ST. LOUIS -- It's amazing what a change of scenery did for Cam Fowler.

After spending the first 14-plus seasons of his career with the only team he ever knew -- the Anaheim Ducks -- that drafted him with the No. 12 pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, there comes a time in a player's career, even after spending it with one organization, that a player needs a fresh start to revitalize one's career.

For the St. Louis Blues defenseman, being traded by the Ducks to the Blues on Dec. 14 wound up being a blessing of disguise for the 33-year-old.

Not only did Fowler revitalize his own career, he helped shape the Blues' defense and helped fuel a run to Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round against the Winnipeg Jets.

Fowler, who had 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) and was a plus-19 in 51 games with St. Louis after having just four assists in 17 games with the Ducks, talked about his move to the Blues, what it meant for his career and what he's excited about with this team moving forward; he led the Blues with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in the series against the Jets: 

On not knowing what to expect when you decided to come to St. Louis. Looking back on it, was it the best thing for you and are you excited for what lies ahead?

Yeah absolutely. I've said this a lot, but I'm so grateful and thankful to this organization from top to bottom for giving me this opportunity and making me and my family feel so comfortable here. As scary as that decision was at the time, I'm really happy with how everything's turned out and me and my family have been so happy here and with this team. I'm really excited for the future and I definitely feel like I'm a part of this group now and the way that everyone has welcomed me into the locker room has made that transition easy for me so I'm thankful for that and to all these guys. I'm really excited about our group and what lies ahead in the future.

Would you like to talk about signing here beyond the one year you have remaining on your contract?

Yeah, absolutely. Those decisions and those conversations will have to be something that we go through over the summer with Doug [Armstrong] and the whole group here. I would love to be around as long as they'd like me here. I just honest can't say enough about this team and this city and what it means to be a Blue and what that means for the players and for the fans in the community. It's just something that I've really enjoyed. If those conversations come up, I'd be happy to talk about that and we'll see what the summer brings with all of that.

Why were you able to have so much success when you came to St. Louis?

I think a major part of that was the system that we have in place here with 'Monty' and kind specifically for me how he wants the D-men to approach the game. I just found myself very comfortable in the system and we have amazing players here obviously too that helps make my job a little bit easier. I think it was the opportunity and the way that 'Monty' wants us to utilize our skating ability and jump up in the play offensively and then I had a good opportunity on the power play too with 'Tommer' and 'Buchy', 'Boldy.' We got that clicking pretty good. I think it was just a combination of it all, but the main thing for me was playing in a system that the coaching staff has set in place for us. It was something I was comfortable with and I was able to try and work my game around that as best as I could.

You'd love to forget about what happened in Game 7, but is it OK to carry that forward with you as players to remind of how you don't want to feel again and use it as motivation?

It's a little bit of both in my opinion. You have to learn from it, understand what happened and the way it happened is something that's going to sit with us for a little while. I don't think it's something that you can dwell on. It's nothing that should be used as a negative for next season. I think if anything, it shows us as a group how close we feel like we are and we were in a great position in a great opportunity. Unfortunately, it slipped through our fingers, but I think sometimes you have to go through those moments as a group to learn from them and try and reach the point that you're all trying to get to. I know individually, a lot of us will be thinking about it for weeks to come and using it as motivation, but when we all come back for training camp next year, I think it'll be motivation for us of course, but it's not something that we'll be dwelling on and we'll be excited for the start of next season, where this group can grow and a point that we can get to as a team.

The Chicago Blackhawks had an interesting year. They were slow, lethargic, and not very entertaining in the first half of the season. 

By the campaign's halfway point, the roster started becoming infested with youthful exuberance. That leads them into the summer, where they will look to make the team even better. 

Whether it was on the NHL roster, in the AHL, or from other leagues around the world, the Chicago Blackhawks saw a lot of their best prospects take huge steps. 

The future has been the focus for this organization ever since Kyle Davidson started the current rebuild that they are trying to finish off. Prospects have played a key role. 

Of all these young men who took steps in their development this year, these three stood out the most: 

1. Frank Nazar

Frank Nazar started the season off as a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. He ended the year as one of their most important contributors. 

Nazar was drafted with the hopes of being an offensive player, which is exactly what he's trying to do. What came out of nowhere is his ability to play well in all three zones. 

Defending is usually the hardest part of a young forward's development, but Nazar is on a great track. He even showed the ability to be a high-end penalty killer, which will be a major help when they are trying to win again. 

In the early stages of the 2024-25 season, Nazar was one of the leading scorers of the American Hockey League with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 21 games played. He forced Chicago to call him up. 

In 53 games with the Blackhawks, a much harder situation, Nazar had 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. Most of those points came in the final month of the season when something clicked for him. 

Likely, Nazar will never play in the American League again. Instead, he'll continue to be one of the most relied-on top-six forwards in Chicago's lineup. 

2. Sam Rinzel

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Sam Rinzel with the 25th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was one of three first-round selections made by Chicago that night. 

Chicago saw something in him. Otherwise, they wouldn't have used a first-round selection on him. However, they have to be even happier with that selection now than they were back then. His development since being drafted is something special. 

Rinzel played college hockey at the University of Minnesota. In 2024-25, he scored 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 40 games played. That is all while playing as sound defensively as a college hockey player could. 

