Deciding who deserves to be the NHL's coach of the year is an interesting exercise.

Does it always go to the best coach? Does the squad need to have significantly more points than the year before? Does the coach deserve the honor if his team's roster is stacked?

Voted on by the NHL Broadcasters' Association, the Jack Adams Award technically goes to "the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."

Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery received the award last season after guiding his team to a 20-point improvement. The last coach to win the Jack Adams Award while their team captured the Presidents' Trophy was Jim Montgomery in 2022-23, when his Boston Bruins improved by 28 points to put up a record-breaking 135 points in a season.

In this ranking of our top five Jack Adams Award candidates, only one of these coaches has won it before.

Speaking of coaches who haven't won the Jack Adams, Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar deserves an honorable mention for what he has accomplished with his team. With Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, it'd be a surprise if the Avalanche weren't thriving, but if they threaten to break the Bruins' record for most points in a season, Bednar could get the award.

Here is my five for the Jack Adams Award just over a quarter of the way into the 2025-26 NHL season.

5. Martin St-Louis, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have been growing every season under Martin St-Louis. As the youngest squad in the NHL, according to eliteprospects.com, the organization has its coach to thank for its come-up.

Last season, St-Louis led the Canadiens to their first playoff berth since 2021, showing signs of improvement and becoming a more competitive team.

For those efforts, St-Louis was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, finishing third in voting behind runner-up and Winnipeg Jets bench boss Scott Arniel.

This year, the Habs' coach should find himself in the mix for the award once again if his team continues to perform the way they have.

Montreal is third in the Atlantic Division with 29 points in 24 games, thanks to a 13-8-3 record. Going into November, they were leading the division, meaning they've had a bit of a slump, resulting in St-Louis dropping to No. 5.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 17.00/+1600

4. Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning

It's a true mystery and shock to think that Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper has never won a Jack Adams Award despite winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, making it to two additional Eastern Conference finals and capturing the Presidents' Trophy.

The closest Cooper got was in 2018-19 when he finished as a runner-up to New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz. He also finished third in voting in 2013-14, when Patrick Roy earned the award with the Avalanche.

Cooper's Lightning had a terrible 1-4-2 start to the season, leaving all to wonder if he's taken Tampa Bay as far as he could. However, that narrative has completely changed as the Bolts top the Atlantic as of Dec. 2.

Even though a handful of his players haven't been playing up to their standard – such as Brayden Point with three goals and 11 points in 21 games and Oliver Bjorkstrand with two goals and nine points in 25 games – Cooper has kept the team performing at the highest level.

Maybe this is the year Cooper finally gets his flowers and some individual hardware.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 11.00/+1000

3. Marco Sturm, Boston Bruins

There wasn't much of an expectation for the Bruins going into this season. At last year's trade deadline, they turned into sellers, trading away captain Brad Marchand and others for draft picks and young players.

Despite this change in the organization over the last season or so, new coach Marco Sturm has kept the Bruins in a playoff position, as they have been for most of the past decade.

With Sturm's help behind the bench, Boston is second in the Atlantic. Their power-play success rate ranks fourth in the NHL, and their penalty-kill rate ranks seventh.

After spending seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings organization as an NHL assistant and AHL coach, this is his first year as an NHL head coach.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 31.00/+3000

2. Dan Muse, Pittsburgh Penguins

It's been truly remarkable what Dan Muse has pulled out of the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. It would be difficult to find many non-biased observers who thought this team would be in the position they are in now.

The Penguins were a write-off for this campaign, and many had them pencilled in as a lottery team. In fact, when Muse was brought in to lead duties behind the bench, there wasn't much expectation, as the highest level he'd head-coached was with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and the USHL. He was also an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators and the New York Rangers.

Since he was appointed, he's silenced all his critics, pushing the Penguins into a playoff spot as they hold on to the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They're also ninth in the NHL.

Those results aren't bad for a rookie NHL bench boss.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 15.00/+1400

1. Joel Quenneville, Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks haven't been to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the last seven seasons, but the fans in Orange County may not have to wait much longer.

The addition of veteran coach Joel Quenneville, who was reinstated by the NHL in 2024, was the perfect fit for the young and exciting Ducks.

Anaheim finished 25th in the NHL last season but leads the Pacific Division and ranks fifth in the league this year.

The Ducks have one of the best offenses in the NHL, averaging 3.62 goals-for. They only sit behind the Avalanche in that category.

There's an argument that this success can be credited to the players having breakout seasons. Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe and others all have a say in that.

However, Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Jack Adams winner in 2000, has done an effective job of handling a maturing team like his Ducks.

BetMGM Jack Adams Award odds: 3.10/+210

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The Wraparound is here to discuss more rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in this episode:

0:00: Breaking down Logan Cooley's injury against the St. Louis Blues

4:55: Can the management group in Calgary build toward contention in the time of their new extensions?

9:01: What has led to the Philadelphia Flyers' recent success?

12:42: Will Rutger McGroarty play a bigger role with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season?

17:22: Can the Maple Leafs' goaltending break them out of their early-season slump?

22:06: Looking at the top early candidates for the Vezina Trophy

25:50: Could Laurent Brossoit be an effective goalie on a contending team this season?

30:28: What will it take for the Winnipeg Jets to get back on track? 

