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

NHL star left winger Brad Marchand made his debut with the Florida Panthers Friday night, but his contract status – that makes him a UFA at the end of this season – has already started speculation as to where he could wind up playing next year and beyond.

Here are five teams we could see Marchand playing for after this season:

1. Boston Bruins

Let’s get this out of the way first: Marchand OK’d a move out of Boston, but there was no sense he or the Bruins had burned bridges with each other. So, if he doesn’t find an option that’s to his liking, Marchand could elect to return to Beantown.

He’ll be 37 years old by the time he signs a new contract, so his next deal could be his last NHL deal. But if Boston can get the money right – somewhere in the area of his current annual salary of $6.125 million – it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him return to the Bruins.

Marchand served Boston well as their leader on the ice and off of it, and although he probably would’ve wanted to spend his entire career with the same team, he could, in theory, win a Stanley Cup with the Panthers, then find a way to come back to his first NHL home.

Stranger things have happened than a return to Boston for Marchand, and he might decide that a few months away from the Bruins was too long and return to the Bs at the first chance he gets.

2. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs are one of the odds-on favorites to win the Cup this season, but if the Panthers repeat as Cup champions, Marchand could choose to play with fellow East-Coast Canadian Nathan MacKinnon on a Colorado team that will have the cap space to sign him for at least a couple of seasons.

Like all the teams on this list, the Avalanche could use Marchand’s grit and playoff experience, and playing in the relative calm of Denver may be exactly what Marchand wants at this stage of his career.

Marchand would help out the Avs’ second line, and Colorado has enough cap space to get a deal done that will satisfy Marchand’s pride. Closing out his career with the Avs would allow Marchand to satisfy his competitive drive, and the Avalanche would be thrilled to land someone with the pedigree Marchand can boast of.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

This one is admittedly more of a long shot, as the Penguins are still going to be a fringe playoff team next season. But the opportunity to play alongside another East-Coast Canadian legend in Sidney Crosby would no doubt appeal to Marchand, and the Pens would welcome Marchand as they try to win another Cup in the Crosby Era.

Marchand has been a thorn in the side of just about every opponent, so the chance to make him a Penguin would be a no-brainer for Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas. But the Pens would almost assuredly have to make more notable moves to assure Marchand that he’s not going to be the only new face with the Penguins.

Marchand might want to change out his Black-and-Gold Bruins colors for a similar set of colors in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins could offer him the chance of a lifetime when it comes to playing on the same side as clear-cut Hockey Hall-of-Famers in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Okay, before you get snippy, hear us out: let’s assume the Maple Leafs falter early in the playoffs once again this spring. In the wake of that disappointment, there will likely be a massive change in Toronto – and what better way to effect significant culture change than to sign a proven winner and Leafs-haunter in Marchand?

He’d have to acclimate to playing in the huge hockey fishbowl that is Toronto, but it’s not as if Marchand isn’t used to that in Boston.

The Leafs might be a bigger long-shot than Pittsburgh on this list, but if Marchand values playing in another Original Six market where hockey is everything, he could spend his remaining few seasons in Toronto and be an integral part of what could be something special. The Leafs would be motivated buyers for him, and he’d fill an obvious need for grit and spunk.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Panthers were clearly Marchand’s choice to play for this season, but if Florida can’t find a way to re-sign him, perhaps the other Sunshine State team can make him a member of the Lightning.

Like the Panthers, the Bolts will be tight to the salary cap ceiling, but Lightning GM Julien BriseBois always seems to find a way to land big fish, the way he did last summer when he signed star left winger Jake Guentzel. So, Marchand could be one of the final pieces of the puzzle in Tampa next year.

The Lightning can sell Marchand on the no-tax state of Florida and the opportunity to stay on the East Coast. We don’t see Marchand agreeing to take a huge pay cut to play in any market, but in Tampa Bay, his dollars would go further, and he’d have the luxury of great weather all year long. Thus, his current experiment with the Panthers could keep him in Florida but in another market. 

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The end of March and the flipping of calendars to April indicate one thing in the hockey world: playoffs. CHL playoffs are underway as are playoffs in the European hockey leagues, soon to be followed by the AHL and, eventually, the NHL.

Anaheim Ducks Prospect Spotlight: Lucas Pettersson's Impressive Start to 2025

Anaheim Ducks forward prospect Lucas Pettersson (35th overall in 2024) recently saw his 2024-25 SHL season come to an end at the hands of fellow Ducks forward prospect Herman Traff (91st overall in 2024) in a relegation battle between Pettersson’s MoDo Hockey and Traff’s HV71.

As a result of the best-of-seven series in which HV71 won 4-2, MoDo will be relegated to the HockeyAllsvenskan for the 2025-26 season, Sweden’s second-tier professional division.

Pettersson (18) had his 2024-25 season split between playing for MoDo, the SHL club that owns his rights, and on loan for Ostersunds IK in HockeyAllsvenskan. He tallied just one point for MoDo at the SHL level (0-1=1) in 29 games while rarely playing more than six minutes per game.

