Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley ranked third with an A grade in a recent poll that ranked all 32 NHL owners by The Athletic.

When Foley set a goal of winning a Stanley Cup inside the first six years of the franchise's existence, it raised plenty of eyebrows, but Foley and the Golden Knights have proved the doubters wrong.

The Golden Knights have played in eight seasons, winning a Stanley Cup, losing in the finals and making another two conference finals appearances. Their willingness to continue to trade or sign established players instead of developing drafted prospects is a philosophy that is very uncommon in today's game due to the salary cap, but it has changed the league.

ICYMI: Ranking the NHL's 32 ownership groups. Lot of great comments in here from fan bases from every team https://t.co/1Ujtz1CPTX

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 18, 2025

Recently, teams have been more inclined to ship draft picks and prospects at the deadline in search of players who drastically upgrade their lineup and improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

The all-out mindset in pursuing greatness stems from the owner, and the fans who voted in The Athletic's poll recognized this.

"VGK ownership is second to none. He supports his organizational team to the max and lets them do their jobs without any interference from him."

"Love his willingness to go all-in from Day 1."

Ranking ahead of Foley were Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola, both owners of teams that haven't been shy about spending their cash and assets to acquire top NHL talent.

What separates Foley from other owners is the situation he stepped into and the speed at which he found success. The Seattle Kraken, the league's most recent expansion team hasn't found garnering success as easily as the Golden Knights, but what the Kraken are going through was to be expected. 

"It’s almost ridiculous what the Golden Knights have accomplished in fewer than eight seasons in the league," said James Mirtle, the author of this article. "A trip to the Final in Year 1 as an expansion franchise. Four trips to the final four in their first seven postseasons. A pile of blockbusters trades and players flocking to a market many were skeptical of when Vegas was awarded an expansion team less than a decade ago. Foley set a lofty goal of winning a Stanley Cup within six seasons, and he certainly delivered. And, as a bonus, there may not be a more entertaining building to be at for a big game. Vegas fans voted Foley No. 1 in willingness to spend to win and fifth in franchise vision."

The Golden Knights are once again in a great situation to go on a long playoff run with a roster filled with super stars and depth.

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.

The NHL announced Tuesday that the Nashville Predators will participate in the 2025 Global Series presented by Fastenal in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The Predators will play two regular-season games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. CT (8 p.m. CET) and on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. CT (3 p.m. CET).

The @NHL, @NHLPA and Live Nation announced the 2025 #NHLGlobalSeries Sweden presented by Fastenal, a pair of regular-season games featuring the @PredsNHL and @Penguins in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16.

For more: https://t.co/qQJZorUSf8pic.twitter.com/PnCCBSKlWv

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 18, 2025

Filip Forsberg, a native of Ostervala, Sweden, and the Predators' all-time leading goal scorer, spoke Tuesday morning at Bridgestone Arena about the opportunity to play NHL games in his native country for the first time.

"It's going to be a great time," Forsberg said. "[It's] a great opportunity, obviously, for me. I have a lot of people that might not be able to travel here to watch and now get the chance to watch me play in the NHL at home. It's pretty special."

Forsberg played junior hockey in Sweden for Leksands IF, about 160 miles northwest of Stockholm, before being drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2012.

"I don't know if I have any fans in Stockholm," he chuckled. "But I do know the Leksands proud will travel well and hopefully be well represented [at the Global Series games]."

Forsberg leads Nashville this season with 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) in 66 games, played at the 4 Nations Face-Off and has scored at least 40 goals in two of the past four seasons. He is joined on the Predators' by fellow countrymen Adam Wilsby and Andreas Englund, both of whom are from Stockholm.

The NHL and Live Nation will offer ticket presales for the Global Series on Tuesday, March 25 at 4 a.m. CT; tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, March 26 at 4 a.m. CT at LiveNation.se. The first opportunity to purchase tickets to both games will be available to fans in attendance at the first-ever Hockey Day in Sweden celebration, hosted this year by the city of Linköping on March 21-22.

The Anaheim Ducks hold a league-best 46-21 record against the spread this season with six more covers over the next closest team

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate. The game that sticks out is the Dallas Stars looking to bounce back after two straight losses in a matchup versus the league's best betting team in the Anaheim Ducks.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 6-2 record on our last eight picks and our 16-6 record on our last 22 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars Best Bets:

• Ducks +2.5 (-170)

This is an easy spot where we can fade the public and profit from it. The Ducks have quietly been the best betting team in the NHL this season with a resounding 46-21 record against the spread with six more covers over the next closest team.

