Boston Bruins Monday Morning Prospect Update Week Ending: January 25, 2026

Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell

Liam Pettersson spent a game with Kungalvs IK in the HockeyEttan league – Sweden’s equivalent to the ECHL last week, scoring a goal in his only game.

Vaxjo fell 3–2 to Frolunda HC on Saturday morning, though they continue to hold onto a precarious playoff position. Pettersson pulled Vaxjo even early in the third with his third goal of the season, but Frolunda delivered a crushing blow in the final seconds, scoring the game‑winner with just 11 seconds left in regulation.

Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell

HV71’s push for a playoff spot took a hit Saturday morning with a 4–3 loss to Orebro HK. Vashek Blanar set the tone early, jumping on a failed clearing attempt in the high slot and snapping home a wrist shot for a 1–0 lead. HV71 would go on to hold the advantage three separate times, but each one slipped away as they ultimately couldn’t close out the win.

Farjestad BK handed them another tough outing on Sunday, skating away with a 5–4 win. The bright spot came from Blanar, who picked up a power‑play assist to extend his point streak to three games, now sitting at one goal and two assists. That pace keeps him right on track with his projected production for the season.

Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL

Loko defeated Sakhalinskie Akuly 7-1 on Monday however, Yemelyanov did not play.

Yemelyanov made an emphatic return on Sunday, contributing to Loko’s 9–2 rout of JHC Dynamo. The forward delivered a strong all‑around performance: one goal on four shots, a dominant 13‑for‑15 showing in the faceoff circle, and 16:13 of ice time. His milestone marker came early in the opening frame, pushing the lead to 2–0. Stationed in his trademark spot in the right circle, Yemelyanov stepped into a clean one‑timer and buried his 20th of the season into a half‑open net.

Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)

Miami had an off week.

William Zellers, – University of North Dakota

Zellers snapped his three‑game scoring drought in emphatic fashion Friday, posting two goals and an assist in North Dakota’s 7–4 victory over Arizona State. He pushed the lead to three midway through the third, taking a feed in the right circle and wiring home his 11th of the season with a quick‑release wrist shot. He later sealed the win with his 12th on an empty net. Zellers also set up a shorthanded marker that opened a 2–0 first‑period lead, finishing the night with three shots on goal and a plus‑1 rating.

North Dakota answered back on Saturday with a 5–3 win in the rematch, powered in part by a timely strike from Zellers. The forward pulled the game even at 3-3 just 42 seconds into the third period, taking a soft one‑touch feed in the slot and snapping home his 13th of the season. He closed out the night at plus‑1, registered four shots on goal, and logged 17:15 of ice time.

James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College

James Hagens was named one of twelve nominees for the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

James Hagens and Dean Letourneau have been nominated for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. To cast your vote for Hagens text 26068 or Letourneau text 26069 to 1-844-623-9688.

Bruins prospects set the tone as Boston College rolled to a 5–2 win over New Hampshire on Friday. Andre Gasseau opened the scoring less than two minutes in, redirecting a shot to give BC an early edge. Kristian Kostadinski picked up an assist on the play, snapping a lengthy pointless stretch in the process.

New Hampshire pulled even shortly after, but Dean Letourneau restored the BC lead with a power‑play marker. Stationed at the top of the crease, Letourneau got inside positioning just as James Hagens threaded a pinpoint pass from the right side, and he redirected it home to put the Eagles back on top.

With the game sitting at 3–2, Hagens created separation with a key neutral‑zone turnover, carried the puck into the right circle, and snapped a wrist shot through the goaltender’s five‑hole to extend the lead. Letourneau later sealed the win with an empty‑netter.

Will Moore was the only prospect not to factor in the scoring. He had zeroes across the board and was 3 for 7 on the dot with 14:17 time on ice. Oskar Jellvik remains out with an injury.

On Saturday, BC came out on top in the rematch 3-0. Gasseau and Hagens both assisted on the 3-0 goal but other than that, the productivity from the Bruins prospects was limited and BC only managed 17 shots on goal.

Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac extended its winning streak to seven games — and 14 of its last 15 — with a 5–1 victory over Sacred Heart on Friday in the Connecticut Ice Tournament semifinal. Groenewold delivered the eventual game‑winner on a power play early in the second period, threading a long wrist shot from the point through traffic. He closed the night at plus‑1 with three shots on goal and 21:39 of ice time. Pelosi was held off the scoresheet but generated four shots, went 9‑for‑16 on faceoffs, and logged 19:27 of ice time.

Quinnipiac came up short in Sunday’s Final, falling 4–2 to Connecticut. Groenewold saw his four‑game point streak snapped, though his recent run remains strong with two goals and five assists over his last eight outings. Pelosi, meanwhile, rejoined the scoresheet with a tally that briefly gave Quinnipiac a 2–1 lead. After his initial attempt was turned aside, he stayed on the puck and jammed the rebound in a net‑front scramble—his 14th of the season, already eclipsing last year’s total.

Jonathan Morello – Boston University

Boston University dropped a tough 4–3 decision to Providence College on Friday in a game that went down to the wire. Morello was held off the scoresheet, finished 2‑for‑9 on faceoffs, and logged 11:22 of ice time.

The rematch on Saturday saw BU fall 4-0 to those same Providence College. Morello was a minus-1 with one shot on goal and 3 for 7 on faceoffs with 15:04 time on ice.

Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota

Minnesota’s slide continued Friday with a 3–1 loss to Michigan State, marking the Gophers’ fifth straight defeat and extending their winless stretch to 0‑6‑1 over the last seven. Hendrickson posted a clean stat line and is now without a point in five consecutive games. The ongoing struggles have him bouncing throughout the lineup — from the third line to the first — making it tough to build any sustained chemistry. It’s not an ideal environment for his development right now, and the inconsistency around him is clearly taking a toll.

Add another loss to the losing streak as Michigan State came out on top again Saturday with a 3-2 win. Hendrickson was held off the scoresheet again and had 13:46 time on ice.

Through 25 games, Hendrickson has been deployed virtually everywhere—4th‑line left wing, 3rd‑line left wing, 2nd‑line left wing, 1st‑line left wing, and now 3rd‑line right wing. Despite the constant shuffling, he remains one of only four players on the roster in the positives and leads the group by a wide margin at plus‑9, with the next closest sitting at plus‑5. Even so, he continues to be moved around the lineup without a real chance to build any sustained offensive chemistry.

Ryan Walsh – Cornell University

Ryan Walsh has been nominated for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. You can cast your vote by texting 26089 to 1-844-623-9688.

Cornell edged Dartmouth 2–1 in overtime on Friday, a result that didn’t fully reflect Cornell’s control of play as they carried a 31–16 advantage in shots. Walsh was held off the scoresheet but remained heavily involved, registering five shots, going 11‑for‑21 on faceoffs, and logging 22:21 of ice time — the highest among all forwards by a margin four minutes or more.

Cornell rolled past Harvard 4–1 on Saturday, with Walsh chipping in an assist while registering a single shot on goal and winning 14 of 20 draws across 20:02 of ice time. He now sits one assist shy of matching last season’s career high, but his goal production remains a concern. After posting 17 goals in 36 games as a sophomore and 12 in 35 as a freshman, he’s managed just six goals through 19 games this year—a noticeable dip for a player expected to score.

Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University

Langenbrunner was named the ECAC Defender of the Week for the week ending January 18, 2026.

Harvard rolled to a 4–0 shutout over Union in a rare Monday night matchup, and Mason Langenbrunner continued his strong run of form. The senior blue‑liner set up the opening goal, registered two shots, posted a plus‑1 rating, and logged 18:50 of ice time. His recent surge has been hard to miss: he’s produced one goal and four assists over his last five outings, emerging as one of Harvard’s most consistent contributors in that span.

Harvard pushed its record to 11‑7‑1 with a 3–1 win over Colgate on Friday. Langenbrunner was held off the scoresheet but contributed three shots on goal and logged 18:56 of ice time.

As mentioned above, Harvard lost to Cornell on Saturday. Langenbrunner was a minus-2, had one shot on goal and 17:39 time on ice.

Philip Svedeback – Providence College

Svedeback remains out with an injury that will keep him out for at least another month. He’s missed 5 games now and Providence’s record since then: 5-0-0. Svedeback’s record: 8-6-2.

Make it 6-0-0 with a 4-0 win over Boston University on Saturday.

Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL

Youngstown rolled past the NTDP with a 12–1 rout on Friday, and Simpson played a central role with two goals and an assist. He finished with three shots on goal and a plus‑1 rating in the lopsided win. It’s hard to ignore how unbalanced these matchups have become. Youngstown has now outscored the NTDP 20–4 over their last two meetings – far different from the start of the season, and even the home crowd seems to sense the mismatch — a building that typically draws well couldn’t crack 650 fans against the NTDP.

It was more of the same on Saturday as Youngstown defeated the NTDP 8-1. Simpson did not manage to find the scoresheet despite a game high 5 shots on goal.

Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL

Shawinigan came up short in a 4–1 loss to Quebec on Wednesday, and Chandler was held off the scoresheet in the setback. The forward closed out the night with a minus‑2 rating, generated three shots on goal, and went 7-for-17 in the faceoff circle.

