The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the cusp of standing alone with the longest active NHL playoff streak.

Toronto can clinch a playoff spot for the ninth straight season on Wednesday night, while it’s a matter of time before the Eastern Conference’s last place team, the Boston Bruins, are eliminated from contention. Both clubs are currently tied for the longest streak at eight seasons.

In the most important sense, the Leafs’ streak of playoff appearances doesn’t mean much besides the fact that the pressure to win at least a couple of rounds is higher than ever. They’ve only won one playoff round in eight seasons. 

Not only that, but since 2016-17, the Leafs have the 15th-most playoff wins and the 15th-most playoff games played. This is a stark reminder of how many chances the Buds have blown.

Toronto’s active playoff streak is an emotional double-edged sword for Leafs fans. Most of them remember the lean years, when the Buds didn’t make the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons beginning in 2005-06. So, having playoff games for what will be nine straight years now is far preferable to the alternative of no playoff games.

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Logs More PK Minutes, But At What Cost?Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews hasn’t scored as many goals this year, but he has a significant career high elsewhere.

However, if the Maple Leafs do get eliminated in the first or second round of this year’s post-season – or even if they win two playoff series and then get unceremoniously swept in the Eastern final – there will be no moral victories.

There won’t be any more excuses that will satisfy Leafs fans if they don’t excel in the playoffs under all that pressure. There will be no more press conferences where Leafs brass talks about patience and the learning process. Those days are long over. 

The only thing Leafs fans will want is turnover. If that means saying goodbye to pending Leafs UFAs Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Leafs fans may say, “so be it.” This should be the team's last chance at running it back with the same core in hopes that things eventually improve because they already changed the coach, and they changed the GM two years ago.

It’s no wonder that the stakes are sky-high for the Buds this spring. They may win the highly competitive Atlantic Division, but imagine the fallout if they follow up with a first-round loss to the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens. Or imagine the blowback if the Leafs get out of Round 1, only to be demolished by the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2. The mushroom cloud of anger and frustration that could envelop the franchise will return bigger than usual.

So, while it will be a slight moral victory if the Leafs extend the longest active playoff streak and win the division for the first 82-game season since the 1999-2000 campaign, it won’t matter one iota if Toronto doesn’t reward its customers with a serious playoff run. 

They’ve shown encouraging signs of grinding out wins and playing playoff-style hockey this season, so it’s about time they take advantage of it in the post-season. Otherwise, all these years of getting into the playoffs will amount to a Blue-And-White hill of beans.

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As it stands now, the Los Angeles Kings are still battling with the Edmonton Oilers to hold onto that second seed in the Pacific division. They will face them in two critical games this month, which will be key to ending up with the second seed and having a home-ice advantage against them in their likely first-round matchup.  

But for now, the Los Angeles Kings aren't favorites entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they're becoming one of the West's most feared underdogs. LA can pull off a deep playoff upset with their rich defensive corps, elite goaltending, and a system designed for playoff hockey.

A Tale of Two Teams: Struggles vs. the East, Dominance in the West

While the Kings have struggled against the league's top of the Eastern Conference (19-9-4), despite their impressive record, they've split a lot of their games against the top teams in the conference, including the Tampa Bay Lightnings, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and—most recently losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs —they've flipped the script in their last two games. Their response? Scoring a combined 12 goals against the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets in back-to-back dominating performances.

But what's most important is that they're  3-0 vs. the Central Division-leading Jets this year. Winnipeg, one of the best Stanley Cup hopefuls, hasn't been able to penetrate LA's solid defensive system and grinding play. This means the Kings can compete with the best in the West—even if their record against Eastern Conference opponents is a little suspect.

Again, it'll be about matchups come playoff time, which could favor the Kings depending on who they play in the first round. The good thing for the Kings is that they won't have to play both the Stars or Avalanche in the postseason because those two will play it out in the first round, leaving either one of those teams, the Jets or maybe the Golden Knights. 

Defensive Structure and Goal Tending: The Kings' Greatest Strengths

LA's defense-oriented strategy is built for playoff play. They grind the tempo, tire opponents on the boards, and limit high-danger chances. 

Drew Doughty captains a defense that neutralizes visiting stars, especially when facing offense-first teams such as Edmonton or Dallas. Doughty is a future hall-of-famer playing extremely high in his career, including this season, when he became the first Kings' defenceman in history to hit 1,200 games. 

The 1st defenceman in @lakings franchise history to hit 1,200 NHL games played – congrats to Drew Doughty pic.twitter.com/UYIhVnN08K

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) March 28, 2025

The Kings possess one of the league's top penalty-killing units, a weapon system against foes who employ the power play as a means of scoring (aka Jets, Stars, and Golden Knights).

Balanced Scoring: Beyond Kopitar & Kempe

While Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe remain chief offense drivers, LA depth scoring has been the biggest X-factor down the stretch. 

Kevin Fiala, Trevor Moore, and Quinton Byfield have delivered, offering the Kings numerous lines of threat to score from.

Adding Andrei Kuzmenko and Warren Foegele in the second half of the season threw even more gasoline on the fire of the scoring lineup. We see a lot of teams who make deals in the second half of the season, leading them to make deep playoff runs and even win the Stanley Cup because of the chemistry and depth they bring right away to the franchise. 

Kuzmenko had no points in his first 7 games as a King

He’s got 9 points in his last 7 games as a King.#GoKingsGo

— Jesse Cohen | All The Kings Men (@KingsMenPodcast) April 2, 2025

The Kings have had three or more goals in four of their last six games, so they are clicking and peaking at the right time, getting their offense hot at the perfect time.

