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Andre Leal

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Andre Leal·1d·Partner

After Blowouts, Benching And Firing, Philadelphia Flyers Move Forward

The Philadelphia Flyers move forward with an interim coach after two blowout losses, reports of what happened off the ice and benching a player for a full game. To cap off a six-game winless streak after losing 7-4 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and 7-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, now-former Flyers coach John Tortorella and defenseman Cam York got into a confrontation, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. York only took eight shifts for 3:50 of ice time against the Maple Leafs. He was previously a healthy scratch on March 8. Kurz shared that a team source said they “probably both crossed the line,” which contributed to Tortorella’s dismissal. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli added that the spat between the two wasn’t physical but was a heated verbal exchange. Tortorella also told reporters on Tuesday he didn't do a good enough job in the past couple of games in preparing the rebuilding team. “I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season with where we’re at right now, but I have to do a better job. So this falls on me,” Tortorella told reporters. Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere said there isn’t just one reason behind his decision to relieve Tortorella of his duties. He said there had been a series of instances that led to this conclusion, especially in the last three weeks. Brad Shaw began his interim coaching duties, as the Flyers beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 to end the winless streak with York watching from the bench. York did not take a single shift in this game, despite dressing for the team and sitting on the bench. Shaw confirmed after the game that it was for disciplinary purposes. York will be back in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. "I take full responsibility for my actions. It's been addressed in the locker room," York told the media, as reported by The Hockey News' Siobhan Nolan. "We've got eight games left here, and that's my focus right now." The team could not scratch York or call up a player from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms because of a post-trade deadline NHL rule. After the trade deadline, teams are only allowed four call-ups, and the Flyers used them all to this point. Therefore, the team played with five defensemen. From here, the Flyers have eight games left in this season to play spoilers in games against the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets, five teams looking to clinch a wild-card playoff spot. Their .453 points percentage is currently the lowest since 2021-22, but they need four wins to tie the 75 points they had in 2022-23. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·1d·Partner

What Records Could Penguins' Sidney Crosby Break Next?

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby wrote his name in the NHL history books once again on Thursday. With a goal against the Buffalo Sabres, Crosby became the first NHL player ever to record 20 seasons where he’s averaged at least one point per game. He broke the tie with Wayne Gretzky, who had 19. Crosby has 80 points in 72 games this season, 17 more points than the second-leading scorer on the Penguins, Rickard Rakell. Crosby missed two games before the 4 Nations Face-Off, meaning he can only play a maximum of 80 matches this season. The 37-year-old could still break some massive franchise records set by another all-time great, Mario Lemieux. Lemieux is the Penguins' leader in goals with 690 and points with 1,723. Crosby gained the lead in the assist column earlier this season and currently has 1,058 helpers. It’ll take some time for Crosby to beat Lemieux in goals and points, but he’s well within reach. He could even get it done before his next two-year contract expires. Crosby only needs 48 more points to become Pittsburgh’s all-time points leader. He’s more than capable of setting that record in the first half of next season. In every season where Crosby has played at least 40 games, he scored at least 47 points. As long as he stays healthy, he won’t break a sweat on his way to becoming the franchise’s point leader. If we use his 1.11 points-per-game average from this season, he’s projected to record eight more points this season and break Lemieux’s record 36 games into 2025-26. Breaking the goals record will be a bit more of a challenge. Crosby has 618 career goals, 73 away from breaking Lemieux’s 690-goal marker. In the next two seasons, Crosby will have to get close to 40 goals in each of those campaigns to become the club’s all-time goal leader. Last season, he scored 42 goals, his most since the 44 he recorded in 2016-17. The goal to give him the point per-game record was his 26th of the year. In the season's final eight games, he’s on pace to score two or three more goals. He’ll have to return to his production from last season if he wants any chance to break the record, but at this point, it’s tough to doubt what Crosby can do. As for the team, they lost 7-3 to the Sabres, sit 26th overall in the NHL standings and are projected to miss the playoffs for the third straight season. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article

Andre Leal·4d·Partner

Capitals Commit To 'Perfect Fit' Jakob Chychrun With Huge Contract: Revisiting His Trade From Senators