Shawinigan responded with a 4–2 victory over Victoriaville on Friday, setting the tone for a needed rebound performance. Chandler helped spark the comeback, assisting on the power‑play goal that pulled the game even at 2–2. He added three shots on net and went 12‑for‑20 on faceoffs in a strong all‑situations effort.

Shawinigan erupted for a 10–2 win over Rimouski on Sunday, powered by a Chandler hat trick at even strength. His first goal stood as the game‑winner, as he carried the puck up ice, cut into the slot, and snapped a shot inside the left post. He doubled up with a quick release from the right circle to push the lead to 5–0, then completed the hat trick in similar fashion—another right‑circle wrister tucked inside the far post to make it 7–1. Chandler added an assist, finished with three shots on goal, and went 5‑for‑11 in the faceoff circle.

Cole Spicer – Western Michigan

Western Michigan won their eighth straight with a 4-3 win over Minnesota-Duluth on Friday. Cole Spicer did not play.

They made it nine straight on Saturday with a 4-3 overtime win, but Spicer did not play.

Providence Bruins

Providence 2 – Belleville 1 (OT)

Belleville opened the scoring with 3:01 left in the first period, taking a 1–0 lead that held deep into the third. With 5:30 remaining in regulation, Matthew Poitras finally broke through, carrying the puck into the Belleville zone and snapping a wrist shot from the right circle to tie the game. Fabian Lysell and Frederic Brunet picked up the assists on the equalizer.

With 50 seconds left in overtime, Lysell executed a flawless give‑and‑go with Dans Locmelis to secure the victory. Lysell fed Locmelis in the left circle and cut hard to the net, receiving the return pass in stride before lifting the decisive shot home. Jordan Harris picked up the secondary assist on the play.

Michael DiPietro stopped 25 of 26 shots he faced to improve his record to 16-5-0 and a whopping .939 save percentage.

Providence 4 – Bridgeport 3 (SO)

After slipping behind 2–0 midway through the second, Providence finally broke through when Patrick Brown jammed home a rebound with 5:32 left in the frame. Brunet and Christian Wolanin picked up the assists. Just over three minutes later, Joey Abate circled the cage and threaded a pass across the crease to Dalton Bancroft, who buried his first of the season. Jake Schmaltz earned the secondary helper on the tying goal.

Providence grabbed its first lead midway through the third when Riley Tufte jumped on a loose puck and tucked it just inside the post for a 3–2 advantage. Matej Blumel and Wolanin collected the assists. Bridgeport answered quickly, though, pulling even just 29 seconds later to force overtime.

Overtime couldn’t produce a winner, sending the game to a shootout where Luke Cavallin — filling in for the injured Simon Zajicek — turned aside all three attempts he faced. John Farinacci delivered the decisive strike as Providence claimed the victory.

Providence 4 – Toronto 3 (OT)

Farinacci spotted Lysell cutting through the slot and slipped him a clean feed, which Lysell promptly lifted upstairs to give Providence a 1–0 lead just 4:47 into the opening frame. Toronto answered with 5:22 left in the period, sending both teams to the intermission knotted at one.

Toronto jumped ahead 2–1 just 5:11 into the second period, but Providence answered with 6:47 left in the frame. Poitras gained the zone with control, fed Locmelis in the left circle, and Locmelis threaded a pass to a net‑driving Merkulov for a clean tap‑in to even the score at 2–2.

Providence grabbed a 3–2 advantage with just 29 seconds left in the second period, capitalizing on a 5‑on‑3 power‑play situation. Poitras pounced on a loose puck to the left of the net and snapped it home to restore the lead, with Brown picking up the lone assist.

Toronto pulled even with 3:49 left in regulation, but overtime didn’t last long. Just 41 seconds into the extra frame, Merkulov sprung Harris on a clean break, and Harris buried a wrist shot under the bar to seal the win. DiPietro picked up the secondary assist and turned aside 32 of 35 shots on the night.

Merkulov now sits one point back of Andy Hilbert with 209 career points as the all-time leader in points for Providence.

Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.

Coming up this week:

Summary Sunday: January 25, 2026

A quick reminder: A mailbag drops on Wednesday. If you’ve got a question — whether it’s about anything mentioned here or a topic of your own — feel free to send it in through the contact page at the top of this page.

Frank Seravalli on Oilers Now: Teams are beating their door down now. There has been real and significant interest in [Elias] Pettersson over the last 10 days. They’re hemming and hawing.

More from Seravalli on Oilers Now: Is Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas in play, yes, Brayden Schenn, yes. They’ve gotta shake it up.

I have no doubt the dialogue between Don Sweeney and Doug Armstrong has extended well beyond Team Canada business. With long stretches of downtime between games at the Olympics, the two executives will have ample opportunity to dig deeper into broader discussions.

Chris Johnston on the Chris Johnston Show regarding your beloved Bruins: They still know that they’ve got a way to go. They’ll look to add players that make sense…I don’t think they’ll be too precious about moving off players they’d don’t necessarily see as part of the longer-term solution.

More from Johnston regarding the Bruins on Game Notes: It seems like they’re open to being both buyers and sellers, I think that they still want to improve their team but they’re just not gonna do anything stupid, they’re not gonna be trading away a 1st or 2nd round pick for a rental.

And even more from Johnston: I definitely get the sense the trade activity is bubbling as we move towards February 4th, it’s only two weeks away until that roster freeze for the Olympics.

Honestly, we hear this constantly and we hear it every year.

Dave Pagnotta on Oilers Nation Everyday: Dougie Armstrong has been active on the phone lines; Brayden Schenn is available, Justin Faulk, Pius Suter, Oskar Sundqvist, we know about Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko‘s name pops up every now and again, even Robert Thomas.

Seravalli on Real Kyper and Bourne regarding Dougie Hamilton: There’s a handful of teams that are interested if the Devils are willing to retain. Knock $2 or 2.5m off, But, they’re not really willing to give you anything of substance.

James Mirtle from The Athletic on Hamilton: My understanding is the Leafs would want a high level of retention to get this deal done — potentially up to 50 percent — and that very well could be what kills a trade.

Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic on Hamilton: Toronto is believed to be on Dougie Hamilton’s approved list of teams as part of his no-trade.

A $9 million cap hit without salary retention simply isn’t workable in‑season, making this the type of move that aligns far more with offseason maneuvering. If another club manages to convince New Jersey to engage now, all the power to them.

There’s been some chatter on social media from Bruins fans about a potential reunion, but that scenario doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Hamilton made it clear he didn’t want to stay in Boston, declined to sign an extension, and ultimately pushed his way out. It’s hard to imagine the Bruins appearing on any list of preferred trade destinations. Time to let that idea go.

Elliotte Friedman on Oilers Now: I think Blake Coleman prefers to stay but, what Calgary’s gonna do now is if they get deals that make sense, they’re going to go to these guys and say, we’re gonna do them.

Johnston on Early Trading: he problem the Leafs have had all year long, and it remains a hurdle, is that they can’t get into the big game stuff, they just don’t have the 1st round picks and other assets; it may take some bargain hunting.

Bruins fans will have no trouble getting behind this development. With Boston holding Toronto’s 2026 first‑round pick—protected only if it lands in the top five—any setback that slows the Leafs’ path forward effectively doubles as a quiet win for the Bruins.

Friedman on 32 Thoughts: The Shane Wright stuff, that he’s available and out there; that’s real.

I am sure the Bruins will do their homework.

More from Friedman on 32 Thoughts: I was talking to some people. They heard us talking about Alexis Lafreniere and could you see them doing something like Shane Wright for Lafreniere. I don’t know how both teams would feel. That’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.

It could just be me, but I feel both players are a change of scenery candidates.

Again, more from Johnston from the Chris Johnston Show: At this point there’s no realm I see the Sabres as sellers and if anything, they’re gonna be small B buyers and maybe something even a little bigger than that.

Buffalo’s path seems straightforward at this point. Barring a dramatic collapse ahead of the deadline, the Sabres have no business positioning themselves as sellers—unless, of course, Alex Tuch signals he has no intention of signing long‑term. At this stage, it feels like stating the obvious.

Pagnotta on The Sheet: The teams that I’ve talked to that are fishing for that type of player, a la Rasmus Andersson, have pivoted at least internally to a mindset of Justin Faulk.

Boston’s interest in the Andersson discussions has already been well‑established. The real question now is whether they were among the clubs feeding Pagnotta’s latest round of speculation, because Justin Faulk runs counter to the roster profile and long‑term direction the Bruins themselves have repeatedly emphasized.

This and That

The Development League will not be a league in the traditional sense, but rather a collection of Tier I youth programs across the country collaborating to optimize player development. The DL is focused on advancement for high performance development in both the 15U and 17U youth age categories. It is anticipated to include 32 programs nationally that will include DL teams committed to following American Development Model (ADM) guidelines for each age group. Read the full article.

Canada and the United States have been overdue for a move like this (still waiting on Canada). It’s not flawless, but it’s undeniably a meaningful step forward—and one that several European nations adopted years ago.

