Maple Leafs’ Bobby McMann Suspended One Game
The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann has been suspended one game for high-sticking.
The infraction in question occurred during last night’s Maple Leafs game, when the club took on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Early in the third period, Toronto was defending a 1-0 lead, and Toronto’s Simon Benoit took down Tampa Bay’s Jack Finley with a hard, legal check. Tampa Bay forward Gage Goncalves appeared to respond to the hit by delivering his own check to Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis, who was collecting a puck in Toronto’s corner. Things escalated from that point, with a scrum breaking out near the center of the ice and Goncalves fighting Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua.
Goncalves was assessed a match penalty for his hit on Mermis, with the key point of controversy on the play being the apparent knee-on-knee contact of Goncalves’ hit. During the center-ice scrum that broke out as a result of Goncalves’ hit, McMann responded to a shove from Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand by hitting Bjorkstrand on the top of the helmet, with some force, with his stick. McMann was assessed his own match penalty on the play.
In their video explaining their decision, the Department of Player Safety said that McMann struck Bjorkstrand’s head “with sufficient force to merit supplemental discipline.” The Department of Player Safety drew a clear distinction between the aggressive manner in which McMann lowered his stick and the conventional way a player would be expected to lower a raised stick. They also considered the intentionality of the act, stating that McMann was “in full control” of his stick and his body at all times of the incident in question. They added that McMann “simply must display more control” to ensure his stick does not strike an opposing player’s head in such a manner.
McMann has no prior history of supplemental discipline at the NHL level, which is a factor the Department takes into account. This suspension will cost McMann the chance to play in Toronto’s game on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. McMann has eight goals and 14 points across 29 games this season. He ranks seventh among Maple Leafs forwards in time on ice per game, averaging 14:19 per game with most of that being at even strength.
Colorado Avalanche Activate Gavin Brindley
The Colorado Avalanche announced today that forward Gavin Brindley has been activated off of injured reserve.
On Dec. 3, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told the media that Brindley was ahead of schedule in his injury recovery process, and was likely to return before the conclusion of the club’s road trip. Tonight is the last game of the team’s road trip before they head home to play the Florida Panthers on Thursday, so Brindley’s activation today lines up directly with Bednar’s expectation.
Brindley last played in Colorado’s Nov. 20 contest against the New York Rangers. He sustained a lower-body injury and was designated week-to-week. Brindley’s injury ended up costing him nine games in total.
A 2023 high second-round pick, Brindley has made the most of his start to the 2025-26 season. He struggled to adjust to professional hockey last year (his first campaign as a pro since leaving the University of Michigan), scoring just six goals and 17 points in 52 AHL games. The Columbus Blue Jackets ended up trading Brindley over the summer as part of a package of assets that landed them Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle.
Still exempt from waivers, most likely expected Brindley to require some more time in the AHL before becoming a full-time NHLer. Brindley’s lackluster production in his rookie AHL campaign was seen as a sign that he might need some more time to grow his game before making an impact in the world’s top league.
Brindley beat those expectations by making the Avalanche’s NHL team out of training camp, and he has made the most of limited ice time this season. Despite averaging just 9:17 time on ice per game, including very little special teams usage, Brindley has managed a healthy eight points in 18 games. That’s a 32-point 82-game scoring pace, a decent output for a rookie, and especially a rookie in such a limited role.
Brindley has always been credited with an exemplary compete level and work ethic, and he’s effectively leveraged those traits into concrete production so far in Colorado. While his injury may have slowed his momentum, his re-addition to the Avalanche’s healthy roster strengthens what is already one of, if not the best lineups in the NHL.
Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Scott Sabourin
The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Scott Sabourin from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. The move comes in advance of the club’s game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.
This is far from Sabourin’s first recall to the Lightning’s NHL roster. Earlier in the season, Sabourin was recalled on multiple occasions so that he would be able to serve the four-game suspension he was assessed for his actions in the preseason. Sabourin was suspended for a hit on Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Most had assumed Sabourin’s recalls were going to be limited to suspension-serving, as the veteran had played in just four NHL games over the last three seasons.
But on Nov. 12, the Lightning recalled Sabourin and he ended up playing that night’s game against the New York Rangers. He played in nearly 12 minutes of ice time, which was the most he’d received in an NHL regular-season game since the 2019-20 campaign. Sabourin instantly rewarded the Lightning’s faith in him, scoring his first goal of the season (and first since 2019-20) early in that night’s game.
