Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Mike Sullivan, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, was officially introduced as the 38^th head coach in Rangers history on Thursday morning.

“It’s an incredible honor to be the head coach of such a storied franchise, an Original Six team, a team that has such deep history and such a passionate fan base,” Sullivan said. “It’s hard not to get excited about being the head coach of an organization like this.”

“Having been on an opposing team’s bench and playing against the Rangers inside the division for all these years, I’ve grown a ton of respect for the players that are in that room and the talent that they have,” the 57-year-old added. “The opportunity to work with a group like that certainly excites me.”

As the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sullivan hoisted back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, leading Pittsburgh to the playoffs in each of his first seven seasons at the helm.

After missing the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, though, Sullivan and the Penguins parted ways.

That’s where Rangers GM Chris Drury pounced on the opportunity to bring Sullivan to New York.

“I truly believe Mike is a premier coach in the National Hockey League. His resume, both in the NHL and in international play, speaks for itself,” Drury said. “The second Mike was available, we quickly and aggressively pursued him, and we’re certainly thrilled that that pursuit led us to this moment today. There’s a lot of work to be done, and I’m very excited to be partnered with Mike as we collectively try to achieve our goals here in New York.”

Sullivan earned his first NHL head coaching job in 2003 with Boston, and he’d coach the Bruins for two seasons. He then spent some time as an assistant coach for a handful of NHL teams, including the Rangers, with whom he worked as an assistant with John Tortorella until landing the Penguins’ top job.

And while he has experience coaching and playing in Madison Square Garden, standing behind the bench as the Rangers head coach is something he certainly doesn’t take for granted.

“I had the privilege of coaching here as an assistant coach, as you guys know, 15 years ago, and I’ve had the privilege of coaching here as an opposing team here at Madison Square Garden,” Sullivan said. “We played these guys in the playoffs a few years ago. I don’t know that there’s a more electric building in the league than Madison Square Garden. It really is a privilege to play in that building, regardless of which bench you’re on. But I can only anticipate what it would be like to be behind the Rangers bench as the head coach. It’s an incredible honor. This is one of the more passionate fanbases in the league, and I look forward to that moment.”

Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen was the main reason why the Dallas Stars defeated the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. With the Stars down 2-0 in Game 7, Rantanen scored a hat trick and recorded an assist in the third period to secure them a 4-2 win over the Avalanche.

With his four-point Game 7, Rantanen recorded five goals and 11 points in his final three games against the Avalanche in the first round. Now, he is only continuing to stay red-hot in the Stars' second-round series against the Winnipeg Jets.

In Game 1 against the Jets, Rantanen once again led the Stars to a victory. The former Hurricanes winger scored three goals in the second period, and the Stars won the contest by a 3-2 final score. With this, Rantanen now has recorded hat tricks in back-to-back games and has eight goals and 14 points in his last four contests.

Rantanen is a big-time star when playing at his best, and it is exactly why the Hurricanes acquired him back in January. However, they were forced to trade him at the deadline to the Stars, as the 2015 tenth-overall pick made it clear that he was not open to signing a contract extension with the Canes. However, after being acquired by the Stars, he signed an eight-year, $96 million contract extension with Dallas.

In 13 games with the Hurricanes before being traded to the Stars, Rantanen had two goals, six points, and a minus-3 rating. Overall, he had a tough time adjusting to the Hurricanes' system, but he certainly has found a fit with the Stars.

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Mikko Rantanen picked up right where he left off after the first round when the Dallas Stars took on the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.

Dallas prevailed in a 3-2 win at the Canada Life Centre on Wednesday to take a 1-0 second-round lead over Winnipeg.

Rantanen put up a natural hat trick in the contest. This was Rantanen’s second straight playoff hat trick after the team’s Game 7 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

This was a historic game for Rantanen. Not only did he record back-to-back hat tricks in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but both hat tricks happened within one period. He is the first player in NHL history to record multiple three-goal periods in the same post-season, let alone in consecutive games.

Rantanen also became the third player in history to record back-to-back hat tricks in the playoffs. The other two were Jari Kurri for the Edmonton Oilers in 1985 and Doug Bentley for the Chicago Blackhawks in 1944.

In his last four playoff games, Rantanen scored eight goals and six assists, and he now leads the NHL with 15 points. The 28-year-old has contributed to each of his team’s last 12 goals. He’s also been involved in 62.5 percent of Dallas’ 24 goals in these playoffs.

While the spotlight was on Rantanen after his hat trick and the Stars’ first win of the series, left winger Jason Robertson returned to the lineup for the first time since their last regular-season game. He played 13:44 of ice time and recorded one shot on goal in his return from injury.

