If the Philadelphia Flyers are still assessing the trade market for their highly coveted top-six center, they will be privy to the fact that Marco Rossi is increasingly likely to be traded by the Minnesota Wild this summer.

But how has this dream scenario become a reality for the Flyers?

Rossi, 23, is a pending restricted free agent this summer, likely to command a big raise on the three-year entry-level contract that carried a total value of $2.59 million.

And despite his breakout 24-goal, 60-point campaign, the Wild eventually demoted Rossi to fourth line in the six-game first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup playoffs, then publicly declared a search to find help for their No. 1 center, Joel Eriksson-Ek.

“We’ll see what happens. There’s contract talks. There’s player movement — not just for Marco; for anybody," Wild GM Bill Guerin was quoted as saying of Rossi by The Athletic. "I’m not going to try to predict the future where I see this, I see that. I have to go through the process and see where it goes.”

As for Rossi? He's steadfast in his belief in himself, even if he knows he can't fully push back on Guerin or head coach John Hynes. That can be a slippery slope, even for the most even-keeled.

“As a player, you don’t always have to understand some decisions, but it’s important to respect those decisions," Rossi was quoted as saying by The Athletic. "I’ve showed all year long how good I am (...) And anyone who knows me, it’s always going up and I always improve, and especially with my work ethic. So I’ve no doubt, I’m for sure a top-six guy.”

And a top-six guy, like Rossi, is exactly what the Flyers need.

Jett Luchanko, the Flyers' 2024 first-round pick, is still just 18 years old. The Flyers could also use one of their 2025 first-round picks, sixth overall, to add another blue-chip center prospect.

At the same time, though, it is not realistic to expect Luchanko or any other prospects to play savior, jump into an NHL lineup in their teenage years, and begin producing at a high level.

Rossi, in his first year in the NHL in 2022-23, had an assist in 19 games. That was it.

And that leaves the Flyers in the predicament they're in.

They have Luchanko and they added the enigmatic 22-year-old college standout Karsen Dorwart, but the NHL center depth is currently constituted by Sean Couturier, Ryan Poehling, and Noah Cates. Beyond them is a total mystery, be it Luchanko, Dorwart, or someone else.

Completing a highly anticipated trade for a young player of Rossi's caliber instantly supercharges this motley crew of centers and gives the Flyers and immediate running mate down the middle for Matvei Michkov--someone who can genuinely think and creatively play the game on Michkov's level.

But, to get, you have to give. The Wild won't be giving Rossi away for free, even if their trade leverage seems frayed in the public sphere.

The Flyers have an overabundance of wingers and draft picks they can offer the Wild in exchange for the 5-foot-9 pivot.

One of three Flyers first-round picks in 2025 originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche, who were dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Dallas Stars. A draft pick in the low 20s is  good starting place.

Beyond that, Cates and Tyson Foerster are two top-nine caliber players who are pending restricted free agents this summer, like Rossi. Cates, 26, is a center and a Minnesota native, but plays a different style and has a different skillset than Rossi.

Another name to consider is the uber-talented Owen Tippett, who just had the least productive season (43 points, 20 goals) of his full-time NHL career while playing on the first year of the eight-year, $49.6 million contract he signed with the Flyers on Jan. 26, 2024.

Tippett, 26, will have a 10-team no-trade list kick in ahead of the 2026-27 season, so the Flyers will be hard-pressed to trade him then if things don't start to trend upwards. It is something they will have to consider.

Veteran Wild wingers Gustav Nyquist, Marcus Johansson, and Justin Brazeau will all be free agents this summer, and the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyout charges will drop from $7.371 million each to just $833k each.

In short, Minnesota is going to be in the hunt for younger, talented wingers, and they will finally have the funds to support their ambitions.

A trade between the Flyers and the Wild seems like a dream scenario for both sides, but only time will tell if the price is right for Marco Rossi.

St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong suggested on Wednesday that defenseman Torey Krug isn't expected to play in the NHL again due to an ankle injury that won't allow him to perform in the best league in the world.