Could Laurent Brossoit Help A Contending NHL Team? by The Wraparound

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The Chicago Blackhawks have hit the road for a hand full of games after a long stretch at home. Despite just recently snapping a five game losing streak, they are still right there on the playoff bubble at 11-9-5.

The first game of this road trip is against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. This is the first time that the two clubs are matching up this season.  

Connor Bedard Is The "Third Star of the Month" For November

On Tuesday, the National Hockey League announced that Connor Bedard was the NHL's "Third Star of the Month" for November. 

Blackhawks Superstar Connor Bedard Named Third Star Of NovemberChicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard was named the Third Star of the Month for November.

Scouting Vegas 

The Vegas Golden Knights have one of the best rosters in the NHL. They have superstars everywhere. Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev, Tomas Hertl, and newly signed Mitch Marner lead the way offensively for them. On defense, Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore lead a strong group on the back end. 

Barbashev-Eichel-Bowman

Marner-Howden-Stone

Saad-Hertl-Dorofeyev

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McNabb-Theodore

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Hart

Despite having this loaded group, they are 11-6-8. Having most of their losses in overtime has kept them afloat in the Western Conference playoff chase but they are not playing like the dominant team that most expected coming into the year. 

Their goaltending has been lackluster and Marner is a guy still trying to get comfortable in his new situation. They are also missing William Karlsson due to injury, which is a big loss because of what he provides in all three zones. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks snapped a five game losing streak in their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. After going down 3-0, they came all the way back to win 5-3. 

Blackhawks Score 5 Unanswered, End Losing Streak With Comeback WInThe Chicago Blackhawks scored five unanswered goals to beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-3 to end the losing streak.

Although Vegas hasn't been overly impressive based on their expectations coming into the season, they still have an elite roster that is sure to be a Stanley Cup contender once the playoffs roll around. The Blackhawks must be ready for an opponent on that level in this one. 

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Moore

Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Dach-Donato

Vlasic-Crevier

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Rinzel

With their 11/7 strategy, Landon Slaggert and Sam Lafferty are the likely scratches. Spencer Knight is going to be Chicago's starting goalie for the second game in a row. 

Knight enters the game with a 2.51 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. He gives them a chance to win every start. After allowing two goals in the first minute against the Ducks, Knight locked in and eventually won the game. 

Bedard's November that earned him a "Third Star of the Month" brought him to a total of 37 points, which is third in the NHL. Playing with Ryan Greene and Andre Burakovsky gives that top line a little bit of everything. 

There is more offensive depth and speed in the middle six, and a spot on the fourth line for double shifting top players on the team.

With the 11/7 lineup, all of their defensemen are given opportunities to play more when they are on top of their game. It has been beneficial for everyone. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. For viewing, it will be streamed nationally on ESPN+ or Hulu. The puck will drop shortly after 9 PM CT. 

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Leon Draisaitl spoke ahead of the optional skate for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday and noted that the league is different and that every year is a new story. One of the more interesting stories in the NHL in 2025-26 is the one being written in Minnesota. 

Over the past 10 games, an 8-0-2 Wild has proven their a force in the NHL. Meanwhile, the club is coming to Edmonton to battle an Oilers group that is still searching for its game. Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is red hot, and the Wild have a solid team with offensive stars and players who can play a 200-foot game. Their blue line is healthy, and almost everyone is firing. 

The same can't be said for the Oilers, who while they played a much better game against the Seattle Kraken an earned a 4-0 shutout win, know that one game doesn't flip a season and point the club in the right direction. 

The Wild will be a test for the Oilers. So far this season, tests tend to wind up with a failing grade. 

Time For the Oilers To Find The Game They Want to Play

"Let's go out and, you know, keep it simple," said Draisaitl. "It's the cliche, but just get your game, you know, just make it feel like playing the game that we want to play, and have that intensity, and then we'll be fine."

When asked about what seems like a tradition of the Oilers starting slowly and then turning it on in December and January, Draisaitl said there's good and bad about that somewhat troubling habit.

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"I don't know. I try not to read too much into... every year writes its own story. You know, constantly falling behind, and in these situations, that's not ideal; it's not the way that you want to go into a year. "With that being said, we do know the situation that we're in we have been here before. We have been in worse situations than what we're in right now, so that should give you a little bit of confidence. But, at the end of the day, this is a new year, this is a new league with new teams, and  they're both different and better teams, so which, yeah, we got to get going, we got to get on the road a little bit."

"They've got a very good team, very explosive," said head coach Kris Knoblauch. He noted that their defense likes to jump up and the goaltending their getting when the Wild make a mistake is bailing them out and making it an option for them to keep gambling and capitalizing on opportunties. 

When asked about the test that is the Wild, "Minnesota is one of the best teams in the league right now," and said he certainly hopes they (the Oilers) are ready to play. 

Wallstedt Is The Talk Of A Much Better Wild Team

Wallstedt has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November after a dominant 6-0-0 run with a league-best 1.14 goals-against average, .967 save percentage, and three shutouts. He's the "it guy" in the NHL these days -- not ideal for Oilers fans, considering this was a player the team could have drafted.

The 20th-overall pick from 2021 allowed two or fewer goals in five of six starts, highlighted by shutouts against Calgary, Anaheim, and Winnipeg. He also set a Wild rookie record with a 175:12 shutout streak, the longest by an NHL rookie goalie since 2016. 

