough to hit on the uber-talented 6’3” winger in the second round back in 2021, leaving Treliving with a huge asset to inherit. It’s curious as to why shipping Knies out could even be on the table at this point. Any return would have to bring back a young defenseman of equal promise along with more assets, without weakening the team in its current form. Even if the Maple Leafs eventually embarked on a full scale tear down, which is extremely unlikely, Knies is still young enough, with the right term (six years, $7.75MM), that he’d be well suited to stick around as a foundational piece.
Pure speculation at this point, but if Montreal was in the mix as it has been rumored, perhaps 24-year-old Kaiden Guhle could have been a headliner in the return, but even then, it feels like not enough for a player of Knies’ caliber. There’s already many things over the past few years the Maple Leafs organization wishes they could have a do-over on, and it’s probably best they don’t roll the dice on another.
Treliving still faces the tall task of infusing the blue line with more talent this summer with limited assets to work with. However, there simply has to be another way, even if it’s an older player, or more of an under the radar reclamation project. Dangling Knies would fetch a defensemen they’ve been craving for about as long as can be remembered. Yet at the same time, suddenly there’d be a massive gap in their top six, leaving great pressure on the raw 20-year-old Easton Cowan with virtually nobody else in the cupboard having remotely as much upside.
It may come back to discussion this offseason, however, Pagnotta chimed in that he’s not convinced it will be explored in the coming summer. Perhaps that’s for the best, as the Leafs will try to shake things up and run it back next year. If another contention window will open for the franchise, it will need Knies’ continued growth into one of the game’s best power forwards. That’s best done in the blue and white, as opposed to a rival.
Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Injury Notes: Draisaitl, Hoglander, Rondbjerg
There’s still no status update on Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who left early in Sunday’s action against the Predators, playing just 3:12. Late last night head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters, including Jason Gregor of Sports 1440, that “I don’t think it should be long. There might be some time off”.
Draisaitl scored a power play tally just minutes into the game, marking his 30th goal against Nashville across his career, the most against any team he’s played. It’s particularly noteworthy because he’s done so in just 32 games. However, not long after, he took a hit into the opponent’s bench. Staying on his feet, there was still a blow to the lower back area.
The superstar played briefly after, but then was pulled and didn’t return. There was never an official announcement from the team that he’d been ruled out, but as the game wore on, it became only more evident.
It would take a late season collapse for Edmonton to miss the playoffs, but with a goaltending situation as fragile as ever, and a vital player banged up, there’s cause for concern. Draisaitl currently sits fourth in the entire league with 97 points in 65 games, and if he has to miss multiple games, divisional foes Seattle and San Jose may make them uncomfortable in the final stretch of the campaign.
The Oilers are a tale of two extremes, surrendering 232 goals which has them right among the worst in the league, but simultaneously sitting second in ones forced with 238. As a result they’ve ended up perfectly in the middle of the league, 16th, and third in the Pacific.
Edmonton hosts a possible playoff-snatcher in San Jose tomorrow night. Apparently set to do so without Draisaitl, they must shore things up defensively. Giving up 3.4 goals per game, simply out-scoring their issues will be much more difficult. It’s a feeling not foreign to the Oilers throughout the Connor McDavid/Draisaitl era, but at some point, something has to give if they’ll make a third straight run and finally get over the hump.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Canucks head coach Adam Foote shared news to reporters, including Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province/Sun, that Nils Höglander will return tomorrow against Florida. The forward had missed the club’s last two games as a scratch, although injuries have also been a factor. 2025-26 has been a year to forget for the 25-year-old, who suffered a lower-body injury in the preseason, unable to play until December. Ever since then he’s hardly moved the needle with just three points in 25 games, and averaging the lowest ice time of his career. Höglander still has solid possession metrics, indicating he remains useful at even strength. A 24-goal scorer two years ago, the 5’9” winger will try to finish the season on a strong note. He has security, holding a contract which is signed through 2027-28, and could turn things around in a lower pressure environment across the coming years.
