NHL Resumes Play
The NHL is gearing up for an exciting return as it resumes play after a nearly month-long hiatus for the Olympics. A busy schedule features eight matchups tonight, while the New York Islanders will have to wait until tomorrow, when they take on the Montreal Canadiens in a lineup of 12 games set for Thursday.
Trade Season Begins
In a move signaling the dawn of the trade season, the Islanders made a notable transaction today, trading Julien Gauthier to the St. Louis Blues’ affiliate, Springfield, in exchange for Matt Luff, who has played with the Islanders’ AHL team, Bridgeport. This trade marks the continuation of a trend between the two organizations, as they have frequently engaged in minor league swaps as the regular season winds down.
Both players bring NHL experience to the table but are primarily seen as assets for their respective AHL teams at this point. The Blues have had a tough season riddled with injuries to their forwards, limiting Luff to just five appearances in the NHL, despite his success as a scorer in the AHL. Conversely, Gauthier, who previously seemed poised for a stable role in the NHL, saw his progress hindered by injuries during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons.
Olympians Return
The Islanders’ Olympians are back in town, with Bo Horvat expected to play despite not participating in the morning skate. In a related note, Patrick Roy, former player and coach, shared insights into the feelings of Horvat and Ondrej Palat after their Olympic disappointment, recalling his own experience with Canada’s loss to the Czech Republic in 1998.
League Updates
In other league-related news, the Pittsburgh Penguins are continuing to adjust their roster dynamics, recently trading Brett Kulak to Colorado in exchange for Samuel Girard and a second-round draft pick. Other teams, including the Vancouver Canucks, are preparing for potential player departures, while Blake Coleman is set to return from injury just in time for the trade deadline. Meanwhile, Aleksandar Barkov remains on track for a playoff return following knee surgery after being sidelined since the beginning of training camp.
