After a solid start to the season, the Chicago Blackhawks have been going through some big-time struggles as of late. The Blackhawks are currently on a six-game losing streak and have won only two out of their last 10 contests.

Due to the Blackhawks' current struggles, they now have a 13-17-6 record and are at the very bottom of the NHL standings. With this, they are starting to stand out as prime sellers, and one of their most notable trade candidates is pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) defenseman Connor Murphy. 

With the Blackhawks having so many promising young defensemen in their system, it would not be particularly surprising if they flipped Murphy by the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Due to this, Murphy was included in The Athletic's latest NHL trade matchmaker column. In it, Pierre LeBrun named the Florida Panthers as the team that could land Murphy, while Chris Johnston picked the Vegas Golden Knights. 

LeBrun going with the Panthers is understandable, as it is clear that they could use more depth on their blueline. If they added Murphy, he would provide them with another solid veteran blueliner as they look to win their third straight Stanley Cup. A right of side of Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Murphy would be a strong trio for Florida.

Yet, Johnston picking the Golden Knights is also easy to understand, as it is no secret that they need to upgrade the right side of the blueline. When looking at the Golden Knights' current roster, Murphy could fit nicely on their second pairing if acquired. However, even if he played bottom-pairing minutes for Vegas, he would still improve their group. 

Things have been going very well for the Buffalo Sabres as of late. The Sabres have won each of their last seven games and now have an 18-14-4 record. With this, they are now seventh in the Atlantic Division, but also only three points behind the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning. With this, the Sabres have created far more hope for their 2025-26 season. 

With the Sabres starting to improve and desperately looking to break their 14-year playoff drought, it would be understandable if new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen looked to add to the team's roster. With this, The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently named the Buffalo Sabres as a potential landing spot for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov. 

"You won’t find anyone in the NHL more familiar with Chinakhov than Jarmo Kekäläinen, the man who drafted him in Columbus. With Kekäläinen now in charge of the Sabres front office, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to lean on some known quantities as he starts to put his own stamp on the Buffalo roster," Johnston wrote.

Chinakhov would certainly have the potential to be an interesting addition for the Sabres. The 2020 first-round pick has skill and at 24 years old, the possibility of him hitting a new level is still there. Furthermore, while Chinakhov is in the final year of his current deal, he is a pending restricted free agent (RFA). With this, he would have the potential to be more than a rental for the Sabres if they issue him a qualifying offer over the summer. 

In 29 games so far this season with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has posted three goals and six points. While these numbers do not necessarily stand out, he notably had 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games for the Blue Jackets just back in 2023-24. He also had seven goals and 15 points in just 30 games last season. 

While the NHL takes some time off over Christmas with no games on the schedule from December 24 to 26, a couple of Montreal Canadiens players couldn’t help but get on the ice over the short break. Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov didn’t just head to the CN Sports Complex in Brossard; they also visited local outdoor rinks.

On Christmas Eve, reigning Calder Trophy winner Hutson surprised fans in Notre-Dame-De-Grace by showing up to play shinny hockey with them. Needless to say, those who were in attendance were incredibly happy to skate alongside the young star.

Since arriving in Montreal, Hutson has demonstrated his love for the game with an incredible work ethic, hitting the ice so often on days off that the team has had to step in and tell him to stay off the ice. With that taken into account, it’s not surprising that he felt the need to skate on Christmas Eve, and showing up at a local rink and making everyone’s day shows how much he enjoys the city of Montreal and its fans. He has already demonstrated his commitment to the town and the team by signing an 8-year contract that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2033-34 season.

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Then, on Christmas Day, Hutson did it again, but this time he brought a friend: Russian rookie Demidov. According to a Canadiens fan who was there, they played 15 against two, and the fans still basically looked like pylons, but they didn’t care; the kids’ eyes were lit up with Christmas magic.