Early in the season, he had played eight games at the J20 level for MoDo and scored eight points (4-4=8). The majority of the second half of his season was spent with Ostersunds IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he found his footing in an increased role against grown men and scored 19 points (9-10=19) in 26 games.

Remain in Sweden

The confluence of his performance at the HockeyAllsvenskan level and his club’s relegation from the SHL leaves questions about where he could play next season in 2025-26.

He could remain in Sweden and play another year in HockeyAllsvenskan for MoDo, a division he might be outgrowing.

Play in the Ducks Organization

He could make the transition to North America and have two (or even three) options in front of him. The unlikeliest is that he signs his ELC and performs well enough in Ducks training camp to earn a spot on the NHL roster. If the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks AHL affiliate, need center depth, he could play the 2025-26 season in close proximity and about 90 miles south of Honda Center.

Head to the CHL

If the Ducks organization doesn’t deem him ready for professional hockey in North America, he could play in the CHL next season. He was drafted by the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL in the second round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft (116th overall).

As opposed to the professional levels, the CHL would allow Pettersson to explore the limits of his offensive game. He is already well-lauded for his detail and two-way prowess, often compared to Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson. He possesses enough offensive tools like above-average mobility, puck skills, and change-of-pace vision to provide true offensive impact at the NHL level.

Taking the time and putting forth the effort into developing and translating those skills to the North American pro-style game could elevate Pettersson’s ultimate potential and even mold him into a significant piece of the Ducks' core moving forward.

The “win at all costs” ideals of professional hockey aren’t always conducive or ideal for growing and refining the offensive talents of teenage players. Pettersson is at a critical point in his ultimate progression, and it will be curious to monitor how the Ducks organization manages the young centerman.

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Ducks Continue to Shuffle Penalty Kill Personnel

The Maven's urging the Rangers to immediately hire John Tortorella did not win immediate approval from my studious audience.

Nor will I hide the dissent from you.

"Torts is the Rex Ryan of the NHL," says avid fan and critic Steve Viuker of Brooklyn. "He may be great for an NHL Network TV gig but – as a coach – he wears thin on a team in a short period of time."

Viuker singles out a couple of reasons why Torts got canned in the NHL's homestretch.

"In his last eleven games, the Flyers won one and lost ten. Plus, they didn't have a power play goal for all of March. Torts is the baseball version of Billy Martin of the George Steinbrenner years."

By contrast, Harvey Cohen of New Jersey fires this broadside at Viuker.

"The Rangers need Torts because they need a jolt right now. They are a direct reflection of their coach," Cohen explains. "They make no in-game adjustments. Laviolette is too passive, stagnant, predictable and statuesque."

Others point to GM Chris Drury as the prime culprit for allowing a soft offensive core to remain intact while paying no attention to team defense. "Kris Knoblauch would have suffered the same result as Lavy because he would be coaching the same soft core."

A sizeable number of fans would love to see John Davidson return – this time as general manager – "because he knows the qualities that a good coach would have to have to coach in New York."

Hey! Let's not kid ourselves; the bottom line is simply that any decision will be made – or not made at all – by MSG majordomo Jim Dolan.

Until we hear differently from him, Peter Laviolette still has a job. Whether The Maven likes it or not!

The Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 on Friday night. It was a night that had some pros and cons but they ultimately fell short. There is a lot of work to be done but there are glimpses of what’s to come. 

One of the pros is the play of Ryan Donato. He scored all three of Chicago’s goals in the loss for his first career hat-trick. It was one of the best games he’s had as an NHL player. 

Donato's second and third goals of the game came on consecutive shifts, 15 seconds of game clock apart. 

"I didn't even really have time to think about it, to be honest with you," Donato said on scoring two goals quickly.

He went on to speak about how, usually when he gets a second goal in a game, he has time to think about that third, and it never comes. This time, he went right back out there and completed the hat trick quickly. 

Before this season, Donato’s career high in goals was 16. These three goals were his 26th, 27th, and 28th of the year. He needs two more to reach the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career. That would be remarkable at 28 years old. 

“I'm a guy that sometimes has too much anxiety around the rink because I think about the negative things, and that's something I've worked on,” Donato said after his big night. “[Scoring 28 goals] definitely feels surreal a little bit, but it'd be a lot more surreal if we won."

Donato is a humble man who doesn’t like to make it all about himself. That is usually what makes hockey players special compared to other athletes. He knows that his milestone is special, but it would have been better for him if they had won the hockey game. 

Donato is in line for a massive pay upgrade this off-season. Reaching 30 goals is potential for even more, as teams would love to add a guy like that to their middle six. 

What gave Donato the ability to make this sort of jump in production? Well, he worked hard on his goal scoring during the summer. He wanted to come in this year and be a key contributor to this rebuilding Blackhawks team. 

