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Blackhawks Looking To Move On From Philipp Kurashev

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The Chicago Blackhawks will likely be busy before the NHL Trade Deadline, and it appears that they may look to cut ties with forward Philipp Kurashev either at the deadline or by not qualifying him in June (as per Harman Dayal and Chris Johnston of The Athletic). The 25-year-old will be a restricted free agent on July 1st as he finishes a two-year $4.5MM deal and has disappointed this season after posting a career year last season.

Kurashev posted 18 goals and 36 assists last year in 75 games while playing predominantly with Connor Bedard but has struggled this season with just four goals and three assists in 32 games. He has been a healthy scratch in 12 of Chicago’s previous 16 games and his defensive warts have been magnified by his lack of offensive success.

The shortcomings in Kurashev’s defensive game were present last season, as evidenced by his -44 plus/minus. However, those shortcomings were often glossed over due to his offensive success. This year has been a very different story as his poor defensive play has been a glaring issue anytime he has been on the ice. Kurashev and his teammates have been dominated, particularly at even strength where he has posted a CF% of 41.8%.

If Chicago opts to move on from Kurashev, a team may take a flier on him for the rest of the season, given his numbers from a year ago. What the return would be remains to be seen, but if Chicago does plan to not qualify him, they likely won’t be seeking a big return.

Flyers Not Actively Shopping Rasmus Ristolainen, Still Receiving Calls

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The Philadelphia Flyers are not actively shopping defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, however, that hasn’t stopped teams from calling Flyers general manager Daniel Briere (as per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia). Briere has praised the 30-year-old’s work saying that he’s been good for Philadelphia, and they are in no rush to move him.

Ristolainen has never been an analytics darling and has battled injuries in the past, however, his overall play has improved as of late leading to speculation that Philadelphia would try to cash out while his value is high. The 2013 eighth-overall pick has some term remaining on his contract (two years at $5.1MM) and would not be a rental for any team that acquires him.

Right-shot defensemen are always in demand, and Ristolainen has good size and decent skating ability, even if there are obvious shortcomings to his game. He’s certainly been guilty in the past of defensive lapses and overplaying the puck, but he has sacrificed his offensive numbers in favor of playing a more simplified game the past few seasons. Despite the change in Ristolainen’s numbers, his strengths and weaknesses haven’t changed over the years. He can hit, skate and shoot but is abysmal at retrieving the puck in the defensive zone and struggles when trying to move the puck out of his zone. Any change of environment likely won’t change what he is, meaning that any acquiring team will have to be conscious of Ristolainen’s limitations.

In 47 games this season, the Turku, Finland native has posted a single goal and 11 assists while averaging 20:35 of ice time per game. He has also registered 77 hits, 74 blocked shots and a 0 plus/minus.

Morning Notes: Klingberg, Tanev, Mittelstadt

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Nick Barden of The Hockey News is reporting that free agent defenseman John Klingberg is close to deciding on which team he will sign with for the remainder of the season. Klingberg hasn’t played an NHL game since November 2023 and is attempting to come back after having hip resurfacing surgery. He is hoping to latch on with a contender for the rest of this season. His decision is expected in the next 2-3 days, and Klingberg’s former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are reportedly still in the mix to sign the 32-year-old, as are a few other teams.

It was just a few years ago that Klingberg was considered a top-pairing offensive defenseman, however, those days are over, but if he is healthy Klingberg could certainly give a boost to a playoff team without costing an asset other than cap space. Through 633 NHL games, Klingberg has racked up 81 goals and 331 assists while playing with four different teams.

In other morning notes:

  • The Seattle Kraken announced last night that forward Brandon Tanev would miss their game with an apparent illness. Tye Kartye took Tanev’s spot in the lineup Thursday against Winnipeg and played just 7:12. The 33-year-old Tanev last dressed on Tuesday against Pittsburgh and played 13:14 in that game. The Kraken are back in action tomorrow night against Los Angeles and it seems likely they will have an update on Tanev before the puck drop. The Toronto, Ontario native has eight goals and seven assists in 44 games this season.
  • Colorado Avalanche forward Casey Mittelstadt has gone through a miserable slump this season and has now found himself demoted from the second-line center role and could find himself on the trade block soon (as per Avalanche reporter Adrian Deter). Mikko Rantanen took his spot in last night’s game against Edmonton, with Mittelstadt skating just 14:54 and playing on the third line. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has reportedly become unhappy with Mittelstadt’s play, after the 26-year-old looked like a true second-line center to start the season, posting 13 points in his first ten games. However, since that hot start, Mittelstadt has just 13 points in his last 36 games.

Devils’ Simon Nemec Frustrated To Be In The AHL

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New Jersey Devils top prospect, Simon Nemec, made some comments earlier this week when discussing his future with the Devils and his current status in the AHL (as per Tomáš Prokop of Dennik Sports). The defenseman stated that he was not happy with his current position in the AHL and voiced his displeasure, saying that he feels he has proven that he belongs in the NHL. He also added that it is too early to request a trade but at some point, the situation would need to be addressed.

