The Buffalo Sabres currently have the ninth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. But not every team above the Sabres in the draft order is fully intent on holding onto it. Does that mean Buffalo should be inquiring about trading up?

From this writer's perspective, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams should certainly be testing the waters when it comes to moving higher in the draft. A team like the Utah Mammoth -- who we wrote about as a potential trade partner for Buffalo in this column -- might be persuaded to give up the fourth-overall pick. But it would take quite the offer from the Sabres to get that kind of deal consummated. The Mammoth would likely want a proven NHL talent who is in the early stages of their career, and Buffalo certainly has many of those types of assets. So there's definitely a potential hook-up trade situation between the two teams.

But the bigger question is this: why would the Sabres want to get even younger? Buffalo's only goal has to be to make the playoffs, and while adding a long-term piece of the puzzle through the draft would make sense in some respects, the player the Sabres would get at the fourth slot wouldn't be much different than the one they're going to get at the ninth slot -- at least, when it comes to contributing meaningfully next season.

The Sabres definitely should be making trades this summer, but they should be looking at the same type of players as the Mammoth are looking at -- experienced NHLers with a playoff pedigree, So while it does make sense for Buffalo and Utah to collaborate on a trade, we'd guess that trade would feature players like Utah's Lawson Crouse and Buffalo's Bowen Byram. A draft pick trade between the Mammoth and Sabres doesn't make sense.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Utah MammothThis is the first file in what will be an ongoing series on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In these files, we're going to identify a number of teams the Sabres could be making a trade with this summer, and we'll be picking out specific players who could be trade targets for Buffalo.

Other than Utah, we suspect most, if not all of the teams ahead of Buffalo are going to hold onto their pick. Adams may decide to tempt one or many of them by offering up an excellent trade package featuring the ninth-overall pick and a current Sabres player or two, but again, Buffalo's prime need at this point in its competitive trajectory is not another player who won't be hitting his prime for many a year.

So no, the Sabres probably shouldn't be trading up in the draft. If they hang onto the ninth pick, and if their draft and development team finds a gem at that slot, Buffalo's management will have done its job. And the Sabres would still have all the assets necessary to swing a major deal that will address their true needs.

Sabres Should Be Focusing On Trading For This Veteran Stanley Cup-WinnerThe Buffalo Sabres are in need of many things this summer -- but more than anything else, they need some veterans to come in and establish a winning standard for a new era for the franchise. And while it won't be a cakewalk to acquire the type of talent that can change things for the Sabres, that doesn't mean Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams shouldn't be swinging for the fences in trades and free agency. 

It's always tempting on draft day to imagine what it takes to trade up and land a prospect who could be a difference-maker for many years. But the Sabres have to stay focused on their central goal, and that goal is ending their 14-year playoff-less streak.

Anyone they get at the ninth pick -- and anyone they'd get at a pick higher than that -- probably won't get them there next season. So the trades Adams needs to make shoudn't be draft-related. The Sabres need veteran help, right here and right now, and any failure on that part may lead to Buffalo drafting just as high, if not higher next summer. And that's not where the Sabres or Sabres fans should want them to be.

The Crowned Event Week 2 is live now in NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team. 

The new 95/96 overall master set players are Jonathan Quick, Taylor Heise, Erik Cernak, Sam Bennett, and Denis Potvin. 

These 96 overall players can be unlocked by trading in the corresponding 95 overall card and another 95 Crowned card. 

Three 88+ cards get you a 90 Crowned player, three 90+ Crowned players get you a 92, and three 92+ and any two additional 92+ cards get you the 95 master set card. 

The 96 overall cards come with free zone and superstar abilities. 

On top of the master set players 96 overall Nikita Kucherov, Alex Ovechkin and Connor Hellebuyck were added to celebrate their real-life awards. As were 95 overall Lane Hutson, Anze Kopitar, and Leon Draisaitl. 

94 overall Matt Murray, Dominik Hasek, and Calvin Pickard were also added. 94 overall Martin St. Louis and Henrik Zetterberg and 93 overall Drew Doughty and Marian Hossa highlight new Crowned base cards. 

All of Friday's cards and the releases from earlier this week are in the video above.  

The Hockey News' Stanley Cup Final simulation predicted the Florida Panthers to win in five games here.

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.         

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL 

With the additions of Matvei Michkov and Egor Zavragin in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers have done an excellent job of adding top Russian talent to their ranks. But, can they manage to do the same in 2025?

Bog-standard performances and a lack of improvement have cast doubt over the futures of fellow Russian Flyers Egor Zamula and Ivan Fedotov, who will each be out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Those two, who have been a great help for the younger and less experienced Michkov, might not be around forever. It's unclear when former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nikita Grebenkin will crack the NHL lineup for the Flyers and what his ceiling is if and when he does.

With seven picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, the Flyers have all the opportunities possible to find players who can socialize with Michkov and, most importantly, add the talent necessary to build the best team possible.

Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) 5-foot-11, 210 pounds

Teased in my latest big board, I think Ivan Ryabkin would be a great fit for the Flyers with his agitating, physical nature alongside Grebenkin and Michkov. Could you imagine the talent and irritation coming from that line?

The problem with Ryabkin, though, is that recent reports from the NHL Scouting Combine have indicated that the 18-year-old did not test well or interview well, meaning teams like the Flyers are going to have to spend a good portion of the development process working through immaturity and teaching him how to be a pro.

