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Five NHL trades, free-agent acquisitions Sharks should explore this offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

How will the Sharks improve this offseason?

No doubt, the hockey hot stove is percolating with trade and free agency rumors right now.

The 2025 NHL Draft is on June 27, and free agency begins on July 1, so the market is about to explode.

But not every possible acquisition fits the Sharks and their timeline.

So, what are five possible (and realistic) ways for the Sharks to take another step?

Before we get to that, let’s talk about how the Sharks probably aren’t going to improve themselves this offseason.

Big Free Agency Swing?

One hundred-point winger Mitch Marner is the prize of this free agency class. But even if he’d consider the last-place Sharks, it doesn’t seem like San Jose is ready to offer maximum seven or eight-year contracts to a UFA.

“It’s still not something I’m excited to do — to hand out, you know, seven- or eight-year deals or anything like that,” general manager Mike Grier said at the end of the season. “I’d still like to keep it more in the short to mid-term range, if possible.”

Grier could just be being coy, but he seems the cautious type, sources indicate the same thing, and there’s no indication that he’s being pressured from above to make a big splash.

So my guess is the Sharks stay out of the high end of free agency this summer.

If so, that could rule out San Jose from the chase for UFA forwards Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers and Sam Bennett. Same goes for defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov.

It doesn’t mean that the Sharks won’t invest significantly in free agency, but probably more in the range of last summer’s four-year, $24 million pact with Tyler Toffoli.

What Can Sharks Offer in Trade?

A trade takes two to tango, and what the Sharks have to offer might not be enticing to other teams.

Specifically, San Jose does have an absolute war chest of futures to offer, extra first-round picks and high-end prospect depth.

But as of now, it feels like the most active teams on the market are looking to win now, not looking for futures.

So while futures could be a part of any deal, it’s hard to see them forming the core of potential trades for top-notch acquisitions like 40-goal winger Jason Robertson, almost point-per-game winger J.J. Peterka and top-pairing caliber defensemen like Noah Dobson, Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard.

At the moment, there isn’t a franchise out there a la the 2022-23 Sharks, looking to rebuild and dangling a star like Timo Meier. That’s the kind of trade where the Sharks can outbid the rest of the league.

For what it’s worth, the Sharks do have the No. 30 pick in the 2025 Draft and the Edmonton Oilers’ top-12 protected 2026 first to offer. They also have, arguably, the deepest farm system in the NHL, especially up front.

Sharks Can Also Offer This

The Sharks also have tons of cap space, which will help them absorb short-term contracts.

What doesn’t help is being the worst team in hockey, which makes San Jose a less attractive place for quality players who have a choice of where to go, like UFAs John Tavares and Matt Duchene, and cap casualty Chris Kreider, who has a 15-team no-trade list.

Mason Marchment, another potential cap casualty, has a 10-team no-trade list. Maybe the Sharks aren’t on that list?

So, who does this leave for the Sharks?

Mikael Granlund

San Jose Hockey Now heard at the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine that the Stars were really happy with Granlund, after they acquired him from the Sharks last season, seeing him as a solid influence on the many Finns on the squad, besides being a terrific two-way forward. So they’re looking to retain the pending UFA.

But that doesn’t take away how much Granlund enjoyed it in San Jose, where he revived his career over the past year and a half.

The 33-year-old isn’t looking for a significant term, so if the Stars can’t fit him in, a San Jose reunion would be logical. The Sharks were equally happy with Granlund in his time there.

K’Andre Miller

The New York Rangers are looking to win now, so why trade a 25-year-old top-four defenseman?

He is an RFA, and the Rangers might be looking to distribute their money in better places.

There are rumors that Miller will be subject to an offer sheet at the beginning of free agency, possibly in the range of $4.68 to $7.02 million AAV, which comes at the cost of a 2026 first and third.

Draft picks used for offer sheets have to be your own, so there’s no way that the Sharks are putting up their own 2026 first for Miller. That Sharks’ 2026 first could be projected No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna.

But can San Jose beat the trade value of a 2026 first and third, assuming Miller gets offer sheets elsewhere?

They have next year’s Oilers’ first to start a trade conversation.

It’s hard to say, once again, if futures are enough to be the foundation of such a trade.

Nicolas Hague

Hague has never been a top-four defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights, but an argument can be made that the 26-year-old has been blocked by the perennial Stanley Cup contender’s deep defensive group.

Do the Sharks believe that Hague has more to offer?

The Golden Knights are also facing a cap crunch, so the pending RFA could be an offer sheet candidate, perhaps at the high end of the $2.34 to $4.68 million AAV range. That would cost the Sharks their 2026 second-round pick.

Matt Grzelcyk

The 31-year-old defenseman had a career-high 40 points last season and could help run the Sharks’ power play. After trading Jake Walman last year, San Jose didn’t have a credible blueline presence on the man advantage.