They have been able to maintain this dominant status away from their home building as well with a 24-10 road record against the spread this season. Anaheim has lost five out of their last six road games but have won two straight matchups versus Dallas.

More NHL: MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race

Despite already beating the Stars not long ago in early February, no one believes the Ducks have a remote chance in this one with Dallas garnering just short of 80 per cent of the bets on the puck line and 96 per cent of the bets on the moneyline.

This is a game that the sportsbooks will be really pulling for the Ducks as virtually everyone wins if the Stars do. They are coming off two straight losses to the Jets and Avalanche but return home for this seemingly softball matchup.

Leo Danglesson 🤩🦆Ducks forward Leo Carlsson scores on a breakaway to give Anaheim the 5-4 overtime victory over the Utah Hockey ClubBreaking news, scores, stats, analysis & r...

There is no doubt they will come out swinging as the Stars are just two points ahead of Colorado and would very much like to keep their standing to maintain home ice in a first round matchup. Every points to the Stars in this one and this is where we get sucked into the trap as we are getting a horrible value yet people still want to ride with Dallas.

More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts

 The odds continue to climb for the Stars and continue to get a better for the Ducks, so much so that we can afford to take them at two goals to cover and still get a modest -170 odds that can give a decent return as they take on a Dallas team that is 31-35 against the spread this season.

The anticipated Future Watch issue is when The Hockey News looks at the future of the game, including the top 100 prospects in hockey.

This year's edition, which is available to purchase online as a single issue or with a subscription, features a top 100 list with plenty of intriguing prospects who rose, fell or dropped from the 2024 rankings.

The Hockey News reached out to a scout, director of player personnel or GM from each NHL team to list which prospects look to be the best five to 10 years down the line.

Every year, there are plenty of changes to the top 100 prospects list because many players graduate to the NHL, and a new draft class takes many of those spots.

Last year’s list, for example, had Matvei Michkov, Cutter Gauthier, Will Smith, Simon Edvinsson, Brandt Clarke and Jiri Kulich in the top six. They’re all in the NHL now, as well as Logan Stankoven (22nd), Dustin Wolf (36th) and Lane Huston (49th).

The Montreal Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in 2024, Ivan Demidov, is already hockey’s top prospect, while Beckett Sennecke, Zeev Buium, Artyom Levshunov, Zayne Parekh, Sam Dickinson and Tij Iginla are other 2024 draft picks making the top 10.

Biggest Risers

As for the biggest risers from the top 100 prospects in 2024 to the 2025 list, New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (53rd to 13th) claims the throne.

Ritchie’s 40-spot jump correlates with his emergence as one of the best players in the OHL last season and a stint in the NHL to start this campaign. He earned seven games with the Colorado Avalanche after recording three points in four pre-season games.

Recovering from the shoulder injury that plagued him throughout his draft year and showcasing the full potential of his game was what saw him fly up the list. The Islanders acquired him as part of the package that sent Brock Nelson to the Avalanche.

Quentin Musty (plus-32), Tanner Molendyk (plus-31), Fedor Svechkov (plus-30) and Lian Bichsel (plus-30) rounded out the top five biggest risers. Musty’s strong year in Sudbury saw him go from 73rd to 41st, and it likely would have been higher had he not delayed the start of his OHL season due to a trade request. He has 59 points in 33 games.

Burning Flame: Calgary Prospect Zayne Parekh Intent On Becoming Dominant At NHL LevelBy Tony Ferrari, Features Writer

Biggest Fallers

On the flip side, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty (minus-41) was among a trio of players who fell 40 or more spots, along with Joakim Kemell (minus-40) and Colby Barlow (minus-40). Gavin Brindley (minus-38) and Noah Ostlund (minus-35) round out the top five fallers.

McGroarty was expected to be in the NHL to start the season with Pittsburgh. While he made the team initially, he looked to be in over his head and behind the pace of play, not recording a point in three games. Falling from 35 to 76 was a drastic fall, but a relatively underwhelming AHL year contributed to the steep decline. He has 14 goals and 38 points in 56 games for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Barlow (17th in 2024) and Ostlund (25th in 2024) both fell out of the top 50. Barlow has 57 points in 59 OHL games despite having 58 in 50 last season, and Ostlund has 24 points in 37 AHL games in his first full season in North America.

