The Buffalo Sabres are entering the 2025 off-season as one of the key NHL teams to watch. As they try to re-jig the roster with the goal of ending their 14-year streak with no playoff appearances, the Sabres are highly-motivated to make a splash. But what are they likely to do on the trade front -- and what teams are out there that could be a trade partner? That's the focus of this new series on THN.com's Sabres site. 

We began the series with a look at the Utah Mammoth. And today, we're turning our attention to one of the most active teams on the trade front last season -- the Colorado Avalanche:

TEAM: Colorado Avalanche

CAP SPACE: $1.2 million

FREE AGENTS:  Jonathan Drouin, LW; Jimmy Vesey, LW; Joel Kirviranta, LW; Erik Johnson, D; Ryan Lindgren, D; Tucker Poolman, D; Sam Malinski, D (RFA)

NEEDS: Offensive help, strength on the wing

SABRES FIT? Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland was a mad wizard of sorts this season, completely making over his goaltending, and shocking the NHL with the trade of star right winger Mikko Rantanen. But while the deal gave a terrific jolt to the Avs in the regular season, they didn't have playoff success, losing to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's simply not acceptable to a franchise with an extremely high-set competitive bar, so we expect the Avs will once again be a team that makes significant moves this summer.

Thus, it shouldn't be surprising that rumors are bubbling up concerning Avalanche forward Martin Necas -- the main part of the package MacFarland got from the Carolina Hurricanes in the first Rantanen trade. Speculation is that Necas isn't particularly pleased with the way he was used in Denver, and he'd be looking to explore other options.

Necas still has a year left on his contract at $6.5 million per season, but the key part here is that he doesn't have any no-trade or no-move protection in his contract. And that's where the Sabres come into play. Buffalo could deal for Necas, employ him for the 2025-26 season, and see what happens at that point. And really, if Necas is looking to maximize his earnings, the Sabres could do that for him.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Utah MammothThis is the first file in what will be an ongoing series on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In these files, we're going to identify a number of teams the Sabres could be making a trade with this summer, and we'll be picking out specific players who could be trade targets for Buffalo.

Now, would Buffalo probably have to overpay Necas to stay long-term? Absolutely. But that's true of most players, given how much the Sabres have struggled for the past decade-and-a-half. You're not going to have many veterans of Necas' caliber giving Buffalo some type of hometown discount. But if you make the winning bid, and money is really what a top UFA is looking for, Buffalo can and should be the team that makes the most lucrative offer.

What would it take to acquire Necas? Probably winger J.J. Peterka, an RFA also looking for a significant raise. Something tells us Peterka would love the opportunity to play alongside Avs superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. And Colorado would make this deal knowing they'd open up a good deal of salary cap space that allows them to make other moves this off-season. Peterka made only $855,834 this year, and while we still think the Sabres should try to keep him, moving the 23-year-old to Colorado in a deal for Necas would give Buffalo a dynamic offensive force, and the Avalanche would get a player who could get a healthy raise and still be paid far less than Necas is earning next season.

In acquiring Necas, the Sabres would bring in someone determined to play well in a contract year, and given that Necas is still only 26 years old, he's still entering his prime. Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams should be taking big swings on the trade front, and landing Necas would certainly be a move that tells Sabres players the team intends to be a high-octane offensive group. 

Is Peterka In Position For An Offer Sheet?Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has a lot of balls in the air as the NHL Draft and July 1st approach. The Sabres have the ninth overall pick later this month, they are reportedly fielding offers for RFA defenseman Bowen Byram, and also have to deal with the contractual situation of winger JJ Peterka. Adams at the end-of-season media availability indicated that the Sabres hope to sign Peterka to an extension this summer, but rumors persist that the 23-year-old may prefer to play elsewhere, which prompted Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff to place the young German forward as one of his top-five offer sheet candidates.

A Necas/Peterka trade works for both sides. The Avs would get a youngster who could easily break the 30-goal mark as part of their elite offense, and not cost them as much as they were paying Necas. The Sabres, on the other hand, would add a veteran with something to prove, and money to aim for. The deal could pay dividends for each team, and those are the type of moves  that get consummated.

Even if Buffalo had to add a mid-tier draft pick to satisfy Colorado, it would be worth it for the Sabres. They've got enough draft assets and young players to turn to after dealing Peterka. They could use a top-tier offense creator to play with proven veterans like Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, and Necas would certainly help in that regard.

In any case, we expect the Avalanche and Sabres to be notable movers-and-shakers in terms of trades this summer. They've got a potential match here, and we can definitely see a scenario in which Necas becomes a Sabre, and Peterka becomes an Av. Let's see if Adams and MacFarland can make it happen.

The San Jose Sharks will have plenty of money to spend this summer, and they should be pretty active in free agency this summer. While they may not be ready to make a playoff push as early as next season, they should be willing to spend big so they can finally start to win more games.

One player they should target is veteran forward Brad Marchand, who is proving his worth to the Florida Panthers as they are just one win away from winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup. After a shocking trade from the Boston Bruins at the 2025 Trade Deadline, Marchand joined the Panthers, and while he has fit quite well, he is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). 

The Sharks should be all over him without question. There have been rumors that Marchand will consider all 32 teams when free agency opens, which includes the Sharks. If the Sharks are willing to overspend a touch and Marchand is willing to join on a short-term deal, it should be a no-brainer. 

