The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond

Here's what former NHL goalie Devan Dubnyk, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:

0:36: The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to seven games. What can you attribute to their success? 

2:30: Will the Bolts be able to sustain this?

5:43: Connor Bedard capped off a four-point night against Anaheim by chirping the Ducks' bench. These two teams play again on Sunday – can we expect any fireworks?

7:40: Is it exciting to see the Hawks and Ducks play meaningful games? 

9:53: Mike Matheson signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Thoughts on this signing for Montreal? 

11:50: What is the importance of Matheson's presence for the Canadiens? 

14:35: Jakob Chychrun now leads all NHL defensemen with 10 goals – Washington teammate Charlie Lindgren says the Canadian should be at the Olympics. Do you agree?

19:09: Carter Hart was recalled from his conditioning loan with AHL Henderson. As of Monday, he is eligible to be in the lineup. What do we see as Carter Hart's role with the team?

23:43: For Devan, what's it like playing in the AHL as a goalie versus the NHL?

26:10: New York Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri tore the ACL in his left knee and will be out for six to eight months. Do the Islanders have enough to stay in the hunt while banged up? 

30:03: The New York Rangers placed Adam Fox on injured reserve, and he's week to week. Will they still be in the playoff race by the time Fox returns?

33:16: Out of the top 10 NHL point leaders, who is the most surprising player on the list? 

35:34: Another week, another chance to name a player who had a hot or cold week.

37:05: Who has the best third jersey this season?

39:15: QMJHL Victoriaville wore jerseys that looked like farmers' overalls recently. Did Dubnyk ever wear a novelty jersey in your career?

41:04: Dubnyk's favorite jersey he's ever worn

How Important Is Mike Matheson To The Canadiens? by The Big Show

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Sometimes, an NHL player can have a hot week despite their team being on a cold streak and vice-versa.

Take Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley, for example. He had seven points in four games this past week despite the team going 1-3-0 and suffering a lower-body injury against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

Dylan Strome, meanwhile, had an assist in four games this past week, while the Washington Capitals had a perfect 4-0-0 week.

But for these players featured in this week's edition of who's hot and cold in the NHL, they played important roles in their squad's successes or struggles since Nov. 24.

Hot: Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are third in the NHL after starting the season 1-4-2. Kucherov's reliable heaps of offense lead the way.

In four games over the past week, Kucherov generated a league-leading nine assists and 10 points. He's on a five-game multi-point streak and a nine-game point streak, totalling 17 points since Nov. 15. The 32-year-old's season stats now include 21 assists and 32 points in 23 games.

You can see, then, why Kucherov is so crucial to Tampa Bay's blueprint for success. When he's feeling it, Kucherov can be a threat as a goal-scorer as easily as he can be a threat as a playmaker. He supplies exactly what's asked of him, even when what's asked of him is quite a lot. 

Cold: Brady Skjei, D, Nashville Predators

Two seasons ago with the Carolina Hurricanes, Skjei posted 13 goals and 47 points in 80 games. This year, with the sad-sack Predators, the 31-year-old blueliner has been largely invisible – including this past week, when he generated zero points and a minus-2 rating in four games. 

Skjei has only six points and a minus-16 rating in 25 games this year. Those are hardly the numbers the Preds wanted from him when they signed him to a seven-year contract worth $7 million per season two summers ago. But going through five percent of the season without even a secondary assist has to be particularly concerning for Nashville management.

Hot: Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

The Stars have gone 8-1-1 in their past 10 games, and they're on a four-game win streak.

In the past week, Johnston put the team on his back. On Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, he recorded a hat trick and his second four-point game of the week to give him five goals and nine points in four games.

The 22-year-old Johnston – who began a five-year contract worth $8.4 million annually – now has 16 goals and 30 points in 26 games, putting him in a tie with star Jason Robertson as the top goal-scorer on the Stars. 

Johnston is well on his way to surpassing his career highs of 33 goals and 71 points, set last season. And although Robertson and star right winger Mikko Rantanen have more points than Johnston, the youngster is establishing himself as one of Dallas' most dangerous producers.

Cold: Cam Talbot, G, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have done well with Talbot for most of this year, as he began the past week with a 9-2-0 record.