I believe the UFA, who was coming off a down 2023-24 campaign, is looking for stability, which San Jose could certainly offer a la Toffoli.

Ilya Lyubushkin

Dallas actually has two veteran defensemen in Lyubushkin ($3.25 million AAV, two years left) and Matt Dumba ($3.75 million AAV, one year left) that they could be looking to dump to clear cap space.

Lybushkin had a tough time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Dumba didn’t even play as a healthy scratch, but on the Sharks, they’d both improve a thin defense.

Chances are, they won’t cost much either, especially Dumba.

So, a short or mid-term free agent signing? A hockey or cap casualty trade? A low-end offer sheet?

The likely avenues for the Sharks to improve aren’t the most exciting, but there is good news. With young stars Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund and Yaroslav Askarov leading the way, the big swings are coming.

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The Vancouver Canucks are starting to build a strong prospect pool. Whether through the draft, trade or free agency, there are quite a few prospects who could make an impact at the NHL level sooner rather than later. Here is a look at the top ten prospects in Vancouver's system heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

*Note: To qualify for this list, players must be 23 or under and have played fewer than 25 combined NHL regular season and postseason games. Players are ranked based on age, position, league, and overall performance during the 2024-25 season.

Players featured on the "Post 2025 NHL Trade Deadline Edition" that are no longer eligible:

- Victor Mancini
- Elias Pettersson

Honourable Mention: Vilmer Alriksson- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LW, 6'6', 214 lbs- 107th Overall in 2023

Vilmer Alriksson had a tough conclusion to the 2024-25 season. The Brampton Steelheads' winger suffered a season-ending injury in early February and finished the campaign with 35 points in 43 games. With an entire off-season to train and get healthy, do not be surprised if Alriksson has a massive 2025-26 season in the OHL.

10. Josh Bloom- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LW, 6'2", 185 lbs- Trade With Sabres

Josh Bloom was a standout in the ECHL this season. The 22-year-old had 39 points in 43 games and was one of two players on the Kalamazoo Wings to record 20 goals. With a full year of pro hockey now under his belt, Bloom looks ready to make the jump full-time to the AHL.

9. Danila Klimovich- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

RW, 6'2", 203 lbs- 41st Overall in 2021

This season has shown just why Danila Klimovich is such a polarizing prospect. He scored 25 goals for the Abbotsford Canucks, but has played only 10 games during the Calder Cup Playoffs. If Klimovich can find more consistency in his game, he might earn an NHL call-up before his contract expires at the end of next season. 

8. Riley Patterson- Barrie Colts, OHL

C, 6'0", 192 lbs- 125th Overall in 2024

Riley Patterson followed up his strong regular season with a productive post-season run. In 16 games, he had 12 points along with 38 shots on goal. Projected to return to the Barrie Colts in 2025-26, Patterson has the potential to surpass the point-per-game mark for the first time in his OHL career.

7. Anthony Romani- Michigan State University, NCAA

C, 6'0", 185 lbs- 162nd Overall in 2024

Anthony Romani was electric during the 2025 OHL Playoffs. In 16 games, he had 24 points, which included a team-high 12 goals. The question now is, will Romani be able to keep up his high production when he moves to the NCAA next season? 

6. Sawyer Mynio- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LD, 6'1", 173 lbs- 89th Overall in 2023

Sawyer Mynio had an impressive post-season in the WHL. He recorded six assists in 11 games and was used in all situations by the Calgary Hitmen. While Mynio can return to the WHL next year, it is very likely that he makes the jump to the pro level and plays the 2025-26 season in either Abbotsford or Kalamazoo. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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5. Ty Young- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

G, 6'3", 183 lbs- 144th Overall in 2022

Ty Young had a season to remember in the ECHL. He went 10-9-2 while posting two shutouts and a save percentage of .926. While there is a crowded crease in the Canucks system, it will not be shocking if Young spends the year in Abbotsford. 

4. Ty Mueller, Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

C, 5'11", 185 lbs- 105th Overall in 2023

Ty Mueller continues to impress at the AHL level. After a successful rookie campaign, he has stepped up in the post-season, recording eight points in 18 games. A key piece of the Canucks roster during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, Mueller should get some call-ups to the NHL next season. 

3. Kirill Kudryavtsev- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LD, 5'11", 200 lbs- 208th Overall in 2022

Kirill Kudryavtsev is the definition of a late-round steal. The 21-year-old has thrived in the AHL this year and is currently tied for the post-season plus/minus lead at +13. While he may not get the spotlight on a nightly basis, Kudryavtsev's play is a big reason why Abbotsford is headed to the Calder Cup Final. 

2. Jonathan Lekkerimäki- Abbotsford Canucks, NHL

RW, 5'11", 172 lbs- 15th Overall in 2022

While Jonathan Lekkerimäki has struggled during the post-season, he is still the Canucks best forward prospect in the system. He is a potential game-breaker and has shown in the past that he can step up on the biggest stage. Projected to play in Vancouver's middle-six next season, Lekkerimäki will need to find a way to be productive both at even strength and on the power play in 2025-26.