The 23-year-old is now 7-0-2 with a .938 save percentage and joins elite company as one of only six rookie goalies to open a season with a nine-game point streak.

Wild head coach John Hynes said of Wallstedt's game, "He had a good offeseason. He made some real commitments to show that he wants to be able to get the best out of him. We know he has NHL talent. Now he's learning the other parts of, whether it's the game, or being the starting goalie, how important some of the things around the game are, your nutrition, rest recovery, practice.." 

If he keeps playing well, he'll keep getting opportunities. Wallsted didn't handle disappointment well last season, but he's gone through that adversity and "he took the action steps and learning lessons" said the coach. 

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Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane sustained an upper-body injury during his club's 2-1 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 17, and missed Detroit's subsequent nine games.

Since his return from the injury, he's skated in 12 games and scored once while adding eight assists. However, he's had multiple top-notch scoring opportunities that were unsuccessful, including two separate instances in which he had a gaping net to shoot at with the puck nearly on the goal line. 

Those are the kinds of chances that Kane would normally have buried with extreme ease during his Hall of Fame career, but he admitted that he continues to battle some inconsistency since coming back.

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"I think it's kind of been up and down, a little inconsistent," Kane said of his overall play since returning to the Detroit lineup. "Some games I feel like I'm creating a lot, but overall - I think I've been back for 11 or 12 games since my injury and I could easily be sitting here with a handful more goals, right? But whether it's bearing down and just making sure when you get those chances that puck goes in, that's kind of on me."

The good news for Kane is that he's had multiple quality looks, and the more it happens, the more he's likely to begin capitalizing on them. 

"But you have to be happy with getting those looks and chances, and try to keep doing the same thing to get those because the more you get, eventually something will break," he said. 

Kane had a beautiful assist during Detroit's 3-2 shootout setback against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 29, dishing a nifty backhand feed to Michael Rasmussen at the side of the net late in regulation, helping the Red Wings knot the score at 2-2 and secure a point in the standings. 

Big Ras. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/tKlddcxoog

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 30, 2025

Head coach Todd McLellan isn't sweating Kane's goalless drought, noting that even the most successful players sometimes experience scoring slumps and pointing to the offensive opportunities Kane still manages to create. 

"If I was a betting man, I'd certainly bet on him finishing some of those, but for some reason, they haven't gone in," McLellan said of Kane's recent scoring chances. "Players can go through that, and even Patrick Kane can go through that at times. The simple fact that he's still creating chances, and when the power-play is going well, it's usually going through him." 

"The offense is what he's here for. He gets a little leeway defensively, but he's still providing that." 

While Kane said he felt his timing was a bit off during his initial return to play, it's simply a matter of regaining the kind of mental fortitude that's made him one of the game's best players throughout his time in the NHL. 

"Mentally, just kind of getting out of your own head a little bit and just play the game like you've done your whole career," he said of what he needs to do. 

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November was an eventful month in the NHL, filled with major storylines.

The Colorado Avalanche are the second team in 45 years to have one regulation loss or fewer entering American Thanksgiving. Youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard are emerging as superstars. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers' struggles became a frequent talking point.

However, November was also full of great plays on both ends of the ice. The Avalanche, Leafs and Oilers had some dazzling moments during the month, even though only one of those squads had a November to remember.

Here are the NHL's top 10 plays of the month.

10. Clean Pace And Puck Control Lead To Cale Makar Goal

With the Avalanche trailing 2-1 against the New York Rangers on Nov. 20, Cale Makar stepped up and delivered one of the best goals of the month to tie the game up late in the second period. 

Cale Makar flies in and puts home the wraparound tally! ✅ pic.twitter.com/Ky3BHAN7hJ

— NHL (@NHL) November 21, 2025

The play started with a 3-on-2 in the Rangers' zone. Nathan MacKinnon dropped a pass over to Martin Necas, who made a cross-ice pass to Makar. Makar sped behind the net and wrapped it behind a lunging Igor Shesterkin, who couldn't get his pad out in time.

9. Sam Reinhart, What A Goal

With just over seven minutes left in the first period of their Nov. 20 game against the New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers right winger Sam Reinhart delivered a beautiful goal, in what would be the only one of the game.

Sam Reinhart scores a beauty 😍

📺: Devils 🆚 Panthers live on SNP
📲: Stream on Sportsnet+ pic.twitter.com/EdNroujZOy

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 21, 2025

Reinhart picked the puck up at center ice and went off into Devils territory while Luke Hughes defended him. As he neared the hashmarks, Hughes tried to swipe the puck away. Reinhart slid the puck underneath Hughes' stick and followed up with a snap shot that beat goalie Jake Allen stick-side.

8. Leo Carlsson Goes Backhand Top Corner

On Nov. 8 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson extended the team's lead to 2-1 on one of his best goals yet.

Following a brief battle for the puck along the boards in the offensive zone, Ducks left winger Troy Terry emerged with it and fed Carlsson.

Carlsson made a quick backhand move, lifting the puck past defenseman Noah Hanifin and goalie Akira Schmid.

LEO CARLSSON ROOFS IT BACK HAND WHAT A GOAL 🤢🚨 pic.twitter.com/OI8VJAj2Wr

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 9, 2025

Carlsson has stepped his game up this year, but the quick move and accuracy on this goal were on a whole different level.

