It was always going to be a long shot for one of the Ducks’ rookies to win the 2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy.

While many pegged the San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini or the Philadelphia Flyers’ Matvei Michkov to win the award in their preseason predictions, few had defenseman Lane Hutson, who ultimately won the award, as their top pick.

Cutter Gauthier fell into the tier of contention just below the true Calder candidates, playing in all 82 games of his rookie season and notching his first 20-goal campaign in the NHL. After a slow start that saw him yo-yo’d throughout the Ducks lineup, he settled into a complementary role alongside Mason McTavish and eventually found himself as one half of a dynamic duo alongside Leo Carlsson following the 4 Nations Face-off break.

A strong second half in which he had 22 points in 28 games led to six fourth-place votes and 74 fifth-place votes in the Calder Trophy voting. Gauthier also carried over his momentum from the end of the NHL season into the IIHF Worlds, where he helped Team USA win their first Worlds gold in over 90 years.

Defenseman Drew Helleson began the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but was recalled in November and spent the rest of the season up with the big club. He eventually carved out a regular spot in the Ducks’ lineup due to injuries to fellow defensemen and Cam Fowler’s departure via trade. Helleson averaged a shade over 16 minutes of time on ice after the 4 Nations Face-off break, proving to be a go-to option in late-game and penalty killing situations for former head coach Greg Cronin.

Helleson’s play in his rookie season was deemed good enough to earn one fifth-place vote in the Calder Trophy voting. He was tied for second in goals and points among all rookie defensemen and led all rookie defensemen in plus-minus with a plus-6 rating.

Though he was utilized heavily by Cronin and assistant Brent Thompson, both are no longer with the team and the path to a regular lineup spot may be a bit steeper now with Joel Quenneville coming in and all players likely getting a clean slate come training camp. Helleson is also a restricted free agent this summer.

Gauthier and Helleson are just two of the many promising, young players that the Ducks have at their disposal. With players like Beckett Sennecke, Ian Moore and others also looking like they’re ready to make the jump to the next level, they may have another player receiving Calder Trophy votes quite soon.

Featured image caption: Feb 27, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) celebrates his goal scored against the Vancouver Canucks with defenseman Drew Helleson (43) and center Isac Lundestrom (21) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Related articles:

Report: 'Chatter' from Combine Suggests Ducks Prepared to be Highest Bidder for Marner

Draft Eligible Prospect McQueen Compares his Game to Anaheim Ducks Legend Ryan Getzlaf

Speculation: How Four Potential Trade Targets Could Fit on the Anaheim Ducks Roster

Montreal Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson is the NHL's 2024-25 winner of the Calder Trophy, and it wasn't all that close.

Hutson, 21, had more than 50 family and friends at a dinner in Lake Barrington, Ill. Rob Hutson, Lane's father, said the group was there to celebrate the rookie's nomination for the Calder Trophy, but mostly everyone else had no idea he actually won it and the Calder Trophy would show up.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association selected Hutson as the NHL's most proficient player in their first year of competition. He is the second Canadiens player to win the Calder Trophy since 1967-68 after Ken Dryden won it in 1971-72. He's also the fifth active D-man to win the award, with Detroit Red Wings blueliner Moritz Seider being the last one in 2021-22.

But Hutson didn't just win – he won in a landslide.

Of the 191 ballots, Hutson received 165 first-place votes and 26 second-place votes. Nobody had him below second.

Hutson had 150 more first-place votes than Calgary Flames netminder Duston Wolf, who finished second in the voting. Wolf had the most second-place votes, with 96, while the San Jose Sharks' first-overall pick in 2024, Macklin Celebrini, finished third.

Only three other defensemen since 1943-44 led the NHL's rookies in scoring: Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch and Quinn Hughes. Of that group, Hutson's 66 points rank second, and his 0.80 points per game also rank second.

Hutson set a Canadiens franchise record for most points by a rookie defenseman, while only forwards Kjell Dahlin and Mats Naslund had more points, with 71. Hutson's 60 helpers also tied Larry Murphy for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.

The 5-foot-9, left-hand shot stepped up his production against the Canadiens' opponents in their own division.

Hutson recorded one goal and 28 assists for 29 points in 26 games against teams in the Atlantic Division, which comes to around 1.12 points per game. Against teams in the rest of the NHL, he had five goals and 32 assists for 37 points in 56 games, or 0.66 points per game.

As for the rest of the rookies to receive votes, Philadelphia Flyers sniper Matvei Michkov finished fourth, with zero first-place votes but eight in second place, 26 in third, 151 in fourth and six in fifth. Michkov led all rookies in goals, with 26.

Anaheim Ducks left winger Cutter Gauthier finished fifth, followed by the Sharks' Will Smith, Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven and St. Louis Blues' Zack Bolduc. Five players only received fifth-place votes, including the Hurricanes' Jackson Blake and Red Wings' Marco Kasper.

The NHL will recognize Hutson's rookie of the year honors again during the 2025 NHL Awards show, a one-hour program airing on June 12 at 6 p.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 NHL offseason is in full swing as the finish line on the Stanley Cup Final is now within sight after three games. The NHL Combine is in the books, the Gold Star prospect showcase is a week and a half away, the Draft is just over two weeks away, and free agency will begin on July 1.

The salary cap ceiling is expected to increase significantly from $88 million in 2024-25 to $95.5 million in 2025-26 and is projected to continue rising year after year for the next few years. Teams are now in positions foreign to them when compared to the last handful of seasons, as now the majority of NHL clubs have considerable cap space to spend.

Draft Eligible Prospect McQueen Compares his Game to Anaheim Ducks Legend Ryan Getzlaf

The Possibility of the Ducks Trading the Tenth Overall Pick

The most high-profile pending unrestricted free agent on the market is Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, and he may be one of the most prolific free agents in NHL history.

With the increased number of teams now able to afford Marner’s projected cap hit (7 years, $12,952,528 AAV), most of the league has been speculated as having interest in the 28-year-old, 100-point-producing former Selke finalist.

From contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings to the teams looking to make the jump into playoff contention like the Utah Mammoth, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Anaheim Ducks to the teams at the bottom of the standings like the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, and every team in between, it seems like most teams in the NHL are showing or could show interest in adding Marner to their roster, and rightfully so. He’s special, and special players aren’t often made available on the open market.

