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Jonathan Toews hasn't played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season and is now 37 years old, but he is determined and believes he is ready to return to the NHL.

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Toews reached out to his agent, Pat Brisson, yesterday to inform him he's 100 percent committed to returning to the NHL next season. Throughout the 2024-25 season, Toews was reported as "interested" in making a return but had not made a final decision. LeBrun said in a post on X that he "just spoke with Brisson, who says he will start taking calls from NHL teams on Toews now leading up to July 1."

Toews is a certified winner and is known as one of the best captains in NHL history. In his prime, he was known as one of the best two-way centers in the NHL, scoring a career-high 35 goals and 81 points in the 2018-19 season. In his NHL career, Toews won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks while adding a Conn Smythe Trophy, Selke Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Internationally, Toews is a part of the Triple Gold Club, winning gold medals at the Olympics twice, the World Juniors twice and the World Championship once. He's had a historic career that will likely get him into the Hockey Hall of Fame on his first ballot. Despite that, the Winnipeg, MN native is eager to get back to the NHL, and TSN's Darren Dreger believes there will be a lot of teams lining up for his services, and the Jets will be leading the way. 

Toews will have a long list of clubs with interest. The @NHLJets will be front and centre when the time is right. Could be a great fit. https://t.co/KIVzv8I9UL

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 29, 2025

In his late 30s, it might be a large ask to slot him into a second-line center role, but if he is in as great of shape as he claims to be, he could be the perfect cost-efficient center. When Frank Seravalli first broke the news about Toews' desire to return in January, he listed the Jets, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche as possible suitors. 

The market will be competitive, but the Jets hold the advantage of being his hometown team. 

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

REPORT: Brock Nelson Blocked Trade To Jets In Favour Of Move To AvalancheAccording to Marco D'Amico of RG Media, Brock Nelson reportedly nixed a trade to the Winnipeg Jets in favour of a move to the Colorado Avalanche.

The Florida Panthers are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final.

That statement, on its own, should lead to an incredible amount of excitement and enthusiasm.

But these are not the Panthers of, well, three years ago.

Back in 2023, when the Panthers made their first of what has now become three consecutive trips to the annual championship series, it was beyond a big deal.

Entering that postseason, Florida had won exactly four playoff series in the team’s existence, three of which came during the team’s improbable run to the Final in their third season back in 1996.

In the 26 years bridging that postseason with the Panthers’ Presidents’ Trophy winning year in 2022, there was more than a little frustration in and around the franchise.

That’s why it was completely acceptable and warranted when the team had an epic celebration following their win in Game 4 of the conference final back in 2023.

Between the buildup during that postseason – advancing as an eight seed – and the overall lack of success on a franchise-level until that point, it was quite understandable why the festivities following that victory were as exuberant as they were.

Last season, when the Panthers defeated the New York Rangers in six games to advance to their second straight Cup Final, the celebrations were a bit more tempered.

That’s why when the Cats knocked out the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night in Raleigh to move on to the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight season, there wasn’t much of a celebration at all. Well, at least not what some would think is acceptable for winning a conference title.

“It's not easy to do, to be three times in a row in the Stanley Cup Final,” said Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. “It's a big achievement for us, but again, the biggest step is ahead of us, and we're all excited about it.”

Were the Panthers clearly happy they had earned their third straight Price of Wales Trophy?

Of course. It’s an amazing achievement, one that some players will go an entire career without realizing.

“I didn't even think about it. I just reacted how I reacted,” said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. “I think it was different than a few years ago. I remember a few years ago, like it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point. I know we talked about it last year, it's part of the journey, and same way with this year. It’s all business, and we've got a bigger goal in mind.”

Nobody on the roster is throwing any shade or disrespect to what they have accomplished to this point. It’s incredibly difficult and few teams even have the chance to fight for it.

But this team is seasoned. Battle tested. They’ve been around the block and understand that they have one main goal in mind.

“I think going into this year, we knew what the goal was,” said Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues. “It's an accomplishment, winning the conference, but I think we all knew from day one what the goal was, and that's to win a Stanley Cup. We’ve got four more to go, and I think that's more of the mentality that that every guy in this room has.”

