EDMONTON – The waiting game.

No one likes to wait, least of all hockey players. The Edmonton Oilers will have a breather while the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars duke it out to determine who will play Edmonton.

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

In the meantime, that provides something injured players desperately need: time. Time to recover, rehab, and get back into game shape.

On Friday morning, Kris Knoblauch updated the press on Mattias Ekholm's and Calvin Pickard's status heading into the third round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Oilers Now Wait For Their Next OpponentEDMONTON – That’s all she wrote.

Calvin Pickard

Pickard has been injured since Game 2 of the Oilers series against the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished the game, securing his sixth consecutive victory during this postseason.

Knoblauch said he won’t be available early on in the series, but he did say that he should return in the middle of the third round.

Mattias Ekholm

Ekholm has been injured for a while now, and his prognosis has been poor. Now, the Oilers appear to be getting some good news regarding his situation.

Knoblauch said that Ekholm would not be available for Games 1 or 2. He’s optimistic that Ekholm will return in the third round and describes him as “day-to-day.”

If the Oilers could get Pickard and Ekholm back for Game 3 or 4 of the third round, that would be a huge morale boost for the team. If not, they can keep trucking along with the current roster.

After all, they did finish off the Golden Knights without them.

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Edmonton Oilers right winger Corey Perry, who turns 40 on May 16.

Perry has played for six different teams in his NHL career, including 14 years for the Anaheim Ducks. The Stanley Cup champion also has a Hart Trophy and Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy win in his career.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.    

Promo image credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs aim to force Game 7 as they trail 3-2, heading to Florida for a must-win Game 6 against the Panthers on Friday

One of the most important games in the recent history of the Toronto Maple Leafs as they stare down a daunting 3-2 series hole to the defending champions in the Florida Panthers.

The odds are stacked against them as only ten teams in history have come back and won a series after winning the first two games before dropping three straight.

A loss for the Buds on Friday would be the first time this season that they lost four straight games and with the way game five went, they should respond with a much better effort. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 38-29 record on our last 67 picks, including perfect records during Game 1 and 4 of the Maple Leafs-Senators series. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Best Bets:

• Under 5.5 goals (-105)
• Panthers Under 3.5 goals (-128)
• Sergei Bobrovsky Over 22.5 saves (-102)

The game got out of hand for Toronto in game five and because of it the over hit with the Panthers continuing to pile on to a emotionally defeated Leafs team. 

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I expect a much better response on defence as they will be playing for their playoff lives and put extra effort on the back end to prevent another blow up performance. 

It should lead to a busy night for netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, who has made 23 or more saves in three of the five games this series and with Toronto desperately looking to extend the series, I expect him to do it once again. 

Florida should respond with a similar type game as they will work extra hard to close out this series and punch their ticket to the Conference Finals versus Carolina. The home atmosphere has proven to be a massive advantage for the Panthers with a league-best 17-9 home playoff record over the last three postseasons. 

Their goals per game isn't especially terrifying during that stretch at three on average but their 2.54 goals against average is one of the best. It should mean a challenging night for the already-struggling Leafs offence that has just one goal over the last two games. 

Toronto typically finishes playoff series with tight, low-scoring games. For instance, their game seven against Boston last season ended with just three total goals. In their final game against Florida in 2023, only five goals were scored and their 2022 series-ending loss to Tampa Bay, totaled just three goals in game seven.

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This trend has been with the Buds in six of their last eight postseason runs dating back to 2017 so expect them to tighten up when they need to. The Panthers should find a way to win but it will be narrow and certainly not with four or more goals. 

On May 16, 2024, the Vancouver Canucks fought hard to secure a 3–2 Game 5 win against the Edmonton Oilers. With the victory, Vancouver took a 3–2 series lead, giving them the opportunity to close their second-round matchup out in Edmonton the game after. While the result ultimately didn’t go in Vancouver’s favour, at the time, belief was high in the Canucks. 

