The 6-foot-1 forward has played in 498 career NHL games and recorded 52 goals, 92 assists, and 144 points in ten NHL seasons. He played on six different NHL teams and has now signed a contract in the Czech league.
Photo Credit: Mar 29, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild center Devin Shore (19) shoots against the New Jersey Devils in the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.
Muse, 42, was hired to replace former bench boss Mike Sullivan on Jun. 4, and after a long search and process, Dubas believes that they've found the right guy for where the Penguins are at right now.
And it was someone who was not initially on his radar.
"What stood about Dan during the process was that he was not somebody that I knew personally going into it," Dubas said. "But right from the time that we met and we spoke on the phone, then when we met over Zoom, and then met in person, it became clear that he was somebody that was going to be extraordinarily well-suited to develop all of our players. Not just our young players, but all of them."
He continued: "[With] everything about him as we got through and further on in the process, it became clear that he was going to be a great fit to partner with us and help lead us through this transition and then back into contention with the Pittsburgh Penguins."
Muse is excited to get started in Pittsburgh, too, as this is his first head coaching opportunity at the NHL level. He previously had assistant coaching stints with the Nashville Predators, and - most recently - with the New York Rangers.
And he is aware of the caliber of the organization that he is joining.
"It's an honor to work in the NHL," Muse said. "It's a huge honor to be a head coach in this league. It's extremely humbling to be a part of this organization, this city, working with this staff and with these players. I couldn't be more excited to get started here."
Here are three takeaways from Muse's introductory press conference:
"Through this process, you see what an exciting time it is to come in here," Muse said. "You have legendary players of our game here in Pittsburgh. Future hall-of-famers. You have these exciting young players that are coming up, and then you have a little bit of everything in between. So, to have an opportunity to work together with everybody here to make sure that these players are continuing to grow wherever they are in their career... I just can't tell you how exciting an opportunity that is."
Muse understands the assignment, too, as he is aware of the fact that the team is in a transitionary period. He's ready to undertake the task of bridging the team back to contention - and he'll do it one player at a time, one day at a time.
"There's going to be a lot of work that goes into it [before training camp]," Muse said. "And that's the work with each individual and what they need, it's going to be the work with the collective group, and then, as soon as we get on the ice for the first time, we're going to continue to build. It's going to be a step-by-step process. Each day, we're going to be looking to get a little bit better as a group, a little bit better for each of these guys."
2. Muse values an individualistic approach to coaching
And on that note, one of the best bits from Muse during this presser was when he was asked about his approach to balancing the desire to win and the focus on development.
He kept mentioning how each player is different and has different needs depending on where they're at in their respective careers. This individualistic approach to coaching his players is something that separates him, and he knows how to put it all together to meet common goals, too.
"Everybody's different," Muse said. "Everybody's path's going to be different, so as a coach, you enjoy that part of it because you've got to learn who the person is to really work with them and help them."
He added: "You have guys in different places in their careers, and that's very clear. My job coming in here is going to be to help maximize each person and to help each person work toward what their highest level could be right now. And that's going to be my focus."
The understanding that every player's path is different should bode well for a coach working with so many young players - and young players with different things to work on.
"Part of player development is saying, 'What could you become?' and helping that person believe that, and then helping guide them, helping them with the road map on how to get there," Muse said. "And then, you're working together with the player in order to help that player take their game to the next level.
"I think it's really rewarding to be able to be a part of that, and to be able to help players achieve those things that they're looking to do and help them see what could be possible."
3. There will be a high degree of collaboration between Muse and Dubas
Make no mistake: Dubas and Muse will definitely be working very closely.
And that collaboration is one of the aspects that drew Muse to the job in the first place:
"One of the things that really excited me about this opportunity was the clear collaboration it's going to have," Muse said. "And that, kind of, started right away within this process. I think that, early on in our conversations - and especially when coming in here in that meeting with other members of the organization - it became very clear that this is an opportunity for full collaboration at a very high level. And there will be."