Bruins Have Decisions to Make Even Before Trade Deadline

The NHL operates under a hard cap of 50 standard player contracts, but there’s an important wrinkle built into that rule. When a signed prospect is returned to junior, their deal “slides” to a future season, effectively removing it from the club’s active contract count. It’s a built‑in safeguard that allows teams to lock in young talent without squeezing their roster flexibility.

General Manager Don Sweeney and his staff’s deadline maneuvering will come with an added layer of complexity, as Boston’s contract count leaves little room for error. Any move he considers must account not only for the current season’s constraints, but also the ripple effects on next year’s roster flexibility.

The Bruins face five looming decision points that will shape their contract picture moving forward. First, they must determine how to handle their Group 6 unrestricted free agents. Second, several restricted free agents require new deals. Third, a wave of amateur prospects is approaching the point where contracts become necessary or lose them. Fourth, do they want to tap into the College free agent pool. And finally, there’s the wildcard: the possibility that blue‑chip talents James Hagens and Dean Letourneau opt to turn pro once their college seasons wrap up, not to mention Chris Pelosi and Ryan Walsh.

The Bruins enter next season with 23 players already under contract, but those remaining 27 openings evaporate fast once you break down the roster picture. A closer look shows just how quickly that flexibility tightens.

Group 6 UFA

A player who turns 25 by June 30 of their expiring contract year, has logged fewer than 80 NHL games, and has accrued three professional seasons qualifies for Group 6 unrestricted free agency. For the Bruins, that designation applies to six players: Matej Blumel, John Farinacci, Georgii Merkulov, Michael Callahan, and Victor Soderstrom.

The Bruins recently locked up Jonathan Aspirot and Alex Steeves on new extensions, to begin shrinking the number of available contracts for next season. Among the remaining Group‑6 free agents, there’s a reasonable case for bringing back Callahan as organizational blue‑line depth, likely in Providence. This season — and several before it — has underscored just how essential that extra layer of support can be.

That would bring the Bruins down to 24 available contracts.

Restricted Free Agents

Restricted free agents fall into two buckets: those eligible for salary arbitration and those who aren’t. For Boston, the arbitration‑eligible group features Jordan Harris, Dalton Bancroft, Riley Duran, Simon Zajicek, and Luke Cavallin.

My expectation is that Harris, Bancroft, and Zajicek will receive qualifying offers, while Cavallin — brought in as an insurance option for Providence — appears unlikely to be part of the organization’s plans moving forward. The Steeves extension could put Duran’s future in question as well, though the Bruins still need to ensure they can field a full AHL lineup.

Assuming the Bruins agree, that brings them down to 21 contracts.

Those without arbitration rights are: Matthew Poitras; Fabian Lysell; Brett Harrison; Frederic Brunet and Max Wanner.

Barring a trade, all five players are projected to receive qualifying offers. There’s a chance the organization moves on from Wanner, but Providence roster needs could keep him in the mix. If all are retained, Boston’s available contract slots would drop to 16.

Amateur players who’s rights will expire

The Bruins also have four collegiate prospects whose rights expire on August 15, adding another layer of urgency to their spring decision‑making. Once their NCAA seasons conclude, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Mason Langenbrunner, and Philip Svedeback will all be eligible to pursue professional contracts.

Jellvik once looked like a lock for an NHL deal, but back‑to‑back injury‑marred seasons have cast real doubt on that trajectory. An AHL contract now appears to be the most sensible path for the Bruins as they evaluate whether he can regain his form. Gasseau, meanwhile, never found that next offensive gear — posting totals of 29, 29, and 30, and trending toward another 30‑point campaign before injuries intervened. Concerns about his skating persist, and it’s difficult to envision him earning more than an AHL agreement.

As for Langenbrunner, it’s hard to see a scenario where he suits up for Boston despite the organization’s blue‑line needs. Any NHL deal would likely be tied to his family connection within the organization, and it’s doubtful he’d want to take that route. Svedeback is at least intriguing given the organizational need in net, but his development hasn’t taken a significant enough leap to justify an NHL commitment.

At this stage, none of these players project to receive NHL contracts — AHL deals are more realistic — which would leave the Bruins sitting at 16 contracts.

College Free Agency

The annual college free‑agent rush kicks in as soon as seasons wrap, and the Bruins have historically been active shoppers in that market. Many observers — myself included — view Boston as a leading contender for University of Maine goaltender Albin Boija, but winning that race would almost certainly require an NHL contract.

Landing Boija would trim the Bruins’ available contract slots to 15, assuming they don’t add any other free agents along the way.

Other

Many evaluators — myself included — see Ty Gallagher as a legitimate candidate for an NHL contract. After two strong seasons at Boston University, his third year brought limited opportunity, prompting a transfer to Colorado College where his game quickly rebounded. He then stepped into the AHL without missing a beat.

Gallagher is already signed to an AHL deal for next season, but he remains an NHL free agent, leaving the door open for another organization to make a push. Given the league‑wide scarcity of right‑shot defensemen, the Bruins have every reason to give his situation serious attention.

This would bring them down to 14 contracts.

Providence Bruins

Yes, the organization still needs to ice a full AHL roster, and this season 18 Providence players were on NHL contracts, with three more assigned to Maine in the ECHL. Looking ahead, Providence has just five players under NHL deals for next year, along with two on AHL contracts, leaving as many as 16 openings to address. Some of those spots will be filled internally – yet requiring contracts, while others will require outside additions. And it’s worth noting: Sweeney typically prefers to keep the contract total hovering around 47.

Contract slots vanish in a hurry, and that’s the larger point here: the Bruins have meaningful decisions looming on several players, and any moves they consider at the trade deadline will be made with that reality firmly in mind — as they should.

Boston Bruins Monday Morning Prospect Update Week Ending: January 18, 2026

Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell

Vaxjo fell 4–2 to Sodertalje SK on Saturday, despite a tightly played opening 40 minutes that featured a scoreless first period and a penalty‑filled second without a breakthrough. All four goals came in the final frame, but Pettersson was held off the scoresheet.

Vaxjo defeated Vasteras IK 5-0 on Sunday to get back into the win column. Pettersson broke out of his pointless draught with a powerplay assist early in the second period. He appears to be rounding into form after missing most of the early part of the season due to injury.

Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell

Blanar returned to the lineup on Wednesday, but HV71 couldn’t capitalize, dropping a 7–4 decision to Linkoping HC. He picked up a late power‑play assist with 1:25 remaining to cut the deficit to 6–4, though the comeback push stopped there. Blanar finished even on the night and took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the second period—a costly moment, as Linkoping converted just 51 seconds into the third to extend their lead to 5–3.

Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL

Thursday’s matchup was a one‑sided rout, as Loko rolled past Amur Tigers 12–1. Yemelyanov added to the onslaught with his 19th of the campaign on the power play, cashing in from his usual net‑front territory—his secondary sweet spot behind the right‑circle one‑timer—by screening the goaltender and burying a rebound to push the score to 7–1. He chipped in two assists for a three‑point night, registered two shots, went 11‑for‑16 on draws, and logged 13:45 of ice time.

Loko couldn’t carry Thursday’s offensive surge into Saturday, falling 2–0 to Taifun. Yemelyanov finished at minus‑1, registered three shots on goal, and went 4‑for‑15 on faceoffs while logging 16:44 of ice time.

Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)

Miami returned to the win column Friday with a 3–0 shutout of Omaha. Nassen was held off the scoresheet, finishing with one shot on goal across 14:37 of ice time.

Miami closed out a commanding weekend sweep with a 6–2 victory on Saturday, powered in part by another productive outing from Nassen. The winger set up two first‑period power‑play goals and remained active throughout the night, registering four shots on target in 16:57 of ice time while working on the second line. He finished the game at minus‑1, but his playmaking presence was evident from the opening puck drop.

William Zellers, – University of North Dakota

North Dakota rolled to a 5–0 shutout of Denver on Friday night, marking just the second time this season that Zellers has been held without a point in consecutive games—both occurring within his last six outings, excluding his standout performance at the World Junior Championship. He registered two shots on goal, posted a plus‑1 rating, and logged 17:42 of ice time.

Denver flipped the script on Saturday, grinding out a 3–2 victory and halting the momentum on the other side. For Zellers, it marked an uncharacteristic dip in production — the freshman standout has now gone three straight games without a point, the first such stretch of his young NCAA career.

James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College

Boston College dropped a game they largely controlled on Friday, falling 4–3 in overtime to Providence College in a matchup defined by a standout goaltending performance on the other side. Despite sustained pressure and a steady stream of chances from Letourneau and Hagens, both were kept off the scoresheet.

A bright spot for the Eagles came with the return of Andre Gasseau, who shook off some understandable rust to record two assists in 16:44 of ice time. His presence also sparked Will Moore, who buried his fourth goal of the season. BC dominated territorially and on the shot clock, outshooting Providence 46–19, with the Friars missing netminder Philip Svedeback.

Providence answered back on Saturday, taking the rematch by the same 4–3 margin — this time without needing overtime. Hagens drove much of the Friars’ offense, collecting three assists and firing five shots on goal in 22:49 of ice time, finishing at minus‑1. Letourneau added a helper of his own and held even on the night, winning eight of 14 draws while logging 21:00.

