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'We're Going To Be A Little Patient With It' — Why The Panthers Are Not Worried About Marchand's Lack Of Production
Brad Marchand has no goals and one assist since joining the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. But coach Paul Maurice said he is not worried about the lack of production — or lack of chemistry — from the 36-year-old.
After all, it’s been just four games. Let's talk after four rounds.
That's why the Panthers were willing to give up a first-round pick for Marchand. Not because he was going to help them in the final weeks of the regular season. But because of what he could do in the post-season, where the Panthers are trying to win back-to-back championships and reach the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive year.
Before that happens, Maurice must decide where Marchand fits best.
"I’m going to try to play him with as many people," said Maurice.
Prior to coming to Florida, Marchand had played 1,090 games with the Boston Bruins. During that span, he had won a Stanley Cup and reached the final another two times. That's quite the resume. It's also quite a long time to spend with one team.
In other words, it’s natural to assume that there is going to be an adjustment period, where Marchand not only gets used to playing with new teammates, but also for fans to get used to seeing him in a jersey that is not black-and-yellow.
So far, there's still a feeling out process.
“I feel exactly about where he’s at is where Vladimir Tarasenko was last year kind of when he came in with those six weeks and I played him with everybody,” Maurice told The Hockey News following a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
“We’re going to be a little patient with it.”
Like Marchand, Tarasenko had pretty much spent his entire career with the St. Louis Blues before going to Ottawa and then getting moved to Florida at last year's deadline. In the process, he went from being a top-line scorer to someone who played more of a depth role.
At his age in his career, Marchand may have to undergo a similar transition. But with Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov both missing from the lineup due to injuries, Maurice has an opportunity to experiment playing Marchand in a variety of line combinations.
“We’re really excited about a (power play) unit potentially with him Sam Bennett and maybe Carter (Verhaeghe),” said Maurice, who played Marchand on a line with Bennett and Evan Rodrigues against the Leafs. “We’ve got some moving parts here right now with players out of our lineup, so I think that continues until we get to hopefully to the playoffs and then we just make a decision and then go.”
Aside from his linemates, one of the biggest changes for Marchand has so far come in the ice time department. In his final games in Boston, he was logging more than 22 minutes. In four games with the Panthers, his time has been cut by about four minutes.
However, he's been getting increased responsibility as his comfort level continues to grow.
“He’s fit in seamlessly,” said Rodrigues. “It’s always hard when you play for one team for 17 years or whatever it was. There’s obviously going to be a transition period, but I think he’s done a great job. He’ll continue to get better and he’ll continue to get comfortable.
“He’ll get to a point where he’s not thinking about systems or anything like that. The play will just come naturally to him.”
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MMA-Style Takedown In NHL Fight Could Have Ended Very Badly
Everything in Connor McMichael's life is going wonderfully at the moment. At the age of 24, the Washington Capitals winger has established himself as a legitimate scoring power forward on one of the best teams in the NHL and has reached the 25-goal mark for the first time in his career.
All of that could have been affected Wednesday night in Raleigh, when he was flipped over MMA-style by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield. He very nearly hit the back of his non-helmeted head on the ice. If he had, it could have been bad. Very bad. Just as it could have been a couple of weeks ago when Tri-City Americans defenseman Terrell Goldsmith was knocked out cold in a WHL game in March.
Sometimes it seems as though the NHL is waiting for something bad to happen before it does something about penalizing fighting more severely. Even then, it might not be prompted to act.
Today's video column has more.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: Possible Replacements For Leafs' Mitch Marner, Latest On The Red Wings
Speculation persists over whether Mitch Marner will re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs or hit the free-agent market on July 1.
The two sides have declined to talk about their contract discussions with the media, though it's believed the 27-year-old right winger prefers waiting until the playoffs are over to begin negotiations.
The NHL trade deadline provided additional intrigue when the Maple Leafs reportedly explored a Marner-for-Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes. Leafs management is believed to have told Marner that re-signing him remained their priority, but if he didn't see a future in Toronto, the opportunity was available to go to Carolina.
Marner declined to waive his no-movement clause, preferring to stay with his hometown club, while the Hurricanes traded Rantanen to the Dallas Stars. Nevertheless, questions linger over his future in Toronto.
Earlier this week, Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle of The Athletic pondered the Leafs' “Plan B” if Marner departs on July 1.
They believe it would lead to an immediate promotion of William Nylander to the top line, leaving the Leafs in the market for a second-line right winger. Nikolai Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks are the notables who could be available through free agency.
Siegel and Mirtle raised the possibility of the Leafs waiting for next summer. Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg's Kyle Connor are UFA-eligible next July. However, they could be re-signed by their current clubs before then.
Turning to the Detroit Red Wings, The Athletic's Max Bultman believes GM Steve Yzerman must make bold off-season moves to turn his team into a legitimate playoff contender.
Such moves can be difficult to pull off. Nevertheless, Bultman pointed out that the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals were fringe teams last season whose audacious off-season deals significantly improved their rosters.
The Capitals' acquisitions of center Pierre-Luc Dubois, defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goalie Logan Thompson played key roles in their rise to the top of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Blues' additions of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg via offer sheets propelled them into a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Bultman thinks Yzerman must add players who can have a more consistent impact, calling for help for scoring forwards Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond and more puck-movers on the blueline. Whether the Wings GM heeds his advice remains to be seen.
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Four NHL Trade Deadline Losers, One Month Later
The NHL’s trade deadline was a month ago, so it’s a good time to revisit the winners and losers coming out of the deadline.
Earlier this week, we identified the winners. In this file, we’re identifying the losers. In alphabetical order:
1. Detroit Red Wings
After firing coach Derek Lalonde on Boxing Day, the Red Wings went on a 15-5-1 tear before the 4 Nations Face-Off. But when the trade deadline came and went, and Detroit GM Steve Yzerman failed to add talent to put them over the top in their playoff push, you could see the air let out of Detroit’s competitive balloon almost in real time.
Indeed, leading up to the deadline, the Red Wings lost five straight games, and since the deadline, they've been unable to recover, going 5-7-1 and fading from the post-season picture. Yzerman talked about the high prices he would’ve had to pay to add talent, but other GMs found a way to pay that price, and their teams are better for it.
Ultimately, it’s an indictment of Yzerman that his team is almost assuredly going to miss the playoffs for the ninth straight season. Nobody cares about high prices – they care about winning, and the Wings haven’t been able to consistently do that, in no small part because their GM couldn’t figure out a way to improve his roster.
2. Minnesota Wild
The Wild were one of the Central Division’s better teams early in the season, going 26-11-4 through Jan. 7. But at the deadline, all Minnesota GM Bill Guerin was able to do was add forwards Gustav Nyquist and Justin Brazeau – neither of them difference-makers. And since the deadline, the Wild have gone 5-7-3, sliding out of not only the top-three in the Central, but also into the second Western Conference wild-card position.
Minnesota wasn’t one of this writer’s favorites heading into the season, and now, they’re going to be heading into the playoffs as an underdog, no matter who they face. And there’s also still a risk that they fall out of the playoff picture completely.
Guerin could’ve been a bigger player on the trade front, but he added periphery talent, and it shows in the way the Wild have flailed and failed since then. And Guerin should be held accountable for his roster management. There’s not enough high-end talent in Minnesota, and until a change in philosophy happens, the Wild are destined for more of this mediocrity.
3. Nashville Predators
The Predators have had a horrendous season, and no one would’ve blamed Nashville GM Barry Trotz if he had stripped down the roster and focused on the future. In fact, that’s precisely what Trotz should’ve done. Instead, he moved Nyquist, defenseman Luke Schenn and winger Thomas Novak at the deadline. And if that sounds like a relative pittance in terms of what Trotz sent out and what he got back – a fourth-round pick for Schenn and Novak, and a second-rounder for Nyquist – that’s because it is.
Trotz could’ve traded center Ryan O’Reilly – who didn’t have no-trade protection – and received much more talent to build the team around. But that didn’t happen, and the Preds weren’t able to slide further in the standings and get a better chance at securing the top draft pick in this summer’s entry draft.
Trotz needed to do much more than he did, and consequently, the Preds won’t be as talented as they could’ve been in the long term. Nashville management has no one but themselves to blame for that.
4. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have been scratching and clawing to stay in the playoff mix this year, and they’ve tried to overcome internal strife to at least lock up a wild-card berth. Unfortunately for Vancouver fans, GM Patrik Allvin didn’t do what he should’ve done at the deadline – specifically, moving star winger and pending UFA Brock Boeser. And even with Boeser still in their employ, the Canucks have slowly-but-surely plummeted out of the playoff picture.
So, Vancouver will probably miss out on the post-season, and Boeser may leave town for nothing in return. Any way you cut it, that’s a huge black mark on the Allvin Era. The Canucks went from one of the best teams in the West last season to a sub-par group this year, and Allvin’s inability to improve the lineup stands out in a seriously negative way.
Vancouver is squarely in the “mushy middle” right now – a place no team should want to be. However, there’s no question the Canucks have been less than the sum of their parts, and that’s on Vancouver management.
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Three RFAs Likely To Be Offer Sheet Targets This Summer
It was reported on Thursday that some NHL agents and executives are expecting an increase in offer sheets to be made this upcoming off-season. This is in large part due to the rise in the salary cap year-over-year and will present every team with more opportunities to hunt down young, high-end talent on expiring entry-level contracts.
The offer sheets for Edmonton's Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg by the St. Louis Blues made waves throughout the hockey world as they were able to scoop up two key players from the defending Western Conference Champions.
Holloway made an immediate impact, breaking out for a career-high 63 points, while Broberg solidified himself as a reliable stay-at-home defender with a plus-21 rating this season.
The move was a huge win for St. Louis and turned them into a playoff contender. The success of the offer sheets has seemingly motivated more teams behind the scenes to go after restricted free agents with high upside and add a cornerstone player for their franchise, like the Blues got with Holloway and Broberg.
All RFAs are more than likely going to stay put, but we're offering up a list of some restricted free agents that will be highly sought after this upcoming off-season and could even get an offer sheet that just can't be matched.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
The story surrounding the Buds this season has been Mitch Marner and whether the hometown kid will re-sign or not. But as Marner has risen to the top of the Leafs in scoring, Knies has quietly had a breakout season with 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points through 71 games.
The 22-year-old's performance on the scoresheet this season has inserted himself into the conversation with names like Florida's Sam Bennett, 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and Hall-of-Fame winger Patrick Kane. Knies has become the power forward that Toronto has always needed and yearned for as he adds to the sensation that this is the most physically tough Maple Leafs team in a very long time.
The Arizona native will be highly sought after and will have general managers tripping over themselves to get a chance to add him at the expense of several high draft picks. Toronto will likely find a way to bring back Knies, as he is the type of player they've been longing for, but if they get preoccupied with other pending free agents, a team may be able to swoop in and give an offer they can't match.
The Maple Leafs have many other key players on expiring contracts besides Marner like John Tavares, Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. So, keep an eye out for Knies this summer.
Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers could get perged again with offer sheets as their top blueliner is on an expiring contract. After finishing fourth in defensemen scoring with 82 points last season, Bouchard has taken a step back with 62 points this season.
The 25-year-old Oakville, Ont. native was a massive part of the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals last season with an average time on ice of 25 minutes as well as 32 points in 25 playoff games. He was our dark-horse pick to win the Norris Trophy this season and has been heating up lately with 17 points over his last 16 games. He will likely play a huge role in the Oilers' playoff run again and will continue to attract more eyeballs.
Edmonton has a sizeable amount of their cap allocated to their two superstars in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (a combined $26.5 million in 2025-26 per PuckPedia) with room for another team to potentially outbid them for their superstar defenseman.
K'Andre Miller, D, New York Rangers
This one appears the most likely to happen as Rangers GM Chris Drury has made several franchise-altering trades this season, dealing big names like captain Jacob Trouba and forward Filip Chytil while adding superstar winger J.T. Miller.
Another big move that people believed was coming was K'Andre Miller being moved due to his lackluster performance this season. With a minus-9 rating and just six points through his first 30 games, many NHL insiders suggested a change in scenery would've been best for the 25-year-old.
The Minnesota native has been able to pick up his play lately but the rumors of Miller being offered up near the deadline are still on people's minds and could mean that an opposing team may be willing to give a more competitive offer than the Rangers.
Miller was once a highly-touted prospect after being selected 22nd overall by the Rangers in 2018. He's put up impressive numbers in the past like his 43-point campaign in 2023, and certain teams may want a taste of that upside.
Honorable Mentions:
Luke Hughes - New Jersey Devils
Will Cuylle - New York Rangers
Gabriel Vilardi - Winnipeg Jets
J.J. Peterka - Buffalo Sabres
Noah Dobson - New York Islanders
Bowen Byram - Buffalo Sabres
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Six NHL Trade Deadline Winners, One Month Later
We're closing in on one month since the NHL’s trade deadline on March 7, and a lot's happened since then.
One team that stood quiet looks like a group of geniuses one month later, while teams that looked like winners right away are holding up to that designation. Other squads that weren't among the top immediate winners are proving they do deserve to be considered for that category.
In alphabetical order, let's look at six of the biggest winners since the NHL trade deadline approaching the one-month mark.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche made their defense corps one of the deepest in the NHL by adding Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson. They then brought in center Brock Nelson to lock down the No. 2 center role.
Colorado is the third-hottest NHL team since the deadline, going 10-2-2. They’re averaging two goals against per game in that span, which is tied for the second fewest. Nelson also has four goals and 10 points in 14 games, which is the type of secondary scoring Colorado needed. Deadline acquisition Charlie Coyle also has five points while averaging 13:32 in ice time.
The major long-term question is whether the team will be better off after trading former pending UFA Mikko Rantanen, who signed an eight-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars. Martin Necas has 26 points in 27 games in Rantanen’s place.
Nevertheless, the Avalanche’s moves on trade deadline week have paid off well – and that’s why they’re one of the more frightening teams heading into the playoffs.
Dallas Stars
Dallas has gone 9-2-2 since the deadline, and its big pickup – star right winger Rantanen – has fit right in. He has nine assists and 13 points in 13 games as one of five Stars players averaging at least a point per game since March 7. Earlier acquisition Mikael Granlund also has six goals and 18 points in 24 games since joining Dallas.
Rantanen is one of the reasons the Stars are now in a position to challenge the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the highly competitive Central Division. Tyler Seguin could even return in the playoffs as well, and if they get past the first round, Miro Heiskanen could also return.
Dallas GM Jim Nill’s willingness to step up and make big swings at the trade deadline is one of the reasons why the Stars are once again asserting themselves as a Stanley Cup front-runner.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators made one of the biggest moves at the deadline, picking up center Dylan Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres for center Josh Norris as part of a package deal.
Since the deadline, the Senators have gone 9-4-1, solidifying their hold on the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot and getting within a hot streak of challenging the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Cozens has six assists and nine points in 14 games as a Senator, and that’s music to Ottawa’s ears. Six of those points came at even strength, which comes out to one-third of Norris's 18 even-strength points in 53 games for Ottawa this season.
While Fabian Zetterlund only has one assist in that span, he’s taken the fifth-most shots on net on the team since March 7, and he’s generating enough chances to suggest he’s due for goals.
If the Sens pull off a first-round upset, the price they paid at the deadline will be well worth it – if it isn’t worth it already.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues didn’t make any trades at the deadline. Sometimes, the moves you don’t make are more important than the ones you do, and that’s certainly true for St. Louis this year.
The Blues are enjoying an 11-game win streak that’s pushed them into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They might not have gotten there had they traded captain Brayden Schenn, as was heavily rumored at the deadline.
So yes, St. Louis should be on this list, as they’ve been one of the biggest winners because of their decisions at the deadline. They could’ve been much more active, but that could’ve sunk their season. Standing pat absolutely was the right choice for them.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are 7-5-1 since the deadline, but they’ve won four of their last five games to move into second place in the Atlantic.
Tampa Bay’s big pre-deadline move brought in forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. Both players have done well in the early going with the Lightning, as Gourde has nine assists in 14 games, and Bjorkstrand has four goals and six points in 14 games.
Neither player has to do the heavy lifting for Tampa Bay, but the Lightning needed that quality depth in their lineup. Gourde already has more points for the Bolts than Zemgus Girgensons’ six points in 75 games and Luke Glendening’s seven points in 74 games, and he has as many as Cam Atkinson’s nine points in 38 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s true the Maple Leafs haven’t gotten much offensive production from forward Scott Laughton since spending a first-round draft pick to acquire him from Philadelphia. Still, Laughton has looked more comfortable of late, and he’s now a better fit as a winger on Toronto’s third line.
The reason why the Leafs are on this list is the play of veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo, who has been very solid since the Buds acquired him from Boston. Carlo has proven to be a great fit with Morgan Rielly on Toronto’s first defense pairing, and the Leafs also needed more of his physical edge and shot-blocking ability.
Toronto has gone 8-4-1 since the deadline to move into the top spot in the Atlantic, and they’re a tougher team to play against ahead of a pressure-filled playoff run.
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‘Alex, You Did It!’: Teammates, Family, Gretzky And Bettman Celebrate Ovechkin’s Record-Breaking Goal
History was made as Alex Ovechkin finally claimed the all-time goal record from Wayne Gretzky. He scored goal No. 895 on the power play midway through the second period, assisted by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome.
The celebrations for the occasion started with a bang as Ovechkin slid to center ice on his stomach after he ripped the puck past New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin.
His teammates surrounded him, jumping up and down in excitement. Ovechkin then saluted the crowd at UBS Arena, filled with plenty of Washington Capitals fans.
Throughout the ceremony and aftermath of the goal, Ovechkin expressed his gratitude for those who helped him get to where he is. He skated to the Capitals bench and thanked every member of the team’s staff.
While Ovechkin thanked his loved ones, the tribute video on the jumbotron played a compilation of his best goals as well as special messages, including ones from big-time celebrities.
Michael Phelps, LeBron James, Simone Biles and Derek Jeter and more were among those who congratulated the new all-time leading goal scorer.
The retired Mark Messier and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews toasted him on his accomplishment. He also received recognition from Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and his fellow countryman, Evgeni Malkin.
Following the handshake line with the Islanders, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Gretzky were called to the carpet, where Bettman was booed as usual, and Gretzky received a roar of cheers.
The two joined the team at ice level to begin the ceremony. Ovechkin stood at center ice with his family, including his mother, wife, two sons and father-in-law.
Bettman made the opening statement, “We have all just witnessed history in front of greatness. Wayne, you'll always be the Great One, and you had a record that nobody ever thought could be broken. But Alex, you did it!”
The Great One was next on the mic, and it was all class. He paid his respects and recognition to the Islanders franchise and even made a joke about how he struggled at Nassau Coliseum, their old arena.
“They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who is going to get more goals than that,” Gretzky said. Ovechkin was given a painting featuring both Ovechkin and Gretzky, while the Gretzky family provided a gift for Ovi’s wife, Anastasia.
Then it was the 'Great 8's' turn to speak. He wasted no time thanking his teammates, the Capitals organization, staff and, of course, his family for helping him on this journey.
He jokingly thanked Sorokin, who was in net for the goal. It was the first time Ovechkin scored on Sorokin in his career.
Before the restart, Ovechkin took a group photo with his teammates, family, Gretzky and Bettman to cap off a great ceremony.
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Was Islanders' Patrick Roy Justified In Calling Out Anthony Duclair?
New York Islanders left winger Anthony Duclair is taking some time off two days after coach Patrick Roy called him out in a press conference.
Roy told reporters Thursday that he and Duclair had a positive conversation, and he granted the player’s request to take some time away and reflect, according to The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner.
This week’s news is a reminder that coaching NHL players is still an inexact science, and sometimes, the “old school” way of confronting players is still used. But it is tough to see the benefit in Roy’s comments on Tuesday night.
“He was god-awful. He was god-awful. He had a bad game," Roy said of Duclair’s play in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. "That's why I didn't play him a lot. And he's lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that's how I feel…He's not skating, he's not competing, he's not moving his feet. He's not playing up to what we expect from him."
To be fair, Duclair is under pressure to produce. He’s in the first season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, and the 29-year-old only has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 44 games. Duclair also has a full no-trade clause until 2026, so he’s in control of his on-ice future to a degree.
However, is it really a good idea for Roy to call out one of his players the way he did with Duclair? Roy isn’t exactly John Tortorella-ish in his mannerisms and approaches to his job, but it’s hard to see how naming and shaming Duclair will lead to a guaranteed turnaround in his on-ice performance.
Perhaps the fact the Islanders are on a six-game winless skid that’s essentially taken them out of a playoff position caused some general frustration. It wouldn’t be the first time a coach has taken out their frustration with his team by scapegoating a player.
While Duclair must own his role in the Isles’ struggles, there must be a solution that keeps him under the team’s umbrella, if that’s even in doubt in the first place.
The Islanders are the ninth team Duclair has played for in his NHL career, and the longest he’s been with one team is the two-and-a-half seasons he played for the Florida Panthers from 2020 to 2022.
Having that job security with the Isles was no doubt a big factor in him signing with the team last summer, but Duclair even said Roy was a factor. His former QMJHL coach called him before he decided to join the Islanders.
That said, if Roy is calling out players like this, it’s either tough love that will end with Duclair improving, or it’s a huge mistake. In any case, Duclair’s play under Roy will now be under the microscope until further notice.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: Sabres' Peterka, Rangers' Coach And Kraken's Plans Generate Speculation
The anticipated rise in the NHL’s salary cap to $95.5 million for next season might encourage some teams to pursue a rival club's leading RFA with an offer sheet.
A GM might draw inspiration from the St. Louis Blues' bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg last summer from the Edmonton Oilers. Both players have been key contributors to the Blues' second-half surge into a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Buffalo Sabres left winger JJ Peterka could an RFA to watch. The 23-year-old is completing his entry-level contract and has reached a career-best 60 points in 69 games.
