In the 2024 offseason, the Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year, $6.25M contract and after one season, the long-term implications don't seem very positive.

In his first season with the organization, the 31-year-old struggled at 5-on-5 despite scoring 13 goals and 51 points in 78 games. Stephenson recorded a career-high 18 power play points and provided value on the penalty kill, but for a $6.25M cap hit, the Kraken were hoping for more than a third-line producer. 

As the years will go by, the expectation is that Shane Wright and Matty Beniers will continue to improve and blossom into top-six centers, leaving Stephenson in a lesser role. When they factor in Berkly Catton, who is nearing an NHL role, it puts the Kraken in an increasingly peculiar spot.

Throughout his junior career, Catton has played exclusively as a center, and his skill set best suits a modern NHL center. He's a fantastic playmaker who loves to have the puck on his stick. He's a transition nightmare for his opponents, using his speed, edges and hands to create space for himself and his teammates. The unfortunate situation for Catton and the Kraken is that he is ineligible to play in the AHL next season if he is not ready to play in the NHL. He'd have to return to the WHL, where he's proven to be far too good for.

This season, the 19-year-old scored 38 goals and 109 points in 57 games, while adding another 11 goals and 42 points in 20 playoff games. If Catton does show he's ready to play in the NHL, the Kraken will be forced to play him as either a fourth-line center or a winger, both positions where Catton would likely not thrive during his rookie campaign, which is why the decision to sign Stephenson to a long-term deal at the time was puzzling, and it'll continue to be.

While he could be hampering the development of young forwards like Catton, he was also misprofiled by the Kraken front office. With the Vegas Golden Knights, Stephenson was so effective because Jack Eichel and William Karlsson took on the tough matchups, allowing Stephenson to play a type of roaming role to take advantage of lesser matchups. If Wright and Beniers continue their trajectory, they could create that role for Stephenson, but the Saskatoon, SK native's cap hit is still far too high for that role. 

"I think a lot of similarities there. It's crazy thinking that I'm one of the older guys now, it goes so quick. I mean, even this year, how quick it went by," said Stepheson during the Kraken's exit interviews. "My youngest daughter just turned one, and it feels like she's a couple months old. So, yeah, it was kind of a blur this year. But as far as playing and everything went, from that standpoint, it was fairly similar. I would say it’s just a different situation, different kind of everything as well. But I think it's just it's going to be good to just kind of reflect and know what to expect coming into next year, and just have that comfortability and experience, I guess. Yeah, I think it'll be a good season next year, for sure."

The Kraken want to find ways to incorporate youth and veterans, but strapping themselves to long-term contracts could be more detrimental than beneficial. 

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

Kraken Are A Threat To Offer Sheet Available Restricted Free AgentsThroughout the season, the Seattle Kraken's front office has been keen on their mindset to be aggressive in their pursuit of upgrading the roster, and according to recent reports, that pursuit includes possibly using offer sheets. 

It's officially summer, folks.

How do we know, you ask? Yes, the Stanley Cup Final series has already kicked off, but that's not the prime indicator.

Martin Necas rumors have officially started swirling, and the frenzy that has ensued is a certain head-scratcher.

While the Stanley Cup Final begins this week, the off-season has begun for 30 teams across the NHL.

With the combine this week and the draft to follow later in the month, @RealKyper introduces his first trade board of the off-season. https://t.co/yXm6NXGb8V

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 2, 2025

In the above article, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet talks about potentially beneficial trades across the league leading up to Free Agency. He had this to say about Necas, who still has one year remaining on his $6.5 million contract:

"The key piece in the first Mikko Rantanen trade this season, Martin Necas largely delivered on what was promised — he was just shy of being a point-per-game player in the regular season and found a home on Colorado’s top line. But before that trade, Necas only signed a short-term deal with Carolina when the two sides couldn’t agree on his long-term value, meaning he has one season left making $6.5 million against the cap, after which he could test the waters as a UFA. 

“After the Avalanche moved Rantanen because of how difficult they perceived contract extension talks to be going, how much patience will they have with Necas — not a homegrown player or superstar talent — if negotiations on an extension start slowly this July? There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options."

The quote that garners a lot of attention: "There was a sense Necas wasn't overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado."

Where This All Started

Rumors began circulating in the summer of 2024, following the end of his previous bridge deal, that Necas was unhappy with his time in Carolina. Necas' father spoke out, saying that the forward wanted minutes on the first line and the first power-play unit, opportunities he wasn't consistently getting under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. The understanding was that Necas was unhappy with his utilization and felt that he wasn't able to play to his full capabilities. His father even went on to say in an interview with Denik Sport, "Martin wants to be traded."

Is Martin Necas' Time in Carolina Coming to a Close?When the clock struck 0:00 and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in Game 6 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, emotions were running high.

