Welcome to a new week of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs with rapid-fire topics on The Hockey News Wraparound Show.

Dissecting The Leafs, The NHL's Round 2 Winners And Losers And More by The Wraparoundundefined

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

0:00: Should this be the end of the ‘Core Four’ era with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

4:50: Could this be the year this Carolina Hurricanes core finally makes its way to the Stanley Cup final?

7:40: Will Alex Ovechkin go to the KHL once his NHL contract expires?

9:40: Did the Winnipeg Jets play well enough against the Dallas Stars to deserve a better result?

13:00: Do the Winnipeg Jets have enough as a core to contend in the Western Conference?

15:25: Has Jake Oettinger become the favorite to be the Team USA starter at the 2026 Olympics?

18:00: Do the Edmonton Oilers have the depth to take down the Dallas Stars again?

21:45: Should Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings have been open to moving on from Jim Hiller?

25:10: What will Jack Eichel’s next contract look like? Will he stay with the Vegas Golden Knights?

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

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Promo image credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers looked pretty good in Game 7.

Is anyone really surprised by that at this point?

Florida has done nothing but show why they are built for the playoffs, overcoming adversity, injuries, suspensions and deficits in both series’ and games, and now they’re back in the conference final for the third straight season.

It took an impressive effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning a pair of games at Scotiabank Arena by a combined score of 12-2 that left a fanbase desperate for some semblance of postseason success equally shocked and saddened.

Now Florida will face the Carolina Hurricanes, another team that should give the Panthers an extremely strong fight for the right to play for the Stanley Cup.

But first, let’s get to the Game 7 takeaways:

A PLAYERS’ WIN

At this point of the season, hockey players generally know what needs to be done in order to find success.

Some are able to continue doing their thing, because they are that good and can impose their will on other talented teams during the playoffs.

That certainly appears to be the case with the Florida Panthers.

Entering Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7 against the Maple Leafs, which also happened to be the biggest game played in Toronto in over 20 years, there was a quiet confidence surrounding the Panthers.

They have a veteran room full of postseason experience, and boy did it shine through on Sunday.

“Game 7s are players’ games,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “We're at game 94 this year, there's not much coaching. We've been doing it for 93 games coming in. There's nothing new. There's no tactics.”

BUILT FOR THIS

When the Panthers hired Maurice during the summer of 2022, it was with the idea that he would make them a better playoff team.

More physical and defensive in style, more aggressive in nature and overall, just tough as nails to play against.

To say that it’s been a success to this point would be an understatement.

Maurice has shaped the Panthers into a group that combines an old school mentality with elite players that utilize the tools of today to help research, react and perhaps most importantly, recover, so they can go out and do it again in a day or two.

This team has it all down to a science.

“If the core foundation of your game is the simplest things, it doesn't matter how your hands feel, it doesn't matter how your body feels. It doesn't matter how well you execute, if it's how comfortable you are in hard situations, then you have a chance,” Maurice said. “It starts in training camp for us, it's a grinder. This has been a grinding season for us, not just because the games we played, our schedule was abusive, but that turned out to be the right adversity that we would need to play. We talk about Game 7 in training camp. Let's want to play a style of game that gives us a chance to win tonight. It gave us a chance to win tonight.”

CLOSER GAME THAN THE SCORE

Just like in Game 5, Maurice was quick to point out that Sunday’s Game 7 was not the blowout that the score would indicate.

Earlier in the series, the bounces and puck luck were going in Toronto’s favor, but later in the series, Florida started getting many of the favorable bounces, particularly around the net.

The Maple Leafs did their darndest to keep goaltender Joseph Woll clean and protected, blocking shots left and right, but ultimately, the Panthers were just too much to handle, and the fortune usually follows the deserving side.

“Those games are so tight, the emotion, the buildup to the games,” Maurice said. “When we score the first goal, we own the first 10 minutes of the first period. They own the second 10 minutes. That's it. If you flip it, they'd say, ‘Oh, they came out right.’ We came out right. They found the answer to come back at us. That's the truth, right? We scored a goal, and then we got those two (goals), and it's just a puck to the net. It's so much closer than you think, but you're going to kill these guys, and they don't deserve it. That’s seven games, and we played well. I didn't like our first period in Game 1, we played well in the two losses, we played well in Game 6 and got beat, that's how tight it is. So that's how I feel about it. I mean, the margin for error is small. Before the puck dropped tonight, there were five teams in the NHL left. Five, all of them capable of winning. The puck went our way tonight. That's it.”

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Photo caption: May 18, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer (10) celebrates a goal by forward Jonah Gadjovich (12) as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) lies on the ice during the second period of game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

With the OHL season finished, and the London Knights crowned champions for the second consecutive season, many OHL fans are turning their attention towards the NHL Draft in June. Questions abound about where certain players will be picked and who will rise or fall on draft boards. 