James Mirtle of The Athletic recently wrote about the nine most intriguing teams in the NHL heading into the offseason, citing the Anaheim Ducks as one of the nine. After making a considerable jump in the standings (59 points to 80), seeing the future core become the current core, and the hiring of Joel Quenneville as head coach, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has been given the green light by ownership to spend big in free agency—to the salary cap ceiling, if necessary—and the mandate to make the playoffs in 2025-26 after seven consecutive seasons on the outside looking in.

Mirtle reported “chatter” around the draft combine indicating the Ducks will send an offer Marner’s way that would make him the highest-paid player in the NHL, should he choose to sign it.

“Some of the chatter is that (the Ducks will) potentially be the high bidder for Mitch Marner, with an unheard-of average annual value north of the $14 million that Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl currently makes as the NHL’s highest-paid player,” Mirtle wrote.

The Ducks were notably rejected by a pair of unrestricted free agents—Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault—in the summer of 2024 after reportedly offering them each more term and AAV than they ended up signing for with the Nashville Predators. It seems the Ducks are preparing themselves to return to the table this summer as the NHL’s high bidder, this time hoping to reel in a bigger, younger fish.

The Ducks aren’t as close to contending for the Stanley Cup as some of the teams they’ll be reportedly bidding against in the Marner sweepstakes and they don’t have the tax advantage (if one believes there’s an advantage for teams who play in states without state income tax) of others, so submitting the offer with the most term and dollar amount will give them their greatest chance of signing him.

The Ducks have to leverage what they have if they truly intend to land Marner this summer: cap space, a willingness to spend that cap space, and a willingness to get creative, if necessary.

The Ducks demonstrated unique creativity when they structured Frank Vatrano’s three-year, $18 million contract extension during the 2024-25 season that will see him paid $900k every year for ten years, starting in 2035. His contract was structured this way to decrease his AAV from $6 million to $4.57 million. It will be worth monitoring whether the Ducks go a similar route with their potential offer for Marner.

Sticker shock will undoubtedly follow a contract offer for Marner with an AAV north of $14 million. It will give some pause, as the Ducks have several core pieces (Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Trevor Zegras, Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger) who may require substantial new contracts in the summer of 2026. That’s a bridge the Ducks may have to cross if/when they get there, as that is one of the better problems to have: too many young, talented players who’ve taken steps toward stardom and need big-money deals.

The Ducks are in a position within their build where their goal is to push for the playoffs, and Marner would be the biggest piece to help them get there. His potential signing would immediately become the largest and perhaps the most impactful transaction in franchise history, and he would immediately become a top-five talent (maybe higher) in franchise history.

It’s a shot worth taking, regardless of potential ramifications down the road. There’s a high likelihood that Mitch Marner doesn’t sign with the Anaheim Ducks. However, it would be in their best interest to offer the biggest contract on the table and, if he chooses to reject, force him to pass on becoming the highest-paid player in the NHL.

Speculation: How Four Potential Trade Targets Could Fit on the Anaheim Ducks Roster

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Mobile Defenseman

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Middle Six Center

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Top of the Lineup Point Producer

Photo Credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers were among the busiest teams in the NHL trade market during the regular season. 

Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Reilly Smith and Ryan Lindgren were among the notables the Rangers shipped out between December and the March NHL trade deadline. 

GM Chris Drury was expected to continue retooling his roster during the off-season, hoping to get his club quickly back on track as a Stanley Cup contender. 

The Hockey News’ Remy Mastey cited The Athletic's Arthur Staple, saying goaltender Igor Shesterkin, defenseman Adam Fox and left winger Artemi Panarin are the Rangers' only untouchables. Staple also indicated that the talk around the recent NHL draft combine in Buffalo had the Rangers, Sabres, Utah Mammoth and Seattle Kraken among the teams planning to shake up their rosters in the coming weeks. 

Defenseman K'Andre Miller and left winger Alexis Lafreniere could become trade candidates. Rumors were swirling about the two young Rangers last month. Miller is an RFA with arbitration rights coming off a disappointing season, while Lafreniere signed a seven-year contract extension last fall. 

Larry Brooks of the New York Post believes it seems inevitable that Miller will be traded. He cited several sources claiming the blueliner could become an offer-sheet target if he's not moved before July 1. 

PuckPedia indicates the Rangers have $8.44 million of cap space with 19 active roster players under contract for 2025-26. Re-signing RFA left winger Will Cuylle is a priority, making Miller an enticing offer-sheet target if he and the Blueshirts reach an impasse in contract talks.

Trading Miller would leave the Rangers without a skilled left-shot defenseman to skate alongside Fox on their top defense pairing. Unless Drury gets a blueliner to address that need, Brooks thinks they might have to overpay for someone like Vladislav Gavrikov if the Los Angeles Kings rearguard becomes a UFA on July 1. 

Brooks also claimed that Lafreniere was “surely available” this summer. He said the 23-year-old was the topic of several conversations during the draft combine but didn't know if those inquiries were “incoming or outgoing.” 

The first pick in the 2020 draft, Lafreniere has teased a breakout performance but has yet to burst through as a star. His $7.45-million cap hit could become an obstacle for Drury's trade plans this summer. 

Miller or Lafreniere could be part of a package offer for a young scorer. Mastey cited USA Today's Vince Mercogliano claiming the Rangers are among the teams interested in Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson. However, a recent report claimed the Stars aren't keen to move the 25-year-old Robertson and have had no trade talks with other teams.

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.

(Header/feature image courtesy of Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov is set to take part in one of the summer’s most anticipated hockey events when Russian NHL stars face off against KHL stars in Moscow on July 13. The game, fittingly dubbed the “Match of the Year,” promises to be a celebration of the sport while raising money for a good cause.

⚡️ Here's the full lineup for the Russian NHL Stars vs KHL Stars game July 13 at CSKA Arena in Moscow. ⚡️ https://t.co/vaRQFrRfSXpic.twitter.com/V74Fp3PCdw

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) June 10, 2025

Giving back is at the heart of the “Match of the Year.” All proceeds from the event are donated to charity, with last year’s game raising 10 million rubles—around $127,000. 

This year’s edition boasts an all-star roster, and Michkov is joining some of the game’s brightest Russian talents, including Alex Ovechkin, Andrei Svechnikov, Kirill Kaprizov, and Sergei Bobrovsky. It’s an enviable lineup for any hockey fan, but for Michkov—a rising star in the NHL—sharing the ice with these legends is both an honor and an opportunity to showcase his game alongside some of his most storied NHL countrymen.

