Summary Sunday: December 14, 2025

Chris Johnston on the Chris Johnston Show about Jordan Binnington: I don’t think they’d part with him easily, but you can never say never especially because they could get to a point where they are doing something of a bit of a retool on the fly.

Frankly, it’s difficult to decipher exactly what Johnston is getting at here. The message feels more like speculation for speculation’s sake, which underscores the broader issue with many of the rumors that tend to circulate at this time.

Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines was a little bit more direct: There’s been a lot of noise around Tristan Jarry the last 24-48 hours. I do think there’s legitimate Edmonton Oilers interest. Might not be possible, Pittsburgh has indicated it will not retain [salary].

With so many goaltending names in circulation, Bruins fans are bound to wonder: “What about Joonas Korpisalo?” One NHL scout I spoke with over the weekend was blunt, saying Korpisalo “doesn’t move the needle enough for teams in need.” That sentiment will inevitably spark another question from fans— “and Binnington does?”

For now, Edmonton’s goaltending debate takes a back seat – until the next goaltending controversy. On Friday, the Oilers acquired Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak. If this backfires, we will have to deal with the “they would have been better off with Korpisalo” comments.

The Quinn Hughes trade speculation can be shelved — at least for now. On Friday, the Vancouver Canucks dealt their star defenseman to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium, and a first‑round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Hughes had expressed interest in moving to the Eastern Conference, but it was Minnesota GM Bill Guerin who stepped in last week with an inquiry that ultimately set the deal in motion.

I like this deal for Vancouver, and if the Wild can ink Hughes to an extension, I like it for them as well.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: I would also downplay the narrative that’s out there that Ottawa is ready to take a big swing. It’s probably more about trying to hit more singles.

It’s entertaining (to me) when insiders deliver conflicting information — a reminder that when the Bruins are linked to anyone (or everyone most years) information doesn’t always align.

Friedman on Vingan and Daunic talking about the New Jersey Devils said: Ondrej Palat is the one I think a lot of people are talking about, but he has protection, and I think Dougie Hamilton is another one. He has some protection.

It’s a safe assumption the Boston Bruins appear on Dougie Hamilton’s no‑trade list.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told the assembled media on Friday that Brandon Carlo had surgery on December 4 and is expected to be out of action for a month.

Carlo has been out with a lower body injury since November 13 and has Leafs fans questioning the trade with Boston even more.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Victor Hedman will have a procedure on his elbow on Monday. He is expected to return early in February and be ready for the Olympics.

This and That

The Edmonton Oilers have had their head professional scout in attendance for two of the last three Providence Bruins games (as of Friday). And it’s not to evaluate Michael DiPietro or Simon Zajicek as potential goaltending solutions—the organization believes they have addressed that situation. Instead, indications point to a renewed interest in Fabian Lysell.

There’s a common perception that roster decisions fall squarely on the GM, with little input from the coaching staff. But Monday’s post-practice availability offered a reminder that the process isn’t so one-sided. Asked about the signing of Christian Wolanin to an AHL deal, head coach Marco Sturm responded— and I will just take three words from his response: “We talked about it.” Even at the AHL-contract level, collaboration between management and coaching remains part of the equation.

The countdown to the 2026 NHL Draft takes another step forward with the OHL’s unveiling of rosters for the 2026 Connor McDavid Top Prospects Game. The showcase is set for January 14, 2026, in Peterborough, Ontario. Fans in Ontario can catch the action on YourTV and Rogers TV, while FloHockey will provide live streaming for subscribers — and free access across its social media platforms, including YouTube. Notably, NHL Network will not carry the broadcast.

Czechia appears poised to ice another competitive roster for the World Junior Championships. On the blue line, Adam Jiricek, Radim Mrtka, Max Psenicka, and Jakub Fibigr are four I consider locks. Meanwhile, Vashek Blanar is expected to contend for a spot alongside Tomas Galvas, Matyas Man, and 2026 draft‑eligible defenders Vladimir Dravecky and Jakub Vanacek. I believe Blanar will secure his place.

With two first‑round selections in June, the Bruins will be watching the Czech squad – especially if Blanar makes the roster. Multi-winger Adam Novotny is among the names to monitor, currently projected as a top‑15 pick.

The Spengler Cup, where Ryan Walsh and Chris Pelosi will represent the USA, will take place December 26-31. TSN will carry all games in Canada. Viewers in the US can watch on the Spengler Cup’s official YouTube Channel.

The US schedule is as follows:

Dec 26 at 2:15 EST versus Canada. The loser plays HC Davos on Dec 27 at 2:15 EST while the winner plays HC Davos Dec 28 at 2:15 EST. The remainder of the schedule is to be determined. You can check back here on Dec 28!

Through the first 30 games, the Bruins navigated a demanding schedule and held their ground. Much of the chatter, however, centered on the games in hand held by other teams. But games in hand only matter if they’re converted into wins. Meanwhile, Boston’s limited practice time could serve as a growth catalyst. And eventually, those chasing teams will face their own schedule crunch — maybe not as brutal as Boston’s, but dense enough to test their depth.

Well, with the games‑played gap now closed, the Bruins find themselves just one point shy of first place heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Wild.

With Jonathan Aspirot and Viktor Arvidsson sidelined, the Bruins opted against a call‑up for the final game of their road trip. NHL clubs typically travel with an extra forward and defenseman and do not recall players while on the road, and Boston has Michael Eyssimont and Jeffrey Viel available up front along with Victor Soderstrom on the back end. Carrying 23 active players but with the cap flexibility to add if needed, the Bruins will wait until returning home Monday to reassess the injuries and make roster decisions.