Trade Deadline Primer: Philadelphia Flyers
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? We continue our look around the league at teams on the playoff bubble, next up: the Flyers.
For the second consecutive season, the Philadelphia Flyers are a team on the bubble with the odds not in their favor. Based on points percentage, the team has taken a step back from last year’s results before their infamous late-season collapse. Furthermore, second-year winger Matvei Michkov has taken a significant step back. This season, Philadelphia’s prize prospect has scored 13 goals and 29 points in 55 games, averaging 14:34 of ice time per game. Michkov had scored 16 goals and 36 points while managing a 16:01 ATOI at this point last season. If the Flyers have any chance of future success, they’ll want to prioritize getting Michkov back on track.
Record
25-20-11, 6th in the Metropolitan (10.7% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Short-term sellers/long-term buyers
Deadline Cap Space
$32.38MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: PHI 1st, PHI 2nd, PHI 3rd, CBJ 6th, PHI 7th
2027: PHI 1st, TOR 1st, PHI 2nd, LA 3rd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 5th, PHI 7th
Trade Chips
Given their spot in the standings, it’s assumed that the Flyers will sell off expiring assets such as Carl Grundstrom, Nicolas Deslauriers, Rodrigo Abols, and Noah Juulsen. Philadelphia shouldn’t expect to recoup major assets for the group, though they should have a market for playoff-bound teams looking for depth.
Still, although they are only a few years into their rebuild, the Flyers aren’t necessarily out of the fight in the Metropolitan Division. It would take a significant performance increase to reach the postseason this year, but given the team’s structure, competing next year shouldn’t be out of the question. If any younger players become available, especially those that are already at the NHL level, Philadelphia should be on the phone.
Depending on what they’re looking to add, Philadelphia has a couple of assets they could move. If rival General Managers believe that the post-Mitch Marner Toronto Maple Leafs will continue their downward trend, Toronto’s upcoming 2027 first-round selection could be very enticing to rebuilding teams. The Flyers likely aren’t in a position to move too much of their prospect capital, though they do have a glut of wingers.
Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey should all be considered untouchables at this point, but would the Flyers be interested in moving recent second-round pick, Jack Murtagh? He’s had a disappointing start to his collegiate career, scoring four goals and seven points in 28 games. Still, he has retained the intangibles that made him a top-64 selection in the first place, and he may be on the outside looking in for top-six Philadelphia wingers for the years to come.
Team Needs
Goaltending Depth: The Flyers have gotten great starts from newcomer Daniel Vladař, who owns a 17-8-6 record in 33 games with a .905 SV% and 2.47 GAA. Still, their options behind him have been nearly unplayable, with typical backup Samuel Ersson carrying an 8-10-5 record with a .856 SV% and 3.51. Philadelphia has Russian prospect Yegor Zavragin waiting in the wings, but at only 20-years-old, he’s likely a few years away.
Young Defenseman: This is where Philadelphia could really make some noise at the trade deadline, if they choose to. Outside of Cameron York and Jamie Drysdale, the Flyers don’t have much in the way of up-and-coming top-four defenseman. Yes, Travis Sanheim has proven capable of leading the blueline, but he’ll be in his 30s next season. Given that reality, if the Buffalo Sabres make Owen Power available, the Flyers could offer a package including Toronto’s first-round pick, a middle-six forward like Bobby Brink, and potentially one of their depth defensemen to start. Even though he isn’t a recent first overall pick like Power, younger defensemen such as Pavel Mintyukov have a lot of upside, but their value may be lower at the deadline.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Should The Red Wings Trade Cam Talbot?
The Detroit Red Wings are in an interesting position leading up to the trade deadline. They sit third in the Atlantic Division but are only seven points away from the postseason cutoff entirely. Given their position, it’s unlikely that they’ll remove any pieces from their active roster, but would it make sense in the long run?
There’s no question: it’s John Gibson‘s net in Detroit. After a shaky start with the second franchise of his career, he’s been nearly unstoppable since December, posting an 18-5-1 record in 24 games with a .923 SV%. The team in front of him has been performing well, but it is difficult to argue that the Red Wings’ recent success is not primarily due to Gibson’s excellent play in goal.