If conditioning is a real concern, that might explain why some scouting reports mention Ryabkin "gliding" during plays.

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At the same time, Ryabkin entered the season looking like a surefire top 10 talent. He can hit, shoot, and create. After leaving Russia, Ryabkin finished the season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 26 goals, 20 assists, and 46 points in 41 total games while winning the Clark Cup.

Ryabkin is exactly the kind of risk the Flyers should be taking with a late first-round pick or one of their four early second-round picks. Ivan Barbashev, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, is a name that comes to mind for me.

Alex Zharovsky, Inverted RW, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) 6-foot-1, 163 pounds

Do the Flyers need more right wings? No, not really, but they could use some talented left-shot forwards outside of Michkov, who, like Alex Zharovsky, is a left-handed right wing.

The 18-year-old Zharovsky is a supremely talented forward who plays with guile, creativity, and flair. He'll break ankles and crate scoring chances for his teammates with his passing all the same, but his NHL projection can be tough to predict because of that.

Zharovsky played all of his regular season action with Tolpar Ufa in the MHL, which is a step down from Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL, with whom he finished the 2024-25 season.

In the NHL, defenders are bigger, stronger, and faster and will close down the spaces Zharovsky exploits with haste. If he can make the changes and avoid doing too much too often, Zharovsky has all the tools to justify a Day 2 draft pick.

Ilya Pautov, the Flyers' sixth-round pick a year ago, had a similar draft year in the MHL and has yet to build on it. Zharovsky should be on Philadelphia's radar, but they may want to be careful of drafting him too early. The industry consensus currently sees the silky winger as mid-second-round pick.

Kurban Limatov, LHD, Dynamo Moskva (KHL) 6-foot-4, 190 pounds

Kurban Limatov, like Ryabkin, was featured in our early big board, and for good reason.

Limatov is an excellent skater for his size and could forge a career as a top-four NHL defenseman with improvements to his passing and decision-making with the puck. But without that?

He's still a strong, physical defender with the closing speed that allows him to kill plays quickly.

The Flyers have virtually no projectable left-shot defenders in their prospect pool at this time, so Limatov should be a candidate to be selected with a late first- or early second-round pick.

Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Has Exciting, Simple Plan for Matvei MichkovNew Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has revealed his simple, preliminary plan to get the most out of star rookie Matvei Michkov going forward. It's not rocket science.

Although Brad Shaw has left for New Jersey, the Flyers have done a decent job of developing defensemen in recent years. They could do worse with a spare draft pick than taking a shot on Limatov... as long as someone else doesn't beat them to the punch.

Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

The Flyers are more than likely going to draft a goalie - maybe more than one - in the 2025 draft. Why not get Pyotr Andreyanov, the highest-ranked European goalie by NHL Central Scouting in this year's draft class?

Andreyanov, similarly to Zavragin, has been virtually unbeatable in the MHL in his draft year this season. The 18-year-old posted a 23-6-6 record for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva to the tune of a 1.75 GAA, a .942 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Somehow, in six postseason games, Andreyanov's superhuman efforts weren't enough; he stumbled to a 2-4-0 record and first-round exit despite having a 2.36 GAA, a .929 save percentage, and a shutout during that span.

Andreyanov notably plays for the same MHL team as Ilya Pautov, the Flyers' sixth-round pick from a year ago. If the Flyers have been keeping up with Pautov at all, they should have all the information they need to justify picking Andreyanov early in the 2025 draft.

Semyon Frolov, G, MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Semyon Frolov, coming in just behind Andreyanov, is the second-highest ranked European goalie in the 2025 draft class by NHL Central Scouting.

The 18-year-old played most of his hockey for MHK Spartak Moskva this season, for whom he posted a 9-2-2 record, a 2.05 GAA, and a .915 save percentage with two shutouts.

Frolov's numbers weren't as impressive as Andreyanov's, and he played in only 18 regular season games and 25 games in total this season.

Still, the Togliatti product is a superb athlete who plays with poise and discipline, which are hallmarks of any successful goaltender at any level.

Assuming the Flyers watched Andreyanov and Pautov, they've probably seen some of Frolov, too. Frolov is more likely to be a third- or fourth-round player, but he would be a welcomed addition to the Flyers' goaltending depth all the same.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

NEVER SAY NEVER. 

After a historic Edmonton Oilers 5-4 victory, the Stanley Cup Final is deadlocked at two games a piece heading back to Edmonton for Game 5. 

“We wanted to come out strong tonight, but they put us on our heels early,” said Leon Draisaitl post game. 

“We were lollygagging around a little bit, and it’s certainly not the time to lollygag around, especially after getting spanked in Game 3.” 

So, how did Game 4 unravel? 

The first period was all Panthers. The Cats took a demanding 3-0 lead. Matthew Tkachuk netted a pair of powerplay goals, Anton Lundell potted the third. 

The second period was all Oilers. Backup Calvin Pickard would replace Stuart Skinner and Edmonton would rally back and tie the game 3-3. The goal scorers were Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the powerplay, Darnell Nurse, and Vasily Podkolzin. 

Period three would, understandably, be very, very tactical. Neither team wanted to make the first mistake knowing that could be the difference. 

With just over six minutes to play, Jake Walman would blast one past Sergei Bobrovsky to give the Oilers a 4-3 lead. Just as we thought the game was over, Sam Reinhart would find the back of the net with 19.5 seconds remaining. 