Michkov is coming off a strong rookie campaign in North America, where he finished the 2024-25 campaign with 63 points, including 26 goals, which led all NHL rookies this past season. He was also able to finish out the season feeling exponentially more comfortable with the demands of an NHL season, improving his English and adjusting to the mental and physical grind of an 82-game stretch.

The scouting report is out.

Sam Bennett, who is a pending UFA, continues to increase his value on the open market with a playoff-leading 14 goals. But according to his coach, potential buyers should be aware that there is more than meets the eye before offering Bennett a $10-million salary.

“He’s got a horrible attitude,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice sarcastically told TNT reporter Jackie Redmond during a TV timeout in Monday's Game 3 between Florida and Edmonton. “I think he’s got the bubonic plague, Dengue fever, he’s got a whole bunch of things. I don’t think he can be cured.”

Given more time, Maurice might have added that Bennett also reclines his seat on commercial flights, doesn’t tip 15 percent on meals and spends his off days kicking kittens. None of it might be true. But whatever it takes to keep Bennett in a Florida Panthers jersey.

Good luck with that.

Following a two-goal performance in a 6-1 win in Game 3, Bennett moved the Panthers to within two wins of claiming a second straight Stanley Cup championship. He also put himself in the driver's seat of winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

If he achieves both, you can bet that Bennett will be rewarded in free agency.

Stanley Cup Final: Panthers Maul Oilers In Ugly Game 3SUNRISE, FLA - Panthers pounce. It's what they do.

The only question is whether he will re-sign with the Panthers, where he's spent the past five years, or take his talents to the open market.

On Monday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stressed again in a pre-game interview with the TNT panel that Florida and other tax-free states do not have a competitive advantage. But try telling that to Canadian fans who have watched as teams from the state of Florida and Nevada have reached the final in each of the past six years.

🎙️ Gary Bettman on state tax and the salary cap: “It’s a ridiculous issue. When the Florida teams weren’t good, which was for about 17 years, nobody said anything about it.” @NHL_On_TNTpic.twitter.com/A82jPYfwdh

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) June 10, 2025

“It’s a ridiculous issue," said Bettman. "When the Florida teams weren’t good, which was for about 17 years, nobody said anything about it.”

Ridiculous as it might be, the Panthers don't have a single player earning more than $10 million this season. But they also have seven UFAs, including Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad, who will need new contracts. And after making three straight final appearances, none of them will come cheap.

Bennett is likely to earn the most out of all of them. With every goal, with every hit and with every Panthers win, his value continues to grow. At the start of the playoffs, the thinking was that Bennett might be worth somewhere around $6 million. Now, it looks like Bennett could eclipse captain Aleksander Barkov, who is earning $10 million, as the highest-paid Panther.

After all, Benett is every thing that a championship-contending team is looking for.

He hits, he fights and he comes up with clutch goals. Sometimes, he does all three on a single shift, as he showed in Game 3 when he delivered back-to-back bodychecks to cause a turnover in the defensive zone, then went the length of the ice and scored on a breakaway to put the game out of reach.

Nobody else should sign Sam Bennett. Paul Maurice a trusted source.#TimeToHunt  #FlaPanthers#StanleyCup  #NHLpic.twitter.com/Z11GRtesQ3

— Panthers Historian (@FlaCatsHistory) June 10, 2025

“He’s so good all over the ice, but he doesn’t cheat the game for the two goals,” Maurice told Redmond. “He’s under pucks, he’s does all the hard, right things. That's just who he is."

Too bad he’s supposedly infected with every infectious disease known to man.

Photo credits: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images and Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

How Marco Sturm plans to make Bruins more productive offensively originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins were not a good defensive team in the 2024-25 NHL season. The goaltending was subpar, too, highlighted by Jeremy Swayman’s career-worst campaign with the B’s.

But perhaps the biggest weakness that sunk the Bruins this past season was an inability to consistently score goals, both at even strength and the power play.

Re-establishing a strong, fundamentally sound defensive structure that’s hard to play against and getting Swayman back on track will be critical in the Bruins’ road back to prominence. But ultimately, teams have to score goals to win games.

The Bruins hired Marco Sturm as their 30th head coach in franchise history last week. One of his toughest challenges will be to improve the team’s scoring production.

“I think in the Bruins DNA is playing well defensively, that’s not going to change, but we have to find a way to be more productive offensively,” Sturm said Tuesday during his introductory press conference. “That’s going to be our goal and what we’re going to address from Day 1, and obviously special teams will be a big part, too.”

The Bruins not being able to generate enough offense didn’t just begin last season. It was an issue during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, too, especially in the second-round loss to the eventual champion Florida Panthers.

But the 2024-25 campaign was where it became a severe problem for an entire season.

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The phrase “evolving offensively” was used several times during Sturm’s press conference Tuesday. What exactly does that mean? How does Sturm plan to ignite this struggling offense? A good chunk of it starts in the defensive zone by forechecking hard, winning battles, getting the puck up ice quickly and playing with speed.

“When I talk about scoring more goals, scoring goals is not just (playing) in the offensive zone,” Sturm said. “Yes, that’s where the puck is going to end up, but for me it always starts with: How are we going to get there? That’s a big part, too, not just focusing on one area. There’s areas we can definitely get better.

“It’s coming out with the puck. We want to have the puck more. We have to have better zone entries and not turn pucks over. I think that part was a big issue. In the offensive zone, we’ll put that structure in place, but we also have to be more hungry and we got to have a better mindset. … I want them to have that offensive mindset and mentality when we have the puck. We want to play with pace with and without the puck, and not just think but play the game fast.”

The power play was a significant area of weakness last season for the Bruins offense.

The Bruins ranked 29th in both power-play percentage and power-play goals. The issue wasn’t drawing enough penalties. The B’s ranked 11th in power-play opportunities and sixth in power-play ice time. The problem was poor execution, specifically with zone entries and winning enough puck battles to maintain possession in the offensive zone with the man advantage.

“A lot of it was entries, a lot of it was some injuries, but those are not excuses,” Sweeney said of the power-play struggles. “We have to find a way to be more connected, more predictable (to each other) and understand what our strengths are as a group. We spent a lof of time on it.

“The personnel could change between now and Opening Night, but there are some guys who will have to go in and execute who are currently on our roster. We’re going to attack that.