Sabourin added an assist in the Lightning’s following game on Nov. 15 against the Panthers before he was sent back to Syracuse on Nov. 19. A bruising physical forward, Sabourin hasn’t been much of a scorer at the AHL (or NHL) level for most of his career. But what’s continued to get him both hefty AHL contracts (his one-year, two-way deal carries a $350K guarantee) and NHL recalls has been the imposing physical presence he’s been able to provide.
The Lightning were shut out by the Maple Leafs last night in Toronto, and have had to travel to Montreal and will need to play tonight’s game as the second half of a back-to-back. By adding Sabourin, the Lightning have added fresher legs to their roster and a forward capable of going toe-to-toe with some of Montreal’s heavyweights, such as Arber Xhekaj and Josh Anderson.
While it’s unclear at the moment whether Sabourin will dress for the game, his recall does at least provide head coach Jon Cooper with another player to choose from when selecting a lineup.
Golden Knights Reassign Jesper Vikman
Dec. 7: Vikman has been returned to Henderson, per a team announcement. He dressed as the backup to Akira Schmid, who posted a 24-save shutout against the Devils on Friday, because Hart was listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. As such, Hart is expected to be available tonight against the Rangers.
Dec. 5: The Vegas Golden Knights announced this morning that they have recalled netminder Jesper Vikman from their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.
Since Vegas already has two goalies on its active roster, Carter Hart and Akira Schmid, the move appears to, at this moment, bring a third netminder into the fold for head coach Bruce Cassidy to choose from. It’s possible this recall is a response to the expected unavailability of one of those two netminders, but nothing of the sort has been reported at this time.
This transaction appears to be Vikman’s first regular-season NHL recall. The 23-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut, and while it’s more likely he’s been recalled at this time to serve in a reserve capacity, today’s move does at least give him the chance to skate in an NHL game for the first time.
A 2020 fifth-round pick out of Sweden’s AIK, Vikman earned an entry-level contract off the back of two strong seasons as a No. 1 goalie for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. Vikman was an All-Star in the WHL, posting a .903 save percentage across 80 games, leading Vancouver to the postseason in both years he played there.
Vikman made the transition to pro hockey in 2023-24, and in each of the last two years, he’s split time between Henderson and the Golden Knights’ ECHL affiliates. Vikman has a career .885 save percentage across 31 AHL games, and a career .897 mark in 57 ECHL games.
So far this season, Vikman has gone 4-4-0 with Henderson, posting an .871 save percentage. Vikman is currently in one of the most important campaigns of his hockey career as a 23-year-old pending RFA. He is playing out the final year of his entry-level deal, and Vikman could be playing to secure his place in the Golden Knights’ organization beyond this season. Vegas already has prospect Cameron Whitehead signed beyond this season, and Carl Lindbom, who will also be an RFA, is the club’s strongest pro-level goalie prospect. Lindbom is widely considered to be a step above Vikman in terms of future projection.
While this recall won’t, in the grand scheme of things, impact Vikman’s chances of earning an extension as much as his performances in the AHL will, this recall still serves as an important opportunity for the player. Even if he doesn’t get the chance to make his NHL debut, he’ll still get to showcase his talents in front of Vegas’ staff in practice for the duration of his time on the NHL roster.
Canucks, Devils Reportedly Spoke Regarding Quinn Hughes
During the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada yesterday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils have held talks related to the status of Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. Friedman said that while he does “not believe there is anything imminent” regarding Hughes, “a conversation was had” between the two clubs “about where things stand and where they might be going.”
Per The Athletic’s Thomas Drance, Hughes commented on Friedman’s report last night, saying “It’s not like me, [Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford] and [Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald] hopped on a call, I wasn’t a part of that.” He added: “But obviously I’m aware that things like that could happen.”
As the Canucks have struggled to build a team capable of making a serious push towards Stanley Cup contention, the future of Hughes in Vancouver has come under increased scrutiny. The 26-year-old is under contract through 2026-27, and has shied away from verbally committing his future to the only NHL franchise he’s ever known to this point.
Two months ago, Hughes appeared on the 32 Thoughts podcast and appeared non-committal about his future in Vancouver. Jack Hughes expressed strong interest in playing with his older brother at some point in his career, and Quinn, when asked about Jack’s comments, said that he’d “of course” be interested in at some point playing with his two brothers in the NHL.
While that doesn’t mean Quinn is necessarily eyeing the upcoming expiration of his contract as his chance to play with Jack and Luke Hughes, the expiration of his contract does pose a potentially existential threat to the Canucks’ competitive hopes. For what it’s worth, it appears the Canucks have been planning for at least the possibility that Hughes will want to continue his NHL career elsewhere.
