The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad for the next two games on Tuesday.

Ekblad laid a high hit on Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel during Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Monday. Ekblad’s forearm landed on Hagel’s face. Hagel was forced to leave the game, and Bolts coach Jon Cooper said Hagel won’t play in Game 5.

“Ekblad takes his right hand off of his stick, raises his elbow, pulls it back and uses the extended arm to deliver a blow that strikes Hagel in the head with force, causing an injury,” NHL player safety’s video explanation said.

“This is a direct blow to an opponent’s head with an extended elbow delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline,” the video said.

Cooper Frustrated After Hagel Injured In Game 4 'It’s Getting Tiresome Answering Questions About A Hit Every Single Game'Jon Cooper sounded frustrated. But he also sounded defeated.

Ekblad played his second game of the series on Tuesday after returning from a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Ekblad scored a crucial goal in the Panthers' dramatic Game 4 comeback. He and Seth Jones scored a goal each within 11 seconds to take a 3-2 over the Lightning late in the third period, eventually winning 4-2 and taking a 3-1 series lead.

The 29-year-old has a minus-three rating in his two appearances and averaged 21:16 of ice time.

There have been a handful of disciplinary actions from NHL player safety involving this series. Hagel was suspended for Game 3 after a heavy hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Florida D-man Niko Mikkola was also fined $5,000 for boarding Zemgus Girgensons in Game 4.

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The first-round playoff series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning has had no shortage of physicality.

On Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety made yet another ruling in regard to a play that occurred during the series.

Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for two games for elbowing Tampa's Brandon Hagel during Game 4 on Monday night.

Florida’s Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for two games for elbowing Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel. https://t.co/X3QeNt39Va

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 29, 2025

There was no penalty called on the play, which led to Tampa Head Coach Jon Cooper having a heated interaction with one of the officials on the ice.

"One, two, three, four," Cooper yelled while pointing to each of the four officials on the ice. "There's four of you. Holy f---!"

Hagel has since been ruled out of Game 5.

"He's not playing tomorrow," Cooper said Tuesday. "And you know why."

The big, controversial hits have been a trend in this series.

In Game 2, Hagel caught Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov with a high check during the third period that cost him a one-game suspension.

Barkov did not return following the hit, but was fine for Game 3 two nights later. 

During that Game 3, Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk was essentially sent off for good, receiving a five-minute major in the final minutes of the game, after hitting Tampa's Jake Guentzel at center ice.

The difference between the hits and supplemental discipline is that Guentzel had just touched the puck while Barkov never had it, the Department of Player Safety takes that into account.

As the series has progressed, both head coaches, Tampa's Jon Cooper and Florida's Paul Maurice, have been asked about the hits.

At first, the coaches had a cheeky back-and-fourth as Cooper repeated a Maurice quote about Florida players only hitting guys with the puck.

Now, as the series has progressed, it seems the time for lightheartedness is over, based off an interaction Cooper had with a media member after Game 4.

"I think it's getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game," Cooper said. "I'll ask you, you asked me the question, why are you asking me the question? Do you have anything to say about it? If anybody in here has something, stand up and let me know."

When the room remained silent, Cooper said, "Alright, let's move on."

As for Maurice, he did address the Ekblad hit when asked about it postgame, but didn't have much to say about it.

"I think I want to be consistent with what I've said on Hagel," Maurice said. "I saw it. I've seen it before, saw it last year. And then we'll all coach, the players will play, the refs will make the calls, and the league will do with it what they will. I don't want to use this platform to start making my case on this. Everybody's got a job to do. I'll stay in my lane."

That lane will take Maurice and the Panthers back up to Tampa for Game 5 on Wednesday night.

A win means Florida will advance to the second round for the fourth consecutive postseason.

A loss means the Panthers will host Tampa in Game 6 on Friday.

Stay tuned.

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Mike Sullivan is the winningest coach in Pittsburgh Penguins history, finishing his ten-year tenure behind the bench with a 409-255-89 record in 753 games. Those totals don't include his postseason numbers, which are 44-38 in 82 games, including two Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.

Of course, when you have a roster with three bona fide Hall of Famers like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marc-Andre Fleury, the wins tend to come a little easier. However, thanks to his longevity, Sullivan was able to not only break Dan Bylsma's win record but also become the only Pittsburgh head coach to collect 300 and 400 wins.

