1. The Oilers are gaining much more respect the second time around. One reason is the pride that Edmonton has taken in the defensive side of the game.

2. If it's possible McDavid & Co. are even faster than during last year's playoffs.

3. This from Vic Morren on NHL Wraparound with Neil Smith: "These are the two best NHL teams and it's not even close. Carolina and Dallas proved – in their way – how far away they are."

Rangers Blunder That Could Win The Cup For Edmonton 1. When Chris Drury canned Gerard Gallant, the Rangers had GG's successor all lined up in Hartford. His name was – and still is – Kris Knoblauch.

4. More Morren: "The Canes DNA is good but in the end they don't have championship personnel. And something always happens to Dallas where it appears that they have the personnel and then their game craps out."

5. Finally Morren: "I'm going with the rematch trends from 1984 and 2009. The motivation to win for the first time outweighs the motivation to defend the title. Finally, Kris Knoblauch is proving to be a brilliant bench boss!"

6. Dallas was picked by The Hockey News Yearbook to win The Stanley Cup. Now the Stars GM Jim Nill will have to decide whether to retain coach Pete Deboer the hockey version of "Close, But No Cigar."

7. Those of us who watched Lane Lambert coach the Islanders are happy to see this good guy get another shot; this time with  Seattle. It's a good gig but not an easy one.

8. This from Jess Rubenstein: "Mike Sullivan may turn out to be a good Rangers coach but his problem is that he's working for a GM who repeatedly gives bad contracts after bad contracts!"

9. Isles new high command got off to an encouraging start by retaining Patrick Roy as well as reliable Kyle Palmieri.

10. Jonathan Toews' decision to make a comeback should gain Chris Drury's attention. He'd make a responsible third-line center.

11. Jake Oettinger got a raw deal and I'll leave it at that.

12. The fact that Oilers GM Stan Bowman chose to retain Corey Perry will go down as one of the quietest smart moves of the entire playoffs.

13. NHL.com's Tom Gulitti sums up the Panthers: "They have championship pedigree."

14. Blue Collar Blue Shirts columnist-extraordinaire Sean McCaffrey stunned The Maven with this one: "Watch for the Panthers to make an Offer Sheet for Matt Rempe!"

15. This Stanley Cup Final will tell us whether age is catching up to Sergei Bobrovsky or that he'll just keep rolling along.

Once plagued by unrealistic expectations after being acquired by former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin to replace Philip Danault, Christian Dvorak was given a much more suitable role this year. Between Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson, the American was tasked with pivoting a reliable veteran third line, and he delivered.

For the first time since joining the Habs, Dvorak was able to play a full 82-game season, and there’s no doubt it helped him find both stability and a certain rhythm. It didn’t make him a points-producing machine; that’s not who he is, but it allowed him to give a full effort, which meant Martin St-Louis knew precisely what he was getting every time he sent his third line in.

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While Dvorak put up over 100 points in his last two seasons in the OHL, he did it while playing alongside Mitch Marner and Matthew Tkachuk. In the NHL, he hasn’t had that kind of linemates, and we’ve seen what he can do without superstars on his wings. His best NHL season, offensively speaking, came in 2019-20 with the Arizona Coyotes when he put up 38 points. This season, he scored 33 points, which is about as much as one has come to expect from him.

Dvorak also played a reliable two-way game and was counted on for big shorthanded minutes, and he delivered skating alongside linemate Josh Anderson on the second penalty kill. He doesn’t play a spectacular game, but he is focused on the task at hand and delivers.

In the sixth and final year of his $4.45 M per year pact, Dvorak delivered on the team’s revised expectations and played his third-line center role as well as he could. He might have missed a few opportunities here and there offensively, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s hard to fault him for it. In my opinion, Dvorak deserves a B- for his performance this past season.