Once Minnesota's season ended, the Blackhawks brought Rinzel (and Oliver Moore) in as quickly as they could. He fit right in. He didn't score his first career NHL goal, but he did have five assists in nine games. 

Rinzel also led the Hawks in time-on-ice more than once over those nine games. His skating, ability to control the play, special teams contributions, and overall skills suggest that he could be a top-pair NHL defenseman. 

Like Nazar, Rinzel went from being a prospect to a key contributor in the long term. With all of the young defensemen in the organization surrounding Rinzel,  there is potential for something special. 

3. Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis was a third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Since then, Lardis has become one of Chicago's most notable prospects. 

Playing for the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League, he took a major step forward in 2024-25. Lardis turned into one of the OHL's top goal scorers as he had 71 in 65 games played. He added 46 assists for 117 points in those 65 games. 

Unfortunately, his season ended in the playoffs due to an injury. From that point on, his team wasn't able to recover and was eliminated. If he is healthy going into training camp in the fall, he will be given a chance to play in the preseason and potentially earn a spot. 

Lardis's stock rose a lot more than people expected coming into the year. A sniper like that would look great with playmakers like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar if he can translate it to the pro game. 

Honorable mentions include Sacha Boisvert, Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, Ryan Greene, and Marek Vanacker. The Blackhawks have one of the best farm systems in the NHL, which gives them hope for the future. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will certainly be busy this summer, as they are in the market for a new head coach and have 11 picks in the upcoming NHL Draft.

But there is another area they may find themselves quite active in as well.

Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas mentioned some potential interest in the restricted free agent market this summer, specifically for younger players in their earlier 20s who may not be brought back by their current teams for one reason or another. He also mentioned that the Penguins are prepared to move some assets for such players.

Given the Penguins' overflowing draft cupboard - and their abundance of higher-value picks - who are some bigger names on the forward front that they can target? 

Here are five RFA forwards for the Penguins to call about, should they be available.

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Marco Rossi - Center, Minnesota Wild

We've already covered the situation with Rossi, and for good reason.

The 23-year-old center put up 24 goals and 60 points in his second full NHL season, and he only seems to be getting better and better. Yet the Minnesota Wild don't seem to be interested in keeping him around long-term.

Although Rossi may be undersized at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, it seems odd that he is, apparently, losing favor with his team because he has two-way, top-six talent. But, if he is available, it's fair to assume that pretty much every team will be interested to a degree.

If Rossi Is Available, Penguins Should Be CallingIt's safe to say that it will be a very interesting summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It's hard to say whether or not the Penguins have the right assets to be able to give perceived fair value in return. The Wild are in desperate need of center depth, and - beyond center prospect Tristan Broz - the Penguins don't have much promising center depth in their system.

Then again, if Minnesota needs a center that badly, it's hard to imagine why they don't value Rossi as a center. So, it's possible that the Penguins might be able to put together a package that doesn't have a high-end center or center prospect as the main piece in a package.

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Mavrik Bourque - Center, Dallas Stars

Bourque - a first-round pick (30th overall) for the Dallas Stars in 2020 - is certainly one of the more interesting names out there, as the Stars' young forward has yet to really hit his stride at the NHL level.

But the young center is the exact type of the player that the Penguins need.

In 2023-24, Bourque - then 22 years old - registered 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games for the Texas Stars, Dallas's AHL affiliate. He was also a 20-goal scorer in his rookie AHL season in 2022-23. In his rookie season with Dallas this year, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound forward put up 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games in a somewhat limited role.

 

Exclusive: For Mavrik Bourque, Patience Is a Necessary VirtueThe Stars 30th overall draft pick in 2020 discusses his early AHL struggles, Logan Stankoven's NHL success, and how he's preparing for his own call-up.

The Stars are an example of a team that will be very limited by the salary cap this summer, and they have a lot of tough decisions to make. Only projected at $5.87 million in cap space right now, they have pending-UFAs in forwards Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadonov, Colin Blackwell. and Mikael Granlund as well as defensemen Cody Ceci, Nils Lundqvist, and Brendan Smith.

Although most of those players are likely to walk, they don't have much wiggle room to keep some of the veterans they would probably like to stick around. Bourque has also been a healthy scratch for most of the playoffs, so if Dallas feels like the "now" is more important for their chances at a Cup, they may elect to keep one of the veterans over him. 

If that's the case, the Penguins should be all over that opportunity, as Bourque's finishing ability and high-IQ should translate well to the style the Penguins play.

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Will Cuylle - Right Wing, New York Rangers

If the New York Rangers are smart, Will Cuylle, 23, should be their number one priority this summer. In just his second full NHL season, he registered 20 goals and 45 points.

But, like the Stars, it's a bit more complicated than that.

The Blueshirts aren't quite as cap-strapped as the Stars are, but they still have a few tough decisions to make - particularly on their blue line. Left defenseman K'Andre Miller is a pending-RFA - as is Zac Jones and several bottom-six forwards - and if the team is to return to playoff contention next season, they need to make some big changes on that front.

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

If they choose to retain Miller, he is due for a raise on his $3.87 cap hit, and they'll still be best-served to target a legitimate top-four defenseman. If they do, well, they'll only have $8.4 million to work with, per Puckpedia. 

