How Marchand made Stanley Cup Final history with amazing goal in Game 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

You could make a strong case for Brad Marchand as the most outstanding player of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final so far.

The veteran left wing scored the opening goal in the first period of Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

Marchand used his speed to create a scoring chance and then beat Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard with a great shot.

OH MY BRAD MARCHAND 😱 pic.twitter.com/EQzrDQlhIW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

The goal was Marchand’s fifth of the series. As a result, he has now scored five or more goals in two different Stanley Cup Final series (he also scored five with the Boston Bruins in 2011).

The only other player since 1967-68 to score five-plus goals in multiple Cup Final series is Mario Lemieux, who achieved the feat with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

Here's a stat: Marchand has a series-leading five goals, the second time he has scored five goals in the Cup Final (2011). The only other player in the expansion era (since 1967-68) with five-plus goals in a Final more than once is Mario Lemieux (5 G in 1991 and 1992 w/ PIT).

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 15, 2025

UPDATE (Saturday, June 14 at 10:45 p.m. ET): Marchand scored another fantastic goal in the third period, giving him six goals for the series. He’s the first player to score six or more goals in a Cup Final since Esa Tikkanen scored six for the Oilers in 1988.

BRAD MARCHAND SCORES HIS SIXTH (6TH!) GOAL OF THE SERIES 😱 pic.twitter.com/1s0A077b1Z

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

–End of Update–

The Panthers won 5-2 to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Tuesday in Florida.

Marchand’s 13 career goals in the Stanley Cup Final are the most of any active player.

Marchand has tallied 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 22 games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His career high for points in one postseason is 23 (2019 w/Bruins).

The Panthers acquired Marchand from the Bruins right before the trade deadline on March 7. If the Panthers win this series and secure back-to-back championships, that trade will go down as one of the best mid-season upgrades in league history.

San Jose Sharks fans haven't had much to cheer about over the last little while, but one positive note recently is that one of their top prospects, Sam Dickinson, won defenceman of the year in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

Sam Dickinson is the best defenceman in the country.@SanJoseSharks | #TheFutureIsTealpic.twitter.com/wHpxcoJAmj

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) June 13, 2025

Dickinson, who is 19 years old, was drafted 11th overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. With the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this past season, he scored 29 goals and added 62 assists for 91 points through 55 games, which comes out to an impressive 1.65 points-per-game average.

While Dickinson may not make the Sharks next season, he is showing his potential as a future star when he gets his shot. Sharks fans should be excited for what Dickinson can, and will, eventually bring to their blue line.

2 Trade Targets The Sharks Should Explore This SummerThe rumor mill is heating up. With only two weeks until the NHL Draft, there’s more and more buzz circulating around the league. For the San Jose Sharks, they find themselves in a spot where they’ll more than likely be taking on a few tough contracts — but ones tied to players who can still make an impact on the roster and in the room. 3 Free Agent Targets For The San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks find themselves in an interesting spot this off-season. They’re still deep into a rebuild, but this summer presents an opportunity to push that rebuild along a little faster. While GM Mike Grier seems to want the rebuild to happen somewhat naturally, you can bet he’ll be adding some fresh faces to the roster. With around $53 million in cap space, the Sharks need to at least hit the salary cap floor, but if they decide to spend more, it will likely translate into a better product on the ice. Sharks Should Consider Targeting Rangers’ Matt RempeThe San Jose Sharks are looking to get back into playoff contention as soon as they can, and while they may have to go through one more season of struggling before they can make a playoff push, there are some players they can target that can help them become a tougher team to play against.

Oilers and Panthers head for must-win Game 5 Saturday with McDavid due for a big game

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final shifts back to Edmonton with the series tied 2-2 after the Oilers evened things up in Florida. What once looked like a commanding Panthers lead has now turned into a best-of-three showdown, with the Oilers regaining momentum on home ice at Rogers Place heading into a pivotal Game 5.

Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final arrives with the series tied 2-2, and history tells us just how crucial this night could be. The Edmonton Oilers return home to Rogers Place after splitting two games in Florida, reclaiming momentum and setting the stage for what could be the most defining game of the series.

Both teams now stand just two wins away from a championship, but based on decades of Stanley Cup history, Game 5 tends to separate contenders from champions.

Since the NHL moved to the best-of-seven format in 1939, the team that wins Game 5 of a tied Final has gone on to win the Stanley Cup over 70% of the time, according to NHL Stats and ESPN research. 

According to Hockey Reference, in the modern salary cap era (2006 to present), teams winning Game 5 of a tied Final on home ice have gone 6-1 in those series. That stat leans heavily in Edmonton’s favor as they prepare for Tuesday night’s clash in front of what will be another electric crowd at Rogers Place.

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

More NHL: New Jonathan Toews Next Team Betting Odds Revealed With Unexpected Frontrunner

Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers Game 5 Best Bets:

• Oilers Moneyline (-110)
• Over 6.5 Total Goals (-112)
• Connor McDavid to Record 2+ Points (-128)

After scoring just one goal through the first two games, Edmonton’s offense has exploded for eight goals over Games 3 and 4, finding rhythm against a Florida defense that suddenly looks overwhelmed.

