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Ryan Gagne
RyanGagne@THNew
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Ryan Gagne's journalist experiences included covering high school sports for eight years before moving to Alberta, Canada, in 2008. After 19 years working in arenas, he returned to writing in 2021 and joined The Hockey News in 2024.
Joined at Oct 24, 2024Activity
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Five Teams Brad Marchand Could Play For Next Season
NHL star left winger Brad Marchand made his debut with the Florida Panthers Friday night, but his contract status – that makes him a UFA at the end of this season – has already started speculation as to where he could wind up playing next year and beyond.
Here are five teams we could see Marchand playing for after this season:
1. Boston Bruins
Let’s get this out of the way first: Marchand OK’d a move out of Boston, but there was no sense he or the Bruins had burned bridges with each other. So, if he doesn’t find an option that’s to his liking, Marchand could elect to return to Beantown.
He’ll be 37 years old by the time he signs a new contract, so his next deal could be his last NHL deal. But if Boston can get the money right – somewhere in the area of his current annual salary of $6.125 million – it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him return to the Bruins.
Marchand served Boston well as their leader on the ice and off of it, and although he probably would’ve wanted to spend his entire career with the same team, he could, in theory, win a Stanley Cup with the Panthers, then find a way to come back to his first NHL home.
Stranger things have happened than a return to Boston for Marchand, and he might decide that a few months away from the Bruins was too long and return to the Bs at the first chance he gets.
2. Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are one of the odds-on favorites to win the Cup this season, but if the Panthers repeat as Cup champions, Marchand could choose to play with fellow East-Coast Canadian Nathan MacKinnon on a Colorado team that will have the cap space to sign him for at least a couple of seasons.
Like all the teams on this list, the Avalanche could use Marchand’s grit and playoff experience, and playing in the relative calm of Denver may be exactly what Marchand wants at this stage of his career.
Marchand would help out the Avs’ second line, and Colorado has enough cap space to get a deal done that will satisfy Marchand’s pride. Closing out his career with the Avs would allow Marchand to satisfy his competitive drive, and the Avalanche would be thrilled to land someone with the pedigree Marchand can boast of.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
This one is admittedly more of a long shot, as the Penguins are still going to be a fringe playoff team next season. But the opportunity to play alongside another East-Coast Canadian legend in Sidney Crosby would no doubt appeal to Marchand, and the Pens would welcome Marchand as they try to win another Cup in the Crosby Era.
Marchand has been a thorn in the side of just about every opponent, so the chance to make him a Penguin would be a no-brainer for Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas. But the Pens would almost assuredly have to make more notable moves to assure Marchand that he’s not going to be the only new face with the Penguins.
Marchand might want to change out his Black-and-Gold Bruins colors for a similar set of colors in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins could offer him the chance of a lifetime when it comes to playing on the same side as clear-cut Hockey Hall-of-Famers in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
Okay, before you get snippy, hear us out: let’s assume the Maple Leafs falter early in the playoffs once again this spring. In the wake of that disappointment, there will likely be a massive change in Toronto – and what better way to effect significant culture change than to sign a proven winner and Leafs-haunter in Marchand?
He’d have to acclimate to playing in the huge hockey fishbowl that is Toronto, but it’s not as if Marchand isn’t used to that in Boston.
The Leafs might be a bigger long-shot than Pittsburgh on this list, but if Marchand values playing in another Original Six market where hockey is everything, he could spend his remaining few seasons in Toronto and be an integral part of what could be something special. The Leafs would be motivated buyers for him, and he’d fill an obvious need for grit and spunk.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Panthers were clearly Marchand’s choice to play for this season, but if Florida can’t find a way to re-sign him, perhaps the other Sunshine State team can make him a member of the Lightning.
Like the Panthers, the Bolts will be tight to the salary cap ceiling, but Lightning GM Julien BriseBois always seems to find a way to land big fish, the way he did last summer when he signed star left winger Jake Guentzel. So, Marchand could be one of the final pieces of the puzzle in Tampa next year.
The Lightning can sell Marchand on the no-tax state of Florida and the opportunity to stay on the East Coast. We don’t see Marchand agreeing to take a huge pay cut to play in any market, but in Tampa Bay, his dollars would go further, and he’d have the luxury of great weather all year long. Thus, his current experiment with the Panthers could keep him in Florida but in another market.
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How Evander Kane And Trent Frederic Could Reshape The Oilers’ Lineup Come Playoff Time
When the Edmonton Oilers ice their 2024-25 playoff lineup, it could look much different than the roster looks right now. Both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will soon be back in the lineup — both are nursing minor injuries, but Draisaitl returns Saturday versus the Calgary Flames — but newly acquired Trent Frederic will be hopefully ready before mid-April, and LTIR forward Evander Kane should be set for playoff action.
Edmonton's forward makeup will change with the addition of four key forwards. The team will have to make some difficult decisions, pulling ready-to-go forwards and potentially contributing pieces.
The Team Will Be Adding Toughness
Both Kane and Frederic will bring a more physical element to the team, but how effective either will be isn’t clear. For Frederic, he hasn’t played a single game with the Oilers since coming over from the Boston Bruins in a trade the Oilers made at the deadline. The assumption is that a healthy Frederic will pick up where he left off with the Bruins, but a new team and a new environment could bring new challenges, and it may take some time for Frederic to find chemistry with other Oilers forwards.
As for Kane, he’s missed the entire season. He’s a gifted scorer who brings an edge and he’s played well after long stints away before. Will it work out this time around?
If Frederic and Kane can find their games, and rather quickly, they will be important as the intensity and physicality of playoff games ramp up. The Oilers still rank last in the NHL for hits. They have just 1047 on the season, while the Florida Panthers – Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Final opponent from last season – have nearly double the Oilers' hit count (2083).
Who Comes Out of the Lineup?
With Frederic and Kane both being top-nine guys and McDavid and Draisaitl clearly in the top six, there will be some line juggling. In some cases, the top-nine will likely drop down, with some bottom-line forwards needing to come out.
Max Jones is likely the first candidate to come out. He was added with Frederic in the trade with the Bruins and wasn’t likely to be a regular. Injuries and some solid play have allowed Jones to play some decent minutes, but he’s arguably a less-skilled forechecker, so his minutes can and will be replaced by one of Frederic or Kane.
Kasperi Kapanen is another player who could be the odd man out. Picked up earlier this season via waivers, he has added speed to the Oilers' lineup. But with just five goals and 11 points in 47 games, he’s not scoring enough to be an effective goal producer, and he doesn’t hit enough or kill penalties. There isn’t a specific element he brings that couldn’t be upgraded with any one of the four players currently out of the lineup.
Jeff Skinner Has Changed the Narrative
Just a few weeks ago, Jeff Skinner would have been the obvious choice to come out of the lineup based on how often he was made a healthy scratch. However, without Edmonton’s two top stars, Skinner’s minutes have shot up, and he’s stepping up with perfect timing. In his last four games, Skinner has averaged 17:03 minutes on the ice. In those four games, he’s got three goals, two of which were scored in the Oilers' 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets on March 20.
Not only is he showing that he should remain in the lineup, but keeping him in the top six (top nine at a minimum) is an obvious choice.
Oilers Forward Core Could Go From Questionable to a Strength
One of the knocks on the Oilers this season was how big a swing they took in the summer with the signings of Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. The chemistry wasn’t there early and both players looked like a miss. They’ve since picked up their play, as have other forwards who were struggling early.
If those players pick up their production levels and Kane and Frederic can impact games, the Oilers' forward group looks strong.
Depending on whether Frederic plays center or wing, McDavid, Hyman, and Nugent-Hopkins could make up the first line. Draisaitl, Skinner, and Arvidsson could be line two. And Frederic could center Kane and Connor Brown, while Henrique could be the pivot for Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark.
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The Misery Is Over: Philadelphia Flyers Fire Tortorella With Nine Games Remaining
The misery is over. At least it is for John Tortorella.
Two days after losing 7-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs — the second straight seven-goal loss during a losing streak that has stretched on for six games — the Philadelphia Flyers coach is done for the season. The Flyers have nine games remaining, but Tortorella won’t be coaching them.
Associate coach Brad Shaw takes over interim coaching duties. He coached 40 games for the New York Islanders in 2005-06, going 18-18-4, and he was an associate or assistant coach in St. Louis, Columbus and Vancouver before joining the Flyers in 2022-23.
“Today I made the very difficult decision to move on from John as our head coach,” said GM Daniel Briere. “John played a vital role in our rebuild. He set a standard of play and re-established what it means to be a Philadelphia Flyer. John’s passion on the bench was only equaled by his charitable work in our community. As we move into the next chapter of this rebuild, I felt this was the best for our team to move forward. I’d like to thank John for his tireless wok and commitment to the Flyers.”
