Flyers Recall Aleksei Kolosov And Adam Ginning
The Flyers continue to shuffle their roster around to ensure that they have ample bodies for practice before games resume next week. The team announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled goaltender Aleksei Kolosov and defenseman Adam Ginning from AHL Lehigh Valley.
Kolosov has had multiple stints with Philadelphia this season, one of those coming before the Olympic break with Samuel Ersson dealing with a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old has made four NHL appearances this season, allowing eight goals on just 47 shots. Kolosov fared a little better at the top level last season, however, putting up a 3.59 GAA and a .867 SV% in 17 outings with the Flyers.
Kolosov has made 24 appearances in the minors with the Phantoms and has performed much better at that level. He has a 2.65 GAA and a .909 SV% in those outings along with a pair of shutouts. While Ersson was initially expected to be back after the Olympic break, Kolosov could find himself up with the big club for more than a few days if Ersson ultimately needs a bit more time to recover.
As for Ginning, he made Philadelphia’s roster out of training camp but was primarily in a reserve role. Accordingly, he has only played in five games with the Flyers this season and is still looking for his first point. Ginning ultimately cleared waivers in mid-November and aside from a brief stint with Philadelphia in January (where he didn’t play), he has been with Lehigh Valley since then. He’s played in 29 games for the Phantoms and has a goal and three assists.
With Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen still in Italy for the Olympics, it’s fair to say that Ginning’s promotion will be a short-term one for practice purposes only and that it will take an injury or two for him to have a realistic shot of getting back into Philadelphia’s lineup. To make room for the recalls, both Olympic blueliners have been moved to non-roster status.
Jordan Weal Signs Two-Year Extension In KHL
Former Philadelphia Flyers center Jordan Weal won’t be leaving Russia any time soon. He has signed a two-year extension with the KHL’s Moscow Dynamo per a league announcement. Weal moved to the KHL for the 2021-22 season and joined Dynamo the year after.
Weal’s international move has proven fruitful. His tenure in Moscow started with 14 goals and 43 points scored in 62 games of the 2022-23 season. That performance was a strong step up from Weal’s 30 points in 36 games with Kazan Ak-Bars in his first season in Russia – but it was no match for what would come. Weal broke out with 30 goals and 77 points in 66 games of the 2023-24 season. He finished fourth in the KHL in scoring behind fellow former-NHL players Nikita Gusev, Reid Boucher, and Nikolay Goldobin.
Weal’s scoring has followed the flow of the KHL – dipping over the last few seasons after a year of explosive offense. He followed his breakout year with 51 points in 66 games last year. He is on pace to beat that mark so far this season, with 12 goals and a team-leading 46 points in 57 games so far. Those marks have kept Weal locked into a top-six role on a nightly basis, even as his scoring totals have fallen back to Earth.
Dynamo will now lock Weal into that spot through the next two seasons. The 33-year-old will serve as reliable, veteran depth as Moscow looks to promote rising prospects Mikhail Melikov, Artyom Bondar, and Maxim Ilyin to the pro flight. The club currently ranks sixth in the KHL’s Western Conference, four points ahead of playoff contention.
Blackhawks Sign Olivier Rodrigue
The Blackhawks have added some extra goaltending depth for the stretch run. The team announced that they’ve signed goaltender Olivier Rodrigue to a one-year, two-way contract for the remainder of the season. The deal will carry a $775K cap charge at the NHL level while the two-way salary was not disclosed.
The 25-year-old was a second-round pick of Edmonton back in 2018, going 62nd overall. However, he wasn’t able to make much of a push for NHL playing time over his five seasons in their system. Aside from a two-game stint with the Oilers last season, Rodrigue played exclusively in their minor league system between AHL Bakersfield and ECHL Wichita. Last season, Rodrigue posted a 3.12 GAA with a .897 SV% in 42 games with the Condors and became a Group Six unrestricted free agent back in the summer.
It took until mid-August for Rodrigue to find a team as he wound up signing a one-year deal with Barys Astana of the KHL. However, he suffered an injury less than a month later, leading to his release before he had even played a game for them. Since then, Rodrigue hasn’t played but this contract suggests that he’s now cleared to return to game action.
