Category: NHL

Former Vegas Golden Knights first-round selection and defenseman Erik Brannstrom has signed a three-year contract with Swiss team Lausanne HC.

Brannstrom was the third of three picks the Golden Knights used in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, selecting Cody Glass (sixth overall) and Nick Suzuki (13th overall) before choosing Brannstrom with the 15th pick. 

The Swedish defenseman never played a game with the Golden Knights but was used as a vital piece in acquiring their future captain, Mark Stone. The trade saw the Golden Knights send Brannstrom, forward Oscar Lindberg, and a second-round pick in 2020 to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Stone and Tobias Lindberg. 

Following the trade, Brannstrom found it increasingly difficult to make NHL rosters, and when he did, holding down a spot was another challenge. He played 294 NHL games with the Senators and the Vancouver Canucks, scoring 10 goals and 77 points. The 25-year-old signed with the Colorado Avalanchein the offseason but was traded prior to the start of the 2024-25 campaign. 

The Canucks couldn't find space for him on their NHL roster and sent him to the New York Rangers as part of the blockbuster J.T. Miller trade. The Rangers also found no use for him outside of the AHL and sent him to the Buffalo Sabres, where he once again served as an AHL player. 

Brannstrom routinely showed that he was a top-end AHL player but a low-end NHL player, recording 19 goals and 86 points in just 117 AHL games. 

Listed at 5'10, 185 lbs, Brannstrom is considered small for an NHL defenceman, which is why many teams have steered away from using him. He's proven to be an efficient puck mover and skater, but his small frame is considered a liability defensively, especially when defending the front of the net. 

Erik Brannstrom is headed to Switzerland. The diminutive puck-moving defenceman put up some solid results in limited minutes but struggled to gain the confidence of his coaches to move up the lineup. pic.twitter.com/6ZGAqrofFF

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 26, 2025

He'll head back to Europe, where he's had plenty of positive results, both in the SHL and with Sweden on the international stage. He previously played in the NL, playing 10 games on loan with the SCL Tigers. His stint witnessed him score two goals and eight points. 

Brannstrom will join a Lausanne HC team that currently rosters former NHLer Dominik Kahun, Rangers prospect Lauri Pajuniemi and Canucks prospect Basile Sansonnens.

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Golden Knights Reportedly In Two-Team Race For KHL Star ForwardWith the team pressed to the salary cap, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon continues to find unique ways to add skilled forwards to his lineup and could be doing so again with KHL star Maxim Shabanov.

Rumors without action are common at this time of year. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are in the Conference Finals, so there aren’t going to be any substantial moves made by eliminated teams, but the speculation will always exist.

That is the case right now with the Minnesota Wild. One of their young stars, Marco Rossi, is rumored to be on the trade block. If this is correct, the Chicago Blackhawks must be making phone calls. 

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XSpeculation about Marco Rossi's future arose following the Minnesota Wild's first-round playoff exit: https://t.co/8Hnp09g1wU

Minnesota selected Rossi with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. After dealing with some off-ice health issues before beginning his pro career, Rossi has blossomed into a great NHL player. 

At 23 years old, he’s played in 185 games with 45 goals, 56 assists, and 101 points. During the 2024-25 season, Rossi set career highs in goals (24), assists (36), and points (60). It is fair to assume that he has some big offensive seasons ahead of him. 

Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) on XI would be all in on acquiring Rossi if he's available. He's small and that's probably half the reason why he might be available. But could be pretty impactful in his prime. Just had his first star season and his career career is following very similar to Briere (Briere

A player like this would fit in quite well with the Blackhawks. Whether he’s a center or a winger in the long term, he’d make hockey magic with guys like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. He can make an impact at even strength and on the power play. 

Rossi is a restricted free agent and could be the subject of an offer sheet if he isn’t signed quickly. The problem the Blackhawks face with doing that is giving up a ton of draft picks in 2026, which might not be wise based on the potential of that draft. 

If the Wild were okay with making a trade with a division rival, one that can appease both sides, this is something worth considering for Kyle Davidson. 

