Penguins Place Sidney Crosby On IR, Activate Kris Letang
The lower-body injury Sidney Crosby sustained at the Olympics will significantly impact the rest of his season. According to a team announcement, the Pittsburgh Penguins have placed their captain on the injured reserve. Additionally, the team has activated veteran defenseman Kris Letang in a corresponding roster move.
Although Team Canada, largely out of respect for the Penguins, failed to clarify the extent of Crosby’s injury; Pittsburgh did. The team shared that Crosby is expected to miss the next four weeks at a minimum, putting his projected return toward the end of March in a best case scenario.
Obviously, Crosby’s absence will have a significant impact on Pittsburgh’s competitiveness to close out the regular season. Despite their strong performance this season, largely led by Crosby offensively, the team is only one point up on the New York Islanders and five points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. Still, the Penguins have a few games in hand on the Islanders and Capitals, respectively.
Even if the Penguins commit to buying at the deadline, there are few options to fill the void left by Crosby, both on and off the ice. In his age-38 campaign, he’s remained a point-per-game player, registering 27 goals and 59 points in 56 games, averaging 19:35 of ice time per night. There’s a 15-point gap between Crosby and fellow veteran Evgeni Malkin for the team-lead in scoring.
If there’s any consolation, Pittsburgh will be able to move Malkin to the first-line center, where he’s filled in on occassion throughout Crosby’s career. Also incumbered by injuries throughout the season, Malkin has had a quality year when healthy, scoring 13 goals and 44 points in 41 games.
It’ll be interesting to see if Crosby’s injury will have any impact on the Penguins’ plans for the trade deadline. Given that they’re surprisingly competitive this season, General Manager Kyle Dubas has been able to add a few NHL pieces in a flurry of trades while also improving the team’s draft capital moving forward.
Meanwhile, Letang returns from injury after a month, though much of that was from the Olympic break. He had been recovering from a broken foot. The 20-year veteran has scored three goals and 25 points in 50 games for the Penguins this season. It’s expected that he’ll resume his role on Pittsburgh’s second defensive-pairing, alongside recent acquisition, Samuel Girard.
Trade Notes: Kane, Pettersson, Laine
On the trade market for nearly a month, the expectation remains that Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane will be moved in the next few days before the trade deadline. On Insider Trading, TSN’s Chris Johnston reported renewed interest in Kane from playoff-bound teams after the Olympic break.
He didn’t provide an exhaustive list, but Johnston stated that the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, among others, have each inquired about Kane to some capacity. Johnston doesn’t expect the price to be all that high, and he indicated that the Canucks have no issue retaining half of Kane’s salary for the rest of the season, making him much more financially palatable.
There’s no question that Kane has had a disappointing season by his standards, scoring nine goals and 25 points in 56 games with a -18 rating, averaging 16:50 of ice time per game. Still, he remains a physical middle-six winger who’s one year removed from scoring six goals and 12 points in 21 postseason games for the Edmonton Oilers.
Additional trade notes:
- On Insider Trading, TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke briefly about Kane’s teammate, Elias Pettersson. Although there is heightened interest in Pettersson, Dreger shared that the Canucks haven’t received any legitimate offers for their first-line center and haven’t had any reason to contact Pettersson or his agency about waiving his full no-movement clause. After scoring 73 goals and 191 points in 162 games from 2022 to 2024, Pettersson has only registered 28 goals and 79 points in 113 games since, making him a difficult player to assess. Factoring in his $11.6MM cap hit through the 2031-32 season, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Vancouver won’t find a suitable offer.
- After the injury to winger Kevin Fiala in the Olympics, the Los Angeles Kings have a near-drastic need for a scoring winger if they have any hopes of reaching the playoffs this year. One player that has been mildly linked to Los Angeles in the last few days is Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine, though that no longer appears to be in the cards. According to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, the Kings checked in on Laine over the last few days, but no longer believe there’s a fit between the two. Bernstein didn’t clarify if the Kings were turned off by the price, Laine’s injury history, a combination of the two, or something else entirely.
Golden Knights Make Multiple Roster Moves
The Vegas Golden Knights are inching toward a healthy roster. Yesterday, Jason R. Pothier and Ken Boehlke of SinBin.vegas reported that forwards Colton Sissons and Brandon Saad have been activated off the team’s injured reserve.
In addition to the two mentioned, the Golden Knights’ lineup has welcomed back defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was activated from long-term injured reserve, according to PuckPedia. Additionally, the team has placed Carter Hart and Brett Howden on LTIR, creating $3.1MM in salary cap space leading up to the trade deadline.
The return of Sissons and Saad won’t be incredibly impactful in a vacuum, though they should help improve the team’s depth moving forward. Sissons, 32, has scored three goals and six points in 41 games this season, whereas Saad, 33, has registered two goals and seven points in 39 games. Each veteran will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, assuming they don’t sign a contract extension with the Golden Knights.
Meanwhile, McNabb’s return will allow Vegas to see how the team’s defensive core operates since acquiring Rasmus Andersson. Barring something surprising, it’ll be the first time the Golden Knights have been able to deploy their best defensemen since trading for Andersson.
It’ll be interesting to see how Vegas utilizes McNabb with Andersson in the fold. A defensive stalwart for many years, McNabb has seemingly taken a step back in that category this season. Before going down with an upper-body injury on December 31st, McNabb was averaging an 89.0% on-ice SV% at even strength, the lowest mark of his career. Still, he remains a capable shot-blocker and will provide more value down the lineup.
Sharks Reassign Nick Leddy, Filip Bystedt
2/24: Like Bystedt last Sunday, San Jose reassigned Leddy to the AHL today. The veteran was able to skate with the team over the last few days but now is headed back down, with the big club back in action Thursday against Calgary.
A Stanley Cup champion and member of the 1,000 game club, Leddy’s Shark tenure hasn’t gone to plan as he plays out the final year of his deal worth $4MM. The 34-year-old hasn’t debuted with the Barracuda yet, but if he does at some point, it would be his first AHL action since 2012-13 with the Rockford IceHogs.
2/22: As expected, the Sharks have returned Bystedt to the minors ahead of their return to game action. He will continue to heal up from an upper-body injury as the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda approach two games next weekend.
2/18: 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.
Pro Hockey Rumors’ Bradley Keith also contributed to this article.
Ducks Recall Ian Moore, Tim Washe
Feb. 24: As expected, the Ducks announced today that Moore is back on the roster ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Oilers. He was recalled alongside forward Tim Washe, who was on the NHL roster prior to the break but was sent down to San Diego earlier than Moore. His return indicates the Ducks aren’t expecting either Leo Carlsson or Frank Vatrano to be able to come off injured reserve yet.
Feb. 18: 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.
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.