The Washington Capitals re-signed Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year contract at $9 million per season, the team announced on Tuesday. Chychrun, 26, nearly doubles his current $4.6-million cap hit with what will be the longest contract of his career. The extension and his improvement on the scoresheet come almost nine months after the Capitals acquired him from the Ottawa Senators. "Jakob is a proven, dynamic defenseman in the prime of his career who has established himself as one of the premier blueliners in the NHL," Capitals GM Chris Patrick said in a press release. “He is a perfect fit with our culture and vision for the future, and we couldn't be more thrilled that he will continue to be part of our organization for the next eight years." Washington traded defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick to the Senators for Chychrun last July 1. Jensen is more defensive-minded than Chychrun, although he also has fast puck-moving ability as a right-hand shot for the Senators. The 34-year-old has 19 points in 60 games. Chychrun, however, almost has as many goals as Jensen does points. In 65 games for Washington, Chychrun has 18 goals and a career-high 43 points this campaign. He’s third in the NHL in goals among D-men, sitting behind the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski (20) and Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar (26). While the plus-minus rating never tells the full story, Chychrun’s plus-24 rating is by far the highest of his career, and he has a 52.15-percent Corsi-for percentage at 5-on-5, meaning the Capitals generate more chances-for than against when he’s on the ice. Only John Carlson’s 53.72-percent share is higher among Capitals defensemen. Washington’s coaching staff has allowed Chychrun to focus more on the offensive side of his game rather than defense by pairing him with defensive defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk – and it’s worked for the team overall, considering its 2.54 goals against per game is the third-lowest in the NHL. Chychrun has started almost 61 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone at 5-on-5, compared to 49.84 percent with the Senators last season and 50.20 percent in 2022-23 between the Sens and Arizona Coyotes, according to naturalstattrick.com. The blueliner was one of the many new faces the Capitals added in the off-season, including Matt Roy on defense, Logan Thompson in net and Pierre-Luc Dubois at center. With their help, Washington leads the NHL by two points and has a game in hand over the second-place Winnipeg Jets. Chychrun has 532 NHL games under his belt and is now under contract through the 2032-33 campaign. The Capitals were the first NHL team this season to clinch a playoff berth last Friday, which means Chychrun could appear in the post-season for just the second time in his career. He played nine games between a play-in round and the Western Conference quarterfinal with the Coyotes in the 2019-20 bubble playoffs, recording a goal in nine games. - Jonathan Tovell contributed to this report. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 22, 2025·Partner

Blackhawks' Patrick Maroon Announces 2024-25 Will Be His Final NHL Season

Patrick Maroon made an announcement that he will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Chicago Blackhawks left winger said this ahead of their game against the St. Louis Blues. He got emotional in a pre-game interview with Darren Pang when he made this statement. This is also his last game in his hometown of St. Louis. “I just know it’s time for me, it’s time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives,” Maroon said. Maroon was drafted in 2007 by the Philadelphia Flyers 161st overall in the sixth round, but after a few seasons in the OHL and AHL, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. Since then, he’s played in nearly 14 seasons. Chicago’s clash against St. Louis is Maroon's 840th game of his NHL career. In that time, he’s scored 125 goals and 320 points. The left winger played for eight different teams in his career, including the Blues. This season, he’s made 59 appearances for the Blackhawks and has four goals and 16 points. The grinder also has seven fights this season, his last one came in Tuesday's game against the Seattle Kraken in a tilt with John Hayden. According to HockeyFights, Maroon has 138 fights in his career. Maroon is seventh among active skaters in penalty minutes, and over the course of his 14-year career, he’s racked up 1,071 total. The 36-year-old veteran won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in the single season that he played with them in 2018-19. Following that season, Maroon secured another two championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning, completing a three-peat. In his career, Maroon has featured in 163 playoff games, scoring 23 goals and 53 points, while also having a plus-six rating. He’s played playoff games for the Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Blues, Lightning and Boston Bruins. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 21, 2025·Partner

'I'm Not Going To Take Any Credit': Ovechkin's Longtime Linemate Speaks About 'The Gr8 Chase'

Nicklas Backstrom played alongside Alex Ovechkin for 17 years, but he doesn't want the spotlight in his teammate's NHL goals record chase. “I’m not going to take any credit – that’s all him,” Backstrom said. Regardless of Backstrom's humility, he has played a big role in Ovechkin getting close to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals. That's why the Washington Capitals held a press conference with Backstrom on Friday to discuss the record chase. No player has more assists on Ovechkin's goals than Backstrom, according to NHL Edge. He assisted on 279 Ovechkin goals, which is 124 more than the teammate with the second-most assists, defenseman John Carlson, who has 155 so far. Backstrom was known as Ovechkin’s right-hand man as they were linemates for the majority of their careers. Backstrom entered the league two seasons after Ovechkin, in 2007-08. That year, Ovechkin scored 65 goals, while Backstrom had 55 assists and 69 points in his rookie campaign. It was a perfect match with Backstrom as the playmaker and Ovechkin as the sniper. Backstrom discussed his favorite goal Ovechkin ever scored and mentioned one that came against the Montreal Canadiens in 2009. Backstrom didn't help No. 8 on this one. Ovechkin picked up the puck in the neutral zone, knocked it off the boards and spun around his opponent at the same time. Then, he drove to the net down the left wing, fell to the ice and tucked it past Carey Price before crashing into the net. Backstrom also mentioned Ovechkin’s famous diving goal against the Phoenix Coyotes, but because he wasn’t on the team yet, he laughed and said it “didn’t count.” He also shared that while this is an unbelievable record that Ovechkin could have under his name, he said, “Never underestimate Alex.” The Swede said that in his playing years, he always told people that if there was anyone who could challenge the goal record, it would be Ovechkin. “He can put the puck in the net like no one else,” Backstrom said. He was asked about how Ovechkin can put up these numbers at the age of 39 and in his 20th NHL season. Backstrom's answer was simple: that Ovechkin loves the game of hockey and more than anything else, he loves to score goals. That statement holds up considering the Capitals left winger has 888 career NHL goals and 35 tucks on the season. Ovechkin is just seven goals from becoming the best goal-scorer in NHL history. Backstrom, meanwhile, is still under contract until the end of the season, but the 37-year-old hasn't played since 2023 after stepping away due to an "ongoing injury situation." He had hip resurfacing surgery in the summer of 2022. In 1,105 career games, Backstrom has 271 goals, 762 assists and 1,033 points. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 20, 2025·Partner