Will he be back next season? It doesn't appear very likely at this stage as his contract is up, and Kent Hughes has already extended Jake Evans. The Canadiens' GM has said in the past that there must be opportunities for the kids in the organization to graduate, and it appears to me that Dvorak will be a casualty of that approach. He was well-liked in the room and was a roommate to sniper Cole Caufield, but hockey is a business, and that likely won’t be enough to convince Montreal to sign him again.

Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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The Buffalo Sabres have a stockpile of young prospects in their organization, including four first-round picks who either played the entire year or split time between the AHL Rochester Americans and the NHL last season.

The Sabres are hosting the annual NHL Draft Combine next week, ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles late next month. Buffalo will be selecting ninth overall, but instead of adding another prospect to the coffers who may play three or four years down the road, GM Kevyn Adams may be willing to move his top-10 pick if he can acquire a player who can help snap the club’s 14-year playoff drought. 

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It is likely that Adams, along with newly added senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen, will be looking for a player who has significant term or a young NHLer currently on his entry-level or second bridge deal with years remaining before being able to qualify for unrestricted free agency. There is a growing sense that if Buffalo does not make the playoffs this upcoming season, there could be an upheaval of much of the current management structure. 

The Sabres have 10 picks in the 2025 Draft, with selections in each round, an extra pick in the fourth round and two additional selections in the seventh round. With an extensive stockpile of young prospects playing in the NCAA, and in Europe, it is quite possible that Adams would be willing to deal multiple selections to add players to the NHL roster, since he has admitted publicly that Buffalo is not a destination city for free agents or players with no-trade protection. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they’ve extended contract offers to a handful of prospects ahead of the June 1 signing rights deadline.

A bona fide offer allows a team to retain exclusive negotiating rights with a drafted player.

The Sharks have extended bona fide offers to the following prospects:

• Nate Misskey – Defense – UMass-Lowell (NCAA)
• Colton Roberts – Defense – Vancouver Giants (WHL)
• Carson Wetsch – Forward – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

By extending offers, the Sharks will hold onto the rights of all three players, giving them the ability to negotiate entry-level contracts down the line.

With the June 1 deadline approaching, teams across the league are finalizing decisions on which prospects they plan to retain—and which they’ll let go. In San Jose’s case, two players did not receive offers:

• Theo Jacobsson – Forward – Nybro Vikings (Allsvenskan)
• Evgeni Kashnikov – Defense – Yekaterinburg (KHL)

Since they weren’t signed, both Jacobsson and Kashnikov will re-enter the NHL Draft on June 27–28.

For GM Mike Grier and the Sharks, this is one more step toward the 2025 NHL Draft. But before then, there’s still work to do. Don’t be surprised if a few more RFA or UFA decisions are made before the draft—just to get a clearer picture heading into free agency on July 1.

Two Former Sharks Eliminated From 2025 Stanley Cup PlayoffsFormer San Jose Sharks Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci have been eliminated from the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately, their playoff run came to an end last night with the Dallas Stars as they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games.  Sharks Re-Sign Shakir Mukhamadullin To One-Year DealThe San Jose Sharks have announced they’ve re-signed defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin to a one-year contract carrying a $1 million AAV. San Jose Sharks Free Agent Targets: Nikolaj EhlersThe San Jose Sharks are heading into an important off-season — one that includes landing the second overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. It also comes with a big free agency period as they look to build around their young core. San Jose Sharks Should Reunite With Mikael Granlund This OffseasonThe San Jose Sharks could benefit from bringing Mikael Granlund back this summer. He was a key part of their lineup last season before being traded to the Dallas Stars along with Cody Ceci.

The St. Louis Blues selected forward Dalibor Dvorsky with the 10th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With the way that Dvorsky has been developing since then, it is fair to say that the Blues must be happy about this decision.

Following being drafted, Dvorsky demonstrated his high offensive potential with the Sudbury Wolves during the 2023-24 season. In 52 games with the Ontario Hockey League club, he posted an impressive 45 goals and 88 points. He also had three goals and 10 points in nine playoff contests with the Wolves this year. 