That's sad, because anyone who has watched Krug over the years, knows it must be killing him inside to not be able to do what he has done so well for the Boston Bruinsand Blues since he came out of Michigan State University in the NCAA as an undersized, undrafted defenseman in 2012.

Despite being only 5-foot-9, Krug did not just survive in the NHL, but he thrived. And he gave every bit as well as he took. And he was able to do that because of a passion for the game and a level self-confidence that were both off the charts.

Watch today's video column for what made Krug such a good NHL player.

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When we think of NHL players returning from injury just in time to help their team in the playoffs, we usually think of Patrick Kane, Nikita Kucherov or Mark Stone. 

Those three players seem to evoke the most wrath from rival fan bases after their teams discovered new ways of pumping up their playoff rosters by leveraging long-term injured reserve to unprecedented levels.

Though he is still dealing with chronic issues, Stone only missed two games after Christmas this year. His 66 games played were the most for him since the year he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, 2018-19. And Vegas was pretty healthy this year. William Karlsson missed two months, but he was back by late March, just before Shea Theodore returned from the arm injury he suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Elsewhere, though, other teams got some big boosts from less-familiar faces in Round 1. Here’s a look at some of the most impactful injury returns:

Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche

His team didn’t advance, but Landeskog’s return after three grueling years of surgeries and rehab was the feel-good story of the first round. Best of all, the Colorado Avalanche captain played just like he always has, with an aggressive jolt of energy.

Landeskog averaged a solid 17:13 of ice time after his Game 3 return. He finished with four points and a plus-four over five games.

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers

A groin injury at the 4 Nations tournament ended Tkachuk’s regular season at 52 games. But the super-pest returned with a bang in Game 1, setting the tone for the Panthers with three power-play points on the way to a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning – in Tampa, no less.

Starting Round 2, Tkachuk saw a playoff-high 19:06 of ice time in Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s now up to six points in six games.

As for Matthew’s brother, Brady Tkachuk, his playoffs are over, but he collected seven points against the Leafs while battling a hip issue that had nagged him since 4 Nations and an upper-body problem that cost him eight games near the end of the year.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which East Teams Will Win Round 2? Expect A Leafs And Panthers Game 7The second round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs starts Monday, so it’s time to predict them.

Evander Kane, John Klingberg, Trent Frederic, Edmonton Oilers

After missing the entire regular season while he got a laundry list of ailments addressed, Kane added another threat to the Edmonton offense when he returned in Game 2 of the first round.

It didn’t take long for him to get his feet under him. He chipped in a goal and an assist to help the Oilers get their first win of the series in Game 3, added another in Game 5, and delivered the pass that set up the game-winner from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in Game 1 of the second round against Vegas.

If Kane’s return has been welcome, John Klingberg’s early contributions have been downright surprising. His 2023-24 season lasted barely a month before he was shut down for hip surgery, and when he signed with Edmonton in January, he managed just 11 regular-season games. But Klingberg also joined the Oilers’ series against the Kings in Game 2 and instantly formed an airtight shut-down defense pairing with Jake Walman.

Then there’s Trent Frederic, essentially acquired on spec from the Boston Bruins at the deadline while he was out with a lower-body issue. The big 27-year-old only logged 7:10 of ice time in one game with the Oilers before the end of the regular season. But he was ready for Game 1 and has brought a dose of bottom-six grit that the Oilers didn’t have elsewhere in their lineup.

Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars

Still no Miro Heiskanen for the Stars, but Jason Robertson could return from a Game 82 knee injury for Game 1 against Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Tyler Seguin has been chipping in, even though his body has been through some things over the last few years.

After essentially duct-taping himself together to get to the Stanley Cup final in the 2020 bubble, Seguin missed almost the entire 2020-21 season following hip surgery. This year, he went under the knife for a hip issue again in December, but he looked like he hadn’t missed a beat when he put up an assist in his return for the last game of the regular season.