Jets center Mark Scheifele also returned to the lineup. 

This was Scheifele’s first game back since leaving during Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues in the first round with an undisclosed injury.

The 32-year-old had an immediate impact for Winnipeg, scoring late in the second period to make it a one-goal game. He took seven shots and played 22:36 of ice time. 

Winnipeg made a strong push late in the contest during the 6-on-5 scenario and was hoping for another episode of Manitoba Magic, much like in Game 7 against the Blues when they tied the game with 1.6 seconds left to force overtime and eventually win the series.

Despite the team’s late scramble to equalize, Jets coach Scott Arniel was not impressed with his team’s overall performance.

“There was a lot of sloppiness to that game,” Arniel told reporters. "That did not feel like a playoff game in Game 1 in Round 2. That felt like Game 45 in the middle of December.”

Arniel added that he didn’t like his team’s execution, specifically after winning draws and their passing. He highlighted there was more time and space on the ice than when they faced St. Louis, but his players didn’t take advantage of that.

Winnipeg will host Game 2 on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET, before the series shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4.

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One year ago today, the Vancouver Canucks were in a much different spot from where they are now. While they are nearly a month into the off-season this year, last year, they had just completed one of the most impressive postseason comebacks in franchise history. May 8, 2025, marks one year since the Canucks stole Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers after climbing back from a 4–1 deficit. 

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The game started poorly for the Canucks, who found themselves down 2–0 early on thanks to first-period goals from Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm. While Dakota Joshua cut the Edmonton lead by one less than a minute into the second period, another tally by Hyman and one from Cody Ceci gave the Oilers a 4–1 lead with a little less than half of the game over. 

From a Canucks standpoint, things looked bleak. However, something about the energy in the building made it feel like Vancouver wasn’t quite down and out. When Elias Lindholm scored to shorten Edmonton’s lead to 4–2, the team could have easily rolled over and called it a night. However, halfway through the third period, J.T. Miller found the back of the net, bringing the deficit to 4–3. 

With every goal that Vancouver scored, the crowd grew louder and the towels waved faster. By the time Nikita Zadorov’s blast from the blueline flew past Stuart Skinner, Rogers Arena was so loud that you could barely hear yourself think. All of a sudden, Edmonton’s 4–1 lead had been whittled down to a 4–4 tie. 

Fans didn’t have to wait long for Vancouver to seize the lead for the first time in the series. Less than a minute after Zadorov’s tying goal, Conor Garland advanced on the Oilers’ net and faked a shot before sliding the puck into the net. Just like that, the Canucks were the team in control of the series. 

Even though the series didn’t end the way the team or the fans would have wanted it to, the Canucks should still be proud of the effort they exhibited this time last year. Who knows — maybe they’ll be in the same place they were in 2024 come 2026. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins finished with the ninth-worst record in the NHL and were slated to be drafted 9th overall at the 2025 Draft, but dropped two spots after the New York Islanders and Utah Hockey Club moved up. 

Interestingly, 2025 will mark the second time in franchise history that Pittsburgh has selected 11th overall. For those wondering when the first time was, we have to go back to the club's initial draft in 1967, where the Penguins had two picks, Steve Rexe (second overall) and Bob Smith (11th overall). 

Out of the 18 picks in the 1967 Amateur Draft, only three made it to the NHL, including Serge Bernier (Philadelphia Flyers - 5th overall), Bob Kelly (Toronto Maple Leafs - 16th overall), and Al Karlander (Detroit Red Wings - 17th overall). 

Ultimately, this leads us back to Smith. Who was he, and how far did he make it in professional hockey? Let's dig into the numbers and find out what happened to the only player the Penguins have ever drafted at 11th overall.

Who is Bob Smith, the 11th overall pick in the 1967 Amateur Draft?

Smith was born in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, on Dec. 1, 1946. As a local kid, he played junior hockey with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds in the NOJHL from 1963 to 1967. 

He had 27 points in 19 games as a rookie, almost tripling his production as an 18-year-old for the 1964-65 season, thanks to 44 goals and 44 assists, which netted him 88 points. 

During his third campaign, Smith outperformed his previous totals by two, scoring 46 goals and collecting 46 assists for 92 points in 40 games. Moreover, he set a career high in penalty minutes that season, sitting in the box for 50.

Penguins Drop Two Slots In NHL Draft, Will Pick 11th OverallIn past draft lotteries, the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their fair share of luck.

Heading into his final junior season, Smith cracked 100 points for the only time, scoring 48 goals and 52 assists to reach 100 points. 

