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Leafs’ Brandon Carlo Likely To Undergo Surgery, Out Indefinitely

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The Maple Leafs will be without defenseman Brandon Carlo for a good chunk of the season. After telling reporters yesterday that Carlo had a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury and was meeting a specialist, head coach Craig Berube said today that the righty will need surgery and will be out “an extended period of time” (via David Alter of The Hockey News).

Carlo has already missed seven games due to the injury he sustained against the Kings on Nov. 13. It’s still unclear what play caused it; he didn’t appear to miss a shift. It wouldn’t be shocking if Carlo had been playing through something and aggravated it. The 6’5″ shutdown rearguard has been noticeably less involved in the play than normal this season, averaging a career-low 0.67 hits per game. That’s a 56% decrease from his career average of 1.51.

Physicality and defensive smarts are where Carlo makes his money, and they’re why the Maple Leafs parted ways with a steep package – including Fraser Minten and this year’s first-round pick – to acquire him from the Bruins at last season’s trade deadline. Carlo’s contract situation was a significant factor as to why Toronto paid a premium. Not only was he not a rental – he remains under contract through 2026-27 – but Boston retained 15% of his cap hit to bring it down to $3.485MM for the Leafs. That’s a great price tag for someone Toronto imagined would be consistently deployed as a top-four defender as an anchor for Morgan Rielly.

Unfortunately, the Reilly-Carlo experiment has largely fallen flat. The duo was outscored 10-9 in last year’s postseason. This year, they’re allowing 3.11 expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, the most of any Toronto defensive pair. Carlo’s -4.2% relative Corsi share is the third-worst figure of his career. And while he’s not known or relied upon for offense, his two assists through 18 games are also a slightly lower pace than what he usually posts.

With another year left on his contract at an already-reduced cap hit, the struggling Maple Leafs might have looked to flip Carlo as they look to retool their depth on the fly, particularly in the name of improving their defensive structure. Only the Sharks have allowed more shots per game this season than Toronto’s 31.4. With fellow top-four righty Chris Tanev also on the shelf as he rehabs a suspected concussion, keeping him out indefinitely, their depth has been tested.

If the Leafs’ focus is still on getting significantly ahead of the .500 mark for the first time this season and putting themselves back in the playoff conversation, finding a higher-profile stopgap on the right side than recent waiver claim Troy Stecher needs to be a priority – especially if Carlo’s return timeline is now months, not weeks.

Blackhawks Activate, Reassign Laurent Brossoit

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Laurent Brossoit is finally getting back into game action. The Blackhawks announced they’ve activated the veteran netminder from the injured non-roster list and assigned him to AHL Rockford for a conditioning stint, bypassing waivers for the time being. Brossoit can play in Rockford for up to two weeks until Chicago must keep him on their active roster or place him on waivers for a permanent AHL assignment. Since the Hawks have an open roster spot, they don’t need to make a corresponding transaction.

Rockford’s next game is on Friday. If he plays, that would mark 583 days since his last appearance, when he entered in relief of Connor Hellebuyck for the Jets in Game 4 of their first-round loss to the Avalanche on April 28, 2024. Brossoit, an unrestricted free agent the following summer, signed a two-year, $6.6MM contract with the Blackhawks but needed surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee in August.

That kicked off a slate of three surgeries that have conspired to keep the 32-year-old out of action ever since signing the largest deal of his career. Brossoit was initially expected to only miss the first few weeks of the 2024-25 campaign, but was downgraded to out indefinitely in November and underwent a second cleanup procedure on his knee a few weeks later. That was expected to get him back in action in mid-January, but his recovery again didn’t go as planned, and he was shut down for the season in March. At the beginning of this year’s training camp, general manager Kyle Davidson said Brossoit had another offseason surgery – this time on his hip – and would remain out indefinitely.

That had some wondering, rightfully so, if 2025-26 would be another entirely lost season for Brossoit, potentially even marking the end of his career. That talk was quieted a couple of weeks ago when Brossoit was spotted on the ice at Blackhawks practice for the first time. With several skates under his belt and no further setbacks, he’ll get his feet wet in Rockford.

The Blackhawks will undoubtedly take advantage of the full two weeks afforded to them to keep Brossoit on his conditioning stint. With Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom now firmly entrenched as the team’s NHL goaltending duo, it’s clear they don’t plan on keeping him on the active roster once it’s over. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend that the Hawks have given Brossoit permission to seek a trade. If they can’t land a deal by Dec. 16, he’ll likely end up on waivers and will stay in Rockford if he clears.

