Category: NHL

Oilers' Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner vs. Panthers in Stanley Cup Final Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play in overtime, Stuart Skinner made 29 saves and the Edmonton Oilers erased a multigoal deficit to beat the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night.

After Tomas Nosek’s penalty for putting the puck over the glass, Draisaitl’s goal 19:29 into OT sent the home fans into a frenzy and made sure the Oilers would not start this series like they did a year ago, when they fell behind three games to none.

For a while, it looked like they would at least start out trailing. Draisaitl’s goal 66 seconds in was followed later in the first period by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot in past Stuart Skinner after falling into him.

Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida’s Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.

With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.

At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” that followed goals he allowed.

Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of “Stuuuu” after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.

Up next

Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4.

EDMONTON – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly held their annual Stanley Cup press conference before Game 1, and the lack of drama was actually a great sign for the league.

One topic that did get on Bettman's nerves, however, was all the talk about how teams, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, have been so successful lately, given that they reside in a tax-free state.

Bettman even had Daly answer the question of whether the NHL will be looking to address the matter in the next collective bargaining agreement because the commissioner said he hates the issue.

For the record, Daly said there are no plans to address the matter in the next CBA, which the league and NHLPA are working on right now. While he said some franchises have raised it as a concern, the league isn't worried at this point.

"These imbalances have existed forever," Daly said. "There's nothing new here. There are so many reasons why a player may choose to play in a particular location for a particular team, for a particular coach, that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market."

Hockey & Taxes: What An NHL Player Pays In Taxes Depending On Their TeamNHL players must deal with two certainties: the eventual death of their career and the taxes they will pay during it. We calculated the taxes they will pay.

Ron Hainsey, the NHLPA's assistant executive director, had some great words on the matter after the press conference, when he and union head Marty Walsh had their own scrum with reporters.

"Who ran the league between 2008 and ’20?" Hainsey said. "Boston, Pittsburgh, L.A., Chicago, Detroit for a bit. Were we supposed to expect Tampa and Florida not to be good at some point? I'm baffled this keeps coming up. You never hear about this in the NFL or NBA."

Otherwise, Bettman and Daly addressed a number of topics.

On how the current CBA negotiations are going compared to in the past: "No comparison," Bettman said. "We are having very constructive, cordial dialogue. I think we're in really good shape."

Walsh echoed this sentiment.

On expansion into markets such as Houston, Atlanta or Phoenix: "We've gotten a lot of interest," Daly said. The deputy commissioner went on to note that there are no formal expansion bid processes on the docket, but if someone came to the NHL with a strong plan, they would take it to the Board of Governors.

Elsewhere, look for the New York Islanders to get some sort of all-star event in 2027 to replace the one initially announced for 2026 ahead of the Olympics. Do not expect a change to overtime/shootout rules in the regular season, and don't even ask Bettman about play-in games being added to the NHL schedule.

"By the way, we had a play-in," Bettman said. "Did you know that three clubs' positions in the playoffs weren't determined until the last game that they played in the regular season? We think that what we have is working very well."

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The Buffalo Sabres are in need of many things this summer -- but more than anything else, they need some veterans to come in and establish a winning standard for a new era for the franchise. And while it won't be a cakewalk to acquire the type of talent that can change things for the Sabres, that doesn't mean Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams shouldn't be swinging for the fences in trades and free agency. 

And one intriguing possibility for the Sabres is a veteran center with a Stanley Cup championship on his resume -- Calgary Flames star Nazem Kadri. The 34-year-old is coming off a career-best scoring season, with 35 goals and 67 points. And he's locked up to a very reasonable salary that pays him $7-million per season for the next four years.

Now, Kadri has said he's comfortable in Calgary, and he has a full no-trade clause this year, so this admittedly could be a pipe dream. However, what's the harm in Adams making a pitch to the Flames for Kadri's services? He's an Ontario native who might want to play much closer to home than Alberta is. And although Calgary narrowly missed out on the playoffs this past season, you can make a solid argument that the Sabres have more overall depth and talent than the Flames. Maybe he wants to take a bigger swing with a new team.