It seems as though those comments held some truth to them, considering the blockbuster trade that sent him and teammate Jack Drury, who had also reportedly requested a trade in previous off-seasons, to the Avalanche in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

In Carolina, this past season yielded incredible results for Necas - the best of his career. In 49 games played with the club, he still ranks highly among their roster:

• Points: 55 (3rd)
• Goals: 16 (6th)
• Assists: 39 (2nd)
• Power-Play Goals: 7 (T-2nd, Seth Jarvis)

Rumors also broke around the same time that alluded to Necas not being happy playing on the wing. When he was drafted, many listed him as a natural center. With Carolina's log-jam at the center position during his time with the team, HC Rod Brind'Amour didn't have much wiggle room and, instead, focused on developing him as a winger.

How Did Things in Colorado Shake Out?

He ended the season with 83 points, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists in the remaining 30 games he played with the Avalanche in the regular season, averaging just under a point per game.

Impressive? Given the change in systems he needed to adapt to, most would say so.

Necas was accustomed to playing a style with Carolina that emphasized a heavy neutral-zone presence and hard-checking game. Brind'Amour demands a certain defensive style from his players that wasn't much suited for Necas. His absence from Carolina's penalty kill units further proves that.

With the Hurricanes, he was never on a consistent line for long, never mind on the first line.

What he DID get in Colorado, though, was consistent first-line minutes next to one of the best active players in the NHL and minutes on the first power-play unit, both things he reportedly wanted. In these situations on the ice, especially next to Nathan MacKinnon, he could put his best assets to use: his speed and ability to transition the puck - something Carolina had to adapt to missing after he was traded away.

It’s a Marty Party 🎉 pic.twitter.com/h00HNddDhC

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 9, 2025

But, then begs the question: if he got what he was asking for, why wouldn't he be thrilled?

First, let's all remember to take the report with a grain of salt. This is ONE journalist with a single report after a tumultuous season for every party involved in this trade. Everyone was shocked by the blockbuster trade, despite two of the three players involved having reportedly requested to be moved in previous years (i.e., Necas and Drury).

Second, if there is any truth to this, all bets here are on him not getting more of an opportunity to prove himself as a natural center.

He was given one game by head coach Jared Bednar in MacKinnon's absence (due to a minor injury) on April 10th against the Vancouver Canucks. It didn't last longer than two periods.

Call it a lack of experience or simply not being built to play the position, but when a guy who wants to play center is out on the ice for three of the four goals allowed, it's not the greatest way to build an argument to play him there consistently. He was only at center for one of those goals, as he was moved back to the wing in the third period, but that lone goal saw him caught too deep in the other end and then leisurely skating back... Not the best look.

🗣️Jared Bednar

Watch Bednar's full postgame availability following a 1-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.#GoAvsGo | @gs_off_icepic.twitter.com/TyXNpFsHvI

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) April 11, 2025

In his defense, that was an off-game for the team as a whole, as Coach Bednar said following the game that the team wasn't skating enough. Bad decisions were made, breakouts were "terrible," zone transitions weren't up to his standards, and he made sure everyone knew that the lineup shuffling due to missing guys was not an excuse for any of it.

The Multi-Million Dollar Question: Will Necas Get Traded?

All that to say... With the Brock Nelson extension securing a player at the 2C position for the next three years, there's not much of an opportunity for Necas to get another look at center. And now with talks of the Avalanche potentially targeting Stanley Cup-winning center Jonathan Toews, it looks less and less likely for the Czech native.

The idea is that, with Necas' contract expiring after the 2025-26 season, the Avalanche may put a deal in front of him somewhere between $7 million and $9 million. After the points he put up in the regular season this past campaign, a number in that range seems generous enough and would be his largest salary sum yet.

Necas has never signed a deal longer than three years, his most recent contracts acting as bridge deals while Necas continued to prove himself. His worth has always been a point of contention in contract talks, even leading the forward to file for arbitration in 2024 before the season. Hearing dates for players were not released, but he signed his two-year, $6.5 million deal on July 29th, 2024.

Rumors have popped up in the last few weeks that the Avalanche may consider trading him to earn some draft capital back, or to deepen their roster even further, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman alluded to rumors being just that: rumors.

Elliotte Friedman: Regarding the Martin Necas, Charlie Coyle rumours, I'm not sure the Avalanche feel they have to do anything, they like how the team looks on paper - 32 Thoughts Podcast

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 14, 2025

My expectation is that Martin Necas will be in the starting lineup for the Avalanche come October. From there, he has a chance to work further with MacKinnon and best his numbers from this past season to earn himself a heftier contract. If he is traded by the deadline next March, it won't be from lack of trying on Chris MacFarland and company's part.

