The Chicago Blackhawks' 2025-26 season came to an end on Friday with their 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks finished the campaign with a 29-39-14 record and at the bottom of the Central Division standings. With this, they did not qualify for the playoffs, and their offseason is now here.
This will be an interesting offseason for the Blackhawks as they continue their rebuild. They have some decisions to make when it comes to their roster, and there is a chance that two of their veteran players won't be back in 2026-27. Let's discuss each of them now.
Sam Lafferty
The Blackhawks reunited with Sam Lafferty this past offseason when they acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. However, the 31-year-old was barely used by the Blackhawks this campaign, as he played in just 29 games and was scratched far more often than not.
In his 29 appearances with Chicago this season, Lafferty had one goal, one assist, and 35 hits. Given how little the Blackhawks used him this season, it would not be surprising if they decided to let Lafferty leave through free agency this summer.
Matt Grzelcyk
Grzelcyk is another pending UFA who the Blackhawks could decide to move on from this summer. The Blackhawks have plenty of promising young defensemen in their system, and there simply may not be a fit for Grzelcyk on the Blackhawks' roster next season because of it.
Grzelcyk was a decent pickup for the Blackhawks this season. In 69 games this season, the 32-year-old had zero goals and 12 assists. However, given the Blackhawks' defensive depth, the Massachusetts native might not be back next season.
Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin speaks with the media after the Capitals’ game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Geoff Burke/Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin said he wants a new two-year contract from the Washington Capitals.
He probably was joking.
Then again, nothing about Ovechkin’s future is all that clear right now after the NHL’s career goal-scoring leader finished his 21st season. Fans — and even opponents — treated the past few games like they could be his last, but Ovechkin hasn’t yet closed the door on returning.
This was the final season of his current contract with the Capitals. When he noted — in a longer-than-usual session with reporters — that he still needs to speak with coach Spencer Carbery and general manager Chris Patrick, he was asked what he wanted to hear from Patrick about the team’s future.
“Two more years,” he said, drawing a laugh. “This is the contract. Sign it.”
It certainly would be a surprise if the 40-year-old Ovechkin received that kind of deal. The bigger question is whether he’ll keep playing in the NHL at all. He said he’ll make that decision based on health, family and the team’s outlook for next season.
The Capitals wrapped up their season with a win at Columbus. They had 95 points, which would have tied for the lead in the Pacific Division but left them three points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Young players like Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have emerged for Washington, and despite a disappointing season, the team seems decently positioned whether Ovechkin retires or comes back.
If he does return, the price would be intriguing after he carried a cap hit of $9.5 million a year on his previous deal. He scored a team-high 32 goals and played all 82 games this season, remarkable numbers for a player his age. But his famous shot from the left circle wasn’t the weapon it used to be — he had only five goals on 86 shots on the power play — and his age shows in his two-way game.
Ovechkin was asked if playing elsewhere in the NHL was a possibility.
“I’m a free agent,” he said.
When pressed on whether he could see himself somewhere else in the league after spending his whole career so far with the Capitals, he said: “Probably not, no.”
There’s been speculation about Ovechkin going back at some point to play in his native Russia, but he said he needs to decide his NHL future first.
“I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game — I hope it’s not my last game, against Columbus. I have to make a decision to see where we’re at — the team, family,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously, family are going to support me, like my wife and kids. Kids are already asking, ‘Dad, are you staying or not?’”
And what’s his response?
“I tell them, ‘We’ll see,’” he said. ”They want me to come back because they love the city, they love the team, they love the boys.”
While the Montreal Canadiens had a day off on Wednesday, their marketing and social media teams certainly weren’t off. The playoffs in Montreal are about so much more than what happens on the ice. In a town where hockey is king and generates most of the water cooler discussions, when the Habs make the spring dance, there’s a particular feeling in the air, an effervescence which normally starts from the moment they qualify to the end of the playoff run. In 2021, that meant all the way to July 7, when the Sainte-Flanelle was beaten in the Final by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last year, it was short and sweet, as the Habs were defeated in five games by the Washington Capitals.
This year? It seems like the spark happened much earlier. With Cole Caufield scoring 50 goals, Nick Suzuki getting to 100 points, Juraj Slafkovsky having his big awakening and Lane Hutson tying a Larry Robinson record, the city has been pumped for some time. That doesn’t mean the Canadiens didn’t think it was necessary to pump it up even more. On Wednesday, the social media team released a pump-up song for the playoffs, an opus featuring Mascouche-born country recording artist Rick Duff, the Road Dogs and Bell Centre organist Diane Bibaud.