And if it does work out, Kadri will make Buffalo a much tougher team to play against -- something that most observers want to see from a newly-rejigged Sabres team. And even if Kadri's play begins to slip, you're still getting someone who knows what it is to be a winner, and who knows how to be a true professional. 

Players like Kadri aren't going to fall into Buffalo's lap. Adams will have to make the move worth Calgary's while, and that means giving up young players and draft picks that will be part of the Flames long-term rebuild. But the Sabres have plenty of those type of assets, and if they do want to take the next competitive step, they're going to have to pay a steep price for it. 

Sabres Won't Land Maple Leafs' Marquee Free Agents -- But They Can Set Their Sights On This Young Leafs Player Via TradeThe Buffalo Sabres have $23.2 million in salary cap space to play with this summer.  But for reasons we've covered in this THN.com article, Sabres fans can forget about acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs star and UFA right winger Mitch Marner. It's just not happening, folks. Marner probably isn't coming back to Toronto, but he's damn sure not coming to a team that hasn't made the playoffs in nearly a decade-and-a-half. And the same goes for Leafs UFA center John Tavares, who is going to happily accept a major pay cut from the $11-million he made this year if it means staying with his beloved hometown Leafs. 

But that said, Kadri would be a terrific option for Buffalo. In a market where top-six forwards are hard to come by, acquiring Kadri from the Flames would be a gigantic win for Adams and Sabres brass. It's not going to be easy by any means, but a gamble on Kadri could pay off in a very big way.

Kadri isn't a game-changer per se, but he is someone who would put a burr into the Sabres' saddle. And that's precisely what this organization needs at the moment. Adams may well look to other options to change the culture around the team, but if he can pry Kadri out of Calgary's hands, it could be one of the key moves that turns the Sabres from perennial disappointment to a playoff team at long last.

Sabres Moving On From Rising Free Agent Star Would Be A Disastrous DecisionAfter 14 years of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres have to change up their lineup. However, this organization cannot afford to play fast-and-loose with most of their assets -- and that includes up-and-coming left winger J.J. Peterka.

So yes, Kadri is definitely worth enquiring about for Buffalo, and stranger things have happened in the NHL than seeing Kadri in a Sabres uniform. You never know until you try, and the Sabres should be trying their utmost to bring in a player with the pedigree that Kadri has. He can help set a new standard for this organization, and he'd be well worth the price Buffalo would have to pay for him.

One of the most popular rumors that circulated prior to the NHL trade deadline involved the Buffalo Sabres interest in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. That speculation evaporated after the trade that sent JT Miller to the NY Rangers in late January, but there may be some smoke to that fire according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.  

The 26-year-old center, who had the second-worst offensive season of his NHL career in the first year of an eight-year, $92.8 million deal with the Canucks, has a no-movement clause in his contract that kicks in on July 1. Buffalo is undeniably looking to shake their roster up after their 14th straight season outside of the playoffs, and has pieces that might interest Vancouver in a hockey deal.

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Pagnotta indicated that RFA defenseman Bowen Byram is likely to be moved by Buffalo, as he is slotted behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power on the left side of the Sabres blueline, and said that other names such as Power, wingers JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch have been mentioned as possible trade targets. The rumors regarding Buffalo and Pettersson involved Byram and Dylan Cozens, who was dealt to Ottawa at the deadline for center Josh Norris. 

There has been consistent chatter that the Canucks would expect to get a top center in a deal for Pettersson, something that the Sabres may be unwilling or unable to provide, although Norris does not have any trade protection next season. Peterka is a restricted free agent who could be a target for an offer sheet this summer, Tuch is entering the final year of his contract and makes a very reasonable $4.75 million AAV in 2025-26, while Power also is entering year two of a seven-year, $58.45 million contract and does not have any trade protection as well. 

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The NHL’s coaching carousel spins fast once again, with seven teams changing bench bosses after their season ended. 

After the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Dan Muse, there’s only one coaching vacancy left – but there may be a second coming in short order, depending on what happens with the Dallas Stars.

The Boston Bruins are the only team without a coach right now, after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported he believes interim bench boss Joe Sacco is out of the running for the job. 

