Slovak forward Tomáš Tatar, 34, has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with EV Zug, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

“With his enormous experience from almost 1000 NHL games and his game intelligence, he is an important reinforcement for us at center,” said Zug GM Reto Kläy. “In recent years, Tomáš has regularly played on the wing. With us, he will be used as a center.”

Back in early April, Kläy admitted to Swiss media that Tatar was one of the players he planned to pursue this off-season, along with Czech winger Dominik Kubalík. Kubalík signed with Zug a few weeks ago and Kläy emphasized that he will stay on the wing, raising the possibility of him playing together with Tatar on the team’s top line.

The news comes a day after Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström signed a three-year deal with National League rival Lausanne HC.

Erik Brännström Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.

Tatar was a second-round pick, 60th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. He immediately went overseas to play in the AHL and has played in North America ever since.

Tatar has 227 goals and 269 assists for 496 points in 977 NHL regular-season games with the Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken. He also had 13 points in 56 playoff games.

This past season, he had 17 points in 74 games in his second tour of duty with New Jersey.

Dominik Kubalík Finds New Swiss ClubCzech winger Dominik Kubalík, 29, has signed a two-year contract with EV Zug, the National League club announced on Friday.

Internationally, Tatar has represented Slovakia at seven IIHF World Championships and at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He didn’t play for Slovakia at the Worlds this year, but he has stated his desire to play at the 2026 Olympics.

Always one of Switzerland’s big-spending clubs, Zug won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 but results have been disappointing since. And Kläy clearly wants to change that.

In addition to Tatar and Kubalík, Zug has under contract for 2025-26 World Championship MVP goalie Leonardo Genoni, defensemen Raphael Díaz and Gabriel Carlsson and forwards Grégory Hofmann and Fabrice Herzog.

Photo © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images: Tomáš Tatar playing for the New Jersey Devils in 2024-25.

Tomáš Tatar “absolutely” wants to play in Milan 2026 OlympicsTomáš Tatar’s first World Championship was in 2012 and he won a silver medal with the Slovak team. This year was his fifth and second as team captain, but the 33-year-old winger is still searching for his second medal. Slovakia’s tournament came to an end on Thursday with a 6-3 quarterfinal loss to Canada.

Alexander Nikishin is going to be a special player.

Three games into his NHL career and that already feels like a bygone conclusion.

Sure, he was one of the most hyped up prospects in a long time, but there's a huge difference between playing in the KHL and the NHL.

But honestly, based on what we've seen so far, we should perhaps just throw away the 'going to be' part, because this hasn't just been 'playing in the NHL.'

This isn't just some random mid-January game against the Anaheim Ducks, this is the Eastern Conference Final, in do-or-die games, yet Nikishin already like an NHL regular.

The rookie defenseman has played north of 18 minutes in back-to-back games, filling in on the team's top four in the absence of Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker.

He's looked calm, composed and just unfazed by the whole situation.

You'd never guess that he had just three North American games under his belt with no training camp nor preseason experience.

The play he made to spring Logan Stankoven for the game-winning goal in Game 4? Just ridiculous.

An absolute dart from Logan Stankoven 🎯😮‍💨

(via @NHL)pic.twitter.com/h5BywBdntE

— BarDown (@BarDown) May 27, 2025

And just the all around defensive game he showed against the defending Stanley Cup champs has been more than impressive.

"I just like that he's not rattled and that he's just going out there and playing," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Sometimes these young kids come over and come in, even rookies, they don't realize the moment and how big it is. They're just playing hockey. Sometimes it takes a couple years to realize, 'Oh this is pretty important,' you know? He looks like he's unfazed. I don't know. I can't really tell you, but he's doing a great job for us."

It wasn't like it was an immediate fit for Nikishin either, who had to wait several weeks for the chance to make his NHL debut.

He was the first guy to jump into the lineup when Chatfield went down with injury, but in that game against the Washington Capitals, he turned the puck over multiple times and was just constantly in the wrong spots.

"His first game wasn't very positive," Brind'Amour said. "It was a little rough. But now he looked like he's played more than one game in North America."

So what gives?

Well, for one, Nikishin has had plenty of time to learn the systems since coming over to North America in April.

"[Assistant coach Tim Gleason] has worked with him daily on how we want to play," Brind'Amour said. "He knows how to play even with the language issues. He's picking it up really quickly and it's been a month now. He's been here and everyday he's going through stuff. That's really encouraging for an organization standpoint and for us trusting him."

But there's also just the fact that he's had the opportunity to get the butterflies out and now he knows that he's being counted on in an important situation.

And at the end of the day, elite players rise to the occasions.