Brindley (55th to 93rd) is one of the more interesting players to fall. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect had a slow season from a production standpoint, but he started the year late because of an injury, and it’s his first pro season. He could be a prime candidate for a bounce-back campaign next season, and we could see him shoot right back up this list.

Some prosepcts fell from the list altogether. Hunter Brzustewicz ranked 52nd in 2024 but now ranks sixth in the Calgary Flames’ prospect pool after the team drafted Parekh, Matvei Gridin and Andrew Basha in 2024. Other notable dropped players include Theo Lindstein (65th in 2024), Matthew Wood (87th in 2024) and William Dufour (90th in 2024).

For a full look at the Future Watch issue, including all of the players mentioned here and more, subscribe to The Hockey News today. You’ll also gain access to the entire history of The Hockey News magazine’s digital archive going back over 75 years.

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March 16th, 2002, started just like any other day. That night, the Columbus Blue Jackets were playing the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena, and I would be there. Little did we know how bad the day would turn out for one family though.  

The Jackets would beat the Flames 3-1 that night. Geoff Sanderson scored, Cole Sillinger's dad Mike would score, and Ray Whitney would put on a show, scoring a goal and getting two assists. 

The game also had some legends playing. Players like Bob Boughner, Jarome Iginla, Marc Savard, Craig Conroy, and Craig Berube were playing for the Flames. The Jackets had Jody Shelley, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Kevin Dineen, Mike Sillinger, and Rusty Klesla playing. It was the O.G. days of CBJ hockey for sure. 

That night I sat in section 219, staring down at the attack twice net for the Flames. Midway through the second period, Norwegian forward Espen Knutsen took a harmless shot that was deflected way up into the stands behind Columbus goalie Ron Rugnutt. That happened a lot, with pucks flying into the stands. You can usually see the ushers walking down to where the puck landed and giving a thumbs-up if everyone is okay. 

1st Annual Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day Set For May 31st In New JerseyOn May 31st, the 1st annual Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day will occur in Washington Lake Park, Sewell, NJ. If you’re in Columbus, Calgary, or anywhere else in North America and would like to participate, you’ll be able to do just that by completing a virtual 5k.

But on this one, someone was hurt. A few minutes later, you could see what looked to be a teenage girl walking with a coat pressed to her head, and leaving. Usually, that means the puck drew blood and that they were going to get patched up. The game continued, the Jackets won, and fans went home happy. 

Little did we know though, that the young girl who was struck, suffered a skull fracture and had been taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital in downtown Columbus. Reports say that she suffered a seizure and was kept for observation. She seemed to be doing fine according to reports, even still holding the puck that hit her while sitting in her hospital bed. 

The hospital performed a CT Scan on Brittanie but failed to see that she had a torn vertebral artery, which resulted in severe clotting, causing her brain to swell. On March 18, 2002, young Brittanie Cecil passed away at 5:15 PM after developing a high fever and losing consciousness. She was just 13 years old. She died two days before her 14th birthday. 

When the local news and newspapers reported Brittanie's passing, fans in Columbus and around the league were shocked. How could this happen? What could be done to prevent this? 

Jackets forward Espen Knutsen said about the incident, "I think about it all the time. It was a terrible accident, and I cannot get it off my mind." Knutsen was given the option of sitting out the next game but chose to play. Reports say that Knutsen was sobbing in the Columbus locker room after he heard of Cecil's passing. 

"I'm not sure what being haunted by something really means, but if it means feeling the pain of what happened to that little girl all these years, feeling so bad for her family, wanting to tell them how sorry I am, then I guess that's what this is for me," Knutsen told the Columbus Dispatch in 2010. Former CBJ head coach Dave King said, "That incident ended his career. Espen was a wonderful person, and he had talent. But he was never the same player after that." King also said, "He was beyond consoling, and that was for weeks and weeks."

Knutsen, who had two stellar seasons for the expansion Jackets, scoring 22 goals and totaling 95 points, was never the same. In the next two seasons, he played just 45 games, mainly due to injury. He would retire in 2005 after playing just 211 NHL games. 

Flames defenseman Derek Morris said,  "You try to say, 'It happens all the time,' but you can't. I don't know how many times pucks get deflected over the glass, but it doesn't make it any better. You can always say, 'It's not my fault,' but you always feel like it is, a little." Morris would go on to play 1107 NHL games over 16 seasons. 

