Chayka checked off multiple boxes for the Maple Leafs in that deal, bringing in a young defenseman who will improve the team's ability to advance the puck up the ice. However, more moves should be expected for Toronto this off-season.
Matthew Knies has surfaced in trade rumors, but the player who has ramped up in trade discussions is defenseman Morgan Rielly.
Knies has been included in off-season trade boards, and it was even revealed that he was almost dealt at the NHL trade deadline last season. Though nothing has come to fruition yet, teams around the league have been eying the 23-year-old left winger.
Aside from captain Auston Matthews and right winger William Nylander, Knies is probably the next player who would bring in the biggest trade package for the Maple Leafs.
The possibility of a Rielly trade, however, seems to be much greater based on recent reports.
The Maple Leafs trading away the veteran blueliner appears to be the next likely scenario for Chayka and the organization this off-season. In fact, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun wrote, "all signs indeed point to a potential trade this offseason," regarding Rielly, and that both the player's camp and the team are working together on making a deal happen.
Because of that clause in his contract, Rielly cannot be traded without his consent to the team he is going to, or for a trade to happen at all. With that, LeBrun reported that Rielly's agent, J.P. Barry, has given Leafs management a list of teams that the player could be interested in moving to.
"My understanding is that most of those teams are all in the Western Conference, but there’s also a sense that there could be flexibility as talks evolve," LeBrun wrote. "For instance, if Leafs GM John Chayka comes back to Barry with a team that’s not on the list but that made a decent trade offer, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s a 'no.'"
The NHL insider also said that the San Jose Sharks make plenty of sense as a possible destination for Rielly. He also doesn't believe his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks, is on the list.
Nonetheless, it appears a divorce between Rielly and the Leafs could be in the cards this off-season.
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One year ago today, those of us associated with the Florida Panthers were feeling pretty darn good.
It was on June 17 of last year that the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final to claim their second consecutive championship.
The victory capped off an impressive playoff run that saw Florida reel off 16 wins in just 23 games, one less than it took them to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup a year prior.
Similarly to the first time, Florida’s second Cup clinching win over the Oilers came in front of their home fans at Amerant Bank Arena.
This time, it was the Panthers who had to come from behind in the series after dropping Game 1, an overtime thriller in Edmonton.
Florida responded by reeling off four wins over the next five games, with their only defeat coming during a Game 4 that the Panthers blew a 3-0 lead and lost on a funky deflection in overtime.
They followed that up by smothering Edmonton by a combined score of 10-3 in Games 5 and 6, with five of those 10 goals coming off the stick of Sam Reinhart.
For as much of a nail-biter as their first championship turned out to be, this one felt more like a coronation.
Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; The Florida Panthers celebrate after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 1-10 this season.
Lukáš Dostál
Dostál entered the 2025-26 season as the unquestioned starting goaltender after John Gibson was traded to the Detroit Red Wings during the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. In the second year of his six-year contract extension that he signed in July 2025, Dostál appeared in 56 games (55 starts), putting up a 30-20-4 record with a .888 SV% and 3.10 GAA. He eclipsed his career high in games played for the third consecutive season and had the first 30-win season of his NHL career.
The Ducks' season fell largely on Dostál's performances, as he carried them through several winning streaks and also endured a couple of losing streaks. He missed time in September (during preseason) and December with two separate injuries: a sprained ankle and a broken finger.
Dostál revealed the extent of his injuries during an interview with Czech news outlet iSport. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek had revealed during a preseason interview with Ducks Stream that Dostál suffered the sprained ankle (simply referred to as a lower-body injury at the time) while walking down his stairs at home. Dostál said during his interview with iSport that a shot broke the front joint of his middle finger in his catching (left) hand.
"At the beginning of the season I sprained my ankle," Dostál said (translated from Czech) "And halfway through the season a shot broke the front joint of my middle finger. I played with it for a while, the pain was manageable and it gradually healed. Still, I managed to play over seventy matches, which is also an important indicator for me that I can handle it physically."
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) defends the goal during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
It's unclear to what extent Dostal's finger injury healed, but he did appear to have issues catching the puck cleanly during the Ducks' playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights. His playoff performances had plenty of peaks and valleys. He allowed less than three goals in just three of the Ducks' 12 playoff games and had a save percentage over .900 in only four of those games. However, the Ducks lost two of those four games.
While his playoff performances weren't as consistent as one might have hoped for, it's easy to forget that this season was the most games that Dostál has ever played in his professional career. 56 regular season games on top of 12 playoff games plus four games at the Winter Olympics in the middle of a jam-packed NHL schedule.
"Next year is gonna be kind of easier, especially after my first year being No. 1," Dostál said. "So that's going to be definitely easier to adjust some of your preparations. Some of the things that I actually told Sudsie (director of goaltending Sudarshan Maharaj) and (goaltending coach) Peter (Budaj), I always like to do a lot of things, but maybe, sometimes, it's better to slow down a bit. So it might be something that I might focus on for next year, sometimes to take a little bit more rest. Mentally, physically, you can be just a little bit more rested so you can be sharper in those games. In some of the games I knew that some goals slipped in that shouldn't happen. That's definitely going to be the goal for next year to keep that consistency."
Jackson LaCombe
LaCombe built off his breakout season from last season as a sophomore, setting another career high in points (58) and appearing in all 82 games for the Ducks in 2025-26, one of three Ducks to do so this season. Before he even began the season, he was rewarded with an eight-year, $72 million contract extension. The contract made LaCombe the highest-paid player in franchise history.
Playing the role of No. 1 defenseman, LaCombe was the primary point option on Anaheim's top power play unit up until John Carlson was acquired from the Washington Capitals in March. LaCombe had 14 power play points in 66 games prior to Carlson's arrival and had three power play points in the 16 following games. With Carlson expected to hit the open market and likely head back east, LaCombe is primed to fill the point option on the top power play unit once again.
LaCombe spent most of the 2025-26 season paired with Jacob Trouba, who is a pending UFA. Head coach Joel Quenneville leaned heavily on the pairing down the stretch and especially once the playoffs rolled around. With Carlson on his way out, Trouba will become the primary UFA target for general manager Pat Verbeek to re-sign. What ballpark Trouba's number falls into could affect whether he returns or departs. During his exit interview, Trouba said that Verbeek and he had preliminary discussions at the trade deadline about an extension but that it "didn't get very far." LaCombe has shown he fares well playing alongside more of a defensive-minded partner like Trouba or Radko Gudas before him. If Trouba also departs, Verbeek would be wise to seek out a similar partner for LaCombe, whether via trade or free agency.