Drance reported on Nov. 25 that it’s “been evident for a while is that Vancouver has already undergone some level of contingency planning with regard to Hughes, dating back to this offseason.” He added that the team’s reported interest in Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Pavel Mintyukov may have been part of the club’s long-term planning for the possibility of a Hughes departure, even if their first priority remains signing Hughes to an extension.
The Canucks’ diligence in planning for all potential outcomes related to Hughes may have influenced their decision to reportedly speak to the Devils more recently. 
Because of the fact that New Jersey currently has both of Hughes’ brothers under contract, and appear to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, they’ve been pointed to as the clear front-runner to secure Quinn’s services should he appear on the trade market or in unrestricted free agency.
If Hughes makes it clear he is unwilling to sign an extension in Vancouver, one would have to imagine that the club would aggressively pursue trading Hughes for the best possible return. Hughes is in the middle of his prime and is among the league’s top defensemen.
Even with an expiring contract next season, the Canucks would likely receive a massive return of assets in exchange for Hughes, assets that could jump-start the club’s push back towards real Stanley Cup contention.
Speaking to the Devils to at least touch base on things, as Friedman has reported the Canucks have done, then becomes a natural part of preparing for all potential outcomes. If the Canucks eventually do consider trading Hughes, the Devils would instantly become a key team in the race to acquire him, so to speak with the Devils now allows the Canucks to at least begin to lay the groundwork for any future trade talks that could be held.
While as Friedman appeared to note, it still appears to be too early for the Canucks to get into serious conversations about what a Hughes trade would look like, it’s not too early for them to feel out the landscape of what teams might be interested in Hughes, and how interested those teams might be.
Photos courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
West Notes: Danault, Pettersson, Rossi
Yesterday evening, Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli reported that “trade chatter is picking up” around Los Angeles Kings pivot Phillip Danault. According to Seravalli, “multiple teams have inquired with LA on his availability,” and Danault could be one of the top centers available on the trade market, assuming the Kings have an appetite to deal him.
Danault, 32, has been one of the league’s more well-regarded defensive centers over the last half-decade or more. He finished seventh in Selke Trophy voting in 2018-19, beginning a streak of five consecutive years where he received votes as the league’s top defensive forward. While he has generally been a consistent offensive presence as a King, good for about 40 to 50 points of production, points have eluded him in 2025-26. Danault has just five points through 28 games this season, and has yet to register a goal.
At 32 years old, it’d be fair to be concerned that Danault’s offensive decline early in the season could be less a cold streak and more a signal of actual age-related decline. Complicating things further is the fact that Danault is under contract for another year at a $5.5MM cap hit, and owns a 10-team no-trade list per the terms of his contract. But if teams view Danault’s decline in production as more of a poor stretch than a sign of more permanent decline, then it’d be understandable that Danault would receive robust interest on the trade market.
Other notes from the Pacific Division:
- Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote told the media last night, including The Athletic’s Thomas Drance, that center Elias Pettersson is dealing with an injury and is still being evaluated. Foote added that Pettersson will undergo further testing on Sunday, including an MRI. If the Canucks lose Pettersson for any period of time, their chances of winning games would be dealt a significant blow. For as much criticism as Pettersson has received over the last year, he’s upped his production to start 2025-26. He’s scored 22 points in 28 games this season, and while that’s not at the standard he set when he was a 102-point player in 2022-23, it is an improvement in scoring pace over last season.
- On Thursday, we covered news coming out of Minnesota that Wild center Marco Rossi‘s injury recovery was progressing at a slower rate than was initially expected. Today, The Athletic’s Joe Smith relayed word from Wild head coach John Hynes, who said that he still considers Rossi at this point to be out on a week-to-week basis. Rossi has been out since Nov. 11 and has 13 points in 17 games played in 2025-26.
Hurricanes Reassign Domenick Fensore
Dec. 5: Fensore was returned to AHL Chicago today, the team announced. He wasn’t needed for last night’s 5-1 loss at the hands of the Leafs.
Dec. 4: The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that defenseman Domenick Fensore has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. The move comes as veteran defenseman K’Andre Miller manages an illness, according to team reporter Walt Ruff.
This isn’t Fensore’s first NHL recall of 2025-26. He was recalled by Carolina in late October while the team was dealing with a slate of defensive injuries. He made his season debut in the team’s Oct. 28 contest against the Vegas Golden Knights, a game where he received nearly 20 minutes of ice time. Outside of that one NHL game played, Fensore has largely served as a healthy scratch during his time spent on the NHL roster so far in 2025-26.
