Category Archives: Hockey News

Hockey News

Dahlin Selected By Sweden For Olympic Six

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Six players were announced by their respective countries for the 2026 Winter Olympics teams,  but only Buffalo Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin was selected from the club’s current roster. The 25-year-old blueliner finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting last week after posting 68 points (17 goals, 51 assists) in 73 games, and had one goal for his country in the NHL Four Nations Face-Off in February. 

Three former Sabres were also named on Monday. Vegas Golden Knights center and ex-Buffalo team captain Jack Eichel was selected by Team USA, Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart was selected by Team Canada, and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Zemgus Girgensons was selected by Team Latvia.  Eichel had 94 points for the Golden Knights last season, Reinhart had 39 goals for the Panthers and could win his second straight Stnaley Cup if Florida beats Edmonton on Tuesday, and Girgensons had just six points in 82 games for the Lightning last season.  

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 A surprising omission was Sabres winger JJ Peterka, who has starred for Germany in the World Championships and finished second in team scoring with 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games last season. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle, Chicago’s Lukas Reichel, Florida’s Nico Strum, Detroit’s Moritz Seider, and Seattle’s Philipp Grubauer were chosen over the 23-year-old winger. 

The remainder of the rosters are expected to be selected in early 2026 and besides Peterka, a number of Sabres could be in the mix. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was one of three goalies chosen by Finland for the Four Nations, youngster Jiri Kulich could be in the mix for Czechia, and after a 36-goal season, winger Alex Tuch could be in the mix for a depth spot on Team USA with veterans like Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson on the bubble after a poor showing in February. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Hockey News, The Hockey News

The Wraparound: Should The Predators Already Move On From Stamkos Or Marchessault?

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The Wraparound is here with more rapid-fire topics in the NHL.

Should The Predators Already Move On From Stamkos Or Marchessault? by The WraparoundShould The Predators Already Move On From Stamkos Or Marchessault? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: Will Brad Marchand go down as one of the best trade deadline acquisitions ever?

3:32: Evaluating the Edmonton Oilers’ ability to play in high-pressure situations

5:40: After trading Chris Kreider, could Mika Zibanejad also be moved by the New York Rangers?

9:10: Can the Buffalo Sabres afford to move on from J.J. Peterka?

12:14: Is it time for the Buffalo Sabres to move on from Bowen Byram?

15:28: Could the Nashville Predators already move on from either Jonathan Marchessault or Steven Stamkos?

20:37: Will Mitch Marner be the top free agent in the last decade to hit the market?

24:57: What to make of Team USA’s decision to leave Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger off the first six roster spots for the 2026 Olympics

29:15: Will the Montreal Canadiens end up trading either of their first-round draft picks this year?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Hockey News, Sports Betting

Malkin's Last Ride? Penguins Star Nears NHL Farewell Against the Odds

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Evgeni Malkin’s likely final season comes as the Penguins enter with long +28000 odds, creating potential sleeper value for bettors hoping for a storybook ending.

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Evgeni Malkin has been one of the faces of Pittsburgh hockey for nearly two decades but the 2025–26 campaign may mark the end of his Hall of Fame journey. According to multiple reports, the Penguins are not expected to offer Malkin another contract following this season, making it likely the last for the Russian superstar. The report did not confirm Malkin himself but the writing appears to be on the wall as the team continues to lean younger under new leadership.

Even at 38, Malkin showed flashes of vintage brilliance last season. He finished the 2024–25 campaign with 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points in 68 games. While it's nowhere near the 113 points he recorded in 2008-09, it's still serviceable for a mid-tier centre. He was among the Penguins top contributors, showing that his vision, touch, and playmaking remain effective even as the miles add up.

More NHL: Where Will Sam Bennett Play Next Season? New Bettting Odds Spark Major Buzz

The wonder is if the Penguins will opt to trade the veteran centre to a contender and help the Penguins retain something of value before he potentially retires. Over his career, Malkin has become one of the most decorated players of his generation. He’s won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, two Art Ross scoring titles, and the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP during the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup run. 

