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Could a 6-foot-5, ‘just blossoming' defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and either No. 31 or 32 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Radim Mrtka

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 202
Shoots: Right
Team: Seattle

Scouting report

Mrtka is a long, mobile, puck-moving blueliner who enjoyed a highly effective transition to North America and the WHL this season.

The Czech product debuted for the Thunderbirds toward the end of November and went on to record 35 points (three goals, 32 assists) and a plus-10 rating in 43 games. He did so at just 17 years old.

“He really, really took charge once he got to Seattle in the Western Hockey League,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “Like a spring flower, he’s just blossoming, he’s just blossoming. A 6-foot-5 ½, right-shot defenseman that can think and play — boy, oh, boy.”

Celebrating his 18th birthday Monday, Mrtka is the ninth-best player in the draft on Button’s list and the second-ranked defenseman, behind only consensus top overall pick Matthew Schaefer.

“The first thing you notice about Radim, when you first watch him, here’s this big, rangy defenseman,” Button said. “He was almost Bambi-like, like a deer kind of finding his legs underneath him. But as he has physically matured, his game has just continuously taken strides forward.

“He’s a good skater and his skating will become better as he gets more strength. He’s smart, he makes plays under pressure, he can play physical and he understands how to jump into the attack.”

With his willowy frame, Mrtka will have to add more muscle and prove he can play a hard style in the defensive zone. But he uses his length to quickly close gaps and kill plays, as well as push the puck up ice.

EliteProspects.com has him slotted at No. 15 overall, while NHL Central Scouting has him pegged as the fifth-rated North American skater.

“To me, a really good defenseman, in today’s game, you’ve got to be able to make a play with the puck,” Button said. “The days of just wiring the puck around the boards or just flipping it out … you’ve got to be able to make plays with the puck. Radim not only thinks the game well, but he can also execute the game well in terms of making plays with the puck.”

Fit with Flyers

Given how top-heavy the draft is with centers, Mrtka very well could be viewed as a reach for the Flyers at No. 6.

The Flyers have a pair of young, righty-shot defensemen in their system with Oliver Bonk (first round — 2023) and Spencer Gill (second round — 2024). But rebuilding teams can never have enough depth on the back end, so that probably wouldn’t sway the Flyers too much if they felt Mrtka was the best player available.

Still, it looks like the Flyers should have a shot to land a high-end forward at No. 6. While Mrtka would be a fine addition to the Flyers’ future defensive picture, he might not be the ideal pick at this spot. If for some reason he fell in the first round, the Flyers could potentially move up from No. 22 to make him their second selection.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

2025 NHL mock draft roundup: Updated Bruins first-round predictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins need a top-six center who can be a franchise player for a long time. And with the No. 7 overall pick in a 2025 NHL Draft class that’s loaded with quality centers, now is a good time to find that kind of building block.

In fact, it’s possible we could see six or seven centers taken in the first 10 picks of the first round.

One player who could be available when the Bruins are on the clock is Brady Martin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League. He tallied 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) in 57 games this past season, a major improvement from the 28 points in 52 games he posted in 2023-24.

Several NHL teams took Martin out to dinner last week during the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo, and the Bruins were among them, he told reporters on Friday. Martin said he had dinner with the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and Utah Mammoth as well.

Martin has an impressive two-way skill set and sets a physical tone each shift. His playmaking skills are very strong, and he has the kind of shot release/power to be an effective goal scorer.

The combination of high-end offensive ability and defensive responsibility would likely make him a good fit with the Bruins — an organization that really values a 200-foot game.

Which prospects, in addition to Martin, should the Bruins consider at No. 7? Here’s a roundup of predictions from recent expert mock drafts.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

“If Martin doesn’t go in the 4-6 range, the sense I get is that he doesn’t get past the Bruins. If he does go in the 4-6 range, I think that could mean Hagens surprises a little and gets here, or they pivot to O’Brien. They’re probably the start of where Roger McQueen gets consideration as well.”

Corey Pronman, The Athletic: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

“Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game while also having an excellent skill level. He is a potential top-two-line center that Boston desperately craves and plays the way the Bruins like.”