7. Beck Malenstyn Dekes Around Sebastian Aho

Buffalo Sabres left winger Beck Malenstyn is not known for piling up the points, but he surprised everybody against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 23. 

BECK MALENSTYN, ARE YOU KIDDING RIGHT NOW?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3YlztKsQfd

— NHL (@NHL) November 23, 2025

With just over a minute remaining in the second period, Malenstyn caught a pass from Tyler Kozak, sending him into Hurricanes territory with Sebastian Aho to beat. When Aho caught up, Malenstyn pulled off a windmill deke, leaving the Hurricanes center lost. Malenstyn emerged on a mini breakaway and beat goalie Frederik Andersen glove-side for what was likely the best goal of his career.

6. William Nylander Fakes Out Jordan Binnington

In a game where the Maple Leafs needed a win badly, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly combined for arguably the team's best goal of the year so far.

WILLIAM NYLANDER SCORES AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY FOR THE OT WINNER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5XPAK4W4OM

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 19, 2025

With just under a minute left in overtime against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 18, a battle for the puck ensued along the boards in offensive territory. Tavares emerged with the puck and made a back-heeled pass to Rielly, who sent it over to Nylander. Moving in, Nylander slid the puck past Dylan Holloway before deking out goalie Jordan Binnington on a backhand move that allowed him to tap it in.

5. Tyler Bertuzzi, Sam Rinzel And Connor Bedard Combine For A Beauty

The Chicago Blackhawks have been in a long rebuild, so it's fair to say their fans were pretty surprised when forwards Connor Bedard, Tyler Bertuzzi and Sam Rinzel combined for one of the nicest goals the team has scored in years.

Genuinely one of the prettiest plays the Blackhawks have executed in years:pic.twitter.com/uH2orWXJZV

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 27, 2025

The play began with Bedard skating in the offensive zone and leaving the puck for an incoming Bertuzzi, who sent it across the ice to Rinzel. Rinzel made a quick pass over to Bedard, who cut in front of the net and tipped it in over lunging Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson.

4. Mikko Rantanen Pulls Off Spinning Backhand Goal

There are plenty of reasons Mikko Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96-million contract with the Dallas Stars last year. His ability to find the back of the net no matter the situation, as he did against the Vancouver Canucks, is definitely one of them.

Take a bow, Mikko Rantanen 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TsbVai6fDj

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 21, 2025

With just over a minute left in the third period of their Nov. 21 game against the Canucks, Rantanen moved into the offensive zone in a 1-on-1 against Brock Boeser. As he neared the hashmarks, Rantanen spun and sent a no-look backhand shot on goal that beat goalie Kevin Lankinen over his left shoulder.

3. Andrei Vasilevskiy Makes An Incredible Game-Saving Stop

Anybody who said Andrei Vasilevskiy isn't the same goalie he used to be is dead wrong, and this game-saving play against the  Oilers couldn't be better proof.

With just over three minutes remaining in overtime, the Oilers emerged on a 3-on-2 in Lightning territory, with defenseman Darnell Nurse in control of the puck. Vasilevskiy stopped Nurse's shot, but the puck redirected right in front of the net for Oilers right winger Jack Roslovic, who appeared to have an easy scoring chance.

As Roslovic went to raise the puck over Vasilevskiy, the goalie lifted his pad and stopped the shot.

VASILEVSKIY MAKES AN INSANE OT SAVE AND THE BOLTS GO DOWN AND WIN IT 🤯⚡️ pic.twitter.com/FrYk28F29X

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 21, 2025

With Oilers defenders struggling to get back, the Tampa Bay Lightning charged down the ice and scored the game-winning goal.

2. Connor McDavid Also Scored A Spinning Backhand Goal

If you thought Mikko Rantanen's spinning goal was incredible, just brace yourself for what Oilers superstar Connor McDavid did just a week-and-a-half earlier.

Just under a minute into the third period of the team's Nov. 10 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, McDavid entered the offensive zone, trying to make something happen.

OH MY GOSH CONNOR MCDAVID THAT WAS FILTHY 🤢 pic.twitter.com/4EvPquPiBf

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 11, 2025

Coming down the left boards, he skated across the ice, spun at the top of the right faceoff circle and delivered a no-look backhand shot that beat goalie Jet Greaves' glove side.

McDavid also sent Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk flying to the ground during his spinning shot, making the play even more impressive.

1. Jonathan Quick Robs Patrick Kane Of Wide-Open Net Goal

Yes, there's one play that beats McDavid's thrilling goal, and that's a defensive play by Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick.

With just under 11 minutes remaining in the second period of the Rangers' Nov. 7 game against the Detroit Red Wings, Quick came out of his net to play the puck.

However, it deflected off the stick of Patrick Kane, who had an open net.

Just before it looked like Quick's blunder would be one of the biggest misplays of the month, he dove in the direction of Kane. Quick took his stick and pulled Kane's twig away from the puck.

This might be the best defensive play of the decade by Quick pic.twitter.com/QhnS1ZaZcA

— Empty Netters (@EmptyNettersPod) November 8, 2025

The Rangers, who were up 2-1 at the time, ended up adding two more for the win. Quick's save wasn't only incredible but also prevented a momentum shift, leaving it as the best play of the month.