That leaves veteran Cam Talbot in an awkward spot. Splitting the net at the beginning of the year, Talbot is now cemented as the team’s backup, playing in nine games since December, with one of those coming in relief. It comes one year after he received the majority of starts in Detroit, earning a 21-19-5 record in 47 games with a .900 SV% during the 2024-25 season.
Given their competitive nature and firmly being in playoff contention for the first time in a decade, it usually wouldn’t make sense for Detroit to reduce its roster. However, Talbot is one of the easiest netminders to move, given his lack of trade protection and relatively low salary. Coupled with the fact that the trade market for netminders is relatively thin, General Manager Steve Yzerman could capitalize in a big way.
His hypothetical market would be limited, but there would be at least a few teams. The Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights are competitive teams in need of goaltending reinforcements. It’s hard to envision Talbot becoming the starter for any of those teams, but he would at least provide some much-needed breathing room if something went wrong with their regular starters.
Detroit wouldn’t need a goaltender in return, either. They would gain the flexibility to add almost anything; either deepen their resources in some way or acquire additional assets for future trades.
Knocking on the door last year, Sebastian Cossa has completely knocked it down this season. In 26 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins this season, Cossa, 23, owns a 20-4-2 record with a .928 SV% and 1.99 GAA, including four shutouts. His performance this season, in a vacuum, isn’t the only argument for promotion. He has a .913 SV% across 110 games at the AHL level, showing that he’s ready to some capacity.
If the Red Wings continue to use Gibson as they have, Cossa would be burdened with only seven or eight starts throughout Detroit’s last 24 games to finish the season. If Cossa is going to back up Gibson next season anyway, what more valuable experience could you give a young netminder than see a seasoned veteran like Gibson prepare for the postseason?
To be clear, this isn’t an argument that this should be the Red Wings’ only move at the deadline, or even a priority. Still, if there is a market for him, they’re in a unique position to acquire assets for someone they know won’t be on the team next season and remain competitive.
Canadiens Likely To Trade Patrik Laine After Olympics
For the past few weeks, winger Patrik Laine has been a full participant at most Montreal Canadiens practices as he works his way back from core muscle surgery. However, assuming he’s medically cleared to play after the Olympics, there’s little expectation that it’ll be with the Canadiens.
In a recent article, Eric Engels of Sportsnet strongly implied Laine wouldn’t play for Montreal again this season, writing, “If the 27-year-old Finn sees any post-Olympics action, we expect it to be for someone other than the Canadiens.” That suggests that Montreal will quickly begin trade negotiations regarding Laine, if they haven’t already.
Unfortunately, the major hangup in any Laine trade is his bloated salary. Laine’s cap hit sits at $8.7MM through the end of the season, and he’s earning a $9.1MM salary. Although the cap hit has received much scrutiny, Laine was coming off a 26-goal, 56-point performance in 56 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was only 23 years old at the time, and had already scored 250 points in 306 games for the Winnipeg Jets.
Still, there’s no question he hasn’t lived up to that contract. He had a decent follow-up performance with the Blue Jackets, but injuries have derailed him since. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Laine has played in only 75 games, which is 33.9% of the total possible contests.
He was a quality secondary scorer for the Canadiens last season, registering 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games. 15 of his goals were scored on power plays, making him less effective at even-strength. This season, due to the core muscle surgery, Laine has tallied only one assist in five games.
As Engels points out, Montreal would undoubtedly have to eat some of Laine’s remaining salary, and may even need to attach an additional sweetener. According to Engels, that’s not something the Canadiens are keen to do.
Unfortunately, the Canadiens won’t have much wiggle room until Laine is entirely off the roster come July 1st. Given the organization’s need for cap space, it would make little sense to swap Laine for another bad contract, especially one signed beyond this season. Despite his lack of availability over the past few years and his subpar play at even strength, there are a few teams with ample cap space to take a flyer on Laine down the stretch.
As it stands, the Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken, New York Islanders, and Los Angeles Kings are all teams battling for a playoff spot, averaging below three goals per game. The Red Wings and Kraken might be less interested in a player like Laine, given that their power plays are among the league’s best. Furthermore, the Kings are counting on Artemi Panarin to offset the offensive shortcomings, whom they acquired before the Olympic break.
