Snapshots: Carrick, Yakemchuk, Berube
Buffalo Sabres spring acquisition Sam Carrick appeared to suffer a serious arm injury after fighting Anders Lee of the Islanders tonight, seen in a clip shared by Bleacher Report Open Ice.
Carrick dropped the mitts with Lee in retaliation after the Islanders captain delivered a hard hit on Buffalo’s Josh Norris. As he went down at the end of the scrap, he was immediately in serious pain. The center did not return, and with just seven regular season games on the schedule for the team after tonight, there’s a real possibility Buffalo has lost a key veteran for the playoffs.
Acquired on March 6 from the Rangers in exchange for a third and sixth rounder, Carrick has been a great fit with the Sabres. He has five goals in 12 games, of course not sustainable with a shooting percentage just under 28%. Even when that inevitably cools off, he’s winning 58.2% of his face-offs and killing penalties as a solid fourth line center right as advertised.
Also evident considering his willingness to take on a larger player in Lee for the sake of a teammate, Carrick plays a role any team needs in the playoffs. Especially a younger group, who will end a 15-year-long drought and enter uncharted territory.
The hope is that Carrick has somehow not suffered a season-ender, but if so, Joshua Dunne might have to step back in at a crucial time. Buffalo is back at it Thursday as they aim to put the keep their foot on the gas rolling into a potential run.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Senators defenseman Carter Yakemchuk suffered a concerning injury tonight as observed by Julian McKenzie of The Athletic. He sustained a hard hit from Florida’s Noah Gregor which was concentrated in the head area, and had trouble getting back up, eventually requiring help to get off the ice. Gregor was assessed a game misconduct. It was a tough night for the Sens as they lost convincingly to the bottom-feeding Panthers while in desperate need of points. Ottawa’s top prospect, Yakemchuk made his NHL debut one week ago today, getting a look especially as Jake Sanderson remains out. The 20-year-old burst onto the scene with a goal and an assist in his first game. As a righty, he fits perfectly into a well-assembled core from the other side for years to come. Ottawa hopes their youngster will be back by Thursday against Buffalo.
- Insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said on yesterday’s edition of The Leafs Nation that head coach Craig Berube was likely not anticipating yesterday’s firing of general manager Brad Treliving. Pagnotta suspects that he hasn’t been told anything as to his future with the club. The 60-year-old has a contract which runs through 2027-28, but his Leafs tenure could be winding down, about to finish only his second season with the team, where he’s had an 84 – 56 – 17 record. Toronto’s constant turnover behind the bench needs to change, but it only makes sense for the team to start fresh this summer. Any new GM typically prefers bringing in their own selection, especially with some strong candidates available, headlined by Bruce Cassidy. Berube, known for leading the Blues to a remarkable run to a Stanley Cup in 2019, could also benefit from a new challenge with the Leafs sputtering despite his efforts.
Injury Notes: Rust, Holmstrom, Wright
Bryan Rust of the Penguins is out tonight against Detroit with a lower-body injury, shared by the team right before puck drop. It’s unexpected considering that he played a full game last night against the Islanders, putting up two points. In his place, Avery Hayes comes into a game with both the Penguins and Red Wings desperate to pick up two points with playoff spots up for grabs.
The 33-year-old took a maintenance day last Saturday, but he’s mostly been healthy this year. Rust is having one of his best seasons, with 61 points in 67 games, good for second best on the team. He is closing in on his career best of 65, set last year, also playing the most throughout his 12-year career, averaging over 20 minutes a night for the first time.
Hayes, a 23-year-old undrafted rookie, by no means will match Rust’s speed and skill, but the fellow Michigan native has made a name for himself as a potential bottom six fixture. Hayes has three goals in 12 games, earning his time after strong AHL efforts with 35 points in 39 games.