1. Tom Willander- Vancouver Canucks, NHL

RD, 6'1", 180 lbs- 11th Overall in 2023

The Canucks top prospect heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is defenceman Tom Willander. After a strong NCAA career, Willander signed his ELC in May and is expected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster. Regardless of whether he starts next season in the NHL or AHL, Willander has the potential to be an important part of this organization for years to come.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Amazon has just completed its first season streaming NHL games in Canada when the digital giant wasted no time in unveiling plans for 2025-26 at their annual upfronts in Toronto. Entering the final year of a two-year deal with Rogers Sports & Media, to broadcast games on Monday night, a weekly live look-in show called 'Coast-To-Coast' on Thursday  and a docuseries titled 'FACEOFF: Inside The NHL', the digital giant appears poised to build off their opening year.

Ahead of the announcement, I had a chance to chat with Prime Video Canada's Mark Shopiro, to look back on Season 1 and what fans could expect in next season.

WE ARE SO BACK. 🎬

Tkachuks x 2. Flower. Sid. Season 2 of FACEOFF: Inside the NHL is coming, and it will be a movie. pic.twitter.com/sytbhUOoiZ

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) May 29, 2025

Among the topics discussed:

• What was learned from Season 1
• Players and executives willingness to let the camera into their world after seeing Season 1
• Amazon's interest in hockey (if any) beyond their deal that expires at the end of 2025-26

THN: What was your general feedback after Season 1 aired?

Shopiro: We were really happy with season one. I think what fans get to see in the broadcast and day-to-day is gameplay on the ice and storylines as they're playing out. But what they don't have as much visibility to or have been historically was what it's like to be a professional athlete, both on and off the ice. And we saw a really, really positive reception in Season 1 around those off-ice moments of getting to see what it's like to be a player in the National Hockey League. And also through the perspective of the player, but also those that are most important to them in their lives, be it their family members or good friends. And really, you know, understanding the players as people and everything that they dedicate to becoming such elite athletes was something that we had, you know, great response on in season one. And I think fans can expect to see more of in season two.

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THN: Did you get more players or anyone after seeing Season 1 being like, 'Hey, I've got to be part of this, and maybe the ask to participate increased? What was that change like between Season 1 and Season 2?

Shopiro: For sure, yeah. I think with Season 1, we had never done it before. The players had never done it, obviously, in the NHL. And as we look forward to season two, people have a flavor of kind of what this was meant to be and how it showcases players. So I think that eased some of the conversations and willingness for players to participate. Obviously, everyone's different, but I think we feel good about a stacked list of players heading into Season 2 and I think that speaks to players' willingness to be involved in the series and be a part of it.

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THN: Brendan Shanahan is involved. We usually don't get executives like that in terms of the list from the previous. How did that come about?

Shopiro: You know, as we think about showcasing the game holistically, the front office is a part of it. And, you know, as you think about showing the game from different angles, that was definitely, you know, a lens that we had thought about as we went into development on the series. And obviously, you know, really happy with everybody that's come forward to be a part of Season 2.

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THN: Looking at all the other stuff that you're going to announce, obviously this is going to be Year 2 of the deal for Amazon and the NHL. What was the general feedback after Season 1 from the Canadian games you guys broadcast?

Shopiro: We were really happy. I think what we were most happy with was the fan reception to the broadcast. We got really good feedback on fans appreciating us going rink to rink, bringing the cities that we were broadcasting from as characters into the games that we were putting on television, bringing people closer to the action with innovations like Home Ice Access, which essentially, you know, let customers from their living room get a peek inside the arena before puck drop, which is, you know, so synonymous with going to a game and getting to experience the feels beforehand. So we feel, you know, first and foremost, really good about the product that we put on the screen. And I think fans recognize that. We're really happy with our viewership and growing with younger audiences, our members spending more time with the broadcast. If you think about entertainment and how people spend their time, sports is such a critical part of that. We view it as a great opportunity to be a part of everybody's Monday nights for three hours every Monday as we broadcast games from Canadian teams.

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THN: It looked like you guys were leveraging some of the technology advantages you guys have. Like I noticed, for example, just being on the home site for Amazon, there was like a little square on top, like before you were even going So even like I guess if you were just a casual shopper on the site, you would see like a little preview of the game kind of going on. Like how much of that was important in terms of the integration of using the leverage of the company, but also just kind of being able to demonstrate what you guys can do differently.