The Penguins saw something in Smith and drafted him as the 11th overall pick at the 1967 Amateur Draft on June 7, 1967. 

However, Smith never made it to the NHL. Instead, he played his entire professional career in the IHL with the Muskegon Mohawks from 1967 to 1972, winning the Turner Cup in 1968.

As a 21-year-old, Smith made his IHL debut in 1967 and scored 26 goals and 60 points. He followed that up with 38 goals and 82 points in his second season. Meanwhile, he played just three games in 1968-69 for the Amarillo Wranglers in the CenHL, registering no points. 

Unfortunately, Smith didn't play much of the 1969-70 season, scoring a point-per-game with seven goals and six assists in just 13 games. Yet, he bounced back with another 28-goal season the following year to finish the 1970-71 campaign with 67 points.

Finally, Smith's professional career ended following the 1971-72 season, during which he tallied 33 goals and a personal best 84 points in 61 games while collecting only nine penalty minutes. 

Overall, Smith averaged 2.22 points-per-game in junior hockey, thanks to 152 goals and 155 assists for 307 points in 138 games, while his professional totals were just as impressive at 1.10 points-per-game, with 132 goals, 174 assists, and 306 points in 277 games. 

EDMONTON – Some people just can’t stay away.

Often, when an NHL player retires, they move in to another aspect of hockey.

Edmonton Oilers fans are more than familiar with this concept. Wayne Gretzky went on to be an NHL head coach, Kevin Lowe was the GM of the Oilers at one point, and Paul Coffey currently serves on Kris Knoblauch’s coaching staff.

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

But former Oilers forward Pat Maroon appears to be going the route of Oilers legend Mark Messier.

It was announced on Wednesday morning that the NHL on TNT broadcast would be gaining a few special guests in the next week. 

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Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet will join the broadcast for Friday and Saturday’s slate of games. Maroon will join for Monday’s games.

Considering how Maroon has been in interviews and media scrums, it’s not surprising that he would be drawn to broadcasting. Additionally, Monday is an interesting day to hop aboard.

COACH TOCC AND THE BIG RIG 🍿

Excited to be welcoming a new guest (and an old friend) to the desk this weekend 📺 pic.twitter.com/oXjGJL5XHh

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 7, 2025

There are two games slated for Monday. Game 4 of the Washington Capitals series against the Carolina Hurricanes and Game 4 between the Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights.

Maroon announced his retirement from hockey in the past month. He had a long career and played with many NHL teams. In 848 career games he recorded 323 points and 1087 penalty minutes.

Maroon’s most successful offensive season came while with the Oilers. In the 2016-17 season, he recorded a 27-goal, 42-point season while playing 16:44 a game.

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The Conn Smythe Trophy does not get awarded in the first or second round of the playoffs. But less than three weeks into the post-season, it's already clear that some players have emerged as early MVP favorites.

Here's a look at five who are leading their teams to what they hope will be an eventual Stanley Cup — that is, if they can advance to the third and final rounds.

Mikko Rantanen

What else is there to say about the man called Moose?

Rantanen, who singlehandedly brought the Dallas Stars back from the dead in Game 7 against the Avalanche with a hat trick in the third period, followed it up with another “hatty” in Game 1 against Winnipeg. He now leads the playoffs with eight goals — two of which are game-winners — and 15 points in eight games.

Maybe he’s still motivated by the ugly trade that sent him from Colorado-to-Carolina-to-Dallas. Or maybe he’s trying to justify the eight-year, $96-million contract extension he just signed.

Either way, the league’s most underrated superstar is no longer underrated anymore.

'He Was Feeling It': William Nylander Sets The Tone For Maple Leafs Against PanthersThe Toronto Maple Leafs surprised a lot of people by taking Game 1 of their second-round series against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers.

William Nylander

Some players shrink when playing under the bright lights of Toronto. Others feed off the pressure.

“Willy Styles” is in the latter camp.

You can say what you want about the Maple Leafs’ inability to get over the hump in the playoffs. But before you lump Nylander with the other members of the Core Four, keep this in mind: in the past six years, Nylander has scored 23 goals and 45 points in 42 games.

This year, Nylander is once again producing when it matters the most.

After leading all Toronto players with 45 goals in the regular season — his third straight 40-goal season — the 29-year-old has a team-leading eight goals and 13 points in eight games. In the process, he has helped the Leafs to a 2-0 series lead against Florida, while also helping veteran linemates’ John Tavares (three goals and five points) and Max Pacioretty (two goals and six points) turn back the clock.

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Connor McDavid

A year ago, McDavid led the playoffs in scoring with 42 points in 25 games. So it’s not exactly surprising that the Edmonton Oilers captain already has 13 points in seven games. What might be noteworthy is that 12 of those points have come in even-strength situations.

