Should the Montreal Canadiens use their two first-round pick, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s Justin Carbonneau is a name they could call out on the podium. No, it’s not just because he’s a “p’tit gars de chez nous,” and he’s not related to former captain Guy Carbonneau; it’s because he has a lot of upsides.

The right-winger is 16th on the Central Scouting North American skater list, has scored 89 points in 62 games this season in the QMJHL, and likes to make flashy, big plays.

Canadiens: The Grades Are In - Jake Evans
Canadiens: Potential First-Round Pick – Cole Reschny
Could The Canadiens Look For A Trade With The Nashville Predators?

While Carbonneau could use his linemates more, he’s the kind of player who wants to have the puck on his stick when a big goal is needed, and he often manages to deliver, as his 46 goals in 62 games show. His desire to have the puck when it counts is similar to Lane Hutson’s. Although the Habs defenseman is a pass-first kind of guy, having them on the ice simultaneously would only mean they can complement each other.

As things stand, the Canadiens have a lot of playmakers, but putting the puck in the net can sometimes be an issue, so drafting a player who’s more of a scorer would make sense. Carbonneau is a risk taker, though, as you’ll be able to tell by watching this highlights package, and while he’s looking impressive there, he would need to adapt to the NHL's stiffer competition; things that work at the junior level don’t always work at the pro level.

Like everyone else, he’d need to learn to pick his spots, but the Canadiens have the right environment to allow young players to make those mistakes. Although the rebuild is fast evolving, greater emphasis will be put on results sooner rather than later. Still, Martin St-Louis has proven he knows how to handle young players and teach them valuable lessons without resorting to the traditional “one error, one benching” approach, which was all the rage in the NHL not long ago.

At the start of March, Nick Bobrov and Donald Audette took in the Armada’s game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, allowing them to watch both Carbonneau and Caleb Desnoyers, the QMJHL’s top two prospects. Unless Kent Hughes manages to move significantly higher in the first round, Desnoyers will be long gone before the Canadiens speak, so it’s likely they were taking a closer look at Carbonneau, mainly since Bobrov has attended several games in Blainville-Boisbriand this season.

Carbonneau is creative. He’s got good speed for his size, soft hands, and a deceptive shot; there’s a lot to like in that package. His frame makes it easier to outbattle defenders or cut inside for the net. The winger also has a knack for shooting from everywhere on the ice and manages to score from anywhere, consistently a good tool to have in one’s arsenal.

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

According to multiple reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are moving on from Ian Laperriere as the head coach of their farm team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. But how do they plan on replacing him? And with who?

Laperriere, 51, had spent the last four years at the helm of the Phantoms, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances, but blowing a 2-1 series lead to the Hershey Bears in this year's Calder Cup playoffs.

Notably, when starting goalie Parker Gahagen went down with an injury, Laperriere rolled with exiled journeyman Cal Petersen ahead of promising prospect Carson Bjarnason not once, but twice, losing the series 3-2 and failing to get one of his best youngsters a taste of playoff action.

Not to mention that prospects like Massimo Rizzo and Alex Ciernik, two forwards the Flyers have varying degrees of investment in, didn't even play a playoff game for Laperriere.

Everything the Flyers have said and done this offseason, especially as it relates to the hiring of Rick Tocchet, has pointed towards player development being of the utmost importance now and in the future.

Laperriere couldn't get the job done, at least not consistently enough, and it is now apparently time for a change behind the bench in Allentown.

If the Flyers have reason to believe looking internally is a good option, one candidate who could stand out is Phantoms assistant coach John Snowden, who just completed his second season in Lehigh Valley.

Snowden, 44, coached his way up from the ECHL ranks, starting his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Orlando Solar Bears back in 2015-16. Snowden served as the head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers for parts of two seasons between 2018-19 and 2019-20, and later took over as their president of hockey operations for the 2020-21 season.

For those curious, Flyers GM Danny Briere was the vice president of hockey operations for the ECHL's Maine Mariners at the same time.

Report: Flyers Rejected Big Maple Leafs Trade for Rasmus RistolainenAccording to a new report, the Philadelphia Flyers received a massive trade offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs for veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. GM Danny Briere and Co. didn't budge.

Snowden's Growlers won the Kelly Cup in 2019 and went 42-17-1 in 60 games under his watch before the 2019-20 season was cancelled, so there's a history of success there, and Briere has gone up against him in the ECHL before.

Indeed, Snowden is not the sexiest name or the most well-traveled option, but there's reason to believe he could do the job if called upon.

One name that Flyers fans might be more familiar with is Jay McKee, a former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick who was teammates with Briere for parts of three seasons.

Oh, and McKee was linked to the Flyers' head coaching job on more than one occasion, though some chalked it up to Briere trying to juice his old pal's name in coaching circles.

Even if that was true, I don't think Briere does something like that without truly, honestly believing McKee can coach, and coach well, at that. And, suddenly, Briere has a job opening that makes a lot more sense than a leap from the OHL to the NHL.

McKee, 47, has been an OHL head coach since the 2016-17 season, sitting out the 2020-21 season after getting fired by the Kitchener Rangers the year prior.