Stylistically, Necas is a perfect fit for this team, especially next to MacKinnon on the first line. He's gotten almost everything he's wanted out of how he's been utilized on the ice, so that can no longer be an excuse as to why he couldn't get a deal done with Colorado.

The main factors, in my eyes, will be the salary and whether or not playing center is a dealbreaker for him moving forward.

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The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is winger Cameron Schmidt, who plays for the Vancouver Giants.

There are few players in this draft as dynamic as Schmidt. Listed at 5'7", 160 lbs, Schmidt lit up the WHL with 40 goals and 78 points in 61 games. He also helped Canada capture Gold at the 2025 U18s, scoring twice and adding two assists in seven games. 

What makes Schmidt a top prospect is his speed. He is already one of the fastest players in the WHL, and can pull highlight reel moves at breakneck speeds. His superb skating also comes in handy in the transition game, as once he builds up momentum, he is extremely hard to catch. 

In the offensive zone, Schmidt is a player who likes to get the puck off his stick quickly. He can beat goaltenders from every angle, and as the season went on, he showed that he can be a reliable playmaker. In the end, it is safe to say Schmidt already has an NHL-calibre shot, which makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. 

The next step in Schmidt's game will be his play away from the puck. While he has impressive defensive moments, becoming more consistent and involved defensively could help translate into additional offensive chances. If Schmidt can round out his game and add some defensive elements to his toolkit, he will be an even more dynamic player at the pro level.

Schmidt is expected to be a late first-round pick this year. He has the offensive tools that teams covet, while his speed and skating are attributes that organizations love to add to their prospect pools. Ultimately, Schmidt has top-six potential, while his ability on the power play should lead to his name being called on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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In this year’s Stanley Cup final, goaltending has been a major storyline for the Edmonton Oilers. Regular starter Stuart Skinner has been displaced by backup Calvin Pickard, and Oilers fans don’t have consensus on who should be starting Game 5 for the team. But very quietly, the goaltending situation for the Florida Panthers has also proven to be a tricky one, with star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky not performing as consistently as the Panthers undoubtedly hoped.

Let’s be clear – we’re in no way arguing that Bobrovsky should be riding the pine as a healthy scratch in favor of backup Vitek Vanecek. Bobrovsky is a key component for Florida, and that’s not going to change.

Nevertheless, it’s also true that Bobrovsky has contributed in a negative way to the Panthers’ struggles against the Oilers. In particular, Bobrovsky laid an egg in the Game 4 result that ended with a 5-4 overtime for the Oilers. In that Edmonton win, Bobrovsky gave up all five goals on 35 Edmonton shots for a sub-par save percentage of .857. And in the four Cup final games, Bobrovsky has surrendered 14 goals for a goals-against average of 3.50. Obviously, those aren’t the type of numbers you want to see from your netminder.

Bobrovsky has struggled in at least one game in every playoff series this year – and at his worst, in Florida’s second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he posted a save percentage of .882 or worse in four games of the seven-game series. There’s no question he’s bailed out his teammates at times, but he’s also been bailed out by his teammates at other times.

Bobrovsky being erratic will not serve the Panthers well in the three remaining games of the Cup final. Florida doesn’t necessarily need him to stand on his head and steal games at this stage – although that would be nice, given he remains the highest-paid player on the Panthers’ roster at $10-million per season – but if he can just hold off Edmonton long enough for Florida’s offense to pick apart Skinner or Pickard, the Panthers should be able to win their second Cup in as many years.

Bobrovsky has one more season on his contract, and considering he’s now 36 years old, we might see some slippage in his game sooner rather than later. And that process may have already started, given that his regular-season save percentage fell from .915 in 2023-24 to .906 this season. He’s still a workhorse for the Panthers, appearing in at least 50 games in each of the past four seasons. But it might be time next year for Florida to ease up on Bobrovsky’s workload and keep him fresher for the post-season.

For the moment, the pressure is squarely on Bobrovsky – maybe not to the degree it is on Skinner and/or Pickard – and Panthers fans will be watching keenly to see if Bobrovsky can hold the fort. If he puts in another effort like the one he did in Game 4, Florida is going to be in trouble. But if he plays the way he has in most of the Panthers’ playoff victories – not being perfect, but being above-average – the Oilers will be going home without a Cup for the second straight year.

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Speaking to host Tony Marinaro on The Sick Podcast earlier this week, TVA Sports’ Nicolas Cloutier mentioned that at the NHL scouting combine, the Montreal Canadiens met a lot of players who are slotted to go top 10. He added that it could mean they’re gathering intel for the future in case they trade for them somewhere down the line, or it could mean they are considering trading up in the draft. One of those players was St-Hyacinthe-born center Caleb Desnoyers.