Interestingly, the ‘bigger goal’ mentality is one shared universally throughout the locker room.

That includes the new guys, the players who were not part of last season’s Stanley Cup championship but still have an astute understanding of the situation they now find themselves in, and the expectation that comes with it from one man to the next.

“We’re obviously very focused,” said Panthers forward Brad Marchand. “You could just see the guys have been here before, we're excited that we got through the round, but that's where it stops. The toughest team that we're going to face is coming up next. If you don't do the job there again, you didn't win anything. So yeah, we're excited, but it's just like any other round. There's a huge job to do moving forward, and we have to prepare for that now.”

It's yet to be determined who and where the Panthers will be facing and traveling to when they open the Stanley Cup Final sometime next week.

They may be entering the first Final rematch we’ve seen since 2009, which was the last time the same opponents faced off in consecutive Cup Finals (back then it was Detroit and Pittsburgh, who split the two series).

As it stands, the Edmonton Oilers hold a 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars.

Whether or not we see a Panthers-Oilers second act remains to be seen, but from a Florida perspective, nobody seems to be worried about a potential opponent.

If the Panthers continue to play their style of hockey at the level they’ve set over the past several postseasons, the team is fully confident that things will work out in their favor.

At the moment, the Cats are taking in their latest achievement while simultaneously preparing for the final battles to come.

“We appreciate and we value where we are right now,” said Bobrovsky. “But we know that the most important step is ahead of us.”

It will be fun to see how things play out. Stay tuned!

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Photo caption: May 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers celebrate the win against the Carolina Hurricanes after game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

As Panthers and Oilers meet again, how many Cup Final rematches have there been? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are running it back.

The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final features a rematch as the defending champion Panthers battle the Connor McDavid-led Oilers with Lord Stanley on the line once again.

The Panthers defeated the Oilers in a seven-game Cup Final thriller last year to capture their first-ever championship. Florida jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, Edmonton then won three straight elimination games to even the series, and the Panthers took the decisive Game 7 at home by a score of 2-1.

This is the third straight Cup Final appearance for the Panthers, who have a chance to join an exclusive group of repeat champions. Florida made rare history in 2024 by winning the Cup Final the year after finishing as runners-up, and Edmonton now is looking to do the same. The Oilers haven’t hoisted Lord Stanley in over three decades, with their last championship coming in 1990.

With Oilers-Panthers Round 2 set, here’s a look at the history of rematches in Stanley Cup Final:

Has there ever been a Stanley Cup Final rematch?

This isn’t the first time the same two teams have met in consecutive Cup Finals.

How many Stanley Cup Final rematches have there been?

Panthers-Oilers is the fifth Cup Final rematch since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season.

When was the last Stanley Cup Final rematch?

The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were the last teams to meet in consecutive Cup Finals, doing so from 2008 to 2009. Detroit won the 2008 Cup Final in six games before Pittsburgh earned the 2009 Stanley Cup title in seven games.

The four previous Cup Final rematches saw two 2-0 sweeps and two 1-1 splits. Here’s a full look at the results of each championship rematch:

• Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Detroit won 2008 Cup Final in six games, Pittsburgh won in 2009 Cup Final in seven games
• New York Islanders vs. Edmonton Oilers: New York won 1983 Cup Final in four games, Edmonton won 1984 Cup Final in five games
• Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins: Montreal won 1977 Cup Final in four games and 1978 Cup Final in six games
• Montreal Canadiens vs. St. Louis Blues: Montreal won 1968 and 1969 Cup Finals in four games

When does the Stanley Cup Final start? Here's the full Panthers-Oilers schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The last two NHL teams standing in 2025 are the same as in 2024.

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will square off in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year. It’s just the fifth time since the start of the expansion era in 1967-68 that the same two teams have met in consecutive Cup Finals.

The Panthers outlasted the Oilers in a roller-coaster 2024 Cup Final that went the distance. Edmonton erased a 3-0 series deficit with three straight victories in elimination games, but Florida avoided a historic collapse by taking Game 7 at home to claim the franchise’s first championship.