Michael Hapanovich is an intern with The Hockey News.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a superstar on their hands with Connor Bedard. He has been a top-five scorer in the NHL all season long, and he took his game to another level in November. 

Bedard scored 10 goals and added 13 assists for 23 points in 14 games played during the year's 11th month. That earned him the honor of the "3rd Star of the Month" for November of 2025.

stick taps for our 3rd Star of the Month!⭐️ pic.twitter.com/b6FAJQSVHZ

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 2, 2025

He comes in behind Jacob Robertson of the Dallas Stars (second star) and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (first star). That is some pretty elite company for Bedard to be in, but that's becoming normal for him as he enters superstardom. 

Nathan MacKinnon, Jason Robertson and Connor Bedard have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of November.

3 Stars of the Month presented by @GEICO#NHLStats: https://t.co/2mhysPZzyhpic.twitter.com/yJMoxvRa24

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) December 2, 2025

For his season total, Bedard is up to 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 25 games. Those 37 points have him as the third leading scorer in the entire National Hockey League. 

Connor Bedard has been impressive to begin his NHL career. It wasn't always perfect when he was a teenager, but his game has risen to a new level. This won't be the last time he receives an accolade from the league. 

Bedard's first chance to impress in December will come on Tuesday night when the Blackhawks visit the Vegas Golden Knights. 

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Six and a half months ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs were sent packing by the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs.

That Panthers team went on to win a second straight Stanley Cup.

Toronto was facing its own questions following the series defeat, including what was next for its star forward, Mitch Marner. Ultimately, he left for the Vegas Golden Knights, and in return, the Maple Leafs got Nicolas Roy.

Not only that, they added Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua to replace the production Marner left.

Since then, it hasn't gone too smoothly for the Maple Leafs. But you can say the same for the Panthers, who, like Toronto, are decimated by injuries. That all goes out the window when they face each other on Tuesday evening in Florida, their first rematch since half a year ago.

'It Hurts Right Now': Craig Berube Urges Maple Leafs to Remember Playoff Disappointment, Pins Game 7 Loss on StructureCraig Berube didn't mince any words about why he felt his team struggled in Game 7 and other points in the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round playoff loss to the Florida Panthers.

Both teams are trying to climb out of the Atlantic Division's basement, and a win would do just that.

"It's going to be a big one for us," Oliver Ekman-Larsson said on Monday. "And obviously, we've got to make sure that we're ready because every game is so important right now, and we need this one. But at the same time, we want to build from what we did last night and obviously put some wins together."

The Maple Leafs took a step in the right direction on Saturday night, soundly defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2. It was their most lopsided win of the season, and one that likely moved them in the direction they've wanted to go since the beginning of November.

'That's What Happens When You Get Scratched': Max Domi Responds With Big Game Vs. Penguins After Maple Leafs' BenchingDomi's two points came in the back half of Toronto's lopsided win over the Penguins.

If they manage to defeat the Panthers, more fuel will be added to the fire.

"Yeah, I mean, they're obviously been the standard of the league over the last two, three years," Auston Matthews said, when asked if he'll use what occurred last spring as motivation.

"I think you use it as motivation. I think at the same time it's a divisional game. Looking at where we're at in the standings and just how important these games are, especially against your own division, I don't think there's really any extra motivation needed.

"We know we have to be ready to play. They're a very detailed, structured team, physical team. Got a lot of depth throughout their lineup. So for us, it's just all about competing out there, setting each other up for the next shift, taking care of pucks and just making sure that we're winning the net-fronts as well."

Not only would a win pull them out of the basement, but it could also move them closer to a playoff spot again. As of Tuesday afternoon, Toronto is four points out of a playoff spot. If the Montreal Canadiens lose and the Maple Leafs win, that gap shrinks to two points.

Even if the Panthers are dealing with numerous injuries (like the Maple Leafs), they'll still have Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, and Carter Verhaeghe. Plus, a fully intact defense core.

'I Grew Up A Leafs Fan': Panthers': Brad Marchand Owns Toronto Again, But Doesn't Believe Fans' Pressure Is JustifiedFlorida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones shook his head, agreeing with Brad Marchand after the veteran forward, who's now ousted the Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs on five separate occasions, <a href="https://www.nhl.com/panthers/video/fla-at-tor-jones-marchand-postgame-6373044656112">said the fans beat the pressure into this team</a>.

No matter who's injured, they're going to be a tough team to beat, and that's what Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube expects.

"It's going to be like we always play Florida. We know how they play, and we know what type of game it's going to be. Their game's not going to change. And we just got to build off last game," he said.

"We did a lot of good things with the puck, and we're going to have to do that again tonight. And even looking back to the playoffs last year, we had some real good success against them in that series, and then not so good success. So there's certain things that we can do tonight that will give us success, and that's what we're going to focus on."

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DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have received a full slate of green lights—everyone is good to play tonight.

We're All Clear

Captain Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Parker Kelly were all absent from Monday’s practice due to illness. After Colorado’s 7–2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Ball Arena, Coach Jared Bednar explained that MacKinnon had been feeling unwell since Saturday morning, yet he still dressed, competed, and produced a goal and two assists.

Landeskog did not take part in Tuesday’s morning skate, but he was later seen in the gym, where he paused to sign an autograph for a young fan, pose for photos, and was in great spirits.