Jacob Cloutier of the Saginaw Spirit is an interesting player to look at when it comes the the 2025 NHL Draft. The Spirit selected the 2007-born Cloutier with their second-round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. 

While he made the team out of camp, he was shortly thereafter reassigned to the Chatham Maroons to play in the GOJHL. That year, Saginaw was hosting the Memorial Cup, and there wasn't a lot of room on a roster loaded with older talent. 

"I was crushed to get sent down, it was really tough," said Cloutier. "I think I'm developing a lot more as a player now because of it though."

This past season, he made his OHL debut playing for Saginaw alongside fellow rookie Carson Harmer. The pair quickly stacked up the points and led all OHL rookies in scoring at the midway point of the season. 

In the second half of the season, it was clear that Cloutier had adapted to the OHL and was ready to show what he could do. In January, he went on a seven-game point streak during which he scored seven goals and added four assists. As a result of this streak, he was named rookie of the week in early February. 

Kasper Halttunen Wins Playoffs MVPLast night, at the conclusion of the OHL Playoffs, Kasper Halttunen was given the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award, which is given out to the OHL Playoffs MVP as voted by accredited members of the media. Halttunen is the first import player to be given the award. 

NHL Central Scouting definitely took notice of Cloutier's performance in the second half of the year. In their early rankings, Central Scouting placed Cloutier 193rd amongst North American Skaters. In their most recent lists, he jumped up nearly 90 places to sit 108th, right behind Carson Harmer. 

He finished the year fourth in rookie scoring with 23 goals and 47 points in 67 games. In the playoffs, he was a point-per-game player, with three points in the three games he played. 

"I'm a two-way forward and playmaker," said Cloutier. "I find guys around the ice and make good plays. I pride myself on winning battles and backchecking."

Following in this vein, Cloutier looks up to Florida Panthers' forward Brad Marchand and does his best to model his game after the gritty, pesky style displayed by the skilled forward.

Cloutier is a cerebral player who consistently improves the position of the puck through smart passing. He routinely makes short passes that many other players ignore to make flashy moves. His individual chances come as a result of strong team play and puck support.

The London Knights Hang On To Win OHL ChampionshipFor the second time since 2010, the London Knights are the winners of back-to-back OHL Championships. The Knights took game five of the OHL Final to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup on home ice. 

He has a good shot, though it isn't the hardest. He usually relies on accuracy rather than blowing the puck past the goaltender. 

Most of all, he has a solid understanding of offensive concepts. Cloutier puts himself in positions where pucks find him, and he does a good job following pucks to the net for secondary and tertiary opportunities.

Defensively, he understands he tracks back to the slot and does a good job taking away opposing players. 

At 5-foot-10, his height could be a limiting factor in terms of being drafted this year. While his offensive potential is very high, he does not necessarily project as an early pick. Any team taking him would be banking on his potential. They will also be getting a very determined individual.

"I'm going to be a hockey player," said Cloutier. "That's all I want to be in my life."

---

Wild youngster Zeev Buium got a taste on NHL hockey when he played in four games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. He recorded one assist in those four games and it came on the power play. 

Buium, 19, was drafted by the Wild with the 12th overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft. After the Wild lost in six games to the Golden Knights in the first round, Buium announced he was going to play for USA in the IIHF Men's World Championships.

In his fourth game for USA, Buium recorded an assist in USA's 6-1 win over Kazakhstan. Buium recovered the puck after he was pressured on the offensive blue line. He skated it back to towards the defensive zone before turning around and flying into the offensive zone.

Thompson picking it up from Buium and sailing it home 🚨 #MensWorldspic.twitter.com/pAOFIJWRQ3

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 18, 2025

He dropped it off to Buffalo Sabres' star forward Tage Thompson. The 6-foot-6 forward then ripped home Buium's pass into the back of the net. Buium also recorded a shot in that game.  

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

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For the first time since 2007, the Medicine Hat Tigers are Memorial Cup-bound. While Medicine Hat has a stacked team full of talent, the 2025 Memorial Cup will be filled with powerhouse teams who have had very impressive playoff runs of their own. One of those teams is the London Knights, who will represent the OHL this year. 

The Knights are making their second-straight appearance in the Memorial Cup and will be looking for a better result than last year. While London cruised through the round-robin, they fell to the Saginaw Spirit in the Final, denying their quest for a third Memorial Cup Championship. With a large portion of the 2023-24 team returning this season, the Knights will be motivated to ensure a repeat of the 2024 Memorial Cup does not happen. 