But since then, Talbot has gone 0-2-1, allowing 11 goals on 67 shots for a 3.69 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage. His save percentages in his three games were .800, .821 and .895. In that third game, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, Talbot had 0.44 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com, but in the two starts before that, that stat was in the negatives.

The 38-year-old Talbot isn't in danger of losing playing time to veteran John Gibson, whose numbers this season are considerably worse than Talbot's. But the Wings do need Talbot and their defense to ratchet up their games if they're to withstand the competition in the Atlantic Division and hang onto a playoff berth. 

Hot: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

Not only did Kucherov have an outstanding week, but Vasilevskiy did as well for the Lightning. He had a 3-0-0 record, .955 SP and 1.33 GAA since Nov. 24, when he shut out the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Vasilevskiy stopped 85 of 89 shots he saw this week, and it doesn't get much better than that for a goalie. The Lightning have a workhorse and a dynamic force in net who ranks fifth in goals saved above expected, at 13.6. While his stats weren't immune from the Lightning's rough start to the season, his 2.32 GAA and .918 SP make it seem like it never happened.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Four of five players acquitted of sexual assault in this year's Hockey Canada trial have pro contracts as their NHL suspensions end.

A judge in London, Ont., found Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote not guilty of sexual assault in July. They were initially charged in connection with allegations stemming from the aftermath of a 2018 gala celebrating that year's Canadian world junior team.

All of them but Dube now have a contract after Foote signed with the AHL's Chicago Wolves on Monday.

The NHL announced in September the five players were suspended until Dec. 1, but they were eligible to sign contracts as of Oct. 15. The league's investigation concluded that while the players' conduct wasn't criminal, it did not meet the "highest level of moral integrity."

Here's the latest on each player.

Carter Hart, G, Vegas Golden Knights

Hart, 27, signed a two-year contract worth $2 million annually with the Vegas Golden Knights in late October.

In preparation for his return to NHL action, Hart played three games for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights. He went 1-2-0 in his three starts, posting a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage. He last played on Friday, stopping 12 of 16 shots.

Vegas recalled Hart from his conditioning stint on Sunday. The team faces the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday at home before embarking on a five-game road trip against five Metropolitan Division squads.

Cal Foote, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Foote, 26, joined the Wolves on an AHL contract. The Wolves are the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, but Foote would have to sign an NHL contract to be eligible for a call-up.

Foote last played in 2024-25 for Liptovsky Mikulas in the top-tier league in Slovakia, finishing third on the team in scoring with 30 points in 38 games. He last played in the AHL in 2023-24 before taking a leave of absence. That season, he had nine points in 24 games for the Utica Comets.

Alex Formenton, LW, Ambri-Piotta (Sui.)

Formenton, 26, signed with Swiss National League club HC Ambri-Piotta in September. The contract runs through the international break at the end of December and carries an option through the end of the season.

In 20 games, Formenton has five goals, nine points and 36 penalty minutes.

Formenton remains an RFA whose NHL rights belong to the Ottawa Senators. If he doesn't sign a contract by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, he cannot play in the NHL this season.

The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch reported the Senators have tried to trade Formenton's rights elsewhere in exchange for a draft pick. Senators GM Steve Staios and Formenton's agent, Darren Ferris, agreed over the summer that the player's best bet was a change of scenery.

As of Monday morning in Ottawa, there is "virtually no chance" a trade will happen, Garrioch reported.

Michael McLeod, C, Omsk (Rus.)

McLeod, 27, returned to Avangard Omsk in the KHL this season after playing part of the 2024-25 campaign with them.

In 17 games, McLeod has five goals and seven assists for 12 points. He ranks eighth on the team in scoring.

Last season, McLeod had six points in 16 games for Barys Astana in the KHL before joining Omsk and posting 13 points in 19 games. He added eight points in nine playoff matches.

While he, Hart, Formenton, Dube and Foote faced one charge each of sexual assault, McLeod faced an additional charge of party to the offense. He was found not guilty of both counts.

Dillon Dube, C, Unsigned

Dube, 27, has not played for a pro hockey team this season so far.

He last played for the KHL's Dinamo Minsk in 2024-25, recording four goals and 11 points in 42 games. He went without a point in four post-season games as well.

Dube played six season for the Calgary Flames, recording 127 points in 325 NHL games.

