When the 12 nations that will take part in the Olympic tournament announced their first six players on Monday, a single Montreal Canadiens player was named: Juraj Slafkovsky with Team Slovakia. That’s not to say Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Patrik Laine won’t be representing their respective countries come February, but they haven't made the cut yet.
A former Hab was part of Denmark’s first six selection: Lars Eller. The 36-year-old center spent six seasons in Montreal after being acquired by Pierre Gauthier in the controversial Jaroslav Halak trade. With the Canadiens, the Dane became a complete player and a reliable defensive center. He played 435 games with the Tricolore, accumulating 154 points and 297 penalty minutes.
At the 2016 draft, GM Marc Bergevin traded him to the Washington Capitals for two second-round picks before acquiring Andrew Shaw from the Chicago Blackhawks; those trades kicked off a busy five days for the Canadiens’ GM, who would trade P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber a few days later.
In his second season with the Capitals, Eller became a Stanley Cup champion. While he’s not usually a huge point producer, he was the one who scored the Cup clinching goal against the Vegas Golden Knights and finished the playoffs with 18 points in 24 games, by far the best performance of his career in the postseason (the only time he even came close was when he put up 13 points in 2014 with the Canadiens).
Eller stayed in Washington until the trade deadline in 2023, when the Caps traded him to the Colorado Avalanche in return for a second-round pick. In the off-season, the Dane signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent, but 17 games into his second season in Pennsylvania, the Caps reacquired him in return for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Unfortunately for the Caps, he wasn’t able to find his playoff form this time around and could only manage a single point in nine postseason games. Still, he performed well enough to be named to Denmark’s Olympic squad along with Nikolaj Ehlers, Frederik Andersen, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jonas Rondbjerg and Jesper Jensen Abo.
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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First six players from each participating nation revealed for Men's Ice Hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina have gotten more interesting in the last few days as several nations participating in the Ice Hockey event revealed the first six players on their rosters with some of the biggest names in the sport like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby.
Officially known as the Milano Cortina 2026, the Olympic games will be hosted in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to 22 with NHL players returning to Olympic ice for the first time since the Four Nations Face-Off this past February. The men’s hockey tournament promises to be one of the premier events of the Games.
Early betting odds have already been posted for the event with Canada leading the pack at +150 with Team USA trailing behind in second with +200 odds.
FanDuel's Current Betting Odds for the Gold Medal:
Canada enters the 2026 Olympics as the clear favorite, led by stars Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart. With Jordan Binnington likely to regain the crease after a stellar Four Nations Face-Off, he can add to this powerhouse team looks poised to take gold. Anything less would be a major disappointment.
The United States is ready to make a serious run at gold in 2026 with one of the deepest rosters it has ever assembled. Newly announced names include Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, and Charlie McAvoy, culminating in a fast, physical, and skilled core. With Connor Hellebuyck likely in goal and Adam Fox anchoring the blue line, Team USA looks built to finally end its Olympic gold drought dating back to 1980.
Sweden’s 2026 Olympic roster is already shaping up to be a contender, with newly announced names including William Nylander, Adrian Kempe, Lucas Raymond, Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin, and Gabriel Landeskog. The mix of veteran leadership and dynamic youth gives Sweden a well-rounded attack, and if goaltending holds up behind a strong blue line, the Tre Kronor have the pieces to push for gold.
Finland enters the 2026 Olympics once again as a disciplined, defensively sound contender with a roster built on structure and selflessness. Newly announced players include Aleksander Barkov, Sebastian Aho, Mikko Rantanen, Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen, and Juuse Saros, giving the Finns a balanced attack, a mobile blue line, and elite goaltending. With their 2022 Olympic gold still fresh, Finland remains a serious threat.
Czechia has added David Pastrnak, Martin Nečas, Pavel Zacha, Ondrej Palát, Lukas Dostal, and Radko Gudas to its Olympic roster, injecting scoring, grit, and experience across all positions. Pastrnak and Nečas lead the offense, with Zacha and Palát adding depth and versatility. Gudas shores up the blue line, while Dostal joins Petr Mrázek and Karel Vejmelka in net.