Since then, McKee has spent the last four years in charge of the Hamilton (now Brantford) Bulldogs, coaching talents like Mason McTavish, Arber Xhekaj, Jorian Donovan, Jan Mysak, Artem Grushnikov, Ryan Winterton, Marek Vanacker, Florian Xhekaj, Nick Lardis, Adam Jiricek, and potential Flyers 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien.

Flyers GM Teases Potential Top Pick Ahead of 2025 NHL DraftPhiladelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is not ignoring the possibility of selecting Caleb Desnoyers sixth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in June. In fact, he's embracing it.

And for those who might not be aware, Lardis, a 19-year-old Chicago Blackhawks prospect, just exploded for 71 goals, 46 assists, and 117 points in 65 games this year.

Lardis' 71 goals rank 11th all-time in single-season OHL history, trailing some guys named Eric Lindros, John Tavares, and Dino Ciccarelli. Ever heard of them?

Oh, and a 19-year-old Doug Gilmour 'only' managed 70 goals in an OHL season at the peak of his powers.

So, needless to say, McKee is a perfectly capable leader of men who can get the best out of his players. We don't need to go further down the list to prove that.

I'd be stunned if McKee is not the clubhouse favorite to replace Laperriere. Taking the next step and joining Briere's Flyers with the Phantoms makes too much sense.

Another name to watch, be it at the NHL level or the AHL level, is Cory Stillman.

Most Flyers fans probably know Stillman as Jett Luchanko's head coach with the Guelph Storm this past season, but Stillman also has four years of experience as an NHL assistant coach, including as part of Tocchet's Arizona Coyotes staff in 2020-21.

The 51-year-old has never coached at the AHL level before, but if Tocchet and/or the Flyers want continuity between the AHL and NHL systems and what is being asked of the young players, hiring Stillman could make perfect sense.

This season, Stillman also served as the head coach of Canada's U-18s, which boasted star prospects like Keaton Verhoeff (2026), Brady Martin, Jack Nesbitt, Cole Reschny, Braeden Cootes, and Jack Ivankovic, among many others.

If you've paid any attention to national draft coverage lately, you'll know that Martin has been mocked to the Flyers at No. 6 by Craig Button, and Button successfully mocked Luchanko, also coached by Stillman, to the Flyers (with their top draft pick) last year.

Those connections, especially with important draft picks, matter.

So, while McKee may appear to be the leader for now, watch out for Stillman. The Flyers love their connections, and McKee is not the only one who has them.

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft one month out, there will be a lot of decisions for teams to make about scouting, players, trades, and more.

And one huge decision involves the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Jan. 31, the Penguins acquired a conditional first-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the deal that sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O'Connor to Vancouver. The first-rounder was actually from the New York Rangers, who shipped it to Vancouver in the J.T. Miller blockbuster on the same day.

The conditions on the first-round pick involved top-13 protection in 2025 for the Rangers as well as the option to defer the pick as an unprotected 2026 first. Since New York is in the 12th overall slot for the draft, they can choose to keep the pick this year if they so desire.

And there are arguments on both sides as to why they should keep it or defer it.

---

Why they should keep it

Simply put, the Rangers aren't really putting themselves in any position to be tanking right now.

Sure, they could try to tank for Gavin McKenna next season. But, then, why trade for Miller? Why hire Mike Sullivan, a win-now coach? Why make the priority retooling this summer?

With a roster that is just beginning to age out and a goaltender making $11 million, the Rangers almost have no choice but to maximize the window that they're in. They followed up a President's Trophy-winning campaign in 2023-24 with a dud of a season, but with some reshuffling, they may still be able to contend.

Deferring the pick to 2026 signals to your roster, your coach, and your organization that you don't necessarily believe you'll be better next season. Is that really the message the Rangers want to send to their players this offseason? That they're counting on a potential lottery pick?

No, probably not. Even though the draft is deeper next season, they should grab a good player at 12th overall, especially since next year's pick may be way later than 12.

Penguins Reportedly In Mix For KHL Star ForwardSoon enough, the Pittsburgh Penguins may be adding another key piece to the puzzle for their NHL roster next season and beyond.

---

Why they should defer it

The argument could be made here that the 2026 draft is simply deeper - by most accounts, it is - and, even if the Rangers finish mid-teens to early-20s in draft order, they'll still be getting a very good player. It could also be argued that there's no guarantee they won't be worse next season.

But beyond that, there is another sticking point: the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

If the Rangers decide to defer the pick to 2026, that means they'll have that first to leverage should they be in position to do so. If they retool their roster in the offseason and find themselves in the playoff mix in February next year, they may be looking for that one final piece to give them a leg up in competitive advantage.

And because the 2026 draft is deep, that pick should hold a fair amount of value, even if it's a mid-late first. 

Deferring the pick allows them to be reactive to however their season goes in 2025-26 rather than being stuck in no-man's land if they end up being worse next season. If they're fighting for a playoff spot at the deadline, they can use the pick to acquire talent. If they're near the basement at that time, they can keep it and, potentially, be in the lottery conversation.

When looking at the pick from a value standpoint, deferring it and allowing the Penguins to have the 2025 pick makes a degree of sense.