With a pair of goals tonight, Warren Foegele has set a new career-high in goals (22) and points (22-20=42). pic.twitter.com/Ac6NssFmHz

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) March 31, 2025

Matchup Nightmare for the West's Top Teams

The Kings possess the right prescription to fight against some of the West's most significant dangers. 

Edmonton Oilers: LA has faced the Oilers in back-to-back-to-back playoffs and possesses the defense system that can slow up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If they get them again, the Kings' ability to play a grinding, physical style of hockey might enrage Edmonton's speed.

Dallas Stars: Dallas is one of the best Western Conference teams, but the Kings' structured play and hard forecheck can shut down their transition. LA also won the season series against Dallas 2-1, including their recent win in February when they went to overtime tied 4-4 and scored the game-winning goal. 

Winnipeg Jets: We saw the defensive clinic the Kings put on the Jets a few days ago, sweeping the season series 3-0. In all games, the King's defense has held the number 3 ranked offensive Jets team to one goal in all three meetings, showcasing the level to which the Kings can amp up their defense. 

Kings game morning hangover recap

- Season sweep over the NHL’s top team.

- Hiller is turning Kuzmenko into a complete player.

- PK up to 8th in the league (81.7%).

- Kuemper besting the Vezina favorite.

- Can’t overlook Utah tomorrow before Saturday’s big game.#GoKingsGo

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 2, 2025

Final Take: LA's Playoff Formula is Coming Together

With their recent success against Western Conference teams, top-notch penalty killing, and a physical, disciplined brand of hockey, the Kings have everything it takes to make life miserable for the top contenders. While they've struggled against the East, the fact that they're 3-0 against Winnipeg, one of the top teams in the West, is all it takes to prove that they're more than capable of upsetting a favorite.

In an open-ice hockey conference where grinding is the word, LA's ability to grind down teams makes them the biggest wild card of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl practiced today in a non-contact jersey for the first time since suffering his injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mar. 23.

The initial reaction and news that broke was disheartening, with some reports saying that Hertl's chances of returning before the playoffs were slim. Twice Hertl was announced out for the remainder of the week but todays news was the first bit of positive news.

Returning in non-contact is the first step in the return process, the next step will be practicing with contact at least once. The Golden Knights are back in action on Thursday when they host the league-leading Winnipeg Jets. 

The timeline following the injury has been unclear to both the fans and the organization.

"I’m sure he wants to be around his teammates," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He’s been putting the work in. We weren’t sure how it was going to come along, but good to see him back out there."

Cassidy has ruled out Hertl for the next three games, but they'll be taking it day-by-day following those games. Allowing Hertl to get some game action before the beginning of the playoffs will bode well for the 31-year-old. 

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The Vegas Golden Knights have signed Jackson Hallum to a two-year, entry-level contract.

The 22-year-old played three seasons at the University of Michigan, scoring 17 goals and 42 points in 84 games. His junior season saw him set a career-high in goals, scoring eight goals and 17 points in 36 games. 

The Golden Knights selected Hallum in the third round (91st overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. Prior to joining the Wolverines, Hallum recorded 29 goals and 70 points in 62 games in his final season in the USHL. 

Listed at 6'0, 170 lbs, Hallum is known for his speed and was considered one of the fastest skaters in his draft class. He's aggressive on the forecheck, willing to throw a big hit to earn the puck back.

The left-handed winger will join the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL for their final eight games of the season. Hallum is the second NCAA prospect the Golden Knights have signed, the first being Trevor Connelly. The Silver Knights have struggled for quite some time and the Golden Knights organization looks to be beefing the roster up with prospects. Mathieu Cataford is another forward who is likely to join following the conclusion of his season. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Golden Knights Sign Trevor Connelly To Entry-Level ContractThe Vegas Golden Knights have signed top prospect Trevor Connelly to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Erik Brännström has played in North America since 2018 but multiple Swedish media sources are reporting that he will return to Europe next season.

HockeyNews.se is reporting that the 25-year-old Swedish defenseman is most likely headed to Switzerland, where he would sign a long-term deal – a scoop attributed to an Expressen.se article behind a paywall.

The website further notes that Genève-Servette and HC Lugano are two teams in Switzerland’s National League who have room to add imports to their rosters. Both teams that have generally not been afraid to pay well for talent, particularly Genève, although both teams also struggled and missed the playoffs this past season.

Lugano Dismisses Coach Krupp And Several Noteworthy Players Just days after the team saved its position in Switzerland’s National League by defeating HC Ajoie in a playout series, HC Lugano parted ways with head coach Uwe Krupp and several notable players, including goaltender Adam Húska, defenseman Valtteri Pulli, and forwards Mark Arcobello, Daniel Carr, Radim Zohorna and Aleksi Peltonen.

Originally from Eksjö, Sweden, Brännström played junior hockey and turned pro with HV71 in nearby Jönköping.

Brännström was a first-round pick, 17th overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and was moved to the Ottawa Senators in a 2019 multi-player deal that saw Vegas acquire Mark Stone.

From 2019 to 2024, Brännström’s career was fairly stable – mostly playing in the NHL for Ottawa with occasional assignments to the Belleville Senators, the team’s nearby AHL farm team.

However, this season has been quite chaotic for the diminutive, puck-moving defenseman. He signed as a free-agent with the Colorado Avalanche in the summer but was traded to the Vancouver Canucks before the season began. After playing 28 games in Vancouver, he was dealt to the New York Rangers as part of the J.T. Miller trade in late January and then traded again to the Buffalo Sabres just prior to the trade deadline. He has not played an NHL game for either of the latter two teams.

Overall, Brännström has 77 points and 162 penalty minutes in 294 NHL regular-season games.

If he signs in Switzerland, it will be Brännström’s second tour of duty there, although the first one only lasted 10 games with the SCL Tigers in the autumn of 2020 while the start of the NHL season was delayed by pandemic-related restrictions.