Soon enough, the Dallas Stars could be in need of a new coach if they fire veteran Peter DeBoer.

If you’re a Bruins fan who saw DeBoer throw Stars goalie Jake Oettinger under the bus in the wake of Dallas’ third-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers and read the reports that players spoke out against him in exit interviews, you shouldn’t want your team to wait and see what happens with DeBoer before deciding on your next coach.

Now, DeBoer has carved out a very nice NHL coaching career. In 17 seasons, he’s coached 1,261 regular-season games, posting a 662-447-152 record in that span. And he’s guided the five teams he’s coached – the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Stars – to 10 playoff appearances. You don’t get that many chances to coach in hockey’s top league if you don’t know what you’re doing.

But DeBoer’s experience doesn’t mean he’s the best choice for the Bruins’ job. 

DeBoer still hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, and after his first season getting the Devils to the Cup final in 2011-12, he hasn’t gotten his team past the conference final. If he were a player, he’d be considered a journeyman by now – and you can’t convince us that DeBoer should be gifted with another job once the Stars let him go simply because he’s been around for a long time.

Just like what Pittsburgh did by hiring Muse instead of seeing if DeBoer becomes available, hiring a first-time coach is the better solution for Boston. 

Look at the Washington Capitals. When they changed coaches last season, they went with a rookie NHL coach in Spencer Carbery, and it paid off spectacularly. The Caps got into the playoffs in Carbery’s first season in D.C., and they were the top regular-season team in the Eastern Conference this season. Carbery didn’t have a long resume to point to, but he was the right choice for the job, and the Caps are better today for it.

This is why someone like Mitch Love, who’s currently an assistant coach with Washington, would be a much better choice for the Bruins. 

Rather than giving someone like DeBoer who is, frankly, a retread, why not give an opportunity to a highly-regarded young coach like Love or AHL Ontario bench boss Marco Sturm? There’s no guarantee any coach works out the way a team hopes they will, but a fresh voice with something to prove could work wonders for Boston.

Certainly, things have soured in a hurry for DeBoer in Dallas. His poor choice of words for Oettinger – the Stars’ goalie of the present and the future – means he’s drawn a line in the sand.

But the Bruins hiring DeBoer isn’t a situation like the one that saw the St. Louis Blues fire coach Drew Bannister once Jim Montgomery was fired by the Bruins. Montgomery is still relatively early in his NHL coaching career, and he was rightfully voted as the 2023 winner of the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach. You can’t say either thing about DeBoer at this stage. 

The league clearly values coaching experience, and DeBoer has plenty of that. But there’s something to be said for a coach who hasn’t had a golden opportunity put in front of them yet. There’s a hunger there and a drive that might not be there for someone who would be on his sixth different NHL team.

So yes, if you’re a Bruins fan, you don’t want your team to bring in DeBoer. Starting a new era often means starting with someone who hasn’t had the chances other people have had, and we’d rather see someone like Love implementing a new vision than someone like DeBoer swinging and missing yet again.

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In order to free up cap space and shake up the roster, the most talked about option has been trading pending restricted free agent Nicolas Hague, and recently, trusted insider Elliotte Friedman shared a team that has shown plenty of interest in trading for Hague.

That team is the Philadelphia Flyers. Acquiring Hague would make a lot of sense for the Flyers. They have the salary cap space to sign him to a long-term deal, and his age fits the Flyers' timeline. The Flyers won't be competing for a Stanley Cup in the next year or two but will want to begin to take steps in the right direction, which starts by competing for a playoff spot. 

At just 26 years old and with plenty of playoff experience, including winning a Stanley Cup, Hague would be a fantastic addition to Rick Tocchet's squad. 

The Golden Knights haven't come out and claimed they are actively looking to trade Hague, but reports have stated that they are taking calls on him and are listening to offers. With players like Kaedan Korczak, Lukas Cormier and Ben Hutton waiting on the outskirts, it's made Hague expendable considering he can command a lot of money on his next contract. 