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The Oilers opened the scoring in this game, with Evander Kane grabbing his third of the playoffs less than five minutes into the first period. Vancouver appeared to have tied it up near the end of the first period off a goal from Carson Soucy, but Mattias Janmark found the back of the net 23 seconds after. By the end of the first period, the score fell 2–1 in the Oilers’ favour. 

Luckily for Vancouver, Edmonton’s two first-period tallies were the extent of their scoring for the night. Part of this was due to Vancouver’s perfect penalty kill, which stopped the Oilers from capitalizing on all five of their man-advantages. Another layer to the Canucks’ success was their ability to generate more chances than the Oilers. Vancouver finished the game with 35 shots on net, while Edmonton only had 23. Despite the close score, it was clear that the Canucks put as much as they could into this victory. 

Vancouver’s game-tying goal came during the second period, when Phil Di Giuseppe beat Calvin Pickard just over five minutes in. The game remained 2–2 for the rest of the second period as well as the bulk of the third. However, with 31.9 seconds left in regulation, J.T. Miller nabbed what would ultimately be the game-winning goal for the Canucks, sending Rogers Arena into a frenzy. While this was the last playoff win that Canucks fans would see in 2024, it was definitely one of the most memorable. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

His Vegas Golden Knights were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday, and on Friday morning, William Karlsson announced that he was heading home to Sweden to play for his country at the IIHF World Championship.

He will arrive in Stockholm on Sunday, Expressen.se reports. That should put him in the Swedish lineup for the team’s final Group A game on Tuesday against Canada, with first place probably on the line.

“Of course, it’s a very bitter feeling,” Karlsson said about the Knights’ second-round elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. “I think we have a good team, so getting knocked out this early is really tough.”

However, Karlsson is excited to be joining a strong Swedish squad and said that he feels healthy since returning from LTIR on March 20 with a lower-body injury.

“The body feels good. I’ve been able to play pain-free since I came back, so it's great.”

“He is a fantastic hockey player, a really smart hockey player,” said Swedish and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson. “He’s a player who can play many different situations and in many different places in a line up. A very strong reinforcement.”

“It's good that the players are interested in coming,” said Swedish coach Sam Hallam, who added that he would only comment specifically on players who are already in Stockholm. “And when we have something clear to communicate, then we will do it.”

Along the same line of thought, Hallam refused to comment on whether Victor Olofsson, Karlsson’s Vegas teammate, might also join the team.

Filip Forsberg Praises Nashville Teammate Juuse Saros After Sweden-Finland Game It’s never dull when Sweden takes on Finland. On Tuesday at the IIHF World Championship in front of their home fans in Stockholm, the Swedes were dominant, outshooting the Finns 41-19 and controlling the game in terms of possession and zone time.

The updated Swedish roster:

Goaltenders: Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Jacob Markström (New Jersey Devils, NHL), Arvid Söderblom (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL).

Defensemen: Simon Edvinsson, Erik Gustafsson (both Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Rasmus Andersson (Calgary Flames, NHL), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild, NHL), Gabriel Carlsson (EV Zug, SUI), Adam Larsson (Seattle Kraken, NHL), Marcus Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks, NHL).

Forwards: Leo Carlsson, Isac Lundeström (both Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Alexander Wennberg (San Jose Sharks, NHL), Anton Bengtsson (Rögle BK, SHL), Christoffer Ehn (Linköping HC, SHL), Max Friberg (Frölunda HC, SHL), Mikael Backlund (Calgary Flames, NHL), Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators, NHL), Jesper Frödén (ZSC Lions, SUI), Marcus Johansson (Minnesota Wild, NHL), Elias Lindholm (Boston Bruins, NHL), Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers, NHL), Emil Heineman (Montreal Canadiens, NHL), William Karlsson (Vegas Golden Knights, NHL).

Nathan MacKinnon On Sidney Crosby, Gabriel Landeskog Nathan MacKinnon is, not surprisingly, one of the most popular targets for interviews among journalists covering the 2025 IIHF World Championship Group B in Stockholm. The Hockey News’ Remy Mastey spoke to him before Canada’s first game of the tournament, with the memories of the Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars and Mikko Rantanen’s amazing performance still fresh in his and everybody’s minds.

