Connor Bedard Hopes Patrick Kane Will Return To Blackhawks
Two teams remain in the running for future Hall-of-Fame winger Patrick Kane. Now 37 years old, Kane’s next contract will likely be his last – and he hopes to spend it on a homecoming. That could be with the Buffalo Sabres, the club that Kane grew up watching from upstate New York, or it could be with the Chicago Blackhawks, where his career blossomed en route to three Stanley Cup wins. Current Blackhawks star Connor Bedard has made it clear that he is hoping for the latter. In a press scrum captured by Scott Powers of The Athletic, the freshly-signed Bedard said:
I hope so… I can’t imagine his first game back at the UC, the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring not only to our team but our fans as well… You talk about the legacy aspect of it, but as a team, it would make us a way better team. He’s still an amazing player.
Closing out his career in Chicago would only feel right for Kane. He became a superstar almost immediately after Chicago drafted him with the first-overall pick in 2007. Kane scored 21 goals and 72 points in his rookie year, in tandem with fellow rookie and premier playmaker Jonathan Toews. Together, the two formed one of the most complete duos in NHL history – with Kane offering sharp goal-scoring and high-finesse skills while Toews served as the setup man and two-way star. Their presence helped Chicago strongarm the Western Conference for much of the 2010s, with a dominance that peaked with Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
Kane was a routine point-per-game scorer in that stretch, though he routinely missed 15-to-20 games each season due to injury. He played a full season in 2015-16 and made the most of his prime year, finishing second in the NHL with 46 goals and first in the league with 106 points. Kane crossed the century mark again three seasons later, netting 44 goals and 110 points in 81 games of the 2018-19 season. His pair of 100-point seasons stand as Kane’s career-years, though he crossed 70 points in 10 seasons and 80 points in six seasons.
Kane has remained a cornerstone of his team’s offense into his late-30s. He scored 41 assists and 57 points in just 67 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season. That production continued Kane’s run of strong scoring in Detroit. He has scored 163 points in 189 games with the Red Wings, or an average of 71 points per 82 games, through three seasons.
As has become well-known across the hockey world, Kane’s offense comes with major tradeoffs on defense. He has recorded 2.77 expected goals-against per 60 minutes of ice time since joining the Red Wings in 2023. That mark ranks as the 56th-worst in the NHL in that span, on a list that ends with Bedard himself. The Blackhawks don’t need to kneecap their defense any further after allowing the fifth-most goals in the NHL last season. Then again, Kane’s presence could bolster the top-six, while allowing young prospects like Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov the chance to ease into their roles. Kane’s defensive deficiencies won’t be unfamiliar to the Blackhawks – but the value he could bring with a return to the United Center, in terms of mentorship and fan service, could outweigh the negatives in a year where the Hawks likely won’t push for playoff contention.
Patrick Kane Between Sabres And Blackhawks As Free Agent Destinations
According to The Fourth Period, Patrick Kane might not re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings, but could find other homes to potentially return to.
The American veteran is now 37 years old, but hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down in terms of NHL production. 57 points in 67 games for the Red Wings last season tallied a $53k cost-per-point on Detroit’s 2025-26 cap hits as he was signed on a one-year deal at $3MM AAV. Detroit could still bring him back, with $19MM in cap space, it’s definitely possible to fit him into their books, but does Kane want to with the front office change currently in progress with the Dylan Larkin saga ongoing?
Further to this, Chris Chelios, who appeared on 104.3 The Score, said in speaking to Kane directly, that a return to the Chicago Blackhawks is potentially in the mix, as well as signing with the Buffalo Sabres, who are linked to acquire the former first-overall pick from 2007.
Let’s go through both teams and how they could benefit from adding Kane to their forward group, and why he’d want to go to either team.