After an excellent 2023-24 season with the Wolves, Dvorsky began his North American professional career this season. He spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he had 21 goals and 45 points in 61 games. He was also named to the AHL All-Star Classic because of his impressive play. 

Dvorsky also played in his first two NHL games with the Blues, where he recorded zero points and two shots. Overall, the 19-year-old forward did not look too out of place in his first NHL action with the Blues, and the expectation is that he should get more chances on St. Louis' roster next season. 

With Dvorsky being a very skilled player and demonstrating great potential this season, it is hard not to feel optimistic about him hitting a new level next campaign. The youngster has the tools to blossom into a legitimate top-six NHL forward, and it is going to be fascinating to see what kind of season he puts together in 2025-26 from here.

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Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

It’s well-documented that Kent Hughes would like to address the Montreal Canadiens’ problems down the middle this Summer. With Ivan Demidov now in North America and Patrik Laine unable to produce at even-strength last season, the Habs need a real top-six center who will have the skills to get the best out of the two talented wingers. The Minnesota Wild could help.

The Wild has tried to shop Marco Rossi in the past, and he’s now a restricted free agent in need of a new contract. The 23-year-old center has consistently improved during his ELC and scored 60 points in 82 games this past season, representing a 20-point improvement over his previous season.

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Yet, as The Athletic’s Chris Johnston points out in his NHL offseason trade board, Rossi only got 11 minutes of ice time per game in the playoffs and pivoted the fourth line as the Wild fell in six games against the Vegas Golden Knights.

There hasn’t been a leadership change in Minnesota, unlike with the New York Islanders, meaning the people who were looking to move Rossi are still in charge and would therefore likely be amenable to discussing a sign-and-trade deal.

Rossi’s downside is his size; at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he’s not very imposing, and that might be why the Wild are hesitant to commit, according to Johnston. The Canadiens have shown in the past that they do not necessarily put a premium on size; they didn’t hesitate to draft Lane Hutson, who is roughly the same size.

Unlike when Hughes traded for Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, who had both only scored 26 points in their previous year with the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche, respectively, Rossi is not coming off a down year. The price tag would likely be relatively high.

The Wild doesn’t have a first-round pick at the upcoming draft and only have a total of four picks while the Canadiens have two first-rounders and a total of 12 picks, meaning this could be a good starting point for any discussion. If Johnston’s NHL trade board article is to be believed, Montreal could entertain moving one of its two first-round selections.

The article also reports the Habs are willing to move Logan Mailloux, and the Wild have got a few aging defensemen on the right side of their blueline, with Jared Spurgeon being 35 and Zach Bogosian being 34. They also have David Jiricek in their system. Still, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ sixth overall selection at the 2022 draft has failed to impress since being acquired for Daemon Hunt and a truckload of draft picks, including Minnesota’s first-rounder this year.

If the Wild is after size, could Kirby Dach somehow pique their interest? He wouldn’t be the central piece of the deal, but could be an interesting throw-in if the Wild can see some potential there.

As the draft nears, we will undoubtedly see increased speculation about who could end up where, especially since Kent Hughes has been active in his three draft weekends so far. He couldn’t pull a trade for a roster player at the last draft, but he did trade three picks to the Los Angeles Kings to move up and grab Michael Hage with the 21st overall pick.

Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

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The 2025 Stanley Cup final is now set, and that means it’s time for one last playoff prediction. In the third round, we went 0-2 with our picks, but overall this post-season, we’ve gone 8-6. Could be better, could be worse.

With that out of the way, here’s this writer’s educated guess on the showdown between the NHL’s two best teams:

Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

Season series: 2-0 Florida

Why Florida will win: The Panthers haven’t always looked like the defending champions, particularly against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who extended their second-round series to the full seven games. But against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1, and against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final, Florida looked like world-beaters, winning both those series in five games. And they did it with overwhelming offense, as they scored five or more goals in all four of their wins against the ‘Canes.