This year's Stanley Cup playoffs have already been chock-full of great performances and unbelievable moments.

And many of those performances and moments have a common underlying theme.

Or, an underlying team, that is.

If you happen to be playing in the second round of the playoffs as a former Pittsburgh Penguin, you've probably experienced some good moments. In fact, three of the biggest moments from this past week in playoff hockey have belonged to former Penguins:

- Reilly Smith, a Penguin during the 2023-24 season, scored with just 0.4 seconds remaining in Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers to give the Vegas Golden Knights their only win of the series Saturday. Edmonton Oilers

- Mikael Granlund, a Penguin briefly following the 2023 trade deadline, recorded a hat trick to account for every Dallas Stars goal in their 3-1 Game 4 win over the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday. 

- Kasperi Kapanen, who had two different stints in the Penguins' organization and was with the NHL club from 2020-23, played hero and scored the series-clinching overtime goal for the Oilers in Game 5 against Vegas.

How Have Former Penguins Fared Through Round One Of Playoffs?The Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

Of course, those three second-round moments take the cake, but there are still other ex-Penguins who have contributed to their current team's playoff runs as well:

Smith (Vegas Golden Knights): Smith only had two points in the Edmonton series, but both of those points came in Vegas's only win of the series in Game 3 - with, obviously, the big one coming at the end.

Granlund (Dallas Stars): Granlund has five points in five games during the second-round series against Winnipeg, and overall, he has four goals and seven points in 12 playoff games.

Kapanen (Edmonton Oilers): Kapanen scored his overtime winner in just his second playoff appearance this postseason, and although it's his lone point, it was a big one.

Matt Murray (Toronto Maple Leafs): Although Murray's only contribution to the Leafs' playoff picture - as the third-string goaltender - was relieving Joseph Woll during the third period in a disastrous Game 5 loss, he did stop six of seven shots. And, being that it was his first playoff appearance since 2020, that's a personal win for Murray.

Former Penguins Goaltender Makes First Playoff Appearance Since 2020It's safe to say that things did not go well for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their lackluster 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

 Anthony Beauvillier (Washington Capitals): Beauvillier registered the lone goal in the Caps' 3-1 Game 5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes - which sent them home for the summer - and he had two goals and six points in 10 playoff games for Washington.

Jordan Staal (Carolina Hurricanes): Staal hasn't exactly set the world on fire production-wise in the playoffs, but he does have a goal and two points in his last two games and has used his trademark shutdown play to frustrate opponents, so he's doing his part.

Evan Rodrigues (Florida Panthers): After missing the first game of the Panthers' second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Rodrigues has two points in four games and has been mixed up in just about everything.

Dmitry Kulikov (Florida Panthers): A Penguin for just a blip post-deadline in 2023, Kulikov scored a goal in Florida's Game 5 victory over the Leafs to help them earn their third straight win and put them ahead in the series. He has two points in the series and four points in 10 total playoff games. 

For a full list of former Penguins who have competed in this year's postseason, check out our comprehensive guide to ex-Penguins in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Your Guide To Ex-Penguins In The 2025 NHL PlayoffsThe Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

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Nick Suzuki has now proved he can be a legitimate first center on an NHL team, but the Montreal Canadiens still need to find a real second-line center. Kent Hughes has tried to address the issue a couple of times with the acquisition of Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, but neither showed up to the task.

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Perhaps Dach could have done it had he stayed healthy, but given how the Canadiens are progressing, the GM cannot afford to wait and see anymore. His young core has shown it’s ready to take the next step, and having a real second-line would go a long way towards achieving that.

One particular pending unrestricted free agent would be an excellent option: Sam Bennett. The 28-year-old former fourth overall pick by the Calgary Flames has been a significant part of the Florida Panthers' success in recent years.

While he has never scored more than 51 points in the regular season, he shines brightly in the playoffs. His last three postseasons are proof of just how clutch he can be. In 2022-23, he put up 15 points in 20 games, then 14 points in 19 duels in 2023-24, and nine points in 10 games this year.