Presumably, Rodrigue’s signing comes in response to prospect goalie Stanislav Berezhnoy, who received a 20-game suspension from the AHL earlier this week for violating the terms of the AHL/PHPA Performance Enhancing Substance Program. Chicago’s intent is likely to have Rodrigue serve as the backup to Drew Commesso for the stretch run while evaluating his possibility as a fit for next season as well. With 131 career AHL regular season appearances under his belt where he has a 2.92 GAA and a .905 SV%, Rodrigue should be well-suited to fill that role.
To do so, Chicago will first have to successfully run Rodrigue through waivers before he can be assigned to the IceHogs. While the NHL is in a trade freeze at the moment, waivers are still allowable during this period and PuckPedia reports that he is indeed on waivers. Assuming he clears, he’ll be sent down on Sunday and will be eligible to play then.
2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey Medal Matchups Set
The stage has been set for the medal games for the 2026 Winter Olympic’s Men’s Hockey tournament. Team Canada was the first to seal a path to the Gold medal game with their 3-2 win over Team Finland on Friday. Soon after, Team USA earned the spot of contender with a confident 6-2 win over Team Slovakia. While the hockey world’s top rivals face off for Gold, the Bronze medal game will host the losing-parties, Finland and Slovakia.
A Canada and USA matchup seemed like the inevitable outcome of the NHL’s return to the Winter Olympics. After three tournaments without the world’s top talent, this year’s tournament has shown the next-level speed, skill, and strength that the NHL’s stars bring. Canada has been led by a superstar top line – with proven-greats Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon joined by Macklin Celebrini, the youngest skater to suit up for Canada at an Olympic men’s hockey tournament. Celebrini has played well above his age, leading the entire tournament in goals with five through as many games. He ranks second in total scoring with 10 points, behind McDavid’s 13 points.
With a robust cast and a confident goalie backing their top line, Canada won’t be an easy out. Team USA will attempt the feat with a well-rounded lineup, backed by reigning NHL Hart Trophy-winner Connor Hellebuyck, the first goalie to win the award since 2015. The Americans have spread their offense out, with each of Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, and Jack Eichel stepping up to drive play at any given time. Those drivers are flanked by impact scorers like Auston Matthews, Matt Boldy, and Zach Werenski – giving the United States a roster that brings 60 minutes of dangerous offense.
The Team Canada versus Team USA matchup will carry a bit more oomph after the USA women’s team beat Canada by a score of 2-1 on Thursday. During the game, USA captain Hilary Knight recorded her 33rd career point at the Olympics, surpassing Jenny Potter for the country’s women’s record. Knight still ranks behind Canadian star Marie-Philip Poulin‘s 39 career points, though the former prevailed in the Gold matchup.
Meanwhile, Slovakia will stand up to a tough test for the Bronze medal. They brought the fourth-fewest NHL players of any team at this year’s tournament. Despite that, a cohesive and physical front has led the Slovaks above usual-contenders Team Sweden, who brought a full roster of NHL talent. The Finns have 24 NHL players, one shy of a full roster, and have leaned on their stars to push a downhill offense. Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho have set a top pace, while Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell hold a strong line behind them. When the stars are off the ice, Erik Haula, Joel Armia, and Artturi Lehkonen have kept the tempo going. They will have to beat the Slovaks with skill in what should be a closely-fought matchup.
Team Canada and Team USA will compete for Gold at 8 A.M. ET on Sunday morning. The Bronze medal game will take place at 2:40 P.M. ET on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Team USA’s Tage Thompson Leaves Game For Precautionary Reasons
Team USA winger Tage Thompson was held out of the third period against Team Slovakia for precautionary reasons. He was seen removing his skate and walking up-and-down the tunnel between the second and third periods, though the nature of his injury wasn’t specified. USA head coach Mike Sullivan shared postgame that he expects Thompson to suit up for Sunday’s Gold Medal matchup against Team Canada per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Thompson scored a powerplay goal in the second period. He has been a hot hand for the United States all tournament long, scoring three goals and four points in five games. Thompson’s big frame and sharpshooting have earned him a role on the top power-play unit – a bold statement after the 28 year old was left off of USA’s roster for the 2025 4-Nations Face-Off. Thompson has emerged as a core piece of the USA offense and should be slotted into another starring role should he indeed suit up for the Gold Medal game.