The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote that Peterka often plays with Tage Thompson on the top line, but he’s been eligible for a contract extension since last July, and his name even surfaced in trade speculation around the deadline. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton believe Peterka could be a prime offer-sheet candidate.
The Sabres have a projected cap space of $23.2 million with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. They have plenty of room to match an offer for Peterka, but they must also ensure they have sufficient cap room to re-sign other RFAs, such as Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers' firing of coach John Tortorella last week prompted some observers to speculate about Peter Laviolette's future as the New York Rangers' bench boss. After guiding the Blueshirts to the Presidents' Trophy last season, Laviolette has struggled to keep his club in the playoff race in a season of uncertainty amid frequent roster shakeups.
The Hockey News’ Stan Fischler believes the Rangers should replace Laviolette with Tortorella immediately to wake up the underachievers.
Arthur Staple of The Athletic recently examined the pros and cons of replacing Laviolette. If management decides to make a coaching change, they're unlikely to bring in someone lacking NHL experience, like Denver University's David Carle or Cam Abbott of the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
Staple observed that Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins was on their shortlist of coaching candidates two years ago. However, Sullivan doesn't appear interested in leaving Pittsburgh, and the Penguins wouldn't want to risk him being hired by a division rival.
Turning to the Seattle Kraken, Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times believes they'll be busy during the off-season attempting to bolster their roster following another disappointing campaign.
Shefte observed the Kraken's offense has improved this season, but their goals-against increased while their special teams were among the league's bottom third. She noted they're set to land a top-five first-round draft pick and have the cap space and trade bait to add to their lineup this summer.
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Five NHL Players Who Overachieved In 2024-25
Whether it's veterans defying the odds or under-the-radar acquisitions stepping up, every year, there are players around the NHL who perform beyond expectations. The 2024-25 season has been no exception, providing a ton of incredible storylines that highlight the unpredictable nature of hockey.
Here are five of the NHL’s biggest overachievers from this memorable season.
Matt Duchene, C, Dallas Stars
Despite putting up 65 points in the 2023-24 season, Matt Duchene elected to stay in Dallas on a remarkably team-friendly contract, signing a one-year deal for $3 million. Things couldn’t have turned out better for both Duchene and the Stars, as the 34-year-old is second in team scoring with 29 goals and 78 points in 76 games.
With seven games remaining in the regular season, Duchene’s next goal would mark just the third time in his career that he’s reached the 30-goal milestone. There’s a case to be made that he’s been one of the league’s most valuable players relative to salary this year, and Duchene is poised for a huge playoff run with the Stars in the coming weeks.
Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils
Considering Jesper Bratt was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 draft by the New Jersey Devils, he’s always been an overachiever. However, this year has been exceptional. Bratt was in the midst of a career-best season before Devils superstar Jack Hughes was sidelined, and it was reasonable to assume that his production would take a dip in the final weeks of the regular season.
However, the Swedish winger has been just as impressive alongside Nico Hischier and has become a primary playmaker of his own, recording 16 assists and 20 points in 15 games since Hughes went down. This is the second time in Bratt’s career that he is averaging over a point per game – he had 83 points in 82 games last season – and he’ll have to maintain that level of offense in order to lead the Devils to playoff success.
Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been one of the best stories in the NHL this season, and Zach Werenski has been a huge part of it. The 27-year-old defensemen had historically been a 50-point player with clear offensive upside that was limited due to a weak supporting cast.
This season, the Blue Jackets got a huge scoring boost, soaring from 25th in goals per game (2.85) in 2023-24, all the way to 10th (3.19), and Werenski’s output skyrocketed as a result. His 74 points are second to only Cale Makar among defensemen and he’s one of only three D-men to be averaging over a point per-game this season. On top of all that, Werenski leads the league in ice time (27:01 minutes per game on average) and is the first player since Dustin Byfuglien in the 2016-17 season to average over 27 minutes a night.
In pretty much every other year, Werenski would be the runaway favorite to win the Norris trophy, but even if he doesn’t take any hardware home this spring, the Blue Jackets will be happy to know that they’ve got a bonafide superstar on their blueline for years to come.
Ryan Donato, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Creating offense hasn’t been easy for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, which is why it made sense that Ryan Donato was at the forefront of trade-deadline conversations earlier this year with his solid production and modest $2-million cap hit.
Donato is just one goal away from reaching the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career, and is currently tied with Connor Bedard for the most points on the team with 59 in 74 games played.
The 28-year-old is definitely benefitting from having an elevated role in a weaker lineup, and only time will tell if he’s truly become a top-line forward, but he’s exceeded all expectations and has been one of the very few bright spots for the Blackhawks this season.
Mikael Granlund, C, Dallas Stars
In a year where Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Brock Nelson and many other stars were dealt ahead of the trade deadline, Mikael Granlund has quietly emerged as one of the best in-season acquisitions. Similarly to Donato, Granlund put up impressive numbers on a lacklustre San Jose Sharks squad for a second consecutive season, recording 45 points in 52 games.
After an impressive showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Granlund has been nearly just as impactful with the Dallas Stars despite playing in a diminished role, putting up 18 points in 25 games while averaging over three minutes of ice time less per game.
Entering this season, it was hard to imagine that the Stars could actually get deeper, but GM Jim Nill has truly outdone himself by bolstering the team’s middle-six with Granlund.
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Why John Tavares Deserves The Toronto Maple Leafs' Masterton Nomination
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares has had quite the year.
The 34-year-old has done everything asked of him and then some as the team sits first in the Atlantic Division – even though it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for him. In fact, Tavares deserves to be the Maple Leafs’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the NHLer who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication” to the sport.
Certainly, Tavares qualifies on all counts for the Masterton. We’re talking about a veteran who had the Maple Leafs’ captaincy taken from him and given to teammate Auston Matthews, and he did it without complaint.
Tavares has also had a terrific bounce-back season after seeing his point total drop to 65 points in 80 games last year. He has 70 points in 68 games – his best points-per-game average since his first year with Toronto in 2018-19, when he posted 47 goals and 88 points in 82 games. He’s also scored 36 goals and is bound to exceed the 36 he had in 2022-23. He even missed some time due to an injury in January, but that didn’t faze him.
Instead, Tavares has been one of the Leafs’ most consistent performers, scoring eight game-winning goals, which ties him for Toronto’s lead with fellow star William Nylander. Tavares can’t be negatively affected by obstacles in front of him.
That includes the likely pay cut he’ll have to take if he wants to remain a Maple Leaf. Tavares is in the final season of a seven-year contract worth $11 million annually, and the team also has Mitch Marner becoming a UFA and Matthew Knies becoming an RFA.
That knowledge of his financial future might sour other players, but not Tavares.
"Professionalism and the mindset he has, day in and day out – he's almost like having another coach around," Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube told reporters Wednesday night. "The preparation daily never changes."
Simply put, you can’t find many flaws in his play – and after 1,177 regular-season games and 62 playoff contests, that’s really saying something about him.
Like the rest of his Leafs teammates, Tavares will ultimately be judged by Toronto’s post-season results this year. But all the pressure he’s under isn’t affecting him publicly. He’s far and away Toronto’s Masterton nominee, underscoring his place in Leafs history as a true difference-maker.
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Alex Ovechkin Ties Gretzky’s NHL Goals Record Amid 14th 40-Goal Season
Alex
Ovechkin stands beside Wayne Gretzky as the top goal-scorers in NHL history,
and he’s one goal away from breaking the record.
After scoring
goal No. 893 early on Friday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin
notched No. 894 in the third period. He tied Wayne Gretzky's goals count in one fewer game and is one goal from standing alone.
"It's fun," Ovechkin told Monumental Sports on the bench after the game.
"Right now, so emotional, you never thought you can reach this milestone, and how I always said, without all my teammates, all my partners, you guys (the fans), obviously my family, my mom, my wife, they support, they do everything I need, and it's great."
Gretzky was in Capital One Arena watching history unfold and received a standing ovation from Caps fans in the first period.
The opening goal happened four minutes into Washington’s battle with the Blackhawks. That was Ovechkin’s 40th goal of the year, the 14th time he achieved that mark in his 20-year career. He has the most 40-goal seasons in NHL history, breaking the tie with Gretzky's 12 campaigns last year.
Defenseman John Carlson played the puck along the wall and found Dylan Strome behind Chicago’s net. Strome picked out the Capitals captain, who fired home a one-timer from point-blank.
Ovechkin beat goaltender Spencer Knight for the fourth time in his career. His shot beat Knight’s blocker but rang off the post. Luckily for Ovechkin, it bounced off the backside of the Blackhawks’ netminder and crossed the goal line.
The second goal of the game came on the power play.
With 13:47 left in the third period, Ovechkin stood at the left faceoff circle uncovered and buried a pass into the open net.
Ovechkin’s goals against the Blackhawks puts him on a four-game goal streak.
In his three games leading up to Friday’s outing, along with three goals, he provided an additional three assists for six points.
After the game, the Blackhawks players lined up to congratulate Ovechkin on tying the record. The Capitals captain then stood at center ice to salute the crowd and went to the glass to fist bump his two sons through the glass.
Washington plays next on Sunday afternoon against the New York Islanders in UBS Arena on and return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Further down the schedule, the Capitals take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road on April 12 and at home on April 13. Ovechkin scored his first career NHL goal against the Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005. Nearly 20 years later, he can break the record against them, if he doesn’t do it in the next two games.
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Five NHL Records That Will Never, Ever Be Broken (Trust Us)
With Alex Ovechkin doing what many people thought was impossible, no NHL record is safe, right?
Not exactly. In fact, there's a chance a sharpshooter (Auston Matthews) comes along and takes Washington Capitals captain Ovechkin off the top of the NHL record book for goals.
But there are some records that are so preposterous, so incredible and so freakish that they will never fall.
Find out about five of them in today's video column.
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New York's Uncertain Path: Can Rangers Bounce Back Next Season With Same Group?
By just about every metric, the New York Rangers have been a massive disappointment this season.
The Blueshirts currently have a decent shot at sliding into the Stanley Cup playoffs in the second and final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but even then, the Rangers will be rightly presumed to be post-season roadkill in the first round. And once they are eliminated from the playoffs – one way or another – the focus will turn to what they’re likely to do next season.
From this writer’s perspective, the Rangers are going to be challenged just to bring back the same group of talent next year – a group that’s been unable to do much of any good as it stands this season.
For one thing, the Rangers are already committed to approximately $85.7 million in salary cap space next season – and even with a rising cap ceiling of $95.5-million next year, that leaves the Blueshirts with about $9.8 million in cap space.
Considering the Rangers have to re-sign RFA defenseman K’Andre Miller and six other RFAs, that will leave precious little money to throw at free agents from other teams – something that’s been the M.O. of this Blueshirts franchise for most of the modern era.
Rangers GM Chris Drury has painted himself into a corner with this group, and he’s either going to have to be creative on the trade front to improve his roster, or he’s going to have no choice but to run it back with the same lineup next season. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for a turnaround in the standings during 2025-26.