Cuylle - currently suiting up for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship - should be part of the Rangers' plan going forward. But if they decide to prioritize reshaping their blue line, don't be surprised if the former second-round pick becomes a cap casualty.

In that case, Pittsburgh should sniff around for a trade-then-sign, as the winger has all the tools to stick in the top-six.

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Mason McTavish - Center, Anaheim Ducks

McTavish's name was thrown around a bit a few months ago in trade talks, and there seemed to be some friction between him and former Anaheim Ducks coach Greg Cronin.

With Cronin out of the picture, there's not as much noise around McTavish potentially wanting a change of scenery. In fact, he has expressed his desire to remain with the Ducks, and if the Ducks are smart, he should be the top priority this summer.

But if he is available for one reason or another - especially if he wants a longer-term deal or an AAV figure that Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek isn't willing to meet, as he has mentioned his preference for bridge deals - the Penguins would be wise to consider giving up some high value for him in a trade.

How Coronato's Contract Extension Impacts McTavish's Negotiations with the DucksMason McTavish enters the 2025 offseason as one of two (Lukas Dostal) high-profile restricted free agents (RFAs) on the Anaheim Ducks’ roster.

McTavish - the 22-year-old, 3rd overall pick of the Ducks in 2021 - is already a legitimate second-line center option. He's dangerous on the power play, he's got a heavy shot, he doesn't shy from physicality, he's a menace on the forecheck, and his production is rising year-by-year, as he recorded 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games this season.

The Ducks should - and probably will - keep him around, as they don't have too many promising center prospects on the way. But if contract issues arise, this may be a situation where the Penguins could offer a top forward prospect and the New York Rangers' conditional first and get a very good player in return.

More realistically, however, the Penguins will probably be more interested in one of the Ducks' young defensemen. 

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Luke Evangelista - Right Wing, Nashville Predators

Although the Nashville Predators are not cap-strapped heading into next season - and retaining Evangelista should be no problem cap-wise - they're in a very compromising place.

It's safe to say that no one could have predicted just how poorly the Nashville Predators' season was going to go. They finished third from the bottom of the league standings with just 68 points, and this was despite a huge 2024 offseason that saw them acquire the likes of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei. 

On paper, this season shouldn't have happened. But it did, and with all of those guys - plus a few others - locked up long-term, they almost need to completely retool their roster on-the-fly to have any chance at contending in the near-term. 

Five Quick Questions with Luke EvangelistaLuke Evangelista sums up his season so far, knows exactly what he'd change about overtime, and is a creature of habit on game days.

Goaltender Juuse Saros had a rough season, but the defense in front of him didn't do any favors. They need a little bit of everything position-wise, and with a lot of high-value draft capital for the next three years - including three first-round picks this year - they should be wheeling and dealing for high-end talent.

This could make Evangelista, 23, a casualty of priorities. He recorded 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games this season - his second full one - which isn't quite enough to warrant anything but a bridge contract but is enough to suggest he could continue to improve. But, given their situation as an organization, they might choose to shoot higher in the trade market.

The former second-round pick wouldn't cost as much as the other options on this list, but he might be a worthwhile gamble as a complementary young piece for the Penguins should he become available.

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Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman, who has built a 30-year career in hockey on getting things right, is indicating that the Los Angeles Kings are very close to naming Ken Holland as their new general manager. 

We will see where things progress over the next few days, but all indications are that the LA Kings are closing in on Ken Holland as their next GM

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 13, 2025

After team president Luc Robitaille announced on May 6th that he and former GM Rob Blake had mutually agreed to go in a different direction, many initially speculated that a change would come from within. Ex-Montreal GM and Kings senior advisor Marc Bergevin was thought to have an inside track but after Robitaille mentioned the success that the Detroit Red Wings had enjoyed over the years during his media availability, speculation began to turn toward Ken Holland, architect of Detroit's three Stanley Cup wins between 1998 and 2008.

Under Holland, the Red Wings put together a 25-year postseason streak, behind only Chicago (28) and Boston (29) and became a model franchise for over two decades. During his tenure at the helm in the Motor City, the Red Wings won the President's Trophy four times and were a Cup contender virtually every season. 

Holland, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020, left Detroit in 2019 to take over GM duties in Edmonton, where several number one overall picks in succession had failed to move the needle for the Oilers. Holland added key pieces like Mattias Ekholm, Zach Hyman, and Evander Kane to the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, culminating in a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2022 and a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2024. Failing into a 3-0 hole against the Florida Panthers, the Oilers picked themselves off the deck to force a Game 7, but couldn't come all the way back, losing 2-1 in the last game of the season. 

The desire for the Kings to add someone with Holland's pedigree is understandable. If Robitaille truly believes that the Kings are just a few tweaks away from winning it all, Holland could be just the guy to make the necessary moves to bring a third Cup to Los Angeles. For a franchise whose longest playoff streak is just nine seasons and has never won the President's Trophy, let alone four of them, bringing in an executive of Holland's caliber seems, at least on paper, to be a big upgrade. 

Although they have been bounced in the first round for the last four seasons, Holland will inherit a pretty solid team. The Kings set a franchise record with 31 wins on home ice last year and tied a regular season best with 105 points. They even led the Oilers 2-0 in the first round series this year and outplayed the Oilers for much of Games 3 and 4 before inexplicably falling apart. 