4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This SummerDuring his postseason press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas provided a glimpse into what the summer could look like for the organization.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

The Florida Panthers have a little bit of experience dealing with the situation they currently find themselves.

Over the past three postseasons, all three of which Florida has reached at least the conference finals, the Panthers have held a 3-0 series lead five times.

The first time, against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023, Florida lost Game 4 at home before closing out the Leafs two nights later.

It happened again the very next round, against the same Carolina Hurricanes Florida is currently facing.

Back then, the Panthers were able to complete the sweep thanks to a last-second goal by Matthew Tkachuk in Game 4.

In the first round of last year’s postseason, Florida took a 3-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning, lost Game 4 in Tampa and then closed out the Bolts on home ice in Game 5.

Then, of course, there was the Stanley Cup Final, where the Panthers famously (or infamously, I suppose) won the first three games against the Edmonton Oilers only to lose each of the nex three, setting up an incredible Game 7 that Florida won 2-1 to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

How it plays out this time remains to be seen, a status that several regulars in Florida’s lineup also share.

Sam Reinhart left Game 2 early, and Niko Mikkola and A.J. Greer left Game 3 early, so the availability for each on Monday night wouldn’t be decided until earlier in the day, according to Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 4 against Carolina:

Evan Rodrigues – Sasha Barkov – Jesper Boqvist

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov

Scratches: Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Sam Reinhart, Nico Sturm, Jaycob Megna

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Evan Rodrigues Makes Playoff History In Game 3

Injured Panthers Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, A.J. Greer could all play in Game 4

Three takeaways: Jesper Boqvist fills in beautifully again, Panthers pull away after tight 2 periods

Panthers push Hurricanes to brink with dominant 6-2 victory in Game 3

Important Panthers Forward Ejected From Game 3 For Boarding

Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Jesper Boqvist (70) celebrates with teammates after a goal during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

It wasn't that long ago that Tage Thompson was part of the long term plans for the St. Louis Blues.

But on Sunday, the No. 26 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Blues helped end a lengthy drought for the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

Thompson scored the overtime goal, the lone goal of the game, a golden goal in the gold medal game to give Team USA its first gold medal in 92 years with a 1-0 win against Switzerland on Sunday at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

It was the first gold medal for Team USA since 1933, and it's a full 20-minute period and teams play the NHL's style of 3-on-3 until a winner is determined.

Thompson skated through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone before wiring a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past Switzerland goalie Leonardo Genoni at 2:02 for the winner:

This moment will go down in history 🇺🇸 #MensWorldspic.twitter.com/uYW7vljiFl

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 25, 2025

Blues fans will remember Thompson was a key piece to the trade in 2018 that brought Ryan O'Reilly to the Blues from the Buffalo Sabres along with Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, a 2019 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick.

Of course, the Blues will call the trade a win since they went on to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history that very next season, defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games in 2019.

Thompson, 27, has gone on to have a very nice career with the Sabres, reaching more than 40 goals twice in the past four seasons, including 44 this past season and a career-high 47 in 2022-23. 

Thompson spent one season with the Blues in 2017-18, playing in 41 games (three goals, six assists).

Chesterfield native Clayton Keller, captain of the Utah Mammoth, who grew up in Swansea, Il. was also part of Team USA.

The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of salary cap space to spend this summer -- and a Vancouver Canucks star should be firmly in the sights of Sabres management.

As per Puck Pedia, Buffalo has approximately $23.2-million in cap space this summer. And while it's highly-unlikely the Sabres will land top UFA Mitch Marner, another Canadian market's top UFA could make much more sense for the Sabres -- with the proviso that they're still going to have to pay him well above-market value.

We're speaking about Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who earned $6.65-million this past season. Boeser produced 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games with Vancouver this year -- well below his 40-goal, 73-point season with the Canucks in 2023-24. But the 28-year-old is still in his prime, and you'd better believe there will be many teams lining up to secure his services this summer.

With that said, how much is Boeser worth? Speculation that his next contract will come in between $8-to-$9-million per year should be sobering for Sabres management. But look at it this way: with the cap ceiling set to rise to $95.5-million next year, teams have to be prepared to outbid opponents to land proven veterans like Boeser. The alternative -- being the runner-up, or being well out of the final teams bidding for Boeser -- is not going to sit well with Sabres fans. At some point, if you can't figure out how to attract free agents to your city, you probably shouldn't be the one in charge of attracting free agents to your city.

We've noted before that Buffalo needs to be realistic in their UFA targets. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to swing for the fences and set a new tone for a new era. And if that means overpaying for someone like Boeser, the Sabres should be fully ready to pay that price.

Who Is A Reasonable Target For Buffalo In Free Agency This Summer?The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the off-season knowing they have some money to spend on free agents -- not as much money as some teams, but right now, they have approximately $21.4 million in salary cap space to use.

In this case, that might not mean paying top-dollar (although let's be real here -- it almost certainly will mean paying top-dollar). It could mean tacking on one or two years of contract term that other teams aren't prepared to pay for Boeser. And if Boeser proves to be not worthy of a sixth-or-seventh-season in a new contract, you can look at buying him out in the final season or two of a new contract. That's what big-market teams do all the time, and there should be no unease from Sabres management that they need to step up that way to be a winner when it comes to attracting free agents.