“… There was a lot of time spent on addressing special teams overall because it had been a strength of our team for a lot of years and we took a significant step back last year.”

Sweeney also confirmed that Jay Leach, Chris Kelly and Bob Essensa are staying on the coaching staff, and that they are looking to hire one more assistant. Sturm wants that hire to be a person with “some power play experience.”

A key aspect in improving offensively will be player development. It’s an area Sturm excelled in with the Los Angeles Kings organization over the last seven years.

Plenty of young players will be in the mix for roster spots in training camp. Sturm did a great job helping the Kings’ top young players — Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, for example — get ready for the NHL and thrive when they made the jump full time. Can he do the same with Fraser Minten, Fabian Lysell and Matt Poitras, among others?

The Bruins brought in Casey Mittelstadt at the trade deadline as part of the Charlie Coyle trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Maximizing Mittelstadt’s playmaking ability and finding ways for him to score more goals (his career high is 18) will be important. Elias Lindholm was disappointing offensively after signing a huge contract last summer. Can Sturm find a way to make Lindholm more effective on the power play?

And last but not least, the Bruins have to generate more scoring chances and goals from the blue line.

Zero Boston defensemen tallied 35-plus points last season. Getting Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy back healthy will help with that, but the defensemen have to be aggressive and join the rush more often. The development of 24-year-old defenseman Mason Lohrei, who tallied 33 points in his first full NHL season, will be an essential part of that process.

External upgrades to the roster will have to be made in the coming weeks and months as well, and that’s Sweeney’s job. The Bruins do not have much high-end offensive skill. They have one elite forward in David Pastrnak, who recorded 106 points (43 goals, 63 assists) last season.

Pastrnak led the B’s in scoring by 49 points — the largest gap between the No. 1 and No. 2 scorer on any team. Morgan Geekie scored 33 goals. Brad Marchand scored 21 before being traded in March. No one else on the roster scored more than 17 goals.

Sweeney has to be aggressive in the offseason to bring in top-six talent, whether that’s in free agency, the trade market or both. The Bruins have around $26.2 million in salary cap space, in addition to a better collection of prospects and draft picks to use in trades. Boston could have five first-round picks and four second-round picks over the next three drafts. That’s a lot of draft capital to potentially use in trades to acquire established players.

Depth wins championships, especially up front. It’s one of the primary reasons why the Panthers are two wins away from back-to-back titles. The Bruins need to bolster their scoring depth to have a chance at competing for a playoff spot in 2026.

“I love our team, even without any additions,” Sturm said. “I think we have good goaltending. I think when everyone stays healthy we have a really good defensive corps. I think we’re hopefully going to add a few pieces up front, but overall, I do like our core.

“But having said that, I think depth-wise we just probably need a little bit more.”

ST. LOUIS -- The 2005 NHL Draft was important for the St. Louis Blues.

It was the draft headlined by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, who is having himself a Hall Of Fame career. But he was long gone by the time the Blues selected Timothy Leif Oshie with the 24th pick. 

That draft was important, but not for the immediate impact that class would go on to make on the franchise, but it was one that would have to be the starting foundation for what would bring the Blues back to from what would turn into come lean years.

Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the Blues would go on to have the worst record and fewest points in the NHL in 2005-06 with 57 points (21-46-15). It would start a string of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs three straight years and five of six seasons.

Oshie announced his retirement on Monday after 16 seasons in the NHL:

T.J. Oshie, who helped lead the @Capitals to a #StanleyCup in 2018, has announced his retirement from the NHL after 16 seasons and 1,010 regular season games.

Full release and statement from Oshie: https://t.co/KZx1PFociUpic.twitter.com/osRPtKhjCP

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 9, 2025

He began his journey in 2008-09 with the Blues, which happened to be the one season of six starting in 05-06 that the baby Blues made the postseason.

They were swept by the Vancouver Canucks in four games in the Western Conference quarterfinal, but it was the benchmark for the franchise to move back into prominence. It included Oshie, David Backes, David Perron, Patrik Berglund, and Alex Pietrangelo. Then along came Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko, guys the Blues drafted high and used to become the faces of the franchise.

Oshie, who is now 38 and essentially ended his career with back issues, playing in his final game with the Washington Capitals on April 28, 2024 against the New York Rangers, spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Blues and was part of some of the best regular-seasons in Blues history in teams in 2011-12 (109 points), 2013-14 (111 points) and 2014-15 (109 points). 

The Blues were prominent again, and the winger then-coach Ken Hitchcock always called the "engine of the team" was a big reason why.

And who could forget T.J. 'Sochi," as Oshie was nicknamed for putting the United States on his back in the shootout of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia against the home country? He would score four of six shootout attempts that went eight rounds in USA's 3-2 win:

It was another incredible regular season and international season for Oshie, but the Blues were only able to advance past the first round once and were eliminated in the first round again. And after being upset by the Minnesota Wild in the first round in 14-15, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong felt a shakeup of that young core was needed to move even higher.

Oshie was the one made expendable at the time and was traded to the Capitals for forward Troy Brouwer, goalie Phoenix Copley and a 2016 third-round pick, which would prove to be very important.

"I thought something would possibly happen at the draft," Oshie said then. "After a couple of days, I just figured that I'd be staying in St. Louis. I got a call from Armstrong today and my initial reaction was a little bit of shock, even though that I knew it was a possibility. Then after a couple of minutes, I started getting excited to go onto the next chapter of my career. 

"... I did feel with the players in that locker room that we were falling short, but if we went back with the same team that we would have hopefully learned from some of our mistakes. But after I saw (Hitchcock) was coming back, I figured there would be at least one or two moves that 'Army' would want to make."

The Blues, with Brouwer, would move on and reach the Western Conference Final before falling in six games to the San Jose Sharks the following season in 2015-16, but at the draft in 2016, the Blues would ship that third-round pick back to the Capitals, along with the 28th pick in the first round to move up two slots to No. 26 and select ... Tage Thompson.

And Thompson was used as a piece of the blockbuster trade on July 1, 2018 with the Buffalo Sabres that brought Ryan O'Reilly to the Blues. And we all know what ensued moving forward, the first Stanley Cup in Blues history in 2019.

Perron, Schwartz, Tarasenko, Pietrangelo and Parayko were part of that championship side, and many still to this day feel Oshie belonged as well, but the trade to the Capitals in hindsight may have been best for his career. He won the Cup with the Capitals the previous year in 2018 and couldn't have been happier for the Blues to win it as well.

