Edmonton Oilers left winger Evander Kane should give a tutorial on irritating the Vegas Golden Knights.

Facing a team based in a city that’s all about extravagance and swagger, Vegas certainly met its match in the Oilers' Kane on and off the ice.

“Evander, I saw you rolled up in Vegas in a Rolls-Royce – you scored a goal,” longtime NHL veteran Pat Maroon told Kane on NHL on TNT after Game 4 against Vegas Monday night. “And I saw you roll up in a Rolls-Royce tonight. Is that something you thought about going into Game 4? You superstitious?”

Kane responded: “I rolled up in a Ferrari for Game 3, and that didn’t work, so I said I wanted to go back to the Rolls.”

Kane’s impact came in multiple ways in Edmonton’s 3-0 win over the Golden Knights to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Not only did he throw hits all night long, but he drove the net and crashed into Adin Hill after Adam Henrique’s second goal of the game, which sparked a mini-melee. But Kane wasn’t done there.

Kane beat Hill with a wrist shot in the second period that sealed the victory, bringing Kane up to five points in eight playoff games since his return to the lineup. Vegas only held him off the scoresheet in Game 3.

“He loves the big pressure games – when there’s a lot on the line, he just loves the pressure and level of play, and just the amount of physical play and scoring a big goal for us, crashing the net, winning puck battles, he’s contributing a lot to our team,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said post-game.

Kane’s been an important part of the Oilers’ offense from players not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Kane’s 27 individual scoring chances in all situations are the fourth-most on the team, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Not bad from a player who missed the entire regular season due to injury.

Avry Lewis-McDougall goes in deeper on Evander Kane’s impact in Game 4's win and his “muscle car” play this post-season for the Oilers in his latest video column.

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Bruins ‘believed to be among top contenders' for Rick Tocchet: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are in the early stages of a pivotal offseason for the franchise, and part of that process will be finding a new head coach.

B’s general manager Don Sweeney said last week that Joe Sacco, who replaced Jim Montgomery on an interim basis back in November, remains in the mix for the position, as does assistant coach Jay Leach.

Which external candidates might the Bruins be considering?

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken are “believed to be among the top contenders” for Rick Tocchet.

Strong indications this week Rick Tocchet will soon land another NHL head coaching job. Philly, Boston, Seattle believed to be among the top contenders. The Flyers want to be aggressive. Good fit.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 13, 2025

Tocchet, 61, parted ways with the Vancouver Canucks last month. He spent the last three seasons as Canucks head coach and led them to the playoffs only once (2023-24).

Tocchet has nine total seasons of NHL head coaching experience between the Canucks, Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth) and Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in 1,144 games as an NHL player, too, including 10-plus seasons with the Flyers and two with the Bruins.

It would make more sense for the Bruins to hire a head coach who is younger and capable of fixing the team’s lackluster offense, including the power play. Player development needs to be a priority for the Bruins, too. Tocchet probably wouldn’t be the best fit when you consider those factors, but he does have a lot of NHL experience as a player and a coach.

Sweeney also was asked last week if any potential head coach candidates were still in the playoffs, to which he replied, “yes.” There are eight teams remaining in the playoffs, as of Tuesday.

The Bruins, Flyers, Canucks, Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks are among the teams with head coach vacancies.

Marc Bergevin was criticized for many decisions during his tenure as the Montreal Canadiens' GM. Still, he made an excellent move by deciding not to match the Carolina Hurricanes’ offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

When The Canadiens Draft Twice (Or More) In The First Round…
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Mike Matheson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj

Four seasons later, the Finnish center is still in Raleigh, but he’s currently skating on the Hurricanes’ fourth line. He was on the ice for much longer in the first round, against the New Jersey Devils, skating for over 18 minutes twice.

In the last three games of the Canes’ second-round series with the Washington Capitals, he has spent less than 13 minutes on the ice. He has registered three assists in nine playoff games this postseason, one of which came on the man-advantage.

The Hurricanes poached Kotkaniemi from the Canadiens during the 2021 offseason, signing him to a $6.1 M offer sheet with a $20 signing bonus, a wink to the Canadiens’ failed maneuver to sign Sebastian Aho.

Before that contract expired, Carolina signed him to an eight-year extension with a $4,820,000 cap hit, and the team and player implicitly admitted that the offer sheet was overinflated.

He’s now in the third year of the eight-year pact, and he’s not in Rod Brind’Amour’s good books. Every year, he seems to be in trade rumours, but the length of his contract is somewhat prohibitive for a player who has never put up more than 43 points in a season. This season, in 78 games, he was limited to 33 points.

While not matching the offer sheet was the right call, drafting him in the first place was a mistake. The Canadiens were desperate for a quality center. They decided to draft for need rather than for best player available, picking Kotkaniemi ahead of Brady Tkachuk (who went fourth overall to the Ottawa Senators) and Quinn Hughes (who was picked seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks).