"I was really proud of how from one game to the next, it changed," Brind'Amour said. "We have a good one there for sure."

Hindsight is 20/20, but with the way Nikishin is playing, it really makes you wonder if he could have made a difference in those first two games.

"We went to him and it was a rough first outing, but obviously he's seizing the moment right now," Brind'Amour said.

"It's a tough time of the year to come in as a rookie and play minutes like that, so it's huge," said Jaccob Slavin. "The games that they played tonight were awesome and I'd say a big congrats to Niki on his first point. That's awesome and happy for him."

---

Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!

---

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

The Florida Panthers are heading back on the road again.

Florida had an opportunity to knock out the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night, but the Cats couldn’t get the job done.

Credit to the Hurricanes, who played their best game of the series while holding the potent Panthers scoreless, winning 3-0 after a couple empty-net goals.

It’s a step in the right direction for Carolina, who still have quite a bit of work to do if they’re going to climb back into this series.

The last time Florida held a 3-0 series lead, they were playing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final a couple weeks later. We’ll see how much they learned from that experience in the coming days.

Let’s get to the Game 4 takeaways:

PANTHERS TRIED TO BE PERFECT

During many of Florida’s offensive zone opportunities, the Panthers were unable to complete some pretty tough cross-zone passes and came up with nothing to show for them.

That was a recurring theme throughout the game, with Carolina doing an excellent job of clogging up the passing lanes while also blocking 15 shots.

When the Panthers try to do too much and come out of their usual fluid game, things can look a little deliberate and disjointed, and that’s what happened at times on Monday.

“We were looking for something, or looking for something better, and you will always play a slow game when you do that,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.

MUCH TO TAKE FROM LOSS

One thing Maurice has said often during his tenure behind Florida’s bench is that you learn far more from a loss than you do from a win.

Well, based off the Panthers performance in Game 4, the team’s collective IQ should be going up by a couple of points.

The night absolutely belonged to Carolina.

They imposed their will, their pace and their style of play on the Panthers during much of the night, and it showed in how ineffective Florida was compared to the rest of the series.

“I am exceptionally happy with the learning opportunity,” said Maurice. “I'm not screwing around with you. I believe there's consistent things in games that we don't love, and you cannot eradicate those. Give Carolina credit, they were quick, they closed the gap, blocked some shots, hustled real hard. They played a great game for them in terms of style, and when I say for them, I mean in terms of the style that they play, I thought they were very consistent with their game plan.”

POWER PLAY STRUGGLES

During the first two games of the series, Florida was lights out when on the man advantage.

The Panthers went 4-for-5 on the power play to start the series, and that’s saying something.

Carolina had the league’s best penalty kill during the regular season, and they kept for the first two rounds of the playoffs, killing off 28 of the 30 power plays they faced.

Well, it appears that the Canes have snapped back into form.

During the two games in Florida, the Panthers were a paltry 0-for-8 on the power play, generating a total of seven shots on goal during those opportunities.

“Our power play right now is slightly disjointed,” said Maurice. “When you lose Sam Reinhart, he’s a really big piece to that, but it has still found a way to get some action and score some goals. We still put good players out there. I also don't think against their kill, that formula of a power play is as important, because their kill is like ours. There's so much pressure there, it's broken play, you might as well just play like it's five on five and see what you come up with.”

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Hurricanes blank Panthers in Game 4 to stay alive in Eastern Conference Final

3 Panthers Who Must Shine In Game 4 vs. Hurricanes

Injuries causing Panthers to make several lineup changes ahead of Game 4 against Carolina

Panthers can punch ticket to third straight Stanley Cup Final with Game 4 win over Carolina

Panthers' Evan Rodrigues Makes Playoff History In Game 3

Photo caption: May 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) reaches for the puck during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

With the IIHF Men's World Championship wrapped up - and Canada, shockingly, having lost Thursday to Team Denmark - Pittsburgh Penguins GM and POHO Kyle Dubas can shift his focus from managing Team Canada fully to the coaching search for his NHL club.

With a round of interviews already in the rearview, it's about time for a choice to be made. Dubas said upon Mike Sullivan's departure that a new coach would likely be named in early June.

And, on May 26, a clear frontrunner is seemingly emerging.

Mitch Love - assistant coach for the Washington Capitals - has already spoken with the Penguins and the Seattle Kraken about their head coaching vacancies. Dubas and company seemed to be impressed by Love in his first interview, which means he is likely headed for the next phase.

If the Penguins have the option to hire Love as their head coach - and he's willing to take the job - he's absolutely the right choice.

Love began his coaching career in 2011, when he helmed the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was with the Silvertips until 2018, when he became the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades and led the team to a playoff berth in his first season there. 