Ian Moore
You'd be hard-fetched to find someone who was more of a team player this year than Moore. Not only did he flip-flop between forward and defense throughout the season, but he happily conceded his No. 74 to Carlson when he arrived from the Capitals, switching to No. 3. Moore said that he chose 3 because he wore it while playing for the Chicago Steel in the USHL.
After making his NHL debut and playing in three games at the end of the 2024-25 season, Moore broke camp with the Ducks to start the 2025-26 season. He didn't make an appearance until the fifth game of the season, filling in as a seventh defenseman/fourth line forward hybrid. He received consistent playing as a defensemen for most of November before being healthy scratched for five consecutive games at the end of that month. When he was re-inserted into the lineup, it was as a fourth line winger.
Moore continued to fill this role for a majority of the rest of the regular season, making sporadic appearances on the backend. Carlson's acquisition relegated Moore further to forward duties, but a late-season injury to Gudas opened the door for more opportunities on the blue line. However, an inadequate performance while playing on his off-side against the San Jose Sharks on Apr. 1 shifted him back to forward full-time for the rest of the season.
Apr 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defensemen Ian Moore (3) waits for the play to begin against the Edmonton Oilers in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The fourth line featured Jeff Viel, Tim Washe and Moore to start the Ducks' 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs run, as this unorthodox line kept Connor McDavid at bay for most of the six-game series. But injuries to both Gudas and Helleson required Moore to jump back to defense, where he was paired with Olen Zellweger, who had played infrequently following Carlson's acquisition and Tyson Hinds' promotion from the AHL. The Zellweger-Moore pairing held their own during the latter stages of the series against the Golden Knights, though the Ducks fell in six games.
Moore should without a doubt return to the blue line in permanent fashion in 2026-27. While his work as a winger is admirable, his intelligence and skills shine brighter as a defenseman than as a forward. Targeting offseason additions to bolster the forward depth should be a priority for Verbeek this season. A defenseman shouldn't be one of the first options to fill in at forward, no matter how smart he is.
With the right side of Anaheim's defense currently in flux, an opportunity has developed for Moore to stake his claim at a full-time role. Helleson and Tristan Luneau are also competing for regular roles, which makes for plenty of competition.
Radko Gudas
Gudas has served as the Ducks' captain for the past two seasons. He joined the team in the summer of 2023, signing a three-year deal. He provided a steady partner for LaCombe, who was in his first full season as an NHLer and was one of their better players during rookie head coach Greg Cronin's first year at the helm.
After being named captain prior to the 2024-25 season, Gudas was unable to replicate his form from the previous season, often finding himself out of position and having to take a penalty to prevent prime scoring opportunities. During his 2026 exit interview, he revealed that a lingering ankle injury had affected him for the past few years and was exacerbated by a sprained ankle that he suffered late in the 2025-26 regular season.
Some of Gudas' decline can be attributed to age. He recently turned 36 and his style of play doesn't cater well to decreased physical attributes. He was never the quickest or fastest skater, but being out of position on a regular basis can rear its ugly head, especially as a defenseman. There are still some positive elements that Gudas possesses, though. His knack for giving opponents a hard time in front of his goaltender's crease is something that the Ducks lacked, especially in their series against the Golden Knights. They may not bring him back (he is a pending UFA), but they do need someone who can fill a similar role as a crease clearer.
For as polarizing as his Ducks career has been to this point, Gudas joined the organization at a crucial point in their rebuilding process. His teammates have spoken glowingly of him, especially his younger defensive compatriots. He owned up to his ill-advised knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews and faced the music (despite suffering a sprained ankle just a few games before) when the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Ducks again a couple of weeks later. If he's unable to find a role with an NHL team next season, whether with the Ducks or another organization, a return to Czechia to finish out his professional career––similar to what former Duck Jakob Silfverberg is currently doing––appears likely.
Even with the Stanley Cup Final now behind him and the Golden Knights’ championship hopes dashed, Mitch Marner chose to lift the curtain on a period he once said he would only discuss if his new team hoisted the Cup.
During end-of-season media availability Tuesday at City National Arena, the former Maple Leafs winger elaborated on comments he made earlier in the postseason about enduring “dark days” comments he had conditioned on a Vegas victory during the Cup Final media day. The Knights fell short, but Marner spoke anyway, offering a raw window into the mental health challenges that shadowed much of his final five years in Toronto.
“Mental health is a super important thing to me. It really is,” Marner said. “I’ve been really trying to take care of my mental health probably for the last five years or so. There were some really dark moments there when the thought of playing hockey was really tough, honestly, in a lot of ways. It was just kind of a dark vibe, a dark hole in a way. I’m very thankful that I had people around me.”
The 29-year-old, who opted not to re-sign with the Leafs last season, was traded to Vegas last July after a decade with the organization that drafted him fourth overall in 2015. He has long been one of the NHL’s most polarizing figures, particularly in the city he once called home. In Toronto, Marner was both celebrated as a generational talent and scrutinized under the unrelenting microscope that comes with being a core piece of a franchise starved for a Stanley Cup since 1967. Massive contract negotiations, social-media pile-ons after playoff disappointments, and the constant weight of expectations created an environment where, by his own admission, the game itself began to feel like a burden.
Marner credited the support system that helped pull him through—family, close friends, and teammates both past and present. He has previously spoken about stepping away from social media as a necessary step in protecting his well-being, a move that drew its own share of criticism from fans who interpreted it as avoidance rather than self-preservation.
Mitch Marner dove into what the aforementioned "dark days" entailed over the last five years in Toronto, thanking former Leafs teammates and his family ♥️
What made Tuesday’s comments particularly noteworthy was the context in which they arrived. On media day ahead of the Cup Final, Marner had been asked about those same “dark times” and indicated he would only expand on them “in the coming weeks” if the Golden Knights won the championship. They did not. Yet, when Golden Knights beat writer Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal followed up Tuesday, specifically asking Marner to elaborate on the earlier remark, the forward did not dodge the question.
Marner’s candor comes at a time when the NHL is still grappling with the visibility of mental health issues in the sport. His willingness to speak publicly, even after a painful loss and without the “win-first” condition being met, drew praise from some quarters as a step toward normalizing these conversations. Others, particularly among the Leafs fanbase that watched him leave as a restricted free agent and then excel in a lower-pressure market, viewed the timing and framing with skepticism, wondering aloud whether the narrative would have sounded the same had Vegas won.
Mitch Marner didn't want to elaborate on his comment about going through "dark times" earlier in his hockey career, but says he will if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.