Chicago has plenty of defenseman to spare when it comes to making trades. It is at the forward position where they lack youthful organizational depth. Rossi, being just 23, would fit right in with what the Hawks are trying to do. 

In acquiring Rossi, the Blackhawks (or any team) would have to get him signed. Based on his high production level for a young player, he will likely command a lucrative deal for a fair number of years. Due to his proven success, there isn’t much risk associated with that method. 

With a trade like this, a wise decision with the third overall pick, and a free agent or two, the Blackhawks could have a high-flying offense in 2025-26. 

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The Florida Panthers are making a few lineup changes as they look to close out the Eastern Conference Final.

There are a few Panthers players who are nursing injuries and as such, are being held out of Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sam Reinhart, A.J. Greer and Niko Mikkola will all not play on Monday night.

They are each considered day-to-day with their respective injuries, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said.

Reinhart also missed Game 3 on Saturday, and he'll continue to be replaced Jesper Boqvist, who logged a goal and two assists in Florida's 6-2 victory.

Filling in for Greer on the left wing of Florida's fourth line will be Nico Sturm, who can also take faceoffs and contribute on the penalty kill.

On the blueline, Mikkola will be replaced in the lineup by Uvis Balinskis. He'll likely be paired up with Nate Schmidt while Dmitry Kulikov would slide up and take Mikkola's spot beside Seth Jones.

Maurice summed up his thought process into the moves as simply trying to put the best and most competitive team on the ice.

"The determination is, the three guys that I'm playing – obviously Boqvist is already in – but those guys would perform better than those three men would tonight," Maurice said.

A victory on Monday would not only punch Florida's ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, but it would also afford them some time to allow players to heal.

The Final is not expected to begin until at least June 4, possibly later depending how long the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars goes. 

Following the changes, here is an updated line and pairing projection for the Panthers head of Game 4:

Evan Rodrigues – Sasha Barkov – Jesper Boqvist

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

Nico Sturm – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Dmitry Kulikov – Seth Jones

Nate Schmidt – Uvis Balinskis

Scratches: Mackie Samoskevich, Niko Mikkola, Sam Reinhart, A.J. Greer, Jaycob Megna

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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

Three takeaways: Jesper Boqvist fills in beautifully again, Panthers pull away after tight 2 periods

Panthers push Hurricanes to brink with dominant 6-2 victory in Game 3

Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) celebrates after a goal during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes 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 2025 NHL Entry Draft is set to take place June 27th and 28th in Los Angeles, CA.  There, a new crop of NHL prospects will be selected over seven rounds (224 players overall).   While some draft picks may sign their entry-level contracts immediately, others may remain unsigned as the team watches their development. Since the end of the 2024-25 season, the Kraken have offered contracts to three prospects: Andrei Loshko, Nathan Villenueve, and (reportedly) Tyson Jugnauth.  

Andrei Loshko, born in Belarus, spent the 2024-25 season with the Niagara Ice Dogs in the OHL.  When their season ended, he signed his entry-level contract and joined the Coachella Valley Firebirds where he scored two goals in his AHL debut. 

Also in the OHL, Nathan Villenueve spent his 3rd season with the Sudbury Wolves where he racked up 75 points in 61 games played.  It was his highest scoring season thus far, and his improvement earned him some time in the AHL where he played eight games with the Firebirds.

No official announcement has been made about Tyson Jugnauth's entry-level contract, but it is rumored that one has been offered.  The 2022 4th-round pick started in the NCAA but spent his past two seasons with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, earning the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as Defenseman of the Year.

Fans are also still waiting for an announcement regarding Everett Silvertips’ Captain Kaden Hammell. Hammell was drafted in the 5th-round in 2023 and a contract announcement was expected when the Silvertips ended their playoff run in late April.  If the Kraken do not offer Hammell a contract by June, their rights expire and the defenseman becomes a free agent. 

Related:

Kraken Prospect Reportedly Signing NHL ContractSeattle Kraken prospect Tyson Jugnauth is reportedly signing an NHL contract despite committing to play for Michigan State University for the 2025-26 season, according to Nathaniel Bott.