He could be a perfect mentor for the Sharks’ young guns, and he could help guide them as they try to get back into serious contention. Realistically, a two-year deal worth $8.5 million annually should be enough to bring him in, and considering how offensively dominant he looks, even as a veteran, there shouldn’t be a second thought, and the Sharks should get it done. 

3 Things The Sharks Can Do With Klim KostinThe 2024-25 season is almost finished, with the Stanley Cup Final closing in on being completed, and a champion soon to be crowned. The Edmonton Oilers trail the Florida Panthers heading into Game 6, and while there are some former San Jose Sharks that fans can cheer for, fans are mainly focused on what the offseason will look like for their team. San Jose Sharks Weekly Rundown: June 15, 2025Happy Sunday, San Jose Sharks fans, and a very Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Hopefully, you're getting some well-earned time to relax, maybe fire up the grill later, and enjoy the day. Sharks Top Prospect Sam Dickinson Wins Top CHL AwardSan Jose Sharks fans haven't had much to cheer about over the last little while, but one positive note recently is that one of their top prospects, Sam Dickinson, won defenceman of the year in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

The 2024-25 season is almost finished, with the Stanley Cup Final closing in on being completed, and a champion soon to be crowned. The Edmonton Oilers trail the Florida Panthers heading into Game 6, and while there are some former San Jose Sharks that fans can cheer for, fans are mainly focused on what the offseason will look like for their team.

One player who has yet to announce his plans for next season is Klim Kostin. He is a pending restricted free agent (RFA) and former fan favorite with the Oilers, and there are some questions about what the Sharks plan to do with him, as well as what Kostin’s plans are. 

Kostin, who is 26 years old, was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft at 31st overall. He scored one goal and added six assists for seven points this season. Throughout his career, he has scored 25 goals and added 28 assists for 53 points through 190 games, which comes out to a 0.28 points-per-game average.

He is an unproven forward who looks strong as a bottom-six piece at times, but he wasn’t utilized much as a member of the Sharks after joining them from the Detroit Red Wings. There is a slight possibility the Russian youngster heads back to Russia and plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season, but if he’s open to staying in North America, here are three options the Sharks have with Kostin. 

Trade His RFA Rights At The Draft

If the Sharks recognize they won’t be playing him much next season, it would make sense for them to move his RFA rights at the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft. It’s fair to assume a team would be willing to pay a mid-round draft pick to have the chance to sign him, and the Sharks could benefit from doing so. It’s always better to add future capital than lose somebody for nothing, which they risk doing with Kostin. 

The Oilers are the first team that comes to mind as a potential fit. The fans loved him, Kostin has spoken openly about his enjoyment during his time as an Oiler, and they could use a cost-efficient player heading into the 2025-26 season, as they risk losing several depth forwards. The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks also make sense for Kostin, but time will tell if any teams fork over a draft selection to bring him in. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals have reportedly been looking to add forward depth recently, so they could also look into what Kostin would cost and consider bringing him in as well. 

Re-Sign Him For Cheap, If He’s Open To Depth Role

A possible, but less likely option, is the Sharks re-signing Kostin for cheap, if he’s open to remaining a depth piece for them next season. He’s still a good player who could break out at any moment, but his lack of offensive confidence, combined with the lack of trust from the coaching staff, hinders the possibility of him becoming a mainstay in their top-nine forward group next season. 

It will depend entirely on what Kostin is looking for in his next deal. Considering he left the Oilers to get a better contract, he may try and do the same thing with the Sharks. The problem now is that he doesn’t have as much leverage to work with. The Oilers could take a chance on him again and give him close to what he wants, but it doesn’t make sense for the Sharks to give him anything more than league minimum. 

Realistically, the Sharks probably want him on a two-way deal, but that could be a deal breaker for Kostin. 

Package Him To Trade Up In 2025 NHL Draft

The last option is that the Sharks could try and trade up in the draft. They have the second overall pick, and Kostin might not be enticing enough to move up to select first, but adding him with other future assets, including first-round picks, could help them move up.

If the New York Islanders see a world where Kostin could be a helpful player for them next season, they could accept the second-overall selection, the Sharks' other first-round pick, Kostin, and a second-round pick in exchange for the right to select one pick sooner. 

At the end of the day, the Sharks and Kostin will have to decide where they go from here. He is a solid player who has plenty left in the tank, and while he ultimately has the choice of where he plays next season, the Sharks should look to one of these three options. I would personally give him another short-term deal and let him work his way up as he proves himself, but that doesn't seem likely right now.

San Jose Sharks Weekly Rundown: June 15, 2025Happy Sunday, San Jose Sharks fans, and a very Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Hopefully, you're getting some well-earned time to relax, maybe fire up the grill later, and enjoy the day. Sharks Top Prospect Sam Dickinson Wins Top CHL AwardSan Jose Sharks fans haven't had much to cheer about over the last little while, but one positive note recently is that one of their top prospects, Sam Dickinson, won defenceman of the year in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). 2 Trade Targets The Sharks Should Explore This SummerThe rumor mill is heating up. With only two weeks until the NHL Draft, there’s more and more buzz circulating around the league. For the San Jose Sharks, they find themselves in a spot where they’ll more than likely be taking on a few tough contracts — but ones tied to players who can still make an impact on the roster and in the room. 2 Trade Targets The Sharks Should Explore This SummerThe rumor mill is heating up. With only two weeks until the NHL Draft, there’s more and more buzz circulating around the league. For the San Jose Sharks, they find themselves in a spot where they’ll more than likely be taking on a few tough contracts — but ones tied to players who can still make an impact on the roster and in the room.