He added: "That's something that excites me. That's something that I've seen and something that I believe in that you have to have. You have to take all the resources that you have, all the different people and ideas, and you have to become united in what your approach is going to be and in everything that you do. And I believe that's what leads to success."
Dubas echoed that sentiment, and he thinks the collboration between him, Muse, and the players will help propel the team toward a better future.
"Of course, when we're talking about building out the team and how we want it to play, there's always a give-and-take between the coach and the manager," Dubas said. "There's the way that Dan would like the team to play, and then there's the group of players that we have and the group of players that are available... and then trying to find the best way, collectively, to move the team ahead."
The AHL unveiled its 2024-25 Top Prospect Team on Wednesday with a pair of top Carolina Hurricanes prospects â Bradly Nadeau and Scott Morrow â being named to the team.
The chosen players are selected by the league's hockey operations department in conjunction with AHL general managers as the prospects projected to be the best future NHL players.
To qualify, players must have been 22 years old or younger on the first day of the regular season and must have played in at least 36 regular season AHL games and no more than 30 NHL games.
Morrow, 22, had 13 goals and 39 points in 52 AHL games this season and was a top power play quarterback for the Wolves.
The 2021 second-round pick played in 14 regular season games for Carolina this season, registering a goal and six points, and also played in all five games against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final as well.
It is also just the first time in AHL history that a pair of teammates from the same organization have each been named to the Top Prospect Team in the same year.
The other players selected to the team include Konsta Helenius (Rochester Americans/Buffalo Sabres), Dalibor Dvorsky (Springfield Thunderbirds/St. Louis Blues), Logan Mailloux (Laval Rockets/Montreal Canadiens) and Jet Greaves (Cleveland Monsters/Columbus Blue Jackets).
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As the Philadelphia Flyers snoop for more ways to quietly improve their roster, one Dallas Stars forward has emerged as a potential trade target. He's just not Jason Robertson like everyone had hoped.
Rumors had previously surfaced that the Stars could trade Robertson, a former 100-point-scorer heading into the last year of his contract, to create cap space and flexibility down the road.
That may still be true, but a new report has suggested that the Flyers are interested in a different Stars forward of a lesser caliber, which would help Dallas towards its goal all the same.
According to Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, the Flyers are fans of Stars left winger Mason Marchment, a 6-foot-5 winger with 20 goals in consecutive seasons.
The 29-year-old has one year remaining on his contract with the Stars at a $4.5 million cap hit, which Dallas is presumably looking to shed to allocate funds elsewhere. Marchment has a 10-team no-trade list, according to PuckPedia.
"I have heard Marchment is a guy PHI likes. If they're looking to add size up front (which I believe they are) I wonder if they'll pursue him," Di Marco reported on his X account Wednesday afternoon.
Considering the Stars' salary cap pinch ($5 million to sign nine players) the Flyers could acquire Marchment at a relatively minimal cost. The two main questions are, of course, if the Flyers are on Marchment's no-trade list and if he'll stay beyond the 2025-26 season.
At 29 years old, Marchment is on the older side for the Flyers' roster, and Philadelphia may be better suited in the long-term giving guys like Jakob Pelletier, Nikita Grebenkin, or Alex Bump the NHL ice time rather than trading for Marchment for a year's worth of hockey.
Something else to consider is the possibility the Flyers flip Marchment to a contender at the NHL trade deadline, and being able to retain salary will give them the chance to earn the best possible return possible.
At the same time, the Flyers have only one retention slot available remaining due to the Scott Laughton and Kevin Hayes trades, so if they retain salary on a future Marchment deal, they won't be able to retain salary on further trades until the summer.
This is something that could potentially prohibit them from trading a player like Rasmus Ristolainen, for example, at some point next season.
If the Flyers trade for Marchment, he'll presumably slot into a top-nine role immediately, but management may want to make sure the former Panthers and Maple Leafs forward will stick around before rushing into any deals.