That’s more than anyone has scored in 5-on-5.

As opponents know, you can’t stop McDavid. All you can really do is limit his production. Even then, good luck.

After going without a point in Game 2 of a first-round series against the LA Kings, McDavid has been riding a six-game point streak, with nine points during that span. So what if he only has two goals. When you’re on a team that also includes Leon Draisaitl (four goals and 12 points), you don’t need to always be the one scoring.

Kyle Connor

It was Winnipeg's Cole Perfetti who forced overtime in Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues, and it was Adam Lowry who scored the eventual series winner. But in a playoffs where Mark Scheifele has battled injury and Connor Hellebuyck has battled the ghosts of post-seasons' past, Connor has been the steady leader.

All he does is produce. And he tends to produce when it matters the most.

Connor, who led the Jets with 41 goals and 97 points in the regular season, has four goals and 12 points in eight playoff games. Two of his goals have been game-winners.

In Game 7, he set up three goals as Winnipeg did the improbable and came back 4-3 against St. Louis.

"You’re not just going to sit there and sulk,” Connor told reporters. “You have to do anything you can to help the team push forward."

NHL Playoffs 2025: Winners And Losers From Round 1 Feature Rantanen, Necas And MoreJust like that, the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoff field is cut in half. 

Andrei Svechnikov

The Hurricanes are not a star-driven team. That's mostly by design.

The reason why Mikko Rantanen never really found a home in Carolina is because coach Rod Brind'Amour prefers to roll four lines rather than relying on one or two players to get the win.

And yet, where would Carolina be without Svechnikov? The Russian winger only had 20 goals in the regular season, but in the playoffs he's enjoying a sort of coming-out-party with five goals and six points in six games. Those aren't Rantanen-like numbers.

But on a team where everyone is expected to chip in, Svechnikov is chipping in a little bit more than everyone else. It's why the Hurricanes rolled over the Devils in the first round and also why they grabbed a 1-0 series lead against the Capitals in the second round.

There are a lot of vacancies in the NHL team's coaching department. As things stand, the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks are all without a permanent head coach right now.

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Meanwhile, Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis has been nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy alongside Scott Arniel and Spencer Carbery. Meanwhile, Pascal Vincent, who’s at the helm of the Laval Rocket, has been named coach of the year in the AHL.

Before joining the Rocket, Vincent coached the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was put in a less-than-ideal position, leading the Ohio outfit to a 27-43-12 record with a .402 points percentage and finishing dead last in the Metropolitan Division.

A year later, he’s in charge of the Canadiens’ affiliate in the AHL and had his team winning the regular season championship and currently coasting to the third round of the playoffs. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has already said he won’t stand in Vincent’s way, if a team wants to speak to the Laval coach, they’ll be allowed to, and it will be up to Vincent to decide when they can do that.

Speaking to the media, Vincent explained:

If an (NHL) team wants my services, they will have to be patient. Usually when you really want someone, you can wait one week, two weeks, three weeks or even a month…Just to be interviewed for a head coaching job in the (NHL) is an immense privilege…But for now, my focus is on the boys (in Laval).

- Pascal Vincent on teams being interested in his services. 

While it's reassuring to hear the coach is entirely focused on the Rocket’s destiny right now, it certainly doesn’t sound like a man who’s not interested in making the jump. It would be a shame for the Canadiens to lose him, but you can’t stop a man from moving up in the world.

---

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Gone to another team, but (definitely) not forgotten.

The Colorado Avalanche are still licking their wounds from a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

The Stars have a two-game win streak, in no small part due to the play of the former Avalanche superstar.

In Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets, Rantanen scored another hat trick. This hat trick is more impressive for several reasons.

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The first reason is that Rantanen is the third player in NHL playoff history to record hat tricks in back-to-back games. The other two players to do it were Jari Kurri during the 1985 playoffs and Doug Bentley in 1944.

The second reason is Rantanen's involvement in all of the Stars’ goals. He has factored in each of the Stars’ last 12 goals, the longest streak in playoff history. Heading into Wednesday night’s game, he was tied with Mario Lemieux for the longest streak (nine goals).

MIKKO RANTANEN HAT TRICK!!! 🎩🎩🎩 #StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/1wqNREHEDt

— NHL (@NHL) May 8, 2025

Finally, Rantanen broke some Stars’ records. He became the first Stars player to record a natural hat trick in a playoff game. He scored his hat trick within eight minutes during the second period to lead his new team to a 3-2 victory.

