It wasn't that long ago that Tage Thompson was part of the long term plans for the St. Louis Blues.

But on Sunday, the No. 26 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Blues helped end a lengthy drought for the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

Thompson scored the overtime goal, the lone goal of the game, a golden goal in the gold medal game to give Team USA its first gold medal in 92 years with a 1-0 win against Switzerland on Sunday at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

It was the first gold medal for Team USA since 1933, and it's a full 20-minute period and teams play the NHL's style of 3-on-3 until a winner is determined.

Thompson skated through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone before wiring a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past Switzerland goalie Leonardo Genoni at 2:02 for the winner:

This moment will go down in history 🇺🇸 #MensWorldspic.twitter.com/uYW7vljiFl

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 25, 2025

Blues fans will remember Thompson was a key piece to the trade in 2018 that brought Ryan O'Reilly to the Blues from the Buffalo Sabres along with Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, a 2019 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick.

Of course, the Blues will call the trade a win since they went on to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history that very next season, defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games in 2019.

Thompson, 27, has gone on to have a very nice career with the Sabres, reaching more than 40 goals twice in the past four seasons, including 44 this past season and a career-high 47 in 2022-23. 

Thompson spent one season with the Blues in 2017-18, playing in 41 games (three goals, six assists).

Chesterfield native Clayton Keller, captain of the Utah Mammoth, who grew up in Swansea, Il. was also part of Team USA.

The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of salary cap space to spend this summer -- and a Vancouver Canucks star should be firmly in the sights of Sabres management.

As per Puck Pedia, Buffalo has approximately $23.2-million in cap space this summer. And while it's highly-unlikely the Sabres will land top UFA Mitch Marner, another Canadian market's top UFA could make much more sense for the Sabres -- with the proviso that they're still going to have to pay him well above-market value.

We're speaking about Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who earned $6.65-million this past season. Boeser produced 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games with Vancouver this year -- well below his 40-goal, 73-point season with the Canucks in 2023-24. But the 28-year-old is still in his prime, and you'd better believe there will be many teams lining up to secure his services this summer.

With that said, how much is Boeser worth? Speculation that his next contract will come in between $8-to-$9-million per year should be sobering for Sabres management. But look at it this way: with the cap ceiling set to rise to $95.5-million next year, teams have to be prepared to outbid opponents to land proven veterans like Boeser. The alternative -- being the runner-up, or being well out of the final teams bidding for Boeser -- is not going to sit well with Sabres fans. At some point, if you can't figure out how to attract free agents to your city, you probably shouldn't be the one in charge of attracting free agents to your city.

We've noted before that Buffalo needs to be realistic in their UFA targets. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to swing for the fences and set a new tone for a new era. And if that means overpaying for someone like Boeser, the Sabres should be fully ready to pay that price.

Who Is A Reasonable Target For Buffalo In Free Agency This Summer?The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the off-season knowing they have some money to spend on free agents -- not as much money as some teams, but right now, they have approximately $21.4 million in salary cap space to use.

In this case, that might not mean paying top-dollar (although let's be real here -- it almost certainly will mean paying top-dollar). It could mean tacking on one or two years of contract term that other teams aren't prepared to pay for Boeser. And if Boeser proves to be not worthy of a sixth-or-seventh-season in a new contract, you can look at buying him out in the final season or two of a new contract. That's what big-market teams do all the time, and there should be no unease from Sabres management that they need to step up that way to be a winner when it comes to attracting free agents.

It's the cost of doing business in hockey's top league, and it's why Buffalo needs to take an aggressive stance at luring free agents into a Sabres uniform. When you're a team that's missed the playoffs for 14 straight seasons, you have to go a little bit harder than other teams go when it comes to improving your roster.

Free agency is only five weeks away, so the Sabres need to get their house in order to appeal to stars like Boeser. Because no Buffalo fan wants to hear excuses anymore. They want results, and they want them now. And if the Sabres can't figure out how to improve -- be it via free-agency or via trades -- there's going to be more bad news on the horizon for this franchise.

It's a cold-blooded world out there for teams seeking to improve, and past failures in Buffalo aren't reason enough to justify future failures in Buffalo. Sabres brass has to go the extra mile to attract top players, and nothing less than that extra mile will suffice in efforts to improv this franchise. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season ended only a handful of days ago, but such is life with Leafs Nation that fans are already setting their sights on next year. And one of the more fascinating Maple Leafs prospects is current London Knights left winger Easton Cowan. The 20-year-old is going to get a bona-fide solid shot to earn an NHL job next season – and for reasons we’ll explore below, Cowan will have pressure on him to produce right out of the gate.