In September, Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy said at that point, the team was not interested in signing the UFA.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Recent reports claimed that the Vancouver Canucks are open to offers for some of their veteran players, especially those eligible to become UFAs next summer.

That has raised rumors about which players could be available and the cost of acquiring them.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that teams such as the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers could be interested in some of the Canucks' pending UFA players. However, the Canucks intend to take their time and evaluate the trade market.

Most of the early focus is on Kiefer Sherwood. The feisty 30-year-old left winger is UFA-eligible next July. He leads the Canucks with 12 goals, carries an affordable $1.5-million cap hit, and lacks no-trade protection. His physical style is well-suited for the grind of post-season hockey.

RG.Org's James Murphy cited an NHL source claiming the Bruins had contacted the Canucks about Sherwood and right winger Conor Garland. He said the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings also had an interest in Sherwood. Garland, however, might not be available as he has a six-year contract extension that begins next July.

TSN's Chris Johnston observed that Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, has a reputation for making moves well ahead of the annual trade deadline. However, he suggested it might be best if the Canucks wait on moving Sherwood until closer to the March 6 deadline, when he might fetch a first-round pick.

Sherwood could land a first-rounder if he maintains his current level of production. However, Rutherford might prefer a young NHL-ready player who would have a more immediate impact.

Three Potential Trade Fits For Canucks' Kiefer SherwoodKiefer Sherwood is among the Canucks' top trade candidates, and these three teams should consider trying to acquire the hard-hitting forward.

Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News mused over whether Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek might be available. The 28-year-old blueliner has six seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million and a full no-movement clause.

Rosner felt Hronek would be a good fit on the Islanders' blueline alongside rookie star Matthew Schaefer. Given Hronek's contract, the Canucks aren't likely to move him unless he asks to be traded. So far, there's no indication that he wants out of Vancouver.

Meanwhile, some observers wonder what effect the Canucks' plans to become a seller will have on captain Quinn Hughes' future in Vancouver.

The 26-year-old superstar defenseman is signed through 2026-27, and questions have been raised in the rumor mill about whether he'll sign an extension next summer. Speculation has linked him to the New Jersey Devils and a reunion with his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli suggested the Flyers as a destination for Hughes, where he'd be reunited with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. Flyers beat writer Kevin Kurz of The Athletic claimed he hasn't heard any indication that the club would pursue the Canucks' star but doesn't rule out management trying to acquire a player that would accelerate their rebuilding process.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

One of the reasons the Boston Bruins have emerged as a top-10 team in the Eastern Conference is the fact they’re getting notable contributions from players who aren’t regarded – at least, not entering the season – as stars.

Boston’s brightest star is winger Morgan Geekie. The 27-year-old, who set career-highs in goals (33) and points (57) last season, is currently tied for the NHL lead in goals this season, with 20 goals and 26 points in 27 games. 

Only Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon has as many goals as Geekie, who is on pace for a 61-goal, 79-point season.

While it’s unfair to expect Geekie to score nearly double the amount of goals he’s scored in his best season, Geekie’s climb up the scoring rankings takes a ton of pressure off of Bruins veterans, including star winger David Pastrnak, to do all the heavy lifting. Pastrnak, Geekie's most common linemate this season, has missed the previous two games with an injury. All Geekie has done is step up in his absence, scoring three goals in those two games.

Geekie has emerged as a star for Boston, and he has exceeded all expectations of him when the Bruins signed him as a UFA in the summer of 2023. Up until that point, Geekie’s career highs were nine goals and 28 points as a member of the Seattle Kraken, who picked him off the Carolina Hurricanes’ roster in the NHL’s 2021 expansion draft.

The Bruins knew they had a keeper in him when he posted 17 goals and 39 points in 76 games in 2023-24, and all he’s done since then is grow his offensive game to new heights. 

To be sure, the offense-challenged Kraken could use Geekie’s goal production right about now, especially considering they elected not to tender him a qualifying offer after the 2022-23 season. Seattle’s top scorers have only eight goals this year, so having someone like Geekie, who is still approaching his prime and finding out just how dominant he can be, is a gift from the hockey gods.