Ivan Demidov & Lane Hutson meeting Habs fans at the outdoor rink in Montreal today pic.twitter.com/LLzcU0osdH

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 26, 2025

The players also took pictures with fans and were happy to donate their time to make fans’ Christmas even better. For years, parents have been reading Roch Carrier’s The Sweater as a bedtime story to their kids, a book in which a young boy’s biggest Christmas wish is to get a Montreal Canadiens sweater for Christmas, but this would make for a great children’s book as well. Imagine the child receiving a Hutson jersey, going to the rink to wear it, and ultimately playing with the player.

Kudos to Hutson and Demidov for taking the time to make some kids’ dreams come true this year. It didn’t cost them anything, but for those who had the opportunity to skate alongside their idols over Christmas, it was a priceless experience.

A day after a dominant performance in a Habs win in Boston:

Lane Hutson was back in Montreal today playing shinny hockey in NDG. pic.twitter.com/njla6FglCU

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 25, 2025

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday the addition of Steve Sullivan to their coaching staff. The opening emerged earlier in the week after the club relieved Marc Savard of his duties as assistant coach. Savard had been responsible for the team’s power play, which ranked last in the NHL at the time of his departure.

We have added Steve Sullivan as an Assistant Coach.

Sullivan joins the Leafs from the Toronto Marlies. pic.twitter.com/Pn6K0RgNiA

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 26, 2025

While the Leafs did not have an immediate replacement behind the bench during their 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the coaching staff clarified they would evaluate long-term options for the power play moving forward. Ultimately, the team promoted Sullivan from their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, where his coaching focused on individual skills and offensive development. Interestingly, the Marlies’ power play currently ranks 22nd in the AHL with a 16 percent efficiency rate.

Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the power play responsibilities will be "shared" as Sullivan gets up to speed with the big club.

Sullivan’s promotion from the Marlies fills the Savard vacancy. He’s a powerplay guy but, the PP responsibilities will be shared while Sullivan gets up to speed on the Leafs bench.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 26, 2025

A Familiar Face in Toronto

Sullivan is a well-known figure in Toronto, having played 154 games over four seasons with the Maple Leafs. He arrived in 1997 as part of the high-profile trade that sent fan favorite Doug Gilmour to the New Jersey Devils. Sullivan eventually thrived as the NHL transitioned out of the "dead-puck" era, using his speed and skill to navigate a changing league.

Front Office Experience and Controversy

Following his retirement as a player, Sullivan joined the Arizona Coyotes' front office, eventually rising to Director of Player Development. After the abrupt resignation of GM John Chayka, Sullivan served as interim GM until Bill Armstrong was hired.

During his tenure as interim GM, Sullivan oversaw the 2020 NHL Draft, where the club selected Mitchell Miller with the 111th pick. The selection drew immediate and severe criticism after it was revealed Miller had admitted to the racial bullying of Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black and developmentally disabled classmate, four years prior. Following the public outcry, the Coyotes renounced the selection. Sullivan bore the brunt of the fallout from the decision and parted ways with the organization in 2021.

Return to Coaching

Sullivan returned to the bench in 2024, joining John Gruden’s staff with the Marlies. He filled the vacancy left by Rich Clune, who departed for an assistant coaching role with the Anaheim Ducks. Now back in the NHL, Sullivan's primary challenge will be revitalizing a struggling Maple Leafs power play.

The Colorado Avalanche (27-2-7) aim for their seventh consecutive win when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights (17-8-10) at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

Nathan MacKinnon’s eight-game point streak came to an end during Colorado’s 1-0 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. Still, the Avalanche reached an NHL-leading 61 points, becoming just the fourth team in league history to reach 60 points in their first 36 games. They also extended their overall point streak to nine games (8-0-1).

The Golden Knights snapped a three-game losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. It was a full-team effort, as seven Vegas players recorded two-point nights. Mitch Marner led the charge with two goals, while Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, Brent Howden, Colton Sissons, and Tomáš Hertl all contributed to the scoring.