The 6-foot-1.5 and 178-pound Moncton Wildcat left-shot pivot is ranked seventh in the Central Scouting ranking of North American skaters. He should be long gone by the time the Canadiens are scheduled to talk in the first round. But the Habs have two first-round pick and they could be open to trading them both to move up in the draft.

Canadiens: How Much Will It Cost To Keep Hutson In Montreal Long Term?
Leon Draisaitl Beats A Canadiens’ Legend Record
Canadiens: More About Malcolm Spence

Desnoyers has had a great season with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, picking up 84 points in 56 games and being his team’s most important player. His production even increased at the right time, in the playoffs, when it mattered most, scoring 30 points in 19 games or 1.88 points per game (up from 1.50 in the regular season). He’s an elite playmaker with a high hockey IQ who scans the ice and works out the best play to make. Or, as Martin St-Louis calls it, he makes good reads, and that’s hard to teach.

You can have the best system in the world, but if the other team doesn’t play the way you expect them to, your system may be useless, and then, you’ve got to rely on your players’ ability to read the game. In that sense, Desnoyers is the kind of player the Canadiens’ bench boss would like.

His talent and skills mean that he can fool opponents with deceptive passing that’s likely to come from anywhere on the ice, when defenders are going to think “ok, he’s got no angle, no room left, I can ease up”, that’s when he’ll strike.

His performance in the playoffs has unsurprisingly made his draft stock rise, and he could even go top-five, so it would take a big trade for the Canadiens to be able to draft him, but never say never. Cloutier also mentioned that he feels the youngster has all the tools to cope with the pressure that comes with being a French-Canadian high draft pick in Montreal.

While there’s no denying he ticks quite a few boxes when it comes to what the Canadiens are after and that the team probably does like him, I’m not sure they like him enough to swing the kind of trade it would need to move up to the range he’s being projected to go in. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie has him going at six, Craig Button has him at seventh, THN’s Ryan Kennedy has him at six as well while McKeen’s hockey ranks him at fourth.

Photo credit: Michael Augello

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Former New Jersey Devils forward Brandon Gignac is taking his talents overseas. EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League has announced that they have signed Gignac to a two-year contract.

Gignac began his professional career with the Devils, as he was selected by the Metropolitan Division club with the 80th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made one appearance with New Jersey during the 2018-19 season, where he posted zero points, one block, and a minus-2 rating.

While Gignac played in just one NHL game during his time with the Devils, he spent multiple years with the organization down in the AHL. In 127 games over five AHL seasons from 2016-17 to 2020-21 with the Albany Devils and Binghampton Devils, he recorded 18 goals and 53 points.

Gignac's time with the Devils organization ended during the 2021 NHL off-season when they chose not to re-sign him. He then spent each of the next four seasons with the Laval Rocket of the AHL and played in seven games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2023-24, posting one goal and a minus-3 rating.

Devils Should Bolster Top Six By Trading For Sabres StarThe New Jersey Devils are in a position where they should be looking to improve their forward group this summer. Bringing in a top-six winger, in particular, would be huge for a Devils club that is looking to take that next step and needs more offense. 

Photo Credit:  © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

If the Philadelphia Flyers want to get younger and more talented on defense this offseason, they need not look further than Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence.

With the Nicolas Hague trade rumors that were flying around, the discussion around the Flyers' defense went from talent and skill to size and strength. Hague, who is reportedly not on Philadelphia's radar, would have brought the size and strength, but who will bring the other aspects?

After all, the Flyers were 30th in the NHL in total scoring amongst defensemen, producing a bog-standard 132 points from the backend.

That's where Spence comes in. The 24-year-old has scored six goals and 52 points over the last two seasons while establishing himself as an NHL regular in a bottom-four role with the Kings.

But, the Australian-born defenseman played more than 10 minutes once in his five playoff appearances for L.A., which can at least partially be attributed to his modest 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday's episode of "32 Thoughts" that Spence is likely available on the NHL trade market for that reason.

"I think that's a name to keep an eye on. Ken Holland, you know how he feels about his blueline. He likes a big, mobile blueline. I just don't think the Kings feel Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side together works," Friedman said. "They're both right-hand shots, they both need to play. I just don't think they feel there's room for two of them. Clarke I don't believe is available. Spence, I think, is, so that's a name to keep an eye out for."

So, why would the Flyers trade for a smaller defenseman in Spence when they already have Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae?

The answer is simple, actually. Spence's defensive metrics have been phenomenal in his current role, whereas Drysdale's, for example, have been extremely poor.

And for all Drysdale's talents and skating ability, the end product has not been there. With Spence, you're guaranteeing yourself a defenseman with a history of playing at a high level and producing no fewer than 24 points in each of the last two seasons.

The only Flyers defender with more than 20 points this season was Travis Sanheim, who scored 30 while playing a staggering 24:30 a night on average. Drysdale and Nick Seeler each scored 20 points, but Drysdale was a -32 while Seeler, his most common defense partner, was a +10.