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The Edmonton Oilers have the Vegas Golden Knights on the brink of elimination in the second round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Could this be the year Connor McDavid lifts his first Stanley Cup?

McDavid scored the game-winning overtime goal for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Faceoff. The 2024 Conn Smythe winner sat quietly in the locker room as the Florida Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup last season. 

There is not much the 2015 No. 1 overall pick has not done, besides lift the Stanley Cup.

Collectors, or flippers, are setting themselves up for a possible investment opportunity. McDavid's Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 dipped to the $2,000 USD range when the Los Angeles Kings took a 2-0 lead over the Oilers in the first round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Is There Ever a Bad Time to Invest in an Upper Deck McDavid Young Guns PSA 10?

The only time to avoid investing in an Upper Deck McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 might be the hours after he wins a Stanley Cup, if that happens. Beyond that, there is never a bad time to add an Upper Deck McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 to your collection.

Sharp buyers are who bought during the brief McDavid dip a couple weeks ago can flip his Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 for a reasonable profit. The game within the game is even if McDavid and the Oilers would have been eliminated by the Kings, his Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 rookie cards would have bounced back.

While there may never be a bad time to invest in a McDavid Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10, there are times that are better than others. 

Morale of the story, when McDavid's card prices dip, the play is to buy.

Happy hunting and collecting!

Anthony Stolarz is back on the ice, just over a week after he left Game 1 against the Florida Panthers following a Sam Bennett elbow to the head.

The 31-year-old was on the ice before the Toronto Maple Leafs' optional practice on Tuesday morning at Ford Performance Centre. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, this isn't Stolarz's first time on the ice.

"I believe Anthony Stolarz has been on the ice this week," Dreger reported. "Joe Woll was excellent in game 4, so there’s no reason to rush with Stolarz. The fact he’s back on the ice speaks to progress in recovery."

The goaltender was on the ice for at least 20 minutes, working with Maple Leafs goaltending coach Curtis Sanford.  The drills consisted of lateral movements in the butterfly and standing up.

He exited the ice shortly before the Maple Leafs' optional skate began.

Stolarz left midway through Game 1 against the Panthers, a few minutes after Bennett's elbow collided with the goaltender's head. During a TV timeout, Stolarz went over to the bench and threw up before leaving the game.

Report: Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Being Evaluated In Hospital After Leaving Game 1 Vs. PanthersThe bad news regarding Anthony Stolarz continues.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the goaltender was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher after leaving the game. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed the day following that Stolarz had gone to the hospital for further evaluation.

Stolarz started in Toronto's first seven playoff games, racking up four wins and a .901 save percentage in that span. After leaving the game, Joseph Woll has come in for the Maple Leafs and put up two wins and a .893 save percentage through four games against Florida.

Toronto won the first two games at home against the Panthers, but lost the next two in Florida. They returned home on Monday with the series tied 2-2.

‘Kept Us In It Until The End’: Maple Leafs’ Joseph Woll Shines With Impressive Start Despite Game 4 Loss To PanthersBy far, the brightest spot in a frustrating night for the Toronto Maple Leafs was the play of goaltender Joseph Woll — the most notable presence on the ice in Game 4 that saw the club shut out 2-0 by the Florida Panthers in Sunrise.

Stolarz was one of the NHL's top goaltenders in the regular season. He had 21 wins through 34 games, with a .926 save percentage, the best in the league for goaltenders who played more than 30 games.

This is the second time Stolarz has dealt with an injury this season. He missed nearly two months of the season, from mid-December to early February, after having surgery to remove a loose body from his knee.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Explains Why Anthony Stolarz Will Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks For A Procedure On His KneeAn MRI of Stolarz' knee revealed a "loose body" in his knee.

Stolarz joined the Maple Leafs organization on a two-year, $5 million contract after winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers last June.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will select 11th overall at the upcoming 2025 Draft. Although the club fell out of the top ten, it should still be able to draft a top prospect who can eventually make an impact in the league.

Even though some in the fan base may be disappointed with the Penguins' current draft position, here's a look at the top five 11th overall picks playing in the NHL as of 2025. 

5. Gabriel Vilardi (2017 - Los Angeles Kings)

Gabriel Vilardi made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2019-20 season and eventually became a 20-goal scorer at 23. He was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets before the 2023-24 campaign, where he tallied 22 goals in his only season in Canada.

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Vilardi moved again to the Metropolitan Division and the Washington Capitals, where he set career highs with 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games. 

4. Lawson Crouse (2015 - Florida Panthers)

Lawson Crouse never played for the Florida Panthers, who dealt him a year after drafting him to the Arizona Coyotes. Following his NHL debut in 2016-17, Crouse became a pillar for a young Coyotes team that eventually relocated to Salt Lake City in 2024. 