Reinhart’s goal would be the second latest game tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history. The latest? Corey Perry’s equalizer in Game 2, with 18 seconds remaining. 

For the third time in four games, we have overtime. In overtime, Carter Verhaege was inches away from giving the Panthers a 3-1 series lead when his one timer went off the crossbar. 

Moments later, Leon Draisaitl would score his second overtime goal of the series and fourth of these playoffs, a new NHL single postseason record. 

The goal wasn’t flashy, but ugly goals are worth just as much as the pretty ones. Draisaitl, with one hand on his stick, was trying to throw the puck in the nets direction and a fortunate bounce off of Cats defenseman, Nikko Mikkola, redirected the puck between Bobs legs. 

When you throw pucks on net, good things happen. In a game that was as back and forth as ping-pong, what was the turning point? 

For Solon Mihas, it was Lundell’s goal that put the Panthers up, 3-0. Without that goal, late in the first period, Mihas doesn’t think Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch makes the goaltending switch he did. 

“What I noticed was a bunch of leaders we have in this room. We came in, Perry gave us a little speech, and a couple of other guys spoke up,” said Walman. 

Game 4 Stanley Cup Final Preview And What's At Stake Game 3 was nothing like the first two in Edmonton. We went from consecutive overtime games to a dominant, 6-1, Florida beatdown. 

“Just the quiet confidence we have in our room even down 3-0, to turn that game around shows a lot about our group. I don’t think we’re ever out of a game.” 

Tonight’s X-Factor? Backup goalie, Calvin Pickard. 

Before the game there was a question of who will be in net for the Oilers. The answer was NOT Pickard. 

After taking over for Skinner to start the middle frame, Pickard saved 22 of 23 shots he faced, improving his personal playoff record to 7-0. 

Without Pickard, who knows what happens after the first 20 minutes. 

“I have confidence in him (Pickard) because you look at his record… he’s been doing a lot of winning,” Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said post game. Each team has both positives and negatives to take out of this game, but Panthers Matthew Tkachuk chooses to focus on the plus. 

“Take our first period, take our third period, beginning of overtime. I thought we did a lot of good things.” 

Aside from being eventful, this series has been historic. 

The Oilers became just the first team in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup Final game when trailing 3-0 after the first period. 

Prior to tonight, teams in the Panthers position were 37-0. After tonight? 37-1. 

This series has gone from a best-of-seven, to a best-of-five, and now, a best-of-three heading into Game 5. 

The series heads to Alberta with a chance to advance one step closer to the games ultimate prize. 

With less than two weeks before the 2025 NHL Decentralized Draft in Los Angeles, there are differing opinions of who the Buffalo Sabres will select ninth overall if they do not trade the pick. A mock draft from the Athletic earlier this month and Mike Morreale from NHL.com projected the Sabres to select OHL defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with their pick, but the Athletic’s updated mock draft and NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman have Buffalo adding a forward prospect. 

Aitcheson had a breakout offensive year with the Barrie Colts, jumping from eight goals last season to 26 goals, finishing behind only 2024 first rounders Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson among OHL defenseman. Aitcheson led the Colts with 59 points and scored 12 points in the OHL playoffs.  

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In their updated mock, the Athletic has the Sabres selecting Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin at #9. The 6’0”, 178 lb. Martin nearly tripled his point output in his second OHL season with the Greyhounds (33 goals, 39 assists), and his stock has been rising after an excellent showing for Canada at the Under-18s with 11 points in seven games. 

Kimelman projects Brampton Steelheads winger Porter Martone to be selected by the Sabres. The 6’3”, 208 lb. winger had 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) in 57 OHL games last season, and is considered the best winger in the draft class, but there has been speculation that the 18-year-old power forward could go as high as third overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, so the chances of Martone slipping to the Sabres six picks later seem unlikely.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

How Marchand made Stanley Cup Final history with amazing goal in Game 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

You could make a strong case for Brad Marchand as the most outstanding player of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final so far.

The veteran left wing scored the opening goal in the first period of Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

Marchand used his speed to create a scoring chance and then beat Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard with a great shot.

OH MY BRAD MARCHAND 😱 pic.twitter.com/EQzrDQlhIW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

The goal was Marchand’s fifth of the series. As a result, he has now scored five or more goals in two different Stanley Cup Final series (he also scored five with the Boston Bruins in 2011).

The only other player since 1967-68 to score five-plus goals in multiple Cup Final series is Mario Lemieux, who achieved the feat with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

Here's a stat: Marchand has a series-leading five goals, the second time he has scored five goals in the Cup Final (2011). The only other player in the expansion era (since 1967-68) with five-plus goals in a Final more than once is Mario Lemieux (5 G in 1991 and 1992 w/ PIT).

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 15, 2025

UPDATE (Saturday, June 14 at 10:45 p.m. ET): Marchand scored another fantastic goal in the third period, giving him six goals for the series. He’s the first player to score six or more goals in a Cup Final since Esa Tikkanen scored six for the Oilers in 1988.

BRAD MARCHAND SCORES HIS SIXTH (6TH!) GOAL OF THE SERIES 😱 pic.twitter.com/1s0A077b1Z

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 15, 2025

–End of Update–

The Panthers won 5-2 to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Tuesday in Florida.

Marchand’s 13 career goals in the Stanley Cup Final are the most of any active player.