Shopiro: Our first focus was getting the game right. And I think you'll see as the season went on last year and as we start to head into Season 2 as well, it's let's get the game right as we come to one focus. And then where can we innovate and start to bring more value into the broadcast. You mentioned things like we call it like an autoplay feature o Fire TV devices where the game will just start playing versus needing to navigate. There's other pieces of innovation that we got great quality feedback on picture quality and sound quality. So, you know, with compatible devices we filmed in 1080p HDR, I know that's a little technical, but that's a new standard for hockey in Canada and really one that hasn't even been adopted too broadly yet in the U.S. Great 5.1 surround sound, and even things like new camera angles and, you know, innovation like Rapid Recap, which essentially generates like a two-minute reel if you're joining the broadcast in progress on what's happened so far in the game, and then you transition right to live. I know that's a little bit of a laundry list, but that was some of the innovation that we were really excited about, and we feel like fans have really reacted positively to.

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THN: You're in the second year of the deal, which is sublicensed from Rogers, and then Rogers renewed their deal with the NHL. Is there an appetite from Amazon to continue with the game beyond this upcoming season?

 Shopiro: I'm not going to speculate on any future deals, but we are really focused right now on Season 2. And it's hard to believe we just wrapped up Season 1 six weeks ago, and we're already full steam ahead for next fall.

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THN: The Coast-to-Coast broadcast that you guys did on Thursdays...What was the general feedback there? Obviously, that was new, but there was a version kind of like that in Canada. What did you like about it? What did you feel could be improved on?

Shopiro: NHL Coast to Coast was a newer format. It had been done, there were variations of the format, but really, you know, starting with the NHL and working on programming the schedule such that we have a great slate of games every Thursday. And, you know, many of the studios show was ran for, you know, five, five and a half hours. Oftentimes, I don't know how Andi Petrillo, who was our host, did it just going for that long. I think as NHL Coast to Coast progressed throughout the season, And we had a rotating analyst that came in, and I feel like that was well-received by audiences. And also just the ability to go from what we said from game to game, goal-to-goal. I hadn't really watched hockey like that before, and I feel like the format was well-received around bouncing between games and, you know, sometimes piping in the audio from the game that you're listening to, sometimes having it be voiced over by the analysts that were in the studio. Tried a bunch of different things in season one and feel like we landed in a good place. As we think about innovation and how we evolve the game in Canada, NHL Coast to Coast was a great example of a new format for which we're trying to bring to Canadians.

'You'll See A Little Fun Side Of Him': Alex Nylander Excited For Maple Leafs Fans to See Different Side of Brother, William, in New Amazon DocuseriesThe entire series, titled: 'FACEOFF: Inside the NHL' debuts on Prime Video on Oct 4.

THN: Is there anything new that you guys are going to try that will be obvious for Season 2 that we didn't see in Season 1 of the game broadcasts?

Shopiro: Yeah, we'll see. We're looking back on Season 1 right now as we evaluate how the whole season went and where we feel we can get better. And we can absolutely be better, and we'll continue to look at that. But more to come on that front as we head into Season 2 planning.

THN: Okay, and then outside of maybe even just broadcasts for this year, are there any sort of plans for maybe expanding Amazon and hockey beyond just the broadcast? Like other integrations that could be in the works between Amazon and hockey from a business development side?

Shopiro: Yeah, unfortunately, I won't speak to anything outside of Prime Video, just given that that's my remit to oversee. I would say on the content side, obviously, we have to broadcast. And then as we've spoken about at the start, we've been heavily invested in docu-series. Not only for Faceoff, but, you know, as you think about 'Saving Sakic' or 'All Or Nothing' with the Toronto Maple Leafs, we have a long relationship with the NHL and, you know, feel good about that and the role that Prime Video can play in bringing NHL content to customers.

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The Philadelphia Flyers are still well positioned to execute a blockbuster trade for a top center this summer, but one popular potential trade target on the Anaheim Ducks isn't worth all the hype.

Ducks center Mason McTavish, a 22-year-old pending restricted free agent and former No. 3 pick, has been a popular name amongst Flyers fans looking for centers the team can potentially trade for this offseason.

The Switzerland-born center just posted 22 goals and 52 points in his third full season in the NHL while winning greater than 50% of his faceoffs for the second season in a row. To this point, word on a new contract from the Ducks has been quiet, opening the door for the Flyers to strike. But is that a good idea?

If he is to sign with another team this offseason, Evolving-Hockey projects McTavish's next contract to be a six-year pact worth $6.683 million annually.

For the sake of comparison, reports have indicated that Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi is looking for a seven-year deal worth something in the range of $7 million annually.

At 6-foot-1 and 214 pounds, McTavish is bigger and heavier than Rossi, which is the crux of his appeal to Flyers fans and, presumably, the Flyers themselves.

The 22-year-old dished out 70 hits this season and blocked 31 shots, while the smaller Rossi blocked 41 shots and made 62 hits.

Plus, Rossi has scored 45 goals and 100 points over the last two seasons, while McTavish has just 60 goals and 140 total points across his three full NHL seasons.

To be clear, both McTavish and Rossi would be upgrades on the current state of the Flyers' center depth, but preferring McTavish to Rossi for a perceived increase of physicality is just a myth.