The song, titled Killer Instinct marks an interesting departure from the rock songs we normally hear in those circumstances. However, given how many Canadiens players always attend the Lasso Festival in the Summer, it’s not a shocking turn of events. Whatever the style, a song set to a video of the Canadiens’ highlights will always be well-received in town.
Rick Duff, Diane Bibaud et le groupe ont le Killer instinct en vue du hockey des séries! Visionnez le vidéoclip dès maintenant et pré-enregistrez la chanson, disponible le 16 avril!
Rick Duff, Diane Bibaud and the band have the Killer Instinct heading into the playoffs! Watch… pic.twitter.com/HhQtReABxV
Furthermore, local singer Jerome Charlebois also released a new version of his father Robert Charlebois’ iconic song Je reviendrai à Montreal (I will come back to Montreal) on the 50th anniversary of the hit. This time around, though, it’s centered on the Canadiens. While this one is not a pump-up song by any means but rather a ballad, it’s sure to bring back some nice memories for Montreal fans, and what better time for that than just before the start of the playoffs?
En l'honneur du 50e anniversaire de « Je reviendrai à Montréal », et juste à temps pour les séries de 2026, Jérôme Charlebois a enregistré une nouvelle version du classique de son père, Robert
In honor of the 50th anniversary of "Je reviendrai à Montréal", and just in time for… pic.twitter.com/vEMsd6C4Zr
Of course, in this day and age, many fans are also taking to social media to share their own video montage of the season. But I came across one that’s particularly well done by Danielle Lapierre and goes through the last five years in Habsland, set to the amazing Coldplay song Fix You, which has become an anthem for the Canadiens. From the 2021 Stanley Cup defeat and those who have left the game since, the arrival of Kent Hughes and Martin St-Louis, the drafting of Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov, to this year’s highlights, this one is sure to hit Canadiens fans right in the feels. Are you ready for puck drop, Montreal?
The Colorado Avalanche have piled up the wins down the stretch, but they haven’t scored much along the way.
With nothing to play for and key pieces likely to sit, my Kraken vs. Avalanche predictions and NHL picks expect the road team to keep this one close.
Kraken vs Avalanche prediction
Kraken vs Avalanche best bet: Kraken +1.5 (-155)
The Colorado Avalanche have still won plenty of late, but the explosive offense hasn’t been there, with the high-powered Avs scoring three goals or fewer in seven consecutive games.
That trend likely continues against the Seattle Kraken. Nathan MacKinnon hinted key Avalanche players could be watching this one from the seats. With nothing to play for, this sets up as a lower-scoring affair.
While Seattle is limping to the finish line, many players are trying to better position themselves for paydays this summer or bigger roles next season.
Expect the Kraken to put forth a competitive effort and keep this close.
Kraken vs Avalanche same-game parlay
Matty Beniers is centering Bobby McMann and Jordan Eberle on Seattle’s top line. It just so happens that McMann and Eberle rank first and second among Kraken players in goals this season. He has great linemates to make the most of his playmaking ability.
The Avalanche have played in seven straight Unders and are likely to sit most of their best players, leaving less firepower to gain separation or push this game Over the number.
The Avalanche have cashed the Under in 14 of their last 20 games for +9.8 units and a 45% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Kraken vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Kraken vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Kraken vs Avalanche 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.
Several Florida Panthers rookies collected some very special pucks on Wednesday night.
Playing in the final game of an injury-riddled season, the Panthers dressed several of the team’s young prospects against the Detroit Red Wings.
“They’ve been good for us,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said of the rookies. “We put them in a tough spot – we had six guys who play in the American league on defense – and they really played well.”
During Florida’s 5-1 victory, three of those youngsters accomplished some extremely special achievements.
We’ll touch on them all as they happened chronologically.
First it was forward Wilmer Skoog picking up the primary assist on Vinnie Hinostroza’s goal 4:57 into the game.
It was Skoog’s first NHL point in just his third NHL game.
The next big moment came about halfway through the game.
With Florida on the power play, A.J. Greer scored his 17th goal of the season on assists by Noah Gregor and rookie defenseman Ludvig Jansson.
Jansson, playing in only his fourth NHL game, had his first point in the National as well.