We’re less than two weeks away from Round 1 of the 2025 NHL entry draft, and speculation about the teams at the top of the draft is starting to percolate. Let’s look at each of the top-five teams and see if there’s a chance one of them, a few of them, or none of them choose to move their pick in a trade.

At the very top, the New York Islanders are highly likely to retain the first-overall pick and select consensus No. 1 prospect Matthew Schaefer. The Isles haven’t had a truly elite young asset like the blueliner in many years, and Schaefer fills an obvious need on Long Island. We suppose new Islanders GM Mathieu Darche could be bowled over by a blockbuster-level trade offer, but it’s far more likely he hangs onto the pick and adds a cornerstone D-man for the next decade-and-a-half. It would be a massive shock if the Isles traded the top pick, but we don’t believe that will happen.

In the second-overall position are the San Jose Sharks. They’re in the midst of a full rebuild, and even with up-and-coming forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith already in tow, the Sharks aren’t in a position where they can trade a high-end draft pick. The likely pick here is OHL star center Michael Misa, and San Jose will almost assuredly select him to give them terrific depth down the middle (along with center Celebrini). The Sharks dealing the pick is a long shot, as it makes much more sense to hold onto it and continue their focus on the long-term good of the team.

At the third spot is where, for us, things get rather interesting. The Chicago Blackhawks continued to struggle this season, and despite having budding star center Connor Bedard in their midst, the Hawks haven’t been able to put great stretches of hockey together. They’re also starting to show signs that they want to be a playoff team sooner rather than later.

Chicago replaced interim coach Anders Sorensen with former Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, and GM Kyle Davidson is likely to be open to pitches from teams who are interested in selecting a talent like Swedish center Anton Frondell. That said, the Blackhawks could just as easily decide to bring Frondell aboard and improve their own depth down the middle, but we can see a scenario in which Chicago acquires a proven above-average player in return for the third pick.

In fourth place in the draft is the Utah Mammoth, a franchise desperate to be a playoff team next year. The Mammoth have had a wealth of young players, and although it would suit them fine to keep the fourth pick and add someone like QMJHL center Caleb Desnoyers, we believe Utah GM Bill Armstrong is open for business when it comes to trades, and that could include moving this pick.

Armstrong would need to get an experienced, demonstrably-consistent NHLer if he were to trade the pick, but there may be teams out there who value Desnoyers’ offensive dominance and want to land him for the long haul. With all that said, of all the teams in the top five, we see the Mammoth as most likely to trade their pick. They need to take a big step forward this season, and landing proven NHL talent in a trade for the fourth pick could be too alluring for Armstrong to pass on.

Finally, in fifth spot is the Nashville Predators, a team with a lifelong history of never winding up with a top-five pick. They’re not guaranteed to get a needle-mover with this selection, but there’s great promise with players projected to be available at No. 5 – most notably, Boston College center James Hagens or OHL winger Porter Martone. Either of those players may go higher in the draft, but they’re surefire NHL-caliber talents, and an infusion of the youthful vigor they’d bring would be terrific for a Preds team that needs to establish a new era with high-quality youngsters.

Trading the pick might make sense in the short term as Nashville attempts to get back into the playoff picture next season, but the smarter move for them is to retain the fifth-overall pick and add a competitor with a high upside. And we suspect Preds GM Barry Trotz won’t be overly tempted by trade offers and instead keep the fifth-overall pick.

In sum, we see the Mammoth as the top-five team most likely to trade its pick, followed in order by the Blackhawks, Predators, Sharks and Islanders. If we were harboring a guess, we’d say that it’s most likely that many, if not all, of the top-five teams keep their pick, but stranger things have happened than a draft-day blockbuster trade. And in that regard, Utah and Chicago in particular should be watched closely to see if they make a deal that takes them out of the top five in exchange for talent that can help them right away.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Back again with a Stanley Cup Finals version of NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team Fantasy Hockey card updates, there are two new 99 overall cards. 

Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand are now both up to 99 overall after strong performances. Marchand has skyrocketed to 99 after six goals in the SCF.

Sam Reinhart and Evander Kane are both up to 97 overall and are fantastic cards. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his first goal of the finals and is 96 overall. 

All updated cards are below. 

The Crowned Event Week 2 is now live in HUT. 

The Hockey News' Stanley Cup Final simulation predicted the Florida Panthers to win in five games here.

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.

Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers by a 5-2 final score in Game 5. This was a massive win for the Panthers, as they now have a 3-2 series lead and are just one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row.

Panthers star Brad Marchand was certainly a huge reason why Florida won Game 5. He put together an excellent performance, scoring two beautiful goals during the contest.

Marchand's second goal, however, was incredible. After receiving a pass from Eetu Luostarinen, Marchand made an amazing move by Oilers defenseman Jake Walman before beating Calvin Pickard five-hole. 

In response to Marchand's awesome second goal, Panthers teammate Matthew Tkachuk was shocked and hilariously shouted "oh my god" six times. 

Matthew Tkachuk's reaction to Brad Marchand's second goal 🤣

"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD" pic.twitter.com/87hhoAgUJv

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

Tkachuk's reaction to Marchand's goal is understandable, as it was a great one from No. 63. It was also an incredibly important one, as it gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead in third period and ended up being the game-winner. 

Marchand, Tkachuk, and the Panthers will now look to stay hot and defeat the Oilers in Game 6 from here. 