Now, the Bruins did take a risk of sorts when they signed Geekie to a six-year, $33-million contract extension this past summer. If Geekie was on track to only score as much as he did in his first year with Boston, they would rightfully have heard they’d overpaid a bit on his new contract. But a $5.5 million annual salary would be considered a great bargain for someone who produced 33 goals in a single season. If that player were on pace to lead the league in goals? Well, that would be downright larceny for the team that acquired that type of contributor.

There are still two-thirds of the season yet to play, and if Geekie’s production does tail off, that won’t take away from his strong start. But he’s setting a new bar for himself, and if the Bruins are to remain a playoff team, they’ll need him to continue to consistently produce goals and points at close to, if not better than, a point-per-game pace.

Remember, Geekie was drafted 67th overall by the Hurricanes in 2017. The most he’s scored in one season, at any level, is the 35 goals he had for the WHL's Tri-City Americans in 2016-17. So he’s a late bloomer, and he’s probably got to start slowing down a bit, right? 

Well, maybe, or maybe not. Geekie’s best days could still be ahead. If that’s the case, the Bruins’ chances of becoming a playoff team in short order are going to be to their liking.   

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

By Dillon Collins, feature writer

Looking back on his career, Matt Murray calls his introduction to the NHL both “surreal” and “unexpected.”

Drafted 83rd overall by Pittsburgh in 2012, he was outstanding in his first full season of pro hockey with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, setting an AHL record for the longest shutout streak at 304:11 and setting a record for most shutouts by an AHL rookie goaltender (12). He earned his first NHL call-up just 10 days shy of Christmas 2015. He started 13 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, winning nine of them and posting a .930 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.

Then, with Marc-Andre Fleury dealing with post-concussion symptoms as the playoffs began, Murray stepped in to start 21 of the team’s 24 contests as the Penguins went on to edge San Jose to win the 2016 Stanley Cup. Murray had only just turned 22 during the Eastern Conference final.

The following season, the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions. Murray started 47 games, earned a slot on the NHL’s all-rookie team and finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting. In the playoffs, he won seven of 10 starts after replacing a hot-and-cold Fleury in the conference final and finished with a sparkling 1.70 GAA and .937 SP.

The back-to-back Cups gave him an understanding of the true cost of success at an elite level.

“It taught me a lot about winning, but also about the sacrifice and the price of winning,” said Murray, now 31. “And there is a major, major price. All that stuff, I’m sure, accelerated the wear and tear on my hips. I was basically in shambles the whole time physically, so there’s a major price to winning like that. But there’s no better feeling once you get through it.”

The Penguins traded Murray to Ottawa on Oct. 7, 2020. However, his tenure in Canada’s capital was short-lived, as the Sens flipped him to division rival Toronto in the summer of 2022. With injuries mounting, Murray only suited up for a combined 54 NHL/AHL regular- and post-season games over the next three seasons.

But his hip issues dated as far back as his pro debut in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton nearly a decade prior.

“The unfortunate part about when you’re dealing with injuries, the way I have, is that most of the time your energy is going towards fighting those injuries or fighting back from those injuries,” he said. “At the time, I was probably 21, maybe even 20 years old. It just sounds a little early to be having double hip surgery.”

Murray’s choice to take on the “pretty severe” bilateral hip surgery on Oct. 9, 2023, came at the cost of nearly the entire 2023-24 season. But it was a boost to his quality of life.

As he entered the summer of 2024 fully healthy for the first time in his professional career, the then-30-year-old Murray opted to re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This summer, he signed with the Seattle Kraken, reuniting with former colleagues Jason Botterill, Lane Lambert and goalie coach Colin Zulianello.

He now has a chance to rediscover his game and play meaningful minutes with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds while providing depth at the NHL level alongside Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer.

“You want to be in an environment that you enjoy going to every day and where you’re going to be put in a position to have some success,” Murray said. “I knew that’s what I would get with the people here. I think that’s all you could ask for as a player.”

Reflecting on his decade in the pros – filled with pleasure and pain, and the highs and lows that have dominated his career – Murray has one key piece of advice for his younger self.

“Chill out and enjoy it,” he said. “I think you learn that as you get older. If you’re young, you’re full of energy but also full of nervous energy and some anxiety. That would probably be the main thing. Just chill out, enjoy the ride. And that’s what I’m doing now.”

This is an excerpt of a feature that appeared in The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue. We profile plenty of top prospects such as Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Zeev Buium and Marco Kasper. 