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Over a week since the Toronto Maple Leafs' elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the focus of Leafs Nation has shifted toward Mitch Marner's future.  

The 28-year-old right winger is UFA-eligible on July 1 and was noncommittal about returning to Toronto during the Leafs' end-of-season media availability. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley indicated Friday that the club is taking a wait-and-see approach regarding Marner's plans.

As Marner ponders his future with his family, there is growing speculation over his potential destinations if he tests the free-agent market. 

The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy listed the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins as possible landing spots. He noted that the three rebuilding clubs have the cap space to sign Marner to a long-term contract with a hefty raise. The Penguins also have the advantage of GM Kyle Dubas' ties to Marner during his tenure with the Leafs.

Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon included the Blackhawks and Penguins on his list. He also mentioned the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. 

Meanwhile, Sean O'Leary of The Score had the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers among his list of possible suitors for Marner. 

Like the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Penguins, the Kings, Ducks, Mammoth, Sabres and Hurricanes possess the cap room to comfortably sign Marner. However, there's no guarantee that most of them will get into the bidding or have a chance of landing Marner.

The Blackhawks, Red Wings, Ducks, Penguins, Mammoth, and Sabres are in various stages of rebuilding, with the Wings and Sabres mired in lengthy playoff droughts. They might not interest Marner if he prefers signing with a contender, and he might not suit their respective roster needs.

Meanwhile, the Islanders could begin retooling their roster under new GM Mathieu Darche. Marner would provide a much-needed boost to their offense, but they lack the cap room to sign him. The Kings are also under new management, but GM Ken Holland could balk at shelling out over $13 million annually on one player. 

Cap space will be an issue for the Golden Knights, Avalanche and Capitals unless they're willing to shed salary to make room for Marner. However, that could weaken their overall depth. 

Carolina could be the best match. In a March interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, GM Eric Tulsky said he'd have around $20 million in cap space if he re-signed all his free agents. 

The Hurricanes also offered Mikko Rantanen to the Leafs straight up for Marner at the trade deadline before moving Rantanen to Dallas. Tulsky could try again if the Leafs winger is available on July 1.

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Former Toronto Marlies defenseman Rinat Valiev has signed a one-year deal with in Russia with HK Chelny, it was reported late last week. 

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Valiyev spent this past season playing in Kazakhstan with HK Almaty, scoring four goals and adding 13 assists for 17 points in 28 regular season games. In a further seven playoff games, he added two assists. 

Having returned overseas following the 2019-20 season, Valiyev did appear in 12 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens during his time in North America, never collecting a point. Throughout 260 career AHL regular season games with the Marlies, Laval Rocket and the Stockton Heat, Valiyev put up a respectable stat line of 19 goals and 66 assists for 85 points. 

With Valiyev signing in the VHL (Russia's second tier pro league), he will return to his home country following parts of two seasons away. While he has not been able to stick full time in the KHL, Valiyev has been solid throughout his short VHL career and should bolster HK Chelny's blueline. 

Should the Montreal Canadiens use their two first-round pick, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s Justin Carbonneau is a name they could call out on the podium. No, it’s not just because he’s a “p’tit gars de chez nous,” and he’s not related to former captain Guy Carbonneau; it’s because he has a lot of upsides.

The right-winger is 16th on the Central Scouting North American skater list, has scored 89 points in 62 games this season in the QMJHL, and likes to make flashy, big plays.

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While Carbonneau could use his linemates more, he’s the kind of player who wants to have the puck on his stick when a big goal is needed, and he often manages to deliver, as his 46 goals in 62 games show. His desire to have the puck when it counts is similar to Lane Hutson’s. Although the Habs defenseman is a pass-first kind of guy, having them on the ice simultaneously would only mean they can complement each other.

As things stand, the Canadiens have a lot of playmakers, but putting the puck in the net can sometimes be an issue, so drafting a player who’s more of a scorer would make sense. Carbonneau is a risk taker, though, as you’ll be able to tell by watching this highlights package, and while he’s looking impressive there, he would need to adapt to the NHL's stiffer competition; things that work at the junior level don’t always work at the pro level.