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By Jared Clinton, Features writer

In 2011, when Jaromir Jagr sought to return to the NHL from his years in the wilderness – or the KHL, as it’s more commonly known – a reunion with the Pittsburgh Penguins seemed not only on the table but a logical career capstone for the then-39-year-old hockey icon.

Drafted fifth overall by the Penguins in 1990, Jagr had risen from precocious talent emerging from behind the recently fallen Iron Curtain to a big-league superstar and Hart Trophy winner. And while he’d first left the Penguins a decade earlier – a largely financially driven departure backdropped by an organization that was, at the time, on the brink of bankruptcy – a new day had dawned in Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby’s arrival, paired with that of Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang, had seen the Penguins return to past glory and become an NHL powerhouse. The stars, seemingly, had aligned.

As free agency approached, though, the Penguins weren’t the only team in the mix for Jagr’s services. Reports suggested the Detroit Red Wings were in the hunt. So, too, were the Montreal Canadiens. But when Jagr finally put pen to paper for his NHL return, he did so, somewhat stunningly, with the Philadelphia Flyers.

In the minds of some Pittsburgh faithful, it was a betrayal. Jagr was a former face of the franchise, yet he had spurned the Penguins for their in-state rivals, the Flyers. When he met with the media following his signing, Jagr addressed the situation. “If the Penguins feel like I did something wrong or something bad, I cannot change their minds,” Jagr said. “If I hurt somebody, I apologize. I didn’t mean it, but what people have to understand is that it’s my life, and I want to make the choice.”

There is a world, however, in which Jagr’s signing in Philadelphia, not Pittsburgh, might very well have marked his return to where his NHL career began. That it didn’t, perhaps, all comes down to “philosophical differences,” as Les Bowen wrote in the Dec. 1, 1990, issue of The Hockey News, between former Flyers president Jay Snider and GM Bobby Clarke.

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As the story goes, it was only months before the 1990 draft that Clarke was suddenly and fairly unceremoniously given his walking papers by Philadelphia, for whom he’d been GM since the beginning of 1984-85. Though the firing came on the heels of the Flyers missing the post-season for the first time in 17 years, what seemed to contribute most to the decision to relieve Clarke of his duties was that he and Snider differed “on the direction of the team,” as the latter said at the time. The prevailing notion was that Snider was interested in a full-scale rebuild, whereas Clarke was not. So, how did Clarke’s firing potentially alter the course of Jagr’s career and the 1990 draft?

Throughout the season and in the weeks and months leading up to the 1990 selection process, much of the hubbub centered around Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau and Mike Ricci, a quartet of budding young players who were each believed to have the potential to be big-league stars. And among prospect hounds, there was plenty of debate and conjecture about who among the foursome was most well-equipped to step in and elevate an NHL franchise.

Some scouts, however, considered Jagr to be the most gifted of the bunch, though it was considered “a minority viewpoint,” according to The Hockey News’ 1990 Future Watch issue. As it turns out, among the most vocal of that minority may have been Clarke, who was noted as having proclaimed Jagr “the best player available.” The excerpt regarding Jagr went on to note that it “remains to be seen if the scouting staff feels the same as Clarke.” The answer came on draft day, when the Flyers stepped up to the podium and selected Ricci, the final available member of the draft’s supposed preeminent prospects after Nolan, Nedved and Primeau had already been taken by the Quebec Nordiques, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings, respectively.

In fairness, and in isolation, choosing Ricci was not entirely misguided. He was, for much of the buildup to the 1990 draft, considered the odds-on favorite to be selected first overall. In the season prior to his draft year, Ricci finished 10th in OHL scoring. He followed it up by finishing third in 1989-90, behind Primeau and Paul DiPietro but one spot ahead of Nolan. And even if Ricci didn’t become an offensive superstar, he did evolve into one of the NHL’s premier two-way forwards. He finished in the top four in Selke Trophy voting three consecutive seasons during his prime. He wasn’t a slouch offensively, either. He registered more than 200 goals and more than 600 points in a career that finished one outing shy of 1,100 games.

Ricci ultimately played a pivotal role in Flyers history and NHL lore. He was a major part of the monumental trade package that Philadelphia sent to Quebec to pry a discontented Eric Lindros from the Nordiques. The deal was finalized in June 1992, coincidentally only weeks after Clarke returned to the Flyers as senior vice-president. (Here’s something to ponder: would Philadelphia have pursued the Lindros trade had they selected Jagr in 1990? If so, would Jagr, like Ricci, have been part of the swap?)

The fact remains, though, that none of Ricci, Nolan, Nedved, Primeau, nor frankly any other skater taken in the 1990 draft, is in the same stratosphere as Jagr. Each of those who went before Jagr scored at least 200 goals and 600 points. Others, such as Keith Tkachuk and Peter Bondra, can count themselves among the brotherhood of 500-goal scorers. Tkachuk, as well as Doug Weight, also joined Jagr as millennium men; all three scored at least 1,000 points. The 1990 draft has seen two of its players inducted into the Hall of Fame: Sergei Zubov and Martin Brodeur. (There’s another deep retrospective to be written about the latter being taken 20th overall and as the second goalie off the board in 1990.)

Perhaps only Gordie Howe stands ahead of Jagr in sustained excellence and career longevity. While Jagr departed the NHL for the final time as a 45-year-old following 2017-18 – that’s seven years younger than Howe, who turned 52 in his final campaign – consider that Jagr’s big-league career continued past those of any player selected in any of the five drafts that followed his own.