Elsewhere in the issue, we take a look at each NHL team's prospect pool, and we explore several PWHL teams, as well as features on the AHL, ECHL and the NCAA. 

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

Goaltender Laurent Brossoit appears to be nearing a return from a lengthy injury that he suffered in the 2023-24 playoffs.

He suffered a knee injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of those playoffs, and he missed the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Brossoit isn’t far out from a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ farm team. 

With this situation, the Blackhawks already carry Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom on the roster between the pipes. In addition, Brossoit’s $3.3-million cap hit is a lot to carry for a netminder who hasn’t played in well over a year.

Therefore, on “Saturday Headlines,” Friedman reported that Chicago has given other teams permission to speak with the 32-year-old about a potential trade. This transparency also allows other clubs to understand the goaltender’s situation.

“The Blackhawks have given teams permission to talk to him,” Friedman reported on Saturday. “So you can understand what his situation is, what his exact surgery was, what the process is back.”

With this report, all signs point to a potential trade for Brossoit. However, his cap hit would remain an obstacle.

“Not everybody can take that,” he said. “There might be some work that needs to be done here.”

On Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast, Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas made connections with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that has struggled to find consistency and good performances in the crease.

Brossoit has ties to Edmonton, playing parts of four seasons with the organization between 2014 and 2018. He also featured in five seasons for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, winning a WHL championship in 2011-12.

In his NHL career, he was a regular backup goaltender before his injury.

During his last season with the Winnipeg Jets, he played 23 games, putting up a 15-5-2 record, along with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and three shutouts.

He’s had multiple impressive seasons like that 2023-24 regular season, including stints with the Vegas Golden Knights, and another with the Jets, that turned out to be his best season statistically.

He was a part of Vegas’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022-23. He made 11 regular-season appearances, registering a 7-0-2 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .927 SP. 

In those playoffs, he made eight starts, winning five games for the Golden Knights. He posted a 3.18 GAA and an .894 SP.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Montreal Canadiens are enjoying a renaissance season, putting together a 13-7-3 record to sit in second place in the competitive Atlantic Division. And things got even better on Friday when the Canadiens signed veteran defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual salary of $6 million. 

Matheson’s extension solidifies Montreal’s defense corps for the foreseeable future, as their top-four blueliners – Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle are all under contract at least through the 2030-31 season, at a total combined annual cost of $29.9 million. With the rising salary cap ceiling, this quartet could be one of the better-bargain groups of D-men in the league.

But what is equally compelling is the potential to add more pieces to the competitive puzzle for the Habs. As it stands, Montreal currently has $3.61 million in cap space – a number that rises to $11.97 million by this season’s March 6 trade deadline. As of next season, the Canadiens project to have $20.1 million in space. Some of that will have to go to RFAs Zack Bolduc, Kirby Dach and Arber Xhekaj, but that still leaves more than enough space to bring some veteran help aboard.

And with Matheson now locked up, there’s only one place Montreal needs help with: at forward. It’s unlikely the Canadiens re-sign often-injured winger Patrik Laine – at least, if he doesn’t take a major hometown discount to stay a Hab. So Montreal is going to need a bona fide point-producing forward – most likely, a second-line center to take some of the heat off of top-line center Nick Suzuki. 

Those types of players don’t grow on trees, but the great thing about where the Canadiens are in their competitive cycle is that above-average free-agent centers will be encouraged by the team’s ascent in the Atlantic standings and happily sign up to play in Montreal. Or if they are already a part of another team, they could waive any no-trade or no-move clause to be a Canadien. 

Who could that be? It’s difficult to pinpoint one single NHLer who would be ideal for the Habs, but a player similar to Nashville Predators pivot Ryan O’Reilly would be the kind of player Montreal GM Kent Hughes is looking for. Of course, O’Reilly probably wouldn’t want to play in the high-pressure environment of Montreal, as a short stretch as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs a couple of seasons ago didn’t end with O’Reilly choosing to stay in Toronto when he became a UFA. 

That said, a player like O’Reilly – someone with Stanley Cup-winning experience, and someone who can play hard-nosed defense while chipping in with some secondary scoring, would fit the bill rather well in Habs Land. Montreal’s strong start to the current season gives Habs management the leverage to not overpay on the trade or free-agent front to acquire that kind of veteran.

