Category: NHL

Just like that, the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoff field is cut in half. 

The first round ended with a bang as the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets staged big Game 7 comebacks on home ice to keep their playoff dreams alive. 

In the end, seeding and experience mattered. The only two underdogs to advance were the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, which also happened to be last year’s Stanley Cup finalists. 

So far, Canada’s hopes of crowning its first champion since 1993 look better than usual. Three Canadian teams are in the second round for the first time since 2004.

After looking at the playoffs’ winners and losers from Week 1, let’s drill down to the best and the worst from Round 1.

Winners

Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars

If hockey fans in Texas were previously unaware of Mikko Rantanen’s reputation as a big-time playoff performer, they know now. 

Their newly acquired superstar put the Stars on his back with a history-making third period in Game 7 and got the injury-riddled squad through to Round 2.

After a tumultuous season, Rantanen rose to the peak of his powers when the series was on the line, posting five goals and six assists for 11 points through Games 5, 6 and 7. 

What has Moose planned for an encore?

Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

As a team, the Maple Leafs are winners for finishing the job against the Ottawa Senators after some tense moments. After last year, no one had more to prove than Mitch Marner, and this time, he answered the bell by chipping in points in five of Toronto’s six first-round games. 

Marner is playing with some extra swagger that may have sparked at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed their first child to the world over the weekend. Can he keep his confidence high in Round 2 with potential new “Dad strength” against the defending Stanley Cup champions? 

Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals

Logan Thompson left Las Vegas looking for an opportunity to be a difference-maker, and he’s earned it in Washington. 

The Capitals look deep and poised, playing with confidence while knowing their netminder continues to make the big save when they need him. 

Thompson didn’t just finish Round 1 with 5.6 goals saved above expected – the highest of any goalie that’s still in the post-season, per moneypuck.com. He also came back looking no worse for wear after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury in Game 3 against Montreal.

In the playoffs, one of the most important abilities for a goaltender is availability. Thompson is bringing it.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which West Teams Will Win In Round 2?It’s time for the second round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and that means it’s time to chime in with our series predictions. 

Losers

Martin Necas, RW, Colorado Avalanche

When you’re the key guy on the other side of a blockbuster deal, the spotlight is bright. Now, Rantanen’s Game 7 heroics ratchet up the scrutiny on Martin Necas even further in Denver.

With speed and skill for days, the 26-year-old fit in well with the Avalanche. And while five points in seven playoff games isn’t bad, it’s a far cry from the impact Rantanen had on the other side. 

With a current cap hit of $6.5 million, Necas becomes extension-eligible on July 1 before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2026. Was he effective enough to extract a mega-contract from an Avalanche organization licking its wounds after another early playoff exit?

Brandon Hagel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning hit another home run when they invested in Hagel in a 2022 trade, turning a sixth-round draft pick into a 90-point winger and Team Canada star at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

But Hagel’s playoffs were a mess – suspended for his Game 2 hit on Aleksander Barkov, then knocked out of the series with a concussion in Game 4 by Aaron Ekblad, who drew a suspension of his own.

Bottom line: one of the Lightning’s most important players was only available for two-and-a-half games in the series and didn’t record a point. A huge loss for Tampa Bay.

'We Owe Vegas A Good Series': Connor McDavid's Oilers Look To Flip The Script From 2023Connor McDavid hasn’t forgotten that the Vegas Golden Knights ended the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup hopes in 2023.

Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings

There’s a lot of tread on Doughty’s tires. But after rebounding from a pre-season ankle fracture to play well at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the 35-year-old looked poised to make his first real playoff run since his 2014 Cup win for Los Angeles. 

This year’s Kings looked like they were built differently. Stout in goal, with Darcy Kuemper, and with more scoring pop. But after taking a 2-0 series lead, they went down to the Edmonton Oilers again, for the fourth straight year. 

Doughty will keep his name in the mix with Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics. He has two years left on his contract, which he negotiated himself, but is running out of opportunities to make an impact in the post-season.

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The Vegas Golden Knights are preparing for a second-round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, which begins on Tuesday.

Heading into the series, several interesting matchups exist. Connor McDavid vs Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin and Alex Pietrangelo vs. Leon Draisaitl and the matchup the Golden Knights seemingly have the biggest advantage is in goal. 

Adin Hill had his breakout moment against the Oilers in the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs, and if the Golden Knights have any hope of replicating those results, they'll need Hill to be at his best once again.

In the opening round, the 28-year-old posted a .880 SV% and a 2.83 GAA. The Golden Knights found ways to score key goals when they needed to, but Hill's overall performance in the first round was below expectations. 

If he performs below those expectations, McDavid and Draisaitl will run over the Golden Knights as they did to the Los Angeles Kings. Stopping the duo is virtually impossible, but there are ways of slowing them down. In the moments when they can't, Hill is going to have to step up. 

"They're a fast team, they'll get their chances, and they have a couple of pretty good players over there," said Hill jokingly. "It'll be a good series. I think they are kind of rolling four lines more now, so those guys will have more energy when they're out there. I think it should be fast hockey, high intensity, feel like real playoff hockey, for sure."

The situation in the Oilers' crease is up in the air, to say the least. They began their series against the Kings with Stuart Skinner in goal, but after two dreadful outings, he was replaced by Calvin Pickard. 