This is the Panthers’ third straight appearance in the Cup Final as they look to join an exclusive list of repeat Stanley Cup winners. Florida, which entered the 2025 playoffs as the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, bounced the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, took down the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, and won the Eastern Conference Final over the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

The Panthers have 10 players with at least 10 points this postseason, led by captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points), forward Matthew Tkachuk (16) and center Sam Bennett (16). And between the pipes, Sergei Bobrovsky boasts a 2.11 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.

Edmonton, meanwhile, is looking to repeat the rare history that Florida pulled off last season by following up a Cup Final loss with a championship. The Oilers, the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed, first overcame a 2-0 series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings with four straight comeback victories before defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Edmonton won the Western Conference Final over the Dallas Stars for the second straight year, this time in five games. Since starting the playoffs with two straight defeats, the Oilers have lost just twice.

The star duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl has powered the Oilers back to the Cup Final, as they seek the franchise’s first championship since 1990 and sixth overall. McDavid and Draisitl are this postseason’s points leaders with 26 and 25, respectively. McDavid could be on his way to a second straight Conn Smythe Trophy after winning the award in a losing effort last year.

But will the NHL’s best player be able to bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton? Or will the Panthers double up their Stanley Cup title haul by going back-to-back? From the format to the schedule and more, here’s what to know about the 2025 Cup Final:

Who has home-ice advantage in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final?

Unlike last year, the Oilers will have home-ice advantage in the Cup Final thanks to finishing with more points than Florida in the regular season.

What is the Stanley Cup Final format?

The Cup Final is best-of-seven with a 2-2-1-1-1 format where the team with home-ice advantage hosts Games 1 and 2, along with the potential Games 5 and 7.

When is Game 1 of the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final?

The Cup Final begins Wednesday, June 4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final schedule

• Game 1: Panthers at Oilers — Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Panthers at Oilers — Friday, June 6, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Oilers at Panthers — Monday, June 9, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Oilers at Panthers — Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 5 (if necessary): Panthers at Oilers — Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 6 (if necessary): Oilers at Panthers — Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 7 (if necessary): Panthers at Oilers — Friday, June 20, 8 p.m. ET

What TV channel is the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final on?

All Cup Final games will air on TNT and truTV.

Where to stream the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final live online

Oilers-Panthers will also be available to stream on TNTDrama.com, truTV.com, the TNT app, the truTV app and Max.

Since the Carolina Hurricanes signed Montreal Canadiens former player Jesperi Kotkaniemi for a $6.1 million offer sheet in the Summer of 2021, plenty has been written about the centerman, but it has rarely been positive. Earlier in the Eastern Conference final, the soon-to-be 25-year-old was scratched for a couple of games.

On Wednesday night, he was dressed for game five. With the Hurricanes leading 2-0, the center took a terrible holding penalty, which became the turning point of the game. After just 16 seconds on the power play, Matthew Tkachuk cut the Canes’ lead in half, and 30 seconds later, Evan Rodrigues tied up the game. Just over four minutes later, Anton Lundell gave Florida its first lead of the game.

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Carolina managed to even the score in the final frame, but Florida got its lead back within minutes and scored an empty netter through Sam Bennet with less than a minute to go. The Panthers took the game 5-3 and the series 4-1. One can wonder if this will be the last time we see Kotkaniemi wear the Hurricanes jersey.

After his penalty, he only took five more shifts during the game and was the forward who saw the least ice time for Carolina with just 9:31. He still has five years left on the eight-year $38.56 M contract he signed with the Canes in March 2022.

Even though the contract has a reasonable $4.82 M cap hit, the Hurricanes cannot be pleased with the Finn’s performances since signing the extension. He never scored more than 43 points in a season, and that was in the 2022-23 season. Since then, he has posted seasons of 27 and 33 points and has moved up and down the lineup.

“It’s not like just a turnover or some other mistake, that was such a dumb thing to do.”