In Round 1, Seguin averaged 14:55 a game and chipped in four points, including the overtime-winner in Game 3. 

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The San Jose Sharks lost out on the first overall selection in the recent draft lottery for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but they didn't slip any more than that, and have earned the right to select second overall after the New York Islanders won the prize of winning of selecting before anyone else.

However, it seems as though Mike Grier, Sharks' general manager, remains open to moving the selection for the right price.

Grier is still open to moving the 2nd overall pick. Same thing he said at exit interviews. Says the package has to make sense for the #SJSharks to move 2nd overall.

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) May 5, 2025

Moving out the second overall pick would cost a lot from any team looking to move up in the draft, but the Sharks could benefit either way. On one hand, moving the pick could bring them assets that help them immediately improve, but on the other, they could add another elite prospect that could help them become a contender in the future.

Time will tell what ends up happening, but it's good to know the Sharks are considering all options in hopes of climbing their way out of the bottom of the standings sooner rather than later.

San Jose Sharks Secure Second Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft LotteryIt is unbelievable but the San Jose Sharks didn't win the Draft Lottery Celebrini Gets Incredible Opportunity To Play With Crosby & MacKinnon At WorldsSan Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has an incredible opportunity ahead of him at the IIHF World Championships. Former Sharks Ceci, Granlund Move On To Second Round With Dallas StarsAs the first round of the playoffs comes to a close, the San Jose Sharks are more focused on the offseason and the upcoming draft lottery in hopes of earning the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. However, two former Sharks have moved on to the second round.

The Buffalo Sabres were expected to make some changes to their coaching and management staff in the wake of their 14th straight season missing the playoffs, and on Wednesday, the club announced the hiring of former Sabre Eric Staal as a special assistant to GM Kevyn Adams. 

The 18-year NHL veteran played the majority of his NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2006. He also played with the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers, and 32 games with the Sabres in 2020-21.

 “As I looked for ways to enhance our existing staff, I wanted to add somebody to our group that has a fresh perspective and the direct experience of winning at all levels of hockey,” Adams said in a press release. "Eric was one of the first people I thought of when I originally became general manager, so it is fitting that he is the first addition to our organization this offseason. He has done it all as a player, and I know his experience and knowledge will be invaluable to our team as we look to take the next step."

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The move marks the first made by the Sabres since the end of the regular season, but signifies that Adams position as the club’s GM is safe, since they are bringing in his teammate from the 2006 Cup-winning Hurricanes as an advisor. It is possible that Staal, with his long history and many connections in the league, is being brought in to help recruit players to Buffalo.  

“I loved my time in Buffalo, and as a player, I was lucky to get a small glimpse of what makes the city such a special place and a terrific sports town,” Staal said. “Throughout my career, I was fortunate to be on so many successful teams and I hope I can lean on some of those experiences to help the organization moving forward. I’m thankful to Kevyn for giving me this opportunity, and I’m eager to lend my experience to help in any way that I can."

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with a pick in each round. Leading up to the draft day, we at The Hockey News will be profiling a different prospect who the Canucks could take with each of their picks. Today's prospect is Brampton Steelheads goaltender Jack Ivankovic, who Vancouver could select 47th overall.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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Ivankovic is one of the top goaltenders available in this draft. Listed at 5'11", 170lbs, the 17-year-old had another strong season in the OHL, posting a record of 25-12-5 with the Steelheads. Ivankovic was also one of two goaltenders selected to participate in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, making 10 saves for the victory.

Despite only being 17, Ivankovic already has a long track record with Team Canada. He has won back-to-back U18 Gold Medals and was named the tournament's top goaltender this past year after posting a 6-0 record with a .961 save percentage. Ivankovic was also part of Canada's World Junior team in 2025, stopping 24 of 26 shots in his only game of the tournament. 

One of Ivankovic's biggest strengths is his composure in net. He is positionally sound and doesn't fold under pressure. Ivankovic can also read how situations develop and understands when he needs to hold onto pucks for whistles.