Former Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamTwo days after Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were named to the NHL Quarter-Century Team, another longtime former teammate will be joining them.

Crouse, now an alternate captain with his team, is a nine-year veteran and a three-time 20-goal scorer. After 585 regular-season games, he's scored 115 goals and 215 points. 

3. Kevin Fiala (2014 - Nashville Predators)

Kevin Fiala debuted at 18 with the Nashville Predators in 2014-15. He spent five seasons with the club that drafted him, securing a 20-goal season in 2017-18. Following his stint with the Predators, he moved to the Minnesota Wild and produced back-to-back 20-goal campaigns before setting a career high with 33 lamp-lighters in 2021-22.

However, the Wild dealt Fiala to Hollywood in 2022, and he's rewarded Kings fans with two 20-goal seasons before breaking his personal best total with 35 goals in 2024-25. Despite 60 points last season, it was his lowest point total since a career high of 85 in 2021-22. During his first season with Los Angeles, he attended the 2023 All-Star Game.

2. Filip Forsberg (2012 - Washington Capitals)

There is an argument to be made here that the Capitals might have kept Filip Forsberg if they had a chance to redo their deal with the Predators.

After drafting Forsberg in 2012, the Capitals dealt him to Nashville for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. In 13 seasons, Forsberg has become one of the top Swedish players in the NHL. He is a two-time 40-goal scorer with five seasons of 30 or more goals and nine with 20 or more.

Moreover, Forsberg was a member of the 2013 All-Rookie Team, finishing fourth in Calder Trophy voting. He participated in the 2015 and 2024 All-Star Games. After 13 seasons and 780 games, he's tallied 318 goals and 681 points in the regular season and 31 goals and 59 points in 81 playoff games. 

1. Anze Kopitar (2005 - Los Angeles Kings)

Anze Kopitar is the only active 11th overall pick with his name on the Stanley Cup, twice. As the captain of the Kings, Kopitar has built a resume that will land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame when he retires. 

Crosby, Malkin Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamThe votes for the NHL Quarter-Century Team are finally in. 

Not only does he own the franchise records for games played and assists, but Kopitar is a two-time Frank J. Selke and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner, also winning the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Arguably the most outstanding player from Slovenia to ever play in the NHL, Kopitar is a three-time 30-goal scorer with 14 seasons of 20 or more goals. If he remains healthy, he's got a chance at becoming the Kings' all-time leading scorer in 2025-26, needing only 29 points to surpass Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne (1,307). 

Just Missing the Cut

There were only eight active 11th overall picks in the NHL last season. The three players who didn't make the list were netminder Yaroslav Askarov (San Jose Sharks), who has 16 games of NHL experience, followed by Conor Geekie (Tampa Bay Lightning) with 52 games, and Oliver Wahlstrom (Boston Bruins), who has played 236 games.

Swedish forward Fredrik Olofsson, 28, has signed a three-year contract with Rögle BK, the Ängelholm-based SHL club announced on Monday.

“It’s an honor to have the chance here in Rögle and to play in a team with high ambitions,” said Olofsson. “It will be exciting. The SHL is a demanding league and nothing comes free. I am motivated to be an engine for the team at center and I want to challenge myself to carry a heavy load together with my teammates.”

“I’m very happy and excited to finally see Fredrik in green and white,” said club sports director Hampus Sjöström. “Fredrik has accumulated a lot of experience through playing in different leagues, which will be useful for our group. He’s a responsible player with the ability to make his surroundings better and a great and competitive guy to have in the locker room.”

Olofsson is originally from Helsingborg in southwestern Sweden, about 25 km from Ängelholm and just across the Öresund from Denmark. However, he began playing in the United States at age 14 – first youth hockey in Colorado, followed by two years in the USHL and four years of college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Olofsson was drafted in the fourth round, 98th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his professional debut with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs in the spring of 2019 after finishing his senior year at UNO.

Olofsson spent the next three seasons playing professionally in Sweden – first for MoDo in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan and then two years in the SHL for IK Oskarshamn. During that time, he also played his only significant international hockey to date, recording one assist in six games for Sweden at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Olofsson split the next two seasons between the NHL and the AHL – first with the Dallas Stars in 2022-23 and then with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24. Combined, he had 13 points and 10 penalty minutes in 85 NHL regular-season games. He was also pointless in two playoff games for Dallas in 2023.

Last season in Switzerland, Olofsson recorded 30 points in 51 National League regular-season and playoff games for EV Zug.

“My ambitions are crystal clear – winning a championship as a team is the only thing that matters,” Olofsson continued. “How we get there and individual goals we will put together now during the summer. Building a daily operation that spreads good energy while making demands on each other will drive us to the top. Together with Dan (Tangnes, Rögle’s head coach), we will be clear in everything we do and I look forward to that.”