Ovechkin's Chances Of Breaking NHL Goals Record Against Crosby Are High

Alex Ovechkin is nearly the NHL’s top goal-scorer ever – and the likelihood he cements that status against Sidney Crosby continues to grow. Ovechkin is seven goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. He scored again on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. After that, Washington has 13 games left in the regular season. The big question is when he will break the record and who he will score against. Ovechkin’s best odds to score his 895th goal is in the last four games of the season, according to Canada Sports Betting (CSB). The Capitals play against the Columbus Blue Jackets twice, as well as the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins in those final four outings ahead of the post-season. CSB says Ovechkin has a 71-percent chance of snapping the record in the final game of the season against his longtime rival, Crosby and the Penguins. In all fairness, there is something poetic about resetting the all-time goal record with two of the best players of the last generation sharing the ice. On a broader scale, Ovechkin will have to go through some elite goaltenders to build up his tally before the end of the regular season. The Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck, Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky and Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin are some of the goaltenders he may face along the way. Ovechkin’s scored on Bobrovsky 16 times in his career and 12 times on Vasilevskiy. Only Marc-Andre Fleury’s allowed more goals to Ovechkin among active netminders, with 28. In 53 games this season with Washington, Ovechkin has 35 goals and 57 points. He’s tied for fifth in the NHL in goals with Buffalo Sabres right winger Tage Thompson and Boston Bruins right winger David Pastrnak. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 18, 2025·Partner

How Have The Stars Fared Without Miro Heiskanen? He Might Miss Round 1 Of Playoffs

The Dallas Stars could be without Miro Heiskanen for the first round of the playoffs, coach Pete DeBoer told reporters on Tuesday. Heiskanen has been out of the lineup since Jan. 28 with a left knee injury. He suffered against the Vegas Golden Knights, getting the worst of an awkward collision with Mark Stone. One week later, Heiskanen underwent surgery and was set to miss about three to four months. That would bring him to late April or May. The playoffs begin on April 19. However, DeBoer said it’s “a realistic possibility” the Stars will have to play a playoff series without their No. 1 defenseman. He added that he hasn’t been on the ice but is progressing off the ice and in the gym. Heiskanen could be a huge loss for Dallas going into the playoffs, considering his role and play this season. “We’re going to get Colorado, Winnipeg, somebody really good in the first round,” DeBoer said ahead of Dallas’ clash with the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday evening. “On paper, we’re going to have similar lineups to whoever we’re playing.” As of Tuesday, the Stars are set to host the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs if the standings stay the same. Dallas’ defense, minus Heiskanen, will have to handle the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Cale Makar and more. In 50 games this season, Heiskanen scored five goals and 25 points. The 25-year-old was on a five-game point streak before his injury. In addition to his offensive abilities, the reliable Heiskanen plays well over 20 minutes per game. This season, he’s averaged 25:10 and has never averaged less than 23 minutes per game in his seven-year career. Since the injury to Heisakanen, the Stars haven’t dropped from their second-place position in the Central Division. But they had the third-fewest goals against per game in the NHL, with 2.46. Since then, they rank 17th in that statistic at 3.13 goals against. They’ve outscored any defensive issue with 4.13 goals-for per game since Jan. 29, which leads the league. The Avalanche closed in on Dallas in the standings and only sit two points behind them. The Stars have two games in hand. Dallas lost its last two games to the Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets. Later in the month, the Stars will face the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, three more teams in a Western Conference playoff spot or in the race. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 11, 2025·Partner

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon Becomes The 100th Player In NHL History To Score 1,000 Points