The Leafs are now expected to part ways with superstar right winger Mitch Marner, and while we’re going to be clear here that we’re not in any way suggesting Cowan will be as big a star as Marner has been, there are some parallels between Marner and Cowan.

For one thing, Marner and Cowan are about the same size physically, with both players right around six feet tall. And like Cowan, Marner also was a terrific player for the London Knights in his junior hockey career, producing 44 goals and 126 points in 2014-15. Now, Cowan’s regular-season totals on offense took a dip this year, but he still generated 40 assists and 69 points in just 46 games – and Cowan had his best post-season performance yet, with 26 assists and 39 points in 17 playoff games, helping the Knights win the OHL championship. Those numbers don’t automatically translate into surefire NHL success, but by raising his game, Cowan is raising expectations among Leafs fans for next season.

The same way the Maple Leafs have benefited from youngster Matthew Knies thriving in the early stages of his NHL career, Toronto is going to be hoping to get a terrific rookie showing from Cowan. Not only will he potentially produce offense to help replace Marner if and when he leaves the Leafs as a UFA this summer, but Cowan will provide some much-needed financial help as the Buds balance out their lineup between high-priced veterans and bargain-basement performers. 

That said, nothing is going to be handed to Cowan next year. This isn’t to say he’s going to be a healthy scratch a la Nick Robertson (another player the Leafs may move on from next year), but Cowan may have to start his pro career the same way most NHLers do – at the American League level. Playing for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies may be a blow to Cowan’s ego, but rather than playing him third or fourth-line minutes with the Leafs, it could be best for his development to start out with the Marlies and wait for a better opportunity with the Leafs down the line.

When you’ve got the draft pedigree that Cowan has – as someone drafted 28th overall in 2023 – you’re going to have to live up to it by adapting to the NHL game, or you’ll quickly be discarded for the next prospect du jour. So yes, there will absolutely be pressure on Cowan as soon as NHL training camp begins next fall. But with the ripple effect of Marner’s projected departure on the Leafs’ depth chart of forwards, Cowan might just be able to step in right away and earn an NHL job.

Cowan has spoken out recently about having Marner as a mentor of sorts, but that professional relationship may be severed if Marner does move on. However, Leafs fans have had Cowan on their radar for a couple of years now, and if he can develop into an upper-tier NHLer the way Knies and Marner have, Toronto fans and management are going to be elated to have Cowan in Blue and White. 

Before too long, the world could well be Cowan’s oyster. And we’ll learn soon enough if he’s ready and able to seize the moment and carve out a space in Leaf Land for a very long time to come.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Mike Augello, Adam Kierszenblat and Stephen Kerr react to the Edmonton Oilers beating the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference final to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

Promo image credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The London Knights won their opening game at the Memorial Cup in overtime, beating the Moncton Wildcats 3-2 in overtime. Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in overtime. 

While the Knights are widely considered the favorites at the tournament, this was a close game from beginning to end. 

Moncton went blow for blow with London through the opening period. After 20 minutes the shots were 15-14 in favor of the Wildcats and the score was tied at one. 

O'Reilly, who eventually scored the game winner, also scored London's opening goal of the match just a minute and a half into the game. He redirected Sam Dickinson's blast from the point past Mathis Rousseau to take the early lead. 

Moncton stuck with it, avoided London's potent neutral-zone forecheck and gaining significant time in the offensive zone. with just over 13 minutes left in the first period, Etienne Morin fired a well placed shot past Austin Elliott to tie the game at one. It wouldn't be the last goal the London goaltender surrendered from the point.

CHL Hosts Meet The Coaches Press Conference Ahead of Memorial CupEarlier today, London Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter took part in a pre-tournament press conference alongside the Head Coaches of the other three participating teams. The panel consisted of Hunter, Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat), Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton) and Joël Perrault (Rimouski).

London took control of the game in the second, nearly doubling Moncton's shots on goal in the period. The teams once again exchanged goals, with San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scoring for London while Dyllan Gill scored for Moncton. 

Though there was no scoring in the third period, London dominated the final frame, outshooting the Wildcats 16-3. Rousseau had a fantastic game for Moncton, stopping multiple grade-A scoring chances for London. 