- Another update came earlier today, this time from Vegas as Jonas Røndbjerg has resumed skating, relayed by the Review Journal’s Danny Webster. The 26-year-old is not the most recognizable name, but unfortunately his lower-body injury sustained in early February cost him a chance to play on Team Denmark at the Olympics. It’s worth mentioning that it was caused by Anaheim’s Radko Gudas, a player who has been in the headlines of late for his questionable play. Nonetheless, Røndbjerg has skated in just four games for Vegas in 2025-26, notching an assist. He was part of Vegas’ inaugural 2017 draft class, chosen in the third round, since then becoming a key player for AHL Henderson over the years. Røndbjerg has chipped in 11 points across 80 total games for the Golden Knights as a fill-in option with limited usage.
Evening Notes: Draisaitl, Dach, Nugent-Hopkins
A potentially major storyline has emerged tonight as Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl left tonight against Nashville, noted by Ryan Rishaug of TSN. The team has still yet to confirm his status, but he did not return to start the second or third period.
Early in the game Draisaitl was hit into the Predators’ bench. He stayed on his feet, but it caused a hard impact in the vulnerable lower back area. It was a routine check which Calgary native Ozzy Wiesblatt is expected to finish in his fourth line role, but naturally it was met with retaliation from Edmonton.
The 30-year-old returned momentarily, but didn’t seem right, and did not come back again, likely ending his night after just 3:12. Even in the limited time, Draisaitl buried a power play tally. It’s the norm against the Predators, as he has an unbelievable 29 goals in 31 career games against the club in gold.
Post game updates on the superstar will be watched urgently. With 96 points in 64 games, it hardly requires much analysis to speak on Draisaitl’s importance to Edmonton. In a season where things haven’t come easily for the group, he and Connor McDavid are forced to drive even more offense than normal to overcome their 231 goals surrendered; third worse in the league.
Edmonton is back in action Tuesday hosting San Jose. The team is third in the Pacific, likely to make the playoffs but still not where the back-to-back runners up would like to be by mid-March. If Draisaitl has to miss any time, their odds may swing dramatically.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Montreal Canadiens shared mid-game that Kirby Dach would not return due to an upper-body injury. Dach absorbed a hard hit from Anaheim grinder Jeffrey Viel with an impact concentrated in the shoulder area. The 25-year-old has had to deal with various injuries throughout his Habs tenure, as he underwent knee surgery last year, along with a fractured foot last November. Dach has only managed 31 games in 2025-26, where he’s put up 14 points. A former third overall pick, he’s is still chasing his 2022-23 Canadiens debut, breaking out with 38 points in 58 games. Unfortunately it’s starting to look like Dach won’t flourish as a top six center for the storied franchise, but based on all the health issues, it’s hard to be critical. As long as Dach has avoided another serious injury, he will likely return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20 as a Blackhawks rookie.
- Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has returned tonight against Nashville, per the team. The 32-year-old missed last game against St. Louis due to personal reasons, the team falling in overtime without their longest tenured player. Nugent-Hopkins has missed 10 games this year, otherwise posting 50 points in 57 games, a nice improvement from last year’s 49 in total. He has been durable over the past several seasons, as 2025-26 will mark the first time he’s played in under 78 regular season games since 2021-22. Nugent-Hopkins is back on the third line, flanking center Jason Dickinson as Edmonton works to balance their attack.
Ducks’ Mason McTavish Scratched, Troy Terry, John Carlson Return
Prior to puck drop tonight in Montreal, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reported that Mason McTavish is a healthy scratch, with Troy Terry returning from injury and John Carlson making his highly anticipated debut.
The center has just two points in his last 12 games, with 32 total on the year in 61 games. In a season defined by the breakout of several young stars in Anaheim, such has not been the case for McTavish. The 2021 third overall pick’s offensive output has stalled out of late, hovering around the 40-50 range, not necessarily glaring but disappointing nonetheless. This season his possession metrics at five-on-five are actually a career best at 52.2%, although the center is starting nearly 59% of his shifts in the offensive zone, a notable uptick from years past.
With his trust slipping under head coach Joel Quenneville, McTavish has lost his role down the middle, dipping below 16 minutes a night for the first time since the beginning stages of his career.
Simple resets like this happen often, and the 23-year-old is likely just in a slump for the time being, but no player making $7MM per year through 2030-31 should be spending time in the press box. After his restricted free agency dragged out into the fall, there was some speculation McTavish could be moving on. That ended in late September as the Ducks locked him up and voiced their beliefs that he would grow into a top player for the franchise.