Marchment shares an agent, Paul Capizzano, with top Flyers defense prospect Oliver Bonk.
Panthers' Sam Bennett betting odds for next team officially come out with sizeable front runner ahead of the pack
After another bruising and productive postseason, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is gaining attention not just for his on-ice heroics but also for his uncertain future.
The 28-year-old has been a difference-maker in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the league with 10 goals in 17 games to go with 6 assists, 58 shots, and a whopping 91 hits. Heâs been instrumental during Floridaâs Finals run, including a highlight-reel breakaway goal in Game 3 after delivering a thunderous hit to ignite the play.
This follows his 2024 playoff campaign where he produced 7 goals and 7 assists in 19 games during Florida's Cup win.
Over the past two postseasons, Bennett has racked up 17 goals and 13 assists in 36 games while playing a physical, agitating, and clutch brand of hockey. As a pending unrestricted free agent, teams across the league are watching closelyâand sportsbooks are already lining up next-team odds for the rugged forward.
Betting Odds: Sam Bennettâs Next Team per FanDuel Sportsbook
The Panthers are the clear betting favorite to retain Bennett and for good reason. He's a perfect fit for Floridaâs system with a fast and physical playstyle that works well in Paul Maurice's system and has proven to be successful in the playoffs. Heâs already racked up a league-best 14 goals this postseason, including five goals over his last four games.
Florida has created a winning culture in a location that's very hard to beat with nice weather all year round and no-state tax that has allowed Bennett to keep more of his money. He's been vital to the success of the Panthers for the last three seasons and will likely be one of the main priorities for management this off-season.
Toronto Maple Leafs (+500)
A homecoming to Toronto is definitely a possibility as the Buds are desperately looking for playoff competitors with Bennett being one of the best in the league. Bennettâs grit and playoff prowess could be a massive addition to a Leafs team that has always struggled to close out series due to their stars failing to play at their best when it counts.
The Leafs could also benefit from his versatility as he's able to play center or wing. If Bennett is interested, Toronto will do everything they can to get him as they'll have extra cap space following the likely departure of Mitch Marner.
Vegas Golden Knights (+900)
The Golden Knights have built their identity on being aggressive with acquiring playoff-tested forwards like Bennett. If Vegas doesnât retain all of its current free agents, there could be a roster and cap-space opening for a player with his unique blend of scoring touch and sandpaper that Vegas is known for as well as Florida. His game would mesh well with Bruce Cassidyâs system, particularly in heavy matchups.
Boston Bruins (+2200)
Boston has been on the hunt for a gritty forward who thrives in the playoffs and after last season's 33-39-10 record, they'll be looking to make some serious changes to get themselves back into playoff contention.
Bennett fits that bill of a Boston Bruin and could play the Charlie Coyle-style hybrid role up and down the lineup with his ability to play multiple positions. Cap gymnastics may be needed but the Bruins have a winning culture that is always enticing to free agents.
Los Angeles Kings (+2600)
The Kings are an intriguing dark horse. They have young, impactful centers but may look to add more physical edge and depth scoring. Edmonton disposed of LA for the fourth year in a row this postseason and could influence the Kings to try and make a serious move like bringing in Bennett.
If the Kings are looking to retool, his veteran presence could make senseâespecially as a tone-setter on the road.
Ottawa Senators (+2600)
If Ottawa aims to accelerate its rebuild into playoff contention, a forward like Bennett makes sense. He brings experience and edge, and his Ontario roots might play well with fans and local interest. Still, the Sens would likely need to overpay to outbid a win-now contender.
Colorado Avalanche (+3400)
Colorado is a bit of a longshot considering their cap, but Bennettâs game has traits the Avs might appreciate, particularly his toughness, versatility, and postseason success.
He could slot in as a utility forward with significantly less pressure as he goes undercover behind their top stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog. Bennett would propel the Avalanche to potentially the best forward group in the NHL but it all depends on financial flexibility.
