The Philadelphia Flyers may be picking later in the NHL draft than we've become accustomed to over the last few years, but that doesn't mean they can't still select an impact player.
Of course, the Flyers' draft strategy has come under fire in recent years, mostly due to high-profile choices like selecting Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, and Jack Nesbitt with first-round picks over the last three drafts.
The common argument with those players is that the Flyers drafted for need and specific traits, rather than the best or most talented player available to them.
Size is one of the most frequent traits we see this Flyers regime draft for; Nesbitt, Jack Berglund, Spencer Gill, Carter Amico, Porter Martone, Austin Moline, and Shane Vansaghi are all good examples.
So, now that the Flyers will be picking 21st this year, the pool of talent in the draft is considerably less voluminous than it would be in, say, the top 10.
They have no dynamic centers or defensemen coming up through the prospect pipeline, so they have to nail this pick.
Unfortunately, an early NHL mock draft from Corey Pronman of The Athletic goes in the opposite direction.
At 21, Pronman has the Flyers going with Casey Mutryn, whose profile won't move the needle for Philadelphia. Here's why:
"Philadelphia loves hard-nosed, competitive players, making Mutryn a very natural fit for their organizational identity," Pronman says of Mutryn.
"He’s a hardworking, physical 6-foot-3 winger who plays at an NHL tempo and has some offensive touch, too. He complements the skill the Flyers have in their forward group."
So, yes, another winger is not going to cut it for the Flyers, and Mutryn is certainly not the most talented one available at this point in Pronman's mock.
Adam Novotny and Nikita Klepov are well ahead in that aspect, and defensemen like Ryan Lin, Juho Piiparinen, and Xavier Villeneuve would all be superior choices on the back end.
Centers like Ilia Morozov and Brooks Rogowski would make more sense, too.
The Flyers have already done plenty well drafting for size up front. Martone is already an NHL contributor, and Berglund, Nesbitt, and Vansaghi will be soon, too.
They also still have 23-year-old Nikita Grebenkin, so four of these five forwards are bottom-six contributors at the NHL level, with Martone the obvious exclusion.
Nick Seeler isn't getting any younger and Emil Andrae looks to be on his way out, so the Flyers need to reinforce the left side of their defense at some point.
They also aren't getting much offense from two of their smaller defenders in Cam York and Jamie Drysdale, so that's another problem that needs solving at some point.
David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk could be solutions, but that's an added responsibility on top of simply developing into reliable NHL defensemen.
If the Flyers were wise, they would leave Pronman's thinking in the past and grab the most dynamic talent available to them in 2026.
If Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson didn’t make any friends in the second-round series that’s pitting Buffalo against the Montreal Canadiens, the same can be said about Zachary Bolduc. The 23-year-old winger struggled to find a role with the Habs during the regular season, but since the start of the playoffs, he has been very noticeable, and he’s shown that he enjoys poking the bear.
In Friday night’s game, Bolduc was on hand to come to goaltender Jakub Dobes’ rescue after Beck Malenstyn ran into him. The Trois-Rivieres native wasted no time in jumping on the Sabres forward, who was hanging on the net’s crossbar. He sent him down on the ice and threw a few punches, making it clear that such shenanigans would not be tolerated.
Beck Malenstyn with what seems like an attempt to injure Jakub Dobes, runs him at full speed.
It seemed like Bolduc was involved in every scrum on Sunday night. He got himself a roughing double-minor after an altercation with both Connor Timmins and Malenstyn in Alex Lyon’s crease. He’s quickly becoming for the Sabres what Zach Benson has become for the Habs, public enemy number one.
Late in the third, as he was tangled up with Logan Stanley and a lineman, Josh Norris took advantage and dishes him out a right-hand jab. Stanley and Bolduc bot got a minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct, while Norris escaped punishment.
On top of getting under the Sabres’ skin, Bolduc has also been getting on the scoreboard. On Sunday night, he completed the play so well orchestrated by Alexandre Carrier and Joe Veleno to score what would turn out to be the game-winning goal. Despite only spending 10:43 on the ice, he found a way to make an impact on the proceedings and has shown his teammates that he’s ready to go to battle for them.
That’s quite a change from the Bolduc who played in QMJHL a few years ago and who was known for shying away from physical battles. Watching him play these days, it’s obvious that he has understood what he needs to know to keep his seat at the table. Speaking to the media after the game on Sunday night, he was asked how he ended up being a part of all the battles, and he explained:
I don’t know, it’s just the way the game presents itself. I think it’s something that I can and want to bring to the Canadiens. Of course, there are times when you're toeing the line without crossing it. I take a lot of pride in that. No one thing explains why I’m always there for those moments.