Gasseau paced all forwards with 22:56 of ice time, chipped in a goal, and registered three shots while finishing even. Moore was held off the scoresheet and ended at minus‑2, going 3‑for‑6 on faceoffs in a limited 10:02. Kostadinski posted a clean stat line across the board in 11:13 of action.

Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac rolled past Colgate 5–1 on Friday, fueled by a dominant four‑goal first period that included Pelosi’s 13th of the season on the power play. The forward wrapped up the night at plus‑1, registering one shot on goal and winning seven of 13 draws in 14:49 of ice time. Groenewold added a steady presence on the back end, picking up an assist, finishing plus‑2, and logging 20:16 with a shot on goal.

Quinnipiac kept its surge rolling on Saturday, securing a sixth straight victory with a 4–1 decision over Ryan Walsh and Cornell. Pelosi pushed his point streak to four games (2G, 2A), setting up the game’s opening goal to continue his steady production. He finished the night at plus‑1, recorded one shot on goal, won five of nine faceoffs, and logged 15:08 of ice time.

Groenewold pushed the lead to 3–0 with his third goal of the season, pouncing on a loose puck in the slot and snapping it home to extend his point streak to three games. He finished the night at plus‑2, recorded two shots on goal, and logged 23:12 of ice time. His strong two‑way play continues to stand out — he now leads the entire NCAA at plus‑27.

Jonathan Morello – Boston University

BU handled business on Monday night, skating to a 4–1 win over Harvard and Mason Langenbrunner. Morello delivered the eventual game‑winner midway through the second period, redirecting a point shot off his leg to break a 1–1 tie. He later added an assist on the first of two empty‑netters, helping the Terriers close out a convincing victory.

BU fell 4–3 in overtime to UMass‑Lowell on Friday, but Morello set the early tone with the game’s opening strike. After taking a feed to the right of the net, he dished the puck into the low slot but the puck came right back to him, and lifted it over a sprawled‑out goaltender. He finished the night plus‑1, recorded one shot on goal, went 9‑for‑9 on draws, and logged 15:55 of ice time.

BU responded in convincing fashion on Saturday, blanking UMass–Lowell 3–0 to close out the weekend. Morello didn’t factor into the scoring but delivered a steady two‑way effort, finishing plus‑2 with one shot on goal. He also won nine of 15 faceoffs while logging 16:09 of ice time.

Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota

Minnesota’s struggles stretched into a third straight loss Friday, falling 5–1 to Michigan. Hendrickson didn’t factor into the lone Gophers tally, finishing even on the night with two shots on goal across 15:53 of ice time.

Minnesota’s slide continued Saturday with a 3–2 overtime loss to Michigan, marking the Gophers’ fourth straight defeat and adding to a growing sense of urgency. Hendrickson earned a promotion to the top line but couldn’t break through offensively, finishing at minus‑1 with one shot on goal across 19:20 of ice time.

Ryan Walsh – Cornell University

Cornell pushed its winning streak to six on Friday with a 2–1 victory over Princeton. Walsh didn’t figure into the scoring, finishing even on the night while going 4‑for‑10 on faceoffs and logging 18:49 of ice time.

As mentioned, Cornell came up short in Saturday’s matchup, falling 4–1 to Quinnipiac. Walsh was held off the scoresheet and finished at minus‑2, though he won six of nine faceoffs and logged 20:30 of ice time in the loss.

Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University

BU’s 4–1 win over Harvard on Monday also offered a notable subplot: Mason Langenbrunner turned in a steady performance, picking up an assist on the opening goal and finishing plus‑1 across 20:13 of ice time. Adding to the intrigue, a BU social‑media post noted that Don Sweeney and Adam McQuaid were in attendance. With Langenbrunner in his senior year, the Bruins will soon face a decision on whether to bring him into the organization.

Harvard returned to the win column Friday with a convincing 5–1 victory over St. Lawrence, highlighted by Langenbrunner’s first goal of the season — which stood as the game‑winner. Off an offensive‑zone draw, he stepped into a pass at the center point and unloaded a clean slap shot that found the back of the net. He later added a shorthanded assist, finishing the night plus‑2 with two shots on goal and 20:15 of ice time.

Harvard strung together back‑to‑back victories for the first time since early December, edging Clarkson 2–1 on Saturday to cap an encouraging weekend. Langenbrunner was held off the scoresheet and finished at minus‑1 while logging 21:40 of ice time.

Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL

Simpson pushed his point streak to five games on Wednesday, adding to Youngstown’s 8–3 rout of the NTDP with a pair of third‑period assists after the outcome was already well in hand. He closed the night at plus‑1 and led all skaters with seven shots on goal. His longest run of the season remains a 12‑game tear.

Youngstown outlasted Muskegon 5–4 in a shootout on Saturday, sparked by a momentum‑shifting push in the second period. Trailing 4–2, Simpson cut the deficit with a blistering wrist shot from the top of the left circle, and the Phantoms pulled even just 20 seconds later to eventually force overtime. Simpson also picked up an assist on Youngstown’s opening goal, factoring into two key moments in the comeback effort.

Sunday’s matchup was a tight, low‑event affair, but Youngstown ultimately emerged with a 2–0 shutout over Muskegon. The game remained scoreless until the third period, when Simpson left the ice after an awkward collision along the boards during a power play. It was a hit from behind but Simpson turned just as the hit was coming and face-planted on the dasher. Youngstown couldn’t convert on the two-man advantage, but Simpson returned later in the frame and broke the deadlock with an unassisted goal at 4:06. He was immediately assessed a 10‑minute misconduct for abuse of officials, and Youngstown added an empty‑netter in the final minutes to close out the win.

Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL

Shawinigan was shut out 3–0 on Thursday, leaving Chandler off the scoresheet. He closed the night at minus‑1, registered four shots on goal, and won 12 of 21 faceoffs.

Shawinigan responded Friday with a 4-1 win over Sherbrooke. Cole Chandler did not play.

Shawinigan took control of Sunday’s rematch, skating to a 6–2 victory. Chandler made his return to the lineup and contributed immediately, picking up an assist while finishing plus‑1. He added four shots on goal and went 5‑for‑12 in the faceoff circle.

Cole Spicer – Western Michigan

Injured.

Providence Bruins

Congratulations to Michel DiPietro and Frederic Brunet who will join Patrick Brown and Head Coach Ryan Mougenel on the AHL Atlantic Division All-Star Classic on February 10-11.

Providence 1 – Wilkes-Barre Scranton 4

Wednesday night delivered what may stand as the Providence Bruins’ most disappointing outing of the season, a performance that never found its rhythm despite outshooting the Penguins 37-24.

Former Bruin Joona Koppanen wasted no time making his presence felt, batting a rebound out of midair and past DiPietro just 1:52 into the opening frame to give his club the early lead.

That advantage held deep into the second period, before a pinpoint finish with 3:48 left slipped past DiPietro to extend the Penguins’ cushion to 2–0.

The 2–0 margin held until the closing minutes of regulation, when the Penguins sealed the outcome with a pair of empty‑net strikes—one with 4:33 left and another just 52 seconds later—to put the game out of reach.

Michael Callahan broke the shutout bid with 1:24 remaining with a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that found the net inside the right post. DiPietro stopped 20 of 22 shots he faced in the loss.

Providence 5 – Cleveland 0

Providence blanked Cleveland 5-0 on Saturday led by Matej Blumel and DiPietro.

Riley Tufte created a turnover at his own blue line and turned it into an early 2‑on‑1, electing to keep and rip a wrist shot home just 3:48 into the game. Blumel doubled the lead to 2–0, hammering home a one‑timer from the right circle off a crisp setup from Christian Wolanin and Matthew Poitras with 3:27 remaining in the opening period.

A crisp give‑and‑go between Fabian Lysell and John Farinacci set the stage for Lysell to tuck home a slick wraparound, stretching the lead to 3–0 with 7:33 left in the second period. Ty Gallagher picked up the secondary assist on the play.

With 7:39 gone in the third, Brett Harrison drove hard to the crease and chipped in a rebound to extend Providence’s lead to 4–0, with Farinacci and Wolanin picking up the helpers. Later, with 3:11 left on the clock, Blumel capped the night by banking a shot off the goaltender after corralling a lively bounce off the end boards. Brown and Tufte were credited with the assists on the final tally.

DiPietro stopped all 21 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season. Luke Cavallin backed up DiPietro as Simon Zajicek was out with a lower body injury.

Providence 6 – Cleveland 2

Cavallin got the start in place of the injured Zajicek and had a solid outing, making 30 stops for his second AHL win.

Farinacci opened the scoring early, poking a rebound through the goaltender just 5:53 into the first to give Providence a 1–0 edge. Brunet added to the cushion in the final minute of the period, crashing the net and jamming home a loose rebound with 29 seconds left. Joey Abate and Riley Duran picked up the assists on the play.

Wolanin stretched the lead to 3–0 just 6:05 into the second period, unloading a heavy slap shot off a clean faceoff win by Brown on the power play. Only 16 seconds later, Tufte added to the onslaught, getting a piece of a Brown wrist shot to deflect it home for a 4–0 advantage. Brunet picked up the secondary assist on the play.