He's not under 23 like half of the roster, but he isn't over 30 yet either. There is a lot of good hockey left for Ryan Donato beyond this year. When you play the right way in all situations, you have years like this if you are as talented as he is. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Barkov very much enjoyed Marchand's Panthers debut: ‘It was awesome' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Brad Marchand played in the 1,091st game of his NHL career on Friday night. That’s not a milestone number, but it’s noteworthy because it was the first time he took the ice for a team not named the Boston Bruins.

The 36-year-old left wing was traded from the Bruins to the Florida Panthers not long before the March 7 NHL trade deadline. He was injured at the time of the trade and missed several weeks, but he made his debut for the defending Stanley Cup champions Friday and helped lead them to a 2-1 overtime victory against the Utah Hockey Club at home.

Marchand tallied four shots on net and picked up the primary assist on Sam Bennett’s game-winning goal in OT.

It was a weird sight for Bruins fans to see Marchand put on the sweater of a different team after he spent the first 15-plus seasons of his career in Boston.

It had to have been weird for some of the Panthers players, too, many of whom played against Marchand in several intense Stanley Cup Playoff games versus the Bruins over the last two seasons.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was seen laughing on the bench next to Marchand during a stoppage in play Friday night. He explained the interaction postgame to Panthers rinkside reporter Katie Engelson:

“I realized I heard this many times from one Boston player, but now I hear this from my own teammate,” Barkov said. “…When they announced Marchand in the starting lineup, you’re just sitting there and thinking, is this real? You just battled against him, and now, all of a sudden, you’re his teammate. It’s crazy, but it was awesome.”

The Panthers entered Saturday with a 44-25-3 record (91 points) atop the Atlantic Division.

They have a great chance to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year, and having another former champ like Marchand in the mix can only help.

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes bumped into Jesper Bratt and his fiancée in his hotel in Boston during the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in late February. 

It was an opportunity for the New Jersey Devils winger and his former coach to catch up, and when asked about Bratt, Hynes spoke about the 26-year-old's growth.

"Jesper has matured in multiple ways, (including) his game, but I think he's got a confidence about him," Hynes said to The Hockey News during a phone interview.

When Hynes was relieved as head coach of the Devils during the 2019-20 season, Bratt, then 21, earned 32 points. It was before the Swede elevated his game and became one of New Jersey's young stars, earning four consecutive 70-plus point seasons. 

Seeing the success Bratt has amassed does not come as a surprise to Hynes, who immediately recognized the youngster's skill all those years ago. 

"When he came over, he was really impressive," Hynes said. "I think it was his first training camp that he made the team out of camp. He was fast and tenacious, and you could see the hockey sense and skill. At that point in time, we were going through the initial stages of the rebuild, and when he came over, you could tell right away that he was going to be a New Jersey Devil in the NHL."

Bratt recalled that first NHL training camp in an exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

"I was so happy and proud to be there," he said. "I thought it was awesome. I really felt like I had nothing to lose. I felt I prepared physically and mentally as best as I possibly could. I was extremely honored and happy to be there fighting for a spot and my dream job." 

Over time, Hynes saw Bratt go through the process of realizing and understanding what it takes to become an effective offensive player in the NHL. It aligns with Bratt stating that it took one entire season to understand how the League works and four to figure out his game. 

Hynes has coached against Bratt for the past few seasons but shared he has watched the odd Devils game here and there. In addition to Bratt improving on his speed and skill, there is one area where Hynes has seen the winger develop his game. 

"Where I have really seen him grow is (his play) in the hard areas," Hynes said. "He gets to the net front. He can win puck battles in the offensive zone. He can play one-on-one versus a defenseman down low in the offensive zone. He has really been able to grow his game in those areas."

Hynes is not surprised to see Bratt's game take off because he had a front-row seat to the 5-foot-10 winger's work ethic and dedication for years. For that reason, Hynes envisioned the Stockholm native eventually transitioning into a leadership role. Since a shoulder injury ended Jack Hughes' season, Bratt has been one of New Jersey's alternate captains. 

"Even when he was a young guy, when you had one-on-one conversations with him, they were of substance," Hynes said. "I think he's got a lot of substance as a player and a person. I think you can clearly see he has grown into the role of an assistant captain. The way he handles himself off the ice, his personality, and his work ethic to be able to lead a team." 

Hynes played a significant factor in Bratt's career, and as the young Swede sat in the locker room in Newark, he spoke highly of the coach who gave him his first opportunity. 

"John was my first coach. He was the one who trusted me to put me in this position," Bratt said. "I mean, without him, with another coach, maybe I wouldn't have had the chance to get to this place. Obviously, he has meant a lot to me. To show me the way, show me the ropes, teach me over the years, and even giving me the opportunity and trusting me to be put in this situation."

While there is mutual respect between Bratt and Hynes, once the puck drops Saturday evening at Xcel Energy Center, the focus will be securing two points as the Wild are in the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, and the Devils are looking to punch their ticket to the playoffs after a disappointing 2023-24 season. 

Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on MSGSN or listen to it on the Devils Hockey Network

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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As the NHL regular season nears an end, we’ve got a good idea of the Stanley Cup front-runners once the playoffs arrive.

On Friday, we looked at moneypuck.com odds to break down which teams were battling for a wild card post-season spot. This time around, we’re analyzing the teams that look the most likely to win it all.

In the Eastern Conference, it starts with five teams who have a 100 percent shot at making the playoffs – the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. After that, the Metropolitan Division seems to be the easier path to the Cup final, as the Hurricanes have the best Cup odds – 13.4 percent – in the NHL. The Capitals have the next-best Cup odds at 10.2 percent.

We know going in that the Atlantic Division will be a tougher road, and that’s reflected in the Cup odds for the Lightning (9.6 percent) and the defending-champion Panthers (8.6 percent). But the Maple Leafs – the current second best team in the Atlantic – are relatively disrespected, with only a 3.9 percent chance to win it all.

There’s a similar preference going on in the Western Conference, where MoneyPuck believes the easier road to the Cup goes through the Pacific Division. The current Pacific leader – the Vegas Golden Knights – have the West’s best odds to win the Cup at 11.4 percent. 

However, the powerhouse teams in the ultra-competitive Central Division have the next-best odds, with the Dallas Stars at 10.8 percent, the Central-leading Winnipeg Jets at 10.5 percent, and the Colorado Avalanche at 5.7 percent.

MoneyPuck doesn’t give much stock to other Pacific teams, as the Edmonton Oilers come in at only a two percent chance to win it all. And the Los Angeles Kings are given a 6.2 percent chance to win the Cup.

But before we get to the playoffs, we need to see which teams will jockey for top spots in their respective divisions. To that end, the Tankathon site ranks the difficulty of teams’ remaining schedules, and the Capitals have the second-easiest schedule in the league, followed by the Stars with the third-easiest and the Oilers with the eighth-easiest.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have the 10th-hardest schedule, followed by the Jets with the 12th hardest, the Hurricanes with the 13th hardest, the Golden Knights with the 16th hardest and the Kings with the 17th hardest.

So, in sum, the teams in the Atlantic and Central divisions will have the most difficult road to the Cup, and the Metro and Pacific teams will have the easiest road to winning it all.

But don’t kid yourself – there’s a good reason why the best team still has only less than a 14 percent chance to win the Cup. It’s going to be a brutal path forward for any and every playoff team, and even the front-runners will need good health, good fortune and timely great play if they’re going to outlast the rest of the field and emerge as this year’s champs.

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.

The Anaheim Ducks hired Greg Cronin as head coach on June 5, 2023. With him, he was set to bring 36 years of coaching experience at the NCAA, AHL, and NHL (as an assistant coach) levels. This was his first crack at head coaching an NHL franchise. He was to establish a culture unforeseen in Anaheim for several seasons, as they were in the midst of their darkest stretch in franchise history and coming off their all-time worst season.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-4 Overtime Win over the Rangers

His second season behind the Ducks bench is nearly in the books and the Ducks are 59-82-13 so far in his tenure and 32-32-8 in the 2024-25 season.

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN, Cronin is under contract for one more season following 2024-25, and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek intends to bring him back for 2025-26.

“The Anaheim Ducks have improved in Cronin’s second season, and he seems to have eased up a bit after being a bit of a taskmaster in Year 1, which grated on some players,” LeBrun reported. “All things being equal, I think Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is good with Cronin coming back next season.

The Ducks are 25th in the NHL in goals per game (2.72), 21st in goals against per game (3.13), 20th in shots on goal per game (27.7), and 32nd in shots against per game (32.1). On special teams, they boast the 31st-ranked power play (12.1%) and the 28th-ranked penalty kill (73.1%).

Their underlying numbers at 5v5 reflect even worse, as they rank 30th in terms of shot attempt share (45.76%), 19th in goals share (49.46%), and 30th in expected goals share (44.96%). All statistical indications identify the bulk of their success stemming from the crease, where they sport potentially the best tandem in the NHL between John Gibson and Lukas Dostal.

There have been strides taken when it comes to the on-ice product. Under the second year in their system, the players know what’s expected of them, have a better understanding of what they’re trying to accomplish on the ice, and provide a more detailed effort on a nightly basis. They aren’t nearly as leaky in the defensive zone as they had been in years past, though they do spend an inordinate amount of time in their end of the ice.

“I think coming into this year, they knew what the expectations were. It was a different mindset for the players to come into,” Verbeek said following the trade deadline. “We’ve tweaked a little bit, some of our system things, and they slowly got used to playing with each other, understanding how to play. If our special teams were better on both sides, this team would be in the playoffs. We’d be sitting in a playoff spot.