The panel discusses Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s penalty that tipped the momentum Florida’s way. pic.twitter.com/pXPX4Io6oK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 29, 2025

From the 2026-27 season, a modified no-trade clause will kick in in his contract, which will allow him to submit a 10-team no-trade list. Could the Canes manage to trade him this offseason? It would be surprising, given the term left on his deal and the fact that his numbers are not exactly trending in the right direction.

It'd cost Carolina $8,413,333 to buy him out, as they’d be on the hook for $841,333 per year for 10 years. This is not a huge penalty, and it will be up to the front office to determine what’s worse: a 10-year financial penalty or a player who has fallen out of favor with the coach and can no longer perform consistently.

While it was a mistake for the Canadiens to draft Kotkaniemi with the third-overall pick in 2018, it certainly wasn’t one to let him go when he signed the offer sheet with Carolina.

Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

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Are The Florida Panthers Becoming A Dynasty? Plus Oilers, Stars, Leafs Talk by The Big Showundefined

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

1:38: Are the Florida Panthers a dynasty team?

3:44: Is this Panthers squad more impressive than the Tampa Bay Lightning team that went to three straight Cup finals?

4:52: If you’re one of the 31 other NHL teams, what are you taking away from Florida? Will we see other teams getting bigger and heavier? 

7:10: How should Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky move on from losing in the Eastern Conference final again? Was this year a success or failure?

9:48: How big of a loss is it to Edmonton to be without Zach Hyman? Who will take Hyman’s minutes?

12:58: Do the Stars need more from Mikko Rantanen in these do-or-die games?

15:44: What would a 100-percent healthy Matthew Tkachuk look like? 

18:00: If you were Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, what moves would you make this summer? 

20:21: Whose futures are in doubt in Toronto's Core Four? 

23:46: Is it a good or bad thing that Craig Berube will have more to do with the decision-making on the Leafs? 

28:18: Are the Stars too loyal to Jamie Benn? Should they re-sign him? 

29:47: What is Mathieu Darche's biggest challenge as New York Islanders GM? 

32:15: How do players stay healthy and energized as they go further into the playoffs? What’s the balance of practice versus rest?

35:09: What kind of team bonding activities are there during the playoffs? 

38:22: Predicting the Memorial Cup semifinal and final  

40:40: Mitch Marner or Sam Bennett: who should be the main target in free agency?

41:34: Have Corey Perry and Brad Marchand changed how we should view veteran free agents?

43:09: Paul Maurice told Brind'Amour and Berube that coaches don't belong in the handshake line. Agree or disagree?

44:34: The Panthers didn't touch the Prince of Wales Trophy (again). Are you superstitious? Craziest superstition?

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have signed former New Jersey Devils first-round pick Shakir Mukhamadullin to a one-year, $1 million contract extension for the 2025-26 season. 

Shak's back 🙌

The Sharks have re-signed defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin to a one-year contract.

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) May 29, 2025

Mukhamadullin, 23, was selected by the Devils as the 20th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-4 defenseman never ended up playing a game for the Devils. This is because he was one of the main pieces the Devils sent to the Sharks to acquire star forward Timo Meier during the 2022-23 season. He did, however, play in three playoff games for the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, back in 2022. 

Mukhamadullin appeared in 30 games this season with the Sharks, posting new career highs with two goals, seven assists, nine points, 25 hits, and 51 blocks. He also recorded nine assists in 21 games with their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. Overall, the young blueliner took a nice step in the right direction this season and will look to continue to improve after earning this new contract. 

Mukhamadullin has played in 33 career NHL games over two seasons with the Sharks, where he has two goals, 10 points, and a minus-7 rating. While the former Devil is still looking to break out at the NHL level, his future is looking bright, and he should have a more significant role with San Jose next season.

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Photo Credit: © Daniel DeLoach / The Observer-Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

According to multiple reports, the Vegas Golden Knights are emerging as a very realistic landing spot for top free agent Mitch Marner. 

When speculation first started that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be seeking a trade with Marner, insiders like Elliotte Friedman immediately threw the Golden Knights' name into the mix as a possible landing spot. A trade was never formulated, and reports indicated that Marner nixed a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, which would have seen Mikko Rantanen head the other way. 