As for Andrae, there are no guarantees he is an NHL defenseman, as encouraging as most of last season was for him. York is a pending RFA who is expected to remain with the team, while Drysdale is heading into a contract year that will probably define his NHL career.

Rasmus Ristolainen, if he isn't traded to the Kings in the Spence deal, won't be injured forever. But he's not getting any younger and will assuredly be at the mercy of Helge Grans come training camp if the latter shows some serious flashes.

Plus, top prospects Spencer Gill and Oliver Bonk are both 6-foot-2 or bigger.

Simply put, the Flyers have no real reason to worry about size on the right side. They need to worry about talent, production, performance, and more generally, finding the right mix.

Trading for Spence, at the very least, would signify that they're not content with how the 2024-25 season went with the currently constructed defense core.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of a few teams towards the bottom of the NHL looking to add talent in any way they can. One NHL insider just connected them to a... high school quarterback?

Mason West, one of the hottest prospects in the 2025 draft class right now, is a 6-foot-6 right wing who most recently played for the Fargo Force of the USHL, scoring a goal, eight assists, and nine points in 10 games last season.

Last season, as well as in the two seasons prior, the 17-year-old played for his local high school, Edina High, in Minnesota. But there's a catch: he's also a three-star quarterback who's passed for 65 touchdowns and 5,217 yards in the last two seasons.

West, according to 247 Sports, has visited with the University of Illinois and has drawn interest from fairly decent football schools like Marshall and the University of California.

That all said, the hulking winger is focused on hockey and will dedicate his efforts to the rink after his last seasons at the helm of Edina's offense on the gridiron.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, teams are going to be playing the game of chicken with West in the draft, seeing which of their peers will bite and select the polarizing dual-sport athlete first.

The Flyers, with multiple first- and second-round picks, could very well be one of those teams.

"He's kind of got his own list on each team's draft board. The way it was explained to me was, every time a team gets a pick from the second round on, he'll be part of the conversation," Friedman said of West on his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. "Is now the time we take him? He's really raw, but he's big, he's obviously a great athlete, and he can score. He scores goals, and he plays on the power play, too.

"Someone told me that he was playing point on the power play because he can really shoot the puck. Because you're always looking for big, mobile guys, everyone's watching him. There's so little eye test against really good players. He briefly played in the USHL, he's planning on going there, I guess, for the back half of next year, that he's the biggest wildcard in the draft. Because he could go boom. It really could turn out to be a great pick."

Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Big Board: Can Philly Afford to Pass On Top Centers?With the NHL Scouting Combine now in the rearview mirror, the Philadelphia Flyers have just over two weeks to make final preparations for the 2025 NHL Draft.

And that's where the Flyers come in. The Flyers have the 22nd, 31st or 32nd, 36th, 40th, 45th, and 48th picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, excluding the No. 6 pick that will be used on a better and more projectable prospect.

"What a couple teams told me is, every time your pick comes up, you're going to be sitting there saying, 'If we don't take him now, is somebody else going to jump in there and do it? Are we going to lose our opporunity?'" Friedman added. "So that's going to be the question. When is some team going to say, 'We have to do this now because we won't get another opportunity to do it later?'

"The same team told me that they wonder about those teams with multiple first-rounders. A team like Nashville, or a team like Philadelphia, do they look at it and say 'Look, we've got multiple first rounders, we're just going to do it,' (...) I think teams are trying to figure out who's really serious about this guy, and where do we take this player? It's going to be fascinating. I was told [West is] the biggest wildcard of the draft."

West is currently ranked as high as 46th and as low as 98th based on rankings compiled by EliteProspects, so there's a fairly high chance he'll be available to the Flyers at the top of the second round later this month.

Flyers Mock Draft 3.0: A Bold Trade and the NHL Scouting CombineThe Philadelphia Flyers, as expected, were one of the busiest teams at the NHL Scouting Combine, giving some clues of their intentions leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft later this month.

But, as Friedman said, the scouts and GMs are going to be playing the game of chicken. Will the Flyers be one of the teams willing to pull the trigger on West late in the first, even with the plethora of right wingers in the system?

His size and athleticism are two things the Flyers would love to add to their ranks, but is that worth passing up on a top goalie or defenseman they so desperately need? It's a question the Flyers have two weeks to answer for themselves.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

The best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final has now become a best-of-three.

It’s been an incredibly exciting and close championship series to this point, with both the Panthers and Oilers earning a win on home ice and a win on the road to this point.

Now the series scene shifts back to Edmonton, as the Cats and Oilers will be fighting to be the first team with a chance to win the Stanley Cup when they return to South Florida after the weekend.

To this point, the Final has been extremely evenly matched and incredibly competitive through the first four games.

