Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

The NHL’s coaching carousel spins fast once again, with seven teams changing bench bosses after their season ended. 

After the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Dan Muse, there’s only one coaching vacancy left – but there may be a second coming in short order, depending on what happens with the Dallas Stars.

The Boston Bruins are the only team without a coach right now, after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported he believes interim bench boss Joe Sacco is out of the running for the job. 

Soon enough, the Dallas Stars could be in need of a new coach if they fire veteran Peter DeBoer.

If you’re a Bruins fan who saw DeBoer throw Stars goalie Jake Oettinger under the bus in the wake of Dallas’ third-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers and read the reports that players spoke out against him in exit interviews, you shouldn’t want your team to wait and see what happens with DeBoer before deciding on your next coach.

Now, DeBoer has carved out a very nice NHL coaching career. In 17 seasons, he’s coached 1,261 regular-season games, posting a 662-447-152 record in that span. And he’s guided the five teams he’s coached – the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Stars – to 10 playoff appearances. You don’t get that many chances to coach in hockey’s top league if you don’t know what you’re doing.

But DeBoer’s experience doesn’t mean he’s the best choice for the Bruins’ job. 

DeBoer still hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, and after his first season getting the Devils to the Cup final in 2011-12, he hasn’t gotten his team past the conference final. If he were a player, he’d be considered a journeyman by now – and you can’t convince us that DeBoer should be gifted with another job once the Stars let him go simply because he’s been around for a long time.

Just like what Pittsburgh did by hiring Muse instead of seeing if DeBoer becomes available, hiring a first-time coach is the better solution for Boston. 

Look at the Washington Capitals. When they changed coaches last season, they went with a rookie NHL coach in Spencer Carbery, and it paid off spectacularly. The Caps got into the playoffs in Carbery’s first season in D.C., and they were the top regular-season team in the Eastern Conference this season. Carbery didn’t have a long resume to point to, but he was the right choice for the job, and the Caps are better today for it.

This is why someone like Mitch Love, who’s currently an assistant coach with Washington, would be a much better choice for the Bruins. 

Rather than giving someone like DeBoer who is, frankly, a retread, why not give an opportunity to a highly-regarded young coach like Love or AHL Ontario bench boss Marco Sturm? There’s no guarantee any coach works out the way a team hopes they will, but a fresh voice with something to prove could work wonders for Boston.

Certainly, things have soured in a hurry for DeBoer in Dallas. His poor choice of words for Oettinger – the Stars’ goalie of the present and the future – means he’s drawn a line in the sand.

But the Bruins hiring DeBoer isn’t a situation like the one that saw the St. Louis Blues fire coach Drew Bannister once Jim Montgomery was fired by the Bruins. Montgomery is still relatively early in his NHL coaching career, and he was rightfully voted as the 2023 winner of the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach. You can’t say either thing about DeBoer at this stage. 

The league clearly values coaching experience, and DeBoer has plenty of that. But there’s something to be said for a coach who hasn’t had a golden opportunity put in front of them yet. There’s a hunger there and a drive that might not be there for someone who would be on his sixth different NHL team.

So yes, if you’re a Bruins fan, you don’t want your team to bring in DeBoer. Starting a new era often means starting with someone who hasn’t had the chances other people have had, and we’d rather see someone like Love implementing a new vision than someone like DeBoer swinging and missing yet again.

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In order to free up cap space and shake up the roster, the most talked about option has been trading pending restricted free agent Nicolas Hague, and recently, trusted insider Elliotte Friedman shared a team that has shown plenty of interest in trading for Hague.

That team is the Philadelphia Flyers. Acquiring Hague would make a lot of sense for the Flyers. They have the salary cap space to sign him to a long-term deal, and his age fits the Flyers' timeline. The Flyers won't be competing for a Stanley Cup in the next year or two but will want to begin to take steps in the right direction, which starts by competing for a playoff spot. 

At just 26 years old and with plenty of playoff experience, including winning a Stanley Cup, Hague would be a fantastic addition to Rick Tocchet's squad. 

The Golden Knights haven't come out and claimed they are actively looking to trade Hague, but reports have stated that they are taking calls on him and are listening to offers. With players like Kaedan Korczak, Lukas Cormier and Ben Hutton waiting on the outskirts, it's made Hague expendable considering he can command a lot of money on his next contract. 