Pickard started the ensuing four games, winning each one, but still only posted a .893 SV% and a 2.93 GAA. The Golden Knights have a clear advantage in goal, but they need their $6.25M goaltender to play to that level and outduel the lesser goaltender opposite him. 

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, Oilers Open Second Round On Tuesday In VegasThe Golden Knights will open their second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers at home on Tuesday at 6:30 pm (pacific).

The Minnesota Wild were recently eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup, ending Marc-Andre Fleury's legendary career.

The former first-overall pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins spent 13 seasons in black and gold, winning three Stanley Cups with Sidney Crosby.

On Sunday, the Penguins' captain announced he was headed to Sweden to represent Canada for the 2025 IIHF World Championships. Then, on Monday afternoon, Fleury announced that he would make his first World Championships appearance, reuniting with his old teammate. 

Internationally, Fleury is an Olympic Gold Medalist, winning with Team Canada when Crosby scored the golden goal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.

During his junior days, Fleury won back-to-back silver medals at the World Junior Championships in 2003 and 2004 while claiming the tournament's Most Valuable Player and Best Goaltender awards at the 2003 event. 

If Fleury can help Canada win its 29th World title, he'd become a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won three Stanley Cup rings (2009, 2016, 2017) and a Gold Medal (2010).

Meanwhile, Crosby joined this exclusive club with only 30 members in 2015 when he completed his quest with a World Championship. He had won three Stanley Cups with Fleury and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2010 and 2014. 

Both former first-overall picks skated with the Penguins from 2005 to 2017, dressing together for the final time on June 11, 2017, when they hoisted the Stanley Cup at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

Flowers For 'Flower': Penguins Goaltending Legend Earns Warm Reception In Final NHL AppearanceOn Thursday, the Minnesota Wild suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in Game 6 to the Vegas Golden Knights, eliminating them in the first round for the eighth time in their last 10 postseason appearances. 

During the 2024-25 season, Crosby joined the 600-goal club, broke Mario Lemieux's franchise assist record, and recorded his 1,600th point, moving into the top-10 scoring all-time.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Fleury surpassed Roberto Luongo for the second-most games played (1,051) in NHL history, recorded his 76th career shutout, and secured his 575th win, which ranks second all-time. 

Since Fleury announced his plans to retire after the season, he'll begin his mandatory three-year waiting period following the World Championships to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, where he's guaranteed to be a first-ballot inductee in 2028. 

With a guaranteed top six pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers have an array of potentially franchise-altering options at their disposal. But is Porter Martone, a winger in the purest sense, one of them?

After all, the Flyers' cupboard is already overflowing with wingers.

Rookie sensation Matvei Michkov is Philadelphia's franchise player of the future, while veterans like Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny each signed long-term contract extensions with the Flyers in the last year.

Then there's Bobby Brink, who quietly announced himself in a limited role this season, and Tyson Foerster, whose howlitzer of a shot shot and elite defensive details are sure to earn him a big payday this summer.

Newcomers Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin will have something to say for themselves next training camp, too.

In the short-term, the Flyers genuinely don't have a spot readily available for a Martone. At the same time, Martone may very well have the highest ceiling of them all.

This makes for an interesting draft day decision for the Flyers. Should they potentially reach and go off the board for the center prospect they so highly covet, or should they draft the highest-upside prospect in Martone?

I enlisted the help of Lauren Kelly, EliteProspects' OHL scout, to get some further insight into the Brampton Steelheads star and to see if there's a potential fit with the Flyers.

"Martone’s highs, particularly with regards to his playmaking and passing abilities, are near the top of the class — if not at the top, at least amongst forwards. That skill alone could easily allow him to play a top-line role in the NHL and has the potential to develop into one of the league’s premier playmakers," Kelly told The Hockey News. "He also has strong finishing instincts in front of the net, whether it’s finishing off loose pucks in tight or executing difficult redirections in the slot, which would add another element to his productivity in the NHL, as he wouldn’t solely have to rely on possessing the puck to contribute."

Martone, 18, is currently ranked as EliteProspects' No. 3 player, trailing only defenceman Matthew Schaefer and forward Michael Misa. And unlike draft classmate James Hagens, Martone has maintained his status as a top-2 forward prospect throughout the entire season.

He scored 37 goals, 61 assists, and 98 points in 57 games while captaining the Steelheads for the first time, and added four goals, five assists, nine points, and 10 penalty minutes in six playoff games.

Really, the only thing there isn't to like about Martone is his lack of positional versatility, which Misa, the No. 1 forward prospect in the 2025 draft, has.

Can, or should, the Flyers stick Martone at center anyway?

"There have been times this season where Martone has stepped in for the occasional faceoff and won a few, but I think he’s more of a pure winger in the NHL," Kelly said of Martone. "Unless he is given the opportunity to play more full-time C next season and can prove he’s as effective down the middle of the ice, his game is more built around being a dangerous distributor from the flanks at the moment. He would also need to improve upon his physical game, play-driving ability, and play through contact more consistently in order to successfully step into a centre role in the NHL."

The one knock on Martone, through most of this pre-draft process so far, has been his inconsistent engagement on the ice. Sometimes that's mental, and sometimes that's physical.

To reach his full potential, his physicality must increase to match his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame.

One would think that, over time, Martone will physically mature and grow even bigger and stronger, but applying it in a game setting is a matter of will.