When looking at London's roster, it is hard to ignore the number of NHL-drafted prospects they have assembled. The Knights have 12 players tied to NHL teams and two prospects who will hear their names called at the 2025 NHL Draft. Their roster also includes a familiar player to WHL fans, former Saskatoon Blades goaltender Austin Elliott, who has been almost unbeatable since moving to the OHL.  

Shutting down London is going to be a problem, as they have hardly any weaknesses. The Knights went 16-1 in the post-season, while outscoring their opposition 91-43. From even-strength play to the work of their special teams, it is going to be a significant challenge to slow down this London team. 

As for players to watch, there are a handful of names that pop up. San Jose Sharks defensive prospect Sam Dickinson has 31 points in 17 playoff games this year, while Kasper Halttunen, who the Sharks also drafted, has eight goals in his last three games. In the end, though, all eyes will be on Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, as his 39 points in 17 games this post-season were the sixth-most in franchise history. 

Ultimately, the Tigers will need to play a near-perfect game if they are going to take down the Knights at the 2025 Memorial Cup. Medicine Hat will also be at a slight disadvantage in the round-robin game, as their matchup against London is the tail end of a back-to-back. Based on each team's depth and talent levels, the Tigers and Knights might be on a collision course to meet not just in the round-robin, but also in the final. 

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

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When the Ottawa Senators selected Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, they went against the grain. The young Calgary Hitmen star was ranked as the sixth-best defenceman on most pre-draft boards, and four of the five listed ahead of him were still on the board when Ottawa stepped up to the draft podium to make their pick. 

But the Senators bet on Yakemchuk’s offensive upside, size, and long-term potential.

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

Now, nearly a year later, those same defencemen remain ahead of Yakemchuk, according to at least one draft/prospects publication. In other words, Yakemchuk hasn’t fallen off, but he also hasn’t done enough to prove Ottawa was correct in scooping him up before one of his higher-ranked peers.

This week, McKeen’s published its Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects, a list that includes four years' worth of prospects, primarily hailing from the 2020-2024 Drafts. They believe that Yakemchuk remains an excellent prospect at 26th overall, but he's also still behind the same five defencemen who were ranked ahead of him last year.

The actual 2024 draft order ended up being:

Artyom Levshunov (CHI, 2nd overall)
Carter Yakemchuk (OTT, 7th)
Zayne Parekh (CGY, 9th) 
Anton Silayev (NJ, 10th)
Sam Dickinson (SJ, 11th)
Zeev Buium (MIN, 12th)

As far as the 2024 defensive draft class goes, McKeen’s now sets the 2025 NHL-affiliated prospect rankings as:

1.  Dickinson
2. Levshunov
3. Buium
4. Parekh
5. Silayev
6. Yakemchuk

Again, everyone on the list above, other than Levshunov, was on the board when the Sens took Yakemchuk.

This past season didn’t offer a breakout case for Yakemchuk. After putting up 30 goals and 71 points in 2023–24, setting a Calgary Hitmen record for goals by a defenceman, his offensive numbers dipped to 17 goals and 32 assists through 56 games in 2024–25. Some of that decline was expected, though, as Yakemchuk deliberately shifted his focus to improving his defensive game and skating, areas that were flagged at Sens camp last fall.

Towering Utah Defenceman Would Be Ideal Senators Trade TargetInjuries to Artem Zub and Nick Jensen highlighted the Ottawa Senators' need for greater quality of depth on the right side throughout the 2024-25 season.

As with player development, rankings and evaluations can vary from one publication to another, and long-term value can’t be measured after only a year. But so far, the defencemen the Senators passed over have largely maintained their standing. Yakemchuk hasn’t lost ground, but he hasn’t gained any either.

The Senators remain confident in the pick, and obviously, prospect development timelines can also vary wildly from one prospect to the next, especially among defencemen. 

But a year after making one of the bolder decisions of the 2024 draft, Ottawa will have to wait a while longer for some clear signs that their bet on Yakemchuk will pay off.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa 

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

The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are over, so it’s once again time to offer our series predictions. In the second round, we went 1-1 with our Western picks, and we’re back to offer up our projections for the Western Conference final.

As always, bear in mind these are this writer’s educated guesses.

On to it, we go:

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Season series: 2-1 Dallas

Why Dallas will win:The Stars have gotten stronger and stronger as the playoffs have unfolded, knocking off the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in Round 1, then outlasting the Winnipeg Jets in six games in Round 2. Despite dealing with the high-octane offense of the Jets and Avs, Dallas allowed more than two goals just once in their eight wins in the first two rounds – and in three of those eight wins, the Stars allowed only one goal. Meanwhile, Dallas’ offense has been potent, generating at least three goals in six of those eight wins.