The trade to Vegas was framed by some as an escape from that pressure cooker. In his first season with the Golden Knights, Marner’s numbers sagged early as he found an identity with a new team. During the playoffs, he was the NHL’s leading point-getter with 29 in 24 games. He was a shoo-in to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoffs MVP had the Golden Knights won the Cup. The move to Vegas appeared to rejuvenate him. Off it, he now says, the work of maintaining his mental health remains ongoing.
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MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 05: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils gets the glove up during the third period against the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Montréal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Weekes stressed that a deal is not imminent. But when it comes to the goaltending market, and the Devils organization in particular, Weekes putting that tidbit out there publicly is noteworthy. Weekes is as plugged in as anybody on those particular fronts, so if he’s hearing the Devils have Markstrom out there on the market, there’s probably some truth to that.
It’s not surprising that new GM Sunny Mehta is at least exploring the market on a Markstrom trade either. Much has been written about how his contract extension made no sense when it happened. Markstrom proceeded to turn in a season that was poor enough where we’re asking if there is any way out of that deal, including if a buyout is possible. One of my offseason predictions was that the Devils would indeed move on from Markstrom.
Of course, I assumed that when you played as poorly as Markstrom played, you make $6M AAV for two more seasons, you’re Markstrom’s age, and you have a 20-team no trade list beginning on July 1st…..the contract itself is a no-trade clause and the Devils are probably stuck with him. That may still prove to be true. But then I also remembered that this is the NHL, nobody is unmovable, and there are teams out there that actually have worse goaltending situations than the Devils. So I shouldn’t be surprised that if one from the outside were to squint hard enough, they could convince themselves that Markstrom was banged up last year, he has had a good track record for most of his career, and there might be a decent goaltender still in there.
Sunny Mehta exploring the trade market is one thing. Finding a potential partner is another, and agreeing on a deal is yet another hurdle to overcome. So this week, I decided it would be worth it to take a look at the other 31 teams and see what teams might make sense for Mehta to connect with on a potential deal.
But before we get into that, we should explore why it makes sense for Markstrom to be open to a trade.
What Incentive is There For Markstrom To Accept a Trade?
As we know, Markstrom has a 20-team no trade list. However, there is plenty of incentive for him to accept a deal. Particularly if the Devils have already made it known to Markstrom behind closed doors that they want to move on.
If you’re Sunny Mehta, is it possible he has already presented Markstrom with one of two options.
Option A: Markstrom can play hardball on a trade and/or refuse to cooperate. The Devils choose to indeed buy him out in the second buyout window. Markstrom can pocket 2/3 of the money owed to him and pick his next destination, but keep in mind, the arbitration process takes awhile. He might not hit the open market until sometime in August. By then, most teams will have their rosters more or less set going into training camp. It’s a game of musical chairs, and its possible there’s no chair remaining for Markstrom if this drags out well into the summer.
Option B: Markstrom accepts a trade to a team willing to take him and he gets as much of the $12M owed to him as possible (before taxes). Or at the very least, he gets the $6M owed to him this upcoming season, and his next team can figure out what to do with him with a year left on that deal. You may or may not wind up on the team you want to be on, but at least you’re still in the NHL and you have the opportunity to stick it to Sunny Mehta and the Devils down the road.
Which option do you think is preferable? I would say Option B if I were Markstrom. So I do think that has to at least be considered going into this exercise.
Now, let’s look at the teams across the NHL and see if there are any potential fits
The “We Have Our Franchise Goaltender, And We’re Paying Him a Lot of Money Already, So No Thanks” Tier
Teams: Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
We can go ahead and wipe about 25% of the league right off of the bat.
Boston and Calgary have made long-term investments in their young, homegrown goaltenders. Neither Swayman or Wolf is going anywhere anytime soon. The same can be said for Logan Thompson, who isn’t homegrown but has found a long-term home in the nation’s capital.
Jake Oettinger and Juuse Saros are coming off of down years. They also both have full NMCs, so they’re not going anywhere unless they want out.
That leaves three of the best goaltenders in the league in Ilya Sorokin, Igor Shesterkin, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, and with the possible exception of Shesterkin, I can’t see any scenario where any of them move this summer. Maybe there’s a scenario where Shesterkin asks out if the Rangers embrace a long-term rebuild, but that remains to be seen, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they want a 36-year old Jacob Markstrom instead.
The “We Either Have, Or We’re About To Pay Our Guy, so We’ll Pass” Tier
Teams: Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers , Seattle Kraken
Lukas Dostal had his struggles in his first season as the unquestioned starter in Anaheim, but he’s still just 25 years old and part of that growing Anaheim core. There’s little reason for the Ducks to move off of him.
Jakub Dobes played brilliantly for the Canadiens, helping to lead them to the Eastern Conference Final this past season. He’s part of the future in Montreal.
Kevin Weekes reported over the weekend that the Flyers and Dan Vladar are closing in on a 5-year extension in the “mid $5M AAV” range. Vladar isn’t going anywhere. Add in the Joseph Woll trade and Philly is seemingly set in net.
Joey Daccord had a bit of a down year by his standards this past season for the Kraken, but he’s been generally good in Seattle and is signed for four more seasons at $5M AAV. They also have an expensive backup in Phillip Grubauer entering the final year of his contract.
The “We’re Bad and We’re Rebuilding, So Markstrom Doesn’t Really Make Sense for Us At This Time” Tier
Teams: San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues
San Jose is an interesting team in that Yaroslav Askarov is the future there, but he has yet to consistently play well at the NHL level. He got plenty of runway this year but had his struggles. Alex Nedeljkovic is the current veteran tandem partner, and it doesn’t really make sense for San Jose to look to upgrade over Nedeljkovic at the moment when they just extended him.
Jordan Binnington might have already played his final game for the St. Louis Blues, as he’s a trade candidate this summer. Binnington also struggled this year, but he’s shown in international competition that he’s capable of elevating his game, and there’s less of a commitment to going with Binnington than there is of going with Markstrom. Joel Hofer is probably St. Louis’s future in net.
The “I’m Not Really Sure What’s Going On Here In The Big Picture, But I Do Know Taking on Markstrom Doesn’t Really Fix Anything” Tier
Teams: Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, TorontoMaple Leafs
Buffalo is a weird one where they have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen signed for three more years, Alex Lyon under contract next season, and former top prospect Devon Levi in the AHL. Lyon got the majority of the playing time for the Sabres in the postseason and was fine until he wasn’t. I don’t know what direction they’re planning on going in.