You could feel London warming up into the game as time went on. Period by period they took over, eventually dominating the Wildcats in the third period, however, it was not enough to escape overtime. 

The two teams exchanged chances in overtime before Sam O'Reilly, who started the scoring in this one, tipped home Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan's backhand pass in front of the net. 

OHL Heavily Represented in Craig Button's Recent Mock DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is just around the corner, and many pundits are starting to project what the first round will look like. Craig Buttons' recent mock draft projects the OHL to be well represented in the opening round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

O'Reilly had a fantastic season in the OHL after being selected at the end of the first round by Edmonton at the 2024 NHL Draft. In 62 games this season, he recorded 21 goals and 71 points with London. 

The two goals he scored in game one at the Memorial Cup mark is progression as a player while simultaneously vindicating the Oilers' faith in the young prospect.

 A win in their opening game of the tournament sets London up for success. They will move on to play their second game tonight against the hosting Rimouski Oceanic. Puck drop for that game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will reflect on how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, May 25, Pittsburgh has compiled a 2-0 record in two games on this date.

• 1991 - Game 6 Win vs. Minnesota North Stars (8-0)
• 2017 - Game 7 Win vs. Ottawa Senators (3-2 OT)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

May 25, 1991 - The Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in Game 6 by defeating the North Stars 8-0 at the Met Center. As of 2025, this game remains the largest goal differential in a championship-clinching game in NHL history.

With 44 points in 23 games, captain Mario Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. In Game 6, he had four points with a goal and three assists. Meanwhile, Joe Mullen (two goals and an assist) had three points, while four other players had two points, including Larry Murphy, Ulf Samuelsson, Kevin Stevens, and Peter Taglianetti. 

What Will Owen Pickering's Role Be In 2025-26?Next season will present a prime opportunity for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects to crack the NHL roster.

In the Cup-clinching game, the Penguins got points from Bob Errey, Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Jim Paek, and Bryan Trottier.

May 25, 2017 - Chris Kunitz scores his only two goals of the 2016-17 playoff run by tallying the first goal of Game 7 in the first period before advancing the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final with an overtime winner at 5:09 of the second overtime. 

As Pittsburgh's sixth leading scorer during the championship run, Kunitz had a three-point contest in Game 7 against the Senators, assisting on Justin Schultz's third-period power-play goal. Schultz returned the favor in overtime, setting up Kunitz for the winner. 

Heading into the Eastern Conference final of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes were in a very good place. They demolished the New Jersey Devils in five games in the first round, then eliminated the Washington Capitals with relative ease by sending them home in a five-game second-round victory. And the ‘Canes did it with defense, allowing only seven goals to the Caps, and just 11 goals to the Devils.

With that in mind, it was fair to presume the Hurricanes would put the squeeze on the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers in the Eastern final. But instead, the opposite has happened, with the Panthers generating 16 goals in the first three games against the Hurricanes, and Florida staking out a commanding 3-0 series lead over Carolina after romping to a 6-2 win in Game 3.

While you can’t pin down just one reason for the Canes’ struggles against the Panthers, we’ve already seen Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour changing up his goaltending picture, pulling starter Frederik Andersen after two letdown games, and going with backup Pyotr Kochetkov, to no avail, in Carolina’s Game 3 loss.

The disappointment has put Andersen in a particularly bad spot, as he had signed a one-year contract extension at the start of May. The 35-year-old looked terrific against the Devils and Capitals, posting a save percentage of .905 or higher in seven of his nine games in the first two rounds. But the bottom fell out of Andersen’s game against the Panthers, as he posted an a save percentage of .750 in both Games 1 and 2 before Brind’Amour put him on the bench in favor of Kochetkov in Game 3.

Small wonder, then, that the Hurricanes have lost all three games against Florida thus far in their Eastern final series. Kochetkov has put up a save percentage of .886 or worse in three of his four playoff appearances this year, and he had nothing going for him in Game 3, as the Panthers hung up six goals on 28 shots on him for a bleak .786 SP.

The Panthers were always going to be a tough opponent for Carolina, but when their goaltending hasn’t been up to snuff, the Hurricanes have been on the wrong end of three blowout games. If the ‘Canes are swept by the Panthers, it would be a letdown of the highest order for a team many believed would be significantly better this season. But they’re now on the verge of being swept in the Eastern final for the second time in the past three seasons, and they still haven’t won even a single Eastern final game since they won a Cup in 2005-06. 