New York Rangers (+3400)
The Rangers have often lacked grit in the playoffs, and Bennett could help fix that. This season was a turbulent one in New York and they may be looking for a serious shakeup to the roster after closing in on a deal to send longtime Ranger Chris Kreider to the Ducks. Bennett's ability to draw penalties, create chaos, and contribute timely goals could complement New Yorkâs elite skill players they already have in Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin.
Vancouver Canucks (+3400)
Vancouverâs deep run last season showed theyâre on the cusp. But after a dramatic season with locker room problems and losing a key player in J.T. Miller, they could be looking to add another big ticket winger that could help the Canucks back into the playoff picture.
Adding a playoff-tested player like Bennett would bring edge and scoring, especially on a team needing consistency from their forward group. The Canucksâ cap situation is tight, but if they create space, Bennett could thrive there.
New Jersey is building a dynamic core but could use some grit and playoff experience up front. Bennett could be an anchor on a line with younger talent, helping push the team further in the playoffs.
Detroit Red Wings (+3700)
Detroitâs slow but steady progress makes them a sleeper pick for Bennett. The Red Wings lack playoff seasoning as their roster is still very young and bringing in a player of Bennett's caliber could help them into the playoffs after just barely missing out the last two seasons.
Bennett could be a stabilizing two-way player in their top six, mentoring younger forwards with his playoff experience. Still, Detroit would be required to go all-in for a player like Bennett and they may not have enough cap space to make the move.
St. Louis Blues (+3700)
The Blues had he identity of a gritty, phyical team when they won the Stanley Cup back in 2019 and still today, they work well with forwards like Bennett. His gritty style fits their mold, and heâd be a solid piece in a team on the rise as the Blues are almost complete with their retooling phase. St. Louis may have some big upcoming contracts like keeping Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas for the rest of their careers which may limit the feasibility with the cap.
Buffalo is improving, but remains far from playoff contention. GM Kevyn Adams has been vocal about how aggressive the Sabres will be this off-season as their players are begging for a chance to play in meaningful games. Bennett would be a major asset for Buffalo as a locker-room leader, playoff performer and a cornerstone piece for a hopeful contender in the future. The Sabres have cap space, but itâs unlikely Bennett would choose a non-contender unless he's paid handsomely.
Anaheim Ducks (+4500)
Anaheimâs odds are long for a reason. While Bennett would provide leadership and energy, the Ducks are rebuilding and likely wonât be a competitive team in the near term. Like the Sabres, GM Pat Verbeek spoke out about wanting to be agressive this off-season and made the bold proclamation that he wants Anaheim back in the playoffs next season.
Bennett would be a key player in getting the Ducks back in contention and excel when getting there. Heâd also be a solid mentor for a young roster, but itâs a fit better suited for a veteran on a long-term dealâsomething Bennett may not seek.
Playoff fact: You almost always win Stanley Cups on the strength of the play of your star players.
Also playoff fact: You also win Stanley Cups when your depth players are difference-makers as well.
The Florida Panthers choked off the head of the snake so well in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final that the Edmonton Oilers' duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was limited to two shot attempts. That might be difficult for the Panthers to repeat, but with home-ice advantage and the last change, they'll have the opportunity to get the players they want out on the ice against the Oilers' stars.
Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart aren't exactly lighting the world on fire themselves, but the likes Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell and Nate Schmidt have been lights-out.
It's time for the likes of Evander Kane, Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson and John Klingberg to do the same.
Watch today's video column for more, and share your thoughts.
The volume was turned up inside Amerant Bank Arena for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
A total of 19,863 fans packed inside the Sunrise hockey barn to see their Florida Panthers battle the Edmonton Oilers in what was a tied series entering the contest.
It didn't take long for Florida to get their fans going, as Brad Marchand scored a goal 56 seconds into the game that had the building rocking.
That turned out to only be the beginning.