Carolina literally just won a Stanley Cup with Frederik Andersen once again raising his game in the postseason and former waiver claim Brandon Bussi getting the team over the finish line in the Cup Final. They’re also one of the smartest organizations in the league and one that doesn’t pay a lot of financial resources in goaltending, so there’s little reason to think they’re doing anything but going with some sort of Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov tandem. If they add a goaltender, its likely them bringing Andersen back.
Colorado has Mackenzie Blackwood under contract for four more seasons, but they ignored his contract and, correctly, rode the hot hand in Scott Wedgewood. Ultimately, Colorado needs to get more out of Blackwood, and with the Avalanche being as cap-strapped as they are, taking on Markstrom makes no sense for them.
Is Minnesota trading Jesper Wallstedt after he got the bulk of the playing time for the Wild this postseason? Wallstedt outplayed Filip Gustavsson, who is locked in at $6.8M AAV through 2031 and has a full NMC. Regardless, Minnesota has higher priorities this summer than taking on a Markstrom reclamation project…..mainly, what do they do at center and can they actually get Quinn Hughes to sign an extension?
Toronto has a logjam in net at the NHL level, as the new contract for Anthony Stolarz kicks in this season, Dennis Hildeby will require waivers beginning next season, and they just traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Flyers for Sam Ersson and Emil Andrae. I assume the thought process on their end is that Ersson is more likely to pass through waivers than Woll or Hildeby, and they view Andrae as a potential upgrade over Benoit. Regardless, I don’t see how adding Markstrom to the equation changes anything.
The “We’ll Only Consider This If You’ll Take Our Problem Off of Our Hands” Tier
Teams: Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, VegasGolden Knights
Columbus has Elvis Merzlikins under contract for one more season, and he posted a sub .900 save percentage for the fourth consecutive season. Jet Greaves was the far better goaltender. Maybe there’s a universe where Columbus views Markstrom as an upgrade and Mehta is content saving $600,000 against the cap and not being on the hook for Markstrom in 2027-28 in exchange for Merzlikins. I wouldn’t be looking to make that trade if I were Columbus though.
Ottawa is interesting in that Linus Ullmark is their guy, but he had a bad season, he took a leave of absence to address his mental health, and he’s signed for three more years at $8.25M. I don’t think the Senators are trying to move on from him, nor do I think they’re about to take on Markstrom just because the Devils are calling around. I also don’t want to speculate on his particular situation as mental health is a delicate topic. I’ll leave it at this….if Ullmark feels he needs a fresh start outside of Ottawa, maybe the Senators are a potential option in terms of a trade partner. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’re talking about a Markstrom for Ullmark swap, but I guess there’s always a chance there could be an opening in net in Ottawa.
Next is the Penguins, who certainly have the cap space, the apparent need (Arturs Silovs is an RFA and Stu Skinner is a UFA), and an aging core that just got a taste of the playoffs for the first time in the last few years. I think Kyle Dubas would at least consider taking on Markstrom if it was worth his while (such as bailing them out of the Ryan Graves contract), but I fail to see how that makes sense from a Devils perspective.
That brings us to Vancouver, a place Markstrom is obviously familiar with as he played for the Canucks from 2014-2020 before departing in free agency. Vancouver currently has $13M tied up in goaltending between the oft-injured Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. Vancouver is rebuilding, so they might not be particularly inclined to get off of either of their less than ideal goaltending contracts.
Last but not least is Vegas, who is paying Adin Hill $6.25M for five more seasons. Carter Hart mostly played well for Vegas during their deep playoff run before falling apart in the Cup Final. I don’t doubt that Vegas would love to find a way out of the Adin Hill business, but I don’t see why that makes much sense for the Devils.
The “The Hockey World Might Think This is a Good Idea But I’m Not Sure Why You Think Markstrom Is a Good Fit For Us” Tier
Teams: Chicago Blackhawks, UtahMammoth
The Blackhawks have Spencer Knight under contract for three more seasons, and they’d be smart to continue going with him rather than looking for a “quick fix” in net.
I get that pairing a veteran with a younger goaltender like Knight makes sense. I get that Chicago is looking to take a step forward this offseason after seeing San Jose and Anaheim pass them in the Western Conference hierarchy. And I get that Chicago has plenty of money to burn where taking on Markstrom would be no issue to them. What I don’t get is why Jacob Markstrom would sign up for that? I also think there are better uses for Chicago’s money than taking on a 36-year old goaltender who is in decline.
Utah is in a similar-ish spot, as they have Karel Vejmelma under contract for four more seasons, and I can understand them wanting a more reliable tandem goaltender than Vitek Vanecek, a pending UFA. But I think it makes more sense for them to target a younger goaltender that better fits the timeline of their group than acquiring a player who would be the oldest player on the roster once he gets there.
The “You Forgot About Arguably the Best Goaltender In the World, Who Is Also a Franchise Goaltender Being Paid Handsomely For A Long Time” Tier
Team: WinnipegJets
No, I didn’t forget about Connor Hellebuyck.
I do think there could potentially be an opening in Winnipeg coming soon. Connor Hellebuyck is clearly not happy about the direction of the Jets organization after this past season, and after getting a taste of success being a key member of the US Men’s Hockey Team that won the gold medal at the Olympics this year, it shouldn’t be surprising if he wants to get to a team with a better chance of winning a Stanley Cup than the Jets do in the next few years.
If the Jets shop Hellebuyck, he’ll be far and away the most desireable goaltender on the market this summer. And if they move him, it does create a vacancy. Perhaps there’s a universe where the Jets fancy themselves on being competitive again next season and they convince themselves that Markstrom is worth taking a chance on. Maybe there’s a universe where the Jets, Devils, and Panthers connect on a three-team deal that sends Hellebuyck to Florida and Markstrom to Winnipeg, assuming he wants to go there.
The “Markstrom Might Actually Be an Upgrade, So We’ll Consider It” Tier
Teams: Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers
In my opinion, the three teams that make the most sense in terms of being a Markstrom destination are the Red Wings, Oilers, and Panthers.
Starting with Detroit, they appear to be the right combination of desperate (ten seasons of playoff-less hockey in Detroit and counting) and having a potential need, with John Gibson under contract for just one more season and Steve Yzerman probably not having the upmost confidence in Sebastian Cossa’s ability to step in and perform at the NHL level. Detroit has plenty of recent history when it comes to bringing in older goaltenders, as Cam Talbot just finished a two-year deal with the Red Wings. Markstrom landing in Detroit is likely contingent on whether or not they hold on to Dylan Larkin, as there’s no point in acquiring a 36-year old goaltender if you’re trading Larkin away. And of course, Markstrom would have to want to go to Detroit which complicates matters. But I could see the Red Wings having interest.