End of Beginning: The Chicago Blackhawks
Kane could return to the team he’s won almost everything in his hockey career with. A three-time Stanley Cup Champion in 2010, 2013, and 2015, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013. He was also a nine-time all-star, along with accolades like a Calder Memorial Trophy win in 2008, an Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award in 2016.
Bringing back Kane would be the ultimate legendary reunion as the Blackhawks continue to build into their next era. Kane, who was dealt to the Rangers in 2023, never got to play a game with the 2023 first-overall pick, Connor Bedard. Chicago still has a few RFA’s to re-sign, including Bedard. Kane would be a helpful veteran addition in a familiar setting, but now in a youthful locker room that has only one other 35+ player in the room, defenseman Ian Cole.
Chicago loves their American legend, and it would be a great farewell tour for a team that can well afford him. The Blackhawks have $29MM in cap space, and with Connor Bedard’s contract in need of renewal, they are more than able to join those two together for a passing of the torch scenario.
Back home: The Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres lost a hometown kid in Alex Tuch to the Capitals, who was the key return in the Jack Eichel trade a few years ago. Perhaps they could supplement that loss with another veteran forward who grew up cheering for Buffalo? Kane hasn’t played hockey in Buffalo since 2003, with the Saints 14U AAA club. After a long professional hockey career, it feels very fitting to see this scenario play out where Kane ends it where it all began.
The Sabres are trying to remain competitive after making the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Adding a player like Patrick Kane, who’s been there, done that, to a younger group that was on the cusp of an Eastern Conference Final could be exactly what they need within their forward group. The Sabres have addressed nearly every box in need of checking on their offseason list, most recently extending forward Peyton Krebs.
Now with just $5MM in cap space, they could squeeze Kane into their lineup, and he’d be a much-welcome addition. He’s made the playoffs once in the past four seasons (back with the Rangers in 2022-23, a first-round loss to New Jersey). Perhaps after failing to get to the dance with Detroit, he can help his childhood team, which ideally is a better playoff bet than Chicago, to make a Stanley Cup push in his latter career years.
Photo Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports, Bill Wippert-Buffalo Sabres
Free Agency Notes: Marchment, Giroux, Kane
After the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Mason Marchment would be hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent. Still the case as of this morning, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Marchment should have a robust market once the market opens up at noon eastern, with the San Jose Sharks being a likely landing spot.
Additionally, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun shared that the Montreal Canadiens are another team with interest in Marchment, but are hesitant to sign him to a long-term deal to avoid blocking younger players on the roster. However, if the Canadiens are unwilling to offer Marchment a multi-year deal of any kind, it’s unlikely that he will take his talents to Quebec.
Regardless, it’s not surprising that Marchment will have a robust market. After middling out with the Seattle Kraken, Marchment went on a tear with the Blue Jackets, scoring 15 goals and 32 points in 39 games with a +21 rating, averaging 17:41 of ice time per game. It’s unlikely he could manage to keep up that scoring pace throughout a season, but Marchment remains one of the better options as a middle-six complement for many teams around the league.
Additional free agency notes:
- After failing to gain traction in negotiations with the Ottawa Senators, LeBrun confirmed that Claude Giroux would hit the open market this afternoon. Although his scoring has dissipated in each of the four years he has been with the Senators, Giroux remains a solid secondary contributor, scoring 14 goals and 49 points in 82 games with a +20 rating. Additionally, the 38-year-old Giroux remains arguably the best faceoff taker in the league, winning 504 of 799 draws (63.1%) this past season. He is keeping the door open for a return to Ottawa, but Giroux will have the opportunity to speak with 31 other teams this afternoon.
- Another veteran will join Giroux on the open market. After signing three consecutive one-year deals with the Detroit Red Wings, LeBrun indicated that Patrick Kane will become an unrestricted free agent this afternoon. Like Giroux, Kane is leaving the door open for a return to Detroit. However, with Dylan Larkin on the outs, Kane may look for an opportunity to get back into the playoffs with a different team. He has remained a strong offensive contributor, registering 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games for the Red Wings this past season. Like Giroux, Kane would be a strong fit on multiple different teams.