The Stars have a far better goalie in Jake Oettinger (.919 save percentage, 2.47 goals-against average) than Edmonton does in Stuart Skinner (.884 SP, 3.05 GAA), and Dallas also has the better defense corps, including top blueliner Miro Heiskanen. The Stars will have to keep Oilers superstar centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in check, but they found a way to do that with Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar – and that was without Heiskanen, who was injured at the time. 

To be sure, the Oilers will give the Stars their toughest test yet, but there’s a reason why Dallas was the sexy pick of many people to win the Cup at the beginning of the season. The Stars have the depth, elite talent and plethora of difference-makers to get the job done. And while Edmonton also has its share of elite talent, Dallas was able to beat two very good teams in the first two rounds, and there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again now.

Why Edmonton will win: The Oilers showed last season they could handle the Stars in the Western final, beating Dallas in six games – and this year’s Edmonton team is deeper and better than last year’s Oilers team. Edmonton has gotten the expected contributions from McDavid and Draisaitl as they eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1 and the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2, but they’ve also received solid showings from support players including forwards Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique, and that’s what any team needs if they’re to win a Cup.

In beating the Golden Knights, the Oilers got a great performance from Skinner, and if Skinner does falter against the Stars, Calvin Pickard can come in and at least give Edmonton a chance to beat the Stars in Round 3. And if veteran D-man Mattias Ekholm can return from injury, he’ll give the Oilers a physical element that will punish Dallas when they’re in Edmonton’s zone.

The Stars did edge out the Oilers in their regular-season matchups, but Edmonton has found a way to raise their overall game with every round that has passed. With game-breakers McDavid and Draisaitl giving them an edge up front, the Oilers have the hunger and determination to best Dallas once again and set up a Cup final showdown against the Carolina Hurricanes or Florida Panthers. It’s about rising to the occasion, and the Oilers have demonstrated they can do that.

Prediction: Stars in seven games

In picking Dallas to win this series in seven games, we’re giving the Oilers their due. Edmonton isn’t going to lie down for anyone, and they’ve already got the confidence that comes from the experience they had against the Stars last year. But the Stars have a game-breaker of their own in right winger Mikko Rantanen, and Dallas’ attention to detail on the defensive end of things gives them an all-around edge against Edmonton. 

As we know, sometimes playoff success can come through special teams, and Dallas’ power-play efficiency in the playoffs (30.8 percent) and penalty-kill (86.1 percent) is superior to Edmonton’s power-play (25 percent) and penalty-kill (66.7 percent). In a series that will see each team thriving at different times for different reasons, the edge in special teams could be the difference between the Stars winning and losing against the Oilers. 

Regardless of who wins the Western final, we’re picking the winner to emerge as the Cup-winner this spring. But we’ve been impressed by Dallas all season long, and that isn’t going to change now. So we’re sticking with the Stars team we’ve liked right off the hop this year, and we’re projecting Dallas to win its second Cup in franchise history.

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.

With four teams left, odds roll out for NHL Conference Finals starting Tuesday

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to four, and the series odds paint a picture of two tightly contested matchups. In the East, the Florida Panthers face the Carolina Hurricanes, while out West, the Dallas Stars take on the Edmonton Oilers.

The markets are tight, the narratives are set, and with series prices, MVP odds, and exact outcomes on the board, there’s no shortage of angles for bettors.

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

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Eastern Conference Final: Florida Panthers (-125) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (+104)

Florida enters as a modest favorite, with oddsmakers narrowly favoring the Panthers to reach the Final for a third straight season. The most common outcome based on odds?

A Panthers win in six games (+420), tied with a Hurricanes win in seven (+420). Bettors looking for value might consider Carolina’s resilience at plus money — this series is expected to be a grind either way.

Goaltending will likely decide the outcome. The Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky is the betting favorite to win the Conn Smythe for Florida, while Frederik Andersen holds that title for Carolina. If either netminder takes over, they could tilt the series and vault themselves into MVP conversations.

Despite having the longest Stanley Cup odds of the four teams (+310), Carolina’s experience and defensive structure remain dangerous — particularly with veteran Brett Burns, who leads all remaining players in odds to receive the first Cup handoff at +350 odds. 

More NHL: Flyers Name Rick Tocchet as New Head Coach

Western Conference Final: Dallas Stars (-102) vs. Edmonton Oilers (-118)

There’s almost no separation between the Stars and Oilers in the series odds. Edmonton is the slight favorite, but Dallas to win in seven games (+420) is the most bet outcome. That’s closely followed by the Oilers to win in six or seven games, both priced at +430 odds.

This series features a lot of star power — and the Conn Smythe board reflects it. Connor McDavid leads all playoff MVP candidates at +380, with Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen second at +450 odds. The battle between Edmonton’s elite offense and Dallas’ depth and structure should produce fireworks.

