Category: NHL

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that goaltender Scott Ratzlaff has been assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Ratzlaff, 20, spent this season in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. In 49 games this campaign with the WHL squad, he posted a 23-19-4 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 3.16 goals-against average. Now, with the Thunderbirds' season over, Ratzlaff will finish the campaign with Rochester. 

Ratzlaff was selected by the Sabres with the 141st overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. In 160 games over five seasons with the Thunderbirds, Ratzlaff has put together an 87-55-5 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.90 goals-against average. 

It will now be interesting to see if Ratzlaff makes his AHL debut with the Amerks before the season is over from here.

Recent Sabres News 

Sabres Star Finishing The Season Red-HotThe end of the season is just about here for the Buffalo Sabres, as the Atlantic Division club will not be in the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year. While this is the case, the Sabres have been playing some of their best hockey of the season, winning eight out of their last 10 games.

The Seattle Kraken have recalled defenseman Ville Ottavainen from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on an emergency basis. 

The 22-year-old defenseman has played 66 AHL games this season, scoring three goals and 14 points. It's a step down in production from his rookie season where he scored eight goals and 34 points in 70 games. 

Listed at 6'5, 216 lbs, the Kraken selected Ottavainen in the fourth round (99th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

The Kraken have one final game remaining on the schedule, a home game against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. If any defenseman is unable to play, Ottavainen will step into the lineup to make his NHL debut. 

When he returns to the AHL, he'll continue to be a key contributor to their blue line in what they hope will be another long playoff run.

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

Former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Chris Simon has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE, Dr. Chris Nowinski, the founding CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, announced Monday morning.

Simon was drafted 25th overall by the Flyers in the second round of the 1990 NHL Draft, but the Flyers later traded Simon to the Quebec Nordiques as part of the package for legendary forward Eric Lindros.

Simon played in the NHL for 15 seasons, with his last NHL game having been played nearly 17 years ago to the day on April 15, 2008. Simon participated in 101 fights in his NHL career.

Breaking: Former #NHL player Chris Simon has been diagnosed with stage 3 #CTE at the @bu_cte Center. The Stanley Cup winner died by suicide at age 52 in 2024. Read his family statement released through @ConcussionLF at the link. https://t.co/l5pkZ5wvni

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) April 14, 2025

Simon died by suicide at the age of 52 on March 18, 2024, and was long said to have been struggling with the effects of CTE. This was confirmed with Monday’s announcement.

Dr. Ann McKee of the Boston University CTE Center released the following statement in regards to her findings in the posthumous study:

“Mr. Simon had severe CTE pathology in areas of the brain involved with cognition and mood regulation, and it is likely CTE contributed to his memory problems, depression, and apathy. Individuals with a significant history of repetitive head impacts in sports who report these symptoms need to be taken seriously, and our team is committed to providing them the care they need while also continuing to advance CTE research.”

Simon’s family had this to say, as part of a longer full-length statement, in addition to Dr. McKee's words:

“Our family is extremely thankful to Dr. Ann McKee, Lisa McHale and all staff at Boston University CTE Center and the Concussion Legacy Foundation for all of their work and support. We are relieved that stage 3 CTE was definitively found in his brain as it will help bring some closure and healing to his family and friends. The unfortunate feeling of anger is also present due to the negligence of a professional league turning a blind eye to CTE and other significant brain injuries sustained in the sport of hockey.”

Simon’s family agreed to release the results of the brain study in an effort to draw attention and raise awareness for the needs of former hockey players struggling with long-term complications of repeated head traumas.

“With each new diagnosis of CTE in a former NHL player, the NHL’s lack of leadership on this issue becomes more intolerable,” Dr. Nowinski said. “Yet their denial strengthens our resolve to support the hockey community through our free HelpLine and advance research focused on diagnosing CTE during life and developing effective treatments.”

Nineteen of 20 former NHLers studied at the Boston University CTE Center, including Simon, Derek Boogaard, Bobby Hull, and Stan Mikita, have been diagnosed with CTE.

Those in need of assistance can reach the Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine at CLFHelpline.org.

We all know how much Montreal loves its hockey – specifically its Montreal Canadiens. 

There’s a lot for the Canadiens to get hyped up about, including being close to a playoff birth. But with top prospect Ivan Demidov joining the club and making his NHL debut Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks – Montrealers are falling head-over-heels for the 19-year-old.