That leaves the Islanders, who are currently third in the Metropolitan Division, 24th in GF/G, and 30th in power-play percentage. Would the Canadiens be interested in a different expiring asset, like Jean-Gabriel Pageau, to deepen their center depth? Acquiring a secondary scorer like Pageau may at least make it more palatable for Montreal to eat salary and attach a draft pick to Laine. New York has some flexibility with their salary cap, so the Canadiens may only need to eat a few million dollars, giving them most of what they are looking for.
Still, the immediate question that comes to mind is Laine’s perceived fit in Patrick Roy‘s scheme. Contextualized by his public battles with Anthony Duclair over the past few years, there is a zero-tolerance policy in New York for taking a shift off.
Poll: Which Team Will Win The Gold Medal At The Olympics?
The long wait is over. For the first time since 2014, NHL players will represent their respective countries at the Olympic Games.
In the last two meetings with NHL representatives, Team Canada has been dominant. They beat Team USA in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics on the back of an overtime winner by Sidney Crosby. During the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Canada shutout Team Sweden in the Gold Medal game. Team Finland won the Bronze Medal in both of those years.
There will be a group of 12 countries in this year’s tournament, represented by Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, and France in Group A, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, and Italy in Group B, and the United States, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark in Group C. The action formally kicks off on Wednesday, February 11th, and will conclude with the Gold Medal contest on Sunday, February 22nd.
Barring injuries, Canada understandably remains the favorite to win. Still, the United States is a much closer second thanin years past, followed by Sweden, Finland, and Czechia. The rosters for Canada, USA, Finland, and Sweden are similar to last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, whereas the other high-performing countries will have much different iterations.
Regardless of outcome in the Round Robin, every nation will earn a tournament bid, seeded one through 12. The top four teams will earn an automatic bye into the quarterfinals, and the remaining eight teams will battle in a ‘playoff round’.
Unfortunately, since they are in different groups, there are no guarantees of a border matchup between Canada and the United States. Nonetheless, there will still be notable matchups in the round between Finland and Sweden, Canada and Czechia, and the United States and Germany.
Now the crystal ball passes to you — in a few weeks, which team will be donning the gold medal around their necks?
Which Team Will Win The Gold Medal At The Olympics?
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Trade Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes
With the Olympic break now upon us, the trade deadline is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We begin our look around the league with teams that have clear plans at the extremes of the standings, this time with the Hurricanes.
Last season, the Hurricanes seemingly landed their big fish, acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche. Unfortunately, due to an initial lack of traction in extension negotiations and a flat-out denial to sign a new contract, Carolina shipped Rantanen to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven and several draft picks. Furthermore, the Hurricanes attempted to swap Rantanen for Mitch Marner, then with the Toronto Maple Leafs, before being told that he, too, wouldn’t sign an extension. Regardless, Carolina has remained one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and has been connected to nearly every big-ticket trade candidate.
Record
36-15-6, 1st in the Metropolitan (99.8% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$40.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: DAL 1st, SJ 4th, TOR 6th, CAR 6th
2027: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, DAL 3rd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th
Trade Chips
Given that nearly every report indicates the Hurricanes are going big-game hunting, there wouldn’t be any surprise to see them move one, if not both, non-lottery first-round picks they have through next season (assuming they’re competitive again next year). Still, there are a few prospects and rostered players Carolina could dangle for a big addition.
Despite being on pace to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, the Hurricanes have one of the league’s better prospect pools. Highlighted by Kurban Limatov, Bradly Nadeau, Dominik Badinka, Felix Unger-Sörum, and Nikita Artamonov, Carolina could conceivably trade any of them for a big addition to the team. In an ideal scenario, since it is not always easy for the Hurricanes to attract big free agents, the team could retain Nadeau long-term for a future top-six role. He has scored 18 goals and 41 points in 34 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this season.
Still, Carolina may be able to land an upper-level player without parting with any prospects. The Hurricanes are known to be shopping Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and are reportedly open to moving defenseman Alexander Nikishin for the right price. Given that he’s signed through the 2029-30 season at a $4.82MM price tag, and he’s only scored two goals and nine points through 36 games this season, Kotkaniemi would be a complementary piece in any trade. However, a package of Nikishin, Kotkaniemi, and their two first-round picks through next season could land a more than meaningful addition.