Importantly, there’s precedent for a losing finalist to take home the Conn Smythe — which McDavid did it last season. Odds for a player to do so again sit at +950, with McDavid or Rantanen appearing to be the only realistic candidates. If either posts monster numbers in a long series, that path could open once again.

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The conference final matchups for the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set. The Dallas Stars will face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last season's Western Conference final while the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes. Those four rosters consist of nine former Ducks.

Sam Steel

Drafted in the first round of the 2016 NHL draft (30th overall), Steel had a prolific junior career in the WHL with the Regina Pats. However, his glimmers with Anaheim were few and far between and he was never able to carve out a significant role. But after latching on with the Minnesota Wild ahead of the 2022-23 season, he was able to reinvent himself as a checking forward and parlayed that into a regular bottom-6 role. He's spent the last two seasons with the Stars in a similar role and recently scored in the Stars' series-clinching victory over the Winnipeg Jets.

Ilya Lyubushkin

Lyubushkin was a Duck for less than a full season, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in Aug. 2023 and then flipped at the 2023-24 deadline to the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his time with the Ducks, he was leaned on heavily in penalty killing and high-leverage defensive situations by then-head coach Greg Cronin. He was influential in guiding fellow countryman Pavel Mintyukov through most of his first season as an NHLer as well. Lyubushkin signed a three-year deal with the Stars this past summer and has played primarily with blossoming star Thomas Harley.

Jaycob Megna

Megna played sparingly this season for the Panthers after appearing in 44 games last season for the Chicago Blackhawks. But his appearance on this list speaks to his perseverance and work ethic. Drafted by the Ducks in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Megna played nearly three full seasons in the AHL (in addition to two full collegiate seasons) before making his NHL debut in 2017, coincidentally against the Blackhawks. He continued to split time between the NHL and AHL, departing the Ducks organization after the 2018-19 season. He spent the entire 2019-20 season in the AHL before returning to the NHL in 2020-21. Most of his career since then has been as an NHLer, with brief stints in the AHL. 2024-25 was the first time he had played more than 22 AHL games since 2021-22.

Frederik Andersen

The only goaltender on this list now, Andersen was drafted 87th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, the same draft class as Megna. A stellar season in the AHL in 2012-13 led to him getting the call to the NHL in 2013-14, where he was thrust into the limelight due to injuries suffered by incumbent starter Jonas Hiller. Andersen had strong regular season performances as the starter in 2014-15 and 2015-16, but a shaky series against the Blackhawks in 2015 and the emergence of John Gibson made Andersen expendable. He was traded to the Leafs in June 2016 (as a restricted free agent) for two draft picks, one of which became Steel. Funny how things work. After several seasons with the Leafs, Andersen signed with the Hurricanes and has been a rock in net for them. The major issue for him has been staying healthy, which hasn't been very often. He's already missed one game in the playoffs due to injury, but hasn't looked worse for wear since returning.

Dmitry Kulikov

Kulikov was also a Duck for less than a full season, acquired from the Wild in Aug. 2022. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins the following March for Brock McGinn and a third-round pick. As part of the worst Ducks team in franchise history in terms of points, Kulikov was Cam Fowler's most frequent defensive partner, with the duo almost forced to play major minutes because of the lack of quality on the blue line. After becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023, the 34-year-old returned to the team where he began his career, the Panthers. After helping his first team to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, he signed a new four-year deal on the first day of free agency this past July and continues to be a reliable player for the Panthers.

Adam Henrique

"Uncle Rico" joined the organization as they began their downward spiral, traded to Anaheim in Nov. 2017 with several assets in exchange for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a third-round pick. Henrique proved to be a Swiss army knife of sorts for the Ducks, playing in all situations and even shifting from center to wing at times to help open up spots for other players. One of his best moments in a Ducks sweater came against his former team, the New Jersey Devils, when he lobbed the puck over Vatanen before beating him in a foot race, muscling his way to the net and scoring. The victim of a shocking waiver placement by then-general manager Bob Murray in Feb. 2021 as a means to jumpstart a struggling Ducks team, Henrique demonstrated leadership and was well-liked by teammates and fans during his time with the Ducks. He was traded to the Oilers last season with Sam Carrick, helping them to the Stanley Cup Final. At 35 years old, he's not the top-6 option that he used to be, but he is still a dependable depth option and reliable in the faceoff circle.