Demidov has been embraced by Canadiens fans, be it at the airport arriving in the city or just during practice – the affection is probably more than he expected, even with Canadiens staff trying to prepare him for life in a massive hockey hotbed.

That said, Demidov’s hardly the first Russian to potentially thrive in the fishbowl environment of Montreal.

Whether it was Ilya Kovalchuk – who played for the Canadiens briefly in 2020 – or former Habs fan favorites Alex Kovalev and Andrei Markov, Canadiens fans have never shied away from expressing their affection for the creativity, craftiness and high-energy games these players bring to the table. Canadiens management is also fully aware of the mutual admiration that exists between Montrealers and their exciting talent.

“It’s another part of what makes Montreal the best hockey city in the world,” Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said Monday regarding the Demidov hype. “We see it often with soccer around the world. When there’s a passion, there’s other aspects that come with it. But I think I have the impression that Ivan has felt the welcome to Montreal.”

Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Brings 'Mamba Mentality' And Otherworldly Skill To The NHLThe Montreal Canadiens got a pretty special talent in Ivan Demidov. 

The hype around Demidov extends to current Canadiens players. Injured Habs center Kirby Dach moved his stationary bike to the bench just to watch him practise. 

But before everyone gets carried away with expectations for Demidov, they should give him a little room to breathe and get his feet under him as he begins competing in the best hockey league on the planet. 

To that end, Kovalchuk talked to RG.org about Demidov in March and how he has to be ready for the sky-high expectations in Montreal. 

“He needs to be ready for the reality of playing in a city where hockey is like a religion,” he said. “Every move he makes will be scrutinized by management and the media. The key is to not be shy and speak their language. It goes a long way in a market like Montreal.”

Demidov needs to heed those words. If he doesn’t light the league on fire as soon as he logs his first few games, the pressure on him will only grow. And if he does excel right away, Demidov will be expected to raise his game even higher. 

Because he’s eligible to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Demidov reportedly has an intriguing clause in his first NHL contract, which would pay him $525,000 if he wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the post-season. He can make an even bigger splash as a rookie, but that’s part of the sky-high expectations that may need to be tempered this season.

Canadiens fans are already gaga for the potential Demidov has shown in his on-ice career. If he does lay the foundation to be something truly special in this initial taste of NHL action, Habs fans will surely dive headfirst into a love affair with him that will last for many years.

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The Nashville Predators have announced that they have recalled defenseman Ryan Ufko from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. In addition, the team announced that Ufko will make his NHL debut during the Predators' April 14 contest against the Utah Hockey Club.

Ufko, 21, has been quite solid for the Admirals this season, so it is understandable that he is now getting his first chance on the Predators' roster. In 71 games this campaign with the AHL squad, he has recorded eight goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a plus-3 rating. This is after he posted six points in his first nine AHL games with the Admirals this past season.

Ufko was selected by the Predators with the 115th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Before beginning his professional career with the Predators organization, he spent three seasons with UMass-Amherst from 2021-22 to 2023-24. In 106 games with the school, the 5-foot-10 defenseman posted 23 goals and 81 points. 

Predators Top Prospect Is Heating Up In AHLNashville Predators prospect Joakim Kemell is considered one of the team's most promising youngsters. The 20-year-old forward is continuing to develop his game at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Milwaukee Admirals and is in the middle of a solid season that saw him play in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. Predators Sign Tough Guy To Contract ExtensionThe Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed forward Navrin Mutter to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2025-26 season. Former Predators Forward Done For The SeasonPittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has announced that former Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak will be out for the rest of the season. 

The Edmonton Oilers could have another disadvantage against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pacific Division rivals clash on Monday night as the regular season winds down. But the Oilers won’t be playing with their ideal lineup, and that could drag into the playoffs. The Kings, meanwhile, look to be fully healthy when April 19 comes around. 

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch provided injury updates on Monday. The biggest concern is that defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss the first round. The 34-year-old only played 1:52 of ice time in April and reportedly suffered a significant injury.

Trade deadline acquisition Trent Frederic is also questionable for Game 1 of the playoffs. The 27-year-old center has only played in one game for Edmonton, and that was only for about seven minutes against the Kings on April 5.

Superstar Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman will also not play against Los Angeles on Monday for precautionary reasons. McDavid missed eight games in late March, while Hyman hasn’t played for the Oilers since Friday, when he left the game with an injury. 