Since I started covering the Flyers in 2023, my articles have regularly been flooded with comments that reflect a desire to acquire their own Matthew Tkachuk or Brady Tkachuk.

Check out the quick release by Porter Martone.

3 points so far tonight brings him up to 9 points in 7 periods this season. pic.twitter.com/RKkIaN2f31

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) October 4, 2024

Martone has a skillset on par with the Tkachuk brothers, but he's not quite there yet in terms of the mind-bending aggression and unrelenting, punishing physicality.

Still, he's a guy Flyers fans absolutely should want on their side.

"I think Martone has some Tkachukian-elements in his game — he does a great job of getting in opponents’ heads, especially in post-whistle scrums, he’s definitely not afraid to chirp, and he’s a natural leader (Brady got the 'C' early in his career). But I don’t necessarily see a brute force on the ice — he plays a much more refined, finesse game than both Tkachuk brothers," Kelly said of Martone's on-ice demeanor. "In fact, his game is similar to Michkov’s — extremely skilled, high-end playmaker. While the decision-making can sometimes leave you wanting more, and he has a lower motor than a lot of other top prospects in this class, and he can be an opportunistic producer, his highs are so high that sometimes you can excuse some of the weaknesses.

"That being said, it’s worth noting that pace and decision-making are easier for prospects to improve upon than other areas, and the biggest difference between him and Michkov is that he’s 6-foot-3 with the potential to develop into a physical force. He’s not quite to the Tkachuk-level of physicality, but he could very well get there in the near future. And I think even if the Flyers have a surplus of skilled wingers, adding another wing prospect who could be on par with Michkov would be a major boost to the organization."

The Flyers, as mentioned previously, have a surplus of wingers. But adding Martone automatically makes this a battle of upside.

Are Bump, Grebenkin, Tippett, Foerster, and/or Brink enough to keep Martone away from the Flyers?

The short answer, as it relates to the veteran Tippett and the younger wingers, is no. The long answer, according to Kelly, is still no.

"With this draft class, there are very few potential star game-breakers. It’s a top-heavy class that drops off significantly after the top 4-5. And Martone has that potential," said Kelly. "If Martone is available at No. 4, the Flyers shouldn’t be passing on him to take any other prospect, unless by some miracle one of Matthew Schaefer or Michael Misa is available."

The Florida Panthers made a major move at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, acquiring star forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins. With this move, the Panthers added another top-six forward to their group. 

The addition of Marchand has benefited the Panthers, especially during this post-season thus far. In Florida's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 36-year-old winger recorded four assists and a plus-5 rating. This included two helpers in Florida's series-clinching 6-3 win in Game 5.

During a recent appearance on Spittin' Chiclets, Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk had some serious praise for Marchand and his contributions to the team.

"It's been unreal having [Marchand], having him in," Tkachuk said. "He's got what everybody wants in this league, and that's that winning pedigree. Being a champion and having that experience. I think that's what our team's greatest strength is. We might not be the most skilled team. We might not be the most fast, the most physical, but we're a deep team, and we have the experience."

Tkachuk then added:

"Bringing in a guy like Marchy, who's done it before and been on such a great team, and year after year being on great playoff runs. We couldn't have asked for a better addition... We're happy that he is on our side now. That is for sure."

When looking at Marchand's resume, it is hard to disagree with Tkachuk's take here. Marchand has played in 162 career playoff games and lifted the Stanley Cup back in 2011 with the Bruins. Furthermore, No. 63 has been a star in the NHL for a long time now, posting 424 goals, 980 points, and a plus-285 rating in 1,100 career games.

It will now be fascinating to see how much of an impact Marchand can make for the Panthers during their second-round matchup against the Maple Leafs from here. He has had plenty of playoff success against Toronto over the years and will look to continue that trend this year, but this time as a Panther.

Recent Panthers News 

3 Panthers Who Must Shine In Game 1 Against Maple LeafsThe Florida Panthers kick off their second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 5 with Game 1. The Panthers' goal will be to start the series on the right foot against a very talented Maple Leafs squad. 'It's pretty special': Teammates Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart relish being selected as Selke finalistsThere are a few key reasons the Florida Panthers have become one of the most feared teams in the NHL in recent seasons. Panthers open second round in Toronto against Atlantic Division champ Maple LeafsThe second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Monday night in Toronto.

It’s time for the second round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and that means it’s time to chime in with our series predictions. 

In the first round, we went 4-0 with the Eastern Conference predictions and 2-2 with our Western Conference picks to go 6-2 overall.

Earlier, we posted our second-round Eastern Conference picks. It’s now time for our Western Conference picks. And remember, these are one person’s educated guesses. Let’s get to it.

Winnipeg Jets (C1) Vs. Dallas Stars (C2)

Season series: 3-1 Winnipeg

Why Winnipeg will win:The Jets were the NHL’s best regular-season team, and they narrowly avoided elimination in Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues, tying the game late and winning on overtime. 

The Jets found ways to win, even if they weren’t at their best. They’ve also beaten the Stars in the regular season, so they have confidence they can win this round.

Winnipeg has home-ice advantage in this series, which may come into play – the Jets’ 30-7-4 home record matches up very well compared to Dallas’ so-so 22-16-3 road record. Of course, regular-season stats don’t always translate into the same post-season stats, but the Jets should feel like they can compete with the Stars. 

