The trade deadline made Mitch Marner the top player in this summer's NHL free-agent market.

Eligible for UFA status on July 1, the 27-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs right winger is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $10.9 million.

The Dallas Starssigning Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension as part of his acquisition from the Carolina Hurricanes makes Marner stand out more among the pending UFAs with 82 points in 66 games.

If Marner goes to market this summer, Sportsnet's Luke Fox believes he could become the highest-paid player in the NHL. He prefers to remain a Maple Leaf, but his camp reportedly hasn't engaged in contract extension talks. 

Fox also noted the Carolina Hurricanes offered up Rantanen to the Leafs for Marner. Leafs GM Brad Treliving took the proposal to Marner, but he declined to waive his no-movement clause.

"I'm here to play hockey with this team. That's what I can tell you," Marner told reporters on March 8. "I want to be with this team. I want to play for this team."

'It's Not A Distraction': Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Responds To Reports Of Asking Mitch Marner To Waive No-Move Clause For Mikko RantanenSALT LAKE — One day after the NHL Trade Deadline came and went, multiple reports surfaced, revealing that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause in an effort to land now-Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. 

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun reported Marner didn't immediately reject the trade proposal, taking time to sleep on it. While he claims he wants to stay in Toronto, Simmons thinks his actions suggest otherwise. 

The Hockey News' Jim Parsons speculated that Marner not accepting the trade means he can increase his value in Toronto, which either forces the Maple Leafs to improve their offer to him or lands Marner a larger contract in free agency.

As Fox suggested, if Marner hits the open market on July 1, he will be an “in-demand talent.” 

TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes the Carolina Hurricanes will target Marner. He pointed out they'll have over $20 million in cap space even if they re-signed all their pending UFAs. That list includes Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov and Taylor Hall. 

A reader asked The Athletic's Josh Yohe if the Pittsburgh Penguins might pursue Marner. He acknowledged Marner's ties to Penguins GM (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the club's bountiful cap space for next season and Dubas' intent to stock his aging roster with younger talent. 

Nevertheless, Yohe doesn't believe the Penguins will sign Marner. He cited team sources claiming Dubas intends to wait until next summer before making a big move. It's also doubtful that Marner would want to join a rebuilding team. 

Meanwhile, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic suggested Marner would be an ideal fit as the Boston Bruins' second-line right winger. That's unlikely to happen because they'd have to pay him more than first-line right wing David Pastrnak's $11.25-million cap hit to come to Boston.

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Sweden will once again host NHL regular-season hockey in November – and Sidney Crosby could be part of the action.

The NHL announced the 2025 Global Series is scheduled to feature the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins facing off at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 14 and 16. This is the first time the Penguins will play in Europe since 2008. The Predators played in Czechia in 2022 and Japan in 2000, but this will be their first time playing in Sweden.

Stockholm last hosted four games in November 2023 featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild. The city’s hosted the most NHL regular-season contests of any city outside of North America with 16 games – next season’s Global Series will increase that total to 18.

As the rosters stand, there’s some high-profile Swedish talent on both teams. The Predators’ top scorer, Filip Forsberg, is from Ostervala, Sweden, and the team also has defensemen Andreas Englund (Stockholm) and Adam Wilsby (Stockholm).

“Every time we are selected to participate in one of the NHL’s marquee events, it’s a testament to Smashville’s passion for our team and our sport both at home and abroad,” Predators CEO Sean Henry said in a news release. “This event will be particularly special for Filip Forsberg, who adores his home country, and the other Sweden natives on our team and in our organization.”

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has defenseman Erik Karlsson (Landsbro) and right winger Rickard Rakell (Sundbyberg) who played on Sweden’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad. Center Emil Bemstrom (Nykoping) has played for Pittsburgh and the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. And while Sidney Crosby isn’t Swedish, Canada’s captain at the 4 Nations Face-Off could play in just his second and third NHL games overseas in the fall, months before the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.

In total, 9.7 percent of NHL players this season were born in Sweden, the highest representation of players of any country outside North America. Rakell and Forsberg are tied for the fourth-most points of any Swede in the NHL this season, with 59. New Jersey Devils left winger Jesper Bratt leads the way with 80 points, while Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander (71) and Red Wings right winger Lucas Raymond (69) follow suit.

Raymond was at the last Global Series games at Avicii Arena before its renovation in 2024. The modernization project was meant to improve sightlines and bring seating closer to the action, according to the arena’s website. They also maintained the arena’s architecture, which includes the well-known dome that stands out in the city’s skyline.

The first opportunity for fans to buy tickets is at the first-ever Hockey Day In Sweden on March 21 and 22 in Linkoping. After that, ticket presales open on March 25 at 6 a.m. ET, and general sale begins on March 26 at 5 a.m. ET.