“It’s a surreal feeling, just being here,” Jansson said. “Scoring my first point in this game, the last game of the (season) up here, just trying to gain all this confidence and go back to Charlotte and have a good run there.”
But wait, there’s more!
Defenseman Mike Benning had one heck of a night, picking up his first NHL goal on a shot that took a crazy couple of bounces, going off the glass and the back of goaltender John Gibson’s skate before trickling over the goal line.
“I thought Skoog scored, to be honest,” Benning said. “I thought he would be celebrating too but he’s a pretty honest guy, he’s a good teammate as well. I didn’t know, but he pointed at me and said, ‘It’s all yours’ so I just had a smile and went back to work.”
He wasn’t done there, scoring his second NHL goal just 3:02 later, this time putting it in the net the traditional way after receiving a gorgeous cross-ice pass from fellow blueliner Donovan Sebrango.
“When you’ve got Sebrango putting it on your tape back door, it’s pretty easy, all you’ve got to do is hit the net,” Benning said. “Playing with players like him, and even older guys, it’s easy, you’ve just got to get open.”
Fast forward to the third period, when rookie defenseman Mikulas Hovorka logged an assist on Cole Schwindt’s fifth goal of the season.
The assist was Hovorka’s first in the NHL that came during the 24-year-old’s fourth game in the league.
“It feels pretty good, to be honest,” he said. “It’s a great experience every time you get a chance to play in the NHL against top players. Watching that league growing up, it’s surreal, for sure.”
To summarize, four Florida rookies hit major milestones on their respective career paths on Wednesday: three picked up their first NHL points and another scored his first NHL goals.
It’s a night that will not be forgotten by any of those players, or their families.
“They’ll be on the phone tonight,” Maurice said. “It’s wonderful for their parents to get to see their son have a big night.”
Additionally, the knowledge and familiarity gained by these young Panthers will benefit them exponentially as they move forward.
For now, that means gearing up for a Calder Cup Playoff run with AHL Charlotte. Afterwards, it will be time to start preparing for next season, something that should come a little easier after absorbing some valuable NHL experience.
“It was super fun,” said Jansson. “It’s a childhood dream coming true.”
“It was nice, it’s a cherry on top, for sure,” added Benning. “Those opportunities will come if you just play the right way and gain the trust of the coaches.”
Photo caption: Apr 15, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Benning (20) celebrates with right wing MacKie Samoskevich (11) after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Apr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) and defenseman Shea Theodore (27) after the Golden Knights defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
LAS VEGAS — Mitch Marner broke a third-period tie and the Vegas Golden Knights won the Pacific Division for the fifth time in their nine-year history, beating the Seattle Kraken 4-1 to close the regular season.
Two points ahead of Edmonton entering the night, Vegas only needed a point to win the Pacific and set up a first-round series against Utah. Edmonton will finish play at home against Vancouver.
Reilly Smith had two late goals, Shea Theodore also scored and Carter Hart made 22 saves to help Vegas win its third straight. The Golden Knights finished 39-26-17, going 7-0-1 since John Tortorella took over as coach for the fired Bruce Cassidy.
Shane Wright scored for Seattle, and Nikke Kokko stopped 22 shots. The Kraken have lost two straight to fall to 34-36-11 with a game left at Colorado.
Marner gave Vegas a 2-1 lead at 1:23 of the third. Off a faceoff, defenseman Brayden McNabb took a long, straightaway shot that Marner tipped in for his 24th goal of the season.
Theodore tied it with 2:25 left in the second. The defenseman got the puck at the right point off a faceoff, moved to the top of the circle and fired a wrist shot past Kokko’s glove.
Wright opened the scoring at 2:24 of the second after missing the previous eight games because of an upper-body injury.
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone played his 400th game for the franchise.
Up next
Kraken: At Colorado.
Golden Knights: Host Utah in the first round of the playoffs.
Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson makes the nineteenth pick in round one of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Christopher Hanewinckel/Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks extended general manager Kyle Davidson’s contract without providing the length of the deal.
“We are committing to Kyle to continue the plan he has put in place,” chairman and owner Danny Wirtz said before the team’s season-ending game against San Jose. “We feel confident in that. We feel he has the right insight, the right team around him, and the belief he can continue to build a championship team.”
The Blackhawks are locked into 31st place in the 32-team NHL and haven’t made the Stanley Cup playoffs since the expanded COVID playoffs of 2020.