The Golden Knights would be looking to regain draft capital in exchange for Hague, although the market for the Kitchener, ON native, has yet to be set. The Flyers have three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the Golden Knights could be looking to move Hague to get back into the first round and begin to repair their prospect pool. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Golden Knights Reportedly Entertaining Calls On Nicolas HagueThe Vegas Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap heading into the offseason and will likely need to make moves to remain under and improve their team. According to a report by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Golden Knights could do so by trading Nicolas Hague and are entertaining calls and engaging in trade discussions.  Could Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague Be On The Move This Offseason?Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague finished the final year of a three-year, $2,294,150 contract he signed with the franchise, making him a restricted free agent this offseason and a player who could garner a lot of interest from other teams. 

By Nevan Oliveira, The Hockey News intern

Excitement builds for a Stanley Cup final rematch between the defending champion Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.

Fans are eager to see if Florida can be the third NHL team to repeat in the last decade or if Edmonton can finally end Canada’s 32-year Cup drought.

Both teams are stacked with talent, but the edge may go to the one playing with more confidence and urgency. That includes players who returned from injury, underperformed last year or are on their first or potentially last deep playoff run.

Here’s a look at some of those players with something to prove heading into this high-stakes matchup starting June 4.

Brad Marchand, LW, $6.125 million AAV

For the first time in his impressive 16-year career, Brad Marchand is heading to the Stanley Cup final as something other than a Boston Bruin. 

Marchand has reached the Cup final three times – winning against Vancouver in 2011, then losing to Chicago in 2013 and St. Louis in 2019. In the 20 games combined from those final appearances, Marchand had seven goals and 12 points.

Marchand got another chance to chase a Cup this year after the falling Bruins moved him to the Panthers in the final moments of NHL trade deadline day – and he’s making the most of it. At 37, this could be his last kick at the can in the Cup final, depending on what happens with his pending UFA status this summer.

Seth Jones, D, $9.5 million AAV

Seth Jones has at last reached the Stanley Cup final in his third month as a Panther.

After a tough stint in Chicago where his performance suffered despite consistent scoring, Jones was traded for Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick, offering a fresh start reminiscent of his more successful Columbus years.

In Florida’s 17-game playoff run, Jones has three goals, seven points and a plus-9 rating alongside Niko Mikkola. Now, with a shot at the Cup, Jones can prove he’s still an elite defenseman at 30.

Evan Rodrigues, C/W, $3 million AAV

Rodrigues has become increasingly noticeable as the playoffs progress, highlighted by a standout series against Carolina, where he tallied one goal and seven of his 11 playoff points in just five games.

In last year’s Stanley Cup final against the Oilers, Rodrigues led the team with four goals and seven points. If Rodrigues can carry that level of confidence and performance against the Oilers once again and deliver a strong showing in another Stanley Cup final, he could significantly boost his next salary when his current contract expires in 2027.

Leon Draisaitl, C, $14 million AAV

As one of the NHL’s most effective players, the only thing missing from Draisaitl’s resume – like Connor McDavid – is a Stanley Cup. 

He underperformed in last year’s Cup final, recording just three points and a minus-2 plus-minus, though coach Kris Knoblauch later revealed he was playing through hand and rib injuries. 

Now, healthier and hungrier, this rematch against the Panthers provides Draisaitl with another opportunity to prove his dominance and bring the Cup back to Edmonton.

Oilers And Panthers' Conn Smythe Contenders Ahead Of The Stanley Cup FinalThe NHL’s Stanley Cup final starts Wednesday, and players on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are making a strong case for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Stuart Skinner, G, $2.6 million AAV

With Edmonton placing a stronger emphasis on defense down the stretch of these playoffs, Stuart Skinner has shown his capabilities. Since taking over from Calvin Pickard against Vegas, he’s posted a .931 save percentage and a 1.73 goals-against average over eight games, winning six of them. 

If Skinner can help lead the Oilers to a Stanley Cup for the first time since the days of Grant Fuhr and Bill Ranford, his reputation will be transformed – and so will his future contract value.

Evander Kane, LW/RW, $5.125 million AAV

Before this post-season, Kane didn't play since Game 2 against Florida last year. He recovered from two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, two torn lower abdominal muscles and a knee injury to play in this year's playoffs. He’s contributed five goals and 11 points in 15 games so far. 