There should be legitimate intrigue in Brossoit, particularly if the Blackhawks retain a portion of his $3.3MM cap hit. The career backup had put up spectacular numbers in two straight seasons, albeit in small samples, before reaching the open market. The hope was that Brossoit could establish himself in Chicago as a legitimate tandem option who could sniff 30-35 starts. That obviously didn’t go to plan, but he still logged a 22-5-5 record, .927 SV%, 2.05 GAA, and three shutouts in 34 appearances for the Golden Knights and Jets across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, good for 19.0 goals saved above expected (per MoneyPuck).

If Brossoit doesn’t get traded or claimed on waivers and ends up remaining a Blackhawk, Chicago will be able to knock $1.15MM off his cap hit by burying him in the minors. That will reduce his impact to $2.15MM for the rest of the season until he comes off their books next summer. For a Blackhawks team that’s already accumulated over $20.6MM in cap space this season, though, that’s not much of a concern.

Blues, Kings Swap Nikita Alexandrov, Akil Thomas

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The St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings have swapped higher-level AHL forward depth. According to an announcement from the Blues, St. Louis has traded Nikita Alexandrov to the Kings for Akil Thomas.

Neither player made their respective teams’ NHL rosters out of training camp, and have exclusively played in the AHL this season. However, they are both former second-round selections from the late 2010s and have garnered NHL experience in the past.

Alexandrov, 25, was drafted with the 62nd overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft from QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders. He’s spent the last five years in the North American professional circuit, all within the Blues organization.

He has yet to break out in any meaningful way, and injuries have impacted his availability over the last few years. After scoring 21 goals and 49 points in 48 games for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds last year, he enjoys a career line of 61 goals and 143 points in 188 AHL contests with a +21 rating, good for a 0.76 point-per-game average. In the NHL with St. Louis, he’s registered a relatively disappointing three goals and nine points in 51 games.

Meanwhile, Thomas, who was drafted with the 51st overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, spent all last season on the Kings’ roster, albeit as an extra forward. He’s spent the previous six years as a consistent secondary scorer for the AHL’s Ontario Reign, tallying 50 goals and 106 points in 176 games. He has had fairly similar production to Alexandrov at the NHL level, scoring four goals and seven points in 32 games.

Depending on what St. Louis and Los Angeles do with their respective new players, it appears to be a win for the Reign at face value. Alexandrov has scored three goals and 14 points through his first 18 contests this season, and the Reign sit middle-of-the-pack in the AHL in terms of GF/G. Springfield, on the other hand, has had a dismal start to the 2025-26 campaign, sitting 29th in the league with a 5-10-2-2 record.

Injury Notes: Foerster, Carlo, Nichushkin

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The Philadelphia Flyers announced mid game that forward Tyson Foerster will not return after sustaining an upper-body injury. The winger unloaded on a one-timer and immediately went down in a non-contact play, appearing to favor his shoulder. Although Foerster was on injured reserve earlier this season, it was a lower-body injury with no apparent correlation. 

Foerster, 23, was a great find at 23rd overall by the Flyers in 2020. The 6’2” winger has scored nine goals in 20 games, on track to take another step forward after last year’s 25 goal, 18 assist campaign where he appeared in 81 games. Especially as Philadelphia has found their stride of late, firmly in the Wild Card mix as of today, the hope will be that the top line forward will not be out for long. 

Elsewhere across the league:

  • Toronto Head Coach Craig Berube told David Alter of The Hockey News that defenseman Brandon Carlo had a setback in his recovery, and will return home to see a specialist. Placed on IR two weeks ago, the 29-year-old has been dealing with a lower-body injury. As he practiced in recent days, it appeared Carlo could be gearing up for a return tomorrow at Florida, before the setback. The towering blueliner’s struggles to acclimate to the Leafs have been well discussed, especially considering the steep package GM Brad Treliving gave up. Troy Stecher, claimed off waivers, has been a steady presence to alleviate pressure on Philippe Myers in Carlo’s absence, but if the Leafs are to turn their season around, Carlo must find his game when healthy.
  • Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar told Meghan Angley of Guerilla Sports that forward Valeri Nichushkin is a “possibility” for tomorrow, as Colorado hosts Vancouver. The often injured 30-year-old went down with a lower-body ailment against the Ducks on November 12th and was listed as week-to-week. When ready, Nichushkin will likely jump right back into a top-six role where he had 12 points in 17 games before going down. In his absence, Ross Colton has filled in adequately and the team has not missed a beat, currently atop the league with just one regulation loss, a sign of their depth after a wildly successful roster shakeup. 