And if Jagr’s two distinct NHL tenures are taken by themselves, his first (1,273 games played) is the second-longest among his entire draft class, and his second (460 GP) would outrank all but 40 players. Maybe most jarring is the fact that more than half of those taken in the first round of the 2008 draft, most of whom were mere months old when the 1990 draft took place, had their playing days come to a close before Jagr.

But Jagr will not outlast any others. He has said 2024-25, his seventh as player-owner of Czech outfit Kladno, will be his last. With that, the final member of the 1990 draft class will skate off into the sunset. And though Jagr ultimately began his big-league career as a Penguin and not a Flyer, his journey took him across the NHL – yes, to Philadelphia, but to nine franchises in all. By the time he departed, for the second and final time, Jagr had become beloved league-wide, and he’s now set to retire as a legend, an icon and a soon-to-be first-ballot Hall of Famer. That’s worthy of a salute.

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Draft Preview issue. Our cover story focuses on the Erie Otters' star defenseman and top draft prospect Matthew Schaefer, who has excelled despite the personal losses of his past. We also include features on other top prospects, including Michael Misa and more. In addition, we give our list of the top-100 prospects heading into the 2025 NHL draft.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

Three defenceman the Detroit Red Wings should look to sign this upcoming off-season

The Detroit Red Wings are heading into a very important off-season for the franchise, as the young core is beginning to mature and with a couple key additions could make their first return to the playoffs in nine seasons. 

One of the most glaring issues the team needs to address is its blue line. The defense produced 134 points, which ranked sixth in the NHL, but struggled to contain opposing attacks and finished in the bottom 12 in goals-against average at 3.16 last season.

The issue also extends to the crease, as regular starters Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon finished with goals-against averages of 2.93 and 2.81 respectively, ranking 33rd and 28th among NHL goalies with at least 30 starts.

More Red Wings:Shocking Sportsbook Insights For Red Wings Next Season

The Red Wings need a reset with their backend entirely and new bench boss Todd McLellan should help. With his insights and a new defensive structure that succeeded in a big way like during his time with the LA Kings, they should be able to defend better but will still need improvements. 

Steve Yzerman and company in Detroit's management team need to find better options than going back to veterans like Jeff Petry and Ben Chiarot, who are both past their prime. 

Luckily for them, this off-season presents plenty of free agent defencemen that can be difference makers for the Red Wings. They currently rank 13th in projected available cap space with $21.3 million, according to PuckPedia. 

Vladislav Gavrikov - Los Angeles Kings

The 29-year-old Russian native made his presence felt during the Kings first round series versus the Oilers and has generated many interested suitors in acquiring one of the most underrated defensive defenceman in the NHL. 

Gavrikov is criminally underrated after posting a +26 plus/minus, which ranked among the top 12 in the NHL. He averaged just over 23 minutes per game, the second most on the Kings, and led the team in blocked shots with 140, which ranked 36th in the league.

He also logged the third most shorthanded minutes across the NHL, at almost 270 minutes on the kill, underlining his value as one of the league's best penalty killers.

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Nate Schmidt - Florida Panthers 

The 33-year-old veteran is a relatively cheap low-cost option that has proven to be highly effective for the Panthers, who may be on their way to their second straight Stanley Cup.

Schmidt could provide insights on what made the Panthers so successful with their elite defensive system that the Red Wings could learn from and incorporate it into their own. 

After recording 12 points and 34 hits through 22 games this postseason, he may be a bit of a hot commodity for a veteran blueliner to come in and work with a younger team so it may cost more than expected. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.

Ryan Lindgren - Colorado Avalanche

Lindgren would be a valuable addition to the Red Wings' blue line, bringing steady defensive play and reliability. Last season, he averaged 19:42 of ice time over 72 games with the Rangers and Avalanche, adding 128 blocked shots and 80 hits. 

He led the Rangers in penalty kill minutes the year prior and consistently drew heavy defensive zone assignments, showing he's trusted in tough situations. His career plus-minus of +54 since 2019–20 reflects his ability to keep opponents off the scoresheet.

Lindgren won't drive offense but excels at limiting chances and supporting more mobile partners, making him an ideal addition to stabilize a top-four role and bolster the penalty kill.

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While the Montreal Canadiens didn’t advance very far in the playoffs, its farm team in the AHL, the Laval Rocket, reached the semifinals of the Calder Cup. The young group made a deep run backed by a few experienced veterans who guided them through the choppy waters of a Cup quest. One of those veterans was 27-year-old Repentigny native Brandon Gignac, who had been with the organization for the last four seasons, and will leave it with the memories of a deep playoff run.

The left-shot center announced yesterday that he has signed a two-year deal with EHC Kloten, the former team of blueliner David Reinbacher, in Switzerland. Gignac was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, but was only able to play a single game with them in the NHL.

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He played 127 games with their AHL affiliate before being sent down to the ECHL. He didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Devils in the Summer of 2021 and joined the Canadiens’ organization as a free agent then. In his four years in the Habs’ system, he played 173 games in the AHL, picking up 120 points in the process. He’s third in all-time scoring with the Rocket behind Alex Belzile with 130 points and Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who has 126.

Gignac also played seven games with the Tricolore during the 2023-24 season, scoring his first and only career goal in the NHL. He dealt with an injury that prevented him from playing all but 15 games with the Rocket this year, and he didn’t receive any call-up, which is understandable in such circumstances.

