San Jose Sharks Activate John Klingberg
The San Jose Sharks announced today that defenseman John Klingberg has been activated off of injured reserve.
Klingberg missed four consecutive games with a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old has been one of the Sharks’ most heavily-used defensemen this season, tied for first among blueliners in ice time with 21:37 per game. When healthy, he’s also quarterbacked the Sharks’ top power play unit, averaging 3:25 power play time on ice per game.
After two consecutive injury-riddled seasons, this year has been a bounce-back year for Klingberg from a production standpoint. He’s scored nine goals and 16 points in 31 games, which is a 24-goal, 42-point 82-game pace.
Klingberg had scored just 42 points in the three seasons following his 47-point 2021-22 campaign, which was his final year in Dallas.
Although returns in terms of Klingberg’s defensive value have been more mixed, that’s not entirely detached from what was expected of Klingberg even in the best years of his career.
Now back to full health, Klingberg will get the chance to continue to build on his momentum this season with an eye to the summer. His one-year, $4MM contract is set to expire this summer, making him a pending unrestricted free agent.
Central Notes: Eriksson Ek, Hartman, Miller
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek suffered a lower-body injury against the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 8, and missed his team’s game Saturday against the New York Islanders. Per The Athletic’s Joe Smith, Eriksson Ek’s injury is “considered minor,” and the team will likely have an update on his status on Monday. He’s currently out on a day-to-day timeline, and it appears unlikely that will change.
From the Wild’s perspective, they are likely counting themselves lucky that Eriksson Ek is only facing a minor absence. The 28-year-old is the Wild’s best center, a status made all the more important due to the team’s trade of Marco Rossi to the Vancouver Canucks. The trade of Rossi, who scored 60 points last season, has left the Wild somewhat thin down the middle, though the continued growth of Danila Yurov has helped. Eriksson Ek has scored 32 points in 45 games this season and leads all Wild forwards in short-handed time on ice per game.
Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- Dodging a significant injury to Eriksson Ek isn’t the only good fortune the Wild have received in recent days. Veteran forward Ryan Hartman temporarily left yesterday’s game against the Islanders after blocking a shot on his left ankle, but he ultimately was able to return to the game, and Wild head coach John Hynes told the media, per Smith, that Hartman “seemed okay.” Hartman ranks No. 6 among Wild forwards in time on ice per game this season, and has 11 goals, 18 points this season. The 31-year-old is under contract at a $4MM AAV through 2026-27.
- The Winnipeg Jets announced that defenseman Colin Miller left the team’s comeback victory over the New Jersey Devils with a lower-body injury. While no further update on Miller’s status has been provided to this point, it appears the 33-year-old blueliner could be set to miss some time if his injury proves to be more than a minor setback. Miller has had a healthy 2025-26 to this point, but has been in and out of the lineup as a frequent healthy scratch. Through 14 games played in 2025-26, Miller has one assist and is averaging 14:26 time on ice per game. Miller’s two-year, $1.5MM AAV contract expires at the end of the season, making him a pending UFA.
New York Rangers Reassign Anton Blidh, Recall Brennan Othmann
4:15 p.m.: The Rangers have indeed recalled Othmann to their NHL roster, according to a team announcement.
The move returns the Rangers’ 2021 first-round pick back to their NHL roster for the first time in 2026. Othmann was a healthy scratch for his final two games on the NHL roster in December, but could draw back into head coach Mike Sullivan’s lineup at some point in the near future.
It’s an extremely important season for the 23-year-old’s future in the Rangers organization. He’s a pending restricted free agent and has thus far failed to make an impact at the NHL level.
Considered a top prospect coming out of the OHL thanks to the coveted combination of offensive skill and sandpaper in his game, Othmann has had an up-and-down time in the pro ranks. He’s been a strong contributor at the AHL level.
He was an All-Star in 2023-24, his rookie season as a pro, and 83 points in 117 games. But in his 31 games at the NHL level, he’s been unable to make quite the same impact. He’s managed just two assists as an NHLer, and is still waiting on his first NHL goal.
This recall gives Othmann another chance to prove himself at the NHL level, and prove he has what it takes to remain in New York’s long-term plans moving forward.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston included Othmann in the No. 34 slot of his trade board last week, writing that while the Rangers are “not in a position at which they feel they have to move” Othmann, they’d nonetheless consider offers for him.