Pacific Notes: Sherwood, Strome

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On an episode of Sens 1-on-1 last Thursday, Nick Kypreos discussed Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood, noting that the late-bloomer is looking for $5 million or more per season, on a six year deal. Canucks reporter Rick Dhaliwal also speculated on Sherwood today on the Donnie & Dhali show, saying that Boston and Minnesota are two teams which are in on the pending free agent as a trade target. 

With a free agent market which has largely evaporated even before January, Sherwood would be wise to play the long game for a major pay raise. Fully aware of this, and with a team sputtering of late, Vancouver may take advantage of Sherwood’s emergence as well, and get a substantial trade package for a player likely to hit the open market either way. 

Sherwood, 30, was undrafted out of Miami (OH) but soon earned his way into a fourth line role with the Ducks in 2018-19. He then had to wait five years to become a full time NHLer again, doing so with Nashville, helping the team surpass expectations. Hitting the market, the winger inked a two year deal worth $1.5MM per season with the Canucks in 2024. He set career highs in games, goals, and assists last season, even breaking the single-season all-time hits record. With 12 goals in 26 games so far, Sherwood has maintained such levels, and the feisty winger may be set on hitting the market and cashing in after a long uphill battle to this point. 

With Evander Kane and Derek Forbort’s contracts set to come off the books, in theory Vancouver could make an extension work, but considering their state as a franchise, they may opt to receive a substantial trade package for the 30-year-old. Both Minnesota and Boston own their first-round picks this season, and it’s not hard to imagine Sherwood fetching one, if he can maintain such performance. 

Elsewhere in the division:

  • Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune shared that veteran Ryan Strome would be a healthy scratch tonight against St. Louis, as young defenseman Ian Moore re-entered the lineup, leaving Anaheim in a 11-forward, 7-defensemen configuration. Strome was injured before the season, but has offered on-track production with three points in nine games since, and solid underlying numbers as a two-way center. The veteran has been remarkably consistent with 41 points exactly in his last three seasons, but such is a bit underwhelming for a $5MM cap hit set to expire in 2027. Strome’s role has simply diminished on a dynamic young team, but it is safe to assume he’s set in Anaheim for now and will return to the lineup soon. 

Rangers Recall Brennan Othmann

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The New York Rangers announced this evening that forward Brennan Othmann has been recalled from AHL Hartford. With Adam Fox landing on long term injured reserve yesterday, the club had an open spot, and no corresponding move was needed. However, Adam Edstrom left practice today and is thought to be day-to-day with a lower body injury, per Colin Stephenson of Newsday Sports, so Othmann offers insurance if Edstrom cannot go tomorrow versus Dallas. 

Othmann, drafted 16th overall in 2021 by New York, has been in Hartford since a one game stint with the big club in late October. Having been unable to reach expectations thus far, his name has floated around in rumors already this season. Although the Ontario native will turn just 23 in January, his AHL performance has not inspired much confidence of late. Othmann put up an impressive 49 points in 67 games in his first professional season, but after being hampered by injury in 2024-25, he has just one goal, seven points in 15 AHL games, a step below expectations at this point. At the NHL level, Othmann has not scored in 26 games to-date, posting two assists. 

As they needed a forward, Othmann was an easy choice for GM Chris Drury, as he remains waiver exempt. However, a restricted free agent at season’s end, the former first-round top prospect will need to show something to warrant a future in New York, either in a small sample size as a bottom-sixer in the NHL, or putting it all together in the AHL and returning to a high scoring pace. 

With the Rangers depleted from injuries, and likely in need of a shake up regardless, Othmann’s name is one to watch as trade season heats up. In the meantime, the winger will look to prove his organization right for their patience with his development so far, and step up in a time when the team is in need of a spark, if called upon tomorrow night. 

