Former New Jersey Devils forward Brandon Gignac is taking his talents overseas. EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League has announced that they have signed Gignac to a two-year contract.

Gignac began his professional career with the Devils, as he was selected by the Metropolitan Division club with the 80th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made one appearance with New Jersey during the 2018-19 season, where he posted zero points, one block, and a minus-2 rating.

While Gignac played in just one NHL game during his time with the Devils, he spent multiple years with the organization down in the AHL. In 127 games over five AHL seasons from 2016-17 to 2020-21 with the Albany Devils and Binghampton Devils, he recorded 18 goals and 53 points.

Gignac's time with the Devils organization ended during the 2021 NHL off-season when they chose not to re-sign him. He then spent each of the next four seasons with the Laval Rocket of the AHL and played in seven games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2023-24, posting one goal and a minus-3 rating.

Devils Should Bolster Top Six By Trading For Sabres StarThe New Jersey Devils are in a position where they should be looking to improve their forward group this summer. Bringing in a top-six winger, in particular, would be huge for a Devils club that is looking to take that next step and needs more offense. 

Photo Credit:  © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

If the Philadelphia Flyers want to get younger and more talented on defense this offseason, they need not look further than Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence.

With the Nicolas Hague trade rumors that were flying around, the discussion around the Flyers' defense went from talent and skill to size and strength. Hague, who is reportedly not on Philadelphia's radar, would have brought the size and strength, but who will bring the other aspects?

After all, the Flyers were 30th in the NHL in total scoring amongst defensemen, producing a bog-standard 132 points from the backend.

That's where Spence comes in. The 24-year-old has scored six goals and 52 points over the last two seasons while establishing himself as an NHL regular in a bottom-four role with the Kings.

But, the Australian-born defenseman played more than 10 minutes once in his five playoff appearances for L.A., which can at least partially be attributed to his modest 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday's episode of "32 Thoughts" that Spence is likely available on the NHL trade market for that reason.

"I think that's a name to keep an eye on. Ken Holland, you know how he feels about his blueline. He likes a big, mobile blueline. I just don't think the Kings feel Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side together works," Friedman said. "They're both right-hand shots, they both need to play. I just don't think they feel there's room for two of them. Clarke I don't believe is available. Spence, I think, is, so that's a name to keep an eye out for."

So, why would the Flyers trade for a smaller defenseman in Spence when they already have Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae?

The answer is simple, actually. Spence's defensive metrics have been phenomenal in his current role, whereas Drysdale's, for example, have been extremely poor.

And for all Drysdale's talents and skating ability, the end product has not been there. With Spence, you're guaranteeing yourself a defenseman with a history of playing at a high level and producing no fewer than 24 points in each of the last two seasons.

The only Flyers defender with more than 20 points this season was Travis Sanheim, who scored 30 while playing a staggering 24:30 a night on average. Drysdale and Nick Seeler each scored 20 points, but Drysdale was a -32 while Seeler, his most common defense partner, was a +10.

As for Andrae, there are no guarantees he is an NHL defenseman, as encouraging as most of last season was for him. York is a pending RFA who is expected to remain with the team, while Drysdale is heading into a contract year that will probably define his NHL career.

Rasmus Ristolainen, if he isn't traded to the Kings in the Spence deal, won't be injured forever. But he's not getting any younger and will assuredly be at the mercy of Helge Grans come training camp if the latter shows some serious flashes.

Plus, top prospects Spencer Gill and Oliver Bonk are both 6-foot-2 or bigger.

Simply put, the Flyers have no real reason to worry about size on the right side. They need to worry about talent, production, performance, and more generally, finding the right mix.

Trading for Spence, at the very least, would signify that they're not content with how the 2024-25 season went with the currently constructed defense core.

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

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of a few teams towards the bottom of the NHL looking to add talent in any way they can. One NHL insider just connected them to a... high school quarterback?

Mason West, one of the hottest prospects in the 2025 draft class right now, is a 6-foot-6 right wing who most recently played for the Fargo Force of the USHL, scoring a goal, eight assists, and nine points in 10 games last season.

Last season, as well as in the two seasons prior, the 17-year-old played for his local high school, Edina High, in Minnesota. But there's a catch: he's also a three-star quarterback who's passed for 65 touchdowns and 5,217 yards in the last two seasons.