Meanwhile, against the Bolts, Florida scored six goals in two of their wins and another four goals in one of their other two victories. No defence corps has been able to contain the Panthers’ waves of pushes into the offensive zone, and Florida has spread out the scoring, with 10 Panthers players generating at least 11 points, and eight players posting at least four goals.

When you have that type of depth, it’s no wonder you can poke holes in your opponent’s back end. And given that Edmonton isn’t renowned for their stifling defense, it’s safe to say that Florida will get plenty of opportunities to continue that trend.

Goaltending is going to be a key in this Cup final series, and the edge in net has to be given to Panthers star Sergei Bobrovsky, if only because he’s got the pedigree that comes with making big saves in high-stakes situations. Unless Bobrovsky’s counterpart, Stuart Skinner, can stifle Florida’s point producers, the Panthers are going to be a handful for Edmonton. And we could well see Year 2 of a modern-day dynasty in Florida. 

Why Edmonton will win: Like the Panthers, the Oilers have bent without breaking in this post-season, losing two games to the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round before steamrolling two very good teams in the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars in the second and third round respectively, with both of those series wins coming in just five games. 

The Oilers have the top two players remaining in the current post-season in superstar centers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, but Edmonton’s supporting cast has also been excellent, as nine Oilers players have at least four goals, and their top seven players have combined to post an astounding 118 points. The Oilers won’t have one of those players available in the final, with star right winger Zach Hyman out for the season. But with McDavid and Draisaitl combining for 51 points, they don’t need their secondary scorers to carry the bulk of the load.

Skinner has gotten better as the playoffs have unfolded, allowing one goal or less in three of Edmonton’s five games against the Stars. We’re still not sure about the Oilers’ defense corps compared to the Panthers’ group of blueliners, but now that rugged veteran D-man Mattias Ekholm is back in the lineup, Edmonton is going to put up a seriously fierce battle against Florida’s high-octane offense. And that could well mean this year’s Cup final will have a very different result from last year’s.

Prediction: Oilers in six games

We’ve got to own it – we haven’t been high on the Oilers for the bulk of the playoffs, but we’ve seen enough now, and Edmonton deserves its due. When you have arguably the two best players on planet Earth in Draisaitl and McDavid, and you’re getting clutch contributions from forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Brown and Corey Perry, plus blueliner Evan Bouchard, you’re going to be about as close to unbeatable as it gets.

That doesn’t mean we see the Panthers getting demolished. But Florida hasn’t had to come up against an opponent with as much depth, drive and desire as the Oilers have this spring. Do we see the Panthers winning at least a couple games? Absolutely. But given how Edmonton disposed of the Stars – our pre-season pick to win it all – the Oilers should have enough left in the tank to outlast Florida and bring the Cup to Canada for the first time since 1993. 

It feels like Edmonton is a team of destiny, and like most all-time greats, McDavid and Draisaitl have learned from past defeats and appear fully ready, willing and able to win the first championship of what could be many. The Panthers are going to be a worthy opponent for them, but the Oilers have the juice and jam to carve out their names on sport’s toughest trophy to win.

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Ready or not, here I come.

This phrase used in hide-and-seek accurately reflects the status of a few Detroit Red Wings prospects.

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

Steve Yzerman has spent years accumulating blue-chip prospects – now, it’s time to cash in.

The team needs to push its young players to take on more responsibility. Look for these three youngsters to force their way onto the NHL roster. Not because the Red Wings have to put them there, but because they will push the issue and force the organization to keep them in the NHL.

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Axel Sandin Pellikka

The 20-year-old Axel Sandin Pellikka is ready for the big leagues. He displayed tremendous ability during the 2024-25 season. As a right-handed defender, he’s also a hot commodity.

In 46 SHL games, he recorded 29 points while averaging north of 20 minutes a game. That’s impressive for any defender in the SHL, let alone one as young as Sandin-Pellikka.

There are only two defenders signed to NHL deals next season who are right-handed: Moritz Seider and Justin Holl. With Jeff Petry’s contract expiring, there is a place for him to come in and seize an opportunity.

