Evening Notes: Tanev, Avalanche, Fibigr
Due to a significant groin injury, veteran defenseman Chris Tanev has been limited to 11 games this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Again trying to rehabilitate the injury, THN’s Nick Barden reported that Tanev took to the ice on his own today, and the Maple Leafs will decide by the end of the weekend if he’s good to return to practice.
Still, there’s no guarantee Tanev will even return this season. After missing a month of action from November 1st to December 23rd, Tanev appeared in only three games before suffering a similar injury. He opted for rehab instead of surgery at the time, and it appears he’s trying to do the same thing this time around.
However, the door remains open on surgery, and it may be the most beneficial option. It would give Tanev ample time to recover and ramp up physical activity throughout the offseason to ensure he’ll be healthy for the 2026-27 campaign. Toronto could still return to the postseason conversation when they return from the Olympics, but they’ll have their work cut out for them in a hotly contested Atlantic Division.
Additional notes from this evening:
- The Colorado Avalanche have announced a new ECHL expansion franchise for the 2026-27 season. The New Mexico Goatheads will replace the Utah Grizzlies as Colorado’s ECHL affiliate next season, and the latter team will be moving to Trenton, NJ. It’ll be the newest ECHL affiliation with the Avalanche since the Colorado Eagles moved to the AHL in 2018.
- According to his Instagram account, defenseman prospect Jakub Fibigr has committed to Ohio State University for next season. The 19-year-old Czech was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft. He’s scored nine goals and 33 points in 44 games split between the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads and Windsor Spitfires this season.
Florida Panthers Injury Updates
Injuries have significantly impacted the Florida Panthers’ pursuit of a third consecutive Stanley Cup. However, assuming there are no further setbacks, they could return a trio of players shortly after the Olympic break.
In an update from the team, the Panthers could return Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov, and Jonah Gadjovich in their road trip at the beginning of March. That would indicate that each player should only miss a game or two before being activated from the long-term injured reserve.
Head coach Paul Maurice provided a quote explaining the situation, saying, “They’ll go probably non-contact this week and then maybe get released for contact in and around the Toronto game (at home on Feb. 26), which would keep them out of those games. But if they can get through the week, then somewhere on the road trip there will be a chance they’ll come back. I just don’t know the answer to a lot of them. They’ve been off for an awfully long time. We do need to get them into to a certain level of confidence before [they return].”
None of the three would provide Florida with a game-changing addition by any stretch, though a return of all three would drastically improve the team’s depth. Absent netminders, the Panthers have used 28 different players this season and have eight players currently dealing with some injury or another.
Nosek has missed the most time. After suffering a significant knee injury during offseason training that required surgery, Nosek has remained sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season up to this point. His first season with the Panthers came last season, scoring one goal and nine points in 59 games, averaging 9:49 of ice time.
Meanwhile, Kulikov has also been out for much of the 2025-26 campaign. Suffering a torn labrum in early October, the 35-year-old has been limited to two games this season. Throughout his last two years in Florida, he’s credited with five goals and 33 points in 146 games with 259 hits.
Like Kulikov, Gadjovich has also been out of the lineup since October. Also undergoing surgery, Gadjovich has only appeared in 10 games this year. As the Panthers continue their push toward the postseason, returning several of their injured players and adding a piece or two at the deadline should help in that endeavor.
Metro Notes: Quick, Marchenko, Romanov, Robinson
Already missing Igor Shesterkin, the New York Rangers don’t have much wiggle room to lose another goaltender to injury. Earlier today, according to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, de facto starter Jonathan Quick left practice early due to a lower-body injury.
Fortunately for Quick and the Rangers, his exit from practice was described as a precaution. Even if it’s something mild, the Rangers have five more days until their return to action, giving Quick ample time to recover. Since taking over the net in early January, Quick has managed a 1-8-1 record in 10 games with a .852 SV%.
If the Rangers reciprocate, it likely won’t be Quick’s last year with the team. In an interview with Peter Botte of the New York Post, Quick said, “I’m happy here. I want to be here. It means a lot to me to wear this jersey.” It’s a similar sentiment to what Quick has had in the past, and he’s not expected to be one of the several pieces the team sells off leading up to the trade deadline.
Other updates from the Metropolitan Division:
- The Columbus Blue Jackets got some good news on the injury front today. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, winger Kirill Marchenko returned to practice today. He has been dealing with a lower-body injury since before the Olympic break, but was expected to return after. He’s played an integral role in the Blue Jackets’ return to the postseason conversation, scoring 19 goals and 46 points in 50 games this season.