With games weighing as much as ever, Rust will likely return Thursday in Tampa Bay.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Islanders forward Simon Holmström is absent for tonight’s crucial game in Buffalo, noted by Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. As a result Anthony Duclair will slot into a top six role. Holmström is thought to be day-to-day with an upper-body ailment. A first rounder back in 2019, the now 24-year-old has steadily grown into a solid secondary scorer for the Islanders. With one more tally he’ll tie last season’s breakout 20 goal campaign. A brutal loss last night against division foe Pittsburgh dealt a blow to New York’s playoff odds, but they’re still clinging onto the third spot in the Metropolitan with seven games to go. Holmström will hope to be back helping matters by Friday as they host Philadelphia. Whatever happens in the coming days, hardly anybody would have expected his team to have the season they’ve put together.
- Seattle’s Shane Wright is sidelined tonight with his own upper-body injury, per the team. Unlike those listed above, the Kraken are close to elimination from the playoffs unless something shocking happens. Either way, they’ll take on the Oilers one man down. One a top draft prospect, selected fourth overall in 2022, Wright’s development has stalled out in Seattle. Last year he showed promise with 44 points, but he’s followed that up with just 26 in 72 games. Still, he has been durable, not missing a single contest until today. At even strength Wright has not moved the needle like he’s capable of, and he’s not been able to hold down a top six role, averaging 13:49 a night. Subject of trade rumors earlier in the year, assuming he returns later this week, there’s a strong possibility it’ll be his final games for the club.
Maple Leafs Fire General Manager Brad Treliving
3/31/26: In his press conference Tuesday, Pelley told the media that Maple Leafs assistant general managers Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy will share the duties of interim general manager while the club conducts its search for its next full-time leader of hockey operations.
Pridham has been widely speculated as a likely candidate for a potential promotion to the general manager position. The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke wrote today that Pridham is “razor sharp” and noted that he “has been a candidate of interest for GM positions around the league previously.”
Hardy has been with the Maple Leafs since 2021-22, arriving there after a three-year stint as general manager of the USHL’s Chicago Steel. In Chicago, he was the USHL’s General Manager of the Year twice, and won the league’s Clark Cup championship in 2021.
In Toronto, he’s served as GM of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Under his management, the Marlies have made the AHL’s playoffs for three consecutive campaigns. They won the league’s North Division in 2022-23 and defeated the Utica Comets in a first-round playoff series.
3/30/26: With a disappointing season coming to a close, the Toronto Maple Leafs shared big news; they’re parting ways with General Manager Brad Treliving.
In a statement from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Keith Pelley, it was said “Throughout the course of the season, there has been deep analysis into both the current state of the Maple Leafs organization and the direction needed to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering a Stanley Cup championship to the city”.
There was no real need for Pelley to elaborate; it has long been apparent that change was needed. Named as the 18th GM in franchise history on May 31, 2023, the book closes on the Treliving era defined by its disappointment, cutting short one more year on his contract.
Major question marks on Toronto’s future already existed when he took the helm; fresh off another painful playoff defeat in the second round at the hands of the Florida Panthers. Still, there was reason for optimism, that perhaps a new voice could take what Kyle Dubas had built and shape it into a true contender.
In came Treliving, after serving as GM for the Calgary Flames from 2014-23, a strong period for the Alberta franchise. In his tenure, Calgary won two Pacific Division titles and were a real Western Conference threat. Shortly before his time ended though, Treliving dealt young superstar Matthew Tkachuk to Florida in a highly scrutinized trade. It has netted the Panthers multiple Stanley Cups, while Calgary has fallen into a rebuild. Unfortunately, things haven’t aged much better for the Maple Leafs either, who are in a far worse spot than they were three years ago.
Treliving was reserved at first, adding veterans but holding their biggest assets. It was probably the right move to not go crazy on renovations out of the gate, but the patience didn’t work out. Another heartbreaking Game 7 defeat by Boston, and it was time for real change.
Thankfully keeping his first round selection, Treliving went with defenseman Ben Danford in 2024. He didn’t stop there, swinging a sign-and-trade with Chris Tanev, reuniting from Calgary, with a six-year pact worth $4.5MM per year. The respected defender is exactly the player the Leafs needed, but he was already 34, and it was clearly a “worry about it later” contract.
Then came the 2024-25 campaign, proving to be the team’s most successful season under Treliving. Toronto finished fourth in the league with an impressive 52-26-4 record. Buzzing along with hopes of finally breaking through on a deep playoff run, it was time to push the chips in and get aggressive at the trade deadline. This is where things went wrong.