Rögle finished seventh in the SHL regular season last year before being eliminated in the play-in round. Besides Olofsson, players under contract with the team for 2025-26 include NHL prospects Linus Sjödin (Buffalo Sabres), Simon Zether (Florida Panthers), Felix Nilsson (Nashville Predators) and Austrian defenseman Gregor Biber (Utah Mammoth).

Radim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubCzech forward Radim Zohorna, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Friday.

Speculation about Marco Rossi's future arose following the Minnesota Wild's first-round playoff exit.

The 23-year-old center was the subject of early-season rumors until Wild GM Bill Guerin shot them down last December.

Some observers now wonder where Rossi fits into their long-term plans after spending time on their fourth line late in the season. He's an RFA coming off his entry-level contract and could become an offer-sheet target if extension talks stall with the Wild this summer.

That prompted Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski to consider the possibility of the Penguins acquiring Rossi during the off-season. 

Kingerski believes the young Wild center would fit in well with the retooling Penguins. Evgeni Malkin is expected to retire at the end of next season, leaving a massive hole at the second-line center position. 

Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has ruled out signing UFAs to long-term contracts, preferring to acquire RFAs through trades rather than offer sheets. Kingerski acknowledged it could take a healthy return from the Penguins, like the Rangers' 2026 first-round pick (lottery protected) or a top-line veteran winger, such as Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell.

The Penguins won't be the only club interested in Rossi if the Wild peddle him this summer. Teams seeking a second-line center include the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

Meanwhile, Noah Cates of the Flyers could become another center of interest in this summer's trade market. 

The 26-year-old Cates is an RFA this summer and a year away from UFA eligibility. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco believes Cates and the Flyers could be heading to arbitration this summer.

Di Marco cited team sources claiming Cates could bet on himself on a one-year deal, taking him up to UFA eligibility. He'd be willing to commit to the Flyers on a long-term deal, but it would be at a price they consider too high. Di Marco indicated that they see him in the range of $ 3.5 million annually on a four- to six-year term.

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It’s never easy for a professional athlete to announce his retirement, especially when they are forced to do so because of injuries. On Monday, Stefan Matteau, the son of former NHLer Stephane Matteau, announced his retirement.

When The Canadiens Draft Twice (Or More) In The First Round…
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Mike Matheson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj

The son was drafted 29th overall by the New Jersey Devils at the 2012 draft and only played 44 games in the organization before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2016 in return for Devante Smith-Pelly.

Matteau played 12 games with the Canadiens registering a single assist before spending the following season with the St. John’s Ice Caps. In 67 games with the Habs’ AHL affiliate picking up 25 points.

He then signed a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent, but couldn’t establish himself there either. In the end, he played with their AHL affiliates, the Chicago Wolves before spending time in the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche organisations.

He spent the 2022-23 season in Europe playing in both the Swedish and the German leagues, before returning to North America where he played two more seasons with the Jackets’ AHL club, the Cleveland Monsters.

In his last two seasons, he was limited to 15 games because of various injuries. He was the Monsters’ captain this past season but couldn’t even play in the post season as he couldn’t get healthy.

His retirement message sounds a bit like Carey Price’s message when he decided to hang them up, Matteau wrote:

“After 13 seasons in professional hockey, I’ve made the difficult decision to retire. As hard as it is to step away from the game I love, nothing is more important to me than being healthy and able to play with my kids for many years to come.”

- Stefan Matteau on why he's retiring.

Hopefully, he can now stay healthy and enjoy retirement with his family. 

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Tocchet, Flyers a match? Coach's decision reportedly could come soon originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If Rick Tocchet is Danny Briere’s top target, the Flyers might be close to finding out if the feeling is mutual.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that “strong indications” point to Tocchet “soon” landing another NHL head coaching job. Per the report, the Flyers, Bruins and Kraken are “believed to be among the top contenders.” Also, according to the report, the Flyers “want to be aggressive.”

Tocchet became a free agent two weeks ago when his tenure ended with the Canucks. Vancouver president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said Tocchet wanted to be closer to his family on the Eastern part of the United States.

That and many other connections made the Flyers look like a clear-cut spot for Tocchet. The 61-year-old adores the city and franchise. He’s in the Flyers Hall of Fame. He and Briere were teammates with the Coyotes and he was a Flyers teammate with president of hockey operations Keith Jones.

“I’m sure the players will tell you, there’s no better place to play,” Tocchet said in November 2021 at his Flyers Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

We’ll see if that place becomes Tocchet’s NHL home again. We profiled his candidacy for the Flyers’ job here.

Other coaching candidates

• National champion coach gives Flyers interesting option in search

• Shaw’s sample size enough to win Flyers’ coaching job?