The center felt the AHL was as high as he would get in North American hockey and decided to try his luck in another pro league overseas. Kloten, his new team, finished seventh in the standings last season in a 14-team Swiss A league.

Photo credit: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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EDMONTON – “We’re never going to quit on each other.”

It seems like the Edmonton Oilers have Rick Astley on the mind. 

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“Never Gonna Give You Up” is a certifiable hit and describes how the Oilers will fight for each other to the bitter end (apparently).

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been through a lot in his tenure with the Oilers. All of the ups and downs have led to this moment – a second crack at winning the Stanley Cup.

To come back from a 3-2 deficit is going to demand the best from everyone in the lineup: from Connor McDavid to Vasily Podkolzin to Adam Henrique to Evander Kane to Trent Frederic to Evan Bouchard to Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner.

Anyone who believes that the Florida Panthers have the series signed, sealed, and delivered hasn’t been watching the Oilers this year. All season long, they have been proving the doubters and skeptics wrong.

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And now, they have another golden opportunity to do that.

In order to put their stick where their mouth is (see what I did there?), they will need to do things differently in Game 6. Here are four changes the Oilers can make to manufacture a miracle. 

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

Who are the Oilers? Are they a dump-and-chase team or a fly down the ice and burn their opponents with speed and skill team?

Clearly and undeniably, they are the latter. Instead of playing the Panthers game, they need to force the Panthers to play their game.

Naturally, that is easier for me to say than for them to implement against the rock-solid defending of the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.

In Game 5, their biggest obstacle wasn’t breaking the puck out of their zone; it was breaking the puck out of their zone with possession. Countless times, they would get the puck outside of their blueline by one or two feet, only for the Panthers to carry it back into their end immediately.

The Oilers have a ton of speed and skill, so use it. If there isn’t a pass available, follow the open ice and take it into the Panthers' end. If you find yourself bearing down on the Panthers' net, then take a shot and follow up on the rebound. 

It’s better to take a faceoff in the opponent’s end after any kind of scoring chance than to have the risk of a scoring chance against.

They should strongly consider bringing John Klingberg back into the lineup for Game 6. Troy Stecher performed admirably, but he just doesn’t have the wheels or creativity of Klingberg.

Bring Kapanen Back In

And while we are on the topic of bringing another player back into the lineup, let’s find a spot for Kasperi Kapanen. Having Game 5 off will light a fire under him, prompting him to play like he did when he first showed up against the Vegas Golden Knights.

He brings speed and tenacity, two things the Oilers need more of for Game 6 in Florida. The Oilers are sorely missing Zach Hyman. But now is the time for others to rise and make a name for themselves.

If the Oilers can’t bring Hyman back into the lineup, they need more players to play like him. They need more forwards to forecheck hard and finish their checks in the Panthers’ end to make their life difficult.

Give The Net Back To Stuart Skinner

One of the best aspects of the Oilers' team is the working relationship and friendship between Pickard and Skinner. They are each other's biggest cheerleader through thick and thin. That kind of camaraderie doesn’t just happen; they have worked at it for a long time, and everyone gets to see the result of that.

All of that being said, the Oilers should have Skinner start Game 6. 

Skinner is great at bouncing back after losses. Even in Game 4 when he gave up three goals, if he wasn’t in the net during that first period, the score could have been even more lopsided.

Had Pickard won Game 5, it would be tough to go back to Skinner for Game 6. Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kris Knoblauch go back to Skinner for the next game.

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Somebody Get Connor McDavid Some Space

McDavid hasn’t had the most productive Cup Final. That’s not a knock on the best player in the game – that’s the reality of playing against the Panthers.

This is a team that knows how to defend against McDavid, hang off him like you’re his favorite suit.

Someone like Kapanen or Kane (or even Frederic) needs to get put on his wing for Game 6. Their mission (should they choose to accept) will be to make space for Connor to do Connor things.

Things may look bleak right now, Oilers fans, but with some tweaks and a few mild changes, a miracle is possible.

They’ve come too far to quit now.

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Brad Marchand has been nothing short of spectacular for the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, and this carried over to Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers. Marchand was a significant reason for the Panthers' huge win, as he scored two goals, including Florida's eventual game-winner. 

With this monster performance, Marchand now has six goals in five games against the Oilers this series and has entered the NHL record book because of it. 

According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, Marchand is now only the second player in NHL history to score at least five goals in two different Stanley Cup Finals in the last 59 years. The only other player to do so was NHL legend Mario Lemieux. 

Brad Marchand joins Mario Lemieux as the only players in NHL history to score five goals in multiple Stanley Cup Finals in the last 59 years.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 15, 2025

When noting that Lemieux is one of the greatest players to ever play in the NHL, there is no question that Marchand achieving this is very impressive. No. 63's play this Stanley Cup Final is a big reason why the Panthers are up 3-2 in the series.

Marchand has been such an excellent addition for the Panthers since they acquired him from the Boston Bruins at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. In 22 games this post-season, he now has 10 goals, 20 points, and a plus-18 rating. It will now be fascinating to see if he can stay hot and help the Panthers lift the Stanley Cup again from here. 

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Photo Credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

As the Edmonton Oilers fight to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive in Sunrise on Tuesday, they’ll go into Game 6 knowing that they have one of the most clutch scorers in the game on their side.