Even if just for tonight, the Ducks feel like they have the best chance to win and take another step toward the playoffs without the 6’1″ forward in the mix. It’s a headline management would not expect back before the campaign started, but a lot has changed for the Ducks since then.
Meanwhile, Terry is a welcome addition back into the forward group not having played since February 25. The 28-year-old still ranks fifth in team scoring with 45 points in 46 games, particularly impressive considering that his counterparts have skated in as many as 20 more contests.
Finally, with Radko Gudas out as a result of a controversial five-game suspension, Carlson makes his Ducks debut, more news Anaheim fans would find hard to believe just a few months ago. The 36-year-old is debuting alongside Olen Zellweger, wearing a new uniform after 1,143 regular season games with the Capitals. Carlson had been dealing with a lower-body injury, his final game with Washington ending unceremoniously against Nashville on February 5 due to the ailment.
It’s hard to imagine McTavish will be out of the lineup for long, but he’ll need to turn the page soon to avoid any trade speculation this summer. With a top scorer back into the lineup, and an elite defensemen joining the team, there’s much reason to be excited for the weeks ahead and hopefully the center will find his groove accordingly.
Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Red Wings Sign Eddie Genborg To Amateur Tryout & Entry Level Contract
This evening the Detroit Red Wings announced that forward prospect Eddie Genborg has been signed to an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He will report to AHL Grand Rapids, also inking a three-year entry-level contract starting next year.
A second-round selection in last summer’s draft (44th overall), the Swede comes over after a breakout campaign with Timra IK in the SHL where he finished third in team scoring with a 9-16-25 line in 43 games. Set to turn 19 next month, Detroit saw the potential in the winger despite recording just two goals and no helpers in 28 games last year with Linkopings HC. Genborg spent his first professional season in 2024-25 with Linkopings alongside teammate Christoffer Ehn, a name familiar to Red Wings fans from years ago, prior to the youngster catching on with Timra and making a statement.
Set to join the elite Grand Rapids Griffins for their stretch run, boasting a 43-10-3 record, Genborg’s growth was on full display at the 2026 World Junior Championships earlier this winter. He recorded eight points in seven games, helping lead Sweden to gold, their first since 2012. Genborg tied top 2025 draftee Anton Frondell for fourth in team scoring.
Standing at 6’2″, the lefty brings a physical game with a strong net front presence. Last July, he just missed the mark of the club’s top 10 prospects according to Steven Ellis of The Daily Faceoff, but since then he along with the Red Wings have seriously surpassed expectations. As a result, Genborg is set to embark on his North American career ahead of schedule, and even if it takes a period of adjustment, his physical intangibles and overall two-way game will be useful for the Griffins. Their 198 goals are tied for best in the AHL, so more scoring is hardly a need at this point in the season.
Full of skilled forwards in their cupboard, GM Steve Yzerman was content to select a more “high floor” prospect in the second round last summer, back then it could have been argued such was a reach. Yet now considering that he was a top scorer for Timra as a teenager, hovering around former NHLers in Anton Lander and Jonathan Dahlen, there’s reason for optimism in his untapped potential.
With offensive instincts and NHL-level skating still coming along, Genborg has work to do as he takes a huge step in his development. However, at the very least, he figures to be a future piece of the Wings’ bottom six, the team boasting one of the deepest prospect pools in the league to supplement a core which is already closing in on ending their playoff drought this April.
Snapshots: Wennberg, Brossoit, Kampf
A familiar face in teal is absent for this evening’s action, as Sharks center Alexander Wennberg is out with an upper-body injury per the team.
The veteran had yet to miss a contest on the campaign, where he has put up 43 points in 64 games. After bouncing around for a bit, Wennberg has found a home in San Jose, playing a large role and getting power play time. He’s averaging the highest usage of his career at age 31, also with his best point totals since 2016-17, back when the Swede was looking like a rising star in Columbus.