West, according to 247 Sports, has visited with the University of Illinois and has drawn interest from fairly decent football schools like Marshall and the University of California.

That all said, the hulking winger is focused on hockey and will dedicate his efforts to the rink after his last seasons at the helm of Edina's offense on the gridiron.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, teams are going to be playing the game of chicken with West in the draft, seeing which of their peers will bite and select the polarizing dual-sport athlete first.

The Flyers, with multiple first- and second-round picks, could very well be one of those teams.

"He's kind of got his own list on each team's draft board. The way it was explained to me was, every time a team gets a pick from the second round on, he'll be part of the conversation," Friedman said of West on his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. "Is now the time we take him? He's really raw, but he's big, he's obviously a great athlete, and he can score. He scores goals, and he plays on the power play, too.

"Someone told me that he was playing point on the power play because he can really shoot the puck. Because you're always looking for big, mobile guys, everyone's watching him. There's so little eye test against really good players. He briefly played in the USHL, he's planning on going there, I guess, for the back half of next year, that he's the biggest wildcard in the draft. Because he could go boom. It really could turn out to be a great pick."

Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Big Board: Can Philly Afford to Pass On Top Centers?With the NHL Scouting Combine now in the rearview mirror, the Philadelphia Flyers have just over two weeks to make final preparations for the 2025 NHL Draft.

And that's where the Flyers come in. The Flyers have the 22nd, 31st or 32nd, 36th, 40th, 45th, and 48th picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, excluding the No. 6 pick that will be used on a better and more projectable prospect.

"What a couple teams told me is, every time your pick comes up, you're going to be sitting there saying, 'If we don't take him now, is somebody else going to jump in there and do it? Are we going to lose our opporunity?'" Friedman added. "So that's going to be the question. When is some team going to say, 'We have to do this now because we won't get another opportunity to do it later?'

"The same team told me that they wonder about those teams with multiple first-rounders. A team like Nashville, or a team like Philadelphia, do they look at it and say 'Look, we've got multiple first rounders, we're just going to do it,' (...) I think teams are trying to figure out who's really serious about this guy, and where do we take this player? It's going to be fascinating. I was told [West is] the biggest wildcard of the draft."

West is currently ranked as high as 46th and as low as 98th based on rankings compiled by EliteProspects, so there's a fairly high chance he'll be available to the Flyers at the top of the second round later this month.

Flyers Mock Draft 3.0: A Bold Trade and the NHL Scouting CombineThe Philadelphia Flyers, as expected, were one of the busiest teams at the NHL Scouting Combine, giving some clues of their intentions leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft later this month.

But, as Friedman said, the scouts and GMs are going to be playing the game of chicken. Will the Flyers be one of the teams willing to pull the trigger on West late in the first, even with the plethora of right wingers in the system?

His size and athleticism are two things the Flyers would love to add to their ranks, but is that worth passing up on a top goalie or defenseman they so desperately need? It's a question the Flyers have two weeks to answer for themselves.

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

The best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final has now become a best-of-three.

It’s been an incredibly exciting and close championship series to this point, with both the Panthers and Oilers earning a win on home ice and a win on the road to this point.

Now the series scene shifts back to Edmonton, as the Cats and Oilers will be fighting to be the first team with a chance to win the Stanley Cup when they return to South Florida after the weekend.

To this point, the Final has been extremely evenly matched and incredibly competitive through the first four games.

It’s been a bit of a throwback series, as there have an eye-popping 32 goals scored through the first four games, yet all but one of the four Final games have been decided in regulation.

One change we can probably expect to see with the Oilers is the re-insertion of Calvin Pickard as the starting goaltender.

Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner for the second straight outing on Thursday night for Game 4, entering a game Edmonton was trailing 3-0 only to turn aside all but one shot as the Oilers came all the way back and won 5-4 in overtime.

Pickard now holds a stellar 7-0 record during the postseason, though his corresponding statistics – a 2.69 goals against average and .896 save percentage – aren’t nearly as impressive.

As for Florida, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media prior to the team taking off for Edmonton on Friday.

When asked about potential roster changes, Maurice said he wasn’t anticipating making any.