-
Later on, he added:
As you said, I might have struggled a bit to find my identity in the regular season, but the playoffs are another season, and that’s how I approached it. I want to bring my strengths as much as possible, and if I’m a thorn in their sides, it’s for the best.
-
In 10 games so far this postseason, Bolduc has two goals and four assists for 10 points, 18 penalty minutes, and a plus-six rating, showing just how well he plays on both sides of the puck. Chances are, we’ll see Bolduc mix things up even more before this second-round series comes to a close.
The Montreal Canadiens picked up a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3. With this, the Canadiens now have a 2-1 series lead over the Sabres.
Alex Newhook was certainly a significant reason for the Canadiens' Game 3 victory over the Sabres. This is because the Habs forward scored two goals in the matchup.
With this strong performance, Newhook now has five goals and six points in 10 playoff games so far this spring. Yet, more notably, he has four goals over his last two games alone. With this, the 25-year-old forward is playing some excellent hockey at the perfect time for Montreal.
Newhook's strong start to the post-season comes after he had a solid 2025-26 regular-season. While Newhook was limited to only 42 games this season, he had 13 goals and 25 points. This is after he had 26 points for the Canadiens last season, but in 82 games.
With all of this, it is clear that Newhook is continuing to hit a new level with the Canadiens. It has been a successful campaign for the 2019 first-round pick, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on it as the playoffs continue from here.
The Buffalo Sabres are facing their first true crisis since the middle of December, when they turned their season around and became one of the biggest surprises of the NHL season. After a one-sided 5-1 loss in Game 2 on Friday, the Eastern Conference Semi-Final with the Montreal Canadiens shifted to the Bell Centre. The Sabres entered the contest undefeated on the road, winning all three games in their series win over the Boston Bruins, but that perfect record may have had more to do with the quality of their opposition.
The Canadiens responded after allowing a Tage Thompson goal 53 seconds into the game, tying the game before the end of the first and scoring three times in the middle frame in a 6-2 victory over the Sabres on Sunday night. Similar to the loss in Game 2, Buffalo’s worst performers were their core players, as Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Rasmus Dahlin were all -2 on the night, while the Habs got a pair of tallies from their power play and significant contributions from depth forwards Alex Newhook, Zach Bolduc, and Kirby Dach.
“Montreal’s a good team, they made us pay for our mistakes.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “I said before this started, they beat a hell of a team. They are a hell of a team. Don’t take them for granted. If we don’t realize it now, we’re never going to realize it.”
Apparent from nearly the outset was the Sabres inability to limit scoring chances. Goalie Alex Lyon was peppered with 29 shots over the first two periods, and in spite of playing well, could not make up for some lax Buffalo defensive play, such as Thompson and Tuch lagging behind and allowing Bolduc to close in on the goal that increased the Montreal lead to 3-1.
The Sabres were also unable to maintain a level of composure, which is something they displayed against the Bruins and in Game 1. After a scrum late in the first period in which Habs forward Zach Bolduc fell on top of Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn’s response left little room for doubt, as he plowed into Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes at nearly full speed. Malenstyn’s minor led to Juraj Slafkvoský’s goal to make it 4-1.
“You have to be smart. We took five O-zone penalties. Our discipline for that wasn't good enough. You let them operate five-on-four." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "We ended up with a broken stick penalty killing, goal-against. And you give them that much time, they're going to get opportunities.”
The Sabres did not hold a scheduled practice on Tuesday, and possibly could make some lineup tweaks for Game 4. Veteran center Sam Carrick was cold-cocked by Montreal's Arber Xhekaj at the end of Game 3, while defenseman Logan Stanley could be replaced after an ill-advised pass on Bolduc's goal.
Cale Makar has already cemented himself as one of the most productive playoff blueliners in NHL history, recording 90 points across just 86 postseason games.
After a frustrating showing in Game 3, tonight’s Avalanche vs. Wild predictions set up as a prime bounce-back spot for Colorado’s star defenseman to make an impact offensively.
Avalanche: The Colorado Avalanche tend to respond very quickly following losses. While they definitely weren’t good enough in Game 3, they still managed to generate 4.39 expected goals and a whole batch of chances. That they’ve done that every single game bodes well for their outlook in Game 4 and the series.
Avalanche vs Wild best bet: Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists (-155)
Cale Makar is always lauded for his ability to control the game from the back end and have his hand in everything — and it’s true.
The superstar Colorado Avalanche defenseman has picked up a point in at least 57% of the on-ice goals in four consecutive seasons, and never below 52%.