This level of scoring comes as no surprise to the Buffalo Sabres. Thompson leads the Sabres with 30 goals and 59 points in 57 games, putting him on pace to reach 43 goals and 85 points across 82 games. That mark would land above the 44 goals and 72 points that Thompson posted last season, though still sits under his career-high 47 goals and 94 points scored in 78 games of the 2022-23 season.
Rangers’ Matt Rempe Will Undergo Thumb Procedure, Placed On IR
New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan will have to make some lineup changes when he returns from Team USA’s run at the Winter Olympics. The Rangers announced that enforcer Matt Rempe will undergo another procedure to fix the thumb injury that held him out of 24 games earlier in the season, per the New York Post’s Mollie Walker. Rempe has been placed on injured reserve while he recovers from the procedure. He will be eligible to return on February 27th, the day after New York’s first game back from the Olympic break.
Rempe sustained his injury in a fight with San Jose Sharks winger Ryan Reaves in late October. He stayed out of the lineup until mid-December, then rotated into games through the start of the Olympic break. Rempe has totaled one goal, a minus-four, and 11 penalty minutes in 26 games this season. He has also thrown 86 hits, giving him the highest per-game average on the team.
The NHL’s tallest player has stuck to his fourth-line role in the Rangers lineup this season – though with a bit more poise than normal. Rempe went 12 games without a penalty after returning from his injury in December. He followed that with back-to-back games with a penalty but avoided the penalty box in his last three games. A part of that discipline is surely Rempe’s inability to fight while he nurses an injured thumb. He has only two fights this season, after recording six last season. His health will continue to be assessed as New York kicks back into gear for the season’s final sprint.
Olle Lycksell Linked To Swiss League
Senators forward Olle Lycksell is spurning interest from clubs in his native Sweden in an effort to move to Switzerland’s National League next season, Johan Svensson and Mattias Persson of Expressen report. In any event, it’s clear the pending Group VI unrestricted free agent won’t be re-signing with Ottawa or any other NHL team, for that matter.
Lycksell is in his fourth season stateside, but just his first in the Sens organization. A sixth-round pick by the Flyers in 2017, he spent several years coming up through the SHL before signing with Philadelphia in 2021. Philly loaned him back to Sweden’s Växjö Lakers for the following campaign, where he had a career-best 14 goals and 34 points in 47 games before being brought to North America the following season.
The 5’11” winger has been a consistently high-end AHL producer ever since. He averaged over a point per game twice through his four seasons to date and has 61 goals and 145 points in 160 career minor-league games, including 17 points in 25 outings with the Belleville Senators this year. It hasn’t translated into NHL success, though. He’s seen big-league action each year, three times with the Flyers and back earlier this season with the Sens, but only has two goals and 13 points in 52 career games. Being an unnatural fit for a fourth-line role, he’s had some wildly inconsistent possession impacts and hasn’t shown enough to push for a top-six role.
The 26-year-old will now be a Group VI UFA for the second summer in a row since he’s stayed under 80 career NHL appearances. His archetype makes him primed for offensive success in one of Europe’s top leagues in Switzerland, where he should immediately become one of the league’s leading scorers if he transfers there.
Canucks’ Filip Chytil Out Indefinitely With Facial Fracture
Canucks center Filip Chytil sustained a facial fracture in Wednesday’s practice and will be out indefinitely, Jeff Paterson of Rink Wide: Vancouver reports.
Considering Chytil’s long history of concussions, a simple fracture is far from the worst-case scenario after he was dazed by taking a puck to the face in the session. The 26-year-old has only been good for 12 appearances this season, missing three months early in the season with an upper-body injury that was suspected to be at least his third concussion in the last three years. He returned for a six-game stretch before the Olympic break, before sitting out of Vancouver’s last contest with migraine headaches.
Concussions and facial injuries have now limited Chytil to less than a full season’s worth of games over the past three years. He’s only played in 78 of 221 possible regular-season games, equal to 35.3%, since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. That window of inavailability came just after the Czech center finally seemed to break through into a top-nine role with the Rangers, rattling off a career-high 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games in the 2022-23 campaign.