The Jets are hungry to make it to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2017-18. They’ll need a better showing from goalie Connor Hellebuyck, but if they get that, the Jets will be tough to eliminate.

Why Dallas will win: The Stars have significantly better special teams in the post-season, with a power play at 30.4 percent efficiency (compared to Winnipeg’s 22.7 percent) and a penalty kill rate of 86.4 percent (compared to the Jets’ 76.9 percent). 

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger’s 2.85 goals-against average and .911 save percentage are also vastly better than those of Jets counterpart Hellebuyck, who has a 3.85 GAA and .830 SP. 

Even without injured star blueliner Miro Heiskanen and injured left winger Jason Robertson, the Stars knocked off a Colorado Avalanche squad that is as competitive as Winnipeg. That said, Stars coach Peter DeBoer said he expects Robertson and Heiskanen to be back at some point in the second round, which would be a huge boost to Dallas’ fortunes. 

The Stars’ depth, speed and high-end skill will help them beat a Jets team that barely got by the second wild-card team. The Stars are well-constructed, well-coached, and determined to get back at least to the Western final for the third straight season.   

Prediction: Stars in five games

Are we disrespecting the Jets by predicting they’ll only win one game against the Stars? No, we’re just being more respectful to a Stars team we predicted would win the Central Division and this year’s Cup before the season. Yes, we did lose a bit of faith in Dallas after it was known Heiskanen and Robertson would be out of action in the first round, but the team’s resilience in their absence makes it all the more impressive.

Adding star right winger Mikko Rantanen, who was Dallas’ Game 7 hero against the Avs, really puts the Stars over the top. If the Jets don’t have star center Mark Scheifele for any period, Winnipeg will be in trouble.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which East Teams Will Win Round 2? Expect A Leafs And Panthers Game 7The second round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs starts Monday, so it’s time to predict them.

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) Vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Vegas will win: The Golden Knights were the Pacific Division’s top team in the regular season, and they overcame a 2-1 series deficit to the Minnesota Wild by winning two overtime games and a tight Game 6 to advance to the second round.

Vegas’ heavy grind proved too much for Minnesota, and the Edmonton Oilers are in serious trouble taking on a Golden Knights team that is confident and expertly coached, which limits its mistakes.

The Knights must contain Edmonton’s elite forwards, as the Oilers had the best first-round offense, averaging 4.50 goals-for per game. However, Vegas can and will exploit Edmonton’s porous defense, which surrendered a bloated 4.00 goals against per game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Vegas got to the second round without much offense, with no Golden Knights player averaging at least a point per game against the Wild. But Knights star center Jack Eichel, right winger Mark Stone and center Tomas Hertl should feast on the Oilers’ defense and goaltending. 

Why Edmonton will win: The Oilers stormed back from a 2-0 series deficit with four straight wins – two of them came despite trailing after two periods – as they generated 20 goals in their victories to beat L.A.

The Oilers got the expected excellent output from superstars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who combined for 21 points in six games. But the supporting cast also contributed meaningfully, with four other Edmonton players generating at least five points. 

Edmonton’s skill at punching back when trailing games is a terrific harbinger of what they could do against a Golden Knights team that sometimes buckled against the Wild.

Calvin Pickard’s 2.93 GAA and .893 SP aren’t especially encouraging, but they compare fine to Vegas goalie Adin Hill, who had a 2.83 GAA and .880 SP. If Pickard can continue battling the way he did against the Kings, Edmonton’s offense can impose its will on the Golden Knights, and the Oilers can return to the Western final for the second consecutive season.

Prediction: Golden Knights in seven games.

The Oilers aren’t a subpar team by any means, and we expect them to put up a valiant effort against the Golden Knights. When you pick a team to win in seven games, you’re essentially saying the series is a toss-up. That’s exactly the case in this series. But we still believe the Oilers’ defense is their Achilles’ heel.

Vegas comes at its opponent in waves. They also defend very well.

Edmonton has the two best players in the series, McDavid and Draisaitl, but the absence of injured defenseman Mattias Ekholm will continue to impact the Oilers’ ability to defend.

And considering that Edmonton gave up 24 goals to the Kings, the Golden Knights will have an excellent opportunity to put the Oilers on their heels in their own zone. And so, in what will almost assuredly be a seven-game series, we like Vegas just a little bit more than we like the Oilers.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

But a whole lot of ex-Penguins are.

Prior to the start of the postseason, we provided you with a comprehensive guide to former Penguins playing for their respective teams in the playoffs, which excluded only the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Los Angeles Kings - meaning there is only one team remaining in the second round - the Leafs - who do not have an ex-Penguin on their roster.

Here is an update on how each former Penguin is faring through one round:

Your Guide To Ex-Penguins In The 2025 NHL PlayoffsThe Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

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Carolina Hurricanes

-  F Jordan Staal: The 36-year-old, 6-foot-4 centerman certainly isn't the player he used to be for the first six seasons of his NHL career in Pittsburgh, when he was one of the league's premier two-way third-line centers. He has no points and is a minus-1 through five postseason games so far, but he's eating tough minutes on the penalty kill and in defensive zone starts, proving that he's still a valuable bottom-six forward for a playoff run.