Victor Soderstrom Wins Borje Salming Trophy As SHL’s Top Defenseman Victor Söderström has been named the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, he has been awarded the Börje Salming Trophy.

Gabe Perreault is expected to wear the number 94 for the New York Rangers as he makes his NHL debut on Wednesday night and there’s some deep history behind that decision.

His father, Yanic Perreault repped the number 94 when he played in the NHL. 

Gabe revealed that it was actually Yanic who suggested and inspired him to use that very same number. 

“Growing up, I’ve always had a number with a 4 in it,” Gabe said. “When I talked to my Dad, I think he suggested it a little bit, so definitely because of him a little bit.”

Through Yanic’s 14 seasons in the NHL, he played for the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, and Phoenix Coyotes. 

After two seasons at Boston College, Gabe signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Monday and now he’s ready to carry on his father’s legacy in the NHL. 

It’s people like Yanic who helped Gabe get to this point, so it’s only right he pays homage to him. 

“I’ll be excited,” Gabe said about his NHL debut. “Obviously, a little bit nervous. But I know that's part of it. That's expected, but I'd be super grateful and really thankful for everyone that's helped me get to this point.”

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights are back in the postseason, a place they've become all too familiar with since arriving in the NHL eight years ago.

Despite Tuesday's 3-2 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Knights clinched a playoff berth for the seventh time in eight seasons when the Utah Hockey Club beat the Calgary Flames, 3-1, earlier in the night.

Now comes the biggest question: Who will the Golden Knights face in the first round?

If the Golden Knights win their fifth Pacific Division crown, they'll face whatever team is sitting atop the Western Conference Wild Card standings. But if a late-season collapse drops them into second or third place, behind either the Oilers or Los Angeles Kings, the Knights will face one of those two teams.

Here's a glance at Vegas' first-round possibilities, with its 2025 season series and overall (regular season and postseason) records in parentheses:

LOS ANGELES (1-3, 22-15-3): The Kings are the last team the Knights want to face in the opening round, a highly unlikely scenario considering it would take a late-season surge by the Oilers to win the Pacific Division. Though Los Angeles was the original team everyone thought Vegas would have a built-in rivalry with, considering the proximity, the Knights' postseason drama with San Jose overshadowed things. Since then, there have been other postseason clashes that have stolen Vegas' attention, including epic series against Minnesota, Colorado and Dallas. If these two eventually meet this postseason, the rivalry everyone hoped for will undoubtedly come to light.

EDMONTON (2-2, 15-14-3): The Oilers are the defending Western Conference champions, and will have the same rage the Florida Panthers had last season, one year after losing to the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final. Whomever gets Edmonton in the postseason, regardless of the round, will have to deal with a charged-up Connor McDavid, who finally got to the Final, and now with a whiff of the Cup, will be eager to get back there. Vegas beat the Oilers in six games two years ago, en route to winning its Stanley Cup. That series could still fuel things two summers later.

ST. LOUIS (2-0-1, 18-9-3): As of Wednesday, the Blues hold the top spot in the Wild Card race, and would be the Golden Knights' first-round opponent. It's one of the teams Vegas has had the most success against of the possibilities. That doesn't make the Blues any less dangerous, though. Since a rather disappointing 25-26-6 start to the season, the Blues are on a 16-2-1 run since Feb. 23. During that stretch, the Blues rank No. 1 with 16 wins and 33 points. They also lead the NHL in that span with a 3.84 goals-for average and rank No. 2 in allowing just 2.00 goals per game.

MINNESOTA (3-0, 19-15-1): The Wild looked as if they might challenge for the Central Division after opening the season on winning runs of 18-4-4 through Dec. 6, and 27-12-4 through Jan. 11. Since then, however, the Wild have lost 18 of 32 games (14-18-2) while being outscored 96-73. With seven games left on their docket, four of them are on the road, including back-to-back games in New York against the Rangers and Islanders on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. With as hot as the Blues have been, it's looking more and more like the Wild will be facing division-rival Winnipeg in the opening round, not the Knights.

CALGARY (2-0, 15-8-1): The Knights still have two games left with the Flames, who have an outside chance at catching Minnesota or St. Louis. The Flames have caught fire, no pun intended, having won five of eight after Tuesday's loss in Salt Lake City. With five of its last eight games in Calgary, the Flames can do their part and just need help from the Blues and Wild.

VANCOUVER (2-0, 20-7-3): The Knights still have two games left with the Canucks, who opened the season 16-9-5 through mid-December, but haven't given off playoff vibes ever since. The Canucks have lost 26 of their last 44 (18-18-8), and in that stretch since Dec. 18, rank 29th in the league with their 2.59 goals-for per game average. Vancouver is an unlikely candidate to make a surprise appearance in the Wild Card round, but it remains mathematically alive.

UTAH (2-1, 19-10-0 as Arizona): Utah is clinging to its playoff hopes by a thread, and likely isn't making the postseason. But thanks to a 13-7-3 run since Feb. 4, Utah has an outside chance to sneak by Calgary and Vancouver, if the Wild and Blues slip into a downward spiral. The problem for Utah is that even with a winning record during its winning run, it's been outscored 74-68.

After going 2–2–2 on their six-game road trip, the Vancouver Canucks are now preparing for a three-game homestand in which they’ll take on a crop of division rivals. Tonight, Vancouver will host the Seattle Kraken at 7:30 pm PT. Their next games are a set of back-to-backs on the weekend, when they’ll take on the Anaheim Ducks at 1:00 pm PT on Saturday, and the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:00 pm PT on Sunday. It’s very likely that the Canucks’ chance at competing in the playoffs will be dictated during this week, so let’s take a look at how these three games may shape the end of Vancouver’s regular season. 