• After 79-41-13 run with Oilers, could Woodcroft be option for Flyers?

• Laperriere offers Flyers solid internal candidate for head coaching job

• Rising assistant with championship pedigree would be intriguing for Flyers

• A junior coach and former Briere teammate linked to Flyers’ job

• An assistant coach with Berube ties would be real dark-horse hire for Flyers

As the Vancouver Canucks continue their search for a new head coach, one name that continues to pop up for the position is Manny Malhotra. The 44-year-old is currently the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, and has led the AHL farm team to their best season in franchise history. Even though he has only been a bench boss for one season, his lack of head coaching experience should not be a deterrent for the Canucks. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Vancouver Canucks At The 2025 IIHF World Championship: May 12

Report: Canucks Projected To Narrow Head Coaching Search This Week

Vancouver Canucks 2025 NHL Draft Target: Julius Saari

While Malhotra has only been an AHL head coach for one season, he has plenty of experience behind an NHL bench. He was an assistant coach with Vancouver from 2017-20 before spending four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the same position. Even though he wasn't a head coach, he still would have had plenty of time to learn and work with NHL players in two of the most scrutinized markets in the NHL. 

One challenging aspect of being the Canucks head coach is talking to the media on a daily basis. This should not be a problem for Malhotra, as he not only played in Vancouver but also spent time with both the New York Rangers and Montréal Canadiens. Unlike an outside candidate who has never been part of the organization, Malhotra has experienced the pressure of this market and should be able to adapt if named head coach. 

While Malhotra's record in the AHL this season is impressive, his management of the bench during games has stood out. It is clear he has a good sense of his team, as he isn't afraid to change lines or even play styles to kick-start his team. With momentum playing such an important role in the NHL, having a coach who can read and react based on how the game is developing is crucial to having long-term success. 

Abbotsford Canucks Advance To The Division Final Of The 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs After 2-0 Victory Over The Coachella Valley FirebirdsFor the first time in franchise history, the Abbotsford Canucks are off to the Division Final, after a 2-0 Game 4 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Max Sasson scored the winner on the power play, while Linus Karlsson secured the win with an empty-net goal. As for Artūrs Šilovs, he was unbeatable, stopping all 29 shots he faced. 

Another benefit of promoting Malhotra is his track record with young players. Thanks to Malhotra's coaching, the Canucks were able to call up players from the AHL throughout the season who impressed at the NHL level. Based on the way the call-ups played, it is also clear that Malhotra understands the organization's game plan and how to implement it at the AHL level. 

It is also important to note that Malhotra has experience coaching some of the players currently on Vancouver's roster. As mentioned, he was an assistant coach for three years, which means he has experience working with Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko, Tyler Myers and Brock Boeser. While these players have changed over the past five years, it shouldn't take long for Malhotra to reintroduce himself if hired. 

Ultimately, experience should not be a deterrent in hiring Malhotra. If need be, the organization can always surround him with experienced assistant coaches to help him next season. In the end, he looks like the right person for the job and deserves the chance to show what he can do as an NHL head coach. 

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.

ST. LOUIS -- It's amazing what a change of scenery did for Cam Fowler.

After spending the first 14-plus seasons of his career with the only team he ever knew -- the Anaheim Ducks -- that drafted him with the No. 12 pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, there comes a time in a player's career, even after spending it with one organization, that a player needs a fresh start to revitalize one's career.

For the St. Louis Blues defenseman, being traded by the Ducks to the Blues on Dec. 14 wound up being a blessing of disguise for the 33-year-old.

Not only did Fowler revitalize his own career, he helped shape the Blues' defense and helped fuel a run to Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round against the Winnipeg Jets.

Fowler, who had 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) and was a plus-19 in 51 games with St. Louis after having just four assists in 17 games with the Ducks, talked about his move to the Blues, what it meant for his career and what he's excited about with this team moving forward; he led the Blues with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in the series against the Jets: 

On not knowing what to expect when you decided to come to St. Louis. Looking back on it, was it the best thing for you and are you excited for what lies ahead?

Yeah absolutely. I've said this a lot, but I'm so grateful and thankful to this organization from top to bottom for giving me this opportunity and making me and my family feel so comfortable here. As scary as that decision was at the time, I'm really happy with how everything's turned out and me and my family have been so happy here and with this team. I'm really excited for the future and I definitely feel like I'm a part of this group now and the way that everyone has welcomed me into the locker room has made that transition easy for me so I'm thankful for that and to all these guys. I'm really excited about our group and what lies ahead in the future.

Would you like to talk about signing here beyond the one year you have remaining on your contract?

Yeah, absolutely. Those decisions and those conversations will have to be something that we go through over the summer with Doug [Armstrong] and the whole group here. I would love to be around as long as they'd like me here. I just honest can't say enough about this team and this city and what it means to be a Blue and what that means for the players and for the fans in the community. It's just something that I've really enjoyed. If those conversations come up, I'd be happy to talk about that and we'll see what the summer brings with all of that.

