Carolina fell 2-1 to Tampa Bay in a tight preseason tilt, with Cayden Primeau turning in 18 saves on 20 shots. He wore 55 as a family tribute and is building depth after a Montreal trade for a 7th-round pick. The Canes outshot the Bolts 30-20 but couldn’t get the equalizer until late in the third.

Logan Stankoven tied it on a tip of a Kevin Labanc shot, while Labanc himself impressed on a Hurricanes tryout. Alexander Nikishin logged 23:08, two blocks, three hits, and looked comfortable at the point on the power play. Carolina heads to Florida on Wednesday after a Tuesday day off.

NHL announces the 2026 draft dates (June 26-27) with a city decision expected by year-end and a March 6 trade deadline. Barzal is ready to return from last season’s injury, emphasizing mental readiness and a six-year commitment. Kaprizov is labeled a blank-check candidate for Minnesota, while Seth Jarvis reports strong shoulder rehab and may revisit center duties. Gambrell and Labanc sign PTOs with Nashville and Carolina, respectively, and Mason McTavish faces a bridge-deal question for Anaheim. A Rangers front-office reshuffle hints at strategic shifts that could affect moves and depth. Fantasy takeaway: map out draft targets, watch lineup churn, and exploit late-season depth moves.

NHL chatter tightens around how these moves could ripple through rosters and cap space, influencing who lines up as top-scoring wings, center depth, and insurance on center-heavy lines. As teams finalize rosters and кeep assets flexible, fantasy managers should monitor immediate impact players, potential role changes, and how the trade deadline could unlock value for sleepers down the stretch.

Boone Jenner, captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is set to make his season debut after a four-month recovery from shoulder surgery. His return coincides with the upcoming Stadium Series outdoor game against Detroit on March 1. Alongside him, Kirill Marchenko has also been activated from injured reserve following his recovery from jaw surgery. However, the team faces setbacks with Kevin Labanc and Owen Sillinger both sidelined for the season due to injuries. Despite a challenging season and injury woes, Columbus remains in playoff contention, sitting just one point out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 26 games to play.

As of January 1, 2025, three players from the Columbus Blue Jackets are eligible to sign contract extensions after the signing of Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year deal. The remaining candidates are James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Labanc, and Jack Johnson, each presenting unique possibilities for the franchise.

At 35, van Riemsdyk may become a trade target if the Blue Jackets' hopes for a Wild Card spot dim, attracting interest from multiple playoff contenders. Conversely, should the team stay competitive, he might delay extension talks until the offseason.

Labanc, who joined the Jackets after a professional tryout with the New Jersey Devils, has integrated well as a bottom-six forward and may be poised for an extension soon.

On the other hand, 38-year-old Jack Johnson is at the tail end of his career and could be traded regardless of the Blue Jackets' playoff status, potentially to a contending team like the Colorado Avalanche, to enhance his chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

Connor McMichael netted two goals while Alex Ovechkin added his 859th career goal and two assists, leading the Washington Capitals to a commanding 7-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

With this win, the Capitals improved to 8-2 on the season, showcasing a powerful offense that scored five goals in the first period. Ovechkin is now just 36 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record and is on pace to hit 895 goals this season.