Two Names Emerge In Penguins' Head Coaching SearchThe NHL head coaching carousel is beginning to pick up some steam across the league, as the Vancouver Canucks hired Adam Foote, the Anaheim Ducks brought on Joel Quenneville, and the Philadelphia Flyers landed on Rick Tocchet.

He was in Saskatoon for three seasons - compiling a .667 win percentage - before he moved on to the Stockton Heat, who are now the Calgary Wranglers. Leading the Flames' AHL affiliate, this is when Love's coaching resume really solidified itself, as he won Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 and led the team to the ninth-best finish in AHL history in that first season.

His success in Calgary led to him landing a gig with the Capitals as their defensive coach in 2024-25, where he helped maximize the potential of blueliners like Jakob Chychrun, who had a career year with 20 goals and 47 points in 74 games. 

Love seems to check all the boxes. He has experience working with defensemen, and the Penguins' blue line is in dire need of some TLC. His resume spans more than a decade. He's a younger, fresh face at just 40 years old.

Coaching Conclaves: Who Should Be Annointed Next Penguins' Head Coach?The Vatican conclave to elect a new Pope has officially concluded, but there are other conclaves generating buzz around the National Hockey League.

And, perhaps, most importantly, he has a track record of success in developmental leagues, which is something Dubas has specified they would be looking for in a head coach.

“We'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally,” Dubas said after Sullivan's departure. "Sully had that. Sully was in player development with Chicago, he coached in the American League, an [NHL] assistant coach...that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to be developing your own guys."

There is a pretty good chance that Pittsburgh will hire the 23rd head coach in franchise history sometime within the next week. If that happens, don't be surprised if Love's name is the one announced.

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!       

EDMONTON – Put the brooms back in the closet, we have a series.

The Edmonton Oilers nearly discovered who they were (potentially) playing in the Stanley Cup Final – should they arrive there themselves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

On Monday night, the Carolina Hurricanes kept their postseason alive with a 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers. They were propelled to victory with goals from Logan Stankoven, Sebastian Aho, and Jordan Staal.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen is in the middle of a Stuart Skinner-esque comeback, earning a shutout on Monday night.

Trending Oilers Stories

4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid BiopicEDMONTON – Movies are forever.

'I F------ Love Bob': Troy Stecher's Unhinged In-Game Interview

Oilers Playoff Injury Report: Brown, Pickard, Ekholm

'He's Been Phenomenal': Oilers Show Love To Stuart Skinner

Connor McDavid Could Now Make Big Playoff History

Oilers Have To Make An Important Decision

REPORT: Oilers Not Signing Maxim Beryozkin Right NowEDMONTON – Well, that’s a curveball.

The Hurricanes have earned themselves another opportunity to keep their season alive, now that the series is at 3-1 in favor of the Panthers.

The Oilers are nowhere near being done with their series. However, with a 2-1 series lead and with the Alberta-based squad controlling every aspect of the game for the majority of the series, playing out the games seems like a formality at this point.

No matter which way the Hurricanes-Panthers series swings, the Oilers will get a rematch. If it’s the Panthers, they will play them for the second straight year for all of the marbles.

NHL Game 3 Highlights | Hurricanes vs. Panthers - May 21, 2025Logan Stankoven’s fifth of the playoffs turned out to be the game-winning goal before the Carolina Hurricanes added two empty net goals to win 3-0 over the F...

On the flip side, facing the Hurricanes presents another retribution opportunity – and a longer gestating one. 

The Hurricanes and Oilers met in the 2006 Finals, with the Oilers coming up short and the Hurricanes taking Lord Stanley’s Cup home. It would be a series with a longer history, but perhaps less intensity.

Either way, Oilers fans will need to wait at least one more game of the Eastern Conference Final to play out to see a clearer picture of the final round.

Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Michael Augello and Katie Gaus react to the Carolina Hurricanes saving their season with a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 Monday night. The Panthers now lead the series 3-1.

Panthers vs Hurricanes Game 4 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsTune in to Playoff Frenzy Live presented by The Hockey News, where we recap all of the biggest news and game action from every night of the 2025 Stanley Cup ...

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

Promo image credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

We’re not done quite yet.

The Florida Panthers couldn’t close out the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night, falling in Game 4 to the Carolina Hurricanes by a 1-0 final score.

Carolina played perhaps their strongest opening period of the series, outshooting Florida 11-7 and holding a 9-3 edge in scoring chances, but neither team was able to solve the opposing goaltender.

A quick transition play midway through the game brought us the night’s first goal.