He said the Panthers are healthy, which is about as good a compliment you could pay at team at this stage of the season.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Game 5 in Edmonton:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Evan Rodrigues – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov

Scratches: Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Jesper Boqvist, Nico Sturm, Jaycob Megna

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Concerning Panthers-Aaron Ekblad Free Agency Update Revealed

Race for Conn Smythe Trophy heating up with Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl among top contenders

Panthers' Sam Reinhart Shown Love By Wayne Gretzky

Three takeaways: Both teams enjoyed similar dominant segments in Game 4, goaltending has been sneaky good

Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman (96) checks Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

It is sure to be an active, interesting offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They're drafting 11th overall with rumors swirling about their desire to trade up, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has mentioned possible activity in the RFA trade-then-sign market, and there have been reports about the Penguins being the only "true sellers" in the league this summer. 

And their hottest commodity happens to be one of their best players.

Right wing Bryan Rust, 33, has three years left on a contract that pays him $5.125 million annually - and his no-movement clause expired this summer. He had a career year for Pittsburgh last season, registering career-highs in goals (31) and points (65) despite missing 11 games due to injury.

Rust has a unique tool set as a player. Known for his work ethic, he is a hybrid power forward and grinder, a menace on the forecheck, and is capabale of being deployed in all situations. He is also a regular penalty-killer, has the hands of a goal-scorer, and can play a hard-nosed game.

There isn't much that Rust can't do. But, perhaps, above all, he is a natural-born leader and presence in the locker room, something that he emulates from his captain and good friend, Sidney Crosby.

'When He Speaks, Everyone Listens': How Sidney Crosby's Mentorship Has Passed On To Multiple Generations Of TeammatesFollowing the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

On Friday, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN 1050 that "plenty of teams" are calling about Rust. It's no secret that he is wanted by a lot of contending teams, and the Penguins are at a sell-high point with him. He's on the wrong side of 30, the team is in the midst of a rebuild, and they are still trying to collect as many high-value assets as possible - which is something that Rust can return for them in a trade.

The easy and logical path might be to move Rust if he can get the Penguins a good return. While that might be understandable and justifiable, that doesn't mean it's the right move.

In fact, there is a very big reason why Rust should be considered near-immovable barring the perfect deal. And it comes down to the Penguins' youth movement.

Penguins Facing Big Decision With Star Forward The Pittsburgh Penguins will be a team to watch very closely this off-season. After missing the playoffs for the third year in a row, there has naturally been speculation that the Metropolitan Division club will make changes to their roster. 

Many may scoff at the idea that veteran presence in the locker room outside of 87 is necessary for the Penguins given the stage they're in. But, the reality is that Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson were all similar in that they made the NHL roster either immediately or quickly enough that going through several stages of development in professional hockey was not required.

For many young players the Penguins are acquiring - either through the draft or by trade - that will not be the case. The vast majority of them will need to follow a path of development that sees them work their way up through junior or college hockey before moving onto ECHL or AHL hockey, all prior to earning their way onto the NHL roster. 

Having Rust around is valuable for that reason. Unlike the aforementioned players, he is someone who has been there. Done that. Experienced that. And for young guys trying to earn spots, he's a huge presence in that locker room. 

Rust can relate to and connect with this crop of prospects and young players in a way that even Crosby cannot to an extent. Everything Rust has accomplished at the highest level of hockey was earned through his hard work and his grind as an AHL player who turned into a bottom-six grinder and, eventually, into a top-six goal-scorer. 

It took years - and a process of development - for Rust to reach his peak potential. Young players can learn a lot from a player like that who has been in their shoes and can help guide them through that process.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

The Penguins have other tradeable assets that should net them good returns in Karlsson and Rickard Rakell. They should trade some of these players if they can get a good return. 

But, in a rebuild - especially a rebuild on-the-fly, which is still the goal for the Penguins - you simply cannot trade everyone. A team needs some valuable veterans like Rust around to help usher in that new generation of players who will make an impact in the near future.

If the package is a can't-refuse offer, of course, the Penguins should consider it. But - barring that "perfect" deal - Rust is one of the few veterans who should stay put in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.

Penguins Trading Star Forward Would Come With Big RiskFor much of the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell was the subject of trade speculation. It was understandable, as the Penguins were out of the playoff race, while Rakell enjoyed himself a career year. In 81 games, the 32-year-old winger set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points.