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The Buffalo Sabres have re-assigned forward Isak Rosen to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

It has been a busy few days for Rosen, as the Sabres first re-assigned him to Rochester back on March 13 and then called him back up to the NHL roster on March 16. Now, he is again heading back to Rochester after not appearing in a game during his latest brief call-up with the Sabres. 

Rosen, 22, has appeared in three games this season with the Sabres, where he has zero points and a minus-2 rating. He is in the middle of an impressive season with Rochester, however, posting new AHL career-highs with 27 goals and 51 points in 52 games.

The Sabres selected Rosen with the 14th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In 10 career NHL games over two seasons, he has zero points, two hits, and 10 shots on goal. 

Recent Sabres News 

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All good things come to an end.

The Detroit Red Wings have had a lot of great players over the years. From Niklas Lidstrom to Henrik Zetterburg to Chris Osgood and Steve Yzerman.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Unfortunately, not every player who plays for the Red Wings can stay with the Red Wings.

This summer, the Red Wings have to decide on several players at multiple levels of competition within the organization. So, let’s look at every expiring contract in the Red Wings' books.

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The Restricted Free Agents

Elmer Soderblom

The towering Elmer Soderblom has risen through the ranks of the Red Wings depth chart since his recall. He started the year in the AHL and now finds himself deployed on the top line in Detroit. He has spent 39 minutes on a line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

His combination of skill and size makes him a player that the Red Wings will want to keep around for a very long time.

Jonatan Berggren

Jonatan Berggren has been up and down so far this year. Unfortunately, the young forward has been a healthy scratch for the past two games. He will need to turn things around if he wants to stick around long-term.

Albert Johansson

One of the bright spots of the season has been the emergence of two young defenders; Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson. This is the young Swede’s first taste of NHL hockey. After 44 games, the results have been incredibly positive.

The 24-year-old has been paired with Edvinsson for 63 percent of his total ice time this season. The duo have done great, having fewer goals scored on them than they score, even if they have allowed more chances and shots than they have taken.

The Red Wings’ Minor League RFA’s

Antti Tuomisto might not be on a lot of Red Wings’ fans radars, but the right-handed defender has had a solid year. He has been the most productive player on the backend of the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The 6-foot-5 and 210 lb Finnish defender has 24 points in 55 games, which is the seventh-most points on the Griffins.

Cross Hanas hasn’t been as productive, with only 17 points in 54 games this year. The winger has picked up his production of late, with four points in his last six games.

Eemil Viro is 2020 draft class defender playing for the Griffins. He will need a new AHL contract, as he is not ready to make the jump to the NHL. However, it’s possible that the Red Wings move on come July 1st.

Gage Alexander is a 6-foot-6 goaltender playing in the ECHL. He’s only played five games for the Reading Royals, but he has a 4-1 record, 2.81 goals against average (GAA) and a .913 save percentage (SV%).

The Unrestricted Free Agents

Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane appeared to be slumbering through the first portion of the season. But, since Christmas he’s been one of the top offensive contributors on the Red Wings.

Unless Kane feels like shifting his priorities, he will likely sign another one-year deal with the Red Wings once July 1st comes up on the calendar.

Craig Smith

The newest Red Wings forward Craig Smith does a lot of things that coaches like. He might not set the scoreboard ablaze, but a veteran coach in Todd McLellan might really like having a player like him around. There’s a good chance the Red Wings find a way to sneak him in on a two-to-three year deal in the summer.

Tyler Motte

Depth forwards come and go, and Tyler Motte is no exception. If the Red Wings really like him and his character, I could see him coming back on a one-year contract. Otherwise, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Jeff Petry

File Jeff Petry under the category of most likely to not be re-signed by the Red Wings. The combination of injury history and decline of play make it unlikely that Petry gets offered another contract by the Red Wings. Tuomisto or Anton Johansson could be two internal candidates to replace him in the NHL next season.

William Lagesson

William Lagesson is another depth player who could find themselves looking for work with another team come July 1st. He’s spent time both in the AHL and NHL this season. He’s a solid third pairing 29-year-old defender who doesn’t bring anything to the table that the Red Wings don’t already have with prospects who are ready to make the jump to the AHL.

Alex Lyon

The Red Wings goaltending situation will be a top storyline to follow during the summer. Cam Talbot, Petr Mrazek, and Alex Lyon are all tending twine for the Red Wings for the remainder of the year. However, the fascinating development of acquiring Mrazek could signal the end of Lyon’s tenure with the team. Talbot and Mrazek are signed until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Minor League UFA’s

The Red Wings have a mixed bag of minor-league UFA’s to make decisions on in the summer: Timothy Gettinger, Joe Snively, Brogan Rafferty, and Jack Campbell.

Snively leads the Griffins with 39 points in 60 games. He spent six years with the Hershey Bears before joining the Griffins. As long as he is happy with his situation, playing another year in the AHL seems like a safe bet.

Gettinger and Rafferty are depth players for the Griffins. Depending on their plans, them returning to the team next season seems like a coin toss.