Across multiple trades, the Maple Leafs relinquished their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, along with skilled youngsters Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin. The haul brought them Scott Laughton from Philadelphia and Brandon Carlo from Boston. A steep price to pay, the duo were the exact players the Leafs were missing in playoff shortcomings of past, but it had to pay off in May.
Toronto managed to get by the underdog Senators in six games, and were rewarded with a rematch against the defending champions in Florida. Treliving’s club went up 2-0 in the series, effectively the peak of the entire “Core Four” era. 11 days later though, they found themselves in another Game 7, coming up short yet again in a resounding defeat. The team was right there, so close, but it didn’t matter. As we all know, Mitch Marner moved on, and Treliving was left painted into a corner.
2025-26 marks one decade since the Leafs last missed the playoffs, but the streak will end, for the first time in the Auston Matthews era. There was optimism that Marner’s departure would lead to the emergence of other forwards, but that wasn’t the case. Toronto sits at 24th in the league today, and they’ll be desperate for some lottery luck into the top five, or else their first rounder will go to Boston as salt in the wound.
Fortunately earlier this month Treliving obtained a 2027 conditional first rounder from Colorado for Nicolas Roy, as well as a 2027 second round selection from Seattle for Bobby McMann. It’s a parting gift after most of his moves made the team only older.
All that being said, the Treliving era comes to an end after a 139 – 92 – 27 record and a single playoff series win over Ottawa.
It’s much debated where things went off the rails. Many point to the 2025 deadline deals, but in a way, the downfall may have started on July 1, 2023, when Marner’s no-trade-clause kicked in. Treliving had just taken the job, and dealing Marner would have sent shockwaves across the organization. From his perspective it was probably never a serious possibility. However, with hindsight today, it’s a situation many Leaf fans wish was handled differently.
Maple Leafs management now must find a replacement, with the pressure of desperately salvaging the Matthews/William Nylander/John Tavares core before it is too late. Head coach Craig Berube‘s seat is hot as well, and Toronto could consider a clean slate entirely. Former Vegas bench boss Bruce Cassidy, who was shockingly let go yesterday, presents a great opportunity for the Maple Leafs to obtain a top coach.
Brandon Pridham, current Assistant General Manager of the club, has gotten some noise as due for a promotion, and it might as well be in Toronto. The 52-year-old Ontario native’s time with the Leafs dates back to 2014, starting as a Special Assistant and working his way up to his current role, which he’s held since 2018.
Rob Blake, former Kings’ General Manager, is an Ontario native who could garner some interest as a candidate with prior experience. The former superstar defenseman’s Los Angeles tenure was doomed after continuous early playoff exits, however.
Brendan Shanahan, who served as President from 2014-25, would be a fascinating story if there was ever a possibility for him to return. It would be his first General Manager role, with a chance to clean up what he helped put together.
In terms of recycled candidates, there isn’t the strongest list. There’s no immediate name which is far and away the best option, as Toronto could go in all sorts of different directions. As a storied franchise with a roster which is flawed, but still loaded on paper, they should have no shortage of hopefuls.
A respected veteran in the game, Treliving, 56, should find another role in the league where he could reach 20 years of experience next season. Meanwhile, whoever comes next in Toronto has the opportunity to etch themselves into Maple Leafs history forever, although they’ll be facing a formidable task in righting the ship.
West Notes: Makar, Klingberg, Dellandrea
Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar left mid-game against the Flames tonight and would not return, per the team. The defender left late in the second period with an apparent upper body injury, but it was not immediately obvious what happened.
Makar is putting his final touches on what has been another remarkable campaign, not yet missing a single game and posting 72 points in as many games. He’s third in team scoring, but would be ranked first by a wide margin on several other clubs. The electric skater also averages just one second under 25 minutes a night.
One of just two teams to already have a playoff spot locked down (Dallas), Colorado is closing in on the Presidents’ Trophy which would be their first since 2020-21, and their fourth in franchise history. It goes without saying that losing Makar would be a crushing blow, especially as he’s evidently been shaken up in a lower stakes game against his hometown team that got quickly out of hand on the scoreboard.