The smaller Rossi has been just as effective and physical at effectively the same price point, and it helps that NHL teams are aware of the public struggle between the Austrian center and the Wild.

McTavish, on the other hand, may not necessarily be for sale and would cost more assets in a prospective Flyers trade on top of the salary.

Another thing to note is that the Flyers, as a rush-based team, are not the greatest fit for McTavish.

The 2021 No. 3 overall pick is one of the slowest skaters in the NHL, placing beneath the 50th percentile in top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, and 20-22 MPH bursts, according to NHL EDGE. McTavish placed in the 60th percentile in 18-20 MPH bursts.

In Philadelphia, McTavish could always be paired with players like Owen Tippett or Travis Konecny, but the differing playstyles and skillsets could supersede each other and alter the alchemy of the forward group.

Plus, adding another slow center and changing things up may take away from the chemistry Flyers captain Sean Couturier had Konecny and Matvei Michkov.

A lack of speed down the middle was already a weakness for the Flyers, and with the assets McTavish might bring in for the Ducks, Danny Briere and Co. are best suited looking elsewhere for the center of their future.

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

All season long and well before it, the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending situation has been a subject of intense debate. 

For most of the past two seasons, the Oilers ran with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in net. Despite trade speculation suggesting the Oilers need an upgrade in net, they’ve stuck with their tandem.

But after Monday’s 6-1 debacle at the hands of the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final, Edmonton now has a tough decision to make – whether to stick with Skinner after two consecutive subpar performances or have Pickard come in and try to even up the series. Pickard replaced Skinner in the first round and went 6-0 with an .888 save percentage before suffering an injury.

That said, it’s not really a tough decision. The Oilers should be living or dying with Skinner as their guy. While Pickard has his supporters, Skinner has done enough to earn the trust of his team as they try to dig out of a 2-1 series hole.

We’re not for a minute suggesting Skinner should be free of criticism. Giving up the first goal of the game just 56 seconds into the first period is hardly the start the Oilers were looking for from Skinner. Before he got the hook in the third period, Skinner allowed five Panthers goals on just 23 shots. His .783 save percentage in Game 3 is not ideal, nor is his .860 save percentage in the Cup final.

However, Skinner has had moments where he looked terrific this post-season. 

In three of Edmonton’s five games against Dallas in the Western Conference final, Skinner posted a save percentage of .966 or better. He also has three shutouts in these playoffs.

While there were serious doubts about his play early in the playoffs, he has since done enough for the Oilers to win more games than they lose.

Sure, they’d want him to be sharper in the past couple of games, but have you seen how poorly Edmonton has defended in front of him? There aren’t many goalies out there who could steal wins when their teammates are turnstiles, and Skinner isn’t a superhero who can stand on his head on every shot from the deep and strong Panthers. Pickard isn’t, either.

If the Oilers do go on to lose the Cup final, Skinner’s future with the team will be called into question. That’s fair. It doesn’t matter which team or player we’re talking about – if you can’t get the job done in two consecutive Cup finals, your job security will be in doubt.

While the 26-year-old Skinner is under contract next season at a very reasonable $2.6-million cap hit, you have to think Oilers GM Stan Bowman will be seeking out a different look between the pipes. Maybe that’s current Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson or someone else, but the status quo in net probably won’t be an option for Edmonton.

For now, though, Skinner is the best option for the Oilers. He’s battled his way through the muck for a while now, and he can still control his future in Edmonton by coming up with strong performances whenever he’s called upon. But he certainly needs a stronger effort from the players in front of him, which is why Skinner can’t be scapegoated – at least, right now.

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The Ottawa Senators held their second annual Season Seat Member Spring Summit at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night. It was an opportunity for season ticket holders to rub elbows and get an insider's view on what's happening with the club.

One of the biggest pieces of news on the evening was a glimpse at what the Senators and Fanatics (the NHL's outfitter of on-ice uniforms) appear to have settled on for their new third jersey. It appeared in a video the team showed to fans on the CTC big screen. Naturally, it had some fans and media members grabbing their cell phone cameras to share on the new look on social media.

The video provided close ups of the new third jerseys, which are all-red with black and metallic gold trim (think Vegas Golden Knights). At the end of the video, a blurry image of a player wearing the jersey walks toward the camera, came into reasonably clear view for one single frame before the video ends.

This image falls completely in line with a social media post that surfaced earlier this season from a Reddit user. It had photos of a player wearing a similar uniform, standing on the CTC ice surface on a non-game day, perhaps as part of the production of the very video that was shown to fans on Tuesday, or simply testing how it looked to the TV cameras.

For example, for TV viewers, going with black numbers directly on red is rarely a good choice. They look fine and they're legible up close but the lack of colour contrast makes it a struggle on the standard wide shot from a distance. Perhaps the gold trim in this case will make them stand out enough. Regardless, this is the kind of thing they test for.