It’s not just the points; it’s the attitude, the sandpaper, and the intimidation factor. The six-foot-one and 193-pound center plays a big game and, sometimes, a game that toes the line. Remember that discreet hit to Anthony Stolarz’s head that went unnoticed by the referees? Like it or not, it was a turning point in the series.

Does Sam Bennett deserve a hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety for his collision with Stolarz? pic.twitter.com/B7LonzNEkG

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 6, 2025

And what about that brawl at the 4 Nations Face-Off with Brady Tkachuk? Bennet is a hard-nosed player who can get very physical but is still talented enough to exploit his winger’s potential fully, see what he has done with Carter Verhaeghe. Something tells me he could work wonders with Patrick Laine and Ivan Demidov.

As things stand, Bennet is in the last year of a four-season pact with a $ 4,425,000 cap hit. Undoubtedly, he’ll be due for a raise, but that raise won’t be as high as a point-per-game player raise. Some players get you to the playoffs, like Laine, according to Hughes, but some players allow you to be successful in the postseason, and Bennett is one of those.

As a soon-to-be 29-year-old, he’s not exactly young, and there’s a chance that he might not be as efficient in the later years of a long-term contract, but if his performances in the early years allowed the Canadiens to reach new heights, wouldn’t it be worth it?

Enticing free agents to come to Montreal hasn’t been easy, but now Hughes has a few new cards in his hand, a team that’s ready to take the next step, a respected coach who’s a Jack Adams Trophy nominee and Bennett has seen the Montreal crowd at its best at the Four Nations Face-Off.

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New Closers, Game Breakers, HUT Champs, and Team of the Week cards were added this week in NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team. 

The Game Breakers cards can be acquired by completing related sets and objectives or purchasing packs in the HUT Store. All of the new Game Breakers are NHL Alumni, led by 96 overall Peter Forsberg and Jeremy Roenick, 94 overall Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and 93 overall Patrick Roy and Nicklas Lidstrom. 

The Closers cards celebrate great performances from the end of the NHL season, round one, and PWHL round one. 

The rewards for winning ten games or finishing top 100 in HUT Champs is a 93 or 94 overall Ryan Whitney. 

This week's featured TOTW card is 94 overall Filip Hronek. 

All new cards are in the video above. 

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

Anaheim Ducks top prospect Beckett Sennecke saw his 2024-25 season come to an end on Thursday, losing at the hands of the London Knights in the OHL Championship series, which ended in five games (4-1).

Sennecke (19) scored 32 (14-18=32) points in 18 playoff games for the Oshawa Generals during their run to the OHL final, including five points (2-3=5) in five games against the Knights.

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He totaled 86 (36-50=86) points in 56 regular season games for the Generals, an impressive 1.54 points per game, which he upped in the playoffs to 1.78. He was the OHL’s fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs, behind teammates Colby Barlow and Luca Marreli and Knights forward and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan.

Surprisingly, the Generals gave the Knights their toughest competition in any of their best-of-seven series, taking them to a game five. The Knights finished their run going 16-1 in the playoffs. They had the advantage in firepower over Oshawa, icing 12 NHL draft picks compared to the Generals’ seven.

Through the first three rounds, Sennecke, mostly on a line with Barlow and Calumn Ritchie, dominated, scoring 27 points in 13 games. He missed the final two games of round one and the first game of round two with an undisclosed injury after crashing into the end boards following a goal in game four of the Generals’ round one matchup against the Brampton Steelheads.

He was relatively neutralized in the Championship series, despite tallying five points. Knights head coach Dale Hunter hard-matched his top pair of Oliver Bonk and Sam Dickinson against Sennecke any time he could.

Sennecke was only able to unleash his brand of creative, skillful, and tenacious hockey in flashes against London, who practically operate as an NHL organization would on the ice, valuing attention to detail and playing a man-to-man defensive zone coverage scheme.

Dickinson especially gave Sennecke fits, mirroring his movements, closing gaps, and disrupting pass and dangle attempts with a smart stick. Dickinson was the victim of what could have been the CHL goal of the year back in early December, when Sennecke displayed one of the most skillful and creative moves in recent memory. Dickinson, however, got the last laugh.