Now, maybe there is internal improvement ahead for many Rangers players. Superstar goalie Igor Shesterkin hasn’t been able to steal games for his team this season the way he has in the past, and perhaps he will revert to his peak form next year. And maybe stars Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad all overcome sub-par seasons this year by surging next season.
That said, we’re talking about many “what-ifs” for this franchise. There’s no guarantee any or all of the aforementioned Rangers stars will bounce back with high-impact seasons. And that’s why there should be skepticism that the Blueshirts will be able to somehow flip a switch and once again be dominant the way they were in 2023-24, when they won the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team.
In some respects, the Rangers are similar to the Vancouver Canucks, another team that did well in the regular-season last year, but a team that almost certainly is going to miss out on the playoffs this season. Both teams will be planning on a bounce-back showing next year, and both teams could fail once again to make the playoffs.
The Rangers need many things to go right for them to be a top team in the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26. And as we’ve seen this season, many things can go wrong for this particular collection of talent.
The Metro is going to be a more competitive division next year, and the Rangers could once again find themselves battling just to land a wild-card berth, let alone be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
It’s not easy to climb to the top of the NHL as the Rangers did in 2023-24, but as we’re seeing this year, it’s even harder to stay at the top of the league. The Rangers have their work cut out for them, both in the remaining six regular-season games they have left this season, and once next season begins for them. But it’s obvious that the Blueshirts have plenty of room for improvement, and nothing short of a major reversal of fortune should stop the Rangers from arriving at a crossroads and facing bigger changes sooner than later.
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Bruins And Predators' Free Fall Could Lead To Great News
The Boston Bruins are so bad right now that it may help them more than people think.
It almost beggars belief that, coming off a 47-20-15 record last season, the Bruins are dead last in the Eastern Conference right now.
The Bruins were three points out of a wild-card spot at the NHL trade deadline when they traded Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle and Justin Brazeau. They since plummeted to the East’s basement and sit 29th overall with a 30-37-9 mark. They’re also 0-9-1 in their last 10 games after losing to longtime rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Thursday. It’s undoubtedly painful for Bruins fans to watch.
But the Bruins’ free fall through the standings has a positive element. It means they’ve avoided the mushy middle of the East and can now have a very high draft pick – maybe even the first-overall pick, if they win the draft lottery.
Before you know it – perhaps as soon as next season – the Bruins could be right back in the thick of the playoff hunt .
After Boston GM Don Sweeney sold at the trade deadline, Boston is committed to about $66.7 million in salary cap space next season. With the cap ceiling slated to rise to $95.5 million, that leaves the Bruins with about $29 million in cap space, which gives them leeway to spruce things up in the off-season. They do have six RFAs to take care of and five UFAs, but if they want to make changes and go big in free agency, they can.
But if the draft goes in their favor, Boston would have a draft pick in the top half of the first round for the first time since 2016, when they selected defenseman Charlie McAvoy 14th overall.
Boston hasn’t had a top-10 pick since Dougie Hamilton went to them ninth overall in 2011, and they haven’t had a top-five pick or higher since Tyler Seguin went to them second overall in 2010.
Needless to say, landing a top-five pick or better this season would do wonders for Boston’s core in the next decade or longer. All things considered, the Bruins’ relatively short period of struggle this season could be extremely beneficial for their big picture.
Another team in a similar situation to the Bruins is the Nashville Predators. They currently have the NHL’s third-worst record despite being major buyers in free agency.
Heading into next season, Nashville has about $17.2 million in cap space, so GM Barry Trotz will have many areas where he can improve the organization.
The Predators haven’t had a top-10 draft pick since they selected defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall in 2013. Incredibly, they haven’t had a top-three pick or better since selecting David Legwand second overall with the franchise’s first-ever draft pick in 1998. The Preds desperately need young, elite talent, and like the Bruins, Nashville’s unexpected collapse this season could have benefits in the long haul.
But back to the Bruins, whose fans have grown accustomed to year after year of being legitimate front-runners to go on long playoff runs. Their longest playoff drought since the 1960s is two seasons.
It must be unsettling for them to see this rapid collapse, but it must be more comforting to know that this doesn’t happen as often to them as it does to other teams. They’ll also be picking up a skilled player who can be part of their core for many years to come.
Who knows – by adding some veteran talents, Boston could return to the playoff mix next season. But you can’t get elite young players without some short-term pain, and that’s why the Bruins’ current struggles are a double-edged sword. They, at some point, needed to bottom out to take more steps forward as soon as possible, and that time is now.
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How Soon Will Jacob Fowler Play For The Montreal Canadiens Full-Time?
After an incredible NCAA career, Montreal Canadiens prospect Jacob Fowler turned pro.
The Boston College goaltender signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL’s Laval Rocket to finish off this season, and his entry-level contract with the Canadiens will kick off in 2025-26.
The 20-year-old goalie did almost everything he could have at the college level, posting a 57-13-3 record over his two years with BC and a .932 save percentage in that span. He’s been one of the most dominant netminders in college in the last two years. He’s helped BC contend for a national title each season, as well.
The Canadiens could have signed Fowler to an entry-level contract that kicks in this season in case they wanted to give him some NHL experience this month. Since they’re in a race for the final wild-card spot, they can’t risk integrating a rookie netminder when every game is vital.
That begs the question: when will Fowler be ready for NHL action, and how soon should Canadiens fans expect to see their star goalie prospect? That question has a few layers to it.
The most important thing to note is Fowler’s arrival time will ultimately depend on how he performs in Laval and in training camp in the fall. The Canadiens need to be sure because at just 20 years old (he’ll be 21 in November), there is no need to rush him into the lineup. Developing him properly is key to unlocking his full potential.
The Montreal crease isn’t full of elite talent, but there are a few very good netminders in the system. Sam Montembeault was on Canada’s 4 Nations team, and although he didn’t play at the event, he is clearly respected around the NHL. He’s been a workhorse for the team, playing in 57 games to this point and posting a respectable .900 save percentage.
Jakub Dobes has slowed down a bit, but he’s been Montreal’s best player on many nights when he’s in the crease. The 23-year-old has helped give the Habs a more stable crease, pairing with Montembeault to form a solid duo. Pushing him back down to the AHL would be unfair in many ways because he proved he deserves a shot at the NHL level.
Cayden Primeau also has fans in the organization who have faith that he is an NHL-caliber netminder. Although his numbers weren’t fantastic this year and prompted the team to give him time in the AHL, he has had some impressive stretches in the last couple of seasons.
That’s three names ahead of Fowler on the current depth chart, and he must surpass two of them to secure an NHL role. While he’s arguably the group's most talented netminder, Fowler will have to work to earn his role. He must be nearly dominant in the AHL, as his did in college, to show he is ready.
With Dobes and Montembeault looking like the duo to start next season, Fowler will likely be the go-to guy for Laval. That will give him plenty of opportunity to prove he is ready to take the next step.
It won’t be immediate, but should an injury arise while Fowler plays well in the AHL, he could be the first option as a call-up. But depending on how early in the season it is, the Habs could opt to give Fowler the crease fully in the AHL and call up a journeyman they sign or Primeau to ensure they aren’t setting him up for failure.
Goalies always take slightly longer to develop unless they are truly special. Canadiens fans are used to special goaltending over the years, thanks to Patrick Roy and Carey Price, but they can’t rush a good thing. Fowler likely needs a year in the AHL to adjust to pro hockey, and then he can make a real run at making the team for the 2026-27 season.
At that point, the Canadiens should be ready to start truly competing and making deep runs. A tandem of Fowler and either Dobes or Montembeault could be an excellent backbone. Canadiens fans need to stay patient, though. Fowler is an excellent prospect, but he needs to adjust and further develop. The organization has done so many things right with their prospects, and they need to keep that up with their star goalie prospect.
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The Blues Are The Wild Card Team That No One Wants To Face In The Playoffs
In both style and substance, the St. Louis Blues look a lot like a team
that was pretty successful six years ago.
Since
the NHL broke for the 4 Nations Face-Off almost two months ago, the Blues have transformed themselves from hapless deadline seller to
legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Going 16-2-2
since the break, the Blues have not only made up an eight-point gap to
find themselves comfortably in a playoff spot in the Western Conference,
but they've also morphed into a team nobody in the NHL wants anything
to do with in the first round of the playoffs.
Imagine
you're the Winnipeg Jets.
You put together an incredible campaign with
all kinds of individual and franchise bests and your reward is to face
the Blues in the first round. Or you win the Pacific Division, as the
Vegas Golden Knights almost certainly will, only to have to face the
Blues.
That's not exactly a reward. If anything, it's a punishment.
Here's more in today's video column:
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Toronto Maple Leafs On The Cusp Of Longest Active Playoff Streak – But The Pressure Is Higher Than Ever
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the cusp of standing alone with the longest active NHL playoff streak.
Toronto clinched a playoff spot for the ninth straight season on Wednesday night, while it’s a matter of time before the Eastern Conference’s last place team, the Boston Bruins, are eliminated from contention. Both clubs were tied for the longest streak at eight seasons.
In the most important sense, the Leafs’ streak of playoff appearances doesn’t mean much besides the fact that the pressure to win at least a couple of rounds is higher than ever. They’ve only won one playoff round in eight seasons.
Not only that, but since 2016-17, the Leafs have the 15th-most playoff wins and the 15th-most playoff games played. This is a stark reminder of how many chances the Buds have blown.
Toronto’s active playoff streak is an emotional double-edged sword for Leafs fans. Most of them remember the lean years, when the Buds didn’t make the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons beginning in 2005-06. So, having playoff games for what will be nine straight years now is far preferable to the alternative of no playoff games.
However, if the Maple Leafs do get eliminated in the first or second round of this year’s post-season – or even if they win two playoff series and then get unceremoniously swept in the Eastern final – there will be no moral victories.
There won’t be any more excuses that will satisfy Leafs fans if they don’t excel in the playoffs under all that pressure. There will be no more press conferences where Leafs brass talks about patience and the learning process. Those days are long over.
The only thing Leafs fans will want is turnover. If that means saying goodbye to pending Leafs UFAs Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Leafs fans may say, “so be it.” This should be the team's last chance at running it back with the same core in hopes that things eventually improve because they already changed the coach, and they changed the GM two years ago.
It’s no wonder that the stakes are sky-high for the Buds this spring. They may win the highly competitive Atlantic Division, but imagine the fallout if they follow up with a first-round loss to the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens. Or imagine the blowback if the Leafs get out of Round 1, only to be demolished by the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2. The mushroom cloud of anger and frustration that could envelop the franchise will return bigger than usual.
So, while it will be a slight moral victory if the Leafs extend the longest active playoff streak and win the division for the first 82-game season since the 1999-2000 campaign, it won’t matter one iota if Toronto doesn’t reward its customers with a serious playoff run.
They’ve shown encouraging signs of grinding out wins and playing playoff-style hockey this season, so it’s about time they take advantage of it in the post-season. Otherwise, all these years of getting into the playoffs will amount to a Blue-And-White hill of beans.
