New York Islanders Recall Cole McWard
The New York Islanders announced today that defenseman Cole McWard has been recalled from the club’s AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.
McWard takes the place of blueliner Marshall Warren on the Islanders’ roster, as Warren was reassigned to Bridgeport yesterday. Warren had played in six consecutive games for the Islanders from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1, his final game for the team being the club’s 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on the first day of 2026. Warren has three assists through eight games this season playing in a limited bottom-pairing role.
In recalling McWard to replace Warren, the Islanders have swapped 24-year-old depth defensemen on their roster.
While Warren is a left-shot defenseman who entered the year with zero games of NHL experience, McWard joins the Islanders’ roster with six games of NHL experience already on his résumé. He was signed as an undrafted player out of the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines in 2023 and ended the season with a five-game run on the Vancouver Canucks’ NHL roster.
McWard then spent the following two campaigns in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, playing a top-four role and winning a Calder Cup with the team last season. McWard signed with the Islanders this past summer after he was non-tendered by the Canucks; he got a one-year, two-way pact with a league-minimum NHL salary and a $200K total guarantee in order to sign on Long Island.
So far this season, McWard has been a top-pairing defenseman for the AHL Islanders. He has scored 16 points in 29 games and leads the team in time-on-ice per game, playing a role on both special teams units. The fact that he’s a right shot would, on paper, make him a less natural fit with veteran Scott Mayfield on the Islanders’ bottom pairing, though the other spare defenseman on the roster, Adam Boqvist, is also a righty.
Andrew Gross of Newsday wrote today that he expects McWard to play tonight when the Islanders host the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it’s likely McWard will make his Islanders debut lined up next to Mayfield.
Seth Jones Leaves Winter Classic With Injury
According to a team announcement, the Florida Panthers shared that defenseman Seth Jones has exited the Winter Classic early due to an upper-body injury. Jones was skating in the third outdoor contest of his career and was named to Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics this morning.
There were no more specifics provided on Jones’ injury, but there’s plenty of speculation. Early in the first period of tonight’s contest against the New York Rangers, Jones appeared to be struck in the left collarbone by a shot from Alexis Lafreniere, which was deflected. Jones quickly went into the medical tent after being hit by the puck.
Hopefully, for the sake of the Panthers and Team USA, Jones’s exit from the game is merely precautionary. If there’s any concern of a fracture, that could put his availability for the Olympics into question. A broken clavicle can take six to eight weeks to heal. Even on the early end of that recovery timeline, Jones would miss the opening puck drop of the Olympics by more than a week.
Still, as previously mentioned, there’s no confirmation of a break to his collarbone, and anything else would be pure speculation. Regardless, Jones finished the 2026 Winter Classic with three minutes of ice time across three shifts, being entirely left off the score sheet.
Brayden McNabb Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks
One step forward, one step back for the Vegas Golden Knights on the injury front. Despite returning star center Jack Eichel to the lineup today, Jason R. Pothier and Ken Boehlke of SinBin reported that blue liner Brayden McNabb is expected to miss the next few weeks with an upper-body injury.
McNabb was originally injured a few days ago in the Golden Knights’ matchup on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators. The injury necessitated Vegas recalling Jaycob Megna yesterday, and he earned a -2 rating in 10:43 of action against the St. Louis Blues today.
Fortunately, if there’s any silver lining, the Golden Knights likely won’t have to keep Megna in the lineup that much longer, though he’ll likely remain on the active roster. Defenseman Shea Theodore, who hasn’t played since December 13th due to his own upper-body ailment, is expected to be activated from the injured reserve once Vegas returns from its road trip through the Central Division.
Still, despite the upcoming return of Theodore, the Golden Knights will remain without a top-four blueliner for the foreseeable future. McNabb, 34, has scored two goals and three points in 38 games with Vegas this year, averaging over 20 minutes a night for the second consecutive season.
Even before the injury, McNabb was certainly showing signs of decline. He’s still leading the team in blocked shots, but has seen his CorsiFor% and on-ice SV% at even strength decline to career lows. Additionally, even though he isn’t typically relied upon for his offensive production, he was on pace to only score seven points this season before the injury after registering 46 over the last two years.