Campbell is an interesting case for the Red Wings. He has had his struggles, as his admittance to the NHLPA Players Assistance program earlier this season suggests, but when he plays well, he can be lights out.

It’s tough to pinpoint what kind of goaltender Campbell is at this stage of his career. If the Red Wings are willing to keep him on board, being the veteran presence in net for the Griffins might be his best chance at playing.

The Prospects

I’ve written about these prospects before and how the Red Wings will need to decide whether or not to offer them contracts. Kyle Aucoin was also in this category, but the Red Wings traded his rights before the deadline as part of the Yanni Gourde deal.

Red Savage brings intangibles in addition to skill, while Liam Dower Nilsson has a lot of skill. Those two could have a contract offered to them. I’m less sure about Sam Stange.

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The Dallas Stars have assigned defenseman Kyle Capobianco to the Texas Stars, AHL Transactions reported Monday. 

Capobianco, who is in his first season with the Stars organziation, has split time this year between both the NHL and AHL. While being held pointless in his one appearance with Dallas, Capobiano has registered an impressive five goals and 35 points in 49 games with Texas. 

Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round of the 2015 NHL Draft, Capobianco has played in 74 career NHL regular season games across parts of seven seasons with the Coyotes, Stars and the Winnipeg Jets. During that span, the Mississauga, Ont., native has five goals and 12 points. 

Signed through next season, Capobianco provides solid depth for a team destined to make a deep run in the playoffs. Capable of contributing at both ends of the ice, Capobianco could be a secret weapon if called upon by the Stars. 

Draft pick watch: Why Bruins must prioritize first-round lottery odds originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The smartest path for the Boston Bruins to take for the remainder of the 2024-25 NHL regular season is prioritizing their first-round pick.

The Bruins entered Tuesday with the ninth-worst record in the league based on points percentage after losing 3-2 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night at TD Garden. The last time the Bruins’ own first-round pick was in the top 10 was 2007 when they selected center Zach Hamill at No. 8 overall.

But that’s where the Bruins find themselves with 14 games left in what has been a very disappointing season for the Original Six franchise.

The B’s are still mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but their chances of securing a postseason berth for the ninth straight year are incredibly small. Boston trails the Toronto Maple Leafs by 14 points for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins trail the Ottawa Senators by eight points for the first wild card spot and the New York Rangers by three points for the second wild card spot.

MoneyPuck’s analytics model gives the Bruins only a 0.7 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. Boston is 2-2-1 after dealing away several veteran players, including captain Brad Marchand, before the March 7 trade deadline.

It’s time for the Bruins to play for the future.

What would this look like? Well, calling up some of the organization’s top prospects from the AHL’s Providence Bruins would be a good start. Give these young players a chance to prove themselves at the NHL level. It’s important for prospects such as Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov and Matthew Poitras to get reps against the best competition. The B’s need to learn what they have in these players, regardless of whether they’re part of the long-term solution or potential trade chips.

After the Bruins’ final regular season game on April 15, the next date for fans to circle on their calendar is the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. An official date for the lottery hasn’t yet been announced by the league, but it typically takes place in May.

If the season ended today, the Bruins would have the following odds to land one of these picks in the draft lottery (via Tankathon):

• No. 1 overall: 5.0 percent
• No. 2: 5.2 percent
• No. 3: 0.2 percent
• No. 9: 64.4 percent
• No. 10: 23.5 percent
• No. 11: 1.7 percent

The Bruins could jump as high as No. 1 overall, but they could also fall as far as No. 11. The most likely outcome is staying put at No. 9.

One draft lottery rule to remember is that teams can only jump 10 spots at most in the lottery. This means the top 11 teams in the lottery are able to get the No. 1 pick. Teams No. 12 through No. 16 cannot win the lottery. So it’s important for the Bruins, if they miss the playoffs, to be among the 11-worst teams and keep their chances — even if they are very small — of winning the lottery alive.

The 2025 draft class is loaded with good centers. In fact, six or seven of the top 15 prospects in the class are centers, which is good news for the Bruins because they really need an infusion of high-end talent at that position.

The Bruins could still hang around in the playoff race. They have the sixth-easiest remaining schedule. But this team isn’t a contender. The difference between the No. 8 or No. 9 pick and the No. 11 or No. 12 pick is significant. The time has come for the B’s to prioritize draft positioning over the final few weeks of the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks went 0-3-1 on their recent four-game road trip. They played well against the Colorado Avalanche in the first game despite the loss, but the good vibes pretty much ended there. 

Outside of the NHL debut (and first three games) for Artyom Levshunov going well, there wasn’t much to like about Chicago’s game on this trip. 

Before they left for that road trip, Chicago had played very well on home ice in the games leading up to their departure. Now that they are back, they want to continue where they left off. 