The only visible difference in the two images might be the added detail in the centurion's red plume and possibly the removal of the S logo on the shoulders, but it's hard to tell for certain. 

(Image at left credit: Sens Reddit user)

It's probably not fair to fully judge a jersey until you see it in person, or at least in higher resolution. But barring any last minute changes, this gives you a good sense of what appears to be the Sens' new thirds that will launch in September.

We'll have more on Tuesday's Season Seat Member Spring Summit coming up shortly.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

Two Intriguing Right-Shot UFA Defensemen Who Would Look Good In Ottawa This FallWith veteran Nick Jensen recovering from hip surgery and uncertain to start the 2025–26 season, the Ottawa Senators would be wise to explore the free agent market for some reliable, defensively sound options to stabilize and provide some top-four depth to their blue line.

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The Florida Panthers picked up a massive 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. With this blowout win, the Panthers now have a 2-1 series lead over the Oilers in the series. 

With Florida's Game 3 win, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has hit an incredibly rare milestone behind the bench. 

According to NHL Public Relations, Maurice is now just the third coach in the history of the NHL to reach 1,000 career wins (regular season and playoffs combined). The only other coaches who have reached this incredible feat are Scotty Bowman (1,467 wins) and Joel Quenneville (1,090 wins).

Make that 1,000 NHL wins for Paul Maurice as a head coach.

He joined Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090) as the only head coaches in League history to reach the mark. #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/t85G7yQ6unpic.twitter.com/C1LyDgM08v

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 10, 2025

This latest accomplishment for Maurice only shows just how fantastic of a career he has put together as an NHL coach, and the Panthers are certainly lucky to have him as their bench boss. 

Maurice and the Panthers will now look to stay hot and pick up another victory in Game 4 from here. It would be huge if they did, as the Panthers would take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Oilers. 

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3 Panthers Who Must Shine In Game 3 vs. Oilers

Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers played Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Sunrise.

It did not feel like a normal Stanley Cup Final game.

There were multiple fights, a line brawl and cheap shots left and right.

When the dust settled, officials had called 140 minutes of penalties, which is the fourth-most ever in a Stanley Cup Final game.

Many of the physical interactions were either instigated or exacerbated by the Oilers as Florida's lead ballooned from three to four to five.

While there were plenty of questionable decisions, a couple by Oilers defenseman Jake Walman caught the attention of the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Walman was fined a total of $10,000 by the NHL DOPS for two separate incidents that occurred during Game 3.

One came after he and Florida's A.J. Greer had a little run-in, which ended up with Greer skating away and to his bench with Walman's glove.

Walman responded by taking a water bottle from the Oilers bench and spraying it several times at Florida's bench.

Walman was spraying water at the Panthers bench 👀 pic.twitter.com/gzuvCi9WJM

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 10, 2025

That "incident involving Florida's bench" cost Walman $5,000, the maximum allowable fine under the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA.

"I obviously did that for a reason," Walman said after the game. "I won't go into the details. It's just gamesmanship, I guess. I've just got to realize there's cameras everywhere and they see that stuff."

The second $5,000 fine stemmed from an altercation with Matthew Tkachuk in front of Edmonton's net.

While Tkachuk's arms were being held by Oilers blueliner John Klingberg, Walman laid several punches to Tkachuk's face and head.

Officials gave Wallman a double minor for roughing and a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Jake Walman just gave a couple rights to Matthew Tkachuk 😳👊 pic.twitter.com/gSv9SgT33Z

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 10, 2025

Tkachuk, who finished the game with an assist and, surprisingly, no penalty minutes,

"We just went out there and played hockey," he said. "We talked about it in the third (period), if you have to take a punch, you take a punch. If you have to take a cross-check, take a cross-check. A spear or a slash in the face, whatever the case is."

It will be interesting to see how the Oilers respond after such an undisciplined performance.

Game 4 between Florida and Edmonton is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. from Amerant Bank Arena.

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (17) fights Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) during the third period in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

The Edmonton Oilers were nearly impossible to shake in the first three rounds of the playoffs. 

As they beat the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars, the Oilers had brief moments here or there where they looked unnerved, but that was only temporary. For the most part, the Oilers imposed their will on their opponent and made relatively short work of them.

But now, after three Stanley Cup final games against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, the Oilers have been reactionary, knee-jerk-ish and ultimately, very beatable. 

In Game 1 against the Panthers, Edmonton pulled out a win, but in the last two games, the Oilers have been increasingly overwhelmed by Florida’s waves of provocation. 

The frustrating part for the Oilers is that they had to know the provocation was always coming, yet they still look very much like a team that doesn’t have the capacity to turn the other cheek. They’re down 2-1 as a result.

The Panthers made their bones by pushing the envelope, playing an extremely physical game and basically daring their opponent to maintain their composure. 