It's the cost of doing business in hockey's top league, and it's why Buffalo needs to take an aggressive stance at luring free agents into a Sabres uniform. When you're a team that's missed the playoffs for 14 straight seasons, you have to go a little bit harder than other teams go when it comes to improving your roster.

Free agency is only five weeks away, so the Sabres need to get their house in order to appeal to stars like Boeser. Because no Buffalo fan wants to hear excuses anymore. They want results, and they want them now. And if the Sabres can't figure out how to improve -- be it via free-agency or via trades -- there's going to be more bad news on the horizon for this franchise.

It's a cold-blooded world out there for teams seeking to improve, and past failures in Buffalo aren't reason enough to justify future failures in Buffalo. Sabres brass has to go the extra mile to attract top players, and nothing less than that extra mile will suffice in efforts to improv this franchise. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season ended only a handful of days ago, but such is life with Leafs Nation that fans are already setting their sights on next year. And one of the more fascinating Maple Leafs prospects is current London Knights left winger Easton Cowan. The 20-year-old is going to get a bona-fide solid shot to earn an NHL job next season – and for reasons we’ll explore below, Cowan will have pressure on him to produce right out of the gate.

The Leafs are now expected to part ways with superstar right winger Mitch Marner, and while we’re going to be clear here that we’re not in any way suggesting Cowan will be as big a star as Marner has been, there are some parallels between Marner and Cowan.

For one thing, Marner and Cowan are about the same size physically, with both players right around six feet tall. And like Cowan, Marner also was a terrific player for the London Knights in his junior hockey career, producing 44 goals and 126 points in 2014-15. Now, Cowan’s regular-season totals on offense took a dip this year, but he still generated 40 assists and 69 points in just 46 games – and Cowan had his best post-season performance yet, with 26 assists and 39 points in 17 playoff games, helping the Knights win the OHL championship. Those numbers don’t automatically translate into surefire NHL success, but by raising his game, Cowan is raising expectations among Leafs fans for next season.

The same way the Maple Leafs have benefited from youngster Matthew Knies thriving in the early stages of his NHL career, Toronto is going to be hoping to get a terrific rookie showing from Cowan. Not only will he potentially produce offense to help replace Marner if and when he leaves the Leafs as a UFA this summer, but Cowan will provide some much-needed financial help as the Buds balance out their lineup between high-priced veterans and bargain-basement performers. 

That said, nothing is going to be handed to Cowan next year. This isn’t to say he’s going to be a healthy scratch a la Nick Robertson (another player the Leafs may move on from next year), but Cowan may have to start his pro career the same way most NHLers do – at the American League level. Playing for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies may be a blow to Cowan’s ego, but rather than playing him third or fourth-line minutes with the Leafs, it could be best for his development to start out with the Marlies and wait for a better opportunity with the Leafs down the line.

When you’ve got the draft pedigree that Cowan has – as someone drafted 28th overall in 2023 – you’re going to have to live up to it by adapting to the NHL game, or you’ll quickly be discarded for the next prospect du jour. So yes, there will absolutely be pressure on Cowan as soon as NHL training camp begins next fall. But with the ripple effect of Marner’s projected departure on the Leafs’ depth chart of forwards, Cowan might just be able to step in right away and earn an NHL job.

Cowan has spoken out recently about having Marner as a mentor of sorts, but that professional relationship may be severed if Marner does move on. However, Leafs fans have had Cowan on their radar for a couple of years now, and if he can develop into an upper-tier NHLer the way Knies and Marner have, Toronto fans and management are going to be elated to have Cowan in Blue and White. 

Before too long, the world could well be Cowan’s oyster. And we’ll learn soon enough if he’s ready and able to seize the moment and carve out a space in Leaf Land for a very long time to come.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Mike Augello, Adam Kierszenblat and Stephen Kerr react to the Edmonton Oilers beating the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference final to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

Promo image credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The London Knights won their opening game at the Memorial Cup in overtime, beating the Moncton Wildcats 3-2 in overtime. Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in overtime. 

While the Knights are widely considered the favorites at the tournament, this was a close game from beginning to end. 

Moncton went blow for blow with London through the opening period. After 20 minutes the shots were 15-14 in favor of the Wildcats and the score was tied at one. 

O'Reilly, who eventually scored the game winner, also scored London's opening goal of the match just a minute and a half into the game. He redirected Sam Dickinson's blast from the point past Mathis Rousseau to take the early lead. 

Moncton stuck with it, avoided London's potent neutral-zone forecheck and gaining significant time in the offensive zone. with just over 13 minutes left in the first period, Etienne Morin fired a well placed shot past Austin Elliott to tie the game at one. It wouldn't be the last goal the London goaltender surrendered from the point.

CHL Hosts Meet The Coaches Press Conference Ahead of Memorial CupEarlier today, London Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter took part in a pre-tournament press conference alongside the Head Coaches of the other three participating teams. The panel consisted of Hunter, Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat), Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton) and Joël Perrault (Rimouski).

