The underperforming Nashville Predators made a move this week. 
After acquiring Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei in free agency, the Predators are 7-12-3 for 17 points, the third-fewest in the league. On Monday afternoon, they traded forward Philip Tomasino to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
The Predators selected the right-shot centre 24th overall in the 2019 draft, with Tomasino making his debut in 2021-22 with the Predators. That season, he scored 11 goals and 32 points in 76 games. In 2022-23, Tomasino split time between the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League, scoring five goals and 18 points in 31 games with the Predators.
It was much the same for Tomasino in 2023-24, as he scored seven goals and 20 points in 41 games, but spent a chunk of his season with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. Through the Predators’ first 22 games, the Mississauga native only played 11 of them, picking up a lone assist.
This trade has the makings of a bad one for the Predators, as Tomasino had enough potential to be selected in the first round, but wasn’t given the opportunity to shine in Nashville. Perhaps the Penguins will prioritize his playing time as they seem set on developing players.
That’s three former first-round picks out the door for the Preds in just a few months. They traded Yaroslav Askarov in the off-season, lost Dante Fabbro on waivers, and traded Tomasino. The Preds also lost Eeli Tolvanen, another first-round pick, on waivers a couple of years ago. 

Timo Meier suspended for cross-check

In a game against the Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier received a five-minute penalty for cross-checking Zach L’Heureux in the face. On Tuesday, it was announced he’s been suspended for a game.
Timo Meier spent his first seven seasons with the San Jose Sharks, as they drafted him ninth overall in the 2015 draft.  In his final season with the Sharks, he scored 31 goals and 52 points in 57 games, before they traded him at the 2022 trade deadline to the Devils, where he added nine goals and 14 points.
In the Swiss native’s first full season with the Devils, he scored 28 goals and 52 points in 69 games, as the Devils underperformed and missed the postseason. However, they’ve come back with a vengeance (and a goaltender) in 2024-25, where Meier has seven goals and 15 points in 24 games.
Meier will miss the Devils’ game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday but will return on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Brock Boeser returns from injury 

Brock Boeser returned on Tuesday for the Vancouver Canucks after a seven-game absence.
His last game was on Nov. 7, as Tanner Jeannot caught him up high with a hit and concussed him. The Los Angeles Kings forward was suspended for three games.
This season, Boeser has six goals and 11 points in 12 games. The 27-year-old right-winger is coming from a career-best season in 2023-24, scoring 40 goals and 73 points in 71 games, as well as seven goals and 12 points in 12 postseason games.
Boeser returning for the Vancouver Canucks is important, as they haven’t been nearly as good as they were last season. Through 19 games, the reigning Pacific Division champions have a 10-6-3 record for 23 points, one behind the Oilers.
Moreover, they are also without star forward J.T. Miller, as he’s out indefinitely due to a leave of absence.
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