While it’s unclear at this point whether Fensore will dress for the team’s game tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s entirely possible he’s been recalled to once more serve as a spare defenseman and healthy scratch.
The 24-year-old former Boston University captain has proven himself to be a quality creator of offense from the back end at the AHL level. He scored 32 points in 67 games last season and has upped his production considerably so far this year. Fensore ranks second on the Wolves in scoring for 2025-26 with 15 points in 17 games, just behind forward Felix Unger-Sorum, who has 19 points in 20 games.
A pending RFA with arbitration rights, these repeated recalls are a positive sign for Fensore’s upcoming free agency. They signal the Hurricanes’ increased level of trust in Fensore as an NHL option, even if he hasn’t been able to crack Carolina’s lineup on a full-time basis.
The one-year contract extension Fensore signed in July of last year contained a two-way structure and an AHL salary of just $70K, with a $100K guarantee. Fensore’s on-ice value so far this season merits a significant pay raise, and the more call-ups he can receive, the more likely it is that Fensore will be able to earn a more significant AHL salary on his next contract, assuming his next deal also carries a two-way structure.
New Jersey Devils Recall Angus Crookshank
The New Jersey Devils announced today that forward Angus Crookshank has been recalled from their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.
Before this recall, the Devils had been operating without a spare forward on their NHL roster. That’s not entirely abnormal, but the Devils are set to play back-to-back games, something that typically tests a club’s depth more than a standard section of the schedule. As a result, the Devils have recalled a forward to add to their depth, and that forward is Crookshank.
A 26-year-old 2018 fifth-round pick, Crookshank had spent nearly all of his professional career thus far with the Ottawa Senators organization.
Crookshank became a Group Six unrestricted free agent this past summer, and New Jersey inked him to a two-year contract.
Crookshank’s deal has a two-way structure this season, pledging him a $475K guarantee to go along with his league-minimum NHL salary and $425K AHL salary.
Next season, Crookshank’s deal will become a one-way contract, providing him a solid pay bump regardless of what level he plays at.
Crookshank earned that two-year deal in New Jersey on the back of three quality, productive years as a depth player for the Senators. He scored 26 goals and 47 points for the AHL’s Belleville Senators in 2022-23, beginning a stretch of three seasons where he scored at least 40 points in the AHL.
Thanks to his emergence as a quality AHL scorer, Crookshank earned multiple NHL call-ups, ultimately playing in 21 NHL games across 2023-24 and 2024-25.
So far this season, Crookshank isn’t scoring at quite as high a level as he had in Belleville. His seven points in 17 games put him on pace for 29 points across a full 72-game schedule, but it’s worth noting the impact environment may be having on his production. Utica is the lowest-scoring team in the AHL, with just 36 goals scored across 18 games.
While Crookshank is obviously a part of that ranking, it’s worth noting when considering why his formerly hyper-consistent level of production seems to be trailing off a bit.
Given the fact that the Devils don’t appear to have an immediate opening in their forward lineup, it’s possible Crookshank is simply being recalled to serve as a healthy scratch for two games. But if he can draw into their NHL lineup, it would be Crookshank’s first chance to impress NHL viewers while playing in a Devils uniform.
Photos courtesy of James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Morning Notes: Sherwood, Hiller, Edvinsson
The Vancouver Canucks are considering a significant re-adjustment in their immediate competitive priorities, and one of the first steps in that process is considering trades for the club’s pending unrestricted free agents. One of the top players for the Canucks to shop is veteran winger Kiefer Sherwood, who led the NHL in hits last season and is on pace for a career year offensively. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported this morning that the Canucks are “getting lots of interest” from teams interested in acquiring the veteran winger.
LeBrun specifically named the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens as clubs who have expressed interest in acquiring Sherwood. Sherwood clearly fits the mold of the kind of player Wild GM Bill Guerin appears to covet, as a hard-to-play-against forward who blends relentless physicality with some scoring ability. Both Dallas and Montreal have significant injuries to deal with in their forward groups, something that may ratchet up the pressure on each club to acquire external scoring help. It was previously reported that the Canucks were seeking, at minimum, a second-round pick for Sherwood. The more clubs enter the bidding to acquire the player, the more likely it becomes that the Canucks will be able to ultimately exceed that asking price once they pull the trigger on trading Sherwood.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- The Los Angeles Kings have struggled offensively this season, ranking 29th in the NHL in goals scored per game. The club’s low-scoring loss to the Chicago Blackhawks last night only further raised questions about the state of the Kings as a Stanley Cup hopeful. Former LA Times sports columnist Helene Elliott reported that fans in attendance were vocal in their displeasure for how the team performed against Chicago. While the Kings’ offensive struggles have prompted some to consider whether it’s time for the club to consider a coaching change, John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor wrote that he is “not expecting a change in the LA Kings head coach anytime soon.” He noted that while the Kings have had great difficulty scoring at even strength and on the power play, “they’re still in every game,” and that the best path for the team moving forward would be for some of its scorers to return to their prior levels of offensive production.
- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a top pick at the 2021 draft, has firmly established himself as a core part of Detroit’s future on defense. As a result, interest is picking up on what exactly Edvinsson’s next contract will look like. The trend has been for teams to sign key young players to contract extensions with as much term as possible, and Edvinsson could be no different. The Athletic’s Max Bultman wrote today that “it’s very possible Edvinsson lands close to Moritz Seider’s $8.55 million AAV” on his upcoming extension. Bultman cited Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who will make $9MM AAV on his next deal, as a key comparable. LaCombe scored 43 points playing 22:18 time on ice per game in 2024-25, while Edvinsson scored 31 points and played 21:07 per game.
New Jersey Devils Reportedly Discussed Steven Stamkos Pursuit
This morning, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that “the New Jersey Devils have discussed [Steven Stamkos‘] name internally, among many other trade targets.” LeBrun has previously reported that Nashville “would definitely listen to [trade] calls on him.” He also noted that the Devils were one of the suitors pursuing Stamkos during his free agency in the summer of 2024, meaning they do have documented interest in the player from the past.
Internal discussion of trade possibilities should not be taken as a firm desire by any team to actually directly pursue acquiring a player. A team can, and should, examine all potential options to improve its roster, even ones that may not be the most realistic.
But it is notable that New Jersey is at least considering the possibility of a Stamkos pursuit. LeBrun wrote that, at the very least, this is “something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline.”
Where exactly Stamkos would fit on the Devils’ roster is less clear, especially at his $8MM cap hit. The Devils already have two forwards making $8MM per year (Timo Meier, Jack Hughes) and have another making $7.875MM (Jesper Bratt).
Whether the Devils would be best-served taking on the full freight of Stamkos’ $8MM AAV when they have upcoming contract extensions for Arseni Gritsyuk and Simon Nemec to consider is a fair question to ask.
For as much as Stamkos has accomplished in his career, his play over the last two seasons has been discouraging. He scored 40 goals and 81 points in his final season with the Lightning, but managed only 53 points in his first season in Nashville. So far this year, Stamkos is scoring at a 33-point 82-game pace.
In their discussions, the Devils may have considered the possibility that Stamkos’ decline in production is more attributable to the environment he’s playing in (he’s not the only Predators forward to be struggling) rather than any steep personal decline. But it’s unclear whether that line of thinking is actually fully accurate.
There were warning signs of a potential Stamkos decline that were emerging even during his final year in Tampa Bay. Stamkos’ five-on-five production was already slowing down considerably. Stamkos scored 70 even-strength points in 2021-22, but that number was down to 42 in his final year with the Lightning.
One could have made the argument that he was too reliant on the team’s power play, led by offensive dynamo Nikita Kucherov, for much of his production. An extension of that argument would have been that any team that signed Stamkos, but didn’t have a consistent Art Ross Trophy contender such as Kucherov to pair him with on a power play, might struggle to get the most out of his game.
The Devils may have reportedly discussed trading for Stamkos, but that doesn’t mean we have any reported clarity on how they view the state of his game, and his overall value.
If they do view Stamkos as more of a power play specialist, then it would be somewhat strange for the Devils to aggressively pursue acquiring him. New Jersey doesn’t appear to be a team in need of urgent assistance on the man advantage. They rank sixth in the NHL this season in power play conversion rate (24.3%) and that’s despite being without Hughes, their key offensive creator, for the last three weeks.
Worth noting is the existing connection that exists at the highest level of the Devils’ and Predators’ front offices. During his playing days, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald served as Nashville’s captain for four seasons, back when Nashville GM Barry Trotz was the club’s head coach. Fitzgerald also began his hockey operations career in the front office of the late Ray Shero in Pittsburgh. Before he was hired to run the Penguins, Shero was a key lieutenant of Hockey Hall of Fame inductee David Poile, who was the Predators’ longtime GM. Poile remains with the team in a senior advisor capacity.
None of these connections mean that the Devils’ reported discussion of Stamkos will materialize in an actual deal to bring Stamkos to Newark, of course. But they are worth noting when bringing up trade possibilities between the two clubs.
Photos courtesy of Per Haljestam-Imagn Images