His recent playoff accomplishments leave a bittersweet taste in the mouths of Avalanche fans. On the one hand, it's great for him to have success with his new club. On the other hand, it’s with a different team.

While the Avalanche contemplate what went wrong this season, at least Rantanen is experiencing a new, rejuvenated life in Dallas.

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Wednesday night may have been dubbed as Game 1 of the Central Division Final in Winnipeg, but for those in attendance and tuning in around the world, it was Night 2 of the Mikko Rantanen show.

Entering the first game of the second round red hot, Rantanen continued his historic stretch of hockey, scoring his second-straight hat trick, becoming just the third player in Stanley Cup Playoff history to do so, as he helped the Dallas Stars defeat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. 

“We all know how elite he is," Nino Niederreiter said of Rantanen post-game. "He’s really done it these last few games and throughout his whole career. Always a fantastic player, but we’ve got to find a way to shut him down and not make it too easy on him.”

According to some, both the Stars and Jets were lucky to make it to the second round. Both clubs were, in fact, mere minutes away from being eliminated from the postseason just a few nights earlier, but both clawed their respective ways back to eliminate their first round competition and advance to the second round.

Facing off for the first time in the playoffs, the matchup was deemed to be as close as one would expect in an extremely tight Central Division race. And for the first time this postseason, Winnipeg lost a game on home ice.

But things could not have started better for the beleaguered Connor Hellebuyck. After struggling out of the gate in the first round vs. St. Louis, the Vezina and Hart Trophy finalist turned aside everything he faced in the first period. And it started with eight-straight Dallas shots on goal.

It took a while, but the Jets did wake up. The hosts managed to find the next nine shots, and finished the period ahead 13-12. Winnipeg also drew two penalties in the frame, but was unable to capitalize on either man advantage. 

Wednesday's game marked the first of the eight-game postseason to which Winnipeg escaped the first period without giving up a goal. 

“They had a great start," Niederreiter added. "It’s something we need to get better at. Our start was once again, not very good. It’s something we know we’ve got to do better and it was a completely different series than the St. Louis one. They are obviously a very experienced team. They know how to be in a tight game, they are extremely patient. That is something we’ve got to learn from.”

Niederreiter got the Jets on the board five minutes into the middle stanza, as he scored on a rush play up-ice. Haydn Fleury hit Mason Appleton with a strong stretch pass, who got the puck to Nino. He beat Oettinger on the backhand, giving Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.

But it was the Stars' Game 7 hero Mikko Rantanen who tied things up less than five minutes later. He cleaned up the garbage on an Evgenii Dadanov one-timer, pushing the loose puck home past Hellebuyck. 

Somehow, Winnipeg was awarded another power play later in the second period, but once again the man advantage passed by unsuccessfully. Despite having Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabe Vilardi back in the lineup alongside Kyle Connor, the top unit just couldn't find a way to fool Oettinger. 

Much like Dallas' hole on its blueline (Miro Heiskanen), the Jets were without their No. 1 defender, Josh Morrissey, who left Monday's Game 7 early in the first period. 

Rantanen stormed back again, scoring not once, but twice as the period wore on. Following up his third period hat trick on Sunday, the Finnish forward potted another three goals in the second period, putting the Stars ahead 3-1, while earning his sixth goal in his past three periods of hockey. 

But rather than sitting back and sulking, the Jets pressed right back, as Scheifele scored his third of the postseason from the slot off a pass from Gabe Vilardi, cutting Dallas' lead to one goal. 

Winnipeg trailed the Stars on the score board, despite owning one more shot through 40 minutes of play. 

Hellebuyck and the Jets were able to shut things down in the third, but their offence seemingly dried up. 

The Jets pulled for the extra attacker with 1:40 to play and came within inches of tying the game moments later. A timeout was called, a strategy was laid out, but this time there was no last-second goal, as the Jets fell by one goal. 

Hellebuyck made 21 saves on the 24 shots he faced, while Oettinger turned aside 30 shots on the 32 pucks fired his way. 

Game 2 will be played at Canada Life Centre on Friday night. Once again, the game will feature an 8:50 PM central start time and will be aired on Sportsnet and CBC. 

It's safe to say that it will be a very interesting summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After Monday's draft lottery, the Penguins are now slotted to select 11th overall in this year's NHL Entry Draft, which will take place Jun. 27. They may or may not have another first-round pick from the New York Rangers at 12, depending on whether New York defers the pick to 2026. And Pittsburgh's POHO and GM Kyle Dubas has alluded to possibly exploring the restricted free agent (RFA) market.

And there's one big RFA who may just be dangled by his current team. 