He's also hoisted the Stanley Cup three times in 2009, 2016, and 2017 as well as being named to the All-Star Game seven times throughout his historic career. As of the end of last season, he’s logged a total of 1,213 NHL games with 514 goals and 832 assists, good for 1,346 points. In October 2024, Malkin became just the 48th player in NHL history to reach 500 career goals. 

The timing of this potential farewell couldn’t be more intriguing from a betting perspective. The Penguins enter the season as one of the biggest long shots to win the Stanley Cup, listed at +28000, the fifth-longest odds in the league on FanDuel Sportsbook. Their roster remains in flux and leadership will look very different, with Dan Muse stepping behind the bench as Pittsburgh’s new head coach. Muse, known for his development acumen and detail-oriented approach, has been given long +3100 odds to win the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year.

For bettors, the combination of Malkin’s likely final season and a new coaching regime introduces narrative-driven value. It wouldn’t be the first time a legendary player went out with a late-career surge that pulled a team beyond expectations. 

If Muse can elevate the team’s structure and Malkin finds another gear for one last playoff push, even the longest odds can become tempting. Cash out oppurtunites are something we've looked at in the past and just a $10 bet on the Penguins would pay out around $2,800 to win the Cup which isn't very likely. 

However, Pittsburgh has proven in past seasons that experienced cores can catch fire and if they can manage to battle their way into a playoff spot like they looked like they were going to at times this season, we could get a massive cashout option towards the start of next years playoffs that could pay out a couple hundred dollars.

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Hockey News

3 Elder Skaters Blackhawks Must Consider This Off-Season

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The Chicago Blackhawks are coming into 2025-26 with a lot of youth at the top of their roster. They will be very exciting to watch, but veteran leadership is needed on every NHL team. 

GM Kyle Davidson already has a few veterans on the team, such as Connor Murphy, Nick Foligno, Teuvo Teravainen, and Tyler Bertuzzi. However, he may look for one with other attributes, including more offense.

During this off-season, a handful of very good veterans who are considered NHL elders are going to be available. Players like this, despite their age, should be at the top of Chicago’s list of people to go after. 

Young teams need guys like this to help them take a step as an organization: 

1. Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand is 37 years old. You would not think that based on how he is playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Florida Panthers. He has been their best player in the Stanley Cup Final and is on the verge of winning it for the second time in his career. 

Marchand was shockingly traded to a division rival by the Boston Bruins right at the buzzer of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. He was injured at the time of the trade but he made it back in time to impact the Panthers in a big way. 

It's not like the defending Stanley Cup champions needed any help, but they were smart enough to go add more anyway. Marchand's regular season ended with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points. Most of that was on a struggling Bruins team or following an injury with Florida. 

In the playoffs so far, Marchand has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. He is in the mix for the Conn Smythe Trophy at this point. 

A guy coming off a run like that would be great for the young Chicago Blackhawks. He has a lot more hockey left in the tank. His attitude, hard-working motor, and talent would be great to have around guys like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. 

2. John Tavares

John Tavares doesn't have the playoff resume that Brad Marchand has, but he is one of the few players who hasn't been a complete disappointment for the Toronto Maple Leafs when the lights are brightest. If Toronto doesn't retain the hometown guy in free agency, the Blackhawks should be all over him. 

In the regular season, Tavares had 38 goals and 36 assists for 74 points in 75 games played. That is outstanding for a guy who will be 35 when the 2025-26 season begins. 

Tavares can still drive a line and score goals at a high rate. With some of the gifted playmakers on Chicago's roster, Tavares should be able to put up similar numbers. In a leadership role, Tavares could thrive as long as his offense doesn't drop off. 

3. Claude Giroux 

Claude Girouz is 37 and will turn 38 in January. He doesn't seem to have the same level of offense left in the tank as Marchand or Tavares, but he can still make plays on a good line. 

During the 2024-25 season, in a much more depth role, he scored 15 goals and had 35 assists for 50 points in 81 games played. He is a candidate to see a spark in production if he played more minutes, which he would get in Chicago. 

Giroux has been an elite offensive talent throughout his career, and he knows what it takes to be a superstar in the NHL. If he were placed on a line or power play with some of the youth that Chicago has, you may see remnants of the old Giroux. It is a move worth considering if you are Kyle Davidson, looking for a savvy veteran. 

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