There’s plenty of reason for optimism though, as the 27-year-old has been extremely durable throughout his career, and exited the contest quietly. Updates will be watched closely post-game, with the hope that their #1 defenseman is right back at it Wednesday against Vancouver.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Veteran John Klingberg was a morning skate participant, observed by Curtis Pashelka, San Jose Beat Writer. The defenseman has missed three straight with an upper body injury, including tonight, yet it’s encouraging news nonetheless as the Sharks look to close the book on 2025-26 in a good way. After bouncing around across several teams with an uncertain future from injury toll, the former star has settled nicely as a Shark, with 24 points in 54 games on over 20 minutes a game and staying relatively healthy for a change. The 33-year-old will hit free agency again this summer and it’ll be interesting to see if San Jose keeps him around given the results.
- Forward Ty Dellandrea’s status has improved to day-to-day, reported by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. Unfortunately he’s had to miss the last 30 games with a lower-body injury, not in the lineup since early January, but it’s looking like the role player will get some more action before 2025-26 comes to an end. Once a high draft pick by Dallas, the 25-year-old has become a true bottom six center capable of killing penalties and forechecking. Dellandrea has just 11 points on the season, along with poor metrics at even strength, but he’s winning faceoffs at a 52.3% rate, and offers size at 6’2”. His efforts earned a two-year extension signed earlier this month, as the Ontario native has found a home on the exciting young team.
Sharks Reassign Laurent Brossoit, Yaroslav Askarov To Return
Ahead of tonight’s game against St. Louis, the San Jose Sharks reassigned Laurent Brossoit to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. With this move in mind, it became apparent that starter Yaroslav Askarov is set to return to the crease, confirmed by Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest.
Brossoit has been back and forth in the past few weeks, last summoned three days ago. Throughout that time he’s only managed to play in one game, March 15 against Ottawa, where he took a loss in a rough outing. Even then, the 33-year-old deserves props for working his way back to the highest level after numerous injuries cast doubt on his career.
In 15 games with the Barracuda, Brossoit has been one of the AHL’s premier netminders, boasting a .915 save percentage and winning 11 of his 15 contests. As far as #3 depth goaltenders go, the Sharks feature a strong one in the British Columbia native with 141 games of NHL experience. He should have the opportunity to lead the San Jose farm hands into the postseason.
Meanwhile, Askarov’s return makes for an exciting end of the season for Sharks fans. It has been a tough month for the show stopping 23-year-old, who returned from a 16-day absence last week only to be injured again against the Blues. Thankfully it doesn’t appear to be serious, and he’ll come back against the same opponent four days later.
Askarov, thought to be one of the game’s best young goalies, hasn’t put it all together just yet. He’s struggled at times with a 3.52 goals against average and an .888 save percentage, slightly above the .500 win rate. Still, the Russian flashes his brilliance regularly and there’s usually a learning curve for any such prospect, especially adjusting as part of a growing team.
The Sharks are set up with young talent across the lineup, and Askarov will look to finish the campaign on a high note before continuing to improve with the club in 2026 and beyond.
Injury Notes: Gudas, Protas, Sanderson
Anaheim’s Radko Gudas has returned from his lower body injury and will play tonight against Toronto, reported by David Alter of The Hockey News.
The defenseman got into two games after his suspension for a controversial knee-on-knee hit which ended superstar Auston Matthews’ season, before his own injury cost him Saturday’s action, a loss to the Oilers.
At 35 years old, Gudas’ ice time has dipped to 16:28 in 2025-26, the lowest of his career, but he’s surprisingly posting a 52.6% corsi for at five-on-five, unexpected for most comparable players, and his best as a Duck.
For somebody so often in the headlines, Gudas has just 45 penalty minutes in 54 games, nowhere near his 128 two seasons ago. That number will probably rise tonight though, as there will be some fireworks as he’ll face the ire of the Maple Leafs. Likely not yet 100%, the veteran is ready to answer the bell, which is commendable.