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

The Bruins will pick in the top 10 for the first time since 2011, and could target O’Brien, who elevated his game during the second half of the season with his poise, vision, playmaking ability, and willingness to play hard all 200 feet. The 17-year-old can slow the game down in the offensive zone and find scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, can check other teams’ top players and play in all situations.

Mike Morreale, NHL.com: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)

“The right-handed power forward (6-3, 208) has a proven scoring touch, leading Brampton with 61 assists, 98 points and 29 power-play points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 57 games while serving as captain. Boston certainly could use a powerful forward with game-breaking potential and Martone, who has been compared to Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry, fits the bill.”

Tab Bamford, Bleacher Nation: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

“O’Brien’s stock continues to climb; he’s gone from a guy in the early teens to being a clear-cut top-ten prospect with potential to slide all the way into the top five. The Bruins desperately need to add depth down the middle, and will have options here. I’m leaning O’Brien. Boston moved back two spots in the draft in the lottery, which actually makes O’Brien a more comfortable pick. They still need a new head coach, though.”

Tankathon: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

(No explanation provided)

Brad Marchand is once again proving why he's one of the NHL's ultimate premier playoff performers. As an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the question must be asked: Should the Maple Leafs aggressively pursue the veteran player who consistently performs well against them?

At 37 years old, Marchand continues to be an effective producer. While he recorded 23 goals and 28 assists in 71 games split between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, his playoff performance truly captures the spotlight. He has 63 goals and 92 assists in 176 playoff games and won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.

In his first playoff run with Florida, Marchand has tallied seven goals and 10 assists in 19 games. He has the ability to push his game to a new level at the most critical points in the playoffs. The Leafs are intimately familiar with this, having lost to Marchand in five consecutive Game 7s. He has consistently frustrated Toronto, not only with his statistics but also through psychological warfare, remaining a mentally disruptive force and clutch performer during high-stakes matchups.

Marchand recently told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that anything is on the table when asked if he would play for a Canadian team. It’s expected there will be numerous suitors at the conclusion of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

'I Grew Up A Leafs Fan': Panthers': Brad Marchand Owns Toronto Again, But Doesn't Believe Fans' Pressure Is JustifiedFlorida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones shook his head, agreeing with Brad Marchand after the veteran forward, who's now ousted the Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs on five separate occasions, said the fans beat the pressure into this team.

After Marchand’s team defeated the Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series, the player revealed he was a Leafs fan. It’s clear Marchand likes the big stage.

As Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving looks to “change the DNA” of his team this summer, a player like Marchand would certainly accomplish that goal. One could argue that if Marchand cannot be the force to shake up Toronto’s playoff woes, perhaps nobody (other than possibly Sam Bennett) can. Adding a player with Marchand’s grit, leadership, and playoff experience would undoubtedly benefit the Leafs. With 58 points in 59 career games against Toronto, adding Marchand would epitomize the 'if you can’t beat them, join them' strategy.

With Brendan Shanahan Gone, What Changes For Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving And Coach Craig Berube?Ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of the most important offseasons in the last decade.

But the crucial question is: What would be the cost?

The Leafs’ cap situation

Toronto is well-positioned to pursue a player like Brad Marchand, with a projected $25.71 million in cap space. With Mitch Marner ($10.9 million) likely to hit free agency, and a substantial savings from John Tavares’s $11 million salary cap hit (whether he stays or goes), the Leafs will be able to use that money to add some gritty forwards.

Regardless of Marchand's performance for the remainder of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, age will always be a significant concern. The last time the Leafs committed substantial money and term to a high-quality forward, they were subsequently forced to surrender a first-round pick in a trade to create salary space. This occurred when they signed a then-37-year-old Patrick Marleau to a deal with an average annual value of $6.25 million.

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

The key difference between the two players lies in their playoff performance, and that distinction will command a premium for Marchand, who could seek an average annual value of $7.5 to $8 million in a new deal.

Is that too much for Toronto? Perhaps. However, they might commit to a longer term to lower the average annual value, acquire the player, and address the ramifications later, similar to their approach with contracts like Chris Tanev’s six-year, $27 million deal last summer.