The 37-year-old Davidson took over as interim general manager when Stan Bowman was fired in October 2021. The interim tag was removed in March 2022.
Craig Berube wants — and expects — to be back as Toronto Maple Leafs head coach next season.
It was no doubt a difficult season for everybody around the organization, from management to players, to even the fans who spent their hard-earned money in hopes the team would win.
But there were countless speed bumps the Maple Leafs hit, causing them to veer off into the bottom of the NHL standings.
When asked during his end-of-season media availability on Thursday about how this team went from top of the Atlantic Division last season to the basement this year, Berube stated, "Goals against."
Toronto finished second-last in the NHL in that category with 295, only behind last-place Vancouver Canucks, who allowed 308 goals this season.
Despite all of the problems Toronto faced this season, Berube believes this version (or core) of the Maple Leafs can return to the playoffs next season.
"We have some good players here, and we have to make some adjustments," he said on Thursday. "We have to make some moves to bring in maybe some different players or different people, but there's a good core here and good players and good people, so I do believe we can bounce back."
Why, though, does Berube, whose coaching future hangs in the balance, believe he'll be back next season, especially when a new head of hockey operations hasn't been put in place yet?
Truth is, despite believing he'll be back, Berube is also unsure about his future in Toronto.
"No, I haven't heard anything about [being back]," he said. "Same as you guys heard. A new GM gets hired and people there, and they'll make a decision."
In what's now two seasons under Berube, the Maple Leafs have an 84-62-18 record, the 14th-best in the NHL. They reached the second round of the playoffs last year before getting ousted by the Florida Panthers in seven games.
Time will tell if they can get back to that level.
"I'm not going to sit here and talk about every little thing today about the on-ice performance and individuals' performance on the ice," Berube continued, "but those are things we've got to look at and assess and going forward here in what we're going to do."
The Calgary Flames wrap up their season with a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome.
My Kings vs. Flames predictions are targeting Blake Coleman to stay hot in the season finale at home.
Read more in my NHL picks for Thursday, April 16, with puck drop set for 9:00 p.m. ET.
Kings vs Flames prediction
Kings vs Flames best bet: Blake Coleman Over 0.5 points (-110)
Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman has 20 goals and 15 assists, and has picked up the pace of late. He’s notched points in back-to-back contests, tallying an assist on Sunday against Utah before scoring Calgary’s lone goal in Tuesday’s loss to Colorado.
The 34-year-old has now cashed the Over in points in four of his last six home appearances. The opportunities tend to be there when he faces the Los Angeles Kings as well, notching eight SOG in the three matchups.
Much of his production has come at the Saddledome, where he has registered 22 points in 32 outings.
Kings vs Flames same-game parlay
Morgan Frost has cashed the Over in SOG in three of his last five contests. He had two shots on target against the Avalanche and five against the Mammoth over his last two games.
The Kings are allowing 10.1 SOG per game to centers, which ranks toward the bottom of the league. Frost is averaging 1.85 shots on net at the Saddledome in 2025-26 as well.
Calgary won 3-2 against the Kings last month, and it's actually 2-1 against them this season, with all of those games being decided by two goals or fewer.
The Flames are also 22-13-5 at home, while L.A. has lost three of its last five on the road.
Kings vs Flames SGP
Blake Coleman Over 0.5 points
Morgan Frost Over 1.5 shots on goal
Flames moneyline
Kings vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Kings -140 | Flames +120
Puck Line: Kings -1.5 (+165) | Flames +1.5 (-200)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Kings vs Flames trend
The Calgary Flames have hit the Moneyline in 7 of their last 9 games at home (+7.05 Units / 72% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Flames.
How to watch Kings vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet One
Kings vs Flames 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.
Philly fans can clear their calendars for Saturday night.
That’s when the Flyers will open their best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Penguins. Puck drop is scheduled for around 8 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will have the local broadcast. Flyers Pregame Live will start at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The schedule for the remainder of the series will be announced later Thursday night when the NHL regular season wraps up.
Rick Tocchet’s club heads into the postseason with 18 wins over its final 25 games. The Flyers finished with 98 points at 43-27-12. The Penguins (41-25-16) also had 98 points, but they earned home ice via the tiebreaker of more regulation wins.
The Flyers split their four-game regular-season series with Pittsburgh (2-2-0).
MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 11: Jakub Dobes #75 of the Montréal Canadiens stands during the anthems prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre on April 11, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Montréal Canadiens 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NHL regular season wrapped on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately for hockey fans around central Ohio, the Columbus Blue Jackets fell just short of making the postseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season where the playoffs were held in the bubble. This marks the second straight season where the Blue Jackets were officially eliminated from postseason contention on the night before their final game of the season.
Even though Columbus won’t be a part of this year’s NHL playoffs, there will be a couple players from Ohio State who will be competing in the NHL postseason. Goaltender Jakub Dobeš of the Montreal Canadiens and defenseman Mason Lohrei of the Boston Bruins will take the ice in the two-month grind to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup which will begin on Saturday and run through June.
Jakub Dobeš – Montreal Canadiens
After starting the season as the second-string goaltender for Montreal, Jakub Dobeš has established himself as the starter for Montreal.
Dobeš enters the postseason having started 42 games for Montreal during the regular season, posting a 29-10-4 record with a 2.78 goals against average. The former Ohio State netminder stopped 90.1 of the shots he has faced this season.
Dobeš is a big reason why the Canadiens were able to rack up 106 points during the regular season. Down the stretch, Dobeš was tough to put pucks past. Before losing his final two starts of the regular season, Dobeš had won his previous seven starts.
The streak was snapped when Columbus was able to score five goals on him in Saturday’s game in Montreal in a game where the Canadiens had already secured a playoff spot. In his final start of the regular season, Montreal was beaten 4-2 at Philadelphia, who had clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference the night before.
Now Dobeš will face a Tampa Bay team who he started three games against during the regular season. In his first game against the Lightning on Dec. 9 he allowed three goals in 19:50 before he was pulled in a 6-1 loss.
Dobeš fared much better in the other two games, saving 36 shots in a 4-1 win on March 31 at Tampa Bay, followed by a 17-save performance in a 2-1 win at home against the Lightning on April 9. Montreal was 2-2 against Tampa Bay during the regular season.
The former Ohio State goalie at least has a bit of playoff experience to lean on heading into this year’s postseason. Last season against Washington, Dobeš was thrust into action in the middle of the series with the Capitals, appearing in three games.
In his initial playoff run, Dobeš was 1-2 across three games, saving 52 of the 59 shots he faced before Washington was able to end Montreal’s season.
Mason Lohrei – Boston Bruins
The other former Ohio State Buckeye who will be playing in this year’s NHL playoffs is Mason Lohrei. The defenseman for the Boston Bruins appeared in 73 games during the regular season, registering 26 points.
While Lohrei had seven more points in four more games last season, this year he had a career-high seven goals. The biggest improvement for Lohrei came in his plus/minus rating. Last year Lohrei finished the regular season with a -43. This season Lohrei was a +17.
The Bruins will entered the playoffs as the first wild card team in the Eastern Conference, meaning they will be taking on the Buffalo Sabres, who won the Atlantic Division to secure their first playoff berth in 13 years.
Despite the Sabres being one of the hottest teams in hockey over the last few months, Boston will take some confidence into the series since they are 3-1 against Buffalo, including a 4-3 overtime win on March 25th.
Lohrei played in three of the four games against Buffalo this year, but didn’t record any points. In the most recent meeting between the teams, Lohrei uncorked two shots and was a +1 in the game. Lohrei does have 11 games of playoff experience, which all came during the 2024 playoffs.
The Bruins beat Toronto in seven games before falling to eventual Stanley Cup winner Florida in six games. Lohrei netted a goal and was credited with three assists during his initial playoff run.
There’s still a better than 50-50 chance of the Boston Bruins getting the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top-five protected 2026 first-round draft pick to complete the Brandon Carlo trade from March 2025.
But they are going to need a little luck in the NHL Draft Lottery next month.
For much of the post-Olympic break portion of the season, the Maple Leafs had either the seventh- or eighth-worst record in the league. In those scenarios, the Bruins’ chances of getting the Leafs’ pick this year were pretty high.
But the Leafs essentially tanked over the last week-plus and finished with a 32-36-14 record — the fifth-worst in the league. Toronto ended the regular season on a five-game losing streak and a 2-7-1 record in its last 10 games.
As a result, the Leafs improved their chances of keeping their 2026 first-round pick.
The Bruins now have a 58.2 percent chance of getting this pick. However, they need at least one team that finished lower in the standings than the Maple Leafs to jump Toronto in the lottery.