Nikishin’s value is self-explanatory. He’s a formidable two-way defenseman, scoring seven goals and 22 points in 56 games while averaging 18:20 of ice time per game. Additionally, he’s third on the team in hits with 100, and has a 91.5% on-ice save percentage at even strength. It’s hard to imagine any team balking at adding a player like Nikishin to their defensive core for the next several years, if not more.
Team Needs
Star Forward: As described, the Hurricanes desperately need a star. There’s nothing wrong with Sebastian Aho leading the pack, but putting a star next to him would put Carolina into a different tier. Given the trade market this year, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues appears to be the ideal candidate. Thomas, 26, has scored 58 goals and 200 points in his last 194 games and helped the Blues win their first Stanley Cup title in 2019. He doesn’t have the best possession metrics, but would seemingly fit effortlessly into Rod Brind’Amour‘s system. Given that they have an aging defensive core (outside of Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux), St. Louis, which has expectedly put a high price on Thomas, could be enticed by a package of Nikishin, Kotkaniemi, two first-round picks, and one of Carolina’s top-five prospects.
Goalie Depth: The best word to describe the Hurricanes’ goaltending tandem is weird. The team has relied heavily on rookie netminder Brandon Bussi, who’s managed a 23-3-1 record in his first 27 games with a .906 SV% and 2.16 GAA. Carolina, of all teams, isn’t a stranger to riding the hot hand in the playoffs (looking at you, Cam Ward), but it would be prudent to give him some better insurance. Frederik Andersen, 36, is having the worst season of his professional career, and there’s no guarantee that Pyotr Kochetkov will return this season. Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of options on the trade market, but the Hurricanes could look at some expiring assets, such as Alex Nedeljkovic of the San Jose Sharks or James Reimer of the Ottawa Senators.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Red Wings Are Poised To Take The Next Step
There’s no question it’ll remain an uphill battle after the Olympic break, but the Detroit Red Wings appear poised to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Detroit’s most recent playoff streak was the fourth-longest in NHL history, spanning from 1991 to 2016. During that stretch, the Red Wings won four Stanley Cup titles in six appearances. Ready to begin the next streak, captain Dylan Larkin explained to DJ Siddiqi of RG Media how his career has unfolded and what’s different about this year’s club.
Obviously, being from Waterford, MI, and playing his amateur hockey at the Belle Tire program, Larkin’s commitment to southeast Michigan runs deep. Playing his collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Larkin has never had a home game outside of his small pocket in Michigan.
Being on the last Red Wings to make the playoffs in 2016, Larkin had the opportunity to learn from a pair of the organization’s best: his first captain, Henrik Zetterberg, and his current General Manager, Steve Yzerman.
Opening up on some of the conversations he’s had with Yzerman, Larkin said, “I mean this respectfully, he’s a pretty private guy, and I believe most of the stuff we talk about should stay private. But he’s been a great role model for me. Henrik Zetteberg, who I got to play for my first three years, is probably the most significant person I’ve leaned on in my career. Steve is right up there with Henrik. I’m very fortunate to work with him, and he’s given me a lot of great, priceless advice.”
Zetterberg was one of the Red Wings’ most successful draft stories from the 1990s, and there were a few. Detroit selected him 210th overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, and he debuted for the team in the 2002-03 season.
Although he and fellow diamond-in-the-rough Pavel Datsyuk never tallied a 100-point campaign at the NHL level, they became two of the most complete forwards in the game, helping sustain Detroit’s success. Zetterberg finished his career with 337 goals and 960 points in 1,082 NHL games before having his career cut short by chronic back issues. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy during the Red Wings’ 11th Stanley Cup title in 2008 and was the team’s captain from 2012 to 2018.
Even by today’s standards, there would be few better players to learn from. Like his predecessors, Larkin doesn’t appear poised to crack the 100-point plateau, but he is making up for that with how he plays the game. He has shown flashes of being above a point-per-game player and has been consistent in his skill in the faceoff dot and possession metrics.
Lastly, Larkin opened up on what making the playoffs would mean for him and the team, saying, “It would be unbelievable to play a playoff game – the first playoff game at Little Caesars Arena in hockey history. It would mean a lot to our fans and mean a lot to me. It’s not all about me, but being here through some tough days and getting into the playoffs, I believe our team can do some damage. I hope our fans do as well.“
Predators Reassign Reid Schaefer
2/6/26: The Predators reassigned Schaefer to AHL Milwaukee today. He dressed for each of Nashville’s last two games, skating in just under seven minutes of ice time per contest.
