The Rochester Americans put the finishing touch on avenging their first-round loss to the Syracuse Crunch one year ago, completing a three-game sweep with a 4-0 victory in Game 3 at Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse on Thursday.  The Amerks dominated the series, scoring 11 goals to the Crunch’s two, and goalie Devon Levi made 30 saves for his second straight shutout. 

 Mason Jobst scored the game-winner in the first period and added a third-period marker. Veteran blueliner Kale Clague continued his scoring prowess with his third goal of the series, and Brendan Warren added an empty-netter. Buffalo Sabres first-rounders Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich each had assists in the contest. 

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“I thought it was incredible, I thought the second half of the game we took over.” Amerks head coach Michael Leone said after the win. “I think the best part about it was the first two games. I thought we were okay, but we won, and then we finally got to our game, and I thought we tilted the ice, and the guys were incredible. The sacrifice and the effort was awesome.”

Levi, after going 25-13-4, with a 2.20 GAA and .919 save% during the regular season, is 3-0 with a microscopic 0.67 GAA and .978 save % in the playoffs, bolstering his case with the management of the NHL Sabres that he is ready to challenge starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for playing time next season.

Devon Levi did it again…

BACK-TO-BACK playoff shutouts stopping all 30 shots he faced last night.@AmerksHockey@TheAHLhttps://t.co/S9cdQ7KbKNpic.twitter.com/IbXmKAjZe2

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) May 2, 2025

Rochester may have to wait for more than a week before they know their opponent for the second round, as Laval and Cleveland play Game 2 of their best-of-five series on Friday. The Rockets lead the Monsters 1-0 after a 3-2 win in Laval on Thursday. The AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens will get some reinforcements after the Habs' elimination to Washington, as Oliver Kapanen was sent back on Friday. 

Defenseman Vsevolod Komarov did not play in Game 3 and is still in concussion protocol after being injured in a fight with the Crunch’s Jack Finley, but it is possible that he would be available for the second round with a long layoff between series. 

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EDMONTON – The day after concluding a playoff series is a great time to announce a signing.

Former Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall's contract extension was announced the day after the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils.

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Now, the Oilers are doing the same thing with someone whose contract was expiring soon. 

On Friday morning, the day after the Oilers emerged as the victors over the Los Angeles Kings, they announced a contract extension for Alec Regula, one of their newest players.

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Regula was claimed off waivers on December 11th. He spent his entire season with the Oilers rehabbing an injury. He was placed on injured reserve before the Boston Bruins placed him on waivers.

Funnily enough, on June 26th, 2023, he was part of the package the Chicago Blackhawks sent to the Bruins to acquire the aforementioned Hall.

In the 2023-24 season, Regula played 55 games for the Providence Bruins of the AHL and recorded 26 points. The year prior, he split his time between the NHL and AHL, playing four games with the Blackhawks and 51 with the Rockford IceHogs.

The #Oilers have signed defenceman Alec Regula to a two-year, two-way contract extension! The 24-year-old was claimed off waivers from Boston in December. https://t.co/H6R1XmSBOz

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 2, 2025

Regula has played 22 NHL games over three seasons. In those 22 games, he recorded one goal, 21 shots, and an average of 16:54 per game.

He signs a two-year, two-way contract with the Oilers worth $775,000 per season. The right-handed defender will bring much-needed depth to the organization, especially the Bakersfield Condors.

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ST. PAUL, Minn - On the morning after his last ever game in the NHL, Marc-Andre Fleury was named a finalist for the 2025 Bill Masterton trophy. 

The trophy is awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Fleury, 40, went 14-9-1 this season with a 2.93 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and one shutout in 26 games with the Wild.

He now finishes his 21 NHL seasons with a 575-339-97 record in 1,051 games with a 2.60 GAA, .912 save percentage and 76 shutouts.