Speaking of desperation, perhaps no team is more desperate to win right now than the Edmonton Oilers. Everybody in Edmonton is on the clock, with Connor McDavid having two years remaining on his deal, and Edmonton flamed out of the postseason thanks in part to Tristan Jarry’s and Connor Ingram’s inability to keep the puck out of the net. Edmonton doesn’t have a lot of tradable assets, which probably makes them an ideal trading partner in this scenario as Markstrom likely would not command a large return. As long as any deal doesn’t require the Devils to take back Tristan Jarry or Darnell Nurse, the Devils should be willing to take little to nothing from the Oilers in order to get out of the Markstrom business.
Last but not least is Florida, where Sergei Bobrovsky just finished the massive seven-year deal he signed there as a free agent. That deal saw the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but ultimately was worth every penny the Panthers paid as Bobrovsky was a key member of two championship clubs in South Florida. That said, Bobrovsky is coming off of the worst year of his career and he turns 38 this fall, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers go in a different direction in net.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that Markstrom is much of an upgrade given the season he’s coming off of. But there is an opening there, and I’m sure Sunny Mehta and Bill Zito keep in touch now that Mehta is the Devils GM. And I don’t think you’d need to do a lot of arm twisting to convince Markstrom to go to Florida, the place where he began his NHL career. Would you like to go to a proven Cup contender, play golf on your off days in December, and keep more of your money? I would think he would.
Final Thoughts
I still think a Markstrom trade at this time is unlikely, but the fact that Mehta is doing due diligence and gauging what the market is is a positive sign. The Devils can get .883 save percentage and -11 goals saved above expected goaltending from a lot of different sources, but they shouldn’t have to pay $6M for it for two more years. You can get that level of goaltending for 1/3 of the price, and we should be trying to do better than that anyways.
It’s a positive sign that Mehta identified goaltending as one of the problems with the Devils and is at least attempting to take steps towards addressing it. The dismissal of Dave Rogalski is a good start, but Rogalski, as his defenders love to tell me, wasn’t the one actually putting on the pads and playing the games. They could stand to get better performance between the pipes. And while this article doesn’t identify potential solutions to that problem, moving on from one of the biggest mistakes of the previous regime is a step in the right direction.
I would guess the most likely trade partners, if a trade were to come to fruition, are Edmonton and Florida. Edmonton is the right combination of desperate and organizational need, and they seem like the type of organization that remembers all too well how many times Jacob Markstrom frustrated them on any given night when he was playing for the rival Calgary Flames. As for Florida, they probably don’t have the trade assets to go all-in on someone like Connor Hellebuyck. If they don’t want to run it back with Bobrovsky, they’re going to have to turn somewhere for an experienced netminder with the roster that they have.
But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:
When does NHL free agency open?
The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?
10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
9. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
8. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
7. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
5. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
4. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
2. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
The defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points. Current cap hit: $975,000.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns, Bobby McMann.
The other finalists include: Joe Pavelski, Jay Woodcroft, Dallas Eakins and Pat Ferschweiler, according to Johnston's sources.
Roy, who turned 60 this season, was relieved of his Islanders' bench duties with just four games to go in the regular season in favor of Pete DeBoer.
The Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender has two years left on his deal with the Islanders, giving the Maple Leafs permission to interview him.
There were rumors at the end of the season that Roy would stay on with the Islanders in a scouting role, but general manager Mathieu Darche said during his end-of-season press conference that there was no truth to it and that Roy is a head coach.
A Former Montreal Canadiens pick from the 2013 draft, Zachary Fucale, never really made it to the NHL, aside from a four-game stint with the Washington Capitals. He now plays professional hockey in Russia, in the KHL. However, he spends his summer in Montreal, where he is involved in the summer hockey scene. Fucale is one of the founders of the Living Sisu summer hockey league, and he’s also behind the Make Your Move Showdown.
Last year, the showdown allowed Canadiens’ fans to marvel at Ivan Demidov’s talent and this year, Fucale has managed to get another Habs prospect to attend: Alexander Zharovsky. Current Canadiens Zachary Bolduc will also be in attendance for the event, which will be held at the Centre d’excellence Sports Rousseau on July 11.
It will be a big hockey weekend in Blainville-Boisbriand, as the arena will also host a shootout tournament over the weekend, for which any hockey player can register. On Saturday evening, the amateurs will make way for professionals, alums, and NHL prospects. At 7:00 PM, Zharovsky, Bolduc, Bruno Gervais, Max Talbot, Thomas Bordeleau, social media sensations Swaggy P, and Eli Sherbatov will take to the ice for the showdown. Participants in the Maye Your Move Tournament will have free entry, but tickets to the event can also be bought for $20 here.
The evening was a resounding success last year, with some fantastically showy moves being made on the ice, and this year’s edition promises to be just as entertaining, on top of allowing fans to see just what Canadiens’ prospect Zharovsky can do. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so time is of the essence if you don’t want to miss the opportunity to be dazzled by Zharovsky’s hands.
The move made a ton of sense for the Flyers, who got bigger on defense with Benoit and improved their goaltending by adding Woll. But with Toronto’s crease looking a little crowded, I wondered if Ersson will actually be a Maple Leaf at the end of the month.
Ersson, acquired as part of a deal that also netted Toronto a promising young defenseman and draft capital, is a restricted free agent. His previous two-year, $2.9-million contract with the Flyers carried a $1.45-million AAV. The qualifying offer required to retain his rights sits at roughly $1.6 million for the 2026-27 season. General manager John Chayka was deliberately noncommittal when asked about it Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re going to make some decisions as to what our goalie pipeline looks like,” Chayka said. “He’s a good young goaltender. He’s someone we identified with upside and someone our staff could work with, so we will get together with (Director of Goaltending) Curtis McElhinney and make that decision.”
"He's a battler, he's a gamer."
"He doesn't care if you're 6'4', 6'8', he'll go right through you."
Flyers GM Daniel Briere shares what the Leafs are getting in Sam Ersson and Emil Andrae pic.twitter.com/LMZxY0mdMD
That measured response, combined with the current state of Toronto’s crease, led me to believe that the Leafs are not likely to extend the qualifying offer—a move that would turn Ersson into an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Arbitration Risk
It’s not that the Leafs wouldn’t be interested in him; it’s more to do with the fact that qualifying him would also give the goaltender a chance to drive up his price via arbitration. Although Ersson’s numbers aren’t anything to boast about, the arbitration process is deemed to weigh heavily in a player's favor. With the salary cap rising to $104 million from $95.5 million the year before, it’s not inconceivable to see Ersson receive a small bump from his $1.6 million qualifying offer.