Atlantic Notes: Kane, Panthers, Poltapov
Patrick Kane has signed three straight one-year deals with the Red Wings and it appears they’re hoping to extend that streak. Speaking yesterday to reporters including Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), GM Steve Yzerman indicated that he would love to keep the 37-year-old in Detroit. Kane had another productive year, recording 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games in 2025-26, good for fifth on the team in scoring. He’s eligible to sign another bonus-laden contract as long as he signs another one-year pact. However, it’s quite possible that Kane decides to take that type of deal elsewhere in the hopes of having a better shot at postseason success. His two re-signings have come on the eve of free agency so even though he hasn’t signed yet, Yzerman won’t be giving up on keeping Kane in the fold just yet.
More from the Atlantic:
- Less than 72 hours before the start of free agency, the Panthers are still searching for both ends of their goaltending tandem for next season with Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov both pending unrestricted free agents. While providing an overview of Florida’s options between the pipes, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald relays that the team hasn’t given up hope on re-signing Bobrovsky yet. The 37-year-old is believed to be seeking a long-term deal, something that doesn’t seem feasible given that he’s coming off a rough season. It could be a case where both sides could benefit from Bobrovsky testing the open market, then circling back when the potential offers are more certain.
- The Sabres could be eyeing some late-season help already for 2026-27. Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s draft including Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald, assistant GM Jerry Fortin indicated that winger Prokhor Poltapov could join Buffalo next season once his KHL deal ends. The 23-year-old was a second-round pick back in 2021, going 33rd overall but he has remained in his native Russia since then. Poltapov has back-to-back 40-point seasons under his belt with CSKA Moscow with Fortin feeling that he will be “almost a plug-and-play prospect the day he’s ready to come over.” Depending on how far CSKA goes in the playoffs next season, the time he’s ready to come over could be sometime in the spring.
Patience Has Become A Virtue In The NHL
Nearly every NHL fan who has endured years of playoff heartbreak reaches a point where they call for their favorite team to blow up the core and go into a rebuild. It’s happened everywhere, including in Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2015, when Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company could barely get out of the first round. The same thing happened in Tampa Bay in 2019, when they were swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets. But, in Tampa Bay, there were calls for patience after the embarrassing defeat, perhaps learning a lesson from the Penguins, whose patience with their core paid off. Both of those teams eventually captured back-to-back titles and were rewarded for sticking with their core group of players. The same can be said for the 2026 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes, who have endured years of playoff disappointments, rode it out with their core, and were rewarded with hockey’s ultimate prize. So, which leads to more success? A full teardown and rebuild, or riding things out with a core that can’t get wins when the games matter the most?
The list of teams that faced playoff disappointments is much longer than just Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. The Washington Capitals had their own set of playoff disappointments during the Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and John Carlson era, but they kept that core together for more than a decade before it ultimately paid off with a Stanley Cup in 2018. There were many calls for Washington to move someone from that group, but those calls were ignored, and Washington continued to build around the group and improve it year after year.
In Tampa Bay, the Lightning endured a Stanley Cup Finals loss in 2015 and Eastern Conference Finals losses in 2016 and 2018 before finally breaking through. Calls in Tampa Bay were constant for the team to do something, anything, to shake up a core that some felt was stale. But two Stanley Cups and three finals trips later, it’s clear that Tampa Bay made the right call to ride things out with their group.
On the other hand, the teardown is always viewed through rose-coloured glasses because folks remember the Penguins during the Sidney Crosby era, when they drafted Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury. They may also think back to the Chicago Blackhawks, who used the draft lottery to pick Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
The problem with viewing a full teardown with such optimism is that for every successful rebuild, there are teams that struggle for a decade or more. The Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres have both spent more than a decade rebuilding and have nothing to show for it at this point, though the Oilers came close to a title twice. The Sabres went 15 years without a playoff appearance, which should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone who believes that a full-scale roster teardown guarantees a window of contention. In fact, it doesn’t end with Buffalo and Edmonton, as the Philadelphia Flyers rebuilt and tore down more than once during the 2010s after multiple failed launches.