Everybody knew what they were doing. And thus far, only the Toronto Maple Leafs – which took the Panthers to seven games in the second round – absorbed Florida’s punches, literally and competitively, and gave the Panthers a run for their money. But even then, the Leafs eventually wilted under Florida’s unending pressure with blowout losses at home.

You would think Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch would’ve made it clear to his players that they couldn’t give in to the temptation to pound the Panthers into a new zip code. Trent Frederic even discussed that before the Cup final.

"You have to stay away from the stuff after whistles," Frederic told Ryan Kennedy. "I like our power play a lot, but we can't fall into their trap."

Florida had 11 power plays on Monday. They scored three times with the man advantage in the 6-1 win. Edmonton went 1-for-6 on the power play.

After the game was essentially out of hand for Edmonton, the Oilers completely melted down, getting into something close to a line brawl. Some might’ve viewed the late-game breakdown as a sign of life for Edmonton, but this writer saw it as a sign that the Panthers were utterly and completely under the Oilers’ skin.

If the Oilers are going to get back in this series, their discipline will have to drastically improve. Florida’s professional troublemakers, such as Sam Bennett, must be ignored as much as possible. Otherwise, the Panthers will just push forward with the Oilers under control.

In Game 1, Florida only had two power plays, compared to Edmonton's four. The Oilers looked like they were playing their game instead of letting Florida dictate the tone. And although the Oilers had six power plays in Game 2, they gave Florida four as well, leading up to Game 3's chaos.

If Games 4 and 5 look anything like Game 3, the Oilers will be on the losing end of the Cup final for the second straight season. They must stick to their game if they intend on winning.

Promo image credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

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The NHL announced the winner of the Selke Trophy last week with Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov taking home his third.

After having a finalist for the award last season as well as another top-10 finisher, the Hurricanes did not have a single player within the top-10 this season, although three were inside the top-20.

Jordan Staal, 36, finished 11th in Selke voting this season, after finishing second overall in 2023-24.

The veteran centerman continues to be one of the league's premier defensive and shutdown players at both 5v5 and on the penalty kill, but his lack of scoring keeps him from being a true contender for the award.

Staal received five first-place votes this season.

Seth Jarvis also fell a few spots going from 8th overall in voting in 2023-24 to 12th this season.

While it's hard for wingers to get as much credit for their defensive work, Jarvis continues to be a strong candidate for consideration, especially given the fact that he was tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals (5) this season.

Jarvis received two first-place votes.

Barkov, Cirelli, and Reinhart is a worthy trio of Selke nominees, but Jarvis should at least be in the conversation. pic.twitter.com/sRtVGf6CDf

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 2, 2025

Rounding out the voting for the Hurricanes was Sebastian Aho, who finished in 20th this season after an 11th place finish in 2023-24.

Aho is a elite two-way player who plays in all situations. He's a top-end penalty killer and he even had seven shorthanded points this season.

Jordan Martinook did not receive any votes this season after finishing 30th last season.

Rod Brind'Amour Receives Zero Votes For Coach of the YearThe NHL announced the results for the Jack Adams Award on Saturday, given annually to "the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success" as voted on by the NHL Broadcasters' Association. Hurricanes Rookies' Strong Seasons Validated In Calder Trophy VotingThe results from the 2025 Calder Trophy voting for the NHL's Rookie of the Year were announced on Tuesday with Montreal's Lane Hutson taking home top honors.

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

Although it was already known Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov wouldn't be a finalist for the 2025 Calder Trophy, the voting process painted a much different picture.

With the final voting results released Tuesday morning, Montreal Canadiens starlet Lane Hutson was the runaway winner, earning 165 of the 191 total first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf earned 15 first-place votes, while San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini reeled in 11. As for Michkov? The Flyers winger didn't receive so much as even one first-plate vote.

The final tally showed Hutson earning 1,832 points, Wolf earning 1,169, and Celebrini earning 1,104. Michkov was a distant fourth with his meager 645.

Perhaps even worse was that Michkov received just 34 total votes for second and third place, respectively, but pulled in 151 votes for fourth. Somehow, the affable Flyers rookie was hardly even a consideration to be a finalist amongst voters.

Flyers Trade Rumors: Division Rival Trying to Hijack Nicolas Hague TradeIf the Philadelphia Flyers truly want to trade for Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague, they may have to outbid two other NHL teams, including a Metropolitan Division rival, to get the deal over the line.

The 20-year-old Michkov was the Flyers' lone representative in Calder voting, though former Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier finished behind him in fifth place with six fourth-place votes and 74 fifth-place votes.

Michkov himself wasn't all that concerned with the results of the Calder Trophy voting, though it would have been nice for him to earn some silverware on behalf of the Flyers as the NHL's most outstanding rookie.

The Russian sensation finished his debut season in the NHL with 26 goals, leading all rookies. Michkov's 63 points were tied with Celebrini for second amongst all rookies, trailing Hutson's 66.

A Flyers player has never won the Calder Trophy, and this trend will continue for the foreseeable future with no big-time young talents expected to make the jump to their NHL roster in 2025-26.