The optimal situation for both Ersson and the Leafs would be to work out a deal before the June 29th deadline to tender a qualifying offer—perhaps for the same money, or even a little less. But the last thing the Leafs would want is to tender Ersson a qualifying offer and then see the player go to arbitration. The Leafs would not be able to walk away from an arbitration award less than $4,950,080.
Re: Ersson, I asked GM John Chayka if the #Leafs intend to qualify him (He's an RFA). Says he and Curtis McElhinney will discuss their plans in the coming weeks.
Ersson’s recent track record in Philadelphia—a pair of uneven seasons that ultimately led the Flyers to move on—does little to change the calculus. At 26, he remains young enough to rebound, but the Leafs don’t appear to want to see that at any cost.
Prioritizing Cap Flexibility
Cap flexibility also factors heavily. By declining to tender, Toronto avoids locking in $1.6 million on a player who would likely spend most of the season in the American Hockey League or as injury insurance. That money can instead be deployed toward other roster needs or simply preserved as the front office navigates a busy offseason that includes further decisions on the blue line and forward group. The trade itself already delivered meaningful cap relief by moving Woll’s remaining two years at approximately $3.67 million annually and Benoit’s $1.35-million deal.
Chayka’s public comments emphasized the “upside” the organization sees in Ersson and the willingness of goaltending development staff to work with him. However, the acquisition of Ersson was never framed as the centerpiece of the deal. Andrae, a mobile, offensively inclined defenseman still on an entry-level deal, and the third-round pick carried more obvious long-term value. Ersson functioned as the necessary third piece to facilitate the swap and give Toronto a temporary goaltending body while decisions are finalized.
In today’s NHL, where cap space and roster flexibility are premium assets, carrying three or four NHL-caliber goalies at meaningful salaries has become increasingly rare. The Leafs have already shown a preference for blending established netminders with high-upside prospects rather than accumulating mid-tier veterans at premium rates. Declining to qualify Ersson would align perfectly with that philosophy.
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For the first time in quite a long time, goaltending is looking like a strength for the Philadelphia Flyers, and the organization is hoping they can keep it that way for the long haul, too.
The 2026 NHL Draft is just under two weeks away now, and the Flyers traded their third-round pick, in addition to Emil Andrae and Sam Ersson, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit.
As a result, they now have just four picks: first, second, sixth, and seventh-rounders.
The middle rounds have been completely exhausted, but the Flyers have not drafted a goalie since 2023, when they took both Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin.
If the Flyers had it their way, they would land another decent goalie prospect in the 2026 draft.
"We'd like to. You remember a few years ago, we ended up drafting Bjarnason and Zavragin back-to-back, and it's just the way our guys saw the value of those guys. That was the time we didn't think Zavragin would be there, where we was, we could pass up on him," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said at his pre-draft media availability Tuesday.
"We're not going to force it. If it falls in the right slot, then we're going to jump on it. . . We still have [Aleksei Kolosov], Bjarnason, and Zavragin developing nicely. So, again, it has to make sense for us to take them. If there's a better player at a different position in the first or second round, we're probably going to go in a different direction, but we'd like to add a goalie if we had the chance."
Woll, 27 going on 28, and Dan Vladar, 28 going on 29, are in their primes now, while Bjarnason had an up-and-down first year playing professional hockey for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms and ECHL Reading Royals.
Kolosov, who will quietly already be 25 come Jan. 4, has come along nicely as the starter for the Phantoms this past season, but he's on a one-year contract looking to prove himself, eventually, at the NHL level.
As for Zavragin, well, the 20-year-old was just traded to Metallurg Magnitogorsk in hopes that he'll play regular KHL minutes this season after taking a back seat to Artemi Pleshkov and Sergei Ivanov on SKA St. Petersburg.
The 2023 third-rounder has one year remaining on his current contract, and reports are swirling that he'll extend with Metallurg for another year as well.
That all said, the Flyers have no apparent sure things for the long-term yet, which makes adding more young talent at the goalie position a prudent strategy.
"Goalies, you almost have to be lucky to fall into place. Either you step up in the range, sometimes they fall. Once one goes, typically a bunch go right away, so you can't just reach," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr added.
"If your second-round pick's later, you can't just reach to take a goalie just to take the goalie. If they're in that range that makes sense for your organization, you do it, but at the same time, some years it falls into place for goalie. I, personally, would like to try to draft a goalie most years. When we took two the one year, it kind of took pressure off the year after. We didn't see the value of drafting another one at some of those times, but if it happens, it happens."
Before Kolosov (2021), Bjarnason, and Zavragin (2023), the last goalie the Flyers drafted was Roddy Ross, who went 169th overall in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.
Ross, 25, never signed with the Flyers, spending four seasons playing in USports for the University of Saskatchewan before finally turning pro last season, playing 40 ECHL games for the Wichita Thunder.
The Flyers' goalie outlook can rapidly change with an injury to Vladar or Woll, or if Kolosov doesn't remain with the organization beyond the upcoming season.
Now, even the Flyers themselves have admitted it's probably time to add a new face between the pipes through the draft.
I have a Bernese Mountain Dog named Bear. He’s an absolute doofus, a rescue that we foolishly adopted after he’d basically run the streets of a rural area for the first two years of his life. So he knows not personal space nor manners. He drools — and flings his drool — more than any dog we’ve ever had (and we’ve had some drooling gentle giants). He yelps like an absolute baby when you so much as tap his paw, yet barrels headfirst into you without pain whether your napping, cooking, reading or walking.
But…Bear would not intentionally hurt a fly. He loves EVERY human, dog, or car (because they contain humans, typically) that he sees and cannot fathom why they would not want to make his acquaintance. Bear does not understand his own size and cannot grasp why others might be intimidated and recoil from 100 lbs. of galloping black fur and drool.
Rescuer’s remorse? Not exactly. We’ve had big drooling giants before (Great Pyrs), but we definitely bit off a different breed with this one.
All of which is my slow offseason-day way of saying, when the Isles send out a press release headlined “Islanders Sign Bear,” I pause and chuckle.