Tomas Hertl’s status remains uncertain due to injury, leaving a key hole up front. While not favorites, Czechia’s growing roster gives them real upset potential.
Switzerland has named Roman Josi, Nico Hischier, Kevin Fiala, Nino Niederreiter, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler to its Olympic roster, adding star power across the lineup. Josi anchors the defense, while Hischier, Fiala, and Meier lead a skilled forward group. Depth remains a question, but with this core, Switzerland is well-positioned to challenge for a quarterfinal upset.
Slovakia has announced six key names to its Olympic roster: Simon Nemec, Juraj Slafkovsky, Erik Cernak, Martin Pospisil, Tomas Tatar and Martin Fehérváry, blending youth, size and experience. Slafkovsky will be a focal point of the offense, with Tatar offering veteran leadership and Pospisil bringing a physical edge. On defense, Nemec, Cernak and Fehérváry form a promising core. Goaltending and depth remain concerns, but Slovakia’s grit and emerging talent make them a tough out.
Germany has announced six players to its Olympic roster: Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, Moritz Seider, Lukas Reichel, Nico Sturm, and Philipp Grubauer, highlighting a talented and balanced team.
Draisaitl remains one of the world’s best players, with Stützle adding dynamic offensive skill. Seider and Reichel strengthen the lineup, while Grubauer provides key goaltending experience. Building on their 2018 silver medal, Germany has a real chance to shock hockey fans and match or surpass that success.
Latvia has announced six players to its Olympic roster: Elvis Merzlikins, Arturs Silovs, Uvis Balinskis, Teddy Blugers, Zemgus Girgensons, and Rodrigo Abols, building on their surprising bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. While they may lack NHL star power, Merzlikins provides strong goaltending, and Balcers leads an experienced, physical, and disciplined team that is never an easy opponent.
Denmark has announced six players to its Olympic roster: Nikolaj Ehlers, Lars Eller, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Frederik Andersen, Jonas Røndbjerg, and Jesper Jensen Aabo. Ehlers and Bjorkstrand lead a skilled offense, while Andersen provides reliable goaltending. Despite their talent, limited depth may prevent Denmark from advancing beyond the group stage.
Italy has announced six players to its Olympic roster: Thomas Larkin, Diego Kostner, Luca Zanatta, Tommy Purdeller, Damian Clara, and Daniel Mantenuto. As co-hosts, they’ll be motivated to put on a respectable showing. While the talent gap remains significant, home-ice energy and contributions from experienced dual-national players like Kostner could help Italy stay competitive in a game or two.
France has announced six players to its Olympic roster: Alexandre Texier, Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, Jordan Perret, Yohann Auvitu, Hugo Gallet, and Jules Boscq. Texier and Bellemare bring valuable NHL experience, but overall depth and defensive consistency remain concerns. As underdogs, France will focus on gaining experience and continuing to grow as a hockey nation.
According to Frank Seravalli, the Chicago Blackhawks are open to moving the third overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. This provides a bit of insight into what the Blackhawks think will happen with the New York Islanders at No. 1 and the San Jose Sharks at No. 2.
Frank Seravalli: The Blackhawks' 3rd overall pick is in play; looking to trade for a difference-maker - DFO Rundown
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 16, 2025
Prior to the 2025 NHL Draft Combine, it seemed like there were a few players who the Islanders could take with th first pick. After leaving the 2025 Draft Combine, 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer seemed to separate himself from the pack with his interviews.
Additionally, forward Michael Misa told his roommate Malcolm Spence at the combine that he'd love to go to San Jose, which suggests that Misa knows he's not going No. 1.
Looking at the Blackhawk's prospect pool, even after drafting defenseman Artyom Levshunov second overall in 2024, it's clear they had an interest in Schaefer, given that he's the best blue-liner in the draft.