In the deciding game five, Sennecke had a couple of effort lapses on London’s first and third goals that he’ll have to iron out if he’s to compete at the highest levels of the sport. His loss of coverage in the defensive zone directly led to what ultimately became London’s game-winning goal.

Sennecke’s future is somewhat up in the air at this point as far as where he’ll play in 2025-26. His production and nightly domination indicate he’s surpassed the skill level of the CHL, but his age dictates he’s ineligible to play in the AHL. His options are to either play in the NHL or again in the CHL next season.

Several CHL players are making the jump to the NCAA next season. Still, deductive reasoning suggests Sennecke will be unable to join them as he’s already signed his entry-level contract with the Ducks.

It will be one of the more interesting situations to monitor within the Ducks organization through training camp in Sept, as the goal for the NHL club is to make the playoffs and leave the rebuild in the rearview mirror.

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A crushing 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their second-round series has the Toronto Maple Leafs facing elimination on Friday. 

Some pundits aren't wasting time speculating about what another early post-season exit will mean for the Leafs.

Following Game 5, The Athletic's Chris Johnston suggested the “Core Four” era of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares could be ending. Marner and Tavares are UFA-eligible on July 1 and might not be re-signed if the Panthers eliminate the Leafs.

Johnston thinks Marner could prefer a fresh start after years of criticism for the Leafs' playoff shortcomings. He also cited the 28-year-old right winger's unwillingness to negotiate an extension during the season and the club's request that he waive his no-movement clause at the trade deadline. 

Tavares must accept a significant pay cut from his current $11-million cap hit to remain a Leaf. However, management could prefer investing that money in younger talent rather than a 34-year-old center whose best years are behind him.

Meanwhile, Johnston's colleague Jesse Granger wondered if the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup window was closing following their second-round elimination by the Edmonton Oilers. 

Granger noted that most of the Golden Knights' core players are 28 or older, including Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, William Karlsson, Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl and captain Mark Stone.

With $10.5 million in projected cap space next season, the Golden Knights have the room to re-sign pending UFAs like Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad and Victor Olofsson. Granger speculated they could use those cap dollars to add a scoring winger like Marner, Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers or Vancouver's Brock Boeser if those forwards test the UFA market on July 1.

Golden Knights' management also has a well-earned reputation for being ruthless while making big moves, even cutting ties with established stars. 

Theodore has a five-team no-trade list on his current contract and a full no-trade on his upcoming extension. Hertl has a full no-move clause for this season, but it reverts to a modified no-trade clause on July 1. One of them could become a cost-cutting trade candidate if management decides a shakeup is in order. 

If This Was Mitch Marner’s Final Home Game With The Maple Leafs, What A Way To Go OutIf this ends up being Mitch Marner’s last home game as a Toronto Maple Leaf, what a way to go out.

Meanwhile, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now was recently asked about potential moves by the Avalanche this summer.

He believes they could pursue Florida's Sam Bennett if Brock Nelson heads to market on July 1. They could ship out a forward like Ross Colton or Miles Wood or a defenseman like Josh Manson or Samuel Girard to free up cap space for other moves.

Deen also thinks Martin Necas' future with the Avs could get interesting if his contract extension talks don't go well. He's signed for next season with an average annual value of $6.5 million and lacks no-trade protection.

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Former Winnipeg Jets centre Sam Gagner has retired from professional hockey and will become the director of player development with the Ottawa Senators.

The 35-year-old played 1043 games in the NHL, recording 197 goals and 529 points. Early in his career, Gagner was an effective middle-six centre with a solid two-way game. Later in his career, he transitioned into a defensive centre and became a veteran presence. Gagner spent one season with the Jets, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 48 games during the 2022-23 season as a 33-year-old. 

The former sixth overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft came within a win of his first Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers last season, despite not dressing for any playoff games. He was brought back to Edmonton to be a strong faceoff man and a depth option if the Oilers faced injury problems. 