Another area where Ivankovic thrives is athleticism. His side-to-side movement is an asset, allowing him to make cross-crease saves. Ivankovic also has good net presence, which means he understands where he is in relation to the net and how he needs to adjust his positioning to block any openings. 

While Ivankovic is a high-end prospect, there will always be concerns due to his size. Since he is on the shorter side, he does get beat up high on occasion, which is something he needs to work on. That being said, he is bigger than Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, which shows that a path to the NHL is possible at his size.

After not drafting a goaltender for the last two drafts, 2025 is the perfect opportunity for the Canucks to add another keeper to the organization. With the right development path, Ivankovic could have a bright future, as he possesses a lot of the traits needed to succeed in the NHL. If he is still available at 47, he would be a smart selection by Vancouver.

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.

Hockey Slovakia released a list of 26 players that will be headed to Stockholm, Sweden for this year’s IIHF World Championship. It includes no full-time NHL players, most notably Juraj Slafkovský, whose decision not to play is covered in depth by Karine Hains on THN’s Montreal Canadiens site.

Players under NHL contracts that have played either most or all of the season in the AHL include goaltender Samuel Hlavaj of the Minnesota Wild, defenseman Samuel Kňažko of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and forwards Dalibor Dvorský of the St. Louis Blues, Samuel Honzek of the Calgary Flames, Martin Chromiak of the Los Angeles Kings and Adam Sýkora of the New York Rangers. Kňažko, whose Cleveland Monsters were just eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs, will meet the team in Stockholm.

Pavol Regenda, a San Jose Sharks prospect, is two games away from elimination with the San Jose Barracuda and, reportedly, will likely join the Slovaks if his AHL team is eliminated this round.

This will be the first World Championship since 2021 that the Slovaks have included KHL players on their roster. For three years, Hockey Slovakia refused to select any player from the Russian-based league for its national teams.

However, in a controversial reversal of policy, Slovakia chose three KHL players to its Olympic qualifying roster in August. One of those, defenseman Mário Grman, is on this team as well. One other has been selected to this team: Patrik Rybár, who was the starting goaltender on the 2022 Olympic bronze-medal team.

Interestingly, neither Martin nor Kristián Pospišil is on this team. Martin plays for Calgary, which missed the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Kristián won the Czech Extraliga championship as a member of Kometa Brno. Both brothers were vocal last year about their objection to allowing KHL players on the team, but both ultimately played in the Olympic qualifiers.

Other than AHL and KHL players, the roster includes 10 players from the Czech Extraliga, five from the domestic Slovak Extraliga and two from Switzerland’s National League.

Martin Pospíšil after Olympic qualifiers: “It was never anything against the players” from the KHL Martin Pospíšil was calm and reflective after Slovakia’s 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Sunday in Bratislava, which qualified the team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The Toronto Marlies announced they have signed forward Landon Sim to a one-year AHL deal for the 2025-26 season. 

Sim recorded 30 goals, 53 points, and 105 penalty minutes in 54 games for the OHL's London Knights this season and has nine goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games so far. 

The 20-year-old was a sixth round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2022 and became a free agent after going unsigned. 

The New Glasgow, NS., native has racked up 66 goals and 124 points in 213 career OHL games, all with London. 

🖊 News | We've signed forward Landon Sim to a 1-year contract.#LongLivepic.twitter.com/WcxXdmpblU

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) May 6, 2025

Sim helped the Knights win the OHL title last season and looks to do the same this season as they face the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL Finals beginning tomorrow. 

Check out The Hockey News Toronto Maple Leafs site for more information. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. 

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind goes back to May 7, 1983, when the New York Islanders' franchise legend carried them to the Stanley Cup final.

In Game 6 of the Wales Conference final against the Boston Bruins, Mike Bossy didn't just stop at a hat trick in a series-clinching game for the Islanders.

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.