The second-best defenseman is Radim Mrka, who could go anywhere from fifth overall to the mid-teens. Maybe Chicago's goal is to trade back and snag him. Then again, they have bolstered their blue line, so, as Blackhawks writer for Bleacher Nation and The Fourth Period, Tab Bradford shared that Chicago is looking for scoring.
That ties into the next point.
What's left out of that initial tweet is that Seravalli also said that the Utah Mammoth are also fielding calls on the fourth overall pick.
We know, from conversations at the combine, that Utah is very high on Brady Martin, who is projected to go at No. 6 to the Philadelphia Flyers, per Craig Button's latest mock draft:
Matthew Schaefer sits ahead of Michael Misa and Anton Frondell in Craig Button’s FINAL edition of “Craig’s List.” 👀 @CraigJButton
Long Island native James Hagens continues to be disrespected in these mock drafts, as his stock, at least amongst the collective media, seems to fall a bit every day even though he was the consensus No. 1 pick for a few years.
However, if this mock draft and others are on the money or in the ballpark of what the lottery team general managers are thinking, the farther Hagens falls, the more likely it is that the Islanders trade back into the draft to grab the Hauppauge native.
I wrote about this the other day. The Islanders, at least I don't think, will be making a pre-draft trade to get back into the first round. After drafting Schaefer, if that's truly their intended route, they'll see how the rest of the draft plays out after the second pick and go from there.
If general manager Mathieu Darche believes that Hagens should be an Islander and a lane that makes sense opens up, I wouldn't be shocked if he pulled the trigger. But, it has to be a deal that makes sense.
The question is, with a few teams now being vocal about moving their pick, a pre-draft trade not involving the Islanders may make things more complicated when it comes to bringing Hagens home.
I believe there are many teams looking to move up in the draft to select Hagens, which would put a wrinkle in potential plans.
Again, we have no idea how much Darche values Hagens.
Chicago, like any team looking to move a top-five pick, is seeking specifics in returns — a difference-maker. They should take Anton Frondell, an Aleksander Barkov type, but hey, to each their own.
Who do the Islanders have that could be a difference maker for a Blackhawks or Utah team?
Immediately, you think of Noah Dobson, a restricted free-agent defenseman who could command north of $9 million -- my prediction is $9.15 million on a long-term deal -- as a difference maker.
I think another underrated difference maker that the Islanders have is forward Simon Holmstrom, who is also a restricted free agent. He'll command between $3-$4 million. I think it would be a mistake to move on from the Swedish forward, as I think he's only going to get better.
Given his defensive game and his overall growth in his offensive game, Holmstrom has proven to be a top-six forward at just 24 years old. It would be a mistake to move on from him, but we know Utah is looking for top-six help for pick No. 4.
If it meant getting Hagens, would you move Dobson to Chicago or Holmstrom to Utah?
Could defenseman Alexander Romanov be in play? What about Maxim Tsyplakov?
To be honest, I'm not so sure the Islanders should move. My mindset is that if you can trade a pick or a prospect for a proven NHLer -- of course, not the first overall pick -- you do it nine times out of 10.
I am pretty high on Hagens, and I think he's going to be a fantastic player in this league, but there's certainly risk involved, especially if the Islanders are moving on from a No. 2 defenseman or a young, controllable top-six winger -- the Islanders lack depth at the wing position.
The NHL Draft begins on July 27 in Los Angeles.
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While Kent Hughes would like to bolster his top-six with a new second line center this offseason, there are much more buyers than sellers out there and it may prove to be a tricky endeavour. However, according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple a divorce between the New York Rangers and Swedish center Mike Zibanejad would be imminent.
While the 6-foot-two- and 203-pound pivot has spent much of the season centering the third-line behind Vincent Trotcheck and J.T. Miller, he could still play a second-line center role, especially with gifted teammates on his wings.
In the last four seasons, the 32-year-old has only missed a couple of games, and recorded 81, 91, 72 and 62 points. While there was a sharp decrease in production this past season, it was the case for most of the Rangers players as the Blueshirts had their worst season for quite some time, even missing the playoffs for the first time in four years.