Hard Rock Bet had someone inside the building with a sound meter, checking to see how loud the crowd would get at different points of the game.
For the most part, the loudest moments saw the decibel levels somewhere between 100 and 110
At different points, the meter was running while Panthers fans were chanting Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner's name, while Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo was banging the pregame drum and during an intermission performance from worldwide entertainment star D.J. Khaled.
But the loudest the building got all night, according to the meter, was after Sam Bennett scored a breakaway goal during the second period.
According to the sound meter, the decibel level reached a whopping 130.9 dB.
The goal put the Panthers up 4-1 at the time. They would go on to win 6-1 and take a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series.
Perhaps it was the buildup to the goal that helped the crowd get so loud.
Bennett had almost half the ice to skate down before scoring the goal, and in those couple of seconds, you could both hear and feel the crowd building to a potential crescendo.
It was an incredibly cool moment to be part of in a night that was full of them.
Florida beat down the Oilers in Game 3, and Edmonton's players seemed perfectly happy to engage and instigate much of the physical hostilities that came during the latter stages of the night.
How much of that bleeds over into Game 4 remains to be seen.
Regardless, it should be another loud night at the Cats' home barn.
Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
The NHL Scouting Combine is over, yet there is still no consensus on how the top 10 of the 2025 NHL Draft should go. However, based on what has been reported, it is fair to assume that certain teams may be headed down a specific path.
Are the New York Islanders going to trade down from one? Will the Chicago Blackhawks move their pick up or down? What are the San Jose Sharks doing? All of these questions will be answered on June 27th, 2025.
The Blackhawks are almost certainly drafting a forward. The only defenseman going in the top six is Matthew Schaefer, who likely wonât even be there when Chicago comes up to pick. The assumption is that Michael Misa will also be unavailable at that time.
That leaves four forwards for Chicago to realistically consider unless something unexpected happens in the top two. Most could play center, but some may be better wingers in the long term. The Blackhawks need both.
This is how they stack up against each other after the combine:
1. James Hagens
At the start of the 2024-25 season, it felt like James Hagens was a lock to be the number one overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Now, unless someone stuns, he likely wonât go higher than third and could even slip to the lower half of the bottom ten.
Hagens dominated with the USNTDP before this year. At Boston College, he had a good year, but more was expected from him. He wasn't Macklin Celebrini who won the Hobey Baker as a freshman a year prior, so he started to slip.
The problem is that college hockey is becoming a harder league than the CHL. If Hagens wanted to have 150 points playing there, he could have. That also would have likely locked him into being the first overall pick. Instead, he took Will Smithâs spot at BC and played well between Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault on the top line.
Hagens was also a top player on Team USAâs World Juniors team that went on to win the Gold Medal. No matter what, he's been noticeable.
This is a smaller player, which doesnât help his case to be selected higher. However, there are plenty of young, smaller offensive stars in the league like Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield, and Logan Cooley. Although the Blackhawks already have some smaller forwards like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, passing on Hagens may fill them (and a lot of other teams) with regret one day.
2. Porter Martone
If Kyle Davidson sees a lot of these guys having the same ceiling, then the tie breaker could work in Porter Martoneâs favor if the way he plays is something Chicagoâs brass likes.
Martone is a big, physical power forward who will create time and space for himself and others in the NHL. Specifically, it is easy to picture Martone on a line with Connor Bedard, a smaller center.
Connor Bedard needs to shoot the puck more, and a player like Martone will help give him more room to do that. He can also score himself, which also makes him a good match for Bedard, who is an underrated playmaker.
Matthew Tkachuk is a comparison at the highest level for Martone. If he became that type of bruiser who could also have 80+ points consistently, that would be just what the Hawks need.
If Davidson is confident in his stance that Bedard and Nazar are true centers, Martone could be a home run draft pick.
3. Caleb Desnoyers
Caleb Desnoyers is the truest center in the 2025 NHL Draft. Think of guys like Sasha Barkov, Nico Hischier, or Anthony Cirelli. To predict that he will be as good as those guys is unfair, but he plays the same two-way style of game as they do.