So far in these playoffs? We’re talking 35%. The Avalanche are piling up the goals, chances, and shots with Makar out there, and he’s driving a lot of it. He just isn’t getting many points.
Given how many touches he gets every single night, and the kind of minutes he plays, that is bound to change.
Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 same-game parlay
Martin Necas has recorded three shots on goal in each game this series, and his attempt volume has progressively increased each game. Necas has Makar behind him a lot at 5-on-5, and the latter facilitates a lot on the power play, making the two highly correlated.
Going the other way, it’s hard not to get excited about Mats Zuccarello. He has averaged 2.7 shots on 5.0 attempts in this series and recorded multiple shots in 11 of the past 13 games against the Avalanche. They pay a ton of respect to Kirill Kaprizov, which opens things up for Zuccarello.
Avalanche vs Wild SGP
Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
Martin Necas anytime goal
Mats Zuccarello Over 1.5 shots on goal
Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 goal scorer pick
Nazem Kadri (+295)
Nazem Kadri has recorded 15 shots on goal through three games, tying him for first among all players in the series. He is getting a lot of looks around the net, and his presence on the top power-play unit makes him a very strong value at this price.
The Colorado Avalanche have hit the Moneyline in 19 of their last 25 away games (+10.45 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Wild.
How to watch Avalanche vs Wild Game 4
Location
Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN
Date
Monday, May 11, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet
Avalanche vs Wild latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 09: Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Taylor Hall #71 and Sean Walker #26 after scoring a goal on Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 09, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are either the best team in hockey, or the biggest frauds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — it all depends on who you ask. The Canes made history on Saturday night in Philadelphia with their eighth straight playoff win, and their second sweep in a row. It made them the first team in NHL history to sweep their first two series since the 1987 best-of-seven format began, the first team to start 8-0 in the playoffs since 1985, and only the fifth team in NHL history to start the playoffs 8-0.
Yet nobody can settle on whether this team is really a Stanley Cup favorite yet.
A lot of factors go into the acrimony when discussing Carolina. There’s long-standing bitterness over southern hockey being a thing, especially following back-to-back years of the Florida Panthers hoisting the cup. There’s the fact that the team plays hockey in a manner that runs counter to everything we know about success in the modern NHL. Also, there’s simply a reality that the Canes have had a pretty easy path through the postseason thus far, facing two teams that were bad strategic mismatches for them.
What that doesn’t mean, however, is that either the Ottawa Senators or Philadelphia Flyers are “bad teams.” Finishing with 99 and 98 points on the season, respectively, the Sens and Flyers were better than the entire Western Conference Pacific Division, better than the Utah Mammoth who the Golden Knights beat in the first round, and just one win worse than the Bruins, who the Sabres bested in the opening round. Yet, it’s become cool to hate on the Hurricanes’ opponents thus far as a means to discredit Carolina as being a legitimate team — foisting them with criticism no other team in the field is left with.
It’s absolutely fair to say that both Ottawa and Philadelphia were thrown into a mismatch blender. Both teams thrived during the regular season when playing on clean ice, with open passing lanes and room to set up plays. This is what the Hurricanes excel at stopping, running brutal forechecks with gutsy defensive rotations that flip the formation to send defensemen up ice to hassle opposing defenseman on the puck, allowing the forwards to stay home.
One of the hallmarks of Carolina hockey is to forget the model of play that wins in the NHL, and instead change the game into Hurricanes hockey. They thrive in limiting the effectiveness of star players, making the game be about depth rather than top-line strength, then take over when their third and fourth lines are stronger than their opponents. There’s no coincidence that hockey fans were wondering why Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle disappeared in the Sens series, or why Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny couldn’t make inroads in round two. This was the Canes’ doing, and it worked.
“Their D… they have the best sticks I’ve ever seen. It was crazy. Some of the plays you’d just be like ‘I can get this through,’ like Slav [Jaccob Slavin] has probably the best stick in the league. I had two Grade-A’s [scoring chances] and they hit his stick and up in the netting. I was like ‘how on earth is that not in the back of the net?’”
The length of the Carolina blueliners is causing massive problems for any team trying to play pretty, puck rotation hockey. Throughout the Flyers series we saw the Philly attack get decimated due to deflections from Slavin, K’Andre Miller, and Alexander Nikishin — with their pairings in Jalen Chatfield, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Sean Walker serving more as the more traditional net battlers. This layered defense has been impenetrable in the playoffs and has been offset with the Canes showing more fight and edge that they have previously.