Marchand has tallied 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 22 games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His career high for points in one postseason is 23 (2019 w/Bruins).

The Panthers acquired Marchand from the Bruins right before the trade deadline on March 7. If the Panthers win this series and secure back-to-back championships, that trade will go down as one of the best mid-season upgrades in league history.

San Jose Sharks fans haven't had much to cheer about over the last little while, but one positive note recently is that one of their top prospects, Sam Dickinson, won defenceman of the year in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

Sam Dickinson is the best defenceman in the country.@SanJoseSharks | #TheFutureIsTealpic.twitter.com/wHpxcoJAmj

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) June 13, 2025

Dickinson, who is 19 years old, was drafted 11th overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. With the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this past season, he scored 29 goals and added 62 assists for 91 points through 55 games, which comes out to an impressive 1.65 points-per-game average.

While Dickinson may not make the Sharks next season, he is showing his potential as a future star when he gets his shot. Sharks fans should be excited for what Dickinson can, and will, eventually bring to their blue line.

2 Trade Targets The Sharks Should Explore This SummerThe rumor mill is heating up. With only two weeks until the NHL Draft, there’s more and more buzz circulating around the league. For the San Jose Sharks, they find themselves in a spot where they’ll more than likely be taking on a few tough contracts — but ones tied to players who can still make an impact on the roster and in the room. 3 Free Agent Targets For The San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks find themselves in an interesting spot this off-season. They’re still deep into a rebuild, but this summer presents an opportunity to push that rebuild along a little faster. While GM Mike Grier seems to want the rebuild to happen somewhat naturally, you can bet he’ll be adding some fresh faces to the roster. With around $53 million in cap space, the Sharks need to at least hit the salary cap floor, but if they decide to spend more, it will likely translate into a better product on the ice. Sharks Should Consider Targeting Rangers’ Matt RempeThe San Jose Sharks are looking to get back into playoff contention as soon as they can, and while they may have to go through one more season of struggling before they can make a playoff push, there are some players they can target that can help them become a tougher team to play against.

Oilers and Panthers head for must-win Game 5 Saturday with McDavid due for a big game

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final shifts back to Edmonton with the series tied 2-2 after the Oilers evened things up in Florida. What once looked like a commanding Panthers lead has now turned into a best-of-three showdown, with the Oilers regaining momentum on home ice at Rogers Place heading into a pivotal Game 5.

Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final arrives with the series tied 2-2, and history tells us just how crucial this night could be. The Edmonton Oilers return home to Rogers Place after splitting two games in Florida, reclaiming momentum and setting the stage for what could be the most defining game of the series.

Both teams now stand just two wins away from a championship, but based on decades of Stanley Cup history, Game 5 tends to separate contenders from champions.

Since the NHL moved to the best-of-seven format in 1939, the team that wins Game 5 of a tied Final has gone on to win the Stanley Cup over 70% of the time, according to NHL Stats and ESPN research. 

According to Hockey Reference, in the modern salary cap era (2006 to present), teams winning Game 5 of a tied Final on home ice have gone 6-1 in those series. That stat leans heavily in Edmonton’s favor as they prepare for Tuesday night’s clash in front of what will be another electric crowd at Rogers Place.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

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Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers Game 5 Best Bets:

• Oilers Moneyline (-110)
• Over 6.5 Total Goals (-112)
• Connor McDavid to Record 2+ Points (-128)

After scoring just one goal through the first two games, Edmonton’s offense has exploded for eight goals over Games 3 and 4, finding rhythm against a Florida defense that suddenly looks overwhelmed.

Connor McDavid leads the postseason in scoring and seems to have fully taken over the series, generating chances nearly every shift and elevating the entire top six.

Back at Rogers Place—where the Oilers are 7-3 this postseason and average over four goals per game—Edmonton holds a decisive edge. Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has shown cracks, posting an .857 save percentage in Game 4 and looking less sharp under increased pressure. That opens the door for another high-scoring night.

The total is set at 6.5 goals (-112), a number that’s already hit in back-to-back games. With both teams’ star power now fully engaged, special teams factoring in, and defensive fatigue showing, the conditions are perfect for the Over to cash again.

McDavid, meanwhile, has recorded six points in his last two games and has 10 multi-point outings this postseason. With the series tied and stakes at their peak, backing him to register 2+ points is one of the strongest player props on the board.

Expect a fast-paced Game 5 dominated by Edmonton’s top-end talent, fueled by a raucous home crowd and a wide-open style that favors the Over.

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Panthers beat Oilers 5-2 in Game 5, one win away from repeat Stanley Cup champs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brad Marchand scored twice, Sam Bennett had his NHL playoff-leading 15th goal and the Florida Panthers moved to the verge of a second consecutive Stanley Cup title by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 on Saturday night.

The Panthers improved to 10-3 on the road this playoffs. They can hoist the Cup again as soon as Tuesday night if they win Game 6 on home ice in Sunrise.

Florida this time built a multigoal lead and built on it, unlike a couple of previous games in the final. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced, making some important saves when needed, and was aided by lockdown defense that took ice away from the Oilers.

Marchand, Bennett and Sam Reinhart provided the offense. Marchand joined Mario Lemieux as the only players in the past half-century to score five-plus goals in a final multiple times, and his 13 career goals in the final are the most among active players.

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series after the Oilers fell behind 3-0. Reinhart’s came 46 seconds later to restore the Panthers’ three-goal lead, and by the time Corey Perry scored with 3:13 left, it was too late.

