Josh Wegman

Olli Jokinen: It would be 'a dream' to coach in NHL one day

The Carolina Hurricanes announced Friday they've activated goaltender Frederik Andersen off injured reserve.Andersen had been out since Oct. 26. He was initially labeled week-to-week with a lower-body injury before undergoing knee surgery in November.However, Andersen's return to game action will likely be forced to wait, as Pyotr Kochetkov projects to start Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, according to the North State Journal's Cory Lavolette. Dustin Tokarski was assigned to the AHL in a corresponding move.Carolina is off for the weekend before back-to-back road games Monday and Tuesday in Chicago and Dallas, respectively. Andersen was locked in to start the season, going 3-1-0 with a .941 save percentage before his injury. He owns a .919 mark in 106 appearances since joining the Hurricanes as a free agent in 2021. The 35-year-old is in the final year of his contract with a $3.5-million cap hit.He and Kochetkov project to share the crease moving forward, assuming both can stay healthy. Kochetkov, 25, owns a .901 save percentage in 28 games as the club's primary starter this season.

New Jersey Devils defense prospect Simon Nemec is getting impatient with his extended time in the AHL.

The Edmonton Oilers are signing free-agent defenseman John Klingberg, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.Klingberg hasn't played since November 2023 when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He underwent season-ending hip resurfacing surgery a month later.More to come.

The Edmonton Oilers announced Friday they've signed free-agent defenseman John Klingberg to a one-year contract.

Details have emerged of the nixed trade that nearly sent Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers.Rangers center Filip Chytil, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and some future assets - including a first-round pick - could've been headed to Vancouver had the trade gone through, sources told The Athletic. Disagreement on the protection structure of the first-round pick reportedly proved to be a key hurdle in negotiations.The Canucks reportedly nearly sat Miller on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers due to progressing trade discussions, but the deal fell through and the 31-year-old ultimately dressed. He collected two assists in Vancouver's 3-2 win.Chytil, 25, has recorded 10 goals and eight assists in 37 games this season, primarily serving as New York's third-line center. He set career highs with 22 goals and 45 points in 2022-23. The 25-year-old is signed for two additional seasons with a $4.438-million cap hit.Lindgren, 26, has been a staple on New York's top defense pair with Adam Fox for five campaigns. While once a defensive stalwart, his underlying numbers have cratered the last couple of seasons: His defensive goals above replacement is minus-2.7 since the start of 2023-24, per Evolving-Hockey. Lindgren is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $4.5-million cap hit.The Canucks have reportedly explored the trade market for Miller and Elias Pettersson amidst an apparent rift between the two star centers. Pettersson has apparently told the team that he'd like to stay, and Vancouver's preference is to keep him.Miller is signed through 2029-30 with an $8-million cap hit and a full no-movement clause. His agent said Miller hasn't requested a trade, but the Canucks have reportedly permitted some teams to speak with him.Vancouver reportedly rejected a trade offer from New York earlier this campaign that would've seen Miller and Mika Zibanejad swap teams.Miller has recorded eight goals and 23 assists in 35 games this season. He averaged 95 points per year over the last three campaigns, peaking at 103 points in 2023-24.The Rangers drafted Miller 15th overall in 2011 and he spent parts of six seasons in the Big Apple. He also spent parts of two campaigns with the Tampa Bay Lightning before he was traded to Vancouver, where he broke out as one of the game's top forwards.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and defenseman Ivan Provorov have mutual interest in a contract extension, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Provorov is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $4.725 million. The Los Angeles Kings are retaining an additional $2.025 million on his deal as part of a 2023 three-way trade that sent him from the Philadelphia Flyers to Columbus.The 28-year-old has recorded three goals and 16 assists in 47 games this season while averaging 23:25 per contest - second only to Zach Werenski on the Blue Jackets.Provorov figures to be in high demand on the trade market if the two sides can't agree on an extension and the Blue Jackets opt to sell. The club sits a point out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference's jumbled wild-card race.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom departed Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins after Justin Brazeau crashed into his crease early in the second period.Markstrom appeared to favor his left leg as he gingerly left the ice. Justin Brazeau crashes into Jacob Markstrom who has left the game and needed assistance getting off the ice 🤕 pic.twitter/iAxrZajvOR— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 23, 2025 The 34-year-old has enjoyed a stellar season with a .912 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average in 35 appearances entering Wednesday. The Devils acquired him in an offseason trade with the Calgary Flames to fill a gaping need between the pipes.Veteran backup Jake Allen entered the game in relief of Markstrom and would likely receive the bulk of the playing time in net if the starter is forced to miss additional time. Allen's posted an .897 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average in 14 games this season.

Wednesday was a night to remember for Adam Fantilli.The Columbus Blue Jackets forward scored his first career hat trick in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. The native of Nobleton, Ontario - located about 40 minutes north of Toronto - had over 80 friends and family in attendance."It's so much more special when you get to play in front of that many people you love," Fantilli said postgame before teammate Mathieu Olivier shoved cake in his face. "It's so much more special when you get to play in front of that many people you love."Adam Fantilli joins @ShawnMcKenzieSN after scoring his first career hat trick in front of 70+ friends and family. pic.twitter/YDEcvPhQx9— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 23, 2025 Fantilli's mom emphatically threw her cap on the ice after his third goal of the game. Fantilli's mom was the first to throw a hat on the ice 💙 pic.twitter/Dm2mNEOSWW— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 23, 2025 Fantilli completed the hat trick with an empty-netter that sealed the Blue Jackets' 5-1 rout of the Maple Leafs. THE ADAM FANTILLI !!!!FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK 🧢🧢🧢@FanaticsBook

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom "will miss some time" with an injury suffered Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced postgame.