Fast forward to another disappointing playoff run, the Maple Leafs could be looking to change their DNA, and a press conference held by Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving indicates just that. 

"I had a meeting with all the players, individually, we have our exit meetings. Mitch and I had a discussion. My discussion with Mitch was, let's all take a step back. Let's take a deep breath. I got to decompress a little bit," Toronto's GM said.

"I'm going to be in touch with Mitch's representative, and all our player's representatives, and determine what's best, right? Now, Mitch has a say in this as well, so this isn't the world according to Brad. I think he's a great player. He's been a great player here. We'll have to see. We'll have to see how this all works."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube stated that he would "100 percent," want Marner back on his team, answering the question without an ounce of hesitation.

But as Treliving said, the decision isn't being made by just the Maple Leafs. Marner is an unrestricted free agent, garnering significant attention from numerous teams. 

The San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks have been thrown into the mix due to the cap space they have at the moment, but the Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Hurricanes have emerged as favorites because of their cup-contending rosters. 

NHL insider Darren Dreger recently stated on TSN Radio that the expectation is leaning towards Marner testing the waters of unrestricted free agency. Dreger identified the Vegas Golden Knights as a team harboring "serious interest" in acquiring his services. Additionally, former Leafs GM Gord Stellick wrote in a piece for the Toronto Star, stating he believes that should Marner become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 the Golden Knights will pursue him "aggressively."

Signing the 28-year-old would be a very difficult task for the Golden Knights' GM Kelly McCrimmon. While he's no stranger to making bold moves and finding ways around the cap limit, Marner could be looking for an AAV north of $12M and factoring in Jack Eichel's eventual extension, the Golden Knights could be paying two players more than $12M while still paying Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo, Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore top dollar. 

Golden Knights Prioritizing Jack Eichel Contract ExtensionVegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel is under contract for the 2025-26 season but becomes eligible for a contract extension on July 1. The franchise plans to prioritize this business this offseason. 

Marner would quite easily make the Golden Knights a much better hockey team, and with HC Bruce Cassidy's comments about possibly changing their offensive philosophies, Marner could help the transition be a lot smoother. He set a career-high in points this season with 102 and is widely regarded as one of the best playmakers in the NHL. Although he's not known for being a physical forward, his defensive game and penalty killing are great, finishing as a Selke finalist in 2022-23. 

Multiple moves would need to be made for the Golden Knights to pull this off, but his skill set could put the Golden Knights over the top.

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.

Earlier on Thursday, an email from the Washington Capitals said next season would be Alex Ovechkin’s last in the NHL.

The team later announced that message in the promotional email about next season was a mistake. 

“No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future following the 2025-26 NHL season,” the team said in a statement to social media. “An email was sent from an individual with the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin’s final year.”

The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber reported the Capitals said the claim in the email was inaccurate before the team posted the statement. 

The email that was sent out to the Capitals season ticket holders read, “October - the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin’s FINAL NHL SEASON.”

Next season will be Ovechkin’s 21st NHL campaign. It will also be the final year of the five-year contract he signed in July 2021. He’ll be in a position to reach the 1,500-game plateau and the 900-goal mark.

Ovechkin is coming off a history-making campaign with the Capitals, where he broke the all-time regular-season goal record set by Wayne Gretzky. He scored goal No. 895 against the New York Islanders and earned sole possession of the record. He’s also 43 goals away from breaking Gretzky’s record for the most goals in the regular season and playoffs. Gretzky is at 1,016, while Ovechkin is at 974.

The 39-year-old finished this season with 44 goals and 73 points. His production led the way for Washington, clinching the Eastern Conference during the regular season for the third time in the past decade.

In the playoffs, the Capitals lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.

Although the Capitals confirmed there has been no decision on Ovechkin’s future, whenever he does decide to retire from the NHL, it’s possible he could play elsewhere.

There have been rumors of the left winger playing in Russia, specifically for the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow.