The Golden Knights would be looking to regain draft capital in exchange for Hague, although the market for the Kitchener, ON native, has yet to be set. The Flyers have three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the Golden Knights could be looking to move Hague to get back into the first round and begin to repair their prospect pool. 

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

Golden Knights Reportedly Entertaining Calls On Nicolas HagueThe Vegas Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap heading into the offseason and will likely need to make moves to remain under and improve their team. According to a report by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Golden Knights could do so by trading Nicolas Hague and are entertaining calls and engaging in trade discussions.  Could Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague Be On The Move This Offseason?Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague finished the final year of a three-year, $2,294,150 contract he signed with the franchise, making him a restricted free agent this offseason and a player who could garner a lot of interest from other teams. 

By Nevan Oliveira, The Hockey News intern

Excitement builds for a Stanley Cup final rematch between the defending champion Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.

Fans are eager to see if Florida can be the third NHL team to repeat in the last decade or if Edmonton can finally end Canada’s 32-year Cup drought.

Both teams are stacked with talent, but the edge may go to the one playing with more confidence and urgency. That includes players who returned from injury, underperformed last year or are on their first or potentially last deep playoff run.

Here’s a look at some of those players with something to prove heading into this high-stakes matchup starting June 4.

Brad Marchand, LW, $6.125 million AAV

For the first time in his impressive 16-year career, Brad Marchand is heading to the Stanley Cup final as something other than a Boston Bruin. 

Marchand has reached the Cup final three times – winning against Vancouver in 2011, then losing to Chicago in 2013 and St. Louis in 2019. In the 20 games combined from those final appearances, Marchand had seven goals and 12 points.

Marchand got another chance to chase a Cup this year after the falling Bruins moved him to the Panthers in the final moments of NHL trade deadline day – and he’s making the most of it. At 37, this could be his last kick at the can in the Cup final, depending on what happens with his pending UFA status this summer.

Seth Jones, D, $9.5 million AAV

Seth Jones has at last reached the Stanley Cup final in his third month as a Panther.

After a tough stint in Chicago where his performance suffered despite consistent scoring, Jones was traded for Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick, offering a fresh start reminiscent of his more successful Columbus years.

In Florida’s 17-game playoff run, Jones has three goals, seven points and a plus-9 rating alongside Niko Mikkola. Now, with a shot at the Cup, Jones can prove he’s still an elite defenseman at 30.

Evan Rodrigues, C/W, $3 million AAV

Rodrigues has become increasingly noticeable as the playoffs progress, highlighted by a standout series against Carolina, where he tallied one goal and seven of his 11 playoff points in just five games.

In last year’s Stanley Cup final against the Oilers, Rodrigues led the team with four goals and seven points. If Rodrigues can carry that level of confidence and performance against the Oilers once again and deliver a strong showing in another Stanley Cup final, he could significantly boost his next salary when his current contract expires in 2027.

Leon Draisaitl, C, $14 million AAV

As one of the NHL’s most effective players, the only thing missing from Draisaitl’s resume – like Connor McDavid – is a Stanley Cup. 

He underperformed in last year’s Cup final, recording just three points and a minus-2 plus-minus, though coach Kris Knoblauch later revealed he was playing through hand and rib injuries. 

Now, healthier and hungrier, this rematch against the Panthers provides Draisaitl with another opportunity to prove his dominance and bring the Cup back to Edmonton.

Oilers And Panthers' Conn Smythe Contenders Ahead Of The Stanley Cup FinalThe NHL’s Stanley Cup final starts Wednesday, and players on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are making a strong case for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Stuart Skinner, G, $2.6 million AAV

With Edmonton placing a stronger emphasis on defense down the stretch of these playoffs, Stuart Skinner has shown his capabilities. Since taking over from Calvin Pickard against Vegas, he’s posted a .931 save percentage and a 1.73 goals-against average over eight games, winning six of them. 

If Skinner can help lead the Oilers to a Stanley Cup for the first time since the days of Grant Fuhr and Bill Ranford, his reputation will be transformed – and so will his future contract value.