Now, hopefully close to full health, Kane brings a physical edge and scoring touch the Oilers miss without him. If Edmonton deploys him effectively, he can use his snarl to disrupt the Panthers’ rhythm and chip in with gritty, timely goals, which we saw in the clincher against Dallas.

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Oilers' Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner vs. Panthers in Stanley Cup Final Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play in overtime, Stuart Skinner made 29 saves and the Edmonton Oilers erased a multigoal deficit to beat the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night.

After Tomas Nosek’s penalty for putting the puck over the glass, Draisaitl’s goal 19:29 into OT sent the home fans into a frenzy and made sure the Oilers would not start this series like they did a year ago, when they fell behind three games to none.

For a while, it looked like they would at least start out trailing. Draisaitl’s goal 66 seconds in was followed later in the first period by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot in past Stuart Skinner after falling into him.

Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida’s Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.

With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.

At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” that followed goals he allowed.

Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of “Stuuuu” after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.

Up next

Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4.

The 2025 Stanley Cup Finals begins tonight between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers and we simulated the series in NHL 25 to see who the game predicts to lift the cup. 

We used the most recent roster update and line predictions for the series in NHL 25 Playoff Mode, with Zach Hyman out of the Oilers lineup and Connor Brown inserted for Jeff Skinner. 

The simulation predicted the Florida Panthers to win the series in five games.

The Oilers took game one before the Panthers roared back to win the next four games to capture the cup. The Panthers won all of their games by at least two goals. 

Matthew Tkachuk led the series with nine points, Sam Reinhart had seven, Leon Draisaitl had six to round out the top three. 

Aleksander Barkov, Connor McDavid, and Sam Bennett each had five points, Barkov led the finals with four goals, just ahead of McDavid and Evander Kane who each had three.

Sergei Bobrovsky outplayed Stuart Skinner by a significant margin in the series, posting a .919 SP and 2.41 GAA while Skinner had a .897 SP and 3.84 GAA.

Florida outscored Edmonton 20-12 with five of them coming on the powerplay. 

While this simulation does not expect to see a close matchup we will see how closely it resembles the real series beginning tonight. 

EA SPORTS NHL predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup in their official simulation. 

Double Shift Week 2 can be seen here.

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.       

Photo Credit: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Zach Hyman didn't travel with the Edmonton Oilers when they went to Dallas to eliminate the Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference final, but he got to celebrate the win with the team.

After suffering an injury in Game 4 from a hit by Stars left winger Mason Marchment, Hyman watched from afar.

"It was the day after my surgery – I was sitting on my couch with my wife and mother-in-law just watching," Hyman told reporters on Wednesday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

As Oilers players wore their 2025 Western Conference champions hats in the dressing room, the team got on a FaceTime call with Hyman to say they miss him and can't wait to see him back in Edmonton.

Hyman said he didn't expect the call, but it meant the world to him.

"It caught me off guard," Hyman said. "Honestly, I was crying. It was really emotional, to feel so much a part of the team, and for them to do that in that moment, it meant a lot.

"I'm going to be with the team the whole way acting like I'm playing, but obviously not."

Hyman won't play in the final. He gave more details about what happened.

"I just felt my wrist kind of go on me, and even then you still think, whatever it is, you'll be able to play through it or there'll be a chance you can play through it," he said.

"The wrist was dislocated, so a lot goes into that, the ligaments, breaks, whatever else," Hyman added. "I don't want to get into too much of the nitty gritty, but I should be back for the start of next year, but I don't want to put a timetable on it. They'll be rehab involved."

Hyman, 32, had five goals and six assists for 11 points in his 15 playoff games. He had two goals and an assist in Game 3 against the Stars to help Edmonton take the series lead. He also had 27 goals and 44 points in 73 regular-season games.

"Missing him is big," Oilers center Adam Henrique told reporters. "He's a huge piece of this team. His physicality. His net-front presence. In the locker room. All those types of things."

The Hockey News Big Show: Stanley Cup Final Preview With Bruce BoudreauThe Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player and coach Bruce Boudreau providing some unique insight

As Game 1 gets underway in Edmonton at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the Oilers will look to win one more game than last year, when they lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers. Hyman will travel with the team to every game.

"He's a great person, and we're going to miss him on the ice," Henrique said. "But he'll be there. And we're certainly going to fight for him on the ice."