London took control of the game in the second, nearly doubling Moncton's shots on goal in the period. The teams once again exchanged goals, with San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scoring for London while Dyllan Gill scored for Moncton. 

Though there was no scoring in the third period, London dominated the final frame, outshooting the Wildcats 16-3. Rousseau had a fantastic game for Moncton, stopping multiple grade-A scoring chances for London. 

You could feel London warming up into the game as time went on. Period by period they took over, eventually dominating the Wildcats in the third period, however, it was not enough to escape overtime. 

The two teams exchanged chances in overtime before Sam O'Reilly, who started the scoring in this one, tipped home Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan's backhand pass in front of the net. 

OHL Heavily Represented in Craig Button's Recent Mock DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is just around the corner, and many pundits are starting to project what the first round will look like. Craig Buttons' recent mock draft projects the OHL to be well represented in the opening round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

O'Reilly had a fantastic season in the OHL after being selected at the end of the first round by Edmonton at the 2024 NHL Draft. In 62 games this season, he recorded 21 goals and 71 points with London. 

The two goals he scored in game one at the Memorial Cup mark is progression as a player while simultaneously vindicating the Oilers' faith in the young prospect.

 A win in their opening game of the tournament sets London up for success. They will move on to play their second game tonight against the hosting Rimouski Oceanic. Puck drop for that game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

---

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will reflect on how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, May 25, Pittsburgh has compiled a 2-0 record in two games on this date.

• 1991 - Game 6 Win vs. Minnesota North Stars (8-0)
• 2017 - Game 7 Win vs. Ottawa Senators (3-2 OT)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

May 25, 1991 - The Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in Game 6 by defeating the North Stars 8-0 at the Met Center. As of 2025, this game remains the largest goal differential in a championship-clinching game in NHL history.

With 44 points in 23 games, captain Mario Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. In Game 6, he had four points with a goal and three assists. Meanwhile, Joe Mullen (two goals and an assist) had three points, while four other players had two points, including Larry Murphy, Ulf Samuelsson, Kevin Stevens, and Peter Taglianetti. 

What Will Owen Pickering's Role Be In 2025-26?Next season will present a prime opportunity for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects to crack the NHL roster.

In the Cup-clinching game, the Penguins got points from Bob Errey, Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Jim Paek, and Bryan Trottier.

May 25, 2017 - Chris Kunitz scores his only two goals of the 2016-17 playoff run by tallying the first goal of Game 7 in the first period before advancing the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final with an overtime winner at 5:09 of the second overtime. 

As Pittsburgh's sixth leading scorer during the championship run, Kunitz had a three-point contest in Game 7 against the Senators, assisting on Justin Schultz's third-period power-play goal. Schultz returned the favor in overtime, setting up Kunitz for the winner. 

Heading into the Eastern Conference final of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes were in a very good place. They demolished the New Jersey Devils in five games in the first round, then eliminated the Washington Capitals with relative ease by sending them home in a five-game second-round victory. And the ‘Canes did it with defense, allowing only seven goals to the Caps, and just 11 goals to the Devils.

With that in mind, it was fair to presume the Hurricanes would put the squeeze on the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers in the Eastern final. But instead, the opposite has happened, with the Panthers generating 16 goals in the first three games against the Hurricanes, and Florida staking out a commanding 3-0 series lead over Carolina after romping to a 6-2 win in Game 3.

While you can’t pin down just one reason for the Canes’ struggles against the Panthers, we’ve already seen Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour changing up his goaltending picture, pulling starter Frederik Andersen after two letdown games, and going with backup Pyotr Kochetkov, to no avail, in Carolina’s Game 3 loss.

The disappointment has put Andersen in a particularly bad spot, as he had signed a one-year contract extension at the start of May. The 35-year-old looked terrific against the Devils and Capitals, posting a save percentage of .905 or higher in seven of his nine games in the first two rounds. But the bottom fell out of Andersen’s game against the Panthers, as he posted an a save percentage of .750 in both Games 1 and 2 before Brind’Amour put him on the bench in favor of Kochetkov in Game 3.

Small wonder, then, that the Hurricanes have lost all three games against Florida thus far in their Eastern final series. Kochetkov has put up a save percentage of .886 or worse in three of his four playoff appearances this year, and he had nothing going for him in Game 3, as the Panthers hung up six goals on 28 shots on him for a bleak .786 SP.

The Panthers were always going to be a tough opponent for Carolina, but when their goaltending hasn’t been up to snuff, the Hurricanes have been on the wrong end of three blowout games. If the ‘Canes are swept by the Panthers, it would be a letdown of the highest order for a team many believed would be significantly better this season. But they’re now on the verge of being swept in the Eastern final for the second time in the past three seasons, and they still haven’t won even a single Eastern final game since they won a Cup in 2005-06. 

Meanwhile, Brind’Amour sure sounded like a coach who is seeing his season sunk before his eyes because of sub-par goaltending.

“I don’t blame Freddie on any of the goals that went in,” Brind’Amour said after the Game 2 loss. “Obviously, save percentage is not great, if you look at that. We do need some saves, but I can’t blame him on any.”