"I don't know if they remember, but I talked to quite a bit the night they won," Oshie said Oct. 2, 2019, the season-opener and banner-raising night for the Blues after winning the Cup. "It was morning where I was. I was on my way to the golf course actually, but there were basically all the guys that played here when I played. It was a really cool moment and glad they were able to take a couple moments to say hi to me and for me to congratulate them when they were probably at the peak of their celebration.

"I spent a large part of my life here. I was treated very, very well by the organization, by my teammates, trainers and especially the fans. When they were able to get the job done and knowing how that feels to finally do it and another place that had never won the Cup before, I was very, very happy for everyone that stuck it out. I know a lot of times they do the season-ticket holders thing where you stand up and you go all the way back to '67. Pretty cool for all those fans who have shown support and finally got the Cup, especially the players that have been grinding it out for a while who were always searching for a way to get the job done and they finally did."

T.J. Oshie may not have won a Cup here, but he will always be remembered as a Blues fan favorite; he finished his career with 695 points (302 goals, 393 assists) in 1,010 regular-season games and 69 points (34 goals, 35 assists) in 106 playoff games. 

His first NHL goal came Oct. 22, 2008 against the Detroit Red Wings:

The 2025 NHL Draft will be here before you know it. The Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers is still finishing up, but that won’t stop folks around the league from speculating what could happen during the off-season.

Of course, the draft will allow teams to make selections that they hope will change their franchise forever. The other two ways to impact your organization are free agency or trades. For the Chicago Blackhawks, trading for difference makers may be the wise move. 

Of all the players on the block around the league, the Blackhawks are likely going to be paying attention to forwards the most. They have youthful depth on defense, and Spencer Knight is in place as the starting goalie. Scorers to help Connor Bedard are at the top of Kyle Davidson’s list. 

Draft season is a time when trades are made more frequently. The Blackhawks have assets going into the draft that they can use to land one or two of their targets. These are the players worth making a call on before June 27th:

1. JJ Peterka

JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres has arrived as a top-line level player in the NHL. During the 2024-25 season, he had 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points in 77 games played. His defensive numbers weren't half bad either, which is saying something considering it was another miserable year for the Sabres. 

The Blackhawks are getting dangerously close to catching Buffalo in the rebuilding process, which is sad based on how long the Sabres have been at it. Coming to Chicago to play left wing alongside Connor Bedard may be worth the change of scenery for Peterka, who now has two good seasons under his belt and is just 23 years old. 

The Sabres didn't want to move on from Peterka ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade deadline, but the looming chance of an offer sheet may make them reconsider before the draft. Kyle Davidson may find it difficult to find a better player on the block this summer. 

2. Marco Rossi

Like Peterka, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild had a great year in 2023-24 before having his true breakout year in 2024-25. Playing top-line level minutes at times for the Wild this season, Rossi took his game to the next level in all three zones. 

He was on a much better team than Peterka, but he played his role to perfection. Making an impact on a playoff-caliber team isn't easy at his age, and he succeeded. Now, Rossi is a restricted free agent looking to be paid. 

The Wild have a lot of players to get signed in the coming years, so Rossi could end up being a cap casualty right before it starts to skyrocket. The Blackhawks should be one of the teams checking in on him. Despite being division rivals, Minnesota and Chicago have things that the other needs. 

Placing Rossi, who had 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 82 games while playing a sound defensive game, with all of the young prospects that Chicago has acquired, would help elevate both him and the team. 

3. Chris Kreider

Peterka and Rossi are young players who are seeking to take their careers to the next level, even if it means moving on from the team that drafted them. 

Well, what about a veteran who has spent his entire career with one team? That is the status of Chris Kreider, whose time as a New York Rangers player may be coming to an end. 

During a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Rangers traded away players as sellers. They also acquired JT Miller in an attempt to get back in the race at one point, but it didn't work. 

Despite being in some of the rumors, they never moved on from Kreider, who has two years left on his deal, making $6.5 million. 

At 33 years old, Kreider had 22 goals and 8 assists for 30 points in 68 games played. He fell out of favor with New York at times, including being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. 

If a team like the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Kreider for some help up front and in the leadership department, he may see a rise in his production again. This is a guy who can be counted on for at least 20 goals a season, a plateau he has reached in seven straight seasons and 10 of his last 11. 

Whether it was in a depth role or being a net-front guy with Connor Bedard, there is value that he could provide to a team like the Blackhawks. It wouldn't cost that much to trade for him either.  

Kyle Davidson may only want to acquire youth, but he hasn't been shy about adding vets in the past. With Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez retiring, Seth Jones and Taylor Hall already gone, and the future of guys like Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson in question, a player like Kreider could be useful both on and off the ice. 

Honorable mentions include players like Vladimir Tarasenko, Erik Haula, and David Kampf, who would all provide something to the forward group via trade. There is a mix of experience and youth to consider this year when it comes to making pre-draft trades. Transactions are coming in Chicago. 

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

This is not said about these two NHL teams all that often, but the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers would be perfect trade partners if the latest Rangers trade rumors are true.

Heading into the 2025 offseason, the Rangers have just $8.4 million in cap space to allocate to nine players, most of whom are key roster players.

On Saturday, Arthur Staple of The Athletic described the Rangers as one of a few teams "looking to shake up their roster soon," and named stars Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin as the likely only untouchables.

Enter the Flyers, a team with tons of cap space and a willingness to wheel and deal if the price is right. To sweeten the pot, they have a few cost-controlled assets who could help the Rangers save some money this summer, as long as there's something in it for them.

If you didn't know, Flyers GM Danny Briere and Rangers GM Chris Drury were Buffalo Sabres teammates in the early 2000s, when Drury wore the 'C' and Briere wore the 'A'.

So, would there be some Metropolitan Division rivalry? Maybe, but who says two old pals can't help each other to mutual benefit?

No. 3: K'Andre Miller, LHD

If the Rangers trade anyone this summer, it's looking like K'Andre Miller, a 6-foot-4 left-shot defenseman who can skate and move the puck, is the guy.

Miller, 25, is a pending RFA in need of a new contract, and the Rangers are not in a position to pay him what he's asking for, or market value, for that matter.

The Flyers, although not cap-strapped, are in a similar position with Cam York. We discussed this potential scenario previously, and it still could very well be a solution at the end of the day.