Nathan MacKinnon became the latest NHL player to reach the 1,000-point plateau on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. He is the 100th player to have reached that milestone in NHL history. MacKinnon recorded his 1,000th point with a secondary assist, his 74th helper of the campaign. He added his 75th assist about three minutes later. He’s now up to 27 goals and 102 points with the Avalanche this season and improving his case for the Hart Trophy by the day, even after longtime linemate Mikko Rantanen was traded twice. Within the first minute of the third period, MacKinnon carried the puck from behind the opposition's net to the blueline before dropping the puck off with defenseman Devon Toews. Toews fired the puck toward the net where left winger Artturi Lehkonen deflected the puck in. It even looked like MacKinnon set the milestone earlier in the game after setting up Martin Necas. His teammates cleared the benches to celebrate with him in the first period, but the Blackhawks won a coach’s challenge for an offside, and the goal was overturned. MacKinnon is now the 10th active player to have 1,000 career points. It took the 29-year-old 12 seasons and 856 games to reach this milestone. On Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, MacKinnon also became the first player this season to score 100 points in a two-goal performance. He’s reached the century mark for the third-straight season, following a career-high 140 points last season that earned him his first Hart Trophy. MacKinnon is making a strong case to take home the Hart Trophy for a second-straight season. Even after the Avalanche traded away Rantanen, the Nova Scotian remains the league leader in points. A player has never won back-to-back Hart Trophies since Alex Ovechkin in 2009. Up to this point, not even Sidney Crosby nor Connor McDavid have achieved that. Speaking of McDavid, he was the last player to reach 1,000 points. He achieved this feat in November. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 9, 2025·Partner

Alex Ovechkin Reaches 1,600 Points, Nine Goals Away From Breaking Gretzky’s Goal Record

On Sunday, Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin made history yet again, scoring an empty net goal in a 4-2 victory over Seattle and securing his 1,600th career point in the process. And with this goal, he gets even closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. Ovechkin is now only nine goals away from statistically becoming the best goal scorer in NHL history. Late in the third on Sunday, the Kraken were pushing to find the equalizer with the extra attacker on the ice. However, center Nic Dowd and right winger Tom Wilson linked up for a great effort to clear the puck out of Washington’s zone. Just beyond the blue line was Ovechkin, waiting for the puck to fall to his stick. Wilson lightly chipped the puck along the boards and without looking at the net, The Great Eight backhanded the puck into the net from the neutral zone. The Capitals went on to win the game, earning their 42nd victory of the campaign. They are now even on points with the league-leading Winnipeg Jets with 92 points. Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history to ever reach the 1,600-point mark and has done so playing 1474 games across 20 seasons. Next up on the all-time point list is Joe Sakic, with 1,641 points. Earlier this season, Sakic was surpassed by Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. And speaking of Crosby, he and Ovechkin are the only active NHL players to have 1,600 points to their name. Just behind the two generational players, is Crosby’s teammate Evgeni Malkin, who has 1,338 points in his career. Furthermore, Washington’s captain is seventh all-time in player scoring with one franchise. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 9, 2025·Partner

Utah’s Connor Ingram Enters The NHL’s Player Assistance Program, Will Be Out Indefinitely

Goaltender Connor Ingram of the Utah Hockey Club will receive care as he entered the NHL and NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program, the league announced on Sunday. With Ingram seeking assistance from the program, he will be out of Utah’s lineup indefinitely. He posted a message on X about his current situation and mental state. Ingram shared that he lost his mother to breast cancer earlier this season. “After trying to make a return to playing, I have come to realize that I am not myself. At this point in my life I need to put my health first, and take the proper time I need away to come back at 100%," Ingram wrote. This isn’t the first time in Ingram’s career that he's decided to step away from hockey. The last time he did so was last season for a six-month period. Eventually, he returned to action and at the end of the 2023-24 season, he was awarded the Bill Masterson Trophy for exemplifying “the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." Ingram has been an important piece to Utah’s tandem with Karel Vejmelka all season long. In 22 games, he’s posted a .882 save percentage and a 3.27 goals-against average. With his help, Utah is in the fight for a playoff spot in the franchises first season in Salt Lake City. They are just four points behind the Calgary Flames who hold on to the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. In June 2023, the 27-year-old Ingram signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes (now known as Utah) worth $1.95 million per season. He has one season left on the contract. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 8, 2025·Partner

Canadians To Learn How Ukraine Plays A Pivotal Role In Hockey History With New Documentary Premiere