“I liken it to a golf game, where one day you’ve got the driving and the putting going, but your approach shots stink. That’s kind of how I see it right now with our group,” Verbeek continued. “We’ve got the five-on-five going and now we’ve got to get going in the special teams department. There are things that are constantly evolving. Sometimes the power play will be going, but our five-on-five won’t. It’s a constant battle, but I feel confident in the group that they’re grasping all the things they’re being asked to and we’re gaining traction.”

Indications are the front office, organization, and players are content and encouraged by where the team is at in their progression. There’s palpable enthusiasm around the club for where the team could be heading in the near future. The youngest and most talented players on the roster are beginning to produce, as their potential indicated they could and the “buy-in” feels tangible.

Ducks Continue to Shuffle Penalty Kill Personnel

Jansen Harkins on Getting Cross Checked in the Neck

A feel-good hockey story has, unfortunately, hit a major bump in the road.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Boko Imama - recalled from the AHL on Jan. 25 - underwent successful biceps surgery on Mar. 29, it was announced by Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas.

"That's an unfortunate one," head coach Mike Sullivan said following Saturday's practice.

'He Loves Being A Penguin': Unlikely Hero Emerges As Penguins Defeat Blue Jackets, 6-3In what was a must-win game for both teams on the ice Friday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins sure came ready to play.

This is a blow to the Penguins' locker room, as Imama is one of the key guys in it. Sullivan has talked about the positive energy that Imama has brought since his call-up, and his energy and attitude have won the respect of his teammates.

A native of Montreal, Imama, 28, was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason. The enforcer was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2015 NHL draft. He has made his rounds as a journeyman between the NHL and AHL levels, as he had played a total of 15 NHL games between the Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators prior to his arrival in the Penguins' organization.

'All The Guys Love Him': New Forward Energizes Penguins' Locker RoomForward Boko Imama has played in just four games with the Penguins, and he's already making an impression on his teammates.

He skated in 16 games with the Penguins this season and registered his lone goal - and lone point - of the season in a Mar. 21 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Primarily an enforcer, Imama also put up 30 penalty minutes in those 16 games.

Imama is expected to miss four to six months.

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The LA Kings look to shut down the Toronto Maple Leafs with their second-best defence in the NHL.

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate.The game that sticks out is one with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to bounce back after a tough shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. They will take on a solid defensive unit in the LA Kings that has a 2.54 goals against average, which is second-best in the league.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 8-2 record on our last ten picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

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

Toronto Maple Leafs vs LA Kings Best Bets:

• Kings ML (-145)
• Under 5.5 goals (-110)

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The goal total for this one is a tight 5.5 with 95 per cent of the public riding with the over due to Toronto's recent hot stretch with 18 goals over their last four games. The Buds have won four of their last six games versus the Kings with two of the wins coming on the road in LA.Six goals can easily be scored in this game with both team's firepower but the under has hit in three of their last four matchups.

The Kings will be looking to make up for a 6-2 loss they took at the hands of Toronto last October and should play a much stronger defensive game at home. LA was roughed up for four goals in a loss to Colorado this past Thursday but in their prior 11 games, they allowed three or more goals just two times. I expect a response in a big way from the Kings as it's tough to beat a team twice for the Leafs plus LA has been red hot with a 9-2-1 record in their last 12 games. 

More Betting: Simple Strategies to Score NHL Betting Slips with Huge, Favourable Odds

Sid the Kid may have broken a major Wayne Gretzky record in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

But it was Sid and the Kids at Saturday's practice in Cranberry, PA.

Top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen - both recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) on Friday - each had an opportunity to work with Sidney Crosby during drills and line rushes, as Koivunen saw minutes on the top power play unit and McGroarty was deployed on the first line with Crosby and Bryan Rust. The captain also took some time to work with the young forwards following practice.

Crosby thinks that both players brought some renewed energy to practice following a disastrous 0-2-1 road trip, and he is looking forward to working with them.

"I thought they brought good energy," Crosby said. "I thought it was a good pace in practice, and obviously, we're coming off a couple tough losses. The guys are excited for the opportunity they have, and as a group, we want to try to bounce back from a couple of tough ones."

McGroarty - who turns 21 on Sunday, when the Penguins will take on the Ottawa Senators in Pittsburgh - had a brief three-game look at the NHL level when the 2024-25 season opened before heading back to the AHL. He started off a bit slow production-wise, but registered 14 goals and 39 points in 60 games - including eight goals and 18 points in his last 19 contests.

Koivunen - the 2`1-year-old winger acquired as part of the Jake Guentzel trade in 2024 - led all AHL rookies in points and was sixth overall in AHL scoring with 21 goals and 55 points in 62 games. 

Both McGroarty and Koivunen know that there is a massive opportunity in front of them, and they may have the chance to be placed in lineup positions conducive to their success on Sunday. 

"I want to come here and play my best and help them," McGroarty said of playing with Crosby and Rust. "It's really cool getting to play with them, and hopefully, if that opportunity comes, I'll just put my best forward and do what I can do and help them."