Ovechkin has been a senior advisor for Dynamo since 2019-20. He also played four seasons with Dynamo before making his NHL debut in 2005-06. He played an additional season in Moscow during the 2012-13 half-season NHL lockout.

The Florida Panthers not only are the defending Stanley Cup champions, but they also represent the best-built organization in the National Hockey League.

"They are the gold standard," says defeated Canes' coach Rod Brind'Amour.

For local consumption, The Cats From Dixie should offer the Rangers organization ideas on how to lift the Blueshirts out of their NHL morass and into the big league hockey mainstream. The following are tips for Chris Drury:

How The Rangers Can Be Just Like The PanthersWatching the Panthers maraud their way to the Stanley Cup Final round, some Rangers fans have asked me, "Well why can't our Blueshirts do that?"

COACH: The Panthers' Paul Maurice is a genius. Period! Unlike other retreads, Maurice has learned how to refresh his style – remember that's why he quit the Winnipeg Jets – and adjusted his coaching to the present. 

Mike Sullivan now has the same opportunity and we'll only know whether it works once the season starts. Part of the equation is extreme smarts and a unique personality. The Maven is not so sure that Sully has those qualities.

GOALTENDING: To defeat Florida, Sullivan employed two different goalkeepers – both from mediocre to average – a longtime Carolina bugaboo that never gets the Canes over the hump. Nor did it this time. 

Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky continues to display elite. clutch puck-stopping. The Rangers are paying Igor Shesterkin to play as well as Bob but Iggy has not been up to the challenge yet. Good for him; Shesty has the years and the loot to show that he still can do it. (We're waiting, pal, we're waiting.)

THE DEFENSE: Drury-Sullivan now have the same opportunity to build a better defense to match Carolina's. But that will require deft wheeling-dealing and there's no assurance that Drury's even close to being up for the task.

THE OFFENSE: Florida plays a smart, simple, creative "If You Can't Beat 'Em In The Alley,

You Can't Beat 'Em On The Ice"  style. Key: The Panthers have the personnel to make it work and added Brad Marchand just to be sure. Drury has minimal muscle and must find a couple of Sam Bennett-types to regain a measure of respect that is egregiously not there now. Good luck to Drury.

SPIRIT: As Joe Micheletti emphasizes, "lack of spirit" was the most glaring Ranger weakness. It's funded by a lineup that last season was pockmarked with quitters. The Champs have nothing of the kind. 

Now you know why Drury-Sully have the challenge of a lifetime on their hands! They might learn more if they pay attention to the Cup Final.

The New York Islanders recently announced Mathieu Darche as their new GM. It will be interesting to see what he has in store for his new club this off-season.

With core players like Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal and Ilya Sorokin under long-term contracts, Darche could attempt to retool around those players rather than stage a full roster rebuild. He could also lock up RFA defenseman Noah Dobson to a lengthy new deal. 

Some observers wonder if Horvat might be available because this summer's free-agent market is thin on quality centers. The 30-year-old Horvat could fetch a good return if Darche wants to shake things up. 

Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli thinks Darche could be patient and see what offers he gets for Horvat. However, he also believes the Isles need his skills and experience if they intend to stage a quick turnaround next season. 

Horvat is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million. He also carries a full no-trade clause through 2026-27. 

Meanwhile, Kyle Palmieri faces uncertainty over his future with the Islanders. 

Russ Macias of NYI Hockey Now indicated former GM Lou Lamoriello opened contract extension talks with the 34-year-old left winger. However, those discussions were put on hold when Lamoriello was fired in April. 

Palmieri's future now becomes among the key issues for Darche to address. Macias believes Darche should retain Palmieri on a short-term contract unless his asking price is absurd, speculating he might accept a pay cut from his $5 million average annual value to stay on Long Island. The Hockey News' Adam Proteau, meanwhile, thinks Palmieri averaging 51 points over the past two seasons could help his case for getting more on his next contract than expected.

The Hockey News’ Michael Ostrower also mentioned Darche’s experience with the Tampa Bay Lightning as their assistant GM. The Lightning haven’t signed Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard to an entry-level contract. While there’s only speculation about whether the Lightning will trade him or not, Darche’s Islanders could provide Howard with a better opportunity to play in the NHL sooner and climb the lineup.