A third pairing defender who chips in on the penalty kill, the Czech native’s Ducks are essentially a lock for the postseason, where he’ll be eager to add to his 57 career playoff games prior to free agency this summer.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas didn’t skate today and will be missing time after colliding with former teammate Nic Dowd Saturday against Vegas, reported by Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. Barring some sort of miracle, Washington will miss the playoffs for just the second time since 2014. After bursting onto the scene last year where he jumped from six to 30 goals, Protas was on course with a disappointing season for the Caps, so far potting 23 and a total of 47 points in 70 games in 2025-26. The power forward still has strong possession metrics, as his shooting percentage dipped from 21% to 15.6%. Just 25, the Belarus native is still a huge part of the Caps’ future. He should return at some point before the team completes their eight remaining regular season games. Until then, Connor McMichael gets a look on the top line, another promising young player who took a step back this year.
- Senators top defenseman Jake Sanderson skated today but is still not ready for tomorrow’s game against Florida, per Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Citizen. The 23-year-old hasn’t played since March 7 after a shoulder injury, leaving Ottawa to fend without their #1 minute eater, who averages just under 25 minutes a night. Impressively they’ve offered a 7-3-1 record in that time, accumulating points and still fighting for Wild Card berth. Ottawa is currently two points below, but with one game fewer than their competition above. Considering the circumstances, it’s difficult to imagine he won’t be back patrolling the blue line by next Thursday as they’ll host Buffalo. Sanderson has been elite this year with 48 points in 62 games, as he continues to rise as one of the league’s best defensemen.
Golden Knights Fire Bruce Cassidy, Name John Tortorella Head Coach
A massive storyline has emerged this afternoon as the Vegas Golden Knights have fired Bruce Cassidy and named John Tortorella their new head coach in an announcement from the team.
Currently third in the Pacific Division with more than an 80% chance to make the playoffs per Moneypuck, Vegas’ decision to part ways with the franchise’s most accomplished coach, in late March no less, comes as a shock. With just eight games remaining in the regular season, the group will now be led by Tortorella, who last coached with the Flyers until being fired 367 days ago.
In a statement from General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, he said “With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club”.
On Tortorella, he continued, “His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face”.
Sitting 19th in the league, it’s fair to say that Cassidy’s efforts came short this season. With 232 goals scored, 19th best across the league, they sit at -2 in overall goal differential. It’s a step below a team which had some hype as a Stanley Cup favorite in the fall.
The 60-year-old emphasizes an aggressive zone entry system with layered defense. Often tailoring his strategy to fit the skills of his players, roster construction has played a part in the Golden Knights’ performance this year.
The summer addition of Mitch Marner was a no-brainer, but it made the team even more top heavy. Depth scoring has been hard to come by, as Vegas has had to rely on various unacclaimed wingers in their bottom six. McCrimmon added depth forwards Nic Dowd and Cole Smith at the deadline, improving penalty killing, but hardly moving the needle offensively.
On the back-end, Vegas made a splash as they acquired Rasmus Andersson from Calgary in January. His underlying numbers have improved, but the 29-year-old’s adjustment to the Golden Knights after nine years as a Flame is still a work in progress. Alex Pietrangelo has been sorely missed, with his career in jeopardy from chronic hip issues.
Finally, goaltending has been another issue for the Golden Knights. Adin Hill, locked up for six more years, is having his worst season as a pro, with injuries a factor. Akira Schmid has held things down respectably, but he’s not a name any real contender would be associated with as their #1 option.
All that to say, Vegas management still believes the roster has more to offer than where they stand today, and they’re making a tremendously bold move in turning to Tortorella. Cassidy immediately becomes the top coach available entering the off-season, with a .630 win percentage including four 50+ win seasons between his time in Boston and Vegas, and of course, a Stanley Cup to boot.
Tortorella, a Stanley Cup winning coach himself (2004, Tampa Bay), is a veteran of 1,620 games behind the bench. He’s also a two-time Jack Adams winner, bringing in the award for the NHL’s best coach in 2004 and 2017. Last in charge in Philadelphia from 2022-25, he was unable to steer the Flyers into the postseason, and did not win more than 38 games in a season. The Massachusetts native had been filling in as an analyst with ESPN, also serving as an assistant on the gold medal winning Team USA at the 2026 Olympic Games.