2:25 p.m.: The New York Rangers announced today that veteran forward Anton Blidh has been reassigned to the club’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The move leaves the Rangers without a healthy extra forward on their roster, but Colin Stephenson of Newsday reported that Brennan Othmann could be recalled to the Rangers at some point in the near future.
Blidh was recalled at the start of the New Year as part of the Rangers’ response to several injuries up front, most notably one suffered by captain J.T. Miller. In his recall, which lasted a little over 10 days, Blidh was dressed twice and served as a healthy scratch for three contests, including yesterday’s deflating 10-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
In his two NHL games, Blidh averaged 7:45 time on ice. He didn’t land on the scoresheet, but tallied four hits in each contest. The 30-year-old veteran hasn’t been at the top of the list of priority call-up options since arriving in the Rangers organization in 2023, but he’s nonetheless found a way to stick around and earn a small number of call-ups.
While this most recent call-up represents two of his three total games played as a Ranger, he’s been a healthy scratch on other occasions. His physicality and work rate, as well as over 80 games of NHL experience, make him someone who the Rangers trust to fill in as a fourth liner when injuries call for it. Last April, New York signed Blidh to a two-year contract extension, one that runs through 2026-27. The deal carries a two-way structure, league-minimum NHL salary, and $385K guarantee across both years.
Reassigned today, Blidh will return to Hartford where he’s struggled to score at the same rate he put up last season. Blidh managed 19 goals, 36 points in 71 games last year, but has just seven points in 28 games this season. The Wolf Pack have struggled, as a whole, to put pucks in the net, ranking near the bottom of the AHL in goals scored in 2025-26.
Metro Notes: Konecny, Grundstrom, Wilson
Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny missed the team’s game Saturday as the result of an upper-body injury he suffered Jan. 8 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Earlier today, he was on the ice for practice, a development that was, temporarily, a good sign for his availability moving forward. But the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jackie Spiegel reported shortly afterward that Konecny left practice with an injury, and added that he “seemed to have trouble walking to the room.”
While there’s no official update from the Flyers on Konecny’s status, this reporting from their practice does cast into doubt Konecny’s likelihood of being available for the team’s game tomorrow against the Lightning. Any significant injury to Konecny would deal a massive blow to the Flyers’ competitive hopes. The 28-year-old’s 38 points in 42 games ranks second on the team behind Trevor Zegras, and his efforts have helped the Flyers amass a 22-13-8 record a little over halfway through the season. The hope, obviously, will be that Konecny’s injury scare today ends up being only something minor.
Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- The Flyers told reporters today that winger Carl Grundstrom missed practice with an illness, and that his availability for tomorrow’s game is questionable. Grundstrom has had a hot start to his time in Philadelphia, scoring seven goals and eight points in 17 games. Acquired as part of the trade involving Ryan Ellis’ contract in early October, Grundstrom worked his way onto the Flyers’ NHL roster with strong AHL performances and looks to have a firm grip on an NHL lineup spot thanks to his goal-scoring streak. A pending UFA making $1.8MM this season, Grundstrom has likely aided his upcoming free agent fortunes considerably in his brief stint so far with the Flyers.
- Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson, who remains out with a lower-body injury, skated in the team’s practice today with a non-contact jersey, per Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post. Consequently, Wilson is not expected to be available for Washington’s game against the Predators tonight. Wilson hasn’t played since Jan. 5 due to his injury, missing three games. The 31-year-old has 42 points in 41 games this season.
Blackhawks Assign Drew Commesso, Kevin Korchinski, Stanislav Berezhnoy To AHL
The Chicago Blackhawks have sent goaltenders Drew Commesso and Stanislav Berezhnoy, along with defenseman Kevin Korchinski, back to AHL Rockford, per the team.
No corresponding transactions were made, the team jumping back into action tomorrow at home against Edmonton. However, today’s moves suggest that regular netminders Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom are likely to return, along with defender Louis Crevier, as suggested by Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
It has been a busy week for goaltenders in the Blackhawks organization. Even outside of the injuries to their #1 and #2 options on the big club, the team dealt Laurent Brossoit to San Jose. Therefore, Chicago had to clear the shelves from Rockford, summoning Commesso and Berezhnoy to get them through their last two contests.