In the aftermath of Cecil's death, the NHL implemented certain safety measures to prevent something like this from happening ever again. Gary Bettman ordered that glass be a standardized height in all arenas, and also protective netting be added to prevent high-speed pucks from going into the stands. Nowadays, most fans don't even notice the netting, as it has just become part of the experience. 

Cecil's family would set up The Brittanie Nichole Cecil Memorial Scholarship Fund. Per their website -  "The Fund will award scholarships to graduating seniors of Hilliard Darby and Twin Valley South High Schools who wish to become the best person they can be."

On this date, March 18th, we remember young Blue Jackets fan Brittanie Cecil, who would be 37 years old on March 20th.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Blue Jackets Stop Scoring Drought At 183 Minutes, But Drop Fourth Straight GameWell, it finally happened. After approximately 183 minutes, the

Blue Jackets Weekly Injury Report: Week 22The NHL season is winding down, but injuries are piling up across the league. For the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have 16 games left in the season, but unlike most teams, they’re getting players back from injury.

Jake Allen may not be a member of the Montreal Canadiens anymore, but last night, the netminder gave his former team a hand when he backstopped the New Jersey Devils to a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is no small feat since the Devils are without Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, and the Ohio outfit is desperate to book its ticket to the playoffs.

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Allen stopped 45 of the 46 shots sent his way and was named the game's first star. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils, while Mathieu Olivier was the sole goal scorer for the Jackets.

The loss leaves Columbus in 11th place in the East with 70 points in 67 games. Dean Evason’s team still trails the Canadiens by one point, but Martin St-Louis’ men now have a game in hand.

The Buffalo Sabres, who are dead last in the East, also gave Montreal a hand by beating the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime thanks to an Alex Tuch goal. Even if the Bruins collected a point, they now have 69 points in 69 games and have played more than all the other teams involved in the playoff race.

The Canadiens are still only one point behind the New York Rangers, but the Habs have two games in hand. The Blueshirts will battle it out with the Calgary Flames, who are also involved in a tight race to the finish in the Western Conference. The Alberta team is two points out of the last wild card spot after a defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs and should be playing with a desperation that will match the Rangers’.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings, trailing the Canadiens by one point, will take on the Washington Capitals, just two points out of the top spot in the league. Detroit has also played one more game than Montreal.

The Canadiens are the masters of their destiny but wins by the Flames and the Capitals and a triumph over the Ottawa Senators would put them in an even better position—the second wild-card spot in the East.

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

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

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

New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin is set to start his 51st game of the 2024-25 season against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In doing so, Sorokin will be the first goalie to appear in at least 51 games four times in Islanders history.

This milestone will come two days after the netminder became the first goalie in team history to win at least 25 games in four straight seasons, per Eric Hornick’s The Skinny. 

Sorokin Sets Islanders Franchise Record After Win Against Florida

Sorokin's play this season has kept the Islanders in the playoff race, as the netminder holds a 25-20-5 record, a 2.73 GAA, a .907 SV%, and 14.7 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck.

In his career, Sorokin is 120-85-35 in 242 career games with a .917 SV%, 2.58 GAA, and 21 shutouts.

With over seven seasons remaining on his eight-year, $66 million contract, the 30-year-old can continue re-writing the record books.

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

The trade deadline made Mitch Marner the top player in this summer's NHL free-agent market.

Eligible for UFA status on July 1, the 27-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs right winger is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $10.9 million.

The Dallas Starssigning Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension as part of his acquisition from the Carolina Hurricanes makes Marner stand out more among the pending UFAs with 82 points in 66 games.

If Marner goes to market this summer, Sportsnet's Luke Fox believes he could become the highest-paid player in the NHL. He prefers to remain a Maple Leaf, but his camp reportedly hasn't engaged in contract extension talks. 

Fox also noted the Carolina Hurricanes offered up Rantanen to the Leafs for Marner. Leafs GM Brad Treliving took the proposal to Marner, but he declined to waive his no-movement clause.

"I'm here to play hockey with this team. That's what I can tell you," Marner told reporters on March 8. "I want to be with this team. I want to play for this team."

'It's Not A Distraction': Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Responds To Reports Of Asking Mitch Marner To Waive No-Move Clause For Mikko RantanenSALT LAKE — One day after the NHL Trade Deadline came and went, multiple reports surfaced, revealing that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause in an effort to land now-Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. 