Tortorella was hired in Philadelphia in 2022-23, taking over a rebuilding team that had already moved on from previous captain Claude Giroux. In his first season, the Flyers finished with the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. But last season, he exceeded expectations — and temporarily flirted with a playoff spot — as the team missed out on a wild-card spot by just four points.
This year, however, he could not build on that success.
The Flyers, who have gone the past 14 games without a regulation win, have the worst winning percentage in the East. It doesn’t help that they were sellers at the trade deadline, having moved veterans Scott Laughton, Andrei Kuzmenko and Erik Johnson. But either way, it appears that even Tortorella was growing tired of all the losing.
“It’s my job to prepare this team in this type of situation. I haven’t done a good enough job in the past couple of games,” Tortorella said following the blowout loss to the Leafs on Tuesday. “When you’re in this type of situation where you’re losing all the time and there’s nothing at the end of the tunnel for you, there’s certainly going to be some frustration. But this falls on me.
“I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season with where we’re at right now, but I have to do a better job. So this falls on me.”
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Alex Ovechkin Vs. Wayne Gretzky: The Tale Of The Tape In NHL Record Chase
Part of what makes Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record so compelling is that the two players are polar opposites in some ways yet stunningly similar in others.
Gretzky played 1,487 career NHL games, finishing with 894 goals. After being held off the scoresheet in Minnesota on Thursday, Ovechkin has played 1,482. He’s at 889.
As far as the differences go — besides hailing from opposite sides of the world, Ovechkin is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds, a big hitter as well as a powerful shooter.
Gretzky’s biggest asset was his brain. Slippery and cerebral, he checked in at six-feet and 185 pounds, often with an enforcer like Dave Semenko or Marty McSorley on his wing to help create open ice for him.
While Gretzky’s goal-scoring record has stood up for more than a quarter-century, scoring was really just a sideline for The Great One.
His true calling card was his setup ability. Gretzky’s 1,963 career assists are more than 50 percent higher than second-place Ron Francis (1,249) and nearly double the NHL’s active leader, Sidney Crosby (1,058), who’s currently 10th all-time.
Here's more on the distinct paths that Ovechkin and Gretzky have taken up the NHL’s goal-scoring mountain.
Gretzky: Younger
After starting in the WHA as a 17-year-old, Gretzky was 18 years and eight months old when he made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 10, 1979.
He wrapped up on April 14, 1999, at 38 years and nearly three months.
As for Ovechkin, his Sept. 17 birthday made him one of the oldest players in his 2004 draft class. He was born two days too late to qualify for the famed class of 2003.
Then, the 2004-05 full-season lockout eliminated any opportunity for Ovechkin to play in the NHL as a 19-year-old. He was 20 years and two weeks old when he finally made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005 — almost two full years older than Sidney Crosby, who played his first game on the same day.
Ovechkin started this season at age 39 and is showing no sign of slowing down. His 36 goals rank him fourth in the NHL in 2024-25.
Ovechkin: Quicker
Ovechkin introduced himself in his very first game, scoring twice in the Capitals’ 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. By the 15-game mark, he was already up to 12 goals and had five two-goal games. He finished his rookie season with 52 goals and won the Calder Trophy.
Gretzky’s reputation preceded him thanks to his 110-point year in the WHA, but he didn’t log his first NHL goal until his third game — a 4-4 tie against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 14, 1979.
His first multi-goal night came against the New York Islanders in his 10th game, and at Game 15, he was sitting at six goals. But Gretzky picked up steam as the year went on, finishing with 51 goals in 78 games and tying Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings for the league lead in points. Because he had already played a pro season, Gretzky was ruled to be ineligible for the Calder Trophy.
Gretzky: Streakier
In his third NHL season in 1981-82, Gretzky set the single-season record with 92 goals in 80 games. That record still stands, and the closest challenger was – Gretzky again, with 87 goals in 1983-84. Then comes Brett Hull at 86.
Gretzky’s goal-scoring slowed significantly in the later part of his career. He won five goal-scoring titles, all during his time with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s, and scored at least 40 goals in each of his first 12 seasons.
After that, the closest he came was 38 goals in 1993-94. That’s the year he passed Gordie Howe with his record-setting 802nd goal. He played five more seasons before hanging up his skates at No. 894.
Ovechkin: Steadier
Ovechkin also peaked in his third season, with 65 goals – tied for 24th all-time. While he didn’t match Gretzky’s dizzying heights early in his career, he has only dipped below 30 goals once – and that was the 56-game 2020-21 season, his 16th year.
All told, Ovechkin has 19 seasons with at least 30 goals, 13 with more than 40 goals, and nine goal-scoring titles. Both players have had five 50-goal seasons, but Gretzky cracked 60 goals five times, while Ovechkin only did it once.
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Are The Boston Bruins Really This Awful?
Man, Jake DeBrusk must have been much better than we all thought. Ever since he's left the Boston Bruins, they've gone to the dogs.
Well, not really. When the calendar turned to 2025, the Bruins were in third place in the Atlantic Division, firmly in possession of a playoff spot. Since then, disaster. They've not only foundered, but they traded away franchise stalwarts Brad Marchand and Brandon Carlo for futures.
Yes, they have a ton of cap space this summer. But so do a lot of other teams. Yes, they have a decent core of players signed long-term, but that might just prompt them to continue chasing a contender status that just isn't there.
This is a team that looks destined to be in the mushy middle, which is kind of the worst place in the NHL, for a few years.
Today's video column has more.
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Five First-Year Coaches Having Strong Impacts On Their NHL Teams
If we’re going to talk about new NHL coaches doing good things this season, we probably shouldn’t look past our newest candidate.
Brad Shaw is a perfect 3-0-0 with the Philadelphia Flyers since taking over for John Tortorella last Thursday, so it doesn’t get any better than that.
But sample size is important. The candidates for this list of the NHL’s most effective first-year coaches all have at least 50 games with their new teams this year.
Craig Berube hit that mark, but he missed the cut because he’ll be measured by his playoff results with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With all that in mind, here are the five NHL bench bosses who have had the most impressive impacts on their new teams this season.
Travis Green, Ottawa Senators
Hired: May 7, 2024 – Record 39-28-6 – .575 points percentage
The Ottawa Senators have become a shining example of how strong ownership can lead to team success. It took Michael Andlauer a minute to get all his ducks in a row, but the organization is now headed in a positive direction after committing to Steve Staios as GM and to Travis Green as coach.
The Sens have deployed a dangerous power play, received decent goaltending and pumped up their offense since the trade deadline, going 8-3-1 and all-but-locking-in their first playoff berth since 2017.
The team has also brought out the best in Green: Ottawa’s .575 points percentage this season is a career high, better than his parts of five seasons coaching the Vancouver Canucks and 21 games as interim coach of the New Jersey Devils last season.
Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets
Hired: May 24, 2024 – Record 51-19-4 – .716 points percentage
When Rick Bowness retired last spring after guiding the Jets to their second-best season in franchise history, Scott Arniel’s main task was to avoid letting the team slide backward after being elevated from an associate role.
Instead, he took them to new heights, starting the season with an eight-game winning streak and maintaining the pace to sit in pole position for their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is a luxury to build from, but he’s not a one-man show. Top scorers Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers are all headed toward career years, Cole Perfetti has taken the next step, and the power play is one of the most dangerous in the NHL.
For Arniel to deliver a season this dominant is a win in itself for the Jets. If he can help erase the memory of last year’s playoffs with a meaningful post-season run, all the better.
Ryan Warsofsky, San Jose Sharks
Hired: June 13, 2024 – Record 20-44-9 – .336 points percentage
You may be surprised to see the coach of a last-place team on this list. But Warsofsky deserves credit for delivering some positives in a tough environment, especially as a first-time NHL bench boss.
It’s never easy to make the transition from assistant coach into a head job. Warsofsky has swept away the memories of his two years working under David Quinn and approached his task at hand with vigor and positivity — and it doesn’t hurt that good-natured alumni and franchise legends Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are both lending a hand behind the scenes.
Even after a trade-deadline sell-off, Warsofsky has maintained buy-in from veterans like Tyler Toffoli and can build off the infectious enthusiasm of future stars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Add in another top lottery pick this summer, and the future is getting brighter in the Bay Area.
Dean Evason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Hired: July 22, 2024 – Record 33-30-9 – .521 points percentage
Evason hasn’t matched the .639 points percentage he put up during his 251 games coaching the Minnesota Wild. but he’s being measured by a different standard this season.