It’s been a bit of a throwback series, as there have an eye-popping 32 goals scored through the first four games, yet all but one of the four Final games have been decided in regulation.

One change we can probably expect to see with the Oilers is the re-insertion of Calvin Pickard as the starting goaltender.

Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner for the second straight outing on Thursday night for Game 4, entering a game Edmonton was trailing 3-0 only to turn aside all but one shot as the Oilers came all the way back and won 5-4 in overtime.

Pickard now holds a stellar 7-0 record during the postseason, though his corresponding statistics – a 2.69 goals against average and .896 save percentage – aren’t nearly as impressive.

As for Florida, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media prior to the team taking off for Edmonton on Friday.

When asked about potential roster changes, Maurice said he wasn’t anticipating making any.

He said the Panthers are healthy, which is about as good a compliment you could pay at team at this stage of the season.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 5 in Edmonton:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Evan Rodrigues – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov

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

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Race for Conn Smythe Trophy heating up with Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl among top contenders

Panthers' Sam Reinhart Shown Love By Wayne Gretzky

Three takeaways: Both teams enjoyed similar dominant segments in Game 4, goaltending has been sneaky good

Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman (96) checks Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

It is sure to be an active, interesting offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They're drafting 11th overall with rumors swirling about their desire to trade up, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has mentioned possible activity in the RFA trade-then-sign market, and there have been reports about the Penguins being the only "true sellers" in the league this summer. 

And their hottest commodity happens to be one of their best players.

Right wing Bryan Rust, 33, has three years left on a contract that pays him $5.125 million annually - and his no-movement clause expired this summer. He had a career year for Pittsburgh last season, registering career-highs in goals (31) and points (65) despite missing 11 games due to injury.

Rust has a unique tool set as a player. Known for his work ethic, he is a hybrid power forward and grinder, a menace on the forecheck, and is capabale of being deployed in all situations. He is also a regular penalty-killer, has the hands of a goal-scorer, and can play a hard-nosed game.

There isn't much that Rust can't do. But, perhaps, above all, he is a natural-born leader and presence in the locker room, something that he emulates from his captain and good friend, Sidney Crosby.

'When He Speaks, Everyone Listens': How Sidney Crosby's Mentorship Has Passed On To Multiple Generations Of TeammatesFollowing the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

On Friday, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN 1050 that "plenty of teams" are calling about Rust. It's no secret that he is wanted by a lot of contending teams, and the Penguins are at a sell-high point with him. He's on the wrong side of 30, the team is in the midst of a rebuild, and they are still trying to collect as many high-value assets as possible - which is something that Rust can return for them in a trade.

The easy and logical path might be to move Rust if he can get the Penguins a good return. While that might be understandable and justifiable, that doesn't mean it's the right move.

In fact, there is a very big reason why Rust should be considered near-immovable barring the perfect deal. And it comes down to the Penguins' youth movement.

Penguins Facing Big Decision With Star Forward The Pittsburgh Penguins will be a team to watch very closely this off-season. After missing the playoffs for the third year in a row, there has naturally been speculation that the Metropolitan Division club will make changes to their roster. 

Many may scoff at the idea that veteran presence in the locker room outside of 87 is necessary for the Penguins given the stage they're in. But, the reality is that Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson were all similar in that they made the NHL roster either immediately or quickly enough that going through several stages of development in professional hockey was not required.

For many young players the Penguins are acquiring - either through the draft or by trade - that will not be the case. The vast majority of them will need to follow a path of development that sees them work their way up through junior or college hockey before moving onto ECHL or AHL hockey, all prior to earning their way onto the NHL roster. 

Having Rust around is valuable for that reason. Unlike the aforementioned players, he is someone who has been there. Done that. Experienced that. And for young guys trying to earn spots, he's a huge presence in that locker room. 

Rust can relate to and connect with this crop of prospects and young players in a way that even Crosby cannot to an extent. Everything Rust has accomplished at the highest level of hockey was earned through his hard work and his grind as an AHL player who turned into a bottom-six grinder and, eventually, into a top-six goal-scorer. 

It took years - and a process of development - for Rust to reach his peak potential. Young players can learn a lot from a player like that who has been in their shoes and can help guide them through that process.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

The Penguins have other tradeable assets that should net them good returns in Karlsson and Rickard Rakell. They should trade some of these players if they can get a good return. 

But, in a rebuild - especially a rebuild on-the-fly, which is still the goal for the Penguins - you simply cannot trade everyone. A team needs some valuable veterans like Rust around to help usher in that new generation of players who will make an impact in the near future.

If the package is a can't-refuse offer, of course, the Penguins should consider it. But - barring that "perfect" deal - Rust is one of the few veterans who should stay put in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.