Martin Nečas strikes just 41 seconds in! 🏔️ pic.twitter.com/Zbmk5qEqF9

— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) October 31, 2025

Looking at head-to-head stats, the Avalanche have won three of their last five matchups against the Golden Knights, including their most recent game on Halloween night, which Colorado won 4-2. In that contest, the Avs saw four goals and all from different players, including Martin Nečas, Cale Makar, Brent Burns, and Brock Nelson. 

Players To Watch for The Avalanche

Cale Makar has been particularly effective against the Golden Knights, recording six points over his last five games against Vegas. Nathan MacKinnon has also contributed significantly, tallying five points in the same stretch.

Samuel Girard has quietly emerged as a dark horse for the Avalanche. He scored the lone goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over the Mammoth, marking his second goal of the season. Over his last six games, Girard has been a point-per-game player, collecting six points.

The previously mentioned Nelson didn’t register a point against Utah, but he has been a key contributor to Colorado’s depth over the past month. The 6-foot-4 center has tallied six goals and three assists in his last 11 games, including a stretch in which he scored in three consecutive contests.

When Nečas last faced the Golden Knights, it was his first game following the signing of an eight-year extension with the Avalanche. He scored just 41 seconds into the contest and added two assists on the way to the win.

Colorado has built a reputation for quick strikes this season, but such fast starts have been rare lately. If there’s anyone capable of delivering one, it’s Nečas. The 26-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 36 goals and 71 assists for 107 points, which would mark career highs in both categories.

Players To Watch for The Golden Knights

Mitch Marner has racked up nine points (three goals, six assists) over his past five games and ranks second on the Golden Knights with 38 points (nine goals, 29 assists) in 35 games. He also scored twice in Vegas’ most recent victory.

Ivan Barbashev has been equally impressive, pairing production with physicality. The 30-year-old Russian has collected six points in his last five games against the Avalanche and is known for his bone crushing hits. 

Jack Eichel has recorded five points in his last five games against Colorado, while William Karlsson has contributed three points over the same stretch.

Start Time

The Avalanche square off against the Golden Knights on Saturday. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. local time. 

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The San Jose Sharks have a long way to go to become true championship contenders.

Over the past several seasons, the Sharks have established an unenviable reputation as one of the NHL’s weakest clubs, missing the postseason in each of the last six years.

While the organization boasts an impressive collection of top-end talent, its lack of a reliable supporting cast has forced an unsustainable dependence on its stars.

When those players fail to deliver at an exceptional level, the structural deficiencies of the roster are exposed, often resulting in embarrassing losses.

The Sharks opened the season on a rough note, stumbling to a 0–3–2 record through their first five games. The growing frustration came to a head when head coach Ryan Warsofsky remarked that he would give up one of his children for a win—a comment he later acknowledged was inappropriate and apologized for.

"I'd give up one of my children for a fu**ing win," Warsofky said following a shutout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 18.

Two days later, Warsofky apologized.

“I love my kids. I would never give them up,” Warsofsky said. “I love my wife. Obviously, I’m a passionate, emotional person, and probably got ahead of me there, and so I apologize for those comments.”

Hot And Cold

The Sharks are still mathematically in the playoff hunt, but their position is far more fragile than it may appear. One stabilizing force has been Macklin Celebrini. The 19-year-old is producing at a blistering pace, recording 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 37 games this season.

Even in Tuesday’s 7–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, Celebrini found the scoresheet with a goal. That lone point carried added significance, as it allowed him to tie Sidney Crosby’s record for the most points by a teenager before the Christmas break.

On one hand, that’s encouraging. Collin Graff has also emerged as a solid contributor. The 23-year-old went undrafted, but he has come into his own this season, posting 10 goals and 10 assists for a career-high 20 points in 36 games. After appearing in 33 games for the Sharks last year, Graff has already surpassed those totals, clear evidence of his continued development.

Goaltending Is Awful

But herein lies the problem: when the Sharks’ top line isn’t on the ice, they are often giving up goals—and a lot of them. San Jose has allowed 129 goals this season, the second-most in the NHL. Only the St. Louis Blues have been worse, surrendering 131 goals as their historically rough season continues.