- With files from Avry Lewis-McDougall

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After an extensive coaching search, the Pittsburgh Penguins have named former Nashville Predators assistant coach Dan Muse the 23rd head coach in franchise history.

Muse, 42, joins the Penguins with 20 years of coaching experience, including five seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Predators (2017-20) and the New York Rangers (2023-25). Muse helped guide his teams to three divisional titles, including two with Nashville in 2017-18 and 2018-19 under head coach Peter Laviolette.

Muse's teams have also earned two President's Trophies in his five seasons in the NHL, with Nashville accomplishing the feat in 2017-18.

Muse ran the Predators' penalty kill, which ranked fourth overall in the NHL over his two full seasons (2017-19) with the club. He assumed the same role with New York from 2023-25, again under Laviolette, helping the Rangers’ penalty kill to the fourth-highest success rate and second-best net penalty killing percentage in that span.

Muse has substantial experience with USA Hockey, serving as a head coach at the National Team Development Program from 2020-23, and is highly touted by Penguins GM Kyle Dubas for his ability to develop young players.

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A Philadelphia Flyers trade my finally be on the horizon, with a new rumor suggesting a big Vegas Golden Knights defenseman could be on the move.

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman via NHL Rumor Report and Sportsnet 590, the Flyers have been linked to 6-foot-6 Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague in trade talks.

This kind of Flyers trade, a "hockey trade," if you will, has been on the team's radar for quite a while, and it makes perfect sense with some added context.

For example, it has been rumored that the Flyers and defenseman Cam York, a pending RFA, have not made a whole lot of progress on a contract extension, which could result in York getting traded away ahead of the start of free agency on July 1.

Although he's a few years older than York, Hague, 26, would be a fine addition to the Flyers' defense. At 6-foot-6, Hague has the size you can't teach, and Flyers management has spoken more than once about having a big blueline capable of withstanding the grind of the NHL playoffs.

York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae are all 6-foot or shorter, so the hypothetical addition of Hague makes the Flyers larger and harder to play against.

Hague's name has been dangled in trade rumors for quite a while now, as the Golden Knights continue to explore ways to move around their cap space. The 26-year-old, like York, is a pending restricted free agent, so it's likely the Golden Knights and Flyers each have different ideas of how much they want to spend on their respective defensemen.

And as far as the Golden Knights go, they have only $9.6 million in cap space and need to re-sign forwards like Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson, and Alex Holtz.

If the Golden Knights want to cut some corners and acquire cost-controlled forwards from the Flyers, options like Jakob Pelletier, a pending RFA, and Bobby Brink make some sense.

While he's only 5-foot-8, Brink has played and produced well in a limited role, quietly scoring a career-high 41 points last season. Brink has one more year remaining on his current contract at an extremely friendly $1.5 million cap hit.

If the Flyers cannot work out some sort of solution with York and his camp, it would appear that Hague is at the top of their list of backup plans.

This is it: the Stanley Cup final, featuring the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, will kick off on Wednesday night in Alberta. Connor McDavid and co. will hope to avenge their Game 7 loss from last season, when the Oilers captain won the Conn Smythe Trophy but lost the ultimate prize.

It’s been 32 years since a Canadian team celebrated a Stanley Cup win. Thirty-two years since the Montreal Canadiens won their 24th Stanley Cup, yesterday marked the 32nd anniversary of the infamous Marty McSorley stick-swinging incident. Legend has it that a member of the Canadiens’ equipment staff had measured the curve of his stick in advance, meaning Jacques Demers knew full well he would be getting a power play from that challenge. According to some, that tactic put a curse on Canadian teams…

Curse or not, one fact remains: no team north of the border has been able to lift Lord Stanley’s Mug since Patrick Roy flashed his winning wink to Tomas Sandstrom. Roy has long retired and now coaches the New York Islanders, which is just one more proof of how long it’s been.

Thirty-two years is long enough, and judging by the chatter around town, Montreal Canadiens fans are ready to see McDavid win his first Stanley Cup, even if it means Montreal is no longer the last Canadian Cup winner. After all, the future is bright in Montreal, and the fans are hoping and expecting that this new generation of players will be able to restore the club to its former glory and deliver a 25th Cup, eventually…

Photo credit:  Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

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Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche can officially put their search for a second-line center to rest.

