Olympic Hockey Arrivals, Injury Hits Czechia, and NHL Trade Buzz Heating Up
The Olympic hockey scene is officially underway in Italy, with national teams touching down and getting settled ahead of what promises to be a thrilling tournament. Team Canada made its presence known early, arriving in Milano with a star-studded roster that includes Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon.
A brief video clip from the airport gave fans a glimpse of the duo, along with former Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper. It’s a reminder of just how loaded this Canadian squad is-and how familiar faces from NHL locker rooms are now teammates on the international stage.
One name that had folks wondering was Devon Toews. He wasn’t spotted in the initial footage, which raised some eyebrows given earlier reports that he might arrive later than the rest of the team. But those concerns were quickly put to rest-Toews made the trip with the group and is already with the team in the athletes’ village, where players have the option to stay or move into accommodations provided by their player associations.
Elsewhere, Team Sweden also touched down in style, chartering their own flight. A team photo confirmed that Gabe Landeskog is with the group, a welcome sight for fans eager to see the veteran winger back in action on the international stage.
As teams get their legs under them, the practice schedule is already in full swing. Germany and Slovakia kicked things off early, followed by sessions for Sweden and Switzerland.
The U.S. and Czechia hit the ice midday, while Canada and Finland close out the day's practices later in the afternoon. It’s a tightly packed schedule, and teams are wasting no time getting into rhythm.
Injury Blow for Czechia
Team Czechia suffered a significant setback before even hitting the ice for their first game. Forward Pavel Zacha has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
It’s a tough break for a Czech roster that was already leaning heavily on its top-end talent. Zacha was expected to be a key piece up front, joining forces with the likes of David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, and Tomas Hertl.
Without him, the team’s depth takes a noticeable hit, and it puts even more pressure on the remaining stars to carry the offensive load.
NHL Trade Deadline Watch
While the Olympic spotlight burns bright overseas, the NHL’s trade deadline looms large back home-and a few teams are starting to show their cards.
In New York, the Rangers are facing a decision with Brennan Othmann. The young winger has been a hot topic of conversation, and there’s growing debate over whether the team should consider moving him in a win-now deal.
Othmann has shown flashes of high-end potential, and giving up on a prospect like that too early could come back to haunt them. But with the Rangers eyeing a deep playoff run, the front office has to weigh the long-term upside against the immediate need for proven contributors.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Flyers are re-evaluating their approach. After heading into the All-Star break on a high, the team has stumbled badly, picking up just 10 of a possible 30 points over their last 15 games.
That kind of skid can’t be ignored, especially with the deadline approaching. The question now is whether the Flyers pivot from buyers to something more cautious-or even consider selling off pieces if the slide continues.
It’s a pivotal stretch for a team that’s been trying to build momentum, and the next few weeks could define their season.
As Olympic action ramps up and NHL front offices start working the phones, the hockey world is buzzing on both sides of the Atlantic. Buckle up-February’s just getting started.