Erratic goaltending has been a persistent issue this season. From Yaroslav Askarov’s ill-advised attempts at a Dominik Hasek–style approach to more routine struggles, the instability in net has often overshadowed the efforts of the team’s stars to steer the Sharks in a better direction.

In Tuesday's game, Askarov didn't even last a full period as he allowed four goals on 16 shots, forcing the team to pull him in favor of Alex Nedeljkovic, who didn't fare any better, as he allowed three goals on 10 shots. It's been an absolute circus between the pipes. And for Nedeljkovic, he's allowed at least three goals in seven straight games.

The message is unmistakable: the Sharks have significant work ahead. While they are not the worst team in the league, they are perilously close to that threshold.

Goaltending remains a glaring weakness. Neither Yaroslav Askarov nor Alex Nedeljkovic appears capable of anchoring the position long-term, leaving San Jose with little choice but to pursue upgrades—whether via trades or the draft.

Additionally, the trade deadline offers an opportunity to add depth and bolster the roster. Even so, this rebuilding project is likely several years from fruition before the Sharks can genuinely be considered legitimate contenders.

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In the New York Rangers’ 7-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night, Alexis Lafrenière achieved an important milestone. 

Lafrenière scored the 100th goal of his NHL career, and he spoke about the impressive feat after the game.

“I knew I was at 99, so it's good to get it," Lafrenière said. “It's a good feeling.”

Mike Sullivan was impressed with what he saw out of Lafrenière on Tuesday night and feels he’s added a new element to his game by providing net-front presence at a more consistent level. 

“I thought Laf had a strong game,” Sullivan said. “He's such a talented player as we all know. It's been a struggle for him most recently to score. I thought he had a number of really good looks tonight. He was hanging onto pucks. He was also getting inside the dots and going to the net a little bit more. 

Scott Morrow Continues To Roll With The Punches Through Highs And Lows Of His DevelopmentScott Morrow’s time with the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> has been a rollercoaster ride this season, but there’s one aspect about his character that you can’t take away.&nbsp;

“I think that's got to be a more consistent element of his game. I think he's create more offense if he does. He's very capable. He's strong and he's got good stick skills...There needs to be another dimension to their offense and Laf's offense and that's something that we've had a lot of discussions with Laf about.”

The 24-year-old forward has recorded eight goals, 12 assists, and 20 points in 39 games, while averaging 17:23 minutes.

The Los Angeles Kings don't need a miracle this Christmas to save their season. They don't even need a splashy trade, a headline-grabbing signing, or even a reinvention in their front office. What they really need is progress in the areas that have been holding them back all season long. 

As the season rolls into the holiday stretch, the Kings find themselves playing mediocre hockey, especially in December, going 3-8 in the 11 games they've played this month, and have just one home win nearly two and a half weeks ago against Chicago.  

If Santa's listening, here's a realistic Kings Christmas wishlist. 

A Power Play That Stops Holding Them Back

The Kings don't need elite power play if that's asking too much from them; they just need one that doesn't feel like a momentum killer every time they step on the ice and play. 

For long stretches of this season, LA's five-on-five play has been good enough to compete with anyone in the league. The issue has been turning advantages into separation, and that's not more apparent with man advantage, where the Kings have been terrible at. 

Too often, the Kings' predictable entries and struggles to convert on the power play, which drains the energy inside the building, say everything you need to know about how bad it's been. They have scored only four power-play goals in their last 10 games. 

In the postseason and in late-game situations, that flaw is exposed by teams that can use it against the Kings and beat them whenever they want. Special teams swing close games, and Los Angeles has lived on the wrong side of that for so many stretches this year. 

A functional power play that can score when it matters most would change the outlook of the Kings' season and get them back in Stanley Cup contention. 

#GoKingsGo are 13 for their last 105 on the power play.

You take out their season-opening B2B, which had the wild Vegas game and the academic 5on3 against the Avs, they are dead last in the NHL in PP% still. Toronto has it for the whole season.