-  F Mark Jankowski: Jankowski - with the Penguins for only one season in 2020-21, registering four goals and 11 points in 45 games - was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the Hurricanes' first-round series against the New Jersey Devils. But he broke the lineup in the last two games to close out the series, earning an assist in the series-clinching Game 5.

Dallas Stars

-  G Casey DeSmith: DeSmith - dealt in the summer of 2023 to the Montreal Canadiens as part of the blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade - has only appeared in one game for the Dallas Stars this postseason as their backup goaltender. Starting netminder Jake Oettinger was pulled during Game 4 against the Avalanche after allowing three goals, and DeSmith relieved him, allowing one goal on 14 shots. The Stars dropped Game 4, 4-0, before going on to win the series in seven games - and in dramatic fashion.

-  D Cody Ceci: Ceci has gotten off to a pretty good start in the playoffs, heading into the second round with three assists in seven games and even in the plus/minus department. He spent one season in Pittsburgh in 2020-21 before moving on to the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent, where he was for three seasons.

-  F Mikael Granlund: Granlund - infamously acquired by the Penguins and former GM Ron Hextall at the 2023 NHL trade deadline - has been a solid depth piece for the Stars so far in the playoffs, recording a goal and two points. 

Edmonton Oilers

-  F Kasperi Kapanen: Kapanen - who played parts of three seasons with the Penguins  before getting waived in February 2023 - has yet to appear in a playoff game for the Oilers this postseason.

Florida Panthers

-  F Evan Rodrigues: Rodrigues has seen time on Florida's second line with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, and he registered one assist in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent parts of three seasons on Pittsburgh's NHL roster from 2019-22 and was a solid depth piece, and his lineup and special teams versatility is something that the Panthers have found value in as well. 

-  D Dmitry Kulikov: The 34-year-old veteran defenseman only played in six games with the Penguins post-trade deadline in 2023 because of injury, but he has been solid for the Panthers so far on their second pairing, tandeming with Niko Mikkola and recording two assists in the five-game first-round series against Tampa. 

Minnesota Wild

-  F Frederick Gaudreau: Gaudreau, 31, spent parts of one season in 2020-21 with the Penguins. He didn't factor on the scoresheet in Minnesota's first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, but he was a plus-2 and played important minutes on the penalty kill.

-  F Vinnie Hinostroza: Hinostroza appeared in only one game for the Wild during their first and only round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, recording no points and logging 11:57 of ice time. He was with the Penguins' organization in 2023-24 and played in only 14 games at the NHL level. 

-  G Marc-Andre Fleury: Beloved to the Pittsburgh faithful and forever a legend, Fleury did appear in Game 5, relieving a sick Filip Gustavsson in the third period and for the overtime period. He surrendered one goal on seven Vegas shots, which was, unfortunately, the overtime winner by Brett Howden.

Fleury announced his retirement following Minnesota's first-round exit, and he got a warm reception in his final NHL appearance.

Flowers For 'Flower': Penguins Goaltending Legend Earns Warm Reception In Final NHL AppearanceOn Thursday, the Minnesota Wild suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in Game 6 to the Vegas Golden Knights, eliminating them in the first round for the eighth time in their last 10 postseason appearances. 

Montreal Canadiens

-  D Mike Matheson: The Washington Capitals were simply too much for Matheson and the Habs in the first round this season, as they were eliminated in five games. Matheson produced one assist in those five games, and he plans to join Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby in representing Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship this week. 

New Jersey Devils

-  F Cody Glass: Glass was brought to Pittsburgh from the Nashville Predators last summer and was dealt to the Devils at the trade deadline. He was on the wrong side of an unfortunate slash in a bad spot by his own goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, during Game One, but he returned for the rest of the series. He registered no points through five games and was a minus-2.

Markstrom intended this slash for Svechnikov but accidentally hit Glass 😬 pic.twitter.com/zsPC1Pl1iC

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 20, 2025

-  F Daniel Sprong: Sprong was drafted in the second round (46th overall) by Pittsburgh in 2015, never panning out and getting traded to the  Anaheim Ducks during the 2018-19 season. He only appeared in Game One during the playoffs this season and was a non-factor, leading to a healthy scratch for the remainder of the series against the Hurricanes. 

-  D Brian Dumoulin: 'Dumo' - as he did during his 10-year Pittsburgh tenure from 2013-23 - played heavy shutdown minutes for the Devils down the stretch and during the first round on the top pairing alongside Brett Pesce. He didn't register any points but proved valuable in his role, which may earn him a contract extension this summer as a pending-UFA. 

Ottawa Senators

-  F David Perron: Perron was a factor in the Senators' first-round series loss against the Leafs, registering two goals and three points in six games on Ottawa's second line. He with the Penguins for parts of two seasons from 2014-16 before being dealt to the Ducks, recording 16 goals and 38 points in 86 total games with Pittsburgh.

DAVID PERRON BANKS IT IN OFF STOLARZ FROM BEHIND THE GOAL LINE 😱😵 pic.twitter.com/4lmCjuIn7B

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 2, 2025

St. Louis Blues

-  F Oskar Sundqvist: As the third-line center for the Blues in their seven-game first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets, Sundqvist - who played in 28 total games for the Penguins from 2015-17 - recorded a goal and two points and played in some critical situations for St. Louis. The Blues lost in dramatic fashion during double overtime in Game 7.