Penguins Trading Star Forward Would Come With Big RiskFor much of the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell was the subject of trade speculation. It was understandable, as the Penguins were out of the playoff race, while Rakell enjoyed himself a career year. In 81 games, the 32-year-old winger set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points.

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This week, The Hockey Show was on location at the Stanley Cup Final.

Hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork gave their instant reaction following Game 4, the latest epic battle between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

The game saw the Panthers jump out to a 3-0 lead only for Edmonton to come all the way back and take a 4-3 lead during the third period.

Florida tied the game in the final seconds, but it turned out they were only delaying the inevitable as the Oilers ended up winning in overtime.

Now the series, and The Hockey Show, heads back to Edmonton for Game 5, with the best-of-seven tied at two games apiece.

Also on this week’s episode, Roy and Dave were joined by their fellow Professional Hockey Writers’ Association – Florida Chapter members, Jordan McPherson and Alex Baumgartner, to discuss this year’s NHL Awards winners.

You can check out this week’s full episode below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Concerning Panthers-Aaron Ekblad Free Agency Update Revealed

Race for Conn Smythe Trophy heating up with Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl among top contenders

Panthers' Sam Reinhart Shown Love By Wayne Gretzky

Three takeaways: Both teams enjoyed similar dominant segments in Game 4, goaltending has been sneaky good

Panthers blow three-goal lead, lose Game 4 to Oilers in overtime

One of the more intriguing storylines to track during the Stanley Cup Playoffs is usually the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The award is given annually to the player voted the most valuable player to their team during the NHL postseason.

Now that we’ve reached the Stanley Cup Final, the prestigious trophy will be going to someone either on the Florida Panthers or Edmonton Oilers.

That we know for sure.

Generally, a player on the team that ends up winning the Stanley Cup is who will find themselves the MVP of the playoffs, but that wasn’t the case last season when Connor McDavid was voted the winner – and deservedly so – despite Edmonton losing to Florida in seven games.

Now the Cats and Oilers are back in the Final for what has been, to this point, an epic rematch.

Through four games, the Oilers and Panthers have gone to overtime three times and provided fans one of the most entertaining and dramatic Stanley Cup Final series in recent memory, to say the least.

As it stands, the race for the Conn Smythe is wide open. There is no clear-cut favorite, and both teams have more than one candidate who could take it home.

For Florida, you first have to look at Sam Bennett.

The pending unrestricted free agent leads all players with 14 postseason goals, three more than the next highest player.

Bennett has been incredibly impactful for Florida during their run to the Final, providing crucial minutes for the Panthers both at even strength and on the power play.

Additionally, his combination of high-end speed and the physical element of his game are what helps Florida add another critical layer to their aggressive, fast-paced defensive systems.

Another Panthers player who should certainly receive some consideration is veteran forward Brad Marchand.

The Trade Deadline addition has provided veteran leadership for Florida both on and off the ice while making steady contributions offensively, highlighted by his pair of overtime winners.

On the Oilers side, superstar Connor McDavid, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy last season, is always going to be a top contender, and this year is no different.

Through 20 playoff games, McDavid is tied for the league lead with 32 points. Between his overall production and ability to greatly impact the scoresheet on any given night, it’s no surprise that he’s once again in contention to take home the award.

However, a player who cannot be ignored any longer in this race is McDavid’s elite teammate, Leon Draisaitl.

In terms of playoff points, Draisaitl is right there with McDavid, tied with 32 points.

The difference in terms of offense is that Draisaitl has scored 11 times, second in the playoffs only to Bennett.

Of those 11 goals, Draisaitl has logged not one, not two, but four game-winning goals.

Interestingly, all four of those GWG have come during sudden death overtime, which is pretty remarkable.

It’s also a new NHL record.

Previously, three playoff OT goals had been the standard, a mark that had been held by four different players, including Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk from his amazing run in 2023 and current Oilers forward and former Ducks star Corey Perry, who had three OT goals during the 2017 playoffs with Anaheim.

Draisaitl has also scored four goals in four Stanley Cup Final games, with two of them among those aforementioned overtime winners.

That’s a far cry from the zero goals he scored during last season’s seven-game Final against Florida.

Certainly, what Draisaitl has accomplished so far this postseason is worth something in the eyes of the Conn Smythe voters.

So as we head into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, it appears the race for the Conn Smythe is as wide open as the Cup Final is itself.

Over the next week, someone is going to step up and separate themself from the rest of the pack.

However things end up playing out, if they go anything like the first four games of the Final have, it will be incredibly entertaining to witness go down.