Like everyone else, he’d need to learn to pick his spots, but the Canadiens have the right environment to allow young players to make those mistakes. Although the rebuild is fast evolving, greater emphasis will be put on results sooner rather than later. Still, Martin St-Louis has proven he knows how to handle young players and teach them valuable lessons without resorting to the traditional “one error, one benching” approach, which was all the rage in the NHL not long ago.

At the start of March, Nick Bobrov and Donald Audette took in the Armada’s game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, allowing them to watch both Carbonneau and Caleb Desnoyers, the QMJHL’s top two prospects. Unless Kent Hughes manages to move significantly higher in the first round, Desnoyers will be long gone before the Canadiens speak, so it’s likely they were taking a closer look at Carbonneau, mainly since Bobrov has attended several games in Blainville-Boisbriand this season.

Carbonneau is creative. He’s got good speed for his size, soft hands, and a deceptive shot; there’s a lot to like in that package. His frame makes it easier to outbattle defenders or cut inside for the net. The winger also has a knack for shooting from everywhere on the ice and manages to score from anywhere, consistently a good tool to have in one’s arsenal.

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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According to multiple reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are moving on from Ian Laperriere as the head coach of their farm team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. But how do they plan on replacing him? And with who?

Laperriere, 51, had spent the last four years at the helm of the Phantoms, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances, but blowing a 2-1 series lead to the Hershey Bears in this year's Calder Cup playoffs.

Notably, when starting goalie Parker Gahagen went down with an injury, Laperriere rolled with exiled journeyman Cal Petersen ahead of promising prospect Carson Bjarnason not once, but twice, losing the series 3-2 and failing to get one of his best youngsters a taste of playoff action.

Not to mention that prospects like Massimo Rizzo and Alex Ciernik, two forwards the Flyers have varying degrees of investment in, didn't even play a playoff game for Laperriere.

Everything the Flyers have said and done this offseason, especially as it relates to the hiring of Rick Tocchet, has pointed towards player development being of the utmost importance now and in the future.

Laperriere couldn't get the job done, at least not consistently enough, and it is now apparently time for a change behind the bench in Allentown.

If the Flyers have reason to believe looking internally is a good option, one candidate who could stand out is Phantoms assistant coach John Snowden, who just completed his second season in Lehigh Valley.

Snowden, 44, coached his way up from the ECHL ranks, starting his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Orlando Solar Bears back in 2015-16. Snowden served as the head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers for parts of two seasons between 2018-19 and 2019-20, and later took over as their president of hockey operations for the 2020-21 season.

For those curious, Flyers GM Danny Briere was the vice president of hockey operations for the ECHL's Maine Mariners at the same time.

Report: Flyers Rejected Big Maple Leafs Trade for Rasmus RistolainenAccording to a new report, the Philadelphia Flyers received a massive trade offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs for veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. GM Danny Briere and Co. didn't budge.

Snowden's Growlers won the Kelly Cup in 2019 and went 42-17-1 in 60 games under his watch before the 2019-20 season was cancelled, so there's a history of success there, and Briere has gone up against him in the ECHL before.

Indeed, Snowden is not the sexiest name or the most well-traveled option, but there's reason to believe he could do the job if called upon.

One name that Flyers fans might be more familiar with is Jay McKee, a former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick who was teammates with Briere for parts of three seasons.

Oh, and McKee was linked to the Flyers' head coaching job on more than one occasion, though some chalked it up to Briere trying to juice his old pal's name in coaching circles.

Even if that was true, I don't think Briere does something like that without truly, honestly believing McKee can coach, and coach well, at that. And, suddenly, Briere has a job opening that makes a lot more sense than a leap from the OHL to the NHL.

McKee, 47, has been an OHL head coach since the 2016-17 season, sitting out the 2020-21 season after getting fired by the Kitchener Rangers the year prior.

Since then, McKee has spent the last four years in charge of the Hamilton (now Brantford) Bulldogs, coaching talents like Mason McTavish, Arber Xhekaj, Jorian Donovan, Jan Mysak, Artem Grushnikov, Ryan Winterton, Marek Vanacker, Florian Xhekaj, Nick Lardis, Adam Jiricek, and potential Flyers 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien.

