Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back at it for another great Episode 15 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk for the final episode of the year, where we dive into the stories around the world of hockey:
- Leon Draisaitl hits a historic 1,000 NHL point milestone – Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl became the first German-born player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points, doing so while assisting in a win vs. the Penguins. This makes him one of the elite scorers in league history and this came on the powerplay against his former goalie Stuart Skinner in that blockbuster trade for Tristan Jarry.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy activated from IR – The Tampa Bay Lightning activated star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy from injured reserve after missing several games, a major boost for a team that struggled in his absence. He has been a big part of their identity and having him back will be critical for the team, as they go to face the LA Kings. They are 18-12-3 and 3rd in the Atlantic so far this season.
- Quinn Hughes blockbuster trade still reverberating – We know that the NHL had a big weekend when the Minnesota Wild acquired Quinn Hughes from the Canucks in a big deal that could reshape playoff contenders and many believe it was a “win-win” for both teams, but it also signals another juggernaut in the Central, all while Vancouver looks to rebuild. This was showcased when the Vancouver Canucks secured a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers behind Thatcher Demko’s 23-save shutout, and the new guys contributed to the success. But we also saw a goalie swap. What other trades may still happen?
- Macklin Celebrini making history with the Sharks – Celebrini scored a jaw-dropping goal, added an empty-netter and two assists in a 6-3 Sharks win over the Flames — becoming the fastest player in San Jose history to reach 50 points in a season (34 games) and impressing with elite production. At just 19, Celebrini is among the youngest to hit 100 career points in NHL history and drawing praise from legends like Sidney Crosby for his drive and maturity. Will he make Team Canada, our hunch is that he will, and we will know as the rosters will be revealed soon enough.
- Darcy Kuemper Injury – It sounds like Darcy Keumper of the L.A. Kings has been placed on injured reserve after a collision resulted in an upper-body injury; he’ll miss at least a week. body injury from a collision with Mikko Rantanen during a game against the Dallas Stars. He left that game in the first period and did not return. We wish him a speedy recovery.
- The Rangers Woes – Igor Shesterkin recently made headlines for an emotional stick-smashing reaction after a tough loss, illustrating frustrations as his team struggles offensively. It was their sixth shutout at Madison Square Garden this season and part of a broader home-ice malaise. New York continues to struggle to finish on scoring chances, even with prolonged offensive zone pressure and multiple power plays, resulting in repeated nights of disappointment. Can they turn this around or will we see big changes in the Big Apple?
- AHL Players of the week – In AHL news Bradly Nadeau (Chicago Wolves) was named AHL Player of the Week after putting up five points in three games, helping Chicago sweep a weekend series. He’s among the league’s top young offensive talents, while the Grand Rapids Griffins are making history with one of the best starts in AHL history (22-1-0-1) and leading the league standings. They have also been dominant both at home and on the road, primarily due to goalie Sebastian Cossa, who has been a standout, ranking at or near the top in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage, earning AHL Goaltender of the Month honor.
- Katie Chan’s First PWHL goal – Katie Chan of the Vancouver Goldeneyes has scored her first PWHL goal, helping her team to a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge. That’s a great feeling and we hope there are more big goals to come for her. Speaking of the Ottawa Charge, they have signed Olivia Wallin to a 10-day contract to add depth while Gabbie Hughes is sidelined with an upper-body injury, a player-movement detail that reflects roster strategy in the season’s busier stretch.
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Then remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey as we start up Season 7 of the Podcast each Wednesday night at 7pm MST, where we dive into some of these great topics, interview many in the game and so much more. For more hockey news, different takes or if you want to chat about anything hockey give me a follow @hockey_two & @revinev on X and give us a follow on YouTube, and check out our website for articles that we share regularly at https://twoguysandhockeytalk.com/.
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