Much of the evidence points to teams that keep the core together being more successful, yet fans and media love to call for the general manager of their favorite team to rebuild when things get tough. A lot of that is an emotional reaction after a loss, which is understandable given that emotions run high come playoff time, and sometimes fans and media say things purely in the heat of the moment. But even though it might come off as rash, it’s not always wrong to want to tear down a core.
The best time, and perhaps the only time, to tear down a core is when it has become too old and too expensive to continue pressing with it. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a good example of this. They kept the core together during the 2010-2015 failures, but should have likely broken the core up around 2021-22 after five consecutive playoff series losses. They didn’t do so, and general manager Ron Hextall added to the core in the summer of 2022 in an effort to extend the Penguins’ playoff appearance streak, but they unfortunately hit a wall in 2023, and Hextall was fired.
The argument to keep the Penguins together during the 2018-22 run made sense, given that teams aren’t successful immediately after blowing up their roster, and the Penguins still had Crosby and Malkin playing at a high level. Had the Penguins torn it down, it likely wouldn’t have been five years before their draft capital reached the NHL. By then, Crosby and Malkin would’ve been 40, and the team likely didn’t have the patience to wait that long, nor would Crosby and Malkin.
The choice to keep the core together or blow it all up and start over is a case-by-case decision. The idea of always tearing down a core after a few playoff failures is wrong, and keeping an old, expensive core together forever is a bad idea, too. The best measuring stick for something like this might be long-term success and whether a team has consistently been a top 5-7 NHL team and won some playoff series.
Carolina struggled in the Conference Finals for years, but they showed management they could consistently win two rounds in the playoffs. This created an internal belief among management, and the Hurricanes were patient for years despite ugly third-round losses several times. But the Canes knew they had elite talent, a deep roster, and prospects coming up the pipeline. And finally, this year, their patience was rewarded.
This is what makes a case like the Toronto Maple Leafs so compelling. They’ve been good for a long time and have been a contender on paper at times. They have elite-level talent on their roster, but they can’t get past the second round, and most times, they can’t even get out of the first round. There is an argument that patience could pay off in Toronto, and it’s possible that argument could be right. The history of the NHL is littered with teams that lost many times before eventually breaking through and winning a Stanley Cup, and it’s not to say Toronto should plan a Stanley Cup parade, but it is to say they should give their core a few more chances to win before tearing it all down.
2026-27 Performance Bonus and 35+ Candidates
As NHL front offices gear up for free agency, managing the salary cap demands a delicate balance between risk and reward. While performance bonuses are often linked to elite rookies on entry-level contracts, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) adds two additional avenues for performance-based incentives: injury comeback deals and contracts for 35-year-old or older veterans. These mechanisms enable teams to secure impactful players with low base salary cap hits, effectively deferring financial obligations until later.
If a team ends the fiscal year with earned bonuses exceeding their remaining cap space, the excess funds are carried over into the next league year as a direct salary cap penalty. This can significantly impact teams near the cap limit or heavily relying on LTIR. PuckPedia has detailed the upcoming free agents who qualify for these specialized incentive structures for the 2026-27 season.
To qualify for a performance-bonus-eligible contract via the injury route, a player must have 400 or more career games and have spent 100 or more days on Injured Reserve during the previous season. This structure allows franchises to take low-risk gambles on proven assets, while the financial incentives toward active roster availability and durability rather than pure scoring production.
Six players fit this criteria heading into free agency, including Derek Forbort (VAN), Alexander Kerfoot (UTA) Patrik Laine (MON), Petr Mrazek (ANA), Matt Murray (SEA), and Tomas Nosek (FLA).