Even with available cap space, the Leafs still need to be conscious of how they spend it. Twenty-two-year-old Matthew Knies is due a substantial raise. Finding another center remains a priority for the Leafs, and Sam Bennett could be more expensive than Marchand, strictly based on role and age.

Nothing More Than $7.5M AAV

Ideally, the Leafs would not offer Marchand anything more than two years at $7.5 million in average annual value. If they were to add a third year to lower the AAV, that would make sense, aligning with a deal similar to Marleau’s, especially since all indications suggest Marchand will eventually age out. While he is performing well, you have to look at some of the facts. Beyond his age, Marchand is optimized in Florida by playing on the third line. There has to be a sense of not wanting to overpay for a third-line contributor, particularly one who is nearing the end of his career.

But there's no doubt Marchand would help Toronto next season. Given the club's 'win-now' window,  they could be quite aggressive.

Maple Leafs Hire Derek Lalonde As Assistant Coach: What He Brings To Toronto's BenchThe Toronto Maple Leafs officially announced on Friday the addition of Derek Lalonde to their coaching staff as an assistant. This move filled a  vacancy on head coach Craig Berube’s staff after associate coach Lane Lambert departed to become the Seattle Kraken’s new bench boss. Spencer Carbery Makes History As First Ex-Maple Leafs Assistant To Win Jack Adams AwardJust over two years ago, Spencer Carbery completed his second season as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, he has received the NHL’s top coaching honor. 'Not Always Necessarily The Best Thing': Thriving With Oilers Kasperi Kapanen Reflects On Pressure-Filled Maple Leafs Media ExperienceEdmonton Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen is among many former Toronto Maple Leafs performing strongly during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, he was asked about his tenure in Toronto.

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When Adam Keefe signed up to play for the Belfast Giants in 2011, he couldn't have imagined how lifechanging that decision was going to be.

He had been hoping to follow in his older brother Sheldon's footsteps and make it to the National Hockey League (NHL), the ultimate goal of every Canadian who laces up the skates.

Sheldon, four years older than Adam, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999 and went on to make his NHL debut the following season, but ultimately his playing career was curtailed because of injury.

"It's hard to get to the NHL and I was lucky enough to play at least some exhibition games and play at that level and get a taste of it," said Adam.

"Ultimately, I fell short and was getting a little tired. I was getting a little older and I wanted to see the world and experience something new.

"With our last name being Keefe, it was always a kind of a bucket list thing to visit the homeland.

"Finally, the opportunity came through a Facebook message from the coach of the Giants, Doug Christiansen. It was my first chance and I jumped on it.

"I thought it would just be a one-year deal and I’d probably go back home and do ultimately what I did here, probably in Toledo."

However, the younger Keefe sibling would never make that trip to Toledo.

He won Elite League in his first season with the Giants and captained the side to another title victory in 2014.

By then he was well established as a leader and a fan favourite, a team-mate that you could rely on to drop the gloves and defend his brothers on the ice.

Keefe's transition to coach in 2017 was a seamless move for the Giants. It kept the line of succession in place, despite no prior experience in the role.

What followed has been the most sustained run of success in the club's twenty-five-year history.

Ten trophies - four league championships, five Challenge Cups and a Play-off title - in six full seasons (two were lost due to Covid-19), including a Grand Slam in 2023.

"I just fell in love with the city and winning and the fans here. Obviously, I met my wife and have two girls, so I'm locked into Northern Ireland.

"It's been a great experience for me and a fun one."

Giants' fans echo mutual support for 'the heartbeat' of the Belfast side and they recently showed their appreciation at Adam‘s testimonial when his number 47 shirt was retired, the ultimate honour for a player.

‘I wasn’t going to mess with him much more’

Sheldon made his first trip to Belfast for the event. Since his playing days came to an end, Adam's older brother made his way up through the coaching ranks all the way back to the NHL.

He was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019-2024 and has just finished his first season in charge of the New Jersey Devils, leading them to the play-offs.

Sheldon’s first impressions of Belfast have been favourable.

"I love the city, just walking around and being here in the building and getting a feel for the hockey part of it.