The 2022 second-overall pick is in his third professional season, most of which he has spent with the Utica Comets of the AHL. However, last season the 20-year-old did dress in 60 NHL games with New Jersey and was effective, tallying three goals and 16 assists and garnering some Calder Trophy consideration for top rookie.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now reached out to the Devils organization to see if they were aware of any frustrations with Nemec and said they weren’t aware of that but knew that he was disappointed to be playing outside the NHL.

Nemec did mention in his interview that he felt he was moving on from one of the toughest times he’s had in hockey, as he dealt with an upper-body injury earlier this season that he suffered at the 2026 Olympic qualifiers. Nemec was able to make the team out of training camp but had a very slow start in the NHL, posting just a single assist in nine games before he was demoted to Utica.

He’s been good in the AHL, posting 16 points in 23 games. However, the tricky part for Nemec is that the Devils’ defense is deep, and they are playing some great hockey this season, which adds to the challenge of getting back to the NHL.

Devils Looking To Add A Center

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Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic sat down with New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald to discuss what the team is looking to do before the NHL Trade Deadline. Fitzgerald mentioned that he has an open mind at this point, but that the pro scouting department has identified the center position as an area of need. The news isn’t all that surprising, given that the Devils were linked to Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans just a week ago.

Fitzgerald has been looking at potential trade options and has reportedly already started calling teams to see who might be available. Centers are always in demand, and as Fitzgerald points out in the interview, you can never have enough of them. The Devils could certainly use some depth scoring in their forward group as it remains one of their few weaknesses, and if they can’t acquire a center, they may need to settle for a winger.

LeBrun points out that possible targets include Ryan O’Reilly, Yanni Gourde, and Scott Laughton. Gourde would be a rental as his contract expires at the end of the season, while O’Reilly has two years remaining on his deal at a cap hit of $4.5MM, and Laughton has one year left on his deal. Fitzgerald said he was open to acquiring either a rental or a player with term and would look at both options in his hunt for a center.

The Devils have made many changes over the last year, addressing their goaltending and defense last summer while tinkering with other parts of their roster. They are certainly one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference and could very well put themselves over the top in the next few weeks if they can address their depth scoring and add the center they desire.

Multiple Teams Calling The Blackhawks About Seth Jones

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Teams are reportedly calling the Chicago Blackhawks to check on the availability of veteran defenseman Seth Jones (as per TSN’s Darren Dreger). Dreger revealed the information on today’s segment of Insider Trading and noted that the Blackhawks aren’t proactively shopping the 30-year-old.

Facilitating a trade of that magnitude would not be easy given that Jones carries a $9.5MM cap hit for an additional four seasons after this one. Jones also carries a full no-movement clause as part of his contract, meaning that he would have full control of where he goes which would further complicate an already difficult move.

Chicago’s trade to acquire Jones was a bit of a headscratcher when it was made back in July 2021. The Blackhawks were mired in mediocrity at the time and gave up a package that included defenseman Adam Boqvist, the 12th and 44th overall picks in 2021, and a 2022 first-round pick that eventually turned into the sixth overall pick. Chicago then handed Jones an ill-advised eight-year, $76MM contract extension right before setting out on a full rebuild.

Jones’s offensive numbers have been okay since joining the Blackhawks, as he has posted 28 goals and 106 assists in 245 games. However, his defensive work has left a lot to be desired as he’s posted a -103 plus/minus rating in four seasons, which is among the worst in the NHL during that time. Jones’s net clearing ability and rush defense continue to be a major issue that hasn’t improved over time, with no better example than in a 5-2 loss to Calgary earlier this week.

Jones isn’t likely to be traded given all the hurdles that would need to be cleared to make a move, but right-handed defensemen are always at a premium and Jones eats up a ton of ice time, having averaged 25:19 per game since he joined the Blackhawks (third in NHL behind Drew Doughty and Cale Makar). At the end of the day, the decision will be up to Jones as he holds the no-movement clause and can decide his own destination should he want to leave Chicago.

Jets May Not Prioritize Acquiring A Second Line Center

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The Winnipeg Jets may not prioritize a center at the NHL Trade Deadline if team captain Adam Lowry can continue his strong play at the position (as per Darren Dreger of TSN). Winnipeg has needed a second-line pivot for multiple seasons in a row now and was certainly prioritizing it before Lowry slid into the role out of necessity when Vladislav Namestnikov went down with a lower-body injury.

Now, Lowry’s sample size at the position is tiny at this point, having moved up for the previous two games. However, the early returns are terrific as Lowry, Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo trio have been difficult to play against and have been offensive threats anytime they’ve been deployed as a unit. Lowry has a single assist in the two games since the move, but his overall play has benefitted both Ehlers and Iafallo.

It’s hard to envision Lowry becoming an offensive center at the age of 31, but his offensive game has been trending upward over the past few seasons. The St. Louis, Missouri native has enjoyed the two finest offensive seasons in the previous two years and appears poised to shatter his career high of 36 points this season.

It looks like Lowry and company will be allowed to see if they can put a stretch of play together that convinces Jets management to shift their hunt from a second-line center to perhaps the best overall forward that they can acquire. Or perhaps a third-line center to replace Lowry.