Meanwhile, Brind’Amour sure sounded like a coach who is seeing his season sunk before his eyes because of sub-par goaltending.

“I don’t blame Freddie on any of the goals that went in,” Brind’Amour said after the Game 2 loss. “Obviously, save percentage is not great, if you look at that. We do need some saves, but I can’t blame him on any.”

Clearly, Brind’Amour was engaged in some mixed messaging there. He doesn’t blame Andersen, but his save percentage is “not great." Carolina does “need some saves”, but Brind’Amour isn’t blaming him for any of the goals he allowed. If that sounds like a coach desperate to not totally jump all over his goalie despite plenty of evidence he’s not doing his job between the pipes, that’s because it is. But that doesn’t mean Andersen and Kochetkov don’t have to own their role in three straight losses to the Panthers.

If and when the Hurricanes are eliminated by Florida, Carolina GM Eric Tulsky is going to be faced with some very difficult decisions about his goaltending next season. It doesn’t matter how good the ‘Canes look at forward and on ‘D’ if Carolina’s goalies can’t outperform their opponent's netminder when they get to the Eastern final. 

It also doesn’t matter that Andersen and Kochetkov are relatively underpaid next season, with Andersen set to make $2.75 million, and Kochetkov signed at a salary cap hit of $2 million. When the games have mattered most in this series, Andersen and Kochetkov have failed in their duties. That’s not a criticism, that’s a fact, and absent some miracle turnaround against the Panthers, the Hurricanes need to make some serious changes to their lineup next year.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Next season will present a prime opportunity for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects to crack the NHL roster.

And one blueline prospect should get a pretty good look.

21-year-old defenseman Owen Pickering - drafted 21st overall by the Penguins in 2022 - got a small taste of NHL experience in 2024-25 and figures to take on a bigger role next season.

With the Penguins shorthanded on left-side defense, Pickering could play a crucial role heading forward. In 25 games with the Penguins last season, he registered one goal and three points and played some minutes in a top-four role next to Kris Letang.

Even though he experienced those top-four minutes last season - and did well for a while in them - Penguins’ POHO and GM Kyle Dubas is aware that Pickering is not quite ready to be thrust into a full-time top-four role.

“He's got to have a great summer,” Dubas said. “We can't have him same as we had him go down, settling into a 12-13 minute a night role. He needs to come in and push his way into 17-18-19-20 minutes and earn that.”

Dubas added: “He played for the team this year, but is he ready to step into one of those roles? I don't think so.”

'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In PittsburghWhen defenseman Matt Grzelcyk made the decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, he did so with the mindset that he'd come in and be granted some opportunity to rediscover his game.

Given that declaration by Dubas - coupled with the likely departure of pending-unrestricted free agent Matt Grzelcyk - the Penguins are probably going to seek external help to bolster the left side on their blue line. Even if they do acquire a top-four defenseman, however, there will still be an opening for one of the top-four left defensive slots.

The other left defensemen on the Penguins' roster - Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, and Vladislav Kolyachonok - have been logging primarily bottom-pair minutes and, ideally, would remain in a bottom-pair role, at least when Pickering has earned his way into top-four minutes.

In other words, the spot is there for the taking for Pickering, but - as Dubas said - he'll have to earn his way into those minutes. And he wants to work on continuing to be a player the coaching staff can rely on. 

"Obviously, being up [in the NHL], you kind of learn what it takes.," Pickering said. "Coming from juniors and all the way in your first year pro, the coaches have to trust you. And that's something I feel like I've been working on and that I feel has gotten better, and something I'm trying to improve."

4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This SummerDuring his postseason press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas provided a glimpse into what the summer could look like for the organization.

And Pickering defintely worked on that rebliability aspect in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) after he was re-assigned there on Jan. 25. He finished the AHL season with two goals, 13 points, and a plus-18 rating in 47 games, often logging top-pair minutes and playing in all situations.

But, make no mistake: Pickering does not want to be playing AHL hockey next season. He wants to be rolling with the big club, and he is aware of the opportunity that lies in front of him heading into training camp.

"You never want to get sent back," Pickering said. "You always want to be in the NHL. I feel like I proved to myself that I can play in the NHL.

"I want to be full-time next year, I want to be [in Pittsburgh] the whole year. That's the goal."