- According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, defenseman Alexander Romanov resumed skating for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in mid-November. Unfortunately, despite the encouraging update, there is no change to his recovery timeline. Romanov, who’s tallied one assist in 15 games this season, isn’t expected to return this season unless the New York Islanders reach the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
- Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News reported that the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to have forward Eric Robinson back after the Olympics. He shared a quote from head coach Rod Brind’Amour, saying, “We’re not rushing it but we’re pretty sure… well, it’s trending like he’ll be ready to go.” He’s been recovering from an upper-body injury since January 21st.
Olympic Notes: Crosby, Morrissey, Thompson, Pospisil
With the chance to win his third Gold Medal, all eyes are on whether captain Sidney Crosby will play for Team Canada tomorrow. Crosby left Canada’s quarterfinal matchup against Czechia due to a lower-body injury and didn’t appear in the semifinal contest against Finland.
Earlier today, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported that there’s a “70% chance” that Crosby will play tomorrow. Head coach Jon Cooper and the rest of Team Canada’s staff wanted to see how Crosby handled practice this morning and what his limitations will be tomorrow morning (local time).
Regardless, it would be unimaginable for Crosby not to play in what is likely the last Olympic tournament of his career. Even if he has to take a page out of Victor Hedman‘s book, who remained on Team Sweden’s bench for the quarterfinal game after suffering an injury in warmups, Crosby will likely suit up in some capacity tomorrow.
Other notes from the Olympics:
- One player who will not play for Team Canada tomorrow is defenseman Josh Morrissey. Earlier this week, it seemed that Morrissey might return from his upper-body injury by the semifinals. However, Mike McIntyre of The Winnipeg Free Press reported that he has already been ruled out of the Gold Medal game. Media personnel asked Cooper if he could clarify Morrissey’s injury and if he suffered any setbacks, to which Cooper replied, “No. With all due respect to Winnipeg.“
- After leaving yesterday’s game in the third period for precautionary reasons, Tage Thompson was back on the ice with Team USA this morning. Given that he was back on the ice, there’s every indication he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow morning. He has had a strong performance so far, scoring three goals and four points in five games with a +3 rating.
- In today’s Bronze Medal game between Finland and Slovakia, the latter club was without Martin Pospisil, who has been dealing with a nagging injury for most of the Olympic tournament, according to Arpon Basu of The Athletic. There could be some cause for concern, given that Pospisil missed a decent chunk of the 2025-26 season due to an undisclosed injury in training camp. He finished the Olympics with one assist in six games.
Kings Recall Pheonix Copley, Place Kevin Fiala On IR
Earlier today, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they’ve recalled netminder Pheonix Copley from the AHL’s Ontario Reign. Additionally, the Kings have placed forward Kevin Fiala on the injured reserve, as expected.
Copley has likely been brought on as a practice player before Los Angeles returns to action next week. Darcy Kuemper, the Kings’ typical starter, is rostered on Team Canada for the Olympics, and they’ve already clinched a spot in the Bronze Medal game at the very least.
Despite a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Copley has been with Los Angeles for the past four years. Still, he’s spent much of the past two years with AHL Ontario. In 24 games for the Reign this season, Copley has managed a 13-11-0 record with a .890 SV% and 2.95 GAA.
Meanwhile, Fiala’s placement on the injured reserve was a formality. Playing on Team Switzerland in the Olympics, Fiala infamously suffered multiple leg fractures in a game against Canada.
The fractures required nearly immediate surgery, which has prematurely ended Fiala’s 2025-26 campaign. Los Angeles could have placed Fiala on long-term injured reserve, but their sufficient cap space made that unnecessary.
Fiala’s absence from the Kings’ lineup the rest of the way should undoubtedly alter Los Angeles’ approach leading up to the trade deadline. Yes, the team already acquired high-scoring winger Artemi Panarin before the Olympics, though that was with Fiala healthy. Given the drastic need for goal-scoring help in Los Angeles, it’s likely they’ll seek to acquire some additional reinforcements.
Sharks Recall Filip Bystedt, Nick Leddy
The San Jose Sharks announced that they’ve recalled forward Filip Bystedt and defenseman Nick Leddy from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. Still, there’s no indication that either player will play for the Sharks next week.
Following the announcement, Sheng Peng from San Jose Hockey Now reported that Bystedt will not be playing for the Sharks next week; he has been recalled solely to serve as an additional participant in practice. Additionally, because Bystedt is nursing an upper-body injury, he wasn’t expected to play for the Barracuda either. There is no word on how long Leddy’s promotion will be.