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This week, The Hockey Show was on location at the Stanley Cup Final.

Hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork gave their instant reaction following Game 4, the latest epic battle between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

The game saw the Panthers jump out to a 3-0 lead only for Edmonton to come all the way back and take a 4-3 lead during the third period.

Florida tied the game in the final seconds, but it turned out they were only delaying the inevitable as the Oilers ended up winning in overtime.

Now the series, and The Hockey Show, heads back to Edmonton for Game 5, with the best-of-seven tied at two games apiece.

Also on this week’s episode, Roy and Dave were joined by their fellow Professional Hockey Writers’ Association – Florida Chapter members, Jordan McPherson and Alex Baumgartner, to discuss this year’s NHL Awards winners.

You can check out this week’s full episode below:

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Concerning Panthers-Aaron Ekblad Free Agency Update Revealed

Race for Conn Smythe Trophy heating up with Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl among top contenders

Panthers' Sam Reinhart Shown Love By Wayne Gretzky

Three takeaways: Both teams enjoyed similar dominant segments in Game 4, goaltending has been sneaky good

Panthers blow three-goal lead, lose Game 4 to Oilers in overtime

One of the more intriguing storylines to track during the Stanley Cup Playoffs is usually the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The award is given annually to the player voted the most valuable player to their team during the NHL postseason.

Now that we’ve reached the Stanley Cup Final, the prestigious trophy will be going to someone either on the Florida Panthers or Edmonton Oilers.

That we know for sure.

Generally, a player on the team that ends up winning the Stanley Cup is who will find themselves the MVP of the playoffs, but that wasn’t the case last season when Connor McDavid was voted the winner – and deservedly so – despite Edmonton losing to Florida in seven games.

Now the Cats and Oilers are back in the Final for what has been, to this point, an epic rematch.

Through four games, the Oilers and Panthers have gone to overtime three times and provided fans one of the most entertaining and dramatic Stanley Cup Final series in recent memory, to say the least.

As it stands, the race for the Conn Smythe is wide open. There is no clear-cut favorite, and both teams have more than one candidate who could take it home.

For Florida, you first have to look at Sam Bennett.

The pending unrestricted free agent leads all players with 14 postseason goals, three more than the next highest player.

Bennett has been incredibly impactful for Florida during their run to the Final, providing crucial minutes for the Panthers both at even strength and on the power play.

Additionally, his combination of high-end speed and the physical element of his game are what helps Florida add another critical layer to their aggressive, fast-paced defensive systems.

Another Panthers player who should certainly receive some consideration is veteran forward Brad Marchand.

The Trade Deadline addition has provided veteran leadership for Florida both on and off the ice while making steady contributions offensively, highlighted by his pair of overtime winners.

On the Oilers side, superstar Connor McDavid, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy last season, is always going to be a top contender, and this year is no different.

Through 20 playoff games, McDavid is tied for the league lead with 32 points. Between his overall production and ability to greatly impact the scoresheet on any given night, it’s no surprise that he’s once again in contention to take home the award.

However, a player who cannot be ignored any longer in this race is McDavid’s elite teammate, Leon Draisaitl.

In terms of playoff points, Draisaitl is right there with McDavid, tied with 32 points.

The difference in terms of offense is that Draisaitl has scored 11 times, second in the playoffs only to Bennett.

Of those 11 goals, Draisaitl has logged not one, not two, but four game-winning goals.

Interestingly, all four of those GWG have come during sudden death overtime, which is pretty remarkable.

It’s also a new NHL record.

Previously, three playoff OT goals had been the standard, a mark that had been held by four different players, including Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk from his amazing run in 2023 and current Oilers forward and former Ducks star Corey Perry, who had three OT goals during the 2017 playoffs with Anaheim.

Draisaitl has also scored four goals in four Stanley Cup Final games, with two of them among those aforementioned overtime winners.

That’s a far cry from the zero goals he scored during last season’s seven-game Final against Florida.

Certainly, what Draisaitl has accomplished so far this postseason is worth something in the eyes of the Conn Smythe voters.

So as we head into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, it appears the race for the Conn Smythe is as wide open as the Cup Final is itself.