His more “old school” approach with relentless work ethic and defensive responsibility brought success to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the late 2010s, able to get the most out of lesser skilled teams. The Jackets’ incredible sweep of the President’s Trophy winning Lightning in 2019 stands as the organization’s most proud moment. A franchise never able to find their footing beforehand, the Jackets turned the corner during Tortorella’s term.
How Tortorella may fit into a team like the Golden Knights will be fascinating to watch, especially with the season nearing its end. Never shy to criticize his players, his relationship with Marner, Jack Eichel, and the rest of the Vegas stars will captivate the league.
As far as mid-season coaching changes can go, Tortorella is always an intriguing candidate for his ability to change the culture. Some may be critical of his most recent Flyers tenure and its lack of on-ice success, but Philadelphia management sought out “Torts” to guide the team into a re-tooling period where they’d implement the “Flyers way”. It ended last March unceremoniously, but given their step forward this year, his imprints helped shape the team into what it is today.
With all of that in mind, his latest gig presents a challenge unlike any of the others. It’s hardly a “mid-season” shift. Tortorella inherits a skilled team right on the cusp of the playoffs, in a move that will be scrutinized for years to come.
If any club were to make such a ruthless and unexpected change, it would be the Golden Knights based on their history. They are on to their fourth head coach in nine seasons in existence; such change is despite missing the playoffs just once in that time.
Gerard Gallant led the expansion team to an unforgettable run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, returning to the playoffs the next year, yet found himself out of a job the following January. Peter DeBoer then took over, leading the Knights to a dominant 2020-21 season where they tied for most points in the NHL before coming up short in the Conference Finals. After a respectable 2021-22 where they did miss the playoffs, he was subsequently dismissed, as Cassidy took the helm.
Much like his previous tenure in Boston which brought a Jack Adams in 2020, Cassidy had immediate success, leading Vegas to their best regular season in franchise history in 2022-23 by point total (111). He capped it off by raising the Stanley Cup, defeating the Florida Panthers in five games. The Golden Knights’ sometimes questionable moves had paid off; they’d reached the pinnacle in just their sixth year as a franchise.
Since then, they’ve won just one playoff round, as the success has been harder to come by. Still, the Golden Knights are right in the playoff mix. The additions of Eichel and Marner have the team set up for years to come, as they etch a new post- “misfits” era.
Now they’re starting over behind the bench yet again, as the trio of Gallant, DeBoer, and Cassidy all ended their tenure with win percentages over .600. In comes Tortorella, 67, whose .479 win percentage in his Flyers tenure came in at the worst compared to his previous jobs (Lightning, Rangers, Canucks, Blue Jackets).
With April just days away, Tortorella will have to hit the ground running, set to make his Vegas coaching debut tomorrow night at home against his former club in Vancouver.
Image Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports (Tortorella)
Image Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports (Cassidy)
Injury Notes: Penguins, Voronkov, Bastian
Pittsburgh Penguins legends Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both were full participants in practice today, while Bryan Rust and Noel Acciari were absent for maintenance days, reported by Michelle Crechiolo, Penguins Team Reporter.
Head coach Dan Muse went on to say that all besides Malkin will travel with the team for tomorrow’s game at the Islanders, while his status requires further evaluation.
Crosby left mid-game at Ottawa last week, and missed yesterday’s 6-3 loss to Dallas. Meanwhile, Malkin has been out for the Pens’ last three games. As a result, they’ve secured just two points in that time while short handed up front. Pittsburgh has just one regulation win in their last seven tries, but the team is still expected to return to the postseason this year and cap off an impressive rejuvenating campaign.
Even if they’re not back to full strength tomorrow in a big inter-divisional tilt on Long Island, Muse should have his stars back in time for Tuesday against the desperate Red Wings.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Blue Jackets will be missing Dmitri Voronkov tonight against Boston, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. The forward left their last game after blocking a shot in the hand area. He’s thought to be week-to-week. Voronkov has 32 points in 63 games, a slight dip from last year’s breakout 47 point effort. The numbers are hardly an issue as he’s mainly deployed in a complementary role, and the team supplemented their forward corps by adding Mason Marchment and Conor Garland. Currently holding onto the second Wild Card spot, the club hopes they’ll be playing into late April, enough time for Voronkov to return.