Clearly, Brind’Amour was engaged in some mixed messaging there. He doesn’t blame Andersen, but his save percentage is “not great." Carolina does “need some saves”, but Brind’Amour isn’t blaming him for any of the goals he allowed. If that sounds like a coach desperate to not totally jump all over his goalie despite plenty of evidence he’s not doing his job between the pipes, that’s because it is. But that doesn’t mean Andersen and Kochetkov don’t have to own their role in three straight losses to the Panthers.

If and when the Hurricanes are eliminated by Florida, Carolina GM Eric Tulsky is going to be faced with some very difficult decisions about his goaltending next season. It doesn’t matter how good the ‘Canes look at forward and on ‘D’ if Carolina’s goalies can’t outperform their opponent's netminder when they get to the Eastern final. 

It also doesn’t matter that Andersen and Kochetkov are relatively underpaid next season, with Andersen set to make $2.75 million, and Kochetkov signed at a salary cap hit of $2 million. When the games have mattered most in this series, Andersen and Kochetkov have failed in their duties. That’s not a criticism, that’s a fact, and absent some miracle turnaround against the Panthers, the Hurricanes need to make some serious changes to their lineup next year.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Next season will present a prime opportunity for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects to crack the NHL roster.

And one blueline prospect should get a pretty good look.

21-year-old defenseman Owen Pickering - drafted 21st overall by the Penguins in 2022 - got a small taste of NHL experience in 2024-25 and figures to take on a bigger role next season.

With the Penguins shorthanded on left-side defense, Pickering could play a crucial role heading forward. In 25 games with the Penguins last season, he registered one goal and three points and played some minutes in a top-four role next to Kris Letang.

Even though he experienced those top-four minutes last season - and did well for a while in them - Penguins’ POHO and GM Kyle Dubas is aware that Pickering is not quite ready to be thrust into a full-time top-four role.

“He's got to have a great summer,” Dubas said. “We can't have him same as we had him go down, settling into a 12-13 minute a night role. He needs to come in and push his way into 17-18-19-20 minutes and earn that.”

Dubas added: “He played for the team this year, but is he ready to step into one of those roles? I don't think so.”

'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In PittsburghWhen defenseman Matt Grzelcyk made the decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, he did so with the mindset that he'd come in and be granted some opportunity to rediscover his game.

Given that declaration by Dubas - coupled with the likely departure of pending-unrestricted free agent Matt Grzelcyk - the Penguins are probably going to seek external help to bolster the left side on their blue line. Even if they do acquire a top-four defenseman, however, there will still be an opening for one of the top-four left defensive slots.

The other left defensemen on the Penguins' roster - Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, and Vladislav Kolyachonok - have been logging primarily bottom-pair minutes and, ideally, would remain in a bottom-pair role, at least when Pickering has earned his way into top-four minutes.

In other words, the spot is there for the taking for Pickering, but - as Dubas said - he'll have to earn his way into those minutes. And he wants to work on continuing to be a player the coaching staff can rely on. 

"Obviously, being up [in the NHL], you kind of learn what it takes.," Pickering said. "Coming from juniors and all the way in your first year pro, the coaches have to trust you. And that's something I feel like I've been working on and that I feel has gotten better, and something I'm trying to improve."

4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This SummerDuring his postseason press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas provided a glimpse into what the summer could look like for the organization.

And Pickering defintely worked on that rebliability aspect in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) after he was re-assigned there on Jan. 25. He finished the AHL season with two goals, 13 points, and a plus-18 rating in 47 games, often logging top-pair minutes and playing in all situations.

But, make no mistake: Pickering does not want to be playing AHL hockey next season. He wants to be rolling with the big club, and he is aware of the opportunity that lies in front of him heading into training camp.

"You never want to get sent back," Pickering said. "You always want to be in the NHL. I feel like I proved to myself that I can play in the NHL.

"I want to be full-time next year, I want to be [in Pittsburgh] the whole year. That's the goal."

   

With Byram On Trade Market, Penguins Need To Take NoticeIn his season-ending press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas specified that the team would look to bolster the left side on defense from outside the organization.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!        

With each passing day, the likelihood of Mitch Marner hitting free agency on July 1 is increasing. He is the most high-profile pending unrestricted free agent set to hit the market and is one of the most talented players to do so in recent memory, perhaps ever.

Marner is a recently turned 28-year-old winger (May 5) who has averaged over 1.2 points per game (98-point pace) over the last five seasons, has been the most-utilized Toronto Maple Leafs forward on the penalty kill in that time, and was a Selke Trophy finalist in 2023.

Three Lineup Spots the Anaheim Ducks Could Upgrade this Offseason

Ducks Name Joel Quenneville Head Coach

Ducks Ownership Prepared to Spend 'What it Takes' This Summer

32 NHL clubs could benefit from adding Marner to their roster, and with the salary cap ceiling set to increase from $88 million in 2024-25 to $95.5 million in 2025-26, most of those clubs will have the cap space or flexibility to make room in their budget to sign him.

If Marner hits unrestricted free agency on July 1, nearly every NHL team will be calling agent Darren Ferris, inquiring about the cost to add. It could be a bidding war to the likes we haven’t seen in the NHL in several years, the last comparable unrestricted free agents being Johnny Gaudreau in 2022, Artemi Panarin in 2019, and John Tavares in 2018.