So why is there so much doubt that this can carry over to the cup? There are three fair statements to make:
The Hurricanes haven’t faced an elite, 90+ point player yet in the playoffs
They’ve been so good defensively that it seems impossible to keep it up
Carolina’s best players really haven’t turned up yet
Forgive the pun, but you can see the storm brewing for Carolina that this incredible run could go south quickly (another pun, sorry). Getting the better of Stützle or Konecny is one thing, but when that caliber of player changes to Nathan McKinnon, Martin Nečas, Nick Suzuki, or Kirill Kaprizov — can this same approach still work? Is there a break point to this defensive dominance where Carolina can be overwhelmed by star players, and if that happens can the Canes recover?
That is the real worry right now, and it’s fair to question what is happening with the Carolina top line. The heroes of the playoffs thus far for the Canes has been the Hall/Stankoven/Blake line two, which has been phenomenal — but there has been pronounced quietness from Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis on the top line, outside of a few glimmers of magic. We know that historically the NHL playoffs have been won through star power, even by teams like the Panthers who were bruising, but still leaned on Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand to drag them through.
If the Canes can’t get that top-line performance firing then there’s a chance they can’t assert their will on the game, which has a domino effect on the rest of the lines, thereby putting more pressure on the defense to bail the team out.
The biggest questions about the Hurricanes won’t get answered for some time, with Saturday being the earliest their next series can begin. Whether the Sabres or Canadiens come out of the Atlantic, either team will be the best opposition Carolina has faced, with more star power and deeper lines. If the Canes are able to keep up this dominance in the Eastern Conference Finals then we can really talk about their chances to beat the Avs or Wild in the West.
So are the Canes really cup favorites or pretenders? They’re both, and neither, and bizarrely somewhere in the middle. Carolina is a unique Rod Brind’Amour team that approaches hockey in a way no one else does, which means we can’t use the typical yardsticks to measure their potential. It’s all a big guessing game, but that’s what make these playoffs so much fun.
It appears that Daniel and Henrik Sedin are set to receive promotions within the Vancouver Canucks front office. During an appearance on The Fan Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Hall of Famers will most likely be given bigger roles in the organization moving forward. The Sedins are currently part of the Player Development team, and are often at practice in either Abbotsford or Vancouver.
"It looks like the Sedins, I said this morning on the Pod that they've been asked, said Friedman. "It looks like that is going to happen. That they're going to take a bigger role. I can't say 100% certainty yet, but after we reported this morning, it sounds like they are preparing for that. I don't know how it is all going to work but I think what we are all trying to figure out here, who is going to be the head of the hockey operations. I think we are getting close to deciding. It looks like it is going to be either (Ryan) Johnson or (Evan) Gold. Also, will there be any other changes to their front office? I think we are going to get some clarity this week.
Friedman's report has been echoed by multiple insiders, including Irfaan Gaffar, who wrote on social media, "Elliotte is right. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were offered larger front office roles with the Vancouver Canucks and accepted over the weekend. The structure of what they are trying to do is starting to take shape."
Daniel and Henrik have been with the Canucks in an off-ice capacity since 2021. As mentioned, they often split their time between attending practices and games at both the AHL and NHL levels. Vancouver's front office will look very different in 2026-27, as Jim Rutherford has already announced his plans to shift to an advisory role after the 2026 NHL Draft.
Jun 20, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin are pictured with the King Clancy award during the 2018 NHL Awards at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
It's been over three months since Barry Trotz announced his intent to retire, with Trotz staying on as the Nashville Predators general manager until a replacement is found.
In that time, rumors have been swirling about multiple names, with it seemingly coming down to three candidates: Tom Fitzgerald, Brett Peterson and Bill Scott, with Fitzgerald leading the way.
Fitzgerald is the New Jersey Devils' recently ousted general manager. Peterson is Florida's assistant general manager, and Scott is Edmonton's assistant general manager.
While those three names have come to light in the last few weeks, there's been no movement or signaling from the Predators front office that they are ready to make a hire.
Since Trotz announced his retirement, New Jersey and Toronto have both fired and hired general managers in less time.
Fitzgerald was fired on April 7 and the Devils hired Sunny Mehta nine days later. The Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving on March 30 and hired John Chayka on May 3, a little over a month after the search began.
So what is causing this selection committee to take so long?
Candidate Is Still In Playoffs
May 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates a goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
While the three leading candidates we've heard of are no longer in the playoffs or did not qualify, a candidate the Predators could be eyeing may still be in the postseason.