For a team looking for top-six offensive upside, a player like Laine could be highly coveted on a bonus-laden deal, while teams seeking goaltending depth or penalty-killing options could turn to turn to Mrazek, Forbort, or Nosek under this low-risk umbrella.
Contracts signed by players who will be 35 or older by July 1 of the contract year are also eligible for performance bonuses on one-year deals. Front offices frequently use these to protect against sudden age-related decline, tying mid-six-figure bonuses to basic longevity milestones—such as reaching 10, 40, or 60 games played—or team-oriented postseason success.
The upcoming free agent class has an extensive group of veteran forwards eligible for this structure, including Jamie Benn (DAL), Evgenii Dadonov (NJD), Nicolas Deslauriers (CAR), Lars Eller (OTT), Nick Foligno (MIN), Claude Giroux (OTT), Luke Glendening (PHI), Erik Haula (NSH), Adam Henrique (EDM), Marcus Johansson (MIN), Patrick Kane (DET), Anders Lee (NYI), Gustav Nyquist (WPG), Alex Ovechkin (WSH), David Perron (OTT), Corey Perry (TBL), Ryan Reaves (SJ), Reilly Smith (VGS), Jonathan Toews (WPG), Garrett Wilson (PHI), James van Riemsdyk (DET), and Mats Zuccarello (MIN).
The blue line also features a robust market of eligible 35+ defensemen who can weaponize these flexible agreements. This group includes Zach Bogosian (MIN), Brent Burns (COL), John Carlson (ANA), Ian Cole (UTA), Radko Gudas (ANA), Travis Hamonic (DET), Nick Jensen (OTT), Nick Leddy (SJ), Jeff Petry (MIN), Luke Schenn (BUF), and Brendan Smith (CBJ).
Contending teams could use performance bonuses to maximize rosters with high-profile franchise icons like Ovechkin, Benn, Giroux, and Kane eligible for a flexible, low-base-salary structure. However, general managers must be cautious. A player hitting a games-played milestone in late March could trigger a cap overage, restricting cap space at the trade deadline or forcing a painful penalty on the 2027-28 books.
Morning Notes: Malkin, Kane, Pronger
Some familiar names from the 2000’s have circulated recently in the hockey world.
The biggest is one who, as expected, doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Evgeni Malkin is not likely to sign anywhere but Pittsburgh, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The long-time Russian star turns 40 a month after free agency opens on July 31, and his agent, J.P. Barry, has already been in discussions with the Pittsburgh Penguins about coming back on a one-year deal. The length appears to be consistent with both parties, but now it comes down to the question of how much money Malkin is to be paid.
Malkin is coming off the final season of a four-year contract worth $24.4MM ($6.1MM AAV). He finished his age-39 season with 19 goals for 61 points in a season where he played just 56 games, finishing fifth on Pittsburgh in scoring. That tally puts him at a cost of $100k per point, however, because of his contract being frontloaded, his $4.8MM in total salary from 2025-26 is likely where LeBrun believes the Penguins want to begin their number, while Malkin’s camp wants to start around his previous cap hit. It’s not out of the question that if Pittsburgh, who carries $42.5MM in cap space, wants to save as much as they can among their eight free agents and beyond, they can give Malkin performance bonuses to hinder the AAV on the contract.
Additional notes include:
- According to Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now, Patrick Kane‘s name has emerged as the potential lone unrestricted free agent that the Detroit Red Wings could be considered in re-signing in Hockeytown. The all-time American star finished with 57 points in 67 games in his third consecutive one-year contract with the Wings that paid him $3MM in his age 37 season. Kane’s cost per point carried a low $53K that Detroit would hope to continue benefiting from. If true, general manager Steve Yzerman will be parting ways with forwards David Perron and James van Riemsdyk, as well as defenseman Travis Hamonic and goaltender Cam Talbot. Simon Edvinsson is the lone defensive restricted free agent, and with $32.6MM in cap space to spare, a chunk of that will head towards the young Swede’s future paycheck.