ST. LOUIS -- When the puck deflected off the stick of Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti into the upper half of the net with 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation to stun the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round to tie the score 3-3, a game in which the Jets would win in double overtime, 4-3, it signified a painful reminder of an ail that haunted the Blues all season long.

Only this time, it ultimately cost them their terrific run at upending the Presidents' Trophy winners and their season.

Unfortunately for the Blues, they were no strangers to the goals against when the opposition pulled the goalie. They allowed a league-high 13 in the regular season and two on Sunday. It marked the third time this season in which the Blues allowed multiple goals in a game when the opposition pulled the goalie, the others being Jan. 20 in a 5-4 shootout win against the Vegas Golden Knights and April 5 in a 5-4 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

They were the only team in the NHL to allow more goals-against with the goalie pulled than they scored empty-net goals (13-11).

And that's why they were sitting at a podium discussing the end of their season rather than prepping for a second-round series against the Dallas Stars.

"Yeah, yeah, it's a tough feeling around the room right now," Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. "That's just the reality of it. When you're that close to advancing and playing another day, the reality of where we are today, it's not a good feeling. That's sports and sometimes you're on the wrong side of it and that night we were."

Despite the surge the Blues took from the 4 Nations Face-Off post-schedule to their run to the Stanley Cup playoffs and qualifying on the final day of the regular season for them, the stinging feeling in blowing a 3-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining was the leftover residue that was hard to shake on Tuesday and will take time to shed moving forward.

All they needed was one extra play in that last two minutes and it's a different story, but now that the bear in the room regarding 5-on-6 grew even larger, it has to be a point of emphasis for the coaching staff to make a marked improvement in this area, even though they were 10-0-3 in those games, meaning they only lost three points, which isn't as bad as it sounds.

"It does sting. It hurts more today than it did two days ago, to be honest," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on Tuesday. "But we will use it to grow. I'll make sure that we're better in pulled-goalie situations. That's my job. I'm going to make sure the plan is better, I'll study the teams that were the best at it (Winnipeg was No. 1 with one goal allowed, followed by the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers at two) and see what they do that is similar to our D-zone coverage so we can do it easily."

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong wasn't going to offer a knee-jerk reaction to one painful segment of what amounted to a season-ending game, but does realize it's something that needs to be alleviated if the Blues are going to ascend even higher.

"My job is to look at things from 30,000 feet, not one game, one shift, one two-minute segment," Armstrong said. "That's all I can think about right now is one two-minute segment, but I do have to look at the year in its totality.

"... We ended up extremely disappointed in how that ended. The way this ended bothered me a little bit because it was a pattern of how games ended for us. It's not a pattern that we want to continue and if we're here next December and we're talking about the same issue, I'll have to go back to the old quote machine and bring back the killer instinct quote that my wife hates. But we have to find that back in us again. We have to be able to close out games. We've done the research on where we fit in the league 5-on-6, last in the league, only team in the league 5-on-6 that had a negative goal-for differential. Those are small things that make a huge difference."

And on the flip side, the Blues scored just seven goals when they pulled the goalie and made it 6-on-5 (two while on a power play at 6-on-4) and allowed 12 into an empty net. So just a small percentage of each of these stats and we could be talking about a third-place or possibly a second-place finish in the Central Division instead of being a wild card and another opponent.

But such is life and now they have an idea of one of the parts to the game that needs to change in a big way for 2025-26.

> Blues goals-against 5-on-6 (13):

* Nov. 21 vs. San Jose Sharks -- Alexander Wennberg, 19:51; led 2-1, won 3-2 in a shootout

* Dec. 3 at Winnipeg Jets -- Mark Scheifele, 15:45; led 3-0, won 4-1

* Dec. 10 at Vancouver Canucks -- Jake DeBrusk, 18:08; led 3-2, won 4-3 in overtime

* Jan. 20 at Vegas Golden Knights -- Jack Eichel, 16:50; led 4-2, won 5-4 in a shootout