Every discussion on potential landing spots for Marner, should he hit free agency, seems to mention the Anaheim Ducks as a destination he could consider. He would be a franchise-altering acquisition for Anaheim and catapult them into relevancy after failing to qualify for the playoffs over the previous seven seasons.

Here’s what Anaheim could pitch to Marner, should the scenario arise:

Core

The Ducks have one of the deepest and most potent U24 pipelines in the NHL and deploy a nightly lineup where eight of those U24 players are already assuming impact roles at every position on the ice.

Marner could join a forward core that includes four somewhat recent top-ten draft picks: Leo Carlsson (2nd overall in 2023), Mason McTavish (3rd in ’21), Cutter Gauthier (5th in ’22), and Trevor Zegras (9th in ’19). All four players have, at least, eclipsed the 20-goal and 40-point plateaus in their early careers.

On their blueline, the Ducks ice 2024-25 breakout star Jackson LaCombe as well as a pair of 2023 Defenseman of the Year award-winners in their respective CHL leagues: Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.

In net for the foreseeable future in Anaheim stands 24-year-old Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal, who has a career .902 SV% (league average) and has saved 7.3 goals above expected in his 121 career NHL games.

Money

The Ducks are projected to enter the 2025 offseason with the third-most available cap space ($38.69 million), just behind the Columbus Blue Jackets ($40.41 million) and San Jose Sharks ($40.99 million).

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is reportedly nearing the end of his contract with the organization and has been given the green light by ownership to spend “what it takes” to fulfill the mandate of returning to the playoffs in 2026.

“We’re willing to make that investment into the team,” Ducks owner Henry Samueli said. “We’ve told the same thing to Pat. Going out looking for players, you will have the budget you need to make this a serious playoff team. You don’t have to pinch pennies anymore. Do what it takes to make us a contender.”

The Ducks have the capability to match or exceed any offer that comes Marner’s way in free agency and are even willing to spend to the salary cap ceiling.

“Potentially, if necessary,” Samueli continued. “He (Verbeek) is going to spend wisely. We’re not going to write stupid checks, but I told him, ‘Do what it takes to make this a really steady, perennial playoff contender and Stanley Cup contender down the road. And if that means signing big-name free agents, go for it.’ We told him, going forward, you will not be constrained by the budget.”

Market

From the outside looking in, Toronto has substantial positives that come with playing for the league’s most popular team, in front of (arguably) the most passionate fans, and in the globe’s epicenter of hockey.

That fishbowl effect can have its drawbacks as well, as the temperature and discussion around Marner have swung heavily in both directions throughout his time as a Leaf.

In terms of climate, both actual and in hockey terms, Anaheim is as close to a polar opposite of Toronto as it gets in the NHL. On average, there are no more than three reporters (not under team employ) at each Ducks’ practice and morning skate, a stark contrast from the crowded daily media scrums in the Leafs’ locker room.

Orange County offers a lifestyle where, if desired, a player can “turn their brain off,” leave hockey at the rink to soak up needed family time, and decompress with some of the best weather on the planet, potentially at or near some of the world’s best beaches.

Ducks fans are passionate, and the media is talented, but the sheer volume of both is much less overwhelming than in the largest markets. Hockey, while ever-expanding, is much lower on the totem pole of everyday conversation, and if day-to-day anonymity is craved, it can be achieved as an NHL player in Southern California.

Coach

The Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their new head coach on May 8 after a three and a half year period away from the game. He brings with him a substantial amount of baggage and the second-winningest coaching record in NHL history, including three Stanley Cups.

Quenneville is the epitome of a “player’s coach,” who ushered in the current era of speed and possession-based hockey utilized by all 32 NHL teams today. Players’ accounts of their time with him as their coach are overwhelmingly positive.

Ducks forward Frank Vatrano played for Quenneville as a member of the Florida Panthers during Quenneville’s time there (2019-2022).

“His aura when he's in the room, the energy. He wants you to have fun,” Ducks forward Frank Vatrano said when asked what Quenneville brings as a coach. “When you're having fun, it's more fun for everyone. On a day-to-day basis, he makes it really fun to come to the rink every day.

“You can be having a tough stretch as a team or individual, going through individual struggles. He knows how to lift you up and lift the team up at the right times. That’s what all players ask for as a coach is to obviously hold us accountable to the standards, and we go by that every single day, but he just knows how to do that at another level.”

Judging how he nurtured, valued, and accentuated players with unmatched skill like Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, and Jonathan Huberdeau on their rises to stardom in the NHL, one would be hard-pressed to find a more perfect player-coach fit than Marner-Quenneville.

Window

The Anaheim Ducks made a significant jump in the NHL standings from 2023-24 to 2024-25, improving from a 59-point team to an 80-point team.

While a deeper dive into traditional and underlying numbers suggests that a sizable portion of that success can be attributed to goaltending, the team, as a whole, displayed a level of attention to detail and work ethic absent from Anaheim in several previous seasons.

“Players, they want to have success,” Quenneville said when he was hired. “They want to improve, they want accountability, (and) they want to see progress. I think they felt that over the course of the last few years that it’s there and that next challenge, or next step, is near.