   

With Byram On Trade Market, Penguins Need To Take NoticeIn his season-ending press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas specified that the team would look to bolster the left side on defense from outside the organization.

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With each passing day, the likelihood of Mitch Marner hitting free agency on July 1 is increasing. He is the most high-profile pending unrestricted free agent set to hit the market and is one of the most talented players to do so in recent memory, perhaps ever.

Marner is a recently turned 28-year-old winger (May 5) who has averaged over 1.2 points per game (98-point pace) over the last five seasons, has been the most-utilized Toronto Maple Leafs forward on the penalty kill in that time, and was a Selke Trophy finalist in 2023.

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32 NHL clubs could benefit from adding Marner to their roster, and with the salary cap ceiling set to increase from $88 million in 2024-25 to $95.5 million in 2025-26, most of those clubs will have the cap space or flexibility to make room in their budget to sign him.

If Marner hits unrestricted free agency on July 1, nearly every NHL team will be calling agent Darren Ferris, inquiring about the cost to add. It could be a bidding war to the likes we haven’t seen in the NHL in several years, the last comparable unrestricted free agents being Johnny Gaudreau in 2022, Artemi Panarin in 2019, and John Tavares in 2018.

Every discussion on potential landing spots for Marner, should he hit free agency, seems to mention the Anaheim Ducks as a destination he could consider. He would be a franchise-altering acquisition for Anaheim and catapult them into relevancy after failing to qualify for the playoffs over the previous seven seasons.

Here’s what Anaheim could pitch to Marner, should the scenario arise:

Core

The Ducks have one of the deepest and most potent U24 pipelines in the NHL and deploy a nightly lineup where eight of those U24 players are already assuming impact roles at every position on the ice.

Marner could join a forward core that includes four somewhat recent top-ten draft picks: Leo Carlsson (2nd overall in 2023), Mason McTavish (3rd in ’21), Cutter Gauthier (5th in ’22), and Trevor Zegras (9th in ’19). All four players have, at least, eclipsed the 20-goal and 40-point plateaus in their early careers.

On their blueline, the Ducks ice 2024-25 breakout star Jackson LaCombe as well as a pair of 2023 Defenseman of the Year award-winners in their respective CHL leagues: Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.

In net for the foreseeable future in Anaheim stands 24-year-old Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal, who has a career .902 SV% (league average) and has saved 7.3 goals above expected in his 121 career NHL games.

Money

The Ducks are projected to enter the 2025 offseason with the third-most available cap space ($38.69 million), just behind the Columbus Blue Jackets ($40.41 million) and San Jose Sharks ($40.99 million).

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is reportedly nearing the end of his contract with the organization and has been given the green light by ownership to spend “what it takes” to fulfill the mandate of returning to the playoffs in 2026.

“We’re willing to make that investment into the team,” Ducks owner Henry Samueli said. “We’ve told the same thing to Pat. Going out looking for players, you will have the budget you need to make this a serious playoff team. You don’t have to pinch pennies anymore. Do what it takes to make us a contender.”

The Ducks have the capability to match or exceed any offer that comes Marner’s way in free agency and are even willing to spend to the salary cap ceiling.

“Potentially, if necessary,” Samueli continued. “He (Verbeek) is going to spend wisely. We’re not going to write stupid checks, but I told him, ‘Do what it takes to make this a really steady, perennial playoff contender and Stanley Cup contender down the road. And if that means signing big-name free agents, go for it.’ We told him, going forward, you will not be constrained by the budget.”

Market

From the outside looking in, Toronto has substantial positives that come with playing for the league’s most popular team, in front of (arguably) the most passionate fans, and in the globe’s epicenter of hockey.

That fishbowl effect can have its drawbacks as well, as the temperature and discussion around Marner have swung heavily in both directions throughout his time as a Leaf.

In terms of climate, both actual and in hockey terms, Anaheim is as close to a polar opposite of Toronto as it gets in the NHL. On average, there are no more than three reporters (not under team employ) at each Ducks’ practice and morning skate, a stark contrast from the crowded daily media scrums in the Leafs’ locker room.

Orange County offers a lifestyle where, if desired, a player can “turn their brain off,” leave hockey at the rink to soak up needed family time, and decompress with some of the best weather on the planet, potentially at or near some of the world’s best beaches.