* Jan. 20 at Golden Knights -- Pavel Dorofeyev, 19:30; led 4-3, won 5-4 in a shootout

* Dec. 4 vs. Edmonton Oilers -- Leon Draisaitl, 17:46; led 2-1, lost 3-2 in overtime

* Feb. 22 vs. Jets -- Gabriel Vilardi, 19:32; led 3-2, lost 4-3 in a shootout

* March 7 at Anaheim Ducks -- Alex Killorn, 19:17; led 4-2, won 4-3

* March 20 vs. Canucks -- Brock Boeser, 19:56; led 3-2, won 4-3 in overtime

* April 3 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins -- Rutger McGroarty, 19:35; led 4-3, won 5-4 in overtime

* April 5 vs. Colorado Avalanche -- Nathan MacKinnon, 17:42; led 4-2, won 5-4

* April 5 vs. Avalanche -- Sam Malinski, 19:51; led 5-3, won 5-4

* April 9 at Oilers -- Viktor Arvidsson, 1:41 of third period (came on delayed penalty); tied 2-2, lost 4-3

> Blues empty-net goals-for 5-on-6 (11):

* Oct. 24 at Toronto Maple Leafs -- Dylan Holloway, 16:42; led 3-1, won 4-1

* Nov. 2 vs. Maple Leafs -- Pavel Buchnevich, 19:21; led 3-2, won 4-2

* Nov. 25 at New York Rangers -- Buchnevich, 17:15; led 4-2, won 5-2

* Dec. 3 at Jets -- Robert Thomas, 16:21; led 3-1, won 4-1

* Dec. 23 at Detroit Red Wings -- Holloway, 15:54; led 3-0, won 4-0

* Dec. 27 vs. Nashville Predators -- Colton Parayko, 18:45; led 6-4, won 7-4

* Jan. 16 vs. Calgary Flames -- Brayden Schenn, 17:39; led 3-1, won 4-1

* Dec. 27 at Washington Capitals -- Jake Neighbours, 18:05; led 4-2, won 5-2

* March 15 at Minnesota Wild -- Jordan Kyrou, 17:40; led 4-1, won 5-1

* March 23 vs. Predators -- Schenn, 19:22; led 3-1, won 4-1

* April 5 vs. Avalanche -- Thomas, 19:29; led 4-3, won 5-4

Toronto Maple Leafs aim for 2-0 series lead with a win over Florida Panthers on Wednesday

The Maple Leafs stunned the Cats in game one of their second round series, giving Toronto their first second round lead in 23 years. The game was a battle with both sides looking to inflict as much pain as possible with Toronto receiving the worst of things as they lost starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz. 

Game two will make for an exciting showcase as the Buds will look to exact revenge and seperate themselves further with a 2-0 series lead. Florida on the other hand, will look to even up the series before heading home. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 30-19 record on our last 49 picks, including perfect records during Game one and four 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 (-104)
• Panthers ML (-142)
• Mitch Marner anytime goal (+280)

The Leafs are being asked to do something they've never done before while the Panthers are being asked just to stay the course and do what they do best which is win during the postseason.

The loss in game one was a tight one as the Leafs got out to an early lead and made sure to keep their foot on the gas long enough to get the win but it wasn't without bumps in the road. 

Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky had a rare off night as he allowed several goals that could've been saved or prevented with better defence like Matthew Knies' breakaway goal.

With an early goal and several defensive breakdowns from the opponent, Toronto caught a break that many didn't expect and here's where some correction should come back. 

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The five goals allowed was rare considering Bobrovsky's track record of a 8-4-0 record and a 2.36 goals against average over his last 12 starts versus Toronto.

The Russian goaltender should bounce back in this spot and I also expect Joseph Woll to chip in enough to keep this game low-scoring. Woll has a 2.12 goals against average and .924 save percentage in six career playoff starts. 

There shouldn't be a ton of goals but one player I do expect to score is Mitch Marner. I've missed on the Toronto native a couple times as of late but he should be finally due in this spot. He's a new father and was looking for the back of the net in game one after finishing with four shots on net. 