He hasn’t just moved the Blue Jackets from the Eastern Conference basement into potential playoff contention. He’s done it under the dark cloud of tragedy after Johnny Gaudreau’s passing in August.
On Monday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman declared that Evason would be his man if he had a Jack Adams vote. Evason started his new job by giving the players the space they all needed to grieve in their own ways, then offered a clean sheet for everyone to show what they could bring to the table.
That environment has brought the very best out of established players like Zach Werenski, allowed role players like Mathieu Olivier to thrive and helped youngsters like Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko all take steps forward.
It’ll be tough to root against them if they can sneak into a playoff spot.
Jim Montgomery, St. Louis Blues
Hired: Nov. 24, 2024 – Record 31-16-6 – .642 points percentage
The only coach on this list who already has a Jack Adams, Montgomery is riding high now in St. Louis, barely four months after the Boston Bruins fired him.
He was the architect of Boston’s record-breaking regular season in 2022-23. Now, he’s doing special things in the Gateway City, as the Blues’ refusal to lose is starting to draw comparisons to their storybook run of 2019.
Montgomery is making GM Doug Armstrong look like a genius for acting fast and presenting an irresistible five-year contract offer just days after he became available last fall. If he can keep doing what he’s doing, he might be one of the few coaches to break through and enjoy a multi-year tenure in one market.
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Top NHL Prospects In Future Watch 2025: 26 To 50
The Hockey News' Future Watch issue features the top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects in the sport, and there are some promising players between 26th and 50th on the list.
We asked a scout, director of player personnel or GM from each NHL team to provide their input on the top prospects in the game, using a five-to-10-year measuring stick.
We start this project in mid-January after NHL teams have had post-WJC scouting meetings. At that point, we draw a line in the sand about who’s a prospect and who’s an NHLer.
That’s why names such as Denton Mateychuk are listed as prospects even though they’ve broken through as NHLers in the past month or two.
Catch up on the players placed 51st to 75th and 76th to 100th. Or check out the entire top 100 prospects list now with write-ups on each player by being subscribed to The Hockey News.
26. Berkly Catton, C, Seattle KrakenSpokane (WHL)
27. Denton Mateychuk, D, Columbus Blue JacketsCleveland (AHL)
Mateychuk impressed in a second consecutive pre-season, but the Blue Jackets’ defensive depth didn’t leave a spot open for him. He didn’t complain, instead going to Cleveland to begin his pro career and helping the Monsters get off to a great start by scoring at nearly a point-a-game pace. An injury opened the door for Mateychuk to make his NHL debut Dec. 23, and he hasn’t looked back. He’s already locked up a spot on the second D-pairing and second power-play unit. - Brian Hedger
28. Kevin Korchinski, D, Chicago BlackhawksRockford (AHL)
29. Daniil But, LW, Utah Hockey ClubYaroslavl (KHL)
30. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Columbus Blue JacketsMedicine Hat (WHL)
31. Nate Danielson, C, Detroit Red WingsGrand Rapids (AHL)
32. Tom Willander, D, Vancouver CanucksBoston University (HE)
A strong NCAA freshman season put Willander on a fast development track. His skating and puck movement are elite, and there are no missing links in his game. Willander is adept at breaking up plays at his own blueline and quickly pivoting to go on the attack. He plays without panic, and his poise has him looking like a high-end blueliner. “Very strong and mature kid with how he carries himself,” Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson said. “A lot to work with. Very coachable and real passion for the game.” - Ben Kuzma
33. Trevor Connelly, LW, Vegas Golden KnightsProvidence (HE)
34. Oliver Bonk, D, Philadelphia FlyersLondon (OHL)
35. Easton Cowan, RW, Toronto Maple LeafsLondon (OHL)
36. Tanner Molendyk, D, Nashville PredatorsMedicine Hat (WHL)
37. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota WildIowa (AHL)
38. Cole Eiserman, LW, New York IslandersBoston University (HE)
When the Isles chose Eiserman in 2024, it was their first time picking in Round 1 since 2019. He’s a gifted scorer and skater who plays with hunger around the net. Eiserman produced at a point-per-game pace at this year’s world juniors, and he’s continued that level of production in the NCAA. Armed with an accurate shot and strong passing ability, Eiserman was considered the best goal-scorer in last year’s draft class. “He fits the profile of a goal-scorer,” Islanders assistant GM Chris Lamoriello said. - Matt Caputo
39. Adam Jiricek, D, St. Louis BluesBrantford (OHL)
40. Bradly Nadeau, LW, Carolina HurricanesChicago (AHL)
41. Quentin Musty, LW, San Jose SharksSudbury (OHL)
42. Michael Hage, C, Montreal CanadiensMichigan (Big Ten)
43. Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Washington CapitalsHershey (AHL)
44. Tristan Luneau, D, Anaheim DucksSan Diego (AHL)
45. Brennan Othmann, LW, New York RangersHartford (AHL)
It wasn’t the start to his second AHL season Othmann had hoped for. After being sent to Hartford following Rangers training camp – where he had four points in six pre-season games – Othmann suffered an upper-body injury in his third AHL game, sidelining him for two months. He had to hit the reset button upon returning but got rolling in late January. Othmann brings toughness, a north-south style and a quick release. He’s striving to upgrade his skating and defense. - Steve Zipay
46. Trey Augustine, G, Detroit Red WingsMichigan State (Big Ten)
47. Liam Greentree, RW, Los Angeles KingsWindsor (OHL)
48. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Detroit Red WingsSkelleftea (Swe.)
49. David Edstrom, C, Nashville PredatorsFrolunda (Swe.)
50. Danila Yurov, RW, Minnesota WildMagnitogorsk (KHL)
This appeared in our 2025 Future Watch magazine issue. Our cover story focuses on Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke, who is tearing it up with the OHL's Oshawa Generals this season. We also include features on other exceptional NHL prospects, including: Zayne Parekh, Porter Martone, Gavin McKenna and more. In addition, we look at the top 10 prospects in the pipeline for each of the 32 NHL clubs.
You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.
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Capitals' Leonard, Rangers' Perreault Lead The Most Promising NCAA Talents Signing NHL Deals
The flood of NCAA players signing their entry-level NHL contracts has begun.
The Frozen Four begins on April 10, so we should see a couple more players signing after then, but a handful of prospects are jumping from the NCAA to the NHL right now after being eliminated.
Some of the most promising and exciting prospects in hockey have come through the NCAA pipeline in recent years. This year’s crop of signees will be effective on teams that are either securely in the playoffs, pushing for a wild-card spot or sitting near the bottom of the league and looking forward to the future.
Let’s look at some of the most promising entry-level signings from the NCAA in recent days.
Ryan Leonard, LW, Washington Capitals
The bull in a china shop that is Ryan Leonard has been one of the most physically dominant players in the NCAA over the past couple of years.
His speed, strength, and legitimate skill make him a player who can play up and down the lineup at the NHL level. He was the engine of Boston College's top line alongside 2025 top NHL draft prospect James Hagens and Gabe Perreault, who's expected to sign with the New York Rangers.
Leonard should slot into the Capitals' middle six forwards and provide some energy and scoring punch down the lineup for their playoff run. Even if his offensive game takes a minute to get going, his speed and tenacity should make him a valuable part of the lineup.
Gabe Perreault, RW, New York Rangers
The Rangers announced they officially signed Perreault at 5 p.m. ET on Monday.
Perreault is one of the premier play connectors who came through the NHL draft in recent years. He’ll be playing with new linemates for the first time in three years – he won’t have either Leonard or Will Smith alongside him as he did going back to his days in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Perreault isn’t the fastest, most skilled or strongest player, but his value comes from his intellect and cerebral playmaking ability.
Perreault is highly effective as an off-puck attacker who can make a quick pass or get himself into a scoring area with ease. Whether he makes a one-touch pass or waits the extra half-second to allow a lane to develop on a zone entry, Perreault is such a smart player who allows his teammates to play to their strengths.
Oliver Moore, C/W, Chicago Blackhawks
Already getting into one NHL game with Chicago, Moore is a speed demon who plays hard at both ends of the ice.
He’s consistently played a steady middle-six game whenever he’s been asked, but he’s skilled enough offensively to drive results when asked to play up the lineup. Moore is a fantastic fit for this Blackhawks team, which is looking for some added team speed.
The rest of the Hawks’ season means little in the standings, but Moore could make a strong case for a roster spot next year with a good run of play.
His versatility could see him stick on the wing for now, but Moore’s two-way game and pace make him more of a fit at center. Either way, Moore should be a fixture in the middle six for Chicago for years.
Matthew Wood, C/W, Nashville Predators
Although Wood didn’t become a dominant player during his two-year college run, he joins the Predators as they play out the stretch of a lost season.
Wood is a big-bodied forward who is an excellent off-puck finisher. He’s grown as a playmaker in the NCAA. His last month of the season with the University of Minnesota was as good as he’s been in college, and it should give him confidence heading into the NHL.
While he shouldn’t be expected to hit the ground running, especially on a Preds team where nothing has gone right this year, Wood should be a nice addition that provides a glimpse into the future. The 6-foot-4 Albertan could play down the lineup as a center or a left winger.
Wood has the skill and shooting talent to score some goals. He just needs someone to help him get the puck in good positions.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues
After setting career highs in goals and points in the NCAA, Snuggerud joins the Blues in the thick of a playoff race.
He doesn’t necessarily drive play, but he is an excellent Robin to someone’s Batman. He plays with speed and energy, finds open space in the offensive zone and helps make life easier on his linemates by doing a little bit of everything.
Snuggerud is slated to line up on the third line for the Blues, which could give them the depth scoring they need to pull away in the playoff race.
Snuggerud has always found a way to elevate his game as the stakes get higher, whether it's the World Junior Championship or the NCAA tournament.
Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Like Moore, Rinzel got into his first NHL game already, and he looked quite solid. He has size, skating ability and some skill, which immediately makes him one of the Hawks' more intriguing blueliners.
Rinzel has the kind of reach and mobility that it takes to play a solid defensive game and the passing and skill to play well enough in the offensive end.
Rinzel will make some mistakes, but the experience he gains in this season's final days could spur him on to being a regular in the lineup in the fall. His raw tools have always been incredibly intriguing, and his development in college has been encouraging. Getting a glimpse of pro hockey will be integral as he heads into a summer training to be a full-time pro.
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NHL Power Rankings: The Great Playoff Chase Is On As Bruins Hit Rock Bottom
Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.
With fewer than 10 games to go, the playoff picture doesn’t look that much clearer.
While the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals remain first and second in the NHL standings, the Dallas Stars have now joined the century club thanks to a six-game winning streak.
Speaking of winning streaks, there is no team hotter right now than the St. Louis Blues. With Cam Fowler’s overtime-winner Tuesday, the Blues have now won 10 straight games. Much credit goes to Jobu, the mysterious voodoo doll bobblehead from Major League that’s suddenly brough all the good vibes to their dressing room.
Upcoming key matchups with major playoff implications include Lightning at Senators on Thursday; Oilers at Kings, Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs on Saturday; Panthers at Red Wings on Sunday; and also the Golden Knights’ back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday against the Flames and Canucks, respectively.
The great chase – for playoff positioning and also Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record – is at full attention.
1. Winnipeg Jets (51-20-4, +80. Previous: 1)
A 4-1 loss to the Kings was the only blemish for the NHL’s only 50-win team (so far). Winning the Presidents’ Trophy will mean a lot to this organization despite its history of not being a good indicator of future playoff success.
2. Dallas Stars (49-21-4, +65. Previous: 5)
The Stars’ six-game winning streak – even if the matchups were pretty easy – finally knocks the Jets and Capitals off the top two spots. The Robertson-Hintz-Rantanen line looks like it might be the best in the NHL, amassing 24 points over their past six games.
3. Washington Capitals (48-17-9, +71. Previous: 2)
A tough stretch for the Capitals allowing 12 goals in two games following an overtime loss to the Jets, and narrowly beating the horrific Bruins after blowing a 2-0 first-period lead. However, the good vibes keep coming; Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of tying Gretzky’s record and top prospect Ryan Leonard has joined the club.
4. Carolina Hurricanes (45-24-4, +42. Previous: 4)
The Hurricanes finished March with the best record in the East (11-3-0) despite having the seventh-worst power play. They’re an excellent team nonetheless and seemed locked into a first-round matchup against the Devils, which they will likely win. Maybe they'll advance one more round before it all falls apart, right?
5. Colorado Avalanche (45-26-4, +40. Previous: 3)
A big 4-0 win over the Kings followed a 2-1 loss to the Blues and then a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames where they blew a 2-0 lead. It’s not often you see the Avs score so few goals. Good thing, though, the Hawks and Jackets are coming up, which are allowing the second-most and sixth-most goals per game, respectively.
6. Edmonton Oilers (43-26-5, +22. Previous: 8)
Leon Draisaitl’s spectacular performance against the Flames and being a virtual lock to win the Rocket Richard is just more resume padding to be the league MVP. The Oilers will be the only team to have two different winners of the Rocket Richard since the award was introduced, following Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos for the Lightning.
7. Vegas Golden Knights (45-21-8, +54. Previous: 7)
Despite the loss to the Oilers, the Knights become the first team in the Pacific to clinch a playoff spot. They’ll likely be able to decide who gets the final wild-card spot, too, with two games each against the Flames and Canucks to finish the season.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs (45-25-4, +23. Previous: 11)
I don’t think the Maple Leafs are getting enough credit for grinding out games. They have the best points percentage (.692) in one-goal games, the second-best winning percentage (.885) when leading after one period, the sixth-best (.939) when leading after two and the most wins (eight) when trailing after two. They’ve improved in each of these categories significantly from last season.
9. Los Angeles Kings (42-23-9, +32. Previous: 6)
Despite losing to the Avalanche and Leafs, wins over San Jose and Winnipeg keep the Kings second in the Pacific. They currently hold home-ice advantage against the Oilers in the first round if the playoffs started today. That said, L.A. is 2-6 against Edmonton at home in the last three playoff series, compared to 4-6 on the road.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-25-5, +72. Previous: 9)
The Lightning could have as many as five (!) 30-goal scorers this season – Anthony Cirelli is four away from 30 – which has not been done since the 1992-93 season. Their lineup feels deeper and like a legit contender for the first time in three seasons.
11. St. Louis Blues (41-28-7, +18. Previous: 12)
There are the NHL’s hottest team with shades of 2019, but instead of "Gloria!" it’s the mysterious Jobu and his voodoo magic. The Blues are doing this without a bona fide superstar, which is perhaps the most amazing thing about their run.
12. Montreal Canadiens (35-30-9, -25. Previous: 13)
We need playoff games at the Bell Centre. The hockey gods demand it.
13. Florida Panthers (44-26-4, +34. Previous: 10)
Consecutive losses to the Canadiens and zero regulations wins (!) over the past two weeks drop the Panthers into the worst slump of their season since mid-November when they went 1-6-0. There’s no panic with this club, but having home ice in Game 7 in the opening round of the Atlantic Division matchup – there’s no way it doesn’t go seven – would be huge.
14. New Jersey Devils (40-29-7, +26. Previous: 17)
The Devils are limping into the post-season, virtually a lock for the third seed in the Metro with a first-round matchup against the Canes. Since the season-ending injury to Jack Hughes, the Devils are barely over .500 at 7-6-1.
15. Minnesota Wild (41-28-6, -10. Previous: 15)
The good news is Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov are getting closer to returning. The bad news is, if the Wild slip any more, they could slip out of a playoff spot. The Flames and Canucks each have one game in hand, and the Wild face both of them on the road in a back-to-back next Friday and Saturday.
16. Ottawa Senators (39-29-6, -1. Previous: 14)
They secured a key win against the Jackets but somehow scored zero – zero! – goals against the Pens and lost to the Sabres for the fourth straight time. While the Sens’ playoff hopes have likely been sealed, they do have tough matchups coming up, including a home-and-home series against the suddenly red-hot Jackets.
17. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-30-9, -4. Previous: 21)
How wonderful to see the Jackets’ offense get back on track following a stretch where they scored just one goal in four games. The returns of Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner have provided a huge boost, and despite some close shaves, the Jackets have now won three of their past four with 21 goals scored.
18. Utah Hockey Club (34-29-12, -17. Previous: 18)
It’s likely too little, too late for Utah, whose win against the Flames on Tuesday moved them two points closer. The losing streaks in December and January ultimately did them in, and despite playing the Preds twice in their final seven games, they have a tough schedule to finish the season.
19. Calgary Flames (35-27-12, -25. Previous: 16)
An impressive four-game winning streak but then only three points out of eight possible points against conference foes. The Flames are really close, but they’ll need to win – good thing they face the Ducks and Sharks in three of their next four – and the Wild to keep stumbling.
20. Vancouver Canucks (34-27-13, -16. Previous: 20)
That the Canucks managed to stay in the playoff race despite battling so many injuries and internal strife is a testament to this team’s potential. But it’s been just one thing after another, and now contract talks with coach Rick Tocchet further threaten the continuity of this team.
21. Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8, -28. Previous: 27)
It’s not talked about enough how the Ducks have really improved from last season, though they’re likely next to be eliminated from the playoff race in the West. The Ducks have had plenty of losing streaks over the past few seasons but since Jan. 21 have not lost more than two games in a row.
22. New York Rangers (35-32-7, +2. Previous: 19)
The sea change that Chris Drury is probably still in process because not a whole lot has changed with the Rangers. They have only three regulation wins since March 5 and face a gauntlet of Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay to finish the season.
23. Buffalo Sabres (32-36-6, -19. Previous: 24)
Trust the Sabres to win games when it no long really matters. They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10, the best record outside of the East’s top six teams, including wins over the Jets and Caps. They’re doing this with James friggin’ Reimer in net. The Sabres have the talent but only ever seem to win when it doesn’t really matter.
24. Detroit Red Wings (34-33-7, -23. Previous: 23)
Since March 1, the Wings have the second-worst record in the league (4-10-1) and lost key points to the Sens. Now, they face the daunting task of facing teams that are higher in the standings for the rest of the season. At this point, I’m not sure if this is a sabotage of the Yzerplan or another massive miss.
25. New York Islanders (32-32-10, -26. Previous: 22)
Patrick Roy had some choice words for Anthony Duclair, and he’s probably the most entertaining soundbite since the Flyers fired John Tortorella. They’ve lost six in a row and now fall five points back of a wild-card spot. The Isles can’t score, but this is inevitably what happens when you fill your roster with a few top six players and a bunch of bottom six ones.
26. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-34-11, -56. Previous: 25)
Tristan Jarry looked so promising – as did the Pens’ playoff hopes, however slim – but then they imploded once again, and now find themselves basically on the outside looking in again. While Sidney Crosby’s Pens had much more success earlier in his career, the contrast between them and Alex Ovechkin’s Caps has been really stark.
27. Seattle Kraken (31-38-6, -21. Previous: 26)
With one win in their past six games and no playoffs yet again, you wonder how the Kraken can pull themselves out of mediocrity. Will they take some big swings again, as they did this off-season, or patiently wait until Matty Beniers and Shane Wright are top-tier NHL players?
28. Philadelphia Flyers (31-36-9, -46. Previous: 32)
The coaching bump under Brad Shaw seems to be real, and at least the Flyers are scoring again. Let’s face it, though – no coach could’ve coaxed much out of this lineup, and John Tortorella’s patience finally ran out, not that he had a wealth of it to begin with.
29. Nashville Predators (27-40-8, -55. Previous: 28)
Juuse Saros was pulled Tuesday against the Jackets in an 8-4 loss. Never mind the disappointing offense; when their best player isn’t their best player, they have zero chance. The key question is if Barry Trotz makes big moves again in the summer or steps back and hopes this team can resolve its problems itself.
30. San Jose Sharks (20-44-10, -89. Previous: 29)
Even when Macklin Celebrini’s car gets hit by the opposition’s team bus – intentional or not, who knows – and despite sitting last in the standings, the Sharks have this aura about them that good things really going to come. They’re a really entertaining team. They’re dynamic on offense, while their defense and goaltending is worth watching for all the wrong reasons.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (21-44-9, -68. Previous: 31)
Yes, the Hawks have won consecutive games just once since Dec. 19, but things keep getting better, if only slightly. We’ll overlook Spencer Knight’s numbers because the team in front of him isn’t very good, but he’s shown flashes of a potential future No. 1, and top prospects Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel recently signed. The question for them, and the NHL’s marketing team, is when we can see Connor Bedard in the playoffs.
32. Boston Bruins (30-36-9, -52. Previous: 30)
Ranking the Bruins third-last last week felt a little strange and somewhat insulting for a team that had been dominant for nearly two decades, but that crash you hear with that nine-game winless streak is the sound of this Bruins era catastrophically collapsing.
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Tortorella Gone, But Many Flyers Problems Remain
John Tortorella has a lot of redeeming qualities, including
the fact he develops a culture with his hard-driving, old-school style.
But he was the wrong fit for the Philadelphia Flyers, who
dismissed the 66-year-old coach Thursday toward the end of another
disappointing season.
The Flyers are still a bad team, but maybe the players will
develop quicker without the fear of being benched if they make a mistake. That
was a Tortorella trademark, and it didn’t seem to sit well with the players or
management.
A young, rebuilding team like the Flyers needs someone who
can nurture players, get the most out of their potential.
That wasn’t a strength – or the MO – of the no-nonsense
Tortorella.
In three years under Tortorella, the Flyers went 97-107-33
and missed the playoffs each year. The team overachieved for most of last
season, then collapsed near the end, losing eight straight and blowing a
playoff spot.
Despite the addition of wunderkind Matvei Michkov, the team
has regressed greatly this season. The Flyers are 28-36-9, have lost 11 of
their last 12 and have the NHL’s fourth-worst winning percentage.
The Flyers will miss the playoffs for a fifth straight
season, matching the worst span in franchise history.
Biggest Issue
Worse, the younger players – other than Michkov and Noah
Cates – didn’t develop.
Former first-round picks Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost
were traded because of their struggles.
Promising defensemen Cam York, who made
a gaffe in Tuesday’s 7-2 loss in Toronto and was subsequently benched the rest
of the game, and Jamie Drysdale have been extremely inconsistent.
Right winger Owen
Tippett, a team cornerstone at 26, has taken a step backward. The goalies and
the defense have been abysmal. Ditto the overall offense.
Tortorella sounded like he had packed in the season after
Tuesday’s shellacking in Toronto.
“I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this
type of season,” he told reporters.
Maybe he meant he just hates coaching when there is nothing
at stake, which is understandable. But it came across as a man who was fed up
and had thrown in the towel on the season. Not a good look for the team’s leader.
Two days later, he was fired and replaced by interim coach
Brad Shaw.
Yes, Tortorella won a Cup in Tampa Bay ages ago, but his teams have not been in the post-season in six of the last 10
years. Including time in Vancouver and Columbus, he has gotten past Round 1
once in the last 10 years. Those aren't great results.
Dismal Times
Flyers GM Danny Briere said all the obligatory things
after Tortorella was dismissed. He called it a “very difficult decision,”
saying Tortorella played a “vital role” in the rebuild and “set the standard of
play and re-established what it means to be a Philadelphia Flyer.”
From here, it means missing the playoffs, not having a true
No. 1 or No. 2 center, watching too many young players regress and again
searching for the dependable goalie.
Other than that, the Flyers resemble the franchise’s 1973-74
and 1974-75 Stanley Cup champs.
That’s not a slap at the current team. They try hard. They
rarely get outworked. But they just don’t have the talent to compete.
Now the attention is focused on Briere, who needs to be
active in the trade and free-agent markets, and do well in the draft. He has
seven picks in the first two rounds in June. With the way some of those
previous top choices have panned out (with other GMs in charge), maybe it’s
time to deal some of those picks for established players?
Tortorella is gone, but the other problems – a lack of
talent at key positions, failure to develop promising prospects – haven't gone
away.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Tristan Jarry, Jean-Gabriel Pageau And Ryan Donato
It's been an up-and-down season for Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.
The 29-year-old played in the AHL after struggling through the first half of the schedule. Recalled in early March, he rattled off four straight wins. On Sunday, he got his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently wondered if Jarry had done enough to save his career with the Penguins. He doubted his recent performance would improve his value in this summer's trade market.
Madden believes the Penguins can't afford to keep Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, who has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $2.5 million. Jarry is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.375 million.
Buying out Jarry would only count as $1.747 million against the Penguins' salary cap for next season. However, that cap hit rises to just over $5 million in 2026-27 and $4.5 million in 2027-28, dropping to just $797,000 annually for the remaining three years of the buyout.
Turning to the New York Islanders, RG.Org's Marco D'Amico cited sources claiming the Edmonton Oilers looked into acquiring Jean-Gabriel Pageau before the March 7 trade deadline.
D'Amico indicated Oilers GM Stan Bowman sought to bolster his depth at center with someone who'd be more than a playoff rental. Pageau, 32, is signed through next season with a cap hit of $5 million. He also has a 16-team no-trade list.
The Islanders reportedly spurned the offers because they didn't want to retain salary and weren't interested in a return of draft picks. That could remain their position with Pageau if the Oilers or other clubs make trade inquiries this summer.
Speaking of the trade deadline, Scott Powers of The Athletic thinks some teams might be kicking themselves for not offering the Chicago Blackhawks a first-round pick for Ryan Donato.
The 28-year-old center is enjoying a career-best performance with 29 goals and 59 points in 72 games. He's reportedly sitting on a three-year contract offer worth $4 million annually.
Powers believes Donato could be interested in returning to the Boston Bruins if he goes to market. He's a Boston native who began his career with the Bruins. The Blackhawks hope he'll recognize that the top-six minutes and power-play time he's getting in Chicago won't be available to him on better clubs.