Why were you able to have so much success when you came to St. Louis?

I think a major part of that was the system that we have in place here with 'Monty' and kind specifically for me how he wants the D-men to approach the game. I just found myself very comfortable in the system and we have amazing players here obviously too that helps make my job a little bit easier. I think it was the opportunity and the way that 'Monty' wants us to utilize our skating ability and jump up in the play offensively and then I had a good opportunity on the power play too with 'Tommer' and 'Buchy', 'Boldy.' We got that clicking pretty good. I think it was just a combination of it all, but the main thing for me was playing in a system that the coaching staff has set in place for us. It was something I was comfortable with and I was able to try and work my game around that as best as I could.

You'd love to forget about what happened in Game 7, but is it OK to carry that forward with you as players to remind of how you don't want to feel again and use it as motivation?

It's a little bit of both in my opinion. You have to learn from it, understand what happened and the way it happened is something that's going to sit with us for a little while. I don't think it's something that you can dwell on. It's nothing that should be used as a negative for next season. I think if anything, it shows us as a group how close we feel like we are and we were in a great position in a great opportunity. Unfortunately, it slipped through our fingers, but I think sometimes you have to go through those moments as a group to learn from them and try and reach the point that you're all trying to get to. I know individually, a lot of us will be thinking about it for weeks to come and using it as motivation, but when we all come back for training camp next year, I think it'll be motivation for us of course, but it's not something that we'll be dwelling on and we'll be excited for the start of next season, where this group can grow and a point that we can get to as a team.

The Chicago Blackhawks had an interesting year. They were slow, lethargic, and not very entertaining in the first half of the season. 

By the campaign's halfway point, the roster started becoming infested with youthful exuberance. That leads them into the summer, where they will look to make the team even better. 

Whether it was on the NHL roster, in the AHL, or from other leagues around the world, the Chicago Blackhawks saw a lot of their best prospects take huge steps. 

The future has been the focus for this organization ever since Kyle Davidson started the current rebuild that they are trying to finish off. Prospects have played a key role. 

Of all these young men who took steps in their development this year, these three stood out the most: 

1. Frank Nazar

Frank Nazar started the season off as a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. He ended the year as one of their most important contributors. 

Nazar was drafted with the hopes of being an offensive player, which is exactly what he's trying to do. What came out of nowhere is his ability to play well in all three zones. 

Defending is usually the hardest part of a young forward's development, but Nazar is on a great track. He even showed the ability to be a high-end penalty killer, which will be a major help when they are trying to win again. 

In the early stages of the 2024-25 season, Nazar was one of the leading scorers of the American Hockey League with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 21 games played. He forced Chicago to call him up. 

In 53 games with the Blackhawks, a much harder situation, Nazar had 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. Most of those points came in the final month of the season when something clicked for him. 

Likely, Nazar will never play in the American League again. Instead, he'll continue to be one of the most relied-on top-six forwards in Chicago's lineup. 

2. Sam Rinzel

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Sam Rinzel with the 25th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was one of three first-round selections made by Chicago that night. 

Chicago saw something in him. Otherwise, they wouldn't have used a first-round selection on him. However, they have to be even happier with that selection now than they were back then. His development since being drafted is something special. 

Rinzel played college hockey at the University of Minnesota. In 2024-25, he scored 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 40 games played. That is all while playing as sound defensively as a college hockey player could. 

Once Minnesota's season ended, the Blackhawks brought Rinzel (and Oliver Moore) in as quickly as they could. He fit right in. He didn't score his first career NHL goal, but he did have five assists in nine games. 

Rinzel also led the Hawks in time-on-ice more than once over those nine games. His skating, ability to control the play, special teams contributions, and overall skills suggest that he could be a top-pair NHL defenseman. 

Like Nazar, Rinzel went from being a prospect to a key contributor in the long term. With all of the young defensemen in the organization surrounding Rinzel,  there is potential for something special. 

3. Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis was a third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Since then, Lardis has become one of Chicago's most notable prospects. 

Playing for the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League, he took a major step forward in 2024-25. Lardis turned into one of the OHL's top goal scorers as he had 71 in 65 games played. He added 46 assists for 117 points in those 65 games. 

Unfortunately, his season ended in the playoffs due to an injury. From that point on, his team wasn't able to recover and was eliminated. If he is healthy going into training camp in the fall, he will be given a chance to play in the preseason and potentially earn a spot. 

Lardis's stock rose a lot more than people expected coming into the year. A sniper like that would look great with playmakers like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar if he can translate it to the pro game. 