Here is a look back at all his milestone victories leading the black and gold. 

Win #1 - Nov. 19, 2015 vs. Colorado Avalanche (4-3)

Sullivan won his first game as Penguins head coach when they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 at CONSOL Energy Center. In the game, Ian Cole had two helpers, while Crosby, Malkin, Chris Kunitz, and David Perron had goals. Fleury made 28 saves for the win. 

Win #100 - Dec. 16, 2017 at Arizona Coyotes (4-2)

Carter Rowney opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, and Crosby secured Sullivan's 100th win with the Penguins with an empty net goal. Meanwhile, Malkin had a goal and an assist with Olli Määttä chipping in another lamp lighter. Matt Murray earned the win between the pipes. 

Win #200 - Jan. 7, 2020 at Vegas Golden Knights (4-3)

Dominik Kahun had a goal and an assist while Kris Letang had two helpers to help Sullivan secure win #200 versus the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3, at T-Mobile Arena. Pittsburgh also got goals from Patrick Hörnqvist and Brandon Tanev, while Tristan Jarry made 31 saves. At the other end, Fleury had 12 saves in the loss. 

Win #253 - Oct. 16, 2021 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5-2)

Sullivan became the franchise win leader with his 253rd victory on Oct. 16, 2021, against the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2021-22 home opener, the Penguins erupted for four first-period goals en route to a 5-2 win at PPG Paints Arena. 

Inside the Numbers: Mike Sullivan's Decade As Penguins Head CoachOn April 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they mutually parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. As the winningest coach in franchise history, it's a monumental day for the organization, which will begin its search for a new leader for the first time since 2015.

Pittsburgh got goals from Brock McGinn, Drew O'Connor, Teddy Blueger, Danton Heinen, and Jason Zucker. Both McGinn and O'Connor had two points, while Jarry made 18 saves in the win. Interestingly, Fleury took the loss for the Blackhawks, giving up four goals in just 11:25 before being pulled.

Win #300 - Oct. 20, 2022 vs. Los Angeles Kings (6-1)

Jeff Petry scored a goal and had two helpers to help the Penguins defeat the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 20, 2022, to get Sullivan his 300th win. In the highest-scoring milestone victory of his coaching career, Pittsburgh also got goals from Jeff Carter, Jake Guentzel, Ryan Poehling, Rickard Rakell, and Jan Rutta. Once again, Jarry earned the win, making 39 saves. 

Win #400 - Mar. 9, 2025 vs. Minnesota Wild (3-1)

In one of the final matchups between the Penguins and their former goalie Fleury, now with the Minnesota Wild, Pittsburgh won 3-1 thanks to Crosby's two goals, giving Sullivan his 400th win as head coach. Of course, Malkin had the other Penguins goal as Jarry led the way with 29 saves. 

In the wake of Canada's federal election on Monday, there is going to be continued speculation about the relationship between Canadians and Americans. However, one thing is pretty clear -- the tensions between political leaders is unlikely to affect the time-honored, stress-tested connection between Buffalo hockey fans and their Canadian counterparts. 

The truth is, for as long as the Sabres have been around -- and well before it -- there have been scores of Buffalonians and Western New Yorkers who've loved hockey. And if Toronto Maple Leafs tickets weren't so exorbitant , we'd be seeing many Buffalonian traveling to Toronto to see the Buffalo Sabres play, the same way many Torontonians and Southern Ontario residents make the trip to Buffalo when the Maple Leafs play there. And nothing that happens politically is going to change that.

The Leafs consistently bring out hundreds, if not thousands of their fans to games no matter where they play. It's a result of being an Original Six team, it's a result of a team being from Canada's largest city, and it's a result of the tribal pride people have in the Blue & White. And having the ability to take a brief ride down the Queen Elizabeth Way to convene with their fellow Leafs supporters is a luxury Leafs fans aren't going to give up anytime soon. 