Chicago is lacking centers like that in the organization. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar will make their money in the offensive zone, so having a guy like Desnoyers around would go a long way, assuming he reaches his potential in the NHL.
His offensive ceiling might not be as high as a guy like Hagens or Martone, but his play in all three zones makes him worth considering with this draft pick.
4. Anton Frondell
Anton Frondell is similar to Caleb Desnoyers. He plays a strong two-way game that may allow him to become a good second-line center in the NHL. You know that youâre going to get an honest effort from him on every shift.
Frondell has a notable one-time shot and can shoot the puck with a little extra juice. Being Swedish gets him compared to other European stars from around the NHL, largely due to his production overseas this last season.
Like every other player in this class, there is a bit of risk associated with taking Frondell. However, he has the skills (and proven production in big-time leagues) to become a star in the National Hockey League. At minimum, he should be able to carve out a role on a good team.
These guys could go in any order, and one of them could even be selected in the top two. Anything is possible, but this is the way they should be ranked going in based on what we know following the scouting combine.
Yesterday, former San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner landed a new job in the NHL as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders, joining Ray Bennett, who was also hired by the team. Boughner will work under Islanders head coach Patrick Roy as they look to turn the franchise around.
During his time with the Sharks, Boughner posted a record of 67-85-23. He was originally named interim coach after Pete DeBoer was fired and went on to spend three seasons as head coach from 2020 to 2022 before being let go.
He previously served as an assistant coach with the Sharks from 2015 to 2017, before leaving to become the head coach of the Florida Panthers. After being fired from that role, he returned to San Jose.
For the past three seasons, Boughner was the associate coach with the Detroit Red Wings, working under both Derek LaLonde and Todd McLellan.
Heâll have his work cut out for him with the Islanders. After a disappointing season that ended early, the team landed the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and now has a chance to reshape its future. Boughner will be a key part of that process on Royâs coaching staff as they look to get the Islanders back into the playoffs.
Connor McDavidâs struggles on the road in Florida are frustrating fans and costing bettors big.
The Edmonton Oilers captain garners a lot of the attention from opposing defences yet most of the time, McDavid finds a way to get the puck in the back of the net. This has pushed sportsbooks to list the Newmarket native's betting props at absurd heights with McDavid being listed at over/under 1.5 points before every game.
Across five road playoff games in Florida between this season's finals and last, he has managed two goals and three assists but whatâs more revealing is that at even strength, heâs contributed three of the five total points. McDavid has been held off the scoresheet entirely in three of those five contests, marking an unexpectedly quiet stripe for a player of his caliber.
This postseason, McDavid continues to dial up the production on the whole. He leads the NHL playoffs with 31 points, built from six goals and 25 assists in 19 games. In the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, he was sensational with three assists, including one that was a highlight reel play, where he deked past Florida's Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov before dishing the puck to a wide open Leon Draisaitl.
The stark contrast between McDavidâs overall dominance and his Florida road performances is palpable and carries real weight for betting angles. His road output in Sunrise underperforms in terms of what his betting odds are: just five points in five games, and invisible in three of them.
If youâre weighing bets like Anytime Goalscorer or point props for McDavid in Florida, the numbers suggest that those wagers are far from lock-ins. He has multiple points in five of his ten career playoff games against Florida, meaning even at home his odds to land his listed over 1.5 points we can't bank on. When making a parlay for Game 4 on Thursday, I would consider looking to a different player.
The Boston Bruins are loaded with valuable picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, giving them a great opportunity to bolster one of the leagueâs worst prospect pools with some high-end talent.