Connor McDavid leads the postseason in scoring and seems to have fully taken over the series, generating chances nearly every shift and elevating the entire top six.

Back at Rogers Place—where the Oilers are 7-3 this postseason and average over four goals per game—Edmonton holds a decisive edge. Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has shown cracks, posting an .857 save percentage in Game 4 and looking less sharp under increased pressure. That opens the door for another high-scoring night.

The total is set at 6.5 goals (-112), a number that’s already hit in back-to-back games. With both teams’ star power now fully engaged, special teams factoring in, and defensive fatigue showing, the conditions are perfect for the Over to cash again.

McDavid, meanwhile, has recorded six points in his last two games and has 10 multi-point outings this postseason. With the series tied and stakes at their peak, backing him to register 2+ points is one of the strongest player props on the board.

Expect a fast-paced Game 5 dominated by Edmonton’s top-end talent, fueled by a raucous home crowd and a wide-open style that favors the Over.

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

Panthers beat Oilers 5-2 in Game 5, one win away from repeat Stanley Cup champs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brad Marchand scored twice, Sam Bennett had his NHL playoff-leading 15th goal and the Florida Panthers moved to the verge of a second consecutive Stanley Cup title by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 on Saturday night.

The Panthers improved to 10-3 on the road this playoffs. They can hoist the Cup again as soon as Tuesday night if they win Game 6 on home ice in Sunrise.

Florida this time built a multigoal lead and built on it, unlike a couple of previous games in the final. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced, making some important saves when needed, and was aided by lockdown defense that took ice away from the Oilers.

Marchand, Bennett and Sam Reinhart provided the offense. Marchand joined Mario Lemieux as the only players in the past half-century to score five-plus goals in a final multiple times, and his 13 career goals in the final are the most among active players.

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series after the Oilers fell behind 3-0. Reinhart’s came 46 seconds later to restore the Panthers’ three-goal lead, and by the time Corey Perry scored with 3:13 left, it was too late.

Eetu Luostarinen sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:19 left, silencing the once fired-up crowd for a final time.

Edmonton’s power play went 0 for 3, a product of the Panthers’ aggressive penalty kill knocking McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the top unit out of their usual rhythm.

Calvin Pickard lost for the first time in eight starts this spring, allowing four goals on 18 shots. He got the nod over Stuart Skinner after entering in relief and winning Game 4 to improve to 7-0, a record that is now 7-1.

Skinner could be back in for Game 6, with the Panthers aiming to close things out following another cross-continental trip back to the other corner of North America. They are in this spot after bouncing back from blowing a three-goal lead and falling in overtime in Game 4, taking advantage of their depth to send the Oilers to the brink again.

The NHL is a traditional business, and change is rare. It takes a long time to be implemented. Still, following the release of the voting for the various trophies by Professional Hockey Writers Association members, I believe it has become glaringly evident that the NHL needs to add a new trophy, that of the best defensive defenseman.

Every season, when the James Norris Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman, it becomes more and more evident that it is granted not necessarily to the best defenseman as a whole, but to the best offensive defenseman. Don’t get me wrong, Cale Makar is a fantastic defenseman, but when you think about the Colorado Avalanche’s blueliner, blocked shots and defensive coverage are not what comes to mind. What comes to mind is his number of points and how well he quarterbacks the Avs’ power play.

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And the same goes for his fellow Norris finalists. Makar finished the regular season with 92 points, Colombus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski was second with 82 points and Vancouver Canucks’ blueliner Quinn Hughes was third with 76 points. That’s precisely the order in which they finished for the Norris. Makar received 1861 voting points, Werenski received 1266, and Hughes received 918.

The top-10 in voting was completed by: Josh Morrissey (eight in regular season scoring amongst defensemen), Victor Hedman (seventh in scoring), Rasmus Dahlin (fourth in scoring), Thomas Harley (15th in scoring), Jacob Slavin (the exception to the rule, 70th in scoring), Lane Hutson (sixth in scoring) and Jake Sanderson (11th in scoring).

The only purely defensive defenseman of the lot is Slavin, who received only 60 voting points. The Carolina Hurricanes’ top-pairing defenseman doesn’t play on the man-advantage; he’s the Canes’ penalty kill anchor, leading them in blocked shots with 136 (38 more than second-place Brent Burns) and in average time on ice with 21:34.

The Hurricanes were 10th in the league in goals against and ninth in goals for. The defensive side of their game is just as important as the offensive side, and Slavin is the most significant cog in their defense. Without him, their result in their zone would be nowhere near as good.

If there’s a trophy for the best defensive forward (the Frank J. Selke), why shouldn’t there be a trophy for the best defensive defenseman? It makes sense, especially since people put more focus on the offensive side of the game nowadays. Fans and pundits all want to see goals, which is why the offensive juggernauts' defensemen gather as many votes for the Norris Trophy. No matter how many goals you score, though, you’re not going to win if there’s no one to ensure that your opponent scores less than you do.