With Igor Chernyshov also out to injury after being hospitalized, Philipp Kurashev and Pavol Regenda fill out the Sharks’ third line in Ottawa, the team needing to stockpile points to hold onto Wild Card berth.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Also regarding San Jose, goaltender Laurent Brossoit is making his Sharks debut, shared by the team in their lineup announcement. The soon to be 33-year-old has impressively worked his way back into the NHL for the first time since April 2024 as a Winnipeg Jet. To help paint the picture of how long it has been, Brossoit turned away two shots from retired forward Zach Parise in that contest. Since then, the veteran spent the last two years in the AHL, after a standout free agent deal with Chicago didn’t materialize due to knee issues, and subsequently being brought in by the Sharks after not playing a single game as a Blackhawk. Brossoit has played very well in the AHL this year, posting a .915 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against-average, dominating with 11 wins in 14 games. The performance earned a call up two days ago with Yaroslav Askarov sidelined.
- Newly acquired Capitals forward David Kampf’s debut with the team will be further delayed. Head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters, including Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network, that he has returned to Vancouver to be with his wife who is expecting a child shortly. Kampf is also dealing with continued visa issues, missing the Caps’ last several games, and hasn’t appeared since March 4 as a Canuck. Brought in at the deadline for a sixth-round pick, the 31-year-old will be eager to return soon and build his stock going into free agency this summer, where the center market will be sparse. Washington is unlikely to make the playoffs, but the Czech native could make a case to stick around as Nic Dowd’s replacement. Playing on the league’s worst team in the Canucks did a number on Kampf’s point totals and plus/minus, but he still has a respectable 49.8% corsi for at five-on-five, an improvement over his last three seasons with Toronto.
Evening Notes: Ristolainen, Copp, Stanley
With the dust mostly settled from last Friday’s trade deadline, stories continue to emerge. Anthony DiMarco of The Daily Faceoff wrote on Philadelphia’s decision to retain Rasmus Ristolainen despite being a long way from playoff contention.
It is thought that the Flyers sought a Brandon Carlo-type package for the 31-year-old, with a first-round pick and a notable prospect. Unconventional is a word which could describe Philadelphia’s trade deadline, as their headlining move was dealing young forward Bobby Brink to Minnesota in exchange for David Jiříček.
Reasonable frustration from fans aside, GM Daniel Briere’s focus on the future actually ties into how they handled the Ristolainen situation. Mentioned by DiMarco, the club evaluated its internal right-handed defense pipeline, headlined by Oliver Bonk and the newly-acquired Jiříček. The former has played well with AHL Lehigh Valley, but still just 31 games into his professional career, the Flyers do not want to rush Bonk.
On the other hand, Jiříček is a reclamation project. He failed to record a single point in 25 games with the high flying Wild prior to the trade, with poor possession metrics and AHL output which is hardly anything to write home about either. The former sixth overall pick (2022) will have to find his game with AHL Lehigh Valley before any role with the Flyers becomes a possibility.
The Flyers determined that Ristolainen and his $5.1MM which runs through next year is worth keeping around for now. Even if Briere obtained draft capital for the 6’4” righty, likely below his asking price, it would cost more than their return for a replacement, not to mention the rushing of prospects. The Finn will go into 2026-27 as his sixth season as a Flyer, where he’ll turn 32 in October, and be a near-lock for a trade later on.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Detroit Red Wings shared mid-game that Andrew Copp won’t return due to a lower body injury. The center was shaken up after a draw with Florida’s Tomáš Nosek, who fell onto his leg. Already without Dylan Larkin, it’s another blow for the club, but thankfully their captain won’t be out for long. Regardless, the Wings passed on the opportunity to acquire a top center at the trade deadline, a decision which may age poorly if Copp will miss an extended period. As it’s a suspected knee injury, there’s reason for much concern. The 31-year-old Michigan native is on pace for his best season in Detroit with 36 points in 64 games, not yet missing a contest this year. He has been great on draws, snapping them back at a 54.6% success rate.
- One suitor forced to pivot from Ristolainen as discussed above, the red-hot Buffalo Sabres welcomed their acquisition Logan Stanley into the lineup tonight per Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio. The former Winnipeg Jet was dealing with visa issues, a common occurrence for players traded between Canada and the United States. Debuting on the third pairing alongside Michael Kesselring, Stanley wasted no time endearing himself to Buffalo fans as he fought San Jose’s Zack Ostapchuk. The 6’7” lefty will try to make noise as a Sabre as he heads into free agency this summer.