Ukraine is a cornerstone in the history of hockey, yet many fans have no idea how or the players who’ve come from Ukrainian roots. On March 10, Rogers Place – the home of the Edmonton Oilers – will host the Canadian premiere of the documentary UKE. Directed and produced by Sports Emmy award winner Volodymyr Mula, UKE tells the story of several legendary hockey players of Ukrainian descent. Mula said there were two messages he wanted to make clear and convey to the audience through his documentary. First, he wanted to underline how Ukrainians contributed to making the NHL stronger in the early years of the league’s existence. Second, he wanted to focus on the immigration of Ukrainians to North America and how “hockey was a bridge to a new life.” While this documentary covers the lives of some of the best hockey players to play the game, Mula stresses the importance of understanding where it all started. The genesis of these stories began around 100 years ago when Ukraine was fighting for their independence. During this period, several citizens fled from their home country to create a new life in North America, specifically Canada. Furthermore, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Canada holds the second-largest population of Ukrainian diaspora with around 1.36 million, four percent of the nation's population. Therefore, Mula believes it’s more about the relationships between Ukrainians and Canadians than what happens on the ice. “This documentary is not only about sports, about hockey. This documentary is about life and about legacy,” Mula said. Some players featured in this documentary include Kelly Hrudey, Johnny Bucyk, Terry Sawchuk, Eddie Shack, Wayne Gretzky, his late father Walter, and more. These former players and relatives of those players share their stories of the upbringings of their families, how hockey became a huge part of their lives and their Ukrainian pride. This premiere will be the first time the film has ever been shown publicly in Canada. Since the documentary’s release in 2020, it was only available in Ukraine. The documentary was also shown in Poland to help raise money for their Ukrainian neighbors. UKE was a big hit wherever the film played. For some time after the 2020 release in Ukraine, Mula’s documentary was the highest-grossing in the history of Ukrainian cinema. The documentary was also screened in the USA, more specifically in Baltimore and was a great success, raising over $10,000 U.S. to support Ukraine during their ongoing war with Russia. The entire project took around three years of filming, researching and chasing voices around the continent to share their stories. One of Mula’s biggest challenges in the making of the documentary was to get Wayne Gretzky to feature in the film. One day he travelled to Brantford, Ont. where the locals directed Mula to the Gretzky home. The first day he knocked on Walter Gretzky’s front door, no one was home. However, on the second day, Walter was home and spent multiple hours talking to Mula about their Ukrainian roots, his son Wayne and more. After their interaction, Mula began his long quest to speak to Wayne. A few months later, he met up with Walter again as he was close by for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). After visiting him, he left a letter for Walter and his caregiver at the time, Veronica, to forward to Wayne whenever he would see him again. Instead, the letter was given to Wayne’s younger brother Glen. Some time passed and Veronica reached out to Mula, telling him Wayne had advertising commitments in Toronto and that he could try and meet him at the hotel he was staying at. “I spent approximately 14 hours in (the) lobby of this hotel to wait (for) Wayne,” Mula said. After a gruelling wait for The Great One, he finally arrived. However, “Wayne looked at me and crossed by… I was very disappointed.” Mula admitted that it was an uncommon situation and understood that these celebrities pay lots of money to have protection from outsiders like himself, trying to communicate with him. Nonetheless, it was time to move on to the next part of the filming, which was interviewing Wayne’s long-time teammate with the Los Angeles Kings, Hrudey. Mula told Hrudey about his adventure in trying to get Wayne for an interview. Hrudey communicated with Wayne and after several days of uncertainty and hope, the interview was on. After many flights and relocating, Mula and Wayne met in St. Louis and completed their interview, thanks to the help of Hrudey. Mula is very proud of his project and can’t wait to share it with Canada on Monday. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 7, 2025·Partner

Toronto Maple Leafs Finally Find Their Upgrade On Max Domi With Scott Laughton

As the market for centers slowly diminished throughout the week, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving finally found their middle-six center in Scott Laughton. The Maple Leafs acquired Laughton along with two draft picks from the Philadelphia Flyers for prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional 2027 first-round pick on Friday. The Flyers retained half of Laughton's $3-million cap hit in the countdown to the NHL trade deadline. Laughton has acted as a third-line center for most of his time with the Flyers this season, and that’s likely where he’ll slot in for Toronto. That potentially forces center Max Domi to move to the left wing. Luckily, Domi is a versatile player and has played the wing on plenty of occasions for Craig Berube’s team. With more assurance down the middle, Domi could be pushed to the left wing on the second line, which is currently occupied by Pontus Holmberg. Domi has had a down year thus far, scoring just four goals and 24 points in 54 games for the Maple Leafs. Laughton has 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games. Laughton’s can pitch in offensively at times, even if he's no sniper. He’s the only player to score four goals in a game this season in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 12. While Treliving would’ve likely hoped to acquire a player who could score more, the market thinned out, and the Leafs will take what they can get. The Maple Leafs were involved in discussions to acquire a load of middle-six centers, including the St. Louis Blues’ Brayden Schenn, now-Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson and Ottawa Senators acquisition Dylan Cozens at one point. Nonetheless, Laughton can be considered an upgrade as the third-line center in Toronto. The 30-year-old plays a more effective blend of physicality, shutdown play and third-line scoring. He fits the third-line role better than Domi, who seemed to be shoehorned into that spot. Laughton has the instinct to get behind the puck and support the defense. On the other hand, Domi is offensive-minded, and pushing him to the wing allows him to create plays freely. If Domi doesn't move to the second line, he would remain on the third line but still play in the left-wing position. That could mean Bobby McMann rejoins the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. At the end of the day, the Maple Leafs got their center. Whether it pans out with a deeper playoff run remains to be seen. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 6, 2025·Partner