The Avalanche announced this morning that they have re-signed forward Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension, $7.5 million AAV. 

The Avalanche acquired Nelson on March 6th in a trade with the New York Islanders in exchange for forward prospect Calum Richie, defenseman Oliver Kylington,  a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft (which was not met).

BREAKING TRADE NEWS: Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson from the New York IslandersIn the middle of a game? No problem for the Colorado Avalanche!

According to Avalanche PR, Chris MacFarland states that the team is "thrilled" to have Nelson on board for three more seasons. "He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he’s a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice. We’re excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche.”

In 19 games with the Avalanche, Nelson totaled 13 points (6 goals/7 assists). Over 80 games with both the Avalanche and Islanders, he tallied 56 points (26 goals/30 assists).

The Warroad, Minnesota native was also a participant in all four games for Team USA at the Four Nations Face-Off Tournament in February.

My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado. Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren’t totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay. I’d like to thank the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic, Chris MacFarland, Jared Bednar, and our coaching staff for the opportunity. Obviously, the way the season ended last year was disappointing, but I can’t wait to get back on the ice soon and continue to push for our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

- Brock Nelson on staying in Colorado

Details ⬇️ https://t.co/TDjvaSyIns

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 4, 2025

The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine started on Monday. A total of 19 of the OHL's top draft eligible players were invited to the combine ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

"The NHL Combine is the final showcase event before the NHL Draft," said Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. "It's a week full of interviews, medicals and fitness testing where the players get to interact with NHL personnel and the NHL clubs get to learn as much as possible about the future stars of our game."

In total, 90 players were invited to the combine. That means that the OHL made up just over 20 percent of the players invited to the event. 

At the end of the day, the combine is another event where players have an opportunity to impress NHL teams and show why they should be selected on draft day. 

IceDogs Name Frank Evola General ManagerYesterday, the Niagara IceDogs announced that longtime Windsor Spitfires' Director of Scouting and Hockey Operations Frank Evola will become the sixth GM in franchise history. 

The 19 players invited to the combine, in no particular order, are as follows. 

Kashawn Aitcheson (BAR)

Henry Brzustewicz (LDN)

David Bedkowski (OS)

Kieren Dervin (KGN)

Ethan Czata (NIAG

Kristian Epperson (SAG)

Tyler Hopkins (KGN)

Jack Ivankovic (BRAM)

Aleksei Medvedev (LDN)

Brady Martin (SOO)

Porter Martone (BRAM)

Michael Misa (SAG)

Jack Nesbitt (WSR)

Jake O'Brien (BFD)

Cameron Reid (KIT)

Malcolm Spence (ER)

Simon Wang (OSH)

Matthew Schaefer (ER)

Luca Romano (KIT)

Knights Take Care Of Business At Memorial CupTwo words followed the London Knights throughout the 2024-25 season: unfinished business. 

The 2025 NHL Draft will take place on June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The New York Islanders have the first-overall pick in the draft, followed by the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks. 

There has been a lot of discussion online about whether the Isles will take Schaefer or James Hagens with the first-overall pick. NHL Central Scouting ranked Schaefer at the top of their list of North American skaters, however, Hagens is from Long Island. There is a segment of hockey fans who believe drafting the local boy could come ahead of taking the top prospect in the draft. 

Based on the rankings, the OHL will have a heavy presence in the top-five picks at the 2025 NHL Draft. We will see whether that is the case come draft night. For now, the players will continue to prove themselves at the combine.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced they have hired Dan Muse as their 23rd coach in franchise history. This is Muse’s first opportunity at being an NHL bench boss.

Muse is Kyle Dubas’ first head coaching hire as the GM and president of hockey operations of the Penguins. The Mike Sullivan parted ways with the team after the season and since joined the New York Rangers.

“During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice,” Dubas said in a statement.

“What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL,” he added.

Muse spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Rangers. His other NHL experience was as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators between 2017 and 2020.

He helped both teams earn three division titles. The Predators claimed the Central Division title in 2017-18 and 2018-19, while the Rangers topped the Metropolitan Division in 2024. The Predators and Rangers also won one Presidents’ Trophy each, with Muse behind the bench in 2018 and 2024, respectively.

In these roles, Muse was in charge of the penalty kill. Despite the Rangers finishing 22nd in the league this season, they had the 11th-best penalty-kill percentage. Last season, the team had the third-best penalty kill in the league.