The team will be in desperate need of goals in this one as it will be very tight and Marner rides a six-game goal drought, which should make him overdue for a goal here.

More NHL: Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

We get a tremendous value here for one of the Leafs top offensive players, who is playing on the team's top line with two other red hot forwards in Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. 

It's an easy slam dunk pick but if you wanna play it safe, taking Marner to get a point is a trustworthy pick at -245 odds and works as a decent parlay add.

More NHL: Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Many things happen in the summertime.

GM’s get let go, coaches get fired, and players sign new contracts.

For the Colorado Avalanche, Jared Bednar’s job appears safe (the same goes for Chris Macfarland).

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

It also looks like a former Avalanche goaltender has found a new team that he wants to stick around with. That team agrees and has signed him to a new deal.

Jonas Johansson signed a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday morning.

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The Swedish netminder just wrapped up his second season with the team. Johansson had a 9-6-3 record to go along with a 3.13 goals against average (GAA), a .895 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.

He’s been the backup for Andrei Vasilevskiy since he arrived in Tampa. But he took a winding road to get to Florida.

We have signed goaltender Jonas Johansson to a two-year contract extension worth an AAV of $1.25 million!

📝: https://t.co/7ZM6LrDm14pic.twitter.com/30QAsVUcDK

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 7, 2025

Jonas Johansson's Journey To The Tampa Bay Lightning

Johansson was initially drafted in the third round of the 2014 Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He was traded to the Avalanche in March of 2021. 

He would play three years for the Avalanche until he was put on waivers. The Florida Panthers claimed Johansson off waivers. 

Johansson only played two games for the Panthers before he signed a new contract with the Avalanche in the following summer. He then signed as a free agent with the Lightning on July 1st, 2023.

Johansson’s new deal is worth $1.25 million per year. For year one, it’s split into a $775,000 base salary and a $475,000 signing bonus. The full $1.25 million will be his base salary the following season. He’s coming off a two-year deal that paid him $775,000 each season.

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The one thing the Vegas Golden Knights can't do against the Edmonton Oilers is take their foot off the gas and give them any signs of life, and in Game 1 of the second round, they did exactly that.

The Golden Knights took advantage of an early power play, taking a 1-0 lead. With momentum on their side, the Golden Knights stayed aggressive, forcing turnovers and counterattacking, which led to Mark Stone scoring his second goal of the game. Corey Perry answered with a goal late in the first period, and following the goal, it was all Oilers.

The Oilers outshot the Golden Knights 12-1 in the middle frame, but Adin Hill preserved the lead. A fortunate bounce for Leon Draisaitl tied the game at 2-2 in the third period, and after tying the game, it always looked like the Oilers would break the deadlock. The Golden Knights struggled to neutralize the Oilers' pressure and couldn't generate any chances for themselves. 

Zach Hyman scored the game-winning goal, and Connor Brown beat Shea Theodore and Hill in one-on-ones to provide the insurance marker. 

If the Golden Knights were to learn one thing from the Oilers' first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, it would be to play a full 60 minutes and never sit back on a lead. Connor McDavid took advantage of the space the Golden Knights were providing him, and he generated a plethora of chances. Giving a player of McDavid's calibre that many free looks is always going to be trouble. 

"They elevated their game today, and I don't think we did halfway through the game, I think it's that simple. They're just better than us," said Golden Knights' HC Bruce Cassidy.

"Because we got out of the second. They probably felt pretty good about it, they're like, 'Hey, we're right there.' Then they get a lucky one to start, so now they're really on. We needed to build our game from there better."

According to Natural Stat Trick and the eye test, the Oilers dominated. They held 73.45% of the expected goals, generated 13 high-danger chances, giving up only three and outshot the Golden Knights 28-17.