It was Jeff Gorton who traded for Zibanejad with the Ottawa Senators back in July 2016 sending Derrick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Sens in return for the Swede and a 2018 second-round pick.
The center will start the fourth year of an eight-year deal with an $8.5 M cap hit, meaning he’s signed through the end of the 2029-30 season, but he does have a no move clause, meaning he’s fully in charge of his destiny. Even if the player wants to leave New York, it doesn’t mean he’d be willing to go anywhere. He did however play the first five-years of his career in Ottawa, after the Sens had drafted him sixth overall at the 2011 draft, so the rough winters and the high tax rates wouldn’t come as a surprise to him.
With the cap set to go up for the next few years, the Montreal Canadiens could probably handle Zibanejad’s cap hit, but they may not get the best value for money in the last few years of his deal. However, we’ve seen Martin St-Louis convert veterans in effective role players in the past and give them a new lease of life so to speak, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher have both look rejuvenated this past season.
On top of being a real top-six option, the centerman also plays on the first power play and penalty kill units in New York and is as versatile as they come. He could make up for the loss of Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak if Hughes let them walk. Both players featured on the Habs PK and it could be hard to replace them with rookies or by captain Nick Suzuki who benefited from focusing more on attacking missions this last year.
Of course, getting an aging center might not be Hughes’ plan A, he would more than likely rather be able to land someone like Mason McTavish, but that might prove impossible with the market being what it is this season.
Photo credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
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In the NBA, the Thunder hold a 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers after winning Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Monday. In the NHL, the Florida Panthers hold a 3-2 advantage over the Edmonton Oilers with a chance to repeat as champions on home ice Tuesday night.
There have been dozens of Game 7s between the two leagues over the last 80 years, but they have rarely coincided in the same year.
With both championship series on the verge of going the distance, let’s look back at the times where the NBA and NHL have seen their titles decided by a Game 7 in the same year.
How many times have the NBA and NHL had championship Game 7s in the same year?
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final have only had a Game 7 in the same year twice.
The first came in 1954. The Minneapolis Lakers won Game 7 on their home court on April 12 with a 87-80 victory over the Syracuse Nationals to win the NBA title. Four days later, Tony Leswick scored an overtime winner for the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens.
The only other NBA-NHL Game 7 crossover came in 1994. The New York Rangers lifted the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14. The NBA Finals wrapped up on June 22 when the Houston Rockets earned a Game 7 victory over the Rangers’ MSG co-tenants, the New York Knicks, although that deciding game was played in Texas.
NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final Game 7 schedule
Should the Pacers and Oilers win their respective Game 6s, the NBA and NHL championships would be decided within two days of each other.
If necessary, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final would be slated for Friday, June 20, in Edmonton, while Game 7 of the NBA Finals would be scheduled for Sunday, June 22, in Oklahoma City.
NBA Finals Game 7s
The NBA Finals have gone to a Game 7 19 times, with the home team holding a 15-4 record.
In the NBA, the Thunder hold a 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers after winning Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Monday. In the NHL, the Florida Panthers hold a 3-2 advantage over the Edmonton Oilers with a chance to repeat as champions on home ice Tuesday night.
There have been dozens of Game 7s between the two leagues over the last 80 years, but they have rarely coincided in the same year.
With both championship series on the verge of going the distance, let’s look back at the times where the NBA and NHL have seen their titles decided by a Game 7 in the same year.
How many times have the NBA and NHL had championship Game 7s in the same year?
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final have only had a Game 7 in the same year twice.
The first came in 1954. The Minneapolis Lakers won Game 7 on their home court on April 12 with a 87-80 victory over the Syracuse Nationals to win the NBA title. Four days later, Tony Leswick scored an overtime winner for the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens.
The only other NBA-NHL Game 7 crossover came in 1994. The New York Rangers lifted the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14. The NBA Finals wrapped up on June 22 when the Houston Rockets earned a Game 7 victory over the Rangers’ MSG co-tenants, the New York Knicks, although that deciding game was played in Texas.
NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final Game 7 schedule
Should the Pacers and Oilers win their respective Game 6s, the NBA and NHL championships would be decided within two days of each other.
If necessary, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final would be slated for Friday, June 20, in Edmonton, while Game 7 of the NBA Finals would be scheduled for Sunday, June 22, in Oklahoma City.
NBA Finals Game 7s
The NBA Finals have gone to a Game 7 19 times, with the home team holding a 15-4 record.
In the NBA, the Thunder hold a 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers after winning Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Monday. In the NHL, the Florida Panthers hold a 3-2 advantage over the Edmonton Oilers with a chance to repeat as champions on home ice Tuesday night.
There have been dozens of Game 7s between the two leagues over the last 80 years, but they have rarely coincided in the same year.
With both championship series on the verge of going the distance, let’s look back at the times where the NBA and NHL have seen their titles decided by a Game 7 in the same year.
How many times have the NBA and NHL had championship Game 7s in the same year?
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final have only had a Game 7 in the same year twice.
The first came in 1954. The Minneapolis Lakers won Game 7 on their home court on April 12 with a 87-80 victory over the Syracuse Nationals to win the NBA title. Four days later, Tony Leswick scored an overtime winner for the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens.
The only other NBA-NHL Game 7 crossover came in 1994. The New York Rangers lifted the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14. The NBA Finals wrapped up on June 22 when the Houston Rockets earned a Game 7 victory over the Rangers’ MSG co-tenants, the New York Knicks, although that deciding game was played in Texas.
NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final Game 7 schedule
Should the Pacers and Oilers win their respective Game 6s, the NBA and NHL championships would be decided within two days of each other.
If necessary, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final would be slated for Friday, June 20, in Edmonton, while Game 7 of the NBA Finals would be scheduled for Sunday, June 22, in Oklahoma City.
NBA Finals Game 7s
The NBA Finals have gone to a Game 7 19 times, with the home team holding a 15-4 record.
For the first time since the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, a team has a chance to close out the series and hoist the historic trophy.
That team is the Florida Panthers, and they’ll look to take down the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row and claim the Stanley Cup on their home ice at Amerant Bank Arena.
Last season, Florida defeated the Oilers in front of their home fans in Game 7, a thrilling season-ender that came on the heels of the Panthers blowing a 3-0 series lead.
This time it’s been a much more traditional, back and forth affair between the high-powered Oilers and suffocating Panthers.
Two of Florida’s three wins have by at least three goals while both of the Oilers victories have come in overtime, both of which requiring multi-goal comebacks.
Overall, three of the five games have gone to overtime, and only two of the five games have been won by the home team.
Ironically, the last team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, and clinch each series on home ice, was the Oilers back in 1987 and 1988.
Before that, the last team to do it was…the Oilers, in 1984 and 1985.
The big question surrounding Edmonton as they prepare for their first elimination game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is which goaltender will get the starting nod, Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard.
Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch has also made several lineup changes throughout the series, so don’t be surprised to see him make another tweak or two ahead of Tuesday’s affair.
As for Florida, as long as they remain healthy, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice has been very comfortable rolling out the same lineup night after night.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 6 against Edmonton:
Photo caption: Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrate win with teammates against the Edmonton Oilers in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
Thanks to the previous regime's involvement in failing to accurately verify the status of Evgenii Dadonov's modified no-trade clause and list of teams that he could not be moved to, the Ottawa Senators were punished by the league - having to forfeit a first-round selection by the 2026 NHL Draft.
In the aftermath of the Draft Lottery that was conducted live on May 5 from the NHL's offices in Secaucus, N.J., the Senators had 48 hours to notify the league of their intentions of keeping the 21st overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.
In electing to hold onto this year's selection, the Senators raised some eyebrows around the league.
I spoke with Cam Robinson, the content director and director of film scouting for Elite-Prospects, about that choice and the 2025 NHL Draft.
"In a vacuum, it's a somewhat surprising decision," explained Robinson when describing the choice to keep the pick. "But, it can be justified in a couple of ways.