As for Kelly, he took part in the morning skate and told The Hockey News that his ailment didn’t fit the usual definition of being sick.

"(I feel) good," Kelly stated. "I don't want to specify on mine too much, but mine wasn't really a sickness, like a cough or a flu, it was something else."

Use your imagination, folks.

When asked for an update on the trio, Bednar kept it simple: “All good to go.”

Nichushkin Will Suit Up Tonight Despite Pre-Game Uncertainty

Nichushkin shed his red non-contact sweater at Monday’s practice, yet a measure of uncertainty lingered heading into Tuesday. He appeared in a white jersey during the morning skate, a choice that can occasionally signal a player is not fully cleared to return, prompting some concern that he might not dress for tonight’s game. However, Bednar erased all doubt when he was asked if he was returning tonight.

"He is."

Nichushkin sustained a lower-body injury in the third period of Colorado’s 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on November 11 after blocking a shot and immediately heading down the tunnel.

History has generally been unkind to the Avalanche when Nichushkin hasn't been in the lineup, but his absence has not affected Colorado too bad this time around as the Avalanche remain the NHL's best team with just one regulation loss through 25 games.

The @Avalanche match 2012-13 Blackhawks for 2nd longest into a season with 1 regulation loss. Avs 42 points 1 shy of most through 25 games in @NHL history

LONGEST INTO SEASON WITH 1 REG. LOSS
37 GP – 1979-80 PHI (26-1-10)
25 GP – 2025-26 COL (18-1-6)
25 GP – 2012-13 CHI (21-1-3) pic.twitter.com/8J1qNBzoXM

— Brendan McNicholas (@bmcnich) November 29, 2025

In fact, the Avalanche have matched the 2012-13 Blackhawks’ 21-1-3 start for the second-longest streak to begin a season with only one regulation loss. Still, Colorado has some ground to cover to catch the all-time benchmark set by the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers, who opened the season 26-1-10.

The Game

Stay tuned to The Hockey News for your latest updates. The Avalanche (18-1-6) square off against the Vancouver Canucks (10-13-3) at Ball Arena. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. local time. 

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Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart is projected to make his return to the NHL against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights signed Hart to a two-year contract following his reinstatement into the NHL, along with the four other former Canadian world junior players who were acquitted of sexual assault in London, Ont., in July.

As of Monday, these players – Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote – have served their suspensions and are eligible to play for an NHL club, cueing Hart's debut for the Golden Knights.

Former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk said Hart suiting up for Vegas is more than having goalie depth on the roster. If Hart can play like a starting goaltender like he once did for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Golden Knights have an asset.

"This is a guy who has a ton of potential and was a really good goalie when he was in Philadelphia coming up," Dubnyk said on The Hockey News' Big Show on Monday. "You might have signed somebody who can become part of your team, and then he becomes an asset.

"Whether that's an asset that you want to keep around, or an asset you want to move for somebody else, they find that out now. I don't think there's any point in waiting," the former netminder said. "If (Carl) Lindbom had been putting up wins and doing his thing, well then that's a different story, and you don't necessarily push a guy out of there, but that hasn't been the case in my eyes, and I think it's an opportunity for them to give him a look."

Dubnyk pointed out that although Akira Schmid's been winning games, Lindbom hasn't been up to par in Vegas' net since Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury on Oct. 20.

Schmid has made 13 starts this season and has a 9-2-4 record, .896 save percentage, 2.51 goals-against average and 2.2 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com. Lindbom, meanwhile, has one win in seven starts while putting up an .870 SP, 3.14 GAA and minus-2.7 goals saved above expected.

Hart should have an opportunity to become the starter with Hill reportedly being out for a little while longer. If the 27-year-old indeed hits the ground running, Vegas will have options to move a goaltender when Hill returns, whether that's Schmid, Hill or even Hart. While Lindbom is exempt from waivers, the other three aren't.

That said, every team in the NHL had a chance to sign Hart as soon as Oct. 15. But some teams made it clear they weren't signing him.

The Flyers confirmed in September they would not sign Hart after the goalie's representative said it was better for them to look for a fresh start. The Edmonton Oilers, which have a league-worst .865 team save percentage, did not see Hart as an option and instead gave votes of confidence to Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard to start the season.

"Right now, we're not looking at those types of situations," Oilers GM Stan Bowman said in September.

Hart was briefly linked to the Carolina Hurricanes in September, but those reported talks stopped. The Pittsburgh Penguinsdidn't make any inquiries despite surfacing in speculation, and the Utah Mammothwere out as well.

NHL Suspensions End For Five Players Acquitted In Hockey Canada TrialAs 2018 Canadian world junior players Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote are now eligible to play in the NHL again, here's where they're playing now.

Before Hart left the Flyers in late January 2024 to face the sexual assault charge, he played 26 games and posted a .906 SP, 2.80 GAA and 12-9-3 record.

Hart wrapped up his conditioning stint with the Golden Knights' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. He made three appearances, registering a 3.07 goals-against average and a .839 SP.

There shouldn't be much stock put into Hart's AHL stats, Dubnyk said.

"It's completely different hockey," Dubnyk said. "I'll preface this with not bashing anybody who plays in the American League, they're still good players, it's still good hockey. It's chaotic. It's chaotic, and most of your chances are created off of mistakes. There are turnovers that don't happen in the NHL. There are plays that don't happen in the NHL."