Catching Florida in a line change, Alexander Nikishin found a cutting Logan Stankoven, who skated into the Panthers zone and beat Sergei Bobrovsky over the blocker to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with 9:15 left in the middle frame.

It was the first time in the series that Carolina held a lead.

Moments after a Panthers power play expired during the third period, the Hurricanes thought they took a 2-0 lead on a goal from Mark Jankowski.

Florida challenged the play for it being offside, and replay showed that the play was in fact not legal, so it remained a one-goal lead for Carolina.

Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal added empty-net goals in the final minutes, and that would end up being more than enough for Frederik Andersen, who kept the Panthers off the scoreboard and forced the series back to Raleigh.

On to Game 5.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Florida went 0-for-4 on the power play, while their penalty kill went 3-for-3.

Stankoven became the fifth rookie in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score a goal in an elimination game.

Alexander Nikishin became the sixth defenseman in the expansion era to record his first career point in an elimination game.

The Panthers are now 1-4 under Paul Maurice when holding a 3-0 series lead. 

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

3 Panthers Who Must Shine In Game 4 vs. Hurricanes

Injuries causing Panthers to make several lineup changes ahead of Game 4 against Carolina

Panthers can punch ticket to third straight Stanley Cup Final with Game 4 win over Carolina

Panthers' Evan Rodrigues Makes Playoff History In Game 3

Injured Panthers Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, A.J. Greer could all play in Game 4

Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Scott Morrow (56) celebrate after scoring a goal during the second period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will reflect on how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, May 26, Pittsburgh has compiled a 4-3 record in seven games on this date.

• 1992 - Game 1 Win vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5-4)
• 1995 - Game 4 Loss vs. New Jersey Devils (2-1 OT)
• 1996 - Game 4 Win vs. Florida Panthers (2-1)
• 2008 - Game 2 Loss vs. Detroit Red Wings (3-0)
• 2009 - Game 4 Win vs. Carolina Hurricanes (4-1)
• 2016 - Game 7 Win vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1)
• 2021 - Game 6 Loss vs. New York Islanders (5-3)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

May 26, 1992 - The Penguins rally from a 3-0 first-period deficit to take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final thanks to four unanswered goals in the second and third periods, led by Mario Lemieux's two, including the game winner with 13 seconds left. Meanwhile, Ron Francis had two assists, and Rick Tocchet had a goal and an assist. 

May 26, 2008 - As the Red Wings shut out the Penguins for the second consecutive game to begin the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, Maxime Talbot establishes a new career-high with 14 penalty minutes, all in the third period, during the 3-0 loss. Eight players took penalties, with Gary Roberts also contributing 14 towards the team total of 46.

Should The Penguins Target Dallas Stars' RFA Forward?Ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency, the Pittsburgh Penguins - in addition to hiring a new head coach - figure to be busy.

May 26, 2009 - Talbot helps the Penguins sweep the Hurricanes with three points in a 4-1 victory in Game 4. It was the only time he'd record three points in a playoff game. Moreover, Sidney Crosby had two helpers in the win. 

May 26, 2016 - Bryan Rust (two goals) and Evgeni Malkin (two assists) help Pittsburgh eliminate Tampa Bay in Game 7 at CONSOL Energy Center. 

So far, here in the roaring 20s, the Ottawa Senators' first-round picks at the NHL Draft have been all or nothing. They’ve either landed in the top 10 or haven’t had a first-round pick at all.

In 2020, the Senators had three first-rounders, including two in the top five, where they landed franchise pillars, Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson. The following year, they picked 10th overall and selected Tyler Boucher, who had 10 points in 47 AHL games this season.

Sens Headlines:

Carter Yakemchuk Ranked 26th Overall In Magazine's New NHL Prospect Rankings
Ottawa Senators Make More Front Office Changes
Ottawa Senators Prospect Parts Ways With Organization And Signs Back Home In Sweden

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

In 2022 and 2023, Ottawa didn’t have a first-rounder, having traded those picks in separate deals to acquire Alex DeBrincat and Jakob Chychrun. Then in 2024, they returned to the top 10, drafting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk at 7th overall.

This year, it’s a happy medium, with the Senators holding the 21st pick. It won’t be the first time Ottawa has picked at No. 21. This will actually be the fourth time, and in each previous instance, the Senators ended up with an NHL player. 

Anton Volchenkov – 2000

We’re nearing the 25th anniversary of the Senators drafting Russian defenseman Anton Volchenkov at No. 21 in 2000. Known for his fearless shot-blocking and physical play, Volchenkov debuted with Ottawa two years later and spent seven seasons with the team in its glory years.