Amadeus Lombardi

Armed with one of the greatest names in the history of hockey and a penchant for clutch goals, Amadeus Lombardi is primed and ready to be launched on the Red Wings' opening night roster.

Despite missing a decent chunk of the 2024-25 season, Lombardi still managed to collect 40 points in 44 games. He’s a big-time player, scoring four game-winning goals for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.

Stick taps for Sebastian Cossa's first NHL win! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/QmPo7g1tII

— NHL (@NHL) December 10, 2024

Sebastian Cossa

This may seem controversial, but Sebastian Cossa is absolutely ready to be in the NHL. This prospect might seem the least likely, but hear me out.

For starters, his AHL record this past season was impeccable. In 41 games, he recorded a 21-15-5 record, a 2.45 goals against average (GAA), a .911 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.

Secondly, there is a good likelihood that Petr Mrazek will end up demoted to the AHL or placed on injured reserve. Alex Lyon has not been extended (we’ll see if that happens at all), so that leaves Cam Talbot as the remaining goalie ready for regular duty.

If that’s the case, a tandem of Talbot and Cossa would make sense. Talbot is an impeccable professional who could mentor Cossa on what it takes to play in the NHL. Talbot has gone through a lot during his NHL career and all of those experiences would be a great influence on the young netminder.

2025-26 Prediction

Each of these prospects offers something that isn’t already on the Red Wings roster. If I had to put my money where my mouth is, I’d say that Sandin-Pellikka and Lombardi make the Red Wings out of camp, while Cossa starts the year in the AHL until Mrazek gets hurt, and then he gets called up.

The future is bright for the Red Wings, and the future is now.

Ready or not, here they come.

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*Please vote in the poll to let us know who you think will make the Red Wings next season. If there is a prospect that you think has a chance, but isn't listed above, leave a comment with their name. Let us know what you think!

The London Knights are headed back to the Memorial Cup Final for the second consecutive season.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan delivered a two-point performance Friday night, helping the London Knights punch their ticket to the 2025 Memorial Cup Final with a 5-2 win over the Moncton Wildcats in the semi-final.

GOING BACK TO THE MEMORIAL CUP FINAL.#MemorialCuppic.twitter.com/bzzY43uM72

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) May 31, 2025

The 20-year-old recorded a primary assist on London’s second goal, patiently holding the puck in the slot before finding captain Denver Barkey to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. 

Barks has his first of the #MemorialCup#LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/9PNwhCO0oj

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) May 31, 2025

At 18:11 of the third period, Cowan added an empty-netter to seal the victory. It marked his second goal and sixth point of the tournament, giving him the outright scoring lead heading into Sunday’s final. The ‘Cowboy’ also tied for a game-high seven shots on goal in the win.

The victory sets up a rematch against the Medicine Hat Tigers, who handed London a 3-1 loss in their final round-robin game on Tuesday. That defeat remains the only contest where Cowan was held off the scoresheet in the tournament.

Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Held Off Scoresheet As Knights Fall To Tigers, Miss Bye To Memorial Cup FinalThe London Knights will have to take the long road to the 2025 Memorial Cup championship. 

For the Knights, Sunday represents more than just a shot at revenge, it’s a chance at redemption.

Last year, London came up short in the Memorial Cup final, falling 4-3 to the Saginaw Spirit. The club had 13 returning players from that group back this season, with the goal of reaching the top this time around.

That drive has been on full display as the Knights steamrolled through the OHL Playoffs with a 16-1 record, never losing to the same opponent twice. Cowan, the first-round pick (28th overall) by the Maple Leafs in 2023, has been at the center of it all, registering an OHL-high 39 points (13G, 26A) in 17 postseason games this year.

London will need him at his best as they sit just one win away from finishing what they started in 2024, but taking down Medicine Hat won’t be easy.