On good NHL teams, there's structure in front of a netminder forcing opponents to create chances, Dubnyk added. Of course, he said players such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini or Nathan MacKinnon will still find ways to score, even if goalies know what to expect in the NHL.

"When you're used to seeing NHL play in front of you, it is completely different," he said. "That's where you get guys saying, some find it easier to play in the NHL because of that reason."

---

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All the momentum the Nashville Predators had following their two-game Thanksgiving road trip to Detroit and Chicago evaporated Saturday night, when they returned home and lost 5-2 to the Winnipeg Jets.

Nick Blankenburg and Luke Evangelista tallied the only goals for the Preds. Blankenburg tied his season high in goals by scoring his fourth on Saturday. The goal also extended his point streak to four games (3g-2a), which included a multi-point outing on Wednesday at Detroit (1g-1a).

Evangelista posted an assist along with his goal for two points on Saturday to push his point streak to four games (2g-5a).

It was the second game of a back-to-back, a scenario which hasn’t been kind to the Preds this season. While they have a 3-0-1 record in the opener of back-to-backs, they are 0-2-1 on the second night.

On Tuesday, the Predators will try and regroup when they host the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena. This is the second of three meetings between the two clubs this season; Nashville won the first encounter, 4-2, on Nov. 1 at Bridgestone Arena.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s contest.

Game Day

Who: Nashville Predators (8-13-4) vs. Calgary Flames (9-14-4)

Where: Bridgestone Arena

When: 7 Pm CST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Betting line (via BetMGM):

Flames

+1.5 (-235)

O 5.5 (-120)

+100

Predators

-1.5 (+195)

U 5.5 (+100)

-120

Injury Report

Cole Smith, currently on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, skated during Tuesday morning's practice for the first time since going on IR.

Michael McCarron and Justin Barron also practiced and are day-to-day with lower-body injuries.

November Notes

The Predators finished the month of November with a 4-7-2 mark, equaling their win total from October when they went 4-6-2. Their longest winning streak during November was two, and the longest point streak was three.

The Preds had a five-game losing skid from Nov. 3-10, going 0-3-2 during that span.

One of the team's bright spots in November was rookie Matthew Wood. He led all NHL rookies in the month in goals (six) and tied for fourth in points (nine).

The 20-year-old Wood, who last scored on Friday in Chicago against the Blackhawks, also tallied his first career hat trick on Nov. 10 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden (3g).

Preds Leaders

Ryan O’Reilly (8g-10a) leads the Preds with 18 points, followed by Filip Forsberg (9g-8a) and Evangelista (4g-13a) with 17 points apiece.

Juuse Saros is 7-9-3 with a 3.08 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. Justus Annunen is 1-4-1, 3.94, .850.

The Predators rank seventh in the NHL in faceoff percentage (52.7 percent). Leading the way for Nashville is Ryan O’Reilly, who is seventh in the NHL in face-offs won (258).

Scouting The Flames

Calgary concludes a five-game road trip Tuesday night in Nashville. The Flames are coming off a 1-0 OT loss on Saturday in Carolina to the Hurricanes.

Nazem Kadri (5g-16a) leads the Flames with 21 points, followed by Rasmus Andersson (5g-13a) with 18 points on the defensive side.

Dustin Wolf is 6-12-2 in net for the Flames with a 3.17 GAA and .890 SP. Devin Cooley is 3-2-2, 1.88, .931.

Flames rearguard Rasmus Andersson finished the month of November with a team-leading 14 points, recording three goals and 11 assists in 15 games. The Malmo, SWE, native posted four multi-point outings, including a pair of three-point nights on Nov. 19 in Buffalo (1-2—3) and Nov. 23 in Vancouver (0-3—3). He was named the NHL’s first star of the week for the period ending Nov. 23 after posting a league-high nine points from Nov. 18–23.

On the power play, Calgary is 12-for-90 (13.3%), dead last out of the 32 NHL teams. They are much better on the penalty kill; 16-of-88 (81.8%), 10th in the League.

Head To Head

The Preds are 24-14-9 at home all-time against Calgary. Nashville is 6-4-0 in their last 10 overall matchups versus the Flames and 3-2-0 in their last five at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators have only lost seven times in regulation to the Flames since Dec. 15, 2015 (15-7-6) and have picked up at least one point in 30 of their last 41 games (22-11-8).

The Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed center Samuel Helenius to a two-year contract on Tuesday.

This contract extension for Helenius comes in the final year of his entry-level deal and will kick in next season. Helenius will earn $875,000 in each of those two campaigns, beginning in the 2026-27 season.

Furthermore, the center will remain an RFA at the expiration of this next contract, as he’ll be 25 years old.

It’s been a busy Tuesday morning for Kings GM Ken Holland, making this the second piece of significant business in the span of hours.

Earlier in the day, Los Angeles dealt center Akil Thomas to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Nikita Alexandrov in a minor-league trade.

Trade: Los Angeles Kings Swap Centers With St. Louis BluesThe Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues have swapped former second-round picks, who both come with a handful of NHL experience.

Helenius, 23, has acted as an extra forward for the Kings in the past two seasons. This year, he’s made three appearances for the Kings, while last season he played over half of the regular season.