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Vancouver’s first game of the homestand is against the Kraken, who have already been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a record of 31–38–6 and 68 points. They come into this game having lost 3–1 to the Dallas Stars on Monday. Seattle holds a relatively steady position towards the middle of the league in terms of most stats — their power play is 24th in the NHL with a success rate of 18.9%, while their penalty kill is 21st with an effectiveness of 76.9%. In the season series, Vancouver has won one of three games against the Kraken, dropping their first game 5–4 after letting in four straight Seattle goals. Their only win came in a 4–3 shootout victory to start 2025. As it stands, if Vancouver wins in regulation against the Kraken tonight, their playoff odds rise to 9.59% threshold. A regulation loss will drop their chances to 2.19%, as per MoneyPuck.com. 

The next match Vancouver has at home is against the Ducks on Saturday in the first of the team’s final back-to-back this season. Currently, both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are expected to be available to start. Given the fact that Demko started on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets and will be starting tonight against Seattle as well, it would make the most sense for Lankinen to take the game against the Ducks to give him some rest. With their 33–33–8 record and 74 points, mathematically speaking, Anaheim has already been eliminated from playoff contention. Right now, their power play is operating at a near league-worst 12.6%, while their penalty kill is 28th with a success rate of 73.6%. Anaheim’s last trip to Vancouver was exactly a month ago, on March 5, in a game that the Canucks narrowly won 3–2. 

Vancouver takes on Vegas in the second half of this weekend’s back-to-back. The Golden Knights (45–21–8) will also be playing in the second half of a back-to-back, as they take on the Calgary Flames the night before. As the current Pacific Division leader in points with 98, and a difference of five points between themselves and the next team (the L.A. Kings), Vegas has already clinched their playoff spot and is expected to play against the team in the Western Conference’s first wild card spot. With a power play percentage of 30.6%, Vegas has the highest-ranked power play in the NHL. One area where Vancouver may be able to take advantage of them, however, is on the penalty kill. Right now, Vegas’ PK is running at a 75.5% effectiveness rating, placing them at 25th behind the Buffalo Sabres, Kraken, and Boston Bruins. Vancouver’s last matchup against the Golden Knights was directly after the 4 Nations Faceoff, in a game that they lost 3–1. Sunday will not be the only time the Canucks face Vegas to round out their season, as the Golden Knights will also be visiting Vancouver on April 16 for game 82. 

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.

The Winnipeg Jets had cut the lead in half and were building off of the momentum before a costly turnover by Logan Stanley allowed the Los Angeles Kings to regain their two-goal advantage, proving to be enough to sink their hopes of a comeback.

While the turnover by Stanley isn't the sole reason they lost, the timeliness of his costly error is a reoccurring theme that many fans have grown tired of witnessing. 

Second time Jets have lost a puck in the neutral zone and get burned by it.

Logan Stanley trying to channel his inner Cale Makar but doesn’t quite get it to go.

Kuzmenko makes it a 3-1 game. pic.twitter.com/Vw25ocN6io

— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) April 2, 2025

Listed at 6'7 and 231 lbs, Stanley has the frame to be a physical force but shies away from imposing himself far too frequently. In 56 games, Stanley has thrown just 78 hits, ranking sixth on the team. For reference, Luke Schenn has thrown 49 hits in nine games with the Jets. 

If Stanley isn't a physical force, isn't providing offence from the blue line, is prone to costly turnovers and struggles to impact the game defensively, what argument is there for HC Scott Arniel to continuously write down Stanley's name in the lineup? Now 26 years old, there's little to no evidence that shows Stanley will break out and become what the Jets envisioned. 

Making matters worse, Stanley has remained in the lineup over Ville Heinola, who's yet to be given a proper shot at consistent NHL hockey. He's skated in 52 games in his NHL career, spanning over five seasons. His career-high of 17 games has come this year, a season in which Heinola has played in one game since Jan. 17. 

Heinola has been a point producer on every team he's played for prior to joining the Jets. In 154 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose, the 24-year-old has scored 23 goals and 103 points. 

Heinola is built similarly to Josh Morrissey, both are a bit undersized with great mobility and puck skills. Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo have formed a great pairing due to their games complementing each other. DeMelo's best trait is his defensive game allows Morrissey to flourish offensively, something Heinola and Schenn could do if given the opportunity. 

Heinola is signed for an additional season at a very low cap hit, but the Jets need to decide on his future before his value hits rock bottom. Wasting his development sitting in the press box while a defenseman older than him continues to make ill-advised errors could result in a waste of valuable assets. 

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Victor Söderström has been named the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, he has been awarded the Börje Salming Trophy.

In 2019, he was picked 11th overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes but, just five years later, he signed a two-year deal to play with his hometown team, Brynäs Gävle, which has just been promoted back to the SHL. He went on to have a spectacular season, recording 37 points in 49 regular-season games as Brynäs surprisingly finished first.

“I definitely don’t regret a thing,” Söderström is quoted on the club’s website. “It’s a slightly different path to take because I’m still young and my goal is still very much to make it in the NHL.”

That might happen next season as Söderström, now 24, was traded from Utah HC to the Chicago Blackhawks on the NHL trade deadline, and he indicated at the time that he had been seeking to get his NHL rights moved.

Victor Soderstrom Might Return To NHL After Rights Traded To Chicago: ‘We’ve Been Trying To Arrange It All Season’ Victor Söderström didn’t want to give up on the NHL so early, but it seems that he didn’t see a path to that dream running through Salt Lake City. Playing this season for Brynäs IF in the SHL, he learned on Friday – the NHL trade deadline – that his NHL rights had been traded from Utah HC to the Chicago Blackhawks along with the rights to Shea Weber – who hasn’t played since 2021 and is essentially retired – in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.