After the 1998-99 season, the NHL introduced the Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy, which is awarded annually to the league’s best sniper. It was named to honour the Montreal Canadiens’ legend, who was the first player ever to score 50 goals in a season and 50 goals in the first 50 games of his team (a feat only achieved by four other players since then: Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, and Brett Hull). It should be noted that other players scored 50 goals in their first 50 games or fewer, but not in their team’s first 50 games (Jari Kurri, Alexander Mogilny, Lemieux, Cam Neely, and, more recently, Auston Matthews).

Maurice "The Rocket" Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scoring his 500th goal in 1957. pic.twitter.com/C8Y291pV98

— Old Canada Series (@oldcanadaseries) April 25, 2025

Richard led the league in goals five times throughout his 18-season career and was the first player to reach the 500-goal mark. To this day, 48 players have achieved the feat. When the Rocket hung up his skates in 1960, he was the top goal scorer in league history with 544 goals. Today, his 544 goals are the 33rd highest total in league history. Alexander Ovechkin became the top goal scorer this season, overtaking Wayne Gretzky, who finished his career with 894. The Russian sniper now has 897 and will play for at least one more season.

Given how vital a good defensive defenseman can be to his team, it’s high time the league introduced a new trophy to honour the best of the best in that field. If the league needs inspiration to name it, the rich Canadiens’ history could once again be dug into. Montreal has had its fair share of defensive masterminds at the blueline, and Doug Harvey’s name comes to mind.

Harvey spent the first 14 seasons of his career with the Canadiens, winning six Stanley Cups. In 1113 games, he gathered 540 points and 1216 penalty minutes, winning seven Norris Trophies. He possessed a keen hockey mind, and when he was acquired by the New York Rangers, he became the last player-coach in league history, leading them to their first postseason appearance in four years. The defenseman liked being one of the guys, and when he resigned as coach, he said, “As the coach, I couldn’t go out for beers with the boys”. Harvey was also offensively gifted and was one of the first defenseman to carry the puck as much as he wanted and slow down the pace of the play, he was the complete package. 

Should the league want to take a more modern approach, both Boston Bruins’ Raymond Bourque and Detroit Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom would be excellent choices. Bourque was incredibly sound defensively, and every NHL fan rooted for him to win a Stanley Cup before retiring when he was traded to the Avalanche. As for Lidstrom, he was very gifted at shutting down opponents and marked the league’s history when he became the first European-born and trained player to raise the Stanley Cup and win the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoff MVP.

Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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In the 2024 offseason, the Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year, $6.25M contract and after one season, the long-term implications don't seem very positive.

In his first season with the organization, the 31-year-old struggled at 5-on-5 despite scoring 13 goals and 51 points in 78 games. Stephenson recorded a career-high 18 power play points and provided value on the penalty kill, but for a $6.25M cap hit, the Kraken were hoping for more than a third-line producer. 

As the years will go by, the expectation is that Shane Wright and Matty Beniers will continue to improve and blossom into top-six centers, leaving Stephenson in a lesser role. When they factor in Berkly Catton, who is nearing an NHL role, it puts the Kraken in an increasingly peculiar spot.

Throughout his junior career, Catton has played exclusively as a center, and his skill set best suits a modern NHL center. He's a fantastic playmaker who loves to have the puck on his stick. He's a transition nightmare for his opponents, using his speed, edges and hands to create space for himself and his teammates. The unfortunate situation for Catton and the Kraken is that he is ineligible to play in the AHL next season if he is not ready to play in the NHL. He'd have to return to the WHL, where he's proven to be far too good for.

This season, the 19-year-old scored 38 goals and 109 points in 57 games, while adding another 11 goals and 42 points in 20 playoff games. If Catton does show he's ready to play in the NHL, the Kraken will be forced to play him as either a fourth-line center or a winger, both positions where Catton would likely not thrive during his rookie campaign, which is why the decision to sign Stephenson to a long-term deal at the time was puzzling, and it'll continue to be.

While he could be hampering the development of young forwards like Catton, he was also misprofiled by the Kraken front office. With the Vegas Golden Knights, Stephenson was so effective because Jack Eichel and William Karlsson took on the tough matchups, allowing Stephenson to play a type of roaming role to take advantage of lesser matchups. If Wright and Beniers continue their trajectory, they could create that role for Stephenson, but the Saskatoon, SK native's cap hit is still far too high for that role. 

"I think a lot of similarities there. It's crazy thinking that I'm one of the older guys now, it goes so quick. I mean, even this year, how quick it went by," said Stepheson during the Kraken's exit interviews. "My youngest daughter just turned one, and it feels like she's a couple months old. So, yeah, it was kind of a blur this year. But as far as playing and everything went, from that standpoint, it was fairly similar. I would say it’s just a different situation, different kind of everything as well. But I think it's just it's going to be good to just kind of reflect and know what to expect coming into next year, and just have that comfortability and experience, I guess. Yeah, I think it'll be a good season next year, for sure."

The Kraken want to find ways to incorporate youth and veterans, but strapping themselves to long-term contracts could be more detrimental than beneficial. 

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

Kraken Are A Threat To Offer Sheet Available Restricted Free AgentsThroughout the season, the Seattle Kraken's front office has been keen on their mindset to be aggressive in their pursuit of upgrading the roster, and according to recent reports, that pursuit includes possibly using offer sheets. 