Recalling McGroarty, Koivunen Right Move By Penguins' ManagementIn their last three games - all losses - against the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Buffalo Sabres, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been outscored, 17-7.

Koivunen - who is slated to make his NHL debut on Sunday - is aware of the opportunity he is getting as well, and he has no interest in wasting it.

"I've got to play with my strengths and make an impact right away on this team," Koivunen said. 

It's safe to say that most didn't expect the two young prospects to be deployed in top-six minutes from the jump. However, with only eight games remaining in the Penguins’ regular season schedule, playoff hopes all but gone, and both players presumably heading back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the team's Calder Cup run once the NHL regular season concludes, there is a very good opportunity for the organization to see what two of their higher-end prospects can do in those roles. 

And based on conversations with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald and Penguins management, head coach Mike Sullivan felt comfortable slotting them in high-leverage roles in practice right away, even if they decide to tweak some things by puck drop Sunday.

“When you have players of this caliber, you're trying to set them up for success," Sullivan said. "And we're also trying to put them in roles where they have an opportunity to play to their strengths. Both of these guys have high hockey-IQs, they're both real competitive guys, they both have an offensive dimension to their game... they're different in how they play, but we think that with the combinations we had out there today, potentially, they could be complementary on the lines that they're on."

He added: "As an organization, we felt it's important to reward guys for effort and performance," Sullivan said. "And these two guys are very deserving. It's exciting for us. They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and I think it will be great for our group."

#LetsGoPens top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen getting in some work at practice today.

McGroarty was working with Crosby in this 5v5 drill. pic.twitter.com/9AFo4UeNVV

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) March 29, 2025

Whether or not McGroarty and Koivunen maintain their lineup spots from Saturday's practice when the team plays Ottawa remains to be seen. In any case, their captain and mentor had some sound advice for them as they navigate this final stretch with the NHL club.

"Just make the most of the opportunity," Crosby said. "Have fun with it. The game's the same. It will be a little bit faster, guys are a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, maybe. But, for the most part, it's the same game. So, just trust your instincts and continue to learn with each and every game and practice. I think you've just got to learn as much as you can." 

And it's safe to say that that the kids are certainly open to Crosby's advice. When asked what he wants to learn from Crosby's game and what traits of his that he wants to develop, McGroarty smiled.

"Seriously, everything," he said. "Like, actually everything."

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After some speculation following Minnesota's stunning loss in the NCAA Tournament, Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel are coming to Chicago. 

Each signed a three-year entry-level contract with a cap hit of $950,000 and will begin their pro-hockey careers. Both Moore and Rinzel will join the Blackhawks immediately. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xwelcome to Chicago, Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel‼️ Moore and Rinzel agree to terms✍️ ➡︎ https://t.co/GMF2tvn0kI

This is big for the Blackhawks as they were both willing to finish the deal within a few days of being eliminated. Now, they will make their NHL debut sometime before the season ends. 

Moore, a forward, brings speed and skill to any team he plays for and should see a bottom-six role to begin his NHL career. 

As for Sam Rinzel, he is a number-two defenseman at minimum who could blossom into a star. With Artyom Levshunov, Alex Vlasic, and others in the mix, the Blackhawks have a special group developing on the back-end. 

Both of these guys put up big numbers at Minnesota this season. Moore had 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 38 games. Rinzel had 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 39 games for the Golden Gophers. 

Each was a part of the 2024 World Junior Championship Gold Medal-winning Team USA squad. Moore won back-to-back Gold Medals, as he also won it with them in 2023. They've experienced both big-time winning and heartbreaking losses. Each is good for their development. Now, it's time for the NHL. 

It is unlikely that they both spend the entire 2025-26 season in the NHL, as the AHL will be used for development too. That method has served the Blackhawks well with a lot of their recent top prospects. They can only skate in the NHL to end this year, though.

Chicago's next game comes against the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday afternoon at the United Center. We will see if this is their first opportunity to jump into the lineup. 

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The development path for an NHL defensemen can be quite long, having to add multiple elements to their game. For some, the transition happens almost seamlessly, like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes or Miro Heiskanen, but for others, a season or two before it all clicks in is expected. Recently, defensemen like Thomas Harley, Brock Faber and Rasmus Sandin have taken advantage of developing in other leagues before becoming impact players in the NHL. 

It’s quite rare for a defenseman to burst onto the scene and dominate, but these five defensemen are doing just that.

Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks

LaCombe was the 39th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and would spend four years at the University of Minnesota. The decision to stay for all four years proved to be a wise one, as it allowed him to mature and refine his game before joining the Ducks organization, who were in a massive rebuild. 

His rookie season saw him average 19:23 of ice time, scoring two goals and 17 points. His sophomore campaign has seen him reach new heights, and it likely could get even better. The 24-year-old has scored 13 goals and 41 points, ranking in the top 10 in goals among NHL defensemen. 