"The first is that the organization either knows something we do not or are simply hoping that they are let off the hook in a similar way that New Jersey was let off the hook for the Ilya Kovalchuk contract punishment."
After being dealt from the Atlanta Thrashers to the New Jersey Devils, Ilya Kovalchuk signed an extension for 17 years and $102 million. Within 48 hours, the league stepped in and vetoed the agreement citing that its structure was designed to circumvent the salary cap.
It was hard to argue with the decision as Kovalchuk was slated to earn $95 million across the first 10 years of the deal before earning just $7 million across the contract's final seven seasons when Kovalchuk would be in his 40s and unlikely to be playing.
Eventually, Kovalchuk would sign a new 15-year extension that was not radically dissimilar from the one he had signed, but because of the Devils' attempt to circumvent the cap, they were punished by the league. The organization was fined $3 million and lost two draft selections: a 2011 third-round pick and first-round pick of its choice for one of the 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014 drafts.
New Jersey's punishment was ultimately lessened, with half the fine being repaid to the organization. After delaying the forfeiture of a draft selection until the final year, the league returned a 2014 first-round pick back to the Devils with conditions. The Devils would not receive the selection based on placement in the standings but would inherit the final selection of the first round that they were not permitted to trade.
That this error occurred under previous ownership by a general manager who was quickly forced to resign a little over a month into Michael Andlauer's ownership and that the league and estate downplayed the events and its potential ramifications during the sale process, it would be hard to blame Andlauer for being miffed at this harsh punishment.
Andlauer has previously expressed hope that their punishment could be reduced in time, but Robinson highlighted a possibility that general manager Steve Staios has echoed.
"The less conspiratorial thought is that the club is betting on its upwards trend and betting on the guys in the room," said Robinson. "The 21st overall pick this year will help them sooner, and they'll continue to grow and perhaps end up giving up a later pick in 2026."
Progress does not always have to be linear, however, and that is the gamble the Senators are taking. Given the talent of their young core and the experience they gained by playing in the postseason for the first time, it is easy to fall into the assumption that the team will continue to get better.
The real risk is that the league may ultimately decide not to return the Senators' next year's selection.
If the Senators take a step back, this prospective 2026 pick may be exponentially more valuable than this year's iteration.
Robinson shed some light on this year's draft class stacks up.
"Generally, this class should be considered slightly below average," he explained. "It lacks a generational, or near-generational talent to anchor the top of the class. The high-end has more risks than normal and the overall depth is on the weaker side.
"However, it's not a 'bad' draft. It has the feeling of the 2017 class with lots of centre options early. Some will hit. Some will miss."
Centres Nico Hischier, Nolan Patrick, and Elias Pettersson were taken in the 2017 top-five, but value was found later in the draft in Martin Necas (12th), Nick Suzuki (13th), Josh Norris (19th), Robert Thomas (20th), and Filip Chytil (21st).
With the 21st overall selection, the Senators are situated where they will have to make a calculated choice.
"This is the portion of the draft where teams will have to 'settle,'" Robinson stated. "By that, I mean they will be accepting a player with risks or warts. It's just a matter of picking your poison.
"You can likely get a high-octane winger who lacks size and simple translatability - like a Cole Reschny or Ben Kindel. Or you can target a more 'sure thing' that lacks higher impact - like a Logan Hensler."
There are a few sleepers that Robinson is higher on than some of the consensus picks who should be available in the Senators' range - Vaclav Nestrasil, Jacob Rombach, and Shane Vansaghi.
"(Nestrasil)'s a 6'5" winger who is raw and unrefined, but flashes terrific upside. He handles the puck extremely well in tight, has a good release, moves well despite much more strength needed. An intriguing asset."
If the Senators want a big defenceman, they could pivot take Rombach.
"Rombach is a 6'6", left-shot defender who has immaculate retrieval habits and is able to collect, direct, and transition the puck very quickly. He has massive stopping potential here but with a more limited offensive toolkit."
The Senators do have Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and Tyler Kleven slotted on the left side, so that is not a pressing area of need right now.