Hurricanes assistant general manager Darren Yorke is a name that's popped up a few times that the Predators may be considering. He's served in that role for six years and has been the Chicago Wolves general manger for two seasons.
Nashville reportedly did an in-person visit with Yorke in early April, so there's interest. However, the Hurricanes show no sign of slowing down as they are 8-0 In the playoffs, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
If the Predators are waiting for Carolina's season to end before hiring Yorke, they could be waiting as late as June 21, the final possible day of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Anaheim Ducks assistant general manager Martin Madden was reportedly interviewed by the Canucks. Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Marc Bergevin was an early name mentioned for the Nashville job and is expected to be considered for a handful of other teams.
Both Anaheim and Buffalo are still alive in the playoffs, adding on that not just Nashville, but other teams could be waiting before announcing a hire.
Predators Sticking To "Draft Day" Deadline
In February, Predators owner Bill Haslam said the team had a deadline of Draft Day in June but wasn't fully set on it, implying they could announce then.
Nashville could be sticking to that timeline a little bit closer than expected. Possibly wanting the new general manager until a replacement is found. to focus specifically on the draft and have their first action be selecting the 10th overall pick.
Trotz is still executing general manager duties following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, signing KHL free agent Vitali Pinchuk to a 1-year, $1.025 million contract at the end of April.
Nashville also has four players and two prospects playing in the IIHF World Championship, not that it requires any general manager involvement, but it may be something that Trotz wants to oversee before stepping away.
The deadline will allow the Predators to bring in a new general manager for the draft in one swoop, but the question is how prepared this general manager will be until a replacement is found. will be for a draft with little time to prepare.
Waiting On Canucks
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Fin the mascot and the Vancouver Canucks celebrate their victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
A new conversation is revolving around the Vancouver Canucks general manager search, which is still ongoing.
Patrik Allvin was fired on April 17 and is one of the more appealing jobs in the NHL, given the larger Canadian market. The Predators had requested to speak with Vancouver's assistant general manager, Ryan Johnson, but didn't get the opportunity.
It's rumored that if the Canucks pass on promoting Johnson, the Predators may try to swoop in and hire him instead.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast on May 8, Boston Bruins assistant general manager Evan Gold is a leading candidate and, if hired, would pass over Johnson, who is a very similar candidate but already in the organization.
Johnson has been with the Canucks since 2013, joining as a development coach. He was promoted to the Canucks' AHL affiliate general manager until a replacement is found. In 2017 and became Vancouver's assistant general manager in 2024.
He has a successful track record in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup last season with the Abbotsford Canucks.
This could be a red herring, but Predators fans should keep an eye on whatever happens in Vancouver, as it could signal some movement of things to happen in Nashville.
There Is Disagreement On A Hire
This is unlikely, but still a possibility that a new general manager will be appointed until a replacement is found. The front office wouldn't disclose this if it were true.
From the outside, the rumors that Fitzgerald is a leading candidate sparked a lot of displeasure among fans.
With him having been recently fired, struggling to prove himself during his tenure as general manager until a replacement is found. , and having a connection to the Predators, fans did not take it well.
It's possible that the committee has no collective agreement on whether to hire Fitzgerald or another candidate. Trotz said in his final press conference as general manager until a replacement is found. that he believes he never made a wrong decision, as it was well-thought-out among those in the front office.
That same mentality could be carried into this situation. Nick Saban also brings a different perspective to the table that many NHL teams do not have, one focused on leadership and success.
His addition to the conversation could make these talks a little longer, with a new take and a look toward who Nashville is interviewing.
The committee will likely need to wholeheartedly agree on a candidate before making an offer, but it's not too far-fetched to say that disagreement over a hire could be why this general manager is not until a replacement is found. The search has been so elongated.
The San Jose Sharks need to sign prospect Carson Wetsch to an entry-level contract this month, or the 20-year-old winger will be eligible to re-enter the NHL Draft in June.
The Sharks drafted Wetsch, who was then playing for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. In his draft year, he scored 25 goals and 50 points in 67 games for the Hitmen. The following season, his goal-scoring ability took a step forward, as he scored 33 goals, but his overall point total barely rose, as he finished the 2024-25 season with 53 points.
In May of 2025, Wetsch was dealt to the Kelowna Rockets and was named their captain for the 2025-26 season. Overall, his offensive production hit new heights in Kelowna, but his goal scoring took a hit. He finished the season with 72 points in 65 games, but only scored 22 goals, the lowest total since he was drafted by the Sharks.
As a 2024 draftee who is still playing in Major Junior, Wetsch meets the criteria to re-enter the draft this summer unless he either signs an entry-level contract with the Sharks, or commits to an NCAA team.