"You can see why there's so much passion here for Giants hockey and why Adam fell in love with the city and the team."

Growing up together just outside of Toronto, both Keefe brothers were soon on the hockey pathway.

"I don't know about brotherly rivalry so much," explained Sheldon.

"I mean, there's maybe enough separation with four years that I think I had my way for a lot of the time.

"But it maybe contributed to some of the edge that he ended up developing in playing.

"Certainly, as Adam got older, it was very clear I wasn't going to mess with him much more.

"We were playing hockey, fighting in the basement, competing in the driveway and on the street and he quite often was playing with my friends and having to try to compete."

Adam agreed, "A lot of times it's him and his friends playing street hockey and you're four years younger than those guys.

"You got to work extra hard and sometimes you're going to get knocked down.

"So, if you want to stay in there, you got to learn to fight back and I certainly did that.

"Obviously, he's provided a great example for me and set a very high standard that is difficult to try to keep up with.

"He took care of me through critical years when I was a teenager and set me on a good path.

"Then to follow his career while I was trying to make the NHL, to follow his coaching career and see that he just kind of kept winning right from the time he started.

"Then ultimately to claw his way back to the NHL as a coach becoming one of the youngest coaches in the league and then to coach arguably the biggest hockey club in the world. That's very special."

'His life is all about the hockey'

Adam's success as a coach has come as no surprise to Sheldon. In his words, "life's been all about hockey".

"I think we can both say we would be a little lost without the game.

"If I look at my own transition into coaching, when you maybe first get into it, for me, at least, I didn't know what I was doing at all.

"But you're relying on your competitiveness, your passion for the game, your work ethic, all the things that help you play at a high level, and that gives you a strong foundation.

"I knew Adam was going to commit and be all in on everything that he's doing and while learning and refining any skills that you need as a coach, you're going to have the respect of your players because of everything that you put in to help them and the team.

"He's been an absolute competitor and a guy that will do anything to win for his entire life."

Sheldon has helped Adam out with player recruitment and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Belfast as a playing destination.

"I've followed enough to know the standard of the Elite League and that it just continues to improve and get better and better.

"Seeing the arena and seeing the city and community, it would be a great draw for players to come and get the life experience but still play great hockey.

"As I watch the young kids playing as well, there is lots of excitement about growing the game here too."

Despite enjoying his Testimonial weekend where the Giants once again gave back to the community raising over £109,000 for the Northern Ireland Hospice, the new season is never far from Adam's mind.

"Champions League is right around the corner.

"August is going to come around pretty quick, and nobody cares about last year.”

The scene is shifting to South Florida as the 2026 Stanley Cup Final continues.

So far, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have put on one hell of a show.

Both teams have picked up an overtime victory so far, with Edmonton earning a comeback 4-3 win in Game 1 and Florida responding with a 5-4 double OT victory two nights later.

Considering the Panthers and Oilers played a series last June that was widely considered one of the best in recent memory, it’s not terribly surprising to see them running it back this year.

Looking back at the opening two games, it was clear that Florida looked and felt much better about playing their style in Game 2 than they did in Game 1.

It’s tough on both teams because they are each trying to impose their will and systems on the other, but at this point, the Panther and Oilers are facing the toughest challenge they have all season.

Lineup-wise, the only potential question for Florida will be whether A.J. Greer slots back onto the fourth line or if Jesper Boqvist continues to replace him.

Despite Game 2 going into double overtime, Boqvist played only 8:41, the fewest minutes of any Panthers player. Linemate Jonah Gadjovich wasn’t far behind at 8:53.

Perhaps Greer back on the line will infuse some confidence in Maurice to deploy them more often.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 3 against Edmonton:

Evan Rodrigues – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov

Scratches: Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Jesper Boqvist, Nico Sturm, Jaycob Megna

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Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) and Edmonton Oilers defenseman John Klingberg (36) attempt to get the puck during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

The Abbotsford Canucks have eliminated the Texas Stars and advanced to the Calder Cup Finals where they will take on the Charlotte Checkers. 

The Canucks captured the Robert W. Clarke as Western Conference Champions with a 4-2 win in game six.