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Five NHL Defensemen Having Breakout Seasons
The development path for an NHL defensemen can be quite long, having to add multiple elements to their game. For some, the transition happens almost seamlessly, like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes or Miro Heiskanen, but for others, a season or two before it all clicks in is expected. Recently, defensemen like Thomas Harley, Brock Faber and Rasmus Sandin have taken advantage of developing in other leagues before becoming impact players in the NHL.
It’s quite rare for a defenseman to burst onto the scene and dominate, but these five defensemen are doing just that.
Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks
LaCombe was the 39th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and would spend four years at the University of Minnesota. The decision to stay for all four years proved to be a wise one, as it allowed him to mature and refine his game before joining the Ducks organization, who were in a massive rebuild.
His rookie season saw him average 19:23 of ice time, scoring two goals and 17 points. His sophomore campaign has seen him reach new heights, and it likely could get even better. The 24-year-old has scored 13 goals and 41 points, ranking in the top 10 in goals among NHL defensemen.
The Ducks are among the youngest teams in the NHL, and it’s partially why LaCombe has recorded just 28 assists. As the young Duck forwards get older and gain more experience, they’ll be able to turn LaCombe’s playmaking into goals. The Ducks are building a star-studded defensive core, headline by LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger.
Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
Sanderson’s route to the NHL was quicker than LaCombe’s, spending just two seasons at the University of North Dakota. The fifth overall pick would make his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season, scoring four goals and 32 points in 77 games. Although the offensive numbers were quite impressive for a 20-year-old rookie defenseman, Sanderson had a plethora of issues in his own end.
His sophomore season saw improvements both offensively and defensively, earning an eight-year, $64.4-million contract extension per Puckpedia. While many argued that the contract was handed out too soon, Sanderson has put those critics to rest, scoring seven goals and 48 points in 70 games, averaging 24:23 of ice time and earning a nod to Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, where he scored a goal in the final.
Thomas Chabot had been the Senators' No. 1 defenseman for quite some time but the play of Sanderson has changed things. The turning of the leaf began in the 2023-24 season and it’s come into full effect this season. The next step for Sanderson’s development is to be more aggressive and seek out his shot, but with the tools Sanderson has at his disposal, there’s no reason why he can’t be a double-digit scorer each year.
Alex Vlasic, Chicago Blackhawks
Vlasic followed a similar route to LaCombe, playing three years at Boston University. He never had his offensive breakout during his NCAA days, and it’s likely why he was never selected to play for Team USA’s world junior team. Despite that, the 43rd overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft was a defensive stalwart, using his 6-foot-6 frame to his advantage.
The 23-year-old spent the 2022-23 season playing with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL, where he tapped into his offensive game for the first time. He replicated that production in his first full season, earning himself a six-year, $27.6-million contract extension, and now, in the 2024-25 campaign, he's flourishing.
His four goals and 28 points, coupled with his defensive game, have allowed him to average 23:27 minutes of ice time on a Blackhawks blue line that will soon feature Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro and Sam Rinzel. Korchinski and Levshunov will likely be the offensive contributors on the backend, but if Vlasic can add more offense to his game without sacrificing his defensive game, the Blackhawks will be a difficult team to play against.
Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have been incredibly patient with Edvinsson, first allowing him to develop in the SHL before keeping him in the AHL for an additional two seasons. Heading into his first full campaign, Edvinsson had 25 games of NHL experience and has now revolutionized the Red Wings’ blueline.
Moritz Seider’s following seasons after winning the Calder Trophy were underwhelming. Playing alongside Ben Chiarot, the pair struggled greatly in the consistency department. Although the pair have still spent most of the season together, Seider’s best results are when he plays with Edvinsson. Seider’s expected goals percentage with Chiarot is 41.96 percent, and with Edvinsson, it’s 48.57 percent.
Edvinsson is a tremendous skater and offensive player for a 22-year-old listed at 6-foot-6, and as his ice time grows, the offensive numbers are sure to follow.
Dante Fabbro, Columbus Blue Jackets
Fabbro is the oldest player out of the five – already 26 years old – but since he was claimed off of waivers by the Blue Jackets, he’s revived his career. During his tenure with the Nashville Predators, Fabbro never averaged over 20 minutes of ice time, and in 52 games with the Blue Jackets, Fabbro is averaging nearly 22.
He’s set a career-high in goals, recording six goals and 20 points, proving to be the perfect partner for Zach Werenski, a Norris Trophy candidate this season.
Gustav Forsling was a surprise breakout candidate for the Florida Panthers, and Fabbro looks to be following the same trajectory as an astute defender with good feet and puck-moving ability.
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Who’s Surging In The NHL Since The 4 Nations Face-Off?
There’s always a risk of peaking too early. But if all goes well, NHL players and teams hope that the positive momentum that’s built down the home stretch of the regular season will carry into playoffs and boost them when it matters most.
Consistency is always the goal, but that’s no small feat to achieve. The next best option is getting hot at the right time.
In February, I singled out the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson for a sag in their performance. Now, they’re at the top of their games, right when it matters most.
Here's one team, goalie and skater that have been heating up since the 4 Nations break:
Team: St. Louis Blues
When the Blues snapped up coach Jim Montgomery after he was let go by Boston in November, they didn’t get that new-coach bump that we often see when changes are made behind the bench.
At the end of 2024, St. Louis sat three points out of a wild-card spot with a record of 18-17-4. Then, they went 7-9-1 up to the 4 Nations break.
But ever since Jordan Binnington backstopped Canada to win the 4 Nations championship, the Blues have refused to lose. Saturday’s 2-1 win over another hot team, the Colorado Avalanche, took them to 15-2-2 since the break. That’s a .842 points percentage that works out to a 139-point pace over a full season — even better than the record-setting 135 points Montgomery’s Boston Bruins logged in 2022-23.
Binnington’s 10 wins since the break are tied for the most in the league, and his .917 save percentage and 2.09 goals-against average are nice improvements from his .897 save percentage and 2.89 GAA before the break, which earned him a 15-19-4 record.
His backup, Joel Hofer, has also seen his GAA improve from 2.88 to a sparkling 1.98, and he’s 5-0-2 since the break. The Blues will have no issue balancing their goalies’ workloads down the stretch and keeping both in peak form for the post-season.
The St. Louis offense has surged as well. Before the break, the team was scoring just 2.70 goals per game, sixth-fewest in the league. After the break, that number has spiked to a league-leading 3.89 goals a game, built off contributions from across the lineup.
Robert Thomas is leading the way with 27 points in 19 games, an average of 1.42 points per game. Because he missed 12 games with an ankle fracture earlier in the year, he was at 41 points in 44 games before the break — leading the team, at that time, with 0.93 points per game.
Dylan Holloway has also made headlines as he gets comfortable following last summer’s offer-sheet saga. At his cap hit of $2.29 million, the 23-year-old is now a bargain with 62 points, and he's averaging over 16 minutes a game in a top-six role.
Before the break, Holloway had 40 points in 56 games, already a career high at 0.71 points per game. In his last 19 games, he has added 22 points, and an eye-popping four of his 10 goals have been game-winners.
The Blues have been so hot that they’re overshadowing the Carolina Hurricanes, who are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. Vegas and Dallas also both have just one regulation loss in their last 10.
Goalie: Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Before Gustavsson got vented for five goals against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, he had given up just six goals in his previous five games. Since the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he got to overtime against Canada and then got pulled against Finland, he has posted a .920 save percentage and 2.21 GAA over 14 games.
Those numbers are even more notable because in his 11 appearances leading up to 4 Nations, he’d been at 3.48 and .896, after a red-hot start to the year.
The Blues have now caught Minnesota in the wild-card standings. And while it’s unlikely that either team can climb higher, they’ll be battling each other for positioning — although playing Winnipeg or Vegas may be a pick-your-poison situation.
Skater: Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Hintz doesn’t draw a lot of attention, but he’s a top center on a top team who plays a committed two-way game and is on his way to his fourth-straight 30-goal season.
And perhaps new arrivals Mikael Granlund and Mikko Rantanen have helped make up for the absence of injured Finnish defense star Miro Heiskanen in the Dallas Stars’ lineup since the 4 Nations break. After the Finns had to settle for a fourth-place finish in the 4 Nations standings, Hintz has stepped up his game since returning to the Lone Star State.
Before the break, Hintz had a respectable 22 goals and 36 points in 51 games, or 0.71 points per game. After coming back, he has tallied five goals and 23 assists for 28 points in just 16 games. That leads the league, even though he missed two games with a facial injury earlier this month. It may have slowed him down, too: Hintz had just three points in four games after his return but has since rattled off nine points in the last four games. Now that’s a surge.