The Hall of Fame goaltender joins Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan as the three finalists for the 2024-25 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

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

Wild Related News

Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury Sets NHL Playoff Goaltending RecordIn a 2-1 game after the second period in Game 5, Marc-Andre Fleury led the Wild on the ice for the third period.  Minnesota Wild Eliminated In First Round Against The Vegas Golden Knights In Six GamesST. PAUL, Minn - For the eighth time in the last ten seasons, the Minnesota Wild have lost in the first round. The only two years in that ten year span they did not lose in the first round, they missed the playoffs. 

The NHL announced many award nominations on Friday, including the three Jack Adams nominees. The trophy is awarded each year to the best coach as voted by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association members.

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This year, the three finalists are Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets, Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals, and Montreal Canadiens’ bench boss Martin St-Louis. The other two nominees were at the helm of the best team in their respective conferences, while the Habs barely squeezed into the playoffs. St-Louis’ presence amongst the finalists shows how surprised the hockey world was to see this young Canadiens’ team make the Spring dance and how big of an accomplishment it was.

A little over two weeks ago, St-Louis was interviewed by RDS’ Pierre Houde on the Bell Centre ice after the last game of the season, and you could tell how proud of his group the rookie coach was. Houde asked him how he experienced his own progression as a coach, and he replied:

Of course, we have a fantastic group when you think about Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, who had the courage to appoint a former player with no experience behind the bench. I was confident that the experience I had in hockey would serve me well to help a young group. As for my life, I left home a bit earlier than my wife thought, so I owe her a lot. She has always allowed me to chase my dreams and passion, and never asked me to retire early as a player. I played until I was 40, I’m very lucky on that front. And of course, as a staff, we’ve evolved and learn a lot every year. Even in the last week, we’ve learned a lot; it’s not easy to coach a young team stressed about reaching a goal they can almost touch.

- Martin St-Louis on his progression as a coach.

Since being brought on by the Hughes/Gorton duo, St-Louis has coached 283 regular-season games, leading his team to a 115-131-37 record. The team has kept improving since he replaced Dominique Ducharme during the 2021-22 season, and the organization decided to undergo a complete rebuild. Montreal finished the year with 91 points in the standings, 15 points ahead of their 76-point effort in 2023-24 and 23 points ahead of their 2022-23 total.

When the Canadiens were struggling mightily in November, some suggested that St-Louis had lost the room and should be fired, but they had no idea what would come. From December 3, the Habs went 32-18-8 and were one of the best teams in the NHL. Fueled by Patrik Laine’s return to action, Jakub Dobes’ arrival, and Nick Suzuki’s plea to the GM not to trade anyone, the Canadiens made their way to the playoffs, leaving it till the very last day to clinch.

Never one to hog the spotlight, when the coach was asked about what it meant to be nominated, he explained:

As a coach, you’re only as good as your staff, your support staff, my assistant coaches, and, you know, the buy-in from the players. To me, that’s where it all starts. It’s a team award. We don’t get recognized with this award unless everybody’s pulling in the same direction. So I’m very proud of the team that, as an organization, got nominated for that.

- St-Louis on being nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy.

He also said he was flattered by the nomination, but added he felt he did a lot of coaching in his last 10 years as a player, suggesting the media should ask former teammates about that.

As for Arniel and Carbery, the former led the Jets to their first Presidents’ Trophy thanks to a 56-22-4 record with 116 points, team records in both wins and points. Only three coaches have earned more victories in their first year with an organization. As for the latter, in his second season at the Capitals’ helm, he guided the team to a 20-point improvement with a 51-22-9 record with 111 points and the second place overall in the league.

Win or lose, the nomination is an accomplishment in its own right for St-Louis, who went from being a minor hockey coach to an NHL one in a flash and showed he was more than up to the task. Like during his playing career, he proved the naysayers wrong, and it certainly feels like he’s not done.

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The NHL announced the three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy on Friday.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar and Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point are this season's finalists for the award, which goes to the player "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote on the award at the end of the regular season.

Each finalist ranked among the NHL's top four scorers who recorded fewer than 10 penalty minutes during the regular season. Eichel ranked first with 94 points, while Point's 82 points and Kopitar's 67 points ranked third and fourth, respectively. Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had 89 points and eight penalty minutes.