— Andrew Knoll (@AndrewKnollNHL) December 24, 2025

Quinton Byfield's Breakout Becoming Permanent

Quinton Byfield's development has been a real treat for Kings fans. The numbers have gotten better every single season, and the eye test says he can break out into an even better player, which is scary. 

After playing just six games in his rookie campaign, Byfield began a new role. By the 2022-23 season, he posted 22 points in 53 games, elevating his playmaking skills. Then came the big leap. In 2023-24, Byfield played all 80 games and delivered 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) with a plus - 19 rating, while averaging 16 minutes of ice time. 

The numbers nearly doubled in those two seasons. And last season, he followed it up with another consistent season, scoring 54 points in 81 games, raising his average time on ice to 18 minutes, and taking on more challenging assignments as his star level rose. 

This season, his role has expanded even further. His ice time has climbed north of 20 minutes per game, a clear signal of trust from the coaching staff. The next step for Byfield could be simply to continue this streak of consistency for years to come and become one of the league's premier young talents. 

But despite Byfield getting more playing time, his numbers are a little down this season, and he has struggled over the last 20 games. Byfield has scored just two goals in the previous 20 games for the Kings and has four goals total in 35 games. 

Regardless of Byfield struggling this season, if he plays well consistently for several seasons, the future could be bright for Los Angeles. 

Anze Kopitar Staying a Little Longer

Every franchise and die-hard fan reaches the moment when they have to imagine themselves without their cornerstones, the players they've watched play for their team for as long as they can remember.

Anze Kopitar remains the heart and soul of this team. His numbers may not show it on the statsheet as they did a few years ago. Still, his impact remains big everywhere else, including leadership, mentoring players, defensive responsibility, and faceoffs. 

Kopitar has already come out and said this will be his last season playing hockey after 20 years of battles in the league, so it's unlikely he will change his mind on that decision. The only way his decision will change is if Kopitar wants to win more Stanley Cups and believes this Kings team has a legit chance, but Kopitar's legacy will remain the same whether he wins or retires. 

If Kopitar has another season left in him, it would be huge, but everyone knows that it's time to hang it up for Kopitar, who will go down as one of the greatest players ever and maybe the best King of all time.

Finally Getting Past the First Round

The Kings have had some bad luck in the last few years when they've made the postseason. Matching up against the Edmonton Oilers hasn't been good for them; they've lost four consecutive playoff series to the same team over the past four years.

Last year was the breaking point: finally having home-ice advantage against their rival and holding a 2-0 series lead, but they collapsed, losing four straight games and going home in six.

It comes down to matchups in the postseason in sports, and the Oilers are the one team Los Angeles can't seem to beat, whether they have home ice or not. It will undoubtedly be tough to accomplish this season because of the struggles the Kings have had this year compared to last year, and because of the teams ahead of them, including Dallas, Vegas, Edmonton, Colorado, etc. 

But getting past the first round will finally dispel the psychological effect the Oilers have had on the Kings over the last four postseasons. Winning a playoff series changes how a team carries itself, especially for the year the Kings are having. This would be a massive success for them. 

Success At Home 

Crypto.com Arena shoould feel uncomfortable for visitng teams, but this season, it hasn't. 

Sitting at 4-8-4 at home this year after being the best team at home last year is a big disappointment. Not just that, but the Kings might actually be the worst team at home, scoring the fewest goals (32) in the league and posting the worst pp percentage (10.7%). 

A winning home record will bring energy back into the stadium and reestablish the Kings' identity. Home games should give teams a significant advantage over visiting teams and boost their energy, but none have happened for Los Angeles. 

A Realistic Christmas Wish

None of these wishes is unrealistic. It's entirely possible, and it could happen if the Kings get it together. 

Los Angeles needs to be better where it matters most, not something it's not. If even a few of these items are checked off by the season's end, success in Los Angeles might come with something fans haven't felt in a while. 

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