This is how Chicago projects to line up against the Seattle Kraken in their return to the United Center: 

Donato-Nazar-Bedard

Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Slaggert-Foligno-Dach

Maroon-Reichel-Bertuzzi

Vlasic-Levshunov

Del Mastro-Murphy

Kaiser-Martinez

This will be the second game in a row where Connor Bedard will start on the wing with Frank Nazar at center. This time, Ryan Donato will get a chance to be the third guy playing with the Blackhawks' new dynamic duo. 

Bedard has less responsibility on the wing as he has to worry about a 180-foot game rather than a 200-foot game but it remains to be seen if he can be as dangerous offensively. 

In the last two games, Connor Bedard was handed a ten-minute misconduct. Each of them was a little bit different but there is no doubt that he's brought some feisteness to his game lately. With spark plugs like Ryan Donato and Frank Nazar on his line, they may be able to make some noise. 

On defense, in front of the home crowd for the first time in his NHL career, Artyom Levshunov will be on the first pair with Alex Vlasic to start the game. Vlasic, another outstanding young defenseman, might be the perfect partner for Levshunov right now. 

Arvid Soderblom was the starter for the Blackhawks in Saturday night's loss to the Vancouver Canucks so you can expect Spencer Knight to get the nod in this one. 

The Kraken are not as low in the standings as the Blackhawks but they still enter this game 10 points below the playoff line. After being sellers at the deadline, it's clear they are thinking about the future as well. 

The Blackhawks should expect a tough game but also one where they can generate chances with their speed and skill. With a goaltender like Knight behind them, they might find it easier to have the confidence needed to make big plays.

More than anything, these late-season games should be about working on good habits to go with their skill. The future of this team is bright but these moments of development could make all the difference. 

This game can be seen on CHSN and heard on WGN Radio 720. 

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

The Los Angeles Kings (36-21-9) landed in Minnesota (38-25-5) yesterday to take on the Wild. The Kings have been excellent, securing back-to-back wins with shutouts. With the playoffs so close, securing every single two points is crucial. In tonight's goalie lineup, Darcy Kuemper led his team out while Filip Gustavsson stood in net. It's a series of questions surrounding tonight's game: Can Kuemper secure his third shutout, and can the Kings maintain their momentum? Is tonight the night Andrei Kuzmenko gets his first goal as a King? 

Kempe Scores to Make It 1-0

With puck drop underway, it was a clash between the Wild and the Kings as they fought for possession of the puck. After five minutes of play, Adrian Kempe had lit the lamp to open the scoring, giving the Kings a 1-0 advantage. Brendan Gaunce and Jon Merrill were denied by a series of incredible saves from Kuemper. Throughout the first period, the team's balance and harmony resulted in strategic plays. Los Angeles showcased their active strength and quick speed throughout this period, and we looked forward to the second. 

Little extra Juice on that one 🚀 pic.twitter.com/70iA7rAsNl

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 18, 2025

Wild Ties It Up

After twenty minutes of play, the Kings returned for the second frame and the Wild were quick to tie it up with a tip-in from Ryan Hartman. The Kings were determined to level the score and regain the lead. A too many men penalty was called on the Minnesota Wild at the 14:40 mark, giving LA a power play chance to score. Unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and marked by plenty of back-and-forth action, both the Kings and the Wild entered the second intermission tied at 1-1.

Minnesota Leads 2-1

The third period saw the Kings and Wild back on the ice, though the Kings displayed  less physicality and energy. At the 4:38 point, Mats Zuccarello scored with a wrist shot, putting the Wild ahead 2-1. In the final moments, the Kings pulled their goaltender, hoping for a chance to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. With just 56 seconds remaining in regulation, the Wild secured the victory as Marcus Johansson scored the game-winning goal, making the final tally, 3-1. While Los Angeles outshot Minnesota 29-22, the Kings' single goal highlights a need for improved consistent scoring. Changes are necessary. The Kings left the Wild's home ice without any points and headed to their next destination in Chicago. 

While the NHL teams at the bottom of their divisions won’t have a playoff spot to compete for this season, they do have something to battle for.

These final games are important for the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers to set the stage for taking a big step next season. Ending this season with promise should bring a lot of promise into the summer and next campaign.

With that in mind, let’s rank these teams to see who’s most likely to take the biggest step ahead in 2025-26. In order of the most competitive to the least:

1. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres were supposed to do big things this season, but they failed miserably. 

GM Kevyn Adams traded up-and-coming center Dylan Cozens for pivot Josh Norris from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline. But otherwise, Adams has re-invested in his lineup, and they’ve got a whopping $23 million in cap space next year.

That said, Buffalo’s youngsters must continue developing for the rest of this season so that the Sabres know they can count on them as they alter their roster this summer. That goes for up-and-comers Bowen Byram, J.J. Peterka, Jack Quinn and Peyton Krebs, but No. 1 draft picks Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin must also produce positive results. 