Islanders News
J-G Pageau discusses his summer, on Long Island and with a trip to Italy. [Isles]
The Isles announced signing Ethan Bear to another one-year, two-way deal. He missed time with injuries last year but if healthy he could be a good veteran callup option. [Isles | Post]
Could a refurbished Belmont Park host an outdoor NHL game? Ask the Cheeseman. [Newsday]
Dan and Mike reflect on offseason news, the Cup final, and whether the Knicks’ stunning title after half a century changes our outlook. [Islanders Anxiety via LHH]
The first offseason buyout window has opened. Will Ondrej Palat get a call? [THN]
Elsewhere
Tuesday at the World Cup, Lionel Messi scored a hat trick, ho hum — albeit his first in a World Cup — while Norway dumped Iraq and France dispatched Senegal.
Mitch Marner opens up a bit about the “dark” days in Toronto, importance of mental health and family support. [ESPN]
Speaking of his old Leafs, they traded goalie Joseph Woll in a curious deal. [NHL] A third-pair defenseman, is apparently why. [Sportsnet]
Carolina’s Cup win is proof hockey analytics nerds and jocks can get along. Canes GM Eric Tulsky — who used to share neutral zone research here with us at Lighthouse as well as lots lots more on Broad Street Hockey — is quite the story. [ESPN]
Former Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Calder, a hard-nosed winger who built a decade-long NHL career through relentless effort and determination, has died at the age of 47.
Calder passed away Monday, June 15, following what the Los Angeles Jr. Kings described as a brief illness. His daughter, Madison, confirmed the heartbreaking news in an emotional social media post, remembering the man she called not only her father, but her greatest influence.
"Dad, there will never ever be enough words in the world to describe how incredibly lucky I was to have you as my dad. Never in a million years would I have thought this day would come. There will forever be a void in my heart, but forever a spot just for you."
She continued:
"The father, husband, son, man, friend, coach, hockey player, and everything in between that you were is truly indescribable. The lessons you taught me, the strength you showed me, and the person you pushed me to become every single day—I carry all of it with me."
Madison ended her tribute with a message that reflected her father's lifelong love for hockey.
"I love you more than anything in the world to the moon and back infinitely. Save me a spot on the ice, Dad. I know you're skating around in heaven cheering all of us on from above. Fly high ♥️🕊️🏒 6/15/26."
No official cause of death has been released.
Calder appeared in parts of two seasons with the Kings during a 10-year NHL career that also included stops with the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and Anaheim Ducks. Though his playing days eventually came to an end, his passion for the sport never faded.
From 2020 to 2022, he returned to Southern California as a coach with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings, helping develop the next generation of players and remaining an active presence in the hockey community.
The NHL Alumni Association remembered Calder as a player whose toughness was matched only by his generosity.
"Kyle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty, toughness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him.
"He was tough as nails on the ice, a fierce competitor who never backed down, yet behind that grit was a teddy bear heart. Kyle cared deeply for his teammates, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was a protector, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself.
"Kyle will be greatly missed and forever remembered by our NHL Alumni Hockey family. The friendships he built, the lives he touched, and the memories he created will remain with us always."
Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round of the 1997 NHL Draft, Calder carved out a career that far exceeded expectations. Despite standing 5-foot-9, he became known for his fearless style of play and willingness to battle against anyone on the ice.
Over 590 NHL games, Calder recorded 87 goals and 194 points while earning the respect of teammates and opponents alike for his work ethic and competitive spirit.
Chicago Blackhawks owner Danny Wirtz also paid tribute to Calder's impact, both during and after his playing career.
"The Chicago Blackhawks mourn the loss of Kyle Calder and extend our deepest condolences to Kyle's family during this extremely difficult and tragic time. Kyle approached life with the same passion, intensity and incredible dedication that defined his play."
Wirtz added:
"His commitment to the game remained strong long after his professional career ended, sharing his love for hockey with all generations of players through his work with Little Blackhawks, local youth teams and the Chicago Blackhawks Alumni Association. While Kyle's time with us was far too short, I'm comforted in knowing his legacy will live on for many years to come."
For Kings fans, Calder's tenure in Los Angeles represented only a small chapter of his NHL journey, but his return years later to coach young players ensured his influence reached far beyond the scoresheet. He leaves behind a legacy built on perseverance, passion, and a lifelong commitment to the game he loved.
“It is possible that Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights relent, and they allow the Oilers to have permission and get to Cassidy. I highly, highly, highly doubt that,” Dreger said.
“That was amplified by somebody who I feel is in-the-know there last night, I checked in when I landed.”
So you're saying there's a chance...
Doesn't appear that way.
The Golden Knights have decided that they don't want Cassidy coaching the Oilers. So much so, they're willing to pay him $4.5 million next season not to do so. And, it's not like the Golden Knights are hiring Cassidy back with the announcement that John Tortorella is moving on. Elliotte Friedman reports that many believe the plan is to hire Ryan Craig, the current AHL Henderson head coach and former Golden Knights assistant.
As it stands, the Oilers are shifting gears anyway. They've now identified Mike Babcock as their top target and appear prepared to wait for the NHL to finish their investigation into his conduct. Once cleared -- which insiders are now starting to believe will happen -- the Oilers will likely officially hire Babcock.
As for what happens with Cassidy at the end of next season? If the Oilers give Babcock one year to prove himself, we could be having this Cassidy conversation all over again.
The O'Reilly Factor – Mar 20, 2023 - Vol 76, Issue 11 - Ken Campbell
AS INCONCEIVABLE AS IT is now, there was a time when Ryan O’Reilly felt like he would have showed up on The Oprah Winfrey Show and opened an empty box. Oprah would have gone around pointing at members of the audience saying, “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!” And when she reached O’Reilly, there would have been a lonely guy standing there with a trombone doing the “wah, wah, wah” sound. Think Buffalo, circa 2017-18. Or St. Louis, the first half of 2018-19.
O’Reilly started to wonder whether or not it was him. He had experienced so little success in so many places that perhaps it wasn’t just a coincidence. Prior to the 2019 playoffs and dating back to his days with the OHL’s Erie Otters, he had played a total of 18 playoff games in 11 years and had failed to win a series. Doubts that he’d ever play for a winner began to creep in. In his first nine NHL seasons, his teams had played barely above .500 hockey and had never won a playoff series. In his final season in Buffalo, he lost his passion playing for a team that was so bad it got Rasmus Dahlin. And until the Blues channelled their inner Laura Branigan and went on a historic heater in January 2019, they were holding down 31st place in a 31-team league.