Flyers Mock Draft 3.0: A Bold Trade and the NHL Scouting CombineThe Philadelphia Flyers, as expected, were one of the busiest teams at the NHL Scouting Combine, giving some clues of their intentions leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft later this month.

Miller cannot leave New York without needing to be replaced, and with the left defense free agent market as barren as it is, a swap of defensemen could help both teams resolve their issues.

York is close in value to Miller, but the two talented blueliners should be at least $1 million apart in market value if for no reason other than the size difference.

In the event Miller and York sign with different teams, Evolving-Hockey predicts a $7.484 million cap hit for Miller and a $4.939 million cap hit for York. That's one way to save a large chunk of change if you're the Rangers.

No. 2: Dylan Garand, G

With Igor Shesterkin signed through 2033 with a full no-move clause, the Rangers have no reason to worry about their goaltending situation.

This could allow them to move on from an RFA like Dylan Garand to acquire other assets that can help them in other areas of the ice.

Garand, 23, is an average-sized 6-foot goalie who's steadily improved at the AHL level in each of his last three seasons with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

In 39 games with Hartford this season, Garand posted a 20-10-9 record with a 2.73 GAA and .913 save percentage, with the latter being the best of his pro career to this point by far.

It helps that Garand posted an 11-save shutout against Slovenia while playing for Canada at the World Championships last month. With Canada, Garand was lining up alongside potential future Flyers teammates Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny.

With Cal Petersen out of the picture and Aleksei Kolosov's future cloudy, the Flyers have only Carson Bjarnason holding down in the fort at the AHL level. At 23 years old, Garand is at the perfect age to bridge the gap between the AHL and NHL levels and threaten for NHL time if Sam Ersson or Ivan Fedotov falter again in 2025-26.

Former Flyers Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky Makes NHL Playoffs HistoryMuch to the perpetuated disappointment of Philadelphia Flyers fans, former Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky continues to steal the show in the NHL playoffs, setting a new postseason record while playing with the Florida Panthers.

Should the Rangers not have immediate plans for Garand, who is behind both Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick in the pecking order, opportunity could knock at the former fourth-round pick's door dressed in Orange and Black.

No. 1: Will Cuylle, LW

Pending RFA left wing Will Cuylle, like Miller, should earn quite the payday this summer. It's just unclear if the Rangers are willing to be the team to make that happen.

Evolving-Hockey currently projects Cuylle, 23, to earn a three-year deal worth $3.195 million annually from the Rangers this offseason, but it's fully plausible he and his camp demand more.

In just his second season in the NHL this year, the former second-round pick racked up 20 goals, 25 assists, and 45 points on a downtrodden Rangers team that seldom utilized his shooting talent on the power play.

The Flyers could really use the 6-foot-3 Cuylle, a left-shot winger, given their gross overabundance of right wingers, some of whom have been pigeonholed into permanent left wing roles.

Tyson Foerster, a potential contract comparable, just re-upped with the Flyers for two seasons at a manageable cap hit of $3.75 million, but he has no trade protection in his deal.

The diminutive Bobby Brink has one year left on his contract at a $1.5 million cap hit and quietly produced 41 points in a limited role this past season. If the Rangers are fine with the stark height difference, Brink could present them with a creative way to save some money this summer.

In the NHL, you have to give in order to get, and some of these prices and ideas might be uncomfortable for one or both teams.

And to finish the rebuild successfully, the Flyers must start to get creative as their cap situation continues to improve.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

When the Toronto Maple Leafs plucked Matthew Knies out of the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, his potential was unknown.

He was a big, strong forward who dominated college, much like what we've seen in the past two seasons with him in the NHL. However, now, the 22-year-old and the Maple Leafs meet at a crossroads of what term and price tag they think Knies is worth as a restricted free agent.

After two seasons in the NHL with Toronto, Knies has 44 goals and 50 assists for 94 points in 161 games. He signed his entry-level contract in 2023, joining the Maple Leafs on their playoff run, and winning their first series — eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games — since 2004.

Knies was an integral part of that series, scoring three assists, including one on John Tavares' series-winning goal in overtime against the Lightning in Game 6. With some players, you fear their playoff production, at times, could go out of kilter.

Tanev, Gourde Contracts And Deferred Money Provide A Blueprint For Maple Leafs To Re-Sign John TavaresJohn Tavares wants to stay in Toronto. The former Maple Leafs captain made that clear when speaking to reporters shortly after his team was eliminated in the second round at the hands of the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. This desire, coupled with the Maple Leafs' cap constraints, begs the question: How can both sides find common ground? Reportedly, the Maple Leafs would welcome him back, but not at the hefty $11 million per season salary cap hit that came with his first contract in Toronto. Recent contracts signed by other players offer a compelling glimpse into potential solutions.

However, not with Knies.

The 6-foot-3, 227-pound winger, who by the sounds of it wants to get bigger and faster in the offseason, has scored eight goals and six assists in 27 playoff games across three years. It's the sixth-most playoff points among Maple Leafs since Knies joined the club in 2023.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has plenty on his to-do list this summer, including re-signing Tavares and other potential unrestricted free agents. While the Tavares contract might be the most challenging to construct, Knies' deal could be just as difficult to manufacture. 

What could Knies' contract look like?

There are two paths this negotiation could go down: a long-term extension, which I'd say both parties would like, or a bridge deal. Signing Knies long-term would put the forward at ease, knowing he's here for the long run, especially after the forward has expressed his desire to remain in Toronto.

"I want to be here. I want to play here. That's all that really matters to me... I think it's the best chance for me to win," Knies said during the team's locker clean-out day.

'It's The Best Chance For Me To Win': Matthew Knies Addresses Short-Term Future With Maple LeafsMatthew Knies wants to be a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the long haul.

One enormous topic in negotiations will be Knies' playoff production. I say that because Knies has a 0.52 points-per-game, the 65th-best among players who've skated in 20+ games during the postseason since 2023. He's the second-youngest behind Wyatt Johnston, who sits 51st with a 0.57 points-per-game.

Johnston, the same age as Knies, signed a five-year, $42 million contract with the Dallas Stars in March, with an annual average value of $8.4 million. There are a few reasons why Knies won't get that much, including the fact that Johnston is a center, whilst Knies isn't.