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun reported Marner didn't immediately reject the trade proposal, taking time to sleep on it. While he claims he wants to stay in Toronto, Simmons thinks his actions suggest otherwise. 

The Hockey News' Jim Parsons speculated that Marner not accepting the trade means he can increase his value in Toronto, which either forces the Maple Leafs to improve their offer to him or lands Marner a larger contract in free agency.

As Fox suggested, if Marner hits the open market on July 1, he will be an “in-demand talent.” 

TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes the Carolina Hurricanes will target Marner. He pointed out they'll have over $20 million in cap space even if they re-signed all their pending UFAs. That list includes Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov and Taylor Hall. 

A reader asked The Athletic's Josh Yohe if the Pittsburgh Penguins might pursue Marner. He acknowledged Marner's ties to Penguins GM (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the club's bountiful cap space for next season and Dubas' intent to stock his aging roster with younger talent. 

Nevertheless, Yohe doesn't believe the Penguins will sign Marner. He cited team sources claiming Dubas intends to wait until next summer before making a big move. It's also doubtful that Marner would want to join a rebuilding team. 

Meanwhile, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic suggested Marner would be an ideal fit as the Boston Bruins' second-line right winger. That's unlikely to happen because they'd have to pay him more than first-line right wing David Pastrnak's $11.25-million cap hit to come to Boston.

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.

Sweden will once again host NHL regular-season hockey in November – and Sidney Crosby could be part of the action.

The NHL announced the 2025 Global Series is scheduled to feature the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins facing off at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 14 and 16. This is the first time the Penguins will play in Europe since 2008. The Predators played in Czechia in 2022 and Japan in 2000, but this will be their first time playing in Sweden.

Stockholm last hosted four games in November 2023 featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild. The city’s hosted the most NHL regular-season contests of any city outside of North America with 16 games – next season’s Global Series will increase that total to 18.

As the rosters stand, there’s some high-profile Swedish talent on both teams. The Predators’ top scorer, Filip Forsberg, is from Ostervala, Sweden, and the team also has defensemen Andreas Englund (Stockholm) and Adam Wilsby (Stockholm).

“Every time we are selected to participate in one of the NHL’s marquee events, it’s a testament to Smashville’s passion for our team and our sport both at home and abroad,” Predators CEO Sean Henry said in a news release. “This event will be particularly special for Filip Forsberg, who adores his home country, and the other Sweden natives on our team and in our organization.”

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has defenseman Erik Karlsson (Landsbro) and right winger Rickard Rakell (Sundbyberg) who played on Sweden’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad. Center Emil Bemstrom (Nykoping) has played for Pittsburgh and the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. And while Sidney Crosby isn’t Swedish, Canada’s captain at the 4 Nations Face-Off could play in just his second and third NHL games overseas in the fall, months before the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.

In total, 9.7 percent of NHL players this season were born in Sweden, the highest representation of players of any country outside North America. Rakell and Forsberg are tied for the fourth-most points of any Swede in the NHL this season, with 59. New Jersey Devils left winger Jesper Bratt leads the way with 80 points, while Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander (71) and Red Wings right winger Lucas Raymond (69) follow suit.

Raymond was at the last Global Series games at Avicii Arena before its renovation in 2024. The modernization project was meant to improve sightlines and bring seating closer to the action, according to the arena’s website. They also maintained the arena’s architecture, which includes the well-known dome that stands out in the city’s skyline.

The first opportunity for fans to buy tickets is at the first-ever Hockey Day In Sweden on March 21 and 22 in Linkoping. After that, ticket presales open on March 25 at 6 a.m. ET, and general sale begins on March 26 at 5 a.m. ET.

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.

The Buffalo Sabres have re-assigned forward Isak Rosen to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

It has been a busy few days for Rosen, as the Sabres first re-assigned him to Rochester back on March 13 and then called him back up to the NHL roster on March 16. Now, he is again heading back to Rochester after not appearing in a game during his latest brief call-up with the Sabres. 

Rosen, 22, has appeared in three games this season with the Sabres, where he has zero points and a minus-2 rating. He is in the middle of an impressive season with Rochester, however, posting new AHL career-highs with 27 goals and 51 points in 52 games.

The Sabres selected Rosen with the 14th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In 10 career NHL games over two seasons, he has zero points, two hits, and 10 shots on goal. 