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

William Karlsson's name has been floated out by many insiders, and although no concrete reports have come from the Vegas Golden Knights, a trusted insider revealed fresh information.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, that "All I'm going to say is that I got pushback from teams about Karlsson," Friedman said. "Now, I haven't spoken to Vegas directly, and it's always possible... I asked a few people about Karlsson, and either they told me they're not under the impression he's available, or, I suspect, in at least one or two cases, they asked and were told no."

"I asked around about Karlsson, and just the people I spoke to, they told me they had either no indication Vegas was willing to do it, or had been specifically told Vegas wasn't doing it. So if Karlsson's available, and I stress if... you'd have to show me what the situation would be."

HC Bruce Cassidy trusts Karlsson quite a bit, and it would take a lot of convincing from GM Kelly McCrimmon to convince him that moving him is the right move. Karlsson is trusted defensively at even strength and on the penalty kill, and chips in offensively when needed. Several reports have indicated that the Golden Knights are going to make a strong push for Mitch Marner, and they would need to free up cap space to do so. 

Karlsson's $5.9M cap hit would do so, and he could fetch a very strong return in a market that craves two-way centermen. 

Marner is a winger but is regarded as one of the best pure playmakers in the NHL. He is also one of the best defensive wingers, with the ability to shut down the opponent's top line and kill penalties. 

With several reports stemming from numerous insiders on multiple players, the Golden Knights could be in line to be very busy this offseason.

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

REPORT: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes Discussed Three-Team Deal Involving Mitch Marner At The Trade DeadlineSince the conclusion of the Vegas Golden Knights' 2024-25 season, they've been linked and named as possible favorites to land top free agent Mitch Marner. A recent report shared by The Athletic's James Mirtle states that the Golden Knights nearly completed a three-team trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes, which would have sent Marner to Vegas. Golden Knights Forward Finds His Name On Offseason Trade BoardVegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev, alongside defenseman Nicolas Hague, found his name on Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos' Offseason Trade Board. 

Welcome back to another Memorable Match from the Vancouver Canucks’ 2024–25 season. Last time, we looked at the team’s 4–3 overtime loss against the St. Louis Blues on March 20. This week, we’ll take a look at the Canucks’ record-setting 6–5 overtime win against the Dallas Stars on April 8. 

Coming into this game, the Canucks’ playoff odds were slimmer than a hair. If they won this game, they would continue to be in contention — barely. Dallas, on the other hand, had already clinched their playoff spot and looked to be Stanley Cup favourites after acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes. Because of this, Vancouver’s chances at winning looked slim even before they’d stepped onto the ice. 

The Stars took the lead in the first period with a goal from Rantanen 13:48 into the first period. Mason Marchment added to their total around five minutes after, sending Dallas to the first intermission with a 2–0 lead. Nearly halfway through the second period, Matt Duchene scored to make the score 3–0 for the Stars. 

Vancouver’s first goal didn’t come until the third period, when Jake DeBrusk found the back of the net 17 seconds into the final regulation frame. Victor Mancini added to this total while on the power play four minutes later. With the game now 3–2, the Canucks had a chance to tie things up and gain a valuable two points. After around 13 minutes, Maverick Bourque scored to give Dallas a two-goal cushion. Mikael Granlund made it 5–2 after scoring an empty net on the Canucks, who’d hoped to even things up. 

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What came next may have been one of the most impressive things the Canucks did this season. With only a minute left in regulation and a three-goal deficit, Aatu Räty scored Vancouver’s third goal of the game. 30 seconds later, it was Pius Suter who found the back of the net. With six seconds left to go in the game, Suter scored yet again to tie the game at 5–5. No other team in NHL history had ever come back from being down by three goals in the final minute of regulation. That is, not until the Canucks did so during this game. 

While this comeback may have come a bit too late, as the Canucks were eliminated from postseason contention the night after, this win was still a testament to the team’s character. If they can continue to carry this spirit into the 2025–26 season, Vancouver will be a difficult team for others to face. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine last weekend, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles later this month, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.  

The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.  

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Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka is a possibility for the Sabres, based on the fact that the club is looking to address the right side of the blueline. According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, the 6’6” defenseman can skate and move the puck, which could make his path to the NHL a relatively short one. 

"I want to be better offensively and get better in every (aspect) of the game,” Mrtka said on Saturday.  "(Coming over to Seattle) helped me a lot. They gave me a lot of time and chances, and I think it went pretty good. It's my dream to be in the NHL. So it's kind of preparation for me to live here and stay here." 

Mrtka joined the WHL’s Thunderbirds after starting the season in the Czech League, and while he put up solid offensive numbers in the WHL, scouts aren’t expecting him to duplicate that in the NHL. There’s still a lot to like about the big 18-year-old as a future middle-pair blueliner, who models his game after Victor Hedman and Moritz Seider. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo