The NHL plays for four more days this week, but the Leafs, naturally have their schedule packed into two of them. Tonight it's Calgary with a 10 pm start, and tomorrow is Edmonton at 8:30.

Last game, Morgan Rielly left injured, and we've yet to hear how badly. The Leafs currently have one extra defender on the roster, so they could just play without Rielly if they have to and not recall anyone. We'll see how they decide to handle this.

The subject of fanciful trade rumours is out of action for a few weeks:

Blues’ Thomas has procedure on leg, out until after Olympic break
St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas had what the team described as a minor procedure on his leg and will be out until after the Olympic break, it was announced Saturday evening.
TSNTSN.ca Staff

I'm confident many more fanciful ideas will be out there.

Oilers place veteran G Pickard on waivers
The Edmonton Oilers announced on Sunday that they have placed veteran goaltender Calvin Pickard on waivers.
TSNTSN.ca Staff

I'd joke the Leafs should take him and trade all three of their goalies, but too many would think that's a good idea. Tank forever! Never trade another draft pick! Profit!

It's an interesting move, though, when Washington has two injured goalies.

Minten named NHL Rookie of the Month for January | NHL.com
Bruins forward had 8 goals, 6 assists in 14 games
NHL logoNHL Public Relations

While this is about what I expected...

2026 Winter Olympics: Ice hockey venue will not be ready for start of Games
Winter Olympics organisers admit the new ice hockey arena in Milan will not be finished in time for the first match of the Games – but it is “absolutely certain” all scheduled fixtures will be played there.
BBC SportByEmma SmithBBC Sport journalist at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

... there are multiple reports that the ice itself is going to be fine, and that's the most important part. Here, you get a good view of the ice surface while some pump up the workers meeting is going on:

A fun interview with Marie-Philip Poulin:

5 questions with the captain of Canada’s Olympic hockey team

(Don't call her Captain Clutch.)

Okay, that's enough to get you started on Monday, later there is a rundown on what you need to know for the Olympics, and much much much later there will be a preview for tonight's game.

Happy Monday, and remember, you can now claim you survived January, 2026, and that's not nothing.

A little extra:

From The Branches