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All good things come to an end.

The Detroit Red Wings have had a lot of great players over the years. From Niklas Lidstrom to Henrik Zetterburg to Chris Osgood and Steve Yzerman.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Unfortunately, not every player who plays for the Red Wings can stay with the Red Wings.

This summer, the Red Wings have to decide on several players at multiple levels of competition within the organization. So, let’s look at every expiring contract in the Red Wings' books.

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The Restricted Free Agents

Elmer Soderblom

The towering Elmer Soderblom has risen through the ranks of the Red Wings depth chart since his recall. He started the year in the AHL and now finds himself deployed on the top line in Detroit. He has spent 39 minutes on a line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

His combination of skill and size makes him a player that the Red Wings will want to keep around for a very long time.

Jonatan Berggren

Jonatan Berggren has been up and down so far this year. Unfortunately, the young forward has been a healthy scratch for the past two games. He will need to turn things around if he wants to stick around long-term.

Albert Johansson

One of the bright spots of the season has been the emergence of two young defenders; Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson. This is the young Swede’s first taste of NHL hockey. After 44 games, the results have been incredibly positive.

The 24-year-old has been paired with Edvinsson for 63 percent of his total ice time this season. The duo have done great, having fewer goals scored on them than they score, even if they have allowed more chances and shots than they have taken.

The Red Wings’ Minor League RFA’s

Antti Tuomisto might not be on a lot of Red Wings’ fans radars, but the right-handed defender has had a solid year. He has been the most productive player on the backend of the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The 6-foot-5 and 210 lb Finnish defender has 24 points in 55 games, which is the seventh-most points on the Griffins.

Cross Hanas hasn’t been as productive, with only 17 points in 54 games this year. The winger has picked up his production of late, with four points in his last six games.

Eemil Viro is 2020 draft class defender playing for the Griffins. He will need a new AHL contract, as he is not ready to make the jump to the NHL. However, it’s possible that the Red Wings move on come July 1st.

Gage Alexander is a 6-foot-6 goaltender playing in the ECHL. He’s only played five games for the Reading Royals, but he has a 4-1 record, 2.81 goals against average (GAA) and a .913 save percentage (SV%).

The Unrestricted Free Agents

Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane appeared to be slumbering through the first portion of the season. But, since Christmas he’s been one of the top offensive contributors on the Red Wings.

Unless Kane feels like shifting his priorities, he will likely sign another one-year deal with the Red Wings once July 1st comes up on the calendar.

Craig Smith

The newest Red Wings forward Craig Smith does a lot of things that coaches like. He might not set the scoreboard ablaze, but a veteran coach in Todd McLellan might really like having a player like him around. There’s a good chance the Red Wings find a way to sneak him in on a two-to-three year deal in the summer.

Tyler Motte

Depth forwards come and go, and Tyler Motte is no exception. If the Red Wings really like him and his character, I could see him coming back on a one-year contract. Otherwise, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Jeff Petry

File Jeff Petry under the category of most likely to not be re-signed by the Red Wings. The combination of injury history and decline of play make it unlikely that Petry gets offered another contract by the Red Wings. Tuomisto or Anton Johansson could be two internal candidates to replace him in the NHL next season.

William Lagesson

William Lagesson is another depth player who could find themselves looking for work with another team come July 1st. He’s spent time both in the AHL and NHL this season. He’s a solid third pairing 29-year-old defender who doesn’t bring anything to the table that the Red Wings don’t already have with prospects who are ready to make the jump to the AHL.

Alex Lyon

The Red Wings goaltending situation will be a top storyline to follow during the summer. Cam Talbot, Petr Mrazek, and Alex Lyon are all tending twine for the Red Wings for the remainder of the year. However, the fascinating development of acquiring Mrazek could signal the end of Lyon’s tenure with the team. Talbot and Mrazek are signed until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Minor League UFA’s

The Red Wings have a mixed bag of minor-league UFA’s to make decisions on in the summer: Timothy Gettinger, Joe Snively, Brogan Rafferty, and Jack Campbell.

Snively leads the Griffins with 39 points in 60 games. He spent six years with the Hershey Bears before joining the Griffins. As long as he is happy with his situation, playing another year in the AHL seems like a safe bet.

Gettinger and Rafferty are depth players for the Griffins. Depending on their plans, them returning to the team next season seems like a coin toss.