The organization has continued to emphasize drafting the best available talent over need, but there are no blue-chip forwards in their pipeline. The opportunity to add one now may make more sense, which could lead to a Vansaghi selection.
"Vansaghi is a sizeable, power winger with adequate speed and a love for inflicting pain through the body. He has flashed enough skill to think he could be a unique, middle-six type that teams love in the postseason."
In consideration of how the Senators ran their first draft with general manager Steve Staios at the helm, Robinson will be keen to watch if one trend continues for the organization.
"I think the obvious takeaway was a focus on size over skill," said Robinson while reflecting on last year's picks. "(Carter) Yakemchuk over (Zayne) Parekh and (Zeev) Buium. (Gabriel) Eliasson over Cole Hutson, Andrew Basha, Harrison Brunicke, and Ryder Ritchie.
"Not to say that Yak doesn't have skill, but the projection clearly left upside on the table and tenfold with Eliasson. I did love the Blake Montgomery selection, though. As far as drawing parallels to this year's class, we'll have to see if those decisions are replicated before assuming it's a mandate and not just a result of how the cookie crumbled in 2024."
Before every home playoff game, the Florida Panthers invite a special guest to get the fans inside Amerant Bank Arena pumped up.
They do this by banging a massive drum to the beat of a Let’s Go Panthers chant.
So far during this year’s Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers have invited local sports stars Bam Adebayo from the Miami Heat and Hall of Famer Jason Taylor of Miami Dolphins fame to thrill the fans with their drumming skills.
We don’t know yet who will be in the spotlight before the Panthers host Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night, but there may have been a big clue left on social media.
Former Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo, a Hockey Hall of Fame member and current special assistant to Florida General Manager Bill Zito, was last on the drum almost exactly a year ago.
It was before last year’s Game 7 that Luongo was handed the mallet and let the emotions fly while urging the fans into a pregame frenzy.
Photo caption: Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Former Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo bangs the drum prior to the start of the during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
The NHL's off-season is more or less at hand, and teams are beginning to make significant trades. And in this new series on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site, we're looking at potential trade partners for the Sabres.
Thus, many Canucks observers are watching the organization in expectation of Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin making many moves of consequence. But with a relatively-small amount of cap space, and numerous holes to fill, the Canucks aren't likely to be big-time players on the free-agent front. Instead, they're expecting changes to come via trades. And there will be no shortage of speculation that numerous trades are on the way for Vancouver.
In many regards, the Sabres would be heavily-interested in Pettersson, but his contract -- which pays him $11.6-million per season -- has a full no-move clause as of July 1. As hockey fans should know by now, a no-trade or no-move clause isn't an iron-clad guarantee a player won't be move, because in the right circumstance, a player may decide they want to move on. And maybe -- just maybe -- Pettersson has arrived at that point in Vancouver at 26 years old.
The bigger problem, of course, is convincing Pettersson that Buffalo should be a desirable location for him. And while the Sabres have some Swedish players who may be able to sell Pettersson on life in Western New York, the odds are there are other situations out there that are much more palatable for Pettersson. So this type of move would be a longshot indeed from the Sabres' point of view.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't players who may intrigue Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams. And the most notable one could be right winger Conor Garland. The 29-year-old has produced a combined total of 75 goals in the past four seasons, and while the 5-foot-9 winger is small in stature, he's crafty and capable of adding quality depth to the Sabres' wing position. And his $4.95-million salary -- which expires at the end of next season -- means he'll be entering a contract year, and consequently could be highly-motivated to have an excellent 2025-26 campaign.
Now, Vancouver is looking for help on the wing, so any deal that would move Garland almost certainly would need to include another winger coming the Canucks' way. Buffalo probably can't address that, but would the Sabres be amenable to sending RFA defenseman Bowen Byram to Vancouver in a deal for Garland? Byram is a British Columbia native and someone who would make the Canucks' defense corps one of the deeper units in the league, and Byram's 2024-25 salary of $3.85-million makes him a solid match with Garland's current salary.