The Sabres already moved Cozens, so any other youngsters could become trade bait in exchange for more proven players with experience who can lead the team for years to come. So there’s a lot on the line for the Sabres and their players in their final stretch of games, and that will give fans something to be invested in.

Buffalo Sabres Show Something They Lacked For Most Of The SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres haven’t had many signs of hope this season – but the way they won Saturday is one of them.

2. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers lost six of their last seven games to sink to the Metropolitan Division’s basement. However, they’re just two points behind the seventh-place Pittsburgh Penguins, four points behind the sixth-place New York Islanders and six points behind the fifth-place Columbus Blue Jackets. So they’ve got a golden opportunity to take a sizeable step forward the rest of this season and next year.

Like the Sabres, the Flyers need significant internal improvement next year, so Philly GM Daniel Briere will be keeping a close eye on his assets – most notably, veterans like defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who could be a trade candidate this off-season.

But the biggest thing to keep an eye on is Philly’s goaltending. Neither Samuel Ersson nor Ivan Fedotov stepped up to make the starter’s job their own for the future, and Briere could spend a good deal of his plentiful cap space on an experienced hand in net in 2025-26. But if Ersson or Fedotov has a good showing in the Flyers’ final games this spring, they could make a convincing case to get another chance again next season.

Flyers Vs. Penguins: Who Will Be Cup Contenders Sooner?Remember when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins rivalry was arguably the best in the NHL, matching hated cross-state rivals who were usually among the league’s elite?

3. Chicago Blackhawks

Some believed the Blackhawks were set to jump higher in the Central Division ranks this season after acquiring veterans last summer, but reality put that notion to rest very quickly. Only the hapless San Jose Sharks have been worse than the Hawks – and to be frank, we don’t see Chicago moving higher in the ultra-competitive Central in 2025-26.

This isn’t to say the Blackhawks won’t show a bit of improvement. With star center Connor Bedard on board and Chicago’s younger players evolving into important NHLers, the Hawks almost assuredly won’t be as bad next season. They have one of the best chances of getting the No. 1-overall pick in this summer’s draft, and that likely won’t change, even if they go on a hot streak. That’s a nice spot for a rebuilding club to be in.

Ultimately, the Hawks’ youngsters are still at least another year away from being needle-movers in hockey’s top league. There will still be a lot of pain ahead for this Original Six franchise.

4. San Jose Sharks

As the NHL’s worst team, the Sharks have the furthest climb back to respectability. After trading many veterans, Sharks GM Mike Grier was open about being a buyer in free agency and trades this off-season. But the Sharks still on the roster have the rest of the season to persuade Grier to retain them.

A Sharks veteran whose future is unclear is star center Logan Couture, who’s missed all of this season – and all but six games last year – with a brutal groin injury. Couture is signed for two more seasons with a three-team trade list. 

Defenseman Mario Ferraro could have also been traded this season, but that didn’t materialize. A strong remainder of the year could boost Ferraro’s trade stock – or it could convince Grier to retain him for the long term. In any case, the Sharks will struggle again in 2025-26, and the playoffs will still be a pipe dream. But internal improvement for the rest of this season would be encouraging.

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For more than two years, Colorado Avalanche star center Gabriel Landeskog has been sidelined by a catastrophic injury to his right knee. Understandably, there have been legitimate questions as to whether Landeskog would ever play another NHL game. But on Monday, the 32-year-old Swede participated in a full practice with the Avs, leading to  speculation he'd be returning to action in the near-future.

"He's looking good -- I thought he looked great in practice today," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told NHL.com after practice Monday. "Obviously, just like sort of the flow-and-go non-contact stuff. Certainly, (it’s) nice to have him out there.

"(Landeskog is) making strides. Obviously, this rehab is not linear. There's lots of peaks and valleys in it, and sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back, but he's still making progress and obviously feeling comfortable enough to come out and join the team with certain drills. So, hopefully that continues and continues to grow and [he’s] working to a point of a return."

Landeskog's last game came on June 26, 2022 in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Landeskog will travel with the Avalanche during their upcoming three-game road trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. But neither Landeskog nor the Avalanche would confirm he will resume his playing career anytime soon. 

Still, the emotional impact of Landeskog getting closer to a return has to provide a boost to Avalanche players who know full well how crucial Landeskog was to the organization for 11 NHL seasons. He may never play another game, but Landeskog's continuing impact on the Avs cannot be denied.

"It's really hard to say (when Landeskog wiil play again), but things are going great and it's certainly nice to have him back on the ice with our team," Bednar said. "Just the energy and sort of attitude that he brings to the ice, I think, helps everybody."

The Los Angeles Kings have reached a fork in the road. With the 2024-25 NHL post-season approaching, the possibility of a fourth consecutive first-round playoff meeting with the Edmonton Oilers looms. 