NHL Waivers: Three Players Claimed And Five More On The Wire, Including Leafs' Reaves

Three players on NHL waivers are headed to new teams, while five new players are on the wire, according to multiple reports. The Nashville Predators claimed two players on Thursday. They claimed left winger Jakub Vrana from the Washington Capitals and defenseman Jordan Oesterle from the Boston Bruins, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The Detroit Red Wings placed Christian Fischer on waivers on Wednesday, and the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed him as well. The 27-year-old right winger carries a $1.125-million cap hit. He recorded one goal and seven points in 45 games for Detroit this season. As for the new batch of players reportedly on waivers Thursday, Ryan Reaves is the biggest name on the list. The Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer earns $1.35 million in the second year of a three-year contract. In 35 games this season, the 38-year-old Reaves has two assists, 28 penalty minutes and 7:48 of average ice time. The Bruins waived center Tyler Pitlick after signing him to a two-way NHL contract for the rest of the season. On the AHL’s Providence Bruins, he’s played 43 games and scored 16 goals and 33 points. The Carolina Hurricanes placed Riley Stillman on waivers. The 26-year-old defenseman has made just two appearances for the Canes this season, not registering a point. However, he’s played 20 games for Carolina’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. He has two goals and three assists for five points in the minors. Florida Panthers goaltender Evan Cormier is also on the wire after reportedly signing a two-way contract for the rest of the season. The 27-year-old has not played an NHL game in his career. This season, he’s featured for the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates, recording a 3.56 goals-against average and .881 save percentage. The Utah Hockey Club signed center Cameron Hebig before placing him on waivers. The 28-year-old has spent the last five seasons in the AHL playing for the Tuscon Roadrunners, and he has 37 points in 48 games this season. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 6, 2025·Partner

Buffalo Sabres Remain Focused On Moving Past Rebuild With Contract Extension

The Buffalo Sabres signing Jordan Greenway to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday gives some perspective on where they're at as a team. Greenway's extension is worth $4 million per season, a $1-million raise from his current expiring deal. His previous deal was a three-year, $3-million contract signed with the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 31, 2022. He was traded to Buffalo on March 3, 2023. The once-pending UFA was considered trade bait during NHL trade deadline season. Buffalo had a different idea by keeping the left winger. If GM Kevyn Adams traded Greenway away, the team would have likely received some draft compensation in return. More importantly, they would lose a solid roster player with respectable NHL experience despite only recording eight points in 26 games this season. While it’s important to think about the future, the Sabres must move on from the rebuilding phases and get older as a squad. The Sabres haven’t seen playoff hockey in 13 years. Keeping Greenway and possibly other pending UFAs beyond this season could play a small part in the team ending the streak. Buffalo has the youngest team in the NHL with an average age of 25.76, according to eliteprospects.com. The next youngest team is the Montreal Canadiens averaging 26 years of age. Buffalo has just two players over the age of 30: goaltender James Reimer, 36, and left winger Jason Zucker, 33. Last season, the nine youngest teams in the NHL did not reach the playoffs, and Buffalo was among them. Age is more than just a number when it comes to the NHL. A solid core of established NHL veterans who can bring the best out of the inexperienced youngsters leads to success most of the time. Utah Hockey Club made similar signings on Wednesday evening, agreeing to terms with veteran center Alex Kerfoot, defensemen Ian Cole and goaltender Karel Vejmelka instead of using them as trade bait. Utah sits only four points out of a playoff spot after the Arizona Coyotes underwent a deep rebuild. Zucker ranks fifth on the Sabres in scoring, with 44 points in 54 games. He's found an effective role on the team as a producer and a veteran presence, so it would make sense for the Sabres to re-sign him unless a better opportunity to improve the roster arises in the trade market. Zucker told The Athletic in January he'd love to stay, but it wasn't in his control. Nevertheless, re-signing the 28-year-old Greenway could be a step in the right direction for a team that badly needs to have some success. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 6, 2025·Partner