But first things first, as Brynäs has a semifinal series coming up against Skellefteå AIK starting on Friday. Skellefteå’s lineup includes Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Jonathan Pudas, the two previous winners of the award.

“I love coming to the rink every day,” Söderström continued. “The fact that the pairing with Charles-Édouard D’Astous has worked so well has of course also meant a lot.”

D’Astous, a 26-year-old Canadian who was the top defenseman in the Finnish Liiga last season, outscored Söderström by two points this year and has also apparently drawn interest from NHL teams.

According to the Brynäs website the jury for the award described Soderstrom as:

An elegant player on the ice who has been one of the biggest contributors to newcomer Bynäs' record-breaking season in the SHL. Extremely skilled, and also a top-notch point-scorer as a defenseman. Has formed the league's best defenseman pair during the season with Charles-Édouard D’Astous.

-

The award for best defenseman in Sweden’s top league was named after Börje Salming in 2008, the same year the legendary defenseman was named to the IIHF’s All-Century Team. Salming died in 2022 from complications related to ALS.

Börje’s older brother Stig Salming was present when Söderström received the Salming Trophy. Both Salming brothers were also Brynäs defensemen.

“Börje would have liked this,” Stig Salming was quoted.

Previous winners of the Salming Trophy

2024-25 Victor Söderström, Brynäs
2023-24 Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skellefteå
2022-23 Jonathan Pudas, Skellefteå
2021-22 Maja Nylén-Persson, Brynäs
2020-21 Nils Lundkvist, Luleå
2019-20 No winner due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2018-19 Erik Gustafsson, Luleå
2017-18 Lawrence Pilut, HV71
2016-17 Henrik Tömmernes, Frölunda
2015-16 Niclas Burström, Skellefteå
2014-15 Tim Heed, Skellefteå
2013-14 Patrik Hersley, Leksand
2012-13 Magnus Nygren, Färjestad
2011-12 Mattias Ekholm, Brynäs
2010-11 David Rundblad, Skellefteå
2009-10 Magnus Johansson, Linköping
2008-09 Markus Ragnarsson, Djurgården
2007-08 Mikko Luoma, HV71

Jari Kurri – 2024 Börje Salming Courage Award Winner – Is A Controversial Figure In His Home ClubOn Saturday afternoon in Tampere, hours before the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers played the second of two NHL regular-season games in the Finnish city, the NHL Alumni Association made Finnish hockey icon Jari Kurri the second recipient of the Börje Salming Courage Award.

LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights returned home from a successful road trip only to have their six-game win streak brought to an abrupt halt with a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Despite the loss, though, Vegas is in the playoffs for the seventh time in its eight seasons in the NHL, as it qualified when the Utah Hockey Club defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 to clinch for the Knights before the Oilers game was decided.

"Three years in a row, that’s the objective here, I think," said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy, whose led the Knights to the postseason in all three years he's been in Vegas. "This team is, to me, a playoff team that should be in the playoffs. We’re going to be happy we’re in, but that’s not our ultimate goal, nor should it be. Especially a night like tonight, we’d rather have done it with a win."

Pavel Dorofeyev had a goal and an assist, while center Nicolas Roy also scored for the Knights, who suffered their first loss since March 16. Goaltender Adin Hill made 17 saves.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

700 FOR STONE: Captain Mark Stone appeared in his 700th game Tuesday night, in what was also his 334th regular-season game as a member of the Golden Knights. Stone, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in February 2019, has played in 409 games overall and ranks second on the team with 246 assists in both the regular season and the playoffs since arriving. His 140 goals and 386 points rank No. 1 overall among current members of the team.

SECOND PERIOD BLUES: The Golden Knights have dominated their competition in the first and third periods, outscoring teams by a combined score of 175-118. Their 73 goals in the first period rank fifth in the NHL, while they've allowed only 57 in the opening stanza. The margin is even greater in the third, with a 102-61 edge. Their 102 goals rank first in the league. After being outscored by the Oilers in the second period, 3-0, the Knights have just a 74-72 edge in the middle set. They rank 14th with their 74 goals. If the playoffs started Wednesday, the Knights would face a tough challenge in the St. Louis Blues, who are outscoring teams 75-57 in the second period.

NOW WHAT: Though the Golden Knights have clinched a playoff berth, they're not out of the wild-card woods just yet. Vegas (98) is five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (93) and seven in front of the Edmonton Oilers (91). Sitting in first and second of the Western Conference Wild Card standings are the Blues and Minnesota Wild, both from the Central Division. The Knights aren't in jeopardy of slipping out of the Pacific Division's top three, but could fall into second- or third-place with a late-season collapse. By doing so, they would face either the Kings or Oilers in the first round, rather than the Blues or Wild. The Knights have eight games remaining, including five on the road. They'll need to shake off Tuesday's loss and get back to winning if they want to wrap up their fifth Pacific Division title.

The St. Louis Blues just won't slow down. The Central Division club defeated the Detroit Red Wings in overtime by a 2-1 final score on April 1, extending their winning streak to an incredible 10 games.

Blues defenseman Cam Fowler was the team's hero, as he scored the overtime winner. His goal was a great one, too, as he beat Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot top shelf with a beautiful backhander. He also recorded the primary assist on Jordan Kyrou's late third-period goal that forced overtime in the first place.

This is just the latest clutch game Fowler has had since being acquired by the Blues in December from the Anaheim Ducks. The 33-year-old has been a perfect fit for the Blues, and the truth is in his stats.

In 45 games since joining the Blues, Fowler has nine goals, 21 assists, 30 points, and a plus-16 rating. He has not been slowing down in the slightest as the year progresses, either, posting 12 points in his last 13 contests. This includes two goals and five points in his previous four games. 