Even with the punishing current exchange rate for the American dollar, Canadian Leafs fans can rest assured ticket prices for Leafs/Sabres games in Buffalo are far cheaper than they are for games in Toronto. And so you're going to continue to see Torontonians at the rink in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. It makes financial sense for Leafs fans to travel for an hour or so, and let's face it -- those trips are one of the ways Leafs fans deepen their bond with one another. (And the way Toronto traffic has devolved, it can take you an hour to travel from one part of the city to another, so the journey to Buffalo might wind up being about as long as it is between Point A and Point B in Toronto.)

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of ChangeThe Buffalo Sabres, at their season-ending press availability, were all singing from the same hymn book, and the song was Bruce Hornsby’s “Gonna Be Some Changes Made”. The questions that will be utmost in the minds of a frustrated fanbase will be what kind of changes, and in the end, will those changes have the desired effect of ending the club’s 14-year playoff drought. 

But really, sharing an appreciation for the sport of hockey will always bond together people from countries around the world. And that's one of the reasons why the connection between Torontonians and Buffalonians is so strong. We're linked by geography and weather patterns, and a history that has included a terrific rivalry between our NHL teams. That's why Toronto has its share of Buffalo Bills fans, and that's why Buffalo has its share of Toronto Blue Jays fans. We're all going to root for one another to some degree, and that's always going to stay the same, no matter what obstacles are put before us.

So if you've got any anxieties about the connection between Canadians and Americans in the Buffalo/Toronto region, lay them to rest. We're all good friends here, we all appreciate the best sport there is, and it's going to stay that way for as long as there are pucks and sticks to go around.

The Florida Panthers picked up a massive win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4. With this, the Panthers extended their series lead to 3-1 and now need only one more victory to advance to the second round.

The Panthers' win was undoubtedly well-earned, as the reigning Stanley Cup champions scored three unanswered goals late in the third to defeat the Lightning by a 4-2 final score. This included goals from Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones just 11 seconds apart with less than four minutes remaining in the contest.

The Panthers worked incredibly hard to pick up this impressive comeback win, and veteran forward Brad Marchand dove into why it was possible.

"Belief is a dangerous thing, and we had that," Marchand said. "You could feel it. I don't think that we're sitting there on the bench thinking we're going back to two-two. You know, we believe that we can make a play, and you know, you're one shot away at that time."

pic.twitter.com/LQzsvTVWyU

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

Marchand then added:

"It's a different ballgame if it's 5-1 with two minutes left, but one-goal game, crazy things happen, and we've all went been through it. You know, teams that have gone far and had success, you learn from these moments, and you learn in the regular season. You build the belief in your structure and what you have. Doesn't mean it's going to happen go our way, but it did tonight."

This is a great message from Marchand, and one that the Panthers should keep following as the post-season continues. Instead of losing hope when they were losing, the Panthers stayed positive and secured a major win in Game 4 because of it.

Machand had a solid performance for the Panthers in this matchup, too, as he recorded the primary assist on Anton Lundell's game-opening goal. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also shouted out Marchand's positivity and leadership following the matchup, so No. 63's presence is undoubtedly being felt.

Recent Panthers News 

Comeback Cats strike Lightning, Panthers win Game 4 to take commanding series leadThe Comeback Cats made their first appearance of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night in Sunrise. Panthers' Nate Schmidt Ties NHL Record With Hot Playoff StartThe Florida Panthers have had a fantastic start to the 2025 NHL playoffs. After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a 6-2 final score in Game 1, the Panthers followed that up with a hard-fought 2-0 win over the Bolts in Game 2. With this, they are now heading back home for Games 3 and 4 with a 2-0 series lead.

1. There are a lot of Nervous Nellies out there worried about mean, tough and nasty postseason hockey. I've got news for them; that's what playoff hockey is all about.

2. The hissing and moaning over what are and are not  "dirty hits" is as old as the NHL. Repeat: THIS IS WHAT PLAYOFF HOCKEY IS ALL ABOUT.

3. About the dumbest thing I've seen on the internet is some schlemeel writing that Canadian hockey announcers put more emotion into their broadcasts  than their American counterparts.

Playoff Notes For Rangers Fans And Others1. When it comes to a pair of teams being even in a series the Oilers-Kings battle sure fills the bill. Edmonton's late comeback and OT winner last night could be a major demoralizer for LA.