The stumbling block here is Vancouver's lack of depth on the wing. With Boeser more or less out the door, moving Garland will make an already weak group of wingers even weaker. But the Canucks can make other moves in trades and free-agency to address that need. And adding a hometown player in Byram would go over extremely well with Vancouver fans.
Ultimately, the Canucks want a different mix of players than the one that was too passive and too limp offensively this season. The challenge for Adams is to find a connection to Vancouver that results in Buffalo adding a proven veteran that can help them make the playoffs next season. Acquiring Pettersson may well be a pipe dream, but Garland doesn't have any no-trade or no-move protection, and Garland -- a Massachusetts native -- may find it a very good thing to play on the East Coast, much closer to home.
As a year-long rental, Garland would be a gamble of sorts for the Sabres. But he could replace some of the offense Buffalo would lose if they move winger J.J. Peterka, and if things don't work out with Garland, the Sabres can part ways with him with no cap commitment after 2025-26.
In any case, Vancouver is highly likely to make notable moves this summer. The Sabres are in the same boat, and if Adams can figure out how to please his counterpart in B.C., there could be a trade match here.
Heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs, Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand was having a decent-enough year – not all-star caliber but not bad, all things considered.
However, Marchand has been an absolute beast in the playoffs, posting 10 goals – including three game-winners – and 20 points in 22 games. Thanks in part to his efforts, the Panthers are one win away from defending the Stanley Cup.
Marchand and Panthers teammate Sam Bennett are leading candidates to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player. Perhaps more importantly, Marchand has provided himself with an opportunity for an incredible financial raise next season.
This year, the 37-year-old earned $6.125 million. But given how dynamic he’s been in the playoffs, Marchand deserves at least $8 million per year on his next deal, potentially on a three-year contract extension.
Don’t kid yourself – there shouldn’t be only one team prepared to offer Marchand that much. The Panthers should go there. If we were GMs of the Toronto Maple Leafs or Boston Bruins, we would also pay up.
That’s just the Atlantic Division. You can bet there are other teams in the league who want Marchand’s playoff pedigree, hard-nosed style and leadership in their dressing room next season and beyond, even if he is closer to 40 years old than 30.
Consequently, Marchand will have his pick of the litter among multiple teams this summer. And in the bidding war that’s coming, Marchand could even sign for higher. Once Bennett and Leafs right winger Mitch Marner are off the free-agent market, there will be precious few veterans with Marchand’s experience and dogged determination to win. That’s what he’s shown in the playoffs, and that’s why he’s going to be so valued in free agency.
It’s quite something to see Marchand’s monetary value rise in real time from period to period and game to game. He’s been so clutch and so dynamic that he’s carved out a special place in the free-agent market.
While his game may start to fall off in the coming years, he’s fortunate enough to be a UFA in a year where the talent pool isn’t especially deep. If all his stars line up, he could be swimming in money in what could be his final NHL contract.
Thus, Marchand and his agent can sit back and let the offers pile in and decide for themselves what market is best for him, both monetarily and competitively. While some intangibles will come into play, the businessman in Marchand may simply choose to go with the team that steps up and ponies up the most cash. And you couldn’t blame him for doing so after taking relative discounts with the Bruins for years. He’s made himself into an asset that teams value in the extreme, and he will be paid like it.
In a zero-sum industry where wins matter above all else, Marchand’s tremendous impact on the bottom line will certainly provide him a lucrative conclusion to what is now likely a Hockey Hall of Fame career.
Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine last weekend, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles later this month, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.
The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.
Brandon Wheat Kings center Roger McQueen may be the best example of a high-risk, high-reward player in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old has the physical tools and scoring ability that teams drool over, but questions over a lower back injury that limited him to just 17 games in the WHL last season have him potentially slipping into the lower half of the top-10 and perhaps even lower than the Sabres ninth overall pick.
According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, McQueen could fall because 2024 fourth overall pick Cayden Lindstrom missed all of the WHL regular season with a similar injury after missing half of his draft year. A team willing to take a chance could hit the jackpot on the Saskatoon native, who is a highly-skilled, high-character forward.
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