Exciting Blues Forward Is Hitting New LevelEverything is going right for the St. Louis Blues at the perfect time. After winning each of their last nine games, the Blues now have a five-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. As a result, their playoff odds are certainly increasing.

Fowler's strong all-around play has made him become a massive part of the Blues' defensive group. He is in their top four and used on both their power play and penalty kill. With this and all he is providing offensively, he is continuing to be an amazing addition for the Blues. 

Recent Blues News 

Blues' Jordan Binnington Rewarded For Stellar Month

Blues Star Is Absolutely Thriving Right Now

Blues Reveal Number For Top Prospect Jimmy Snuggerud

Blues' Dylan Holloway Nearing Impressive Milestone

Blues Sign 2 Promising Prospects To Entry-Level Deals

St. Louis Blues Top Prospect Has Great Opportunity

Blues Big Winger Getting Hot At Right Time

The Montreal Canadiens should clinch final playoff spot in the East and present a Must-Bet opportunity

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are almost here and we are starting to formulate a solid playoff picture. Most spots are already claimed with only the wild card spots left available. 

We outlined how the Blues were going to lay claim to the final wild card spot in the West and barring any major setbacks, it appears they are on track to do so. We are looking to make the same bold claim about the East with the Montreal Canadiens being the final playoff team. 

It is still a very tight race as they are just two points ahead of the Blue Jackets and Rangers after a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over the Panthers on Tuesday, where they tied the game in the last eight seconds.

More NHL:Leafs Blow Past Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race

Montreal proceeded to win the game in overtime and completed the season sweep of the defending Stanley Cup Champions. 

This Habs team is legit as their young talent is finally starting to click with a reliable stay-at-home goaltender in Sam Montembeault. They are red hot with a 10-4-4 record over their last 18 games. 

Their rebuild looks complete as they are on the precipice of their first playoff berth since their loss in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final and will have more talent coming in the future with youngsters like Ivan Demidov on their way. 

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The race for the final playoff spots is over as far as we know with the Rangers heading into a gauntlet of a remaining schedule with matchups versus the Panthers, Hurricanes, Wild, Devils and a pair of games versus the Lightning. 

Things are just as hard for the Blue Jackets, who will have to square off against the likes of the Maple Leafs and Avalanche as well as two matchups versus the Capitals and Senators. 

More NHL:The GR8 Chase: Predicting When Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record

Montreal on the other hand, finishes the season with the second-easiest remaining schedule with matchups against bottom tier teams like the Blackhawks, Bruins, Flyers and Predators. 

The Habs to secure a playoff spot at +106 is the biggest must-bet of the season and this bet absolutely has to be taken as soon as possible. It's only a matter of time before Montreal claims the spot or continue their hot streak to the point where we no longer see a value. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins took to the ice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. on Wednesday with yet another face from WBS.

Forward Joona Koppanen - recalled on an emergency basis Wednesday morning from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - joined practice rotating in on the fourth line.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward had a recent five-game stint with the NHL club - potting his first NHL goal in that span - but he was optioned back to WBS when Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen were recalled Friday. The 27-year-old forward has registered seven goals and 22 points in 55 AHL games this season to go along with a strong defensive conscience.

He's glad to be back, and he wants to make the most of any opportunity he's given. 

Penguins Recall Koppanen On An Emergency BasisThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a little over 24 hours away from facing the red-hot St. Louis Blues, winners of ten straight games on Thursday night.

"It's awesome," Koppanen said. "It's always nice to be here and get the chance to show my game here and try to be here as long as possible."

Koppanen also mentioned that it's nice to be sharing the opportunity with McGroarty and Koivunen - a fellow Finnish player - especially since they've worked to build a winning culture in WBS, where the team is vying for its first-ever Calder Cup.

And he is appreciative of the organization rewarding both players for the work they've put in all season long.

"To see what work they put in there and see that they get rewarded for their work... it's awesome to see," Koppanen said. "It's fun to have a couple of guys - I know a few people - but, of course, I know them better because we've been playing [in WBS] almost a whole year together. So, it's nice to have them here."

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Crosby Earns OT Winner For 1-0 Win Over Senators On Koivunen's DebutThere was hockey being played on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, although one might not even know it for how low-event it was.

• Speaking of which, McGroarty and Koivunen were kept in their top-six roles at Wednesday's practice. McGroarty remained on the left side of the top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, while Koivunen shifted to Rickard Rakell's right with Connor Dewar on the left. Emil Bemstrom also remains with the NHL team after clearing waivers:

          McGroarty - Crosby - Rust
          Dewar - Rakell - Koivunen
          Kevin Hayes - Noel Acciari - Philip Tomasino
          Danton Heinen - Blake Lizotte/Koppanen - Emil Bemstrom

          Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
          Conor Timmins - Erik Karlsson
          Ryan Graves/Vladislav Kolyachonok - Ryan Shea

5 NCAA Free Agents The Penguins Should TargetWith the NCAA regular season in the rearview, NHL teams have begun signing college players as part of the annual Spring free agent frenzy.

• Head coach Mike Sullivan reiterated the coaching staff's approach with the young guys in the top-six after practice: "We're trying to put players in positions where they can play to their strengths and they can succeed. First and foremost, we have to believe they're capable of playing the role that we're trying to put them in. The progress that those two guys have made throughout the course of the year in Wilkes-Barre makes us believe that they're capable of playing in those roles. Otherwise, we wouldn't have put them there."
• Sullivan also mentioned that one injured player will travel with the team on their three-game road trip starting Thursday against the St. Louis Blues - and that is forward Evgeni Malkin, who is still day-to-day. Malkin and defenseman P.O Joseph skated on the injured ice before practice, while forward Tommy Novak continues his off-ice program.