There's also the fact that Johnston's regular-season points-per-game (0.71) is much higher than Knies' (0.58). The caveat: Johnston has 85 more games of NHL experience over Knies.

Don't forget about the lack of tax on Johnston's deal. Maybe Knies' team pushes to get closer to that Johnston's AAV? After all, the forward had a career-year this season, scoring 58 points — 29 goals and 29 assists — in 78 games, and it'd be safe to expect that point total to rise again next year.

'A Big Part Of The Future Moving Forward': Why Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Is Confident In Re-Signing RFA Matthew KniesNine days after Matthew Knies admitted his desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs beyond this season, Toronto general manager Brad Treliving said the same.

"I think Matthew's still just scratching the surface. So we've got to see what fits for us, what fits for them," Treliving said during his end-of-season media availability on Knies and his contract.

"But I see him as a long-term player here. I'm not trying to be elusive. You'd always like to sign them all for the longest and as lowest as you can. He's a hell of a player, and we're working on it."

Twenty-two-year-old Matt Coronato signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract (a $6.5 million AAV) with the Calgary Flames in early May. Coronato isn't as big as Knies and hasn't produced as much as the Maple Leafs' forward, albeit he's played one and a half seasons of NHL hockey.

Still, though, Knies' playoff production — tied into his ever-growing NHL potential — should put him at a higher number than Coronato, if the contract's term is similar.

Should The Maple Leafs Pursue Brad Marchand In Free Agency? How Much Is Too Much To Pay?Brad Marchand is once again proving why he's one of the NHL's ultimate premier playoff performers. As an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the question must be asked: Should the Maple Leafs aggressively pursue the veteran player who consistently performs well against them?

If both parties want a long-term deal done, I'd say the right AAV at seven or eight years is around $7.25 million. I'd even do $7.5 million with the cap set to rise over the next few years. At seven years, it'd be a $50.75 million contract. At eight years, it'd be a $58 million deal.

It cushions Knies between Coronato and Johnston in cap hit while giving Toronto more money to work with this summer.

Tavares and Marner's expiring contract allows for the Maple Leafs to do right by Knies. They don't need to penny-pinch, nor do they need to make this negotiation difficult. The forward's potential is evident, especially after the last postseason.

And if the Maple Leafs truly believe in his future, then they should invest appropriately.

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The Florida Panthers played their best game of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Sunrise.

Florida took an early lead and kept their foot on the gas, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 and taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

What turned out to be a great night for the Panthers was anything but for Edmonton.

As the game continued to get away from them, the Oilers resorted to dishing out some questionable hits resulting in the expected fisticuffs. At one point during the third period, every non-goalie player on the ice was fighting.

It will be interesting to see how the two teams respond to a game like this, because it’s far from what we saw in Edmonton during Games 1 and 2.

Let’s get to the Game 3 takeaways:

PENALTY-FEST

Well before the game got out of hand and the misconducts starting piling up, the Panthers and Oilers played a first period that saw more special teams play than even strength.

A total of eight minor penalties were called during the opening 20 minutes, yet only one power play goal was scored.

By the time the dust settled on the night, officials had called a total of 140 penalty minutes.

Edmonton finished 1-for-6 on the power play while Florida scored three times while up a man on a whopping 11 opportunities.

To his credit, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice seemed to downplay the amount of penalties that were called.

“Most of those weren't important, right?” Maurice said. “The last important ones were around the nine minute mark of the third period. Still, I watched that Vancouver-Dallas game where (Vancouver) scored three goals in a minute, so there's still a hockey game there at the nine minute mark, then we go into the power play. So all the ones after that don’t matter.”

GLOVES WERE DROPPED

Generally, you don’t often see fights in the Stanley Cup Final.

That’s what made the third period of Game 3 so strange to see play out.

Not only were there multiple fights, but at one point, everyone on the ice not wearing goalie gear was tied up with someone.

The Oilers definitely lost their cool during that period.

There is no arguing that.

But even in moments of such anger and hostility, there is a camaraderie in how the players will stick up for their teammates that makes it pretty cool to see, especially with two teams as tight as the Panthers and Oilers.

“I think you're going to get that answer from any team in the National Hockey League that’s playing in June, or we're not here. Both teams,” Maurice said. “There's so much passion in the game, by the time you've gone on this journey, Edmonton and Florida I believe are the two teams that have been on the longest journey for the last three years. We've both been through it, right? So both teams are going to stick up for each other. They care about each other. The core is pretty much the same for both teams. The drivers of the team are the same for the last three years, so we'll always have each other's back.”

EKBLAD SHINES

The first couple games of the Stanley Cup Final were a little rough on Florida’s top defensive pairing.

Both Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling struggled during Game 1 and finished a combined minus-4 with no points and just one shot on goal apiece.

Game 2 saw Forsling bounce back in a big way, making several spectacular defensive players, breaking up opportunities for Edmonton left and right, and in some very big moments.

Ekblad was steady in Game 2, but boy did he look good in Game 3.

The smooth skating blueliner appeared more comfortable on Monday night, finishing with a goal on three shots and a plus-1 rating to go with five hits and six penalty minutes.

“I thought he was all energy in the first two games,” said Maurice. “He was covering a lot of ice, and tonight, I thought he was perfectly focused on the game. He was still doing it, but defined in the areas (like) when he was pinching. I thought he played a really smart, veteran game. He's a physical player. He can close the gap now. It’s all part of that, Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad, both of these guys came into the league as offensive players, but there's quite a bit more to their game than that, and (with) Aaron, that's on full display now.”

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; A fight breaks out during the third period between Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

SUNRISE, FLA - Panthers pounce. It's what they do.

In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final, the Florida Panthers did indeed jump all over the Edmonton Oilers, with a couple of usual suspects doing damage.

Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand once again led the charge as the Cats looked faster and more focused than the Oilers. In the end, it was a 6-1 trouncing that gave Florida a 2-1 lead in the series and Edmonton needing some serious introspection after an outing that lacked a lot of discipline.

"You guys have seen it enough," Panthers right winger Sam Reinhart said. "We're trying to play the same way every night, keep it as simple as possible and take away time and space."

The first period got off to the same quick start as the previous two games of the series, with Marchand finding a puck out of a scramble and wristing one past Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner.

"Playing with the lead is huge," said Marchand's teammate, Carter Verhaeghe. "Both teams want to have good starts, get your foot in the door and play with a lead. 'Marchy' has been huge all playoffs for us."