In 2024-25, the Fin made 50 appearances in the NHL, recording four goals and seven points while averaging 8:39 of ice time.

The Kings' Good, Bad, And Uglies Of NovemberRecapping the thrilling highs and frustrating lows for the Kings in November. From road dominance to power-play struggles, dissect the team's crucial month.

Before that, he spent three straight campaigns in the AHL with the Ontario Reign. After he was drafted in the second round of the 2021 draft as the 59th pick, he made 142 American League appearances across the trio of seasons.

In addition, the 6-foot-6 center featured in another 20 games for the Reign last season, recording two goals and six points. But this season, he hasn’t played a single minute in the minors, as he’s been kept on as a scratch for the first quarter.

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It appears as if Jonathan Quick is inching closer to making a return for the New York Rangers. 

Quick landed on injured reserve after a collision with Michael Carcone in the third period of the Rangers' 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Nov. 22. 

Starting on Monday, Quick resumed practicing with the team, and Sullivan confirmed that he’s making significant progress in his recovery from his lower-body injury.

“He is obviously back involved with the practice environment, and we'll see where that goes moving forward,” Sullivan said. “We feel (Quick) is making progress.”

With Quick out of the lineup, the Rangers recalled Dylan Garand who backed up Igor Shesterkin for a total of four games before being sent back down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. 

In place of Garand, the Rangers called up Spencer Martin, a goaltender the Blueshirts signed to a two-year contract on Nov. 12. 

Martin was previously playing in the KHL with CSKA Moscow before his contract was bought out after 14 games.

The 30-year-old goaltender has played in 66 total NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Carolina Hurricanes. 

The Fallout From Adam Fox's Injury Presents Opportunities There’s a lot of fallout, yet opportunities that come from Adam Fox’s injury.&nbsp;

In those 66 games, Martin recorded a 24-30-8 record, 3.56 goals against average, and .883 save percentage. 

Sullivan explained why the team decided to call up Martin while sending Garand back down to the AHL. 

“We don’t want anybody sitting on the sidelines too long,” Sullivan said about why he sent Garand back down to the Wolf Pack. “We want guys playing, and that's an important aspect that we try to manage all the time. Spencer is a guy that we don't have a lot of familiarity with. It gives us an opportunity to get to know him a bit, seeing practice things of that nature. I think those are a few of the reasons why.”

Martin will serve as Shesterkin's backup goalie on Tuesday night when the Rangers play the Dallas Stars.

ST. LOUIS -- It's not a trade St. Louis Blues fans may have been expecting at this point of the season, but the team made a minor move on Tuesday morning.

The Blues announced they have acquired forward Akil Thomas from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Nikita Alexandrov.

Thomas, 25, will report to Springfield of the American Hockey League, where Alexandrov, 25, had been playing.

Thomas, a second round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 19 games for Ontario of the AHL; he has 106 points (50 goals, 56 assists) in 176 games in the AHL. He also has played in 32 NHL games with the Kings and had seven points (four goals, three assists).

Alexandrov, who was selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, had a couple different bouts with the Blues in 51 regular-season games, where he had nine points (three goals six assists). He had 143 points (61 goals, 82 assists) in 188 games with Springfield, including 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 18 games this season.

Observations From Blues' 4-1 Loss Vs. DucksJordan Binnington pulled after allowing two distance goals, voices displeasure with coach Jim Montgomery; offense remains anemic; power play goes 0-for on homestand, including 0-for-6 against 28th ranked PK in Ducks

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The Los Angeles Kings have acquired Nikita Alexandrov from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Akil Thomas.

This is a one-for-one trade involving two minor-league centers, both 25 years old. Alexandrov is eight months younger than Thomas and was drafted one year later than him.

St. Louis drafted Alexandrov in the second round with the 62nd overall pick in 2019. In contrast, the Kings selected Thomas 52nd overall in the 2018 draft, also in the second round.

Alexandrov and Thomas are on expiring contracts at $775,000 per season. Alexandrov is on a one-year deal while Thomas is on a two-year contract.

These two centers have spent the majority of their professional hockey careers in the AHL, with some NHL experience sprinkled in here and there. 

The Kings' Good, Bad, And Uglies Of NovemberRecapping the thrilling highs and frustrating lows for the Kings in November. From road dominance to power-play struggles, dissect the team's crucial month.

For Thomas he is playing in his fifth campaign down in the American League with the Ontario Reign. In 19 games this season, he has four goals and 13 points.

The Toronto native has played 32 career NHL games over the last two years. In fact, he only played NHL games last year. He featured in 25 games and scored three goals and an assist.

Meanwhile, Alexandrov has 19 more games in the NHL, featuring in 51 contests, but hasn't made an appearance since April 12, 2024.

Kings Make Significant And Highly-Anticipated Changes To Both Power-Play UnitsJim Hiller has made another change to the Los Angeles Kings' power play, but this one has been highly anticipated for quite some time. Defenseman Brandt Clarke gets moved to the first unit, while Brian Dumoulin gets reps with the second group.

With the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, Alexandrov has played part of five seasons. Last season, he finished over a point per game, recording 21 goals and 49 points in 48 outings. 

So far this year with the Thunderbirds, the German has three goals and 14 points in 18 games.

According to puckpedia.com, this is Kings GM Ken Holland's fifth trade since joining Los Angeles in May. 

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