Tampa Bay Lightning

-  F Jake Guentzel: Guentzel -  dealt from the Penguins to the Hurricanes as a rental at last season's trade deadline - was his usual playoff self production-wise for the Bolts during round one, putting up three goals and six points in five games. However, he was also a minus-3 and made some key mistakes in his own zone that led to goals against by the Panthers, who won the series in five games. 

Vegas Golden Knights

-  F Tanner Pearson: Pearson - who came to Pittsburgh for one season during 2018-19 when forward Carl Hagelin was sent to Los Angeles - appeared in only three of the six games during Vegas's first-round series against the Wild, recording one assist.

-  F Reilly Smith: Smith got what he wanted since being traded to Pittsburgh from Vegas prior to the 2023-24 season when he was dealt back to Vegas from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. In six games on Vegas's third line during the first round, he put up a goal and two points - with his goal being a shorthanded beauty during Game 3.

Reilly Smith scores a beautiful short handed goal!

🎥: TNT | #VegasBornpic.twitter.com/Lx4CmZ0ECP

— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) April 25, 2025

Washington Capitals

-  F Lars Eller: Eller - dealt from the Penguins to the Capitals in November - showed his value as a third-line center in the first round against the Canadiens. He played difficult minutes on the penalty kill and in defensive zone starts, contributing one assist on the scoresheet as well. 

-  F Anthony Beauvillier: Of all the players on this list, Beauvillier has, arguably, made the biggest impact. He has skated on Washington's first line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, racking up a goal and five points in five games while coming it at a plus-4 in those five games. Beauvillier has, historically, been clutch in the playoffs, as he is showing his postseason prowess again with the Caps after  getting dealt at the deadline to Washington from the Penguins.

It hasn't been a bad year for Beauvillier, who has been a linemate of two all-time greats.

Former Islanders Forward Anthony Beauvillier Boosts Capitals in First-Round Battle vs. CanadiensWashington Capitals forward Anthony Beauvillier had quite the Round 1 performance in the 2025 playoffs.

Winnipeg Jets

-  F Brandon Tanev: A Penguins' casualty of the 2021 expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken, Tanev didn't register any points for Winnipeg through seven games in the first round, but his notorious energy, defensive prowess, and physicality was on full display, as he led the team in blocked shots with 11 and was third in hits with 27.

-  D Luke Schenn: Penguins' 48 hour-legend Luke Schenn got the last laugh in round one, beating his brother, Brayden Schenn, and the Blues in seven games while playing bottom-pair minutes and recording one assist despite being a minus-8.

---

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Flyers drop two spots in NHL draft lottery; Metropolitan team grabs No. 1 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers didn’t have any luck in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

After the drawings Monday night, they finished at No. 6, their second-most likely landing spot.

The Islanders, who had the 10th-best lottery odds at 3.5 percent, won the first overall pick.

The Flyers came in with the fourth-best lottery odds and, per Tankathon.com, had an equal chance at grabbing either the first or second pick (9.5 percent). They were most likely to finish between fourth and sixth. More on that here.

Right now, the Flyers have 11 selections in the 2025 draft, which will be held June 27-28. They own three first-round picks and four second-rounders.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” general manager Danny Briere said over two weeks ago. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

Assistant general manager Brent Flahr has overseen the Flyers’ draft efforts since 2019. In the first round under Flahr, the Flyers have taken Cam York (14th overall — 2019), Tyson Foerster (23rd overall — 2020), Cutter Gauthier (fifth overall — 2022), Matvei Michkov (seventh overall — 2023), Oliver Bonk (22nd overall — 2023) and Jett Luchanko (13th overall — 2024).

Among the 2025 NHL draft prospects, Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer is considered the consensus top overall pick. James Hagens, Porter Martone, Roger McQueen, Anton Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers are five players that could be available for the Flyers at No. 6.

2025 lottery results

1. Islanders
2. Sharks
3. Blackhawks
4. Utah
5. Predators
6. Flyers
7. Bruins
8. Kraken
9. Sabres
10. Ducks
11. Penguins
12. Rangers
13. Red Wings
14. Blue Jackets
15. Canucks
16. Canadiens (via the Flames)

Welcome to a new episode of The Hockey News Wraparound, where we discuss NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Burning NHL Questions Ahead Of Round 2 by The Wraparoundundefined

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

0:00: Could the Winnipeg Jets’ Game 7 historic victory vs. the St. Louis Blues propel them to a deep run?

4:15: Was Mikko Rantanen’s Game 7 performance vs. the Colorado Avalanche one of the best playoff performances ever?

9:04: Which Toronto Maple Leafs player needs to reach another level to defeat the Florida Panthers?

13:50: Should the Edmonton Oilers stick with Calvin Pickard against the Vegas Golden Knights?

17:38: Will Frederik Andersen’s availability be the biggest factor for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Washington Capitals?

19:45: What to make of the Hurricanes’ recent extensions

22:23: Could Matt Coronato’s seven-year extension end up being a steal for the Calgary Flames?

24:05: Breaking down the Jack Adams finalists

26:55: Can Mike Sullivan lead a turnaround with the New York Rangers?

29:45: Did the Los Angeles Kings make the right decision by parting ways with GM Rob Blake?

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

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

The Carolina Hurricanes kick off their second-round series against the Washington Capitals on May 6. The Hurricanes' goal will be to stay hot after defeating the New Jersey Devils in the first round in just five games.