In Winnipeg, Nikolaj Ehlers' future with the Jets remains among the hot topics of interest in the rumor mill. The 29-year-old right winger is UFA-eligible after completing a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. 

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated that he intends to pitch an offer that would make Ehlers a “Jet for life.” The Athletic's Murat Ates reported earlier this week that Cheveldayoff spent two hours talking with Ehlers' agent on May 19. 

Ates believes that discussion is a positive sign. Nevertheless, he also felt that Jets management is preparing for life without Ehlers.

Proteau believes they shouldn't get into a bidding war for Ehlers, partly because of his subpar post-season stats. He suggested Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks might be a better option.

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The Florida Panthers secured a third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance on Wednesday night at Lenovo Center with a 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5. 

As hats were distributed to players and the Prince of Wales Trophy made its way to the ice, five former New Jersey Devils players celebrated on the ice. 

Jesper Boqvist, AJ Greer, Dmitry Kulikov, Tomas Nosek, and Vitek Vanecek are all members of the Panthers and will face either the Edmonton Oilers or Dallas Stars in the Final. 

We know what we came for. pic.twitter.com/16ZbRPID1V

— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 29, 2025

BOQVIST: The 26-year-old was selected by the Devils in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft and played the first 189 games of his professional career in New Jersey. 

After the 2022-23 season, Boqvist was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain in New Jersey, and as a free agent, signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins. After spending time in both the AHL and NHL, the Swede was once again not given a qualifying offer. As a free agent, he signed a one-year contract with the Panthers. 

Boqvist appeared in 78 regular-season games in Florida and 11 playoff games. 

GREER: The 6′3″, 209-pound winger spent the majority of time with the Devils organization in the American Hockey League (AHL). He appeared in 69 games for the Binghamton Devils and Utica Comets and only 10 games for the Devils.  

As a free agent, he left the Devils and signed with the Bruins. After a year in Boston, he was claimed off waivers in October 2023 by the Calgary Flames. He left the Stampede City as a free agent and signed with the Panthers on July 1, 2024. 

Since leaving New Jersey, Greer has been able to carve out a role for himself in the NHL, as his final AHL game was with the Comets in May 2022. 

KULIKOV: New Jersey was a quick stop for the defenseman, as he played 38 games with the Devils before he was traded to the Oilers during the 2020-21 season. 

Kulikov won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers last season. 

NOSEK: The veteran signed a one-year contract with the Devils on July 19, 2023. Due to injuries, the 32-year-old was limited to 36 games. As a free agent, he left New Jersey and signed with the Panthers. 

VANECEK: The goaltender was traded to New Jersey in 2022 and traded out of New Jersey in 2024. 

Vanecek started 77 games for the Devils over two seasons. New Jersey eventually traded him to the San Jose Sharks. He was ultimately traded to Florida for Patrick Giles on March 5, 2025. The 29-year-old appeared in seven games for the Panthers and is serving as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup.

The Panthers will now wait to see if they will face the Stars or the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. Connor McDavid and the Oilers currently have a  3-1 lead over the Stars. 

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The Florida Panthers are the first team to advance to the fourth round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, doing so by way of a 5-3, come-from-behind victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the third round on Wednesday evening.

Falling behind 2-0 through the first 20 minutes, the Panthers fought back with two goals in half a a minute, knotting the game at twos in the middle stanza. Their well-balanced, gritty attack wore down the Hurricanes as the game progressed, helping Florida to its third-straight Stanley Cup Final appearance.

The Panthers will face either the Edmonton Oilers or Dallas Stars in the best-of-seven series set to get underway in mid-June. The Oilers, which hold a 3-1 series lead, are hoping to close out their third round matchup on Thursday night in Dallas. 

Should Edmonton take care of business against the Stars in any of the next three games, the last two clubs standing would face a rematch of the 2024 final, to which Florida beat Edmonton in seven games to win hockey's greatest prize.