After finishing with the fifth-worst record in the league this past season, the Bruins landed the No. 7 overall pick in the draft lottery. Itâs the first top-10 pick for the Bruins since 2011 when they selected No. 9 overall (Dougie Hamilton) to complete the Phil Kessel trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins traded their 2025 second-round pick two years ago when they acquired Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. But after making a bunch of moves at the 2025 trade deadline, Boston acquired two second-rounders for this draft. The Bâs also own one pick in each of the remaining five rounds for a total of eight selections overall.
It remains to be seen whether the Bruins will keep all of these 2025 picks or trade any of them.
The last time the Bruins made a first-round pick in back-to-back years was 2016 and 2017. The last time they picked in the first and second rounds of the same draft was 2017. Boston has not made multiple second-round picks in the same draft since 2015.
Itâll be fascinating to see how Bruins general manager Don Sweeney manages his teamâs draft capital.
âItâs always going to be whatâs best for the organization. Weâre in a unique position this year drafting in the top 10,â Sweeney said at a press conference Tuesday when asked about his teamâs draft picks. âWe havenât been there for a significant amount of time. Weâre excited about that. We have two second-round picks. Two first-round picks the following year. Weâve been an aggressive organization. Whether you want to point out fault in regards to trying to win and accomplish the ultimate goal, thatâs what weâre here for.
âWe will use the draft capital and try to improve our hockey club this year and moving forward in every capacity possible. It might be making the selection, but it wonât mean that we arenât having conversations that say, âHow do we improve our hockey club today and moving forward?ââ
Hereâs a list of all the Bruinsâ picks in the 2025 draft (updated as of June 11, via Tankathon).
Early mock drafts present two exciting talents that the Red Wings are expected to select with their first-round pick.
The 2025 NHL Draft is fast approaching, set to begin in just over two weeks at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The first round will take place on June 27, with rounds two through seven scheduled for the following day, June 28.
Holding the 13th overall selection, the Detroit Red Wings are once again in position to add a key piece to their rebuild. Speculation around their potential pick is already heating up, with draft analysts offering early projections. NHL.comâs deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and senior draft writer Mike G. Morreale have each made their predictions, listing off two highly sought-after prospects as likely targets for Detroit. Both players are considered top-tier talent and would bring significant upside to a Red Wings team still building toward long-term contention.
Eklund, 18, is a Swedish winger, who is coming off a great season for DjurgĂĽrdens IF in HockeyAllsvenskan, Swedenâs second-tier professional hockey league. He managed 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points over 42 regular-season games in one of the most competitive leagues in all of Europe. He added to his success with another seven points in 16 playoff games.
In early prospect rankings, he is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class with some experts like The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari, who has Eklund listed as the fourth-best player available.
His development has been closely followed due to his consistent performance at Sweden's national teams, including runs where he proved he can be a difference maker like when he recorded four goals and two assists in seven games, helping Sweden earn a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championship. He followed up the performance with a strong showing the following year with a pair of goals and four assists across 7 games.
NHL Central Scouting ranks him first among European skaters, and The Hockey Writers and TSN analyst Bob McKenzie have both placed him in the top 10 overall, between sixth and ninth picks. Hockey runs in Eklundâs blood as his father, Christian Eklund, played professionally for DjurgĂĽrdens IF, and his older brother William Eklund is a highly regarded prospect who was drafted in the seventh overall back in 2021 by the San Jose Sharks.
Carter Bear - Everett Silvertips
Bear, 18, showed a lot of promise with the Silvertips this past season, recording 40 goals and 42 assists for an astonishing 82 points in just 56 games. The Winnipeg native's season was derailed however, as he suffered a brutal Achilles injury in early March that ended his season. Insiders have noted Bear is ahead of schedule in his recovery and expects to be fully healthy for NHL training camps.
In early prospect rankings, he is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class with some experts like The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari, who have Bear listed as the seventh-best player available.
Bear hasn't yet had the chance to represent his country on the international stage like Eklund, but he's found success everywhere he's played, racking up 139 points in 123 games with Everett over the past two seasons.