- Allen’s tweet in particular referenced that van Riemsdyk’s spot, which fluctuated in many spots on the wing, would be filled by a younger player. Perhaps Carter Mazur (8 GP in 2025-26), Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (14 GP in 2025-26), and even Nate Danielson (28 GP in 2025-26) can compete for more ice time if this development comes to fruition.
- Chris Pronger interviewed for the Toronto Maple Leafs president of Hockey operations role, he confirmed as a guest on TSN 1050’s OverDrive show. The 51-year-old said that he had a good conversation about the team’s direction and his thoughts on their needs with MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelly. While he received positive feedback for his discussions, Toronto ultimately went for their options in John Chayka and Mats Sundin. Pronger previously denied rumors that he was interviewing for the Leafs GM role on another TSN show. The Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman, while working in media right now, isn’t opposed to a front office role but emphasized that it needs to be a situation that is right for him to take a new opportunity.
Patrick Kane Becomes All-Time U.S. Born NHL Points Leader
History was made tonight in Detroit as Red Wings forward Patrick Kane broke Mike Modano’s record for most points by a United States born player, as he reached 1,375, seen in a clip shared by the NHL.
The milestone was reached on a secondary assist as Ben Chiarot teed off on a one-timer, beating Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren, and tying the game 1-1.
As it was naturally a focus for the team to get their future Hall of Famer the record tonight on home ice, Kane seemingly broke it in the first few minutes of the game. He fed Alex DeBrincat for a tally in a signature play, but it was called back for offside. Nonetheless, Kane found the scoresheet midway through the second period for good.
The Buffalo, New York native takes the crown after the legendary Modano held the record for over 18 years. It was last broken by Modano on November 7, 2007 in a Dallas Stars win over San Jose, as he surpassed legendary defenseman and former Sabres Head Coach Phil Housley.
Detroit shared a video of Modano, who also donned the Winged Wheel in the twilight of his career, congratulating Kane on the accomplishment.
Kane, 37, has naturally started to slow down with age and dealing with injuries, as his 31 points in 38 games so far seems to be the new norm. However, he and DeBrincat remain as dangerous together as always, and he is still an elite power play set up man, with an 89.1% Corsi For on the man advantage.
The icon is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but in all likelihood, Detroit will snap their nine year postseason drought, and Kane continues to be a big part of the Wings’ revival, certainly enjoying his tenure on his third Original Six franchise.
In terms of active United States born players who could challenge the record into the future, Auston Matthews stands as the second-highest active player with 772 points in 676 games. If able to stay healthy and play into his late 30s as Kane has, with his 1,341 games so far, Matthews is right on track to reach the record.
Perhaps one day the Arizona-born sniper could take the honors, but for now, it’s proudly in the hands of Kane, who sits fourth in points among active players, behind just Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin. Kane is expected to eclipse the 1,400 mark by the end of the season, as he’s hovering around 10 points behind the 39-year-old Malkin, who also continues to produce despite his age.
Although Team USA is set to take on the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics without Kane, indicative of a new era, the 2007 first overall pick has made an indelible impact on the game, not only for United States hockey, but the National Hockey League in its entirety. Tonight proves to be another unforgettable achievement in Kane’s remarkable career.
Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Injury Notes: Kane, Montembeault, Bichsel
Red Wings Head Coach Todd McLellan told reporters, including Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press that Patrick Kane will not be back until after Christmas, due to an upper body injury. Kane last played on December 13 against his former Blackhawks, managing to finish the contest despite injury, but has been absent for the team’s last four games since, in which they’ve managed to win three.
Now 37, the future Hall of Famer has 23 points in 24 games, fifth on the team despite playing more than 10 less games, due to various injuries throughout the first half. John Leonard, a 27-year-old elite AHL scorer, earned a call up from his extraordinary numbers with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Leonard has filled in admirably for the icon Kane, as he has netted two goals in four games.