After an eighth consecutive first-round exit in postseason play, the Minnesota Wild are expected to shift some furniture around this offseason, and one player to watch will be pending-RFA forward Marco Rossi. 

Rossi, 23, seems to be improving year-by-year, as he registered 24 goals and 60 points in just his second full NHL season. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound Austrian centerman may be a bit undersized, but he continues to blossom as a productive player nonetheless.

This sure seems like someone the Wild would want to keep around. But, according to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, that may not be the case.

"I don't think the Wild like Marco Rossi," Robinson said. "They clearly do not envision him as a long-term top-six center option for them. They're a good team, and they don't have an abundance of top-six centers. It's not like they have a ton of them floating around."

He continued: "Some of these players that are not as good as him are getting bigger contracts. So that just is telling to me is that management in Minnesota isn't smitten on him."

"The #mnwild don't seem too enamoured with Marco Rossi" @Hockey_Robinson

(Aquiring Marco Rossi has been Blake's mission for months)@mattsekeres | @justBlakePrice
Presented by Bogey Juice. pic.twitter.com/E2yjTwWNxd

— Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) May 7, 2025

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what about Rossi's game isn't to like. He produces, he plays hard, he forechecks well, and he continues to show growth and improvement in his game.

Yet, the Wild relegated him to fourth-line center duties during the playoffs. While he still managed to produce two goals and three points in the six-game series against the Vegas Golden Knights, it's a bit of a head-scratcher as to why Rossi wasn't placed higher in the lineup.

Even Rossi expressed disappointment in the decision while also acknowledging that he respects the decision made by head coach John Hines. And he reiterated that he's capable of playing a larger role.

"I showed all year long how good I am, and I went last year from 40 points to 60 points this year," Rossi said. "Anyone who knows me, it's always going up, and I always improve, especially with my work ethic. So, I have no doubt I'm, for sure, a top-six guy."

Marco Rossi says he met with John Hynes about his 4th line role in the playoffs, and says he was disappointed but respects the decision. He's a RFA this summer.

"I have no doubt I am for sure a top-6 guy."@kare11#MNWildpic.twitter.com/3PN1OcsnCy

— J.T. Messinger (@JTMessinger) May 4, 2025

So if Rossi's time in Minnesota is ticking, should the Penguins bite?

If they have the assets required? Absolutely. 

Dubas pointed out a few areas of need for the NHL roster heading into next season, and - while he explicitly called out the left side on defense - the center position is certainly one that could use a lot more depth in the organization.

Evgeni Malkin - the team's current second-line center - regressed sizably in his age 38 season in 2024-25, registering just 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games. Even if Sidney Crosby is still brilliant at age 37, there's no denying that the Penguins need to get ahead of adding talent at the position as soon as they possibly can.

Adding someone like Rossi into the mix - especially since he's just 23 years old - gives the Penguins a second-line center option and greatly bolsters their forward depth. He's also someone they can extend long-term to help the team in its next contention window, which will, presumably, be at least two years down the road.

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.

These are the kinds of players Dubas was referring to when he mentioned exploring the RFA market. Rossi is a young talent who only projects to continue getting better, and it's the kind of opportunity that the Penguins should be all over if it's an option.

It's likely that, if the Penguins are interested, they'll try to go the trade route rather than the offer sheet route. This may drive up the price, as Rossi's offer sheet draft compensation is likely to be at least a first-round pick given his projected salary. 

This is a situation where a top-line winger like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell may need to be shown the door, as Minnesota would likely want NHL talent in exchange. But that might be worth the risk for a player like Rossi in return.

If Wild GM Bill Guerin makes Rossi available, Dubas needs to be all over it. Rossi could be somewhat of a game-changer for the Penguins if the former first-round pick reaches his potential, and that's something that the organization desperately needs.

'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.

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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, Ryan Kennedy, Michael Traikos and Andrew McInnis discuss the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Florida Panthers in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead in the second round.

Leafs vs Panthers Game 2 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

They also take a quick look around the NHL, including the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars kicking off their series.

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

Check out the show right now.

Longtime NHL referee Wes McCauley filled in as a linesman during Game 2 of the second-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.

McCauley, 53, entered the action in the third period of Wednesday evening's game. He replaced linesman Shandor Alphonso, who did not return. No details are reported about why Alphonso left the game.

McCauley was the standby official in this game. He officiated Game 1 of the series between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night. That game went to overtime before the Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin scored the game-winning goal.

Instead of wearing his regular No. 4, McCauley sported the No. 85 on a linesman uniform without the orange band on the sleeves. 