Honorable mentions include Sacha Boisvert, Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, Ryan Greene, and Marek Vanacker. The Blackhawks have one of the best farm systems in the NHL, which gives them hope for the future. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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

But there is another area they may find themselves quite active in as well.

Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas mentioned some potential interest in the restricted free agent market this summer, specifically for younger players in their earlier 20s who may not be brought back by their current teams for one reason or another. He also mentioned that the Penguins are prepared to move some assets for such players.

Given the Penguins' overflowing draft cupboard - and their abundance of higher-value picks - who are some bigger names on the forward front that they can target? 

Here are five RFA forwards for the Penguins to call about, should they be available.

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Marco Rossi - Center, Minnesota Wild

We've already covered the situation with Rossi, and for good reason.

The 23-year-old center put up 24 goals and 60 points in his second full NHL season, and he only seems to be getting better and better. Yet the Minnesota Wild don't seem to be interested in keeping him around long-term.

Although Rossi may be undersized at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, it seems odd that he is, apparently, losing favor with his team because he has two-way, top-six talent. But, if he is available, it's fair to assume that pretty much every team will be interested to a degree.

If Rossi Is Available, Penguins Should Be CallingIt's safe to say that it will be a very interesting summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It's hard to say whether or not the Penguins have the right assets to be able to give perceived fair value in return. The Wild are in desperate need of center depth, and - beyond center prospect Tristan Broz - the Penguins don't have much promising center depth in their system.

Then again, if Minnesota needs a center that badly, it's hard to imagine why they don't value Rossi as a center. So, it's possible that the Penguins might be able to put together a package that doesn't have a high-end center or center prospect as the main piece in a package.

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Mavrik Bourque - Center, Dallas Stars

Bourque - a first-round pick (30th overall) for the Dallas Stars in 2020 - is certainly one of the more interesting names out there, as the Stars' young forward has yet to really hit his stride at the NHL level.

But the young center is the exact type of the player that the Penguins need.

In 2023-24, Bourque - then 22 years old - registered 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games for the Texas Stars, Dallas's AHL affiliate. He was also a 20-goal scorer in his rookie AHL season in 2022-23. In his rookie season with Dallas this year, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound forward put up 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games in a somewhat limited role.

 

Exclusive: For Mavrik Bourque, Patience Is a Necessary VirtueThe Stars 30th overall draft pick in 2020 discusses his early AHL struggles, Logan Stankoven's NHL success, and how he's preparing for his own call-up.

The Stars are an example of a team that will be very limited by the salary cap this summer, and they have a lot of tough decisions to make. Only projected at $5.87 million in cap space right now, they have pending-UFAs in forwards Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadonov, Colin Blackwell. and Mikael Granlund as well as defensemen Cody Ceci, Nils Lundqvist, and Brendan Smith.

Although most of those players are likely to walk, they don't have much wiggle room to keep some of the veterans they would probably like to stick around. Bourque has also been a healthy scratch for most of the playoffs, so if Dallas feels like the "now" is more important for their chances at a Cup, they may elect to keep one of the veterans over him. 

If that's the case, the Penguins should be all over that opportunity, as Bourque's finishing ability and high-IQ should translate well to the style the Penguins play.

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Will Cuylle - Right Wing, New York Rangers

If the New York Rangers are smart, Will Cuylle, 23, should be their number one priority this summer. In just his second full NHL season, he registered 20 goals and 45 points.

But, like the Stars, it's a bit more complicated than that.

The Blueshirts aren't quite as cap-strapped as the Stars are, but they still have a few tough decisions to make - particularly on their blue line. Left defenseman K'Andre Miller is a pending-RFA - as is Zac Jones and several bottom-six forwards - and if the team is to return to playoff contention next season, they need to make some big changes on that front.

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.

If they choose to retain Miller, he is due for a raise on his $3.87 cap hit, and they'll still be best-served to target a legitimate top-four defenseman. If they do, well, they'll only have $8.4 million to work with, per Puckpedia. 

Cuylle - currently suiting up for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship - should be part of the Rangers' plan going forward. But if they decide to prioritize reshaping their blue line, don't be surprised if the former second-round pick becomes a cap casualty.

In that case, Pittsburgh should sniff around for a trade-then-sign, as the winger has all the tools to stick in the top-six.

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Mason McTavish - Center, Anaheim Ducks

McTavish's name was thrown around a bit a few months ago in trade talks, and there seemed to be some friction between him and former Anaheim Ducks coach Greg Cronin.

With Cronin out of the picture, there's not as much noise around McTavish potentially wanting a change of scenery. In fact, he has expressed his desire to remain with the Ducks, and if the Ducks are smart, he should be the top priority this summer.

But if he is available for one reason or another - especially if he wants a longer-term deal or an AAV figure that Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek isn't willing to meet, as he has mentioned his preference for bridge deals - the Penguins would be wise to consider giving up some high value for him in a trade.