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Boston Bruins Roundtable Community
'We're Going To Be A Little Patient With It' — Why The Panthers Are Not Worried About Marchand's Lack Of Production
Brad Marchand has no goals and one assist since joining the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. But coach Paul Maurice said he is not worried about the lack of production — or lack of chemistry — from the 36-year-old.
After all, it’s been just four games. Let's talk after four rounds.
That's why the Panthers were willing to give up a first-round pick for Marchand. Not because he was going to help them in the final weeks of the regular season. But because of what he could do in the post-season, where the Panthers are trying to win back-to-back championships and reach the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive year.
Before that happens, Maurice must decide where Marchand fits best.
"I’m going to try to play him with as many people," said Maurice.
Prior to coming to Florida, Marchand had played 1,090 games with the Boston Bruins. During that span, he had won a Stanley Cup and reached the final another two times. That's quite the resume. It's also quite a long time to spend with one team.
In other words, it’s natural to assume that there is going to be an adjustment period, where Marchand not only gets used to playing with new teammates, but also for fans to get used to seeing him in a jersey that is not black-and-yellow.
So far, there's still a feeling out process.
“I feel exactly about where he’s at is where Vladimir Tarasenko was last year kind of when he came in with those six weeks and I played him with everybody,” Maurice told The Hockey News following a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
“We’re going to be a little patient with it.”
Like Marchand, Tarasenko had pretty much spent his entire career with the St. Louis Blues before going to Ottawa and then getting moved to Florida at last year's deadline. In the process, he went from being a top-line scorer to someone who played more of a depth role.
At his age in his career, Marchand may have to undergo a similar transition. But with Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov both missing from the lineup due to injuries, Maurice has an opportunity to experiment playing Marchand in a variety of line combinations.
“We’re really excited about a (power play) unit potentially with him Sam Bennett and maybe Carter (Verhaeghe),” said Maurice, who played Marchand on a line with Bennett and Evan Rodrigues against the Leafs. “We’ve got some moving parts here right now with players out of our lineup, so I think that continues until we get to hopefully to the playoffs and then we just make a decision and then go.”
Aside from his linemates, one of the biggest changes for Marchand has so far come in the ice time department. In his final games in Boston, he was logging more than 22 minutes. In four games with the Panthers, his time has been cut by about four minutes.
However, he's been getting increased responsibility as his comfort level continues to grow.
“He’s fit in seamlessly,” said Rodrigues. “It’s always hard when you play for one team for 17 years or whatever it was. There’s obviously going to be a transition period, but I think he’s done a great job. He’ll continue to get better and he’ll continue to get comfortable.
“He’ll get to a point where he’s not thinking about systems or anything like that. The play will just come naturally to him.”
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MMA-Style Takedown In NHL Fight Could Have Ended Very Badly
Everything in Connor McMichael's life is going wonderfully at the moment. At the age of 24, the Washington Capitals winger has established himself as a legitimate scoring power forward on one of the best teams in the NHL and has reached the 25-goal mark for the first time in his career.
All of that could have been affected Wednesday night in Raleigh, when he was flipped over MMA-style by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield. He very nearly hit the back of his non-helmeted head on the ice. If he had, it could have been bad. Very bad. Just as it could have been a couple of weeks ago when Tri-City Americans defenseman Terrell Goldsmith was knocked out cold in a WHL game in March.
Sometimes it seems as though the NHL is waiting for something bad to happen before it does something about penalizing fighting more severely. Even then, it might not be prompted to act.
Today's video column has more.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: Possible Replacements For Leafs' Mitch Marner, Latest On The Red Wings
Speculation persists over whether Mitch Marner will re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs or hit the free-agent market on July 1.
The two sides have declined to talk about their contract discussions with the media, though it's believed the 27-year-old right winger prefers waiting until the playoffs are over to begin negotiations.
The NHL trade deadline provided additional intrigue when the Maple Leafs reportedly explored a Marner-for-Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes. Leafs management is believed to have told Marner that re-signing him remained their priority, but if he didn't see a future in Toronto, the opportunity was available to go to Carolina.
Marner declined to waive his no-movement clause, preferring to stay with his hometown club, while the Hurricanes traded Rantanen to the Dallas Stars. Nevertheless, questions linger over his future in Toronto.
Earlier this week, Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle of The Athletic pondered the Leafs' “Plan B” if Marner departs on July 1.
They believe it would lead to an immediate promotion of William Nylander to the top line, leaving the Leafs in the market for a second-line right winger. Nikolai Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks are the notables who could be available through free agency.
Siegel and Mirtle raised the possibility of the Leafs waiting for next summer. Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg's Kyle Connor are UFA-eligible next July. However, they could be re-signed by their current clubs before then.
Turning to the Detroit Red Wings, The Athletic's Max Bultman believes GM Steve Yzerman must make bold off-season moves to turn his team into a legitimate playoff contender.
Such moves can be difficult to pull off. Nevertheless, Bultman pointed out that the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals were fringe teams last season whose audacious off-season deals significantly improved their rosters.
The Capitals' acquisitions of center Pierre-Luc Dubois, defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goalie Logan Thompson played key roles in their rise to the top of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Blues' additions of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg via offer sheets propelled them into a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Bultman thinks Yzerman must add players who can have a more consistent impact, calling for help for scoring forwards Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond and more puck-movers on the blueline. Whether the Wings GM heeds his advice remains to be seen.
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Four NHL Trade Deadline Losers, One Month Later
The NHL’s trade deadline was a month ago, so it’s a good time to revisit the winners and losers coming out of the deadline.
Earlier this week, we identified the winners. In this file, we’re identifying the losers. In alphabetical order:
1. Detroit Red Wings
After firing coach Derek Lalonde on Boxing Day, the Red Wings went on a 15-5-1 tear before the 4 Nations Face-Off. But when the trade deadline came and went, and Detroit GM Steve Yzerman failed to add talent to put them over the top in their playoff push, you could see the air let out of Detroit’s competitive balloon almost in real time.
Indeed, leading up to the deadline, the Red Wings lost five straight games, and since the deadline, they've been unable to recover, going 5-7-1 and fading from the post-season picture. Yzerman talked about the high prices he would’ve had to pay to add talent, but other GMs found a way to pay that price, and their teams are better for it.
Ultimately, it’s an indictment of Yzerman that his team is almost assuredly going to miss the playoffs for the ninth straight season. Nobody cares about high prices – they care about winning, and the Wings haven’t been able to consistently do that, in no small part because their GM couldn’t figure out a way to improve his roster.
2. Minnesota Wild
The Wild were one of the Central Division’s better teams early in the season, going 26-11-4 through Jan. 7. But at the deadline, all Minnesota GM Bill Guerin was able to do was add forwards Gustav Nyquist and Justin Brazeau – neither of them difference-makers. And since the deadline, the Wild have gone 5-7-3, sliding out of not only the top-three in the Central, but also into the second Western Conference wild-card position.
Minnesota wasn’t one of this writer’s favorites heading into the season, and now, they’re going to be heading into the playoffs as an underdog, no matter who they face. And there’s also still a risk that they fall out of the playoff picture completely.
Guerin could’ve been a bigger player on the trade front, but he added periphery talent, and it shows in the way the Wild have flailed and failed since then. And Guerin should be held accountable for his roster management. There’s not enough high-end talent in Minnesota, and until a change in philosophy happens, the Wild are destined for more of this mediocrity.
3. Nashville Predators
The Predators have had a horrendous season, and no one would’ve blamed Nashville GM Barry Trotz if he had stripped down the roster and focused on the future. In fact, that’s precisely what Trotz should’ve done. Instead, he moved Nyquist, defenseman Luke Schenn and winger Thomas Novak at the deadline. And if that sounds like a relative pittance in terms of what Trotz sent out and what he got back – a fourth-round pick for Schenn and Novak, and a second-rounder for Nyquist – that’s because it is.
Trotz could’ve traded center Ryan O’Reilly – who didn’t have no-trade protection – and received much more talent to build the team around. But that didn’t happen, and the Preds weren’t able to slide further in the standings and get a better chance at securing the top draft pick in this summer’s entry draft.
Trotz needed to do much more than he did, and consequently, the Preds won’t be as talented as they could’ve been in the long term. Nashville management has no one but themselves to blame for that.
4. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have been scratching and clawing to stay in the playoff mix this year, and they’ve tried to overcome internal strife to at least lock up a wild-card berth. Unfortunately for Vancouver fans, GM Patrik Allvin didn’t do what he should’ve done at the deadline – specifically, moving star winger and pending UFA Brock Boeser. And even with Boeser still in their employ, the Canucks have slowly-but-surely plummeted out of the playoff picture.
So, Vancouver will probably miss out on the post-season, and Boeser may leave town for nothing in return. Any way you cut it, that’s a huge black mark on the Allvin Era. The Canucks went from one of the best teams in the West last season to a sub-par group this year, and Allvin’s inability to improve the lineup stands out in a seriously negative way.
Vancouver is squarely in the “mushy middle” right now – a place no team should want to be. However, there’s no question the Canucks have been less than the sum of their parts, and that’s on Vancouver management.
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Three RFAs Likely To Be Offer Sheet Targets This Summer
It was reported on Thursday that some NHL agents and executives are expecting an increase in offer sheets to be made this upcoming off-season. This is in large part due to the rise in the salary cap year-over-year and will present every team with more opportunities to hunt down young, high-end talent on expiring entry-level contracts.
The offer sheets for Edmonton's Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg by the St. Louis Blues made waves throughout the hockey world as they were able to scoop up two key players from the defending Western Conference Champions.
Holloway made an immediate impact, breaking out for a career-high 63 points, while Broberg solidified himself as a reliable stay-at-home defender with a plus-21 rating this season.
The move was a huge win for St. Louis and turned them into a playoff contender. The success of the offer sheets has seemingly motivated more teams behind the scenes to go after restricted free agents with high upside and add a cornerstone player for their franchise, like the Blues got with Holloway and Broberg.
All RFAs are more than likely going to stay put, but we're offering up a list of some restricted free agents that will be highly sought after this upcoming off-season and could even get an offer sheet that just can't be matched.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
The story surrounding the Buds this season has been Mitch Marner and whether the hometown kid will re-sign or not. But as Marner has risen to the top of the Leafs in scoring, Knies has quietly had a breakout season with 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points through 71 games.
The 22-year-old's performance on the scoresheet this season has inserted himself into the conversation with names like Florida's Sam Bennett, 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and Hall-of-Fame winger Patrick Kane. Knies has become the power forward that Toronto has always needed and yearned for as he adds to the sensation that this is the most physically tough Maple Leafs team in a very long time.
The Arizona native will be highly sought after and will have general managers tripping over themselves to get a chance to add him at the expense of several high draft picks. Toronto will likely find a way to bring back Knies, as he is the type of player they've been longing for, but if they get preoccupied with other pending free agents, a team may be able to swoop in and give an offer they can't match.
The Maple Leafs have many other key players on expiring contracts besides Marner like John Tavares, Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. So, keep an eye out for Knies this summer.
Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers could get perged again with offer sheets as their top blueliner is on an expiring contract. After finishing fourth in defensemen scoring with 82 points last season, Bouchard has taken a step back with 62 points this season.