Goaltender Arturs Silovs continued his fantastic playoff run with a .917 SP, 2.28 GAA, and one shutout in the series, he has a .929 SP, 1.94 GAA, and 12-5 record with five shutouts in the playoffs. He made 23 stops in game six.

There was a bizarre sequence early in the game when Sammy Blais thought he had opened the scoring, during the confusion several players stopped playing and Texas went down the ice and scored.

After scoring his first goal of the playoffs in game five Arshdeep Bains scored twice in game six, he and Linus Karlsson led the team with seven points each in the Conference Finals. 

Jujhar Khaira scored his third of the playoffs before Max Sasson scored his first of the series midway through the third in what ended up being the game winner.

The Canucks' defense core had a stellar series, veteran Christian Wolanin formed a great pairing with Victor Mancini while Guillaume Brisebois continued to perform in all situations. 

In a series that had three overtime games and a 1-0 game Abbotsford showed their comfort under pressure and ability to grind out different types of games. 

RAN AWAY WITH IT🏃@abbycanucks | #CalderCuppic.twitter.com/jHyVMQfFIE

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 9, 2025

Despite boasting the two top point scorers of the playoffs in Cameron Hughes (19) and Justin Hryckowian (18) the Stars could not solve the Abbotsford defense. 

Harrison Scott scored his first career professional goal for the Stars in one of their few bright spots in game six. 

Goaltender Magnus Hellberg earned the start after entering the game in relief in game four, he was under fire all game and made 36 saves on 39 shots. 

The Stars had a great campaign and it will be fascinating to see the roster they return with next season as several players are pending free agents or have earned promotions. 

The 87th Calder Cup gets underway on June 13 in North Carolina. 

 Keep an eye on The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks team site for on the ground coverage of the Abbotsford Canucks. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.   

Photo Credit: © Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

It is a longshot that players who go unsigned by NHL clubs after being drafted make any impact. The Buffalo Sabres are one club that found out the hard way that sometimes players fall through the cracks. In 2016, Buffalo selected in the sixth round winger Brandon Hagel from the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. After two unspectacular seasons, Hagel went unsigned and signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks. He then scored 102 points as an overager, went to the American Hockey League, worked his way to the NHL, was traded to Tampa Bay in 2022 and three years later is a shoo in to make Team Canada for the upcoming Olympic games. 

There is no way to tell whether history will repeat itself, but after allowing three draft picks rights to expire last week, the Edmonton Oilers quickly jumped on the opportunity and signed 2021 draftee Viljami Marjala to a two-year, entry-level contract. 

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Marjala played for the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts after being selected in the fifth round by Buffalo. After another season in Quebec, he returned to his native Finland and split time between the junior level and the Finnish SM-Liiga. In his second season, he scored 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 60 games for TPS Turku, and last season, the 22-year-old had another good offensive year, tying for his club’s scoring lead with 52 points (8 goals, 44 assists) in 54 games. 

🚨Big goal alert🚨Just another reason why the Sabres should be talking contract with Viljami Marjala soon. He again steps up in the loser-goes-home game to drag TPS into a 2-2 tie with SaiPa. pic.twitter.com/MPt7CEGIXc

— Kris Baker (@SabresProspects) March 24, 2025

The Sabres have not done a good job in developing their prospects, as only one player selected in the third round or later in the Kevyn Adams era has played in the NHL. Czech forward Lukas Rousek signed with a SHL club last month, and there is some speculation that 2021 second-rounder Aleksandr Kisakov may return to Russia after playing only 13 games in Rochester last season and that lack of development or opportunity may be a factor in Buffalo being able to bring their prospects to North America in the future. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Former Seattle Kraken forward Karson Kuhlman has signed a one-year contract with SHL team Rögle BK.

The 29-year-old played 39 games with the Kraken, spanning over two seasons. In his time with the Kraken, Kuhlman recorded three goals, eight assists and 11 points. 

Kuhlman hasn't played any NHL games in the last two seasons, playing for the Bridgeport Islanders, the New York Islanders' AHL affiliate in 2023-24 and with Lukko in Liiga, Finland's top professional league. In his first season in Finland, the American right winger scored 21 goals and 46 points in 60 games.