Stay tuned.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Sam Reinhart Shown Love By Wayne Gretzky

Three takeaways: Both teams enjoyed similar dominant segments in Game 4, goaltending has been sneaky good

Panthers blow three-goal lead, lose Game 4 to Oilers in overtime

Paul Maurice Makes This Prediction For Game 4 vs. Oilers

Panthers host Oilers in Game 4 looking to take control of Stanley Cup Final

Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) controls the puck against Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) and center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

This is the first file in what will be an ongoing series on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In these files, we're going to identify a number of teams the Sabres could be making a trade with this summer, and we'll be picking out specific players who could be trade targets for Buffalo.

Today, we kick things off with a look at the Utah Mammoth, who are aiming to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in their brief NHL history. Let's get to it:

TEAM: Utah Mammoth

CAP SPACE: $20.3 million

FREE AGENTS: Nick Bjugstad, C; Michael Carcone, C; Jack McBain, LW (RFA)

NEEDS: Veteran experience, more goal production

SABRES FIT? Like the Sabres, the newly-named Mammoth are highly-motivated to get into the post-season next year, and they're almost assuredly going to make a splash this summer. Some believe they'll be pursuing Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner, but doing so would eat up much of their current cap space. Still, that would be a gigantic coup for a Mammoth team swinging for the fences. 

Utah may also switch things up by trading a couple of younger players if they can bring in veteran experience and playoff knowhow. The Mammoth missed out on left winger Chris Kreider, who was dealt from the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks this week. But Kreider is exactly the type of player who fits Utah's needs.

Now, would the Sabres have a match for the Mammoth in a trade? It may be tricky, and it may be a longshot, but someone like Utah winger Lawson Crouse could intrigue Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams. We're not crazy about the Sabres trading defenseman Bowen Byram, but he's young enough and still has enough upside to be a tempting acquisition for the Mammoth. And if Buffalo gets back Crouse in return, they may be more amenabe to moving RFA winger J.J. Peterka to address their other needs.

Here's Why The Draft Isn't The Most Important Thing For The Sabres This SummerThe Buffalo Sabres are going to have a shot at a solid prospect with the ninth-overall pick in the NHL entry draft this summer. But unlike other years, the draft isn't the be-all and end-all for this Sabres team. There are two other areas that, as we'll explore below, are much more important for Buffalo to address in this off-season.

Indeed, given that Crouse had put together two straight seasons where he combined to score 47 goals and 87 points, and given that Crouse is just 27 years old, the Sabres would be acquiring a big-bodied (6-foot-4) winger looking to bounce back from a down year that saw him score only 12 goals in 81 games. Crouse has two years left at $4.3-million-per-season, making him a cost-controlled asset that the Sabres wouldn't have to break the bank to re-sign anytime soon. Crouse also doesn't mind getting physical, and that's an element that could improve the Sabres. And if Crouse does work out in Buffalo, Adams can work with him on a contract extension that works for both the team and the player.

Another option for the Sabres to consider is Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz, a 29-year-old veteran who has posted at least 20 goals and 59 points in each of the past four seasons. Schmaltz is a pricier acquisition at $5.85-million per season, but he'll be a UFA next summer, so he's got the motivation to have a big year -- and Buffalo could be the place where he can earn a sizeable raise with a strong 2025-26 season. 

The Mammoth have a decent-enough blueline with Sean Durzi, John Marino and Mikhail Sergachev in their top four, but acquiring Byram would push greybeard Ian Cole into the third 'D' pairing. And considering that Utah has enough youngsters in the system, they can afford to part ways with Crouse or Schmaltz. A trade with the Mammoth could be the precursor to other deals -- as we've said, whether that's Peterka, Alex Tuch, or perhaps another young player on Buffalo's roster.

Will This Be The Season Sabres Star Thompson Breaks Momentous Mark On Offense?In two of the past three seasons, Buffalo Sabres star right winger Tage Thompson has put up a combined 91 goals. And although he had an off-season two years ago when he posted only 29 goals, the 27-year-old bounced back in a big way this year, generating 44 goals in 75 games.

Regardless of which Mammoth player they target, the Sabres should be looking at Utah as a viable trade partner this summer. They're two teams roughly in the same spot in their competitive trajectory, and they can help each other in different ways. Buffalo can help the Mammoth on their back end, and Utah can help the Sabres on their front end.

This is why we see the Mammoth as a solid fit with Buffalo on the trade front. Utah GM Bill Armstrong needs to come to the Mammoth's fan base with an exciting young player, and Byram fits that bill to a 't'. And Adams can come away from a trade involving Schmaltz or Crouse and give Sabres fans a changed lineup that can be kept together for the long term if the team plays well in 2025-26. We still see Buffalo making more moves even after a Byram-to-Utah deal, but getting off on a proactive foot with an early deal with the Mammoth would serve notice to the rest of the NHL that the Sabres are focused on making bigger moves this off-season.

Time will tell whether the two teams collaborate on a major move, but there's a great opportunity for the Sabres to work with Utah this summer. Now it's a matter of finding the stones to make a notable transaction.