Could Holland's familiarity with the nemesis Edmonton Oilers be a factor in the Kings' desire to hand him the keys? Any nugget of insider information that could possibly help LA get the Edmonton monkey off their back would surely be welcome but that alone probably doesn't get Holland the job. Besides, after four straight playoff series, the Kings already know pretty much everything there is to know about the Oilers. 

Except how to beat them.

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

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

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan, Mike Augello and Kelsey Surmacz react to the Carolina Hurricanes beating the Washington Capitals to take a 3-1 lead in their second-round series.

Hurricanes vs. Capitals Game 4 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsJoin in to Playoff Frenzy Live presented by The Hockey News, where we break down all of the biggest moments from each night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They also take a look at the Vegas Golden Knights facing the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 and other news around the league.

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

Check out the show right now.

Welcome, once again, to Screen Shots, a regular TheHockeyNews.com series in which your humble senior digital correspondent tackles a few different hockey topics and breaks them down in a handful of short paragraphs. Let’s get right down to business.

With rumors swirling that former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland is a candidate for the Los Angeles Kings’ position, are we seeing perhaps the final GM opportunity that could come Holland’s way?

It’s tempting to say yes, although if you look at the opportunities former New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello has had, right up through his 82nd birthday, the 69-year-old Holland may still have more than one GM stint left in him.

That said, would Holland be the right person for the job in Los Angeles? Certainly, there are a number of key roles already filled for the Kings. They’ve got young stars including center Quinton Byfield, veteran anchors like defenseman Drew Doughty and left winger Adrian Kempe, and up-and-comers including blueliner Brandt Clarke. 

Meanwhile, the Kings are projected to have about $23.3 million in salary cap space this summer, and although some of that will have to be spent on a D-man to shore up the defense corps, Los Angeles will still have enough to spend on a proven veteran to shake up the chemistry of the Kings next season.

You can see, then, why the Kings’ GM job would be very appealing to Holland and why Holland would be appealing to the Kings. They need someone with the experience and track record of being a winner. 

Time will tell whether the Kings officially hire Holland, but his pedigree and hunger to still be a mover-and-shaker in the NHL world mean he’s very likely to get another kick at the can when it comes to running a team.

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It’s no secret this writer is a big believer in Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill. 

As the reigning, back-to-back winner of the NHL’s Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award, Nill has once again set the table for the Stars to continue on another deep Stanley Cup playoff run. There’s no question Nill understands how to get the most out of his draft and development team and his salary cap space, and it should surprise no one if Nill wins the award for the third straight season.

It’s probably still too early to look at what’s ahead for Dallas this summer, but let’s do it anyway: even with the salary cap ceiling rising to $95.5 million next season, the Stars are projected to have only $5.8 million in cap space.

With pending UFAs, including right winger Jamie Benn, center Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund, and RFA right winger Mavrik Bourque looking for new contracts, there won’t be room on the Stars for all of them next year.

But there’s no GM we trust more than Nill to fill out his roster with capable contributors. And no matter what happens the rest of these playoffs, Dallas is fully set up to be a top team in the NHL in 2025-26.

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Finally, we’ve seen an all-time marathon game in the PHWL, with the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire needing four overtime periods and a 5:34 game to decide a winner, Montreal. That raises the question: do hockey fans like the idea of unlimited overtime, or should extra-long playoff games be settled in a shootout or 3-on-3 overtime?

From this writer’s perspective, we’d always go with 5-on-5 OT until someone scores a playoff game-winner. It’s a different story in the regular season, where 3-on-3 play and shootouts guarantee a timely end to games. That’s crucial when fans are potentially on their own fixed schedules, but the beauty of unlimited 5-on-5 OT play is that fans know going into it that there could be many extra periods of hockey needed to decide a winner.

When you do have 5-on-5 OT in the post-season, you know teams will have to deal with fatigue as part of the challenge of unlimited overtime. That’s part of what makes playoff hockey so compelling. So yes, let’s stick with the following plan: 3-on-3 OT and shootouts in the regular season and 5-on-5 OT in the post-season.

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The Buffalo Sabres had problems with their defense this season -- and part of the blame for that is the play of their goalies. We've wrote recently about the need for the netminding to improve, but one question that hasn't been addressed yet is the future of veteran goalie James Reimer. The 37-year-old was Buffalo's best goalie late in the season, but he's a UFA this summer and could choose to retire.

If he doesn't, though, Reimer could get some interest from a team seeking goaltending depth -- and that team could be the Sabres. Reimer's 10-8-2 record, .899 save percentage and 2.90 Goals-Against Average this season weren't bad at all when you consider how poor Buffalo's defensive efforts were in front of him.

If he does return to the NHL next year, Reimer isn't going to break the bank with his salary. He earned an even $1-million this season, and he may come back on the veteran's minimum salary -- if he thought he was joining a team that gave him a good chance to make the playoffs. Is that team the Sabres? It's obviously good that Reimer knows Buffalo's organization and coaching staff, but the Sabres might be competing for Reimer's services, and that means they'd need to give Reimer an honest chance to earn playing time.