Evander Kane, LW/RW, $5.125 million AAV

Before this post-season, Kane didn't play since Game 2 against Florida last year. He recovered from two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, two torn lower abdominal muscles and a knee injury to play in this year's playoffs. He’s contributed five goals and 11 points in 15 games so far. 

Now, hopefully close to full health, Kane brings a physical edge and scoring touch the Oilers miss without him. If Edmonton deploys him effectively, he can use his snarl to disrupt the Panthers’ rhythm and chip in with gritty, timely goals, which we saw in the clincher against Dallas.

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.

Oilers' Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner vs. Panthers in Stanley Cup Final Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play in overtime, Stuart Skinner made 29 saves and the Edmonton Oilers erased a multigoal deficit to beat the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday night.

After Tomas Nosek’s penalty for putting the puck over the glass, Draisaitl’s goal 19:29 into OT sent the home fans into a frenzy and made sure the Oilers would not start this series like they did a year ago, when they fell behind three games to none.

For a while, it looked like they would at least start out trailing. Draisaitl’s goal 66 seconds in was followed later in the first period by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot in past Stuart Skinner after falling into him.

Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida’s Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.

With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.

At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” that followed goals he allowed.

Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of “Stuuuu” after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.

Up next

Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4.

The 2025 Stanley Cup Finals begins tonight between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers and we simulated the series in NHL 25 to see who the game predicts to lift the cup. 

We used the most recent roster update and line predictions for the series in NHL 25 Playoff Mode, with Zach Hyman out of the Oilers lineup and Connor Brown inserted for Jeff Skinner. 

The simulation predicted the Florida Panthers to win the series in five games.

The Oilers took game one before the Panthers roared back to win the next four games to capture the cup. The Panthers won all of their games by at least two goals. 

Matthew Tkachuk led the series with nine points, Sam Reinhart had seven, Leon Draisaitl had six to round out the top three. 

Aleksander Barkov, Connor McDavid, and Sam Bennett each had five points, Barkov led the finals with four goals, just ahead of McDavid and Evander Kane who each had three.

Sergei Bobrovsky outplayed Stuart Skinner by a significant margin in the series, posting a .919 SP and 2.41 GAA while Skinner had a .897 SP and 3.84 GAA.

Florida outscored Edmonton 20-12 with five of them coming on the powerplay. 

While this simulation does not expect to see a close matchup we will see how closely it resembles the real series beginning tonight. 

EA SPORTS NHL predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup in their official simulation. 

Double Shift Week 2 can be seen here.

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

Photo Credit: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Zach Hyman didn't travel with the Edmonton Oilers when they went to Dallas to eliminate the Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference final, but he got to celebrate the win with the team.

After suffering an injury in Game 4 from a hit by Stars left winger Mason Marchment, Hyman watched from afar.

"It was the day after my surgery – I was sitting on my couch with my wife and mother-in-law just watching," Hyman told reporters on Wednesday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

As Oilers players wore their 2025 Western Conference champions hats in the dressing room, the team got on a FaceTime call with Hyman to say they miss him and can't wait to see him back in Edmonton.

Hyman said he didn't expect the call, but it meant the world to him.

"It caught me off guard," Hyman said. "Honestly, I was crying. It was really emotional, to feel so much a part of the team, and for them to do that in that moment, it meant a lot.

"I'm going to be with the team the whole way acting like I'm playing, but obviously not."

Hyman won't play in the final. He gave more details about what happened.

"I just felt my wrist kind of go on me, and even then you still think, whatever it is, you'll be able to play through it or there'll be a chance you can play through it," he said.

"The wrist was dislocated, so a lot goes into that, the ligaments, breaks, whatever else," Hyman added. "I don't want to get into too much of the nitty gritty, but I should be back for the start of next year, but I don't want to put a timetable on it. They'll be rehab involved."

Hyman, 32, had five goals and six assists for 11 points in his 15 playoff games. He had two goals and an assist in Game 3 against the Stars to help Edmonton take the series lead. He also had 27 goals and 44 points in 73 regular-season games.

"Missing him is big," Oilers center Adam Henrique told reporters. "He's a huge piece of this team. His physicality. His net-front presence. In the locker room. All those types of things."