That type of production might just be too far gone for Chytil to get back to that level, though. Acquired from New York in last year’s J.T. Miller trade, he’s suited up 27 times for Vancouver in the last 13 months with five goals and four assists for nine points with a -18 rating. That’s a 15-goal, 27-point pace over 82 games – closer to fourth-line production than the second-line role behind Elias Pettersson they were initially hoping he could fill.
There’s little left to play for in Vancouver. They’re already 21 points back of the playoff cutoff in the West and are in a seven-point hole for last place in the league. While not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, they’re a non-factor by all intents and purposes. That means the stretch run is exclusively about trying to get individual talents back on the right track – including Chytil – but whether he’ll heal enough to get back in the lineup before mid-April now remains to be seen.
Maple Leafs Reassign Bo Groulx, William Villeneuve
Feb. 20: Groulx is headed back to the AHL today along with defenseman William Villeneuve, who was summoned two days ago, per a team announcement.
Feb. 19: The Maple Leafs announced they’ve recalled center Benoit-Olivier Groulx from AHL Toronto. He’ll join the team for today’s practice with forward Max Domi absent due to personal reasons, in addition to Auston Matthews remaining unavailable as he looks to captain Team USA to a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Groulx, 26, was a second-round pick by the Ducks in 2018. He has 65 NHL games to his name, all coming with Anaheim from 2021-24. After making a career-high 45 appearances in the 2023-24 campaign, the Ducks non-tendered him. He’s spent the last two seasons exclusively in the AHL on NHL. deals, first on a two-way pact with the Rangers in 2024-25 before signing a two-year, one-way, league-minimum deal with Toronto last summer.
The 6’2″, 205-lb pivot has only demonstrated limited offensive upside in the NHL but has been one of the best two-way forwards in the minors over the last two seasons. Once named the QMJHL’s best defensive forward during his junior days, he’s racked up 22 goals and 42 points in 47 games to lead the Marlies in scoring, along with a +9 rating.
He’ll now look to make a strong impression in whatever practice deployment he gets to boost his chances of a call-up heading into next season. Since he signed a two-year deal, his $812,500 cap hit next season will actually be less than the new league minimum of $850,000.
Bruins Linked To Theodor Niederbach
With European regular seasons near their ends, now is the time when many NHL teams start seriously demonstrating their interest in international free agent signings. One of those names is 23-year-old pivot Theodor Niederbach, whom Johan Svensson and Mattias Persson of Expressen report has received interest from “more than half the league” – including the Bruins, who sent a team of scouts to Gothenburg recently to watch him suit up with his club team, the SHL’s Frölunda HC.
Niederbach is far from an unknown in NHL circles. It wasn’t that long ago that he was a fairly highly-touted prospect. He ended up going midway through the second round of the 2020 draft to the Red Wings, but after he failed to demonstrate much progression over four years in the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan, they didn’t sign him by their June 2024 deadline and lost his signing rights.
The 6’0″ center immediately responded with a statement campaign for MoDo Hockey, tying for the team lead in scoring with a 10-23–33 line in 51 games. While he’d played a role in helping the club gain promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan two years prior, he couldn’t help them avoid relegation last season. He thus left MoDo in the offseason and signed a two-year deal with Frölunda, with whom he’s registered 11 goals and 28 points with a +12 rating in 44 outings. He’s now slotting comfortably into a top-six role there, and he has the benefit of being teammates with potential 2026 first-overall pick Ivar Stenberg – ensuring he’ll have plenty of eyes on him down the stretch.
Evidently, Niederbach’s deal with Frölunda contains an NHL out-clause. He was drafted more as a two-way center, but has ended up as more of an offensively-inclined playmaker from the middle of the ice as he’s found his way into more responsibility in the SHL.
For the Bruins, Niederbach would join an already large group of young centers with offensively moderate, top-nine ceilings. Marat Khusnutdinov, Fraser Minten, and Matthew Poitras are already in the mix, and with all four of Boston’s current pivots under contract through next season, it’s hard to envision Niederbach making a legitimate play for a roster spot out of the gate. If he’s focused more on finding an organization that has a long-term home for him rather than finding a place where he can jump into the NHL right away, though, the Bruins’ hodge-podge of journeyman forwards and mid-tier prospects could provide an opportunity for him to break through the noise eventually.