Leading the charge on bench is head coach Paul Maurice and assistant Jamie Kompon, who served long stretches in Winnipeg with the Jets.

Having left Winnipeg abruptly in December of 2021, Maurice took the rest of the season off from coaching before agreeing to become the head honcho in Florida in June. 

His time with the Panthers has been nothing short of spectacular. In his first season, Maurice guided the team to the Western Conference championship, ultimately losing the Stanley Cup to Vegas. He brought the team right back last season, beating Edmonton for his first taste out of the mug. And once again this year, Maurice is back in the fold, where he will look to repeat as the NHL's best following the final game of the year. 

He's of course doing so beside longtime friend Kompon, as well as former Jets defenders Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Kulikov - the latter of which won the Cup last season. 

Having spent nine years with the Jets, Maurice managed just one visit to the Western Conference Final (2018) before deciding to take his talents to South Beach in 2022. He currently ranks No. 2 all-time in games coached and career wins, while owning the NHL record for most losses recorded behind the bench. 

Maurice has amassed a 998 career regulation and postseason wins, two shy of 1,000 - a number that just two individuals have ever hit (Scotty Bowman - 1,467 and Joel Quenneville, 1,090). The 58-year-old will look to hit the 1,000-win mark next week in the Stanley Cup Final.  

Jacques Martin, the all-time winningest head coach in Ottawa Senators history, was inducted into the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame on Wednesday, a fitting tribute to the man who helped guide the franchise out of its difficult early years.

Martin stepped behind the bench in 1996, at a time when the Senators were still looking for their first taste of success after four straight last-place finishes. He was the team’s third head coach in four months that season, replacing Dave Allison, who went 2–22–1 after taking over from Rick Bowness. Martin couldn’t turn things around that season, but just a year later, he got them into the playoffs.

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Over the next nine seasons, Martin turned the team into a consistent contender. He led them to that first playoff appearance in 1997, their first playoff series win, and their first trip to the conference final in 2003. Ottawa finished atop the NHL standings in 2002–03, winning the Presidents’ Trophy, and Martin was honored with the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.

Despite all the regular-season success, he kept running into the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs. The Senators were eliminated by their provincial rivals four times in five years. Following a seven-game loss to Toronto in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, the organization decided to move on from Martin.

His contributions to hockey began well before his NHL days. Martin played university hockey at St. Lawrence and the University of Ottawa before launching a coaching career that started in junior with the Rockland Nationals and the Hawkesbury Hawks. He later led the Guelph Platers to a Memorial Cup title in 1986.

Why The Kovalchuk Precedent Won't Help The Ottawa Senators Retrieve Their Forfeited First-Round PickIn November 2023, the NHL came down hard on the Ottawa Senators, announcing they would have to forfeit a first-round draft pick due to the mishandling of their July 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Martin also served as head coach of the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens, and won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach. He was also part of Team Canada’s staff during its gold medal run at the 2002 Winter Olympics, when Canada ended its 50 year gold medal drought.

After the firing of head coach D.J. Smith early in the 2023–24 season, Martin returned as interim head coach to guide the Senators through to the end of the year. When the team hired Travis Green last May, Martin returned to his advisory role with the franchise. But he was pleased to have a final go around as an NHL head coach.

“I've enjoyed it and hopefully (the players) learned something from a standpoint that they can carry over to the next season,” Martin said at the end of last season. “I think we talked a lot about different things, whether it's game management, whether it's handling the highs and lows of a game, the different situations and so on.

“And I talked to them also quite often about what it takes to be in the playoffs and win in the playoffs. So hopefully those lessons or that information will stay.”

Indeed, with the Sens finally making the playoffs this year, it appears some of those lessons stuck.

Martin was inducted alongside former NHL players Fred and John Barrett and the entire Barrett family, former Ottawa Rough Rider Pat Stoqua, former Riders GM Jo-Anne Polak, sportswriter Don Campbell, Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Erica Wiebe, snooker player Ervin Budge, and the 2012 Ottawa Fury women’s soccer team.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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