Over the next week, someone is going to step up and separate themself from the rest of the pack.

However things end up playing out, if they go anything like the first four games of the Final have, it will be incredibly entertaining to witness go down.

Stay tuned.

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Panthers blow three-goal lead, lose Game 4 to Oilers in overtime

Paul Maurice Makes This Prediction For Game 4 vs. Oilers

Panthers host Oilers in Game 4 looking to take control of Stanley Cup Final

Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) controls the puck against Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) and center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

This 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.

Today, we kick things off with a look at the Utah Mammoth, who are aiming to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in their brief NHL history. Let's get to it:

TEAM: Utah Mammoth

CAP SPACE: $20.3 million

FREE AGENTS: Nick Bjugstad, C; Michael Carcone, C; Jack McBain, LW (RFA)

NEEDS: Veteran experience, more goal production

SABRES FIT? Like the Sabres, the newly-named Mammoth are highly-motivated to get into the post-season next year, and they're almost assuredly going to make a splash this summer. Some believe they'll be pursuing Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner, but doing so would eat up much of their current cap space. Still, that would be a gigantic coup for a Mammoth team swinging for the fences. 

Utah may also switch things up by trading a couple of younger players if they can bring in veteran experience and playoff knowhow. The Mammoth missed out on left winger Chris Kreider, who was dealt from the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks this week. But Kreider is exactly the type of player who fits Utah's needs.

Now, would the Sabres have a match for the Mammoth in a trade? It may be tricky, and it may be a longshot, but someone like Utah winger Lawson Crouse could intrigue Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams. We're not crazy about the Sabres trading defenseman Bowen Byram, but he's young enough and still has enough upside to be a tempting acquisition for the Mammoth. And if Buffalo gets back Crouse in return, they may be more amenabe to moving RFA winger J.J. Peterka to address their other needs.

Here's Why The Draft Isn't The Most Important Thing For The Sabres This SummerThe Buffalo Sabres are going to have a shot at a solid prospect with the ninth-overall pick in the NHL entry draft this summer. But unlike other years, the draft isn't the be-all and end-all for this Sabres team. There are two other areas that, as we'll explore below, are much more important for Buffalo to address in this off-season.

Indeed, given that Crouse had put together two straight seasons where he combined to score 47 goals and 87 points, and given that Crouse is just 27 years old, the Sabres would be acquiring a big-bodied (6-foot-4) winger looking to bounce back from a down year that saw him score only 12 goals in 81 games. Crouse has two years left at $4.3-million-per-season, making him a cost-controlled asset that the Sabres wouldn't have to break the bank to re-sign anytime soon. Crouse also doesn't mind getting physical, and that's an element that could improve the Sabres. And if Crouse does work out in Buffalo, Adams can work with him on a contract extension that works for both the team and the player.

Another option for the Sabres to consider is Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz, a 29-year-old veteran who has posted at least 20 goals and 59 points in each of the past four seasons. Schmaltz is a pricier acquisition at $5.85-million per season, but he'll be a UFA next summer, so he's got the motivation to have a big year -- and Buffalo could be the place where he can earn a sizeable raise with a strong 2025-26 season. 

The Mammoth have a decent-enough blueline with Sean Durzi, John Marino and Mikhail Sergachev in their top four, but acquiring Byram would push greybeard Ian Cole into the third 'D' pairing. And considering that Utah has enough youngsters in the system, they can afford to part ways with Crouse or Schmaltz. A trade with the Mammoth could be the precursor to other deals -- as we've said, whether that's Peterka, Alex Tuch, or perhaps another young player on Buffalo's roster.

Will This Be The Season Sabres Star Thompson Breaks Momentous Mark On Offense?In two of the past three seasons, Buffalo Sabres star right winger Tage Thompson has put up a combined 91 goals. And although he had an off-season two years ago when he posted only 29 goals, the 27-year-old bounced back in a big way this year, generating 44 goals in 75 games.

Regardless of which Mammoth player they target, the Sabres should be looking at Utah as a viable trade partner this summer. They're two teams roughly in the same spot in their competitive trajectory, and they can help each other in different ways. Buffalo can help the Mammoth on their back end, and Utah can help the Sabres on their front end.