Wes is in as linesman, replacing Shandor Alphonso 🫡 pic.twitter.com/HakBzrkq2Q

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 8, 2025

McCauley made his NHL officiating debut on Jan. 20, 2003, and became a full-time official in 2005. Since then, he's officiated 1,439 regular-season games and 211 playoff contests.

The Georgetown, Ont., native played four seasons for Michigan State University's men's hockey squad in the NCAA between 1989-90 and 1992-93. In 1990, the Detroit Red Wings selected him 150th overall in the NHL draft. While he never played an NHL game, he did play in the ECHL, the now-defunct IHL and Colonial Hockey League and in Italy. 

Alphonso, meanwhile, officiated his first NHL game on Oct. 17, 2014, and his first playoff game on Aug. 2, 2020. He's officiated 735 regular-season games and 42 playoff games. Before his professional career as a linesperson, he played left wing for the OHL's Sudbury Wolves from 2001 to 2004. The 40-year-old from Orangeville, Ont., had 73 points in 183 OHL games before playing Jr. A hockey in 2004-05, then U Sports hockey at Lakehead University for five years.

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

Max Pacioretty wasn’t the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Masterton Award nominee, but he’s making a big impact in his comeback.

About a month ago, we argued that center John Tavares deserved to be the Maple Leafs’ nominee for the Masterton Award, given annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication” to the game. He was the nominee but is not a finalist this year.

But multiple players can be deserving of the nomination, and Pacioretty has reinvented himself at 36 to be one of the best bargain pickups of the season.

When Pacioretty landed in Toronto in October, it’s safe to say there wasn’t a long lineup of teams for his services. He suffered through multiple serious injuries, and he hadn’t played more than 71 games in a season since 2016-11, when he was still with the Montreal Canadiens. He was well out of his prime, and he bounced between the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals in the previous three seasons.

But Pacioretty continued to bet on himself, to the point he signed a pro tryout agreement with the Leafs. He showed enough in training camp to earn a spot with the Buds – albeit, on a contract that paid him the relatively modest amount of $873,770. Still, Pacioretty joined a Leafs club that had serious playoff aspirations, and that was good enough for him to agree to extend his career in the Blue and White.

That said, it wasn’t as if the regular season was all sunshine and rainbows for Pacioretty. 

He once again had difficulty staying healthy, and he was a healthy scratch at times as well. 

To Pacioretty’s credit, he stuck with it, and along the way to the playoffs, he also became a physical power forward in a way he hadn’t been in his previous 16 seasons, certainly not in his early years as a cornerstone part of the Canadiens. His 12.61 hits per 60 minutes during the regular season is a career high. 

In doing so, he gave Leafs coach Craig Berube enough of a sample size to give him more chances.

Pacioretty was again a healthy scratch to begin the first round against the Ottawa Senators. He didn’t get into any playoff action until Game 3, but that physical edge he developed wound up serving Pacioretty very well. 

In Game 6, Pacioretty wound up scoring the series-winning goal. It was a wonderful moment of redemption for him, and he went on a roll that included a two-assist performance in Game 1 of Toronto’s second-round series against the Florida Panthers. He continued his roll with a goal and an assist in Game 2.

Pacioretty has become a key component of the Leafs’ second line, playing alongside Tavares and William Nylander. He’s punishing opponents with his 6-foot-2 frame and opening up time and space for his linemates.

All in all, it’s been a terrific career turnaround for Pacioretty. He may not get to the 1,000-game mark – he’s currently at 939 career regular-season games – but he’s managed to carve out a special place for two Original Six franchises, and he’s become an excellent example of what can await you as a player if you stick it out and flip the bird to Father Time.

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

May 7, 2025 - Abbotsford Centre – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada- The Abbotsford Canucks are set to host Pacific Northwest rivals, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, in a pivotal Game 3 of Round 2 in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs. Abbotsford is chasing its first Division Final appearance since relocating in 2021, while the Firebirds — led by Head Coach Derek Laxdal — are gunning for a third consecutive trip to the Calder Cup Final.

Projected Lines For Tonight!

FIREBIRDS STARTING LINEUP

1st Period:

Scoreless after 8 minutes of play. Firebirds kill a power play after Ville Ottavainen is called for slashing. Ottavainen was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in 2021, Round: 4 (#99).

Penalty called on Vancouver’s Victor Mancini for cross checking on Logan Morrison resulting in several shots on Artūrs Šilovs, but no goal. Firebirds are 0-2 on PP approaching the 9 minute mark.

Firebirds are showing great physicality and leading with 8 shots on goal. Vancouver get their first shot and first goal by Nate Smith, his second goal of the playoffs. 