If Vegas runs into any more injury trouble on the blue line, or they simply want an additional defenseman on the roster, the most likely recall candidate would be Dylan Coghlan. The 27-year-old defenseman has been recalled on two occasions already this year, but didn’t feature in any games. Still, he scored six goals and 19 points in 88 games with the Golden Knights from 2020 to 2022.
Lassi Lehti Generating NHL Interest
According to Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal, netminder for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Lassi Lehti is generating interest from some NHL clubs. Divver added that the Boston Bruins are currently scouting the 24-year-old goaltender.
Unlike some other upcoming collegiate free agents, NHL teams likely won’t have to wait until April to entice Lehti to sign. Although the Espoo, Finland native is having a quality campaign, the Nanooks are having a brutal campaign and aren’t expected to qualify for the National tournament, barring an unexpected run.
Still, the Nanooks’ 4-10-1 record has little to do with Lehti. The senior has appeared in 11 of those contests, managing a .921 SV% and 2.59 GAA. Last season, as the team’s backup, Lehti finished with a .924 SV% and 2.04 GAA. Although he was only a backup last season, that’s an impressive 24-game run.
Unfortunately, given the length that it typically takes goaltenders to develop, it may be too little too late for Lehti. He was eligible to be selected in the 2019 NHL Draft, and waited until the 2022-23 NCAA season to begin his collegiate career. Although he’s not considered in the same tier, Lehti is older than Jesper Wallstedt and Yaroslav Askarov, both of whom are already fully entrenched in their NHL careers.
Regardless, if he keeps producing at the same level through the end of the campaign with the University of Alaska, there will likely be a team willing to give him a chance. If he’s set on playing professionally, Lehti could immediately step into the starter’s crease for an ECHL team or serve as a backup with a lower-level AHL team.
Canucks Sign Linus Karlsson To Two-Year Extension
The Vancouver Canucks continue to work on figuring out next year’s roster as they enter a transitional period. The Canucks announced that they’ve signed forward Linus Karlsson to a two-year, $4.5MM extension ($2.25MM AAV).
Vancouver has obviously liked what they have seen from Karlsson’s first full year with the team. Despite being selected with the 87th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, it took Karlsson multiple years to find a consistent spot on the Canucks’ roster.
Much of that time post-draft was with Karlskrona HK and BIK Karlskoga of the HockeyAllsvenskan. His status as an upper-level prospect with the Canucks began in the 2020-21 season, scoring 20 goals and 51 points in 52 games with Karlskoga. He followed that up with a sensational introductory performance with the SHL’s Skellefteå AIK, registering 26 goals and 46 points in 52 games, taking home SHL Rookie of the Year honors.
Understandably, the Canucks quickly brought him to North America following that performance. He spent the entire 2022-23 season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, recording 24 goals and 49 points in 72 games. Much like he did in Sweden, he followed that up with an even better showing, scoring 23 goals and 60 points in 60 games the next year while also making his NHL debut.
Last season was the most Karlsson had seen in the NHL until this year, though it wasn’t the showing that he or the team likely wanted. There was virtually no offense to his game in the sport’s highest league, finishing with three goals and six points in 23 contests. Still, his defensive metrics were impressive and proved valuable at some moments, given that he spent much of his time relegated to a bottom-six role.
Regardless, his subpar play in the NHL couldn’t take away from his impressive run in the AHL. Karlsson concluded the 2024-25 campaign with 23 goals and 39 points in 32 games for the AHL Canucks. Additionally, he helped the team win the Calder Cup, recording 14 goals and 26 points in 24 postseason appearances with a +4 rating.
Although his offense has been much better this season, nine goals and 16 points in 36 games, his defensive metrics have declined dramatically. Karlsson finished with a 94.3% on-ice SV% at even strength last season, and has only mustered an 85.8% mark this year.
Still, Karlsson is on pace for 20 goals this year, which is ultimately a win for the Canucks. At the beginning of the year, there was some concern that Karlsson would become a Group VI unrestricted free agent next summer, though he’s certainly on pace for 80 career games now. Regardless, Vancouver has committed to him through the 2027-28 season, and he’s currently projected to become the team’s eighth-highest-paid forward.