This is why we see the Mammoth as a solid fit with Buffalo on the trade front. Utah GM Bill Armstrong needs to come to the Mammoth's fan base with an exciting young player, and Byram fits that bill to a 't'. And Adams can come away from a trade involving Schmaltz or Crouse and give Sabres fans a changed lineup that can be kept together for the long term if the team plays well in 2025-26. We still see Buffalo making more moves even after a Byram-to-Utah deal, but getting off on a proactive foot with an early deal with the Mammoth would serve notice to the rest of the NHL that the Sabres are focused on making bigger moves this off-season.

Time will tell whether the two teams collaborate on a major move, but there's a great opportunity for the Sabres to work with Utah this summer. Now it's a matter of finding the stones to make a notable transaction.

The Arizona Coyotes, before they became the Utah Hockey Club, selected Victor Soderstrom in the first round (11th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. During the 2024-25 season, Utah traded him to the Blackhawks along with Aku Raty and the contract of Shea Weber for a fifth-round pick in 2026. 

Now, the Blackhawks have flipped the rights to Soderstrom to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick and defenseman Ryan Mast. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on X🔔we've got a Friday afternoon trade 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/u1Zm3Eag36

Before turning pro with the Providence Bruins (AHL) and Maine Mariners (ECHL), Mast played major junior hockey for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. When he was there, he showed some offensive talent, but it hasn't translated to the pro level.

The Rockford IceHogs will try their hand at getting more out of him in 2205-26 now. At 6'5" and 220 lbs, he's a big boy. He'll fit right in with some of the larger players that Rockford will have on the back-end. 

The Blackhawks probably weren't signing Soderstrom anyway, so getting another defenseman looking to get something out of their pro hockey career, along with a draft pick, makes sense. This is an organizational depth trade at this time. 

Mast is a tad bit younger than Soderstrom, who has made his NHL debut. In 53 NHL games played, Soderstrom has one goal and ten assists for 11 points. On the defensive side of things, there is a lot to be desired based on his draft status. Time will tell if this trade pays dividends for either the Blackhawks or Bruins. 

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

The Anaheim Ducks took a competitive step forward Thursday by acquiring veteran left winger Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers. 

Kreider joins a Ducks team that has added other experienced veterans in recent years, including defensemen Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas and forwards Alex Killorn and Ryan Strome. Kreider’s acquisition makes it more clear that the Ducks are in a Pacific Division that’s going to be considerably more competitive next season.

We added up all the standings points in each of the four NHL divisions. While the results aren’t an exact science in discovering which divisions were the toughest, it does give you an inkling of which divisions did the most damage this year.

It’s no surprise that the Pacific had the fewest points, with 710, an average of 88.75. The Atlantic Division led the way with 737 points (92.13), followed closely by the Central Division (735, 91.86) and the Metropolitan Division (713, 89.13). But we’ve got an inkling that the Pacific will be far tougher in 2025-26.

For one thing, you’ve got the Ducks, which still have $32.1 million in salary cap space, even after the Kreider acquisition. Most of Anaheim’s core is under contract, but Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has the money and the motivation to be a big player on the trade and free agent fronts this summer. Despite finishing 21 points out of a playoff spot this season, the Ducks could be quite better next year.

The rest of the Pacific is far from a gallery of mediocrity, either. 

For one thing, the Edmonton Oilers could win the Stanley Cup this season, and they still have two of the top five players on the planet, a deep lineup and a GM, Stan Bowman, who will likely make them better in 2025-26.

The Vegas Golden Knights, which finished first in the division this season, won the Cup in 2023 and are a lock to be a playoff team next year. Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon is famous for pulling off big moves to make his squad better, so we anticipate Vegas will lead the Pacific next season.

The Los Angeles Kings finished second in the Pacific and are playoff locks as well. The Kings have a new GM in Ken Holland, who will be rather active in improving his roster with $21.7 million in cap space to use on his pending free agents and acquisitions.

Right away, you’ve got three Pacific teams that are all but guaranteed to be Stanley Cup playoff teams. But the rest of the Pacific is also likely to be better next year.

The Vancouver Canucks finished 11 points out of a playoff spot last year, but they had major injuries and off-ice drama to contend with. If management has settled things down, and if Canucks GM Patrik Allvin makes good use of the $12.1 million he has in cap space, the Canucks should be much more competitive and get back into a playoff position next year.