It's officially summer, folks.

How do we know, you ask? Yes, the Stanley Cup Final series has already kicked off, but that's not the prime indicator.

Martin Necas rumors have officially started swirling, and the frenzy that has ensued is a certain head-scratcher.

While the Stanley Cup Final begins this week, the off-season has begun for 30 teams across the NHL.

With the combine this week and the draft to follow later in the month, @RealKyper introduces his first trade board of the off-season. https://t.co/yXm6NXGb8V

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 2, 2025

In the above article, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet talks about potentially beneficial trades across the league leading up to Free Agency. He had this to say about Necas, who still has one year remaining on his $6.5 million contract:

"The key piece in the first Mikko Rantanen trade this season, Martin Necas largely delivered on what was promised — he was just shy of being a point-per-game player in the regular season and found a home on Colorado’s top line. But before that trade, Necas only signed a short-term deal with Carolina when the two sides couldn’t agree on his long-term value, meaning he has one season left making $6.5 million against the cap, after which he could test the waters as a UFA. 

“After the Avalanche moved Rantanen because of how difficult they perceived contract extension talks to be going, how much patience will they have with Necas — not a homegrown player or superstar talent — if negotiations on an extension start slowly this July? There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options."

The quote that garners a lot of attention: "There was a sense Necas wasn't overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado."

Where This All Started

Rumors began circulating in the summer of 2024, following the end of his previous bridge deal, that Necas was unhappy with his time in Carolina. Necas' father spoke out, saying that the forward wanted minutes on the first line and the first power-play unit, opportunities he wasn't consistently getting under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. The understanding was that Necas was unhappy with his utilization and felt that he wasn't able to play to his full capabilities. His father even went on to say in an interview with Denik Sport, "Martin wants to be traded."

Is Martin Necas' Time in Carolina Coming to a Close?When the clock struck 0:00 and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in Game 6 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, emotions were running high.

It seems as though those comments held some truth to them, considering the blockbuster trade that sent him and teammate Jack Drury, who had also reportedly requested a trade in previous off-seasons, to the Avalanche in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

In Carolina, this past season yielded incredible results for Necas - the best of his career. In 49 games played with the club, he still ranks highly among their roster:

• Points: 55 (3rd)
• Goals: 16 (6th)
• Assists: 39 (2nd)
• Power-Play Goals: 7 (T-2nd, Seth Jarvis)

Rumors also broke around the same time that alluded to Necas not being happy playing on the wing. When he was drafted, many listed him as a natural center. With Carolina's log-jam at the center position during his time with the team, HC Rod Brind'Amour didn't have much wiggle room and, instead, focused on developing him as a winger.

How Did Things in Colorado Shake Out?

He ended the season with 83 points, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists in the remaining 30 games he played with the Avalanche in the regular season, averaging just under a point per game.

Impressive? Given the change in systems he needed to adapt to, most would say so.

Necas was accustomed to playing a style with Carolina that emphasized a heavy neutral-zone presence and hard-checking game. Brind'Amour demands a certain defensive style from his players that wasn't much suited for Necas. His absence from Carolina's penalty kill units further proves that.

With the Hurricanes, he was never on a consistent line for long, never mind on the first line.

What he DID get in Colorado, though, was consistent first-line minutes next to one of the best active players in the NHL and minutes on the first power-play unit, both things he reportedly wanted. In these situations on the ice, especially next to Nathan MacKinnon, he could put his best assets to use: his speed and ability to transition the puck - something Carolina had to adapt to missing after he was traded away.

It’s a Marty Party 🎉 pic.twitter.com/h00HNddDhC

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 9, 2025

But, then begs the question: if he got what he was asking for, why wouldn't he be thrilled?

First, let's all remember to take the report with a grain of salt. This is ONE journalist with a single report after a tumultuous season for every party involved in this trade. Everyone was shocked by the blockbuster trade, despite two of the three players involved having reportedly requested to be moved in previous years (i.e., Necas and Drury).

Second, if there is any truth to this, all bets here are on him not getting more of an opportunity to prove himself as a natural center.

He was given one game by head coach Jared Bednar in MacKinnon's absence (due to a minor injury) on April 10th against the Vancouver Canucks. It didn't last longer than two periods.

Call it a lack of experience or simply not being built to play the position, but when a guy who wants to play center is out on the ice for three of the four goals allowed, it's not the greatest way to build an argument to play him there consistently. He was only at center for one of those goals, as he was moved back to the wing in the third period, but that lone goal saw him caught too deep in the other end and then leisurely skating back... Not the best look.

🗣️Jared Bednar

Watch Bednar's full postgame availability following a 1-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.#GoAvsGo | @gs_off_icepic.twitter.com/TyXNpFsHvI

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) April 11, 2025

In his defense, that was an off-game for the team as a whole, as Coach Bednar said following the game that the team wasn't skating enough. Bad decisions were made, breakouts were "terrible," zone transitions weren't up to his standards, and he made sure everyone knew that the lineup shuffling due to missing guys was not an excuse for any of it.

The Multi-Million Dollar Question: Will Necas Get Traded?