The 25-year-old Oakville, Ont. native was a massive part of the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals last season with an average time on ice of 25 minutes as well as 32 points in 25 playoff games. He was our dark-horse pick to win the Norris Trophy this season and has been heating up lately with 17 points over his last 16 games. He will likely play a huge role in the Oilers' playoff run again and will continue to attract more eyeballs.
Edmonton has a sizeable amount of their cap allocated to their two superstars in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (a combined $26.5 million in 2025-26 per PuckPedia) with room for another team to potentially outbid them for their superstar defenseman.
K'Andre Miller, D, New York Rangers
This one appears the most likely to happen as Rangers GM Chris Drury has made several franchise-altering trades this season, dealing big names like captain Jacob Trouba and forward Filip Chytil while adding superstar winger J.T. Miller.
Another big move that people believed was coming was K'Andre Miller being moved due to his lackluster performance this season. With a minus-9 rating and just six points through his first 30 games, many NHL insiders suggested a change in scenery would've been best for the 25-year-old.
The Minnesota native has been able to pick up his play lately but the rumors of Miller being offered up near the deadline are still on people's minds and could mean that an opposing team may be willing to give a more competitive offer than the Rangers.
Miller was once a highly-touted prospect after being selected 22nd overall by the Rangers in 2018. He's put up impressive numbers in the past like his 43-point campaign in 2023, and certain teams may want a taste of that upside.
Honorable Mentions:
Luke Hughes - New Jersey Devils
Will Cuylle - New York Rangers
Gabriel Vilardi - Winnipeg Jets
J.J. Peterka - Buffalo Sabres
Noah Dobson - New York Islanders
Bowen Byram - Buffalo Sabres
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Six NHL Trade Deadline Winners, One Month Later
We're closing in on one month since the NHL’s trade deadline on March 7, and a lot's happened since then.
One team that stood quiet looks like a group of geniuses one month later, while teams that looked like winners right away are holding up to that designation. Other squads that weren't among the top immediate winners are proving they do deserve to be considered for that category.
In alphabetical order, let's look at six of the biggest winners since the NHL trade deadline approaching the one-month mark.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche made their defense corps one of the deepest in the NHL by adding Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson. They then brought in center Brock Nelson to lock down the No. 2 center role.
Colorado is the third-hottest NHL team since the deadline, going 10-2-2. They’re averaging two goals against per game in that span, which is tied for the second fewest. Nelson also has four goals and 10 points in 14 games, which is the type of secondary scoring Colorado needed. Deadline acquisition Charlie Coyle also has five points while averaging 13:32 in ice time.
The major long-term question is whether the team will be better off after trading former pending UFA Mikko Rantanen, who signed an eight-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars. Martin Necas has 26 points in 27 games in Rantanen’s place.
Nevertheless, the Avalanche’s moves on trade deadline week have paid off well – and that’s why they’re one of the more frightening teams heading into the playoffs.
Dallas Stars
Dallas has gone 9-2-2 since the deadline, and its big pickup – star right winger Rantanen – has fit right in. He has nine assists and 13 points in 13 games as one of five Stars players averaging at least a point per game since March 7. Earlier acquisition Mikael Granlund also has six goals and 18 points in 24 games since joining Dallas.
Rantanen is one of the reasons the Stars are now in a position to challenge the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the highly competitive Central Division. Tyler Seguin could even return in the playoffs as well, and if they get past the first round, Miro Heiskanen could also return.
Dallas GM Jim Nill’s willingness to step up and make big swings at the trade deadline is one of the reasons why the Stars are once again asserting themselves as a Stanley Cup front-runner.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators made one of the biggest moves at the deadline, picking up center Dylan Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres for center Josh Norris as part of a package deal.
Since the deadline, the Senators have gone 9-4-1, solidifying their hold on the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot and getting within a hot streak of challenging the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Cozens has six assists and nine points in 14 games as a Senator, and that’s music to Ottawa’s ears. Six of those points came at even strength, which comes out to one-third of Norris's 18 even-strength points in 53 games for Ottawa this season.
While Fabian Zetterlund only has one assist in that span, he’s taken the fifth-most shots on net on the team since March 7, and he’s generating enough chances to suggest he’s due for goals.
If the Sens pull off a first-round upset, the price they paid at the deadline will be well worth it – if it isn’t worth it already.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues didn’t make any trades at the deadline. Sometimes, the moves you don’t make are more important than the ones you do, and that’s certainly true for St. Louis this year.
The Blues are enjoying an 11-game win streak that’s pushed them into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They might not have gotten there had they traded captain Brayden Schenn, as was heavily rumored at the deadline.
So yes, St. Louis should be on this list, as they’ve been one of the biggest winners because of their decisions at the deadline. They could’ve been much more active, but that could’ve sunk their season. Standing pat absolutely was the right choice for them.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are 7-5-1 since the deadline, but they’ve won four of their last five games to move into second place in the Atlantic.
Tampa Bay’s big pre-deadline move brought in forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. Both players have done well in the early going with the Lightning, as Gourde has nine assists in 14 games, and Bjorkstrand has four goals and six points in 14 games.
Neither player has to do the heavy lifting for Tampa Bay, but the Lightning needed that quality depth in their lineup. Gourde already has more points for the Bolts than Zemgus Girgensons’ six points in 75 games and Luke Glendening’s seven points in 74 games, and he has as many as Cam Atkinson’s nine points in 38 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s true the Maple Leafs haven’t gotten much offensive production from forward Scott Laughton since spending a first-round draft pick to acquire him from Philadelphia. Still, Laughton has looked more comfortable of late, and he’s now a better fit as a winger on Toronto’s third line.
The reason why the Leafs are on this list is the play of veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo, who has been very solid since the Buds acquired him from Boston. Carlo has proven to be a great fit with Morgan Rielly on Toronto’s first defense pairing, and the Leafs also needed more of his physical edge and shot-blocking ability.
Toronto has gone 8-4-1 since the deadline to move into the top spot in the Atlantic, and they’re a tougher team to play against ahead of a pressure-filled playoff run.
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‘Alex, You Did It!’: Teammates, Family, Gretzky And Bettman Celebrate Ovechkin’s Record-Breaking Goal
History was made as Alex Ovechkin finally claimed the all-time goal record from Wayne Gretzky. He scored goal No. 895 on the power play midway through the second period, assisted by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome.
The celebrations for the occasion started with a bang as Ovechkin slid to center ice on his stomach after he ripped the puck past New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin.
His teammates surrounded him, jumping up and down in excitement. Ovechkin then saluted the crowd at UBS Arena, filled with plenty of Washington Capitals fans.
Throughout the ceremony and aftermath of the goal, Ovechkin expressed his gratitude for those who helped him get to where he is. He skated to the Capitals bench and thanked every member of the team’s staff.
While Ovechkin thanked his loved ones, the tribute video on the jumbotron played a compilation of his best goals as well as special messages, including ones from big-time celebrities.
Michael Phelps, LeBron James, Simone Biles and Derek Jeter and more were among those who congratulated the new all-time leading goal scorer.
The retired Mark Messier and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews toasted him on his accomplishment. He also received recognition from Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and his fellow countryman, Evgeni Malkin.
Following the handshake line with the Islanders, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Gretzky were called to the carpet, where Bettman was booed as usual, and Gretzky received a roar of cheers.
The two joined the team at ice level to begin the ceremony. Ovechkin stood at center ice with his family, including his mother, wife, two sons and father-in-law.
Bettman made the opening statement, “We have all just witnessed history in front of greatness. Wayne, you'll always be the Great One, and you had a record that nobody ever thought could be broken. But Alex, you did it!”
The Great One was next on the mic, and it was all class. He paid his respects and recognition to the Islanders franchise and even made a joke about how he struggled at Nassau Coliseum, their old arena.
“They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who is going to get more goals than that,” Gretzky said. Ovechkin was given a painting featuring both Ovechkin and Gretzky, while the Gretzky family provided a gift for Ovi’s wife, Anastasia.
Then it was the 'Great 8's' turn to speak. He wasted no time thanking his teammates, the Capitals organization, staff and, of course, his family for helping him on this journey.
He jokingly thanked Sorokin, who was in net for the goal. It was the first time Ovechkin scored on Sorokin in his career.
Before the restart, Ovechkin took a group photo with his teammates, family, Gretzky and Bettman to cap off a great ceremony.
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Was Islanders' Patrick Roy Justified In Calling Out Anthony Duclair?
New York Islanders left winger Anthony Duclair is taking some time off two days after coach Patrick Roy called him out in a press conference.
Roy told reporters Thursday that he and Duclair had a positive conversation, and he granted the player’s request to take some time away and reflect, according to The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner.
This week’s news is a reminder that coaching NHL players is still an inexact science, and sometimes, the “old school” way of confronting players is still used. But it is tough to see the benefit in Roy’s comments on Tuesday night.
“He was god-awful. He was god-awful. He had a bad game," Roy said of Duclair’s play in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. "That's why I didn't play him a lot. And he's lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that's how I feel…He's not skating, he's not competing, he's not moving his feet. He's not playing up to what we expect from him."
To be fair, Duclair is under pressure to produce. He’s in the first season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, and the 29-year-old only has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 44 games. Duclair also has a full no-trade clause until 2026, so he’s in control of his on-ice future to a degree.
However, is it really a good idea for Roy to call out one of his players the way he did with Duclair? Roy isn’t exactly John Tortorella-ish in his mannerisms and approaches to his job, but it’s hard to see how naming and shaming Duclair will lead to a guaranteed turnaround in his on-ice performance.
Perhaps the fact the Islanders are on a six-game winless skid that’s essentially taken them out of a playoff position caused some general frustration. It wouldn’t be the first time a coach has taken out their frustration with his team by scapegoating a player.
While Duclair must own his role in the Isles’ struggles, there must be a solution that keeps him under the team’s umbrella, if that’s even in doubt in the first place.
The Islanders are the ninth team Duclair has played for in his NHL career, and the longest he’s been with one team is the two-and-a-half seasons he played for the Florida Panthers from 2020 to 2022.
Having that job security with the Isles was no doubt a big factor in him signing with the team last summer, but Duclair even said Roy was a factor. His former QMJHL coach called him before he decided to join the Islanders.
That said, if Roy is calling out players like this, it’s either tough love that will end with Duclair improving, or it’s a huge mistake. In any case, Duclair’s play under Roy will now be under the microscope until further notice.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: Sabres' Peterka, Rangers' Coach And Kraken's Plans Generate Speculation
The anticipated rise in the NHL’s salary cap to $95.5 million for next season might encourage some teams to pursue a rival club's leading RFA with an offer sheet.
A GM might draw inspiration from the St. Louis Blues' bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg last summer from the Edmonton Oilers. Both players have been key contributors to the Blues' second-half surge into a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Buffalo Sabres left winger JJ Peterka could an RFA to watch. The 23-year-old is completing his entry-level contract and has reached a career-best 60 points in 69 games.