The Hockey News Big Show: Stanley Cup Final Preview With Bruce BoudreauThe Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player and coach Bruce Boudreau providing some unique insight

As Game 1 gets underway in Edmonton at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the Oilers will look to win one more game than last year, when they lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers. Hyman will travel with the team to every game.

"He's a great person, and we're going to miss him on the ice," Henrique said. "But he'll be there. And we're certainly going to fight for him on the ice."

- With files from Avry Lewis-McDougall

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After an extensive coaching search, the Pittsburgh Penguins have named former Nashville Predators assistant coach Dan Muse the 23rd head coach in franchise history.

Muse, 42, joins the Penguins with 20 years of coaching experience, including five seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Predators (2017-20) and the New York Rangers (2023-25). Muse helped guide his teams to three divisional titles, including two with Nashville in 2017-18 and 2018-19 under head coach Peter Laviolette.

Muse's teams have also earned two President's Trophies in his five seasons in the NHL, with Nashville accomplishing the feat in 2017-18.

Muse ran the Predators' penalty kill, which ranked fourth overall in the NHL over his two full seasons (2017-19) with the club. He assumed the same role with New York from 2023-25, again under Laviolette, helping the Rangers’ penalty kill to the fourth-highest success rate and second-best net penalty killing percentage in that span.

Muse has substantial experience with USA Hockey, serving as a head coach at the National Team Development Program from 2020-23, and is highly touted by Penguins GM Kyle Dubas for his ability to develop young players.

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A Philadelphia Flyers trade my finally be on the horizon, with a new rumor suggesting a big Vegas Golden Knights defenseman could be on the move.

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman via NHL Rumor Report and Sportsnet 590, the Flyers have been linked to 6-foot-6 Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague in trade talks.

This kind of Flyers trade, a "hockey trade," if you will, has been on the team's radar for quite a while, and it makes perfect sense with some added context.

For example, it has been rumored that the Flyers and defenseman Cam York, a pending RFA, have not made a whole lot of progress on a contract extension, which could result in York getting traded away ahead of the start of free agency on July 1.

Although he's a few years older than York, Hague, 26, would be a fine addition to the Flyers' defense. At 6-foot-6, Hague has the size you can't teach, and Flyers management has spoken more than once about having a big blueline capable of withstanding the grind of the NHL playoffs.

York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae are all 6-foot or shorter, so the hypothetical addition of Hague makes the Flyers larger and harder to play against.

Hague's name has been dangled in trade rumors for quite a while now, as the Golden Knights continue to explore ways to move around their cap space. The 26-year-old, like York, is a pending restricted free agent, so it's likely the Golden Knights and Flyers each have different ideas of how much they want to spend on their respective defensemen.

And as far as the Golden Knights go, they have only $9.6 million in cap space and need to re-sign forwards like Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson, and Alex Holtz.

If the Golden Knights want to cut some corners and acquire cost-controlled forwards from the Flyers, options like Jakob Pelletier, a pending RFA, and Bobby Brink make some sense.

While he's only 5-foot-8, Brink has played and produced well in a limited role, quietly scoring a career-high 41 points last season. Brink has one more year remaining on his current contract at an extremely friendly $1.5 million cap hit.

If the Flyers cannot work out some sort of solution with York and his camp, it would appear that Hague is at the top of their list of backup plans.

This is it: the Stanley Cup final, featuring the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, will kick off on Wednesday night in Alberta. Connor McDavid and co. will hope to avenge their Game 7 loss from last season, when the Oilers captain won the Conn Smythe Trophy but lost the ultimate prize.

It’s been 32 years since a Canadian team celebrated a Stanley Cup win. Thirty-two years since the Montreal Canadiens won their 24th Stanley Cup, yesterday marked the 32nd anniversary of the infamous Marty McSorley stick-swinging incident. Legend has it that a member of the Canadiens’ equipment staff had measured the curve of his stick in advance, meaning Jacques Demers knew full well he would be getting a power play from that challenge. According to some, that tactic put a curse on Canadian teams…

Curse or not, one fact remains: no team north of the border has been able to lift Lord Stanley’s Mug since Patrick Roy flashed his winning wink to Tomas Sandstrom. Roy has long retired and now coaches the New York Islanders, which is just one more proof of how long it’s been.