Photo courtesy of William Liang-Imagn Images.
Islanders Activate Ilya Sorokin, Reassign Marcus Hogberg
The Islanders activated goaltender Ilya Sorokin from injured reserve on Friday, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. He will dress as the backup to David Rittich for Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs before returning to action Tuesday versus the Devils. Third-stringer Marcus Högberg was returned to AHL Bridgeport in a corresponding move.
Sorokin, arguably the Vezina Trophy frontrunner at the halfway point of the season, has missed the last five games with an undisclosed injury. Pre-injury, he’d been excellent behind an Islanders defense that allows the third-most expected goals against per 60 minutes in the league at 5-on-5 (2.96), posting a .910 SV%, 2.55 GAA, and three shutouts with a 12-10-2 record in 24 starts. His 22.8 goals saved above expected rank first across the NHL, per MoneyPuck.
Rittich has also been highly competent this year, but has begun to show signs of wear as he attempts his sixth consecutive start this weekend. He was pulled after allowing five goals on 14 shots against the Mammoth yesterday, but still has a .909 SV% in 17 games on the year.
Still, if the Isles manage to keep up their 96-point pace and make the postseason cutoff, Sorokin, along with Calder favorite Matthew Schaefer, will be the names that have the most to do with it. Sorokin’s 137 career wins are already third in Islanders franchise history, and his .916 SV% is first (min. 100 starts).
Högberg’s only action on this recall came in the relief appearance against Utah yesterday, allowing two goals on seven shots. The 31-year-old has a .881 SV%, 3.08 GAA, and 5-7-3 record in 14 games for Bridgeport.
Avalanche Recall Taylor Makar, Trent Miner; Place Mackenzie Blackwood On IR
The Avalanche announced they’ve recalled winger Taylor Makar and goaltender Trent Miner from AHL Colorado. Netminder Mackenzie Blackwood was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move with a lower-body issue, per Meghan Angley of Guerilla Sports. Colorado had an open roster spot already, so they don’t need to clear a second one.
It’s unclear what’s keeping Blackwood out of the lineup. He did not practice yesterday ahead of the Avs’ three-game road trip, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.
Blackwood had finished the game in their 6-1 drubbing of the Blues on New Year’s Eve, his second straight start. The 29-year-old started the year on IR and has fallen into more of a tandem split with Scott Wedgewood as a result, but has still been spectacular through his 16 appearances, racking up a 13-1-1 record with a .924 SV% and league-leading 2.07 GAA.
While disappointing, Colorado has shown the ability to withstand their starter’s absence well already. Wedgewood started 10 of 11 in October while Blackwood was working his way back and put up a 7-1-3 record and .900 SV%. On the year, he’s now recorded a league-high 17 wins with a .919 SV% and 2.13 GAA.
Now, Blackwood will be out for at least one week. He’ll be re-evaluated after the Avs wrap up their road trip, which concludes on Jan. 6 in Tampa, per Montano.
Miner, 24, made one start and one relief appearance in October while serving as Wedgewood’s backup to open the season. He stopped 40 of the 44 shots he faced for a .909 SV% and 2.12 GAA.
A seventh-round pick in 2019, Miner is now up to two career starts and another two relief appearances. One of the younger and less experienced third-stringers in the league, he’s momentarily lost his AHL starting job as well to undrafted free agent pickup Isak Posch. In 10 appearances compared to Posch’s 16, Miner has a 7-2-0 record with a .907 SV% and 2.40 GAA.
Makar returns to the NHL roster after Gavin Brindley sustained a lower-body injury against St. Louis. With Joel Kiviranta also listed as day-to-day with a lower-body issue, the Avs needed an extra forward in case both are unavailable tomorrow in Carolina.
The 24-year-old Makar has been recalled three times already this season and made his NHL debut, going pointless in three appearances with six hits while averaging 5:33 of ice time per game. The 6’4″ lefty is in his first pro season and has six goals and 10 points in 26 AHL games.