Yes, he had won the Lady Byng Trophy in 2013-14, but you know what they say about where nice guys finish. He had helped Canada to gold medals at the 2015 and 2016 World Championship tournaments, but that was only because his NHL team failed to make the playoffs. (Anytime a guy goes to the worlds in six of seven seasons, it’s a pretty good indication things aren’t going so great.) And there was that World Cup title in 2016, but does it really count when you win an NHL/NHLPA invitational, a tournament where the organizers have to fabricate teams? As far as the NHL was concerned, O’Reilly was making a lot of money and playing at an elite level…and wasn’t able to shake the stink of losing.
But when Toronto GM Kyle Dubas dealt, among other things, a first-round pick to get O’Reilly on an expiring contract as a hired gun for this season, he was getting a battle-tested champion, a player who helped St. Louis end the longest active Stanley Cup drought at the time. Now all O’Reilly has to do is help end the longest Cup drought of all-time in Toronto. “I always thought about it,” said O’Reilly of the prospect of playing in Toronto, “but I never really thought it would actually happen. I’m still kind of shocked that I’m actually playing here. It’s still a little surreal, putting on this sweater and being here with this team. I’m still kind of pinching myself.”
It’s actually a great fit for O’Reilly. Both his parents are from Toronto. His wife’s father was a high-school teacher and rugby coach there. And prior to going first overall in the 2007 OHL draft, he made the move to the big city from the small town of Clinton, Ont., and won a Greater Toronto League title with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens under-16 team. As part of a remodelling of the Leafs’ supporting cast leading up to the trade deadline, O’Reilly was brought in for one reason only. And now he’s uniquely equipped to deal with it. “You can tell with the energy in the room and in between periods,” O’Reilly said. “The way these guys are and the focus and detail they put into things, you can just tell they’re trying to win. And, for myself, it’s fun to be part of that mindset. Obviously there’s tons of work that has to happen, but it’s rejuvenating for me to be around that kind of energy.”
But anyone who has watched the Leafs underachieve in the playoffs and count its moral victories in “mad respect” from the defending Stanley Cup champion knows that it takes more to win in the post-season than strapping on the pads and being talented. You need players such as O’Reilly, even if they’re in the form of a 32-year-old who isn’t quite where he was in 2019 when he had about a sixth-month stretch of being one of the best players in the world.
Because with a O’Reilly in their lineup, there is not one area of the game where the Leafs aren’t a better team. They’re grittier, they’re playoff hardened, they’re better defensively, better in the faceoff circle and more talented in both their top- and bottom-six. Perhaps it was a slight indictment of the players who have failed to win in the playoffs when Dubas said of O’Reilly, “He’s doing everything the exact way I think you have to play when you really want to win.” But it’s indisputable that if his teammates ever get a long lip after a bad period or playoff loss, there will be at least one player in the room who can talk about how his team was in last place at Christmas and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
And the Maple Leafs are getting a player who can back up his words on the ice. “His hockey IQ is near the tops of anyone I’ve ever worked with,” said Blues GM Doug Armstrong, the man who traded O’Reilly. “He just does the right thing all the time. And that’s almost impossible to find. He affects the game without affecting the scoresheet.”
O’Reilly was knocked out of the lineup with a broken finger after taking a shot in the hand in his eighth game after the trade, but he was expected to return before the playoffs. And, really, it’s the post-season where the Leafs believe he’ll have a defining impact. Starting with getting O’Reilly and Noel Acciari from the Blues, the Leafs essentially changed the entire complexion of their secondary elements. Dubas was bold and decisive at the deadline, not only because he himself is on an expiring contract but because he believes this is the season where this team can do something special. A long playoff run is absolutely essential in 2023, but “long” in The Center of the Hockey Universe™ is defined by getting out of the first round for the first time since 2004. And that’s a good thing, considering that if the Leafs can beat Tampa Bay in Round 1, their likely opponent in Round 2 will be Boston, a team that is having one of the greatest regular seasons in NHL history and loaded up pretty well itself at the deadline.
Even with the changes, the Leafs will only go as far as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly can take them. If those people don’t show up, it doesn’t matter how well O’Reilly and his band of newcomers play. But having people like O’Reilly in secondary roles puts the star players in the best position to succeed. “From a distance, it looks like Kyle had one of the better deadlines,” Armstrong said. “He created a situation where the top players have to do their jobs and nobody else’s. Their depth now is so strong that they have to do what top players are supposed to do and everything after that will get done by experienced, competent players.”
That’s why the Leafs don’t need the Conn Smythe Trophy-winning Ryan O’Reilly, but they could use a version of the one that won the Selke Trophy the same season. The visorless, gap-toothed and ebullient O’Reilly just has to be the best version of himself, whether that’s centering Tavares and Marner on the second line (and taking away the defensive heavy lifting away from his linemates) or being a reliable third-line center. This certainly has the feel of a relationship that could extend beyond this season, although Dubas said after acquiring O’Reilly that he thinks couples should live together before they get married. There is still a lot of time for that, but a successful playoff run would go a long way toward both sides being able to co-exist without fighting over who takes out the garbage.
HIS HOCKEY IQ IS NEAR THE TOPS OF ANYONE I’VE EVER WORKED WITH. HE JUST DOES THE RIGHT THING ALL THE TIME. AND THAT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND– BLUES GM DOUG ARMSTRONG
After watching his team grind out a win against Calgary (and before putting up a stinker against Vancouver) in early March, Dubas talked about how the Maple Leafs have evolved. “The (Calgary game), in the third period, sort of exemplifies the difference of the team,” Dubas said. “Just a little bit more competitive, a little bit more sacrifice. And I just sense that, with the players that we’ve added and also the growth of some of the guys internally, we’re just far better in that realm.”
Gauthier spent the 2025-26 season with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers and had another incredible season, finishing with a 21-9-5 record, a 2.09 goals-against average, and a .929 save percentage.
He helped the Nailers get to the Eastern Conference Finals of the Kelly Cup Playoffs before they were eliminated by the Florida Everblades. This was Gauthier's fourth season in the Penguins' organization.
Gauthier is expected to compete for a roster spot with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins next year, since Sergei Murashov is slated to make the jump to the NHL.
Why Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly Remain NHL Trade CandidatesMorgan Rielly and Matthew Knies were recently included on an off-season trade board by The Athletic. Here's why the Toronto Maple Leafs duo continue to be labelled as NHL trade candidates.
Report: Maple Leafs' John Chayka, Mats Sundin Talking With Morgan Rielly's Representative About Off-Season PlansFor what seems like a possible end for Morgan Rielly's career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, conversations between the defenseman and GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin are reportedly "ongoing."