Campbell is an interesting case for the Red Wings. He has had his struggles, as his admittance to the NHLPA Players Assistance program earlier this season suggests, but when he plays well, he can be lights out.

It’s tough to pinpoint what kind of goaltender Campbell is at this stage of his career. If the Red Wings are willing to keep him on board, being the veteran presence in net for the Griffins might be his best chance at playing.

The Prospects

I’ve written about these prospects before and how the Red Wings will need to decide whether or not to offer them contracts. Kyle Aucoin was also in this category, but the Red Wings traded his rights before the deadline as part of the Yanni Gourde deal.

Red Savage brings intangibles in addition to skill, while Liam Dower Nilsson has a lot of skill. Those two could have a contract offered to them. I’m less sure about Sam Stange.

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The Dallas Stars have assigned defenseman Kyle Capobianco to the Texas Stars, AHL Transactions reported Monday. 

Capobianco, who is in his first season with the Stars organziation, has split time this year between both the NHL and AHL. While being held pointless in his one appearance with Dallas, Capobiano has registered an impressive five goals and 35 points in 49 games with Texas. 

Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round of the 2015 NHL Draft, Capobianco has played in 74 career NHL regular season games across parts of seven seasons with the Coyotes, Stars and the Winnipeg Jets. During that span, the Mississauga, Ont., native has five goals and 12 points. 

Signed through next season, Capobianco provides solid depth for a team destined to make a deep run in the playoffs. Capable of contributing at both ends of the ice, Capobianco could be a secret weapon if called upon by the Stars. 

Draft pick watch: Why Bruins must prioritize first-round lottery odds originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The smartest path for the Boston Bruins to take for the remainder of the 2024-25 NHL regular season is prioritizing their first-round pick.

The Bruins entered Tuesday with the ninth-worst record in the league based on points percentage after losing 3-2 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night at TD Garden. The last time the Bruins’ own first-round pick was in the top 10 was 2007 when they selected center Zach Hamill at No. 8 overall.

But that’s where the Bruins find themselves with 14 games left in what has been a very disappointing season for the Original Six franchise.

The B’s are still mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but their chances of securing a postseason berth for the ninth straight year are incredibly small. Boston trails the Toronto Maple Leafs by 14 points for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins trail the Ottawa Senators by eight points for the first wild card spot and the New York Rangers by three points for the second wild card spot.

MoneyPuck’s analytics model gives the Bruins only a 0.7 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. Boston is 2-2-1 after dealing away several veteran players, including captain Brad Marchand, before the March 7 trade deadline.

It’s time for the Bruins to play for the future.

What would this look like? Well, calling up some of the organization’s top prospects from the AHL’s Providence Bruins would be a good start. Give these young players a chance to prove themselves at the NHL level. It’s important for prospects such as Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov and Matthew Poitras to get reps against the best competition. The B’s need to learn what they have in these players, regardless of whether they’re part of the long-term solution or potential trade chips.

After the Bruins’ final regular season game on April 15, the next date for fans to circle on their calendar is the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. An official date for the lottery hasn’t yet been announced by the league, but it typically takes place in May.

If the season ended today, the Bruins would have the following odds to land one of these picks in the draft lottery (via Tankathon):

• No. 1 overall: 5.0 percent
• No. 2: 5.2 percent
• No. 3: 0.2 percent
• No. 9: 64.4 percent
• No. 10: 23.5 percent
• No. 11: 1.7 percent

The Bruins could jump as high as No. 1 overall, but they could also fall as far as No. 11. The most likely outcome is staying put at No. 9.

One draft lottery rule to remember is that teams can only jump 10 spots at most in the lottery. This means the top 11 teams in the lottery are able to get the No. 1 pick. Teams No. 12 through No. 16 cannot win the lottery. So it’s important for the Bruins, if they miss the playoffs, to be among the 11-worst teams and keep their chances — even if they are very small — of winning the lottery alive.

The 2025 draft class is loaded with good centers. In fact, six or seven of the top 15 prospects in the class are centers, which is good news for the Bruins because they really need an infusion of high-end talent at that position.

The Bruins could still hang around in the playoff race. They have the sixth-easiest remaining schedule. But this team isn’t a contender. The difference between the No. 8 or No. 9 pick and the No. 11 or No. 12 pick is significant. The time has come for the B’s to prioritize draft positioning over the final few weeks of the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks went 0-3-1 on their recent four-game road trip. They played well against the Colorado Avalanche in the first game despite the loss, but the good vibes pretty much ended there. 