Leon Draisaitl, Jake Walman and Troy Stetcher also remain out, but Knoblauch expects them to be ready for Game 1. Evander Kane still needs to be cleared to play for the first time this season, but he's looking good, Knoblauch added.

With all these injuries creating holes in the Oilers' lineup, the team called up defenseman Josh Brown from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Quinn Hutson will also make his NHL debut after signing an entry-level contract on Monday. The forward is the oldest brother of the Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson and Washington Capitals’ Cole Hutson.

No Ekholm, No Hope? Oilers Face Harsh Playoff Reality After Key InjuryThere are some serious injuries that almost certainly will spell doom for an NHL team’s Stanley Cup playoff hopes.

As it stands for the Kings, they’re expected to have a mostly healthy lineup by the time Game 1 arrives.

D-man Joel Edmundson is unavailable due to an upper-body injury, and left winger Tanner Jeannott hasn’t played since March 25. It’s uncertain whether both will be ready for the playoffs.

The Kings have a three-point lead over the Oilers in the standings and can clinch home-ice advantage. No team has won more games at home this season than the Kings’ 31.

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.

Kick off the last week of the NHL's regular season with The Hockey News Wraparound Show.

Will The New York Rangers Be Good Next Year? by The Wraparoundundefined

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

0:00: How much will the loss of Mattias Ekholm impact the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs?

4:03: Could losing Nikolaj Ehlers be crucial to the playoff outlook of the Winnipeg Jets?

6:26: Do the Minnesota Wild have one of the most exciting defensive cores of the future after signing Zeev Buium?

8:27: Should Yakov Trenin have faced supplemental discipline for his actions against the Vancouver Canucks?

12:19: Looking back at Alec Martinez’s NHL career as he announces his retirement

14:05: Will the New York Rangers be competitive next season?

17:23: Is there a chance that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette will be fired?

20:11: Could the Hutson brothers become hockey’s next biggest family?

22:30: Will Nikita Kucherov go down as a better playmaker than Connor McDavid?

24:48: Which NHL teams should pursue Jack Ivankovic at the draft?

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

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to play boring hockey – and it continues to work. 

A 1-0 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens is a perfect example of it. Winning 4-1 with 20 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday is also a safer style of game.

Since they made Craig Berube their coach last summer, the Maple Leafs have changed their style of play. Don’t get it twisted – they still lean heavily on their ‘Core Four’ of star forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. But Toronto now plays a safer, smarter, “low-event” hockey that will do the squad well in the playoffs.

The Leafs improved the most on defense, thanks to this style of play. They’ve gone from an average of 3.18 goals-against last season – 21st in the NHL in that category – to 2.85 this year, which ranks 12th. 

For his part, Berube has stressed physicality, defensive structure and resilience. By and large, the Leafs responded.

For instance, Berube is happy with the Leafs’ ability to bounce back in the wake of losing games. Toronto recently fell to the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers on April 8, but the team put in an excellent effort in knocking off the Tampa Bay Lightning to solidify its hold on top spot in the Atlantic Division. 

Berube spoke after practice Friday about his team’s determination to atone for subpar performances and make opponents pay a price night in and night out.

“It’s been good for the most part,” Berube said when asked about the Leafs’ heavy, physical game this season. “Yeah, you have games where it’s not as good as it needs to be, but I just look at that Tampa game, and the competitiveness we played with on a back-to-back night, against a very good (Lightning) team – just the puck battles and the physicality that we needed to play with to get out of there with two points. 

“Blocking shots, it’s all that type of stuff. But guys were committed to doing it, and I didn’t like it in the Florida game. I didn’t think we did it well enough, and that was the difference in the game for me. But they responded, and they did it the next night.”

Should The Maple Leafs Be Worried About The First Round Of The Playoffs?Things are never easy in the Stanley Cup playoffs, nor should they be. But wherever the Toronto Maple Leafs end up in the standings, their reward will be a first-round opponent who has dummied them this season.

Whether it’s left winger Steven Lorentz, center Max Domi, left winger Scott Laughton or left winger Bobby McMann – as well as defensemen Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe and Simon Benoit – Toronto’s supporting cast is supplying the robust physical type of game Berube has been looking for.