Commesso surrendered five goals on Friday in a loss to Washington, and it figured to be another potentially tough night on Saturday, as the usual AHLer had to step right back into action in a back-to-back against Nashville. Impressively, instead he put up a 36-save shutout, immediately inflating his save percentage to .917 on the season.
Naturally, his prompt reassignment after a career night is disappointing, but as Rockford’s #1 goalie, the plan was never for Commesso to stay longer than urgently needed. His efforts in Nashville will be remembered this summer in contract discussions, as the 23-year-old will be a restricted free agent. Drafted 46th overall in 2020, Commesso figures to be a possible NHL backup in the future.
Berezhnoy, an undrafted free agent in his first North American season, earned his first call-up just to serve as backup last night, but with Brossoit now moved out, he will have a larger role in Rockford going forward.
Finally, Korchinski got into his first two NHL games of the season, and much like Commesso, played better in Nashville than against Washington. The 21-year-old top prospect heads back down after averaging 13:59 of ice time, recording an assist. Jumping right into the Hawks roster out of the WHL in 2023-24, warranted as he was drafted seventh overall, Korchinski played in 76 games, notching 15 points, as a rookie. Since then, he has spent more time in the AHL, as Chicago takes their time with the smooth-skating puck-carrier, especially as they’ve worked through tough seasons in recent years. His production as a teenager out of the gate was impressive, but Korchinski did finish the campaign a -39, indicative that seasoning in Rockford was needed.
Now a .500 team in January, out of their darkest days, Korchinski has been unable to re-join the lineup fully just yet, as he has led IceHogs defensemen in scoring, but is still working to put it all together, especially in his own end. After what may have been throwing him into the fire too quickly to start his professional career, Chicago is now trying to be patient with the Saskatchewan native. He may not be the brightest defenseman prospect of the Hawks today, thanks to Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, but Korchinski still should blossom into a true top four blueliner pending further development.
After each filled in admirably, Chicago will go into a four game home stand next week looking to build off their strong play of late and continue to show progress as a group. Even if they come short of the postseason, it seems to be a real step going into 2026-27.
Canucks Place Thatcher Demko On Injured Reserve
More discouraging news has hit the Vancouver Canucks, as they shared this afternoon that Thatcher Demko has been placed on injured reserve, his second such designation this season. The injury-plagued goaltender left last night’s game after the first period, and with fans fearing the worse, after the 5-0 loss Head Coach Adam Foote confirmed to reporters, including The Athletic’s Thomas Drance, that it was indeed a lower-body injury.
Based on the designation, Demko will miss at least the next 10 days, but after constant knee issues over the past few years, as well as a groin ailment earlier this season, it is another tough blow. A turnaround is effectively out of reach for the team, currently last in the league, losers of six in a row, and without a regulation win since December 19. Firmly out of contention, there is no real urgency to get Demko back in the crease, but having just turned 30, the past Vezina finalist and All-Star may be faced with dreaded questions on his long-term career outlook.
As they recalled Nikita Tolopilo under emergency conditions earlier today, Vancouver will move forward in the time being with him alongside Kevin Lankinen, a usually well-regarded backup, who unfortunately has struggled this season, with a 6-11-4 record, and an .883 save percentage, a career-worst mark for the 30-year-old.
Due to their star back stopper’s constant injury struggles, Lankinen played in 51 games last season, his first as a Canuck, a career high. Knowing they were in need of a dependable #2 option, Vancouver locked down the Finn on a five year extension worth $4.5MM per season. Lankinen figures to be a mainstay for the blue and green for years to come, and although the group’s overarching struggles are surely a factor, they will need more from Lankinen given the combination of his contract and Demko’s status.
Demko himself is in for a big raise starting in 2026-27, as he inked a three year extension last July, worth $8.5MM per season. Back then, GM Patrik Allvin figured the group would make noise on the way to a playoff return, on the back of a healthy Demko, but with a group rattled by injuries and Foote’s imprint unable to bring such results, the Canucks are left with more questions than ever.
The hope is that Demko will avoid another long-term absence, already having missed a month so far this campaign. While he could return as soon as January 23 against New Jersey, naturally there’s reason for more concern. Simply shutting down their star in a lost season could become a real option, leaving Lankinen to backstop the group into what could be a long spring.