The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote that Peterka often plays with Tage Thompson on the top line, but he’s been eligible for a contract extension since last July, and his name even surfaced in trade speculation around the deadline. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton believe Peterka could be a prime offer-sheet candidate.
The Sabres have a projected cap space of $23.2 million with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. They have plenty of room to match an offer for Peterka, but they must also ensure they have sufficient cap room to re-sign other RFAs, such as Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers' firing of coach John Tortorella last week prompted some observers to speculate about Peter Laviolette's future as the New York Rangers' bench boss. After guiding the Blueshirts to the Presidents' Trophy last season, Laviolette has struggled to keep his club in the playoff race in a season of uncertainty amid frequent roster shakeups.
The Hockey News’ Stan Fischler believes the Rangers should replace Laviolette with Tortorella immediately to wake up the underachievers.
Arthur Staple of The Athletic recently examined the pros and cons of replacing Laviolette. If management decides to make a coaching change, they're unlikely to bring in someone lacking NHL experience, like Denver University's David Carle or Cam Abbott of the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
Staple observed that Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins was on their shortlist of coaching candidates two years ago. However, Sullivan doesn't appear interested in leaving Pittsburgh, and the Penguins wouldn't want to risk him being hired by a division rival.
Turning to the Seattle Kraken, Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times believes they'll be busy during the off-season attempting to bolster their roster following another disappointing campaign.
Shefte observed the Kraken's offense has improved this season, but their goals-against increased while their special teams were among the league's bottom third. She noted they're set to land a top-five first-round draft pick and have the cap space and trade bait to add to their lineup this summer.
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Five NHL Players Who Overachieved In 2024-25
Whether it's veterans defying the odds or under-the-radar acquisitions stepping up, every year, there are players around the NHL who perform beyond expectations. The 2024-25 season has been no exception, providing a ton of incredible storylines that highlight the unpredictable nature of hockey.
Here are five of the NHL’s biggest overachievers from this memorable season.
Matt Duchene, C, Dallas Stars
Despite putting up 65 points in the 2023-24 season, Matt Duchene elected to stay in Dallas on a remarkably team-friendly contract, signing a one-year deal for $3 million. Things couldn’t have turned out better for both Duchene and the Stars, as the 34-year-old is second in team scoring with 29 goals and 78 points in 76 games.
With seven games remaining in the regular season, Duchene’s next goal would mark just the third time in his career that he’s reached the 30-goal milestone. There’s a case to be made that he’s been one of the league’s most valuable players relative to salary this year, and Duchene is poised for a huge playoff run with the Stars in the coming weeks.
Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils
Considering Jesper Bratt was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 draft by the New Jersey Devils, he’s always been an overachiever. However, this year has been exceptional. Bratt was in the midst of a career-best season before Devils superstar Jack Hughes was sidelined, and it was reasonable to assume that his production would take a dip in the final weeks of the regular season.
However, the Swedish winger has been just as impressive alongside Nico Hischier and has become a primary playmaker of his own, recording 16 assists and 20 points in 15 games since Hughes went down. This is the second time in Bratt’s career that he is averaging over a point per game – he had 83 points in 82 games last season – and he’ll have to maintain that level of offense in order to lead the Devils to playoff success.
Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been one of the best stories in the NHL this season, and Zach Werenski has been a huge part of it. The 27-year-old defensemen had historically been a 50-point player with clear offensive upside that was limited due to a weak supporting cast.
This season, the Blue Jackets got a huge scoring boost, soaring from 25th in goals per game (2.85) in 2023-24, all the way to 10th (3.19), and Werenski’s output skyrocketed as a result. His 74 points are second to only Cale Makar among defensemen and he’s one of only three D-men to be averaging over a point per-game this season. On top of all that, Werenski leads the league in ice time (27:01 minutes per game on average) and is the first player since Dustin Byfuglien in the 2016-17 season to average over 27 minutes a night.
In pretty much every other year, Werenski would be the runaway favorite to win the Norris trophy, but even if he doesn’t take any hardware home this spring, the Blue Jackets will be happy to know that they’ve got a bonafide superstar on their blueline for years to come.
Ryan Donato, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Creating offense hasn’t been easy for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, which is why it made sense that Ryan Donato was at the forefront of trade-deadline conversations earlier this year with his solid production and modest $2-million cap hit.
Donato is just one goal away from reaching the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career, and is currently tied with Connor Bedard for the most points on the team with 59 in 74 games played.
The 28-year-old is definitely benefitting from having an elevated role in a weaker lineup, and only time will tell if he’s truly become a top-line forward, but he’s exceeded all expectations and has been one of the very few bright spots for the Blackhawks this season.
Mikael Granlund, C, Dallas Stars
In a year where Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Brock Nelson and many other stars were dealt ahead of the trade deadline, Mikael Granlund has quietly emerged as one of the best in-season acquisitions. Similarly to Donato, Granlund put up impressive numbers on a lacklustre San Jose Sharks squad for a second consecutive season, recording 45 points in 52 games.
After an impressive showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Granlund has been nearly just as impactful with the Dallas Stars despite playing in a diminished role, putting up 18 points in 25 games while averaging over three minutes of ice time less per game.
Entering this season, it was hard to imagine that the Stars could actually get deeper, but GM Jim Nill has truly outdone himself by bolstering the team’s middle-six with Granlund.
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Why John Tavares Deserves The Toronto Maple Leafs' Masterton Nomination
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares has had quite the year.
The 34-year-old has done everything asked of him and then some as the team sits first in the Atlantic Division – even though it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for him. In fact, Tavares deserves to be the Maple Leafs’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the NHLer who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication” to the sport.
Certainly, Tavares qualifies on all counts for the Masterton. We’re talking about a veteran who had the Maple Leafs’ captaincy taken from him and given to teammate Auston Matthews, and he did it without complaint.
Tavares has also had a terrific bounce-back season after seeing his point total drop to 65 points in 80 games last year. He has 70 points in 68 games – his best points-per-game average since his first year with Toronto in 2018-19, when he posted 47 goals and 88 points in 82 games. He’s also scored 36 goals and is bound to exceed the 36 he had in 2022-23. He even missed some time due to an injury in January, but that didn’t faze him.
Instead, Tavares has been one of the Leafs’ most consistent performers, scoring eight game-winning goals, which ties him for Toronto’s lead with fellow star William Nylander. Tavares can’t be negatively affected by obstacles in front of him.
That includes the likely pay cut he’ll have to take if he wants to remain a Maple Leaf. Tavares is in the final season of a seven-year contract worth $11 million annually, and the team also has Mitch Marner becoming a UFA and Matthew Knies becoming an RFA.
That knowledge of his financial future might sour other players, but not Tavares.
"Professionalism and the mindset he has, day in and day out – he's almost like having another coach around," Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube told reporters Wednesday night. "The preparation daily never changes."
Simply put, you can’t find many flaws in his play – and after 1,177 regular-season games and 62 playoff contests, that’s really saying something about him.
Like the rest of his Leafs teammates, Tavares will ultimately be judged by Toronto’s post-season results this year. But all the pressure he’s under isn’t affecting him publicly. He’s far and away Toronto’s Masterton nominee, underscoring his place in Leafs history as a true difference-maker.
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Alex Ovechkin Ties Gretzky’s NHL Goals Record Amid 14th 40-Goal Season
Alex
Ovechkin stands beside Wayne Gretzky as the top goal-scorers in NHL history,
and he’s one goal away from breaking the record.
After scoring
goal No. 893 early on Friday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin
notched No. 894 in the third period. He tied Wayne Gretzky's goals count in one fewer game and is one goal from standing alone.
"It's fun," Ovechkin told Monumental Sports on the bench after the game.
"Right now, so emotional, you never thought you can reach this milestone, and how I always said, without all my teammates, all my partners, you guys (the fans), obviously my family, my mom, my wife, they support, they do everything I need, and it's great."
Gretzky was in Capital One Arena watching history unfold and received a standing ovation from Caps fans in the first period.
The opening goal happened four minutes into Washington’s battle with the Blackhawks. That was Ovechkin’s 40th goal of the year, the 14th time he achieved that mark in his 20-year career. He has the most 40-goal seasons in NHL history, breaking the tie with Gretzky's 12 campaigns last year.
Defenseman John Carlson played the puck along the wall and found Dylan Strome behind Chicago’s net. Strome picked out the Capitals captain, who fired home a one-timer from point-blank.
Ovechkin beat goaltender Spencer Knight for the fourth time in his career. His shot beat Knight’s blocker but rang off the post. Luckily for Ovechkin, it bounced off the backside of the Blackhawks’ netminder and crossed the goal line.
The second goal of the game came on the power play.
With 13:47 left in the third period, Ovechkin stood at the left faceoff circle uncovered and buried a pass into the open net.
Ovechkin’s goals against the Blackhawks puts him on a four-game goal streak.
In his three games leading up to Friday’s outing, along with three goals, he provided an additional three assists for six points.
After the game, the Blackhawks players lined up to congratulate Ovechkin on tying the record. The Capitals captain then stood at center ice to salute the crowd and went to the glass to fist bump his two sons through the glass.
Washington plays next on Sunday afternoon against the New York Islanders in UBS Arena on and return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Further down the schedule, the Capitals take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road on April 12 and at home on April 13. Ovechkin scored his first career NHL goal against the Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005. Nearly 20 years later, he can break the record against them, if he doesn’t do it in the next two games.
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Five NHL Records That Will Never, Ever Be Broken (Trust Us)
With Alex Ovechkin doing what many people thought was impossible, no NHL record is safe, right?
Not exactly. In fact, there's a chance a sharpshooter (Auston Matthews) comes along and takes Washington Capitals captain Ovechkin off the top of the NHL record book for goals.
But there are some records that are so preposterous, so incredible and so freakish that they will never fall.
Find out about five of them in today's video column.
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New York's Uncertain Path: Can Rangers Bounce Back Next Season With Same Group?
By just about every metric, the New York Rangers have been a massive disappointment this season.
The Blueshirts currently have a decent shot at sliding into the Stanley Cup playoffs in the second and final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but even then, the Rangers will be rightly presumed to be post-season roadkill in the first round. And once they are eliminated from the playoffs – one way or another – the focus will turn to what they’re likely to do next season.
From this writer’s perspective, the Rangers are going to be challenged just to bring back the same group of talent next year – a group that’s been unable to do much of any good as it stands this season.
For one thing, the Rangers are already committed to approximately $85.7 million in salary cap space next season – and even with a rising cap ceiling of $95.5-million next year, that leaves the Blueshirts with about $9.8 million in cap space.
Considering the Rangers have to re-sign RFA defenseman K’Andre Miller and six other RFAs, that will leave precious little money to throw at free agents from other teams – something that’s been the M.O. of this Blueshirts franchise for most of the modern era.
Rangers GM Chris Drury has painted himself into a corner with this group, and he’s either going to have to be creative on the trade front to improve his roster, or he’s going to have no choice but to run it back with the same lineup next season. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for a turnaround in the standings during 2025-26.