After that, the opening stanza was, unfortunately, a parade to the penalty box for both teams.

There were eight minors called in all - two on Edmonton's Evander Kane, whose physicality became a double-edged sword for the Oilers. Despite all the man-advantages, the score remained 1-0 until Viktor Arvidsson was given the gate for goalie interference on Sergei Bobrovsky with less than three minutes to go. Florida made the Oilers pay on the ensuing power play with Verhaeghe cashing in off a sweet feed from Evan Rodrigues in the bumper position.

"He's got so much speed and one of the best releases in the game," Reinhart said about Verhaeghe. "There are moments when guys get nervous, and it seems like his heart rate might be 60, he's just skating around out there, doing his thing. And it's not like he plays a light game, either."

The Oilers showed some life early in the second as Corey Perry continued his awesome playoff run, popping in a rebound on Bobrovsky's doorstep to cut the lead in half. But a Sam Reinhart wrister put Florida back up by two after the Panthers forced a turnover on Jake Walman in the offensive zone less than two minutes later.

The deluge continued when Eetu Luostarinen sent Sam Bennett in alone on a breakaway after an offensive zone turnover by Vasily Podkolzin to make the score 4-1. Bennett hit Podkolzin in open ice before the play.

"He's been an animal these whole playoffs," Marchand said of Bennett. "He's built for this time of year with how competitive and intense he is and the physicality piece. That shift was a perfect example of his game: blows two guys up and somehow leads the rush after that and scores a beautiful goal. He can do it all."

Things temporarily looked even worse for Edmonton after Connor McDavid was rocked by an open-ice hit from Aaron Ekblad, sending the Oilers captain down the tunnel. Luckily, McDavid returned soon after and seemed fine.

Heading into the third, the Oilers needed some pushback. But it was the Cats keeping the pressure on, and Ekblad extended the Florida lead to 5-1 with a blast on the power play off a great behind-the-back Reinhart pass. That was also the end of Skinner's night, as he was replaced by Calvin Pickard - but to be fair, this was not about Skinner having a bad night but rather everyone in front of him.

This was certainly the nastiest game of the series so far and a line brawl broke out midway through after Trent Frederic mugged Bennett. Darnell Nurse and Jonah Gadjovich had an extended fight near center ice while even Connor Brown and Nate Schmidt threw down with each other.

" 'Gadjy' did an incredible job sticking up for the guys there and taking on Nurse, who's obviously a tough guy as well," Marchand said. "(The fourth line's) entire game, they carried so much emotion and gave us so much energy. There were a lot of momentum swings in our favor because of the style they play."

Edmonton basically spent the rest of the game attacking Panthers, leading to yet another parade to the penalty box and a number of game misconducts. But Florida tried to keep its composure.

"It's not too difficult; you're just trying to close out a game. That's what we did," Reinhart said. 

Rodrigues put home an emphatic slap shot goal with less than four minutes to go as a rejoinder.

Just like that, the Panthers are two games away from defending their Stanley Cup championship. Game 4 takes place on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

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A little home cooking sure did the Florida Panthers some good.

Hosting their first game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, Florida jumped all over the Oilers early and often, skating to a resounding 6-1 win in Game 3.

Florida now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to send the home fans into an early frenzy.

Right off a faceoff in the Oilers zone, Anton Lundell took the puck behind the net and tried a spinning centering pass.

The puck bounced around the slot and found its way to Brad Marchand, who wired a shot past a down and out Stuart Skinner to give Florida a 1-0 lead just 56 seconds into the game.

Both teams ended up with multiple power plays during the opening 20 minutes, but after three man advantages apiece, neither team could cash in.

That was until Florida’s fourth power play, which came on a goaltender interference penalty against Viktor Arvidsson.

Carter Verhaeghe found some open ice in the right circle and sent a laser of a wrist shot just inside the near post that went over Skinner’s blocker and into the net, giving the Cats a 2-0 lead that they would take into the first intermission.

Thanks to a penalty by Lundell at the end of the first period, Edmonton went on their fourth power play of the game to open the middle frame.

Cory Perry picked up his own rebound after deflecting a shot by Evan Bouchard and quickly fired the puck over Bobrovsky’s pad to get the Oilers on the board.

Just 80 seconds later, Sasha Barkov forced a turnover in Edmonton’s end, and the puck quickly found its way to Sam Reinhart who picked up his first goal (and point) of the Final to put the Cats back up by two.

They weren’t done there.

Sam Bennett scored on a breakaway less than five minutes later, extending Florida’s lead to 4-1 and sending the Amerant Bank Arena crowd into jubilation.

Florida would go on their sixth power play of the game early in the third period, and it led to their fifth goal of the game.

A pretty passing play that saw the puck go from Matthew Tkachuk to Reinhart to Aaron Ekblad ended with the blueliner beating a sprawling Skinner to make it 5-1 Panthers.

The goal would send Skinner to the showers early as Calvin Pickard came in to replace him after the starter allowed five goals on 23 shots.

As the game got later, the penalties came fast and furious.

Evan Rodrigues added a power play goal with under four minutes left to put the Panthers up 6-1 while the Oilers just seemed to be taking chap shots wherever they could.

Edmonton finished the game with 85 penalty minutes while Florida logged 55 of their own. 

This series is getting heated, people.

On to Game 4.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Marchand has scored a goal in every game of the Stanley Cup Final so far. He's up to four goals in three Final games.

He’s also racked up eight goals and 18 points through 20 playoff games.

Bennett also has goals in each Final game. He’s scored in four straight overall, but all but two of his 14 playoff goals have come on home ice.

Anton Lundell picked up the primary assist on Marchand’s goal, his third helper over his past two games.

Reinhart’s goal and assist were his first points of the Final.

Nate Schmidt picked up an assist on Verhaeghe's goal, his fifth helper of the Final. He's got at least a point in each game so far.

Evan Rodrigeus extended his point streak to four games after assisting on Verhaeghe’s goal. He has points in three straight and 12 points over his past nine games.

Speaking of Verhaeghe, he’s also picked up points in four straight, with two goals and six points during the streak.

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand (63) celebrates scoring against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the first period in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

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

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

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan, Michael Traikos and Michael Augello react to the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers' going at each other in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

Join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.

Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers Game 3 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

Stay tuned to The Hockey News and Playoff Frenzy Live throughout the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the show here.

Promo image credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images