Snapshots: Schenn, Kerins, Gustafsson
Set for just his second game as a New York Islander, Brayden Schenn takes on his former squad tonight in St. Louis, where he’d served as captain as part of his nine years wearing the note. He offered some insight into the decision to waive his no-trade clause, despite New York being on his 16-team no-trade list.
Apparently it wasn’t the first time the Blues tried to move their captain. As shared by Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Schenn said “Well, when (the Blues) ask you two times two years in a row, that’s when it makes sense.” “At some point, the organization doesn’t see you as part of the picture, and other teams want you, and it’s good to be wanted. They’re going in a different direction, and that’s the reality of it.”
While the respected Schenn has taken it personally to a degree, it’s hard to argue with St. Louis’ decision to move on, as it netted them a first-round pick and other assets for a declining 34-year-old signed for two more years at $6.5MM. Curiously however, it appears the club attempted to move him at some point last year, despite St. Louis making the playoffs and pushing the Presidents’ Trophy Winnipeg Jets to the brink in the first round.
Few would have predicted the Islanders to become his fourth organization, but the team has a strong shot to return to the postseason where they’ll hope to win a round for the first time since 2021.
Tonight will be emotional for Schenn who was a constant presence in St. Louis, appearing in all 82 games four times as a Blue. The veteran is surely energized in his second line center role with the opportunity to help the upstart Islanders continue to surpass expectations.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Flames prospect Rory Kerins was injured playing in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, and he’ll be week to week with a lower-body ailment, as noted by Ryan Pike of Flames Nation. The forward was a steal in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, but he’s still working toward an NHL role at age 23. Kerins has been highly productive in the AHL, leading the Wranglers in scoring over the past two seasons, but only appearing in seven NHL games so far, where he’s notched four helpers. It’s tough news considering that Calgary is 31st in the league, and Kerins could have gotten another look this spring, last playing with the big club in November. The Wranglers are hardly faring better this season, so GM Craig Conroy will have little hesitation to call up young players in the dog days of the season. Kerins will hopefully get healthy in time to be one such candidate.
- Nashville Predators defense prospect Viggo Gustafsson, who signed his ELC with the club last week, will join the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals next year and leave Sweden, as reported in a HockeySverige article by Simon Eld. Nashville, typically known for their knack to develop defensemen, hasn’t had overly noticeable figures come down the pipeline in several years. They’ll hope Gustafsson, their third-round selection in 2024, will have a seamless transition to the North American game and potentially pan out as a third-pairing blueliner. In 40 games with AIK of HockeyAllsvenskan, the 19-year-old lefty has just eight points, but he brings a physical game at 6’2”.
Stars Activate Roope Hintz From Injured Reserve
March 6th: According to a team announcement, the Stars have activated Hintz from injured reserve. He’ll be back in Dallas’ lineup tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.
March 3rd: Earlier today the Dallas Stars shared that Roope Hintz has landed on injured reserve due to illness, retroactive to February 25.
Since returning from the Olympic break where he represented Team Finland and won bronze, Hintz has yet to play, missing Dallas’ last three games. Impressively they’ve won all three by a combined score of 13-4, while tonight’s action in Calgary marks the fourth straight missing their center.
A player ending up on injured reserve from sickness is rare, and while it may cause concern for his health, the timeline is a factor in the decision. With Hintz off the shelf as he heals up, Dallas has an open roster spot to work with leading up to Friday’s trade deadline. The 29-year-old will be eligible to return then, as his Stars will host the Avalanche; the only team above them in the standings. Dallas is usually active at the deadline, and considering that they’re second in the league with a window as open as ever, it figures that they’ll have some reinforcements coming.
Hintz’s fifth place standing in team scoring (44 points in 52 games) is more of an indication of how deep the Stars are up front. The Finn has an elite 59.2% faceoff win rate this year, a career best by a considerable margin, as he continues to rise as a Selke level player. The scoring has tapered off a bit after back-to-back 37 goal campaigns from 2021-23, but it’s hardly an issue considering his impact in other areas, as well as the Stars’ overall firepower.
Winners of nine straight, Dallas will march ahead without Hintz, likely to return sometime around the weekend.