4. By The Maven's standards, the Capitals should get it over with tonight and simply crush the Canadiens. 

5. If the Caps fail today, I'll begin worrying about the Habs actually winning the series.

6. Anyone surprised at the Stars' success so far should check The Hockey News' Yearbook. Dallas is picked to win The Stanley Cup - ahem, by beating New Jersey.

7. The injury-wracked Devils will be fortunate to stay alive tonight in Raleigh. After all, the Canes are kings of home ice advantage. 

8. I'm rooting very-very-very hard for a Senators win over the Leafs tonight. For that to happen, Linus Ullmark must come up bigger in goal. Much bigger!

9. For my money, the most interesting series pits the upstart Blues against Chevy's Jets. You have to love Jim Montgomery's coaching except that The Maven is at a loss to define how JM makes it work.

10. That said, I have to root for Winnipeg. Hey, the Jets have never won Stanley!

The Utah Hockey Club has announced that they’ve signed goaltender Jaxson Stauber to a two-year, two-way extension. The deal comes with an AAV of $775,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 in the AHL.

Stauber took over as the backup when Connor Ingram stepped away from the team for personal reasons. In six NHL games, he went 2-1-1 with a .892 save percentage and a 3.26 goals-against average.

He also played in 21 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, Utah’s AHL affiliate, where he had a 12-7-2 record with a .897 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average. Unfortunately, Tucson was knocked out of the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs earlier this week.

Stauber also has a cool piece of trivia attached to him. On November 30, he recorded the first shutout in Utah franchise history, a 6-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

NHL Draft Lottery Set For May 5 — How High Can Utah Pick?The NHL has announced the date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. It will take place on Monday, May 5th. With the Utah Hockey Club now in the bottom 11 teams, the question is: where exactly did they finish—and how high can they move up? Utah's AHL Affiliate Tucson Roadrunners Season Is OverUtah Hockey Club's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, has been eliminated from the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs. Karel Vejmelka Will Join Czechia At IIHF World Championships Utah Hockey Club's Karel Vejmelka will represent Czechia at the 2025 World Championships in May. He will be representing Czechia for the fourth straight year, which saw him win gold on home soil last year in Prague.

On Tuesday, the Reading Royals and the Philadelphia Flyers announced a multi-year affiliation agreement that will see Reading continue to serve as the ECHL affiliate of the Flyers.

The affiliation agreement runs through the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons with an option for a third season (2027-28).

This new agreement is an extension of the original affiliation agreement made in 2014, with four prior extensions made since then (2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022).

The Flyers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) and Royals form the closest geographical chain of affiliates in professional hockey. Santander Arena is 39 miles southwest of Lehigh Valley's PPL Center and 67 miles northwest of Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. Meanwhile, the Phantoms play 70 miles north of Wells Fargo Center.

"We’re excited to continue our affiliation agreement with the Flyers and Phantoms for the foreseeable future,” Royals president David Farrar said in a statement. “Since the Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA) took over ownership of the Royals, we feel the relationship has been valuable to all parties involved. We’re all excited for the upcoming season and look forward to watching future Flyers take the ice at the Santander Arena.”

Royals head coach Jason Binkley added, "the affiliation relationship with the Flyers and Phantoms has been a great asset to our players and team. We look forward to developing more players with the Flyers while achieving the ultimate goal of bringing the Kelly Cup back to Reading.”

Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere is pleased with how the relationship between the Flyers and Royals has been over the years.

“We are very happy to extend this affiliation with Reading," Briere said. "The Royals are a first-class organization and I've seen how beneficial this relationship is to the development of players on both the Phantoms and the Flyers, especially this season with Jacob Gaucher making his NHL debut and playing a pivotal role in Lehigh Valley."

Gaucher, 24, became the 38th player in franchise history to reach the National Hockey League after playing for Reading when he debuted with the Flyers on Sunday, Feb. 2nd, 2025 against the Colorado Avalanche. Gaucher is one of five players to make their NHL debut with Philadelphia after playing in Reading in the affiliation's tenure (Tyrell Goulbourne, Hayden Hodgson, Felix Sandström, Max Willman).

The Royals have a proud history of affiliations with NHL franchises that has included stints with the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals.