Flyers GM Teases Potential Top Pick Ahead of 2025 NHL DraftPhiladelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is not ignoring the possibility of selecting Caleb Desnoyers sixth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in June. In fact, he's embracing it.

And for those who might not be aware, Lardis, a 19-year-old Chicago Blackhawks prospect, just exploded for 71 goals, 46 assists, and 117 points in 65 games this year.

Lardis' 71 goals rank 11th all-time in single-season OHL history, trailing some guys named Eric Lindros, John Tavares, and Dino Ciccarelli. Ever heard of them?

Oh, and a 19-year-old Doug Gilmour 'only' managed 70 goals in an OHL season at the peak of his powers.

So, needless to say, McKee is a perfectly capable leader of men who can get the best out of his players. We don't need to go further down the list to prove that.

I'd be stunned if McKee is not the clubhouse favorite to replace Laperriere. Taking the next step and joining Briere's Flyers with the Phantoms makes too much sense.

Another name to watch, be it at the NHL level or the AHL level, is Cory Stillman.

Most Flyers fans probably know Stillman as Jett Luchanko's head coach with the Guelph Storm this past season, but Stillman also has four years of experience as an NHL assistant coach, including as part of Tocchet's Arizona Coyotes staff in 2020-21.

The 51-year-old has never coached at the AHL level before, but if Tocchet and/or the Flyers want continuity between the AHL and NHL systems and what is being asked of the young players, hiring Stillman could make perfect sense.

This season, Stillman also served as the head coach of Canada's U-18s, which boasted star prospects like Keaton Verhoeff (2026), Brady Martin, Jack Nesbitt, Cole Reschny, Braeden Cootes, and Jack Ivankovic, among many others.

If you've paid any attention to national draft coverage lately, you'll know that Martin has been mocked to the Flyers at No. 6 by Craig Button, and Button successfully mocked Luchanko, also coached by Stillman, to the Flyers (with their top draft pick) last year.

Those connections, especially with important draft picks, matter.

So, while McKee may appear to be the leader for now, watch out for Stillman. The Flyers love their connections, and McKee is not the only one who has them.

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft one month out, there will be a lot of decisions for teams to make about scouting, players, trades, and more.

And one huge decision involves the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Jan. 31, the Penguins acquired a conditional first-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the deal that sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O'Connor to Vancouver. The first-rounder was actually from the New York Rangers, who shipped it to Vancouver in the J.T. Miller blockbuster on the same day.

The conditions on the first-round pick involved top-13 protection in 2025 for the Rangers as well as the option to defer the pick as an unprotected 2026 first. Since New York is in the 12th overall slot for the draft, they can choose to keep the pick this year if they so desire.

And there are arguments on both sides as to why they should keep it or defer it.

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Why they should keep it

Simply put, the Rangers aren't really putting themselves in any position to be tanking right now.

Sure, they could try to tank for Gavin McKenna next season. But, then, why trade for Miller? Why hire Mike Sullivan, a win-now coach? Why make the priority retooling this summer?

With a roster that is just beginning to age out and a goaltender making $11 million, the Rangers almost have no choice but to maximize the window that they're in. They followed up a President's Trophy-winning campaign in 2023-24 with a dud of a season, but with some reshuffling, they may still be able to contend.

Deferring the pick to 2026 signals to your roster, your coach, and your organization that you don't necessarily believe you'll be better next season. Is that really the message the Rangers want to send to their players this offseason? That they're counting on a potential lottery pick?

No, probably not. Even though the draft is deeper next season, they should grab a good player at 12th overall, especially since next year's pick may be way later than 12.

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.

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Why they should defer it

The argument could be made here that the 2026 draft is simply deeper - by most accounts, it is - and, even if the Rangers finish mid-teens to early-20s in draft order, they'll still be getting a very good player. It could also be argued that there's no guarantee they won't be worse next season.