Eetu Luostarinen sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:19 left, silencing the once fired-up crowd for a final time.

Edmonton’s power play went 0 for 3, a product of the Panthers’ aggressive penalty kill knocking McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the top unit out of their usual rhythm.

Calvin Pickard lost for the first time in eight starts this spring, allowing four goals on 18 shots. He got the nod over Stuart Skinner after entering in relief and winning Game 4 to improve to 7-0, a record that is now 7-1.

Skinner could be back in for Game 6, with the Panthers aiming to close things out following another cross-continental trip back to the other corner of North America. They are in this spot after bouncing back from blowing a three-goal lead and falling in overtime in Game 4, taking advantage of their depth to send the Oilers to the brink again.

The NHL is a traditional business, and change is rare. It takes a long time to be implemented. Still, following the release of the voting for the various trophies by Professional Hockey Writers Association members, I believe it has become glaringly evident that the NHL needs to add a new trophy, that of the best defensive defenseman.

Every season, when the James Norris Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman, it becomes more and more evident that it is granted not necessarily to the best defenseman as a whole, but to the best offensive defenseman. Don’t get me wrong, Cale Makar is a fantastic defenseman, but when you think about the Colorado Avalanche’s blueliner, blocked shots and defensive coverage are not what comes to mind. What comes to mind is his number of points and how well he quarterbacks the Avs’ power play.

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And the same goes for his fellow Norris finalists. Makar finished the regular season with 92 points, Colombus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski was second with 82 points and Vancouver Canucks’ blueliner Quinn Hughes was third with 76 points. That’s precisely the order in which they finished for the Norris. Makar received 1861 voting points, Werenski received 1266, and Hughes received 918.

The top-10 in voting was completed by: Josh Morrissey (eight in regular season scoring amongst defensemen), Victor Hedman (seventh in scoring), Rasmus Dahlin (fourth in scoring), Thomas Harley (15th in scoring), Jacob Slavin (the exception to the rule, 70th in scoring), Lane Hutson (sixth in scoring) and Jake Sanderson (11th in scoring).

The only purely defensive defenseman of the lot is Slavin, who received only 60 voting points. The Carolina Hurricanes’ top-pairing defenseman doesn’t play on the man-advantage; he’s the Canes’ penalty kill anchor, leading them in blocked shots with 136 (38 more than second-place Brent Burns) and in average time on ice with 21:34.

The Hurricanes were 10th in the league in goals against and ninth in goals for. The defensive side of their game is just as important as the offensive side, and Slavin is the most significant cog in their defense. Without him, their result in their zone would be nowhere near as good.

If there’s a trophy for the best defensive forward (the Frank J. Selke), why shouldn’t there be a trophy for the best defensive defenseman? It makes sense, especially since people put more focus on the offensive side of the game nowadays. Fans and pundits all want to see goals, which is why the offensive juggernauts' defensemen gather as many votes for the Norris Trophy. No matter how many goals you score, though, you’re not going to win if there’s no one to ensure that your opponent scores less than you do.

After the 1998-99 season, the NHL introduced the Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy, which is awarded annually to the league’s best sniper. It was named to honour the Montreal Canadiens’ legend, who was the first player ever to score 50 goals in a season and 50 goals in the first 50 games of his team (a feat only achieved by four other players since then: Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, and Brett Hull). It should be noted that other players scored 50 goals in their first 50 games or fewer, but not in their team’s first 50 games (Jari Kurri, Alexander Mogilny, Lemieux, Cam Neely, and, more recently, Auston Matthews).

Maurice "The Rocket" Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scoring his 500th goal in 1957. pic.twitter.com/C8Y291pV98

— Old Canada Series (@oldcanadaseries) April 25, 2025

Richard led the league in goals five times throughout his 18-season career and was the first player to reach the 500-goal mark. To this day, 48 players have achieved the feat. When the Rocket hung up his skates in 1960, he was the top goal scorer in league history with 544 goals. Today, his 544 goals are the 33rd highest total in league history. Alexander Ovechkin became the top goal scorer this season, overtaking Wayne Gretzky, who finished his career with 894. The Russian sniper now has 897 and will play for at least one more season.

Given how vital a good defensive defenseman can be to his team, it’s high time the league introduced a new trophy to honour the best of the best in that field. If the league needs inspiration to name it, the rich Canadiens’ history could once again be dug into. Montreal has had its fair share of defensive masterminds at the blueline, and Doug Harvey’s name comes to mind.

Harvey spent the first 14 seasons of his career with the Canadiens, winning six Stanley Cups. In 1113 games, he gathered 540 points and 1216 penalty minutes, winning seven Norris Trophies. He possessed a keen hockey mind, and when he was acquired by the New York Rangers, he became the last player-coach in league history, leading them to their first postseason appearance in four years. The defenseman liked being one of the guys, and when he resigned as coach, he said, “As the coach, I couldn’t go out for beers with the boys”. Harvey was also offensively gifted and was one of the first defenseman to carry the puck as much as he wanted and slow down the pace of the play, he was the complete package. 

Should the league want to take a more modern approach, both Boston Bruins’ Raymond Bourque and Detroit Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom would be excellent choices. Bourque was incredibly sound defensively, and every NHL fan rooted for him to win a Stanley Cup before retiring when he was traded to the Avalanche. As for Lidstrom, he was very gifted at shutting down opponents and marked the league’s history when he became the first European-born and trained player to raise the Stanley Cup and win the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoff MVP.

Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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In the 2024 offseason, the Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year, $6.25M contract and after one season, the long-term implications don't seem very positive.

In his first season with the organization, the 31-year-old struggled at 5-on-5 despite scoring 13 goals and 51 points in 78 games. Stephenson recorded a career-high 18 power play points and provided value on the penalty kill, but for a $6.25M cap hit, the Kraken were hoping for more than a third-line producer. 

As the years will go by, the expectation is that Shane Wright and Matty Beniers will continue to improve and blossom into top-six centers, leaving Stephenson in a lesser role. When they factor in Berkly Catton, who is nearing an NHL role, it puts the Kraken in an increasingly peculiar spot.

Throughout his junior career, Catton has played exclusively as a center, and his skill set best suits a modern NHL center. He's a fantastic playmaker who loves to have the puck on his stick. He's a transition nightmare for his opponents, using his speed, edges and hands to create space for himself and his teammates. The unfortunate situation for Catton and the Kraken is that he is ineligible to play in the AHL next season if he is not ready to play in the NHL. He'd have to return to the WHL, where he's proven to be far too good for.

This season, the 19-year-old scored 38 goals and 109 points in 57 games, while adding another 11 goals and 42 points in 20 playoff games. If Catton does show he's ready to play in the NHL, the Kraken will be forced to play him as either a fourth-line center or a winger, both positions where Catton would likely not thrive during his rookie campaign, which is why the decision to sign Stephenson to a long-term deal at the time was puzzling, and it'll continue to be.

While he could be hampering the development of young forwards like Catton, he was also misprofiled by the Kraken front office. With the Vegas Golden Knights, Stephenson was so effective because Jack Eichel and William Karlsson took on the tough matchups, allowing Stephenson to play a type of roaming role to take advantage of lesser matchups. If Wright and Beniers continue their trajectory, they could create that role for Stephenson, but the Saskatoon, SK native's cap hit is still far too high for that role. 

"I think a lot of similarities there. It's crazy thinking that I'm one of the older guys now, it goes so quick. I mean, even this year, how quick it went by," said Stepheson during the Kraken's exit interviews. "My youngest daughter just turned one, and it feels like she's a couple months old. So, yeah, it was kind of a blur this year. But as far as playing and everything went, from that standpoint, it was fairly similar. I would say it’s just a different situation, different kind of everything as well. But I think it's just it's going to be good to just kind of reflect and know what to expect coming into next year, and just have that comfortability and experience, I guess. Yeah, I think it'll be a good season next year, for sure."

The Kraken want to find ways to incorporate youth and veterans, but strapping themselves to long-term contracts could be more detrimental than beneficial. 

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

Kraken Are A Threat To Offer Sheet Available Restricted Free AgentsThroughout the season, the Seattle Kraken's front office has been keen on their mindset to be aggressive in their pursuit of upgrading the roster, and according to recent reports, that pursuit includes possibly using offer sheets. 

It's officially summer, folks.

How do we know, you ask? Yes, the Stanley Cup Final series has already kicked off, but that's not the prime indicator.

Martin Necas rumors have officially started swirling, and the frenzy that has ensued is a certain head-scratcher.

While the Stanley Cup Final begins this week, the off-season has begun for 30 teams across the NHL.

With the combine this week and the draft to follow later in the month, @RealKyper introduces his first trade board of the off-season. https://t.co/yXm6NXGb8V

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 2, 2025

In the above article, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet talks about potentially beneficial trades across the league leading up to Free Agency. He had this to say about Necas, who still has one year remaining on his $6.5 million contract:

"The key piece in the first Mikko Rantanen trade this season, Martin Necas largely delivered on what was promised — he was just shy of being a point-per-game player in the regular season and found a home on Colorado’s top line. But before that trade, Necas only signed a short-term deal with Carolina when the two sides couldn’t agree on his long-term value, meaning he has one season left making $6.5 million against the cap, after which he could test the waters as a UFA. 

“After the Avalanche moved Rantanen because of how difficult they perceived contract extension talks to be going, how much patience will they have with Necas — not a homegrown player or superstar talent — if negotiations on an extension start slowly this July? There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options."

The quote that garners a lot of attention: "There was a sense Necas wasn't overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado."

Where This All Started

Rumors began circulating in the summer of 2024, following the end of his previous bridge deal, that Necas was unhappy with his time in Carolina. Necas' father spoke out, saying that the forward wanted minutes on the first line and the first power-play unit, opportunities he wasn't consistently getting under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. The understanding was that Necas was unhappy with his utilization and felt that he wasn't able to play to his full capabilities. His father even went on to say in an interview with Denik Sport, "Martin wants to be traded."

Is Martin Necas' Time in Carolina Coming to a Close?When the clock struck 0:00 and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in Game 6 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, emotions were running high.

It seems as though those comments held some truth to them, considering the blockbuster trade that sent him and teammate Jack Drury, who had also reportedly requested a trade in previous off-seasons, to the Avalanche in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

In Carolina, this past season yielded incredible results for Necas - the best of his career. In 49 games played with the club, he still ranks highly among their roster:

• Points: 55 (3rd)
• Goals: 16 (6th)
• Assists: 39 (2nd)
• Power-Play Goals: 7 (T-2nd, Seth Jarvis)

Rumors also broke around the same time that alluded to Necas not being happy playing on the wing. When he was drafted, many listed him as a natural center. With Carolina's log-jam at the center position during his time with the team, HC Rod Brind'Amour didn't have much wiggle room and, instead, focused on developing him as a winger.