Eichel had four minor penalties while setting a career high in assists (66) and points (94). Since 2000-01, only three players – Jack Hughes, Barkov and Point – recorded more points without hitting double digits in penalty minutes in a season. 

This is the first time the 28-year-old is a finalist for an NHL award, and he could be the second player in Golden Knights history to win the Lady Byng Trophy, after William Karlsson did so in 2017-18.

Kopitar won the Lady Byng twice, in 2015-16 and 2022-23. Only Pavel Datsyuk and Martin St-Louis won the trophy more times in this century.

The 37-year-old averaged 18:57 of ice time while recording just four penalty minutes on the Kings. Those are the fewest penalty minutes for any player who played at least 55 games this season, and Kopitar played 81, getting 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points.

Point only took two penalties this season: a major for fighting Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Bobby McMann on April 9 and a tripping penalty against the Leafs on Nov. 30.

This season is just the second time Point has had fewer than 10 penalty minutes, with the other coming in 2022-23. He had 95 points in 82 games that season and finished third in Lady Byng voting.

Of the top 50 scorers this season, Point had the fewest penalty minutes.

The NHL also announced the finalists for the Masterton Trophy, Selke Trophy and Jack Adams Award on Friday.

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Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel has been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy.

The winner of the award, which is given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be announced at a later date.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a career season, scoring 28 goals and 94 points in 77 games, including a +/- rating of +32. His stellar play at both ends of the ice will likely earn him a top-10 Hart Trophy finish. 

The nomination marks the first time Eichel has finished as a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy and the second Golden Knight to do so after William Karlsson won the award in the 2017-18 season. 

Despite averaging 20:32 of ice time and killing penalties, Eichel took just eight penalty minutes. He took four minor penalties all season, which was tied for the fewest among players who finished top 20 in the NHL in points.

Competing with Eichel for the Lady Byng Trophy honors are Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point and Los Angeles Kings' veteran center Anze Kopitar. Kopitar is a three-time finalist and previously won the award twice. Point is now a two-time finalist, finishing third when he was first nominated. 

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The NHL announced the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the coach who contributed the most to their team's success.

The Winnipeg Jets' Scott Arniel, Washington Capitals' Spencer Carbery and Montreal Canadiens' Martin St-Louis are all finalists after their teams took a step forward this season.

Arniel took over as Jets coach following Rick Bowness' retirement. The Jets finished fourth in the NHL last season, and in his first season, Arniel took the club to new heights.

Winnipeg won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history, recording a team-high 56 wins and 116 points. The team allowed the fewest goals against in the NHL while scoring the fourth-most. Their 28.9 percent power-play success rate topped the league and is the ninth-best rate since the NHL started tracking it in 1977-78.

While Bowness finished third in Jack Adams voting last season, the Jets' new bench boss is in the running to win the award for the first time in franchise history.

Carbery, meanwhile, could be the fourth coach in Capitals history to win the award. The Capitals barely made the playoffs last year and were swept by the New York Rangers in the first round. This year, they finished second in the NHL standings, improving by 20 points. It was the largest points gain by a team that made the playoffs.

Washington improved to second in the league in goals-for from 29th place last season. They were also tied for eighth for fewest goals against, fifth in the best penalty-kill rate and first in comeback wins.

No bench boss has won coach of the year honors in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. Carbery could be the first.

Great Work, Canadiens. Now, The Real Work BeginsEven though the Montreal Canadiens went down in five games to the best team in the Eastern Conference in the first round of the playoffs, there is every reason to frame the 2024-25 season as a tremendous success.

St-Louis had his first playoff experience coaching the Canadiens this season, and it came after a big late-season push. The Canadiens were tied for second-last in the Eastern Conference at the 4 Nations Face-Off break and were six points out of a playoff spot. The rebuilding squad then went 15-5-6 the rest of the season to grab the second wild-card spot in the East by just a two-point cushion.