Meanwhile, the team that was nine points better than Vancouver – the Calgary Flames – might be better next season. This writer thinks the Flames are better off to strip down some of the roster and embark on a fuller rebuild, but that probably isn’t likely, given some of the comments made by Flames GM Craig Conroy. Instead, Calgary may choose to add veterans this summer with the $26.8 million they have in cap space, and that could be enough to push them into a post-season spot.

Finally, the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks round out the Pacific. The Kraken have changed their GM and coach, and they have $19.9 million in cap space, while the Sharks have a young team in a full rebuild that still has a whopping $41.7 million in cap space. Absent some blockbuster moves that bring in many veterans, the Sharks should still be considered a long shot to make the playoffs next year. But the Kraken are another story, as they have a mix of youth and experience that could see them battling for a post-season spot right through the end of the regular season.

That means there are seven out of eight Pacific Division teams that can reasonably be considered to be in the playoff mix next year. That means at least three of those teams, if not four, will miss out on the post-season. 

So while the Ducks took a step forward with the addition of Kreider, they’re still going to battle tooth-and-nail to jump high enough in the Pacific standings to be a playoff team.

The Pacific teams will be in for a heck of a battle from Game 1 to Game 82, and Pacific team fans are going to have much to cheer for right out of the gate. It’s going to be a blast, and the Pacific is going to be vastly better next year.

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Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford was announced as the winner of the CHL's Scholastic Player of the Year. 

The CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Award is awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League player who best combines success on the ice with success in school.

"It shows that the efforts I put in paid off, and I think that it's something I'm really proud of, it's a huge honor obviously. I think there are a lot of people behind the scenes, my teachers, my school advisors and Halifax, Rimouski and my parents who taught me the importance of always putting a lot of effort into education," said Cataford after winning the award.

The 20-year-old scored 19 goals and 64 points in 54 games with the Rimouski Océanic in his first season with the team. Cataford played a critical role in their run to the QMJHL finals and their Memorial Cup appearance, although they did not win either trophy.

Cataford was the winner of the Michel Briere Trophy in 2023-24 with the Halifax Mooseheads, awarded to the QMJHL's MVP, but he wasn't able to replicate the 40-goal and 90-point output with the Océanic. 

The Golden Knights' third-round pick (77th overall) in the 2023 NHL draft concluded his CHL career this season and will likely join the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL next year for his rookie season. 

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New 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.

Michkov, 20, was a near-unanimous pick for the NHL All-Rookie Team Thursday, featuring alongside the likes of Lane Hutson, Macklin Celebrini, and Cutter Gauthier after a rookie-leading 26-goal, 63-point debut season.

Tocchet, while cautious with setting expectations, knows there's room for plenty more for the Flyers' franchise player. After all, he's now the caretaker tasked with developing Michkov and the many other rising young players on this team.

Tocchet's early plan for making that happen? It's simple: get Michkov the puck and score.

 “You want to get a guy like [Matvei Michkov] the puck a lot. I’ve been watching their power play, and I know they’ve struggled the past couple of years, but I saw some really good glimpses," Tocchet was quoted as saying on 97.5 The Fanatic's "Kincade & Salciunas" show Thursday.

"Like, when he gets the puck down below, he’s got that ability to find people – he’s thinking two steps ahead. So, we have to get everybody in sync on that. Obviously, we don’t want to put too much pressure on him because it’s only going to be his second year, but there’s a lot of good there.”

The power play Tocchet refers to has finished 32nd in the NHL in three of the last four seasons, with their best season - 30th - coming with Michkov last season.

How Did Matvei Michkov Fare in Calder Trophy Voting?Although it was already known Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov wouldn't be a finalist for the 2025 Calder Trophy, the voting process painted a much different picture.

Notably, the Flyers scored just 32 power play goals last season, and Michkov scored or assisted on 17 of them, which is just over half. In fact, the 20-year-old phenom scored eight power play goals - tied with Travis Konecny for the team lead - accounting for 25% of the team's total by himself as a rookie.

Tocchet's words have been refreshing for the scores of Flyers fans that grew disenchanted with predecessor John Tortorella's disciplinarian approach, under which Michkov averaged just 16:41 of ice time last season.