The Kings have always had to travel to Edmonton to begin the first-round series in their last three playoff meetings. They have a history of struggling on the road, as even this season, they are under .500 away from Los Angeles.  

The Kings must do what they can to alter their playoff fate. Securing the second seed in the Pacific Division and the home-ice advantage could be the difference-maker in ending their recent playoff struggles against Edmonton. 

Recent Playoff History: A Hurdle to Overcome

The Kings’ recent playoff series against the Oilers has been challenging. The two teams have met thrice in the first round since 2022, and Edmonton has won each time. 

2022: The Oilers clinched the series in seven games.​

2023: Edmonton advanced after six games.​

2024: The Oilers dominated, winning the series in five games.​

Historically, the Oilers have had the upper hand, with an 8-2 playoff series advantage over the Kings and an overall 36-18  postseason record in games.

However, the focal point of these losses has been Edmonton’s firepower on offense, led by Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The two players have consistently capitalized on the defensive vulnerabilities in LA’s system, recording several big games across these series. They’ve also held a significant edge in special teams, specifically on the power play, where they have hurt the Kings the most.

The Importance of Home-Ice Advantage

One of the key aspects of this series has been that the Kings have been better on the road against the Oilers than at home. In all the meetings they’ve faced each other in the last three playoffs, the Kings have managed to get a 1-1 split on the road in Edmonton but have struggled to win at home, losing both games in LA last playoffs. But, this time, if the first two games are played in Crypto.com Arena, the Kings should have an advantage with their recent track record of winning games in Edmonton. 

Grabbing the second seed in the Pacific Division would give the Kings home-ice advantage in the first round against the Oilers and could shift the series' balance. The home-ice advantage is always significant, especially in the playoffs, where the crowd is in your favor, boosting the energy into the player's games. 

Current Standings: A Tight Race

As of March 17, 2025, the Pacific Division standings are: 

1. Vegas Golden Knights: 39-20-8 (86 Points)

2. Edmonton Oilers: 39-24-4 (82 Points)

3. Los Angeles Kings: 36-20-9 (81 Points)

The Kings are one point behind the Oilers and have played fewer games, so the race for the second seed—and that coveted home-ice advantage—is intensely competitive.

It all comes down to how the Kings finish their season. Their next two games, which will be on the road against the Wild and Blackhawks, can elevate them to the second seed if they can grab both games and hope the Oilers at least lose one of their next three. 

Smart Move: To Confront or Avoid the Oilers?

The Kings have a choice about how they want to position themselves when the playoffs begin. But eventually, they're going to face the Oilers or another team that may give them matchup problems, so it’s better to get them while you're healthy and fresh. 

Still, with the moves they made at the deadline, improving their depth on offense and defense, the Kings’ shouldn’t worry about who they face in the playoffs; they should game plan on how to beat them and take it game by game. 

Pursue the Second Seed: The Kings would secure a home-ice advantage by overtaking the Oilers for a probable first-round playoff series. That can be significant in the context of recent postseason losses to Edmonton without home ice.

Shoot against a Different Foe: Alternatively, the Kings might set themselves up to play another team in the first round, such as the Vegas Golden Knights or a wild-card team, by potentially bypassing the Oilers altogether. However, this comes with risks involved, as maneuvering for the position is never a walk in the park or assured of better matchups that can carry you to a deep playoff run; it can end with the same results.  

Coaching and Roster Depth: A New Hope

There are several reasons why the Kings are better set up this year to handle the Oilers and why they should not duck them. 

Goaltending Greatness: Darcy Kuemper has been outstanding, recording multiple shutouts in recent games, such as a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on March 14. ​Also, he was just named the NHL 1st Star of the Week, showcasing what an asset he will be come playoff time for the Kings. 

You're a star, Darce 🌟 https://t.co/LWshUqQPOBpic.twitter.com/8p3f1MwsT9

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 17, 2025

Emerging Offense Stars: The Young Forward Quinton Byfield has been scorching hot, currently on a six-game goal streak, contributing crucial goals in their five-game winning streak. 

PK Dominance: The Kings' penalty kill has been exceptional. They successfully extinguished all eight power plays against the New York Islanders on March 12.

​

Quinton Byfield's currently on a SIX game goal streak.

(via @realapp_) pic.twitter.com/uNzuIxKlDd

— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) March 16, 2025

Conclusion: Taking the Challenge

While the prospect of facing the Oilers in the playoffs brings memories of past letdowns, the Kings can rewrite the script. By prioritizing their quest for the second seed and subsequent home-ice benefit, the Kings can place themselves in the best position possible for post-season success.

Improved goaltending, emerging offensive studs, and stellar special teams offer the Kings all the ammunition to pound the playoff failures in the past and advance beyond round one.​

The coming weeks will be crucial as the Kings look to climb up the table and prepare for what lies ahead. 