2/4/26: The Nashville Predators have added some forward depth to their lineup ahead of tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild. According to a team announcement, the Predators have recalled forward Reid Schaefer from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.
Schaefer, 22, is viewed as one of the better prospects in Nashville’s system. He was originally selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers moved off him relatively quickly, trading him to the Predators a year later in the deal that brought defenseman Mattias Ekholm to Alberta.
Since then, he’s been a relatively solid secondary contributor with AHL Milwaukee. Debuting in the 2023-24 season, Schaefer has registered 21 goals and 53 points in 103 games in the game’s second-highest league. That averages out to just over a point every two games.
Being nearly a point-per-game player with the Admirals this season, the Predators believed it was time to allow Schaefer the opportunity to contribute at the NHL level. The Edmonton, Alberta native was recalled for the first time in late November and remained with the team for nearly two months.
He didn’t make too much noise during his first stint in the NHL, though it wasn’t all bad. Schaefer scored four goals and six points across 25 games with a -9 rating, averaging 10:30 of ice time per contest. He showed flashes of decent physicality, averaging 2.5 hits per game, and was efficient on offense, shooting at a 17.4% clip.
Considering the recent news that Barry Trotz will be stepping down as the team’s General Manager, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Schaefer get another extended look at the NHL level. Depending on how the team approaches the upcoming trade deadline, the next leader of the front office will want a better understanding of what the team has in some of the younger players.
Trade Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche
With the Olympic break approaching, the trade deadline is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We begin our look around the league with teams that have clear plans at the extremes of the standings, this time with the Avalanche.
Colorado will come out of the Olympic break as the Presidents’ Trophy favorites and will likely remain so up until the trade deadline. There are a few teams that could conceivably catch them between now and then, but the Avalanche have put themselves in a spot where they won’t need to be too active at the deadline, barring injuries. Colorado ranks first in GF/G, first in GA/G, 31st in PP%, second in PK%, and first in SV%.
Record
36-9-9, 1st in the Central (~100% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$6.48MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: CAR 4th, COL 4th, PHI 5th, BOS 5th, COL 5th, NYR 7th, OTT 7th, PIT 7th, COL 7th
2027: COL 1st, MIN 2nd, COL 2nd, COL 4th, SJ 5th, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
Trade Chips
Depending on how aggressive they want to be, the Avalanche could likely use their plethora of draft picks to acquire the depth they need. Obviously, it’s more quantity over quality, but as the league’s best team, they only need to add around the fringes.
Still, if they wanted to make a more notable addition, particularly to their defensive core, Colorado has a few prospects at their disposal. It wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world for the Avalanche to push most of their chips in with only two more guaranteed years of consistent Norris threat, Cale Makar.
Two of Colorado’s better prospects are playing in the KHL, so they wouldn’t be negatively impacting the NHL squad or the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. Defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev, whom Colorado selected with the 31st overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, is playing for the Avangard Omsk. Furthermore, Ilya Nabokov, selected with the 38th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, is having a solid year with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Considering how he’s played the last three years, Nabokov would have significant value if the Avalanche included him in trade conversations. Nabokov, 22, has managed a 67-34-9 record in 123 KHL games with a .920 SV% and 2.31 GAA. Although it’s not a direct comparison, the Florida Panthers were able to acquire Sam Reinhart with Devon Levi and Seth Jones with Spencer Knight in recent years. Both played integral roles in the Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
Outside of those two, Colorado could include defenseman Sean Behrens or forward Nikita Prishchepov, both of whom are playing with AHL Colorado, for less significant additions. Unfortunately, according to Daily Faceoff’s preseason rankings, the Avalanche have the 29th-ranked farm system, meaning their cupboards are lacking in prospect capital. Regardless, it’s unimaginable that Colorado would part with anyone on the active roster, considering how the team has played this year.