All that to say... With the Brock Nelson extension securing a player at the 2C position for the next three years, there's not much of an opportunity for Necas to get another look at center. And now with talks of the Avalanche potentially targeting Stanley Cup-winning center Jonathan Toews, it looks less and less likely for the Czech native.

The idea is that, with Necas' contract expiring after the 2025-26 season, the Avalanche may put a deal in front of him somewhere between $7 million and $9 million. After the points he put up in the regular season this past campaign, a number in that range seems generous enough and would be his largest salary sum yet.

Necas has never signed a deal longer than three years, his most recent contracts acting as bridge deals while Necas continued to prove himself. His worth has always been a point of contention in contract talks, even leading the forward to file for arbitration in 2024 before the season. Hearing dates for players were not released, but he signed his two-year, $6.5 million deal on July 29th, 2024.

Rumors have popped up in the last few weeks that the Avalanche may consider trading him to earn some draft capital back, or to deepen their roster even further, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman alluded to rumors being just that: rumors.

Elliotte Friedman: Regarding the Martin Necas, Charlie Coyle rumours, I'm not sure the Avalanche feel they have to do anything, they like how the team looks on paper - 32 Thoughts Podcast

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 14, 2025

My expectation is that Martin Necas will be in the starting lineup for the Avalanche come October. From there, he has a chance to work further with MacKinnon and best his numbers from this past season to earn himself a heftier contract. If he is traded by the deadline next March, it won't be from lack of trying on Chris MacFarland and company's part.

Stylistically, Necas is a perfect fit for this team, especially next to MacKinnon on the first line. He's gotten almost everything he's wanted out of how he's been utilized on the ice, so that can no longer be an excuse as to why he couldn't get a deal done with Colorado.

The main factors, in my eyes, will be the salary and whether or not playing center is a dealbreaker for him moving forward.

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The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is winger Cameron Schmidt, who plays for the Vancouver Giants.

There are few players in this draft as dynamic as Schmidt. Listed at 5'7", 160 lbs, Schmidt lit up the WHL with 40 goals and 78 points in 61 games. He also helped Canada capture Gold at the 2025 U18s, scoring twice and adding two assists in seven games. 

What makes Schmidt a top prospect is his speed. He is already one of the fastest players in the WHL, and can pull highlight reel moves at breakneck speeds. His superb skating also comes in handy in the transition game, as once he builds up momentum, he is extremely hard to catch. 

In the offensive zone, Schmidt is a player who likes to get the puck off his stick quickly. He can beat goaltenders from every angle, and as the season went on, he showed that he can be a reliable playmaker. In the end, it is safe to say Schmidt already has an NHL-calibre shot, which makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. 

The next step in Schmidt's game will be his play away from the puck. While he has impressive defensive moments, becoming more consistent and involved defensively could help translate into additional offensive chances. If Schmidt can round out his game and add some defensive elements to his toolkit, he will be an even more dynamic player at the pro level.

Schmidt is expected to be a late first-round pick this year. He has the offensive tools that teams covet, while his speed and skating are attributes that organizations love to add to their prospect pools. Ultimately, Schmidt has top-six potential, while his ability on the power play should lead to his name being called on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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In this year’s Stanley Cup final, goaltending has been a major storyline for the Edmonton Oilers. Regular starter Stuart Skinner has been displaced by backup Calvin Pickard, and Oilers fans don’t have consensus on who should be starting Game 5 for the team. But very quietly, the goaltending situation for the Florida Panthers has also proven to be a tricky one, with star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky not performing as consistently as the Panthers undoubtedly hoped.

Let’s be clear – we’re in no way arguing that Bobrovsky should be riding the pine as a healthy scratch in favor of backup Vitek Vanecek. Bobrovsky is a key component for Florida, and that’s not going to change.

Nevertheless, it’s also true that Bobrovsky has contributed in a negative way to the Panthers’ struggles against the Oilers. In particular, Bobrovsky laid an egg in the Game 4 result that ended with a 5-4 overtime for the Oilers. In that Edmonton win, Bobrovsky gave up all five goals on 35 Edmonton shots for a sub-par save percentage of .857. And in the four Cup final games, Bobrovsky has surrendered 14 goals for a goals-against average of 3.50. Obviously, those aren’t the type of numbers you want to see from your netminder.

Bobrovsky has struggled in at least one game in every playoff series this year – and at his worst, in Florida’s second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he posted a save percentage of .882 or worse in four games of the seven-game series. There’s no question he’s bailed out his teammates at times, but he’s also been bailed out by his teammates at other times.

Bobrovsky being erratic will not serve the Panthers well in the three remaining games of the Cup final. Florida doesn’t necessarily need him to stand on his head and steal games at this stage – although that would be nice, given he remains the highest-paid player on the Panthers’ roster at $10-million per season – but if he can just hold off Edmonton long enough for Florida’s offense to pick apart Skinner or Pickard, the Panthers should be able to win their second Cup in as many years.