As the Hurricanes prepare for their Game 1 matchup against the Capitals, they have made a roster move. The Hurricanes have re-assigned goaltender Ruslan Khazheyev to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.

Khazheyev, 20, was called up to the Hurricanes' roster ahead of their series against the Devils and served as an extra goaltender. However, with this latest roster move, he is heading back to the AHL.

The Hurricanes selected Khazheyev with the 158th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He just completed his first professional season in North America after signing his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes last May. He spent the bulk of this campaign with the Wolves, posting a 5-13-0 record, a .876 save percentage, and a 3.49 goals-against average in 20 games. He also made one ECHL appearance with the Bloomington Bison, saving 12 out of 15 shots in a loss.

Recent Hurricanes News 

3 Carolina Hurricanes Who Could Be Extended NextThe Carolina Hurricanes have been busy since their first-round series win against the New Jersey Devils, signing forward Taylor Hall and goaltender Frederik Andersen to contract extensions. Hurricanes Made Right Call Extending Frederik AndersenOn May 3, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that they signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year, $2.75 million contract extension. This was just three days after the Hurricanes signed forward Taylor Hall to a three-year, $9.5 million extension. With this, the Hurricanes have certainly been busy since defeating the New Jersey Devils in the first round last week.  Former Hurricanes Star Has Big Playoff GameSince being traded to the Colorado Avalanche in January, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas has undoubtedly had plenty of success. In 30 regular-season games following the trade, the 26-year-old forward recorded 11 goals, 28 points, and a plus-1 rating in 30 games. Now, he is only continuing to make a big impact during the post-season.

Although his NHL career ended, Marc-Andre Fleury is reuniting with Sidney Crosby.

Team Canada added another Stanley Cup champion, Fleury, to the men’s World Championship squad.

Fleury retired from the NHL when the Minnesota Wild were eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights. He left the ice for the last time, saluting the crowd.

However, that won’t be the last moment in his hockey career, as Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, said Fleury accepted an invitation to join the Canadians. 

This will be Fleury’s first World Championship during his 21-year NHL career. The 40-year-old hasn’t played a game for Canada in a tournament since he played in the World Junior Championship in 2002-03. Despite playing in two world junior tournaments, Canada only earned silver in both competitions.

Fleury was selected for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but he didn’t play since Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur were ahead of him on the goaltending depth chart. Canada took home the gold medal in those Olympics.

Not only will this likely be Fleury’s last dance, but he’ll be doing it with longtime teammate and friend, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. It was announced on Sunday that Crosby will join Canada for the World Championship after multiple weeks of consideration.

The two were teammates for 12 seasons with the Penguins between 2005 and 2017. They won the Stanley Cup together in 2009, 2016 and 2017.

The IIHF World Championship begins on May 9, and Canada’s first game is on May 10. They’ll take on Slovenia to kick off their campaign.

Canada played their first exhibition game on Sunday, defeating Austria 5-1. New York Rangers prospect Dylan Garand stopped 22 of 23 shots in net for the Canadians. Their next and final pre-tournament game is on Tuesday, when they visit Budapest to take on Hungary.

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While the New York Rangers haven’t made this information public, more details on Mike Sullivan’s contract are being revealed. 

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has sources that lead him to believe that the Rangers awarded Sullivan with the highest annual value for a coach, beating out Mike Babcock who was making $6.25 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

“Just a bit of information on the contract, it’s a five-year deal,” Friedman said. “Mike Babcock had the largest contract ever signed by a coach. It was eight years at approximately $50 million, front-loaded, $6.25 million-ish the AAV. The number is north of that. I don’t have the exact number, but Sulivan did sign the richest AAV of any head coach, north of Babcock’s number.”

Peter Laviolette's Fall From Grace With The Rangers: A Sad Tale The tenure of Peter Laviolette with the New York Rangers should be considered a sad tale. 

Sullivan’s reported five-year deal beats out Gerard Gallant who got a four-year contract and Peter Laviolette who got a three-year contract. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury views Sullivan as one of the top coaches in the NHL, which is why he went all in to get him onboard. 

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said. “Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career - including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level – Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench.”

With great power comes great responsibility. The Rangers are fresh off missing the playoffs as Sullivan will be tasked with getting the most out of all the team’s talent and propelling them back to Stanley Cup contention. 

That’s the goal when you bring in a coach for that amount of money, the expectations are high, and rightfully so. 

Sullivan spent ten years with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he won two Stanley Cups. This is a new challenge for the 57-year-old coach. 

He’s expected to address the New York media for the first in his introductory press conference on Thursday morning. 

Rob Blake’s time with the Los Angeles Kings has come to an end.

The GM and club mutually agreed to part ways on Monday, the Kings announced Monday.

The Kings will search for a replacement immediately.

Blake was on an expiring contract after deciding to play out the season and not sign an extension last summer, according to TSN and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.

The decision comes four days after the Edmonton OilerseliminatedLos Angeles from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Kings had a 2-0 series lead before the Oilers won the next four games to win the series in Game 6 on Thursday.

To add to the Kings’ wounds, this was the fourth straight year of losing to Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs.

“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Rob for his dedication to the LA Kings and the passion he brought to his role,” team president Luc Robitaille said in a statement. “Reaching this understanding wasn’t easy, and I appreciate Rob’s partnership in always working toward what is best for the Kings.”