Winnipeg is in the conversation for the President’s Trophy and will likely be as aggressive as they were at last year’s Trade Deadline when they brought in center Sean Monahan from Montreal as well as Tyler Toffoli from New Jersey. The Jets have an aging core and with Ehlers contract status, they may only have one shot with a team as good as this one.

Latest On Mason Marchment And Tyler Seguin

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Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment is expected to be out for at least a few more weeks (as per Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports). Marchment needed surgery after he took a puck in the face in a game against the Minnesota Wild on December 27th. The 29-year-old continues to skate in Texas as he looks to return to the lineup, but his timeline will ultimately come down to his breathing as he will need to wear a cage when he comes back.

Marchment needed surgical intervention due to the fractures in his nose and facial area and there was a delay in even having surgery because of the swelling in the area.

Marchment was having a solid season prior to the injury, posting 12 goals and 15 assists in 33 games and was a fixture in the top six. The Stars initially used Evgenii Dadonov in Marchment’s absence but have moved on to Jamie Benn, who has filled in admirably in the top six, posting four goals and an assist in his last six games.

Shapiro also reported that Dallas forward Tyler Seguin could still be another five or six months before he recovers from hip surgery. The 32-year-old had surgery a little over a month ago to repair a left-side femoral acetabular impingement as well as the hip labrum. Seguin had tried to manage the injury before surgery and was even playing some of the best hockey of his career to start the season. But the wear and tear eventually made the injury unbearable, which forced Seguin to shut down and have surgery. Seguin had nine goals and 11 assists in 19 games, as well as a plus-14 rating.

Penguins Expected To Be Sellers At Trade Deadline

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Josh Yohe of The Athletic believes that the Pittsburgh Penguins will be sellers regardless of their position in the standings. Yohe wrote about the unusual position the Penguins find themselves in heading into the second half of the NHL season. Pittsburgh has fought its way back into the Wild Card conversation in the Eastern Conference, and despite being largely made up of veteran players, general manager Kyle Dubas has his eye on the future and intends to sell.

Yohe says that his league sources predict the Penguins will make multiple moves to jettison veterans and that “no one is safe” on Pittsburgh, except for the players holding full no-trade protection (Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to name a few). Marcus Pettersson is certainly a name Pittsburgh will move on from given his contractual status, but one name that could also go is forward Rickard Rakell. The 31-year-old is having a nice bounce-back season with 22 goals in 45 games. However, Yohe pours cold water on that notion, saying that Pittsburgh is likely to hold onto him for this year unless they receive a big offer.

While all signs point to Pittsburgh packing it in for the season and missing the playoffs for a third straight year, Yohe believes that the Penguins may see the trading of veteran players as an opportunity to call up some of their prospects who are NHL-ready, most notably goaltender Joel Blomqvist who is arguably the best netminder in the Penguins entire organization and their best chance at steady goaltending. Tristan Jarry has struggled for well over a calendar year and doesn’t look like an NHL goaltender at the moment, and Alex Nedeljkovic has been wildly inconsistent this season after putting together a nice campaign a year ago.

While the Penguins would love to move on from some of their pricier veterans, they will be in tough to do so as Jarry has three years left on his contract after this season with an AAV of $5.375MM, and defenseman Ryan Graves has four years on his deal at $4.5MM. Those deals were two of the first contracts Dubas handed out in Pittsburgh, and they’ve aged like milk. In previous years, those types of contracts would have been untradeable, but with the cap rising next season, it’s not out of the question that the Penguins could move on from those players in the next six months.

Oilers Recall Noah Philp

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The Edmonton Oilers have recalled forward Noah Philp from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield (as per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic). The 26-year-old will be an option for Edmonton heading into tomorrow night’s game against Minnesota and could get an extended look before the NHL Trade Deadline if he is a good fit in their bottom six forward group.

The Oilers dressed just 11 forwards last night and have a real issue with depth at the center position which should give Philp an opportunity to center the fourth line before Edmonton pulls the trigger on a move. Derek Ryan has struggled as of late and has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions. The Oilers likely see their center depth as a concern that they will need to address before March 7th.

Philp nearly made the Oilers out of training camp but was sent to Bakersfield where he has had a strong first half of the season, registering nine goals and eight assists in 28 games. He did get a three-game audition with the Oilers in late October/early November and filled in admirably as Connor McDavid was out of the lineup with an ankle injury. Philp saw limited minutes, averaging just 10:44 of ice time per game during that mini-run. However, he did pick up an assist and appeared to grow more comfortable and assertive as the games went on. It’s hard to make much out of 31 minutes of NHL action, but Philp’s size, speed, and his defensive work certainly make for an intriguing option in Edmonton’s bottom six.

Philp’s story is certainly a feel-good one. The Canmore, Alberta native played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League before spending two seasons with the University of Alberta. He then was able to catch on with Bakersfield as an undrafted free agent in 2022. After a successful first AHL season, Philp went on a hiatus from professional hockey last season before signing a one-year two-way contract with Edmonton last summer.

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