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Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

With fewer than 10 games to go, the playoff picture doesn’t look that much clearer.

While the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals remain first and second in the NHL standings, the Dallas Stars have now joined the century club thanks to a six-game winning streak. 

Speaking of winning streaks, there is no team hotter right now than the St. Louis Blues. With Cam Fowler’s overtime-winner Tuesday, the Blues have now won 10 straight games. Much credit goes to Jobu, the mysterious voodoo doll bobblehead from Major League that’s suddenly brough all the good vibes to their dressing room.

Upcoming key matchups with major playoff implications include Lightning at Senators on Thursday; Oilers at Kings, Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs on Saturday; Panthers at Red Wings on Sunday; and also the Golden Knights’ back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday against the Flames and Canucks, respectively. 

The great chase – for playoff positioning and also Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record – is at full attention. 

1. Winnipeg Jets (51-20-4, +80. Previous: 1)

A 4-1 loss to the Kings was the only blemish for the NHL’s only 50-win team (so far). Winning the Presidents’ Trophy will mean a lot to this organization despite its history of not being a good indicator of future playoff success. 

2. Dallas Stars (49-21-4, +65. Previous: 5)

The Stars’ six-game winning streak – even if the matchups were pretty easy – finally knocks the Jets and Capitals off the top two spots. The Robertson-Hintz-Rantanen line looks like it might be the best in the NHL, amassing 24 points over their past six games.

3. Washington Capitals (48-17-9, +71. Previous: 2)

A tough stretch for the Capitals allowing 12 goals in two games following an overtime loss to the Jets, and narrowly beating the horrific Bruins after blowing a 2-0 first-period lead. However, the good vibes keep coming; Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of tying Gretzky’s record and top prospect Ryan Leonard has joined the club.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (45-24-4, +42. Previous: 4)

The Hurricanes finished March with the best record in the East (11-3-0) despite having the seventh-worst power play. They’re an excellent team nonetheless and seemed locked into a first-round matchup against the Devils, which they will likely win. Maybe they'll advance one more round before it all falls apart, right?

5. Colorado Avalanche (45-26-4, +40. Previous: 3)

A big 4-0 win over the Kings followed a 2-1 loss to the Blues and then a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames where they blew a 2-0 lead. It’s not often you see the Avs score so few goals. Good thing, though, the Hawks and Jackets are coming up, which are allowing the second-most and sixth-most goals per game, respectively. 

6. Edmonton Oilers (43-26-5, +22. Previous: 8)

Leon Draisaitl’s spectacular performance against the Flames and being a virtual lock to win the Rocket Richard is just more resume padding to be the league MVP. The Oilers will be the only team to have two different winners of the Rocket Richard since the award was introduced, following Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos for the Lightning.

Is Oilers' Leon Draisaitl A Better Goal-Scorer Than Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews? Not QuiteAt the moment, there are only two active NHL players with three or more 50-plus-goal seasons: Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin and…wait, you were expecting us to say Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, weren’t you?

7. Vegas Golden Knights (45-21-8, +54. Previous: 7)

Despite the loss to the Oilers, the Knights become the first team in the Pacific to clinch a playoff spot. They’ll likely be able to decide who gets the final wild-card spot, too, with two games each against the Flames and Canucks to finish the season. 

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (45-25-4, +23. Previous: 11)

I don’t think the Maple Leafs are getting enough credit for grinding out games. They have the best points percentage (.692) in one-goal games, the second-best winning percentage (.885) when leading after one period, the sixth-best (.939) when leading after two and the most wins (eight) when trailing after two. They’ve improved in each of these categories significantly from last season. 

9. Los Angeles Kings (42-23-9, +32. Previous: 6)

Despite losing to the Avalanche and Leafs, wins over San Jose and Winnipeg keep the Kings second in the Pacific. They currently hold home-ice advantage against the Oilers in the first round if the playoffs started today. That said, L.A. is 2-6 against Edmonton at home in the last three playoff series, compared to 4-6 on the road.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-25-5, +72. Previous: 9)

The Lightning could have as many as five (!) 30-goal scorers this season – Anthony Cirelli is four away from 30 – which has not been done since the 1992-93 season. Their lineup feels deeper and like a legit contender for the first time in three seasons.

11. St. Louis Blues (41-28-7, +18. Previous: 12)

There are the NHL’s hottest team with shades of 2019, but instead of "Gloria!" it’s the mysterious Jobu and his voodoo magic. The Blues are doing this without a bona fide superstar, which is perhaps the most amazing thing about their run.

Five First-Year Coaches Having Strong Impacts On Their NHL TeamsIf we’re going to talk about new NHL coaches doing good things this season, we probably shouldn’t look past our newest candidate. 

12. Montreal Canadiens (35-30-9, -25. Previous: 13)

We need playoff games at the Bell Centre. The hockey gods demand it.

13. Florida Panthers (44-26-4, +34. Previous: 10)

Consecutive losses to the Canadiens and zero regulations wins (!) over the past two weeks drop the Panthers into the worst slump of their season since mid-November when they went 1-6-0. There’s no panic with this club, but having home ice in Game 7 in the opening round of the Atlantic Division matchup – there’s no way it doesn’t go seven – would be huge.

14. New Jersey Devils (40-29-7, +26. Previous: 17)

The Devils are limping into the post-season, virtually a lock for the third seed in the Metro with a first-round matchup against the Canes. Since the season-ending injury to Jack Hughes, the Devils are barely over .500 at 7-6-1. 

15. Minnesota Wild (41-28-6, -10. Previous: 15)

The good news is Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov are getting closer to returning. The bad news is, if the Wild slip any more, they could slip out of a playoff spot. The Flames and Canucks each have one game in hand, and the Wild face both of them on the road in a back-to-back next Friday and Saturday.