How Did Things in Colorado Shake Out?

He ended the season with 83 points, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists in the remaining 30 games he played with the Avalanche in the regular season, averaging just under a point per game.

Impressive? Given the change in systems he needed to adapt to, most would say so.

Necas was accustomed to playing a style with Carolina that emphasized a heavy neutral-zone presence and hard-checking game. Brind'Amour demands a certain defensive style from his players that wasn't much suited for Necas. His absence from Carolina's penalty kill units further proves that.

With the Hurricanes, he was never on a consistent line for long, never mind on the first line.

What he DID get in Colorado, though, was consistent first-line minutes next to one of the best active players in the NHL and minutes on the first power-play unit, both things he reportedly wanted. In these situations on the ice, especially next to Nathan MacKinnon, he could put his best assets to use: his speed and ability to transition the puck - something Carolina had to adapt to missing after he was traded away.

It’s a Marty Party 🎉 pic.twitter.com/h00HNddDhC

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 9, 2025

But, then begs the question: if he got what he was asking for, why wouldn't he be thrilled?

First, let's all remember to take the report with a grain of salt. This is ONE journalist with a single report after a tumultuous season for every party involved in this trade. Everyone was shocked by the blockbuster trade, despite two of the three players involved having reportedly requested to be moved in previous years (i.e., Necas and Drury).

Second, if there is any truth to this, all bets here are on him not getting more of an opportunity to prove himself as a natural center.

He was given one game by head coach Jared Bednar in MacKinnon's absence (due to a minor injury) on April 10th against the Vancouver Canucks. It didn't last longer than two periods.

Call it a lack of experience or simply not being built to play the position, but when a guy who wants to play center is out on the ice for three of the four goals allowed, it's not the greatest way to build an argument to play him there consistently. He was only at center for one of those goals, as he was moved back to the wing in the third period, but that lone goal saw him caught too deep in the other end and then leisurely skating back... Not the best look.

🗣️Jared Bednar

Watch Bednar's full postgame availability following a 1-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.#GoAvsGo | @gs_off_icepic.twitter.com/TyXNpFsHvI

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) April 11, 2025

In his defense, that was an off-game for the team as a whole, as Coach Bednar said following the game that the team wasn't skating enough. Bad decisions were made, breakouts were "terrible," zone transitions weren't up to his standards, and he made sure everyone knew that the lineup shuffling due to missing guys was not an excuse for any of it.

The Multi-Million Dollar Question: Will Necas Get Traded?

All that to say... With the Brock Nelson extension securing a player at the 2C position for the next three years, there's not much of an opportunity for Necas to get another look at center. And now with talks of the Avalanche potentially targeting Stanley Cup-winning center Jonathan Toews, it looks less and less likely for the Czech native.

The idea is that, with Necas' contract expiring after the 2025-26 season, the Avalanche may put a deal in front of him somewhere between $7 million and $9 million. After the points he put up in the regular season this past campaign, a number in that range seems generous enough and would be his largest salary sum yet.

Necas has never signed a deal longer than three years, his most recent contracts acting as bridge deals while Necas continued to prove himself. His worth has always been a point of contention in contract talks, even leading the forward to file for arbitration in 2024 before the season. Hearing dates for players were not released, but he signed his two-year, $6.5 million deal on July 29th, 2024.

Rumors have popped up in the last few weeks that the Avalanche may consider trading him to earn some draft capital back, or to deepen their roster even further, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman alluded to rumors being just that: rumors.

Elliotte Friedman: Regarding the Martin Necas, Charlie Coyle rumours, I'm not sure the Avalanche feel they have to do anything, they like how the team looks on paper - 32 Thoughts Podcast

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 14, 2025

My expectation is that Martin Necas will be in the starting lineup for the Avalanche come October. From there, he has a chance to work further with MacKinnon and best his numbers from this past season to earn himself a heftier contract. If he is traded by the deadline next March, it won't be from lack of trying on Chris MacFarland and company's part.

Stylistically, Necas is a perfect fit for this team, especially next to MacKinnon on the first line. He's gotten almost everything he's wanted out of how he's been utilized on the ice, so that can no longer be an excuse as to why he couldn't get a deal done with Colorado.

The main factors, in my eyes, will be the salary and whether or not playing center is a dealbreaker for him moving forward.

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The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is winger Cameron Schmidt, who plays for the Vancouver Giants.

There are few players in this draft as dynamic as Schmidt. Listed at 5'7", 160 lbs, Schmidt lit up the WHL with 40 goals and 78 points in 61 games. He also helped Canada capture Gold at the 2025 U18s, scoring twice and adding two assists in seven games. 

What makes Schmidt a top prospect is his speed. He is already one of the fastest players in the WHL, and can pull highlight reel moves at breakneck speeds. His superb skating also comes in handy in the transition game, as once he builds up momentum, he is extremely hard to catch. 

In the offensive zone, Schmidt is a player who likes to get the puck off his stick quickly. He can beat goaltenders from every angle, and as the season went on, he showed that he can be a reliable playmaker. In the end, it is safe to say Schmidt already has an NHL-calibre shot, which makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. 