How Coronato's Contract Extension Impacts McTavish's Negotiations with the DucksMason McTavish enters the 2025 offseason as one of two (Lukas Dostal) high-profile restricted free agents (RFAs) on the Anaheim Ducks’ roster.

McTavish - the 22-year-old, 3rd overall pick of the Ducks in 2021 - is already a legitimate second-line center option. He's dangerous on the power play, he's got a heavy shot, he doesn't shy from physicality, he's a menace on the forecheck, and his production is rising year-by-year, as he recorded 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games this season.

The Ducks should - and probably will - keep him around, as they don't have too many promising center prospects on the way. But if contract issues arise, this may be a situation where the Penguins could offer a top forward prospect and the New York Rangers' conditional first and get a very good player in return.

More realistically, however, the Penguins will probably be more interested in one of the Ducks' young defensemen. 

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Luke Evangelista - Right Wing, Nashville Predators

Although the Nashville Predators are not cap-strapped heading into next season - and retaining Evangelista should be no problem cap-wise - they're in a very compromising place.

It's safe to say that no one could have predicted just how poorly the Nashville Predators' season was going to go. They finished third from the bottom of the league standings with just 68 points, and this was despite a huge 2024 offseason that saw them acquire the likes of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei. 

On paper, this season shouldn't have happened. But it did, and with all of those guys - plus a few others - locked up long-term, they almost need to completely retool their roster on-the-fly to have any chance at contending in the near-term. 

Five Quick Questions with Luke EvangelistaLuke Evangelista sums up his season so far, knows exactly what he'd change about overtime, and is a creature of habit on game days.

Goaltender Juuse Saros had a rough season, but the defense in front of him didn't do any favors. They need a little bit of everything position-wise, and with a lot of high-value draft capital for the next three years - including three first-round picks this year - they should be wheeling and dealing for high-end talent.

This could make Evangelista, 23, a casualty of priorities. He recorded 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games this season - his second full one - which isn't quite enough to warrant anything but a bridge contract but is enough to suggest he could continue to improve. But, given their situation as an organization, they might choose to shoot higher in the trade market.

The former second-round pick wouldn't cost as much as the other options on this list, but he might be a worthwhile gamble as a complementary young piece for the Penguins should he become available.

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Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman, who has built a 30-year career in hockey on getting things right, is indicating that the Los Angeles Kings are very close to naming Ken Holland as their new general manager. 

We will see where things progress over the next few days, but all indications are that the LA Kings are closing in on Ken Holland as their next GM

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 13, 2025

After team president Luc Robitaille announced on May 6th that he and former GM Rob Blake had mutually agreed to go in a different direction, many initially speculated that a change would come from within. Ex-Montreal GM and Kings senior advisor Marc Bergevin was thought to have an inside track but after Robitaille mentioned the success that the Detroit Red Wings had enjoyed over the years during his media availability, speculation began to turn toward Ken Holland, architect of Detroit's three Stanley Cup wins between 1998 and 2008.

Under Holland, the Red Wings put together a 25-year postseason streak, behind only Chicago (28) and Boston (29) and became a model franchise for over two decades. During his tenure at the helm in the Motor City, the Red Wings won the President's Trophy four times and were a Cup contender virtually every season. 

Holland, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020, left Detroit in 2019 to take over GM duties in Edmonton, where several number one overall picks in succession had failed to move the needle for the Oilers. Holland added key pieces like Mattias Ekholm, Zach Hyman, and Evander Kane to the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, culminating in a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2022 and a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2024. Failing into a 3-0 hole against the Florida Panthers, the Oilers picked themselves off the deck to force a Game 7, but couldn't come all the way back, losing 2-1 in the last game of the season. 

The desire for the Kings to add someone with Holland's pedigree is understandable. If Robitaille truly believes that the Kings are just a few tweaks away from winning it all, Holland could be just the guy to make the necessary moves to bring a third Cup to Los Angeles. For a franchise whose longest playoff streak is just nine seasons and has never won the President's Trophy, let alone four of them, bringing in an executive of Holland's caliber seems, at least on paper, to be a big upgrade. 

Although they have been bounced in the first round for the last four seasons, Holland will inherit a pretty solid team. The Kings set a franchise record with 31 wins on home ice last year and tied a regular season best with 105 points. They even led the Oilers 2-0 in the first round series this year and outplayed the Oilers for much of Games 3 and 4 before inexplicably falling apart. 

Could Holland's familiarity with the nemesis Edmonton Oilers be a factor in the Kings' desire to hand him the keys? Any nugget of insider information that could possibly help LA get the Edmonton monkey off their back would surely be welcome but that alone probably doesn't get Holland the job. Besides, after four straight playoff series, the Kings already know pretty much everything there is to know about the Oilers. 

Except how to beat them.