"He’s a high-motor, high-effort, connective, physical player," Elite Prospects scout Daniel Gee wrote in February. "A lot of Wetsch’s best work comes below the goal line, chopping, crashing, and jousting for inside positions for second-chance offence."
"More forecheck and inside-driven than most WHL forwards, he plays a smart, low-risk game that doesn’t always generate highlight-reel moments but tends to produce results," Dobber Prospects' Ryan Downey added. "The 75 penalty minutes add some banger value on top of the offensive production."
If he reaches his potential, Wetsch projects as a bottom-six forward in the NHL, but it will likely take some time for him to get there. He'd be a beneficial addition to the San Jose Barracuda in the near future, at the very least.
And it looks like a key reinforcement will be added to the fold in order to help them do just that.
After his QMJHL team was eliminated from the playoffs, 2025 first-round pick (22nd overall) Bill Zonnon recently joined Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate on an amateur tryout (ATO). While other players were released from their ATOs on Sunday, Zonnon and forward Ryan Miller were kept around.
After being injured at the start of the 2025-26 season - causing him to miss all of training camp - the 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward overcame that injury trouble and put together a solid season for the Blainville-Broisbiand Armada, registering 14 goals and 46 points in 35 games. He was also one of their best players in the playoffs, putting up two goals and 15 points in 17 games.
The most intriguing thing about Zonnon is how well-developed his all-around game is. He plays a formidable two-way brand of hockey, is physical, has a strong playmaking acumen, and thrives in the danger areas of the ice. He also plays a gritty game, winning puck battles with strong wall play and in open-ice one-on-one matchups.
His mature game gives him a pretty high floor at the NHL level, even if his ceiling isn't sky-high. Still, this is a player who should be a really solid middle-six contributor for the Penguins for years to come.
WBS opens its best-of-five Atlantic Division Final series against Springfield on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Seven years ago today, the Winnipeg Jets did something no version of the franchise had ever done, they punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final, and they did it the hard way.
During the 2017-18 season, the Jets finished with 114 points, the second-best record in the NHL and the best-ever finish for any Winnipeg-based NHL team up until their recent President's trophy win. Led by head coach Paul Maurice, that Jets team was widely regarded as one of the most complete in franchise history.
They had standout players at every position like a balanced attack with captain Blake Wheeler, star center Mark Scheifele, and electrifying winger Patrik Laine, with veteran leadership from Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little, and a rock solid blue line anchored by Jacob Trouba and emerging young talent Josh Morrissey.
It was the breakout season for Connor Hellebuyck, who quickly established himself as not only a true number-one goaltender but one of the very best in league history.
Earlier in the playoff run, the Jets won their first playoff game in franchise history, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 to end an eight-game playoff losing streak. They never looked back as they would go on to claim the series, defeating the Wild in five games, with Hellebuyck closing the series out in dominant fashion with back-to-back shutouts to finish off the Wild.
What came next was one of the most compelling second-round matchups in recent memory as they went against the President's trophy winning Nashville Predators with the two teams combining for 231 points in the regular season. It was one of the highest-combined-point series ever played before a conference final.
The Jets won Game 1 handily, with Scheifele scoring a goal and Hellebuyck making 47 saves in a 4-1 victory. Nashville answered back, but the series truly turned in Game 3. The Jets roared back from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Predators 7-4, with Blake Wheeler scoring the go-ahead goal on the power play late in the game to grab a 2-1 series lead. Kyle Connor scored twice and Wheeler provided three assists in a 6-2 Game 5 victory before Nashville forced a Game 7 with a 4-0 shutout in Game 6.
Game 7 in Nashville belonged entirely to the Jets with Paul Stastny scoring a pair goals along with an assist with Scheifele also scoring twice, and Hellebuyck making 36 saves in a 5-1 road win. Pekka Rinne, Nashville's Vezina finalist, was chased from the net for the third time in the series, lasting just 10 minutes and seven seconds, the quickest exit by a starting goalie in a Game 7.
Scheifele's performance across the seven games was historic with seven road goals in the series, the most in a single series in NHL history, surpassing a record he had shared with Sidney Crosby, Bill Barber, and Gilbert Perreault.
Waiting in the Western Conference Final was a Vegas Golden Knights team in the middle of one of the most remarkable expansion seasons the NHL had ever seen. Vegas had gone 8-2 in the playoffs entering the series, the best record through the first ten postseason games in NHL history. Both teams were making their first-ever trip to the Western Conference Final. The Golden Knights would go on to win the series in five games, becoming the first expansion team to reach the Final since the St. Louis Blues in 1968.