Kuhlman is the second former NHL player to sign with Rögle BK in the past few days, joining former Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Freidman. 

“Karson brings a lot of experience, including a season in Europe,” said Rögle sports director Hampus Sjöström. “He is a versatile player who can contribute in all forms of play. He is committed and good at finding pucks around the net.”

Kuhlman won a National Championship with Minnesota Duluth before beginning his NHL career, where he played 147 games, scoring 12 goals and 30 points, splitting his time with the Boston Bruins, Kraken and the Winnipeg Jets. 

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If 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.

In a June 5 column for the Toronto Sun, former NHLer Nick Kypreos revealed that both the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are in pursuit of the Flyers trade target.

"There aren’t many quality UFA defencemen out there, so that makes Nicolas Hague of the Golden Knights a very attractive trade chip if and when Vegas decides to move him because of limited salary cap space," Kypreos wrote. "I’m hearing the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are hot on the trail to potentially trade for him."

It was previously reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman that the Flyers have been connected to Golden Knights trade talks for the 26-year-old Hague, a pending restricted free agent and left-shot defender.

It is worth noting that the Flyers have not made much progress in contract talks with Cam York, also an RFA who could be traded ahead of or offer-sheeted on July 1.

As for the other teams, the Canadiens have $6 million in cap space with only six defensemen on their active roster, including prospect Logan Mailloux and a role player in Arber Xhekaj. David Savard is retiring from the NHL, while Jayden Struble, a left-shot like Hague, is an RFA.

The Penguins, the Flyers' most hated rivals, are in need of left-shots after trading Marcus Pettersson to Vancouver ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

Their left side currently consists of free agency bust Ryan Graves, journeyman Ryan Shea, and prospects Owen Pickering and Vladislav Kolyachonok. Veteran Matt Grzelcyk is a UFA this summer, while P.O. Joseph and Conor Timmins are both RFAs.

Effectively, this is all to say that Kypreos's report tracks, as both the Canadiens and Penguins have a greater need for an addition on defense than the Flyers do, especially on the left side.

Even without York, the Flyers still have Travis Sanheim, Nick Seeler, Egor Zamula, and Emil Andrae to hold down the fort, though it's unclear if new head coach Rick Tocchet will use Sanheim on the right as John Tortorella and Brad Shaw had over the last few seasons.

That being said, if the Flyers want to beat out the Canadiens and Penguins to secure Hague's services and signature, they may have to win a bidding war to do it.

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 pace in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final has made the championship series extremely entertaining to watch.

Both the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers were able to extract a hard-earned victory during the first two games of the series in Alberta, but now the scene shifts to Sunrise for a couple of battles in South Florida.

Despite there being 16 goals scored so far – eight for each team – the defensive play on both sides has been pretty solid.

The physicality has also been heavy and consistent between the Cats and Oilers.

Truly, these teams have treated hockey fans to two spectacular Stanley Cup Final games so far.

That’s not bad considering many have already viewed last year’s epic seven-game Final between Florida and Edmonton as one of the best ever.

But now, after playing those two exhausting, demanding games, both of which went to overtime, the players were given an extra day off while the series moved from central Alberta to southern Florida.

“Both teams will take the two days, gladly,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.

Recovering from the games is only a part of why the time off will be so valued.

The distance between Sunrise and Edmonton represents the farthest gap between two Stanley Cup Final opponents ever, as we all learned last year.

“I think it's necessary for both teams,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said of the time off. “I think it's a necessary evil of a six-hour flight and a two-hour time change. You have to have it.”

Ekblad and the Panthers made the cross-continent trip on Saturday, about 12 hours after their thrilling 5-4 double overtime win in Game 2 at Rogers Place.

The majority of the team participated in an optional practice session on Sunday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

“Whether it's a big win or whether it's a tough loss, it's all how you bounce back from it,” said Panthers forward Sam Reinhart. “It's what happens in these two days in between that prepares you for the next game. We take pride in, no matter what happened in that last game, we're going to do what we need to this next couple days to be at our best once that puck drops, and we expect the same out of them as well.”