In 2010, he signed a six-year, $25 million deal with the New Jersey Devils. But with a lot of wear and tear on his body, the Devils bought him out four years in. He wrapped up his NHL career with the Nashville Predators in 2014–15.

Stefan Noesen – 2011

Just like in 2020, the Senators had three first-round picks in 2011. They took Mika Zibanejad at No. 6, Matt Puempel at No. 24, and in between, they selected Plymouth Whalers forward Stefan Noesen at No. 21. Two years later, Noesen was part of a trade package sent to Anaheim—along with Jakob Silfverberg and a first-round pick—for Bobby Ryan.

Noesen developed slowly, not becoming a full-time NHL player until 2017–18 with the New Jersey Devils, where he scored 27 points in 72 games. After bouncing around as a depth player for a few more years after that, he found his stride with the Carolina Hurricanes for two years, and just had a career-best season back with New Jersey at age 32, scoring 22 goals and 41 points in 78 games.

Colin White – 2015

Three picks after selecting Thomas Chabot, the Senators drafted center Colin White at No. 21. The two quickly became close—roommates and friends—with identical birthdays (January 30, 1997). Seen as part of Ottawa’s core, both signed long-term contracts in the offseason in 2019.

While Chabot’s deal is too pricey at $8 million, White’s six-year, $28.5 million deal became a much bigger issue. Just three years into the deal, the Senators bought him out. Under the terms of the buyout, Ottawa will be paying him $875,000 annually for each of the next three seasons. In the meantime, he's a half-decent AHL scorer who wasn't able to crack the lineup of the San Jose Sharks, the NHL's worst team. White will be a UFA on July 1st.

Sharks To Sign Former First-Round Pick To NHL DealThe San Jose Sharks are in the process of converting forward Colin White's contract to an NHL deal.

The general managers of the past – the Twenty One Pilots – were Marshall Johnston (Volchenkov) and Bryan Murray (Noesen and White). This year, it's Steve Staios.

Staios and the Senators still have work to do on the roster, both among their top-six forwards and on the blue line. Since so many teams tend to prioritize forwards early in the draft, and considering that Volchenkov remains their best historical pick at No. 21, perhaps it’s a sign that it might be a good point in the draft to look to the blue line again.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

The Edmonton Oilers have been thriving in the current Stanley Cup playoffs, taking a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference final series against the Dallas Stars. But for as good as the Oilers have looked, they could be even better if veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm returns to the lineup this week.

It’s still undecided if Ekholm will play in Tuesday’s Game 4 against the Stars, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday, but he remains day-to-day, meaning he could play on Thursday as well.

Edmonton has been without Ekholm’s services since the second week of April, nursing an injury that has hampered him for months. But in Ekholm’s absence, the Oilers have managed not only to survive but to put themselves in a position to add more or less a trade deadline-type asset who adds the type of physical, high-panic-threshold presence any true Cup contender needs at this time of year.

The way things are shaking out, Ekholm could be the final puzzle piece that puts the Oilers over the top and into the winner’s circle over either the Florida Panthers or Carolina Hurricanes in the Cup final. 

When this writer made his Western final prediction, we noted there was very little separating the Stars and Oilers. Through three games, that’s the way the series has played out, with Edmonton winning Games 2 and 3 to steal home-ice advantage from Dallas. We believed another returning veteran defenseman – Stars star Miro Heiskanen – would be one of the difference-makers in Dallas’ favor, but the Oilers have been able to pile up goals on Dallas netminder Jake Oettinger despite Heiskanen being in the lineup.

Ekholm’s experience and veteran know-how are highly valuable, and his ability to eat up major minutes – he averaged 22:12 of ice time this regular season, and he’s averaged 23:42 in 112 career playoff games – will have a terrific ripple effect on what the Oilers can do the rest of the way.

If Ekholm does get back in the lineup this week, life will get considerably more difficult for Stars players who enter Edmonton’s defensive zone. Ekholm’s 6-foot-5 frame and willingness to play a robust physical game will benefit the Oilers. 

The 35-year-old Swede is about to enter the final year of his contract, meaning there’s going to be some urgency to his game. Elite NHL teams want to have players who seize the moment, and after so much time on the sidelines, Ekholm should come into this series knowing how precious these opportunities really are. So, imagining he’s going to ratchet up his game isn’t at all a stretch.

The Stars are a very good bounce-back squad, so the Oilers are far from out of the woods in this Western final showdown. But the emotional and structural boost they could get from a returning Ekholm can’t be overstated. 

Ekholm is a calming influence and an experienced contributor who isn’t going to mess around once he does get into game action. Edmonton will need all hands on deck if they’re to win this year’s Cup, but so long as Ekholm does what he normally does when he’s healthy, the Oilers are in a good spot.