- Stars forward Nathan Bastian won’t play tonight in Philadelphia, noted by Mike Heika, Senior Staff Writer for Stars.com. The forward was injured last night against the Penguins after a hand injury from a shot, similar to Voronkov’s above, and left mid-game. As a result Adam Erne will fill in. Both Bastian and Erne are virtually identical in their roles for the Stars. The former second-round picks were both signed for $775k to provide fourth line depth for the high flying club. Bastian has played 36 games so far to Erne’s 37. They have essentially the same stat lines, with six and five goals respectively, one assist each.
Blackhawks’ Artyom Levshunov Suffers Hand Fracture
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov sustained a fracture in his left hand last Tuesday against the Islanders and played through it in the two games since, reported by Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Requiring further evaluation, he’s now set to depart the lineup starting tonight against New Jersey. Kevin Korchinski will fill in after he was recalled this morning.
With just nine games left on the schedule, it’s unclear how long Levshunov could be out, and if his season has come to an end. With no drop in usage since the injury, it’s unexpected news, however the last few games playing unhealthy haven’t necessarily been kind to the youngster who has been a -5 since the Islanders contest.
It has been a tough campaign for the 2024 second overall pick. Still at just 20-years-old, he has been thrown into the fire as a top defender, currently ranking third on the team in ice time at 19:35 a night. The Blackhawks have showcased progression this season, but the results still aren’t pretty. Levshunov’s -41 ranks dead last in the league, with a sub-par 45% corsi for at five-on-five.
In more encouraging news, Levshunov has posted 24 points, his offensive ability on display as he gels with the team’s skilled young core. There have been bright spots in his heavy usage, mostly on the power play, amidst the growing pains.
The 6’2” righty absolutely has top pairing upside, and facing a difficult learning curve is common for such defensive prospects. Doing so on a bottom-ranked team doesn’t do any favors, either. However, it may be time for Chicago to reevaluate their development plans for Levshunov, giving him a bit more shelter.
Holding the most cap space in the entire league, the Blackhawks would benefit from adding an experienced top four-capable defenseman this summer to help out their extremely young blueline. Even if done so in another cap-casualty type trade which netted them more assets, as opposed to an aggressive big free agency ticket, it would be similar to how the additions of 31-year-olds Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teräväinen have paid dividends up front.
Regardless, even if his 2025-26 has come to an untimely end, it may be best to simply take the time to get healthy. Looking ahead to a fresh start next fall and building off his 86 games of learning so far, Chicago doesn’t have much at stake in April to rush Levshunov back for.
Red Wings Assign Anton Johansson To AHL
The Detroit Red Wings shared that prospect Anton Johansson has been assigned to AHL Grand Rapids, coming from Leksands of the SHL.
A fourth round selection in 2022, the 6’4″ defenseman made a nice impression last spring in 11 games during his tryout with the Griffins, recording five points. Sent back to his native Sweden for 2025-26, the righty was a bright spot as a key youngster for Leksands this year, posting 17 points and 49 penalty minutes in 42 contests, a solid step forward from the year prior.
Inking his entry level contract last year, the 21-year-old is not thought to be among the team’s highest ranked farmhands in a deep pool. However, he brings size, physical edge, and enough puck moving skills to be a continued riser as a great find at 105th overall. Considering that their third pairing and overall defensive depth has been a sore spot at times, Johansson is coming in with a real path forward into becoming a Red Wings mainstay.
Joining an elite AHL team for their stretch run as he makes the full time transition to North America, Johansson will be in a favorable situation in Grand Rapids. Losing Justin Holl to St. Louis in the Justin Faulk trade, the Griffins benefit from adding a physical youngster who has plenty of professional experience from Sweden, as well as prior time spent with the team. Johansson will also get to learn under fellow countrymen in veterans Erik Gustafsson and William Lagesson.
In all likelihood, Johansson won’t debut rocking the Winged Wheel for some time, but fans will eagerly watch his continued development in Grand Rapids next season as an ascending prospect. Detroit is facing the possible disappointment of missing the postseason again, but even if such is the case, their top prospect pool offers much to be excited about, especially as it aligns with the current roster’s needs.