Ducks fans are passionate, and the media is talented, but the sheer volume of both is much less overwhelming than in the largest markets. Hockey, while ever-expanding, is much lower on the totem pole of everyday conversation, and if day-to-day anonymity is craved, it can be achieved as an NHL player in Southern California.

Coach

The Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their new head coach on May 8 after a three and a half year period away from the game. He brings with him a substantial amount of baggage and the second-winningest coaching record in NHL history, including three Stanley Cups.

Quenneville is the epitome of a “player’s coach,” who ushered in the current era of speed and possession-based hockey utilized by all 32 NHL teams today. Players’ accounts of their time with him as their coach are overwhelmingly positive.

Ducks forward Frank Vatrano played for Quenneville as a member of the Florida Panthers during Quenneville’s time there (2019-2022).

“His aura when he's in the room, the energy. He wants you to have fun,” Ducks forward Frank Vatrano said when asked what Quenneville brings as a coach. “When you're having fun, it's more fun for everyone. On a day-to-day basis, he makes it really fun to come to the rink every day.

“You can be having a tough stretch as a team or individual, going through individual struggles. He knows how to lift you up and lift the team up at the right times. That’s what all players ask for as a coach is to obviously hold us accountable to the standards, and we go by that every single day, but he just knows how to do that at another level.”

Judging how he nurtured, valued, and accentuated players with unmatched skill like Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, and Jonathan Huberdeau on their rises to stardom in the NHL, one would be hard-pressed to find a more perfect player-coach fit than Marner-Quenneville.

Window

The Anaheim Ducks made a significant jump in the NHL standings from 2023-24 to 2024-25, improving from a 59-point team to an 80-point team.

While a deeper dive into traditional and underlying numbers suggests that a sizable portion of that success can be attributed to goaltending, the team, as a whole, displayed a level of attention to detail and work ethic absent from Anaheim in several previous seasons.

“Players, they want to have success,” Quenneville said when he was hired. “They want to improve, they want accountability, (and) they want to see progress. I think they felt that over the course of the last few years that it’s there and that next challenge, or next step, is near.

“I think that everybody wants a push. The leadership, everybody can start taking a little more ownership in that collectively, across the board. It adds up, and I think that there’s big steps that can happen quickly.”

The mentioned young core will, in all likelihood, continue to improve, and in the environment the Ducks are building, they can fully realize their extraordinary potential en route to the ultimate goal of sustained success and competing for Stanley Cups.

The Ducks' contention window feels as inevitable as any and closer than others with similar potency.

The probability of Mitch Marner ever playing for the Anaheim Ducks remains slim, but if they were to pursue him, the Ducks have as good a pitch as any team in the NHL.

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In an article published on Sunday morning, Marco D’Amico from RG.org confirms that Montreal Canadiens’ right winger Ivan Demidov is staying in town this Summer. As we reported back then, the youngster took a week off once the Habs were eliminated and visited the Dominican Republic, but since May 16th, he’s been back to work.

D’Amico explains the 19-year-old Russian has elected to train in town this Summer, not just because he can do so under the close supervision of the Canadiens’ development staff (he was spotted training under the watchful eye of Adam Nicholas last week), but also because he wants to focus on learning the local languages.

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Clearly, he understands his market and intends to fit in by catering to fans, whether they are English or French-speaking. Now that he’s had a feel for the NHL and the market, Demidov is focusing on becoming a better professional on and off the ice, as his Summer plans reveal.

On May 29, we’ll know if he’s the winner of the KHL Rookie of the Year award, but whether he wins it or not, Demidov isn’t planning on going to the ceremony. This is yet further evidence that his mind is wholly focused on the future rather than basking in the glory of what he has accomplished in the last season.

So far, the young Russian has an excellent work ethic and enjoys working on his game as much as Lane Hutson. Perhaps the young defenseman won’t be the only one to attend all the optional skates next season. It will be interesting to see if Demidov can have the same impact in the NHL as in the KHL last season.

Most expect Hutson to be crowned Calder Trophy Winner for this past season, and if Demidov shines as much as he has in the small sample of games we’ve seen him in, he may just be in the Calder conversation next year too.

 Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Where will Brendan Shanahan surface next? That's the question everyone is wondering after the former Toronto Maple Leafs president was not renewed.

Despite what looked like an opening with the New York Islanders, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that despite discussions with the team, there wasn't a fit.

The news came one day after the Islanders hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche run their hockey operations as VP and GM. The Islanders also made a point in their announcement to make it clear that Darche will "handle all aspects of the team's hockey operations."