Flames Loan Andrew Basha To WHL
The Flames have sent left wing prospect Andrew Basha back to juniors to finish the season with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, per a team announcement.
It will mark the 20-year-old Basha’s fifth and final season of junior hockey. Viewed as a potential fit by multiple public scouts in the 2024 draft, he ended up slipping to Calgary at No. 41 overall in the second round.
At the time, Basha was coming off a 30-goal, 85-point breakout in 63 games for Medicine Hat. The following season, he was a member of the Tigers’ WHL championship team but struggled with injuries. Limited to 23 regular-season contests, he still racked up nine goals and 29 points but lost important development time.
That missed development was apparent as Basha attempted to make adjustments to the pro game this season. Assigned to AHL Calgary out of training camp, he’s gotten plenty of reps but hasn’t produced. In 27 games, he’s put up a 1-4–5 scoring line with 33 penalty minutes and a -7 rating.
A good playmaker with physical acumen, he’s not an A-list prospect in a deep Calgary pool. Nonetheless, his toolkit points toward him being an effective fourth-liner even if the offensive production never really spikes at the pro level. The Flames are hoping that isn’t the case, though, and he can develop into something of a top-nine power forward. Getting some confidence back in Medicine Hat should help him on the way.
Senators Loan Matthew Andonovski To OHL
The Senators reassigned defense prospect Matthew Andonovski from AHL Belleville to OHL Kitchener today, per a team announcement.
Andonovski was a fifth-round pick in 2023. As he’s 20 years old, he’s still eligible for major junior hockey, but Ottawa was no longer forced to return him to his junior team as stipulated by the NHL-CHL transfer agreement.
While Andonovski was eligible for a full-time assignment to Belleville, loaning him to Kitchener means he must stay there until their season ends. He’s not eligible to return to the AHL until then, and he would only be eligible for an NHL recall under emergency conditions, although he’s far enough down the depth chart that he wouldn’t be considered in that scenario.
The 6’2″, 201-lb lefty signed his entry-level contract with the Sens in the 2024 offseason, but the deal slid to this year after he was loaned out to Kitchener for the entire campaign. A physical shutdown defender, Andonovski served as the Rangers’ captain last season and racked up 21 points, a +10 rating, and 132 penalty minutes in 65 games.
This season, injuries have limited Andonovski’s pro debut to just three appearances with Belleville and none since Nov. 1. He posted zeroes across the board. Today’s news indicates he’s been cleared to return to play and will now partake in his fifth and final season with Kitchener.
Canucks Place Marco Rossi On IR, Recall Arshdeep Bains
The Canucks announced they’ve placed center Marco Rossi on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 30. His roster spot is going to winger Arshdeep Bains, who’s been recalled from AHL Abbotsford.
Rossi, 24, has only played eight games since being acquired from the Wild in the Quinn Hughes deal. The team’s new second-line center behind Elias Pettersson hasn’t seen much success yet, though. While he’s averaged nearly 19 minutes per game, tracking for a career-high, the 2020 No. 9 overall pick has only managed two points and a -5 rating while seeing a rotation of Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, and Conor Garland as his primary linemates.
That cold streak hit a stop sign against the Flyers on Tuesday, leaving that game with a lower-body injury. On Thursday, head coach Adam Foote told reporters that Rossi – along with Garland – would miss at least a week. He would be eligible to come off IR on Jan. 6 against the Sabres, but won’t return until their following game against the Red Wings at the earliest.
Injuries have been a theme for the Austrian this season. His tenure with the Wild ended while he was on injured reserve with a separate lower-body issue, believed to be a foot fracture. All told, he’s had five goals and 15 points in 25 showings this season after reaching a career-high 60 points last year.
If history is any indication, Bains won’t be a replacement for Rossi in the top six, but he does give Vancouver an extra forward while Garland is out. The 24-year-old broke camp with the Canucks but was waived and reassigned to Abbotsford last month after scoring a goal and five points in 26 appearances, almost exclusively in a fourth-line role while averaging under 10 minutes per game. The 6’0″ winger has three goals and six points in five AHL games since the demotion, bringing his career AHL points per game up to 0.79.