Montreal improved by 15 points this season from last year, and its penalty-kill rate shot up to ninth-best from 24th in 2023-24.

St-Louis is the Canadiens' first Jack Adams Award finalist since Guy Carbonneau finished second in 2007-08. Only Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns won the Jack Adams Award while coaching the Habs.

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EDMONTON – One moment can change everything. 

That certainly rings true for Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

They booted the Los Angeles Kings out of the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year. This time around, they eliminated them in six games.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

Adam Henrique, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Trent Frederic, Darnell Nurse, and Connor Brown scored goals for the Oilers in Game 6 to send the Kings packing.

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It was the cherry on top of a rewarding stretch of games for the Oilers. After dropping the first two contests, they came roaring back with four straight victories.

And it all started with one moment.

It was Game 3, and the Oilers were down 4-3 to begin the third period. With around seven minutes left in the period, the Oilers were cooking in the Kings' end with some good zone time. There was chaos around the net. McDavid came around the net and threw the puck toward the crease, and Evander Kane magically deposited it into the net.

The Moment That Changed Everything For The Oilers

After looking at the play, Kings’ head coach Jim Hiller decides to challenge the goal for goaltender interference. The referees review the sequence and then determine that there was no goalie interference. The Oilers go on the powerplay with the game tied 4-4.

Evan Bouchard tips a Leon Draisaitl shot for a goal, 10 seconds into the man advantage. The Oilers are now up 5-4. They would add two empty-net goals to secure a 7-4 victory.

For the rest of the series, after that moment, the Oilers dominated play for long stretches.

After a review for a kicking motion AND a challenge for goaltender interference, Evander Kane gets his first of the playoffs.

The official call is that Kane kicked the puck to his stick and was able to shoot it before it went in. pic.twitter.com/Aw0y3ZgMVJ

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 26, 2025

Many people online wondered if that coach’s challenge would change the series. It looks like every single one of those people was right.

The Kings didn’t look the same after that play. After the first three games, Adrian Kempe, their top point producer, only recorded one assist in Games 4, 5, and 6.

The “Oilers Killer” had nine points in the first three games, four of which were goals.

Whether the Oilers played exceptional defense and neutralized the Kings, or the Kings lost steam and motivation against a team that has had their number for a long time (or a combination of the two), the two teams never looked the same.

And now, the Oilers face a new challenge: the Vegas Golden Knights.

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The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in the opening round of the playoffs, setting themselves up for a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings in six games despite losing the first two games of the series. Their opening-round matchup was filled with goals, shaky defence and at times, awful goaltending. The series was ultimately decided by the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid, willing the Oilers to win.

The Golden Knights' opening round series was a bit different. It wasn't as tight checking as some may have thought it would have been, but the goal totals were far lower than what occurred in the Oilers series.

The Golden Knights' star forwards, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, started the series very poorly. They were neutralized by Joel Eriksson-Ek, Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin, but as the series went along, they found their game.

In the final two games of the series, Eichel recorded a goal and three assists, and Stone added his own two goals and three points. 

The Golden Knights and Oilers have met in the playoffs before, with the Golden Knights defeating the Oilers in six games in the second round of the 2022-23 playoffs, going on to win the Stanley Cup. The teams traded wins in the first four games before the Golden Knights took over in Games 5 and 6, closing out the series. 

The series was headlined by the phenomenal play of Eichel. Although it's seemingly impossible to stop McDavid, Eichel did his best to make him work for every goal while matching his output. If the Golden Knights have any hope of doing so again, they'll need Eichel to play at the level he displayed in Games 5 and 6.

The Golden Knights and Oilers met four times this season, splitting the season series. The Golden Knights were victorious in the first two meetings, but the Oilers defeated the Golden Knights in the following two. 

The series will be fierce, as the two teams have built a bit of a rivalry with one another. The Oilers have suffered this season from their lack of depth, something the Golden Knights have an abundance of and will need to exploit to prevail.  

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Golden Knights' Forward Announced Day-To-Day With Undisclosed InjuryVegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev exited Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day.