Throughout his career, Gagner was widely regarded as a great teammate and leader, which makes the move to director of player development seem like the expected next step. As the director of player development, he'll work closely with the top Senators' prospects.

"Sam has had an incredible career as a player, and we look forward to launching his next chapter," Senators general manager and president of hockey operations Steve Staios said in a statement. "A true character individual, Sam has contributed to the success of his organizations, both on and off the ice."

The London, ON., native has all the makings of someone who can continue to climb the ladder of front-office jobs in the NHL.

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On May 16, 1996, then Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman scored one of the iconic goals in the modern history of the franchise.

Game 7.  Joe Louis Arena.  Double Overtime.

A rare bad touch from Wayne Gretzky, the Great One a St. Louis Blue.  Yzerman grabbed the loose puck and set off right, in no real hurry.  He looked intent on rimming the puck into the Blues zone, but instead, as he crosses the blue line, he winds.  And fires.  And his aim is true.  Ken Kal's voice cracks as he cries out the word "scores" over the radio.

Our 'Best of' series continues! In place of tonight's scheduled game, we've got: The #BestOfDRWvsSTL.

First: May 16, 1996 Steve Yzerman scored the winning goal at 1:15 of the second OT as Detroit won 1-0 over the visiting St. Louis Blues, in Game 7 of the WCSF. pic.twitter.com/1c3WcWWIhS

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 31, 2020

The moment is iconic in part because the camerawork from ESPN is nothing less than perfect.  A low camera behind the end boards is trained up at Yzerman.  It shows his ease through the neutral zone, then his windup, then the brilliant trajectory of his shot—whizzing past the ankle of defenseman Murray Baron and over the blocker of goaltender Jon Casey, who never had a chance.

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Of course, as Red Wings fans well know, Yzerman's goal—iconic though it was—didn't come in a championship run.  Instead, Detroit fell in six games to the Colorado Avalanche (who went on to win the Stanley Cup), allowing a narrative to persist Yzerman, despite his heroics, wasn't suited to winning hockey.  A narrative Yzerman wouldn't be able to fully put to rest for another year when he would capture the Cup for the first time.

What is your favorite Red Wings goal from the 25-year playoff streak?  Yzerman versus the Blues?  Darren McCarty versus the Flyers?  Darren Helm versus the Blackhawks?  Or something else entirely?  Let us know in the comments.

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The Washington Capitals have recalled goaltender Clay Stevenson from the Hershey Bears, it was announced Thursday. 

Stevenson, a product of Drayton Valley, Alta., has split time this season between the Capitals and the Bears. In his lone NHL appearance, he collected the loss while putting up a 5.00 GAA and a .868 SP. In 33 appearances with Hershey, Stevenson put together a record of 18-8-5 along with a 2.94 GAA and a .888 SP. Stevenson has also seen one game for the Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs, putting up a 4.00 GAA and a .875 SP. 

With this being his third full season of pro hockey, Stevenson has made a name for himself throughout his time in the Capitals organization. Across 72 regular season appearances with Hershey, where he has spent the majority of his time, Stevenson has put up a respectable 2.44 GAA and a .907 SP while going 45-18-7. 

Although this season may not have been his best when it comes to stats, Stevenson got the opportunity to make his NHL debut and provides solid depth for the organization. Signed for two more years, Stevenson should see more NHL games next year and is a candidate to have a solid bounce back season in 2025-26.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov dubiously disappeared following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, having not been assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to play in the Calder Cup playoffs.

But, at long last, we have a Kolosov sighting, and it's a positive one!

As originally noted by Belarus Hockey, Kolosov, 23, has returned home to Belarus for the offseason and was recently spotted training with members of the Dinamo Junivers (Dinamo Juniors) 2015-born group.

Kolosov was joined in the training session by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, a fellow Belarusian and teammate of five years dating back to 2018.

Great emotions. I entered the arena, memories immediately came flooding back. Even the smell in the locker room was the same! And I had a great time with the kids, rode with them, suggested something, amused them," Kolosov was quoted as saying by Belarus Hockey via Dinamo's Telegram channel.