Last year, two teams jumped up in the lottery: the Mammoth from No. 14 to No. 4, and the Islanders from No. 10 to No. 1. Teams cannot move up more than 10 spots in the lottery under the current format.
Here are the Maple Leafs’ draft pick odds, per Tankathon. If the pick lands outside the top five, it goes to Boston this year.
No. 1: 8.5 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 2: 8.6 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 3: 0.3 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 4: N/A
No. 5: 24.5 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 6: 44 percent (conveys to Boston)
No. 7: 14.2 percent (conveys to Boston)
Ironically, the Bruins were in the same spot last year with the fifth-worst record and they fell to No. 7 after the Islanders and Mammoth leapfrogged them. It ended up working out for the Bruins because Boston College center James Hagens fell to them at No. 7 overall.
In the four years since the league tweaked its draft lottery rules, the team with the fifth-worst record has moved up to second once, remained at five twice and dropped to seventh once.
What happens if the Maple Leafs remain in the top five and keep the pick? Well, it’s a little complicated.
“The (Leafs’) 2027 pick goes to Philadelphia (as part of Laughton trade) if it is outside the top 10, which converts this pick to Boston to a 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick. If this Pick slides to 2027 and is in the top 10, TOR can either transfer it to BOS to satisfy this trade and then give PHI the 2028 unprotected, or transfer it to PHI and give BOS the 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick.”
So, the Bruins will get a first-round pick from the Maple Leafs at some point, but the exact year is still TBD. It could convey in 2026, 2027 or 2028.
The ideal scenario for the Bruins would be getting it this year and picking No. 6 or No. 7 overall in what is considered a strong 2026 draft class that is loaded with top-tier defenseman prospects. The Bruins need to bolster the talent and depth of their blue line prospects. Also, any player picked this year could join the Bruins when David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy are still in the primes of their careers. A 2028 draft pick might not be ready to join the NHL until 2030 or so.
The Bruins are back in the playoffs after failing to qualify last season, but the most impactful event for the franchise over the next month might be the draft lottery. Getting the No. 6 or No. 7 pick would be a massive boost for the B’s.
As the start of the Montreal Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning approaches, the Habs coaching staff has plenty of strategizing left to do and wisdom to impart on their players. Part of that strategy should be warning their young player about Corey Perry.
The former Anaheim Ducks first-round pick at the 2003 draft may not score like he once did; he put up 98 points in the most productive season of his career, but he’s still as much of a pest as he always was. In his 1463 NHL games, the veteran has racked up 1566 penalty minutes and has made it a habit to get in people’s faces. Furthermore, he’s got a wealth of experience in the playoffs, which makes him an even more formidable foe.
While the one-time Hab (one season in 2020-21) has only won a Stanley Cup in his first NHL season, he has come very close to winning another one in the last few years, making an appearance in five of the last six Cup finals; twice with the Edmonton Oilers, once with the Bolts, once with the Canadiens and once with the Dallas Stars.
After 237 playoff games, the veteran knows all the tricks of the trade and is the kind of player who makes the most of the fact that the referees are somewhat more permissive in the playoffs, which is what makes him so dangerous.
With the extra leeway, he’s got plenty of opportunities to get in players’ faces and haggle with them; a push here, a slash there, that’s just another day at the office for Perry. In the last game between the two teams on April 9, he did just that and baited Arber Xhekaj into taking a roughing penalty. Something coach Martin St-Louis did notice: telling the media that Perry has been setting traps for 40 years, and Xhekaj fell for it. A cautionary tale if there ever was one. The Canadiens will need to take a page out of Lane Hutson's book, who just ignored Perry when he came knocking.
How one should deal with Corey Perry. Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
While the Lightning haven’t had the best power play this season, they are in 16th place with a 21% success rate. You do not want to give them any opportunities. The Bolts are the kind of team that will “make you pay cash”, as the coach so often said last season, when you shoot yourself in the foot. There’s a reason why Tampa Bay went out and got Perry from the Los Angeles Kings, and it’s because they know he can be a difference maker in the playoffs.
Corey Perry was telling Lane Hutson to get off the ice while both teams were in a big scrum, Hutson wasn't listening and Perry wasn't happy 😭🫣 pic.twitter.com/9NRv3hVXqz
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan isn't sure if he'll join the AHL's Toronto Marlies for their Calder Cup Playoff run.