Regardless of what the Canadiens do with their cap space, it’s clear with every passing game that Montreal is turning a corner in their development. Keeping Matheson is an endorsement of the Habs’ current core, and as the Canadiens grow as a group, it will become much easier to be a destination for veterans seeking a legitimate shot at winning a championship. So while things look great right now, even better days are ahead for this organization. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Every week in the NHL delivers goals, chaos, and occasionally, absolute gems on the microphone. Our “Say What?” series features some of the strangest, funniest, and most telling quotes from players, coaches, and executives around the league. 

This week, the quotes cover everything from a goaltender responding to being told the fans no longer want him to coaches disliking the use of analytics.

Here are the lines that made us stop scrolling and say… what?

"They're just looking at numbers from people that could be in Russia in a basement, having cigarettes and cashews, telling them their scoring chances. So we're going to depend on our guys, and really recognize what we believe has to be fixed and what doesn't." - Adam Foote

The Vancouver Canucks' coach doesn't plan to call out a player for having poor analytics, although they've allowed the most high-danger chances against in the NHL, according to naturalstattrick.com.

"We’re in the business of lifting each other up." - Stuart Skinner

After being told the fans want another goaltender and not him, Stuart Skinner had a classy response to Hall of Fame journalist Jim Matheson when he said he chose to be a goalie, and fan criticism comes with the gig. He knows he can be better, but his teammates don’t share the same opinion as some fans do. 

“I guess it’s just part of the gig.” - Kiefer Sherwood

The forward is on the trade block after saying he wanted to sign an extension with the Vancouver Canucks. He knows that the team is looking to trade him as they’ve made several veterans and UFAs available. 

“Since I was a kid, all I wanted was to wear a Habs jersey. Five more years in the best city in the world, a place I’m lucky to call home.” - Mike Matheson

The defenseman signed an extension with the Montreal Canadiens this week, a five-year deal worth $6 million per season. He knows he could have gotten more on the open market, but he’s comfortable where he is. 

"The coach didn't take a stupid pill last week." - Brian Burke

Brian Burke commented on coach Kris Knoblauch being a good coach despite recent shortcomings and how he believes the Edmonton Oilers simply have to work their way out of their slump.

“There's always pivots and different times where you have to adjust and make changes,” - GM Craig Conroy

After Don Maloney came out and said the Flames had no desire to trade several assets and were going to try to compete, fans reacted negatively. Things got worse when Maloney wouldn’t comment on a Conroy extension. The deal got done this week, and Conroy set the record straight. 

“No one's giving up. No one's getting negative. We're going to keep pushing and keep grinding.” - Morgan Rielly

Morgan Rielly tried to stay positive after a loss as the Maple Leafs get set to play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Things have not gone well for Toronto this season, and there's already talk about focusing on next year instead. 

“I feel like I could take down an NFL running back.” - Brady Tkachuk

When asked by his brother on their podcast if he thought he could tackle Derrick Henry, Brady said he believed it was about mindset, and he thought he could. Matthew responded, “You’re a f*cking idiot.”

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Whether it’s an Original Six franchise or one of the more recent teams to join the league, all NHL teams have one thing in common: they possess dedicated fan bases. And while some may appear to be more dedicated than others – at least in how they fill up their team’s respective arena – they are all dedicated nonetheless.

Around Halloween, we took a look at the NHL teams that had the highest average attendance over the past five seasons, with the Montreal Canadiens emerging as the top dog. But what about the teams at the opposite end of the spectrum? Today, we will be laying out five teams with the lowest average attendance over the past five seasons.

For the purposes of this list, we will be excluding the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons due to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the league’s attendance numbers during that period. With that in mind, we will focus on the average attendance numbers from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Additionally, we will be omitting both the Arizona Coyotes and the Utah Mammoth from this list. While both of these teams would have made up the top two spots on the list, the now-defunct Coyotes played in Mullett Arena, which has an NHL capacity of 4600, during their final two NHL seasons from 2022-23 to 2023-24. This extremely low attendance capacity, compared to other teams, felt unfair to include in this list. 

With the Mammoth, firstly, the team has been in the league for less than two seasons, and secondly, their attendance numbers themselves have been greatly hindered by renovations to convert their arena, the Delta Center, from the strictly basketball home of the Utah Jazz of the NBA, to an arena that can better house NHL hockey. So, including the Mammoth, like with the Coyotes, felt a bit unfair.