The Ducks are among the youngest teams in the NHL, and it’s partially why LaCombe has recorded just 28 assists. As the young Duck forwards get older and gain more experience, they’ll be able to turn LaCombe’s playmaking into goals. The Ducks are building a star-studded defensive core, headline by LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger.

Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators

Sanderson’s route to the NHL was quicker than LaCombe’s, spending just two seasons at the University of North Dakota. The fifth overall pick would make his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season, scoring four goals and 32 points in 77 games. Although the offensive numbers were quite impressive for a 20-year-old rookie defenseman, Sanderson had a plethora of issues in his own end.

His sophomore season saw improvements both offensively and defensively, earning an eight-year, $64.4-million contract extension per Puckpedia. While many argued that the contract was handed out too soon, Sanderson has put those critics to rest, scoring seven goals and 48 points in 70 games, averaging 24:23 of ice time and earning a nod to Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, where he scored a goal in the final. 

Thomas Chabot had been the Senators' No. 1 defenseman for quite some time but the play of Sanderson has changed things. The turning of the leaf began in the 2023-24 season and it’s come into full effect this season. The next step for Sanderson’s development is to be more aggressive and seek out his shot, but with the tools Sanderson has at his disposal, there’s no reason why he can’t be a double-digit scorer each year.

Alex Vlasic, Chicago Blackhawks

Vlasic followed a similar route to LaCombe, playing three years at Boston University. He never had his offensive breakout during his NCAA days, and it’s likely why he was never selected to play for Team USA’s world junior team. Despite that, the 43rd overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft was a defensive stalwart, using his 6-foot-6 frame to his advantage.

The 23-year-old spent the 2022-23 season playing with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL, where he tapped into his offensive game for the first time. He replicated that production in his first full season, earning himself a six-year, $27.6-million contract extension, and now, in the 2024-25 campaign, he's flourishing. 

His four goals and 28 points, coupled with his defensive game, have allowed him to average 23:27 minutes of ice time on a Blackhawks blue line that will soon feature Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro and Sam Rinzel. Korchinski and Levshunov will likely be the offensive contributors on the backend, but if Vlasic can add more offense to his game without sacrificing his defensive game, the Blackhawks will be a difficult team to play against. 

Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have been incredibly patient with Edvinsson, first allowing him to develop in the SHL before keeping him in the AHL for an additional two seasons. Heading into his first full campaign, Edvinsson had 25 games of NHL experience and has now revolutionized the Red Wings’ blueline.

Moritz Seider’s following seasons after winning the Calder Trophy were underwhelming. Playing alongside Ben Chiarot, the pair struggled greatly in the consistency department. Although the pair have still spent most of the season together, Seider’s best results are when he plays with Edvinsson. Seider’s expected goals percentage with Chiarot is 41.96 percent, and with Edvinsson, it’s 48.57 percent.

Edvinsson is a tremendous skater and offensive player for a 22-year-old listed at 6-foot-6, and as his ice time grows, the offensive numbers are sure to follow.

Dante Fabbro, Columbus Blue Jackets

Fabbro is the oldest player out of the five – already 26 years old – but since he was claimed off of waivers by the Blue Jackets, he’s revived his career. During his tenure with the Nashville Predators, Fabbro never averaged over 20 minutes of ice time, and in 52 games with the Blue Jackets, Fabbro is averaging nearly 22.

He’s set a career-high in goals, recording six goals and 20 points, proving to be the perfect partner for Zach Werenski, a Norris Trophy candidate this season. 

Gustav Forsling was a surprise breakout candidate for the Florida Panthers, and Fabbro looks to be following the same trajectory as an astute defender with good feet and puck-moving ability. 

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LOS ANGELES — It's one of those moments that can happen to any goaltender. This time, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll made a mistake.

'We've Got To Be Better, Goalie Included': Maple Leafs Salvage Point But Struggle In Shootout Loss Against SharksSAN JOSE, Calif. — The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the San Jose Sharks 6-5 in a shootout at SAP Center on Thursday. Although they picked up a crucial point in the standings, it was yet another example of the Leafs struggling to pounce against a team at the bottom of the NHL standings as they gear up for a playoff run next month.

The Maple Leafs were trailing the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Thursday in the second period when Woll had the puck. In an attempt to clear or pass the puck, the goaltender instead bounced it off of Sharks forward William Eklund and into the back of the Toronto net.

Woll explained the incident from his point of view following Toronto's practice on Friday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

"I'm not too sure. Just a bad play. Sometimes you make bad plays," Woll said. "I think I was thinking looking up ice and brain turned off for a second. It's unfortunate."

Woll is not the first NHL goaltender to have a blunder like that and certainly won't be the last.

Perhaps one of the biggest goalie mistakes in Leafs history came against the Islanders when Rob Davison sent a bouncing puck toward goaltender Vesa Toskala, who had difficulty following the bounces.