Reimer is renowned as a great teammate and calming influence, and on a Sabres team that will have all sorts of pressure to improve next year, having Reimer around might make as much sense for the dressing room as it does for the ice.

Goaltending Improvement Must Be Key For Sabres Next SeasonIt's no secret that, as is true in many sports, defense wins championships in hockey, but it underscores the importance of goaltending when it comes to which teams succeed in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And a quick look at a couple key numbers only confirms it in the current post-season.

Reimer's experience -- he's played 525 regular-season games -- is valuable for any team that wants a low-cost veteran voice on the roster. He may choose to finish his career with the Sabres, but if he doesn't, don't be surprHiised to see him sign on with another NHL team. His pedigree makes him a viable choice for a team seeking depth and veteran knowhow, and in a thin UFA goalie market, Reimer could move on from Buffalo and land in a different NHL city.

During the Florida Panthers' Game 4 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward Evan Rodrigues exited in the third period with an undisclosed injury. This was after former teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson hit Rodrigues when he did not have the puck. Following the game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared that Rodrigues would need to undergo further evaluation.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is handed a 2 minute minor for interference on Evan Rodrigues 🫣 pic.twitter.com/U7Xa9Ux8IH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 12, 2025

While speaking to reporters on May 12, including NHL.com's Jameson Olive, Maurice provided the latest on Rodrigues.

"He's not ruled out [for Game 5], but not cleared to play," Maurice said about Rodrigues. "He's still being looked at."

The Panthers will certainly be hoping that Rodrigues is given the green light to play in Game 5, as he is a very important part of their forward group. This is also a crucial game for the Cats, as a win would give them a 3-2 series lead over the Maple Leafs.

Rodrigues, 31, has played in nine post-season games this spring for the Panthers, where he has three assists and a minus-2 rating. In 82 games this regular-season for the Atlantic Division club, he posted 15 goals, 32 points, and a career-high 128 hits.

Recent Panthers News 

Max Domi fined maximum allowable by NHL for boarding Sasha Barkov at end of Game 4The physicality and nastiness of the second-round series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs has been steadily increasing. Panthers' Paul Maurice Responds To Max Domi's Dirty HitThe Florida Panthers secured a massive 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4. With this, the Panthers have now tied the series back up at 2-2 after losing each of the first two games. Sam Bennett Makes Perfect Comment After Panthers' Game 4 WinGame 4 was a massive matchup for the Florida Panthers, and they stepped up big time. The Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 2-0 final score in the contest and have now tied the series back up at 2-2 after losing both Games 1 and 2. Three takeaways: Panthers back to playing their kind of hockey, second line looking familiar in best of waysIt’s amazing how much a playoff series can change in just a few days.

With Ottawa Senators fans now neutral observers in these playoffs, it's always a fun exercise to find non-financial reasons to cheer for certain teams. If you're looking to support players who used to play for the Senators, look no further than the Dallas Stars, who have an NHL-leading three ex-Sens playing regularly.

Here's a list of ten ex-Senators who still have a chance at getting their hands on The Precious.

Connor Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 6 points

The Oilers briefly thought that maybe The Connors could rekindle their Erie Otter magic of a decade ago when Brown had 128 points in a season, and McDavid had 99. Instead, Brown gave them a 55-game goalless drought to start the season. But Brown has turned it around this season, posting 30 points in 82 games, and so far in 9 playoff games, has 4 goals and 6 points.

Josh Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 0 points

We'll also tip our cap to former Senator defenceman Josh Brown, who's only played in one playoff game for the Oilers so far. Brown was dealt to Boston for Zachary Senyshyn and a 2022 fifth-round pick, which turned into promising Swedish goalie Kevin Reidler.

Memories of Connor and Josh remind us of the various grim seasons of the Ottawa rebuild when, along with Logan Brown and Patrick Brown, the Sens kept themselves distracted from the darkness by trying to set a record for having the most guys named Brown.

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

Cody Ceci, Dallas Stars, 3 points

Ceci has had his detractors, but he's gotten north of 20 minutes of ice time everywhere he's been, and since leaving Ottawa in 2019, he's played in the playoffs every year – first with Toronto, then Pittsburgh, Edmonton, and now Dallas. His streak was ready to end this year until San Jose traded him to the Stars at the deadline. Ceci is something of an iron man, rarely spending time on the injured list. In fact, he had the rare 85-game regular season this year. He has three points in 10 playoff games for Dallas.

Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals, 3 points

When Chychrun arrived at the 2023 trade deadline, it made for exciting headlines in Ottawa, where another top-four defenceman had been on the wish list for a long time. But as a left-shot, offence-first defenceman, Chychrun wasn't the kind of defenceman they lacked.

It's been a better fit in Washington, where Chychrun posted a 20-goal season, third-best among NHL defencemen. He also had a remarkable capital gains in the plus-minus department, going from -30 in Ottawa to +17 in Washington. He has 3 points in his first 8 playoff games.

Evgeny Dadonov, Dallas Stars, 4 points

This season, Dadonov's stat line read 20-20 for 40 points on the year. Hindsight is also 20-20. And if Pierre Dorion had some right now, he'd certainly have handled the Dadonov trade differently. Dadonov will forever be known to Senator fans for his connection to Dorion getting fired in Ottawa.