With 5:36 gone in the third, the lead stretched to 5–0 when Locmelis hammered a one‑timer from the right circle for yet another power‑play strike, with Brunet and Lysell collecting the assists. Cleveland answered with a pair of goals to chip away at the deficit, but Blumel sealed the night with a one‑timer from the slot, supported by helpers from Tufte and Brown.

Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.

Coming up this week:

Summary Sunday January 18, 2026

Going to keep this short and focused on all the Rasmus Andersson rumors.

A rumor circulated this week suggesting the Bruins had tabled a significant offer to the Calgary Flames in pursuit of defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

Late Friday night, a post on X ignited a wave of speculation, claiming a blockbuster deal—complete with an extension—was finalized involving Matthew Poitras, Mason Lohrei, and a first‑round pick heading the other way, with only league submission reportedly remaining.

Early Saturday morning, Darren Dreger posted this on X: Things can develop quickly. However, sources say 4 teams remain in the mix for Flames Dman, Rasmus Andersson. Two teams in the east and two in the west. Boston and Vegas are strong contenders. Unless there’s progress, there’s a decent chance Andersson plays today for Calgary.

More from Dreger on Barn Burner when asked: The rumored ask is a 1st and a ready to play prospect, someone that’s just emerging as an NHLer, does that check out with what you’re hearing? Dreger: Yeah, it does, yep.

Dave Pagnotta on Hello Hockey about Andersson: Boston’s very much in the mix indeed, but so is Vegas, so is Dallas still, and there’s a couple other teams; this is a 4, 5 team race at the moment.

This goes back to Andersson’s draft year. In 2015, while he was skating with the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League, I asked him how he felt about the possibility of the Bruins selecting him, since he was projected to go right in their range. Boston took Jeremy Lauzon at No. 52, and Andersson went with the very next pick. His answer at the time was blunt: “I hope not.” The message was pretty clear—Boston wasn’t high on his list. That doesn’t mean he’d block a trade, but expecting him to sign long‑term in Boston feels like a stretch to me.

However, circumstances evolve — and sometimes they do so quickly. It’s entirely plausible that Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm have been in his ear. Both are only a short time removed from sharing a locker room with Andersson, and they’d be well‑positioned to offer candid insight into the organization and the city.

The real storyline now revolves around the reported asking price. By late Saturday and into early Sunday, the consensus among league sources had shifted toward a package built around a first‑round pick and a near‑NHL‑ready prospect. That’s a far cry from the earlier chatter involving a first‑rounder plus names like Lohrei and Poitras.

One source indicates Vegas has tabled an offer featuring a young roster player and a second‑round pick. The key distinction, of course, is that the Golden Knights aren’t sweating the extension question — there’s strong internal belief that Andersson would be willing to re‑sign in Vegas, giving them more flexibility in what they’re willing to move.

Friedman reported that, to his understanding, the Bruins are the lone team granted permission to discuss an extension with Andersson. That may well be accurate — but if so, it’s a puzzling decision by the Flames. History consistently shows that players carrying term, or even a negotiated extension, command stronger returns on the trade market. Limiting that leverage to a single negotiating partner would be an unforced error. If Friedman’s information holds, it reflects questionable asset management on Calgary’s part.

I wanted to keep this centered around the Andersson chatter, but felt I needed to throw this in as well:

Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs: Last year, Easton Cowan was pushed as a trade chip in an effort to obtain Brayden Schenn, but Cowan’s going to be hard to put into play again this season. However, depending on what the return is, we can’t rule out the possibility.

A year ago, when the Bruins sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto, plenty of fans were hoping the return would be Cowan rather than Fraser Minten. I wasn’t in that camp then, and nothing has changed now—I’d still take Minten over Cowan today.

Boston Bruins Monday Morning Prospect Update Week Ending: January 11, 2026

The OHL trade deadline opened with a curveball. The London Knights made a surprising splash by acquiring the rights to Bruins’ prospect Will Moore, a move that immediately raised eyebrows across the league. Moore slid down the 2023 OHL Draft board due to his commitment to the U.S. National Team Development Program, but that didn’t deter London. The Knights still grabbed him 18th overall—and now, they’ve doubled down by bringing his rights into the fold.

Concerned that they wouldn’t be able to secure his commitment, the London Knights moved proactively, shipping Moore’s rights to the Barrie Colts—a move that ensured they’d receive a compensatory draft pick in return.

So why circle back for his rights? For London GM Mark Hunter, this fits a familiar pattern. He’s built a reputation on bold, calculated swings when he believes he can eventually bring a player into the program—and more often than not, he’s been right.

This move isn’t about the current campaign. It’s a long‑view play aimed at getting Moore into a Knights jersey for the 2026–27 season. On paper, it looks like a long shot, but Hunter has made a career out of turning long shots into roster pieces. And with the NCAA’s new eligibility rules reshaping the landscape, the door—however narrow—remains open.

Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell

Vaxjo lost 4-2 to Farjestad BK on Saturday then lost 5-2 to Orebro HK on Sunday. Pettersson did not play in either game.

Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell

HV71 defeated Rogle BK 4-2 on Saturday and then defeated IF Malmo Redhawks 5-3 on Sunday. Blanar did not play in either game.

Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL

Loko edged Dynamo‑Shinnik 3–2 in overtime on Monday. Yemelyanov put Loko ahead 2–1 late in the second period, driving to the net and generating a chance that was initially stopped before a teammate retrieved the puck behind the cage and fed it back out front for an easy finish. Dynamo pulled even with 5:29 left in regulation, but Loko sealed it in the extra frame. Yemelyanov finished with three shots on goal, went 4‑for‑7 on draws, and logged 15:15 of ice time.

In Tuesday’s rematch, Loko rolled to a 5–1 victory. Yemelyanov was held off the scoresheet, recorded one shot on goal, went 7‑for‑13 on faceoffs, and logged 14:50 of ice time.

On Friday, Loko rolled past HC Kapitan with a 6–1 victory. Yemelyanov chipped in two assists but, unusually for him, failed to register a shot on goal. He went 7‑for‑12 on draws and logged 13:14 of ice time. The lone concern came early in the third period, when he delivered a hit square to an opponent’s numbers, sending the player head‑first into the boards. The opponent was able to continue, but Yemelyanov was handed a five‑minute major for boarding.

Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)

Miami edged Arizona State 2–1 in overtime on Friday, improving to 12‑7‑2 on the season. Nassen opened the scoring at 16:27 of the second period, scooping up a rebound and beating the goaltender with a slick backhand‑forehand move and his wrist shot found the top of the net to make it 1–0. ASU drew even with 2:42 left in regulation, but Miami sealed it in overtime. The goal marked Nassen’s fifth of the campaign.

Sunday’s rematch delivered another razor‑thin contest, with Arizona State edging out a 1–0 victory. Despite the loss, Nassen remained active throughout the night, generating four shots on goal and pushing the pace in the offensive zone

William Zellers, – University of North Dakota

North Dakota dropped a 3–2 overtime decision to Colorado College on Friday, slipping to 16‑3‑2 on the season. Zellers picked up an assist on the game’s opening goal and finished the night at minus‑1 with five shots on net. Across NCAA play and the World Junior Championship, he’s now riding a seven‑game point streak, totaling five goals and five assists over that span.

North Dakota took the rematch on Saturday with a 5–2 victory, but it also marked the end of Zellers’ scoring streak. The forward was active, generating three shots on goal, yet he couldn’t break through on a night when the bounces simply didn’t fall his way.

James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College

It was only an exhibition game, but BC defeated Stonehill on Friday 6-2. Dean Letourneau had a pair of goals while James Hagens had a goal and 2 assists. It must also be noted that Will Moore did not play.

Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac rolled past Union 7–2 on Friday, pushing its record to 14‑4‑2. Pelosi chipped in an assist, posted a plus‑2 rating, fired four shots on goal, and went 5‑for‑5 in the faceoff circle. Groenewold was held off the scoresheet but registered one shot and a plus‑4, continuing to easily pace the team with an impressive plus‑21 on the season.

Quinnipiac pushed its win streak to four on Saturday, grinding out a 4–3 overtime victory against RPI after a dramatic finish to regulation. Pelosi appeared to seal it late, giving the Bobcats a 3–2 lead with 1:50 left on a quick release from the top of the blue paint, only for RPI to force overtime with an equalizer in the final 14 seconds. Groenewold picked up the secondary assist on Pelosi’s goal—his second of the night—while Pelosi finished plus‑1 with one shot on goal, a 10‑for‑19 performance in the faceoff circle, and 23:13 of ice time. Groenewold closed the night plus‑2 with two shots and 23:20 of ice time, anchoring a heavy‑minutes effort on the back end.

Jonathan Morello – Boston University

BU climbed to 10‑8‑1 with a 1–0 win over Massachusetts on Friday night. Despite controlling play and outshooting UMass 30–18, the Terriers couldn’t generate more than the lone tally. Morello was held off the scoresheet, registered one shot on goal, and went 7‑for‑8 in the faceoff circle

Massachusetts flipped the script in Saturday’s rematch, earning a 2–0 shutout over BU to close out the weekend. Morello logged 11:39 of ice time, registering one shot on goal while going an efficient 6‑for‑8 in the faceoff circle.

Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota

Minnesota was shut out 3–0 by Penn State on Friday, dropping to 8‑11‑1 on the season. Hendrickson finished a disappointing minus‑2, though he led the Gophers with three shots on goal and logged 14:20 of ice time.

Minnesota couldn’t reverse its fortunes on Saturday, dropping a second straight matchup to Penn State in a 5–2 loss. Hendrickson, skating on the second line, was held off the scoresheet, finished minus‑2, and recorded three shots on goal across 17:14 of ice time. It’s been a rough stretch for the Gophers, and the frustration is starting to show.

Ryan Walsh – Cornell University

Cornell moved to 10‑4‑0 with a commanding 7–1 win over Alaska on Friday night. Walsh added to the rout with a 5‑on‑3 tally, redirecting a pass off his skate while left alone in front to make it 5–1. He finished with the goal, an even rating, four shots on net, and went 3‑for‑12 on draws in 18:41 of ice time. It’s becoming evident that Cornell trims his minutes when the game is well in hand.

Cornell extended its winning streak to five on Saturday, rolling to a 5–2 victory in the rematch. Walsh set the tone early, hammering home a one‑knee one‑timer from the left faceoff dot on the power play for his sixth of the season, then later sealing the win with an empty‑netter. In between, he added his team‑leading 12th assist, capping off a well‑rounded performance. He finished the night plus‑1 with three shots on goal, an 11‑for‑17 showing in the faceoff circle, and 20:45 of ice time.

Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University

Harvard slipped to 7–6–1 after a 5–4 setback against Dartmouth on Friday night. Langenbrunner factored into the scoring with a shorthanded assist in the second period, pulling the Crimson even at 2–2. Despite finishing with a strong plus-2 rating, he was held without a shot on goal in the defeat.

Philip Svedeback – Providence College

The injury bug has hit the Bruins’ prospect pool once again, this time sidelining goaltender Philip Svedeback for an expected six weeks. The timing couldn’t be worse for the senior netminder, who is entering a pivotal stretch as he looks to secure a professional contract once his collegiate season wraps up. He is now in the same situation as fellow prospects Oskar Jellvik and Andre Gasseau.

Providence rolled past Maine 6–1 on Friday, doing so without the services of Svedeback. One notable spectator in the building was Bruins goaltending development coach Mike Dunham. His presence raised some eyebrows: either he was unaware of Svedeback’s injury status, or he was taking the opportunity to evaluate UFA netminder Albin Boija, who was pulled in the second period after surrendering three goals on five shots. My guess is he was there for the latter.

Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL

For the third straight game, Cooper Simpson delivered a two‑goal performance, powering the Phantoms to a 4–3 victory over Des Moines. The forward jump‑started Youngstown’s offense with back‑to‑back strikes in the second period, flipping a 1–0 deficit into a 2–1 lead. Simpson’s first came on the man advantage, a heavy wrist shot from the left circle that knotted the game at 1–1. Ten minutes later, he mirrored the effort from the opposite dot, ripping another pinpoint wrister to give Youngstown its first lead of the night.

Youngstown handled the rematch on Saturday, earning a 4–1 win over the Buccaneers in a game that quickly turned chaotic. Simpson saw his red‑hot goal‑scoring streak snapped but still factored in early with an assist on the opening tally. The second period unraveled into a parade to the penalty box, featuring four fighting majors, multiple misconducts, and additional calls for head contact and clipping. Through the chaos, Simpson remained steady, finishing plus‑2 with three shots on goal.

Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL

On Thursday, Shawinigan cruised past Cape Breton with a 7–2 victory. Chandler scored his 12th of the season, making it 4–1 after lingering at the blue line during what looked like a Cape Breton breakout. When his teammates forced a turnover, he slipped into open ice in the high slot and buried a one‑timer. Chandler added two assists on the night and went 10‑for‑19 in the faceoff circle.

Shawinigan had a rough outing on Sunday, falling 6–1 to Val‑d’Or in a game dominated by special‑teams time, with a dozen minor penalties handed out. Chandler closed the night at minus‑2, registered three shots on goal, and went 4‑for‑13 in the faceoff circle.

On Sunday afternoon Shawinigan defeated Rouyn-Noranda 4-3. Chandler did not register a pint, was a plus-1 and had one shot on goal and was 5 for 7 on the dot.

Cole Spicer – Western Michigan

Spicer did not play on the weekend’s 4-1 and 6-2 wins over Denver. He continues to be out with an injury.

Providence Bruins

The Providence Bruins announced Tuesday that they’ve signed Jake Schmaltz to a two‑year contract extension. The deal remains an AHL agreement, not an NHL entry‑level contract. Due to his age, any future ELC Schmaltz signs with Boston would be limited to a one‑year term.

Providence 4 – Bridgeport 1

Bridgeport opened the scoring Friday night with 5:06 left in the first, and the 1–0 margin held until late in the second. With 4:26 remaining, Dans Locmelis jumped on a rebound off the post and lifted it under the bar to pull his team even. John Farinacci and Brett Harrison picked up the assists on the play.

Less than a minute later, Matthew Poitras threaded a pass to Frederic Brunet, who spotted Christian Wolanin cutting toward the right circle and delivered a feed that Wolanin deftly redirected into the net.

With 5:28 gone in the third, Victor Soderstrom pushed the lead further, taking a feed from Fabian Lysell in the right circle and snapping a wrist shot into the back of the net. Matej Blumel picked up the secondary assist on the play.

Blumel scored into an empty net with 26 seconds remaining. Lysell and Poitras would earn their second assist of the night.

Michael DiPietro stopped 25 of 25 shots he faced while Providence had 35 shots on goal.

Providence 1 – Hartford 5

The Bruins fell into a 4–0 hole and spent most of the night chasing the game, with little in the way of momentum swings or sustained pressure. Their lone highlight came shorthanded, when Locmelis picked a Hartford defender clean and fed a slick drop pass to Riley Tufte in the slot. Tufte snapped it blocker‑side to break the shutout, but it stood as the only spark in an otherwise forgettable outing.

It was also a tough outing for goaltender Simon Zajicek, He faced 28 shots on the night stopping 25 of them. Providence managed 25 shots of their own.

Providence 4 – Lehigh Valley 2

DiPietro stopped 28 shots for his second win of the weekend.

Ty Gallagher stepped out of the penalty box and immediately made an impact, winning a footrace for a loose puck and turning it into a partial break down the right wing. He cut hard to the net and lifted a backhander home, giving his team a 1–0 lead.

Tufte pushed the lead to 2–0 midway through the second, snapping home a Georgii Merkulov feed from the left circle at the 5:35 mark. Billy Sweezey picked up the secondary assist on the play.

Lehigh Valley struck twice in a 2:44 span late in the second period, erasing the deficit and the two teams were knotted at 2–2. But with 2:28 remaining in the period, Brunet put Providence back in front with a beautiful effort on a wrap-around goal. Lysell and Gallagher would get the assists.

Brown capped it off with 5 seconds remaining with an empty net goal.

Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.

Coming up this week:

Sunday Summary: January 11 2026

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’s Mid-Season Bruins Trade Board

To many around the league, this season effectively features two trade deadlines: the unofficial cutoff before the Olympic break on February 6, and the official NHL trade deadline on March 6.

It’s a familiar storyline by now: the so‑called pre‑deadline rush rarely lives up to the hype. Activity has historically fallen short of expectations, though a handful of deals still tend to trickle through.

Bruins expectations for this season can be distilled into three words: No Stanley Cup. With that reality in mind, there’s little incentive for the team to make short‑sighted additions simply to chase a playoff berth that would likely end in a first‑ or, at best, second‑round exit – with a lot of luck on their side.

That is unless they can add a young player that can hep the team in the future.

What the Bruins do have are assets that could bolster another club’s playoff push or deepen a contender’s lineup. That’s where the front office should be directing its focus. After navigating last year’s deadline effectively—and with fewer sellers expected this season—Boston could find itself in a particularly advantageous position.

With the season now at its midpoint and the Olympic break fast approaching, it’s an ideal time to assess the top five assets the Bruins could consider moving—either ahead of the pause or closer to the March trade deadline.

Andrew Peeke

Right‑shot defensemen are always in demand across the NHL, and the Bruins are no exception – needing one themselves. But Peeke no longer projects as part of the organization’s long‑term vision—at least not in the direction management intends to take the roster. With his pending UFA status, this is the appropriate time to move on.

The Bruins sent Columbus a 2027 third‑round pick for Peeke and could realistically recoup that asset. And while it’s fair to question whether a team would pay that price outright, Boston could increase the return by retaining salary—provided they maintain the cap flexibility to do so – which they have now.

Given the current state of the roster, there’s little value in keeping him as an “own rental.” This group isn’t positioned to make a meaningful push, and the asset is better leveraged elsewhere.

Viktor Arvidsson

Arvidsson would arguably top this list, but his full no‑movement clause gives him complete control over any potential move. It doesn’t make a trade impossible, but it does narrow the field of realistic suitors.

Many fans questioned the move when the Bruins sent a 2027 fifth‑round pick to the Edmonton Oilers. But if Arvidsson is moved now, Boston should have no trouble securing a much stronger return. He’s outperformed fan expectations this season and profiles as the kind of secondary‑scoring boost a contender would gladly pay for.