The young forward has been elevated to an 'A' rating by NHL Central Scouting, alluding to the fact that Bear should be a first-round round. Analysts like Steven Ellis have highlighted Bear as the biggest riser in recent rankings, noting his high compete level and well-rounded game.
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The 2024-25 NHL season is quickly coming to a close.
July 1, officially the first day of a new season, is fast approaching and that means that contracts will be ending too.
There's two different kinds of statuses for players at the conclusion of a contract: unrestricted free agents (UFAs) and restricted free agents (RFAs).
UFAs are free to negotiate with any team once that July 1 date rolls in, but RFAs are restricted to the team that holds their rights. There's a little more nuance to it all, but that's pretty much the jist of it.
The Carolina Hurricanes don't have any main roster RFAs this season, but there are a handful of prospects who are finishing out their ELCs or extensions.
Here are a list of those players under team control who will either be in need of new deals or will be let go:
Ryan Suzuki
24, C 12g, 59pts, 69gp (AHL) Last Contract: 1 year, $775,000 (Arbitration Eligible - QO $814,000)
The 2019 first-round pick finally got to make his NHL debut this season, appearing in two games for the Canes.
Suzuki was an AHL All-Star as well this season for the Chicago Wolves and managed another very successful season not marred by injuries.
25, C 16g, 24pts, 68gp (AHL) Last Contract: 1 year, $775,000 (Arbitration Eligible)
The son of Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, Skyler signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina last season after mutually terminating a deal with the Florida Panthers/Charlotte Checkers. He was drafted in 2017 by the Edmonton Oilers.
Brind'Amour made his NHL debut at the end of the regular season and even scored his first career goal.
After being acquired by the Hurricanes as part of the Jake Guentzel deal, Smith signed a one-year extension with Carolina and was a solid depth piece for the team.
He was good at the AHL level and filled in for a few games at the NHL level when needed.
23, LHD 9g, 32pts, 67gp (AHL) Last Contract: 2 years, $925,000 (Arbitration Eligible)
The 2019 third-round defenseman had a good sophomore season in the American League, putting up career numbers, all while being a key piece for the Wolves in all situations.
Fensore earned an NHL callup at the end of the regular season and looked comfortable in the minutes he was awarded.
22, LHD 3g, 10pts, 69gp (AHL) Last Contract: 3 years, $810,000
The 2020 seventh-round pick took a bit of a step back offensively this season, but continues to be a strong defensive piece at the American League level.
Anttoni Honka
24, RHD 8g, 21pts, 42gp (NL - Swiss League) Last Contract: 3 years, $836,667 (Arbitration Eligible)
The offensive defenseman has not played in the American Hockey League for two seasons now, having been loaned out to Europe in each of the past two years.
He was drafted in the third-round of the 2019 draft.
Yaniv Perets
25, G 0.921 Sv%, 27gp (ECHL) / 0.846 Sv%, 4gp (AHL) / 0.857 Sv%, 1gp (NHL) Last Contract: 2 years, $805,000 (Arbitration Eligible)
Perets signed with the Hurricanes following his NCAA title-winning season in 2023.
He's struggled to keep up at the AHL level, but found success in the ECHL this season.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins need to improve the left side of their defense this off-season. Because of this, they have been connected to Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague. However, the Penguins are reportedly not the only team in the mix for the big blueliner.
According to The Fourth Period, the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings are also among the teams with interest in Hague.
With Hague being a 6-foot-6, 25-year-old defenseman, it is understandable that multiple teams would love to bring him in from Vegas. NHL clubs will forever value big, stay-at-home defenseman, so it is easy to see why he is a very hot commodity on the trade market right now.
When looking at the Penguins' roster, it is no secret that they could use a defenseman like Hague on their left side. He would provide them with a steady shutdown defenseman for their top four, which is undoubtedly a major need. In addition, he would be a clear choice for their penalty kill as well.
It will be interesting to see if the Penguins end up winning the Hague sweepstakes this off-season, but there is no question that they have some competition to do so.