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.

Brendan Shanahan’s days with the Toronto Maple Leafs ended last week. 

Now, Shanahan has to plot out his next career move. But when you think about Shanahan’s trajectory from NHL star to NHL executive to Maple Leafs president, it’s clear his work ethic has never left him.

So, what’s next for Shanahan after Maple Leafs Sports Entertainment decided not to renew his contract? Let’s examine three potential paths ahead for him.

1. Take A Break

After Shanahan’s Hockey Hall of Fame playing career ended in October 2009, he went to work on his off-ice career, joining the NHL about a month later as the league’s vice-president of hockey and business development. A year-and-a-half later, he moved on to become the league’s senior vice-president, working on supplemental discipline for NHLers and becoming the face of the player safety department.

Less than three years after that, Shanahan took on the job of running the Leafs, which he did for the next 11 years. All of which is to say Shanahan could be looking at a prolonged vacation for the first time in his adult life. Maybe that’s what’s best for him to recharge his batteries and wait for the ideal work situation to present itself before he chooses to get back on the horse and ride in a new role.

Shanahan doesn’t need to shoehorn himself into any one situation, which is why nothing came of the New York Islanders’ rumored interest in him. Ultimately, who wouldn’t want to spend more time with their family? Shanahan now has that option for himself for the foreseeable future.

2. Get Back In The Hunt With A New Team

Some have speculated that Shanahan will want to get back to work as quickly as possible, and who knows – taking on the job of a retooling team like the Nashville Predators or Buffalo Sabres might be a good fit for him. But we see Shanahan as waiting for a different team that could be seeking a new executive to oversee things. One team in particular could offer him the chance to reunite with an old friend and former teammate.

We’re talking, of course, about the Detroit Red Wings, which haven’t made the Stanley Cup playoffs in nine seasons. 

If there’s one thing Shanahan has shown he can do in Toronto, it’s getting a team back into the post-season with a strong core. Under Shanahan, the Maple Leafs drafted and developed Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, and they signed John Tavares in 2018. The team also had six seasons of at least 100 points, including in 2017-18, its first 100-point campaign since 2003-04. The Red Wings, meanwhile, haven’t reached 100 points since 2014-15.

If he did join the Red Wings, Shanahan would likely be working once again with current Wings GM Steve Yzerman.

Hiring Shanahan to oversee things in the Motor City would work for Detroit’s ownership, which benefited from Shanahan’s expertise as a player. Perhaps there’s a setup where Yzerman could be bumped higher in the Red Wings’ management echelon – the way fellow legend Joe Sakic was elevated with the Colorado Avalanche – and Shanahan and Yzerman could wind up collaborating on key roster decisions for the Wings.

The Red Wings aren’t at the bare-bones stage of their development, so Shanahan may see Detroit as the team that will offer him the best option to step back into the fray and push a team into the post-season sooner rather than later. That may heighten the Red Wings’ Atlantic Division rivalry with the Maple Leafs. Thus, the Wings make a lot of sense for Shanahan as his next management destination.

Brendan Shanahan, The Leafs' President, Lacked Brendan Shanahan, The PlayerWhen Brendan Shanahan was hired as the Toronto Maple Leafs president in 2014, and for the first couple of years after that, there was more optimism around this organization than there had been in decades. And for good reason.

3. Go Back To Work For The NHL

Shanahan has had a terrific relationship with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for decades now.

Having the opportunity to work once again at the NHL’s head office in New York City would also work for Shanahan as a longtime resident of Manhattan and someone who understands what it is to be part of the sports scene in the New York City area.

To be sure, working for another team is probably what best suits Shanahan’s competitive desire. But unless there’s an ideal situation with a team that checks all the boxes for him, going back to the league as a higher-up right away wouldn’t be seen as a step down for him. To the contrary – Shanahan’s notable impact with the “Shanahan Summit” demonstrated he can do something meaningful for the game he loves. 

If that means not running a team until such time as a perfect situation for him arises with a different franchise, Shanahan would be welcomed with open arms by Bettman & Co. If he wants to get back to work right away, the league has demonstrated it will find a role that he’s happy with. And after one or two years working for the league once again, the hockey landscape could look much different for Shanahan – and it could offer him a perfect fit eventually.

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.

When the Ottawa Senators acquired defenceman Erik Brännström as part of the 2019 Mark Stone trade, GM Pierre Dorion famously declared it to be his proudest day as GM. Unfortunately for Sens fans, Dorion was way off base about the player, which is something we've known for a long time.