John Klingberg

Klingberg was part of the same Ducks crew as Kulikov, signing a one-year, $7 million deal in the summer of 2022 in an attempt to recoup some of the value lost after he turned down a large long-term deal from the Stars prior to hitting free agency. His time with the Ducks wasn't very memorable, as he looked like a former shell of himself offensively and a turnstile defensively. Injuries have limited him from getting back to where he was previously, but he is now being relied on heavily in the playoffs by Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. After appearing in just 11 games this season due to injury, Klingberg has found himself as a fixture on the Oilers' blue line, playing mostly with Jake Walman.

Max Jones

Hailing from the era that produced draft picks like Steel, Troy Terry and Josh Mahura, Jones was selected 24th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He was part of a power forward breed that Murray wanted to form between players like Nick Ritchie, Maxime Comtois and him. A tenacious and strong player, Jones proved he could be a versatile player, moving up and down the lineup. But his inconsistent play, penchant for taking ill-advised penalties and inability to stay healthy meant that he was never quite able to gain a foothold with the Ducks. After he did not receive a qualifying offer from the Ducks last summer, he signed with the Boston Bruins but was reassigned to the AHL after just seven games played. A mid-season trade to the Oilers gave Jones another chance to prove himself at the NHL level. Though he was in the lineup regularly when several players were injured, he has now been relegated to a healthy scratch.

Corey Perry

The longest-tenured Duck on this list and by far the most well-known, Perry has had a heck of a ride since being bought out by the Ducks in June 2019. He's been to four consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with four different teams and is looking to make it five consecutive appearances this season. He's been praised for his veteran leadership and his fearlessness in going to the net to create havoc. "The Worm" is at his best when he's within five feet of the crease, and he's been rewarded by playing on a line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of late. The wily veteran accumulated almost 400 goals and nearly 1,000 games played with the Ducks, helping them win their first Stanley Cup in 2007 and crafting one of the best moments in Ducks playoff history by scoring the game-winning goal in the "Comeback on Katella" against the Oilers in 2017. At 40 years old, he's proving that he's still got it.

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An interesting part of Tocchet's track record impressed the Flyers the most originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet’s most accomplished season as a head coach was pretty recent.

On this day a year ago, his Canucks were preparing for a second-round Game 7 against the eventual Western Conference champion Oilers. Vancouver had won 50 games in the regular season, racking up 109 points and making the playoffs for just the second time in nine years. Tocchet, in his first full season with the Canucks, won the Jack Adams Award.

But that 2023-24 season wasn’t what opened Danny Briere’s eyes when the Flyers’ general manager was deciding to hire Tocchet as his new head coach.

Instead, it was Tocchet’s work with a small-market franchise that made the biggest impression on Briere.

“It’s funny, most people would probably focus on the job that he did when he won the Jack Adams,” the GM said last Friday at Tocchet’s introductory press conference. “That was quite the turnaround in a short amount of time, what he did there, it was a really impressive year. For me, when I look at the track record, one of the most impressive parts that stood out — and it’s from watching at the time — was his stint with the Coyotes.”

Tocchet had just a .490 points percentage over four seasons in Arizona from 2017-18 to 2020-21. The Coyotes went 125-131-34 in that span. However, Arizona was considered one of the NHL’s most challenging markets. And Tocchet did some low-key good things there.

The Coyotes prevented goals and had a top-three penalty kill. Tocchet led them to 39 wins in 2018-19, a total that remains the franchise’s most since 2011-12. The next season, Arizona made the expanded playoff field and won a qualifying-round series over the Predators in the Western Conference bubble.

“I’m not trying to take it on the players, but he had a pretty depleted lineup at the time,” Briere said. “I remember the experts were saying that the Coyotes would be last in the NHL and get the first overall pick. And he made them competitive. They did make the playoffs the one year and they were in the running, playing good games. That body of work for me was probably the most impressive part of his coaching.”

Through Tocchet’s tenure, Arizona picked up at least a point in five of six games against the Flyers (3-1-2). In those matchups, the Coyotes’ power play went 6 for 20 (30 percent) and their penalty kill scored three shorthanded goals.

“They were always a difficult team to play against with limited resources,” Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said. “So I’m really excited to see what he can do here. I think that was one of the things that really was exciting to him. Thankfully, we have the infrastructure to attract a top coach. We have ownership that spends to the limit, to the maximum; I don’t even know if there’s a limit to make sure that things are great.

“You guys have been around our practice facility and see all the tools that are at Rick’s disposal and our players’ disposal, that are there to try to make us great one day. We’re going to use everything we have and I think those things helped attract Rick and eventually had him choose us.”

More: Tocchet deserves a shot before the former Flyer narrative is thrown around

The Flyers were intrigued by Tocchet’s ability to connect with players, his blend of demanding but also lenient. Tocchet knows the coach-player relationship is different from when he laced up the game skates.