Bobrovsky has one more season on his contract, and considering he’s now 36 years old, we might see some slippage in his game sooner rather than later. And that process may have already started, given that his regular-season save percentage fell from .915 in 2023-24 to .906 this season. He’s still a workhorse for the Panthers, appearing in at least 50 games in each of the past four seasons. But it might be time next year for Florida to ease up on Bobrovsky’s workload and keep him fresher for the post-season.

For the moment, the pressure is squarely on Bobrovsky – maybe not to the degree it is on Skinner and/or Pickard – and Panthers fans will be watching keenly to see if Bobrovsky can hold the fort. If he puts in another effort like the one he did in Game 4, Florida is going to be in trouble. But if he plays the way he has in most of the Panthers’ playoff victories – not being perfect, but being above-average – the Oilers will be going home without a Cup for the second straight year.

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Speaking to host Tony Marinaro on The Sick Podcast earlier this week, TVA Sports’ Nicolas Cloutier mentioned that at the NHL scouting combine, the Montreal Canadiens met a lot of players who are slotted to go top 10. He added that it could mean they’re gathering intel for the future in case they trade for them somewhere down the line, or it could mean they are considering trading up in the draft. One of those players was St-Hyacinthe-born center Caleb Desnoyers.

The 6-foot-1.5 and 178-pound Moncton Wildcat left-shot pivot is ranked seventh in the Central Scouting ranking of North American skaters. He should be long gone by the time the Canadiens are scheduled to talk in the first round. But the Habs have two first-round pick and they could be open to trading them both to move up in the draft.

Canadiens: How Much Will It Cost To Keep Hutson In Montreal Long Term?
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Canadiens: More About Malcolm Spence

Desnoyers has had a great season with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, picking up 84 points in 56 games and being his team’s most important player. His production even increased at the right time, in the playoffs, when it mattered most, scoring 30 points in 19 games or 1.88 points per game (up from 1.50 in the regular season). He’s an elite playmaker with a high hockey IQ who scans the ice and works out the best play to make. Or, as Martin St-Louis calls it, he makes good reads, and that’s hard to teach.

You can have the best system in the world, but if the other team doesn’t play the way you expect them to, your system may be useless, and then, you’ve got to rely on your players’ ability to read the game. In that sense, Desnoyers is the kind of player the Canadiens’ bench boss would like.

His talent and skills mean that he can fool opponents with deceptive passing that’s likely to come from anywhere on the ice, when defenders are going to think “ok, he’s got no angle, no room left, I can ease up”, that’s when he’ll strike.

His performance in the playoffs has unsurprisingly made his draft stock rise, and he could even go top-five, so it would take a big trade for the Canadiens to be able to draft him, but never say never. Cloutier also mentioned that he feels the youngster has all the tools to cope with the pressure that comes with being a French-Canadian high draft pick in Montreal.

While there’s no denying he ticks quite a few boxes when it comes to what the Canadiens are after and that the team probably does like him, I’m not sure they like him enough to swing the kind of trade it would need to move up to the range he’s being projected to go in. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie has him going at six, Craig Button has him at seventh, THN’s Ryan Kennedy has him at six as well while McKeen’s hockey ranks him at fourth.

Photo credit: Michael Augello

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Former New Jersey Devils forward Brandon Gignac is taking his talents overseas. EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League has announced that they have signed Gignac to a two-year contract.

Gignac began his professional career with the Devils, as he was selected by the Metropolitan Division club with the 80th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made one appearance with New Jersey during the 2018-19 season, where he posted zero points, one block, and a minus-2 rating.

While Gignac played in just one NHL game during his time with the Devils, he spent multiple years with the organization down in the AHL. In 127 games over five AHL seasons from 2016-17 to 2020-21 with the Albany Devils and Binghampton Devils, he recorded 18 goals and 53 points.

Gignac's time with the Devils organization ended during the 2021 NHL off-season when they chose not to re-sign him. He then spent each of the next four seasons with the Laval Rocket of the AHL and played in seven games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2023-24, posting one goal and a minus-3 rating.

Devils Should Bolster Top Six By Trading For Sabres StarThe New Jersey Devils are in a position where they should be looking to improve their forward group this summer. Bringing in a top-six winger, in particular, would be huge for a Devils club that is looking to take that next step and needs more offense. 

Photo Credit:  © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

If the Philadelphia Flyers want to get younger and more talented on defense this offseason, they need not look further than Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence.

With the Nicolas Hague trade rumors that were flying around, the discussion around the Flyers' defense went from talent and skill to size and strength. Hague, who is reportedly not on Philadelphia's radar, would have brought the size and strength, but who will bring the other aspects?

After all, the Flyers were 30th in the NHL in total scoring amongst defensemen, producing a bog-standard 132 points from the backend.

That's where Spence comes in. The 24-year-old has scored six goals and 52 points over the last two seasons while establishing himself as an NHL regular in a bottom-four role with the Kings.

But, the Australian-born defenseman played more than 10 minutes once in his five playoff appearances for L.A., which can at least partially be attributed to his modest 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday's episode of "32 Thoughts" that Spence is likely available on the NHL trade market for that reason.

"I think that's a name to keep an eye on. Ken Holland, you know how he feels about his blueline. He likes a big, mobile blueline. I just don't think the Kings feel Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side together works," Friedman said. "They're both right-hand shots, they both need to play. I just don't think they feel there's room for two of them. Clarke I don't believe is available. Spence, I think, is, so that's a name to keep an eye out for."