Fortunately for Woll, the Leafs erased a two-goal deficit in the third period and salvaged a crucial point in the standings before falling 6-5 in a shootout.

Woll is expected to get one of the next two starts in goal as the Maple Leafs finish out their three-game road swing through California with a pair of games against the Los Angeles Kings, following up a game on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.

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DETROIT—It's been a grim month of March in Hockeytown, with the beloved Red Wings limping through the stretch run.  Again.  Yet despite a 3–10–0 record since the calendar turned over from February, Detroit remains within spitting distance of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  Of course, grabbing that spot requires the Red Wings to start stringing together wins in a hurry, beginning Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena against the Boston Bruins.

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"We've been lucky enough, I guess you could call it, that no one's really seized that spot, and it's tough games this time of the year," forward Lucas Raymond told The Hockey News after Saturday morning's skate.  "I think that shows, but not playing good the way we've been wanting to and still being in it is huge, and we gotta seize that opportunity."

"We haven't gotten the results we've wanted over the last 10 games or so, but we're still right in it, so we know that if we play our game...we might not technically control all our own destiny, but we feel like if we take care of our business, we'll be in pretty good shape," added defenseman Justin Holl.

Coach Todd McLellan likened Detroit's recent struggles to golf, saying his team needs to learn to not allow one mistake spiral into disaster.  "You're on the golf course and you have a bad tee shot, it doesn't mean you have to have a bad round," McLellan said after Saturday morning's skate.  "You go from playing birdie golf to playing par golf during that time. You clean things up, you get on the green, you try to play safe and put it in, and you take your par instead of your birdie. When we get into a bad drive situation, all of a sudden we're swinging away and it gets worse, instead of managing it."

Trending Red Wings Stories

Clock Ticking on Red Wings' Playoff Hopes After 4–3 Loss to OttawaDETROIT—Not quite 13 minutes into the Red Wings' 4–3 loss to the Ottawa Senators Thursday night, Senators captain Brady Tkachuck caught up to Detroit forward Lucas Raymond as he rushed the puck through neutral ice, dumping Raymond to the ice, then pinning him there with an arm around his neck.  With Tkachuk and Raymond still entangled, Ottawa rushed the puck the other way until Tim Stutzle used a burst of speed to get around Moritz Seider and beat Alex Lyon with a well-placed wrist shot.  The goal made it 2–0 Senators, though the Red Wings had a 10–3 edge in shots, but that was the story of the night for the home team: Bullied away from the puck and beaten with it, even if the final score suggested a narrow margin.

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Lineup

As they look to revitalize their season, Detroit will be offering a slightly different look to its forward lines, reminiscent of the combinations that McLellan used to close out Thursday's loss to the Senators.  Wingers Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane will now flank Dylan Larkin on the top line, while Lucas Raymond and Michael Rasmussen will now skate on Marco Kasper's wings on line two.

Lines at morning skate:
DeBrincat-Larkin-Kane
Rasmussen-Kasper-Raymond
Berggren-Compher-Tarasenko
Watson-Motte-Smith

Chiarot-Seider
Edvinsson-Petry
Johansson-Holl pic.twitter.com/WRLrxWvk2w

— Sam Stockton (@_samstockton) March 29, 2025

"Well not just Dylan and Raymond, the group as a whole," explained McLellan, when asked whether the tinkering was meant to spark his top two scorers.  "We started last game with a set of lines and by the time we got to the third, we pulled them apart, but the most energy and jump and attack time that we had was with lines that look similar to what we are going with today."

Cam Talbot will start in net for the Red Wings.

Injury Update

On the injury front, McLellan did not have an update on Petr Mrazek, who remains unavailable after suffering an upper body injury in Utah.  Meanwhile Elmer Soderblom remains out as well, but he is at least closer to getting back to action. 

"Elmer is still gonna be day-to-day, but I don't see him playing in St. Louis," McLellan said, alluding to the Red Wings' Tuesday night game against the Blues.  "I don't know for sure though.  That's how close he is, but how far away he is."

Re-Tooling Bruins Pose Unique Challenge

Following the trade deadline, the Bruins are a different team to the one that beat Detroit 3–2 in Boston on Dec. 3.  Most notably, erstwhile captain Brad Marchand is off to Florida, where he made his Panthers debut Friday night, assisting on the overtime winner, but Marchand is not alone amongst the departures.  Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, and Trent Frederic are all also out the door.

McLellan pointed out Saturday morning that while those sorts of departure theoretically deplete a roster, it can also invigorate the players who remain, with bigger roles. 

"Well they're a different team now," said McLellan of the current state of the B's.  "For me personally, having come out here, I know them with all the pieces that they've had in the past...There's a lot of players there [now] that are getting opportunities, that have moved up the lineup a little bit as they retool.  When players get that chance and they take advantage of it, they can be a handful, because they've been sitting in the weeds and wanting more and asking for more and trying to play for more, and now it's in front of them, so they can be a real dangerous team when those types of players get hungry."

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