The renewed agreement between the Flyers and Royals extends the longest tenure Reading has had as an NHL team’s affiliate at 12 years with the option for a 13th.

The Flyers were founded in 1967 and were one of the six expansion franchises introduced in addition to the Original Six in the NHL. They’ve won two Stanley Cup titles in 1974 and 1975 and 16 division titles. Comcast Spectacor Chairman and CEO Dan Hilferty leads the franchise while President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones and Briere direct its on-ice talent.

The Royals were purchased by the Berks County Convention Center Authority in 2019, paving the way for the Royals to bring competitive professional hockey to Berks County for years to come.

The 2025-26 season will be the Royals 24th season in Reading after the franchise was relocated from Columbus as the Columbus Chill ahead of the 2001-02 season. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013 and are five-time division champions.

As the Vegas Golden Knights prepare for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild, HC Bruce Cassidy and his players are emphasizing urgency. 

In Game 2, the Golden Knights were far too lackadaisical with the puck, coughing up turnovers in dangerous positions. They also weren't sharp enough in their coverage, something that affected them in Game 3. 

In Game 5, Cassidy won't let it happen again.

"You can have a game, like Game 2, where you didn’t manage the puck and took ourselves out of it. But those days need to be behind you."

Cassidy has thrown his lines in the blender, searching for offence and consistency on the defensive side of the puck. He may have found it in Game 4 and has decided to stick with the lines that have the hot hand.

The lines are headlined by a new trio of William Karlsson, Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev, a trio that had never played together but got positive results in 6:52 of ice time. 

The other three combos consist of Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone; Ivan Barbashev, Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith; Tanner Pearson, Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar. 

The Wild should feel confident heading into Game 5 despite the loss in Game 4. They seem to have solved Adin Hill at times. The 28-year-old has allowed three or more goals since Game 2, but showed signs that he was finding his game.

Each game has been won by the team that scores first, placing more pressure on starting the game with intensity and focus. 

Puck drop is set for 6:30 PM PST at T-Mobile Arena.

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.

Captain Mark Stone Epitomizes Leadership Role For Golden KnightsLAS VEGAS -- When the Golden Knights traded for Mark Stone in 2019, general manager Kelly McCrimmon knew the franchise landed much more than one of the most talented 200-foot forwards in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled 14 players from the Toronto Marlies following their AHL affiliate's first round playoff loss to the Cleveland Monsters. 

Forwards Alex Steeves, Jacob Quillan, Nicholas Abruzzese, Reese Johnson, Alex Nylander, and Roni Hirvonen were recalled.

Six defensemen including Matt Benning, Cade Webber, Topi Niemela, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen, and Marshall Rifai were recalled. 

Goaltenders Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby will also join the Maple Leafs. Artur Akhtyamov has been serving as the team's third goaltender. 

The Maple Leafs have recalled the following players.

F Alex Steeves
F Jacob Quillan
F Nicholas Abruzzese
F Reese Johnson
F Alex Nylander
F Roni Hirvonen

D Matt Benning
D Cade Webber
D Topi Niemelä
D William Villeneuve
D Mikko Kokkonen
D Marshall Rifai

G Matt Murray
G Dennis…

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) April 29, 2025

All 14 players will join the Maple Leafs as 'Black Aces' that will allow them to practice with and be around the team during their playoff run. 

While none of these players are likely to see playoff action Steeves - who finished second in the AHL with 36 goals in 59 games - Quillan, Nylander, Hildeby, and Murray have all played NHL games this season. 

This is a common move for playoff teams as the NHL's roster limits and salary cap do not apply in the playoffs. 

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

After getting a bye for the first round of the AHL playoffs, the Laval Rocket will finally start its quest for the Calder Cup on Wednesday night. At the same time, the Montreal Canadiens will try to avoid elimination against the Washington Capitals in D.C., with Rocket’s number one goaltender, Cayden Primeau, acting as backup for the big club.

Canadiens: Not So Long Ago It Was 3-1…
Canadiens: After The Warnings, The Fines
Canadiens: About That Devastating Hit

Pascal Vincent’s men will take on the Cleveland Monsters in the best-of-five division semi-final. In four meetings during the regular season, the Rocket had a 2-0-2 record against the Ohio-based franchise. The Rocket was the regular-season champion, while the Monsters finished fifth in the North Division.

