According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Chicago Blackhawks have traded Laurent Brossoit, Nolan Allan, and a 2028 seventh to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong, and a 2028 fourth.

Elliotte Friedman

@FriedgeHNIC

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TO SJ: Laurent Brossoit, Nolan Allan, 2028 7th TO CHI: Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong 2028 4th

Elliotte Friedman

@FriedgeHNIC

Laurent Brossoit is being dealt to SJ

8:20 PM · Jan 8, 2026

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Brossoit was drafted by the Flames in the sixth-round of the 2011 draft, but never appeared in a game for the team as they traded him to the Edmonton Oilers, one of just a handful of trades the provincial rivals have made.

The Oilers didn’t give Brossoit much of a chance either, playing 28 games over four seasons, before joining the Winnipeg Jets in 2018-19. There, he became regarded as one of the best back ups in the league, posting a .913 save percentage in 54 games from 2018-19 until 2020-21. Brossoit joined the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021-22, even winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2023, before rejoining the Jets for the 2023-24 season.

That was the last season Brossoit played in an NHL game, as he missed all of the 2024-25 season due to an injury, and has only played in American Hockey League action in 2025-26.

As for Allen, a left-shot defenceman, he has played 43 games with the Blackhawks in 2024-25, scoring a goal and eight points in 43 games. The 32nd overall pick in the 2021 draft has played 29 games in the AHL this season, where he has two goals and six points in 29 games.

Ellis, also a defenceman, hasn’t played since 2021-22, where he played just four games. It’s unlikely he’ll ever suit up again, which is unfortunate because he was a terrific top-four defenceman in his heyday. Over 566 career games with the Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers, he scored 76 goals and 275 points. He also represented Team Canada in three different World Junior Championships.

Furlong, drafted in the fifth-round of the 2022 draft, has played the last two seasons in the AHL. In 2024-25, he scored one goal and eight points in 66 games, and has two assists in 12 games this season. If he ever makes the NHL, he’ll have the distinction of being one of only a handful of players born on the Labrador Peninsula to play in the league.

Mammoth set to host 2027 Winter Classic

With the Florida Panthers hosting the 2026 Winter Classic, there is just one team in the NHL who hasn’t played in an outdoor game, the Utah Mammoth. Well, that’s set to change as Mammoth owner Ryan Smith announced that the Mammoth will host the 2027 Winter Classic, facing off against the Colorado Avalanche.

Ryan Smith

@RyanQualtrics

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At SEG our goal is to bring great things and build Utah. This is one of those things. The 18th Winter Classic coming to Utah in our 3rd year in the NHL. Couldn’t be more excited! Big things ahead! #TusksUp

10:55 PM · Jan 7, 2026

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The game will be held at Rice-Eccles Stadium, in Salt Lake City, which has over 50,000 seats for football. It’s unclear what the capacity will be for the Winter Classic game.

On top of this being the Mammoth’s first outdoor game, this will be the Avalanche’s fourth outdoor game, as they appeared in the 2016 and 2020 Stadium Series games, as well as the game on the edge of Lake Tahoe in 2021, such a fever dream.

There are 10 different teams with just one outdoor game played, surprisingly including the Vancouver Canucks, who hosted the 2014 Heritage Classic. Two of those teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars, have outdoor games scheduled in the next two years. In fact, the Lightning host the Boston Bruins in the 2026 Stadium Series on Feb. 1

All three outdoor games have been scheduled for the 2026-27 season. The Jets will host the Montréal Canadiens on Oct. 25 for the Heritage Classic, and the Dallas Stars will host… someone, on Feb. 20, 2027.

Rasmus Ristolainen available ahead of trade deadline

It’s well known that the Flames will probably trade right-shot defenceman Rasmus Andersson ahead of the Mar. 6 trade deadline. Well, it looks like there could be another right-shot defenceman on the market, also named Rasmus.

On Tuesday, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported that Rasmus Ristolainen is available for trade, although the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t actively shopping him. In return, they’re looking for a trade similar to what the Montréal Canadiens got for Ben Chiarot back in 2021-22, a first, a fourth, and a prospect.

Ristolainen, 31, has missed most of the 2025-26 due to injury, only recently making his season debut. In 10 games with the Flyers, he has two assists and is a +3. Last season, he scored four goals and 19 points in 63 games, and a goal and four points in 31 games during the 2023-24 season.

The Finnish defenceman was picked eighth overall in the 2013 draft by the Buffalo Sabres and posted four consecutive 40+ point seasons from 2015-16 until 2018-19. Since then, he’s transformed his game into a defensively reliable penalty killer, but also hasn’t hit 21 points since 2019-20.

Ristolainen is in the fourth year of a five-year contract where he earns $5.1 million annually. Di Marco also reported that the Flyers are willing to retain, but would cost the team acquiring his services extra.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.