The 20-year-old wrapped up his first NHL season on Wednesday night with an assist on William Nylander's goal in the third period in a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. His rookie year came to a close with 11 goals and 29 points in 66 games.
"I know I'm an NHL player. I feel comfortable, but I still got a lot more to give and I know I'll have a good summer here and get bigger and faster," Cowan told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.
"Everyone says that, but just take some time off and just get back to work, put in the work, and just get ready to have a better year next year."
Along with his 29 points, Cowan played throughout Toronto's forward group and finished the year averaging 14:43 of ice time. He also spent some time on the Maple Leafs' top power play unit after Auston Matthews' season ended due to a knee injury.
He impressed many this season and grew as the year continued. What caught a lot of people's eyes was how he reacted in the aftermath of Matthews going down, fighting Jackson LaCombe in the game against the Anaheim Ducks, and then standing up to Boston Bruins defender Nikita Zadorov a few games later for his hit on John Tavares.
At the trade deadline, though, the Maple Leafs sent Cowan down to the Marlies, making him eligible for the AHL club's Calder Cup Playoff run later this month.
He's one of seven players on Toronto's NHL roster — along with Jacob Quillan, Luke Haymes, Michael Pezzetta, Ryan Tverberg, William Villeneuve, and Dennis Hildeby — who can return to the Marlies for their postseason.
But will Cowan be there when the Marlies' playoff run begins?
"I'm not exactly sure," Cowan said on Wednesday. "I mean, yeah, I'd love to play more hockey. But it's not my decision. Whatever the management thinks is right, I'll agree with them."
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was also asked if Cowan would go down to the Marlies after their exit interviews on Thursday, to which Toronto's coach said, "We'll discuss that tomorrow."
Berube continued, "Definitely a benefit for him playing in the (AHL) playoffs, right? You can look at the league, and you can dissect it anyway you want. It's a good league, and it's a good experience for him."
The Marlies have two more regular season games — on Saturday and Sunday against the Laval Rocket at Coca-Cola Coliseum — before their playoffs begin. Toronto currently holds the fourth spot in the North Division, but could squeeze into third place, depending on how the Cleveland Monsters' final two games go.
If the Marlies lock up third in the division, they'll begin their playoffs in the division semifinals (a best-of-five series) against the second-seeded team in the division. However, if Toronto ends up in fourth, they'll play a best-of-three series against the fifth-seed in their division.
WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 11: Porter Martone #94 of the Philadelphia Flyers takes part in the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre on April 11, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
A young power forward with swagger drafted early in the first round can be an amazing thing for an NHL team. And unlike Cutter Gauthier, this one actually was willing to sign a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers! Porter Martone joined up with the Flyers after his 2025-26 season at Michigan State wrapped up and boy did he make a seamless transition to the NHL. The youngster put up 10 points in nine important games down the stretch to announce his arrival to the league in a major way.
Martone has played the part of the net front power forward, looking like an old pro despite being brand new (and a teenager). He scored his first goal in overtime less than two weeks ago and then has kept it going, riding a six-game point streak at the end of the season.
The Flyers badly needed the skill infusion, they only had four 20-goal scorers this season (Owen Tippett’s 28 leading the way) and just two players who recorded 52+ points on the year. That added up to an offensive output of 2.93 goals/game, 22nd in the league and lowest among Eastern Conference playoff teams. The Flyers’ power play was dead last at 15.7% and is another area where Martone (who has five power play points already) has provided a massive lift to his new team to give them a tangible boost in an area they needed it the most. As a result, inserting a young, talented and productive forward ended up being a Godsend for a Philadelphia team that’s playing some of their best hockey in these last 10 games that Martone appeared in.
Martone has found his fit on the second line, skating with center Christan Dvorak and with Travis Konceny on the other wing. That mix of veterans with the brand new rookie has worked out to the tune of out-scoring the opposition 5-1 in the brief time they’ve been together. That grouping of talent allows Philadelphia to work with another line featuring Tippet and Trevor Zegras and then still a third line where Matvei Michkov operates, then a checking line led by veteran Sean Couturier. Adding Martone has diversified the attack and made for a much more dangerous team capable of coming at opponents in waves and transformed the Flyers into quite the squad down the stretch.
The Penguins will probably be dealing with Martone as a key opponent for many, many years to come. They’ll get a first look at him in these playoffs and hopefully will give him an introduction to the world of NHL playoff hockey and limit the amount of success he will have in this first taste of action.