So, why would the Flyers trade for a smaller defenseman in Spence when they already have Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae?

The answer is simple, actually. Spence's defensive metrics have been phenomenal in his current role, whereas Drysdale's, for example, have been extremely poor.

And for all Drysdale's talents and skating ability, the end product has not been there. With Spence, you're guaranteeing yourself a defenseman with a history of playing at a high level and producing no fewer than 24 points in each of the last two seasons.

The only Flyers defender with more than 20 points this season was Travis Sanheim, who scored 30 while playing a staggering 24:30 a night on average. Drysdale and Nick Seeler each scored 20 points, but Drysdale was a -32 while Seeler, his most common defense partner, was a +10.

As for Andrae, there are no guarantees he is an NHL defenseman, as encouraging as most of last season was for him. York is a pending RFA who is expected to remain with the team, while Drysdale is heading into a contract year that will probably define his NHL career.

Rasmus Ristolainen, if he isn't traded to the Kings in the Spence deal, won't be injured forever. But he's not getting any younger and will assuredly be at the mercy of Helge Grans come training camp if the latter shows some serious flashes.

Plus, top prospects Spencer Gill and Oliver Bonk are both 6-foot-2 or bigger.

Simply put, the Flyers have no real reason to worry about size on the right side. They need to worry about talent, production, performance, and more generally, finding the right mix.

Trading for Spence, at the very least, would signify that they're not content with how the 2024-25 season went with the currently constructed defense core.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of a few teams towards the bottom of the NHL looking to add talent in any way they can. One NHL insider just connected them to a... high school quarterback?

Mason West, one of the hottest prospects in the 2025 draft class right now, is a 6-foot-6 right wing who most recently played for the Fargo Force of the USHL, scoring a goal, eight assists, and nine points in 10 games last season.

Last season, as well as in the two seasons prior, the 17-year-old played for his local high school, Edina High, in Minnesota. But there's a catch: he's also a three-star quarterback who's passed for 65 touchdowns and 5,217 yards in the last two seasons.

West, according to 247 Sports, has visited with the University of Illinois and has drawn interest from fairly decent football schools like Marshall and the University of California.

That all said, the hulking winger is focused on hockey and will dedicate his efforts to the rink after his last seasons at the helm of Edina's offense on the gridiron.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, teams are going to be playing the game of chicken with West in the draft, seeing which of their peers will bite and select the polarizing dual-sport athlete first.

The Flyers, with multiple first- and second-round picks, could very well be one of those teams.

"He's kind of got his own list on each team's draft board. The way it was explained to me was, every time a team gets a pick from the second round on, he'll be part of the conversation," Friedman said of West on his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. "Is now the time we take him? He's really raw, but he's big, he's obviously a great athlete, and he can score. He scores goals, and he plays on the power play, too.

"Someone told me that he was playing point on the power play because he can really shoot the puck. Because you're always looking for big, mobile guys, everyone's watching him. There's so little eye test against really good players. He briefly played in the USHL, he's planning on going there, I guess, for the back half of next year, that he's the biggest wildcard in the draft. Because he could go boom. It really could turn out to be a great pick."

Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Big Board: Can Philly Afford to Pass On Top Centers?With the NHL Scouting Combine now in the rearview mirror, the Philadelphia Flyers have just over two weeks to make final preparations for the 2025 NHL Draft.

And that's where the Flyers come in. The Flyers have the 22nd, 31st or 32nd, 36th, 40th, 45th, and 48th picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, excluding the No. 6 pick that will be used on a better and more projectable prospect.

"What a couple teams told me is, every time your pick comes up, you're going to be sitting there saying, 'If we don't take him now, is somebody else going to jump in there and do it? Are we going to lose our opporunity?'" Friedman added. "So that's going to be the question. When is some team going to say, 'We have to do this now because we won't get another opportunity to do it later?'

"The same team told me that they wonder about those teams with multiple first-rounders. A team like Nashville, or a team like Philadelphia, do they look at it and say 'Look, we've got multiple first rounders, we're just going to do it,' (...) I think teams are trying to figure out who's really serious about this guy, and where do we take this player? It's going to be fascinating. I was told [West is] the biggest wildcard of the draft."

West is currently ranked as high as 46th and as low as 98th based on rankings compiled by EliteProspects, so there's a fairly high chance he'll be available to the Flyers at the top of the second round later this month.

Flyers Mock Draft 3.0: A Bold Trade and the NHL Scouting CombineThe Philadelphia Flyers, as expected, were one of the busiest teams at the NHL Scouting Combine, giving some clues of their intentions leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft later this month.

But, as Friedman said, the scouts and GMs are going to be playing the game of chicken. Will the Flyers be one of the teams willing to pull the trigger on West late in the first, even with the plethora of right wingers in the system?

His size and athleticism are two things the Flyers would love to add to their ranks, but is that worth passing up on a top goalie or defenseman they so desperately need? It's a question the Flyers have two weeks to answer for themselves.

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The best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final has now become a best-of-three.