The Rocket elected to play the first two games away and the last three in Laval. With Primeau being with the Canadiens, newly signed goaltender Jacob Fowler will be tasked with manning Laval’s net, and he’ll be facing one of the hottest goaltenders down the stretch, Jet Greaves.

The 24-year-old netminder was a big reason the Columbus Blue Jackets almost qualified for the playoffs, winning seven of his last NHL games. In 11 games with the Jackets this season, he posted a 7-2-2 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Rocket can rely on a fully healthy David Reinbacher. The right-shot defenseman had a tough year, sustaining a knee injury that cost him most of his season in a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The young defenseman didn’t lose his season, though. In an interview with RG.org, he explains that he became a student of the game, learning the team’s system and attending meetings usually reserved for players who are in the lineup.

Game one of the series between Laval and Cleveland is set for 7:00 PM on Wednesday night, game two on Friday at 7:00 PM, and game three on Sunday at 3:00 PM. You can catch all the action and a glimpse of the Canadiens’ future on RDS.

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. 

The NHL announced on Tuesday that the league’s Draft Lottery will be held next Monday, May 5th, to determine the order of selection for the NHL Draft in late June. The Buffalo Sabres have a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery, which will be held at the NHL Network’s studios in Secaucus, N.J, and will be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

The lottery only allows the top 11 seeds to be eligible to receive the first overall draft pick, and is held in two phases: the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick.

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Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, have the top odds (18,5%) of selecting first overall this year. The Chicago Blackhawks are second at 13.5%, the Nashville Predators third at 11.5%, the Philadelphia Flyers fourth at 9.5%, Boston fifth at 8.5%, Seattle sixth at 7.5%, and Buffalo seventh at 6.5%.

With only a longshot chance of making the postseason after the trade deadline, the primary focus of Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and GM Kevyn Adams down the stretch was to establish a winning culture, but that came at the cost of finishing with a top-five draft pick this June. Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer is projected to be the top overall selection, with Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, and Swedish center Anton Frondell expected to go in the top five.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Since Mike Sullivan parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, rumors have linked him to the New York Rangers. 

With the Rangers looking for a new head coach after firing Peter Laviolette, Sullivan has jumped up as a top-tier candidate to get the job. 

Multiple NHL insiders are getting a sense that Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is intrigued with the chance to bring Sullivan on board. 

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

“In 2021, when Chris Drury was hired as GM, he didn't hire Gallant until he knew Sullivan was staying [in PIT]...Until someone beats the Rangers out for Sullivan's services, that's who I'm picking...He's their #1,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said.

While TSN’s Pierre Lebrun reported that five teams have already inquired about Sullivan, there’s no doubt that the Rangers remain the frontrunners to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach as of right now. 

He has direct ties with Drury from Boston College and USA Hockey. The Rangers’ past interest in Sullivan has also been very well documented. 

NHL general managers have reportedly been wondering if Sullivan could strike a deal with the Rangers over the next 48-72 hours. 

“I cannot imagine [the New York Rangers] allowing anyone to outdo themselves in the pursuit of Sullivan,” Friedman said.

Now, we just have to sit and wait to see how everything unfolds.

Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed this morning that forward Marcus Johansson will return to the lineup tonight. He did not play in Game 4 with a lower-body injury but will play tonight. 

Johansson, 34, has one assist in three playoff games so far. He had 11 goals and 34 points in 72 games during the regular season. 

In nine career playoff games for the Wild, Johansson has two goals and one assist. He is a minus-seven in those nine games as well. 

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 Expected To Make Some Changes For Game 5The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before playing Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Based on Monday's practice, we could see a few changes for tonight's game against the Golden Knights.  Former Wild Goaltender Named Vezina Trophy FinalistThe NHL announced the three finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy today. The trophy is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position. Cassidy Hoping Line Changes Spark Golden Knights In Time For Game 5LAS VEGAS -- As the second-seeded Golden Knights saw their opening round series with the Minnesota Wild slipping away, and on the brink of becoming out of hand, coach Bruce Cassidy did what he has done countless times: put his forward lines in a blender.