Still, Bystedt likely isn’t far off from becoming a full-time player for the Sharks. He’s in his third season playing professionally in North America after being selected with the 27th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Sharks. He’s continued to get better every season.
He got off to a hot start, scoring four goals and seven points in eight games for the Barracuda in 2023-24, and followed that up with a 12-goal, 31-point performance in 50 games last season. This year, he’s leading the team in scoring, registering 13 goals and 36 points in 40 games.
Meanwhile, Leddy has yet to play for AHL San Jose after clearing waivers and being reassigned in mid-January. The 34-year-old veteran has struggled this season, registering four assists in 19 games, averaging 17:30 of ice time per game. In the last year of a four-year, $16MM contract signed with the St. Louis Blues, there’s a strong indication that this will be Leddy’s last season in the NHL.
Ducks Reassign Ian Moore
According to a team announcement, the Anaheim Ducks have reassigned defenseman Ian Moore to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. It’ll be Moore’s first stint in the AHL since the beginning of the season.
It’s not expected to be a long-term demotion for Moore. Simply put, the move to AHL San Diego will allow the 24-year-old defenseman to play in as many as three games before the Ducks return to action against the Edmonton Oilers next Wednesday.
Regardless, it won’t be an unfamiliar environment for Moore. The former captain of Harvard University played nine games for the Gulls last year to close out the regular season, scoring one goal and five points. He has only registered one AHL contest this season.
Although he didn’t crack Anaheim’s roster out of training camp, he’s been with the Ducks for much of the 2025-26 campaign. He’s scored two goals and nine points in 41 games, averaging 14:10 of ice time per night. He’s shown quality possession metrics for a rookie, managing a 53.5% CorsiFor% at even strength.
Moore’s rise as a capable NHL defenseman has sparked mixed feelings in Orange County. His play at the beginning of the year led to a loss of ice time for defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, who even considered requesting a trade in late November.
Hockey France Suspends Pierre Crinon
Although there are no games today, there is still news coming from the Olympics. After sharing yesterday that he would have an in-person hearing, the French Ice Hockey Federation announced that they’ve suspended defenseman Pierre Crinon for the remainder of the Olympics.
During yesterday’s game between Canada and France, Crinon got into a fight with Canadian forward Tom Wilson. The International Olympic Committee suspended neither player for the fight, which is typically barred in Olympic competition; the governing body of hockey in France had other ideas.
Interestingly enough, from their public announcement, the FFHG didn’t appear to take much exception to the fighting. All of their discontent stemmed from Crinon’s theatrics after the fight, being seen egging on fans of Team Canada (video link).
Time will tell how long Crinon’s suspension will last. France lines up against Germany in tomorrow’s playoff round, and they aren’t expected to play beyond that. Cronin, 30, will finish his first Olympic action with one assist in three games.
Regardless, he’ll return to the Ligue Magnus, France’s highest professional league, for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He has played in the league for the last 13 years, scoring 14 goals and 94 points in 304 games with 541 PIMs, and a +142 rating.
Trade Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at bubble teams in recent days, we now shift the focus to teams currently in a playoff spot. Next up are the Red Wings.
Although they’ve gotten frustratingly close the past two years, the Red Wings are wholly poised for postseason competition for the first time in a decade. Not only are they projecting toward making the playoffs, but there’s a decent chance they’ll have home-ice advantage in the first round. There are noticeable flaws in the roster, raising concerns that the team’s success relies heavily on John Gibson‘s remarkable performance since early December. Regardless, given the ridiculous amount of cap space available to him, general manager Steve Yzerman has the opportunity to turn this team into a formidable playoff opponent.
Record
33-19-6, 3rd in the Atlantic (78% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$59.38MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, CBJ 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, CGY 7th, DET 7th
2027: DET 1st, DET 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th
Trade Chips
The Red Wings have selected at least one player in the first round for 13 consecutive years. Not all of those have landed, though it has been enough for Detroit to restock its cupboards. Assuming an acquiring team wouldn’t expect the Red Wings to reach the Stanley Cup Final or even the Eastern Conference Final, their first-round selection this year could have significant value with the expectation that it falls around the 20 to 25 mark.
With their numerous first-round picks, Detroit can trade some prospects, depending on the magnitude of additions they want to make. The Red Wings’ biggest trade chips come from between the pipes. A few days ago, we peddled the idea of Detroit trading Cam Talbot to a desperate team around the deadline, with the idea they would call up prospect Sebastian Cossa in his stead. Cossa, being the heir-apparent, wouldn’t affect Talbot alone, however.