The WHL champions are undefeated in the tournament and earned a berth in the final thanks to a flawless round-robin. However, it’s often said it’s hard to beat the same team twice, especially on a stage like this. 

And the Knights have carried the weight of unfinished business all year. Now, they’ve got one more game to prove it.

Puck drop for the final is set to take place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sunday in Rimouski.

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

Throughout their history, the Ottawa Senators haven’t made much use of the offer sheet strategy.

The one time they did was back in July of 1996 when they successfully signed Washington Capitals goaltender Ron Tugnutt. Then-Senators GM Pierre Gauthier had been dealing with the early stages of what would later become affectionately known in Ottawa as the "Goalie Graveyard."

Gauthier saw an opportunity in Tugnutt, an undervalued asset, and signed him to a one-year deal believed to be worth $400,000. The Capitals refused to match the offer to their third-string guy, and it turned out to be a fantastic move for Ottawa. That season, the Senators improved by 36 points and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Offer sheets don't happen often, but the tactic paid off big for the St. Louis Blues last summer. The Blues successfully signed defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway to offer sheets, giving up only a second and a third-round pick as compensation.

Both former first-rounders had shown flashes in the NHL, and they were solid in last year's Cup run, but the change of address served them well. Once in St. Louis, they became full-timers: Broberg played 68 games this season, recorded 29 points, and played top four minutes (20:30). Holloway blossomed too, with 63 points in 77 games, finishing third in Blues scoring. Both players had a plus-minus of 21, a fitting number for the Blues who gambled and won.

At least in the short term, it certainly hasn't hurt the Oilers, who just claimed their second straight Western Conference title. Some deals, even offer-sheets, can work out for both teams involved.

The Blues’ success with those offer sheets may have opened the door for other teams to consider taking the same route this summer.

But the strategy can be risky and expensive. You usually need to craft a deal rich and long enough that the player’s current team won’t match. That often means overpaying (looking in your direction, Jesperi Kotkaniemi). And you also need to be prepared to give up significant draft compensation. That's especially true on offers for big stars when they're north of $9.36 million.

OFFER SHEET COMPENSATION TIERS

For Ottawa, their offer-sheet drought isn't likely to end this summer.

Obviously, offer sheets can't be signed until July 1st,  so the compensatory picks are for 2026. They also have to be a team's own picks, not ones they acquire from another team. 

And Ottawa is a little shy in that area.

The Sens have already forfeited their 2026 first-round pick to the NHL for messing up their trade of Evgenii Dadonov to Vegas. Their second-round pick was sent to the Utah Mammoth in the 2023 Jakob Chychrun trade.

Why The Kovalchuk Precedent Won't Help The Ottawa Senators Retrieve Their Forfeited First-Round PickIn November 2023, the NHL came down hard on the Ottawa Senators, announcing they would have to forfeit a first-round draft pick due to the mishandling of their July 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Senators still have their own 2026 third-rounder so, in theory, they could offer-sheet a lesser-paid player like Holloway. But honestly, it might be decades before we see the Holloway story repeat itself. If the Sens are excited enough about a player to sign him at $2.34 million, chances are his team is too.

If offer sheets do become fashionable this summer, it's a trend the Sens won't be jumping on anytime soon.

(Banner Image Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK)

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May 30, 2025 — SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Josh Mahura to a two-year, one-way contract extension worth an average annual value of $907,500, General Manager Jason Botterill announced Friday.

Mahura, 27, played 64 games for the Kraken during the 2024–25 season, posting nine assists, 89 hits (fifth on the team), and 54 blocked shots.

The six-foot, 193-pound defenseman was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (85th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He has appeared in 255 NHL games combined between the Kraken, Florida Panthers, and Anaheim Ducks, recording 54 points (10 goals, 44 assists) and 110 penalty minutes. He was part of the Florida Panthers’ 2024 Stanley Cup-winning roster and has 21 career playoff appearances.