Six years after the Senators so proudly acquired him, it's now official. Brännström is no longer in the NHL. 

Sens Headlines:
Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?
Senators Prospect Parts Ways With Organization And Signs Back Home In Sweden
Summer Breakups: Senators GM Steve Staios Prepares For Another Rebalancing Act

As HockeyNews.se reported back in April, the 25-year-old Swedish defenceman is headed to play pro hockey in Switzerland next season. Brännström has signed a three-year deal with Lausanne HC in the Swiss-A League.

In 2020-21, during the NHL's COVID-shortened 56-game season, Lausanne got a sneak preview of what Brannstrom might look like in the league. He suited up for 10 games with league rival Langnau HC, posting 8 points in the process. Lausanne has finished runner-up in the Swiss-A league in each of the past two seasons.

Before the trade to Ottawa, Brännström was seen as a blue-chip NHL prospect. Two years earlier, he was a first-round pick, chosen 17th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights. He captained Team Sweden at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships. 

Brannstrom played over 70 games for the Senators in each of the last two seasons, but the past year probably soured him on the league.

Last summer, at 24 years old and a restricted free agent, the Senators chose not to extend him a qualifying offer. Unlike his predecessor, who traded for Brannstrom, new GM Steve Staios felt no obligation to the undersized defenceman, nor did any other NHL team.

Brännström signed as a free-agent with the Colorado Avalanche last summer but was traded to the Vancouver Canucks before the season began. After playing 28 games in Vancouver, he was dealt to the New York Rangers as part of the J.T. Miller trade in late January and then traded again to the Buffalo Sabres just prior to the trade deadline. After leaving Vancouver, where he had some very good moments, he didn't play another NHL game.

Brännström's NHL career ends, at least for now, with 77 points and 162 penalty minutes in 294 NHL regular-season games. 

Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia)
The Hockey News-Ottawa

Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.

“We are very pleased to welcome Erik Brännström, a player we have been following for some time,” said Lausanne sports director John Fust. “His anticipation, mobility, and ability to contribute offensively make him a modern and complete defender. Our analysis confirms that his experience and versatility will be major assets for our squad.”

Brännström, who had played in North America from 2018 until now, had been rumored to be heading to Switzerland for some time.

Originally from Eksjö, Sweden, Brännström played junior hockey and turned pro with HV71 in nearby Jönköping.

Brännström was a first-round pick, 17th overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and was moved to the Ottawa Senators in a 2019 multi-player deal that saw Vegas acquire Mark Stone.

From 2019 to 2024, Brännström’s career was fairly stable – mostly playing in the NHL for Ottawa with occasional assignments to the Belleville Senators, the team’s nearby AHL farm team.

However, this past season was quite chaotic for the diminutive, puck-moving defenseman. He signed as a free-agent with the Colorado Avalanche in the summer but was traded to the Vancouver Canucks before the season began. After playing 28 games in Vancouver, he was dealt to the New York Rangers as part of the J.T. Miller trade in late January and then traded again to the Buffalo Sabres just prior to the trade deadline. He did not play an NHL game for either of the latter two teams.

Overall, Brännström has 77 points and 162 penalty minutes in 294 NHL regular-season games.

Brännström joins a Lausanne team that has been one of Switzerland’s best the past few years and wants to win a title this year under reigning coach of the year Geoff Ward. Last season the team finished first in the regular season and has lost in the finals each of the past two seasons to the ZSC Lions.

In addition to Brännström, Lausanne has under contract for 2025-26 goaltenders Connor Hughes and Antoine Keller, as well as American Austin Czarnik, German Dominik Kahun, and Finns Janne Kuokkanen, and Antti Suomela, Lauri Pajuniemi and Sami Niku.

Photo © Robert Edwards-Imagn Images: Erik Brännström playing for the Vancouver Canucks in 2024-25.

Connor Hughes Returns To Switzerland, Signs Long-Term Deal Canadian-Swiss goaltender Connor Hughes, 28, has signed a five-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

Over the past 15 years, NHL teams that ponied up some high-priced packages to land sought-after players at the trade deadline were left with buyer’s remorse.

Here are six of those trades on the Regret-O-Meter.

By Jared Clinton, Features Writer

Blues Bother

St. Louis Blues: Ryan Miller, 2013-14 (with Steve Ott from Buffalo for 2015 first-round pick, 2016 third-round pick, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart and William Carrier)

A big splash, Miller floundered in St. Louis. In post-deadline action, Miller put up mediocre numbers, and his post-season performance was downright woeful. He allowed 19 goals on 185 shots as the Blues sputtered out of the first round in six games.

