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Around the NHL: Matthew Schaefer pushing for spot on Team Canada, Senators’ Ullmark takes leave of absence
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Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Jeremy Tingly
Dec 29, 2025, 09:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 29, 2025, 09:26 EST
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Welcome back to the final around the NHL segment of 2025. The new year is upon us, the NHL season is almost at the half-way mark, and this week is a very eventful one thanks to roster submissions for the upcoming Olympics.
Team Canada is set to name their team on Wednesday, and recently there’s been plenty of debate on who should be included. While the majority of the team is rather simple to assemble, the last few roster spots are very tough decisions, and frankly, there’s going to be a ton of deserving players staying home to watch.
Besides the Olympic buzz, the holiday roster freeze is over, so trade talks are heating up, and there’s also lots to get to off the ice. Here’s the very latest from around the NHL.

Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer could edge out Oilers’ Evan Bouchard

New York Islanders rookie defenceman Matthew Schaefer has been turning heads all season long with his skating abilities, poise with the puck, and wisdom beyond his years. The 18-year-old blueliner has recorded 24 points in 39 games so far this season, averaging 23:47 of ice-time per game, which leads the Islanders. There’s a ton of speculation he’ll be one of the defenceman selected on Wednesday, which means Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard could be on the outside looking in.
Bouchard certainly has some flaws on the defensive side of the puck, but there’s no denying his ability to join the rush and provide secondary scoring from the back end. The Oilers’ defenceman has 37 points in 39 games this season, and is on the bubble to make the team.
With Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Devon Toews, and Shea Theodore as locks, the rest of Canada’s blueline is in question. Drew Doughty or Colton Parayko? Can Bouchard play a complete game best-on-best? Have Thomas Harley and Travis Sanheim done enough this season to warrant selections? Will Schaefer be brought to Milan, even as an extra defenceman for the experience? Lots of good problems to have for Canada’s management team, but some really tough decisions.
Macklin Celebrini has done enough to make the team. Connor Bedard is on the bubble, and at this point, would be a bit of a surprise selection. Some other bubble players up front include Tom Wilson, Mark Scheifele, Seth Jarvis, Mark Stone, Nick Suzuki, Sam Bennett and Brandon Hagel.
In net, it feels like Jordan Binnington and Logan Thompson are locks, with Binnington likely to start game one of the Olympics. Meanwhile, the third goaltender spot is still very much in limbo, with Colorado Avalanche teammates Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood in the mix, along with Los Angeles Kings’ Darcy Kuemper.

Ottawa Senators’ Linus Ullmark takes leave of absence

The Ottawa Senators announced over the weekend that goaltender Linus Ullmark is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.
The 32-year-old netminder last played on Saturday night against the Maple Leafs in Toronto, a game in which he was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots. Ullmark’s posted a 14-8-5 record for the Senators this season, along with a 2.95 goals against average and .881 save percentage. Ullmark ranks last in the league is goals saved above expected.

Quick hits from around the NHL

  • Matthew Tkachuk practiced with his Florida Panthers teammates for the first time this season. Tkachuk is working his way back from a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia he suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
  • Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was ejected on Sunday night after delivering a vicious slash to the top of Blue Jackets’ Mason Marchment’s foot. Marchment clipped Schaefer with his leg just prior, and Barzal had seen enough:
  • While there’s been plenty of chatter linking Ryan O’Reilly to the New Jersey Devils or Colorado Avalanche, the veteran centre prefers to stick it out in Nashville and be part of the solution.
  • The Vancouver Canucks aren’t finished making trades and keep an eye on Jake DeBrusk, who was recently a healthy scratch, along with Conor Garland, Evander Kane, and Kiefer Sherwood. Sherwood has been linked to the Wild, Bruins, and Red Wings.
  • Marc-Andre Fleury has been contacted by numerous teams about an NHL comeback, and if there’s any chance he does put on the pads again, the Edmonton Oilers are heavy favourites to land the future Hall-of-Famer. The Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning should also be considered strong suitors.
  • Don’t be surprised to see Kyle Dubas flip both new Penguins Brett Kulak and Stuart Skinner before the trade deadline.
  • Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov is still holding up his trade request, and the Buffalo Sabres, now run by Jarmo Kekalainen, are a potential landing spot.
  • Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy has recently been linked to the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers.
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