On Thursday, the Minnesota Wild suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in Game 6 to the Vegas Golden Knights, eliminating them in the first round for the eighth time in their last 10 postseason appearances. 

Even though the loss was a killer, there was some silver lining offered during and after the handshake line.

NHL Community Reacts To Marc-Andre Fleury's Final Moments Of His CareerMarc-Andre Fleury’s NHL playing career is over.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury - backup goaltender to Filip Gustavsson for the Wild - took to the ice one final time in his NHL career following the loss. The 40-year-old goaltender has plans to retire following the 2024-25 season, and since Minnesota was eliminated, he was dressed on NHL ice for the last time on Thursday.

Even though Fleury didn't start the game - he did make an appearance in Game 5 after Gustavsson left due to illness - he was recognized by just about every single person who took the ice that evening - teammates and opponents alike.

The Golden Knights wait to give Marc-Andre Fleury a final salute before he leaves the ice for the final time. pic.twitter.com/klwN6qYYD1

— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) May 2, 2025

Fleury was the first overall draft pick by Pittsburgh in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups and earning 375 wins, which is the most by a goaltender in franchise history.

He was exposed to Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft and played four seasons there, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender in 2020-21 before moving on to the Chicago Blackhawks. He was with Chicago until the 2022 trade deadline, when he was dealt to Minnesota. 

The four-time All-Star netminder finishes his NHL career second all-time in wins with 575, which should all but guarantee first-ballot entry to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A career people will talk about forever 🌸 pic.twitter.com/xVh2tK98Wg

— x - Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) May 2, 2025

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This season’s ballot for the Selke Trophy has a bit of Florida Panthers flavor.

On Friday, the NHL announced the three finalists for the 2025 Frank J. Selke Trophy.

Last year’s winner, Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov, was expected to be among them, and he is.

While Barkov may be the favorite to repeat in many people’s eyes, his greatest challenge may come from somebody he’s quite familiar with.

Panthers forward Sam Reinhart, who spent the majority of this season on Barkov’s right win, is also one of the three finalists.

It’s pretty remarkable that Florida has two of the absolute defensive forwards in the NHL on the same line, on the same power play and on the same penalty kill.

They are elite, and the only reason Reinhart isn’t discussed more as a top defensive player is because he plays directly next to Barkov.

Interestingly, the third finalist is also from the state of Florida. It’s Tampa Bay forward Anthony Cirelli.

Barkov is looking to become only the seventh player in NHL history to win the Selke in back-to-back years, potentially joining Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Jere Lehtinen, Rod Brind’Amour, Pavel Datsyuk and Patrice Bergeron.

In addition to winning the Selke Trophy last season, Barkov also took home the award in 2020-21.

For both Reinhart and Cirelli, this is their first time as an NHL Awards finalist.

The winners will be announced at the NHL Awards ceremony, which this season takes place in Los Angeles on June 27.

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In the ever-evolving quest to find their next head coach, the Philadelphia Flyers appear to be keeping one hand on the big-name option—and one eye on a potential dark horse.

On the latest episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman provided new insight into Philadelphia’s still-active coaching search. While much of the conversation still centers on Rick Tocchet, Friedman introduced an intriguing new name into the mix: Jay McKee.

And suddenly, the Flyers’ coaching carousel just got a lot more interesting.

Tocchet: The Obvious Fit… if He Wants It

Let’s start with the name that refuses to go away—Rick Tocchet. It’s not hard to understand why he remains at the top of Philadelphia’s list. A former Flyer, beloved in the city, tough as nails, respected league-wide, and a Jack Adams Award-winning head coach with Vancouver Canucks. In theory, he checks nearly every box.

“Philadelphia—we talked on the last pod about Rick Tocchet, the feeling that he’s their number one guy, and I still believe that,” Friedman said. “But I will say this—there seems to be a growing belief that he will consider television next season… if the overall landscape isn’t as he wants it. But Philly’s definitely interested. I think he’s the first guy on their list.”