NHL Looking To Attract Younger Audience With More Animated Programming

The NHL has announced a lineup of new animated programs that will run throughout the rest of this season. These programs, known as NHL Hockeyverse, are animated data visualizations that follow hockey games in real-time, providing a new experience for fans to watch their favorite teams. The NHL uses NHL Edge positional data and is powered by Sony’s Beyond Sports to implement the accuracy of the players and their actions into animated form. There will be five new events coming up on the calendar with three in March and two in April. Next Tuesday, the NHL will collaborate with the Boston Bruins for an animated broadcast of the Bruins and Florida Panthers game. This presentation is called the Best Snow Day Ever. This broadcast will be available at 7 p.m. ET on NESN. On March 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET, the NHL plans to air the game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars as the NHL Showcase presented by Dr Simi+. This broadcast will be available to fans in Spanish on Sky Mexico and Max (U.S.). On March 29, Hockey Paradise will be live at 2 p.m. ET and hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts take on the New York Islanders on the FanDuel Sports Network, as well as the Tampa Bay website and app. The first day of April showcases Music City Hockey in Smashville in a partnership with the Nashville Predators. The broadcast will air locally at 7 p.m. ET on NewsChannel 5 (WTVF), showing the game between the Preds and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Harvey’s Mountain Classic will nationally air in Canada as the Calgary Flames take on the San Jose Sharks on April 13. This broadcast begins at 8 p.m. EST and will be available on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet +. All these programs feature educational and fun content for kids incorporated into the broadcasts, along with the appearances of some of the mascots, according to the NHL. Furthermore, the NHL is collaborating with the San Jose Sharks to provide some extensive animated content. The league will create short animated highlights from every Sharks game between March 15 and April 16, which is the final day of the regular season for San Jose. The league already has NHL Hockeyverse Matchup of the Week airing on Saturdays on Sportsnet and NHL Network. The program features one NHL game from the past week in animated form. All animated program presentations will be available on-demand on the NHL’s YouTube channel and NHL.com after the initial airing. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 5, 2025·Partner

NHL Waivers: Lightning Duo Clears Waivers As Eastern Teams Waive Players

The Tampa Bay Lightning can clear salary cap space after Cam Atkinson and Logan Brown cleared NHL waivers. More teams added players to the waiver wire on Wednesday as well. With these moves, the team can bury Atkinson's $900,000 cap hit. Brown, who signed a two-way NHL contract, carries a $775,000 cap hit in the NHL. Tampa Bay's waiver news comes as the team's acquiring Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. In addition to Atkinson and Brown being sent down to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, four more Eastern Conference teams put in their own waiver transactions. Those placed on the wire on Saturday include Christian Fischer of the Detroit Red Wings, Jakub Vrana of the Washington Capitals and Jordan Oesterle of the Boston Bruins. The Florida Panthers placed Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers, but that was a part of signing the right winger to a two-way, pro-rated contract at $775,000. Detroit is in the process of clearing the most cap space of all the teams active in the waiver wire on Wednesday as Fischer earns $1.125 million. Boston and Washington waived players who earn the league minimum of $775,000. The Red Wings and the Bruins are currently in the trenches of the Eastern Conference wild-card battle. Therefore, they could be teams that look to add before Friday’s NHL trade deadline to advance themselves in the playoff race. According to PuckPedia, after burying Fischer’s contract, the Wings should have over $13 million in salary cap space, leaving plenty of room for potential additions to the team. As for the Bruins, waiving Oesterle will give the team about $2.4 million of cap space. While the Capitals carry $3.65 million of cap space, removing Vrana’s cap load will take them well over the $4 million mark. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 4, 2025·Partner

Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Jake Evans Despite NHL Trade Speculation

The Montreal Canadiens signed Jake Evans to a four-year contract, likely removing him from the NHL trade market. Evans' new contract, which kicks in next season and lasts through 2028-29, carries a $2.85-million average annual value and no no-trade or no-move clause. This extension likely removes Evans from the trade market with Friday's NHL trade deadline just days away. Evans was a pending UFA, and Canadiens GM Kent Hughes had teams waiting in line to potentially acquire the 28-year-old from the Canadiens. However, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the player "really wanted to stay." After being selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL draft by Montreal, Evans is now in his sixth season playing for the Canadiens. With that, he’s about to break career bests. In 61 games this season, the center has 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points. With 21 games remaining on the schedule, he is just one goal and one point away from matching his career highs. He's also five assists from matching his best of 21 from last season. Evans is tied for fifth in team points and goals. His five game-winning goals tie him with center Nick Suzuki and right winger Cole Caufield for first in that category. Evans is known for his 200-foot game and penalty-killing specialty. The Toronto native is second in the NHL among forwards in shorthanded time on ice, averaging 2:52 per game. Thanks to his help, the Canadiens are fifth in the NHL in penalty-kill percentage at 82.3 percent. Montreal's penalty kill has played a crucial role in its race to make the playoffs this season. They sit one point outside of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Between the Habs and the Detroit Red Wings, who holds that last playoff-spot in the East, there are two more teams in their way. Evans will be a huge help for Montreal in this race, now that there's the security of him staying. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Mar 1, 2025·Partner