The Jets' run ended in the Western Conference Final but was the deepest playoff run for a Winnipeg-based team since the original Jets reached the second round in 1985 and 1987.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Buffalo Sabres are no longer merely trailing in this series — they are teetering on the edge of a humiliation spiral against a Montreal Canadiens team that suddenly looks faster, sharper, and psychologically overwhelming.
Buffalo entered Game 3 insisting there was no reason for apprehension after Friday’s setback, pointing to their resilience against the Boston Bruins and their strong road performances throughout the postseason. By the final horn Sunday night at the Bell Centre, however, that confidence had been thoroughly destabilized. Montreal dismantled the Sabres in virtually every consequential phase of the game, erupting for six unanswered goals after Tage Thompson opened the scoring less than a minute into the contest.
What initially appeared to be an ideal response from Buffalo rapidly devolved into another sobering demonstration of Montreal’s growing command over the series. Thompson’s early goal briefly injected life into the Sabres, but the Canadiens dictated the rhythm almost immediately afterward, forcing Buffalo into a reactive posture for much of the evening.
Alex Newhook equalized in the opening period before the Canadiens detonated offensively in the second, scoring three consecutive goals to seize complete territorial and emotional control. Buffalo attempted to manufacture momentum entering the third period after narrowing the deficit to 4-2, yet the comeback never genuinely materialized. Instead, Montreal suffocated every push, while Jakub Dobes remained composed amid late pressure before the Canadiens buried two additional goals to emphatically close the door.
Thompson Responds After Mounting Criticism
No player carried more scrutiny into Game 3 than Tage Thompson.
After a disastrous Game 2 performance riddled with turnovers, stalled possessions, and offensive invisibility, Thompson’s seven-game playoff scoring drought had become one of the defining narratives surrounding Buffalo’s unraveling offense. He answered immediately Sunday night.
Just seconds into the game, Thompson capitalized on an extraordinarily fortunate bounce after Rasmus Dahlin intentionally fired the puck wide. The rebound ricocheted violently off the end boards and landed directly on Thompson’s stick beside an unguarded net.
It was not an artistic goal, nor an especially difficult one, but it represented something Buffalo desperately required: urgency from its most dangerous scorer.
The larger issue, however, remains unresolved. Thompson’s goal ultimately functioned more as a fleeting interruption than a transformational moment. If the Sabres intend to salvage this series, they will require sustained offensive dominance from him rather than isolated flashes of redemption.
Special Teams And Faceoffs Are Quietly Destroying Buffalo
While Buffalo’s power play deserved criticism after its catastrophic 0-for-5 performance in Game 2, the penalty kill became the far more damaging liability Sunday night.
To Lindy Ruff’s credit, the Sabres adjusted their power-play structure effectively. Buffalo looked significantly more organized offensively, generating cleaner entries and superior puck movement, eventually converting on one of four opportunities when Dahlin buried a second-period power-play goal.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, nearly every other special-teams sequence tilted decisively toward Montreal.
The Canadiens converted twice on six power-play opportunities, and while some of the damage stemmed from unfortunate circumstances, the cumulative effect was devastating. On Montreal’s first power-play goal, Jordan Greenway lost his stick early in the sequence, leaving him functionally incapacitated defensively as rookie phenom Lane Hutson exploited the mismatch before setting up Cole Caufield for his first goal of the series.
The second goal exposed Buffalo’s depleted penalty-kill structure even further. With Greenway and Beck Malenstyn both serving penalties simultaneously, Montreal attacked an undermanned unit lacking its two most dependable defensive forwards. Juraj Slafkovsky redirected a shot past Alex Lyon almost immediately, further tilting the game beyond recovery.
Compounding Buffalo’s structural problems was another lopsided showing in the faceoff circle. Even with the return of Sam Carrick from injury, the Canadiens dominated possession off draws, winning more than 60 percent of faceoffs.
Carrick, acquired specifically to stabilize Buffalo’s lower lines and improve situational puck possession, won only two of his five draws. Whether attributable to rust or lingering discomfort after his lengthy absence, Buffalo’s inability to establish possession consistently off stoppages has become an increasingly corrosive issue throughout the series.
Meanwhile, Lyon deserves considerably more sympathy than the final stat line will suggest. Although he surrendered five goals on 36 shots, the veteran netminder produced a series of high-end saves early in the game that prevented Montreal from completely detonating the contest in the opening period. Nick Suzuki and Caufield repeatedly generated dangerous opportunities off the rush, only for Lyon to temporarily preserve Buffalo’s fragile lead.