Detroit has one of the best goaltending prospects not currently in professional hockey. Trey Augustine, 20, is in his third year at Michigan State University, managing a 20-6-0 record with a .932 SV% and 1.96 GAA. Coupled with his pair of gold medals from the World Junior Championships, Augustine could fetch a massive return at the deadline. Famously, the Florida Panthers used Devon Levi and Spencer Knight to acquire Sam Reinhart and Seth Jones, respectively, each of whom had a hand in their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
While the Red Wings will likely want to retain prospects such as Carter Bear, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Nate Danielson, some lower-level prospects may be traded. While circumstances may change, Amadeus Lombardi, Carter Mazur, and Shai Buium don’t seem likely to have a long-term future in Detroit, making them potential candidates in trade packages for acquiring high-level talent.
Team Needs
Top-Four Defenseman: Of all the playoff-bound teams, Detroit has one of the most obvious flaws. After Simon Edvinsson suffered a lower-body injury on January 22, the Red Wings concluded play before the Olympics with a record of 2-3-1. Even before losing Edvinsson, the need was obvious. It’s clear that head coach Todd McLellan doesn’t trust rookie Axel Sandin Pellikka (yet) in high-leverage situations, and veteran Ben Chiarot is a better fit for strong bottom-pairing play. Throughout the season, Detroit has been loosely connected to top-four defenseman such as Dougie Hamilton and Justin Faulk, both of whom make sense to fill the need. Even if a player like Morgan Rielly becomes available, or another top-four blue liner with term, the Red Wings should be the first team calling.
Some Jam Up Front: This is one of the more obscure talking points of the Red Wings’ makeup. As of now, the leading forwards on the team in hits are Marco Kasper (131) and Emmitt Finnie (86). This is not an argument that Detroit needs to pursue a punch-heavy forward like Ryan Reaves or Matt Rempe, but they should aim to become nastier to play against, especially with an eye on playoff competition. Coupled with their need for an additional boost of offense, Kiefer Sherwood would have been the ideal fit had he not already been dealt to the San Jose Sharks. Still, would a player like Evander Kane make sense? He’s scored nine goals and 25 points in 56 games for the Vancouver Canucks this season, and has only failed to clear the 100-hit mark twice throughout his 16-year career. He would help provide the Red Wings with a mild boost of offense, playoff experience, and much-needed grit.
Image courtesy of Robert Killips of Lansing State Journal.
Kings’ Kevin Fiala Suffers Sustains Multiple Left Leg Fractures, Out For The Season
Sunday: The Los Angeles Kings updated today that Fiala underwent successful surgery due to fractures in his lower left leg. As expected, he will miss the remainder of the season, and will be reevaluated in the spring.
Saturday: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Fiala is having surgery today. There still is no word on the precise nature of the injury but Friedman adds that it is indeed season-ending, a significant blow for both Switzerland and the Kings. Fiala will now be eligible to be placed on LTIR but with Los Angeles having ample cap space, it’s unlikely they’ll need to put him there.
Friday: One of the main reasons NHL teams opposed player participation in the Olympics was the concern over injuries that could be avoided. That fear has come to fruition for the Los Angeles Kings. Toward the end of today’s game between Canada and Switzerland, Kevin Fiala had to be stretchered off the ice due to an apparent leg or knee injury.
As mentioned, the injury happened with approximately three minutes left in the game. Fiala absorbed a hit from Tom Wilson and was in immediate pain on the ice. Although the hit was leveled, the incident causing the injury seemed accidental, and more like a freak play. According to Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, after the game, Wilson said, “It’s the Olympic Games and I feel terrible that he may not be able to keep playing. Just sending his family and him my best. You never want to see a guy go down, in a tournament like this, especially.”
Still, accident or not, it doesn’t make the situation any easier for the Kings. Fiala is the team’s second-highest scorer with 18 goals and 40 points in 56 games while averaging over 19 minutes of ice time per game.
Considering how starved Los Angeles is for offense, it’s a worst-case scenario. The team recently acquired high-scoring Artemi Panarin before the Olympic break, but that didn’t relieve all of the team’s goal-scoring woes. No, the Kings haven’t yet played with Panarin on the ice, but losing a player with Fiala’s goal-scoring capabilities will objectively make it more difficult for them to put the puck in the net.
There haven’t been many updates regarding Fiala’s immediate status. Arpon Basu of The Athletic reported that Fiala has been taken to a local hospital, and there are concerns that the injury could be season-ending. If that’s the case, the Kings’ uphill climb toward playoff contention just became remarkably more difficult.