Outside of the NHL debut (and first three games) for Artyom Levshunov going well, there wasn’t much to like about Chicago’s game on this trip. 

Before they left for that road trip, Chicago had played very well on home ice in the games leading up to their departure. Now that they are back, they want to continue where they left off. 

This is how Chicago projects to line up against the Seattle Kraken in their return to the United Center: 

Donato-Nazar-Bedard

Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Slaggert-Foligno-Dach

Maroon-Reichel-Bertuzzi

Vlasic-Levshunov

Del Mastro-Murphy

Kaiser-Martinez

This will be the second game in a row where Connor Bedard will start on the wing with Frank Nazar at center. This time, Ryan Donato will get a chance to be the third guy playing with the Blackhawks' new dynamic duo. 

Bedard has less responsibility on the wing as he has to worry about a 180-foot game rather than a 200-foot game but it remains to be seen if he can be as dangerous offensively. 

In the last two games, Connor Bedard was handed a ten-minute misconduct. Each of them was a little bit different but there is no doubt that he's brought some feisteness to his game lately. With spark plugs like Ryan Donato and Frank Nazar on his line, they may be able to make some noise. 

On defense, in front of the home crowd for the first time in his NHL career, Artyom Levshunov will be on the first pair with Alex Vlasic to start the game. Vlasic, another outstanding young defenseman, might be the perfect partner for Levshunov right now. 

Arvid Soderblom was the starter for the Blackhawks in Saturday night's loss to the Vancouver Canucks so you can expect Spencer Knight to get the nod in this one. 

The Kraken are not as low in the standings as the Blackhawks but they still enter this game 10 points below the playoff line. After being sellers at the deadline, it's clear they are thinking about the future as well. 

The Blackhawks should expect a tough game but also one where they can generate chances with their speed and skill. With a goaltender like Knight behind them, they might find it easier to have the confidence needed to make big plays.

More than anything, these late-season games should be about working on good habits to go with their skill. The future of this team is bright but these moments of development could make all the difference. 

This game can be seen on CHSN and heard on WGN Radio 720. 

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

The Los Angeles Kings (36-21-9) landed in Minnesota (38-25-5) yesterday to take on the Wild. The Kings have been excellent, securing back-to-back wins with shutouts. With the playoffs so close, securing every single two points is crucial. In tonight's goalie lineup, Darcy Kuemper led his team out while Filip Gustavsson stood in net. It's a series of questions surrounding tonight's game: Can Kuemper secure his third shutout, and can the Kings maintain their momentum? Is tonight the night Andrei Kuzmenko gets his first goal as a King? 

Kempe Scores to Make It 1-0

With puck drop underway, it was a clash between the Wild and the Kings as they fought for possession of the puck. After five minutes of play, Adrian Kempe had lit the lamp to open the scoring, giving the Kings a 1-0 advantage. Brendan Gaunce and Jon Merrill were denied by a series of incredible saves from Kuemper. Throughout the first period, the team's balance and harmony resulted in strategic plays. Los Angeles showcased their active strength and quick speed throughout this period, and we looked forward to the second. 

Little extra Juice on that one 🚀 pic.twitter.com/70iA7rAsNl

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 18, 2025

Wild Ties It Up

After twenty minutes of play, the Kings returned for the second frame and the Wild were quick to tie it up with a tip-in from Ryan Hartman. The Kings were determined to level the score and regain the lead. A too many men penalty was called on the Minnesota Wild at the 14:40 mark, giving LA a power play chance to score. Unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and marked by plenty of back-and-forth action, both the Kings and the Wild entered the second intermission tied at 1-1.

Minnesota Leads 2-1

The third period saw the Kings and Wild back on the ice, though the Kings displayed  less physicality and energy. At the 4:38 point, Mats Zuccarello scored with a wrist shot, putting the Wild ahead 2-1. In the final moments, the Kings pulled their goaltender, hoping for a chance to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. With just 56 seconds remaining in regulation, the Wild secured the victory as Marcus Johansson scored the game-winning goal, making the final tally, 3-1. While Los Angeles outshot Minnesota 29-22, the Kings' single goal highlights a need for improved consistent scoring. Changes are necessary. The Kings left the Wild's home ice without any points and headed to their next destination in Chicago.