But beyond that, there is another sticking point: the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

If the Rangers decide to defer the pick to 2026, that means they'll have that first to leverage should they be in position to do so. If they retool their roster in the offseason and find themselves in the playoff mix in February next year, they may be looking for that one final piece to give them a leg up in competitive advantage.

And because the 2026 draft is deep, that pick should hold a fair amount of value, even if it's a mid-late first. 

Deferring the pick allows them to be reactive to however their season goes in 2025-26 rather than being stuck in no-man's land if they end up being worse next season. If they're fighting for a playoff spot at the deadline, they can use the pick to acquire talent. If they're near the basement at that time, they can keep it and, potentially, be in the lottery conversation.

When looking at the pick from a value standpoint, deferring it and allowing the Penguins to have the 2025 pick makes a degree of sense.

4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This SummerDuring his postseason press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas provided a glimpse into what the summer could look like for the organization.

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The Florida Panthers have a little bit of experience dealing with the situation they currently find themselves.

Over the past three postseasons, all three of which Florida has reached at least the conference finals, the Panthers have held a 3-0 series lead five times.

The first time, against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023, Florida lost Game 4 at home before closing out the Leafs two nights later.

It happened again the very next round, against the same Carolina Hurricanes Florida is currently facing.

Back then, the Panthers were able to complete the sweep thanks to a last-second goal by Matthew Tkachuk in Game 4.

In the first round of last year’s postseason, Florida took a 3-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning, lost Game 4 in Tampa and then closed out the Bolts on home ice in Game 5.

Then, of course, there was the Stanley Cup Final, where the Panthers famously (or infamously, I suppose) won the first three games against the Edmonton Oilers only to lose each of the nex three, setting up an incredible Game 7 that Florida won 2-1 to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

How it plays out this time remains to be seen, a status that several regulars in Florida’s lineup also share.

Sam Reinhart left Game 2 early, and Niko Mikkola and A.J. Greer left Game 3 early, so the availability for each on Monday night wouldn’t be decided until earlier in the day, according to Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 4 against Carolina:

Evan Rodrigues – Sasha Barkov – Jesper Boqvist

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov

Scratches: Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Sam Reinhart, Nico Sturm, Jaycob Megna

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Panthers' Evan Rodrigues Makes Playoff History In Game 3

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

Three takeaways: Jesper Boqvist fills in beautifully again, Panthers pull away after tight 2 periods

Panthers push Hurricanes to brink with dominant 6-2 victory in Game 3

Important Panthers Forward Ejected From Game 3 For Boarding

Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Jesper Boqvist (70) celebrates with teammates after a goal during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

It wasn't that long ago that Tage Thompson was part of the long term plans for the St. Louis Blues.

But on Sunday, the No. 26 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Blues helped end a lengthy drought for the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

Thompson scored the overtime goal, the lone goal of the game, a golden goal in the gold medal game to give Team USA its first gold medal in 92 years with a 1-0 win against Switzerland on Sunday at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

It was the first gold medal for Team USA since 1933, and it's a full 20-minute period and teams play the NHL's style of 3-on-3 until a winner is determined.

Thompson skated through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone before wiring a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past Switzerland goalie Leonardo Genoni at 2:02 for the winner:

This moment will go down in history 🇺🇸 #MensWorldspic.twitter.com/uYW7vljiFl

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 25, 2025

Blues fans will remember Thompson was a key piece to the trade in 2018 that brought Ryan O'Reilly to the Blues from the Buffalo Sabres along with Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, a 2019 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick.

Of course, the Blues will call the trade a win since they went on to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history that very next season, defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games in 2019.

Thompson, 27, has gone on to have a very nice career with the Sabres, reaching more than 40 goals twice in the past four seasons, including 44 this past season and a career-high 47 in 2022-23. 

Thompson spent one season with the Blues in 2017-18, playing in 41 games (three goals, six assists).

Chesterfield native Clayton Keller, captain of the Utah Mammoth, who grew up in Swansea, Il. was also part of Team USA.

The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of salary cap space to spend this summer -- and a Vancouver Canucks star should be firmly in the sights of Sabres management.