While he didn’t previously have this tool in his toolkit, Leon Draisaitl has developed a knack for scoring in overtime in these playoffs. His sudden-death winners in Games 1 and 4 against the Florida Panthers put him in a group of just five players in NHL history to score multiple overtime goals in the Stanley Cup Final. His shots also ended Game 4 of Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings and Game 2 of Round 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, making his four overtime goals in 2025 an all-time record for a single post-season. 

Nobody has ever scored more in playoff overtime than Joe Sakic. The Hockey Hall of Famer and current president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche ended eight games in extra time for the team during his 20-year playing career.

In just two months, Draisaitl has gotten himself halfway to that benchmark. At age 29, about to start his eight-year contract extension next season, he still has a lot of hockey ahead of him. 

Points have always come easily to the big German, who won the Art Ross Trophy in 2020 and just logged his fourth 50-goal NHL season in his 11-year career. His 52 goals, in only 71 games played in 2024-25, earned him his first Rocket Richard trophy. He’s one of just four active players with multiple 50-goal campaigns, along with Alex Ovechkin (nine), and Auston Matthews and Steven Stamkos (two each).

For Draisaitl, it’s not just how many, but when. Eleven of his 52 goals this year were game-winners, tying Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets. Of those, a league-leading six came in overtime.

Zoom out, and the trend holds. Since his first full season in 2015-16, Draisaitl leads the NHL with 19 overtime goals, and his 71 game-winners in that time are second only to his best bud Connor McDavid (72)

Despite Saturday’s 5-2 setback, Draisaitl and McDavid are currently tied for the 2025 playoff scoring lead, each with 33 points in 21 games. Draisaitl’s 11 goals are the most on the Oilers and second only to Sam Bennett (15) in the 2025 playoffs. 

McDavid carries the reputation as the league’s slickest skater, but Draisaitl is no slouch. Look at his NHL Edge stats for the playoffs, and you’ll see that his ability to generate bursts of high speed is right up with the very best — and that he does it often. And while Draisaitl doesn’t possess a particularly hard shot, he shoots often — and is uncannily accurate. 

A statistical analysis shows that’s because he has been able to get into high-danger areas, where his odds of success are greater. When he’s there, he increases his chances of success with a quick release that catches goalies off guard, not in optimal position.

Over the last three playoffs, Draisaitl has produced 34 goals and 82 points in 58 games. Those are massive numbers during the toughest hockey of the year. He’s seven goals ahead of second-place Bennett and second in points behind McDavid. Matthew Tkachuk is the highest-ranking non-Oiler, at 68 points. 

This spring, Carter Verhaeghe has added three more game-winning goals to bring his career total to 10. That list includes three straight winners to close out the Washington Capitals in 2022 and, most dramatically, the Game 7 OT dagger against Boston in 2023. 

For all of Bennett and Brad Marchand’s heroics in these playoffs, Verhaeghe retains the title of Florida’s ‘Captain Clutch’ — and could very well have more tricks up his sleeve.

If the Panthers have one weakness, it’s closing out a playoff series. In the 2024 final, of course, they let the Oilers off the mat from a 0-3 deficit and extended the proceedings all the way to Game 7. This year, they needed two tries to eliminate both the Toronto Maple Leafs, after going up 3-2 in the second round, and the Carolina Hurricanes after taking a 3-0 lead in the conference final.

That leaves the door open for Edmonton, just a crack.

In the next week, legends will be made and reputations will be secured. For the Oilers, their best chance to bring the series back to Rogers Place and potentially capture Canada’s first Cup since 1993 likely lives on the sneaky stick of Leon Draisaitl.

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Happy fathers day Vancouver Canucks fans! Today, let’s help celebrate some fatherly moments in the past couple of seasons in Canucks history. From Conor Garland’s impressive effort against the New York Rangers only a day before the birth of his first son, to Max Sasson’s father chiming in on the pronunciation of their last name, here are some memorable father-related moments from the past two seasons. 

Arshdeep Bains Makes NHL Debut On Father’s Trip 

Bains made his NHL debut last season in a 3–1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on February 20, 2024. What made this debut even more special, however, is the fact that it coincided with the Canucks’ annual fathers trip. This meant that Kuldip, Bains’ father, was able to take in his son’s first NHL game live despite not being in Vancouver. 

“It’s every kid’s dream to make their dad proud,” Bains told Sportsnet after his first NHL game.  

“We are so proud. The whole town is behind him, everyone is calling — it’s unreal,” Bains’ father said to CBC News before the game last year. 

Since his memorable debut, Bains has made a great impression on the Canucks organizations. He scored his first NHL goal on October 26, 2024 in a 4–3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. As well, he has been a force throughout Abbotsford’s Calder Cup Playoff run, leading his team in assists with 11 in 19 games.  

Phil Di Giuseppe Scores First NHL Playoff Goal After Birth Of Child  

The Canucks were deep in the middle of their Division Final series against the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 when Di Giuseppe and his wife welcomed their second child. At the time of the birth, Vancouver led the series 2–1, though they surrendered Game 4 to the Oilers while in Edmonton. Di Giuseppe came back into the lineup for Game 5, ultimately scoring his first NHL playoff goal and helping his team take a 3–2 series lead. 

“It just makes what we do even more meaningful and that much more special, that they can come see me at work,” Di Giuseppe told The Hockey News back in January about being a father during the season. “Obviously, they’re a little too young now. So I would assume the guys with older kids get a greater sense of how proud that must feel. You know, just getting their chance to watch their dad go to work.” 