USA Hockey Announces Preliminary Roster For World Juniors

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USA Hockey has announced its 28-player preliminary roster for the upcoming World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They only need to make three cuts by the time final rosters are due Dec. 24, two days before round-robin action begins. They’ll do so over the course of their selection camp, which they’ll hold a few hours north of the Twin Cities in Duluth. That will begin on Dec. 15 and run for a week, including two pre-tournament friendlies against Finland and Germany. The initial squad is as follows:

F Kamil Bednarik (Islanders, 2024, 2-61)
F Trevor Connelly (Golden Knights, 2024, 1-19)
F Cole Eiserman (Islanders, 2024, 1-20)
F James Hagens (Bruins, 2025, 1-7)
F Will Horcoff (Penguins, 2025, 1-24)
F Jacob Kvasnicka (Islanders, 2025, 7-202)
F Ryker Lee (Predators, 2025, 1-26)
F Cole McKinney (Sharks, 2025, 2-53)
F Brendan McMorrow (Kings, 2025, 7-196)
F L.J. Mooney (Canadiens, 2025, 4-113)
F Max Plante (Red Wings, 2024, 2-47)
F A.J. Spellacy (Blackhawks, 2024, 3-72)
F Teddy Stiga (Predators, 2024, 2-55)
F Shane Vansaghi (Flyers, 2025, 2-48)
F Brodie Ziemer (Sabres, 2024, 3-71)

D Asher Barnett (Oilers, 2025, 5-131)
D Henry Brzustewicz (Kings, 2025, 1-31)
D E.J. Emery (Rangers, 2024, 2024, 1-30)
D Blake Fiddler (Kraken, 2025, 2-36)
D Logan Hensler (Senators, 2025, 1-23)
D Cole Hutson (Capitals, 2024, 2-43)
D Adam Kleber (Sabres, 2024, 2-42)
D Luke Osburn (Sabres, 2024, 4-108)
D Chase Reid (2026 draft-eligible)
D Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen (undrafted in 2025)

G Caleb Heil (Lightning, 2025, 7-193)
G Nick Kempf (Capitals, 2024, 4-114)
G A.J. Reyelts (undrafted in 2024, 2025)

The contingent will have University of Minnesota bench boss Bob Motzko as its head coach as they aim for their third straight gold medal. It’s a rather star-studded contingent – particularly up front, where five of the 15 forwards selected were first-round picks.

Perhaps the most dynamic player among the group is neither a forward nor a first-round pick. Hutson, much like his older brother Lane Hutson, has quickly outpaced his second-round billing and will be one of the league’s most anticipated prospects when he makes his arrival with Washington, presumably next spring. The 5’11” lefty was instrumental in the United States’ win at this tournament last year, leading the circuit with 11 points in seven games. After taking home NCAA top rookie honors in 2024-25, he’s rattled off seven goals and 18 points through his first 15 games at Boston University.

Alongside Hutson, seven others – Connelly, Eiserman, Hagens, Hensler, Kleber, Plante, Stiga, and Ziemer – are returning from last year’s squad.

While it’s an established skater group, it’s the most questionable group of goaltenders they’ve brought to the event since 2022. Kempf, a sophomore at Notre Dame who’s sporting a .902 SV% and 4-9-1 record in 14 games this year, is the likely No. 1. Reyelts, also 19 years old, has no previous national team experience and has a .901 SV% in 19 games for WHL Penticton this season. Heil previously suited up for the U.S. at the U18 World Juniors but has struggled with a .891 SV% in 16 games this season for USHL Madison.

Panthers Recall Jack Studnicka

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The Panthers announced Monday they’ve recalled Jack Studnicka from AHL Charlotte. The center gives them an extra forward for the time being; they’ve been operating with an open roster spot for a while, despite Eetu Luostarinen being unavailable but still on the active roster.

Studnicka signed a two-way deal with Florida at the beginning of last offseason’s free agent signing period. Since the Bruins selected Studnicka in the second round of the 2017 draft, he’s encroached on journeyman status. After parts of four pro seasons in the Bruins system, he was traded to the Canucks early in 2022. The Sharks traded for him the following year, but non-tendered him at the end of 2023-24. He caught on with the Kings on a two-way deal for last season but never saw a call-up after clearing waivers and heading to the minors at the beginning of the year.

If Studnicka plays on this recall, it would be his first NHL action since April 2024. In 107 career appearances with Boston, Vancouver, and San Jose, he has a 6-10–16 scoring line, a -30 rating, and a 4.4% shooting percentage while averaging 11:29 of ice time per game.

At one point, Studnicka was one of Boston’s most intriguing prospects. He was an excellent offensive producer over his final two seasons in junior hockey after being drafted. In 126 OHL games across the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he racked up 155 points and was ranked as the organization’s No. 1 prospect by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman heading into his first pro season in 2019-20. He kept up the momentum with 49 points in 60 games for AHL Providence, earning an All-Rookie Team nod, but never caught on to a full-time NHL role and hasn’t beaten that scoring line in the minors since, either. He did get close last year with the Ontario Reign in the Kings’ system, notching 16 goals and 45 points in 72 appearances.