With that in mind, let’s get to it.

5. Anaheim Ducks

When you account post-season and even regular-season success, the Anaheim Ducks finding themselves in the basement of the league’s average attendance numbers does not come as a surprise. In the five seasons analyzed, the Ducks averaged just 15,821 fans per game, while their arena, the Honda Center, has a hockey attendance capacity of 17,174; much of this can be attributed to the team’s lack of success over the past half-decade or so.

The Ducks’ downward attendance trajectory has coincided with the franchise's longest playoff drought, which now stands at seven seasons – the third-longest active post-season absence in the league. However, the Ducks had their highest attendance since 2018-19 last season, with an average of 15,806 per game according to HockeyDB. With the team currently leading the Pacific Division and looking dominant, that number could easily rise, especially if the Ducks continue to thrive and return to the playoffs. 

4. New Jersey Devils

While the New Jersey Devils have been an overall successful franchise in the team’s 42-year history, winning three Stanley Cups and making the post-season 24 times during that span, a more recent lack of playoff success or even qualification has caused the team’s attendance totals to slip in recent years. 

In the five seasons analyzed for this list, the Devils had an average attendance of 15,738.4 per game, nearly 2000 less than the Prudential Center’s hockey capacity of 17,625. And since the last time the Devils made it to the Cup final in 2011-12, the team has only surpassed the 17,000 mark twice. The first time was the 2012-13 season, also a lockout-shortened season, then in 2023-24, the team had an impressive average attendance of 17,598.

If the Devils can achieve more significant playoff success this season and beyond, and we believe they likely can, perhaps their attendance average can shift out of the league’s basement.

3. New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are an interesting case, as the team hasn’t performed poorly necessarily. The team has made the playoffs in eight of the last 13 seasons, and two of those appearances saw them make it to the Eastern Conference finals in 2020 and 2021, and 2023-24 saw the team post their best average attendance total in Islanders history with 18,099.

However, last season, a season where the team failed to make the post-season, the Islanders saw that number dip to 15,979. Another factor at play for the team is their attendance numbers from when they played at Barclays Center from 2015-16 to 2019-20, where the hockey capacity was just 15,795. During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, the Islanders weren’t even able to reach that capacity, averaging 12,627 in those two seasons, and those years significantly reduced the average for the purposes of this list to 15,248.8.

Hopefully, the new-look Islanders, led by top rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, can get more fans in the seats and allow them to thrive again.

2. San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are a victim of a lack of recent success, and that is why they find themselves with the second-lowest spot on this list. As a whole, the Sharks’ franchise history has been filled with success, with the team, despite never winning a Stanley Cup, missing the playoffs only six times between 1991-92 and 2018-19. But it is in more recent years that the Sharks have faltered, and it is reflected in their attendance numbers.

The Sharks have been a rebuilding team for the past few seasons and have missed the playoffs for the past six seasons. If you look at their season-to-season attendance averages, the peaks that they reached in years like 2014-15, with 18,708 in attendance on average, have fallen off to an average of 15,092 in the years discussed in this list. 

There is some hope for a resurgence as the current 2025-26 average of 14,832 is the highest the team has had since the 2019-20 season, but with the team still struggling to make any real noise in the Pacific Division, it may still be some time before we see the SAP Center filled to its capacity.

1. Winnipeg Jets

Considering the regular-season success the Winnipeg Jets have had in recent memory – notably last season when they won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best regular-season record in the NHL – it may be a shock to see the Jets at the bottom in average league attendance, yet here they are. And while the reason for this could simply be attributed to the fact that the team has the smallest arena capacity at just 15,321, there are bigger issues at play.

Even with this small arena capacity, the Jets have been unable to average a sold-out crowd in all of the last three seasons. Even when you take the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons into account, which together had an average attendance of 15,535, the average for the years included in this list still comes out to a concerning 14,594.2.

Even this season, the team is only averaging 14,096 – nearly 300 less on average than last year’s total. Perhaps fans are becoming fed up with tremendous regular-season play followed by playoff mediocrity, but no matter what theory you have, there is only one conclusion, and it’s that the Jets have failed to put butts in the seats in Winnipeg.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.