"The guys born in 2015 are great, fast, small. One crashed into me, I didn't even feel it. It was more interesting with the older ones in terms of noticing mistakes and being able to point out something, give advice. I talked to the goalkeeper coach, told him the things I was taught.

"The school is growing every year, both in terms of awards and training, how many specialists have been added, and opportunities, and time on the ice."

Kolosov, of course, was a graduate of Dinamo's youth program alongside Kolyachonok, subsequently becoming the first Belarusian goalie to appear in a game in NHL history after making his NHL debut for the Flyers against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 27.

The Flyers' former third-round pick finished his first season in the NHL with a 5-9-1 record, a 3.59 GAA, and a .867 save percentage in 17 total appearances. 

The 2025 NHL Draft is nearing. There are still a couple more rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs remaining, but draft day will be here before you know it. The Chicago Blackhawks are preparing to make the third overall pick. 

The New York Islanders won the lottery, which allowed them to come up with the first overall pick. The San Jose Sharks fell to second overall with the Blackhawks sticking right behind them. 

The assumption is that Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit and Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters will be the top two picks. The intrigue in the draft truly begins with the Blackhawks at three. 

Unless they trade out of the pick or draft someone completely off the board, they will end up with one of these four players: 

James Hagens - C - Boston College

Coming into the 2024-25 season, James Hagens was the consensus number one overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He didn't have the freshman year at college that people were expecting, like Macklin Celebrini a year prior, but he still had a good campaign. 

With Will Smith leaving Boston College, Hagens slipped right into his spot and didn't miss a beat centering a line with Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers). 

In 37 games played with BC, Hagens had 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points. Being a point-per-game freshman at a top NCAA program is not something to ignore. If he goes back in 2025-26, it may be something to behold. 

Hagens also got some experience playing with Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He elevated his game in that tournament, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in seven matches. Hagens was a big part of their Gold medal-winning run.

Being a smaller forward is the biggest knock against Hagens. With Connor Bedard already in Chicago, they may avoid him for that reason, but there is no denying his ceiling offensively. 

Porter Martone - RW - Brampton Steelheads

Porter Martone had a wonderful year for the Brampton Steelheads. While being a noticeable physical presence, he took his offense to the next level in 2024-25. 

In 57 games played with the Steelheads, Martone scored 37 goals and had 61 assists for 98 points. With the offensive skills that he possesses, combined with his attributes away from the puck, an NHL team might be getting a difference maker in more ways than one if they select him.

Martone's skill set resembles that of a player who would fit in well with Bedard. If he reaches his physical and offensive ceiling once he plays in the NHL, he would create extra space for a star like Bedard to make plays.

Martone is more of a winger than a center, but Chicago could use young depth at all forward positions right now. 

Anton Frondell - C - Djurgardens IF

Anton Frondell has inserted himself into the mix to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Chicago has had plenty of success with players from Sweden, which is one of the many reasons that Frondell is a great candidate for them. 

Frondell is one of those two-way centers who can create offense for himself and others around him. When he comes to the NHL, he could be one of those players who have nearly as many goals as assists. 

In 29 games played during the regular season with Djugardens, he scored 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. Scoring is much harder in Swedish leagues than in North America, but he showed he can do it. When he comes to North America, he projects to be the kind of player who does it all to help a team win.

With Connor Bedard as the top-line center, they could use someone like Frondell down the middle on the second or third line. 

Caleb Desnoyers - C - Moncton Wildcats

Another good center option, if they feel strongly about him through their scouting, is Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats. This is a player who will be drafted in the top six of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

In 56 games played with Moncton, Desnoyers scored 35 goals and 49 assists for 84 points. He has an offensive ceiling worthy of being selected early in the draft.

The skills are there for him to continue developing into a center who can help at even strength and on the power play. 

If the Blackhawks aren't going to select one of these four, they may as well consider moving down and adding other assets in the meantime.

If they go with one of these options, they will be adding another forward to work with their budding young core that projects to be great in the long term. 

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