When the Sens traded Dadonov to Vegas, they didn't accurately report the details of his limited no-trade clause. The league punished the Sens by taking away a first-round draft pick. Barring a change of heart from the NHL, it looks like the pick will be surrendered in the 2026 Draft. Dadonov has 4 points in 10 playoff games.

Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points

DeMelo has already hit a career high with 4 points in his first 9 playoff games. He's been rock solid for the Jets, on and off the ice, and when the Sens traded him away in 2020, there wasn't much vision there either. DeMelo was about to become a free agent, so the Sens dealt him to Winnipeg for a third-rounder. The Jets signed him to a four-year deal worth $12 million. And when that deal ended last summer, they signed him again to another four-year deal worth almost $20 million. Not bad for a guy who only cost the Jets a third-rounder.

The silver lining? The Sens used that third-rounder to select goalie Leevi Merilainen. But getting lucky with a mid-round pick doesn't excuse the mishandling of that asset. They finally filled that void by acquiring Nick Jensen last summer.

The Next Big Thing? A Glance At How Top Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Fared This SeasonFor Ottawa Senators fans, the sting of their team’s first-round elimination is starting to fade. Soon, that disappointment will give way to excitement for the future, and much of that excitement centers around young NHL prospects.

Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars, 4 points

With 30 goals (Patrick Roy is scowling somewhere) and 82 points in 82 games, Duchene had the second-best season of his career. He has 4 assists but remains goalless in 10 playoff games so far.

As with Mark Stone, Ottawa traded Duchene at the 2019 deadline, and the deal was supposed to yield some key pieces for the Senators' rebuild. After Lassi Thomson left to sign in Sweden last spring, there's nothing left. The Senators effectively traded Duchene for three non-NHL players – the pick they used on Thomson, and forwards Jonathan Davidsson and Vitaly Abramov.

Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs

Still only 30, it's hard to believe this is a goalie who won back-to-back Cups. The Sens got him in 2020, just in time for his career meltdown, a run of injuries and eventual double hip surgery. But until Anthony Stolarz returns in Toronto, Murray is wearing the backup's ballcap on the Leafs' bench. Unless he doesn't feel good.

Vladislav Namestnikov, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points

A year after the Jets took DeMelo off Ottawa's hands for a third-rounder, they acquired Namestnikov from the Sens for a fourth-round pick. Again, the Sens made something of it, sending the pick to Nashville, straight up for Austin Watson.

Namestnikov isn't what you'd call an elite NHL player, but he manages to have an impact on whatever line the Jets need him to play on. Three months ago, they rewarded him with a two-year, $6 million extension. He has 4 points in 10 games so far.

Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 8 points

We've saved the best for last (also an alphabetical coincidence). When the Sens traded away Mark Stone, it ended up being one of the worst trades in Sens history. They traded him with Tobias Lindberg to Vegas in exchange for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick, which became Egor Sokolov, who became Jan Jenik, who's now an RFA. If the Sens fail to qualify Jenik, that will be the end of the Stone trade tree. But let's be honest, the Ottawa branch on that tree began to wither the day it was planted. Unless you consider it a win to upgrade your Lindberg.

When Stone signed his long-term contract in Vegas, many pundits warned that the back half of that deal would eventually look terrible. Seven years into his eight-year deal, we're still waiting. The Vegas captain has 8 points in 9 playoff games.

So, there's the Big 10, still in hot pursuit of a Cup this year. While the hockey itself has been the star, it's still exciting to follow players like these and see the direction their careers have taken after their time in Ottawa.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

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Welcome to a new set of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics with The Hockey News Wraparound.

Will The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: What’s been the most concerning part of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance in Games 3 and 4 against the Florida Panthers?

8:18: Will the Winnipeg Jets be able to shut down Mikko Rantanen?

12:15: Can the Edmonton Oilers overcome their goaltending struggles after a heartbreaking loss in Game 3 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights?

15:35: Has Frederik Andersen been the best goaltender of the Stanley Cup playoffs?

20:09: What to make of Connor Bedard’s decision not to join Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship

23:48: Could Joel Quenneville help the Anaheim Ducks potentially be competitive as soon as next season?

26:48: Will David Carle ever leave the NCAA to coach in the NHL?

29:06: Could Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom be the most sought-after prospect for NCAA teams this summer?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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On Monday, RDS pointed out what had happened in the past when the Montreal Canadiens selected twice in the first round. While the Habs have sometimes struck gold, they’ve also had their fair share of “swing and a miss”. Let’s take a walk down memory lane…

 Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Lane Hutson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Goaltending Edition

2024: Ivan Demidov (fifth) and Michael Hage (21st)

It’s much too early to know how this double selection will pan out, but so far, so good. Demidov has made an impact since he joined the Canadiens at the tail end of the season, and Hage has had a great rookie season in the NCAA with Michigan, and he was named Big 10 Rookie of the Year.

2022: Juraj Slafkovsky (first) and Filip Mesar (16th)

Despite the criticism Slafkovsky has generated this season, 51 points in 79 games as a 21-year-old is pretty good. The young Slovak has already played 200 NHL games, and he’s still maturing. The future looks bright for the power forward. As for Mesar, he has yet to make a real impact in the AHL. After 45 games, he only has 19 points, but just like Slafkovsky, he’s still young.