Still, hockey’s postseason ecosystem is notoriously unforgiving. Lyon may not deserve primary blame for either loss, but playoff series often demand emotional recalibration more than objective fairness. Given the momentum swing occurring in Montreal’s favor, Ruff may soon have to consider whether a goaltending change could provide the psychological jolt Buffalo now appears desperate to find.
The Sabres will regroup Monday before facing what increasingly resembles a season-defining Game 4 on Tuesday night in Montreal.
Rookie netminder Jakub Dobes now has six playoff wins. That’s the third-highest total for a Montreal Canadiens’ rookie goaltender in history. Sunday night’s win over the Buffalo Sabres has allowed him to overtake Carey Price, who now slides to fourth place with five wins. The Czech netminder can now set his sights on Ken Dryden, who’s in second place with 12 wins, and Patrick Roy, who’s at the top with 15. There’s only one way to overtake Roy: winning the Stanley Cup.
There’s only one rookie goaltender in NHL history who has won more playoff wins than Roy: Jordan Binnington in 2019. He led the St. Louis Blues to 16 wins and a Stanley Cup in 2019.
After 10 games, the 24-year-old has a 6-4 record, with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. On Sunday, the Sabres tried to get him to lose his focus, crashing the net and being very insistent to get some rebounds. Still, they couldn’t, even when Beck Malenstyn crashed into him at full speed, earning himself a two-minute penalty for goaltender interference.
Asked after the game if he had time to brace for that contact, the rookie netminder said:
No, I was focusing on the puck, and then I was on the ground. I tried to get up as fast as possible so that the spotters [the NHL concussion spotters] wouldn’t take me out of the game. I drank some water, and I was good to go for the next shift.
- Dobes on the contact with Malenstyn
When it was put to him that he was becoming a hero for the fans, he chuckled and answered:
I’m not a hero, I’m just me. I’m just a goofy goalie who tries to stop pucks. Trust me, I don’t call myself a hero. Pretty much, I will go home, eat, watch Game of Thrones and go to bed. I don’t think that’s anything heroic. When it’s time to do my job, I will do anything to win.
- Dobes on being considered a hero
That’s a far cry away from Martin St-Louis’ go-to show after a game; Seinfeld, but it seems to work well for the youngster.
Although the Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs this year, they are still very much a team that is focused on the future. Because of this, they will be looking to hit with their first-round pick this year.
In his latest mock draft for The Athletic, Corey Pronman predicted that the Penguins would select defenseman Ryan Lin with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Lin would have the potential to be an excellent pickup for the Penguins' prospect pool if he is still available when they are on the clock. The 5-foot-11 offensive defenseman has shown plenty of promise at the junior level and would immediately become one of Pittsburgh's most fascinating prospects if selected.
In 53 games during this season with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Lin recorded 14 goals, 43 assists, and 57 points. This is after he had five goals and 53 points in 60 games during this past season with the Giants. With numbers like these, it is clear that Lin has good offensive upside, and he could be a strong pickup for the Penguins because of it.
It will be interesting to see if Lin ends up being the Penguins' first-round pick this season. They could use another right-shot defenseman, and Lin is among the most notable as we inch closer to the draft.
The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff run came to an end with their Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Flyers got swept in the second round, they still have a very bright future.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft will provide them with the chance to add another promising prospect to their system, too, as they still have their first-round pick. But who could the Flyers pick?
The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released his latest 2026 NHL mock draft. For the Flyers, Pronman predicted that they would select right winger Casey Mutryn with the 21st overall pick.
If the Flyers selected Mutryn with their first-round pick, they would be bringing in another big winger who plays a heavy game. The 6-foot-3 forward has the potential to become a good NHL player and could be a nice addition to the Flyers' prospect pool because of it.
In 62 games this season with the United States National Development Team, Mutryn recorded 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points, and 89 penalty minutes. Overall, the Norwell, Massachusetts native had a strong season and demonstrated plenty of promise in the process.
While the Flyers have plenty of depth on the wing, the idea of adding Mutryn to their prospect pool is still interesting. Time will tell if he ends up being their first-round pick this year from here.
Flyers Must Avoid This Trap in NHL Free AgencyThe Philadelphia Flyers must be careful and not get greedy overpaying for a player like Darren Raddysh in NHL free agency.
Flyers Mock Draft 1.0: Looking for another Lane Hutson?If they're lucky, the Philadelphia Flyers can get their own Lane Hutson by selecting Xavier Villeneuve in the 2026 NHL Draft.