“I think that everybody wants a push. The leadership, everybody can start taking a little more ownership in that collectively, across the board. It adds up, and I think that there’s big steps that can happen quickly.”

The mentioned young core will, in all likelihood, continue to improve, and in the environment the Ducks are building, they can fully realize their extraordinary potential en route to the ultimate goal of sustained success and competing for Stanley Cups.

The Ducks' contention window feels as inevitable as any and closer than others with similar potency.

The probability of Mitch Marner ever playing for the Anaheim Ducks remains slim, but if they were to pursue him, the Ducks have as good a pitch as any team in the NHL.

'He's Close': Martin Madden Suggests an NHL Roster Spot is Beckett Sennecke's for the Taking

Stian Solberg Dazzles at World Championship, Keeps Norway from Relegation

Ducks Teammates Face One Another in Worlds Semi-finals

In an article published on Sunday morning, Marco D’Amico from RG.org confirms that Montreal Canadiens’ right winger Ivan Demidov is staying in town this Summer. As we reported back then, the youngster took a week off once the Habs were eliminated and visited the Dominican Republic, but since May 16th, he’s been back to work.

D’Amico explains the 19-year-old Russian has elected to train in town this Summer, not just because he can do so under the close supervision of the Canadiens’ development staff (he was spotted training under the watchful eye of Adam Nicholas last week), but also because he wants to focus on learning the local languages.

 Canadiens: The Grades Are In - Jake Evans
Could The Canadiens Look For A Trade With The Nashville Predators?
Canadiens: Who Made The Call On Hutson?

Clearly, he understands his market and intends to fit in by catering to fans, whether they are English or French-speaking. Now that he’s had a feel for the NHL and the market, Demidov is focusing on becoming a better professional on and off the ice, as his Summer plans reveal.

On May 29, we’ll know if he’s the winner of the KHL Rookie of the Year award, but whether he wins it or not, Demidov isn’t planning on going to the ceremony. This is yet further evidence that his mind is wholly focused on the future rather than basking in the glory of what he has accomplished in the last season.

So far, the young Russian has an excellent work ethic and enjoys working on his game as much as Lane Hutson. Perhaps the young defenseman won’t be the only one to attend all the optional skates next season. It will be interesting to see if Demidov can have the same impact in the NHL as in the KHL last season.

Most expect Hutson to be crowned Calder Trophy Winner for this past season, and if Demidov shines as much as he has in the small sample of games we’ve seen him in, he may just be in the Calder conversation next year too.

 Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Where will Brendan Shanahan surface next? That's the question everyone is wondering after the former Toronto Maple Leafs president was not renewed.

Despite what looked like an opening with the New York Islanders, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that despite discussions with the team, there wasn't a fit.

The news came one day after the Islanders hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche run their hockey operations as VP and GM. The Islanders also made a point in their announcement to make it clear that Darche will "handle all aspects of the team's hockey operations."

Brendan Shanahan Out: Why the Maple Leafs Are Moving On From Their Longtime PresidentThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Brendan Shanahan are parting ways.

So what happens with Shanahan now?

There's a good chance the former Leafs boss takes some time to relax. I had a chance to speak with him earlier in the season, and he made a point of mentioning that he isn't the type to sit still for very long. So that got me thinking about some other openings around the NHL that could make sense.

Some possibilities:

1. The Buffalo Sabres

Shanahan left the Maple Leafs as the club currently sits with the longest active playoff streak in the NHL at nine straight seasons. On the other side of that spectrum, the Sabres hold the NHL's longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. Could they use a new voice as GM Kevyn Adams has struggled to push things forward? There is no buffer between the ownership of the Pegula family and Adams on the organizational chart. That market may not want to spend the money on a team president, but it should look at someone with a track record of inheriting a franchise in disarray and becoming respectable, like he did with the Leafs.

Report: Maple Leafs Grant Islanders Permission To Speak With President Brendan Shanahan Ahead Of MLSE Board ReviewAs the Toronto Maple Leafs concluded their locker cleanouts on Tuesday, their PR staff said they'd be in touch regarding future media availabilities.

2. The Nashville Predators

The Predators were perhaps the most disappointing team of the 2024-25 season. Despite an all-star cast of free agent signings, the team missed the playoffs after struggling all season long. Barry Trotz' shift to GM from head coach has been a bit rocky. David Poile remains there as a senior advisor. But could Shanahan help there?

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley Explains Decision Not To Hire New Maple Leafs President After Brendan Shanahan’s DismissalFans stood alongside Legends Row before Scotiabank Arena, taking photos with the Toronto Maple Leafs' icons. At the same time, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley sat less than 15 feet away, inside the building, discussing another early playoff exit for his hockey club.

Outside of those two positions, it's hard to see anywhere where Shanahan's hiring as team president makes sense. That could change in a year, or Shanahan may decide to do something else in hockey. Before joining the Leafs, Shanahan was the head of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Time will tell.

'Are Those Resources Being Put In The Right Area?': Could More Changes To The Maple Leafs Be Coming?Less than 24 hours after Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment moved on from Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, MLSE CEO Keith Pelley hinted more changes could be on the horizon.

---

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