In the 2017-18 season, when Nashville won the Presidents’ Trophy, they had the sixth-best penalty kill. Pittsburgh’s GM took note of that.

“His leadership of special teams units at the NHL level in both Nashville and New York produced elite results consistently,” Dubas said.

“His overall body of work, attention to detail and vision for our group showed us that he is the best coach to take our team forward. We’re excited to welcome Dan, and his family, to the city of Pittsburgh.”

Muse does have previous experience as a head coach. The 42-year-old was the bench boss of the U-17 and U-18 USA Hockey National Team Development Program teams.

He won a USHL title in 2016-17 and a U-18 World Junior Championship gold medal in 2022-23.

Promo image credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Florida Panthers look to shut down Edmonton Oilers offence in Stanley Cup Finals rematch. 

One of the most highly-anticipated Stanley Cup Finals in years starts on Wednesday with the star-studded Edmonton Oilers hosting the defending Champion Florida Panthers. 

It promises to be an eventful series, marking just the third Stanley Cup Final rematch in NHL history. The Oilers are out for redemption after falling short in game seven last year, nearly completing a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 series deficit.

Game one will be a crucial one for both sides as the team that wins game one of the Stanley Cup Final has won the series 64 out of 84 times, which improves when that opening win comes on home ice, as the odds jump to 51 out of 61 times in history. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Betting Preview: Oilers-Panthers Set for Epic Rematch

Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers Game 1 Best Bets:

• Under 6.5 goals (-132)
• Panthers ML (+104)
• Sam Bennett Over 0.5 points (-120)
• Carter Verhaeghe Over 0.5 points (-115) 

More NHL: Oilers vs. Panthers: Breaking Down Game One Trends Ahead of 2025 Stanley Cup Finals

The public seems to expect that an offensive shootout is coming as the sportsbooks have the game listed at over/under 6.5 total goals. The sense is that the Oilers will want to rebound after last year's loss and push the Panthers into a high-scoring affair for a series-opening win. 

I expect the opposite effect to work as we've seen both teams using their defences to shut down the best of opposing offences and make for low-scoring outcomes.

This happen in last year's game one of the Finals, where the Oilers were blanked in a 3-0 loss. In game two, they were limited once again with the Panthers managing to continue their smother of the Oilers offence for a 4-1 victory. 

This is the third straight Finals appearance for the Panthers and they know what they are doing with their mindset likely being that they aren't going to let in a goal at all costs.

I expect this mentality to shine through once again as the Oilers are coming in with a new team and the highest of expectations as they are expected to win the series. 

With that in mind, we will need to see some scoring from someone as a goal has to be scored and we gave a pretty lengthy deep dive recently on what players excel in series-opening games. For the Cats, the most notable name is Sam Bennett, who has made a knack out of scoring clutch goals. 

More NHL: New Mitch Marner Next Team Betting Odds Highlight Unexpected Frontrunner

The Canadian forward found the net against the United States in the Four Nations Championship and has built a reputation for strong starts, scoring in three consecutive Game Ones and tallying four goals in his last five series openers. 

Bennett has been playing on a line recently with the dynamic duo of Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk, who both have a stellar history of opening up series with a bang. Verhaeghe offers better value in this spot, having consistently delivered in series openers. 

He scored in last year’s Stanley Cup Final game one and has totaled four goals and five assists in his last seven Game Ones. This postseason alone, he’s recorded one goal and four assists across three series openers. The two forwards should come together for a much needed goal in a tight low-scoring affair. 

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

After more than a month of searching, the Pittsburgh Penguins have finally named a successor to Mike Sullivan behind the bench.

On Wednesday, the Penguins named Dan Muse the 23rd head coach in team history. Muse had been an assistant coach for the New York Rangers - who hired Mike Sullivan as their new head coach on May 2 - for the past two seasons from 2023-25.

Previously, he had an assistant coaching gig with the Nashville Predators from 2017-20. In both stints, he was primarily responsible for running the penatly kill units - which were both top-five units during his tenure.

“During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice," Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas released in a statement. "What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach, and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL. From his success in developing college and junior players, to his impactful work with veteran players during his time in the NHL, Dan has shown a proven ability to connect with players at all stages of their careers and help them to reach their potential.