Rangers Depart With Lindgren in Five-Player Trade With Avalanche

The New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche are getting business done six days ahead of the trade deadline. Ryan Lindgren (David Kirouac-Imagn Images) On Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren and left winger Jimmy Vesey from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Calvin de Haan and center Juuso Parssinen. Along with the two roster players going Colorado’s way, they get D-man Hank Kempf, a prospect at Cornell University. He has seven points in 28 games in the ECAC. In addition, the Rangers receive second-round and fourth-round conditional draft picks, and the team retains 50 percent of Lindgren’s contract. In the off-season, the 27-year-old signed a $4.5-million contract for one season with the Rangers and will become a UFA on July 1, unless he’s signed to a new deal before then. In New York, Lindgren played as a top-four defenseman, often paired with former Norris Trophy winner, Adam Fox. For the Avalanche, he’ll likely fill in a bottom-four pairing role, the same role de Haan has played for Colorado this season. In 54 games, Lindgren has scored two goals and reached a career-high 19 points. In addition, the blueliner averages 19:56 of ice time and has a plus-one rating. De Haan will likely slide into the Ranger’s bottom two pairings as he’s averaged 14:55 of ice time in his first season with Colorado. In 44 games, the 33-year-old has seven assists and a minus-eight rating. The Rangers will be de Haan’s seventh team in his 13-year career and the second time he’s been traded. The D-man makes $800,000 against the cap and becomes a UFA in the summer. Among the assets in this package deal, the teams swapped depth forwards, sending Parssinen to New York and Vesey to Colorado. Vesey is a former Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the top U.S. collegiate player in 2016. This season he’s played 33 games and scored four goals and six points while filtering in and out of the lineup. The 31-year-old has averaged 10:40 of ice time and a plus-minus rating of minus-two. Vesey earns $800,000 against the salary cap. As for Parssinen, he’s in his fourth NHL season. The 24-year-old was traded earlier this season on Dec. 28 from the Nashville Predators. In 37 games, the Finnish center has four goals and 11 points, similar production to Vesey while averaging 9:47 of ice time. Parssinen’s contract is expiring, earning a league minimum $775,000. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Feb 26, 2025·Partner

NHL Waivers: Oilers Take Back Travis Dermott While Penguins Waive Veteran

The Edmonton Oilers reclaimed defenseman Travis Dermott from the Minnesota Wild off NHL waivers on Wednesday, while the Pittsburgh Penguins placed Matt Nieto on the wire. The Oilers signed Dermott to a one-year contract worth $775,000 in October but placed him on waivers on Dec. 12. The Wild claimed him the following day. If no other team made a claim for Dermott on Wednesday, the Oilers can send him down to the minors with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. This season, the 28-year-old has played 19 games, 10 with the Oilers and nine with the Wild. Dermott has no points, along with a minus-three rating and an average ice time of 12:14, the lowest of his eight-year NHL career. Aside from a conditioning loan to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks in 2022-23 where he played one game, Dermott hasn’t played in the AHL since the 2017-18 campaign. He was a member of the Toronto Marlies, which went on to win the Calder Cup. Nieto, meanwhile, has only played 15 AHL games in his career, and 13 of them were more than a decade ago. This season, Nieto played two games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring a goal in a conditioning loan during his recovery from two knee surgeries. He has one goal and two assists in 31 games for Pittsburgh this season. He averaged 12:14 of ice time. Last season, he recorded one goal and three assists for four points in 22 games with the Penguins. During his 12-year NHL career, Nieto played for the San Jose Sharks for parts of four seasons, the Colorado Avalanche for parts of four seasons, the Sharks again for parts of three seasons, the Avalanche again for part of 2022-23 and the Penguins for the past two campaigns. Nieto is in the final year of his two-year contract worth $900,000 annually. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Andre Leal·Feb 24, 2025·Partner

Why NHL Suspended Ducks' Trevor Zegras For High Hit On Red Wings' Rasmussen

The NHL's Department of Player Safety issued a three-game suspension to Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras for his high hit on Detroit Red Wings center Michael Rasmussen. In Sunday's game between the Ducks and the Red Wings, Rasmussen chipped the puck into Anaheim's zone from the neutral zone before Zegras laid his shoulder into Rasmussen's head. Despite protests from Detroit's bench and Red Wings coach Todd McLellan, Zegras didn't receive a penalty at the time. "Zegras delivers a late, high hit that makes significant contact with Rasmussen's head," NHL Player Safety said in a video explanation. "Zegras begins his hitting motion after Rasmussen releases the puck, and contact is made outside the window where a check may be legally finished. "In addition to the lateness, what causes this hit to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the significant head on this play, combined with the force." Following the hit, Rasmussen left the game and did not return for the Wings. He departed the contest with 8:02 of ice time and scored a power-play goal in the first period. That was the 25-year-old's ninth goal of the season. Rasmussen also has seven assists and 16 points for Detroit this season. "When a player gets a hit to the head and doesn't return, it is never a good sign," McLellan told reporters after Detroit's 5-4 overtime win. He added that Rasmussen seemed "to be in fairly good spirits" after the game. "It seemed pretty high, especially for a guy that's 6-foot-6," Patrick Kane told media. In contrast to Rasmussen, Zegras is six-foot. This is Zegras' first NHL suspension, but the league has disciplined the 23-year-old before. In November 2022, the center was fined $1,500 for slashing defenseman Matt Benning. Zegras has seven goals and 16 points in 34 games. He's 10th on the team in goals and points. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.