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Habs’ defenceman Arber Xhekaj issues warning to Senators’ captain Brady Tkachuk

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Habs' defenceman Arber Xhekaj issues warning to Senators' captain Brady Tkachuk

If Brady Tkachuk takes the ice against the Montreal Canadiens, he’d be wise to stay alert.

That’s the message from Habs defenseman Arber Xhekaj.

When asked about the best way to handle the Ottawa Senators’ captain ahead of their matchup following the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the 24-year-old made it clear—he’s ready for a showdown with Tkachuk.

“I’m going to confront him. I’m going to go straight to him. I’m going to beat the crap out of him. I don’t care,” Xhekaj told Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports according to Google Translate.

Cloutier later took to the social media platform X to clarify that the Google translation was inaccurate.

“I butt heads with him. I go right at him. I fire him up. I don’t care,” Cloutier reported that Xhekaj said.

Tkachuk and Xhekaj have a history.

During a pre-season matchup in October, Tkachuk went after Xhekaj following a heavy hit on center Tim Stutzle. The incident resulted in Xhekaj receiving a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.

“I want to make his life (miserable),” Xhekaj added. “I want his evening to be painful. What I give him must be stronger than what he gives.”

After representing Team USA in their 3-2 overtime loss to Team Canada on Thursday in Boston, Tkachuk and defenseman Jake Sanderson were absent from practice alongside veteran blueliner Nick Jensen.

On Saturday morning, Coach Travis Green informed reporters that Tkachuk, Jensen, and Sanderson would be game-time decisions.

The Senators previously fell to the Canadiens 4-1 on October 12 in Montreal.

Ethan Blake

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Bruins’ Extreme Feelings About Charlie McAvoy Injury With Team USA

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Bruins’ Extreme Feelings About Charlie McAvoy Injury With Team USA

While Team USA will face Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final without defenseman Charlie McAvoy on Thursday, it’s his NHL team, the Boston Bruins, that are feeling the biggest impact of his injury.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Bruins are “extremely unhappy” with how Team USA’s medical staff managed McAvoy’s condition during the tournament.

The defenseman initially suffered an injury against Finland but was cleared to play against Canada, where his shoulder issue seemingly worsened, ultimately leading to an infection that required hospitalization.

“The Bruins were extremely unhappy with the way this has been handled, and they felt that in this particular case, McAvoy didn’t get the proper care,” Friedman said.

Although Team USA was aware of McAvoy’s injury from the game against Finland, both the team and the player attempted to push through it, ultimately worsening the condition.

“Fom what I understand, on Monday he was in a bit more pain, and was admitted to the hospital, and they realized the injury was more severe than believed or initially diagnosed,” Friedman said. “And number two, there was an infection there that had to be operated on and removed.

“I don’t know if he was given a needle or shot or something like that, and it got infected (between the moment when he was injured and when he was admitted to the hospital), but it was something along these lines.”

It was the Bruins, not Team USA, who publicly revealed McAvoy’s condition on Wednesday, stating that he had “an infection in his right shoulder, as well as a significant injury to his AC joint.” The team confirmed that McAvoy remains hospitalized, receiving IV antibiotics, with his condition “improving.” When contacted by The Athletic, Team USA general manager Bill Guerin declined to comment further, only expressing confidence in the team’s medical staff.

“Guerin, who is also the president of hockey operations and general manager of the Minnesota Wild, wouldn’t comment other than to say he had the utmost confidence in the United States’ medical team,” The Athletic reported on Wednesday. According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, McAvoy’s procedure will keep him “sidelined on a week-to-week basis until the area can heal.”

Ethan Blake

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Rangers Offered ‘Relatively Meager’ Package for Canucks’ J.T. Miller: Report

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Rangers Offered ‘Relatively Meager’ Package for Canucks’ J.T. Miller: Report

The aftermath of the unsuccessful trade between the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers involving J.T. Miller, initially reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Saturday, continues to unfold.

The Athletic has revealed significant details about the proposed deal, which included center Filip Chytil, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and a first-round draft pick. However, the trade ultimately collapsed due to a dispute regarding the draft pick’s protection.

“Rangers center Filip Chytil, defenseman Ryan Lindgren and some future-focused assets, including a first-round pick could have been involved,” The Athletic reported. “One source briefed on the trade talks indicated that a disagreement on the protection structure of a first-round pick was a key hurdle.”

The Athletic described the proposed return as “relatively meager” considering J.T. Miller’s value. Rick Dhaliwal suggested that two players scratched by the Rangers’ AHL affiliate (Adam Sykora, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, and Jaroslav Chmelar) were linked to the Miller trade discussions—a detail noted in The Athletic’s report, though it could not be confirmed.

“The Rangers surprisingly scratched several Hartford Wolfpack players on Saturday, although it was unclear if it was trade-related,” The Athletic reported.

The Athletic’s report mentioned Chytil and Lindgren, both former first- and second-round picks by the Rangers.

Chytil, a 25-year-old center, has recorded 18 points in 37 games this season and could help address Vancouver’s long-term needs at center, particularly if Miller is traded.

Lindgren, 26, has been a dependable partner for Adam Fox on New York’s top defensive pairing and has contributed 11 points (two goals) in 41 games this season.

With Lindgren set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, his future adds another layer of intrigue. Meanwhile, Miller, 31, has posted 31 points in 35 games this season, but his $8 million cap hit and full no-move clause complicate potential trade scenarios.

Ethan Blake

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Canucks’ J.T. Miller Breaks Silence on Reported Trade to Rangers

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Canucks’ J.T. Miller Breaks Silence on Reported Trade to Rangers

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller came close to leaving the team on Saturday but remains on the roster, continuing to be the focus of trade rumors.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, a potential trade between the Canucks and the New York Rangers fell through just before Vancouver’s game against Edmonton.

Initially, Miller was set to be scratched for the match but ended up playing and contributed two assists in the Canucks’ 3–2 victory over the Oilers.

After the game, Miller was asked whether he believed it was his final appearance in a Canucks jersey.

“I’m planning on being a Canuck today, tomorrow,” Miller told reporters after the game. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m focused on the next game.”

During Sportsnet’s “Saturday Headlines” segment, Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Canucks were on the verge of trading J.T. Miller to the Rangers. Negotiations had progressed so far that the 31-year-old forward was expected to be removed from the lineup.

“I believe J.T. Miller was set to be scratched for the game against the Oilers because trade talks were advancing,” Friedman said. “However, that trade is off right now. “There was a time in the last 24 hours where J.T. Miller was not going to play, He was going to be held out of the lineup because talks were progressing on a trade–I believe that team to be the New York Rangers.”

NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal reported that the Canucks had been “working hard” to find a trade partner for J.T. Miller ahead of their game against the Oilers.

However, Dhaliwal noted that Miller’s agent, Brian Bartlett, confirmed the player “never requested or demanded a trade.”

Any potential trade would require Miller’s approval due to the full no-move clause in his seven-year, $56 million contract with the Canucks.

Vancouver’s next game is scheduled for Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, leaving questions about whether Miller will still be part of the roster by then.

Ethan Blake

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