16. Ottawa Senators (39-29-6, -1. Previous: 14)

They secured a key win against the Jackets but somehow scored zero – zero! – goals against the Pens and lost to the Sabres for the fourth straight time. While the Sens’ playoff hopes have likely been sealed, they do have tough matchups coming up, including a home-and-home series against the suddenly red-hot Jackets.

Almost There: Ottawa Senators Set To End Playoff Drought Before Red Wings, SabresThe Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings all had the same goal this season.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-30-9, -4. Previous: 21)

How wonderful to see the Jackets’ offense get back on track following a stretch where they scored just one goal in four games. The returns of Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner have provided a huge boost, and despite some close shaves, the Jackets have now won three of their past four with 21 goals scored. 

18. Utah Hockey Club (34-29-12, -17. Previous: 18)

It’s likely too little, too late for Utah, whose win against the Flames on Tuesday moved them two points closer. The losing streaks in December and January ultimately did them in, and despite playing the Preds twice in their final seven games, they have a tough schedule to finish the season.

19. Calgary Flames (35-27-12, -25. Previous: 16)

An impressive four-game winning streak but then only three points out of eight possible points against conference foes. The Flames are really close, but they’ll need to win – good thing they face the Ducks and Sharks in three of their next four – and the Wild to keep stumbling. 

20. Vancouver Canucks (34-27-13, -16. Previous: 20)

That the Canucks managed to stay in the playoff race despite battling so many injuries and internal strife is a testament to this team’s potential. But it’s been just one thing after another, and now contract talks with coach Rick Tocchet further threaten the continuity of this team. 

21. Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8, -28. Previous: 27)

It’s not talked about enough how the Ducks have really improved from last season, though they’re likely next to be eliminated from the playoff race in the West. The Ducks have had plenty of losing streaks over the past few seasons but since Jan. 21 have not lost more than two games in a row. 

22. New York Rangers (35-32-7, +2. Previous: 19)

The sea change that Chris Drury is probably still in process because not a whole lot has changed with the Rangers. They have only three regulation wins since March 5 and face a gauntlet of Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay to finish the season.

23. Buffalo Sabres (32-36-6, -19. Previous: 24)

Trust the Sabres to win games when it no long really matters. They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10, the best record outside of the East’s top six teams, including wins over the Jets and Caps. They’re doing this with James friggin’ Reimer in net. The Sabres have the talent but only ever seem to win when it doesn’t really matter.

24. Detroit Red Wings (34-33-7, -23. Previous: 23)

Since March 1, the Wings have the second-worst record in the league (4-10-1) and lost key points to the Sens. Now, they face the daunting task of facing teams that are higher in the standings for the rest of the season. At this point, I’m not sure if this is a sabotage of the Yzerplan or another massive miss.

25. New York Islanders (32-32-10, -26. Previous: 22)

Patrick Roy had some choice words for Anthony Duclair, and he’s probably the most entertaining soundbite since the Flyers fired John Tortorella. They’ve lost six in a row and now fall five points back of a wild-card spot. The Isles can’t score, but this is inevitably what happens when you fill your roster with a few top six players and a bunch of bottom six ones.

26. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-34-11, -56. Previous: 25)

Tristan Jarry looked so promising – as did the Pens’ playoff hopes, however slim – but then they imploded once again, and now find themselves basically on the outside looking in again. While Sidney Crosby’s Pens had much more success earlier in his career, the contrast between them and Alex Ovechkin’s Caps has been really stark. 

27. Seattle Kraken (31-38-6, -21. Previous: 26)

With one win in their past six games and no playoffs yet again, you wonder how the Kraken can pull themselves out of mediocrity. Will they take some big swings again, as they did this off-season, or patiently wait until Matty Beniers and Shane Wright are top-tier NHL players? 

28. Philadelphia Flyers (31-36-9, -46. Previous: 32)

The coaching bump under Brad Shaw seems to be real, and at least the Flyers are scoring again. Let’s face it, though – no coach could’ve coaxed much out of this lineup, and John Tortorella’s patience finally ran out, not that he had a wealth of it to begin with.

29. Nashville Predators (27-40-8, -55. Previous: 28)

Juuse Saros was pulled Tuesday against the Jackets in an 8-4 loss. Never mind the disappointing offense; when their best player isn’t their best player, they have zero chance. The key question is if Barry Trotz makes big moves again in the summer or steps back and hopes this team can resolve its problems itself.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Trade Stamkos? Go Young? What's Next For The Predators?A season that began with high expectations for the Nashville Predators after a summer of notable free-agent signings will end in disappointment. 

30. San Jose Sharks (20-44-10, -89. Previous: 29)

Even when Macklin Celebrini’s car gets hit by the opposition’s team bus – intentional or not, who knows – and despite sitting last in the standings, the Sharks have this aura about them that good things really going to come. They’re a really entertaining team. They’re dynamic on offense, while their defense and goaltending is worth watching for all the wrong reasons.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (21-44-9, -68. Previous: 31)

Yes, the Hawks have won consecutive games just once since Dec. 19, but things keep getting better, if only slightly. We’ll overlook Spencer Knight’s numbers because the team in front of him isn’t very good, but he’s shown flashes of a potential future No. 1, and top prospects Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel recently signed. The question for them, and the NHL’s marketing team, is when we can see Connor Bedard in the playoffs. 

32. Boston Bruins (30-36-9, -52. Previous: 30)

Ranking the Bruins third-last last week felt a little strange and somewhat insulting for a team that had been dominant for nearly two decades, but that crash you hear with that nine-game winless streak is the sound of this Bruins era catastrophically collapsing.

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