“Coaches told you, ‘Hey, do this,’ and you just did it, right?” Tocchet said. “You were scared to ask why. Now, this generation, they want to know why, they’re smart guys. They want to know why. ‘Hey, we’re doing this forecheck because of this.’ They want to know, ‘Why are we doing it this way?’

“It’s my job to make them buy into it obviously, but you have to accept that as a coach. And I enjoy that. I’m a partner with the players; it’s not a dictatorship.”

EDMONTON – Let’s get down to business.

The Edmonton Oilers steamrolled through their first two opponents, the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights. However, things won’t be that easy against the Dallas Stars.

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Mikko Rantanen is on a mission to prove that the Colorado Avalanche were foolish in moving on from him. Everyone praises the depth of the Stars, and it’s hard not to be excited about your star defender coming back (Miro Heiskanen).

Some patterns emerge from the numbers. This is a very winnable series for the Oilers, especially if they continue to get secondary scoring, exploit Jake Oettinger’s weakness, and neutralize the Stars’ most significant threat.

Here are the three key things the Oilers must do to come out of the other side victorious against the Stars.

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The biggest knock on the Oilers in previous years was their inability to succeed without Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl pushing the bus. In the 2025 playoffs, that’s simply not the case.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers outscore their opponents 16-9 when their top two forwards aren’t on the ice. That is incredibly impressive.

Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, and Corey Perry have all scored two or more goals. Their continued offensive spark will be needed for the Oilers to move on to the final round.

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Exploit Jake Oettinger’s Weakness

Oettinger has been excellent for the Stars. However, like every other player, he has weaknesses.

The two locations that Oettinger has allowed the most goals from are the mid-range blocker side and right in front of the crease. According to NHL Edge data, the Oilers are above average in shots from mid-range blocker side.

They can pick their spots with Oettinger by utilizing that weakness and continuing their trend of crashing the net and generating scoring chances from in tight.

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Neutralize Mikko Rantanen

For all of the flak that the Oilers have gotten about their depth needing to step up, that isn’t the narrative for the Stars. But when you look at the numbers, it should be.

The Stars are outscored 9-18 when Rantanen isn’t on the ice (NatStatTrick) and have an advantage of 11-4 when he is.

They didn’t get to their current position through luck. However, having the NHL playoff leading scorer steamroll through the competition has given the Stars the edge. They have also gotten timely scoring from their depth.

If Brown, Perry, and Henrique can keep rolling, the Oilers can crash the net with possession, and Draisaitl can work the same magic on Rantanen that he did on Jack Eichel; the Oilers will move on to their second Stanley Cup Final in two years.

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who turns 32 on May 19.

Hellebuyck is a Vezina Trophy winner, a U.S.-born record holder and a franchise goaltender who's under contract with the Jets through 2031. Although he and the Jetslost in Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, they won the Presidents' Trophy, and Hellebuyck earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for playing at least 25 games on the team that allowed the fewest goals.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.      

Promo image credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

The San Jose Sharks will be looking to improve their team and get back into the playoffs sooner rather than later after a rough 2024-25 campaign. While they probably won't be pushing for a playoff spot next season, they can continue to find future stars to add to their roster that will help them down the line. 

One player they should look at bringing in is pending restricted free agent (RFA) Marat Khusnutdinov, who is up for a new contract for the upcoming season. He was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Boston Bruins midseason, and while he seems to have found a solid fit in Boston, the Sharks should try and bring him in.

Khusnutdinov, who is 22 years old, scored five goals and added seven assists for 12 points through 75 games this season. Throughout his career, he scored six goals and added 10 assists for 16 points through 91 games, which comes out to a 0.18 points-per-game average.

His defensive game is quite strong, but his finishing ability hasn't quite been elite at the NHL level. In an increased role with the Sharks, he could build confidence and find a way to break out offensively. 

Realistically, Khusnutdinov is looking at a 2-3 year contract extension worth around $1 million annually, which is very affordable. If he and the Bruins can't agree on a new deal, maybe the Sharks could offer to make a trade with them instead of sending an offer sheet, and the asking price may not be too much. If the Bruins are willing to move him for a mid-round pick, the Sharks should be all over him this summer.

Trending: Yegor Afanasyev Expected To Sign With Sharks For 2025-26 SeasonAs the postseason moves along, it seems as though the San Jose Sharks are focusing on getting some of their own things done this offseason as they look to improve on what was a rough 2024-25 campaign. In a recent report, it seems as though they will be signing Yegor Afanasyev for the 2025-26 season. Sharks & Shakir Mukhamadullin Reportedly Close To Contract Extension AgreementWith the 2024-25 season gone and the San Jose Sharks having shifted their focus onto the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and the 2025-26 campaign, it sounds like they are closing in on a new contract with one of their pending free-agent defenders. Sharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeThe 2025 WHL Prospects Draft has now come and gone, and while there weren't many surprises or much news to report from those couple of days, there was one massive trade that caught some attention. Should The Sharks Trade Their Second Overall Pick?With reports swirling that the San Jose Sharks are open to trading their second overall pick, the question turns to: should they trade it?