2007: Ryan McDonagh (12th) and Max Pacioretty (22nd)

McDonagh is the one that got away, an incredibly talented young defenseman. He was sacrificed to obtain forward Scott Gomez and had a great career. 1010 NHL games, 420 points, two Stanley Cups, and he wore the “C” for the New York Rangers, no need to say which team won that trade.

Pacioretty has played 939 NHL games, 681 points, worn the “C” for the Canadiens, and landed them their current captain, Nick Suzuki. Those two picks were a home run. It's a shame that one of the two players never suited up for the Sainte-Flanelle.

2001: Mike Komisarek (seventh) and Alexander Perezhogin (25th)

Komisarek looked very good patrolling the Canadiens’ blueline with Andrei Markov. Still, once he went off on his own, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent, his play dropped dramatically. Did he miss Markov, or did Milan Lucic “break him” in that fight? We’ll never know.

As for Perezhogin, he skated with the Canadiens in parts of two seasons, playing 128 games and picking up 34 points before deciding to head back to Russia.

2000: Ron Hainsey (13th) and Marcel Hossa (16th)

Hainsey played 1132 games in the NHL, putting up 311 points and picking up 443 penalty minutes, but only 32 were played with the Sainte-Flanelle. No, he wasn’t traded…he was lost on waivers on Bob Gainey’s watch when the Columbus Blue Jackets picked him up.

Hossa lacked his brother Marian’s talent, and he was unable to establish himself in the NHL. He skated in 237 games and scored only 61 points.

1985: Jose Charbonneau (12th) and Tom Chorske (16th)

The PQ-born Charbonneau looked good in the LHJMQ and the minors, but he couldn’t jump to the pros, playing 71 games in the NHL, and ended his career in the German league.

Meanwhile, Chorske was packaged with Stephane Richer and sent to the New Jersey Devils for Rolland Melanson and Kirk Muller, who was a key cog in the Canadiens' 1993 championship. Chorske won his own Stanley Cup with the Devils a couple of years later, however, and hung up his skates after 596 NHL games.

1984: Petr Svoboda (fifth) and Shayne Corson (eighth)

Svoboda skated with the Canadiens for eight seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 1985-86 and playing 1028 games with the Habs, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Corson missed out on both the 23rd and 24th Stanley Cups. He hadn’t made the team for the former, and he was packaged to the Edmonton Oilers for Vincent Damphousse before the latter. Still, he would be back in Montreal for a second tour of duty when the Habs brought him back in the Pierre Turgeon trade with the St. Louis Blues.

1981: Mark Hunter (seventh), Gilbert Delorme (18th), and Jan Ingman (19th)

Hunter spent four seasons in Montreal but couldn’t make much of an impact. He was traded to the Blues in a big swap of picks and would come out of his shell there before beating the Canadiens in the 1989 Stanley Cup final as a member of the Calgary Flames. He ended his career after 628 NHL games in which he scored 384 points.

A right-shot defenseman, Delorme played for two seasons with the Canadiens before moving to St. Louis with Doug Wickenheiser and Greg Paslawski for Perry Turnbull. These days, Delorm is still a panelist on RDS’s Antichambre.

Ingman was drafted but never came to this side of the pond, electing to stay in the Swedish league, Farjestads BK Karlstad.

It remains to be seen if the Canadiens will use the two picks they currently hold in the first round, but one thing’s for sure: drafting is far from an exact science.

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The Buffalo Sabres have a number of roster dilemmas to address this summer, and the players whose contracts are up pose the biggest problem for GM Kevyn Adams. Defenseman Bowen Byram, who scored a career-high 38 points playing a good chunk of the season with Rasmus Dahlin, is someone with the talent to be a #1 defenseman, but may see his path to that role blocked by Dahlin and Owen Power. 

The Sabres acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche last March for center Casey Mittelstadt. That deal was partly made because Mittelstadt was an RFA one year away from hitting the open market, and Buffalo did not want to extend Mittelstadt after signing Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens to long-term deals. Byram still had a year left on a deal signed with the Avs and two years before qualifying for unrestricted free agency. 

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

The 23-year-old has encountered injuries throughout his young career, but played a full 82 games last season, which was important for him going into a contract year. Byram’s situation in Buffalo is up in the air, because he never fully realize his full potential playing behind or with a pair of top overall picks signed to long term deals. 

Excited to welcome Bowen Byram to the #QuartexxFamily ❗️🤝 pic.twitter.com/LY3XcCpEyF

— Quartexx Hockey (@QuartexxHockey) May 9, 2025

"I've been lucky enough to come in and get a really good opportunity and play important minutes and meaningful minutes, and I've really enjoyed that. I've taken some strides in my game, and I'll continue to try to improve and turn it to be the best version of myself as possible." Byram said at locker cleanout last month. "I'll talk to my camp (about a new contract)  and talk to Kevin, and we'll figure out what the next step is. I'm excited for that process."

Byram recently switched to Darren Ferris, the same agent as Toronto’s Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner is likely to go this summer. The blueliner is eligible for salary arbitration this summer, and could choose to slow walk the Sabres and sign another bridge deal, but with Adams and Buffalo looking to make a move to end their long playoff drought, there has been increasing speculation that the Vancouver native could be moved in a trade before next season.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will be a game-time decision after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3, and defenseman Brayden McNabb should be good to play after receiving a maintenance day.