Brendan Shanahan Out: Why the Maple Leafs Are Moving On From Their Longtime PresidentThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Brendan Shanahan are parting ways.

So what happens with Shanahan now?

There's a good chance the former Leafs boss takes some time to relax. I had a chance to speak with him earlier in the season, and he made a point of mentioning that he isn't the type to sit still for very long. So that got me thinking about some other openings around the NHL that could make sense.

Some possibilities:

1. The Buffalo Sabres

Shanahan left the Maple Leafs as the club currently sits with the longest active playoff streak in the NHL at nine straight seasons. On the other side of that spectrum, the Sabres hold the NHL's longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. Could they use a new voice as GM Kevyn Adams has struggled to push things forward? There is no buffer between the ownership of the Pegula family and Adams on the organizational chart. That market may not want to spend the money on a team president, but it should look at someone with a track record of inheriting a franchise in disarray and becoming respectable, like he did with the Leafs.

Report: Maple Leafs Grant Islanders Permission To Speak With President Brendan Shanahan Ahead Of MLSE Board ReviewAs the Toronto Maple Leafs concluded their locker cleanouts on Tuesday, their PR staff said they'd be in touch regarding future media availabilities.

2. The Nashville Predators

The Predators were perhaps the most disappointing team of the 2024-25 season. Despite an all-star cast of free agent signings, the team missed the playoffs after struggling all season long. Barry Trotz' shift to GM from head coach has been a bit rocky. David Poile remains there as a senior advisor. But could Shanahan help there?

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley Explains Decision Not To Hire New Maple Leafs President After Brendan Shanahan’s DismissalFans stood alongside Legends Row before Scotiabank Arena, taking photos with the Toronto Maple Leafs' icons. At the same time, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley sat less than 15 feet away, inside the building, discussing another early playoff exit for his hockey club.

Outside of those two positions, it's hard to see anywhere where Shanahan's hiring as team president makes sense. That could change in a year, or Shanahan may decide to do something else in hockey. Before joining the Leafs, Shanahan was the head of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Time will tell.

'Are Those Resources Being Put In The Right Area?': Could More Changes To The Maple Leafs Be Coming?Less than 24 hours after Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment moved on from Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, MLSE CEO Keith Pelley hinted more changes could be on the horizon.

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The Florida Panthers are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida played a strong defensive game, limiting the Carolina Hurricanes offensive opportunities and skating to a stingy 6-2 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Carolina got off to a better start than they had in either of the previous games, outshooting Florida 4-2 in the opening minutes.

It didn’t stop the Panthers from scoring the first goal of the game for the third time this series.

Niko Mikkola collected the puck at the side of Carolina’s net and sent a pass toward Sasha Barkov on the doorstep.

The puck went off the skate of Dmitry Orlov and past Pytor Kochetkov to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 12:07 mark.

After Carolina logged four shots in the game’s first 6:30, Florida held them without a shot on goal for 10:01 of game time.

With just over three minutes left in the period, Eetu Luostarinen was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding after he hit Jackson Blake into the boards.

Florida was able to kill off 4:52 of the penalty before Jerperi Kotkaniemi was called for cross checking Seth Jones to wipe out the final seconds of the man advantage.

During the extended power play, the Cats and Canes each logged the same amount of shots on goal: two.

Arguably the save of the game came by Sergei Bobrovsky about midway through the second period.

With Carolina coming on an odd-man rush, Bobrovsky slid to his right and got his blocker on a one-timer by Logan Stankoven to keep the Hurricanes off the scoreboard a little bit longer.

Speaking of Stankoven, he jumped on a rebound with Carolina on the power play late in the period and beat Bobrovsky to tie the game at one.

Early in the third period, just after a Florida power play expired, Jesper Boqvist sent the fans inside Amerant Bank Arena into a frenzy.

He carried the puck over the blue line, turned Dmitry Orlov inside out with an outside-inside move and slid the puck under Kochetkov to put the Panthers back in front 2-1 just 89 seconds into the final frame.

The frenzy got even louder about six minutes later when Mikkola came down the left side of the ice and wired a wrist shot over Kochetkov’s glove to double Florida’s lead.

Just 30 seconds later, Sasha Barkov added a fourth goal after making a great move to his backhand, putting the Panthers up by three in what felt like the blink of an eye.

He wasn’t done there.