In the early days, it would seem that Tocchet is fully committed to developing Michkov and allowing him the freedom to play offense creatively without restriction, though a defensive obligation will still come along with that.

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The Winnipeg Jets were on the search for a second-line center at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, but after a deal with Brock Nelson was nixed by the player, the Jets left a vital deadline without fixing a glaring need.

Now heading into the offseason, the Jets desperately need to find a second-line center, especially if Adam Lowry is going to miss a couple of months to start the season. Jonathan Toews has been linked to the Jets, but at 37 years old and without game action for two full seasons, relying on Toews to be a potent offensive player is a big ask.

The free agent market isn't filled with star players like it is in some offseasons, but there are still multiple players who could be impactful and help the Jets take the next step offensively. 

The Big Fish:

Sam Bennett is the most sought-after center on the market, even though recent reports from The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta suggest an eight-year, $8M contract extension with the Florida Panthers is imminent. He'd be the perfect complement for Mark Scheifele. Scheifele is a pure offensive center, and although Bennett is not known as a defensive specialist, his physical nature can force opponents to play tougher matchups against Bennett and free up Scheifele to take advantage of lesser matchups. 

Bennett would also be a great linemate for Cole Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers if he re-signs. The 28-year-old currently leads the NHL Playoffs in goals with 14 and leads his team in points with 21. Bennett's career-high in goals and points in the regular season is just 28 and 51, but with an increased role, many experts believe Bennett could add more offence to his game. 

Sam Bennett is unfreaking believable pic.twitter.com/VM16KdS64w

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) June 10, 2025

Offensive Dynamos:

Dallas Stars' Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund highlight ultra-offensive talents that the Jets can target on the free-agent market. Both Duchene and Granlund are expected to re-sign with the Stars, but Jim Nill has a lot of work to do to fit them under the salary cap. If he can't do it or the players grow impatient, the Jets could take advantage.

Duchene recorded 30 goals and 82 points this season, driving them offensively at times during the regular season. His offensive game would mesh nicely with Ehlers' speed and Perfetti's playmaking.

Granlund, while listed at just 5'10, has proven that size is not an issue for him. The 33-year-old scored 22 goals and 66 points in 83 games this season with the Stars and the San Jose Sharks. He also proved to be a stellar playoff performer, recording five goals and 10 points in 18 games. With lots of skill and solid defensive metrics, Granlund makes a lot of sense for the Jets. 

Lower Cap Hit and Safe Two-Way Center:

Pius Suter is coming off a career season with the Vancouver Canucks, serving as the team's second-line center after they traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. He set career-highs in goals and points with 25 goals and 46 points in 81 games. The 29-year-old plays a smart two-way game but is quietly very skilled with the puck. He's been an effective third-line center throughout his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings, but if last season was any indication, Suter could take another step forward, becoming a consistent and reliable second-line center. 

#Canucks UFA C Pius Suter has been outstanding for VAN. While usually deployed as a 3rd liner, he’s killed it in those minutes

Speed is a concern, but he should age well given his 2022-25 metrics, a projected middle six player for the next 6 years#LeafsForever target maybe? https://t.co/7NuoRhM4UApic.twitter.com/7p6tTVWZEo

— Ryan Ma 📊 (@RyanMaScouting) June 11, 2025

Older Former Superstars With Plenty Still To Give:

All signs point to Claude Giroux and John Tavares remaining with their hometown teams, but in the NHL offseason, anything can happen. Giroux has transitioned into more of a winger as he's gotten older but has continued to be effective in the faceoff dot. The 37-year-old scored 15 goals and 50 points in 81 games this season, including another goal and five points in six playoff games. With over 1200 games of NHL experience, Giroux is a safe bet to be a good contributor at 5-on-5 with the skilled forwards the Jets have.

Nick Kypreos: Senators contract talks with Claude Giroux have reached a stalemate; "not a given" he returns - Toronto Star

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 12, 2025

Tavares is coming off another exceptional season despite many people once again predicting that he would take a step back. In 75 games, the 34-year-old poured in 38 goals and 74 points. While his foot speed isn't what it used to be, he's still as strong as ever and dangerous in front of the opponent's net. His puck skills remain phenomenal, and his hockey IQ has not wavered whatsoever. 

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