Head Coach Marco Sturm is a strong supporter of Arvidsson, so an extension can’t be dismissed outright. That said, there’s a clear line between coaching and roster management, and it’s the front office’s job to take the longer view. General Manager Don Sweeney shouldn’t ignore Sturm’s input, but if a deal emerges that meaningfully improves the Bruins’ long‑term outlook, he has to make it.

First Round Pick

With the Bruins potentially holding four first‑round picks over the next two drafts—possibly five over three years, depending on how the conditions of the pick acquired from Toronto in the Brandon Carlo deal play out—it’s entirely plausible they explore moving one of them.

Sweeney isn’t about to make a move simply for the sake of activity. Any deal would need to deliver a player who fits the organization’s vision beyond this season. That type of target is out there, but the Bruins will need a high level of conviction before pulling the trigger.

That said, it’s unlikely the Bruins would part with either of their 2026 picks. A later selection is the more realistic trade chip, which points to any potential move coming in the offseason or during next year’s campaign but, could still happen now.

Joonas Korpisalo

Let’s be honest: the Bruins didn’t fail to move Korpisalo in the offseason because they were weighing their options—they failed because there wasn’t a single team willing to touch that contract. And now, with Sturm publicly declaring he’ll ride the goalie who actually gives him a chance to win, the divide couldn’t be more glaring. Swayman is carrying the load, and Korpisalo has been reduced to an afterthought. At this point, Boston isn’t just encouraged to find a way out—they’re boxed into it. The longer they hang onto this situation, the worse it reflects on the organization.

It’s hard to see the Bruins moving him without attaching a sweetener to draw interest, but it’s clear they’re gearing up to take another run at it. Perhaps Sweeney can borrow a page from Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios’ playbook and coax a rival executive into a deal—much like Staios managed to do with Boston.

One thing feels inevitable at this point: the relationship has to end. Good games are few and far between. If the Bruins can’t find a solution by the trade deadline, then a buyout in the offseason becomes the logical next step. Sweeney is one Bruins GM that has a history of using buyouts having used it on Mike Reilly (2023) Jimmy Hayes (2017) and Dennis Seidenberg (2016).

Casey Mittelstadt

Many fans are hoping Pavel Zacha ends up on this list, but that feels unlikely unless his next contract ask prices the Bruins out. With a core built around David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman, Boston needs reliable, versatile contributors like Zacha supporting them—especially with so many young players expected to push for roster spots in the coming years.

Which brings us to Mittelstadt. In a seller’s market thin on both quantity and quality, he stands out as a legitimate option. That could shift if more teams slide out of the race in the coming weeks, but for now, a forward on pace for 24 goals over an 82‑game stretch is exactly the kind of secondary‑scoring piece a playoff contender will covet.

The Bruins already picked up an asset from Colorado for absorbing Mittelstadt’s contract in last season’s Charlie Coyle deal, and flipping him now for another return would tilt that trade tree even further in Boston’s favor. There’s also every indication the Bruins would be open to moving him; Mittelstadt doesn’t cleanly fit the style Sturm is trying to implement, making him a logical candidate if the right offer comes along.

Boston Bruins Monday Morning Prospect Update Week Ending: January 4, 2026

Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell

Returns to action January 10.

Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell

Returns to action January 10.

Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL

Returns to action January 5.

William Zellers, James Hagens – USA – World Junior Championships

Team USA found itself in some difficulty against Slovakia on Monday before a pair of Boston Bruins prospects shifted the momentum. Trailing 4–3 late in the second period, James Hagens pulled the Americans even, taking a feed in the slot and snapping a wrist shot home with 45 seconds left in the frame.

Just 18 seconds into the final period, Hagens struck again, pouncing on a loose puck in the slot and firing home the go‑ahead goal while falling. A little more than four minutes later, Will Zellers delivered his third game‑winner in as many games, stationed at the right post as a centering pass deflected off his skate and in. Team USA held on for a 6–5 victory.

On New Years Eve, The US battled Sweden for top spot in their group and the Swedes came out on top 6-3. Zellers continued his torrid pace by scoring once again and has at least one goal in each of his four games and is tied for the tournament lead with 5 goals.

Hagens assisted on the Zellers goal and he now has at least one point in each of his games.

Team USA’s run came to a close on Friday with a 4–3 overtime loss to Finland. This iteration of the American squad had its shortcomings — along with a few debatable decisions best left for another day — but Zellers and Hagens still distinguished themselves, earning recognition as two of the team’s three top performers. For both players, the long‑term outlook remains highly promising.

Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)

Miami rebounded in game two of the Great Lakes Invitational, earning a 4–2 win over Ferris State on Monday after falling 5–2 to Michigan Tech the previous day. Nassen picked up an assist on the eventual game‑winner early in the second period and closed the night with one shot on goal, an even rating, and 13:23 of ice time.

Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College

Boston College bounced back in their second game of the Holiday Face‑Off, edging Lake Superior 4–3 after dropping the tournament opener. Dean Letourneau opened the scoring with his sixth goal in five games, once again delivering in trademark fashion — stepping off the bench, taking a feed at the blue line, and wiring a shot from the right circle into the back of the net.

Will Moore doubled the lead with his third goal of the season, positioning himself at the top of the crease to redirect a feed from newcomer Oscar Hemming. Elevated into a more offensive role, Moore has responded with strong performances in back‑to‑back games.

Letourneau recorded two shots on goal, went 11‑for‑18 in the faceoff circle, and logged 20:28 of ice time. Moore added two shots of his own, finishing 7‑for‑13 on draws while skating 16:43. Kristian Kostadinski was held without a point for the 13th straight game and played 15:08. Oscar Jellvik and Andre Gasseau remain sidelined on the injured list.

Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota

In an exhibition game on Saturday, the University of Minnesota battled to a 3-3 tie with Bemidji State. There was no stream available.

Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University

Fresh off his return from the Spengler Cup, Pelosi was back in the lineup Friday as Quinnipiac rolled past Harvard in a dominant 9–1 victory. Despite Harvard opening the scoring just 1:09 into the game, the Bobcats took control from there. Pelosi added Quinnipiac’s fifth goal — his 11th of the season — capping a clean 3‑on‑1 breakout. After easing into the offensive zone to create a passing lane, he collected the feed, glided into space, and snapped a bar‑down wrist shot.

Pelosi finished the game a plus-1, had two shots on goal and went 3 for 7 on the dot with 17:21 time on ice. Groenewold had an assist, was also a plus-1 and had 3 shots on goal with 16:04 time on ice.

Quinnipiac earned a 5–3 win over Dartmouth on Saturday. Pelosi was held off the scoresheet, finished minus‑1, and did not record a shot on goal, though he went 3‑for‑5 on draws and logged 17:38 of ice time. Groenewold, meanwhile, delivered a standout performance, posting an assist and a plus‑4 rating while skating 21:40.

Ryan Walsh – Cornell University

Walsh returned from his Spengler Cup and helped Cornell defeat Omaha 6-4 on Friday night. Walsh had a pair of assists, three shots on goal and was 9 for 14 on the dot with 20:30 time on ice.

Cornell took the rematch on Saturday with a 3–2 victory. Walsh was held off the scoresheet and recorded one shot on goal, but once again logged heavy minutes, finishing with 21:56 of ice time. He also went 13‑for‑23 in the faceoff circle.

Ryan Walsh, Chris Pelosi – US Collegiate Selects – Spengler Cup

On Tuesday, the US Collegiate Selects punched its ticket to the Spengler Cup Final with a 5–2 win over Sparta Prague. Walsh did not dress for the semifinal, while Pelosi drew into the lineup but was held off the scoresheet, finishing plus‑1 with 13:29 of ice time.

However, Team USA couldn’t finish the job in Wednesday’s Final, falling 6–3 to HC Davos. The game entered the third period knotted at 3–3 before Davos pulled away with three unanswered goals. Pelosi did not dress for the championship, while Walsh returned to the lineup and delivered a goal and an assist, finishing plus‑1 in 12:46 of ice time.

It wasn’t the result Walsh and Pelosi were aiming for, but the opportunity to compete against predominantly professional competition should serve them well moving forward.

Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University

As mentioned above, Harvard fell 9-1 to Quinnipiac on Friday. Langenbrunner did not have a point, was a minus-1 with one shot on goal and 17:35 time on ice.

Saturday saw Harvard lose 3-2 to Princeton and saw Langenbrunner go pointless again while finishing a minus-1.

Jonathan Morello – Boston University

BU defeated Simon Fraser in an exhibition game on Saturday. There was no stream available for this game.

Philip Svedeback – Providence College

Svedeback turned aside 23 of 25 shots on Friday, securing his third consecutive victory as Providence topped Alaska 5–2. The performance marks his first three‑game winning streak of the season.

Alaska responded on Saturday with a 5–1 victory, flipping the script from the previous night. Svedeback stopped 16 of 18 shots before exiting the game with an undisclosed lower‑body injury while Providence trailed 2–1.

Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL

Simpson scored twice on Friday, powering Youngstown to a 5–2 win over Madison. His first — the eventual game‑winner — came as he took a pass while accelerating down the right wing, broke in alone, and beat the goaltender with a smooth backhand‑to‑forehand deke. With Youngstown up 4–2, he sealed the result midway through the third, taking a feed down the slot and snapping a quick shot through a defender and past the netminder. He finished the night with seven shots on goal.

The rematch proved less favorable for Youngstown, as Madison earned a 3–2 overtime win on Saturday night. It was another productive outing for Simpson, who scored twice for the second straight game. Trailing 2–0 entering the third, he needed just 53 seconds to cut the deficit, skating from the left point into the high circle before ripping home his first of the night. Then, with 1:02 remaining, he forced overtime by finding space on the right side and hammering a far‑side one‑timer under the blocker.

Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL

On Tuesday, Shawinigan edged Baie‑Comeau 3–2 in overtime. Chandler was held off the scoresheet for the second straight outing — just the third time this month — and finished with one shot on goal.

Shawinigan dropped the rematch 2-1 on New Years Eve. Chandler did not register a point on two shots on goal and was 3 for eight on faceoffs.

On Friday, Shawinigan got past Sherbrooke 3-2. Chandler did not register a point for the fourth consecutive game. He had 3 shots on goal and was zero-for-two on the dot.

On Sunday, Shawinigan got past Rouyn-Noranda 5-2. Chandler ended his point draught with an assist. He finished a plus-1 with 3 shots on goal and was 7 for 12 on faceoffs.

Cole Spicer – Western Michigan

Western Michigan captured the Holiday Face-Off with a 4-1 win over Wisconsin on Monday. Spicer missed his second consecutive game due to injury.

Western Michigan shut out Notre Dame 4–0 on Friday, then repeated the result in Saturday’s rematch. Spicer was unavailable for both games.

The team has offered little detail regarding Spicer’s current injury, and without confirmation there’s no value in guessing. It’s worth noting, however, that he does have a prior history of concussion‑related issues.

Providence Bruins

Providence 2 – Springfield 4

Providence opened the scoring just 4:01 into the contest on Wednesday when Michael Callahan teed up Victor Soderstrom at the top of the right circle, and the defenseman snapped a wrist shot past the goaltender for a 1–0 lead. Patrick Brown picked up the secondary assist on the play.

Springfield responded with three straight goals to take a 3–1 lead before Georgii Merkulov set up Brown at the top of the blue paint, where his redirection trimmed the deficit to 3–2. Fabian Lysell picked up the secondary assist. Springfield later sealed the win with an empty‑netter

Simon Zajicek stopped 21 shots as Providence outshot Springfield 42-24.

Providence 4 – Hartford 1

On Friday, the opening goal didn’t come until 17:01 of the first period, when Matej Blumel dropped a pass into the slot for Riley Duran, who snapped a wrist shot inside the left post to give Providence a 1–0 lead.

Hartford pulled even midway through the second period, but Providence regained control late in the frame. With 1:54 remaining, Riley Tufte’s purposeful shot produced a rebound off the goaltender’s pad, landing on the stick of Dans Locmelis, who tapped it into the open net.

Merkulov and Locmelis would score into the empty net to seal the win. Michael DiPietro, who returned from injury to back up on Wednesday stopped 31 shots in his return.

Providence 3 – Springfield 1

Providence got the best of Springfield on Sunday afternoonWednesday’s loss.

Springfield opened the scoring just 4:32 into the game, but Locmelis pulled Providence even on the power play with 6:25 left in the first. Merkulov fed the puck into middle ice, where Lysell delivered a quick one‑touch to Locmelis in the left circle, and he snapped a wrist shot past the Springfield goaltender.

The 1–1 deadlock held until the final minutes of regulation. With 1:11 remaining, Frederic Brunet hammered a one‑timer from the point, tucking it just inside the post to give Providence a 2–1 lead, with Locmelis and Ty Gallagher picking up the assists. Tufte later sealed the win with an empty‑netter, set up by Brown and Billy Sweezey.

DiPietro wasn’t very busy in this one, stopping 16 of 17 shots.

Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.

Coming up this week:

Summary Sunday: January 4, 2026

Frank Seravalli on Insider Notebook: A lot of people have pointed to Pavel Zacha as a trade chip. I think you need more Pavel Zacha not less. Maybe the guy you try and move is Casey Mittelstadt.

Totally agree. The moment you move Pavel Zacha is the moment you start searching for a player just like him. He’s not untouchable, but replacing the value he provides at his current cap hit would be a significant challenge. While there’s no doubt teams would pay a premium to acquire him, any conversation about trading Zacha has to be balanced by an equally serious discussion about who fills that void. It’s rarely a straightforward equation.

More from Seravalli on Insider Notebook: The Bruins are in a spot where they need more heft up front. How are they gonna find that? Maybe moving out Mittelstadt to get a better fit is a way to start, but you’re gonna have to attach to that to find something impactful.

It’s hard to imagine any Bruins fan believing Mittelstadt, on his own, could be flipped for an upgrade at the same position. I’m not sure we had to be reminded of that. Of course, any realistic scenario would require additional assets. As with any trade discussion, the core questions remain unchanged: What are you adding, what’s the expected return, and how much cap space are you prepared to absorb to make the deal viable for both sides. I’m also questioning whether the Bruins need more heft up front.

More from Seravalli on Flames Talk regarding Andrew Mangiapane and the Edmonton Oilers: For the Oilers it’s not necessarily much about the return and what you get for him, it’s more so about clearing out that cap space. That’s also what’s gonna make getting someone to take that on difficult.

Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period weighs in on Mangiapane: The Oilers are actively shopping winger Andrew Mangiapane. He has a full no-trade clause and is willing to waive it for another contender, but I’m told the overall “best fit” is what’s important to him

Once the Bruins are fully healthy and resume banking cap space, they would be in position to absorb a contract carrying a $3.6 million cap hit. A few years ago, this player might have been a logical fit. Today, however, his profile no longer aligns with the direction Boston is pursuing. If the Oilers want to pay to take on that contract, I’m listening. But why would Mangiapane approve a trade to Boston?

Pagnotta on Daily Faceoff Live Talking about the Seattle Kraken: I’m looking at [Jason] Botterill in Seattle, very curious to see what he’s gonna end up doing with some of his guys; pending UFAs, [Jamie] Oleksiak, [Jordan] Eberle, [Jaden] Schwartz, those guys, [Eeli] Tolvanen, they’ve been listening on those guys. [Jared] McCann as well.

Pagnotta on Hello Hockey talking about Rasmus Andersson: I still think he’s getting moved. We know the usual Dallas and Vegas suspects. We know Toronto’s kicked the tires. I could see LA getting back into that discussion.

Elliotte Friedman on Oilers now adds: All I heard was that there’s a gap in between what he was looking for and what they were willing to do. Unless that changes, I think [a trade’s] the most likely scenario.

There are two costs involved here: The cost to acquire and the cost to extend. Those are two costs the Bruins should avoid at all costs. And of course, like Boston, Toronto is linked to everybody.

More from Friedman on Oilers Now talking about the Vancouver Canucks: I’m not expecting anything with Jake DeBrusk, to me the guy I’m watching in Vancouver is Kiefer Sherwood. One thing we learned about with Quinn Hughes is that they can strike quick, so you have to be on the ball.

There will undoubtedly be Bruins fans holding out hope for a DeBrusk reunion, but at this stage it feels like wishful thinking. As for Sherwood, my stance has been consistent from the outset: he’s not a fit. There are reports now that the Canucks have started talks about an extension with him.

Again, from Friedman on The Fan Hockey Show regarding Matias Maccelli: The Leafs had made him available and obviously there weren’t the bites that they liked. They’re kind of hoping for, can the change in the powerplay help him find more of a role there.

Just a reminder, Friedman recently linked Maccelli to the Bruins in his reporting. It feels like an annual ritual at this point: whenever a player is rumored to be available, Boston inevitably finds itself mentioned in the conversation.

THIS AND THAT

According to Sportsnet Stats, when Fraser Minten scored the overtime winner against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, he became the first Bruins rookie to record multiple overtime goals.

January 1 marked the first day NHL clubs were eligible to finalize contract extensions for players on one‑year deals. For the Bruins, that group includes Alex Steeves, Jordan Harris, Jonathan Aspirot, Matej Blumel, Georgii Merkulov, John Farinacci, Riley Tufte, Patrick Brown, Michael Callahan, Victor Soderstrom, Simon Zajicek, and Luke Cavallin.

There’s no real urgency to finalize a contract with any of them at this stage, and waiting until season’s end remains the most prudent approach. If I was forced to select one player to accelerate discussions with, it would be Zajicek — though that decision ultimately depends on the organization’s evaluation of Philip Svedeback and how his year concludes at Providence College.

Bruins at the Olympics: Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy (USA), Elias Lindholm (Sweden), Henri Jokiharju (Finland), David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha (Czechia). We are waiting for Dans Locmelis to be named to the Latvian Roster.

As readers know, we’ve been tracking key developments leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft — a particularly important year for Boston, with the Bruins holding two first‑round selections.

Next on the calendar is the 2026 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.

Youngest players in Providence: Matthew Poitras – 21 years and 300 days; Dans Locmelis – 21 years and 348 days.