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Vancouver was in a state of mild chaos the morning of November 19, 2024. The organization had just announced that J.T. Miller would be taking an indefinite leave of absence, making them even more shorthanded considering Brock Boeser had already been out for a couple of weeks at this time. Garland’s status for the game was questionable as well, as his wife, Meghan, had been admitted to the hospital in anticipation of birthing the couple’s first child. After some deliberation, Garland decided to play. 

While the Canucks ultimately lost this game 4–3, Garland was one of the team’s stars. He scored the 3–3 game-tying goal and logged 20:58 minutes played in the match. Almost immediately after, he rushed back to the hospital and welcomed his first child the morning after. True to his love for sharks and the movie Jaws, the Canucks forward named his son Quint after one of the movie’s characters. 

To add to this memorable moment, Quint’s godfather is none other than Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. 

Max Sasson’s Father, Alan, Has Given The Team Lots To Talk About 

Many have discussed the impact of players called up to the Canucks throughout the season, with many of these players making their NHL debuts as a result of this. One underrated part of this process has been the joy shown by not just the player, but those around them who are undoubtedly proud of their accomplishments. Sasson made his NHL debut on November 23, 2024 against the Ottawa Senators, and nabbed his first NHL point in a play that made his father jump out of his seat in excitement. 

Max Sasson watching his dad react to his first NHL point is too good 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZiwmcquprW

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 24, 2024

Another moment from this season that stuck out actually took place due to a change in Sportsnet’s Canucks broadcast. During the December 28, 2024 broadcast of the Canucks’ 5–4 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken, host Dan Murphy and commentators John Shorthouse and Dave Tomlinson notably changed their pronunciation of “Sasson.” By Vancouver’s next home broadcast, the pronunciation had changed back to how they had originally been saying it. 

“I inadvertently introduced myself old school,” Sasson’s father, Alan, explained on X regarding the pronunciation mix-up. 

While the pronunciation saga was short-lived, it was still a fun moment while it happened. 

Bonus: Former Canuck Chris Tanev Almost Came Back To Vancouver During Off-Season, According To Father

The final moment on this list involves a player who spent a decade with the Canucks. Tanev, who signed his entry-level contract with Vancouver as an undrafted free agent back in June of 2010, joined the Calgary Flames back in 2020 after signing a four-year deal in free agency. With this deal ending in 2024, after a quick stint with the Dallas Stars in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tanev had a few choices regarding which team he could sign with next. While he ultimately committed to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, father Mike Tanev noted that his son had almost come back to his first NHL team. 

“When Chris went to Dallas, we had a decision to make this summer. There were three teams,” Tanev’s dad explained on the show Donnie and Dhali back in February of 2025. “There was Vancouver — obviously, huge interest from Vancouver — Toronto and Dallas. The family thing makes sense. How close was Vancouver? I don’t know. But I can tell you [Vancouver] was one of the three teams that Christopher had to choose from.” 

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The Florida Panthers picked up a big 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. With this, the Panthers now have a 3-2 lead in the series, and they can thank former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for that.

Bobrovsky had a strong night for the Panthers in Game 5, saving 19 out of 21 Oilers shots. With this, the former Flyers goaltender now sports a 15-7 record, a 2.26 goals-against average, and a .912 save percentage in 22 playoff games this campaign.

Bobrovsky has also tied an incredible NHL playoff record with his latest victory. According to NHL Public Relations, Bobrovsky has tied an NHL record by recording 10 wins in one post-season. The other goalies who have achieved this feat are Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues, 2019), Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals, 2018), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings, 2012), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames, 2004), and Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils, 1995 & 2000). 

Sergei Bobrovsky tied the NHL record for most road wins in a single postseason by a goaltender (10), last achieved by Jordan Binnington with the 2019 Blues.#NHLStats: https://t.co/FMaf4VeOStpic.twitter.com/8wZYVWDAOT

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 15, 2025

Bobrovsky has been on an excellent playoff run with the Panthers this year, and tying this impressive NHL record only demonstrates that further. It will now be interesting to see if the former Flyer can stay hot and lead the Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup championship from here.

In two seasons with the Flyers from 2010-11 to 2011-12, Bobrovsky recorded a 42-23-10 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.73 goals-against average in 83 games. 

Notable Update On Flyers' Free Agency Plans RevealedThe Philadelphia Flyers are entering this off-season with a good amount of cap space, as they have roughly $19 million to work with. Due to this, some have questioned if the Flyers will try to make a major splash in free agency this summer. However, based on a recent update, this appears to be unlikely.

Photo Credit:  © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Mac Hollowell has signed a one-year deal in Russia with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, it was announced earlier this week. 

Hollowell, a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, spent this season with the Penguins, scoring one goal and adding 30 assists for 31 points in 56 regular season games. Over a total of 244 career AHL regular season games with the Penguins, Hartford Wolf Pack and the Toronto Marlies, Hollowell has collected 14 goals and 122 assists for 136 points. 

Having turned pro at the end of the 2018-19 season, Hollowell appeared in six NHL games, all with the Maple Leafs. In those games, Hollowell collected two assists. Prior to making the jump to the AHL, Hollowell played parts of five seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds. 

With Hollowell heading for the KHL, this will be his first foray overseas. A talented, puck-moving defender, Hollowell hasn't been able to make it back to the NHL but should be able to go over and have success in Russia as soon as he steps out onto the ice.