Barkov scored again, this time on a shot that went off Shayne Gostisbehere’s stick, just 2:36 later to push Florida’s lead to 5-1.

Brad Marchand got in on the fun a mere 66 seconds later, finishing off a great feed from Anton Lundell, giving the Panthers a five-goal lead.

Seth Jarvis added a power play goal for Carolina with 8:59 to go, but at that point it was way too little, too late.

On to Game 4.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Mikkola had one point through the first two rounds of the playoffs, but he’s got at least one point in each of the three games against Carolina.

He left the game during the third period after taking an awkward tumble into the boards behind Florida’s net.

Evan Rodrigues is riding a four-game point streak, logging seven assists during the run.

Barkov also has points in each of his past four games, with three goals and four assists.

Boqvist has two goals and two assists over his past three games.

Aaron Ekblad has points in three straight games, picking up an assist on Boqvist’s goal.

Matthew Tkachuk logged a pair of assists, giving him five points over a three-game point streak.

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Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) takes a shot on goal as Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save during the second period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Carolina Hurricanes couldn't have possibly drawn up a worse series than what's happening to them in the Eastern Conference Final currently.

They're down 2-0 to the Florida Panthers, getting embarrassed in back-to-back games at home and are also missing two of their regular defensemen to boot.

They then gave up essentially an own-goal to open Game 3 and now to make matters worse, it seems like they're going to be without impressive rookie Jackson Blake after the 21-year-old absorbed a brutal hit toward the end of the first period.

As Blake was going to retrieve a puck in the Carolina end, Florida forward Eetu Luostarinen hooked the rookie and as he was slipping, finished him head first into the glass.

Luostarinen received a five-minute penalty and the boot from the game for this hit on Jackson Blake
pic.twitter.com/RbUhI2GivR

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 25, 2025

Blake was down on the ice for a long time after the hit holding his head and bleeding from the forehead. He was eventually able to skate off the ice under his own power and went straight to the Canes locker room.

After reviewing the play, Luostarinen was also given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit.

The Canes trail 1-0 after one period and will have 1:59 of power play time remaining to start the second.

UPDATE: Jackson Blake returned for the second period.

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Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!       

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With the team pressed to the salary cap, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon continues to find unique ways to add skilled forwards to his lineup and could be doing so again with KHL star Maxim Shabanov.

According to a report by Marco D'Amico of RG Media, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Golden Knights are in a "two-horse race" to sign KHL star forward Shabanov. 

The 24-year-old forward was dominant with Traktor Chelyabinsk, scoring 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games, ranking third in points among all players in the KHL. Although he's considered undersized, listed at just 5'8, 157 lbs, it hasn't affected his ability to create offence, displaying his skill set during the playoffs, recording 10 goals and 20 points in 21 games, losing in the Gagarin Cup finals. 

Shabanov, this year's big little KHL free agent has finished his KHL season.

The fight to sign him to an NHL deal starts today (it likely started last year, but shhhh.)pic.twitter.com/crvAILu3Gq

— Jack Manning (@NHLJackManning) May 21, 2025

“Maybe I'll think about it, maybe not. I've said before that all my thoughts were focused on having a successful season with Traktor. I don’t read what people write about me or listen to what they say,” Shabanov commented before the final.

Across four seasons in the KHL, Shabanov registered 67 goals and 150 points in 207 games. With Russian forwards Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev on the Golden Knights roster, they could be a factor in swaying Shabanov to sign with the Golden Knights. 

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ST. LOUIS -- Former St. Louis Blues president died on Thursday.

Sauer became the chief operating officer of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988 before moving on to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1991 to become president and CEO.

In 1996 he began a 10-year run as president and CEO of the Blues.

During Sauer's tenure, the Blues reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in each season but one (2005-06), winning the Presidents' Trophy and Central Division in 1999-2000 and reaching the Western Conference Final in 2000-01.

"Mark Sauer delivered exceptional leadership for the Blues organization at a key time in our history, overseeing a decade in which the Blues ranked among the 10 winningest clubs in the NHL and achieved the franchise's only Presidents' Trophy," Blues chairman Tom Stillman said in a statement. "His management decisions, like the hiring of Larry Pleau as general manager, along with his constant focus on serving fans and partners alike, set the team on a steady and successful path that continues today. We join his family and friends in the sports industry in celebrating Mark Sauer's positive influence on the St. Louis Blues and the entire St. Louis community."