An injury has limited Studnicka to eight appearances with Charlotte this season. He only just got back into the lineup after Thanksgiving, following a month-long absence. With a goal and six points, though, the Panthers evidently like what they see and will give him a crack at depth minutes in a shattered forward group missing Luostarinen, Aleksander Barkov, Jonah Gadjovich, Tomas Nosek, Cole Schwindt, and Matthew Tkachuk.

Sabres Activate Josh Norris From Injured Reserve

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4:05 p.m.: The Sabres have activated Norris. Defenseman Zach Metsa is headed down to AHL Rochester in the corresponding move, per Heather Engel of NHL.com. Metsa was recalled from Rochester on Nov. 17 to serve as an extra defenseman with Michael Kesselring on injured reserve, but he’s been a healthy scratch in seven straight and hasn’t played an NHL game since a previous recall in October. The 27-year-old is without a point in four appearances this season but has a +3 rating in his first taste of the big leagues.

11:01 a.m.: Sabres center Joshua Norris will make his return to the lineup Monday against the Jets, head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed to reporters (including Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News). The team will need to open a roster spot to activate him from injured reserve.

The injury-plagued Norris is wrapping up yet another multi-week absence. The 26-year-old sustained an upper-body injury while taking a faceoff late in Buffalo’s season opener and has spent nearly two months on the shelf as a result. He also suffered a season-ending mid-body injury last year, just a week after the Sabres acquired him from the Senators in the Dylan Cozens swap. Dating back to his pickup, he’s only played in four of 46 possible games for Buffalo.

He’ll be getting his feet wet in a significant role, centering the Sabres’ top line between Zach Benson and Tage Thompson. That’s where the Sabres planned to use him to start the year, but Benson was unavailable for the first three games of the season after taking a puck to the face in practice. Tonight marks the season debut for that line as a result.

If Norris plays every game the rest of the way for a total of 58 appearances, that would still mark one of the most durable seasons he’s had in his NHL career. He’s only ever topped the 60-game mark once during his 35-goal breakout with Ottawa back in 2021-22. Since then, shoulder issues have decimated his availability. He only managed eight appearances in 2022-23 and played 50-some games for the Sens in each of the following two seasons before they cut bait and sent him to Buffalo for Cozens.

When healthy, though, Norris has displayed the upside the Sharks saw in him when they selected him No. 19 overall in the 2019 draft. He’s spent nearly all of his time in the league as a top-six piece and has averaged 17:49 of ice time per game across 240 career appearances. Per 82 games, he scores at a 31-goal, 54-point pace. If he can finally stay healthy for an extended stretch, he’d fill a significant hole Buffalo has down the middle and could go a long way toward elevating the Sabres’ offense out of the bottom half of the league.

Ducks Recall Vyacheslav Buteyets

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The Ducks announced they’ve recalled goaltender Vyacheslav Buteyets from AHL San Diego. Fellow netminder Lukáš Dostál was placed on injured reserve in the corresponding move.

Anaheim is now without both of its regular netminders. Dostál is facing a two-to-three-week absence because of an upper-body injury, while No. 2 option Petr Mrázek left Sunday’s start against the Blackhawks in the third period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He’s been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Blues, meaning Buteyets will dress for an NHL regular-season game for the first time tonight as the backup to veteran third-stringer Ville Husso.

Buteyets, 23, had started the season with ECHL Tulsa but was promoted to San Diego in mid-November after a strong start. He made seven appearances for Tulsa and posted a pristine .924 SV% with a 2.81 GAA and a 4-3-0 record. Life hasn’t been as smooth since the promotion, though. With Husso up with the Ducks, Buteyets has started San Diego’s last three games – all in a six-day span – and recorded a 3.72 GAA and .878 SV% with a 1-2-0 record.

While he’s shown upside in the lower minors, the NHL isn’t where the Ducks want Buteyets at this stage in his development. The 6’4″ Russian was a sixth-round pick in 2022 and is now in his second season in North America after signing a two-year entry-level deal in 2024. He was coming off a pair of strong showings with Chelmet Chelyabinsk of the VHL, Russia’s second-tier pro league, and recorded a .905 SV% in 36 appearances for Tulsa last year.

Anaheim doesn’t have any back-to-backs on its schedule until Dec. 15 and 16. Even if Mrázek’s absence is a lengthy one, Dostál’s return timeline puts him back in the lineup around then. If he’s available even for the second of those two games, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Ducks ride Husso for a series of seven consecutive starts leading into that back-to-back while Buteyets serves solely as yet another injury insurance option.

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