Stone did not play the final two periods of Game 3, which saw the Golden Knights miraculously score with 0.4 seconds remaining. He likely suffered the injury in the first period when he fell to the ice and collided with Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry's leg. In this morning's practice, the 32-year-old skated in his usual spot on the top line and the first power play unit.

Stone's participation is an indicator that whatever he is hampered by will not keep him out of the lineup, despite his listing as day-to-day.

McNabb was a surprise addition to the lineup for Game 3. The 33-year-old was the victim of a gruesome-looking fall after he was tripped by Viktor Arvidsson in overtime. He did not practice beforehand, and all signs pointed towards his absence. It was a major shock when he appeared on the ice for warmups. 

The Golden Knights are once again in need of a win, and retaining these two veterans should help them feel more secure defensively. With the series lead cut in half, the Golden Knights aren't in a do-or-die situation or must-win territory, but falling behind three games to one is never the situation a team wants to be in. Finding any way to secure a win should help shift the momentum back into the hands of the Golden Knights. 

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.

NHL Player Safety has announced that former Carolina Hurricanes forward Max Domi has been fined $5,000 for boarding Aleksander Barkov during the Toronto Maple Leafs' Game 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers on May 12. This is the most Domi could have been fined under the current CBA.

The incident occurred in the final seconds of Game 4 between the Maple Leafs and Panthers. While both teams were battling for the puck, Domi hit Barkov from behind into the boards. For the hit, Domi was handed a five-minute major for boarding at the 20:00 mark of the third period.

Max Domi has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for boarding Aleksander Barkov pic.twitter.com/o2BQ6pKtLb

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 12, 2025

Domi is known for being a gritty player, but the former Hurricanes forward took it too far with this hit on Barkov. Because of it, he has now been fined.

Domi, 30, was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2021-22 season in a three-team trade involving the Panthers. In 19 regular-season games with the Hurricanes following the move, he posted two goals, seven points, 18 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating. He also appeared in 14 playoff games for the Hurricanes in 2022, recording three goals, six points, and a plus-6 rating.

Domi's time with the Hurricanes ended during the 2022 NHL off-season when he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in free agency.

Recent Hurricanes News 

Former Hurricanes Forward Is Red-Hot Right NowThe Winnipeg Jets fell to the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their second matchup by a 5-2 final score. With this, the Jets are now down 2-1 in the series and will aim to tie it back up on the road in Game 4. While the Jets lost, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter did his part to try to get them a victory.  Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 4After a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a big way in Game 3. The Hurricanes put together a strong effort in Game 3, defeating the Capitals by a 4-0 final score. Hurricanes Legend Eric Staal Lands Exciting New GigThe Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have hired Carolina Hurricanes legend Eric Staal as special assistant to the general manager.

Canadian defenseman Nicolas Mattinen, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Adler Mannheim, the DEL club announced on Monday.

It will be Mattinen’s second tour of duty in Germany after spending last season in the AHL.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be wearing the Adler jersey next season,” Mattinen is quoted in a club press release. “It feels great to be returning to Germany. I want to do my part to contribute to what will hopefully be a successful season and am very excited to meet everyone and start working in August.”

“We are grateful that Nicolas has decided to return from North America and join our team,” said Dallas Eakins, Mannheim’s sports manager and head coach. “He’s a proven scorer in the league and brings size and attitude. We look forward to seeing him on the ice in our colors soon.”

A native of Orleans, Ont., Mattinen played junior hockey for the London Knights, Flint Firebirds, Hamilton Bulldogs and Oshawa Generals, winning two OHL titles along the way and was a member of London’s 2015-16 Memorial Cup championship team, although he missed the final tournament with an injury.

The 6-foot-5, 216-pound Mattinen was drafted in the sixth round, 179th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play three years for the University of Ottawa, however, before finally turning pro in 2022 at age 24.

Former Leafs, Lightning D-Man Returns Home To Sweden Swedish defenseman Andreas Borgman, 29, has signed a three-year contract to play with HV71, the Jönköping-based SHL club announced on Tuesday.

Mattinen played for Villacher EV in 2022-23, winning the ICEHL’s top defenseman award, and then played for the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in 2023-24, where he won the league’s top defenseman and MVP awards. Mattinen signed a contract with Mannheim in the summer of 2024 but exercised an escape clause when he had the chance to sign with Toronto.

Last season, Mattinen played only 22 games for the Toronto Marlies, recording four assists and eight penalty minutes. He has seven points and 12 penalty minutes in 30 career AHL games.

Toronto retains his NHL rights.

Last season, Mannheim finished fourth in the DEL regular season and was swept by eventual champion Eisbären Berlin in the semifinals. In addition to Mattinen, Mannheim also has ex-NHLers Tom Künhackl, John Gilmour, Kristian Reichel and Marc Michaelis under contract for the 2025-26 season.

Kristian Reichel leaves Winnipeg for Adler MannheimKristian Reichel is moving on from the Winnipeg Jets organization where he’s spent the past six seasons, signing a three-year contract with German club Adler Mannheim.