Blake was the Kings’ GM for eight seasons, earning the job ahead of the 2017-18 season. Before that, he was the assistant GM for Los Angeles and the GM for its AHL affiliate in Manchester and Ontario. He was also the VP of hockey operations for the Kings and held that title since 2013-14.

Throughout Blake’s time as the Kings' GM, the team has never advanced past the first round in five post-season appearances. They finished third in the Pacific Division in the last three seasons.

In terms of regular-season results, this was Blake’s best campaign as his team finished second in the Pacific. They capped off the year with a 48-25-9 record and 105 points. It was the first time they earned home-ice advantage in the first round since the 2016 playoffs.

The Kings had the best home record in the NHL in the regular season, giving the team a chance to put away the Oilers once and for all. They also went 17-7-1 in the last 25 games of the year, tied for the most points in the NHL in that span.

Los Angeles also missed the playoffs from 2019 to 2021 but added talent at the NHL draft. They selected center Alex Turcotte fifth overall in 2019, Quinton Byfield second overall in 2020 and defenseman Brandt Clarke eighth overall in 2021. They also drafted defenseman Brock Faber but traded him to the Minnesota Wild with a 2022 first-rounder in exchange for Kevin Fiala in 2022.

“Rob deserves a great deal of credit and respect for elevating us to where we are today,” Robitaille said. “He has been an important part of the Kings and will always be appreciated for what he has meant to this franchise.”

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As per LA Kings PR, Rob Blake and the Los Angeles Kings have mutually agreed to part ways following the team's failure to make it past the 1st round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

 

pic.twitter.com/THvaPrLfHM

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) May 5, 2025

Hired on April 10, 2017, Blake had the fourth longest tenure as general manager, behind only franchise legends Rogie Vachon, Dave Taylor, and two-time Stanley Cup winner, Dean Lombardi. 

Under Blake's leadership, the Kings posted a regular season record of 309-238-71 (.557 PTS%), qualifying for the playoffs in five of his eight-year tenure. The Kings, however, are still looking for their first playoff series win since the 2014 Stanley Cup Final against the New York Rangers. 

The Kings and long-embattled general manager Rob Blake have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced Monday, four days after the team’s fourth consecutive first-round playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Rob for his dedication to the L.A. Kings and the passion he brought to the role,” president Luc Robitaille said in a statement. “Reaching this understanding wasn’t easy and I appreciate Rob’s partnership in always working toward what is best for the Kings.

“Rob deserves a great deal of credit and respect for elevating us to where we are today. He has been an important part of the Kings and will always be appreciated for what he has meant to this franchise.”

The search for a new general manager will begin immediately, the Kings said.

Read more:Why can't the Kings beat the Oilers? A familiar pattern emerges in playoff elimination

Speaking to reporters Monday, Kings coach Jim Hiller said he hadn’t talked with Robitaille yet regarding his future. Hiller, 55, signed a three-year contract with the Kings last May.

Robitaille is scheduled to to speak Tuesday about the coaching situation and the search for a new general manager.

After taking over on an interim basis for Todd McLellan midway through the 2023-24 season, Hiller rallied the Kings to a playoff berth. He had success in his first full regular season as coach but has taken much of the blame for the team’s early postseason exit.

Blake, 55, was a Hall of Fame defenseman whose 20-year NHL playing career included two stints with the Kings. He spent several of those seasons playing alongside Robitaille. He was brought back to the Kings as assistant general manager ahead of the 2013-14 season, which ended with the team winning its second Stanley Cup.

Less than four years later the team fired general manager Dean Lombardi, the architect of its two Stanley Cup champions, and promoted Blake, who quickly went about expanding the team’s player-development program, adding strength and conditioning coaches, a sports dietitian, a psychologist and other specialists, making it one of the most robust in the NHL.

Yet the Kings haven’t won a playoff series since.

This spring’s early exit from the postseason may have been the most painful of Blake’s team as general manager. The team tied franchise records for wins (48) and points (105) while breaking the record for home wins (31), giving it home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. But after dominating the first two games at home, the Kings were swept in the next four.

That extended another franchise record, marking the 11th straight season the Kings have failed to win a postseason series.

Unlike Lombardi, who was frequently visible around the team and available to the media, Blake, who was in the final year of his contract, rarely spoke publicly. Additionally, he has long been a target of fans critical of his roster construction and poor trades, such as the one that brought Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Kings in the summer of 2023 in exchange for Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, Gabriel Vilardi and a second-round draft pick. Dubois signed a cap-squeezing eight-year, $68-million contract with Blake, then promptly proved to be a bust, setting career lows with 16 goals and 24 assists.

Read more:Kings' season ends in another playoff loss to Oilers: 'This one hurts a little more'

But Blake fixed that last summer, moving Dubois to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who had a career season and is one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy. Blake also made an important deal at the March trade deadline, acquiring forward Andrei Kuzmenko from the Philadelphia Flyers, who also agreed to split the remainder of Kuzmenko’s salary.

The trade immediately improved the Kings’ offense and rescued an impotent power play, helping win 17 of its final 22 games to place second in the Pacific Division, the best finish of Blake’s term as general manager.

But that luck — and Blake’s time with the team — ended in the playoffs.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.