Now, maybe there is internal improvement ahead for many Rangers players. Superstar goalie Igor Shesterkin hasn’t been able to steal games for his team this season the way he has in the past, and perhaps he will revert to his peak form next year. And maybe stars Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad all overcome sub-par seasons this year by surging next season.
That said, we’re talking about many “what-ifs” for this franchise. There’s no guarantee any or all of the aforementioned Rangers stars will bounce back with high-impact seasons. And that’s why there should be skepticism that the Blueshirts will be able to somehow flip a switch and once again be dominant the way they were in 2023-24, when they won the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team.
In some respects, the Rangers are similar to the Vancouver Canucks, another team that did well in the regular-season last year, but a team that almost certainly is going to miss out on the playoffs this season. Both teams will be planning on a bounce-back showing next year, and both teams could fail once again to make the playoffs.
The Rangers need many things to go right for them to be a top team in the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26. And as we’ve seen this season, many things can go wrong for this particular collection of talent.
The Metro is going to be a more competitive division next year, and the Rangers could once again find themselves battling just to land a wild-card berth, let alone be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
It’s not easy to climb to the top of the NHL as the Rangers did in 2023-24, but as we’re seeing this year, it’s even harder to stay at the top of the league. The Rangers have their work cut out for them, both in the remaining six regular-season games they have left this season, and once next season begins for them. But it’s obvious that the Blueshirts have plenty of room for improvement, and nothing short of a major reversal of fortune should stop the Rangers from arriving at a crossroads and facing bigger changes sooner than later.
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Bruins And Predators' Free Fall Could Lead To Great News
The Boston Bruins are so bad right now that it may help them more than people think.
It almost beggars belief that, coming off a 47-20-15 record last season, the Bruins are dead last in the Eastern Conference right now.
The Bruins were three points out of a wild-card spot at the NHL trade deadline when they traded Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle and Justin Brazeau. They since plummeted to the East’s basement and sit 29th overall with a 30-37-9 mark. They’re also 0-9-1 in their last 10 games after losing to longtime rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Thursday. It’s undoubtedly painful for Bruins fans to watch.
But the Bruins’ free fall through the standings has a positive element. It means they’ve avoided the mushy middle of the East and can now have a very high draft pick – maybe even the first-overall pick, if they win the draft lottery.
Before you know it – perhaps as soon as next season – the Bruins could be right back in the thick of the playoff hunt .
After Boston GM Don Sweeney sold at the trade deadline, Boston is committed to about $66.7 million in salary cap space next season. With the cap ceiling slated to rise to $95.5 million, that leaves the Bruins with about $29 million in cap space, which gives them leeway to spruce things up in the off-season. They do have six RFAs to take care of and five UFAs, but if they want to make changes and go big in free agency, they can.
But if the draft goes in their favor, Boston would have a draft pick in the top half of the first round for the first time since 2016, when they selected defenseman Charlie McAvoy 14th overall.
Boston hasn’t had a top-10 pick since Dougie Hamilton went to them ninth overall in 2011, and they haven’t had a top-five pick or higher since Tyler Seguin went to them second overall in 2010.
Needless to say, landing a top-five pick or better this season would do wonders for Boston’s core in the next decade or longer. All things considered, the Bruins’ relatively short period of struggle this season could be extremely beneficial for their big picture.
Another team in a similar situation to the Bruins is the Nashville Predators. They currently have the NHL’s third-worst record despite being major buyers in free agency.
Heading into next season, Nashville has about $17.2 million in cap space, so GM Barry Trotz will have many areas where he can improve the organization.
The Predators haven’t had a top-10 draft pick since they selected defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall in 2013. Incredibly, they haven’t had a top-three pick or better since selecting David Legwand second overall with the franchise’s first-ever draft pick in 1998. The Preds desperately need young, elite talent, and like the Bruins, Nashville’s unexpected collapse this season could have benefits in the long haul.
But back to the Bruins, whose fans have grown accustomed to year after year of being legitimate front-runners to go on long playoff runs. Their longest playoff drought since the 1960s is two seasons.
It must be unsettling for them to see this rapid collapse, but it must be more comforting to know that this doesn’t happen as often to them as it does to other teams. They’ll also be picking up a skilled player who can be part of their core for many years to come.
Who knows – by adding some veteran talents, Boston could return to the playoff mix next season. But you can’t get elite young players without some short-term pain, and that’s why the Bruins’ current struggles are a double-edged sword. They, at some point, needed to bottom out to take more steps forward as soon as possible, and that time is now.
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How Soon Will Jacob Fowler Play For The Montreal Canadiens Full-Time?
After an incredible NCAA career, Montreal Canadiens prospect Jacob Fowler turned pro.
The Boston College goaltender signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL’s Laval Rocket to finish off this season, and his entry-level contract with the Canadiens will kick off in 2025-26.
The 20-year-old goalie did almost everything he could have at the college level, posting a 57-13-3 record over his two years with BC and a .932 save percentage in that span. He’s been one of the most dominant netminders in college in the last two years. He’s helped BC contend for a national title each season, as well.
The Canadiens could have signed Fowler to an entry-level contract that kicks in this season in case they wanted to give him some NHL experience this month. Since they’re in a race for the final wild-card spot, they can’t risk integrating a rookie netminder when every game is vital.
That begs the question: when will Fowler be ready for NHL action, and how soon should Canadiens fans expect to see their star goalie prospect? That question has a few layers to it.
The most important thing to note is Fowler’s arrival time will ultimately depend on how he performs in Laval and in training camp in the fall. The Canadiens need to be sure because at just 20 years old (he’ll be 21 in November), there is no need to rush him into the lineup. Developing him properly is key to unlocking his full potential.
The Montreal crease isn’t full of elite talent, but there are a few very good netminders in the system. Sam Montembeault was on Canada’s 4 Nations team, and although he didn’t play at the event, he is clearly respected around the NHL. He’s been a workhorse for the team, playing in 57 games to this point and posting a respectable .900 save percentage.
Jakub Dobes has slowed down a bit, but he’s been Montreal’s best player on many nights when he’s in the crease. The 23-year-old has helped give the Habs a more stable crease, pairing with Montembeault to form a solid duo. Pushing him back down to the AHL would be unfair in many ways because he proved he deserves a shot at the NHL level.
Cayden Primeau also has fans in the organization who have faith that he is an NHL-caliber netminder. Although his numbers weren’t fantastic this year and prompted the team to give him time in the AHL, he has had some impressive stretches in the last couple of seasons.
That’s three names ahead of Fowler on the current depth chart, and he must surpass two of them to secure an NHL role. While he’s arguably the group's most talented netminder, Fowler will have to work to earn his role. He must be nearly dominant in the AHL, as his did in college, to show he is ready.
With Dobes and Montembeault looking like the duo to start next season, Fowler will likely be the go-to guy for Laval. That will give him plenty of opportunity to prove he is ready to take the next step.
It won’t be immediate, but should an injury arise while Fowler plays well in the AHL, he could be the first option as a call-up. But depending on how early in the season it is, the Habs could opt to give Fowler the crease fully in the AHL and call up a journeyman they sign or Primeau to ensure they aren’t setting him up for failure.
Goalies always take slightly longer to develop unless they are truly special. Canadiens fans are used to special goaltending over the years, thanks to Patrick Roy and Carey Price, but they can’t rush a good thing. Fowler likely needs a year in the AHL to adjust to pro hockey, and then he can make a real run at making the team for the 2026-27 season.
At that point, the Canadiens should be ready to start truly competing and making deep runs. A tandem of Fowler and either Dobes or Montembeault could be an excellent backbone. Canadiens fans need to stay patient, though. Fowler is an excellent prospect, but he needs to adjust and further develop. The organization has done so many things right with their prospects, and they need to keep that up with their star goalie prospect.
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The Blues Are The Wild Card Team That No One Wants To Face In The Playoffs
In both style and substance, the St. Louis Blues look a lot like a team
that was pretty successful six years ago.
Since
the NHL broke for the 4 Nations Face-Off almost two months ago, the Blues have transformed themselves from hapless deadline seller to
legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Going 16-2-2
since the break, the Blues have not only made up an eight-point gap to
find themselves comfortably in a playoff spot in the Western Conference,
but they've also morphed into a team nobody in the NHL wants anything
to do with in the first round of the playoffs.
Imagine
you're the Winnipeg Jets.
You put together an incredible campaign with
all kinds of individual and franchise bests and your reward is to face
the Blues in the first round. Or you win the Pacific Division, as the
Vegas Golden Knights almost certainly will, only to have to face the
Blues.
That's not exactly a reward. If anything, it's a punishment.
Here's more in today's video column:
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Toronto Maple Leafs On The Cusp Of Longest Active Playoff Streak – But The Pressure Is Higher Than Ever
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the cusp of standing alone with the longest active NHL playoff streak.
Toronto clinched a playoff spot for the ninth straight season on Wednesday night, while it’s a matter of time before the Eastern Conference’s last place team, the Boston Bruins, are eliminated from contention. Both clubs were tied for the longest streak at eight seasons.
In the most important sense, the Leafs’ streak of playoff appearances doesn’t mean much besides the fact that the pressure to win at least a couple of rounds is higher than ever. They’ve only won one playoff round in eight seasons.
Not only that, but since 2016-17, the Leafs have the 15th-most playoff wins and the 15th-most playoff games played. This is a stark reminder of how many chances the Buds have blown.
Toronto’s active playoff streak is an emotional double-edged sword for Leafs fans. Most of them remember the lean years, when the Buds didn’t make the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons beginning in 2005-06. So, having playoff games for what will be nine straight years now is far preferable to the alternative of no playoff games.
However, if the Maple Leafs do get eliminated in the first or second round of this year’s post-season – or even if they win two playoff series and then get unceremoniously swept in the Eastern final – there will be no moral victories.
There won’t be any more excuses that will satisfy Leafs fans if they don’t excel in the playoffs under all that pressure. There will be no more press conferences where Leafs brass talks about patience and the learning process. Those days are long over.
The only thing Leafs fans will want is turnover. If that means saying goodbye to pending Leafs UFAs Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Leafs fans may say, “so be it.” This should be the team's last chance at running it back with the same core in hopes that things eventually improve because they already changed the coach, and they changed the GM two years ago.
It’s no wonder that the stakes are sky-high for the Buds this spring. They may win the highly competitive Atlantic Division, but imagine the fallout if they follow up with a first-round loss to the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens. Or imagine the blowback if the Leafs get out of Round 1, only to be demolished by the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2. The mushroom cloud of anger and frustration that could envelop the franchise will return bigger than usual.
So, while it will be a slight moral victory if the Leafs extend the longest active playoff streak and win the division for the first 82-game season since the 1999-2000 campaign, it won’t matter one iota if Toronto doesn’t reward its customers with a serious playoff run.
They’ve shown encouraging signs of grinding out wins and playing playoff-style hockey this season, so it’s about time they take advantage of it in the post-season. Otherwise, all these years of getting into the playoffs will amount to a Blue-And-White hill of beans.
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About Boston Bruins RoundtableBoston Bruins news, video, analysis and community on The Hockey News
Follow all Bruins news at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/GraemeOct 12, 2023
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