Canucks Assign Elias N. Pettersson To AHL, Recall Victor Mancini, Nikita Tolopilo
The Vancouncer Canucks shared a number of transactions this afternoon: Defenseman Elias N. Pettersson has been assigned to AHL Abbotsford, while Victor Mancini has been recalled. Additionally, goaltender Nikita Tolopilo has been recalled from Abbotsford under emergency conditions.
Set to return to action tomorrow night in Montreal, the Canucks swap Pettersson for Mancini, the former who skated just 13:58 in a 5-0 loss to Toronto on Saturday, fewest out of Vancouver’s defensemen by a considerable margin. Pettersson has played in 38 of the team’s 44 games this season, in a bottom pairing role, but the 21-year-old is still finding his game at the highest level, and will return to the AHL for more seasoning, where he’s made just one appearance so far in 2025-26.
On the other hand, Mancini brings a right-handed shot to the table, and will earn another look after five games early in the season, where he did not record a point in limited ice time. Since then, Mancini has put up six points in 20 games in the AHL, not jumping out on the page, but the 6’3” rearguard is a pure stay-at-home contributor. If able to enter the lineup over Pierre-Olivier Joseph, eyes will be on the former fifth-round choice of the Rangers to showcase improved mobility and sound decision-making with the puck, if he can become a full-time NHLer in the future.
Another feature of today’s news, Tolopilo, a netminder, has been recalled under emergency conditions. The 25-year-old will likely serve as Kevin Lankinen’s backup tomorrow night, as Thatcher Demko left last night’s game with an apparent lower-body injury.
Tolopilo has played well in four NHL games this season, with a .911 save percentage and two wins, but naturally, the hope will be that Demko will not miss much time, while Tolopilo can return to the Abbotsford Canucks. Despite bringing home the Calder Cup last season, they’ve had a rough season so far, currently second-to-last in the AHL.
With a season starting to get off the rails, Vancouver figures to have several more moves on the horizon leading up to the spring.
Devils Activate Evgenii Dadonov, Johnathan Kovacevic From Injured Reserve
Ahead of their matinee action this afternoon in Winnipeg, the New Jersey Devils announced that forward Evgenii Dadonov and defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic have been activated off injured reserve.
During what has become a tumultuous time in Newark of late, the news comes as not much of a surprise. Yesterday it was revealed that Kovacevic was nearing a return, and nine-million-dollar man Dougie Hamilton would be bumped out of the lineup, which has become a major story. As expected, Kovacevic will form a second pairing with Jonas Siegenthaler, while Hamilton, a 74-point getter in 2022-23, will watch from the press box as the club looks for a real solution for the 32-year-old.
In Kovacevic, New Jersey gets back a steady righty standing at 6’5”. The defender suffered a knee injury in game three of last year’s first round playoff matchup with Carolina, where the Devils ended up being dispatched in five games. Kovacevic underwent successful knee surgery in May, and finally, is set to return today.
Acquired from Montreal for a fourth round pick, where he figured to be a solid bottom pairing option, Kovacevic was a strong fit in New Jersey prior to the injury. In his first campaign as a Devil, the 28-year-old set career highs in games played (81) and ice time, averaging 19:49 per game, making an impact on the penalty kill as a dependable stay-at-home defender capable of clearing the crease with his imposing size.
Kovacevic earned an extension for five years worth $4MM per season, signed last March. Just a few years ago, the idea of him actually replacing Hamilton in the lineup would seem inconceivable, but after faltering play and issues behind the scenes, the Devils opt for more consistency in a similar frame between Kovacevic and Hamilton. The emergence of skilled youngsters Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec has especially narrowed the path forward for Hamilton, even if the veteran was not struggling so much.
Meanwhile, Dadonov has also been absent for a considerable time, last in the lineup in late November. The 36-year-old has not had a smooth campaign so far, injuring his hand in his Devils debut and missing time, then only getting back in for four games before another injury. Inked to a one year deal last summer worth $1MM, the Russian has not recorded a point in five games so far, with limited ice time, 11:04 a night, the fewest he’s seen since returning to the NHL in 2017-18 as a standout.