Rangers players from yesteryear not only were winners but they said interesting things.

I know this for a fact because – sitting right in front of me is a fascinating book called "Hockey Shorts – The Game's Best One-liners.

Author Glenn Liebman has a ton of them but, for the moment, I'll only deliver a few that deal with the art of goalkeeping. Here goes:

1. MUZZ PATRICK, DEFENSEMAN ON THE 1940 RANGERS STANLEY CUP-WINNERS: "In hockey," said Patrick, "a goalie does nothing that other people do. Except for his sweater, he even dresses differently."

2. HALL OF FAME GOALIE JACQUES PLANTE WHO HAD A SHORT  RANGERS CAREER:  "Goaltending is a normal job. Sure!," quoth Plante with mock seriousness:

"How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you."

3. HALL OF FAME GOALIE TERRY SAWCHUK WHOSE LAST NHL GAME WAS AS A RANGER: After a losing playoff game, Sawchuk met the media with this line: "I got one thing to say, gentlemen. I didn't have a good night!"

4. HALL OF FAME RANGERS MANAGER LESTER PATRICK, DISCUSSING BRUINS GOALIE FRANK BRIMSEK WHO HAD JUST SHUT OUT HIS BLUESHIRTS: "Trying to get Brimsek to make a first move is like pushing over the Washington Monument!"

On Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost yet another game seven to bow out of the playoffs with a 6-1 loss at home to the Florida Panthers. It was the second game in a row that ended 6-1 for the visitors at Scotiabank Arena. What has this got to do with the Montreal Canadiens? The Leafs’ recent history presents a cautionary tale that the Habs’ brass must take notice of.

Anyone who looks at this Leafs roster, even the most fervent Canadiens fans, has to admit that this is a fantastically talented team. Their Core Four or even Core Five, including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Reilly, should be winners on paper. Year after year, they rack up a considerable amount of points.

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Matthews has had two 100-point seasons in the last four seasons, and it would have been more had he stayed healthy. Marner only passed the 100-point mark once in the previous three seasons, but in two other seasons, he came agonizingly close with 99 and 97 points. Nylander has not had a season below 80 points in the last four campaigns. As for Tavares, who was stripped of the captaincy last offseason, he’s had 76, 80, 65, and 74 points in the previous four years. Meanwhile, blueliner Reilly has had 68, 41, 58, and 41 points in those same four years.

What does that tell us? Well, it tells us that talent alone is not enough. Some players will help you win in the regular season, and some will help you win in the postseason. The Leafs, led by Brendan Shanahan, loaded up on the first and forgot about the second. Even when he tried to bring on experienced guys, like Joe Thornton and Patrik Marleau, he didn’t go for guys who have won when it matters most. Neither has raised the Stanley Cup.

While it’s fair to say that young players need to learn to win, that learning curve has to spike at a certain point; it cannot take years to do this. Year after year of heartache and defeat has had this group petrified of pressure and game sevens. They just cannot perform when the heat is on and there’s no tomorrow. The Canadiens, just like the Boston Bruins so often and the Panthers recently, took advantage of that in 2021. The Leafs have lost their last six game seven, and in most cases, they weren’t close games.

That 2021 Canadiens’ edition wasn’t as talented as the Leafs, and its franchise cornerstones, Carey Price and Shea Weber, had never won the biggest prize of them all, but Corey Perry and Eric Staal had. Those players allow you to go far in the playoffs—the guys who have already learned how to win and handle the pressure of do-or-die games.

No matter how talented your young core is, it will need some veteran leadership who has done that. I know Anthony Stolarz won the Cup, but he won it as the Panthers’ backup last season, and he’s a goalie; that’s a whole other story. For a second year in a row, the Edmonton Oilers have made the conference final and happen to have Perry in their lineup. Sure, he only put up 30 points in the regular season, but he’s got seven points in just 11 games in the postseason. As talented as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are, they, too, need the experience of a proven winner and someone who will perform when the stakes are high. Leafs torture in chief Brad Marchand is also that kind of player; the former Boston Bruins captain has now beaten the Leafs five times in game seven.

At this stage of the Canadiens’ rebuild, it may be too early to worry about that (although Sam Bennett would tick that box). Still, when this young core is ready to contend, they’ll need experienced winners along for the ride, and I have no doubt GM Kent Hughes watched the Leafs’ repeated debacles and took notes.

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