It’s been an incredibly exciting and close championship series to this point, with both the Panthers and Oilers earning a win on home ice and a win on the road to this point.

Now the series scene shifts back to Edmonton, as the Cats and Oilers will be fighting to be the first team with a chance to win the Stanley Cup when they return to South Florida after the weekend.

To this point, the Final has been extremely evenly matched and incredibly competitive through the first four games.

It’s been a bit of a throwback series, as there have an eye-popping 32 goals scored through the first four games, yet all but one of the four Final games have been decided in regulation.

One change we can probably expect to see with the Oilers is the re-insertion of Calvin Pickard as the starting goaltender.

Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner for the second straight outing on Thursday night for Game 4, entering a game Edmonton was trailing 3-0 only to turn aside all but one shot as the Oilers came all the way back and won 5-4 in overtime.

Pickard now holds a stellar 7-0 record during the postseason, though his corresponding statistics – a 2.69 goals against average and .896 save percentage – aren’t nearly as impressive.

As for Florida, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media prior to the team taking off for Edmonton on Friday.

When asked about potential roster changes, Maurice said he wasn’t anticipating making any.

He said the Panthers are healthy, which is about as good a compliment you could pay at team at this stage of the season.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 5 in Edmonton:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Evan Rodrigues – 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, Jesper Boqvist, Nico Sturm, Jaycob Megna

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Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman (96) checks Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

It is sure to be an active, interesting offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They're drafting 11th overall with rumors swirling about their desire to trade up, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has mentioned possible activity in the RFA trade-then-sign market, and there have been reports about the Penguins being the only "true sellers" in the league this summer. 

And their hottest commodity happens to be one of their best players.

Right wing Bryan Rust, 33, has three years left on a contract that pays him $5.125 million annually - and his no-movement clause expired this summer. He had a career year for Pittsburgh last season, registering career-highs in goals (31) and points (65) despite missing 11 games due to injury.

Rust has a unique tool set as a player. Known for his work ethic, he is a hybrid power forward and grinder, a menace on the forecheck, and is capabale of being deployed in all situations. He is also a regular penalty-killer, has the hands of a goal-scorer, and can play a hard-nosed game.

There isn't much that Rust can't do. But, perhaps, above all, he is a natural-born leader and presence in the locker room, something that he emulates from his captain and good friend, Sidney Crosby.

'When He Speaks, Everyone Listens': How Sidney Crosby's Mentorship Has Passed On To Multiple Generations Of TeammatesFollowing the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

On Friday, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN 1050 that "plenty of teams" are calling about Rust. It's no secret that he is wanted by a lot of contending teams, and the Penguins are at a sell-high point with him. He's on the wrong side of 30, the team is in the midst of a rebuild, and they are still trying to collect as many high-value assets as possible - which is something that Rust can return for them in a trade.

The easy and logical path might be to move Rust if he can get the Penguins a good return. While that might be understandable and justifiable, that doesn't mean it's the right move.

In fact, there is a very big reason why Rust should be considered near-immovable barring the perfect deal. And it comes down to the Penguins' youth movement.

Penguins Facing Big Decision With Star Forward The Pittsburgh Penguins will be a team to watch very closely this off-season. After missing the playoffs for the third year in a row, there has naturally been speculation that the Metropolitan Division club will make changes to their roster. 

Many may scoff at the idea that veteran presence in the locker room outside of 87 is necessary for the Penguins given the stage they're in. But, the reality is that Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson were all similar in that they made the NHL roster either immediately or quickly enough that going through several stages of development in professional hockey was not required.

For many young players the Penguins are acquiring - either through the draft or by trade - that will not be the case. The vast majority of them will need to follow a path of development that sees them work their way up through junior or college hockey before moving onto ECHL or AHL hockey, all prior to earning their way onto the NHL roster. 

Having Rust around is valuable for that reason. Unlike the aforementioned players, he is someone who has been there. Done that. Experienced that. And for young guys trying to earn spots, he's a huge presence in that locker room. 

Rust can relate to and connect with this crop of prospects and young players in a way that even Crosby cannot to an extent. Everything Rust has accomplished at the highest level of hockey was earned through his hard work and his grind as an AHL player who turned into a bottom-six grinder and, eventually, into a top-six goal-scorer. 

It took years - and a process of development - for Rust to reach his peak potential. Young players can learn a lot from a player like that who has been in their shoes and can help guide them through that process.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

The Penguins have other tradeable assets that should net them good returns in Karlsson and Rickard Rakell. They should trade some of these players if they can get a good return. 

But, in a rebuild - especially a rebuild on-the-fly, which is still the goal for the Penguins - you simply cannot trade everyone. A team needs some valuable veterans like Rust around to help usher in that new generation of players who will make an impact in the near future.

If the package is a can't-refuse offer, of course, the Penguins should consider it. But - barring that "perfect" deal - Rust is one of the few veterans who should stay put in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.

Penguins Trading Star Forward Would Come With Big RiskFor much of the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell was the subject of trade speculation. It was understandable, as the Penguins were out of the playoff race, while Rakell enjoyed himself a career year. In 81 games, the 32-year-old winger set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points.

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