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Top 25 NHL Prospects In Future Watch 2025
Some players make the NHL as teenagers, but many prospects take three, four or even five years to break through.
The Hockey News' Future Watch issue features the top 100 team-affiliated prospects in the game every year.
We asked a scout, director of player personnel or GM from each NHL team to provide their input on the top prospects in the game, using a five-to-10-year measuring stick. So, while it’s not surprising that the sure-fire prospects at the top of the list get there quicker, a lower-ranked prospect gets every bit equal opportunity.
We start this project in mid-January after NHL teams have had post-WJC scouting meetings. At that point, we draw a line in the sand about who’s a prospect and who’s an NHLer. - Brian Costello, editor
Catch up on the players ranked 26th to 50th, 51st to 75th and 76th to 100th. And check out write-ups on each player by being subscribed to The Hockey News.
Here are the top 25.
1. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal CanadiensSt. Petersburg (KHL)
Demidov is the prospect the Canadiens are most excited about – and with good reason because of his sublime offensive talent. After Demidov was getting limited ice time early this season in the KHL, Hughes went to Russia in December to meet with him and coach Roman Rotenberg. Demidov’s ice time increased and so did his output. Rotenberg said Demidov is stronger this year and winning board battles. “He has genes to be like (Kirill) Kaprizov,” Rotenberg said. “He has genes to be strong.” - Stu Cowan
2. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington CapitalsBoston College (HE)
Embracing the role of the villain at the WJC, Leonard ultimately got the last laugh. The tournament MVP had five goals and 10 points in seven games, captaining Team USA to a second straight gold medal. A power forward with tremendous speed, Leonard is a scorer who plays with an edge. About the only thing left on his amateur to-do list is win an NCAA championship. “His shot is wicked,” said Caps assistant GM Ross Mahoney, “yet he’s unselfish and moves the puck really well.” - Ben Raby
3. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim DucksOshawa (OHL)
Canada leaving Sennecke off their WJC roster left many scratching their heads. That’s because the rangy winger’s growing game already had him as one of the OHL’s best scorers and the No. 3 pick last June. The Ducks love his tenacity. He’s an exceptional playmaker and puckhandler for his age and size, and Anaheim could use his help in both areas. As for that WJC snub? Sennecke answered with nine goals and 22 points in eight December games for the Generals. - Greg Beacham
4. Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota WildDenver (NCHC)
5. Artyom Levshunov, D, Chicago BlackhawksRockford (AHL)
6. Zayne Parekh, D, Calgary FlamesSaginaw (OHL)
7. Sam Dickinson, D, San Jose SharksLondon (OHL)
8. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis BluesMinnesota (Big Ten)
9. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Detroit Red WingsSkelleftea (Swe.)
10. Tij Iginla, C, Utah Hockey ClubKelowna (WHL)
11. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Ottawa SenatorsCalgary (WHL)
Yakemchuk shrugged off the disappointment of being returned to junior and being snubbed from Canada’s WJC squad by breaking the WHL Hitmen’s all-time blueline goal-scoring record. The Sens, who took Yakemchuk ahead of highly touted D-men Zayne Parekh, Anton Silayev and Sam Dickinson, clearly value his blend of size and skill. And while his decision-making and skating must improve, Yakemchuk could well be the Sens’ future PP quarterback. He won’t be held back for long. - Dillon Collins
12. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, St. Louis BluesSpringfield (AHL)
13. Calum Ritchie, C, New York IslandersOshawa (OHL)
14. Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey DevilsUtica (AHL)
15. Konsta Helenius, C, Buffalo SabresRochester (AHL)
16. Jett Luchanko, C, Philadelphia FlyersGuelph (OHL)
17. David Reinbacher, D, Montreal CanadiensLaval (AHL)
18. Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina HurricanesSt. Petersburg (KHL)
19. Gabriel Perreault, RW, New York RangersBoston College (HE)
A skilled playmaker whose skating has improved, Perreault was a key factor (three goals, 10 points in seven games) in Team USA’s WJC gold. Born in Canada and raised in Illinois, Perreault has been compared by analysts to Montreal’s Cole Caufield in style, vision and hockey IQ. The Rangers have high hopes, but Perreault will have to add muscle – similar to his father, former NHLer Yanic, who scored 20-plus goals seven times – and raise his defensive game, to blossom. - Steve Zipay
20. Dmitry Simashev, D, Utah Hockey ClubYaroslavl (KHL)
21. Lian Bischel, D, Dallas StarsTexas (AHL)
22. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Vancouver CanucksAbbotsford (AHL)
23. Brayden Yager, C, Winnipeg JetsLethbridge (WHL)
24. Anton Silayev, D, New Jersey DevilsNizhny Novgorod (KHL)
25. David Jiricek, D, Minnesota WildIowa (AHL)
Jiricek has arrived as advertised. Since a trade from the Blue Jackets, who received four draft picks – including a first-rounder – and a prospect from the Wild, Jiricek previewed the unique skills that made him the No. 6 pick in 2022 during a stint with the Wild while their blueline was decimated by injuries. Jiricek has impressive offensive instincts and a lengthy reach. His defensive game needs work, but he’s willing to battle in his own zone, including in front of the net and in corners. - Sarah McLellan
This appeared in our 2025 Future Watch magazine issue. Our cover story focuses on Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke, who is tearing it up with the OHL's Oshawa Generals this season. We also include features on other exceptional NHL prospects, including: Zayne Parekh, Porter Martone, Gavin McKenna and more. In addition, we look at the top 10 prospects in the pipeline for each of the 32 NHL clubs.
You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.
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Is Oilers' Leon Draisaitl A Better Goal-Scorer Than Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews? Not Quite
At the moment, there are only two active NHL players with three or more 50-plus-goal seasons: Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin and…wait, you were expecting us to say Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, weren’t you?
That’s not the case. Edmonton Oilers star center Leon Draisaitl now has four 50-goal campaigns after scoring twice against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Draisaitl’s scoring prowess raises an intriguing question: is he a better goal-scorer than Matthews?
It’s not as straightforward as it may seem, but Matthews still has the edge.
Matthews has three Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophies as the NHL’s best goal-scorer, while Draisaitl is trending toward only winning his first this season.
Matthews also has 397 goals in 621 career games – Draisaitl has 377 in 679 games since Matthews joined the league in 2016-17.
It’s true Matthews has had more injuries to deal with over the years, but like Draisatl, he has six seasons of 40 goals or more. And when Matthews is at his best, he’s on a level of his own. His top two seasons of 69 goals in 2023-24 and 60 in 2021-22 are much better than Draisaitl’s bests of 55 in ’21-22 and 52 in ’22-23.
The 27-year-old Matthews has 2,509 career shots for a shooting percentage of 15.8 percent. This season – a down year with injury issues – Matthews has 29 goals on 236 shots, for a shooting percentage of 12.3 percent.
Draisaitl, meanwhile, has 398 career goals on 2,144 shots for a shooting percentage of 18.6 percent. This season, Draisaitl’s 51 goals came on 237 shots for a stunning shooting percentage of 21.5 percent. So Draisaitl does deserve credit for scoring on more of his shots than Matthews.
Matthews is more of a high-volume shot-taker, but that shouldn’t go against his case in the better goal-scorer debate. Draisaitl is more of a playmaker than Matthews, with 53 assists this season. He can defer to fellow superstar Connor McDavid or left winger Zach Hyman, while Matthews is the player Mitch Marner and others set up.
For those reasons, we believe Matthews is a better pure goal-scorer than Draisaitl. Draisaitl has a nine-goal lead in the race over second-place William Nylander for the Rocket Richard Trophy, but until he catches up to Matthews in the number of goal-scoring titles, Matthews’ ability to put up goals is more imposing than Draisaitl’s.
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Brad Marchand Gunning For First Cup In 14 Years – No Wonder He's With The Panthers
Brad Marchand is on the verge of making his debut with the Florida Panthers.
He practised again on Thursday and could suit up as soon as Friday against the Utah Hockey Club, according to The Hockey News’ David Dwork.
Marchand has an eight-team no-trade clause, but the reason the Boston Bruins traded their captain to the Panthers was clear – he wanted to go to Florida because of its status as a front-runner for the Stanley Cup.
Despite Marchand’s experience winning a Cup with the Bruins, when you look back at his career, you see how long ago it was when he won it all and why winning another Cup is so important.
Boston’s last Cup win came in 2010-11, Marchand’s first full NHL season. During that playoff run, the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg. Boston drafted Dougie Hamilton after that, and superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews were still years away from joining the league.
