Dave Pagnotta on Daily Faceoff Live regarding Kiefer Sherwood: I don’t get the sense that they’re gonna give him permission to speak to other teams to try to lock in an extension, at least not now, that could change in the coming weeks.
That’s a significant roll of the dice for the Vancouver Canucks. There’s no question they’d command a stronger return for Sherwood if rival general managers believed an extension was realistically on the table.
From The Fourth Period: Several teams remain interested in Kiefer Sherwood, including the Canadiens, Stars, Wild, Bruins and Red Wings. The Lightning were considered a team with interest, but David Pagnotta reported they are not currently in the mix
Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic regarding the New Your Rangers and Sherwood: They were in on star defenseman Quinn Hughes and have been pushing hard for Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood. The asking price is believed to be a first-round pick and possibly more.
That’s a steep price to pay without any clarity on whether an extension can actually get done. From a Boston perspective, there’s still reason to hope the Bruins steer clear of this one.
Elliott Friedman on the Fan Hockey Show: It’s a tough one to fit in financially, but you know who’s come back and played really well is Philipp Grubauer. But if I was Seattle, I’m not sure I’d be willing to tamper with a winning situation right now.
More from Friedman regarding the St Louis Blues on the Fan Hockey Show: They’ve tried, there’s no question they’ve been out there trying. People have known that Armstrong’s been willing to do stuff for some time now, but I just think there aren’t a lot of trade partners out there.
Friedman on 32 Thoughts regarding the Montreal Canadiens and Sam Montembeault: You can solve your problem or you can trade your problem. If you’re trading a problem like that, you’re at a disadvantage. Are they trying to shine him up to move him elsewhere?
Pierre LeBrun on X about Dougie Hamilton: Reached out to Dougie Hamilton’s agent J.P. Barry. His response:
“Dougie was informed today that he will be not be playing now that Kovacevic is back in the lineup. In our view, this decision is all about business rather than his game right now. Singling him out seems very calculated at this stage.
Dougie has a 10-team trade list and there have been efforts to trade him going back to the draft last year. We have made it clear to the Devils that we will consider teams outside our list and other creative ways to get to a team that is mutually acceptable.”
So, Hamilton camp willing to be flexible beyond 10-team list if it means finding suitable team in a trade.
LeBrun added: Reached out to Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald in wake of J.P. Barry’s comments. Fitzgerald:
“As you know, we just put Nemec back in the lineup on Thursday. He’s a young guy who we want getting his game back, where he had been easily our best defensemen before his injury. Pesce’s play speaks for itself, he isn’t going anywhere.
And Kovacevic coming back, gives our roster a spark we are looking for, and he was our best defensive defenseman all of last year.
And that’s what we want with our lineup now. This is simply Dougie being the odd-man out with where our right-side is- fully healthy for the first time all year. This is business. Business of our lineup!”
When the Bruins selected Hamilton in 2011, the writing felt like it was already on the wall. My first reaction was simple: “he’s not signing a second contract in Boston” and I said so publicly. And sure enough, once his entry‑level deal expired, Hamilton all but pushed his way out of town.
With this news, there’s been a growing chorus of fans calling for a reunion—arguing he could stabilize the right side and give the power play another weapon. But given how things ended the first time, and how little has changed since, a return to Boston feels highly unlikely, no, impossible.
Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet regarding the Nashville Predators: Three weeks ago, GM Barry Trotz had everybody available with the exception of Roman Josi and I don’t think anyone has been pulled back even as the Predators have moved to within three points of a playoff spot.
Momentum can swing fast in the NHL, but there’s a clear distinction between simply earning a playoff berth and legitimately chasing a Stanley Cup. Sneaking into the postseason shouldn’t be the benchmark in decision making for the Predators—and it shouldn’t be for the Bruins either.
Darren Dreger on Insider Trading regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs: They’re having conversations about players they might be able to add down the road up front, but the primary focus right now is on their blueline.
I know where they can find a right-shot defenseman.
This and That
A quick reminder for draft enthusiasts: the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game is set for Wednesday, January 15, in Peterborough, Ontario. The showcase features the OHL’s top talents eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and will be streamed across FloHockey’s social media platforms and YouTube channel. For more information including rosters click here.
The following night is the Chipotle All‑American Game, showcasing top 2026 NHL Draft‑eligible talent from the National Team Development Program and the USHL. The event is set for January 15, 2026, in Plymouth, Michigan, and will air on NHL Network. You can find the full roster here.
Every fan base deal with rumors, but the recent chatter surrounding Linus Ullmark has crossed a line. The suggestion that he has been involved in inappropriate off‑ice behavior isn’t just unfounded—it’s irresponsible, damaging, and completely detached from anything resembling credible reporting.
Let’s be clear: there is zero evidence supporting these claims. None. They did not originate from journalists, insiders, or anyone with legitimate access to the Senators organization. They surfaced from anonymous social‑media speculation, the same echo chamber that has manufactured countless false narratives about players across the league. Repeating these rumors doesn’t make them true; it only amplifies harm.
Ullmark has been a model teammate —professional, respected, and universally praised for his character. To see his name dragged through the mud based on nothing more than online gossip is unfair to him, unfair to his teammates, and unfair to the families involved.
For everyone insisting that X (formerly Twitter) is a cesspool, there’s some truth to that—but only to a point. Users have far more control than they think. Curating who you follow and muting specific terms can wipe out most of the noise instantly. When managed properly, the platform remains one of the fastest, most effective sources of real‑time information in sports.
What drags the experience down isn’t the platform itself—it’s the decision to amplify bad‑faith posts. Engaging with the loudest provocateurs only elevates them. Repeating their narratives doesn’t challenge them; it puts you on their level.
Dom - Hockey 