👀 https://t.co/yaYrBz9CZ1

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) April 29, 2025

The Flyers’ interest makes sense. Tocchet brings instant credibility and knows the team's identity inside and out.

But there’s a catch: he may not be interested in another coaching position next season.

After a grinding season behind the bench in Vancouver, there's legitimate speculation that Tocchet may opt for the TV studio—at least temporarily—if he doesn’t feel the next situation is right.

That opens the door to more possibilities. And that’s where things get a little more curious.

Jay McKee: The Underrated Option with Ties to Brière

Enter Jay McKee, the former defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh Penguins turned OHL coaching mainstay.

If Tocchet is the headline act, McKee is the unexpected name tucked halfway down the marquee—but don’t let that fool you.

“I think another coach who could be on Philly’s radar, somebody mentioned him to me the other day,” Friedman said. “He’s got a history with Daniel Brière. They were teammates in the NHL. And that is Jay McKee, the former Buffalo Sabre, who has spent the last seven years coaching in the Ontario Hockey League.”

McKee’s coaching résumé isn’t NHL-level yet (although Brière has stated that experience level is not a dealbreaker in this search), but it’s far from thin.

He got his start as an assistant with the AHL’s Rochester Americans in 2011 before moving through the OHL ranks with Erie in 2014 and the Kitchener Rangers in 2015. By 2016, he was named head coach of the Rangers, leading them to the Western Conference Final in 2018.

Since 2021, he’s been behind the bench for the Brantford (formerly Hamilton) Bulldogs, where he’s already made a major impact—capturing both the Hamilton Spectator Trophy (the OHL's equivalent of the President's Trophy) and an OHL championship in 2022.

He’s known for a calm demeanor, a teaching mindset, and the kind of structured systems play that helps young players flourish.

Why It Might Make Sense

McKee isn’t the splashiest name. But there’s something about his candidacy that might appeal to where the Flyers are in their rebuild. He’s done the slow work of development. He knows how to cultivate culture. And most importantly, he understands the learning curve required for young talent to find their footing.

With what Brière called the "internal competition" rising as more Flyers prospect are turning pro, and the team's current young players poised to play key roles over the next few years, that kind of coaching profile could prove invaluable.

He’s also not far removed from the modern game. As someone who played in the NHL as recently as 2010 and has spent the last decade behind benches in two of hockey’s most competitive development leagues, McKee brings an understanding that could click in today’s NHL.

The Flyers’ Crossroads

So where does this leave the Flyers? In a holding pattern, for now.

They continue to look at all options, casting a wide net that includes established NHL coaches, up-and-comers from the NCAA, and now, thanks to Friedman, a promising figure from the junior ranks. 

If Tocchet is interested, the job sounds like it will be his to lose. But if he opts for a return to broadcasting, the Flyers may need to get creative.

And if creativity is the play, don’t be surprised if Jay McKee gets a long, serious look.

Mike Sullivan will officially become the New York Rangers’ 38th head coach. 

The Rangers announced on Friday morning that Sullivan will be the team’s head coach just a few days after he parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said. “Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career - including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level – Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench. 

Mike Sullivan Is Reportedly In Advanced Talks To Become Rangers’ Head Coach With John Tortorella Expected To Join Staff Mike Sullivan is expected to be the New York Rangers’ 38th head coach.

“I’ve gotten to know Mike very well over the years, including as teammates in the 1997 World Championships, when he coached me as a player in New York and through our shared time working together with USA Hockey. As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team.”

This comes after a few days of rampant rumors linking Sullivan to the Rangers as it finally all came to fruition. 

Sullivan served as an assistant coach for the Rangers from 2009-2013 under John Tortorella. 

“I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization,” Rangers owner James Dolan said. “Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench.”

The 57-year-old coached the Penguins for ten seasons and won two Stanley Cups during his long tenure in Pittsburgh. 

The exact term and finances of Sullivan’s contract remain undisclosed for now, although ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that it will likely be one of the richest coaching contracts in NHL history.