Thankfully, the versatile scorer will return in a favorable role, expected to slot in alongside Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier on the second line. Due to the various injuries, Dadonov hasn’t yet had a chance to contribute, but with the team’s season unraveling a bit, and his status as a pending UFA who will turn 37 in March, his future as a Devil seems uncertain.
Dealing with difficulties off the ice, New Jersey will finally have a relatively healthy lineup this afternoon as they’ll look to turn the corner against Winnipeg, a club also desperate to get on track after higher hopes to start the season. Today’s game will be telling to see how the Devils’ group responds after their last three games, outscored 16-2, and a former star now out of the mix.
Bruins Sign Jonathan Aspirot To Two-Year Extension
The Boston Bruins have signed defenseman Jonathan Aspirot to a two-year, $1.775MM contract extension. Aspirot made his NHL debut at the start of the season. He has since played in 25 games, locking in the 2025-26 season as his rookie year in the NHL. Aspirot has three points, a plus-15, and 17 penalty minutse through those contests.
Aspirot took the long route to the NHL. He went undrafed after three years in the QMJHL but showed off enough shutdown defense to earn an AHL contract with the Belleville Senators in 2019. Aspirot stuck with the AHL Senators for the next four seasons, routinely rivaling 15-to-20 points and a positive plus-minus while rotating through Belleville’s lineup. He seemed to have his pro legs under him after the 2022-23 season, when he recorded 16 points, a plus-four, and 65 penalty minutes in 43 games.
That performance prompted a move to bigger shoes for the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. Aspirot stepped up as a top-four option for the Wranglers and set career-highs in points (33) and penalty minutes (80) through his first 66 games with the club. He continued to make a mark through last season, when he racked up 29 points and 54 penalty minutes in 65 games in Calgary. Once again, his strong showing pushed Aspirot into a bigger role with a new team, this time on a deal with the Providence Bruins signed last summer. Hopes were high for the 6-foot, 212-pound defenseman and he answered the bell, netting three points and four penalty minutes in his first five games with Providence.
That was enough to earn a call-up to the Bruins – only the second NHL call-up of his career, after a call-up to the Flames in 2024 that resulted in no games played. This time, Aspirot made sure the move would stick. He has appeared in 25 of Boston’s 35 games since being recalled and even earned time on a pairing with star defenseman Charlie McAvoy. Aspirot’s career is taking off at the age of 26. Boston will keep that momentum rolling for the undrafted free agent, locking him into a cost-effective deal through the 2027-28 season.
Blues’ Philip Broberg Leaves Game With Upper-Body Injury
A good day turned sour for the St. Louis Blues and a top defenseman. Philip Broberg was forced out of the team’s Saturday loss to the Vegas Golden Knights after getting checked against the boards by Vegas winger Mark Stone. Broberg was designated with an upper-body injury. The injury occured just 1:35 into the contest and came hours after Broberg put pen-to-paper on a six-year, $48MM contract extension with St. Louis.
Broberg recorded a primary assist on St. Louis’ first goal – scored by Robert Thomas 53 seconds into the game – before exiting. That mark brought the 24-year-old defenseman up to 15 points in 46 games this season, the second-most points on the blue-line behind Justin Faulk (21). Broberg has offered that hint of offense while continuing to command play outside of the offensive zone. Broberg uses his physical strength and an active stick to pinch opponents and control possession for St. Louis. His reliable, two-way status has stuck through his second year with the Blues. He ranks second on the defense in expected-goals-against (2.38) and third in takeaways (12) per MoneyPuck.
Broberg’s full-ice impact has earned him the Blues’ top left-defense spot this season. That could be a tough role to replace if Broberg is knocked out of the lineup. St. Louis’ only other left-shot defenders are Tyler Tucker, frequently a bottom-pair enforcer, and Cam Fowler, an aging veteran. Promoting Fowler to the top pair would reunite a pairing with Colton Parayko that worked incredibly well for the Blues last season.
St. Louis could mend the hole at the bottom of their lineup by icing extra defenseman Matthew Kessel on his off-hand, or by recalling first-round pick Theo Lindstein or veteran defender Calle Rosen from the AHL. Rosen leads the Springfield Thunderbirds’ defense in scoring with 15 points in 25 games. Lindsteim has eight points in 34 games. Neither has played in the NHL this season – but could end up the beneficiaries of another opening in the St. Louis lineup.