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3 Takeaways: Golden Knights Blow First-Period, Two-Goal Lead To Drop Series Opener To Edmonton, 4-2LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights squandered a first-period, two-goal lead and allowed the Edmonton Oilers to score four unanswered goals and steal a 4-2 road victory and home ice in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. 3 Reasons Why The Golden Knights Can Defeat The Oilers In The Second RoundLAS VEGAS -- Just before the regular season started, an anonymous poll of Golden Knights revealed 86.7% of the team saying the Edmonton Oilers are "Vegas' chief arch-rival."

As the Greensboro Gargoyles prepare for their inaugural ECHL season in 2025-26, the franchise now has an NHL and AHL affiliation.

The Gargoyles announced they have entered into an affiliation agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes and the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves.

“We couldn’t think of two better teams to help us usher in this Inaugural season of Gargoyles Hockey to the City of Greensboro,” Zawyer Sports & Entertainment CEO Andy Kaufmann said in a press release. “With the proximity and an abundance of local support for the Hurricanes, along with a successful AHL club in the Chicago Wolves, this partnership makes perfect sense. We look forward to working with both teams to develop players and bring a winning culture here to Greensboro.”

Greensboro becomes the 30th ECHL franchise, which will start play in October 2025. Their home games will be at the First Horizon Coliseum, a 22,000-seat arena at the heart of Greensboro Complex.

The team’s primary colors consist of Gargoyle Grape, Greensboro Gold and Midnight. The Gargoyles’ team name and logo is portrayed as a stone monster that watches over and protects the city of Greensboro. The inspiration of the name and logo originated from community input, including submissions from over 2,000 fans.

The Hurricanes came to North Carolina in 1997, and the team played their first two seasons in Greensboro while an arena was being completed in Raleigh. The Hurricanes have won six division titles and made their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2002, eventually falling to the Detroit Red Wings.

During the 2005-06 season, the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title.

The AHL’s Chicago Wolves play in Rosemont, Illinois and have enjoyed much success since their inception in 1994. The Wolves began operations in the now International Hockey League, winning Turner Cup Championships in 1998 and 2000. The team moved to the AHL in 2001 and won three Calder Cup titles in 2002, 2008 and 2022.

In total between the two leagues, the Wolves have won five league championships, 14 division titles, three conference titles and one regular season title.

“We’re thrilled to affiliate with the Gargoyles, and reconnect with our franchise’s history in Greensboro,” Carolina Hurricanes Associate General Manager Darren Yorke said. “We look forward to working closely with the Gargoyles staff to develop players who could someday make an impact here in Raleigh.”

First Horizon Coliseum is the same venue the Hurricanes played home games for their first two NHL seasons.

"As the former home of the Carolina Hurricanes, tonight's announcement further adds to the growing excitement and anticipation surrounding the Gargoyles and the return of hockey to First Horizon Coliseum," Coliseum General Manager Scott Johnson said. "We can't wait for the puck to drop this fall and begin a new era of Gargoyles hockey in Greensboro."

Rick Tocchet is headed back to television for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. On Wednesday, the NHL on TNT announced that the former Vancouver Canucks head coach would be back on the network this weekend on Friday and Saturday. At the moment, Tocchet is only booked for the two days, with no indication if he will serve as an analyst for the rest of the post-season. 

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Before joining the Canucks, Tocchet was featured on the NHL on TNT for a couple of years. Some of the notable personalities he worked with included Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette, Henrik Lundqvist and Anson Carter. There have also been appearances in the past from Shaquille O'Neal, who works for the NBA on TNT. 

On Wednesday morning, there was also a report that Tocchet had interviewed for the Seattle Kraken head coaching position. This report came courtesy of Frank Seravalli while making an appearance on "Sportsnet 650." There are currently seven head coaching positions that need to be filled, with Tocchet expected to receive offers from multiple organizations.

As for the Canucks, they continue to search for their next head coach. Some names rumoured for the head coaching position include Manny Malhotra and Adam Foote. Vancouver is currently looking for their fourth coach in four years after Tocchet decided to depart the organization this off-season. 

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.