“I think we’ve been pretty consistent with our physicality all year, “ Berube said. “It’s not just taking the body on a guy, it’s being hard at your net-front and boxing out, it’s all that stuff, puck battles and blocking shots. So I think we’ve done a pretty good job of it for most of the year, been pretty consistent.”

Meanwhile, Leafs players are echoing Berube’s sentiment. McMann, who got into a fight against Brayden Point in the win over the Lightning, also spoke Friday about his team’s willingness to provide edge and snarl in a way previous Leafs teams may not have provided in recent years.

“I think it’s a collective effort from everybody to try and be involved in every situation and make sure guys are engaged and sticking up for each other and making sure we’re sticking together as a unit,” McMann said. “That's the biggest thing.”

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.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is only the 15th head coach in NHL history to win 400 games with a single franchise. Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman is the only person to achieve this feat with two clubs. 

Meanwhile, Sullivan is on the list with multiple Stanley Cup titles, something not all the coaches ahead of him have on their resumes. 

Winning championships usually adds a layer of protection to a coach's tenure, as proven by the fact that Sullivan is wrapping up his first losing season behind the Penguins bench, eight seasons after winning his last championship.

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks.

Moreover, the team will not play for the third consecutive campaign in the postseason, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. 

How many other head coaches have won over 400 games with a single franchise and survived three years without qualifying for the playoffs?

Two, with the list expanding to three when Sullivan joins the list on Thursday night.

Who are these other coaches?

Lindy Ruff was the first coach to achieve this feat during his first term with the Buffalo Sabres, which lasted from 1997 to 2013. During his first four seasons, the Sabres made the playoffs, advancing to the 1998 Stanley Cup Final. 

Congratulations to Mike Sullivan on becoming the 14th head coach in NHL history - and ninth fastest - to win 400 games with a single franchise 🙌

Sullivan is the only American-born head coach to accomplish the feat. pic.twitter.com/pi9vTjKcxR

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 9, 2025

However, the club missed the playoffs in 2002, 2003, and 2004 before advancing to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007. After that, Buffalo missed the playoffs in 2008 and 2009 and again in 2012 and 2013 when the team fired Ruff just 17 games into the 2012-13 season.

The other name on the list is Barry Trotz, who is an exception to the rule but still missed the playoff for five straight seasons before leading the Nashville Predators to appearances in seven of the next ten seasons. 

Trotz was the first coach in Predators history, inheriting an expansion roster in 1999, and didn't have a winning season until his sixth season in 2003-04, the year Nashville qualified for the playoffs for the first time. 

After the lockout, Nashville chased the Stanley Cup in 2006, 2007, and 2008 before missing out on the postseason in 2009. Trotz led them back to the dance in 2010, 2011, and 2012 before missing in 2013 and 2014 and was relieved of his duties that summer.

Penguins' Rakell Is One Point Shy Of Franchise RecordPittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell, born in Sundbyberg, Sweden, set a new career high with his 35th goal on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. 

Of course, many Hall of Fame-Stanley Cup-winning coaches have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. However, the list of those head coaches who have survived three successive missed postseasons is slim. 

Interestingly, Claude Julien almost made the list. When he became head coach of the Boston Bruins in 2007-08, he guided them to the playoffs every season, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.

He brought the Bruins back to the Final in 2013, but by 2015, Boston was not the same powerhouse. They missed the postseason for three straight seasons in 2015, 2016, and 2017. However, the team fired Julien after 55 games in 2017, and he ended up with the first-place Montreal Canadiens. 

Even though the Bruins missed the playoffs three straight years, that third year was under two different coaches. 

Congrats to Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on his 44th playoff win, the most in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/zalLUXQfYR

— PittsburghHockey.net (@PghHockey) May 10, 2022

Ultimately, this conversation brings us back to Sullivan, who is about to become the third 400-win coach (with one franchise) in NHL history not to guide his team to the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

What, if anything, will this mean for Suulivan's future with the Penguins, who are about to start their third straight offseason earlier than expected?  

The Buffalo Sabres completed the road portion of the 2024-25 regular season schedule with a 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The Sabres can point to many reasons why their playoff drought is now 14 straight seasons, but their woeful record away from Key Bank Center is near or at the top.

The Sabres ended up with a record of 13-24-4 on the road (the fourth-worst record in the NHL), with only Boston, Nashville, and Chicago having more regulation losses than Buffalo. That was a decline from their .500 record on the road last year (18-18-5) and pretty much negated any success they achieved at home, where they have gone 13-2 in their last 15 games and have climbed to 17th in the NHL with a 22-14-3 record.