Related

Kraken Re-Sign Forward John Hayden To A Two-Year DealSeattle, WA - The Seattle Kraken have signed veteran forward John Hayden to a two-year, one-way contract extension worth $775,000 annually, beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season, General Manager Jason Botterill announced.

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News or Join the discussion with others in your hockey community on the Seattle Kraken Forum.

**Cover Photo by Caroline Anne | The Hockey News

Double Shift Event Week 2 and new Stanley Cup Playoffs cards have been added to NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team. 

The five new Double Shift master set players are 95 overall Markus Naslund, Jere Lehtinen, Seth Jones, Robyn Regehr, and Frederik Andersen. 

Each MSP can be built for three 92+ Double Shift players and any two 92+ cards. 

The new Double Shift base cars are led by 94 overall Mark Recchi and Sergei Zubov and 93 overall Gustav Forsling and Boone Jenner.

Building a 90 overall Double Shift card costs any three 88+ cards, three 90+ Double Shift cards can be used to build one 92. 

There are also collectible trade in sets to acquire Double Shift cards.

Six new Playoffs cards were added, three from the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, they are led by a 95 overall Connor McDavid and 94 overall Matthew Tkachuk. 93 overall Brett Kulak, Evan Rodrigues, Adam Henrique, and Niko Miikola were also added. 

All new cards are in the video above. 

Players can ask questions or leave comments on the EA NHL 25 Forums here.

Check out Week 1 of the Double Shift Event here. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.       

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL 

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach and former Philadelphia Flyers bench boss Craig Berube likes what he's seen from Nikita Grebenkin, one of his old players. And he knows there's room for plenty more as Grebenkin embarks on the next chapter of his NHL career with the Flyers.

Appearing on the "Nasty Knuckles" podcast with Riley Cote and Derek Settlemyre, Berube took the time to talk up the Flyers' newest prospect, drawing on his brief hands-on experience with Grebenkin when the latter was with the Maple Leafs early last season. 

"As a player, he's got some really good skill down low in the offensive zone. He's got good hands, he's big and strong. He's got to continue to work on his skating. That was an area of concern a little bit," Berube said of Grebenkin.

The 22-year-old Russian winger played seven games under Berube for the Maple Leafs last season, not including the preseason, and showcased some of his untapped ferocity with 13 hits.

One of those hits, which was questionable, injured Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore in his NHL debut on Nov. 20. But that's proof in itself that Grebenkin is the hammer that sees everything as a nail and likes to play on the edge.

Plus, Grebenkin dropped the gloves with Ottawa forward Adam Gaudette in the preseason.

"The kid's got jam, got in a couple fights for us. He likes to mix it up, and he's got an unreal personality. This guy is as funny as it gets. I don't know if he can even speak a word of English, but he does, and he had this thing there, 'Backcheck, forecheck, paycheck.' That was all he kept saying in the room," Berube continued.

"I really liked him, and he's got potential. Like I said, he's got some ability with his size and his hands, and he has that jam. He's going to get in there. He's going to get involved. He likes to bang bodies, likes to get to that net, not scared to mix it up, which is good to see. I wish him all the best because I really liked him."

Grebenkin, of course, was arguably the crown jewel of the Scott Laughton trade with the Maple Leafs that also yielded the Flyers a 2027 first-round pick for their efforts.

Berube, who worked closely with the Flyers and frequented the Wells Fargo Center between jobs after being fired by St. Louis in 2023, really likes the player. And at the age of 22, Grebenkin only has room to grow and improve.

At one point, the Flyers had called up Grebenkin on an emergency basis to potentially make his debut for the team, but that was put on pause within the hour.

So, after being acquired by the Flyers, Grebenkin spent the rest of the year in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, posting three goals, four assists, and seven points in 11 regular season games and adding a goal, three assists, and four points in a seven-game Calder Cup playoff run.

With only Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett set in stone at the left wing position, you have to imagine that Grebenkin will have an opportunity to make the Flyers out of camp in a few months, independent of if Jakob Pelletier re-signs with Philadelphia or not.