Team Needs
Defensive Depth: At the time of writing, the Avalanche has only six defensemen on the active roster, without much depth. Yes, the likes of Keaton Middleton, Jacob MacDonald, Ronald Attard, and Jack Ahcan can and have all served when needed, though they wouldn’t be the best options to have in case of injuries leading up to or in the postseason. In a perfect world, the Colorado would target a defenseman who can play on both sides of the blueline, though they’ll want to seek out a left-handed shot at the very least. Fortunately, there should be a few options available to them with varying degrees of talent. Logan Stanley of the Winnipeg Jets, Matt Grzelcyk of the Chicago Blackhawks, Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, and Brett Kulak of the Pittsburgh Penguins all make sense as potential additions.
Bottom-Six Center: Outside of most contending teams, the Avalanche don’t have much to be concerned about regarding their center core. Nathan MacKinnon (51.1%), Brock Nelson (49.4%), and Jack Drury (59.2%) are all having solid years in the faceoff dot, with the former two providing much of the team’s offense. However, there is a steep drop-off in faceoff talent on the team’s fourth line. The team has typically used Parker Kelly or Zakhar Bardakov in that role. However, they’ve only managed a 32.1% and 43.4% in the faceoff circle, respectively. If he’s willing to leave his native Winnipeg in pursuit of one last shot at the Stanley Cup, Jonathan Toews would be a perfect addition, as he has a 61.0% faceoff rate this season. However, if Toews is unwilling to leave Manitoba, lower-cost additions such as Jason Dickinson (49.7%) or Erik Haula (50.3%) would also help round out the bottom-six.
Image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images.
Penguins Reassign Melvin Fernstrom
The Pittsburgh Penguins are bringing one of their forward prospects to North America. According to a team announcement, the Penguins have assigned forward Melvin Fernström to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Fernström, 19, is only a few years removed from being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver selected the Bålsta, Sweden native with the 93rd overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft. At the time, Fernström had been playing for the Örebro HK program, scoring 23 goals and 57 points in 48 games across three separate U20 divisions. The Canucks traded Fernström to the Penguins last season in the Marcus Pettersson trade.
He’s remained in the Örebro HK organization, making the jump to the SHL over the last few years. Fernström has been relatively successful after making the jump to professional hockey, particularly as a younger player, scoring 11 goals and 21 points in 84 games since the beginning of the 2024-25 season.
Making the jump to the North American professional circuit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Fernström struggle offensively for some time. Still, standing at 6’2″ and 190lbs, he won’t look out of place with the WBS Penguins.
Most of the public scouting information available on Fernström suggests he has a tremendous hockey IQ, which is fairly common for Swedish forwards. He is credited with efficiently assessing where the puck is going, which makes up for his subpar shooting ability. Regardless, he’ll immediately join a contending team in the AHL and will benefit from better players around him.
Morning Notes: Panarin, Liljegren, Ekman-Larsson
There’s no question that the New York Rangers are looking to move pending unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin before today’s 3 p.m. CT Olympic roster freeze. A handful of teams have already been prominently linked to Panarin, and a recent update from David Pagnotta alerted that the situation remains incredibly fluid, lowering the chances of a trade coming together by this afternoon.
In his update, Pagnotta suggested that the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks remain interested in acquiring Panarin with an extension. In contrast, the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers view him only as a rental. Additionally, Pagnotta mentioned that unless something changes relatively soon, the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Utah Mammoth, and Washington Capitals are no longer in the running.
On yesterday’s edition of Insider Trading, TSN’s Chris Johnston reported that at least one team has put $40MM on the table for Panarin, which would presumably translate to a three-year deal with an AAV of $13.3MM or a four-year contract with an AAV of $10MM.
Other updates from this morning:
- In the same update from Pagnotta, he suggests that the Sharks are actively shopping Timothy Liljegren, as well as other pending-UFA defensemen, on the trade market. San Jose could ultimately sign a few of them to extensions over the next few weeks, though Pagnotta confirmed that Liljegren is not a part of the organization’s long-term plans. The former 17th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft has 10 assists in 41 games this season, averaging 20:15 of ice time per contest.
- Lastly, Pagnotta reported that if the Toronto Maple Leafs pivot toward selling ahead of the March 6th trade deadline, plenty of teams will be interested in acquiring Oliver Ekman-Larsson. It won’t be without hurdles, as the 34-year-old defenseman is signed through the 2027-28 season at a $3.5MM salary with a 16-team no-trade clause. Still, he’s having an excellent offensive year with Toronto, scoring eight goals and 34 points in 56 games, with most of that production coming at even strength.