Marchand and the Bruins did make the Cup final again in 2012-13 and 2018-19, but since then, the team hasn’t gotten out of the second round.
You can see, then, why Marchand wanted to play for a proven playoff threat like the Panthers if the Bruins wanted to trade him. He’s 36 years old right now, and like all players his age, his opportunities to win another Cup could be few and far between. Winning another Cup wasn’t going to happen with the subpar Bruins this year, and he likely has more appreciation of how much work goes into winning it all.
Marchand is a proven winner and needle-mover in the post-season, producing 82 assists and 138 points in 157 career playoff games. He had 10 points in 11 games last post-season. But you never know what fate the hockey gods will hand you. He needed to strike while the iron is hot.
Marchand could make a case for being a Hockey Hall of Famer. Winning another Cup – or two – would significantly improve his odds of being a Hall of Famer rather than being in the Hall of Very Good.
If this season ends with Marchand hoisting the Cup, you’d forgive him for either chasing the money this summer, returning to Boston or maybe going to play with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. If he doesn’t win, Cup front-runners should try to sign him in free agency.
As an accomplished veteran, Marchand has earned the right to call his own shot at this point in his career. So you can’t fault him for looking for a proven road to another Cup final appearance. Marchand is in it to win it, and that’s why he’s chosen the path he’s now on.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: What Should The Flyers Do After Firing Tortorella?
The Philadelphia Flyers fired John Tortorella on Thursday, replacing him with Brad Shaw on an interim basis.
Tortorella, 66, had a year remaining on his contract. Following a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, he expressed frustration over the Flyers' recent decline in the standings, sounding like he wasn't keen to continue coaching a rebuilding team.
Under Tortorella, the Flyers exceeded expectations since last season. They narrowly missed the post-season last year despite management's hesitant rebuilding approach and the lack of experienced goalie depth following Carter Hart's mid-season departure.
They were still in the chase this season. However, trading away Scott Laughton, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost and Erik Johnson gutted their roster depth, which was further weakened by a recent injury to blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen. They wound up tumbling down the standings and out of contention.
Finding a suitable replacement will be management's off-season priority.
The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau and Jonathan Bailey suggested David Carle of the University of Colorado as a candidate. Before Tortorella’s firing, Philly Hockey Now's William James suggested the same. Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province wondered if Canucks coach Rick Tocchet might land behind the Flyers' bench.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun mentioned Carle and Tocchet, pointing out that the latter is the only current NHL coach on an expiring contract, though it comes with a club option for next season. He wondered if Joel Quenneville might be part of the Flyers' search.
LeBrun also cited interim coaches Joe Sacco in Boston and Anders Sorensen in Chicago. He mused about Peter Laviolette's future if the New York Rangers miss the playoffs. The Hockey News’ Sam Carchidi and Proteau also wondered about AHL Lehigh Valley coach Ian Laperriere as an option.
Before his firing, Tortorella felt the Flyers had to improve their goaltending after this season. He indicated Hart's departure last season left the position in turmoil, relying on inexperienced goaltenders Sam Ersson, Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov. As a result, the Flyers have one of the league's worst goals against per game (3.45).
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic believes Fedotov's future with the Flyers is in doubt. He has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $3.275 million, a 5-13-3 record, a 3.21 goals-against average and a .877 save percentage.
The Flyers will find the market is thin this summer for free-agent goaltenders with starter experience. The notables include the oft-injured Fredrik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes, Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils, and Vitek Vanecek of the Florida Panthers.
John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks is the only noteworthy goalie in the trade market. He carries an average annual value of $6.4 million through 2026-27 and a 10-team no-trade clause. The 31-year-old Gibson might not be keen to swap a rebuilding team in Anaheim for one in Philadelphia.
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Are The Florida Panthers In Danger Of A Playoff Upset?
The Florida Panthers have earned their reputation as one of the NHL’s best teams, getting to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past three seasons, making it to the Cup final in each of the past two seasons, and of course, winning their first Cup in franchise history last season. And for much of this year, the Panthers have been at or near the top of the Atlantic Division. Obviously, there’s a whole lot to like about this Florida team.
That said, there are some worrisome aspects of the Panthers this year. On Sunday, we saw one of them, as they lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 to fall to third place in the Atlantic. Florida is now 0-3-0 against the Habs this year – and this is a Montreal team that the Panthers could wind up facing in the first round of the playoffs this year if Florida wins the Atlantic and the Canadiens remain in a wild-card spot.
In addition, scratch the surface a bit, and you’ll find other data that suggests the Panthers might be ripe for an early-round upset. For one thing, Florida has got five standings points via shootout wins this season. If you acknowledge that shootout wins can easily be shootout losses half the time, the Panthers’ current point total could be at or near 88 points, which is very close to the fourth-place Ottawa Senators.
To be sure, we’re not here to tell you the Panthers are a lock to be sent packing in the first or second round. They’ve made some great additions via trade this season, and they were a deep and skilled group before those trades were made. But with only a couple weeks left in the regular season, there’s an increasing sense that Florida has squandered its chance to win the Atlantic. And that may be what sinks their season well in advance of the Eastern final.
Indeed, the Panthers have got another game against the desperate Canadiens Tuesday, and they’ll also take on Ottawa (who they’re 1-1-0 against this season), the Detroit Red Wings twice (who they’re 0-1-0 aganst), the Buffalo Sabres (who they’re 2-1-0 against) and the Lightning (who they’re 2-1-0).
This is to say that it’s entirely possible the Panthers do not win the division and slide down as low as third place in the Atlantic. And given that Florida’s road record of 20-15-1 is worse than their home mark of 24-11-2, losing out on home-ice advantage could be the factor that ends their season well before they when they hope.
Can the Panthers win the Cup for the second straight season? Stranger things have happened. But this regular season has been far from perfect for Florida, and the way things shake out in the next two weeks could set the table for them being eliminated before they can get out of the second round. And if they do get sent packing prematurely, nobody should say it’s a full-on shocker.
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How Soon Will Ryan Leonard Boost The Washington Capitals?
As if the Washington Capitals aren't good enough, they're getting one of the top prospects outside of the NHL for the stretch run and the playoffs.
The No. 2 NHL prospect in The Hockey News' annual Future Watch edition signed an entry-level deal with the Capitals after his Boston College Eagles were eliminated from the NCAA playoffs Sunday night.
Leonard has the complete package - skill, size, competitiveness, toughness. He has the opportunity to make an immediate impact with a Stanley Cup contender.
Can he do what Cale Makar did in 2019? That might be a bit of stretch, considering he'll be eased into the Capitals' lineup on the bottom six, but don't be surprised if he proves very quickly that he can make a tangible contribution.
Today's video column has more.
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NHL Rumor Roundup: Blackhawks Buyout Speculation, Sharks Goalie Targets
The Chicago Blackhawks face another summer trying to add experienced depth to accelerate their rebuilding process.
Hawks GM Kyle Davidson has a projected cap space of $31.9 million for next season with 19 roster players under contract. The Athletic's Mark Lazerus wondered if Davidson might attempt to free up more space by buying out left winger Tyler Bertuzzi and defenseman TJ Brodie.
Bertuzzi, 30, has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. The 34-year-old Brodie has a year remaining at $3.75 million.
The Blackhawks have the cap room to absorb the buyout hit of both players, but they could keep Bertuzzi. He's got 20 goals and 41 points with the Blackhawks this season, which is comparable to what he scored with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023-24.
Brodie, on the other hand, is the more likely buyout candidate. He struggled this season, becoming a healthy scratch since March 3.
Lazerus also believes there's a good chance the Blackhawks will re-sign Ryan Donato. The versatile 28-year-old is enjoying a career-best performance with 25 goals and 55 points in 70 games. He can also play at left wing or center.
Scott Powers reported Donato has had a three-year contract offer on the table from the Blackhawks since the trade deadline worth $4 million per season. He's currently averaging $2 million per season on a two-year deal. Talks don't appear to be ongoing, but Powers suggests that could change between now and the start of free agency on July 1.
Meanwhile, we can add the San Jose Sharks to the list of teams likely to be in the market for a goaltender this summer.
Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News observed the rebuilding Sharks need an upgrade between the pipes and to improve their defensive play. Their goals against per game is a league-worst 3.64, while their save percentage (.890) is the third-worst.
Pashelka noted that Yaroslav Askarov is the only Sharks goalie under contract for next season. Alexandar Georgiev is slated to become a UFA, while rookie Georgi Romanov is an RFA with arbitration rights.
Askarov could take over the starter's job next season, but the young netminder would benefit from having an experienced backup to help him shoulder the load. Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils, Dan Vladar of the Calgary Flames and David Rittich of the Los Angeles Kings could be available when free agency begins on July 1.
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