Today’s update guarantees Kane will not play next Tuesday against Dallas, but he could be due to return on December 27 as the team goes into Carolina, currently on a surge, sitting atop the Atlantic Division.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Similar to Kane, Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault will also return after the Christmas break, as shared by Eric Engels of Sportsnet. A steady presence over the last five years for the Habs as they entered their post-Carey Price era, Montembeault has struggled this season, with an .857 save percentage. The emergence of Jakub Dobes, along with high end prospect Jacob Fowler, who earned his first NHL action of late, has pushed Montembeault down slightly. The 29-year-old has made two appearances for AHL Laval on a conditioning loan, but will look to get back on track in 2026, as he is still signed through next season with Montreal.
- Sam Nestler, Dallas Stars Beat Writer, shared that Lian Bichsel is still at least one week away from any rehab work. Stars Head Coach Glen Gulatzan anticipates the defenseman to be out until around Olympics time in February. Based on the timeline, Bischel will likely return post-Olympic break, assuming the team eases him back into action. In early December, Bichsel was designated as out for around six weeks, after an awkward leg injury sustained against Ottawa, which ended up requiring surgery. Like many other young blueliners, at 21, Bichsel is still working through the adjustment to the NHL game. Standing at 6’7”, he offers little offensively, but if able to progress in a sheltered third pairing role for now, the former first round pick could become a strong middle-pair shutdown option in the future.
East Notes: McDonagh, Kane, Pieniniemi
The Tampa Bay Lightning have had to manage this season with a large portion of key defensemen injured, but it appears one important veteran is closing in on a return to the ice. Lightning team reporter Benjamin Pierce relayed word from Lightning practice this morning that Ryan McDonagh skated today in a regular jersey, a key milestone in his recovery from his undisclosed injury. McDonagh remains on IR, where he has been since early November.
McDonagh, 36, played in 15 games this season before his injury, scoring six points. The 1,025-game veteran has missed Tampa Bay’s last 17 games due to his injury, an absence that has forced the Lightning to rely on less accomplished defensemen such as Charle-Edouard D’Astous and Emil Lilleberg. D’Astous especially has acquitted himself well, but expect McDonagh to resume his regular top-four role once he’s healthy. In 15 games this season, McDonagh averaged just over 20 minutes of ice time per game and leads the team in short-handed time on ice per game.
Other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- The Athletic’s Max Bultman reported today that Detroit Red Wings veteran Patrick Kane “tweaked something” upper-body during Detroit’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, and is out for at least the next two games. Kane, a future Hall of Fame winger, is a key offensive producer for the Red Wings. He has 23 points in 24 games this season and as one might expect plays a significant role on the club’s power play. The Red Wings slotted John Leonard into Kane’s vacated second-line right winger role, per MLive’s Ansar Khan. Leonard was an AHL All-Star last season and has scored 19 goals and 29 points in 20 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins this year.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins lifted their suspension of prospect Emil Pieniniemi, according to Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports, as a result of the blueliner’s newfound willingness to report to the club’s ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers. Per Rorabaugh, while the Penguins presented Pieniniemi with a development plan, the player “disagreed with that plan” and elected to train in his native Finland, with Liiga club Karpat, rather than play in the ECHL. Now, it appears Pieniniemi will report to the ECHL and begin his season there. A 2023 third-round pick, Pieniniemi was ranked the No. 20 prospect in the Penguins’ system before the season by Elite Prospects. While the ECHL isn’t typically seen as a prime league to develop skater prospects, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has shown an increased level of willingness to send prospects to the ECHL, dating back to his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto’s 2017 first-round pick Timothy Liljegren played an ECHL game in 2018-19 and the Penguins have had defensive prospect Finn Harding, who the club reportedly thinks highly of, play seven games for Wheeling so far in 2025-26.