The next step in Schmidt's game will be his play away from the puck. While he has impressive defensive moments, becoming more consistent and involved defensively could help translate into additional offensive chances. If Schmidt can round out his game and add some defensive elements to his toolkit, he will be an even more dynamic player at the pro level.

Schmidt is expected to be a late first-round pick this year. He has the offensive tools that teams covet, while his speed and skating are attributes that organizations love to add to their prospect pools. Ultimately, Schmidt has top-six potential, while his ability on the power play should lead to his name being called on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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In this year’s Stanley Cup final, goaltending has been a major storyline for the Edmonton Oilers. Regular starter Stuart Skinner has been displaced by backup Calvin Pickard, and Oilers fans don’t have consensus on who should be starting Game 5 for the team. But very quietly, the goaltending situation for the Florida Panthers has also proven to be a tricky one, with star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky not performing as consistently as the Panthers undoubtedly hoped.

Let’s be clear – we’re in no way arguing that Bobrovsky should be riding the pine as a healthy scratch in favor of backup Vitek Vanecek. Bobrovsky is a key component for Florida, and that’s not going to change.

Nevertheless, it’s also true that Bobrovsky has contributed in a negative way to the Panthers’ struggles against the Oilers. In particular, Bobrovsky laid an egg in the Game 4 result that ended with a 5-4 overtime for the Oilers. In that Edmonton win, Bobrovsky gave up all five goals on 35 Edmonton shots for a sub-par save percentage of .857. And in the four Cup final games, Bobrovsky has surrendered 14 goals for a goals-against average of 3.50. Obviously, those aren’t the type of numbers you want to see from your netminder.

Bobrovsky has struggled in at least one game in every playoff series this year – and at his worst, in Florida’s second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he posted a save percentage of .882 or worse in four games of the seven-game series. There’s no question he’s bailed out his teammates at times, but he’s also been bailed out by his teammates at other times.

Bobrovsky being erratic will not serve the Panthers well in the three remaining games of the Cup final. Florida doesn’t necessarily need him to stand on his head and steal games at this stage – although that would be nice, given he remains the highest-paid player on the Panthers’ roster at $10-million per season – but if he can just hold off Edmonton long enough for Florida’s offense to pick apart Skinner or Pickard, the Panthers should be able to win their second Cup in as many years.

Bobrovsky has one more season on his contract, and considering he’s now 36 years old, we might see some slippage in his game sooner rather than later. And that process may have already started, given that his regular-season save percentage fell from .915 in 2023-24 to .906 this season. He’s still a workhorse for the Panthers, appearing in at least 50 games in each of the past four seasons. But it might be time next year for Florida to ease up on Bobrovsky’s workload and keep him fresher for the post-season.

For the moment, the pressure is squarely on Bobrovsky – maybe not to the degree it is on Skinner and/or Pickard – and Panthers fans will be watching keenly to see if Bobrovsky can hold the fort. If he puts in another effort like the one he did in Game 4, Florida is going to be in trouble. But if he plays the way he has in most of the Panthers’ playoff victories – not being perfect, but being above-average – the Oilers will be going home without a Cup for the second straight year.

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Speaking to host Tony Marinaro on The Sick Podcast earlier this week, TVA Sports’ Nicolas Cloutier mentioned that at the NHL scouting combine, the Montreal Canadiens met a lot of players who are slotted to go top 10. He added that it could mean they’re gathering intel for the future in case they trade for them somewhere down the line, or it could mean they are considering trading up in the draft. One of those players was St-Hyacinthe-born center Caleb Desnoyers.

The 6-foot-1.5 and 178-pound Moncton Wildcat left-shot pivot is ranked seventh in the Central Scouting ranking of North American skaters. He should be long gone by the time the Canadiens are scheduled to talk in the first round. But the Habs have two first-round pick and they could be open to trading them both to move up in the draft.

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Desnoyers has had a great season with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, picking up 84 points in 56 games and being his team’s most important player. His production even increased at the right time, in the playoffs, when it mattered most, scoring 30 points in 19 games or 1.88 points per game (up from 1.50 in the regular season). He’s an elite playmaker with a high hockey IQ who scans the ice and works out the best play to make. Or, as Martin St-Louis calls it, he makes good reads, and that’s hard to teach.

You can have the best system in the world, but if the other team doesn’t play the way you expect them to, your system may be useless, and then, you’ve got to rely on your players’ ability to read the game. In that sense, Desnoyers is the kind of player the Canadiens’ bench boss would like.

His talent and skills mean that he can fool opponents with deceptive passing that’s likely to come from anywhere on the ice, when defenders are going to think “ok, he’s got no angle, no room left, I can ease up”, that’s when he’ll strike.

His performance in the playoffs has unsurprisingly made his draft stock rise, and he could even go top-five, so it would take a big trade for the Canadiens to be able to draft him, but never say never. Cloutier also mentioned that he feels the youngster has all the tools to cope with the pressure that comes with being a French-Canadian high draft pick in Montreal.

While there’s no denying he ticks quite a few boxes when it comes to what the Canadiens are after and that the team probably does like him, I’m not sure they like him enough to swing the kind of trade it would need to move up to the range he’s being projected to go in. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie has him going at six, Craig Button has him at seventh, THN’s Ryan Kennedy has him at six as well while McKeen’s hockey ranks him at fourth.

Photo credit: Michael Augello

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