As per Puck Pedia, Buffalo has approximately $23.2-million in cap space this summer. And while it's highly-unlikely the Sabres will land top UFA Mitch Marner, another Canadian market's top UFA could make much more sense for the Sabres -- with the proviso that they're still going to have to pay him well above-market value.

We're speaking about Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who earned $6.65-million this past season. Boeser produced 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games with Vancouver this year -- well below his 40-goal, 73-point season with the Canucks in 2023-24. But the 28-year-old is still in his prime, and you'd better believe there will be many teams lining up to secure his services this summer.

With that said, how much is Boeser worth? Speculation that his next contract will come in between $8-to-$9-million per year should be sobering for Sabres management. But look at it this way: with the cap ceiling set to rise to $95.5-million next year, teams have to be prepared to outbid opponents to land proven veterans like Boeser. The alternative -- being the runner-up, or being well out of the final teams bidding for Boeser -- is not going to sit well with Sabres fans. At some point, if you can't figure out how to attract free agents to your city, you probably shouldn't be the one in charge of attracting free agents to your city.

We've noted before that Buffalo needs to be realistic in their UFA targets. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to swing for the fences and set a new tone for a new era. And if that means overpaying for someone like Boeser, the Sabres should be fully ready to pay that price.

Who Is A Reasonable Target For Buffalo In Free Agency This Summer?The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the off-season knowing they have some money to spend on free agents -- not as much money as some teams, but right now, they have approximately $21.4 million in salary cap space to use.

In this case, that might not mean paying top-dollar (although let's be real here -- it almost certainly will mean paying top-dollar). It could mean tacking on one or two years of contract term that other teams aren't prepared to pay for Boeser. And if Boeser proves to be not worthy of a sixth-or-seventh-season in a new contract, you can look at buying him out in the final season or two of a new contract. That's what big-market teams do all the time, and there should be no unease from Sabres management that they need to step up that way to be a winner when it comes to attracting free agents.

It's the cost of doing business in hockey's top league, and it's why Buffalo needs to take an aggressive stance at luring free agents into a Sabres uniform. When you're a team that's missed the playoffs for 14 straight seasons, you have to go a little bit harder than other teams go when it comes to improving your roster.

Free agency is only five weeks away, so the Sabres need to get their house in order to appeal to stars like Boeser. Because no Buffalo fan wants to hear excuses anymore. They want results, and they want them now. And if the Sabres can't figure out how to improve -- be it via free-agency or via trades -- there's going to be more bad news on the horizon for this franchise.

It's a cold-blooded world out there for teams seeking to improve, and past failures in Buffalo aren't reason enough to justify future failures in Buffalo. Sabres brass has to go the extra mile to attract top players, and nothing less than that extra mile will suffice in efforts to improv this franchise. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season ended only a handful of days ago, but such is life with Leafs Nation that fans are already setting their sights on next year. And one of the more fascinating Maple Leafs prospects is current London Knights left winger Easton Cowan. The 20-year-old is going to get a bona-fide solid shot to earn an NHL job next season – and for reasons we’ll explore below, Cowan will have pressure on him to produce right out of the gate.

The Leafs are now expected to part ways with superstar right winger Mitch Marner, and while we’re going to be clear here that we’re not in any way suggesting Cowan will be as big a star as Marner has been, there are some parallels between Marner and Cowan.

For one thing, Marner and Cowan are about the same size physically, with both players right around six feet tall. And like Cowan, Marner also was a terrific player for the London Knights in his junior hockey career, producing 44 goals and 126 points in 2014-15. Now, Cowan’s regular-season totals on offense took a dip this year, but he still generated 40 assists and 69 points in just 46 games – and Cowan had his best post-season performance yet, with 26 assists and 39 points in 17 playoff games, helping the Knights win the OHL championship. Those numbers don’t automatically translate into surefire NHL success, but by raising his game, Cowan is raising expectations among Leafs fans for next season.

The same way the Maple Leafs have benefited from youngster Matthew Knies thriving in the early stages of his NHL career, Toronto is going to be hoping to get a terrific rookie showing from Cowan. Not only will he potentially produce offense to help replace Marner if and when he leaves the Leafs as a UFA this summer, but Cowan will provide some much-needed financial help as the Buds balance out their lineup between high-priced veterans and bargain-basement performers. 