After the 2024 NHL trade deadline, Pittsburgh Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas traded captain Sidney Crosby's best winger in Jake Guentzel. It seemed to be the first domino to fall in an effort to sell off the team's marketable, talented assets to begin pushing toward the future.

Luckily for Crosby - and the Penguins - there wasn't a repeat of the same thing at the 2025 trade deadline.

Crosby's "new" best winger this season is Rickard Rakell, who is in the midst of a career year having played with the captain for most of it. Rakell has 31 goals and 59 points in 68 games on the season, and that's second on the team only to his linemate and one of hockey's best and most consistent players.

And having the consistency together as linemates this season - the two spent only a few weeks on separate lines at the very beginning of the season - has helped both of them find even more chemistry than they've had in previous campaigns, when they played together on an irrregular basis.

"I think any time you’re together with linemates for an extended period of time, usually, it’s a good thing," Crosby said. "That’s always a good sign. Just trying to read off of one another, you know, you’re talking about certain plays, and then, obviously, the power play, we’re together there... so, that can carry over to five-on-five sometimes, too.

"It definitely helps, and you want to get better as the season goes on. You play different teams, and you want to find a way to be productive.”

Rickard Rakell buries the dish from Sidney Crosby, giving Crosby his 50th assist of the season!#LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/0eKkb3AgGI

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 15, 2025

And Rakell, too, knows that when his name is on the lineup card next to Crosby and Bryan Rust, he can expect to get some good scoring chances throughout the course of a game.

“I think it helps to be playing with each other for a long time," Rakell said. "And, for me, just playing with Sid and Rusty... I know I’m going to get a few good looks every game, so I just try to stay ready for it.”

And he has, in fact, been ready for it. The duo has combined for 54 goals and 132 points on the season - including 12 goals and 26 points in the 12 games since the 4 Nations Face-off break - and they don't appear to be slowing down.

They've also contributed an expected goals for share of 54.63 percent together, which is the best expected goals share for any regular forward duo on the Penguins' roster.

This Dynamic Duo has combined for 130 points so far this season... 🐧

How many points will they collectively finish with? 💬

NHL x @massmutualpic.twitter.com/w5IwVYKvKt

— NHL (@NHL) March 14, 2025

When the duo plays away from each other? Rakell has an expected goals share of just 44.61 percent, while Crosby has a mark of 46.37 percent.

A few times in the past, head coach Mike Sullivan has referenced Rakell's ability to "make something out of nothing." One of the things - aside from his lethal shot - that makes Rakell a dangerous player is his ability to expose the soft areas of the ice.

Crosby agrees.

“I think just being aware and finding that open ice," Crosby said. "He’s got a great shot, really good hands... so he’s able to maneuver the puck pretty well in small space and doesn’t need a lot of time to get a shot off. He’s proven that a lot this year.”

As for what makes Crosby so dangerous? Well, it's more than documented at this point how high-IQ and lethal a playmaker Crosby is. But, for Rakell, Crosby's consistency and ability to sustain such a high level of play in a general sense is remarkable.

The Penguins' captain is just seven points shy of setting the NHL's all-time point-per-game seasons record at 20, which would break Wayne Gretzky's previous mark of 19.

“I mean, it’s so impressive to be doing it for, what is it, 20 times?" Rakell said. "He’s one of the best to ever play this game. He shows why. It’s such a hard game, and for him to do it every year, it’s pretty nuts.”

Crosby and Rakell's chemistry this season is pretty nuts, too. And thanks to Dubas's decision to keep the duo intact - at least for the rest of the season, and, perhaps, beyond - it will only have the potential to reach even higher heights.

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Reilly Smith is right back at home In Vegas after a short stint with the New York Rangers.

The Rangers traded Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights just one day before the NHL Trade Deadline after he played 58 games for the Blueshirts. 

Smith was acquired in the offseason by the Rangers in the hope of being the missing link on a line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. 

The 33-year-old forward didn’t exactly live up to expectations in New York and with the team not in a position to keep their unrestricted free agents without getting any assets or players in return, they decided to trade Smith.

That’s why the Rangers and Golden Knights were actually in contact for a “period of time” having trade conversations before both teams pulled the trigger on a deal.

“We had had talks all week and decided that Reilly was our guy,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.

Smith spent six seasons with the Golden Knights and won a Stanley Cup in Vegas, so it’s safe to say he was ecstatic to return to the place where he experienced so many fond memories.

“When you get traded, there’s always so much new change, not just the stuff on the ice, but everything around it,” Smith said. “So to be able to come back here and have so much familiarity, it definitely feels like coming home a little bit.

As a member of the Rangers, Smith recorded 10 goals, 19 assists and 29 points while averaging 15:36 minutes per game.

Flyers shut out for 7th time as power play drops to 0 for 23 in March originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers were blanked for a second consecutive game as they fell to the Lightning, 2-0, Monday night at Amalie Arena.