Tanner In The Works

Tampa Bay Lightning: Tanner Jeannot, 2022-23(from Nashville for 2023 third, fourth, fifth-round picks, 2024 second-round pick, 2025 first-round pick and Cal Foote)

Beyond his 24-goal rookie year, Jeannot held appeal with his physicality and toughness, and the Bolts went above and beyond to land him. But in 75 games with Tampa, he had only 18 points – and just one in the playoffs – as the Lightning made consecutive first-round exits.

No Mas, Tomas

Vegas Golden Knights: Tomas Tatar, 2017-18 (from Detroit for 2018 first-round pick, 2019 second-round pick, 2021 third-round pick)

On a per-game basis, Tatar’s regular-season output dipped only slightly after his acquisition. But in the playoffs? Tatar was scratched for 12 of 20 games during the Knights’ run to the final. If he performs, perhaps Vegas has two Cups.

Staaling Out

New York Rangers: Eric Staal, 2015-16(from Carolina for 2016 second-round pick, 2017 second-round pick and Aleksi Saarela) 

Staal was a headline-making pickup, but he flopped. He managed just three goals and six points in 20 games to finish the campaign, then failed to hit the scoresheet in the post-season as the Blueshirts flamed out in five games.

Gaborik Rolled

Columbus Blue Jackets: Marian Gaborik, 2012-13 (with Blake Parlett and Steven Delisle from New York Rangers for 2014 sixth-round pick, Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett and John Moore)

It was a statement trade by the Jackets, who were in the hunt, but it was all for naught. Gaborik excelled, but Columbus narrowly missed the post-season. Injuries then hampered him, and he was dealt to L.A. in March 2014.

Jeez Lu-Weise

Chicago Blackhawks: Dale Weise, 2016-17(with Tomas Fleischmann from Montreal for 2018 second-round pick and Phillip Danault)

Weise ended up a healthy scratch in Chicago and managed one goal and two points across 19 regular-season and playoff outings. Meanwhile, Danault evolved into one of the NHL’s premier two-way pivots.

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Top 100 NHLers issue. This issue focuses on the 100 best players currently in the NHL, with the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon sitting atop the list. We also include features on Alex Ovechkin finally beating Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, and former CFL running back Andrew Harris' switch to semi-professional hockey. In addition, we provide a PWHL playoff preview as the regular season nears its end.

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.

Ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency, the Pittsburgh Penguins - in addition to hiring a new head coach - figure to be busy.

And there is one potential restricted free agent forward who may be falling under the radar.

Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque has only appeared in two playoff games this postseason, and with the Stars cap-strapped heading into the offseason, they're going to have some decisions to make. They will only have $5.87 million in cap space with a lot of pending-RFAs and unrestricted free agents (UFAs) to consider.

The 5-foot-11, 181-pound center, 23, registered 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games in his first full season with the Stars in 2024-25, and - being that he accomplished those numbers in a limited role - he only figures to get better. He had a breakout professional season in 2023-24 as well with 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games for the Texas Stars, Dallas's AHL affiliate.

A 30th overall pick in 2020 by the Stars, he was also a 20-goal scorer as a rookie with Texas, and in 172 career junior games with the Shawnigan Cataractes of the QMJHL, he recorded 93 goals and 236 points.

Because of his projected rise, finishing ability, and high-IQ, the former first-rounder may be worth a look by Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas in the RFA trade-then-sign market.

And that's something that Dubas has reiterated he will look into. He mentioned in his postseason press conference that they would explore any opportunities to acquire young talent, and the RFA trade-then-sign market was brought up specifically. 

Penguins Reportedly In Mix For KHL Star ForwardSoon enough, the Pittsburgh Penguins may be adding another key piece to the puzzle for their NHL roster next season and beyond.

Pittsburgh has also been linked to players such as KHL star Maxim Shabanov and recently re-signed forward prospect Filip Hallander, which signals their desire to infuse young, NHL-ready talent into their system and into the mix for their NHL roster heading into 2025-26.

They have the cap space to be pretty flexible, too. With more than $24.5 million to work with this summer, Dubas can get creative in pursuing young players in the RFA and trade markets. The Penguins are unlikely to spend big in unrestricted free agency, so getting their hands on as many low-risk, high-reward players as possible seems to be the likely route. 

Bourque is a player who would immediately make their roster better, and he could figure into a bottom-six role along with several other young players in the mix.

He is the exact kind of player who fits their needs and perceived window of contention, so they should do everything they can to try to land him this summer. 

5 RFA Forwards The Penguins Should Pursue This SummerThe Pittsburgh Penguins will certainly be busy this summer, as they are in the market for a new head coach and have 11 picks in the upcoming NHL Draft.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!