A late goal by Vancouver’s Kirill Kudryavtsev stuns Firebirds’ Nikke Kokko giving the Canucks a 2-0 lead with 23 seconds late on the clock. This is Kudryavtsev’s first career playoff goal.

At the end of the first Coachella has 12 shots on goal, Abbotsford 5. 

2nd Period:

Canucks turned up the pressure on Kokko coming off the first intermission break. Cole McWard gets a little too aggressive with Jacob Melanson resulting in a holding penalty giving the Firebirds the chance at a power play goal. The ‘Birds tally 2 shots, but no points.

Kokko, making his fifth start of the season, looked a bit shaky at first, but settled in during the middle frame. With 6:38 to go it’s still scoreless with Canucks not connecting to the back of the net. 17-13 Firebirds- with shots on goal.

Ville Ottavainen picked up his second penalty of the night for high-sticking, but the Firebirds held off the Canucks. 

Tempers flare between Nate Smith and Ryan Winterton who get in a scuffle behind Vancouver’s net, but no penalties called on either player. With time running out the Firebirds pepper Silovs who stood firm in the crease. The period ends 2-0 Vancouver.

3rd Period:

Ryan Winterton scores his second goal of the series at 16:36 putting one the board for the Firebirds.

LET'S GOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/1FTfxSm3Ji

— x - Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) May 8, 2025

Kokko briefly loses his stick amid heavy traffic, but holds firm until a glove save stops play.

Some pushing and shoving as both teams feel the pressure to score in this crucial Game 3.

Tye Mueller makes a break down center ice, but his play is broken up by Kokko and Luke Henman who is charged with hooking creating the power play for Vancouver with 4:49 left on the clock.

The Firebirds are struggling to connect under relentless pressure from the Canucks. A miscommunication sees Kokko race to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Canucks pounce on the mistake and bury the empty-net goal by Phillip DiGiuseppe. 

EMPTY NET 🚨 FOR PHILLIP DI GIUSEPPE@abbycanucks | @Canucks#AHL#CalderCup#ProudlyAbbotsford#Canuckspic.twitter.com/T1fbt8wiyH

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) May 8, 2025

A late rush by the Firebirds yields nothing as the Canucks defeat the Firebirds 3-1 and take the lead in the series. The Canucks are one win away from heading to the finals to face the Colorado Eagles.

Final shots on goal : CV 26 / ABB 23

____________________________________________________________________________

Games Remaining (Best-of-Five Series):

• Friday, May 9: CV at Abbotsford (7:00 p.m. PT)
• *Sunday, May 11 (if necessary): CV at Abbotsford (7:00 p.m. PT)

Puck Drop: 7PM PST

Broadcast Info: FloHockey.tv, Stanza

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Series Recap & Milestones — Firebirds:

• This is the first-ever postseason meeting between Coachella Valley and Abbotsford.
• The Firebirds (the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken) took the first three regular-season matchups, while the Canucks won the finale.
• John Hayden was a standout in the team's Calgary series, logging heavy minutes, scoring twice, and leading with grit.
• Former Cup-winner Mitchell Stephens added three goals, including the Game 2 winner.
• Rookie goaltender Nikke Kokko starred with 36 saves in Game 1 and a 23-save shutout in Game 2 — his first of the season.

Players to Watch — Firebirds:

• Jani Nyman ranks 4th in power-play goals (9 in 58 games played).
• Ty Nelson ranks 5th in total shots with 147 (in 72 games played).

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Series Recap & Milestones — Canucks:

• Abbotsford, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, finished second in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference with 92 points.
• The Canucks scored 241 goals (4th in the AHL) and allowed 204 (10th in the league).
• Arshdeep Bains led the team with 43 AHL points and also appeared in 13 NHL games.
• Sammy Blais added 40 points in 51 games and scored in every game of the Tucson series, netting three goals.
• Right winger Danila Klimovich completed his fourth season in Abbotsford as the team’s leading goal scorer (25). At just 22, he already has 89 career AHL points.
• In goal, Arturs Silovs posted a 14–5–1 record with a 2.41 GAA in 21 AHL games, along with 10 NHL appearances (2–6–1) with Vancouver.

Players to Watch — Canucks:

• Christian Wolanin ranks 15th among the AHL's top 20 defensemen with 40 points in 58 games (4G/36A).

Related

Kraken Goalie Is Youngest Debut In The NHL For 2024-2025 Season.Goalie Nikke Kokko was called up from the Coachella Valley Firebirds to play in net for the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night in St. Louis. The 6'3", 184 lb, 2022 NHL draft pick from Oulu, Finland, is the youngest goalie to make his NHL debut this season at 20 years and 347 days old.