Coming off a 5-0 loss Saturday night to the Hurricanes, which finished a dreadful 1-6-0 homestand, the Flyers couldn’t get things going on the road.

The power play let them down, while Tampa Bay iced the game with an empty-netter.

The Flyers (28-33-8) have been shut out seven times, the most in John Tortorella’s three seasons as the team’s head coach. With 13 games still to go, Tortorella’s club has matched its regulation loss total from last season (38-33-11).

The Flyers went 2-1-0 against the Lightning (39-23-5) this season. Their two wins came in the shootout.

• The power play hurt the Flyers again, coming up empty in 8:10 minutes of time Monday night. The Flyers had a four-minute man advantage in the second period and didn’t record a shot.

The club’s power play is 0 for 23 in March. In the last 25 games, it’s 5 for 57.

The Flyers’ rebuilding trades of four forwards in the span of five weeks haven’t helped a team that was already inconsistent offensively.

Travis Konecny has one goal and 10 assists in the last 22 games. Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett have gone scoreless in the last five games.

More: Tortorella defends Thompson, says Flyers won’t shy away from power play criticism

• Ivan Fedotov gave the Flyers an excellent chance to win, making 21 saves on 22 shots.

The only goal he allowed was on a first-period breakaway for Nikita Kucherov, the NHL’s third-leading scorer (95 points). Konecny mishandled the puck in the offensive zone with the action at 4-on-4 and Kucherov jumped on it.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay’s 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion, stopped all 21 of the Flyers’ shots.

• Rasmus Ristolainen missed a third straight game with an upper-body injury. Garnet Hathaway hasn’t played in March as he recovers from a blindsided hit he took at the end of February.

• The Flyers are scheduled to practice Wednesday in Florida before heading to Washington, D.C., for a matchup Thursday with the Capitals (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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The Carolina Hurricanes might have only had Mikko Rantanen for just over a month, but without him and Martin Necas, they’re firing on all pistons.

Drama enveloped the Hurricanes at the March 7 NHL trade deadline regarding their failure in re-signing Rantanen after trading Necas in a package for him in late January. Despite that, the team went 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and won its last seven, which helps its Stanley Cup hopes.

If Carolina can maintain its dynamic play for the next month, the team will head into the playoffs as a threat with home-ice advantage, likely against the third seed in the Metropolitan Division – either the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers or Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Hurricanes look like they could still be a Stanley Cup contender. But there are still some areas of potential concern when the playoffs arrive. Their 18.1-percent power-play efficiency, which ranks 26th in the NHL, is one of them, but the bigger question mark is goaltending.

First thing’s first: the Hurricanes’ goaltending is nowhere near abysmal. Veteran netminder Frederik Andersen has a 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage this season, while youngster Pyotr Kochetkov has a 2.37 GAA and a .908 SP this year. Those are solid numbers for the platoon.

Last season, Andersen had a 1.84 GAA and a .932 SP in 16 games, and Kochetkov had a .911 SP and a 2.33 GAA in 40 games – slightly better than this year. But those strong numbers did not translate into reliable goaltending in the post-season. Last playoffs, Andersen’s numbers dropped to a .895 SP and a 2.62 GAA in 10 starts. Kochetkov had a .880 SP after allowing three goals on 25 shots against the Rangers in last year’s second round. In six career playoff appearances, he’s put up a subpar .863 SP and a 4.01 GAA.

Andersen’s injury history is a bigger question mark. He already missed a sizable chunk of time this season due to knee surgery, appearing in only 14 games. He made 16 appearances last year after missing most of that campaign due to a deep-vein thrombosis diagnosis, which was unlucky. But he also had multiple injuries in 2022-23 that limited him to 34 games, and he missed the 2022 playoffs with a torn MCL.

There’s a clear cause for concern that Andersen might not be available to be counted on when the Hurricanes need him the most. When Kochetkov was injured at the same time as Andersen this season, Carolina had to turn to journeymen Dustin Tokarski and Spencer Martin. If a similar situation happens in the post-season, then a lack of reliability in net could sink the squad.

Things can always change for the better, of course. Both Carolina goalies are thriving this month: Andersen has a .932 SP and a 1.76 GAA in four games, while Kochetkov has a 0.99 GAA and a .960 SP in four appearances. Clearly, Carolina’s goalies are riding high with the rest of their teammates.

But from our standpoint, the Hurricanes’ netminding will be a nagging concern until their goalies prove otherwise. Andersen hasn’t guided his team beyond the second round of the playoffs since the 2014-15 campaign as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. And Kochetkov simply doesn’t have enough post-season experience to say with certainty how he will perform when games matter most. There’s room for reasonable doubt here.

We knew going into the season that Carolina had the overall depth to be one of the NHL’s best squads. But like all teams, the Hurricanes aren’t perfect. And if they do get flushed out of the first or second round of this year’s playoffs due to their goaltending, no one can say they didn’t see it coming.

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