“Additionally, his leadership of special teams units at the NHL level in both Nashville and New York produced elite results consistently. His overall body of work, attention to detail and vision for our group showed us that he is the best coach to take our team forward. We’re excited to welcome Dan, and his family, to the city of Pittsburgh.”

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Dan Muse!

Details: https://t.co/5Dnommr9efpic.twitter.com/gW8CN40gmf

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 4, 2025

Muse, 42, first stepped into the coaching realm at a higher level as an assistant for the Yale University men's ice hockey team from 2009-14. From there, he became heavily involved in USA Hockey, coaching the Chicago Steel of the USHL from 2015-17 and for the National Team Development Program (NTDP) from 2020-23.  The 2023 Under-18 World Championship team won the gold medal with him at the helm.

He also has ties to Penguins' forward prospect Rutger McGroarty, who he had coached as part of the USNTDP program.

More details on the hire to come. 

Former Penguins' Assistant Joins Blackhawks' Coaching StaffIt appears that Mike Sullivan - who departed as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Apr. 28 and subsequently joined the New York Rangers as their new bench boss - isn't the only former Penguins' coach to land a new gig for the 2025-26 season.

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Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel - Imagn Images

Professional golfer Rory McIlroy still believes the Toronto Maple Leafs can win the Stanley Cup.

The 36-year-old is at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Alton, Ontario, for the RBC Canadian Open, which begins on Thursday. McIlroy, who won the 2025 Masters, was joined by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Keith Pelley on Wednesday for the tournament's Pro-Am.

Following their round of golf, Pelley gifted McIlroy a Maple Leafs jersey with his last name on the back. The PGA and European Tour golfer knows Pelley from when the 61-year-old served as president of the PGA European Tour from 2015 to 2024.

"If I can win the Masters," McIlroy said on Wednesday via TSN's Bob Weeks, "then the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup."

McIlroy has won the RBC Canadian Open twice, in 2019 and 2022.

Report: Maple Leafs Could Target Bruins Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco To Fill Lane Lambert's Vacated RoleThe Toronto Maple Leafs could be after another coach to join their bench after associate coach Lane Lambert's departure.

This isn't the first time the former world number-one has weighed in on the Maple Leafs. Following his final round at the tournament last spring, McIlroy hoped Toronto could get closer to its goal of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025.

"I don’t know much about the Leafs, I had dinner with someone that’s pretty intimately involved a few nights ago, so sounds like they’re making some changes this off-season," McIlroy told the Toronto Sun, "and hopefully that’s the catalyst to hopefully that’s the catalyst to making a run in the playoffs and maybe getting that Stanley Cup."

Under new head coach Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs won their first Atlantic Division title since its inception in 2013. Toronto eliminated the Ottawa Senators in six games before being ousted in seven games by the Florida Panthers in round two.

Tanev, Gourde Contracts And Deferred Money Provide A Blueprint For Maple Leafs To Re-Sign John TavaresJohn Tavares wants to stay in Toronto. The former Maple Leafs captain made that clear when speaking to reporters shortly after his team was eliminated in the second round at the hands of the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. This desire, coupled with the Maple Leafs' cap constraints, begs the question: How can both sides find common ground? Reportedly, the Maple Leafs would welcome him back, but not at the hefty $11 million per season salary cap hit that came with his first contract in Toronto. Recent contracts signed by other players offer a compelling glimpse into potential solutions.

It's the furthest the Maple Leafs have gone in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2002, when they beat out the New York Islanders and Senators to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Toronto lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, ending their Stanley Cup hopes that year.

There's a lot of uncertainty around the Maple Leafs entering this offseason. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are unrestricted free agents, while Matthew Knies is a restricted free agent. Tavares and Knies have expressed their desire to remain in Toronto, but Marner, who's had several chances to say he wants to remain a Maple Leaf, hasn't done so.

Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Mark Giordano To Coach NHL Top Prospect Matthew SchaeferMark Giordano has been busy since last playing in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, Toronto GM Brad Treliving said in his season-ending media availability that the team's DNA needs to change.

"I don't believe that you have to go and change 20 players, right? It's not always about that. It's what can we do to help our guys? What can we do to find guys that can help?" Treliving said.

"If there is change that we need to make with the team, how do we bring people in that have a mindset like that? But it's those big moments of really embracing it, but finding a way, whatever that way is, to get through it and have success."

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