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?The Buffalo Sabres are currently focused on finishing off the 2024-25 season on a positive note after most of the campaign being dominated by the negative. The club is looking to win their third game in a row in Utah on Thursday after a shootout win over Vegas on Saturday and an overtime victory in Boston on Monday. Barring an incredibly successful final 16 games, the Sabres are likely to finish in the bottom five of the NHL standings, and with a number of questions that will need to be addressed in the offseason. Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The AthleticThe Buffalo Sabres season began with the hope of ending their long playoff drought and will end on April 17th with a 14th consecutive year outside of the postseason. There are a number of contributing factors to the club’s struggles, but according to an article in the Athletic that surveyed fans from every NHL club, Sabres owner Terry Pegula is ranked last among the 32 owners. Dahlin Refutes Assertion Of Wanting Out Of BuffaloAs if the Buffalo Sabres do not have enough drama with the club heading for their 14th consecutive season outside of the playoffs, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin refuted a report from TNT panelist and Spittin Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonette that the Sabres team captain met with GM Kevyn Adams and wants out of Buffalo if the club does not improve quickly.

“We lost puck battles, got on the wrong side of the puck, and (were) poor defensively,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the loss. “When you can match their energy, you have to take care of the puck. You look at a couple goals, we’ve got the puck, and don’t execute, and it turns into a goal for them.”

The club’s defensive play is an obvious issue that contributed to the Sabres issues on the road. In 41 games, they finished 8th in the NHL with 125 goals scored (3.04 goals per game), but they were tied for 30th in goals allowed with 154 (3.76 GAA). This can partly be attributed to starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen not matching his performance from the second half last year, but for a club that was supposed to be more focused on being more efficient defensively, Buffalo under Ruff has been unable to clean things up in their own end that is essential to playing a winning brand of hockey.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The New York Rangers play the Florida Panthers on Monday night and while there are no playoff implications to be excited about, there are still a couple things to watch out for. 

First off, with Braden Schneider out due to an upper-body injury, Peter Laviolette confirmed that Matthew Robertson will finally make his NHL debut. 

The Rangers drafted Robertson in the second round in 2019. He hasn't been able to crack the Rangers’ roster as he’s spent the entirety of the past four seasons in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack. 

Now, the 24-year-old defenseman will get a chance to prove himself in the NHL. This season, Robertson has recorded one goal, 24 assists, and 25 points in 60 games. 

Meanwhile, Gabe Perreault will slot back into the lineup. 

The 19-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Mar. 31 and played three games before getting scratched for three consecutive games. 

Brennan Othmann is also expected to play after he’s been benched for the past two games.

On Sunday afternoon, New Jersey Devils' Paul Cotter received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head against New York Islanders' Adam Pelech. 

The incident occurred at the six-minute mark of the second period. Following the hit, a bloody and visibly angry Pelech left the game and did not return. 

"That is the kind of hit we don't like," Islanders' head coach Patrick Roy told NewYorkIslanders.com on Sunday. "The kind of hit we don't want to see happen for any team."

Cotter played 5:42 and finished the game with one shot on goal, one blocked shot, and two hits. 

Hours after the Devils' 1-0 loss to the Islanders, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Cotter would have a hearing on Monday. 

It was announced Monday afternoon that Cotter has been suspended for two games.

New Jersey has two regular-season games remaining before the playoffs. On Tuesday, the team will play the Boston Bruins at TD Garden and host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at Prudential Center. 

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average NHL salary, Cotter will forfeit $8,072.92. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Before his incident, the native of Canton, Michigan, had no prior history with the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Cotter is concluding his first season with the Devils after being acquired in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, 2024, for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid. The 25-year-old has appeared in 79 games for the Devils and has 22 points (16 goals, six assists). 

Two Vancouver Canucks prospects will be making their NHL debuts against the San Jose Sharks. Both goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev will be in the lineup on Monday as the Canucks play their second to last game of the 2024-25 season. Tolopilo is on the roster in place of Thatcher Demko, while Kudryavtsev is expected to take injured Derek Forbort's spot in the lineup.