That said, nothing is going to be handed to Cowan next year. This isn’t to say he’s going to be a healthy scratch a la Nick Robertson (another player the Leafs may move on from next year), but Cowan may have to start his pro career the same way most NHLers do – at the American League level. Playing for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies may be a blow to Cowan’s ego, but rather than playing him third or fourth-line minutes with the Leafs, it could be best for his development to start out with the Marlies and wait for a better opportunity with the Leafs down the line.

When you’ve got the draft pedigree that Cowan has – as someone drafted 28th overall in 2023 – you’re going to have to live up to it by adapting to the NHL game, or you’ll quickly be discarded for the next prospect du jour. So yes, there will absolutely be pressure on Cowan as soon as NHL training camp begins next fall. But with the ripple effect of Marner’s projected departure on the Leafs’ depth chart of forwards, Cowan might just be able to step in right away and earn an NHL job.

Cowan has spoken out recently about having Marner as a mentor of sorts, but that professional relationship may be severed if Marner does move on. However, Leafs fans have had Cowan on their radar for a couple of years now, and if he can develop into an upper-tier NHLer the way Knies and Marner have, Toronto fans and management are going to be elated to have Cowan in Blue and White. 

Before too long, the world could well be Cowan’s oyster. And we’ll learn soon enough if he’s ready and able to seize the moment and carve out a space in Leaf Land for a very long time to come.

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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, Mike Augello, Adam Kierszenblat and Stephen Kerr react to the Edmonton Oilers beating the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference final to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

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: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The London Knights won their opening game at the Memorial Cup in overtime, beating the Moncton Wildcats 3-2 in overtime. Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in overtime. 

While the Knights are widely considered the favorites at the tournament, this was a close game from beginning to end. 

Moncton went blow for blow with London through the opening period. After 20 minutes the shots were 15-14 in favor of the Wildcats and the score was tied at one. 

O'Reilly, who eventually scored the game winner, also scored London's opening goal of the match just a minute and a half into the game. He redirected Sam Dickinson's blast from the point past Mathis Rousseau to take the early lead. 

Moncton stuck with it, avoided London's potent neutral-zone forecheck and gaining significant time in the offensive zone. with just over 13 minutes left in the first period, Etienne Morin fired a well placed shot past Austin Elliott to tie the game at one. It wouldn't be the last goal the London goaltender surrendered from the point.

CHL Hosts Meet The Coaches Press Conference Ahead of Memorial CupEarlier today, London Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter took part in a pre-tournament press conference alongside the Head Coaches of the other three participating teams. The panel consisted of Hunter, Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat), Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton) and Joël Perrault (Rimouski).

London took control of the game in the second, nearly doubling Moncton's shots on goal in the period. The teams once again exchanged goals, with San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scoring for London while Dyllan Gill scored for Moncton. 

Though there was no scoring in the third period, London dominated the final frame, outshooting the Wildcats 16-3. Rousseau had a fantastic game for Moncton, stopping multiple grade-A scoring chances for London. 

You could feel London warming up into the game as time went on. Period by period they took over, eventually dominating the Wildcats in the third period, however, it was not enough to escape overtime. 

The two teams exchanged chances in overtime before Sam O'Reilly, who started the scoring in this one, tipped home Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan's backhand pass in front of the net. 

OHL Heavily Represented in Craig Button's Recent Mock DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is just around the corner, and many pundits are starting to project what the first round will look like. Craig Buttons' recent mock draft projects the OHL to be well represented in the opening round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

O'Reilly had a fantastic season in the OHL after being selected at the end of the first round by Edmonton at the 2024 NHL Draft. In 62 games this season, he recorded 21 goals and 71 points with London. 

The two goals he scored in game one at the Memorial Cup mark is progression as a player while simultaneously vindicating the Oilers' faith in the young prospect.

 A win in their opening game of the tournament sets London up for success. They will move on to play their second game tonight against the hosting Rimouski Oceanic. Puck drop for that game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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