A new era in The Big Apple starts now with Sullivan.

According to The Hockey News’s very own Diandra Loux from the Tampa Bay Lightning team page, Oliver Bjorkstrand suffered a very serious injury while playing for the Lightning.

The former Columbus Blue Jacket was traded from the Seattle Kraken to the Lightning at the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline along with Yanni Gourde. Unfortunately, he was injured and missed the entirety of the playoffs.

He was originally hurt on April 11 against the Detroit Red Wings, and it appears the injury was far worse than initially feared. Bjorkstrand suffered Compartment Syndrome.

This happens when there is too much pressure around your muscles. In Bjorkstrand's case, it required him to be rushed to the hospital at 2 a.m. for emergency surgery to fix the issue.

As Diandra reported via X, there were signs of swelling and internal bleeding, which led to him going to the hospital.

GM Julien BriseBois said Victor Hedman played with a broken foot.

Oliver Bjorkstrand was injured on April 11th. Woke up with swelling and signs of bleeding. He was rushed to the ER at 2am. Had surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. #GoBolts

— Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) May 2, 2025

This injury is similar to the one Ryan Johansen suffered as a member of the Nashville Predators back in 2017.

The injury is very serious because the fluid and blood get trapped inside the muscle, causing it to swell. If not treated immediately, it can cause major complications, including the potential loss of the affected limb.

Thankfully, in Bjorkstrand’s case, it was caught early and treated. Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said he is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready for the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.

2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agent Targets: Matt DucheneYesterday, we covered the possibility of the Columbus Blue Jackets targeting Mitch Marner or Brock Boeser. With approximately $40 million in cap space, Don Waddell will want to do something. Sean Monahan Voted As Masterton Trophy FinalistThe National Hockey League has announced that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan has been named a finalist for the Masterton Trophy.  Blue Jackets Have A General Idea Of Their First Round Draft Position With Minnesota Being EliminatedWith the Vegas Golden Knights eliminating the Minnesota Wild last night, Don Waddell will have two top-20 draft picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. David Savard’s Career Ends With First-Round ExitAs per our report before the 2025 NHL playoffs kicked off, David Savard has officially called it a career.

It’s dressing room clear-out day for the Montreal Canadiens today, and as usual, we are finding out plenty of information about what happened in both the regular season and the playoffs.

Canadiens: The End For Patrik Laine?
Former Canadiens Captain Comes to The Maple Leafs’ Rescue
Canadiens: Curtain Call For Savard

Unsurprisingly, one of the first questions asked of Samuel Montembeault was about the injury he sustained in the first-round series against the Washington Capitals. The netminder explained that he had torn two of the three muscles in his groin and that while he would have liked to continue, he just couldn’t.

The injury would have ruled him out for two weeks, meaning that he could have returned in the second round had the Canadiens made it, but it wasn’t to be. He will not need surgery to repair the damage, but it will prevent him from attending the World Championships.

The Becancour native never had such a busy season as he had this year. The masked man played in 62 games, which is almost twice his usual workload, and he can be proud of his accomplishments. He won 30 games for the first time in his career, with a 31-24-7 record, a 2.80 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. Before this season, he had only recorded a single shutout in the NHL, but he got four more this year.

I think Sam Montembeault's most impressive attribute is his puck tracking. He's one of the best in the NHL at it.

This huge save is a great example. I can't believe he tracked this through the traffic and was able to react to get his toe on the redirect. Awesome stuff. pic.twitter.com/6DRjvzSG6w

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) April 24, 2025

While he conceded that he lacked consistency at one point, he made the required adjustments and was an integral part of the Canadiens’ push for the playoffs. In an ideal world, Montembeault wouldn’t have been as busy, but Cayden Primeau’s struggles in the NHL left the organization with very few options.

Jakub Dobes’ arrival did help, but next season, if he is once again Montembeault’s backup, he will need to see more action to ensure that the number one isn’t overworked. We’ll never know, but perhaps if he didn’t have that big of a workload, he wouldn’t have sustained an injury in game three.

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