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Listed at 6'6", 229 lbs, Tolopilo is an undrafted goaltender who has impressed since signing with the organization. This season in the AHL, he has an 18-14-2 record, along with four shutouts. Tolopilo's last start came on April 6, when he made 35 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Laval Rockets.

"I think he's a big goalie, so something there," said Rick Tocchet after practice on Sunday. "I think last year, he knows that the work ethics got to get a little bit higher. He's got to really work on his craft. You're a big goalie. Can he work on his movements? Can he get stronger in his hip areas and core? Can his pushes off the like, these are the things. I'm not a goalie coach, but this is the sort of stuff that you want this guy to work at because he's got the frame. A big goalie that can move, those are the kind of the guys you want. Like a Thatcher Demko, big guy that can move."

As for Kudryavtsev, he was a seventh-round pick by Vancouver back in 2022. The left-shot defenceman is in his first pro season, and has 26 points in 63 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. Once Kudryavtsev steps on the ice, he will become the first player drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft to play in an NHL regular-season game.

"Means a lot," said Kudravtsev after morning skate on Monday. It was a quick phone call yesterday, so really excited. It's my first game. I know it probably doesn't mean much for the standings for the NHL team, but it means a lot for me and for Tolo (Tolopilo)."

The Canucks wrap up their season series with the Sharks on Monday night. Vancouver is 3-0 against their Pacific Division rivals, and will have their eyes on the season sweep. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell, born in Sundbyberg, Sweden, set a new career high with his 35th goal on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. 

With his latest tally, Rakell tied fellow Swede Tomas Sandström, who scored 35 during the shortened 1995-96 season. In 58 games that season, Sandström set the franchise record for most goals (35) and points (70) by a Swedish-born skater in Penguins history. 

Heading into the season finale, Rakell has 35 goals and 34 assists for 69 points, one shy of tying Sandström's record. Against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins' next opponent, Rakell, has scored four goals with ten assists for 14 points in 23 career games. 

Last season, Rakell became only the second Swedish player to record a 60-point season, scoring 28 goals and 32 assists. Now, with 69 points, he becomes the only one from the Scandinavian country to record two 60-point campaigns.

 

Rakell Sets New Career-High In 'Slow' 4-1 Loss To BruinsHeading into a Sunday matinee matchup with the Boston Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins hoped to take advantage of a team in free fall and sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

As mentioned, Sandström owns the franchise record for most goals in a single season among Swedish players with 35. Meanwhile, Erik Karlsson owns the top totals regarding assists. During his first season in Pittsburgh, 2023-24, he recorded 45 assists to surpass Dick Tärnström, who had 36 in 2003-04 to break Sandström's top total of 35. 

Karlsson is up to 42 assists with one game left this year, becoming the only Swedish player with more than one 40-assist season in a Penguins sweater. 

At this time, Rakell (179 points) is the second-highest-scoring Swede in franchise history, chasing two-time Stanley Cup champion Patric Hornqvist, who had 264 points in 407 games. Meanwhile, Karlsson already ranks fifth with 109 points in 163 games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks.

Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Nicolas Hague, Victor Olofsson and Ilya Samsonov all returned to the Vegas Golden Knights' practice today.

Every rostered player besides Adin Hill participated in practice today. Hill was in goal on Saturday during the Golden Knights' 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old is likely taking a maintenance day to rest after playing in his 50th game this season. 

Eichel has been day-to-day with an upper-body injury, missing the previous three games. The 28-year-old has set new career highs in assists and points, looking to be on track to return for the playoffs. 

Pietrangelo has had a difficult month, sustaining an injury before returning and dealing with an illness. The Golden Knights have been patient with his health, wanting to give the 35-year-old every opportunity to rest and return for the playoffs as close to 100% as possible.

Hague and Olofsson have been affected by the same illness as Pietrangelo, forcing them to miss several games. The pair of depth pieces will be important to the Golden Knights' success in the playoffs, albeit in different ways. Olofsson will attempt to provide depth offence, and Hague will need to use his size to be a strong defender. 

Samsonov has been out since Mar. 29, last playing on Mar. 23. His injury is an upper-body ailment, and the Golden Knights will be hoping to get him into a game before the beginning of the playoffs, just in case his services are needed. 

The Golden Knights have two games remaining, and both will be played on the road against the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. With the Pacific Division locked up, the Golden Knights will likely use load management to their advantage, and it's why Jonas Rondbjerg joined the team at practice today. 

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