Thirty-two years is long enough, and judging by the chatter around town, Montreal Canadiens fans are ready to see McDavid win his first Stanley Cup, even if it means Montreal is no longer the last Canadian Cup winner. After all, the future is bright in Montreal, and the fans are hoping and expecting that this new generation of players will be able to restore the club to its former glory and deliver a 25th Cup, eventually…

Photo credit:  Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

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Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche can officially put their search for a second-line center to rest.

The Avalanche announced this morning that they have re-signed forward Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension, $7.5 million AAV. 

The Avalanche acquired Nelson on March 6th in a trade with the New York Islanders in exchange for forward prospect Calum Richie, defenseman Oliver Kylington,  a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft (which was not met).

BREAKING TRADE NEWS: Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson from the New York IslandersIn the middle of a game? No problem for the Colorado Avalanche!

According to Avalanche PR, Chris MacFarland states that the team is "thrilled" to have Nelson on board for three more seasons. "He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he’s a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice. We’re excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche.”

In 19 games with the Avalanche, Nelson totaled 13 points (6 goals/7 assists). Over 80 games with both the Avalanche and Islanders, he tallied 56 points (26 goals/30 assists).

The Warroad, Minnesota native was also a participant in all four games for Team USA at the Four Nations Face-Off Tournament in February.

My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado. Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren’t totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay. I’d like to thank the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic, Chris MacFarland, Jared Bednar, and our coaching staff for the opportunity. Obviously, the way the season ended last year was disappointing, but I can’t wait to get back on the ice soon and continue to push for our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

- Brock Nelson on staying in Colorado

Details ⬇️ https://t.co/TDjvaSyIns

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 4, 2025

The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine started on Monday. A total of 19 of the OHL's top draft eligible players were invited to the combine ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

"The NHL Combine is the final showcase event before the NHL Draft," said Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. "It's a week full of interviews, medicals and fitness testing where the players get to interact with NHL personnel and the NHL clubs get to learn as much as possible about the future stars of our game."

In total, 90 players were invited to the combine. That means that the OHL made up just over 20 percent of the players invited to the event. 

At the end of the day, the combine is another event where players have an opportunity to impress NHL teams and show why they should be selected on draft day. 

IceDogs Name Frank Evola General ManagerYesterday, the Niagara IceDogs announced that longtime Windsor Spitfires' Director of Scouting and Hockey Operations Frank Evola will become the sixth GM in franchise history. 

The 19 players invited to the combine, in no particular order, are as follows. 

Kashawn Aitcheson (BAR)

Henry Brzustewicz (LDN)

David Bedkowski (OS)

Kieren Dervin (KGN)

Ethan Czata (NIAG

Kristian Epperson (SAG)

Tyler Hopkins (KGN)

Jack Ivankovic (BRAM)

Aleksei Medvedev (LDN)

Brady Martin (SOO)

Porter Martone (BRAM)

Michael Misa (SAG)

Jack Nesbitt (WSR)

Jake O'Brien (BFD)

Cameron Reid (KIT)

Malcolm Spence (ER)

Simon Wang (OSH)

Matthew Schaefer (ER)

Luca Romano (KIT)

Knights Take Care Of Business At Memorial CupTwo words followed the London Knights throughout the 2024-25 season: unfinished business. 

The 2025 NHL Draft will take place on June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The New York Islanders have the first-overall pick in the draft, followed by the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks. 

There has been a lot of discussion online about whether the Isles will take Schaefer or James Hagens with the first-overall pick. NHL Central Scouting ranked Schaefer at the top of their list of North American skaters, however, Hagens is from Long Island. There is a segment of hockey fans who believe drafting the local boy could come ahead of taking the top prospect in the draft. 

Based on the rankings, the OHL will have a heavy presence in the top-five picks at the 2025 NHL Draft. We will see whether that is the case come draft night. For now, the players will continue to prove themselves at the combine.

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