Included in the group that skated on Sunday was injured forward A.J. Greer, who wore a light blue sweater along with recent healthy scratches Nico Sturm and Mackie Samoskevich.

That would indicate the Panthers aren’t making any roster changes after their win in Game 2, but things could certainly change over the next 24 hours.

We’ll see if Greer remains out of the top 12 when Florida holds a morning skate on Monday ahead of Game 3 at Amerant Bank Arena.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague could be available in a trade this offseason and is beginning to garner plenty of interest, now coming from the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens, according to Nick Kypreos.

The Philadelphia Flyerswere the first team linked to Hague, and with three first-round picks in this year's draft, they seem like the best fit. The Canadiens have multiple first-round picks this year as well, and the Penguins have just one, but both teams have the resources to pull off a trade.

With the recent report about Alex Pietrangelo's health coming into question for the 2025-26 season, it might change what General Manager Kelly McCrimmon's plan was for Hague. The 26-year-old was drafted by the Golden Knights in 2017 and made his debut in the 2019-20 season. 

Hague is a pending restricted free agent this offseason and could command a healthy pay raise, which is why the Golden Knights have floated the possibility of trading the 6'6 defender. Reports have stated that they aren't actively looking to move him, but if a team calls, they'll at the very least entertain it. 

"Speaking of Vegas, the Golden Knights have just over $9.6 million in salary cap space and a few decent holes to fill. Word on the street is they are entertaining calls on defenceman Nic Hague, who is set to become a restricted free agent July 1 and is due for a solid paycheck," said Pagnotta in his recent "Start of Silly Season" article.

"Multiple sources indicated this week that Vegas has already started to engage in trade discussions involving Hague, who brings size, accountability and a championship pedigree to any club looking to strengthen their defensive corps. Several teams will be poking around, and this should be something to keep an eye on leading up to Draft weekend."

Tough decisions will need to be made regarding Hague and the organization's pursuit of another star forward.

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Corey Perry may have only played one year for the Montreal Canadiens, but he has built friendships that will last a lifetime and taken something else away from the experience. During the 2021 playoffs, the right winger began using teammate Josh Anderson’s sticks, and four years later, in the Stanley Cup final with the Edmonton Oilers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed that the 40-year-old is still using Anderson’s stick.

While the Canadiens didn’t make it to the final, it means that part of their equipment made it. Perry is one of two former Hab players who have reached the Cup final, alongside blueliner Brett Kulak, who was traded to the Oilers back in 2022 in the deal that allowed the Canadiens to select Lane Hutson in the following draft.

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So far in these playoffs, Kulak has produced five points in 18 games, skating alongside Darnell Nurse on the Oilers’ second pairing. There’s no doubt that winning the Stanley Cup for his hometown team would be a dream come true for the 31-year-old defenseman who took some time to establish himself as a regular NHL defenseman.

In the offseason following his trade to Edmonton, Kulak signed a four-year contract with the Alberta outfit, carrying a $2.75 million cap hit. He’s currently playing out the last season of his contract, and a Cup win would be a fairytale ending, whether or not he re-signs with the Oilers for next season.

As for Perry and Anderson’s sticks, it’s their fifth cup final in the last six seasons, and the ageless wonder is still making an impact in the lineup. With sniper Zach Hyman injured and ruled out for the duration of the series, Perry has been asked to step up and is currently riding shotgun on the Oilers’ top line with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

While he doesn’t necessarily have the speed to keep up with his two linemates, he certainly has the hockey smarts, and on Friday night, he made history, scoring the latest game-tying goal ever in the Stanley Cup final. There were only 18 seconds left on the clock when he scored the goal that sent the game into overtime.

Perry has been clutch so far in this final; he was also at the origin of the game's one game-winning goal when he initiated the play that allowed McDavid to feed Leon Draisaitl for the game-winner with just 31 seconds left in the first period of overtime. In 18 playoffs games, he already has 12 points.

Perry and Kulak will resume their quest for the Cup when the series resumes on Monday night in Florida for Game 3.

Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

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The 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.

Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery came away with a decisive win, appearing first on 81 of the 103 ballots

The Capitals finished second in the NHL regular season standings for 2024-25 and saw a 20-point improvement in their overall standings this season, after an 11-point improvement the prior year.

In total, 13 NHL coaches received at least one vote — voters selected a first, second and third place coach on each ballot — but Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour was not one of those coaches.

I'm not saying that Brind'Amour should have won the award, as Carbery was a well worthy candidate with how he was able to get the Capitals back to being true contenders, but it does seem like an apparent lack of respect for one of the league's top coaches. 

Despite the Carolina Hurricanes' continued success, appearing in seven straight postseasons and winning at least a round in each as well as another Eastern Conference Final appearance, Brind'Amour was seemingly not given a ton of credit for the team's success by the broadcasters.

Overall, it's been pretty telling how the award has transitioned to more so being about which teams were the most surprising this season as opposed to true coaching effect.

I mean, for one, neither Jon Cooper nor Jared Bednar have ever won a Jack Adams Award despite Tampa Bay and Colorado consistently being two of the top teams in the league year in and year out.

However, both of them still appeared on ballots this season while Brind'Amour did not, despite their teams finishing just three points higher than the Hurricanes.

Finishing three points higher while, might I add, they both have multiple elite and MVP-level players on their teams as well.

Carolina meanwhile has no award finalists, no 40-goal scorers, no player who has even ever broken 100-points. But they do have a great system, full team buy-in and belief, all things I would credit back to the coaching staff.

Again, not saying Brind'Amour should have won by any means, but for him to not even get a single vote of any kind feels just wrong.

'Competing Isn't Enough. We Want To Win': Eric Tulsky, Rod Brind'Amour 2024-25 Exit InterviewsThe Carolina Hurricanes' 2024-25 season came to a close earlier this week as the team lost in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.

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New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is facing a crucial question regarding his goaltending tandem for the 2025-26 season. 

With starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom under contract for the 2025-26 season, the organization must decide who the veteran's backup will be.

This past season, the Devils tandem consisted of Markstrom and veteran Jake Allen. 

"We liked our tandem," Fitzgerald said. "We felt it was one of the better tandems in the league. You look at (Allen's) numbers, (they were) very good. His professionalism, the way he interacted with (Markstrom) as the backup, is very important in a tandem. They got along very well."

Allen finished the season with a 13-16-1 record with a .908 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. 

In a recent interview with NHL.com, Fitzgerald spoke about Allen, 34, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent. 

"As far as goaltending, Jake Allen is one of the better ones on the market," Fitzgerald told NHL.com. "His camp tells me he would like to stay. He really enjoyed his time here. We are trying to figure out what that number is, and then does it work for us?"

Of course, the Devils also have an internal option in 24-year-old Nico Daws.

Daws will enter the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $812,500. For the 2025-26 campaign, he is on a one-way deal at $850,000 at the NHL level. 

Spending most of this past season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets, Daws started four games for the Devils, earning a 3-1-0 record with one shutout. 

This past season wasn't the easiest for Daws. It was a challenging start with the Comets, who kicked things off, losing their first 13 games, and an injury that forced him to take a couple of weeks off after Christmas. 

With all of that now behind him, Daws feels confident about where he is and the lessons he has learned. 

"When you have a start like we did in Utica, it is a lot of mental ups and downs for sure, and just learning how to deal with it and stay composed," Daws explained. "Removing yourself from it and just think, win or lose, you have to be able to get in the net every night with the confidence to win, and I think confidence has been a big thing for me this year. 

"I learned a lot this year mentally."

With New Jersey having several young goaltenders in their pipeline, it could be time to see one of them make the jump to full-time NHLer, and a more confident Daws believes he is up for the task. 

"Obviously, I want to be on this team full-time, and I think I am ready for it," Daws said. "Just going to go into the summer working as hard as I can, have a really good camp, and prove to them that I am ready." 

It will be up to Fitzgerald and his front office to decide whether it is time to promote Daws to an NHL player or run it back with two veterans who served the Devils well in 2024-25.

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

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